Pick of the Brown Bag
January 22, 2019
by
Ray Tate
Welcome to the latest installment of the Pick of the Brown Bag. My name is Ray Tate. In this blog I select the best and the worst of comic books. I may also have a few words about those in the middle. This week I’ll peruse Aquaman, Batman, Exorsiters, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hardcore, Immortal Hulk and Megaghost. Remember. Fresh capsule critiques can be found on Twitter: #PickoftheBrownBag.
Marvel Earth has been relatively quiet. However, the war over the Infinity Stones raged throughout the cosmos. One of the surprising first victims. Thanos.
Please note, that this continuity differs drastically from Marvel cinematic continuity. Cinematic continuity is far more elegant.
Thanos’ brother Eros gathers the who’s who of the universe, including Howard the Duck.
No, it doesn’t make a lick of sense, but the pekin is from an alternate anthropomorphic universe. So, technically he’s a cosmic being. Not much of one, but still.
As to Eros, Jim Starlin created the fellow during his run of Iron Man. Starlin imitated Jack Kirby in the sincerest form and bestowed to Saturn’s moon Titan newish “gods.” Originally, Starlin introduced three: Mentor and the brothers Thanos and Eros. Eros basically puts a science fiction spin on the more familiar Greek God. I’m not going to get into Eros’ intrinsic creepiness. Suffice to say that he’s been looked at in a new light since at least the nineties.
Eros called this meeting of the Powers Cosmic, see what I did there, to reveal Thanos’ last message to his enemies. It's not a missive of mutual respect. In another universe, they would not be friends.
That Thanos, what a card. So, Eros pooled these intergalactic resources to kill a whole bunch of Marvel staples.
Does anybody not think that Thanos uploaded his consciousness to Eros? Eros is supposed to be a love god, and he's talking about mass murder. Killing these guys would leave a hole wide enough for Thanos to begin his conquering again. Oh, yeah. Eros is Thanos all right.
With the agenda decided, the list digested, all that’s left is to begin the slaying. Except, Eros or Thanos as I suspect made a mistake.
You may recognize the Black Order as Thanos’ henchmen from Avengers Infinity War. They’re here to take back Thanos’ body.
A good question what with the book called Guardians of the Galaxy and not The Creepy Cupid Conglomerate. During the events with the Infinity Stones, the Guardians of the Galaxy split.
No idea what really happened to the rest of the team. Star-Lord's summary is good enough for me. Although, I’m not keen on Groot talking. Star-Lord and Groot are ready to mosey off into the next adventure when Beta-Ray Bill pulls a genius move to rescue his fellow heroes. Some of them at least.
Star-Lord ever the conman takes advantage of the Nova Corps loophole and in the typical anything-goes themes of the films, he forms a new team. It’s funny and dramatic at the same time, especially given Punisher/Cosmic Ghost Rider’s pronouncement.
Project Hardcore allows operatives to control the bodies and minds of assets. Nanotech is literally shot into the target. That bit of invasion connects agent with puppet.
Drake is the top Hardcore Agent. For his next assignment, he took over the El Mariachi stand-in Esteban.
Esteban is a lieutenant/body guard of the General, your basic Latino Grand Poobah in some banana republic located in South Meximerica.
The general is quite generic as is the mayhem, albeit well-drawn. Esteban is also sleeping with the General's wife. For some reason it's important we see her bare feet.
Esteban is a lieutenant/body guard of the General, your basic Latino Grand Poobah in some banana republic located in South Meximerica.
The general is quite generic as is the mayhem, albeit well-drawn. Esteban is also sleeping with the General's wife. For some reason it's important we see her bare feet.
I have no idea why. This is an Image book filled with violence and bloodletting. It's not meant to be read by kids. So. Nipples, no. Feet, yes. Explanation? Not forthcoming.
Let's table that discussion.
The idea of a lieutenant, undercover or not, sleeping with the General's wife is nothing new. The plot device has been done to more gruesome effect in the James Bond film The Living Daylights and to a more comical tone in The A-Team.
Drake's troubles began when Drake's frienemy and overall royal sphincter Markus tasked a team of mercenaries to make a bloody mess out of the white-coats at Project Hardcore.
