NML Crossing, Episode 056 - Detective Comics #731 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Fifty-Six

Detective Comics #731 (April, 1999)
“Fear of Faith, Part Four: Be Not Afraid”
Writer - Devin Grayson
Pencils - Dale Eaglesham
Inks - Sean Parsons
Colors - Noelle Giddings & Digital Chameleon
Letters - Todd Klein
Edits - Illidge, Vincenzo, O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.99

Wrapping up the second arc of No Man's Land proper... well, third if we count our little Azrael detour (which we probably shouldn't).  This time out we see if the Scarecrow is able to foment enough fear without his toxin in order to inspire a whole lotta bloodshed.  Will he be successful?  Well, tune in and we can find out together!

Plus: Some'a that great NMaiLbag!

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NML Crossing, Episode 055 - Batman #564 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Fifty-Five

Batman #564 (April, 1999)
“Fear of Faith, Part Three: Life in Hell”
Writer - Devin Grayson
Pencils - Dale Eaglesham
Inks - Jaime Mendoza
Colors - Noelle Giddings & Digital Chameleon
Letters - Todd Klein
Edits - Illidge, Vincenzo, O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.99

In which all them dominoes the Scarecrow has been setting up these last couple of chapters are starting to tip... Jonathan Crane truly is as dangerous without the fear toxin as he is with it... perhaps even more so!

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NML Crossing, Episode 054 - Batman: Shadow of the Bat #84 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Fifty-Four

Batman: Shadow of the Bat #84 (April, 1999)
“Fear of Faith, Part Two: To Serve and Protect”
Writer - Devin Grayson
Pencils - Dale Eaglesham
Inks - Sean Parsons
Colors - Pam Rambo
Letters - Todd Klein
Edits - Illidge, Vincenzo, O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.99

Coming to you live from a wind-tunnel (for the first bit of the episode), it's NML Crossing! Today is, among other things, air conditioner tune-up day... so, apologies for the ambient noise intermingling with my usual busted attempt at speaking!

Today we check back in with the Ark, where the Scarecrow is planting seeds left and right in order to compensate for the fact that No Man's Land doesn't stock his usual blend of fear toxin!  It's good stuff... check it out!

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NML Crossing, Episode 053 - Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #116 (1999)

NML Crossing, Episode Fifty-Three

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #116 (April, 1999)
“Fear of Faith, Part One: Fanning the Flames”
Writer - Devin Grayson
Pencils - Dale Eaglesham
Inks - Batt & Aaron Sowd
Colors - Pam Rambo
Letters - Todd Klein
Edits - Illidge, Vincenzo, O’Neil
Cover Price: $1.99

Back in No Man's Land, where Father Chris' Ark Refugee Center offers sweet sanctuary to anyone in need of it... even those fresh outta Arkham, clad in hay! Is the Scarecrow just as dangerous without his fear toxin? I suppose we'll find out together!

Plus: As always, a fun NMaiLbag to dive into!

NML Crossing on Youtube

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weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

Green Lantern (vol.3) #138 (2001)

Green Lantern (vol.3) #138 (July, 2001)
"Away From Home, Part One"
Writer - Judd Winick
Pencils - Dale Eaglesham
Inks - Rodney Ramos
Colors & Separations - Moose Baumann
Letters - Chris Eliopoulos
Associate Editor - Michael Wright
Editor - Bob Schreck
Cover Price: $2.25

Had such a good time checking out a Kyle story yesterday... I figured why not go ahead and read the next issue?  Also, I'm still getting over being sick, and don't feel up to slinging longboxes looking for something else to discuss quite yet!

Let's hear it for accessibility!

--

We open with Kyle getting a call from Martian Manhunter about acting as an Ambassador for an off-planet peace treaty ceremony.  This is a pretty funny little scene.  Ya see, initially the Tendaxians called looking for Hal Jordan, who as we know, is... unavailable.  Then, they wanted Superman... or J'onn himself... and it goes on and on until Kyle asks for his feelings to be spared.  Kyle agrees to oversee the signing... so long as he can bring his girlfriend along for the trip.

J'onn gives him the thumbs up, and so Kyle goes about putting himself ahead of schedule so he can afford to spend a week off-planet.  It's here that we learn that Terry Berg has, come to accept his homosexuality, and is even taking part at a local youth center.

From here, we spend... probably more pages than we need to, watching Kyle and Jen fly to Tendax.  They share like the sitcommiest banter... it's almost like they know we're reading.  You ever around "those" kinda people?  The ones who won't stop "putting on a show" around perfect strangers?  It's like they're hoping we're all thinking "Wow, they must have a super-nutty home life!", when we're all really thinking "I wish these #@%@#$ would just shut up and go away!"  Yeah, it's like that.

