POBB March 24, 2026

Pick of the Brown Bag

March 24, 2026

by 

Ray Tate

Welcome to the Pick of the Brown Bag, a column of comic book reviews created, construed, constructed by yours truly Ray Tate.

So the only thing wrong with Cheetah & Cheshire Rob the Justice League is....

...nothing.  I have only sunshine and rainbows to toss at this surprisingly upbeat heist mini-series by Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, Annette Kwok and let's give Troy Peteri the letterer some love.

The Justice League possess a Super Power Bank.  A device that will return superpowers to every hero that lost them.  Such a thing even in the context of a science fiction/science fantasy multiverse is complete rubbish.   I normally would have much complaint to lodge as I dissect its impossibility.  

However, it's a macguffin.  

It's a plot device that catalyzes the story.  So, it's actual mechanism for working or not is irrelevant.  All that matters is that it's valuable and Cheetah and Cheshire want it.  Not for world conquest.  Nope.  They want to make millions off of it.  That's a rationale I can respect.

They're furthermore willing to put together a crew to steal the Power Bank from the Justice League.  Hence the title.

Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva is the Cheetah.  She is not the first.  The Cheetah name and animosity toward Wonder Woman goes all the way back to the 1940s with Priscilla Rich.

Barbara Minerva holds the title since John Byrne, George Perez and Len Wein reintroduced Wonder Woman for the post-Crisis era. 

The Powers that Be rebooted Wonder Woman several times.  Her foes, the same.  Unlike the previous Cheetahs, Barbara Ann can no longer be considered simply as Wonder Woman's enemy.

From Tom King's masterful Wonder Woman #10

Cheetah though villainous is more of a victim because of the curse that metamorphosed her.  Rucka and Scott remind readers of that curse.  The need to eat human flesh.

Now, cannibalism is a dark theme.  However, don't get turned off by the Cheetah's struggle to fight for her humanity.  

It's part of the story.  It's buried beneath the surface.  It doesn't cross a line.  This isn't some 1960s Italian cannibal splatter film. 

Jade Nguyen is Cheshire.  Marv Wolfman and George Perez created Cheshire in late pre-Crisis days for The New Teen Titans.

Cheshire wasn't as popular as the team's previous assassin conception Deathstroke.  However, Perez's art leaves an indelible impression.  

So even if you forgot about Cheshire's history or only vaguely remember her as Lian Harper's mother, you'll never forget what she looks like.

Cheetah and Cheshire are natural partners-in-crime.  Although, I don't know where these two met.

Cheshire's encounter with Wonder Woman was singular and in a previous universe.  It's not like the two villains ever teamed up to take down Wonder Woman.

So that doesn't explain how Cheshire and Cheetah are close enough to give each other nicknames.  

This is the only conceit in the book.  You need to accept that Cheetah and Cheshire are old friends.  Thanks to Rucka and Scott's skill, it's very easy to swallow.

Third member of the team...

Lian Harper is Cheshire's and Speedy's daughter.  Roy Harper alias Speedy was the original sidekick of the Green Arrow.

Wolfman and Perez deserve credit for literally cleaning up Speedy.  They turned him into a credible DEA Agent.  They gave him the complicated history with Cheshire.  A daughter whom both hero dad and villain mom love unconditionally. 

Next crew-member, Klarion the Witch Boy and his feline friend Teekl.  

From the Demon #7

Created by Jack Kirby, Klarion is a classic occult mischief maker, and that's what the team promises the immortal kid.

You'll note that Klarion nowadays sports a blue complexion.  This change in design occurred during Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers of Victory.  No idea why Morrison or the artist made him blue, but after several universal reboots, it stuck. 

Klarion is without a doubt one of the least trustworthy denizens of the DCU.  Boy.  You just keep expecting the other shoe to drop.  He doesn't seem to disappoint.  

Yeah.  There's way more to this meeting than meets the eye.  Let me also say.  It's just swell to see Black Adam being a bad guy again.  Because that's what he is.  

Originally, Black Adam was created to be a one-off menace for the original Captain Marvel to fight.  

Squint and you can see how important 

Black Adam was to the Marvel Family

Creators however vaguely remembered that one Fawcett story and, against reason, kept bringing Black Adam back.  Popularizing the character until....

