Chase #2 (1998)

Chase #2 (March, 1998)
"Letdowns"
Co-Plot/Script - D. Curtis Johnson
Co-Plot/Pencils - J.H. Williams III
Inks - Mick Gray
Colors/Separations - Lee Loughridge
Lettering - Comicraft
Associate Editor - Dana Kurtin
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50

No real preamble today... just taking a brief detour from our #Action100 endeavor to continue chasing Chase!

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We open outside of a pyramid near the Peruvian/Bolivian border... inside sorta-kinda Giger-esque robots speak to one another in broken English, code, and binary.  Before they can activate... something (I think), the JLA arrives to take care of bidness.

We shift to Cameron Chase's apartment... and we can see that her boyfriend Peter has arrived.  He's crashed out on the couch... and she decides against waking him before leaving on a D.E.O. trip to South America... which, we might assume has something to do with that pyramid/temple... because it totally does.

At the office, Chase is assured that this trip is "hers"... as in, she's running the show.  It appears as though the elusive "Director" has been impressed with her work so far.  Cam and Sandy enter the briefing room where they are... well, briefed... by Amanda Waller.  The Wall fills them in on the goings-on by the Peru/Bolivia border.

Chase flashes back to an argument she had with Peter a day or two prior.  He's not terribly pleased that she's working for the Department... and even less pleased that her next assignment will be in South America.  He badgers her about the identity and motivations of this "Director" that speaks so highly of her... and she assures him everything is on the up and up.

Back in the "present", the Wall is still laying out the assignment.  Cameron is tasked with... clean-up, basically.  Taking out every piece of hardware in the pyramid/temple before members of the Shining Path Tribe start salvaging... and she's not going to be doing so alone.  It's time to meet our new Suicide Squad.

Sixteen hours later, Chase and the Squad are hovering in the air above the jungles in a chopper.  While the Squaddies try to make Cam feel as uncomfortable as possible, her mind begins to wander again... back to her argument with Peter.  This time the subject is Chase's nebulous metahuman "talent".  Things get heated, as a) she doesn't understand it herself, and b) there are laws in place for those with the "talent" (there are?)... and so, she needs this to remain a secret.

The helicopter lands... and the team is greeted by a young local named Paolo.  Well, actually Copperhead attacks and threatens to eat him... but, he assures the gang that he is their guide.

And so, he guides them... for several interesting hours.  This is a really fun page... it even has Bolt trying to get the "real news" on Roswell from Cam... she tells him that it was just a crashed Dominator craft, but he's sure that's just the "cover story".  I mean, what?  Isn't a Dominator craft bad enough?  Very funny stuff in the context of a fantastical world.

The crew is frightened by the sound of movement... but it's just a rat, that Copperhead is more than happy to eat.  Chase's mind wanders one more time... the argument continues, and now they're talking about Peter not having (or being interested in) a job.  Cam insists that she'll drop a resume at the Department's Computer Ops... but he ain't down with working alongside freaks.

In the present, the Squad arrives at an overlook.  Down below, the Shining Path confer.  Paolo is able to listen in, and translates what they're saying.  It would seem they already know about the Temple... but also, that there are already people at the Temple!  People in armor, even!

The Suicide Squad kinda shrugs it off... and says if they can't complete their original mission, then they ought to move to Plan B... which involves escaping... and maybe, just maybe killing Cameron Chase.

Chase is all "b-b-but your collars", to which Bolt shows her a "jammer" he whipped up to solve that problem.  Sledge appears to be the only member of the Squad who doesn't want to kill Chase. Copperhead, Bolt, and Killer Frost seem to be all about it.

Copperhead lunges toward Cam... sending them both off the edge of the overlook.  The both manage to hang on... and Paolo begins to pull Chase back up.  Copperhead insists that Paolo let Chase fall... otherwise he'll just kill her with venom.  Cam tells Paolo to do what the snake-man says... and just let her fall.

And so... he does!

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Another really good issue of Chase.  I mean, we've covered just about one-third of the entire series here... and haven't been let down yet!  That's a pretty good sign, right?

I really dig the way this story is being kinda "weaved" together.  We're getting story threads via flashback which really lend flavor to what is going on in "the present".  Chase letting her mind wander and not being completely focused on the mission at hand is a very human way to be.

The flashback-argument scenes that her mind was wandering to were also incredibly well done.  Johnson has done a terrific job merging real-world bones of contention into the unreal-DC Universe.  The argument(s) felt incredibly real... and while we only saw a brief snapshot... it was more than enough to understand both sides.

Speaking of "real", I thought the page illustrating the several-hour jungle trek was pretty great.  Just odd conversation... Bolt asking if anyone minds if he sings... that was pretty funny.  The Roswell "cover-up" chat... also really good.

This new Suicide Squad... well, I suppose it could've been worse (though, I think that was kind of the point).  I really want someone to punch Copperhead in the face, that's for sure.  I dig that Sledge is kind of conflicted... he seems a-okay with escaping, but doesn't see any point in killing Cam.  Gotta wonder if he'll play a more heroic role down the line.