Anyhoo, they eventually arrive on Tendax, and we're given the quick 'n dirty on them... and, I'm not the most knowledgeable on affairs of the Middle East, but it feels like a loose-ish analogy to the situation between Israel and Palestine.

Kyle and Jade are then introduced to Minister Illus, the elected leader of Tendax... who is extremely pleased to see, not one, but two Green Lanterns.  Jade quickly corrects... confuses... and probably annoys him (I know it annoyed me!).  C'mon Jade, just stop.

The treaty ceremony isn't for a little while, and so our visiting Lanterns decide to take in some of the sights.  First stop, the "water side", because Tendax doesn't have a word for beach.  Jade pops her top and tries to soak up as much Sun as possible.  Kyle ain't keen on her "hanging out", so he tries to cover up her baubles.

Later that night, they attend a celebratory dinner in anticipation of the treaty ceremony.  Everyone is in the best of spirits, they all eat some vegetable lasagna (blech)... and Kyle plays some Rock'em Sock'em robots with a kid.  You do see where all this is going, right?

While Kyle is busy being a big kid, Jade chats up Minister Illus.  We learn a bit more about his role in the "unfortunateness".  Ya see, he was a terrorist in his own right before realizing that there had to be a better way to protect his people.  He seems very regretful... though hopeful that everything will eventually work out in the end.  You... do see where this is headed, no?

The next day... the ceremony begins.  It's such a gala event, Kyle compares it to a Royal Wedding.  People are dancing in the streets... there's music... lotsa pomp 'n circumstance!

Then... boom.

Terrorists had blown up a school transport train killing 43 children.  An additional 116 people were killed in the blast, with over 400 more injured.  Kyle and Jade hop to, and try and do whatever they can to aid the Tendaxians... but for many of them, it's already too late.

We wrap up with Kyle and Jade approaching Minister Illus... and offering their services in this conflict.

--

Well, this was pretty heavy, huh?

Not that we didn't see it ending this way, right?  I mean, it is a "Part One"... which, nothing to do with this story in particular, is something that kind of annoys me straightaway.  Let's tangent for a bit...

When you buy a book with called "STORY, Part One", we're kinda trained to expect a twist/cliffhanger ending... which, to me, kinda lessens the impact of that twist/cliffhanger.  Just yesterday we read a "one and done" issue... if this issue didn't have a "Part One" in the title... we might've been expecting another, with a focus on the Kyle/Jen relationship and a backdrop of an off-planet peace summit.  Then, the "boom" might've had more of an impact.  Instead, I was just waiting for it to happen.  Not that I haven't read this story before, but it has been nearing on (Oh Lord) twenty years.

On another note, not naming each individual chapter feels kinda lazy to me.  All these "Part 1"s or "2 of 6"s just feel like a cop-out when every issue used to come with a different title.  I guess I should be happy the arc got a name... so often anymore, they don't even name the arc until the trade is solicited!

Okay, nit-picky tangent over... probably.

For the issue itself... it was fine.  The Kyle and Jen relationship, which I do remember fondly... kind of grated on me a bit here.  They feel like that "circus couple" that gets invited to game night.  It's like, as soon as they arrive the "show" begins, and you question why you even bothered to invite them.  It's like the "You're Schmoopy" episode of Seinfeld.  What I'm trying to say is... they're a bit much.

The Terry Berg story gets a requisite mention... we find out that he's going to be okay, which is fair enough.

I think my favorite bit here was the opening pages, where J'onn is running down all the names the Tendaxians actually wanted, before Kyle basically came out and asked him to stop busting his chops.  That was cute.

Overall, not a bad issue by any stretch, but one with a somewhat telegraphed ending... and one that laid it on a bit too heavy with the cutesy couple banter.  This issue is available digitally.

--

Letters Page:

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JSA #81 (2006)

JSA #81 (March, 2006)
"My Heroes"
Writer - Geoff Johns
Pencils - Dale Eaglesham
Inks - Art Thibert
Colors - John Kalisz
Letters - Rob Leigh
Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards
Editor - Stephen Wacker
Cover Price: $2.50

Going to take a look at a later issue of JSA today... and that's thanks to reader, Peter Garcia Sanchez... who recently commented on my ancient Angel Love #1 post with:

Now, me... being the foremost fake-ass Angel Love historian on this here internet, sat dumbfounded... shaking my head while staring at this reply.  There's just no way this can be real... right?

I almost didn't want to believe it because... c'mon, I really should've known this!

So... is it true?  Have I been living in a fool's paradise?  Well, we're just going to have to read on and find out.