...Well shoot....

That's inexplicable. 

Cheetah and Cheshire also acquire Rebecca Sharpe, the Gambler's granddaughter.  She actually has a considerable longevity in comic books.  First appearing in the 1980s Infinity Inc.

The Gambler is one of those 1940s characters that's just too hilarious to go away, especially with his Foghorn Leghorn banter.  Granted every normal, human 1940s character should be dead by now, or not nearly so rambunctious.  Suffice to say.  DC has a flexible reality when it comes to time and space. 

Next, we have the brawn, amusingly named Featherweight.  She's the newest villain on the block.  Klarion, who crushes on her refers to her as she.  I'll go with that.   She's apparently the daughter of Ra's Al Ghul's other daughter Nyssa; created coincidentally by Rucka and artist Klaus Jansen.

Nyssa is better known in the television Arrowverse as Sarah Lance's Beloved portrayed by Katrina Law.  Or maybe not.  Doesn't matter.  

You see.  Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League is just as self-explanatory as the somewhat Japanese-translation-styled title.  

Rucka and Scott take moments to painlessly explain who these people are--without the lion's share of my history lesson, why they're motivated to rob the Justice League, and what's in it for them to be part of the team.  

Whatever their reasons, their loyalty to the heist unites them.  As with the best heist stories, and Rob the Justice League should at the very least hold an honorary position in the roll call of best heist stories, the heist is spectacular.  It's so brilliant.  So well-thought out.  It left me grinning throughout the read.

This is no ordinary heist.  The typical fictional heist only need worry about terrestrial elements.  This heist takes into consideration the whole shared universe of DC Comics---magic and super-science--to outrageously accomplish what the title states.  It even respects the abilities that comprise the Justice League.

I'm sure Batman took notes on Cheetah's and Cheshire's infiltration of the JLA Watchtower.  It will not be tried again.  If foolishly attempted, it certainly won't be successful.

Appendix

Justice League guest-stars found in Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League:  Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Renee Montoya The Question, Carol Ferris The Star Sapphire, The Red Tornado, The Challengers of the Unknown

Justice League cameos found in Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League: Jaime Reyes the Blue Beetle, Zatanna, Misfit, Vixen, Flex Mentallo, Avery Ho the Flash, Fire, Firestorm, Mr. Terrific, Captain Atom, Black Lightning, Blue Devil, Dr. Fate, Metamorpho, Detective Chimp, Raven, Cyborg, Damien Wayne Robin, Power Girl, Ted Kord the Blue Beetle, Yara Flor Wonder Girl, Spoiler, Starfire, Nightwing, Monkey Prince, Ray Palmer the Atom, Courtney Whitney the Star-Spangled Kid, Aquaman, Hawkgirl, Miss Martian, The Martian Manhunter, Swamp Thing, Donna Troy Wonder Girl, Mary Marvel, Supergirl, Oliver Queen the Green Arrow, Barry Allen The Flash

Please note that this discounts the imagery in Cheetah's dissertation on the Justice League and the Watchtower.  

Nicola Scott, by the by, also seems to relish the opportunity to illustrate as many DC Comics heroes as she can.

Sorry.  My scanner isn't big enough to demonstrate Nicola Scott's Double Page spread of the Justice League attacking Black Adam and his cronies.

This had to be a lot of work.  No doubt a pleasurable amount.

Cheetah and Cheshire is now available in trade paperback: ISBN 9781799509486.  Alternately, you can buy the six back issues at your local comic book shop.

POBB February 25, 2026

Pick of the Brown Bag

February 25, 2026

by

Ray Tate

Welcome to the Pick of the Brown Bag.  My name is Ray Tate, and I review comic books.  Pick of the Brown Bag started on the usenet way back in the nineties.  Comics Bulletin, then Silver Bullet Comics, head-hunted me into their fold.  Now I'm back, baby, with the Pick of the Brown Bag, under the auspices of my own blog.

In Vampirella issue eleven, writer Christopher Priest and artist Ergun Gunduz begin a new story that's easy to follow and an excellent jump-on point.  They keep things simple by skillfully introducing newish characters through Ella's witty first person narration and reinforcing the canon of the star.

