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JUSTICE LEAGUE REBIRTH #1
VOTE LOKI #2
THE LONE RANGER/GREEN HORNET #1
THROWAWAYS #1
THE SPIRIT #12
THE FLINTSTONES #1
LADY MECHANIKA: THE LOST BOYS OF WEST ABBEY #2
FUTURE QUEST #2
JUSTICE LEAGUE: REBIRTH #1
Writer / Artist: Bryan HitchPublisher: DC Comics
Reviewer: Masked Man
DC Rebirth continues to roll along as they just dumped Bryan Hitch’s unfinished JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA series, to start over with a new JUSTICE LEAGUE book. Can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs I guess.
Being a small child fan of the SUPERFRIENDS, the Justice League has always been my jam, as they say. So while much of Rebirth has bored me (oh boy Doomsday, again; another sidekick for Batman; Wonder Woman still doesn’t know who she is; Black Canary is still in a punk band; yet even more Green Lanterns- wow seriously DC?), I had to give the League, the Rebirth try. Despite the fact, I found Hitch’s unfinished JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA series the weakest thing he ever made.
Ok, baggage out of the way, on to the spoilers. So it’s the same incompetent New 52 Justice League. As they are all but helpless against the giant space bug sitting on top of, I don’t know. Some big city, Metropolis, New York- well it’s not important. Moments before the big bug showed up, the League was mourning Superman, and debating whether or not to ask Superman to join the Justice League (welcome to Rebirth!). Meanwhile, (Pre-Nu52) Lois Lane is debating with her husband, (Pre-Nu52) Superman, on whether or not he should try to join the Nu52 Justice League. Agreeing he should try, because what else is he going to do, he flies off and saves the Justice League from the giant space bug (ok they helped). Along the way the two new Green Lanterns, Simon Baz (the guy who’s afraid the ring will fail, so he carries a handgun- because guns help you fly in outer space I guess) and Jessica Cruz (the former scary cat who was a Power Ring) join the League as well (apparently Hal Jordan is pulling a prank on the League by letting them train these dorks). So the new League is formed, well new-ish I guess. And we learn the giant space bug is related to something bigger and badder heading Earth’s way. Are you pumped yet?
Now this wasn’t a bad book, but nothing wasn’t really original / interesting either. If you’re not over the moon that Pre-Nu52 Superman is back, I don’t see you being too excited by this issue. The one good thing, and about Hitch’s JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA series is he has a good grip of these characters. Now if he can just finding something not, oh so cliché for them to do.
Artwork wise, I’m sorry but this is just pi$$ poor work by Hitch. This guy is a phenomenal talent, totally right up there with the all time comicbook greats. But since returning to the League, everything looks half@$$ed. It’s like he needs a finisher, not just an inker. The bi-weekly series will be drawn by Tony Daniels and Fernando Pasarin, so that’s a relief I guess. And I hope it gives Hitch the time to really beat the cr@p out what ever he chooses to draw next.
So like many of the Rebirth one-shots, if you are not totally blown away by Wally West and Pre-Nu52 Superman returning, the JUSTICE LEAGUE REBIRTH is just meh. We need to see a few more regular issues to know if Rebirth actually made anything better.
VOTE LOKI #2
Writer: Christopher HastingsArt: Paul McCaffrey
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Reviewer: MstrCpp
To say that 2016 has been a rough year for our country would be an understatement. Tragedies, heartbreak, worry and fear abound, as bad news keeps being heaped upon bad news. At times, this year feels more fiction than reality, and a place that sentiment is felt more clearly than most is in the presidential campaigning. Larger than life figures battling over the hearts and minds of the American public, millions of dollars spent on upsets and landslides, Good battling Evil (what that “Evil” is depends on your point of view). The whole thing feels very operatic, like a saga crafted by Jack Kirby himself.
