Graffic Traffic
by Ryk McIntyre
illustration by Greg Prindeville
As I write this, the McIntyre firstborn is three days overdue. I am a bit stressed-out, which is to say, when I grind my teeth, I pick up FM stations. Could be worse, yes; could be talk radio. It’s just the last two-and-a-half weeks everyone asks me the same question: “Did you have your baby yet?” I tell them, “No, Cathy is the one having the baby, I just supplied the sperm. But thank you for asking.” The really big whiners wail, “Well, when is she going to have it?” (I don’t know Nostradamus, you tell me.)
All that aside, or at least on hold, allow me to do the job at hand and help suggest a few Superhero Comics for those wanting a little bit more: Like plot, characterization, even really, really big words.
First up, from Dark Horse Publisher’s “Comics Greatest World” group of titles comes Agents of Law (Keith Giffen – Plots/Lover Kindzierski – Script, Colors/Dan Lawlis – Pencils/Ian Akin – Inks). First, for those unfamiliar, “Comics Greatest World” was Dark Horses’ superhero world launched back in 1993. Each comic was part of a group and each group was located in an imaginary city somewhere in the actual United States. One of these, Golden City, was a walled social utopian city-state that actually seceded from the United States. All these titles/characters share the common link to “The Vortex.” This extra-dimensional energy effect was the result of an alien scientist’s experiment that went kablooey because the United States set off atom bombs in the ’50s (got all that?) and all it touched were changed, mutated or dead.
Skip ahead a few years, many deaths, and new characters; changes bring change. Catalysts: Agents of Change, the title starring Golden City leader, Grace, and her superpowered troops gives way to Agents of Law. Grace is apparently dead, and in her place comes John Law. Here is where the fun begins. The resulting two issues so far (and mini-intro book included with Wizard Magazine #45) show one thing: This is a book Machiavelli would love and Sun Tzu (author of the Art of War, the best text on how to fight, conquer, etc.) would use to point out examples. It’s easy to pick up issue #1 and get caught up to date in an intelligent way. Great for those who like to think their way through a book – people like you, my readers. If you like the Watchmen, this would appeal to the same love of character-driven stories.
The second hero book in this column is Azrael (DC Comics/Dennis O’Neil – Writer/Barry Kitson – Pencils/James Pascoe – Inks). Azrael is Jean Paul Valley who, for a while, replaced Bruce Wayne as Batman (this all agonizingly chronicled in the story lines Knight Fall, Knight Quest and Knights End which are available in Trade Paperbacks).
The book involves itself with the deposed ex-Batman, still a screw loose and unemployed too. He seeks his origin along with his alcoholic-yet-witty intellectual friend. To be honest, if you like Batman mythos you’ll enjoy this book, but it loses points for abandoning the “ex-Batman as a confused and homeless man with his costume in a bag” riff so soon and so easily. (Essentially the Batman feels bad and since Bruce Wayne is rich and the bat resources are so good, Azrael gets a gold card and the expense account. Thank you, Deus ex!)
The beauty in this book is in the pencils by Barry Kitson, one of the best and most underrated in the business (Travis Charest my ass…) and his work absolutely made L.E.G.I.O.N. ’89 (’90,’91,’92 etc.) when he was on that book. I think it’s called R.E.B.E.L.S. ’95 now. Ho-hum.
And with that, this installment is done. Next time, no superhero books. Just a few absolute gems amongst comics, and the women who write and draw them. ‘Till then, eat all your vegetables. Vegetables are our leafy friends.
