POBB April 10, 2019

Pick of the Brown Bag

April 10, 2019

by

Ray Tate

Welcome to the Pick of the Brown Bag, the review column that promises no spoilers and entertaining, informative blogging.  I'm the creator and writer, and my name is Ray Tate.  Let’s get this latest entry started with Astro-Hustle, Batman, Detective Comics, Doctor Who, James Bond: Origin, Outer Darkness, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Supergirl, Titans, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Unstoppable Wasp and X-23.  Not crazy about reading an entire blog or need a quick and dirty judgement while in the store?  Head on over to Twitter: #PickoftheBrownBag.

The time is World War II.  In the last issue of Origin Bond, James Bond discovered a group of Russian sailors had lured Norwegian allies into a trap.  They promised gold for the war effort.  Instead, the sailors murdered the Norwegians and kept the gold for themselves.

Even early in the game, Bond is British Intelligence.  So, he didn’t break orders or rank when deciding to investigate the curiosities he saw aboard the Matroyshka.

Captured, Bond now faces his first taste of what will be a long history of torture.  This treatment however has a smart motive behind it.

Jeff Parker and artist Ibrahim Moustafa create the quintessential James Bond adventure.  The story adheres to history and the intrigue of Ian Fleming.  There is however a modern sensibility to the female characters that updates Fleming’s unwitting feminism.  For example, in flashback, James recalls his linguistics teacher who relays more than languages.

Bond’s lessons come to mind when a young Russian woman seems to befriend James only to betray him.  Such a betrayal is part of the scene in Fleming’s books.  As well as mercy.

Red Hood and the Outlaws focuses on the war between Jason Todd and the Penguin.  As revealed in a previous issue, the Penguin killed Jason’s father who contracted himself out as a henchman to various Gotham rogues.  

Jason killed the Penguin.  Except somehow, the bird survived being shot at point blank range through the eye.  However improbable, such a thing can happen.  Perhaps not the eye.

I suspect the Penguin’s survival depended more on editorial decision on high.  DC attempted to replace the Penguin on numerous occasions and reverted back to Cobblepot.  There’s really just nobody like him in comics, and he’s been enhanced to the model you see by Tim Burton and Chuck Dixon who turned the Penguin into a fence with a legitimate business the Iceberg Lounge.

Writer Scott Lobdell ran with the situation.  Penguin was so afraid of Jason that one look sent him to the panic room hidden in his club.  Jason was quite happy with the turnabout.

Ultimately, Jason’s takeover is one of the most criminal things he’s ever done, and it is immensely entertaining.  Jason killed mostly in self-defense.  He shot the Penguin with the intent to kill, but the Penguin survived.  It’s still attempted murder, but mitigated given the circumstances.  Jason’s latest scheme however is nothing more than an opportunistic heist.

Moving in like a gang boss, Jason bought the Iceberg with money he stole from the Penguin.  If there’s such a thing as double grand theft larceny, Jason’s got it covered.  He even hired a crew, consisting of the Teen Titans’ Blockade, a Batman Club member named Wing Man and a cadre of former enemies. 

Lobdell introduced the fuller-figured Suzie Su way back in Red Hood and the Outlaws volume one.  I don’t believe Lobdell started with anything but cannon fodder.   

But she had a name, a play on Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees.  So, she already, perhaps accidentally became something more substantial.  A joke.  Eventually, Suzie became a recurring antagonist, and by the time volume two rolled around, Lobdell introduced an entourage of anime-styled siblings to complete her picture.  The Sisters Su are not the only callbacks in the issue. 

I’ve got to say.  This is a really clever move on Lobdell’s part.  Isabel is a normal girl, a stewardess whom Jason met on a plane.  How do you reincorporate her into Jason’s life when it’s so far from normal? Here you go.  The Iceberg is just a normal casino with a flourish of being literally floating.  Jason announced his purchase of the club on local television that we discover went national.  It makes sense that if Isabel still had feelings for Jason, she may go to the Iceberg to see him again.  Perfect.

Interesting enough, Lobdell doesn’t portray Isabel as the damsel in distress.  The whole club is in danger from The Penguin’s contingency plan.  Every normal person is being threatened by dum-dum-dum…

So, who are the Five Aces? Obviously a knockoff of the Royal Flush Gang that you would expect to see from another company’s publication.  That said.  Red Hood is oodles of fun. Villains fight other villains.  The dialogue is hilarious; the various actions and loyalties illustrated by Pete Woods and Rex Lokus lively and colorful.  