Miss Price was the alleged oversight officer sent by the Home Office to audit/study Hardcore.
Apparently not.
Markus promptly kills Miss Price for being late to the party. She didn't kill the Hardcore Team fast enough. They already shunted Drake to Esteban.
Alas, Miss Price, we hardly knew ye. No, actually. We knew you as a murdering, lying bitch who deserved to die. You've only got yourself to blame for believing in a psychopath.
Alas, Miss Price, we hardly knew ye. No, actually. We knew you as a murdering, lying bitch who deserved to die. You've only got yourself to blame for believing in a psychopath.
What the hell. You're supposed to be dead. How can continuity between issue one and two go off the rails so quickly? Was that supposed to be suspense? Did Markus kill Miss Price or let her live? It certainly looked like he shot her in the head.
Where's the value of revealing--dum--dum--dum--Markus didn't kill her! It would mean something if Miss Price were a beloved character in the cast of the best television show on the planet.
Where's the value of revealing--dum--dum--dum--Markus didn't kill her! It would mean something if Miss Price were a beloved character in the cast of the best television show on the planet.
Maybe Markus kept her alive, despite having very clearly killed her, just for the amusement of comparing her to the far more badass Belinda Cray.
Yeah. Belinda Cray. The Belinda Cray. Cray, Belinda. Wait a minute who the hell is Belinda Cray? Again, this would mean something if Belinda Cray were a well known Belinda.
Writer Andy Diggle started off with a pretty decent idea, but this issue is plagued by unimaginative tropes. Diggle also seems to believe that I should be as invested in Miss Price as I am in say Miss Moneypenny. Hardcore hasn't earned that.
Regular readers of the POBB know that I think the high and mighty Batman Black Label title Damned is shit. Brian Azzarello thinks that if you put Caped Crusading Crotch in your book and write John Constantine as a dick, you’ve struck gold. Maybe so. Maybe I’m out of touch with what fans want. I’m happy to not be that fan.
John Constantine drifts into Batman’s sonar for Tom King’s latest issue of Batman, and it’s a profound reacquaintance. Batman met Constantine in Justice League Dark. He actually called for his help in Trinity.
King recognizes that the story’s not new. So, he puts together the best non-new story of this type he can. He even reveals what’s going on at the conclusion of Batman almost as an aside. As if he knows how underwhelming the truth is. I still won’t spoil it.
The tale opens on the marriage of Batman and Catwoman, but John Constantine narrates. His narration immediately draws favorable comparison to Matt Ryan’s portrayal in Constantine and Legends of Tomorrow.
The narration creates conflict. Constantine recognizes this. His mother died at childbirth, yet he remembers running with his mother. The run turns into a nightmarish time-loop that makes you wince while reading. It’s more disturbing than the Professor Pyg incident from last issue, and it’s all just King’s words, juxtaposed against Batman’s and Catwoman’s blissful paradise honeymoon.
When John reaches Batman, he meets him atop the gargoyles and begins to converse. Returning artist Mikel Janin creates an uncomfortable atmosphere around John, as if he’s not quite sure how he arrived and why he’s in Gotham. That changes when he sees Batman engaging with Catwoman.
John keeps popping up at the most inopportune times. The timeline also keeps jumping forward. John jumps along right with it. King writes John Constantine as a constant that simply relates what he observes. King’s Constantine is a catalyst and a truth sayer. John mentions events of the last two issues and pin-points the flaws in those stories meant to be there. John then emphasizes what’s really going on and notes that Batman knows what’s going on but persists, losing himself in the arms of Catwoman.
Batman offers an insight right back at the well-meaning Constantine, and the scene grants the reader insight into King’s philosophy of Batman.
Batman offers an insight right back at the well-meaning Constantine, and the scene grants the reader insight into King’s philosophy of Batman.
Stretching all the way back to the very beginning where King introduced the young heroes Gotham and Gotham Girl. Batman took them on as proteges. Contrary to the post-Crisis version of the character, Batman doesn’t hate superheroes. He sees them as a force of good. King's story grows darker and darker, off kilter from reality in just a nuance. More on Batman after the rest of the reviews.
