POBB October 9, 2019

Pick of the Brown Bag 

October 9, 2019

by 

Ray Tate 

Welcome once again to the Pick of the Brown Bag.  In this blog I choose to review the best and worst of the week’s comic books.  If you haven’t the time for the meat and potatoes, you can always check me out on Twitter: #PickoftheBrownBag.

Warren Ellis visits Batman every once and awhile.  This week, he gives unsuspecting readers a cerebral stand-alone detective story.  

One, Singular Sensation…

Batman swoops down on a pair gunsels that become his special friends.  He thereby prevents the murder of a Gotham City Police Detective, his spouse and their toddler.

A number of factors resonate in the prologue to an otherwise, cross my heart, cerebral mystery.  Bryan Hitch’s art sports an attention to martial arts detail.  Batman protects a gay couple and their child, indicating a progressive outlook.  Batman very specifically lives up to his promise.  No more deaths of families in alleys.  No more orphaned children becoming Batmen and Batwomen.

After the exciting opening, Alfred informs Batman of a 911 call.  911 appears to be swamped this evening.  So Batman takes up the case.

Ellis demonstrates Batman’s skills as an old school sleuth and technologically advanced detective.

In this replication of the crime scene, he gets inside the victim’s head and dopes out an important psychological clue that leads him to the suspect.  Thus satisfyingly endeth the mystery.

In Detective Comics, writer Peter J. Tomasi employs much of the same elements used by Warren Ellis but in an entirely different fashion.  Though Detective isn’t a stand-alone, there’s enough gist in this issue to facilitate the action of one.  You’ll however be rewarded if you know how Mr. Freeze's latest attempt to revive Nora started. 

Nora by the way really is Freeze's wife.  The bond isn’t delusional, as suggested in an early New 52 Batman Annual.

Confirmed by Batman None the Less.

Mr. Freeze sent his men on a targeted hunting expedition.  Ah, but the best laid plans of ice and men.  The abductors made a mistake.  During the kidnaping attempt, they injured one of Freeze's unwitting subjects.  Negating her value in his experiment.   More incompetently, they left her behind and breathing.  

Mr. Freeze knew that this error would attract Batman.  How fast he couldn't predict.  In the conclusion to last issue, Freeze’s gang opens the door to the woman's house thinking they’ll see a prone victim.  What they find instead is an absolute delight for the reader. 

The current chapter opens…

When Batman reveals the handiwork on one of his compatriots, Batman finally gets the thug to crack.  

With Mr. Freeze’s identity confirmed, Batman goes on the offensive.  Thus demonstrating his fondness for technology.

If I revealed the engineering Batman engages, the twelve-year old inside of you would squeal like a happy piglet.  But divulging said data would spoil the experience.

Freeze and Batman duel with inventiveness.  Freeze creates a bioweapon distraction giving him ample time to get away with Nora.

After countering Freeze’s measures, Batman follows in his own impressively designed vehicle.  

Freeze’s commitment to Nora grants him the status of an antihero.  

Make no mistake.  Feeze did some horrible, unforgivable things, but you almost kind of hope he gets away with his frozen-in-stasis wife.  The women he victimized on the other hand are in the best of care.

If you’ve been dipping in and out of the Black Hammer and Justice League, this is an issue for dipping back in.  I’m not familiar with the Black Hammer universe.  So bear with my newbie mistakes.

Somebody trapped the Black Hammer group of superheroes in a Prisoner type situation for who knows how long.  Instead of the Village, they got a farm.  

A mysterious individual invaded the farm.  He offered Black Hammer a way out whether they wanted it or not.  He switched them with members of the Justice League.

The Farm affects Batman, Superman, Cyborg and Wonder Woman.  It alters their sense of time and memory.  For example, they believe the Flash died.

In reality Green Lantern and Colonel Weird saved the Flash.  The trio of heroes took the cosmic route to discovering the truth, and they’re the most successful.  Writer Jeff Lemire reveals the man behind the switch has a familiar face.

Meanwhile, Zatanna uses her backwards magic speak to undo the curse that befell one of the Black Hammer group.  This riles the universe something fierce and also exemplies Zatanna’s near limitless power.

Some as you can see are not impressed.  The suspicions of the Justice League escalate, and The fight is less of a typical superhero slugfest and more the evolution of hostility arising from unfamiliarity and worry for friends.

After a space odyssey, Supergirl and Krypto returned to earth.  Supergirl wanted to check in with her adoptive parents the DEO Agents Eliza and Jeremiah Danvers.  They were missing.  So, Supergirl asked “Cameron Chase” to track them down.  She traced Eliza to a Pennsylvania morgue.  Supergirl didn’t have time to grieve.  Leviathan goons attacked her.

For those not in the know.  Leviathan is Superman writer Brian Bendis’ latest contribution to DC Comics.  The organization is led by a Doctor Doom wannabe by the same name who's interested in forming a New World Order. 