Detective Comics is a pleasant surprise.  When I saw the direction hinted at in Previews, I had my doubts and made assumptions.  I dismissed Arkham Knight as yet another extreme version of Batman.  

I furthermore believed the Arkham Knight to be linked to Arkham Asylum.  Neither turns out to be true.

The town of Arkham is a creation of H.P. Lovecraft.  Arkham Asylum pays homage to Lovecraft.  Definitively, Arkham Asylum is a landmark of the fictional Gotham City in the same way the real life Alcatraz is a landmark of San Francisco.

Arkham Knight’s name does not advertise a connection to Arkham Asylum.  He believes himself a part of Gotham.  He is also not an extreme version of Batman.  Writer Peter Tomasi characterizes him differently and emphasizes the knight.  The title of the chapter is “Medieval,” but those expecting a clone of the cult classic Knightriders will be equally surprised.

Batman’s latest case opens with an attack on a group of Gothamites.  

I dare say Tomasi was inspired by the disheartening science related news.  Batman conducts an investigation but finds not a clue.  So, he takes the logical next step.

Batman’s contact however isn’t home.  Instead, he finds his contact’s wife, who suffers from a strange fever that she believes only has one cure.  It’s not cowbell.

With the exception of Batman: the Animated Series, I’ve grown tired of Batman/Man-Bat confrontations.  This one is different.  Enhanced by artists Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy and Nathan Fairbairn, Tomasi’s newest conflict operates with an underlying heroic and desperate rationale.  

Batman seeks to save Francine.  Francine did not want to experience the Man-Bat metamorphosis again.  Events drove Francine to take the serum.  Tomasi persuades the reader that this wrinkle in the story had to happen.

Francine’s behavior gives Batman a clue to solving the mystery.  The trouble is he doesn’t have the time.  

Here, again, Tomasi surprises.  I expected the book to end with Batman taking Francine back to the Cave to sleep off her malady and he to digest the lead she divulged.  Instead, Arkham Knight attacks with a blitzkrieg, essentially kicking over the chessboard of expectations.  He follows through with a massive assault that’s a worthy challenge for the Caped Crusader.

Tom King’s Batman is a sequel of sorts to his “World’s Finest” story.  Lois Lane and Catwoman enjoy a raucous girls night out.  The story begins with Supergirl giving the kids access to the Fortress of Solitude.

She’s one of two people that can actually lift the key.  And yes that is Amanda Conner illustrating.  If Chuck Jones animated super-heroes this is how they would look.

The first stage of the game involves alcohol, which of course, the straight-laced Superman does not partake.  However…

That actually makes sense.  What do you get for the man who has everything?  That’s not a hint to the euphoric Black Mercy taking root.  No, this adventure is a complete comedy, with the exception of a few insightful stings toward the end.

Before that happens, you get to see how much 1970s PG rated fun Lois and Catwoman can get away with in the Fortress of Solitude.  

King and Conner’s invention as well as Paul Mounts' colors makes for a satisfying science fiction excursion of naughtiness.

Supergirl begins innocuously enough.  Kara, Krypto and their Colouan companion Z’ndr take in some yellow sun on a peaceful planet ideal for rest and relaxation.  This also gives artist Eduardo Pansica the opportunity to show off his less bombastic art.  Julio Ferriera’s inks and Plascensia’s colors furthermore set the softer mood.

The conducive atmosphere catalyzes Z’ndr’s want to share as much of the truth about himself as he can.  Marc Andreyko  demonstrates his skill at pacing.  The way in which he slowly reveals and keeps information from the characters creates a leisurely weave.

The rambunctious Krypto discovers the catalyst for greater story velocity.  By combining gems and Kryptonian technology with Rogol Zaar’s axe, secrets become known.

Is it true, or will the Guardian go cryptic.  No.  In this issue, you learn what the Circle is, what the Guardians have to do with it, how it became entangled in Krypton’s destruction.  You also learn Rogol Zaar’s role, how the destruction was done and the grandmaster behind the end of Krypton.  Furthermore, you uncover the motive behind the genocide.

I never thought DC would allow the mystery's solution to be revealed in Supergirl.  I thought for sure there would be a little note saying: "To Be Continued in the pages of Superman."  It’s all here in a satisfying adventure that doesn't emphasize action, but still filled with it.

The Doctor discovers intergalactic scavengers operating in a time period set during an obscure historical war.  She’s got them on the ropes, until…

A taste of the Doctor makes them hungry for more.  Interesting note for newcomers.  The Doctor’s blood is notably alien.  This has been confirmed and corroborated in numerous episodes.

