POBB August 7, 2019

Pick of the Brown Bag

August 7, 2019

by

Ray Tate

Welcome to the Pick of the Brown Bag.  I am Ray Tate.  I review comic books.  This week, it’s Batman, Black Cat, The Future Foundation, The Immortal Hulk, Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet Betty and Veronica.  If the Pick of the Brown Bag blog experience is is too much for you, and you need a decision right away, check me out on Twitter for encapsulated reviews: #PickoftheBrownBag. 

Finally! An issue of Batman I can talk about without divulging major spoilers.  Okay.  So, you know that Bane took over Gotham.  What you didn’t know is that he has the government's blessing.

That’s right.  Captain Atom guest-stars in Batman.  If you don’t know who Captain Atom is, don’t you worry.  It doesn’t actually matter.  

He’s there to represent a piss-poor government willing to acquiesce to a mass murdering strongman who keeps the peace by instilling fear.  

So that slow-witted orangutan stuffed in an ill-fitting two-piece suit is the President in DC comics as well as our sad reality.

Joe Gill and Steve Ditko created Captain Atom for Charlton in the sixties.  When Charlton went belly-up, DC bought the properties as a birthday gift for artist turned managing editor Dick Giordano.  

We see the original Captain Atom for the last time in the Crisis on Infinite Earths.  Post-Crisis, DC resurrected Captain Atom in the late eighties for his own series.  

That’s where he gained the distinctive metallic look being battered about in the graphics of Batman.  

Unlike the original, DC introduced the new Captain Atom as a military man.  That carries over to the New 52.  It’s a real surprise to see Captain Atom in these pages.  Batman’s met Captain Atom only once or twice in the Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha era of the Justice League books.  

Normally, I’d feel the need to keep Captain Atom’s appearance un-spoilt, but nah.  I can’t imagine there being a massive Captain Atom fanbase.  

Captain Atom talks to another surprise guest star, and honestly, I can’t really think of this as a spoiler either.  He’s been part of the Batman Family for years.  Tim Drake.

King ignored the strange business happening with Tim Drake in other titles.  He’s appeared in Batman before while simultaneously missing in continuity proper.  So, yeah.  The fact is King needed a level-headed Robin to balance out the crazy one.

Don’t worry though.  Dick Grayson isn’t dead.  He’s just screwy in the head.

Marvel changed up the Hulk some time ago.  Everybody at the gamma bomb test developed into a Hulk.  This is why Betty Ross is the Red She-Hulk.  

When Al Ewing rethought the Hulk, he came up with the idea that the Hulks are immortal.  Hence, the boast.  This idea may be the result of a single line in The Avengers where Bruce Banner admits: “I got low.  I didn’t see an end.  I put a bullet in my mouth.  The other guy spit out it out.”

The consequences of this evolution include the resurrection of Rick Jones.  Once the blue Hulk, now getting better after being buried a few years.  

The Hulks rescued Rick from the machinations of Shadow Base.  An evil organization that seeks to exploit the Hulks for weaponry.   They fused Rick with the Abomination.  Though the Abomination isn’t the Soviet spy you know.  

The Abomination is a suit of bio-armor now married to General Fortean, the head of Shadow Base and overall royal prick.  Together they look like something The Guyver threw up.  

Normally, the Immortal Hulk is heavy drama flying under the banner of body horror.  This issue however is one of the lightest.  It’s still poignant, but it’s also an outright comedy.

That’s Joe Fixit, the formerly Gray Hulk that used to be a Vegas bon vivant in the nineties.  He’s now stuck in the form of Bruce Banner.  He’s talking with reporter Jackie McGee, the homage to Jack McGee from the television series.

In addition to the Hulks, you have Gamma Flight.  Former Alpha Flight members teamed up with former Jennifer-the first and best She-Hulk-Walters villain Titania.  Titania's married to Crusher Creel, who needs no more explanation.  

Fortean infiltrated Gamma Flight’s space headquarters and killed Walter Lankowski.  His death may not be permanent.  As he is a former gamma recipient that became Sasquatch.  That said.  He also let a demon possess him.  Whatever the case, Lankowski's condition wouldn’t be so permanent if not for Hulk absorbing his gamma radiation, saving a helluva lot of people in the process.  

Gamma Flight’s revenge leads to an expected twist involving old CIA shenanigans covered in the hilarious docudrama Men Who Stare At Goats and a rousing cliffhanger that's heroically upbeat.  The Hulk and Bruce Banner are of one mind.  They intend to end humanity to save planet earth.  However that ensue, you cannot help but root for the would be destroyers because in the short term, they kill nobody and save everyone in their vicinity.  Fortean on the other cold bloodily murders innocent people himself or through proxies.  I look forward to Fortean beating.

Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting created the Future Foundation during their run of the Fantastic Four.  It consisted of Alex Power, Dragon Man, a young clone of FF villain the Wizard and some hyper-intelligent mutant Mole People—Mole Man’s little yellow army—as well as a few Futurama styled floating heads.  

The new comic book debuted in the back pages of last week’s Fantastic Four, but if you’re lukewarm on the FF, the ten page preview isn’t necessary for your enjoyment or comprehension. 

The Future Foundation starts in the FF with Alex’s brother Julie Power on a huge downward spiral.

Funny, Captain Marvel also experienced a severe kick in the teeth from life.  Meanwhile, the Future Foundation is lost in alien caverns surrounded by carnivorous creatures.   

