COMICS: Dave's DC Rant: Shazam,GothamAdventures
Dave Van Domelen
Dave's DC Rant:
Power of Shazam #41 "Green Dreams"
Gotham Adventures #3 "Secret Life Of Walter Mitty Jr."
There's a Chuck Jones cartoon that fits even better than Walter Mitty,
but I can't remember the kid's name. If you're reading this after June 3,
assume I've been told. }->
Spoilers....
Shazam "Monster Society of Evil Part 4: Death Warrant": Oh, joy. One of
my least favorite plot devices for determining that a psychic illusion is
being projected: videotape. For those who missed my JLTF kvetching, if
someone is altering you mind so you see them as something else, it doesn't
matter if you're seeing them with your bare eyes, through glasses, or on
video. If you're in range of the effect, you see what the illusionist wants
you to see. And yes, the giant Mr. Mind is simply an illusion. Thing is,
Ordway didn't even need to invoke the plot device, since Bulletman watching
on TV was definitely out of range...the Green Lanterns arriving on the scene
could have told the Marvels about the illusion just as easily.
Yeah, Lanterns. Hal Jordan tags along, apparently before being told
about Parallax. And the bald Impulse also makes a guest appearance, as do
the Teen Titans. One good thing about all these guest shots is that
presuming Ordway is even remotely coming close to getting the character
right, I feel justified in not reading their books.
But in general, the issue felt rather flat. Like Ordway was focused too
much on the plot and not enough on the script. But at least the plot didn't
include a Cosmic Reset Button...the city that was nuked in part 1 is still
nuked.
Gotham Adventures "Just Another Day": While there's no editor's note to
tell which issue it's referring back to (and my copy is buried under boxes),
this is a look in on the family from one of the later issues of Batman &
Robin Adventures, the one where Bruce has a chance at real happiness with a
woman and has to give it up to stay Batman. The small boy from that story is
a little older now, and a major hero-worshipper...to the extent that it
interferes with the rest of his life. He prefers daydreaming to playing with
other kids his age.
Then, one day at the bank, the Scarecrow attacks. And because his
previous daydreams had little to distinguish them from reality until they got
bizarre, I kept waiting for this one to be revealed as another daydream, but
it wasn't...which to be honest was mildly annoying. Justin should have at
least briefly thought that it wasn't in his head, or something. Still, it
works well on a second reading. The Scarecrow has managed to make everyone
in the bank deathly afraid of the sight of Batman...including Batman. But
Justin's hero-worship makes him immune to that fear (there's simply no fear
to enhance), and his secondary fannish avenue provides a solution. He gives
Batman his Grey Ghost costume (which oddly fits both a small child and the
hulking Batman). No Batman to see, no fear.
In the end, the kids from school are all clustered around him as he gets
his picture in the paper, his claims to have met Batman being validated.
And, frankly, it's a pretty sad ending when you think about it. Justin
has only had his fantasies reinforced. He didn't learn to reach out to
others outside the fantasy, he simply brought the other kids inside. And
that might work for a while, but eventually the celebrity will fade and he'll
be back where he started...preferring daydreams of Batman over real life with
the other kids, once they tire of joining him in the daydreams. I REALLY
doubt this was Templeton's intent, I'm sure he meant for this to be a happy
ending, with Justin getting to keep his fantasies and also get friends. But,
well, I don't see things working out for Justin unless something makes him
wake up.
Dave Van Domelen, "Let those with evil hearts beware...for out of the
darkness comes...the Grey Ghost and Robin! WOOHOO!" - Robin