Thanks, Ella.  I had no idea who she was.

I admit.  It's a little dicey describing a magazine/comic book series that's been around for so long with the word canon. 

Vampirella Magazine was 50 Cents!

Many writers and artists left their brand on Vampirella. The lion's share, including Priest, still adhered to the basic idea from issue one.

Despite her name, Vampirella isn't a vampire.  She's an alien.  She comes from the planet Drakulon where blood flowed in the same way water does on earth.  Notice that the original creators, aware of their black and white medium, puckishly played with the theme.

Co-creator Forrest J. Ackerman's concept isn't as far-fetched as you may think.  Human blood is mostly water with some iron thrown in for color and oxygen transportation.

As you can see by the depiction, Drakulon suffered from a planet-wide drought.  When the Arthur Clarke crashes on Drakulon, the still surviving government sends Vampirella to investigate.  

Unfortunately for the space explorers, they choose not to come in peace.  As a result, Vampirella discovers the truth about humans, by snacking.

The highly intelligent Vampirella repairs the ship and pilots it back to earth.  She escapes Drakulon's now inhospitable environment and forges a new life on our planet.   

In one fell swoop, Priest and Gunduz dramatically distinguish Vampirella from the vampires of 19th Century legend. 

I spoil this scene only to demonstrate Priest's respect for the past and to exemplify Gunduz's striking visuals.  Loving the red western look for Ella.

How in the world did Vampirella end up in the old west? Priest has got you covered.  

Incidentally, this is not the old west.  Rather, it's the turn of the century west; the brief period of time where horses and cars roamed the dusty trails.

The story opens with Earnest Darling, a fast-talking robber baron, welcoming vampire U.S. Marshalls to Utah.

The vampire Marshalls are here to enforce violence on Mormons.  Or so, Darling thinks.

The vampires are actually here to extend their own selfish existence.  

All of which flies in the face of Vampirella's belief system.  Vampirella is very much a live and let live kind of gal.  Oh, but she takes vampirism very seriously.  It's the antithesis hedonism.

Believe it or not.  Vampirella killed monsters for over five decades.  

She made a pledge long ago in Vampirella Magazine and continues to stick by it.

Of course, she collected more reasons to kill the monsters, including human ones.  Nevertheless, I still find it smashing that everything that shaped her character before still applies.

You may be asking yourself why Darling seeks to exterminate the Mormons.  The original mormons despite marrying multiple wives expressed a strange dichotomy against corruption.  I'm not sure how successful they were in the history books, but Darling certainly believes their protests against his operations--"gambling and whores"--issues palpable threat.

Some of Darling's operations include the exploitation and expungement of the Native population.  This doesn't sit well with Priest-created Vampirella hero Legere "Saint" Holland.

As it turns out Darling completely underestimated his undead partners.  A common failing among those tainted with hubris.  Dr. Sandra Mornay, the Nazi scientist in Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein, thought she had the upper hand.  Alas, Dracula.  

In this case, four coffins with their vampire U.S. Marshall arrived, but four hundred coffins are on their way.

Arliss expresses her step on a butterfly objections.  They make sense, and it's clever for Priest to use her--the most science fiction based character--to remind Ella of the dangers of time travel.  The hero's made his decision.  Arliss hopes to talk Vampirella, the pulp senior, into siding with her.  Ella's just not built that way.

Vampirella is way better than I even hoped for.  Despite being out of the series for awhile, I found re-immersion painless.  The stakes easy to understand.  Vampirella's monster fighting nostalgic, and the story just turned into a heist.  Back on my subscription list.

POBB December 14, 2025

Pick of the Brown Bag

December 14, 2025

by

Ray Tate

Created by Tiziano Sclavi, Dylan Dog is an occult investigator with his own long-running comic book series originating in Italy.  This figure may ring a bell to the English speakers of the world and not just Europeans.

Legends of Tomorrow's Brandon Routh starred as Dylan in a feature film that didn't gain a lot of traction, to be kind. 

Italian director and frequent Dario Argento collaborator Michele Soavi indebted his 1994 critically-acclaimed dark fantasy movie Cemetery Man to Dylan Dog.  

