POBB November 20, 2019

Pick of the Brown Bag

November 20, 2019

by

Ray Tate

In what’s likely the shortest Pick of the Brown Bag I’ve ever written, this week's contenders are: Batman, Captain Marvel, Count Crowley, Eve Stranger, The Immortal Hulk, Infinity 8, Mary Jane, Outer Darkness, Steeple, Vampirella and Wonder Woman Come Back to Me. The even shorter reviews can be found on Twitter: #PickoftheBrownBag.

Tom King details the final words of one of the Batman Family.  No.  It’s not Dick Grayson.  Dick’s not dead.  He’s just screwy in the head.  

King scotches two of my hypotheses on how the dead person might return.  Neither the Martian Manhunter, nor Plastic Man took his/her place.  That leaves one non-world-booting possibility left.  Until then, this is as real a death as you're likely to see in a comic book.

Primarily the art of Mikel Janin fuels Batman.  You’ll never witness a better representation of all-consuming grief.

This is but one of many panels depicting Batman's despondence.  

The moments exemplify the power and uniqueness of the comic book.  In no other static media can you possibly find such a focused visual narrative on one emotion.  A painting and photograph can only capture one sliver of time.  A film strip splices them together and allows you to see the true range of a reaction reliant on the actor's ability.  Each method has its pluses and minuses.  Comic books with their amphibian nature can let you view the feelings of the character occurring in a perception of time.  Time is relative to the observer.  Slowing down Batman's reaction panel by panel stretches out the pain.  We do not observe Batman's reaction in real time.  This is time dependent on Batman's state of mind.

 

Bruce Banner and all of his personalities agree for once.  Social and fiscal inequality leading to climate change resulting in the decimation of life has got to go.  The Hulks are out to destroy the earth as humanity knows it and usher in a fairer, cleaner world.  

Other gamma-irradiated protagonists follow the Hulk’s lead.  Betty Ross and Rick Jones each took a stand against the status quo.  These gestures however were openly altruistic.  

The Hulk's aim is more destructive.  He targets the financial world, and in the Marvel Universe nothing better represents wallowing greed than Roxxon Oil.

Alas, Minotaur, nobody can prepare for the Hulk.  

Al Ewing’s and Joe Bennett’s Immortal Hulk says something about our harsh reality.  Brutal horror usually accompanies their statement, but this issue is a little softer.  More suffused with dark comedy as well as great monster art and more traditional Hulk action.

Terrific horror illustration can be found in the second issue of Count Crowley. 

Count Crowley is a horror movie host for television station KSKB.  Her real name is Jerri Butler.  A former ace reporter, she fell victim to alcoholism.  Now her brother who owns the television station gives her one last chance to make good.

With a puckish sense of wit she becomes the second incarnation of Count Crowley.  In truth, Jerri aimed to sabotage her brother’s attempt to save her.  However, it backfires.  She’s a hit.

After her first show, a man seeks her out in the parking lot, and when he turns into a werewolf, cause...duh...Jerri transforms into a cross between Kolchak the Night Stalker and Peter Vincent from Fright Night.  With all the denial and forced responsibility that comes with the role.

Tough luck, Jerri.  Once confronted with the truth, Jerri addresses the problem as a level-headed professional. She breaks into the previous Count Crowley's home and begins to investigate.  Uh-Oh.

This of course leads to more monster mayhem.  For a certain person, somebody like me, this is a comic book that brings a tear to the eye.

Old enemies return and try to kill Vampirella by crashing her plane.  Vampirella survives.  As penance for the sin, she must endure a therapist named Daktari, just like the TV veterinarian.  He uncovers an origin and history that amasses from Vampirella's years as an icon for Warren, Harris and Dynamite Publishing.  He also investigates the events that led to the crash.

The current issue of Vampirella is a solid setup for the villains of the piece.  I'll not say who they are.  Suffice to say that they are infamous to the faithful Vampirella reader.  One of the cabal's methods hid her identity until this issue where she's announced.  So, kudos to writer Christopher Priest for fooling me.

On the hero's side of the picture, and yes, Vampirella is a hero.  Think of V as a horror-themed Kryptonian.  She hangs out in bed with her lover Victory, and the strange Neil Gaiman like Benny, an asexual wannabe Warlock.

Artist Ergun Gunduz as you can see lovingly details a higher than average skin quotient.  Vampirella has always been geared for an adult audience, but some of the comics could in theory be read by adolescents and teens.  The recent Vampirella vs. Aliens immediately comes to mind.  The company wide crossover Prophecy is another.  However, although there's actually little nudity and sex in the entire run of Vampirella, the series' themes are better suited for adults.

Gunduz's flattery of the female form is brief, and this issue is mostly about Priest aligning his ducks.  He draws together the Nuns with Guns portion of the tale with Vampirella's new relationships.  In concert, he unites the anti-Church themes with Nancy Collins characters--although with a highly different take--and also produces a secret identity for Vampirella that likely plays into her wanting to protect humanity.

Fun antics can be found in Mary Jane.  M.J. does her best to keep the Mysterio movie that she’s starring in from running off the rails.  Surprisingly, the problems do not lie with Mysterio, who's writing and directing under the guise of respected auteur.  No, the story begins begins with the repossession of a fan.

