{REVIEW} Pick of the Brown Bag: October 27, 1999
Rayctate
A weekly Review
by
Ray Tate
October 27, 1999
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
blighted.
Contenders
Action Comics 760**
Avengers Domination Factor 2.4**
Batman/Tarzan 2**
Batman Beyond 2**
Batman/Superman: World's Finest 9
Buffy the Vampire Slayer 14**
Flash 155**
Forever Amber 4
JLA 36**
LAW 4 : (
LSH 122
Modesty Blaise 19
Talismen: Voodoo**
Top Ten 4**
Warlock 4**
Wonder Woman 151
Wyrd 4
Xena 2
I'm always pleased when I can enjoy the Graham Nolan Batman as well as his
smile which is present in a particular humorous moment, and Karl Kesel doesn't
waste time by dragging out the battle. Batman quickly defeats most of the
Superman rejects and deduces none of the men present are in fact his comrade
resurrected. That said, I really cannot fathom why Superman wouldn't crack open
Azbat's armor and haul that jerk's carcass to prison. I did however enjoy how
Azbat is completely out of his depth when attempting to fool the Man of Steel.
The Big Red S must have enjoyed being the smartest one in the room.
"Forever Amber" lost my support when the main character tanks innocent
people. The follow-up to this otherwise recommended title is also thinly
plotted though beautifully drawn.
Congratulations are in order. LAW not only takes up space, but it's damn
annoying too. We discover a sidekick for no good reason splits from his mentor.
This isn't a spoiler. Can anybody reading say that he actually cares about the
Judomaster and his forgettable partner Tiger?
The minor character becomes dark Tiger. Naturally, this means he must grow
a beard like Garth, Michael Knight's evil twin brother, start showing his
nipples in the latest Schumacher-wear and for some reason, now this I admit is
unique, not good, but unique, strike terror in the city by donning genie
slippers.
Well, I can't say that I'm surprised. You may want to watch the Legion's
helplessness as the Blight ravages the book, but I certainly don't. For me,
this is about as appealing as No Man's Land and "Lungbarrow."
The illegal trade in dolphins angle is a good one, and Neville Colvin is a
decent enough artist--no Romero or Jim Holdaway, but decent enough. However,
the characterization is way off.
Willie's apparently involved with Jo Grant--Brrrrrrr. I'm sorry, Willie,
maybe you don't "knock dim ones," but the Willie Garvin I've come to know would
never refer to a bird as "dim," and let's face it, Willie hasn't until now
bedded a "dim one."
Modesty Blaise is also a lot less elegant. Her admiration of the dolphins,
and scenes where she plays with the porpoises are the highlight of the story,
but her actions suddenly go awry in terms of characterization. At one point,
she threatens a thug with a gun and spouts lines from cheap gangster flicks:
"How many men out back? What weapons? Quick, or I'll blow your skull open?"
This is Modesty Blaise? I don't think so. At least we get to see some kongo
action later. If anything "Dossier on Pluto" is a rough draft and features none
of the graceful plotting and characterization fans have come to expect
from Peter O'Donnell.
Dr. Poison is an original, repellent villain, but then Rama and Diana are
staring at Lotus Blossoms in the Wonderdome--huh?
"Wyrd" takes up space. It's damn annoying too, but it falls out of my
criteria because Wyrd isn't really a comic book. It's Jim Starlin's tryout for
"Wall Street Week."
"Xena" just falls short of the magnificent season premiere both tight,
uplifting and fair-play. I've also got to say Callisto's so obviously veiled
nudity became ridiculous rather quickly. If you don't need it, don't show it.
If you want to show it, let's see it.
Where to begin? Let's travel to Sunnydale, home of the Hellmouth in BUFFY
THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. Writer Andi Watson taps a greater amount of humor to
thicken his more-or-less storyarc involving the bizarre reptile lady who now
must not only contend with the Slayer but also everybody's favorite, dangerous
losers Spike and Dru. The vamps in love do not however hand the Slayer their
butts to kick for this issue. Instead, they work behind the scenes to stage a
coup and cliché eschew. As funny as the consequences of their meddling are, the
moment where you lose it occurs toward the end. Mere words cannot describe the
hilarious and characteristic exchange between Buffy and Angel as well as the
perfect display of underrated slapstick by Cliff Richards, Joe Pimentel and
colorist Guy Major. Slayerettes have two series to follow, well-written
original novels and a visceral comic book. Can unlife be any better?