The looney has been attacking DC's many espionage organizations.  Don’t worry if you don’t know any of them.  DC’s spy groups all suck.  

Not a single fictional association that operates in the DC Universe possesses the resonance of Marvel’s SHIELD. Good riddance if Leviathan succeeds with that portion of his plan.

Despite being a tangential connection to the Leviathan story, Supergirl has much to offer.  In addition to Eduardo Pansica’s always inviting artwork the book accomplishes many things.  

It’s a low cost explanation for Leviathan.  Having just arrived back on earth, Supergirl is just as in the dark as the rest of us.

The action content in the two Leviathan issues is phenomenal, with Supergirl on high.  She doesn’t know exactly what’s going on but she knows who to beat up out of principle.  Unlike her cousin, Supergirl is less interested in preserving human bone integrity.

A mystery for fans of the Steven Orlando Supergirl run presents impressively in what appears to be a duel between the Danvers.

If Leviathan's henchwench is Eliza, what’s her game?  Has she really drank the Kool-Aid? Does she harbor a different agenda? In Smallville, Martha Kent joined the U.S. Senate and forged the persona of the Red Queen to protect her son Clark Kent.  Perhaps this is Eliza’s motive as well, protecting Supergirl.  Maybe, Eliza really is dead and this is just wishful thinking on Jeremiah’s part.  In any case, questions are Supergirl centered and interesting.

Back in the sixties, Vampirella went looking to solve a true to life mystery.  Who murdered nine people on the Dyatlov Pass in the Russian Urals.  Instead she finds the doubly fictional Red Sonja.  

Red Sonja doesn't take to the intruder, and V must use her vampiric abilities to quell the rage in Sonja's heart.  

In the second issue of the alien/mercenary buddy cop movie, Vampirella takes Sonja to Charlie, an occult specialist.

Amongst other things, the specialist takes care of the communications failure, and readers get the first team-up between the off brand superheroes. 

Sonja had nothing to do with the murders, but she may know who did.  All leads point to a Russian military base, which the ladies infiltrate and execute with extreme prejudice.

Humor and a conflict of personalities are the order of the day in this fast-paced adventure by Jordie Bellaire and Drew Moss.

So I went all-in on Contagion.  Ed Brisson’s fungal takeover interests through an allusion to Marvel history and an accurately characterized group of heroes banding together to protect the world. 

It all started in K’un-Lun, mythical wonderland responsible for giving the world Danny Rand, wielder of the Iron Fist.  Yu-Ti now progressively a female character seeks out Danny Rand to stop the fungi’s spread.  Danny calls for backup.

Heroes for Hire return.  This scene exemplifies Brisson’s light touch when handling the Contagion.  Yes, things look dire, but we can still have fun with the characters and their relationships.  I don’t even mind Jessica Jones in this scene.

I have no love for Jessica Jones.  My animosity toward the comic book character arose from her shear idiocy and her Mary Sue status, promoted by creator Brian Bendis.  Jessica Jones was essentially an anti-detective.  

The Contagion spreads facilitating some good fights well choreographed by artist Stephen Segovia.  The scope of the Marvel Universe also spreads.  The Thing began the battle in Manhattan.  Iron Fist and Yu-Ti entered the fray.  The Thing tic-tac-toes to Dr. Strange.

Brisson winningly displays the heroes and the emergency workers in concert behaving professionally.  They try to quarantine the area, but the nature of the beast makes it nigh impossible.  

Saladin Ahmed's Miles Morales opens with a fun little action sequence demonstrating Ig Guara’s superb skill as illustrator.

The Moe

It bounces to the school where Miles checks in with his friends and antagonist.

Then Miles is back out on patrol where the drug trade takes on a new wrinkle.  Unfortunately, Miles has a web-slinging problem that's a worry in his battles.

This is a low-risk issue of Miles Morales Spider-Man, pleasant, acting as a good jump-on point.  Organic complications arise, and Miles’ engaging personality keeps the reader amused.

Squirrel Girl's archenemy Melissa Morbeck exposed her secret identity and gathered all the super villains she thwarted as a single committed force.  One of the most brilliant tactical moves she made involved stealing Tony Stark's armor.

This issue, the villains strike at Squirrel Girl and her friends, but all of them are pretty resilient.  The drama is as serious as the comedy is hilarious, and the duality becomes a theme of the issue.  

The canonicity of Unbeatable Squirrel Girl has always been up for debate.  Regardless, Dr. Doom made an enemy out of Squirrel Girl long before Ryan North introduced this fantastic series to fans.  North reminds those same fans that Dr. Doom possesses an unusual weakness. 

Doom cannot overcome small hordes of things, like an army of squirrels, very easily.  Indeed, he seems to be freaked out by them.  That said, how do you overcome the humiliation of being bitch-slapped by a member of the substitute Legion of Squirrel Girl Heroes.  Chipmunk Hunk.