--

We open at the Dugan home in Nebraska.  Stargirl and her mother are watching news reports of some dangerous stuff going on in the world... and Courtney is getting ready to join her teammates in the JSA to deal with some of it.  In the basement, Pat Dugan and his son Mike are arguing... about something we'll discuss in just a little bit.  Mom rushes off to grab her camera to snap a picture of Courtney before she heads off.  Courtney seems embarrassed, but gives a big ol' smile regardless.  So, either she's a ham... or just a good daughter.

Back in the basement, Pat Dugan is working on his S.T.R.I.P.E. armor, preparing it for a night out.  His son Mike (Courtney's step-brother) is ticked off that he isn't allowed to take up the S.T.R.I.P.E. mantle.  Pat tells him 13 is too young... which, ya know... kinda flies in the face of every DC sidekick ever.

We rejoin Courtney as she's flashing back to her youth... her real father... and how her mom and Pat became an item.  This scene is also the entire reason we're looking at this issue today!  Ya see, Courtney was given a locket with a picture of her biological father... and wondered why he never came to be with her.  Courtney's mom, being a single-mother, had to work a couple of jobs to support them... and so, Court was kind of a latch-key kid.  Anyhoo, we see her watching various television shows... one of which is ANGEL LOVE!

Courtney recalls one night in particular where her mother came home a bit late... this time, however, she didn't come home alone.  Enter: Pat Dugan.

They growed-ups dated for awhile... and Courtney fell back on cliche angsty teen-age behavior to get her mother's attention.  This went about as well as it always does.  Pat and Mom would be married... and move from Beverly Hills to Nebraska.  Upon arrival in their new digs, Courtney discovered Sylvester Pemberton's Cosmic Converter Belt in the moving boxes...

... and would become the all-new Star-Spangled Kid!

Back in the present, the Dugan men continue to argue.  Mike asks Pat why he was sent to Military School a couple years prior.  Pat cops to just not being able to give him the attention he needed.  Mike was acting out and becoming a delinquent... Military School was the only option.  Fair enough, right?  Well... when Mike came back, he found his dad busy trying to be a father to... another kid (Courtney, natch).

Mike stomps upstairs, and passes Courtney on his way... and tells her that her thighs look fat in her tights.  Hey, pal... that's your sister... don't be checkin' out her business!  She freaks out (because she's scared she looks fat... not because her brother just checked her out).  Pat tells her she looks fine... and the word "fine" is bolded.  I'm going to assume that's just for emphasis, and he wasn't stretching out the "i" or anything (fiiiiiiiiine).

Anyhoo, S.T.R.I.P.E. is switched on-line, and the pair'a heroes head out into the fray.  As they draw nearer to Philadelphia (the place where the hinky stuff's going down) they hear a terrific BONGG, which knocks them for a loop... and also, temporarily deafens them!

Turns out the "bong" is emanating from the Liberty Bell... and, uh... Liberty Belle!

Ya see, Liberty Belle gets her powers from the ringing of the actual Liberty Bell.  Her powers kinda went on the fritz in the nebulous Infinite Crisis-y era... and so, she visited the City of Brotherly Love to give herself a jumpstart.  This... didn't work as expected, and now she's kinda stuck on the Bell.

Off to the side, Courtney notices Liberty Belle's daughter, Jesse Chambers (Jesse Quick).  She compares their relationship to the one between she and her biological father.  While Courtney (claims to) feel nothing but hate for her old man, Jesse still loves her mom.  Courtney takes this as evidence that Jesse's a better daughter than she is.

After another tremendous BONNNGG, we shift scenes to Opal City.  There's a terrible electrical storm going on, and the Shade is saving some citizens from being crushed by a falling statue.  Shade, of course, claims that he's actually just concerned with saving the statue itself.  In a nearby apartment building, we see Courtney's biological father watching news of everything going down in Philly.  Just as he hears that Stargirl is approaching the Bell... the TV loses reception.  Moments later, the building is struck by lightning.

Back in Philly, Stargirl approaches Liberty Belle... and the Liberty Bell.  She takes Libby's hand and calms her down... by telling her that she's gotta stick around, if only for her daughter's sake.  Daughters need mothers, and all that jazz.

After one final explosion... everything stops.  Pat looks on from a distance and wonders aloud where his "daught--" is.  Then, from the smoky horizon, two silhouettes form... Stargirl and Liberty Belle emerge, no worse for wear.

Pat pulls Courtney to the side and gives her a halfhearted lecture.  Sure, it was a dumb thing to do... but, it's the kinda thing heroes do... and what's more, it worked!  They chat some more, with Courtney trying to impart on Pat that he's a good dad, no matter what Mike said earlier.