Writer Jody Houser frames the attack with an excellent Doctorish speech.

You can just hear Jodie Whittaker delivering such words.  The depiction is by Roberta Ingranata.  She makes a terrific substitute for regular Doctor Who artist Rachael Stott.

Houser’s Doctor Who is really a composition of connected short stories dealing with the beasts.  In the first, which started last issue, she introduced the leech-people known as the Stileans who take stealthy advantage of war.  

By the mid-pages of this issue, Houser concludes the first adventure.  The finale depends upon a clever twist drawing on the characteristics of the species and the Doctor’s habit of making new friends.  The ending also exemplifies the Doctor being a scientist.  She recognizes a link in the ecosystem. 

The Doctor next travels forward in time to find her location less than a coincidence.  

Houser takes what appeared to be a throwaway gag—the history podcast—and signifies it with repetition.  She also dispenses with the obvious possibility.

The Doctor is of course referring to herself and her penchant for assuming the name Dr. John Smith, since her third incarnation.  She’s also embraced the Dr. Who gag started by a whacky-computer back in her first incarnation days.  Dr. Mysterio and Dr. Bowman have also been amongst her calling cards.

This time the podcast seems to have led the Doctor, Ryan, Yaz and Graham to another site of bloodshed tucked under the rug.  Yaz immediately has an idea.

The Doctor and her companions discover that’s exactly what’s been going on.  The Stilean behavior in fact mirrors the vampires of folklore, rather than Hollywood, but stopping these creatures won’t be so simple.  Houser finds an obstacle by looking at the entire universe of Doctor Who.

Nadia Van Dyne is the Unstoppable Wasp.  She’s the daughter of Hank and Maria Pym, later adopted by Janet Van Dyne the original Wasp.  Nadia is an escapee from the Red Room which infamously trained the Black Widow.  Nadia's also a super-genius.  Not the Wile E. Coyote kind.  Think Einstein without the mustache.  Her goal is to better humanity by supporting fellow girl geniuses.  To that end she created a think tank/inventor's pool designated GIRL.  It’s warded by Dr. Bobbi Morse, scientist and Mockingbird.

No, the mention of Tigra does not sway me to recommend The Unstoppable Wasp.  It only adds to the worth.  Tigra is love.

All of Nadia’s plans go swimmingly until she learns she inherited something else from her father: bipolar disorder.  Under the strain of fighting AIM now beefed up by a group of girl mercenaries, Nadia insults her friends and pushes them away as she carries way too much weight on her shoulders.  

This issue is about making amends and Nadia learning about her condition with a licensed psychiatrist.

Nadia finds that she has more in common with GIRL member Taina Miranda, which helps fences mend in a hilarious way.  

The difference between preachy writing and good writing lies in the way the writer explores the subject.  If the writer says, oh, she has bipolar disorder and goes through symptoms, he's just reading from a textbook.  Jeremy Whitley offers a philosophy behind the character afflicted with the condition, approaches the situation with humor and looks to the relationships.  The bipolar disorder is an element to Nadia's makeup, not the entirety.

Of course Unstoppable Wasp benefits from a multitude of characters.  Ying another Red Room escapee and Nadia’s best friend, finds herself in a new and intimidating situation.

Ying responded to Shay’s intense crush on her.  She and Shay are dating.  Shay’s father is much more open to his daughter’s choices, but her mother operates in a different world.

Ying isn’t happy about the way Shay’s mother treats her, and when Ying’s not happy, it’s not a pretty sight.  Though Ying's solo scene with Shay's mother is extremely well-written drama and carried to the fullest by artists Alti Firmansyan and Espen Grundetjern.  

Squirrel Girl is as much about Loki as it is about Squirrel Girl.  There’s a War of the Realms going on, and Ryan North takes advantage by clearing the air about Loki.  Is he a good Trickster or a bad Trickster?

Maybe a little of both.  Fact is, Loki cannot be a Trickster in a corrupt, evil world.  Loki can play tricks on Dark Elves and Frost Giants all he likes, but the reactions won’t be nearly as rewarding as they would be from good and neutral folk.  

That said.  Squirrel Girl’s status in the Marvel line is questionable at best.  It seems very likely that nothing that North writes actually counts.  On the other hand, similar to Tom King, he’s also actually writing a consistent canon for the Marvel Universe that doesn't really veer all that far from the story so far.  Squirrel Girl sporting a sweet new uniform even fights Frost Giants, like she would if she were actually in Marvel continuity. 