He's going to pay for that.  If I have just one thing bad to say about Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, it's that Dr. Doom quickly becomes the central character.  Of course, you can observe that effect in any book that Dr. Doom appears in.  When written proper, Dr. Doom's charisma is damn near overwhelming.  Furthermore, the guest appearances in Unbeatable Squirrel Girl almost make the issue a Big Marvel Event.  

This has been kind of North's point all along.  Squirrel Girl is and always will be part of the Marvel Universe.  That darkness really isn't the way to relate exciting superhero stories.  

You can still have drama and the violence inherent, but you shouldn't eschew the more optimistic elements in writing.

When it comes to honorable villainy and borderline heroism few surpass Doctor Doom.  He’s well deserving of his own comic book, and here it is.  Writer Christopher Cantwell actually spends a lot of time establishing and exploring Doom’s character before unleashing a plot.

A joint project by Tony Stark and Reed Richards tackling the issue of climate change catalyzes all events.  Foolishly, some journalists attempt to address all sides of the issue by giving Doom an audience.

I say foolishly because Dr. Doom is not at all suited for the aggressive/confrontational style of journalism prominent in cable news.

Told you so.  Doom probably would have loved being interviewed by Walter Cronkite, Ted Koppel or Christine Amanpour.  Instead he gets Steve.

I’m of two minds.  On the one hand, harsh.  On the other hand, damn funny and over the top.  Doom’s probably not going to kill Steve.  He just wants to instill a lesson about proper journalism etiquette.  It’s still better than the way Trump would treat a journalist had he the authority.

With Doom’s thoughts about the black hole project expressed, he goes on with his daily routine.  During this time, we meet Petra, Boris' daughter.

Boris is Doom’s faithful servant and right hand man.  If Doom holds any affection for anybody, besides Susan and Valerie Richards, it’s Boris.  So, his hiring of Petra as a progressive follow up is fitting and makes sense.  Although she calls him master, I'm assuming she gets at least a handsome stipend to live on.

Doom is the rightful ruler of the amazingly prosperous Latveria.  The people are his subjects.  They all refer to him as Master or Lord Doom.  When they speak these terms its out of honest love.  Doom is a remarkably fair and just man to his people.  Though Doom believes he is absolutely right about the Stark/Richards Project, he also demonstrates compassion in pretending that he will be wrong.

All the facets of Doom ring true in his eponymous title.  Cantwell also contributes novelty to the entire persona of Doom through a waking dream that follows him.

This is a fascinating addition to the weight of his characterization.  Doom knows he could have been an even better human being.  Had the tragic accident not scarred him for life, he would have easily ruled the world with subtle benevolence.  He would have a consort and children to soften him.  

Doom believes that no woman could love a man as he is.  He therefore cannot trust any admission of love except from his subjects.  It’s sad and probably partially true.  Though there may be a woman for him, finding her would be an arduous task.  This is the planet's loss as well as Doom's misfortune.

A silo of missiles rudely interrupts Doom’s reverie, and here is where the action portion of the plot kicks in.

Somebody is setting up Doom to take the fall for an incomparable tragedy.  Doom though is just as angry as the world.  He would not wantonly condemn innocent lives.  So, he does the only thing a good ruler can do.

The pensive exercise in framing Doom’s psyche ends with a frame of Doom himself in what looks to be a highly entertaining political thriller.

In Outer Darkness Captain Joshua Riggs returns The Charon intact to The Galactic Service.  Riggs reports to Admiral Siddarth just as his daughter Prakash cites legal precedent to save First Officer Satalis, who intended to mutiny against Riggs.  Riggs intended to feed him to The Charon's demonic engine.  That's all right.  He has more important things to do, like reward the crew with a giant bacchanal.

If you read Riggs' last lines, you can tell that there's more than meets to eye to the orgy.  Riggs pursues his own agenda in this issue of Outer Darkness.  In another antithesis of Star Trek, the plans only benefit himself not the Federation or the greater good.  Jon Layman indeed seems to be hitting a reboot button through the most unscrupulous means.  Perfectly in keeping with an almost British reveling in comic evil.

Ghosted in L.A. takes a turn for the better as main human character Daphne acts less self-centered.  Unfortunately for her, her newly un-closeted ex decided to make certain of her well-being and followed her to Agi's mansion.  There he met a welcoming gay ghost, but the incursion of another human set Maurice, resident asshole, off.  Maurice reveals something about himself that throws the light comic book into a dramatic upheaval.

Will Daphne be joining the residents? Will she escape the ghoul? Sina Grace answers these questions by singling out the ghosts with unique powers.  Rather like the Charmed Ones.  Maggie, Mel and Macy possesses an individual power, but are more powerful together and can cast different spells.  Likewise, we discover a novel hierarchal development in Grace's world of ghosts.