Pick of the Brown Bag
Part Two
May 8, 2019
by
Ray Tate
For Part Two of the Pick of the Brown Bag, I look at the latest issues of Detective Comics, James Bond, Red Hood and the newest team-up book Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet Betty and Veronica.
Peter Tomasi identifies the Arkham Knight and infuses a deep characterization to his creation. The Arkham Knight is insane, but insane through a specific protocol.
The Knight is not a typical Batman foe. The Knight does not seek fame or riches. Like Batman, the Knight wants to make Gotham City a better place. The Knight however sees Batman as a detriment. The Knight believes Batman’s fearsome mystique causes more harm than good.
The Knight leads an army trained in the art of fighting learned by he. The army takes a pledge of fealty and suffers when tarnishing the oath. The Knight lives by a code of conduct that cannot be questioned or defied. These facets lead to plot twists and enviable cuts to the chase.
The Knight captured Robin, but sought not to harm Damien, reveal his secret or hostage him out. The Knight wants to recruit Robin to his cause. As such, the Knight protects him from her disgruntled foot-soldiers, and in the end releases him.
Rather than see the wisdom in the Knight’s actions, Damien returns to his elated father Batman.
There's something heartwarming in the way Batman searches for his captured son, and artists Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessey and Nathan Fairburn help to emit that desperation off the pages.
Reunited Batman and Robin pool their resources in a father-son detectives' investigation leading to a Batman Returns allusion bound to make you smile.
James Bond deduced that a crew of Russian sailors killed Norwegian seamen over a gold cache meant to fuel Norway's fight against Hitler. Those Russians capture Bond, drug him and torture him. Along the way he meets an ally who helps him escape, in the middle of an air-strike. Bond, James Bond.
This issue is of course a chase and it's a good one illustrated by Ibrahim Moustafa. This chase however isn't really to be taken super-seriously. You know Bond will make it. Young James Bond must become James Bond. So Parker and Moustafa have a bit of fun with it. There are temporary truces to kill Nazis.
Admiration from the fairer sex as Bond's nemesis just becomes apoplectic. A hilarious moment that offers a callback to James Bond films and a very clever means to support James Bond's health within the context of the story.
After learning the Penguin killed his father, Jason Todd alias the Red Hood shot the Penguin at point blank range on national television. The shot through remarkable chance didn't kill the foul bird. As a result, Batman told Jason to stay out of Gotham, but Jason returned along with a Batman wannabe named Wing Man and former Teen Titan Blockade, whom he rescued. The Red Hood's mere presence scared Penguin into his panic room. This sparked an idea. As Jason Todd, he took over the Penguin's literally floating casino The Iceberg Lounge and convincingly outmaneuvered Batman at the same time. After all, Batman's beef is with the Red Hood not Jason Todd. Zing, Batman, Zing.
In this issue, we find Jason in Paris trying to rekindle a relationship with his normal stewardess girlfriend Isabel. These quiet, character moments including the one where Jason sweetly remembers a friend contrast potential turmoil back home and in the land that trained Jason Todd after his awakening.
impressed with the nascent issues of Red Hood and the Outlaws I originally purchased, I went all-in and bought the back issues in trade-paperback. I know about the All-Caste and Jason's origins. That said. The All-Caste stuff is confusing as all heck. A lot of mystical phooey that nevertheless gives artist Pete Woods some opportunities to stretch. I'm much more interested in the crime aspect of Red Hood.
Jason mixes pleasure with business in Paris. He confronts DC's version of SPECTRE and pulls a remarkably smart move that's dependent on his being perceived as the bad guy. The only people that know the Red Hood is in fact a card-burning member of the Batman Family, are the Batman Family. His Green Hornet method of fighting crime irks the Family because often than not they feel he goes too far. In this issue, Jason demonstrates remarkable restraint. He's often considered a wanton killer, but Jason is actually a calculating killer. He doesn't kill if he doesn't need to.
The story begins with a death in Riverdale. Amy Chu out of the gate sets up a fair play mystery despite the presence of Vampirella and Red Sonja.
Usually a cut finger according to every Dracula representation, including the original, attracts a vampire, but Vampirella isn't the culprit. She's the detective along with her Watson, Red Sonja.
Because Amy Chu is writing you can easily shelve this modern day Red Sonja team-up right between issues of her time travel based run. Vampirella incidentally met Red Sonja in the Dynamite crossover series Prophecy, if you're wondering about their closeness. The duo quickly learn they're not alone.
I've said this before. I respect Archie Comics staying power. The gang have been around since the 1940s. That said, I have no investment in these characters, and I cannot wrap my head around Riverdale. Betty and Veronica as reporters, investigating a mystery like Nancy Drew twins? That I can accept.
I can also appreciate Betty's and Veronica's intellects. Even as cartoons they were pretty smart cookies when not fighting over Archie Andrews. Note how artist Maria Sanpo gives Sonja a sense of humor in the scene. Like I said. Sonja and Vampirella are old acquaintances.
Sonja and Vampirella try to protect Betty and Veronica with the old it's too dangerous gag, but the difference lies in the gender. When a man says something like that, even if true, the line becomes sexist. When two powerful women say it to Betty and Veronica the line gains more depth. Number one, Vee and Sonja are the professionals. Number two, they care what happens to the girls they've just met. It's just kindness. Number three, the situation really is too dangerous. Not that any of these arguments stop the forces of nature.
Soon, Betty and Veronica are outfitting Sonja and Vampirella for subterfuge. Chu frames the moment with some really good comedic repartee. Even better than in the graphic I'm sharing, which is amusing as well. Soon, Sonja and Vee are tricked out as European exchange students. Their backgrounds quickly add to the hilarity and cameo appearances by the Riverdale gang draw even more comedy.
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