Overall... one heckuva package here, words and art alike... all top-notch!  A series definitely worth your time!

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Chase #1 (1998)

Chase #1 (February, 1998)
"Baptized in Fire"
Story - D. Curtis Johnson
Penciller - J.H. Williams III
Inker - Mick Gray
Colors/Separations - Lee Loughridge
Lettering - Comicraft
Associate Editor - Dana Kurtin
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50

I don't want to alarm anyone... but, you might want to be careful with how you handle this humble blog today... because, we got some Collectible Cards included, bay-bee!  Make sure not to bend the blog!  Better yet, just get this one slabbed.

To be serious for a moment... today we're reading a very special book.  One that I only recently got my hands on.  Ya see, I kinda read Chase backwards (heck, we've even covered an issue here!)... not because I couldn't find the first issue, or for any "real" reason... I just never picked it up, because every time I saw it I thought I already had it!

I'd even passed up on it in a Half-Price Books dime bin a few years back!  Also in that bin... complete runs of Hex and Scare Tactics.  I should've just taken the entire box!  Sad but true, that keeps me awake some nights.

Oh well, enough of my psychosis... let's "officially" meet Cameron Chase.

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We open in Daily, Ohio (which I'm not sure is a real place... apologies to any and all "actual" Dailians out there).  It's 8 am, and school is in session.  It's here that we meet a little nerdy kid named Jerry who, if not for the protruding proboscis could very well have been me.  Anyhoo, he's crushing hard on a classmate named Amy... whose boyfriend Chad (they're always named "Chad", aren't they?) catches him sneakin' a peek... and so, heads over to "feed him some table".  Unfortunately for ol' Chadwick, this is the moment where young Jerry's Meta-Gene comes active!

We shift scenes to New York City, where new DEO Agent Cameron Chase is running late for her first day on the job.  I guess things like "traffic" and "rush hour" are alien concepts to her.  Overhead, she sees Kyle Rayner flying around... and is nonplussed.  Just another day in the big city.

She finally arrives at the Department of Extra-Normal Operations building and heads inside, ready to make the most of her day.  Once inside, she is guided to her office, where she plans to meet with the Director of the DEO.  Instead, she runs into Field Personnel Manager, Sandy Barrett.  She's informed about the odd goings' on in Ohio... and before we know it, she's swept onto a Dayton-bound plane.

While in the air, Cameron looks over some information Sandy brought.  It's some pretty interesting stuff... it shows that the DEO is working with schools, altering tests in order to suss out who might have a Meta-Gene.  This is starting to feel a little X-Menny.  Get used to that...

The ladies arrive at Daily Junior High, where they are given the quick and dirty on the day's event.  They produce the list... and ask a Sheriff if anyone on it has gone missing.  Well, asamattafact, a certain Jerry Harris has flown the coop.  Cam looks over the scene, and is able to deduce that Jerry is very likely a pyrokinetic... which, I mean... everything's burnt and in ashes, so that's not really much of a leap.

From here, Chase and Barrett conduct some... pretty natural and entertaining interviews with Jerry's classmates.  This is a really well done (pun!) bit.  We learn here that Chad survived the blast... but is in a really bad way.  He's blinded and suffering third degree burns.

That night, Jerry Harris is found.  Chase and Barrett accompany the police... causing Jerry to "light up" again.  Cameron lines up her shot... hoping that she won't have to pull the trigger.  Jerry explodes one of the cars and attempts to flee... however, falls into a nearby pond.  Whoops... that ain't gonna keep ya lit, kid!

From here, Jerry is taken into custody.  Cam chats him up a bit, and makes him an offer he can't refuse.  They plan to send him somewhere where he can hone his newfound abilities.  Those X-Men pangs shifting into X-Factor ones?  Yup, me too.  Hell, Jerry even has a similar power to Rusty Collins from X-Factor #1!  Anyhoo, Jerry's totally on board... after all, if he becomes a superhero, whatsherface would have to notice him!

The kid is taken back to his cell, leaving Chase to talk to Barrett about how messed up she thinks everything is.  She doesn't feel it's a good idea to "reward" a kid who nearly killed his entire school with the promise of becoming a superhero.  Barrett has a more grounded perspective... the kid's got powers, would we rather he grow up to be one of the good guys... or one of the bad guys?

Barrett heads into the next room to talk to Jerry's folks... leaving Cam behind to give a call to her boyfriend.  He's still in California and hasn't made the cross-country move just yet.  She fills him in on her day... and suggests that she feels a measure of responsibility for what's happened.

Later that night, some torch and pitchfork wielding Ohioans surround the station.  Looks like Chad didn't make it... and they're wanting to take it out of Jerry in trade.  The prison guard... really isn't much help.  He intends to allow the mob inside to do whatever they'd like to the kid!  This causes Jerry to "light up"... which causes ol' Barney Fife to fire a shot into the kid's shoulder!

