Graffic Traffic
by Ryk McIntyre
illustration by Greg Prindeville
OK, you’re going to laugh at me. I’ll tell you my first pick and you’ll laugh at me. But I don’t mind, haven’t I always said that I love you? Yes, I did. So limber up your throats for a chuckle when I tell you to read:
Druid (Marvel Comics/Warren Ellis-writer/Leonardo Manco-art). Yes, that Dr. Druid of both Dr. Strange and Avengers as well as that recently cancelled, and-did-we-really-have-to-kill-the-trees-to-make-it? title, Secret Defenders. So useless a character, he makes the Serphent Society feel better about themselves; that Dr. Druid.
In fact, it takes the first third of the book to sum up this uselessness and mediocrity as well as add final humiliation at the hand of Damion Hellstrom (the “new” Satan and star of the lamentably underappreciated Hellstorm, whose last five issues had the same creative team of Ellis/Manco) before Warren Ellis can bring the transformation. And (you’ll love this) HOW does he do it? By bringing the character to his “druidic origins” and MAKING HIM A FUCKING DRUID!
No offense, but Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are not too up on what that means, so no wonder “Anthony Druid” lived lo these decades, a complete putz. Finally, by page 12, we witness the first inclusion of actual Pagan lore in a Marvel Comic since, probably, ever. (If I’m wrong, write in and state title and issue # and, if proven correct, we will admit our mistake and suggest that you possibly have too much free time.)
And Druidic lore is not exactly concurrent with that ol’ Marvel hero thang. “Not exactly” as a way of meaning “not at all.” Druids were hardcore “circle of life/death” people and blood and darkness were among their tools. But not like Marvel would picture it. Using a weave of actuality, Ellis promises to present a fantastical character with an agenda both personal and mysterious. THIS IS NOT ANOTHER HALF-ASSED MUTANT OR BITTER VIGILANTE ACT. Readers of Xmen and Punisher and Spidey MAY NOT GET THIS. IT MIGHT MAKE YER BRAIN HURT.
So, if this is what the upcoming Marvel Edge line is going to be like, there may be hope for Marvel and new good stuff for the likes of Vertigo readers. You want scary? Check out the last six pages. Then wait for issue #2, shuddering.
Ooooh, scary! The second pick or recommendation is the recent run of Wonder Woman (DC Comics/Messner-Loebs-writer/Deodato-art) since issue #88. (While hard to find as individual issues at reasonable prices, there is a trade paperback reprinting them.) Recently, Wonder Woman has begun to toughen a little, to have an edge. She even cut her hair some! But rather than just suiting her up with shoulder pads, guns, bigger guns, and an attitude problem, William Messner-Loebs has her acting less like Jesus and more like… well, an Amazon, really.
Check out as Diana (she calls herself that ’cause she isn’t Wonder Woman anymore and the woman that is, isn’t her, got it?) communes with the original madgod Pan as a way of outmaneuvering and actually frightening Joker. A tough broad, no swords, no guns, just good storytelling.
So remember, buy comics, read them, and always wear clean undies whenever you leave home. You just never know.