In VOTE LOKI, writer Christopher Hastings and artist Langdon Foss (with issue two guest artist Paul McCaffrey), push that blurring of reality and fiction that we’re all feeling as far as they can by casting Loki as the next presidential hopeful. With a clear path right into the Oval Office, it seems that the only speed bump standing in his way is Nisa Conteras, a reporter for the Daily Bugle. In issue two, however, Nisa is finding that no matter what she tries to throw in Loki’s way, no matter which Asgardian God of Thunder comes knocking on her door, no matter what scandal she brings to light, she is finding it neigh impossible to slow the God of Mischief down.
Now, despite my flowery and non-specific introduction to this comic, we’re actually talking about Trump. With Loki’s coined-in-issue-two catchphrase, “Make America Sane Again”, Hastings is not being subtle about the comparison. Loki parallels Trump as closely as a fictional, immortal being can by coming in out of left field as an anti-establishment candidate who revels in “telling it as it is”, lying to the public, and then winning them over by calling himself out for his lack of truth. The only real difference is that Loki started his campaign amidst a HYDRA terror attack, and Trump just started his with a ride down an escalator.
And with that, VOTE LOKI demonstrates the fundamental strength of Marvel storytelling; it feels incredibly current. Because of the production schedule required for a major comic book, this issue was written months ago, but this story of a blow-hard lying his way into office feels more and more resonant with each passing day. And then, by continually checking in with radio hosts, day time talk show personalities, and voices in cheering crowds, Hastings builds out a larger world that doesn’t feel all that far off from our own. These easy to relate to points that reflect real life make for a story that hits close to home, despite its super heroic setting.
McCaffery steps in this month to pick up what Foss started in issue one and does a solid job of keeping the visuals grounded. Despite Loki’s godhood and a cameo made by Thor, this is a book about the American public and McCaffrey does a good job showcasing the diversity of America, while still being able to channel the Loki’s classic sinister aesthetic in certain panels. In fact, comparing the first issue to the second, I actually prefer McCaffery’s slightly more realistic style over Foss for such a human story as this. That, and I have to complement McCaffery for making Loki clean shaven this issue rather than penciling in that weird, gross wiry facial hair he’s been sporting lately (That said, there actually WAS some five ‘o’ clock shadow in the book, but only in one scene, which might have been the fault of the colorist, Chris Chuckry…).
Despite how contemporary and human this issue felt, however, we’re two issues in, and that sense of resonance is still all we have to go on. No matter how many times I produced a short, loud, “ha!” as art reflected life; I still don’t quite know why this is all happening. Sure, we’re watching the whole circus through the lens of the every-person Nisa, following her through every her attempts to stop him, wincing along with her as Loki gets crazier and crazier, and it illicits sympathy. But I still don’t get a clear reason for these events other than initial the “If Trump was in the Marvel Universe, he’d be Loki” premise. So far there isn’t any depth to the commentary beyond the fact that it’s bad for a super villain to be running for president. If that’s as far as the series reaches, then it’ll be a missed opportunity to get out a message about our current political climate.
When Lex Luthor ran and won the presidency back in 2001, it was to push back and question what Superman’s idea of “Truth, Justice, and American Way” means. When Norman Osborn took over S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2009, we saw what happens when a bad guy gets to legally be the good guy. With VOTE LOKI, we haven’t yet seen what ideology it’s exploring, and so the stakes of the story feel superficial; we’re at parody right now, not satire. That said, we had hints in issue one that maybe Loki is more sincere than he appears and has plans up his sleeve. Besides, we’re only at issue two, with plenty campaign left to cover.
I would love to see Loki become president, but unless the emotional consequences are raised soon, then this book is going to wind up just becoming a heavy-handed, attempt to capitalize on people’s hatred for Trump. Which in some ways I have to respect; it’s IS what both Trump and Loki would do.
THE LONE RANGER / GREEN HORNET #1
Writer: Michael UslanArtist: Giovanni Timpano
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Reviewer: Masked Man
The man who owns Batman, Michael Uslan, has crafted another amazing team-up for Dynamite. His first was a great Green Hornet and Shadow team-up, then not too great Shadow, Doc Savage and Avenger team-up. Now he brings us another first, the Lone Ranger and the Green Hornet! Two characters that are actually blood related as well!