Aquaman is weird. On the surface this is just an Aquaman gets amnesia story. Kelly Sue DeConnick however lays out her plan on an island apparently marooning mystics that practice mounting. No, not that kind. We’re not privy to that. The people of the island can call down spirits and deities to offer themselves as hosts for possession. It’s similar to Haitian Voodoo.
Hey, though. It's a great showcase for Supergirl's Robson Rocha. Aquaman and the woman who saved him Callie are the subjects of this ritual.
The Islanders ask Aquaman to accompany Callie to meet her mum, a mystery wrapped in an enigma. In return they will tell him who and what he is.
The Islanders ask Aquaman to accompany Callie to meet her mum, a mystery wrapped in an enigma. In return they will tell him who and what he is.
Meanwhile Mera practices her royal “we” for no reason at all. All this time Mera never mentioned that she was a fan of the Crown and/or Victoria. I get that Mera is now the Queen of Atlantis and that Atlanteans feared Arthur’s progressiveness, but this speech affect is a little much. As is the demand on Mera to pick a suitor.
Pre-Crisis Mera left Aquaman when he failed to save their child. Mera eventually forgave Aquaman and took him back. Unfortunately, she went mad with grief and after a mistaken death returned home. Originally, Mera was an alien from a water world.
Mera wasn’t really prominent after the Crisis on Infinite Earths struck. Peter David much later reintroduced Mera and attempted to restore the Aquaman Family. Other writers ignored that and mucked up Mera as much as any character in the DCU. Okay. Maybe not Hawkman, but still.
It’s still too early to tell whether DeConnick intends to bring Aquaman back to Mera, which is my hope, or force Mera into marrying while he’s away and presumed dead. In which case I would drop Aquaman. My reasoning is this. I like the Mera and Aquaman relationship. I like Mera even more now since Geoff Johns and Dan Abnett amped up her power and characterization to make her Aquaman’s equal partner.
I dislike it when writers try to pair up Aquaman and Mera with somebody else. It doesn’t really fit with either of their histories. Inevitably, they find themselves back with each other, but only after uninteresting subplots pad out a story that’s supposed to be about say Aquaman and Mera punching holes in Neo-Nazi submarines. I am not interested in the swinging singles love life of Aquaman or Mera.
I dislike it when writers try to pair up Aquaman and Mera with somebody else. It doesn’t really fit with either of their histories. Inevitably, they find themselves back with each other, but only after uninteresting subplots pad out a story that’s supposed to be about say Aquaman and Mera punching holes in Neo-Nazi submarines. I am not interested in the swinging singles love life of Aquaman or Mera.
Al Ewing’s story in Immortal Hulk is as great as usual. He’s produced an interesting take on the Hulk, demonstrating unusual perception.
The Hulk in control of the present day situation is the original Hulk. Appearing only at night and more erudite than the Hulk-Smash persona, who guest stars this issue.
It’s nice to see you again Big Guy. I really like what Al Ewing’s doing with The Immortal Hulk, but I’ve always been a fan of the Hulk-Smash driver of the story. Nevertheless, I’m interested enough in the so-called Devil-Hulk to keep reading.
The story’s least involving facet for me is the horrible family life of Bruce Banner. Bruce’s Dad is an abusive dick.
Okay. Yeah. I never really had a personal history with that. For some Hulk fans this is probably engrossing as all get out, but my Hulk is the split between brawn and brain. I don’t care about the psychological source of Bruce Banner’s anger. “Don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry" is all the explanation I need.
In addition to Al Ewing’s superb storytelling, Immortal Hulk reintroduces reader’s to Joe Bennet. Originally, Bennet was known for his babes.
It’s not a slight. I like babes. You like babes. Everybody likes babes, but Bennet excels beyond expectations. Every issue of Immortal Hulk he’s done has been visually compelling or justifiably disturbing. This one is no exception.
Enjoy this picture of a running golden retriever puppy instead of the highly off-putting imagery of the Immortal Hulk
Trapped in a nether region, its door opened with the Gamma Bomb that gave him birth, the Hulk’s emaciated form looks sickeningly unnatural. Alternately, the big reveal creature is wondrous. It's something green that Namor would have called from the sea.
If you could close your eyes while reading Megaghost you would hear Ted Knight narrating.
