{REVIEW} Pick of the Brown Bag: Promethea, Marvel and DC
Rayctate
A weekly Review
by
Ray Tate
The July 2000 I Was Sleepy Issue
Welcome to the Pick of the Brown Bag. In this column, I pick from my current
batch, the most enjoyable and the most disappointing comic books. E-mailed
compliments and criticism are welcome. You may also post your complaints and
kudos to rec.arts.comics.misc. Argument is encouraged. Flamers will be loomed.
Contenders
Batman:LODK 133**
Batman: Outlaws 1**
Detective Comics 748
DC 2000 1**
Hellcat 1 :(
JLA 44
Martian Manhunter 22**
Promethea 9
Reviews available at Silver Bullet Comic Books Online
www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com
Adventures of Superman 582
Angel 9**
Authority 16 **
Avengers Infinity 1**
Batman Gotham Adventures 28**
Dark Horse Presents 155**
Heroes vs. Hitler**
Impulse 64
Scooby Doo 38**
Spider-Girl 24**
Stars and STRIPE 14**
Superman 160
Superman Adventures 44**
Titans Annual 1
Wonder Woman 159
X-Men: Children of the Atom 5 :(
X-Men: Hidden Years 10 :(
Young Justice 23**
Just to show the reader that yes Alan Moore can still get gritty, PROMETHEA
inspires no deep thought. We just marvel at perfectly delivered dialogue
tersely delivered and a twist to the usual cult antics. Sophie's
characterization becomes more decisive, and such is the skill of Mr. Moore's
writing that we see it as a natural progression rather than tacked-on.
J.H. Williams and Mick Gray create a serious mood that increases the tension
until the whimsical release done of course in fairy tale colors. Their
Promethea dazzles but at the same time becomes a figure of fear. The
conflicting aurae go against the archetype. The more open, star-spangled heroes
are those who evoke awe and idealism, but Promethea's face is now cast in
shadow. Her blank eyes appear alien.
Doug Moench once more plies the information he gathered for his "Big Book of
Conspiracies" into a bang-up Batman elseworlds story. What? You don't see the
elseworlds logo on your book? Huh, must be a secret plot.
If this isn't an elseworlds story it's basis stands on a weak foundation. The
story would not work in a DCU that is filled to the brim with masked vigilantes
on whom the government has decided to unleash the dogs of war. Batman cannot be
an urban myth if he is a member of the JLA. The government cannot pretend
convincingly to be surprised of his existence when they have hit the
Trouble-alert. For Burton's sake, the DEO have a file on him. Chase admires
him. An FBI agent teamed with him in the firs Larry Hama post No Man's Land
issue of "Batman."
No. This story works only if there are no other super-heroes apart from those
in Gotham. Else the government would not dare make a move against him or his
family for fear of super-powered reprisal. When the Joker crippled Babs every
cape and cowl wanted a piece of his smile. Do you really believe Superman would
allow a bat-hunt to be conducted by a dicey legal maneuver on his planet?
So, how do we think about this first chapter in the unusual mini-series?
Imagine if you will that Joel Schumacher was attacked by angry vigilante latex
makers before he could vomit "Nippleman Forever." In desperation, the powers
that be beg Michael Keaton to come back and reprise his role. They burn the
script. Mr. Keaton agrees upon seeing the new script and meeting new director
John Glen. The third Batman movie becomes a success rather than a debacle. A
fourth is made introducing Nightwing. A fifth is made premiering Batgirl. A
sixth is made debuting Huntress and Batgirl Jr. who take Babs' place when she
is brutally gunned down by Joe Chill.
Michael Keaton stars as the Dark Knight in the eighth installment BATMAN
OUTLAWS. Mr. Keaton has lost none of his screen resonance. He moves like
Batman, and the tasteful armor additions only emphasize the realism of his
mortality. When Mr. Keaton speaks the best dialogue scripter Mr. Moench has
ever produced since "Batman/Predator." The script seems written to account for
Mr. Keaton's unsurpassed threatening whisper.