If you didn’t know, in his original radio show, the Lone Ranger often bumped into his nephew Dan Reid (thanks to A CHIRSTMAS STORY, I know the name of Dan’s horse). Dan’s father, also Dan, was the Lone Ranger’s brother who was killed in the infamous ambush that created the Lone Ranger. Dan Reid Jr’s son is Britt Reid, the Green Hornet. As you might suspect, both the Green Hornet and the Lone Ranger were created by radio writer Fran Striker (he also created the famous Mountie, Sgt. Preston- all Mountie stereotypes steam from Preston).
Taking place in the 1930’s, like most of Dynamite’s pulp hero comics, Britt Reid is a young man and the Lone Ranger is a very, very old man. With the country troubled by gangsters, the depression and the looming war in Europe, Britt is an aimless young man. His father, Dan talks to his grand uncle, the man who was the Lone Ranger, in hopes of motiving Britt to do something good in the world. Oddly enough, a lot of the dialogue sounds like they want Britt to become a masked hero. Really Uslan? Before anything can change Dan Jr passes away (not by badguys, go fig), and Britt takes control of the family newspaper, the Daily Sentinel. We are then treated to a flash back, showing the final end of Butch Cavendish, the man who killed Dan Reid senior. Which sets us up for the appearance of Elliot Ness, asking for Britt and the former Lone Ranger’s help in combating the return of the Cavendish gang! As they are up to no good in general, and of course, working with the Nazi’s on some level.
Aside from the oddness of people seemingly wanting Britt to become a masked hero, this first issue is a nice kick off. Although just like Dynamite’s THE LONE RANGER / ZORRO team-up, which again was a very, very old man and a young man, I wish the heroes were teaming up in their prime some how. Still it looks like this series will be a lot of fun. As always, Uslan peppers the story with a lot of historical tidbits. When the story works, as it does here, these tidbits are a very cool addition to it all.
Artist Giovanni Timpano does good job with this issue as well. Which is funny, because I though he had made a mess of the Savage/Shadow/Avenger team-up as well. His figures can still get a bit clunky, but everything else is really nice here. The two page spread of the Lone Ranger’s career is really nice.
So while I’m not dancing in the street here, I’m looking forward to see what Uslan and Timpano have in store for us with this classic radio hero team-up. Looks like the very hit or miss Dynamite has another hit on their hands.
THROWAWAYS #1
Writer: Caitlin KittredgeArtist: Steven Sanders
Publisher: Image Comics
Reviewer: Humphrey Lee
This is how easy a sell I am sometimes; if you put a character with a Mohawk and a Black Flag t-shirt in your comic preview, you’ve got a sale with me, at least for an issue. Punk music has long been a big part of my life to the point that, admittedly, I’m a bit of a whore for any comic book that has one of my brethren emblazoned upon its pages, even if that’s not even the focus of the material. Regardless, that’s how I was sold when THROWAWAYS here hit ye old PREVIEWS magazine approximately two months back, looking like it promised hot “gutter punk with superpowers on the run” action. Little did I know that underneath THROWAWAYS rather ragged and defiant looking opening pages lies an unexpected and deep conspiracy-laden plot threatening to snag up its gruff and/or eccentric characters. Much like a lot of those folks that I used to rub shoulders (and elbows and knees and whatever else you came into contact with in the pit) with back in the day, the obvious point here is that surface appearance is one thing, but the depth beneath that is what really matters, and the Sea of THROWAWAYS runs deep, though the waters are a little choppy.