Ted Knight the brilliant comedian from the Mary Tyler Moore Show and Too Close for Comfort also narrated Aquaman and The Super-Friends among others. He's a touchstone when remembering a specific type of cartoon.
In the last review of Megaghost, I suggested Megaghost is a Hanna-Barbara production by way of H.P. Lovecraft. That connection becomes even stronger in this issue.
Within tis imaginative wonky idea time passed. Long enough for the people of Dunwich Heights to notice a giant robot ghost traipsing around the city and preventing other leviathans from destroying it.
It's this recognition that starts the problems. Martin Magus' frienemy's birthday looms, and what does he want?
The trouble is that there isn't a Megaghost toy, but his father, who's rather sweet to do this, searches high and low. He ends up in a toy shop with less than scrupulous intentions.
Soon, the toy's taken over Fausto's mind, and Megaghost and Mechastophales battle it out in a manufactured model of the city that transfers any damage to the real thing.
The sudden creation of Mechastophales as Megaghost's nemesis is pure Hanna-Barbara styled continuity, but the influence on Fausto becoming madder and madder with each page is pure Lovecraft. Putting these concepts together shouldn't work, but the blend is intoxicating.
What lies in neither camp. Martin Magnus' older, hotter sister. Morgan Magus is like the mod every person who gets roped into a 1960s horror film.
The way she refers to her brother and her accepting introduction into Martin's secret all draw on the maturity the actresses of these films frequently conveyed. This sort of psychological awareness drawn from the beginning of feminism and gender equality among contemporaries that contrasted the older male-female dynamic.
Ted Knight the brilliant comedian from the Mary Tyler Moore Show and Too Close for Comfort also narrated Aquaman and The Super-Friends among others. He's a touchstone when remembering a specific type of cartoon.
In the last review of Megaghost, I suggested Megaghost is a Hanna-Barbara production by way of H.P. Lovecraft. That connection becomes even stronger in this issue.
Within tis imaginative wonky idea time passed. Long enough for the people of Dunwich Heights to notice a giant robot ghost traipsing around the city and preventing other leviathans from destroying it.
It's this recognition that starts the problems. Martin Magus' frienemy's birthday looms, and what does he want?
The trouble is that there isn't a Megaghost toy, but his father, who's rather sweet to do this, searches high and low. He ends up in a toy shop with less than scrupulous intentions.
Soon, the toy's taken over Fausto's mind, and Megaghost and Mechastophales battle it out in a manufactured model of the city that transfers any damage to the real thing.
The sudden creation of Mechastophales as Megaghost's nemesis is pure Hanna-Barbara styled continuity, but the influence on Fausto becoming madder and madder with each page is pure Lovecraft. Putting these concepts together shouldn't work, but the blend is intoxicating.
What lies in neither camp. Martin Magnus' older, hotter sister. Morgan Magus is like the mod every person who gets roped into a 1960s horror film.
The way she refers to her brother and her accepting introduction into Martin's secret all draw on the maturity the actresses of these films frequently conveyed. This sort of psychological awareness drawn from the beginning of feminism and gender equality among contemporaries that contrasted the older male-female dynamic.
In the last issue of Exorsisters, Cate's former bad boyfriend Buzz ended up in a Lord of the Flies situation. No, he wasn't marooned on an island, forced into a hunt and killing classmates. Oooo. Uh. Spoiler Alert. The Lord of the Flies, Beelzebub, turned Buzz into a charming Betty Boop styled fly, for cheating him out of Cate's young, juicy soul.
This past moment also catalyzes Cate's interest in becoming a specific kind of occult investigator. Buzz zipped into the present day to get help from Cate and Kate Harrow. Something bad's going down in Hell, and it's also dropping angels like flies.
Writer Ian Boothby and artist Gisele Lagace open the tale with Cate and Kate hunting for the angel carrion. Instead, they find a curious situation that actually turns into an entertaining fair play detective story. The mystery ties into the angel phenomena, and Boothby comes up with some clever consequences based on Christian mythology.
The big reveal of what's mucking up the balance of Heaven and Hell brings in Cate's mother and her lust for power. In a surprising twist, she also interacts with Cate's and Kate's newest client who is a low rung criminal. The man's profession furthermore puts a spin on the whole Devil's con seen in literature and media.
