Pick of the Brown Bag
December 3, 2014
by
Ray Tate
This week the comic books come in droves. Action Comics, Army of Darkness, Angel and Faith, Baltimore: the Wolf and the Apostle, Bionic Woman, Detective Comics, Hellboy and the BPRD 1952, Justice League Dark, Justice Inc., Shaft, Swamp Thing and Vampirella.
Lots of inhumanity and injustice in the news. So, sometimes all you want to do is brew a cup of tea, lay back and read your comic books to get away from all the stress of an unfair reality.
Son-of-a—
J.M. DeMatteis forgot to take his anti-depressants again, and he decided to share his dismal mood with unsuspecting readers. Congratulations. This is my last issue of Justice League Dark.
I don't care if Frankenstein and Black Orchid are on the roster. I don’t read comic books to feel bad. I read them to feel good. I’m looking for moments such as this.
I don't care if Frankenstein and Black Orchid are on the roster. I don’t read comic books to feel bad. I read them to feel good. I’m looking for moments such as this.
Not this.
DeMatteis’ story is like two episodes of Doctor Who that cross over and expel all the charm and optimism. Specifically, the story combines Christopher Eccleston’s “End of the World” with David Tennant’s “Lazarus Experiment.”
You see, somehow, in an over-priced annual, the team got stranded in the upper regions of the future, and they ended up on the remains of the earth. Coincidentally they happen to be on the piece of rock occupied by what's left of Felix Faust.
In Doctor Who, the Doctor takes Rose to a space station to witness the natural death of the earth. They instead get caught up in unraveling a plot to kill the other guests in attendance. The earth dies, essentially in the background. Don’t worry. Nobody’s on it. None however witness this proud planet's demise. The underlying point is that the guests were too busy trying to live rather than experience a philosophical point. Realizing that this was a dark, affecting day for Rose, the Doctor freshens the air. He takes Rose back to modern day earth, brimming with life and chips. The earth, vibrant and magnificent, is still there.
In Justice League Dark we get the abyss.
Come to think of it. The transformation of Lady Weeds resembles the metamorphosis of Miss Hartigan in Doctor Who's "The Next Doctor." It nevertheless feels different.
The distinction lies in the characterization. Lady Weeds deserved the fate Capucine meted out. Miss Hartigan, a Victorian, was partially a victim of mankind's arrogance. Emphasis on the man part.
Anyway back to Justice League Dark, it turns out that Faust who now looks like Mr. Lazarus from “The Lazarus Experiment”....
...managed to preserve a single rose, and like Superman in The Dark Knight Returns, Swampy restores himself with the green locked inside. The difference rests in the execution. Frank Miller's scene exhibits remarkable poetry and originality.
It doesn't matter if such an action is scientifically dodgy. It instead offers evidence for the truth behind the work. If The Dark Knight Returns was as cynical as some believed it to be, Superman would have died from the nuclear blast to emphasize a theme of fallen gods. Instead, Miller resuscitates the Man of Steel through science-laced fantasy. The Dark Knight Returns is uniformly positive toward the super-hero concept. The narrative voice is always on the side of those with capes and cowls.
DeMatteis on the other hand tries to perform the same feat and fails miserably. First, DeMatteis' scene is unoriginal. Second, we knew Swamp Thing's survival was certain. No reason to care. Third, the rose demonstrates neither cleverness or poetry. It merely serves as a plot device. In addition, Faust could have used his magic to preserve an oasis rather than squander his occult ken on turning himself into a worm blob or a bug swarm.
Cry Me a River
What the rose in Justice League Dark ends up being is a nugget of artifice, a piece of deus ex machina in a morass of dank angst.
Throughout the book you see the team suffering from lack of oxygen, warm atmosphere, digestion by a subpar Lovecraft homage and succumbing to various moments of entropy. Not once do you actually believe any of the team will be killed. You just wonder how they'll dread next. So Justice League Dark ends up being a terrible experience. There’s no hope here, no humor, no real feeling or conviction either.
Yay! It’s the Mad Hatter! We haven’t seen the Mad Hatter since. Geez. Has it been that long? The Mad Hatter appeared in waning issues of Nightwing before he became Grayson...
...Gail Simone’s last issue of Batgirl and 2011’s Batman: Dark Knight in which the maniac murders Silver St. Cloud also-ran Natalya Trusevich, but hey, if you’re like me, you never tire of seeing this one-note lunatic over and over again. Does anybody actually do anything at Arkham Asylum? Guard prisoners? Treat the insane?