With those works in mind, it's safe to say that Dylan Dog has been hanging around in the pop culture consciousness.  You may have seen Dylan somewhere before without knowing who he was.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that he teamed up with Batman: ISBN: 978-1-77952-948-0. 

The story begins when the Joker receives a letter from an old acquaintance, Dylan Dog's arch-nemesis Dr. Xabaras.  

Writer Roberto Recchioni takes the opportunity to tie the villains together with a smart updating to the Joker's history.

The inclusion of a doctor in the house of the Joker hasn't been done since Tim Burton's Batman.  So, it's a relatively fresh revisit.

After reading the letter, the Joker departs Gotham for London and leaves Batman a parting gift.

The Joker's victimization of this unfortunate justifies Batman beating the Joker senseless in later panels.  In fact you can imagine Batman compartmentalizing his anger.  Letting it stew and waiting for the perfect moment to serve.

The prologue does a lot with very few pages.  It establishes Recchioni's and artists Werther Dell'Edera's and Gigi Cavenago's take on Batman.  It creates the relationship between the Joker and Dr. Xabaras.

In the next scene, the evil doctor returns to face Dylan Dog and his assistant Groucho, a dead ringer for his namesake.

Don't be alarmed by the colors.  These are out of context.  Within frame of reference, they work well to contrast the earthen zombie tones and the hot hues of conflagration.

Batman interrogates his various squealers and follows the Joker.  He makes contact with Dylan.  Dylan was the last to see Xabaras alive.  As coincidence would have it another familiar Gothamite made contact with Dylan before Bruce arrived.

It was huge shock to see Selina Kyle in this book.  In fact, a number of DC Comics characters step onto stage.  Some of which I'll not spoil until you've been amply warned.  

Selina belongs in the Batman universe.  Her appearance though a delightful surprise isn't unwarranted.  Other guest-stars in Batman/Dylan Dog are at best tangential to Batman mythology.

Tipped off by Bruce Wayne's appearance, Dylan Dog searches for Xabaras at his last known hideout and encounters Killer Croc, whom the Joker hired as his muscle.  Fortunately for Dylan if Selina Kyle is in London, Catwoman cannot be far behind.  

Recchioni's, Dell'Edera's and Cavenago's Catwoman is perfect.  Her reasons for doing everything fit her personality.  Why she's in London?  Why she interferes in Dylan's untimely demise?  How she can wrangle Killer Croc with just a whip and pluck.  

Catwoman's interference should secure Dylan Dog's continued existence.  Should.  

In addition to providing Killer Croc with steady employment, the Joker surfaces another threat for the Nightmare Investigator.  

This peril comes in the form of another merger between DC and Sergio Bonnelli Comics, publisher of Dylan Dog.  The meld produces unique undead creatures that soon overwhelm Dylan and Groucho.  Fortunately, not his Dark Detective co-star.

Now it's official the team-up between Batman and Dylan Dog.

Or not.  Batman doesn't warm up to Dylan immediately.  Their methods strongly differ.  In fact Dylan Dog shares more with Dirk Gently.

Meanwhile, the catalyst of the uneasy partnership finds herself in dire straits.  

I could rattle on about the animosity between Catwoman and the Joker.  Suffice to say it's 1940s long.  Recchioni may or may not know about the Catwoman/Joker antagonism, but he really nails the zeitgeist.

Catwoman escapes all on her own.  Yay!  She quickly finds Batman, who drops the pretense and invites Dylan Dog on his quest to take down the Joker.

This moment also begins the fish out of water humor threading the plot of the book.  Batman is a very funny character.  He just doesn't tell jokes.  Dylan is ostensibly an ordinary guy, and his reactions to Batman's ways are a riot.

Batman takes the poisoned Catwoman back to his London headquarters.  There we get to enjoy Batman's characterization as a detective and scientist.

Batman and Dylan Dog investigate another of Dr. Xabaras' lair, and they find instead a Jokerized Groucho leading a lurch of zombies.  

Once they overcome the Joker's undead troops, Batman takes advantage of the resources given to him to find a means to cure Catwoman and Groucho.  