Here is what I mean by that elongated thesis statement: While THROWAWAYS does offer up a lot of interesting character and plot points – including some of that hot, powered delinquent tussles with heavily armed authorities action that enticed me here in the first place – it offers A LOT of story items in a relatively short burst. Right off the bat we’re introduced to Dean – our punkish rogue co-lead – and Abigail – former military whose life goes tits up right before her and Dean’s become entwined – under fire from those nasty, shoot first authoritarians and chaos reigns supreme. And that chaos absolutely permeates and somewhat dominates all of these pages that make up THROWAWAYS, for some good and some bad. Those introductory pages of Abigail and Dean pinned down under gunfire and desperate for a way out tell us a lot about the two, immediately showing that Abby is a girl that does not panic in a tense situation and that Dean is a bit of a spaz who apparently has some quantity of superpowers that he doesn’t fully understand and that take a lot out of him by using. And it’s greatly executed and interesting, as are a good many of the concepts tossed around in this debut, but the voracity at which these items line up and topple like dominos does tend to get overwhelming.
Extrapolating further and with gusto, THROWAWAYS goes from one intense opening sequence to another, which really kicks off this premiere’s story by taking place four hours before the introductory gunfight and has Abigail and another ex-military companion going to a group session. Not to make this whole spiel several paragraphs of summarization, here’s kind of bullet points we experience in the remaining seventeen pages of THROWAWAYS: We proceed to go from this therapy session to another bloodbath in its circle, to an ominous phone call that “activates” (as they call it) Abigail, to Dean getting a “he’s weird and different and has a dark event in his past!” beat down by some bullies until his friend Kimiko intervenes at which point some undercover figures pounce on our crusty punk, back to Abby with some more ominous talk about a “Camp Cheshire,” and back and forth with more flashbacks and vague hints at black box projects, undercover assets, activated agents, etc etc etc. All of these plot points and devices are interesting and add layers in their own ways and levels, but the problem is they are blanketed so fast and often they are almost smothering. It’s almost like Kittredge and Sanders are scared that they only have this one shot to really sell you on this world they’ve created so they’re unloading the pitch outline at the speed of Micro Machine man; which is a shame because the material is good, it just comes off as cacophonous.
What does come through in the rapidness of concepts being thrown at the reader is that you do immediately attach to the leads, Abby and Dean. Like I said above, the opening three pages really do set the tone of the leads, their personalities and their ability to deal with the shitstorm they collectively find themselves in now. Abby’s take no prisoners attitude and high level of aptitude play well with Dean’s kind of overall sad sackness with a mighty spark in him. Steven Sanders art in particular really sells these ideals, from the brutal efficiency and intensity in the actions and in particular the damage issued by Abby to a wide range of facial emotes on Dean as he shows of disbelief at the shit he’s in when the bullets fly, to his no fucks given while antagonizing bullies adorning his face with fresh bruises, and then his intensity when he “finally” taps his powers on page two. Seeing these two play off each other would be entertaining enough, the flashes and hints toward their tumultuous pasts would icing on the cake, and there being an apparent, multi-level conflux of dark program shenanigans enveloping it all is adding two scoops of ice cream to the already filling treat. Taken in moderation, THROWAWAYS could turn out to be a very addicting indulgence indeed, it’s just that this first serving is a big heaping one and your brain can’t help but feel a little bloated after wolfing it all down.
Humphrey Lee has been an avid comic book reader going on fifteen years now and a contributor to Ain't It Cool comics for quite a few as well. In fact, reading comics is about all he does in his free time and where all the money from his day job wages goes to - funding his comic book habit so he can talk about them to you, our loyal readers (lucky you). He's a bit of a social networking whore, so you can find him all over the Interwebs on sites like Twitter, The MySpaces, Facebookand a blog where he also mostly talks about comics with his free time because he hasn't the slightest semblance of a life. Sad but true, and he gladly encourages you to add, read, and comment as you will.
THE SPIRIT #12
Writer: Matt WagnerArtist: Dan Schkade
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Reviewer: Masked Man
Matt Wagner’s 12-issue Spirit opus for Dynamite comes to a close. With the Spirit finally facing off against the Mikado Vaas. In around about way Wagner has created a Ra’s Al Ghul for the Spirit in Mikado Vaas, complete with a daughter who is in love him (though much crazier than Talia- well, Grant Morrison made her mighty crazy).