...Gail Simone’s last issue of Batgirl and 2011’s Batman: Dark Knight in which the maniac murders Silver St. Cloud also-ran Natalya Trusevich, but hey, if you’re like me, you never tire of seeing this one-note lunatic over and over again. Does anybody actually do anything at Arkham Asylum? Guard prisoners? Treat the insane?
So besides the old hat, Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul reintroduce Anarky and exacerbate the rivalry between Batman and Harvey Bullock.
This is dull stuff indeed that exhibits a choppy narrative flow by dotting all over the place with barely connected set-pieces and belaboring dialogue that makes for stilted characters.
Do we actually need to know the murder rate in Gotham? Do we honestly require a recap of events in one clunk of exposition? Must we experience the non-rapport between Bullock and Detective Yip?
I can't blame Batman for falling asleep.
Do we actually need to know the murder rate in Gotham? Do we honestly require a recap of events in one clunk of exposition? Must we experience the non-rapport between Bullock and Detective Yip?
Also in the déjà vu category, we have Action Comics. Remember the creepy Superman Animated Series episode Unity, which introduced a big mind-controlling tentacled horror to the hapless residents of Smallville?
Well here's the story again only twice as long and without the pyrotechnics of heat vision from the Kryptonian cousins scoring victory against the alien parasite.
Our stalwart DC heroes didn't fare well at all this week. Their literary predecessors however were outstanding.
The maestro behind the cacophony of attacks on The Shadow, Doc Savage and newly minted pulp hero the Avenger reveals himself amidst a bold assault orchestrated by The Voodoo Master.
I would wear the hell out of a tee-shirt depicting this amazing scene illustrated
by Giovanni Timpano and colorist Marco Lesko.
Meanwhile, Richard Henry Benson plies his new trade with rubber bullets and a throwing knife. These weapons he will name Mike and Ike.
Michael Uslan's Justice Inc. mimics the breakneck pace of a really good cliffhanger serial and makes excellent use of Doc, the Shadow, The Avenger and their foes.
The characterization of our very different heroes rings true as does their interaction which provides oodles of enjoyment. In addition the dialogue between Doc and his arch-enemy generates a lot more friction and depth than the average hero-villain conflict.
Dynamite also wins the week with the dead serious reintroduction of John Shaft. Real people do not have origin stories. However they have turning points and histories, and that's what writer David F. Walker details in the premiere issue. He looks at the events that helped to forge "the black private dick."
Those looking for the "sex machine with all the chicks," will need to look elsewhere. Instead, Walker relates a tale from Shaft's 1968 youth without the kitsch that often plagues such period tales. Walker's vignette posits Shaft taking up the gentle art of boxing and finding corruption from rich whites and blacks alike but honor among his peers.
Shaft is a literate take on the character created by Ernest Tidyman and illustrated with dignity and realism by Doc Savage artist Bilquis Evely.
Shaft is not a spoof like Black Dynamite. Instead, it's a legitimate self-contained short crime story that demonstrates a believable sense of justice and pride amidst a rotten system begging to be overturned. There's a sense of degree and restraint within the characterization that lends authenticity to the plotting and sincere first person narration. Recommended for everybody.
Seventies icon Jaime Sommers, the Bionic Woman, attempts to escape General Morales' weird vision of the future. She finds that she's not the only prisoner unhappy with the suburban facade of a de facto Village. The inmates however have a secret.
The A.I. are genuinely self aware, and despite their being crafted whole cloth you feel more for the victims of General Morales' vicious lesson than the fate of Swamp Thing in Justice League Dark.
On the OSI's end, Oscar Goldman calls in some extraordinary help to find Jaime, and writer Brandon Jerwa has a surprise in store for readers as to exactly where that location may be.
On the OSI's end, Oscar Goldman calls in some extraordinary help to find Jaime, and writer Brandon Jerwa has a surprise in store for readers as to exactly where that location may be.
Bionic Woman continues to be a draw for its mimicry of Lindsay Wagner's performance, a cracking story and terrific artwork by David Cabrera that delivers the goods.
Aaaaaaaaassssh in spaaaaaaaaace! A necromancer takes The Necronomicon into space and unleashes Deadite havoc courtesy of possessed astronauts. Fortunately, in a hilarious tribute to Z-Grade movies of old, Ash Williams stows away on the shuttle.
Despite an absence of gravity, he's ready to dismember with his trusty chainsaw and "boomstick."