The newest team-member and Wakandan whiz-kid Onome along with Tong refit Dragon Man to become a teleporter.  Dragon Man for those not in the know is A.I.  Because of power restraints, they can only teleport twice.

One of the things I like about Jeremy Whitley’s Future Foundation is the bond between the siblings.  Julie doesn’t get angry at her brother’s intrusion, she’s instead happy to see him.  

The sibs make cracks at each other, but these are as well all in good fun.  When she expects to be admonished, Alex just gives her a hug.  It’s all really lovely.

Julie only gets pissed when Alex jumps the gun on the teleportation.  She hasn’t fixed herself up yet.  

The Foundation’s problem gives Julie purpose, reminding her of the hero she used to be and still can be.  

Once she rescues the team at light speed, she joins up with Future Foundation.  It’s a pretty meaty preview with a reveal of the appealing cartoony art by Will Robson that will be seen in the ongoing title.

The Future Foundation explores space to retrieve the remains of the Molecule Man.  The Molecule Man is a reformed villain who Galactus in The Ultimates referred to as one of the most powerful entities in the multiverse.  Molecule Man also became a friend of the Future Foundation.

For that reason, we find Yondu escorting the newest member of the team Julie Power through corridors of a prison planet.  Whitley spends a lot of time establishing the setting.  Perhaps this will become Marvel’s Takron-Galtos.

Julie of course is not under arrest.  It’s a sham scenario.  The Foundation detected the Molecule Man in the prison.  He’s been scattered through the cosmos like Doctor Who’s Key to Time.  This lady has something to do with the Molecule Man, even if she doesn't know it.  So, she's got a get out of jail free card.

The jailbreak naturally doesn’t go as planned.  The presence of an unexpected prisoner requires a secondary escape, but this will require a more hands on approach.

It’s during these moments that Whitley properly introduces the Future Foundation members that may not ring any bells with the readers.

Bentley reminds me of Damien Wayne.  Visually he looks like the post-Crisis Superboy.  At least he comes by his attitude honestly, and it’s actually an improvement on the Wizard.

Onome is Bentley’s opposite.  She’s the very model of poise and organization.  Yet they both have the same goals.  To serve the Future Foundation and rescue their friend the Molecule Man as well as anybody else who haps their way.

Last issue Black Cat and her crew broke into Stephen Strange’s abode.  They did this with the help of a Stephen Strange villain who didn’t seem so bad, but turned out to be just as name promised.

Upon retrieving the Star-Stone, Xander the Merciless powered up and he didn’t thank Black Cat or her crew for the opportunity.

Now, Black Cat and her crew consisting of mad chemist Doc Korpse and former military man Bruno Grainger are trying to survive a magical onslaught.  

Our story begins with the charming introduction of Bats, a ghost Bassett who in a tear-inducing moment mistakes Black Cat for another Marvelite.  

This is so hilarious.  Under the impression that Black Cat is Bats’ one true-love, he follows her through the house and aids her whenever he can.

Another aspect of this book to enjoy is how the back up stories with Black Cat’s former mentor and now employer the Black Fox ties into the current story.

Running gags include Korpse refusing to believe in the supernatural elements that present themselves before his very eyes and the fact that Black Cat though a thief won’t even allow Stephen Strange’s living caduceus to suffer a bad fate.

Don't harm the snakes.  Leave the snakes...Alone.

Although I’m forced to accept that Black Cat now fosters a bad luck super power I still do not hesitate.  Writer Jed MacCay is easily the best thing that ever happened to the Black Cat.

Murder comes to Riverdale.  Vampirella and a still time-displaced Red Sonja follow. 

While investigating, Vee and Sonja meet Betty and Veronica, who decided to emulate Nancy Drew and Chloe Sullivan.  

The girls establish false identities for Vee and Sonja.  The women hide in plain sight amongst Riverdale High’s ranks as European exchange students.

Though attempting to keep a low profile, Sonja quickly impresses the sports department and earns a place on the team.  Apparently co-ed.  Nothing I ever heard of, but it’s Riverdale.  

Chu characterizes the coach as fully invested in sports and Riverdale.  He wants to win.  So, Sonja being bumpy in all the right places doesn’t phase him one whit.

In the third issue of Betty and Veronica meets Vampirella and Red Sonja, writer Amy Chu superimposes another mystery, which appears to involve time travel.

How Betty and Veronica, Vampirella and Red Sonja end up in the Sixties is anybody’s guess and forthcoming.  

Naturally, the art depicting the sixties Riverdale matches the Dan DeCarlo classic look of Archie Comics.  Maria  Sanapo’s sumptuous, realistic artwork was impressive enough, but the inclusion of the toon versions of Vee and Sonja are a bonus.

Regarding the out-of-the-gate mystery, Chu introduces new clues that nevertheless escape Sonja’s grasp. 

She also summarizes some leads in the victims.  All you need do is pay attention.  Although I question whether Chu will be so obvious in the reveal.  I can see a couple of more complex ways this series can go.

Speaking of complexity, Chu takes pleasure in sending up the Betty and Veronica personae.  Not only is Betty the smarter of the two, she is way deep.

Meanwhile, Chu notes some practicalities that traditional Vampirella writers glossed over.

Believe it or not, after her gory debut on Drukulon courtesy of Forrest J. Ackerman and Tom Sutton, Vampirella is seldom seen drinking blood.  That includes the Warren magazine.

Vampirella’s sanguine thirst plays a part in the cliffhanger which culminates in the concurrent homicidal investigation and punctuates the strangers in a strange land comedy.