So how about some spoilers? First off, Wagner gives us a secret origin about said daughter, Sachet. Which is decent enough, insane Dads, insane daughters. Now that she is locked-up in jail, her father, Mikado Vaas put the screws to Central City (the non-DC Universe one) to free her. He also gives the Spirit a pair of cement shoes. Thanks to Sammy and Ebony’s big brother Boulder, The Spirit is freed and gives chase to Mikado Vaas. Meanwhile, Commissioner Dolan puts the squash on Vaas’ plans to free his daughter. But the Spirit fails to capture Vaas. Who is now free to bother the Spirit again, whenever need be.
For the most part, this has been an entertaining tale. Early on I mentioned that this was perhaps Wagner best work for Dynamite, and I stand by it (minus the projects he wrote and drew). It has only one flaw that I can pick at, and rather rushed ending. With 12 issues to play with, and a whole lot of time developing the menace of Mikado Vaas, getting less than 10 pages of him is bit of let down. I wish Wagner released Vaas on us in issue 11, to give us a deeper / longer climax to a 12-issue maxi-series (remember that term?). That said, the conclusion of the story is satisfying in it’s own right. The return of Boulder, everyone getting a moment to shine, and the page turn reveal of the airplane vs boat was very cool.
Through out the 12 issues Schkade continued his best imitation of Wagner’s own style, but never quite nailed it. I got used to it as the issues rolled along and they are decent, with some really good panels here and there. The big man Vaas looks great in his far too few panels. The Spirit water skiing, Boulder’s reveal, and Dolan taking out the trash are all artistic highlights of this final issue.
Despite my tire-kicking, I think any Spirit fan will enjoy this. 40’s pulp fans should give this series a try as well. So if you missed it, keep an eye out for, when it’s released in trade back. On the Masked Man’s scale of Crap, Poor, Decent, Good and Great, Matt Wagner’s WILL EISNER’S THE SPIRIT scores a GOOD.
THE FLINTSTONES #1
Writer: Mark RussellArtist: Steve Pugh
Publisher: DC Comics
Reviewer: Optimous Douche
Flintstones. Meet the Flintstones.
Rewritten for the 21st century
They are, still in Bedrock,
But now as self-reflective as you and me.
No more cartoony laisez-faire.
Even dopey Barney seems to care.
When you're with the Flintstone.
You’ll have a brand new time.
You’ll jump around time.
You’ll see we’re no longer in a happy time.
First off, FLINSTONES is my favorite foray into the recent revival of Hanna-Barbera revitalizing coming from DC. Being an enormous fan of the Archie Comics acceleration of teenage tropes into modern times over the past few years, I checked my usual cynicism at the door when SCOOBY DOO and FUTURE QUEST came out. SCOOBY DOO was a little too silly, and I’ve never been able to get into the Quest clan (this is on me, FQ was a good book just simply not my bag). The FLINSTONES however hits that harmonic cord between real society slathered under a prehistoric slate. There was always a heart to this Honeymooners send-off, but the humor always left me flat as a child. I’ll attribute to the rerun syndrome, and the cultural references simply didn’t resonate. Also, I’m Gen X. If something isn’t being mocked in an ironic fashion I usually find myself bored and desperately seeking schadenfreude elsewhere.
Russell and crew leave no stone unturned in this revisit to civilizations’ first strip mall society. From modern man’s arrogant beliefs we can suss out all the rules of the past from history’s leave behinds, to slapsies with some of the original cartoon’s staples, to (as I said in my musical intro) reimagining Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty and every ancillary with today’s overly self-reflective foibles of today. It’s not a selfie-most, but more like a “Reality Bites.”