Robin portrayed by "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"'s Nicholas Brendan is ore fully
integrated as Batman's partner. Rob Estes' Nightwing is powerful but ultimately
overshadowed by Jeri Ryan's Huntress who cracks one's toe-nails when delivering
Mr. Moench's neat spins on cliché lines. Daphne Ashbrook wonderfully taps into
Babs' strength. The one character who seems out of place is Batgirl Jr. The
actress or stunt person confined in the costume designer's left-overs was wise
to keep her name out of the credits since she only gives the book a visual nod
to comic book continuity.
The supporting cast live up to their name. Ed Asner in the brief moments he
portrays Kirk polishes the natural irascibility he honed for such better known
creations as Lou Grant. Billy Zane, very cute move to cast the Phantom against
type, creates a strong presence with the rather shell-shocked Redmun, but
perhaps Clint Eastwood, a man ideal to portray a serious Batman from the
sixties, surprises most with his characterization of Commissioner James Gordon.
Mr. Eastwood usually plays those who release their tension. As Gordon, he must
bottle it.
The special effects of sinister black helicopter models and their silent
attacks--leading to glowing pyrotechnics--do not sweep away a smart plot
pitting the Batman Family against a corrupt shadow government. The newly
constructed Gotham though brighter than the late Anton Furst's creation does
not create an out of character environment, nor does it swallow the actors. An
impressive addition to the franchise.
In LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT Archie Goodwin's Batman's trades in fear. Terror
is his weapon, and yet he's optimistic in that he makes a difference.
"He'll walk the streets...But he'll never stop looking over his shoulder, Jim.
A small price for arming rival teen gangs like combat soldiers...But he'll pay
it for life."
Intelligetn, yet with a means sense of humor, he also looks to the future. He
doesn't stay in the moment. The Wayne foundation represents this aspect as does
his pre-emptive strikes. Batman isn't playing catch-up. He stops crime. All
those he defeats can only be charged with the attempt to commit a heinous
crime. This is what I've always found unique. A detective back-tracks like
Columbo. He cannot act until a crime is successful. Batman uses his skills as a
detective to predict and prevent. His abilities in the detective role define
him as a hero.
As Batman looks to the future, his argent past looks into him. The return of
Silver St. Cloud introduces another distraction in Colonel Brass' scheme, yet
her intended purpose changes as the story evolves. The scene where Silver and
Bruce finally meet gives the reader a mature conversation that wastes no words
and dissolves not into melodramatic schmaltz. Instead, you find their honesty
touching, and you root for their togetherness to work.
Silver's intelligence comes into play during the latter half of the book. It is
here you see how much she can compliment Batman's life and not be the suspected
hindrance. Frankly, I've always questioned this them in the genre. Why couldn't
a significant other be a part of Batman's world? The key would be to keep her
involved and not isolate her from the Batman's dealings. She would not need to
put on a mask. She could however oil the ratiocinative process. If Alfred can
occasionally provide an answer or a vital clue to solving a mystery, so can
Silver St. Cloud. Her involvement may even spare a bruise or two. Robert B.
Parker seems to do well with Spenser and Susan Silverman.
If Marshall Rogers' separation from comic books ill affected his artwork, it
does not show in his current renditions. The promise of the cover can be found
within these pages. Batman attacks his foes with a sorely missed precision and
startles and scares with a mythic presence. What Mr. Rogers does with Batman's
cape most can only dream in accomplishing. The cape's misdirection creates the
illusion that Batman never once stands still. He always seems to be be shifting
behind the cloak.
Mr. Rogers' silver mining of course is superb, and his cinematic quality shows
how much of today's artwork artwork simply cannot stand up to the silver
age/bronze age masters. The mobile camera snaps Batman from behind then races
forward. An elimination of the sequencing of panels creates perfect timing when
a table shatters. The flourish of superimposition segues with style. Close-ups
and body language enhance Gordon's realism. The "extras" strengthen a sense of
place rather than than reveal the stage. The drafting duplicates the
substantiality of on-location filming rather than cardboard sets.