The story in TALISMEN seances good mystical super-hero antics, and of
course, as expected the characterization shines like the gems worn by the team.
I'm particularly pleased that writer John-Watkins Chow has, without heavy
hands, and solely through body language as well as one balloon of thoughtful
dialogue expanded on the relationship hinted at in issue two between Marissa
and Erika. Mr. Chow also creates an original twist by making these characters,
in raw knowledge and expertise, the smartest super-heroes ever to grace the
genre yet still realistic people looking for connections. However, the artwork
simply isn't as polished as the writing.
For the record, each facet of drawn "Talismen" is better than almost
anything independently produced, but the proportion is noticeably sloppy for
this issue. The female characters seem to be missing waists and gain
Catwoman-sized cachongas, but the breasts are not quite so dependent on a
compass, and when the team is stacked together--pun not intended--you can
discern a difference in character design which is a far cry from the blowup
dolls Jim Balent always sketches.
What also balances out the rushed anatomy is the attention to facial
detail and expression. Each of these characters looks different even if
displaying the same emotion, and though for humor's sake, they on occasion
morph into super-deformed anime, Mr. Chow and inkers Corey Hamisch and Xa
Xiaong avoid the nauseating anime style that has so metastasized in the
industry. To give you an example, Alley Baggett is a shockingly gorgeous woman,
but when drawn on the covers of her comic book counterpart, it looks to me as
if somebody has hit her with a door. The facial depth and definition in
"Talismen" often surpasses the artwork expressed in the big two let alone the
books over at Image.
Frankly just the return of the Queen Bee in an updated incarnation that
still alludes to the original classic villain can make this issue of the JLA a
pick of the brown bag, but Grant Morrison also creates two intertwined plots
that effectively demand the attention of the League. What's more his writing
relies on reader intellect as well as the skills of Howard Porter, John Dell
and Pat Garrahy to express heroic conviction. Turn to page four, and you can
catch a traditional catch phrase in the dialogue, but Wonder Woman doesn't
finish the cliché. She doesn't have to complete her sentence. Readers can see
the meaning in her face. That's teamwork folks.
Want to have some fun during your comic book reading experience? Then I
suggest you pick up Joe Kelly's hilarious ACTION COMICS. Amid the antics of
new, hot villain Ecantadora, Mr. Kelly also strengthens the relationship
between Lois and Clark. No, Clark's new job as overseas correspondent won't
affect their marriage. Why? He's Superman stupid. He can be back in Metropolis
in an eye-blink. Duh. So, Mr. Kelly doesn't fallback on dim angst-ridden
melodrama. Instead he makes Lois and Clark sprightly spouses who are also not
afraid to display their love for each other. How refreshing.
New Superman artists German Garcia and reliable workhorse Joe Rubenstein
with Glenn Whitmore give as much attention to the artwork as Mr. Kelly does to
his lighthearted story. I'd like to point out--or rather they'd like to
point--the attributes of Ecantadora. Now, you have to be blind not to notice
Ecantadora's big breasts, but the difference here is that they really are just
big breasts, and they are balanced by a nice thick waist that sveltes into
hourglass hips. In other words, this big-breasted woman is as proportionate,
with respect to her scale, as the more petite Lois Lane--looking damn cute
throughout the issue. For Clark and Superman, the hero gains an appealing
Fleischer simplicity in terms of anatomy, but the artists make the Man of Steel
smile. He's far more happy than the squinty-eyed demigod of the classic
cartoons.
We now know Wally West is still THE FLASH, but we don't know how. This
book doesn't even hint at those answers. Instead, writers Mark Waid and Bryan
Augustyn and artists Paul Pelletier and Jose Marzan Jr. speedily and deftly
expand on Wally's new relationship with Angela. They also, and this is a very
wise and thoughtful move, answer one important question--whether or not Wally
knows about Linda's fate. The question segues to a thrilling battle between
alternate speedsters that ends in the revelation of Linda's abductor's
identity.