Probably the least changed in personality is Fred. He’s still a guy trying to make a decent wage at the quarry, while genuinely reveling his return home each night to Wilma. The order of Fraternal Water Buffalo went dark as did Mr. Slate’s hiring practices. Those two staples of Fred’s life will inevitably change the man. Instead of a drinking club, Fred and Barney now visit a PTSD therapy group from when the homo sapiens displaced the cro mags to make room for Starbricks and other stoned modern conveniences. Mr. Slate essentially hires cheap labor that has migrated to Bedrock. They are Neanderthals, but I hope I don’t have to spell out the subtle allude here. I bring up the Fraternal Order and Mr. Slate’s migrant workers because a good chunk of the rocking-out modern life happens when Fred and Barney are forced to spend a night with the knuckle draggers to show what a great place Bedrock is to settle down and use their more hulking than homo sapien frames to rock harvest for Slate Industries.
Mr. Slate is probably the most changed character in that he embodies the modern day fifty-year old single man with too much money. He is adorned in big gaudy rock chains around his neck, works way too hard on a fit frame to deflect from his bald head, and wears clothes way too tight like his Armadillo banana hammock at a hot tub….excuse me….hot spring party.
Wilma is still a house wife searching for more, but she will not be as easily appeased as she was in the old days when a Lucy Ricardo scheme would fail and she was soothed by still having Fred’s love. When this Wilma fails at an art show with her hand print cave art, there is a general sadness and heavy lesson on what the art meant to her. It was left…unresolved. I believe on purpose so we can see her rise again in a later issue.
Barney and Betty didn’t get a lot of stage time. Ole’ Barn just a war story, while Betty was just kind of a bitch as she and Wilma went clothes shopping for the art gala. I don’t remember Betty being so damn caddy, but feel free to correct me.
The book is enveloped in a clever wrapper of today’s society looing back at artifacts from Bedrock. It’s a classic, but well played, switcheroo of modern museum visitors mistaking the true story of what went down so many thousands of years ago.
I loved the art. It is as multi-faceted and complex in comparison to the original cartoon as the story was. Some, like my fearless editor, felt a slip into the Uncanny Valley effect of Bedrock’s denizens getting so close to realistic they became creepy. I felt so such psychological slippage though, certainly not like I get when looking at artificial life such as Donatella Versace.
All in all, the FLINTSTONES will easily fan the flames of the nostalgia dark pall we place on comics these days. To which I give my same old argument, we as society shape the art and should welcome every ironic story element shiv shoved into our funny bones. At the surface level, I think old fans and new (maybe late teenagers) will enjoy some of the more sadistic and clever reshaping that was done to things like Shell Phones and Mr. Slate’s dead beaver couch who is his only true friend in the world. I know I had a YABBA DABBA DOO time revisiting this one, of my many, afterschool babysitters.
Rob works for IBM when he puts down comic books. IBM.com if you want to see his other world.
LADY MECHANIKA: THE LOST BOYS OF WEST ABBEY #2
Writer: M.M. ChenArtists: Joe Benitez and Martin Montiel
Publisher: Benitez Productions
Reviewer: Masked Man
I’m a little surprised with this issue, as it as the last issue. A two issue mini-series, huh. That said it’s a great little adventure with the mechanical steam punk lady.
Spoiler time fools! Breezing passed what would have been a drawn out mystery in a longer story arc. Lady Mechanika and her newest partner Detective Inspector Singh, quickly uncover someone is creating golems out of clockwork dolls. Her usual partner, Mr. Lewis uncovers the artisan who makes the dolls. When they crash the pad of the buyer of the dolls, they discover the reason behind it all: A creepy old man has paid a crazy cultist of Molch to create a robot body for him. The fact that they experimented on children to prefect the process is both creepy and sad. With some quick wits and action, Team Mechanika takes down the robot-man and cultist. And as Clouseau would say, the case is solvent. Except, for the surviving mechanical doll that Winfred has made friends with o_0
Aside from being taken aback by the shortness of this series- I really wish we would get back to the days of putting, # of #, on the cover of mini-series. Because part of me is feeling, wow that was rushed. But that’s an artificial feeling as the story still works very well. All the characters are great as usual; even the addition of Detective Inspector Singh is nice. Chen even managed just the slightest flirtation between Singh and Mechanika. This is dangerous thing to do, as female character’s bo’s are judge much more harshly the male character’s bu’s. It always seems that any girl around the hero is hot and acceptable, while any guy around the heroine is a douche-bag (that could be just a male reader perspective though). Either way, Singh did just enough for Mechanika to take note of him- very natural feeling. Well-done Chen. The conclusion of the story is quality satisfying as well. And the leftover bit is quite interesting as well. Will it be harmless fun, or will it spell big trouble in another story.