Loki is the outlier.  On the one hand, Ryan North adhered to the Loki trying to atone in his own book.  The other hand placed Loki amidst Malekith’s armies in The Mighty Thor.  Lady Jane Thor was mighty prejudiced against him for obvious reasons.  Loki mortally stabbed his adopted mother Freya.  Except that turned out to be ruse, a painful ruse, but a ruse none the less.  During these stages, Loki took Dr. Strange’s place which seems like the kind of dickish move that old Loki would make.  He also wet his tights upon seeming the Dread Dormammu.  So, there’s a lot of give and take involving Loki and his participation in the War of the Realms.  According to Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, he's on the up and up.  He still appears to motivated by self-interest most of the time, but he also sees the bigger picture and displays loyalty to his few friends.

Laura Kinney is X-23 a clone of Wolverine.  Gabby is a clone of she.  Laura unofficially adopted Gabby, and together, they’ve been hunting down Alchemax operatives using Laura’s DNA for sinister purpose.  This issue is about a conflict between the sisters.

Laura and Gabby infiltrate a subsidiary of Alchemax, and all seems to be going according to plan.

However, Gabby senses something that triggers rebellion against Laura's single-minded aim to curtail the creation of new Kinneys.

A lot of the surface-story seems repetitive when you say it or explain it, but each mission is unique in presentation.  This one is poignant because of the events that occurred in the last chapters.  

Writer Mariko Tamaki also uses the schism to show how Laura is really efficient at being a super-hero, but not so much being family to somebody.

Mother Blood appears to have won.  She will infuse the multiverse with the Red.  One of the living forces introduced by Scott Snyder in his New 52 run of Swamp Thing.  Standing in her way, hardly.  The Titans.

The final battle will require heroic sacrifice and the amped up power of Raven.  It's welcome to see Raven at full capacity given her perpetually weakened state due to the machinations of Blood.

This is actually the first time I've been introduced to this version of Raven.  The original Raven was more of a spiritual, peaceful character.  This one is a much blunter and more powerful.

The culmination of another Dan Abnett long game produces satisfying results.  Superficially it's similar to what Josh Williamson did in his lousy Batman/Flash team-up.  Superficially.  The difference lies in the shelf life.  Abnett broke a few characters that weren't really doing anything but hanging around in DC limbo.  He also didn't break them to the point of ineffectiveness.  When he repairs those characters, it's an uplifting moment and one that makes sense.  I look forward to Abnett's next foray.

Behind Captain Rigg’s back, First Officer Satalis rescued a fellow vested lieutenant that was doing a Captain America out in space.  He was frozen in a pod.  As it turns out, Rigg was absolutely right.  The arch-fiend inside the lieutenant blew a hole in The Charon and sent it careening to an ice planet. 

Rigg now must make repairs, tend to the wounded crew and recover the souls of any that died.  More out of self-interest than humanity or altruism.  The more crewman that he brings to Sagittarius Alpha alive, the better his space cred.

To make matters worse Shinto Shin is a total bastard serial killer.  He’s already killed the away team sent to find shelter.  There's also a demon running around.

The last issue of Outer Darkness began with a prologue set in the future.  There, the same demon ran amok, killing colonists left and right.  This issue explains why the demon got away with it.

Basically, Rigg's mathematicians and exorcists dissipated the demon for scores of years, but they didn't actually kill it. Rigg though doesn't force a solution.  He up and leaves.  This is contrary to what a Federation officer would do.  In fact Captain Jean-Luc Picard sent a photon torpedo kiss to the intelligent ooze that killed Tasha Yar.  

Rigg does not care that the future will need to deal with this problem, he essentially delivered to the planet.  Mind you, it wasn't really his fault.  This snafu lies on the shoulders of Satalis.  Had he not brought the popsicle on board, the surprise never would have occurred.

Chen Andalou is a wanted man.  Now he’s even more wanted because he broke out of an intergalactic jail.

Naturally, nobody’s going down without a fight because this is an action comic book, and artist Tom Reilly illustrates swashbuckling action quite well.

After the battle, the object of Chen’s desires Svetlana decides to reward her new crewman.

And parents warning, it gets a little more explicit from there.  Of course, you might be thinking to yourself, her man The Pirate Carbon John died in the barrage, and this amazing gift just may be a little too soon.  Not to worry, Svetlana is a complete scoundrel.  Her plans soon force Chen to jump ship.  The second issue of Astro-Hustle is another escapade equaling the exploitation entertainment value of the premiere.