Cullen Bunn demonstrates the comic chops and sense of crowd pleasing awesomeness that became his signature in such comics as Fear Itself: The Deep and Fearless Defenders. His characterization of Ash brilliantly imitates Bruce Campbell's signature role, and his plotting and imagination lives up to the potential of the concept.
Cullen Bunn demonstrates the comic chops and sense of crowd pleasing awesomeness that became his signature in such comics as Fear Itself: The Deep and Fearless Defenders. His characterization of Ash brilliantly imitates Bruce Campbell's signature role, and his plotting and imagination lives up to the potential of the concept.
Ash unleashes a torrent of violence and a staccato of wise-cracks. Hilariously, the Deadites refer to him as "The Chosen One" which would indicate a wickedly humorous Supreme Being in the Sam Raimi Evil Dead films. Ash is even less likely a natural pick of a Chosen One than a certain blonde valley girl of geek acquaintance.
One of the prime reasons I'm not reading Buffy the Vampire Slayer is due to its lack of focus on the television cast. The clutch of new characters who I couldn't care less about became the stars. The success of Buffy's continuity lies in the shared knowledge of its viewers. We for example know who Warren is because we watched his intro and his curtain call.
Angel and Faith is a different sort of animal. While the title introduces new characters, their interactions instead of overwhelming the narrative, serve to enhance it. Angel's detective contact Brandt for example isn't instrumental when Angel confronts Amy Madison a television series irregular. He's outside for backup.
Ultimately Angel alone battles the arch-witch to keep Warren dead. Angel's bag of tricks amusingly mirror the tactics a Big Bad might use. While his explanation is perfectly innocuous and sensible in context, the reader might remember that Angel was once Angelus one of the worst vampires on the planet.
Writer Victor Gischler simply keeps the spotlight on stars of television series, and it's as if he's producing a new show starring Angel and Faith, however, in comic book form. It seems simple doesn't it? It's complex. The easy thing to do, the lazy thing to do would be to fall back on your own characters using the ones readers want to see as support staff. Gischler gives fans what they want. He mimics the delivery of the actors in the dialogue while Will Conrad completes the illusion with remarkable likenesses, and both combine their talents seamlessly to present something readable, something nostalgic yet something new.
Angel's erstwhile partner Faith and Samantha Finn, also introduced on the television series, stage a classic rescue of Riley against a population of vampirized natives. Ostensibly, Faith and the former Slayers that make up the private security firm Deepscan, infiltrated the jungle to save a client's father, but the truth is who gives a damn about some fourth tier character's dad? The draw for the reader is Riley finally meeting Faith in her actual flesh and the reunion of husband and wife.
Angel's erstwhile partner Faith and Samantha Finn, also introduced on the television series, stage a classic rescue of Riley against a population of vampirized natives. Ostensibly, Faith and the former Slayers that make up the private security firm Deepscan, infiltrated the jungle to save a client's father, but the truth is who gives a damn about some fourth tier character's dad? The draw for the reader is Riley finally meeting Faith in her actual flesh and the reunion of husband and wife.
The monster of the week is a back drop.
Angel wasn't the first good vampire, and technically he's not. He's a human soul forced to constantly battle a demon inside a vampire husk. Angel currently pilots the vampire body. So he's a good vampire.
The first vampire to defend humanity for purely altruistic reasons from the creatures of the night was Vampirella.
Angel wasn't the first good vampire, and technically he's not. He's a human soul forced to constantly battle a demon inside a vampire husk. Angel currently pilots the vampire body. So he's a good vampire.
The first vampire to defend humanity for purely altruistic reasons from the creatures of the night was Vampirella.
While adults always read comic books, the powers that be generally ensured the fare was "safe" enough for kids. Created by Forrest J. Ackerman, Vampirella arose as a comic book for adults. It dealt with horrific situations and supernatural creatures. It's hero was an alien vampire who wasn't abashed to show a little skin. Incidentally, the fact that Vampirella was a valorous blood-sucker would have caused massive seizures in those enforcing the infamous comics code authority. Even villainous monsters were a no-no.
Over the years, as Vampirella became a comic book instead of a comic book magazine, the writers and artists made the tales a little tamer, more PG-13 than solid R. One of the things that Nancy Collins did when she took over the title was return Vampirella to the top shelf of the rack. Vampirella became sensual not just revealing. She drank human blood, something we rarely saw her do in the subsequent comic books. She furthermore literally fed on her monstrous ilk.
The increase in sexual content is obvious. The current story pits Vampirella against Dr. Faust--yes, that one--and Collins makes this figure from literature even more repellent by amending his fable with acts of rape against legendary queens and demigods. One such crime artist Patrick Berkenkotter depicts in flashback, and this era of Vampirella indeed shows more flesh than the previous periods.