Artwork wise, Montiel is doing a great job keeping Lady Mechanika creator Joe Benitez on track. The pages are richly decorated (should please any steam-punk fan), the story telling is well done, and everything looks great. The two-page spread is very awesome, illustrating the action of the scene (not a waste of space, which shows up far too often in one of the Big Two’s books).
So short and very sweet this time around, guaranteed to please any adventure fan (you don’t have to be a steam punk fan, I’m not). On the Masked Man’s scale of Crap, Poor, Decent, Good and Great, LADY MECHANIKA: THE LOST BOYS OF WEST ABBEY scores a solid GOOD.
FUTURE QUEST #2
Writer: Jeff ParkerArtists: Evan ‘Doc’ Shaner, Ron Randall & Jonathan Case
Publisher: DC Comics
Reviewer: Masked Man
Instead of doing a new Space Ghost comic, DC decided to take every hero Hanna-Barbera (seemingly) ever created and jam them into one book. Helmed by Jeff Parker and Evan Shaner, the guys who made the best FLASH GORDON comicbbook for Dynamite. And believe it or not, this book seems to be working.
Now I’m a big animation fan, I own the DVD’s of all the characters in this series. So it’s a bit hard for me, to put myself in the shoes of someone who doesn’t know these characters- but I’ll try. One thing I think would have been useful for new readers, and fun for old readers (or should that be viewers?), is some kind of trading card / who’s who at the back of the book. As I always say, use the medium. This is a comicbook not a movie. You can have an appendix and not break the flow of the story. But no such luck, Parker does make sure everyone’s name is said (so you can Wikipedia it later). For you newbies, I’ll try to give character info in my recap:
Spoiler time: So, somewhere out in space, H-B’s space/future heroes are battling Omnikron- your basic incomprehensible tentacle beast thing bend on destroying / absorbing the whole universe. To get around, it can open up holes in time and space, which gives us the connection to H-B’s modern heroes. As we open on chapter two, the Herculoids are doing battle with one aspect Omnikron. The Herculoids are group of super powered animals working with a ‘human’ family, to protect their home, the planet Amzot. Amzot is a bit of a prehistoric world, covered in energy rocks; rocks that explode when you hit them- or they hit you. Zandor, the father, is the leader, he has no super powers but is armed with a shield and energy rock slings. Tara is his wife and Dorno is his young son, both are armed with energy rock slingshots, and all three can communicate with the animals. The first animal is a large fire breathing flying lizard named Zok, who can also shoot lasers out of his eyes and tail (talk about over kill H-B). Tara is often riding Zok into battle. Next is their giant rock skinned ape, named Igoo, who is just an unstoppable brute, but he’s also quite a softy and has a bit of a King Kong-ish crush on Tara. Tundro is a dinosaur like rhino, covered in armor plates and can fire energy rocks out of his horn. He is the least friendly of the animals. Gloop and offspring Gleep are jelly like creatures that can stretch and grab things with their bodies, they can also absorb laser fire. As the Herculoids battle Omnikron, Tundro and Gloop are seemingly killed (Nooooooooo!). And when he tries to escape, Tara with Zok and Igoo follow him into his worm-hole. Meanwhile, Space Ghost, the Superman or Captain America of H-B heroes, who can turn invisible viva his belt, fly in space, and shot various rays out of his three button wrist bands, battles another aspect of Omnikron. He is aided by his three sidekicks: Two teenage sibling humans, Jan and Jace, who have no offensive weapons, but do have the patented invisibelts and can fly though space. Just like the third sidekick, Blip, a monkey with typical cartoon animal powers. They attacked Omnikron in Space Ghost’s space ship, the Phantom Cruiser. The Space Ghost team is also aided by the Galaxy Trio, three super-powered alien patrolmen, working for the Galaxy Patrol. The defacto leader is Vapor Man, who can turn his body into