POBB April 18, 2018

Pick of the Brown Bag

April 18, 2018

by

Ray Tate

The Pick of the Brown Bag returns with weekly reviews.  This time around I’ll take a look at Amazing Spider-Man Renew Your Vows, Aquaman, Batman, Athena Voltaire, Infinity 8, Infinity Countdown, John Wick, Rough Riders and Simpsons Comics.  If you haven’t the time for the in-depth reviews, check me out on Twitter: #PickoftheBrownBag.

Voiced by famed comedian Albert Brooks, Hank Scorpio first laughed maniacally on television.  He’s an ecologically conscious Bond villain transplanted to suburbia.  

Needless to say “You Only Move Twice” is one of my favorite episodes.  Scorpio, a beloved character.

Comic book writer Ian Boothby understands, nay, feels the majesty of Hank Scorpio.  His story starts out innocuously enough with Scorpio visiting a friend in Springfield.

Scorpio hasn't changed his tune: single, robust bearded crazy man seeks global domination.  That’s why we love him.

Scorpio discovers that he doesn’t actually need to work very hard to take over Springfield.  Unlike his previous attempt at conquest, everybody’s on board with the new and improved scheme.

Artist Rex Lindsey and Derek Fridolfs visually characterize Hank Scorpio as demented and as lively as his animated counterpart.  

Without the Groening design this guy would be one creepy son-of-gun.  His eyes goggling, and perfect smile a little too wide.  Their take on the regular cast is equally precise, and of course Art Villanueva’s colors make this story another candy-store treat for the eyes.

Despite being featured in only two films, the Continental quickly swept into pop culture to become casual litany. 

The chic establishment caters to operators and contractors of all sorts.  The Powers That Be behind the hotel foster bedrock rules to provide their clientele sanctuary.  This system allows the Powers to profit and to work mostly in peace.  Charon is the concierge of the Continental.  In this issue of John Wick, Charon introduces Mr. Wick to the workings of the hotel.  

Pak demonstrates a sharp ear for the euphemistic dialogue that helped create John Wick’s world.  More examples mimic Keanu Reeves delivery as artist Giovanni Valletta apes Reeves’ body language and expression.  

During the instruction, Russian crime delegate Maria quickly engages the two in conversation.  She was last seen ordering the death of John Wick.  Mr. Wick being a guest enjoys the immunity of the Continental, and there’s one question Charon needs answered.

Pecos and fellow psychopaths Billy and Buffalo are old acquaintance of John Wick.  The duo set fire to John’s neighborhood and killed most of everybody he knew.  

Wick hatches revenge straight out of The Art of War.  Even if you can dope out what Wick plans, it’s a pleasure to watch the execution.

Legendary magician and escape artist Harry Houdini tasks his old team the Rough Riders to save the world against an occult menace that seeks to punish President Teddy Roosevelt.

The twist means that the Rough Riders must protect Roosevelt and dispense with the undead at the same time.  So, the group split up, and given their previous friction, it’s not an easy partnership.

Harry pairs with his friend and comrade Jack Johnson, but it’s a little more complicated than that when Harry investigates.  His involvement uncovers the source of the hate, and it’s a late night popcorn chiller that benefits from new gory life courtesy of artist Pat Olliffe.

Adam Glass’ latest Rough Riders adventure is filled with inventive period twists that also rely on the cast’s personalities.  As such, the spooky adventure is a cohesive story with surprising richness.

Athena Voltaire picks up where we left off.  Though Athena disposed of her scuba diving Nazi assailant, the villain managed to cut her oxygen tube.

Writer/creator Steve Bryant solves that problem easy enough and simultaneously uses the opportunity to add a plot twist that reflects the mathematical chicanery some ancient peoples used to protect their secrets and/or treasure.  This further allows our heroes to organically lay a trap for the Nazis.  

I can’t emphasize this enough.  Athena Voltaire fights Nazis.  That penchant in itself entertains.  Bryant’s portrayal of the Nazis as tacticians and his use of internal continuity, as opposed to shared world continuity, to catalyze suspense doubles the worth of the story.

Athena Voltaire’s foes never lose sight of the plan.  They stick to that plan, and that’s why they’re so successful.  When players deviate from the blueprint, they lose.

Ismael Canales and Emily Elmer create potent action cinematography that perfectly translates Bryant’s attention to detail and his tricky plotting.  Canales must also be commended for his skillful illustration of anatomy.  Particularly the parts that don’t often get their due.

Many artists hate to draw feet, let alone bare feet.  Canales rises to the challenge.

Dan Abnett’s current Aquaman saga swims closer to a conclusion.  There can be few twists to fathom now.  

The whole shebang began with the reintroduction of Deluge terrorist leader Corum Rath as a Trump-like challenger to the throne.  

The Council found Aquaman’s progressive steps to bring Atlantis and the Surface World together too novel.  So they sided with Rath, but the tide turned when Rath began to stockpile magic relics and seal off Atlantis with the Crown of Thorns.

Murk loyal to the throne but not a single king appeared to kill Aquaman in combat, but Aquaman survived.  We finally learn what transpired between them.  The development will satisfy both Aquaman fans and fans of Murk.  It’s not as clear-cut or collusive as you think.

While Atlantis believed him dead, Aquaman plied his trade in the bowels of Atlantis where mutants abided.  There he protected the realm via Batman’s method.  Exploiting his power and experience to create an apparition. 