Ron Marz and Igor Kordey created a new Catwoman for BATMAN/TARZAN, and
though there are standout moments in the book such as the hilarious meeting
between Tarzan's lion-friend and the Dark Knight, it's the attraction between
Batman and Catwoman that makes the book roar.
What amazes me the most is how the creators have made the new Catwoman
antithetical to the continuity model yet still retain the kitten's feline
nature. The continuity Catwoman is a naughty kitty, but the Catwoman of
"Batman/Tarzan" is a complete innocent. Her theft last issue was more of a
repossession, and you hear her purity in the choice of words as well as feel it
in her expressions so beautifully rendered.
In this elseworld, it's the innocence of Catwoman that appeals to Batman
and threatens him as equally as the sinful temptations continuity Catwoman
offers. To be Batman, it seems to Bruce that he must put aside the things that
make him human although ironically it is his very humanity that drives him to
protect and decimate crime. He circles this fire in his heart. Guards it. The
innocence of Catwoman threatens to bring him closer to the flame, to warm his
hands, to be distracted and alleve his vigilance. The sexual tension between
these two is as palpable as it is in the DCU and teases another dimension from
what could have been a simple crossover.
Inque is easily the best villain introduced in BATMAN BEYOND. A mercenary
with style and unique power, she not only proved formidable to Terry McGuinness
but also to the Man himself.
In the books, Hillary Bader extrapolated on Inque's humanity. The last
time we saw the deadly character, she surprised us by teaming with the Dark
Knight. This depth makes the villain as ubiquitous as her shape, and the
unpredictability helps her characterization in the current chapter of her
history with Batman. We do not know what Inque will next do, and each clever
move she makes compels you to read on. Also, Craig Rousseau's artwork will not
blot out your attention.
Jerry Ordway assembles the pieces of AVENGERS continuity into a golden
chapter of DOMINATION FACTOR. The segues between the plight of Tony Stark and
Captain America exhibit a remarkable and ingenious flow while Thor's vignette
is a pleasant romp spiced with an implication of time travel. Only Wanda's
segment lacks verve, and the part is easily overlooked when Mr. Ordway
orchestrates a perfect combination of characteristic word choice, clenched
teeth and flexed jaw to bring to the surface the Captain's struggle not to
reveal Bucky's history and preserve the time-stream.
Louise Simonson continues to reconstruct WARLOCK into not an X-men book
but a title that features for all intent and purpose a new likable hero. Plot?
Well naturally you need one in which the characters can play. The best derive
strictly from the characters, but the peripheral framework Ms. Simonson builds
twists and turns because of the characters, and that's almost as good. She
wisely employs the interconnectedness of the Marvel universe to involve Warlock
and company. Once they become involved the connection between Hope and Psimon
redoubles, and the addition of Psimon threatens the dynamic of their former
duet. The lemon-hued mutant however doesn't react in a cliché way. He acts like
the mature hero he has become. Though new to me, Warlock has been around and is
therefore experienced. He should and does act this way.
Pasqual Ferry continues to impress with his at times cartoony rendering of
the pliable Warlock and the spry Hope. What intrigued me here was how he always
draws Warlock in a position that protects Hope and creates a very casual,
fast-forming relationship between them that enhances Ms. Simonson's
characterization.
Rounding up this issue of the POBB, we find Alan Moore's and Gene Ha's
superb TOP TEN. You know I still don't know why I like this book so much. It
must be its attitude. The costumed coppers of Precinct 10 simply do not act
like super-heroes. They have the powers, but they don't walk the walk. They are
there to serve and protect, but to them it's no big deal. They're simply doing
their job and doing it well.
Past Picks of October 20th 1999
Animaniacs 55
Adventures of Superman
Batman: Dark Victory 1
Captain America 24
Dreamwalker:Autumn Leaves 1 (Avatar)
Giant Killer 5
Tomorrow Stories 3
Young Justice 15
Back to the list.
"I can't believe technology's made it to second base."--Dana Plant: Snoops
The Pick of the Brown Bag is Copyright 1999 Raymond Tate. You may of course
copy the POBB for your own amusement or to share with your friends as it is
intended as a public service. You may quote from it if you find some of my
ramblings accidentally praise your comic book project. Plagiarists will face a
patrol of Special Weapons Daleks.
"I'm half-human, on my mother's side."--The eighth Doctor