A little show of tits and asses never harmed anybody. Nudity and sex aren't the only thing that returned Vampirella to its roots. I'm an atheist. So perhaps I'm biased in my assessment of the Church. As it stands, the Church is a model of male chauvinism, and it has been the traditional home of child molesters. Maybe the new Pope changed things a smidgeon, but I don't see much in evidence. Rather people believe that things have changed. The idea of the Vatican actually fighting evil, really, doing anything, always rubbed me the wrong way. I mean, yes, Vampirella is a fairy story, but in reality, the Church at its best is an indolent parasite.
Collins severed Vampirella's curious ties with the Vatican. She didn't expunge Vampirella's history, but she completed the corruption of the organization. Collins portrayed the Church as hypocritical, quite willing to turn on Vampirella an unswerving agent of good that served their cause faithfully. Rather than help Vampirella when cursed by Ethan Shroud to be possessed by Umbra, the Church decides the most efficient way to stop the apocalypse is to destroy Vampirella. Collins imagines a new group.
Collins' plans are more textured. The Kabal are a clutch of monsters that have decided to live in a society by rule of law. Not necessarily human law but law nonetheless. They police they're own ranks, and those that break their code are dealt with sometimes leniently, other times harshly. Vampirella fits right in with this group, and their current problem is Dr. Faust.
Faustus' plan to appease his demonic masters would terrify children, especially those about to visit their primary care physicians, and it as well represents an almost gleeful return to mature themes. Collins exploits the common fear of needles, the anti-vaccination movement to demonstrate a diabolical plan by Faust. I look forward to the next issue.
Mike Mignola returns to Hellboy in 1952 to relate Hellboy's first mission for the BPRD. The story is mostly a quiet reflection in Hellboy's point of view.
Co-writer John Arcudi probably dealt with the cacophony of accompanying agents. I assume this because loud is Arcudi's forte. It's a good start to a new Hellboy adventure.
Over the years, as Vampirella became a comic book instead of a comic book magazine, the writers and artists made the tales a little tamer, more PG-13 than solid R. One of the things that Nancy Collins did when she took over the title was return Vampirella to the top shelf of the rack. Vampirella became sensual not just revealing. She drank human blood, something we rarely saw her do in the subsequent comic books. She furthermore literally fed on her monstrous ilk.
The increase in sexual content is obvious. The current story pits Vampirella against Dr. Faust--yes, that one--and Collins makes this figure from literature even more repellent by amending his fable with acts of rape against legendary queens and demigods. One such crime artist Patrick Berkenkotter depicts in flashback, and this era of Vampirella indeed shows more flesh than the previous periods.
A little show of tits and asses never harmed anybody. Nudity and sex aren't the only thing that returned Vampirella to its roots. I'm an atheist. So perhaps I'm biased in my assessment of the Church. As it stands, the Church is a model of male chauvinism, and it has been the traditional home of child molesters. Maybe the new Pope changed things a smidgeon, but I don't see much in evidence. Rather people believe that things have changed. The idea of the Vatican actually fighting evil, really, doing anything, always rubbed me the wrong way. I mean, yes, Vampirella is a fairy story, but in reality, the Church at its best is an indolent parasite.
Collins' plans are more textured. The Kabal are a clutch of monsters that have decided to live in a society by rule of law. Not necessarily human law but law nonetheless. They police they're own ranks, and those that break their code are dealt with sometimes leniently, other times harshly. Vampirella fits right in with this group, and their current problem is Dr. Faust.
Faustus' plan to appease his demonic masters would terrify children, especially those about to visit their primary care physicians, and it as well represents an almost gleeful return to mature themes. Collins exploits the common fear of needles, the anti-vaccination movement to demonstrate a diabolical plan by Faust. I look forward to the next issue.
Mike Mignola returns to Hellboy in 1952 to relate Hellboy's first mission for the BPRD. The story is mostly a quiet reflection in Hellboy's point of view.
Co-writer John Arcudi probably dealt with the cacophony of accompanying agents. I assume this because loud is Arcudi's forte. It's a good start to a new Hellboy adventure.
With Christopher Golden and artists Ben Stenbeck, Mignola concludes his Baltimore novella The Wolf and the Apostle. There's not much more here than a superbly gory werewolf story, but Baltimore has some lovely pithy thought on humanity.
For Baltimore, monsters would be just beasts if not for the taint of humanity that allows them to be cruel. Nice. I never really thought of that twist before.
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