As the story progressed, the forgotten hero reborn, Dolphin convinced Aquaman to step out of the shadows and lead a rebellion against Rath.  

He allied with King Shark, the remaining loyal Court members and the Widowhood, a whacky underwater sisterhood with mucho political clout that now supports Mera as the rightful Queen of Atlantis.  

Aquaman is wild about the idea, but Mera due to magical exposure now must live on the surface while she heals.  So, Aquaman fights to free Atlantis from Rath and restore the dignity of the throne.  That may be harder than he thinks.

Once again, Rath cheated with magic.  This time he transformed his silent mutant assassin to the handsome devil you see above.  Things get worse for Rath loyalists, but in a dish of just desserts, so do they for Rath his own crazy self.

The cover probably sums up how Batman feels after this tomfoolery dissipates.  Booster Gold decides rebirth is the perfect gift for his erstwhile colleague.

No, no.  Booster didn’t start the Rebirth.  That began as a result of the feud between Wally West and Abra Cadabra added to the restoration of Superman.  And somehow the Watchmen are involved, but that’s moot.

The story is a hilarity of the worst things you can think of happening if Batman were in dispose.  The fate of Batman’s sons is particularly rewarding, especially that of Jason Todd.  Jason actually carves out a good living in this topsy, turvy world.

Tony Daniel returns to provide the artwork.  The inclusion of Booster Gold grants him unusual opportunities.  His design for Booster is his most realistic presentation of anatomy.

Booster is neither musclebound or ripped.  He’s in good shape, but not Olympic athlete status.  

Whereas Daniel's latest version of Batman is a parody, especially with the ridiculous volume of NRA accoutrements.

In addition, Daniel displays his humorous side with Booster and his robotic cohort Skeets.  Booster is much more emotive, and Daniel's timing with Skeets is perfect.

Jody Houser reacquaints Annie-May Parker with her girlhood friend Normie Osborn.  The Osborn that finally got better.

Unfortunately, Annie’s new friend Lace has a different idea.

Needless to say, Annie spends the whole issue trying to talk Lace down and trying to keep Reece from getting diced in the crossfire.  All while maintaining her secret identity.

The plot hangs on the character development.  Annie matures rapidly because that’s part of the life, and she comes out of this better in the eyes of her esteemed parents.

If you’re concerned that this is the story where Normie resents Annie making new friends and not spending time with him, not to worry.   Amazing Spider-Man Renew Your Vows is not that.  Instead, it’s another helping of “with great power comes great responsibility.” That's kind of the point of Spider-Man and his family, isn't it?

If you haven’t been following Infinity Countdown, I can understand why.  You’re wrong, but I can understand.  Infinity Countdown may seem like a Big Stupid Event that’s taking advantage of a little known movie called Avengers Infinity War, but it’s not.  It’s really Guardians of the Galaxy.

Regular Guardians of the Galaxy writer Gerry Duggan first concludes the story of the Groot’s growth impasse and the murderous Groots springing up all over, where else, the galaxy.  It’s a satisfying comeuppance enhanced by regular Guardians artist Aaron Kuder and colorist Jodie Bellaire.

You may be asking yourself if the story concerns any Infinity Stone involvement at all.  Of course.  Duggan quietly drew in the Infinity Stones through Gamora and Drax, both of whom were perhaps irrevocably changed by the Soul Gem, once in possession of Adam Warlock.  

Gamora now seeks the Soul Gem to restore herself.  Peter Quill and Drax found the Power Stone, grown to gargantuan size on a planet protected by one fo the few good Nova platoons led by pregnant Nova Centurion Eve Bakian.  Rocket discovered the Brotherhood of the Talonar, crazy bird people connected to Darkhawk and the Shi'ar, infested the Nova Corps with moles.  All these apparently disparate plot threads tie together here.

The Talons turn out to count some familiar faces in their ranks, and the reveal is funny, gratifying and short-lived.  Bad enough the Brotherhood have their claws trained on the Power Stone, but the Chitarri from the cinematic universe also want the jewel.

As exciting as this development is, it doesn’t top the more amazing scene that concludes yet another of Duggan’s storylines, and creates the moment for Gamora to give unique yet sound advice.

The second issue of Infinity 8 changes the tone to an outright chase that’s more than enough to justify addition to your own brown bag.  Infinity 8 is a star cruiser that’s run by an alien captain whose people possesses a special time-space warping power.

In other words Agent Keren is on her own jetting, drifting and scrambling to survive a threat that’s promised to devour her.

The creature is a Kornalian, an alien species that once peaceful turned vicious when the Infinity 8 entered a debris field.  Keren sent to investigate found only dead craft and artifacts of a dead race, one of which fed another of the Kornalians.  The Buddha had a profoundly different affect on Sagoss.

Keren made the mistake of dismissing Sagoss, thus compounding her problem by isolating herself.  Of course, listening to the crew of the Infinity 8 turned out to be a bad idea as well.

As the resourceful Keren escapes and lovestruck Sagoss attempts to stage a daring rescue, artist Dominque Bertail flies our heroes through a remarkable landscape of pulp imagination.  

Even if you’re not into the kill-or-be-killed story, or the bodacious design of our hero and the occasional risqué, the settings alone will make you glad to be a fan.