Okay.  Okay.  Spoiler Ahoy.  Maybe you thought Recchioni would kill anti-hero and sidekick.  I mean technically.  None of this is canonical.  At best it occurs on one of DC's many earths where Batman, Catwoman and Dylan Dog cohabit.  

A recovered Groucho reveals the Joker's plans go beyond meeting up with Dr. Xabaras. 

The Joker intends to resurrect another of Dylan Dog's rogue's gallery.  I'll not reveal the identity in case some better versed in Dylan Dog are reading.  The name will mean nothing to the Batman community.

One of the reasons why I choose to buy these out of left field team-ups is that Batman is usually broken down into the facts the whole world knows.  I don't need to follow an ongoing Batman book that I may not like.  As expected, Rechionni streamlines Batman beautifully.

For example, he's wealthy millionaire Bruce Wayne.  Alfred Pennyworth attends to him as wealthy scion of the Wayne Family and as crimefighter Batman.  Selina Kyle alias Catwoman is a known associate.  Batman mentions Robin.  He answers Commissioner Gordon's signal, etc. etc.

Though Recchioni simplifies the continuity that surrounds Batman, he nevertheless presents a complex character to entertain.  He delves into Batman's philosophy, his utter hatred of the Joker, his refusal to kill.  

Someone who hasn't been following Batman's adventures of late as well as a seasoned Batman fan can pick up this book, dig right in and be rewarded for reading.  I furthermore liked Dylan Dog.  He didn't feel gratuitous or a cypher.  Rather integral to the mystery.

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So far, Batman/Dylan Dog has been pulp, science-fiction disguised as horror.  What with the Jokerized zombies.  Now, the book turns a corner and takes the alleyway to the supernatural.  

The first step in Dylan's investigation.  Establish whether or not the Joker actually succeeded in raising the dead from Hell.  

At first, Dylan Dog uses one of his more benign contacts.  A hilarious lady psychic who happens to be in touch with Batman's parents.  On the other hand, maybe she merely suspects Batman's origin story involved the death of his parents.  Fictional psychics can go both ways: really empowered and/or really good detectives.  

When she's unsuccessful, Dylan must consult someone seedier: John Constantine.  One of those tangential Batman mythology characters I referred to.

Again.  Hilarious.  This book is entertaining in so many ways.  The path to Hell incidentally gives a nod to Ghostbusters.  Yes.  I saw what you did there.  Cheeky devils.  

Even John an arch magic user.  I doubt he would refer to himself as a magician, wizard or sorcerer.  Nothing so "wanky" for John, thank you very much.  Anyway.   Although a practitioner of sorcery, John still needs a guide for Hell.

Jason Blood.  Jason was John Constantine before John Constantine.  

Created by Jack Kirby in 1972, Jason Blood and his alter-ego Etrigan made their home in Gotham City, but originally never met Batman.  

It would take Bob Haney and Jim Aparo for that to happen a year later.  Since then.  Creators considered The Demon and Jason associates of Batman.

...Gone, gone of form of man, arise the Demon Etrigan...

Etrigan leads John Constantine and Dylan Dog through Hell.  Along the way, we get to enjoy the Demon's terrifically imagined battle against a demonic minotaur.  

Recchioni imbues the impression that the Demon is helping John and Dylan only for the sport in Hell.  That is a brilliant explanation.  The one thing that ties all the different written versions of the Demon together is challenge.  The Demon likes to fight and seeks usually to kill or destroy his opponent.  Merlin first called forth the Demon to defend Camelot.

Once on the beaten path, Dylan Dog and Constantine discover the worst has come.  See what I did there?  The Joker did indeed bring out the dead, ostensibly for a playmate.  Not sexual.  Just somebody to pal around with while he kills people.  It doesn't go well for the Joker.

In the end, Batman, Dylan Dog, Jason Blood, John Constantine and Dylan Dog cast member Madame Trelkovski must combine forces to bring justice to the unjust world.  

I'm not usually big on hocus hocus.  The eerie elements in Batman/Dylan Dog were reminiscent of the juxtaposition against the real world in Kolchak the Nightstalker and The Sixth Sense, the television show with Gary Collins.  In other words.  Fantastic.