POBB February 16, 2021

Pick of the Brown Bag

February 16, 2021

by

Ray Tate

Welcome to a new Pick of the Brown Bag.  For this posting, I look at The Good Agent and the remaining two issues of Danger Devil.  No time for even the blog? That's all right.  I'm also on Twitter: #PickoftheBrownBag.

Dan Membiela's Good Agent available at Comixology returns with a sixth issue.  In previous chapters, the Good Agent thwarted machinations of the White Mother.  The White Mother is a modern Nazi with connections to the Norse Gods, obviously not styled in the Jack Kirby model.  

She and her gang of fascists intended to literally suck out the life from the citizens of Estrido.  The current Good Agent acts as an epilogue for that story and as an introduction for a new antagonist.

Rumors of a beast stalking the city begin to proliferate. 

Unbeknownst to the Good Agent, somebody is watching the detectives.

The fellow with the cape refers to himself as the Night Cleric.  He's an admirer of Moon Knight, if one knows the history of Moon Knight that is.  Soon, the hunters and the hunted find themselves at odds and in battle.

The Night Cleric counts himself on the side of the Good Agent, but their methods conflict.  This friction at heart is philosophical, which the Agent underlines in an excellent speech.

That's only the beginning of the hero's talk.  It's inspired by a powerful statement from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, included as an epilogue.  

Membiela's prose is bolstered by excellent draftsmanship, artistic perspective and character design, along with some knockout fights.  Furthermore, Good Agent reflects an up to date look at our society.  

The hunted's reaction for example mirrors the disillusionment of some conspiracy adherents after after being confronted by the ice water of hard facts and realizing they threw away their lives for nonsense.

The first issue of Danger Devil knocked me out.  The conclusion to what I hope only to be a first series impresses as well.  With any luck, you can order copies from your local comic book shop.  If not go to Source Point Press and click the comics button, which will shunt you to a secure shopping site.

In the premiere of Danger Devil, Danger and Kid Diabla proceeded to kick the ass of Jenny Deathwood, a lethal supernatural bounty hunter employed by the occult big bad Methalia.  Methalia's keen on leaving her spectral prison and ensuing the whole killing and subjugating humanity business.

In the process of the ass-kicking, Danger and the Kid secured an asset for their organization the Mystic Bureau.  

The actual kid Xenia is a gifted youth who unfortunately gets herself and others into trouble when she tries to exhibit her independence.  That said.  Her talent comes into play when translating an ancient text that reveals Methalia's plans and the way to stop her.  She however isn't enough.  Head honcho Sebastian Coronado believes the Bureau needs to work with Nick Logan.  Danger puts forth some mild objections.

In the end Nick requires saving.  

Danger Devil is an acrobat/martial artist.  Most of her rescues and attacks rely on physical assaults, but the creative team also add to her flavor.  

Unlike other unpowered costumed heroes, Danger uses magical artifacts to enhance her efficacy as a crimefighter.  Danger employed a teleportation potion in the premiere.  In the second issue, she pays the price.

Ouch.  The link also appears in the third issue.  Methalia's psychic attack on Danger sets a double-edged tone.  On the one hand, Methalia would like to upset our hero and force her into making mistakes.  On the other hand, why bother if you're sure your tactics will work?  Methalia fears Danger Devil like no other.

In Danger Devil, superhero is a rank.  It's a novel idea, and I like it.  The concept at once gives weight to the role and eschews the idea of amateurs belittling professionals like FBI agents or police inspectors, which happens so often in fiction.  You can buy it when somebody like Sherlock Holmes manifests, but not a pet shop owner who sleuths as a hobby.

The concept of the superhero rank allows for some good character building drama without undermining the action quotient of the superhero genre.

The blonde is Kid Diabla, Danger Devil's partner and ace pilot.  She's less like Robin and more like Kato.  As a result, she and Danger have a more even association.  Eve Austin the tech in the white coat is her girlfriend.  In the third issue, Eve takes an even greater role, although not as a costumed hero.

The gal piloting the blue ship is another of Danger Devil's rank, the Rebel Raider.  

As you can see, this idea of superhero ranking allows for some definite fluctuations in the cast's emotion levels.  Writer Tony Doug Wright introduced Danger Devil as a sort of stalwart, no-nonsense Captain America type.  He adds nuances to her character as the series progresses.  Now, in this third issue he debuts Rebel Raider, who is Danger Devil's opposite but not lesser.  

Bonus points for not actually having the two predictably mix it up.  It's much more fun and fitting, with the pilot rivalry, for Kid Diabla to be the irritated one.  Regardless of egos, Rebel Raider is a team player and important hero with the Mystic Bureau.

Danger Devil establishes a magic based universe, three intriguing super-heroes, a planet-shaking threat and a meaningful supporting cast all within three issues.  Art by Joseph Haemmerle is vivid and exciting with strong character designs and accomplished fighting sequences.