The blonde is Mysterio, and yeah.  It's a real fan.  It’s for effects.  Mallorie the production manager attempts to find out what’s going on, but only slams into real world brick walls.

This takes MJ and Mysterio on the road to Hollywood to find more money.  It’s a real treat to watch the odd couple deal with rejection and in the end success.  Along the way, you get examples of Mary Jane's fast-talk skills, and Mysterio's restraint.

Kelly Thompson shifts her gaze to the future in Captain Marvel.  The future Captain Marvel appears to serve some Darth Vader knock off named Vox Supreme.

He sends her off to kill Thor in the past.  Big battle ensues, but I don’t know quite what to make of it.  On the one hand, it’s well illustrated.  On the other hand fights between super-heroes without any purpose depress me so.

In the end, I’d say that there’s obviously a lot going on that the reader doesn’t know about.  So, as much as I’m blasé about the issue, I’m still willing to continue.  Though we're in the Moe, Larry, Curly phase.  Three issues of the new run is all I'm willing to give before striking Captain Marvel from my subscription list.  This time it will be permanent.

Wonder Woman Come Back to Me is also a big fight, but it’s a product the previous chapters' culmination.  Wonder Woman searched for Steve Trevor, lost on a strange island.  There she met Jonah Hex, yup, and a wayward alien princess.  This issue reveals what Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti foreshadowed. 

The alien princess isn’t all that she’s cracked up to be.  You can also read into the characterization.  The princess is something of a ruthless dictator, but robbed of the experiences, she became neutral to somewhat benevolent.  Allying herself with Diana and Hex.

As you may have guessed, this chapter of Come Back to Me segues to an alien gladiator arena.  Allowing for numerous battles and feats of strength.  For example, we get see just  how tough Wonder Woman is.

I’d be curious to know how much amperage she’s withstanding.  In the ring gladiators are forced to fight.  Their captors use Nazi tactics to secure their bloodlust.

So there’s a historical context.  Wonder Woman once again fights a kind of Nazi.  Upon witnessing a merciless act she takes to the ring.

The battle goes exactly as one expects when fighting an Amazon.  The reaction of the Princess’ hierarchy however amuses.

Also surprising is how Cheetah sticks to the truce she made with Wonder Woman.  Cheetah is a traditional villain to Wonder Woman, but her many iterations make it difficult to exactly discern which we’re dealing with.  

My guess is that this is reduced Cheetah.  Note the Challenge of the Super-Friends purr in her dialogue.  In other words, her identity is irrelevant.  Palmiotti and Conner simply want you to accept that this just THE Cheetah.  She’s some kind of cat woman thief that despises Wonder Woman.

Eve Stranger makes a welcome return to the racks.  Unfortunately the only thing I can share about the book is the new mission.

When Eve as a child became ill her scientist father discovered a means to cure her.  The trouble is that the cure wiped her memory of events.  For instance, she doesn't remember her professional and private interactions with her handler Jimmy, nor any of her previous missions.

These missions pay for the synthesis for Eve's cure.  As such, the Eve Project, sells her talents to the highest bidder. This time around, a man wants to kill a baby.  Will Eve carry out this heinous task? Find out.  It's well worth it.

Infinity 8 is the name of the comic book and the name of the ship from which adventure springs.  The name of the ship holds a secret meaning.  The ship's Captain is an alien who possesses the ability to reboot immediate history eight times.  The series has been doing just that because The Infinity 8 keeps running into a debris field that's caused oodles of troubles.  Despite making adjustments, to prevent catastrophe, the debris field remains a constant presence.  The last series involving zombies appealed to me as much as any zombie thing appeals to me.  Not at all.  This latest chapter is a return to form. A bad ass female cop makes a new alien friend.  

The Necrovores, Bert mentions call back to the first Infinity 8 series.  He's not wrong, and the physical examples give Agent Leila Sherad shooting practice.  Her lethal methods may lose her a few fans, but she's soon called to the Captain's lounge where he tasks her to investigate the obstinate debris field.  

In an unusual turn of events, she decides to take Bert with her.  This move seems to be purely altruistic.  Bert is an archaeologist, but likely Leila wants to apologize for giving him such a hard time.

This issue of Outer Darkness sets up the next volume.  Explaining how Captain Joshua Riggs commits mutiny of the highest order, steals his ship The Charon and engages in an unauthorized mission.  Accompanied by his trusted shaman Agwe, his crew of hand-picked mercenaries, former navigator Elox and a pair of unexpected guests.  Another yet to be found.

The Admiral, who we learn is a former rival of Riggs is so pissed off that he frees the fugitive's Gerrard from his prison.  Satalis is back.  He's got a new commission.  A ship and a score to settle.

A wind farm unites disparate groups such as the church goers and the Satanists.  They all seem against this good alternative energy source and for the poorest of reasons.  However when Maeve points out a cuckoo amongst them, the wind has its way.  

This is where we join the present of Billie novice to Reverend Penrose.  Billie's a little shaken after she saw what the satanists and her new friend Maeve actually do.  Speaking of satanists, look out any window.

The erection of wind turbines leads to a strange collusion.

And Billie and Maeve sort of bury the hatchet.  Together the forces of good and the forces of good discover something wicked blowing in the wind.  Of course hilarity ensues in between the absurd but charming plot.