Boobthy is the mastermind behind some of the most hilarious comic books, such as Futurama and The Simpsons. As with those titles, he takes advantage of Gisele Lagace's wonderful cartooning to include some gags that work within the framework of the plot but essentially are in themselves funny. For example, the Devil's vanishing act temporarily blinds Kate. So, she has fun with it.
In another scene, the ladies comment on inappropriate sexiful Halloween costumes. Kate's and Cate's fish is a weird thing indeed. As are Kate's eating habits.
This past moment also catalyzes Cate's interest in becoming a specific kind of occult investigator. Buzz zipped into the present day to get help from Cate and Kate Harrow. Something bad's going down in Hell, and it's also dropping angels like flies.
Writer Ian Boothby and artist Gisele Lagace open the tale with Cate and Kate hunting for the angel carrion. Instead, they find a curious situation that actually turns into an entertaining fair play detective story. The mystery ties into the angel phenomena, and Boothby comes up with some clever consequences based on Christian mythology.
The big reveal of what's mucking up the balance of Heaven and Hell brings in Cate's mother and her lust for power. In a surprising twist, she also interacts with Cate's and Kate's newest client who is a low rung criminal. The man's profession furthermore puts a spin on the whole Devil's con seen in literature and media.
Boobthy is the mastermind behind some of the most hilarious comic books, such as Futurama and The Simpsons. As with those titles, he takes advantage of Gisele Lagace's wonderful cartooning to include some gags that work within the framework of the plot but essentially are in themselves funny. For example, the Devil's vanishing act temporarily blinds Kate. So, she has fun with it.
In another scene, the ladies comment on inappropriate sexiful Halloween costumes. Kate's and Cate's fish is a weird thing indeed. As are Kate's eating habits.
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Batman isn’t really talking with John Constantine. Constantine is a creation of Batman’s psyche. Batman is stuck in a nightmare, and Detective Comics may tie into King’s tale. This would explain a lot of the events in Tomasi’s story and why I can’t figure out the culprit behind the murders. No, no. It shouldn't be this difficult given that only a finite number of Batman's enemies know his secret identity.
Though King is not explicit, Batman conjured John Constantine for numerous reasons. Batman does not usually work with Constantine. So, John’s mere presence is a warning sign.
The real John Constantine seems to be able to go anywhere he wishes even in the veritable fortress of Wayne Manor. He can also follow whomever he wishes. So there’s an inherent logic to conjuring John as truth speaking bellwether.
John is probably the most cynical individual Batman’s ever met. He needs a dose of cynicism in this Shangri-La. John is a skeptic, and he needs that as well. Batman’s current ordeal as well as the previous traumas involving Catwoman and his son Dick Grayson badly damaged his pragmatism.
The real John Constantine seems to be able to go anywhere he wishes even in the veritable fortress of Wayne Manor. He can also follow whomever he wishes. So there’s an inherent logic to conjuring John as truth speaking bellwether.
John is probably the most cynical individual Batman’s ever met. He needs a dose of cynicism in this Shangri-La. John is a skeptic, and he needs that as well. Batman’s current ordeal as well as the previous traumas involving Catwoman and his son Dick Grayson badly damaged his pragmatism.
Batman’s knowledge seldom knows any bounds. Before he met Constantine in Justice League Dark. Batman already knew of him. His next encounters gained him first hand knowledge of the occultist. For that reason, Batman’s critique of John Constantine, his characterization of John is valid.
Once again, King relates a chapter in his long-running Batman saga that entertains and can be enjoyed on numerous levels. At heart, it’s a stand-alone team-up with John Constantine. It’s a deep example of the dream-story.
It presents several amusing moments in the life of Mr. Batman and Mrs. Catwoman, and if you peel away the layers you're left wondering if in fact all the events in Batman since Batman’s reunification with Nightwing in the done-in-one King and Matt Wagner comedy actually happened. King’s long-game technique leaves me without breath and anxiously anticipating the next issue.
It presents several amusing moments in the life of Mr. Batman and Mrs. Catwoman, and if you peel away the layers you're left wondering if in fact all the events in Batman since Batman’s reunification with Nightwing in the done-in-one King and Matt Wagner comedy actually happened. King’s long-game technique leaves me without breath and anxiously anticipating the next issue.
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