Then... the Shade arrives on the scene, with bad news.  Her father's apartment building wasn't just hit by lightning... it collapsed.  Her father... is dead.

Stargirl then does that thing where she pretends not to care... after all, why should she?  It isn't long, however, until she breaks down crying.  She turns to Pat and asks why she can't not care...

... he replies that it's because she is a wonderful daughter.

--

Well, I'll be a sonuvagun... Angel Love is mentioned here!  Huge thanks to Peter for the tip!  If there are any other Angel Love mentions/appearances that I don't know of... please let me know!

Before we get into the story of the issue... I do wanna say, I really dig the idea of Angel Love being a television show in the DC Universe... I can see it sorta being in the vein of Degrassi Jr. High or something... heck, they deal with some of the same issues!  Drug abuse, unplanned pregnancy, estranged families, sick parents... if only Ed Koch was the mayor of Toronto, we'd be pretty close!

And since it's really tough to reconcile Angel Love within the wider DC continuity... it having been a TV show might just be the best way to make it "fit".  It all happened... it was just on TV.  Here's a better look at that panel:

Now the story itself... perhaps a bit heavy-handed... maybe a little melodramatic... but, I gotta say... I loved it!

I'm definitely a sucker for this kind of story... and the evolving dynamic between Stargirl and Pat Dugan has always been a great one.  I like that they share this closeness, especially in light of their frostier relationship early on.  The panel where Pat, without thinking, refers to her as his "daught--" was especially telling.  After all they've been through together, there's no doubt that they're "family".

The Liberty Belle stuff was really just a means to an end, I feel.  Going into the next volume, Jesse would abandon her "Jesse Quick" persona and take up her mother's Liberty Belle mantle... so, this is likely just a faciliatory (that's not a word!) measure to connect this to that.

Back to Pat... I guess there's still the question as to whether or not he's a good father (to Mike).  That's kind of a toughie, innit?  We can tell there's a definite affection there... Pat cares about his son, certainly... buuuuut, he's kinda just in the background, no?  It's been awhile since I read this Infinite Crisis era JSA... so, I dunno if this leads anywhere or not.  It's Johns, so I assume it does.

Speaking of fathers, good and otherwise... Courtney's biological Pop gets popped in that Opal City electrical storm.  I think her reaction to this was... the right one.  I'd never say that someone should or shouldn't react a certain way... but, this just felt like the right way... for her.

The art here was phenomenal... as we've come to expect from Dale Eaglesham.  He's definitely up there on my list of top artists.  From dynamic action to incredible emotion... just as close to perfect as it gets!

Overall... so very happy to have revisited this issue, and even though I only did it to search out the Angel Love mention, I loved the actual story as well.  This issue is available digitally.

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Green Lantern (vol.3) #155 (2002)

Green Lantern (vol.3) #155 (December, 2002)
"Hate Crime, Part Two"
Script - Judd Winick
Pencils - Dale Eaglesham
Inks - Rodney Ramos
Colors - Moose Baumann
Letters - Kurt Hathaway
Editorial Assistance - Morgan Dontanville
Editor - Bob Schreck
Cover Price: $2.25

Today we're going to wrap up the two-part "Hate Crime" story.

I gotta admit, I was a bit nervous discussing this one... I wasn't exactly sure how it would be received.  Haven't heard any complaints yet... which, I'm going to assume means nobody read it... or, that folks were so dazzled by my insight they were left speechless.  Yeah, probably that second one.

This arc will be added to our "Collected Editions" Page for ease of chronological-enjoyment.

--

We open with a news report on the beating of Terry Berg... even my man President Lex gets to opine!  Vigils will be held, and legislation will be brought up to speed.  Back at the hospital, we meet Terry's folks... and boy howdy is his father a cliche.  He refuses to allow David in to see Terry, and goes off on a blaming-spree.  He finally collapses in tears, at which point Jade escorts David into Terry's room.

Just then, John Stewart shows up with some coffees.  Jennie is confused when she learns that Kyle put John "on the list".  Not because of any hard-feelings toward John or anything, she's just not sure what Kyle has in mind.  Kyle initially claims to have called John to keep her company because he needs to step away for a minute.

Kyle "steps away" alright, all the way to the Moon!  Next we see him, he's inside the JLA Watchtower pleading with Wally West to use the Cosmic Treadmill so he can "undo" Terry's beating.  Flash says "no go".

Kyle keeps pushing the subject... it's just "one day", what harm would there be in changing just one event on one day?!  Well, if this ain't Batman's cue, I don't know what it is... so, enter Batman.  Batman backs Wally's decision up, while giving Kyle a taste of the "I know what you did last night."  Crestfallen, Kyle leaves.