Greg Rucka relies far too much on No Man's Land miniutia in "Detective."
Because of this, I could not see nor care about the conflict. Phil Hester
however is an excellent addition to the team and better serves the title.
I loved MARTIAN MANHUNTER for a lot of reasons--the portrayal of Diane Meade as
a detective in her own right, the sharpness of the Dark Knight, but the main
reason I'm recommending the book is because J'onn seems to have a lot of fun
portraying Batman. He seems like a big, green shape-shifting kid playing
dress-up, and then when he's caught he becomes suitably embarrassed.
Mark Waid's second chapter in the JLA's battle against Ra's Al Ghul gripped me
by the throat and locked on with the power of a pit bull, but then the author
took a step too far. He decided this awesome war needed a twist, and that twist
shatters the plausibility of his story.
SPOILER AHOY.
Under no circumstances would Batman plot the end of the Justice League. It's
ridiculous. Even if you make the argument of possession, Batman would still not
engage in tactics so deadly.
His plan against Wonder Woman for instance isn't designed to delay the Amazon
until a sorcerer can be contacted to free her of hypothetical demons. Batman's
plan to stop her is to force her to have a heart attack. He intends to damage
her heart. I sincerely doubt the paddles used by humans would have any effect
on her.
There's no guarantee that Batman can transport her quickly enough to Paradise
Island to use the Purple Healing Rays thoughtfully returned to continuity by
Grant Morrison, and Black Lightning may not be on hand to provide her with a
sufficient enough jolt. After she has a heart attack, she is dead.
He also seems to be using Scarecrow's fear toxin on Aquaman. You know, I love
Aquaman. He's a great hero. You need the water-guy to patrol the oceans. Okay.
You don't need him looking like a deadhead who has access to a blacksmith and
acting like a bargain basement Namor, but still. The point is using fear toxin
on Aquaman--especially one whose mind has been appropriated--is like forcing
Joel Schumacher to read a script by Joss Whedon. Furthermore, I cannot see
Batman using Scarecrow's gas. This is a hero using a villain's weapon. It's
just...wrong.
SPOILER ENDS.
DC TWO THOUSAND banks on the silver age resonance of a JSA/JLA meeting. The
writing by Tom Peyer is strong, and I particularly like how the sudden
introduction of future technology impacts on the team. The observations of the
Flash to the blood-thirst of the Spider and the Fly are interesting, and the
entire scene where Batman aids him is a winner. Val Semeiks though not my
favorite artist in the business does an excellent job and far surpasses his
previous essays.
Norm Breyfogle provides his usual astonishing artwork that's utterly wasted on
book that makes you want to take a cat-nap. First, I would like to thank the
flashback committee for inundating the reader for another history lesson
recently seen in "the Avengers" annual but two or three weeks ago. Continuity
killed the cat, a fan-favorite heroine who I suspect now will claw at any
returning readers who wish to see the Happy-Go-Lucky HELLCAT. Soap-opera
Siamese. Angst-ridden Abyssinian. Pathetic Persian. Morose Manx. She's gone
folks, and Patsy's gone folks and she's not coming back. If Steve Engelheart
had an an ounce of decency he would at least treat the book like a bad movie.
You've got a guy with a funky beard who is so obviously a warlock, yet Mr.
Engleheart treats him as an urbane James Bond type villain. He's really a
businessman not world-hungry would be dictator. Sure, and the Brain is just a
lab mouse.
Past Picks of the POBB June 28, 2k
Avengers 31
Batman 580
Countdown 3
The Flash
Superman & Bugs Bunny 2
Disappointment of the Brown Bag June 28
Action Comics 768
Lazarus Five 2
The Pick of the Brown Bag is Copyright 2000 Raymond Tate. Plagiarists will face
a patrol of Special Weapons Daleks.
"I'm half-human, on my mother's side."--The eighth Doctor