any type of gas. Then there’s Meteor Man, who can grow any part of his body (ala the new Ms. Marvel) and Gravity Girl, who can increase the effect of gravity on any object- including herself, so she can fly. As Omnikron makes his (it’s) escape, they are all lost in the worm-hole. Back in the present, things start popping in and out of Omnikron’s worm-hole. Including Space Ghost, who almost fries our boy heroes Johnny Quest and his adoptive brother Hadji (who is a talented street magician orphan from India). The boys are with newcomer Ty (who I’m willing to bet will be a reboot of the caveman (Shazam like) hero, Mightor). Before anything bad can happen, Space Ghost vanishes, but then the boys discover the crashed Phantom Cruiser and pull Jan from the wreckage, after making friends with Blip. Then the boys are surrounded by F.E.A.R. Agents (your typical evil world dominating organization, and the arch-foe of Birdman!). Coming to Johnny and Hadji’s rescue, as always is their C.I.A. bodyguard and teacher Race Bannon. As he takes out the trash the kids run away. As they try to avoid more badguys, discovering Jan and Blip invisibility powers, Johnny’s dog Bandit gives them away! Discovered by one of Dr. Zin (more on him later)’s robot eye monsters, it’s Birdman himself who comes to the rescue (with his sidekick flacon Avenger). Birdman is a solar-powered winged hero working for the ‘spy agency’ Inter-Nation Security. With his solar battery body, he has super strength and can generate force shields and solar blasts- which he uses to destroy the robot eye. But the F.E.A.R. Agents get the drop on Birdman. So it’s up to Johnny’s dad, Dr. Benton Quest, America’s top scientist, engineer and all around genius to come to the rescue in his hover-pod, with Inter-Nation Security Agent newcomer Deva Sumadi (who might become a new addition to the superhero team, The Impossibles). F.E.A.R. fails to capture Johnny and friends, but they do claim the Phantom Cruiser and seemingly Jan’s brother Jace (who is covered in mud). Back at Dr. Quest’s lab the heroes try to put together what is going on. With no knowledge of Omnikron, they just know strange things are appearing out of worm-holes and somehow Dr. Zin, the evil genius match to Dr. Quest, is working with F.E.A.R. to claim them. Elsewhere, Dr. Zin is aware of Omnikron and is planning to capture the creature, when it finally arrives in the present (oh yeah, that will go well). I order to keep team Quest away from him, he has hired the mercenary Jezebel Jade. Who is the off again, on again girlfriend of Race Bannon (I though this guy was smart?).
Ok that was a bit too long, but there you are. FUTURE QUEST has been very action packed with tons of characters running around. As I know everyone, I was never lost and really enjoyed the ride. As Parker is doing a nice job of combining everyone together. For those not too familiar everyone, I’m sure you will be a bit lost. I do believe Parker is giving you a fighting chance, but it will probably depend on your willingness to accept this menagerie characters to not get confused.
Artwork wise, Shaner’s 13 pages are just awesome and totally fit this free spirited tale of adventure. Just as he did on FLASH GORDON and CONVERGENCE: SHAZAM. Ron Randall’s 5 pages do very well in keeping with Shaner’s look and feel (I swear, I don’t think I’ve seen Randall’s work since the JUSTICE LEAGUE EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL days). Jonathan Case’s four pages are not quite as strong. They are just not as elegant in the fun simple style that Shaner and Randall are. Still he does decent enough work and it doesn’t detract from the issue. And as always Jordie Bellaire’s non-X-FILES coloring looks great.
So FUTURE QUEST is a bit of a beast with so many characters in it. But so far Parker is writing a good story holding everyone together. Any Hanna-Barbera fan should love this. And I’d recommend it any adventure fan as well, don’t be too scared by the parade of characters.
Proofs, co-edits & common sense provided by Sleazy G
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