Next we know, he's in deep space working out his aggression on the Asteroid Belt.  This is where he encounters his predecessor... Hal Jordan.  Hal let's Kyle express his frustration... even counsels him a bit.

Kyle suggests that had he not relinquished the power of Ion (that's a story for another day) he'd be able to undo Terry's beating.  He kicks himself for "giving it all away", even though in so doing, he was able to bring back the Guardians of the Univer-- okay, maybe it wasn't the best idea.

Hal tells Kyle he must do whatever brings him inner peace.  He wishes him luck... and reveals that, even at this moment, luck is on his side... there's good news waiting for him back at the hospital.

Indeed, back at the hospital Kyle gets the news that Terry has woken up!  What's more, he'd asked to see him ASAP.  Kyle heads into the room, where he has a "chat" with an intubated Terry.

Things start off pretty lighthearted, though the conversation does turn dark.  Terry wants to know what happened to him... how did he come to be here.  Also, he wants to know why no one will tell him what happened to him.

We jump ahead to Kyle and Jennie on the roof... I'm assuming it's of the apartment building and not the hospital... not that it matters.  It's here that Jennie makes a pretty crazy discovery.  While going through Terry's sketchbook... it becomes pretty clear that Terry Berg has known about Kyle's double-life for a while.

It's also here that Kyle... quits.  He cannot protect the Earth anymore as Green Lantern.  It's just too much for him right now.  He suggests he leaves Earth for awhile... and he invites Jennie along with him.  So then, who will be Green Lantern?  Well... 

--

Well, I guess this one sorta had to come back around and be a superhero story, didn't it?  It's not bad... just the change in tone is a little bit jarring.

Having Kyle at his wit's end was a good call.  Though, he seemed to get stuck on that one step of the Kubler-Ross scale... bargaining.  He pleaded with his teammates for the opportunity to change the past.  I mean, time-travel in comics is always a hinky proposition... and I feel it's one that should be used sparingly and for "world saving" situations only.  Had they allowed Kyle to "undo" Terry's beating... I feel that would have been a giant disservice to those who had been affected by similar situations in the real world.

I said this back when we discussed Nightwing #93... the issue where he is sexually assaulted by Tarantula, and I'll say it again here... Sometimes bad things happen to good people.  In comics, and the real world.  To use "comics logic" to undo things that happen in our everyday lives... just not a good idea, in my opinion.

Kyle's chat with Hal was good... for a few reasons.  First, due to the mainstream attention this garnered, I gotta figure that this arc were the first Green Lantern comics for a decent sliver of the readership.  The chat allowed for some expository "catch up" material to be dropped, without feeling like a blatant info dump.

In keeping with the "mainstream" for a moment.  This issue ends with John Stewart taking the role of Green Lantern.  This was right around the time of the Justice League Animated Series, in which John Stewart was Green Lantern.  Really smart move, that serves both the narrative and potential marketing strategies.

Back to the chat.  Hal really doesn't tell Kyle anything he doesn't already know... he just frames it all in a way for Kyle to gain a little perspective.  With the powers of Ion, Kyle could've done anything (including resurrect a certain young lady whose last mailing address was a refrigerator... which he didn't), so relinquishing those powers was a) the only feasible solution, and b) a character-defining moment.  Having him regret this decision is only natural... and I'm not entirely sure Hal was able to convince him otherwise here.  Still, I like seeing Hal as a "mentor" to Kyle.

Terry's father... I mean, I get it.  I wish Winick took the road less traveled here though.  I don't see the harm in having Mr. Berg be a supportive father, instead of a mustached, mullet-headed, dirty t-shirt wearing jerk.  I guess, given the situation, it's possible that even the most supportive of parents might lash out... but, there's just very little subtlety in this fella.  I tell ya what though, I'd hate to see how this character would be portrayed in 2018.

Terry wakes up, which is good news... and he seems to be the same ol' goofy snarky kid, which is also good news.  I really like the idea that people aren't telling him how or why he's in the shape he's in.  I'd imagine that would be one of the more difficult conversations to have (and write).  I dig the idea that those around him are still trying to process the sheer horror of the events... and aren't yet ready (or able) to relay them to the actual victim.  This is a big deal... and really shouldn't be handled lightly.

Overall... like I said yesterday, you're not gonna enjoy reading "Hate Crime"... because you're not supposed to.  That said, it is important... and character-defining/refining for much of the cast of Green Lantern.  Even though I've just spoiled the entire thing for you, I'd still suggest giving it a look.  This issue is available digitally.

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