This doesn't stop Jerry though... and he runs off into the night.  Nearby, Cameron sees the kid attempting to flee, and she gives chase (pun!).  When she catches up to him, he lashes out... leaping toward her.

Then... something... happens.  Before he can attack, his flame is extinguished.  It's as though Cameron Chase was able to cancel out his powers... hmm...

We wrap up with Barrett giving Chase her due.  It's been one heckuva first day on the job.

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Now, this is one of those books that seems to be universally praised... and that almost always raises a red flag for me.  The internet "hivemind" is one of those things I've grown to... I dunno, accept.  Apropos of nothing... this week I reacquainted myself with the Comicbook Roundup website... kind of a meta-critic collection and aggregate of review scores.  I was quite taken aback by the amount of Perfect 10 scores there are in the world.  Damn near every book on that site has at least one 10/10 score.

Makes me wonder... if everything gets a "10", what's the point of reviewing anything?  I mean, that "Perfect 10" bookshelf used to be pretty sparse... it only had the best of the best on it.  Now, it's... I dunno Watchmen... maybe Crisis... and Squirrel Girl (vol.3) #4.  Yeesh.  Really makes you stop believing in anything.  I get that giving high scores ingratiates us to the publishers... but have some integrity.  Keep in mind, this is coming from a guy who has been taken to task several times over for being "too positive" on this very blog.

Ahem... apologies for the detour/rant there... but, I said all of that, so I could say this... sometimes the hivemind is right.  Chase is a wonderful book... and I've enjoyed every issue that I've read of it.  Is it a book that was cancelled too soon?  Perhaps... or maybe not.  "Leaving them wanting more" isn't a bad way to go out, right?

Now for the issue itself... this was a great way to introduce us to our main character.  She's very much our point of view character here... which is to say, it's as though we're seeing everything through her eyes.  Much as this is her first day with the DEO... it's ours' too!

Information is given out in drips and drabs... and we're learning everything along with Cameron.  Schools altering tests to find potential Metas?  We get to react to that with Cam.  Learning about the "deals" the DEO cuts with young Metas?  We get to experience that reaction as well.  We see that not everything is so cut-and-dry... and have to make our own moral concessions.  It's really quite well done.

I really enjoyed the classmate interview scene.  Very natural reaction from the kids.  Amy is kind of grossed out by Jerry's crush... that other kid is more interested in how long school's gonna be out than the well-being of Chad.  This page really stood out to me as something special.

I made a few references/comparisons to the X-Men during the synopsis in regard to metagenes activating.  I want to be clear, I don't see that as a negative... I'm just surprised it's something I never actually "connected the dots" on before now.  It seems so obvious... though in fairness, I can also be particularly dense at times.

I don't think DC went as far with the "feared and hated" angle as Marvel did... which is, to my mind, a good thing.  It really shows how different the cultures are between the universes.  Marvel has always been more cynical... where DC's heroes are often propped up as examples.  Neither are right or wrong, or better or worse... there's room for both, it just depends on what kind of story you're looking for.

Gotta mention the art.  Really great stuff... and thankfully this issue hit after the industry's (relatively) brief flirtation with super-shiny, super-blistery glossy 1990's paper.  The "science" just wasn't there yet.  Man, that era produced some ugly books!

Overall... a wonderful book, well worth your time tracking down.  The entire series has been collected, and is available digitally (this issue is listed for just 99 pennies!).  Is it a 10/10?  Well... no, but they can't all be... or, can they?

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Collectible Cards! (print 'em out... trade 'em with your friends!)

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(Not the) Letters Page:

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Justice League of America (vol.2) #0 (2006)

Justice League of America (vol.2) #0 (September, 2006)
"Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow"
Writer - Brad Meltzer
Pencillers - Eric Wright, Dick Giordano, Tony Harris, George Perez, J.H. Williams III, Luke McDonnell, Gene Ha, Rags Morales, Ethan Van Sciver, Kevin Maguire, Adam Kubert, Dan Jurgens, Jim Lee, Howard Porter, Andy Kubert, Phil Jimenez & Ed Benes
Inkers - Paul Neary, Kevin Nowlan, Dexter Vines, Jesse Delperdang, Andy Lanning & Sandra Hope
Letterer - Rob Leigh
Colorist - Alex Sinclair
Assistant Editor - Jeanine Schaeffer
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.99

Well, that be a lotta pencillers, eh?  Wow, for the first time in ever I couldn't fit'em all into the tags/labels!

This is bound to be an amazing book right?  Either that or a colossal mess, to be sure?  Well, nah... it's neither of those things really... but we'll get there.  I guess I'm still in a post-Infinite Crisis mood (is anyone ever in an Infinite Crisis mood?  This might be a first!), so we may as well see how the new-look League (starts to) shake out!

This bugger features a lot of callbacks (it's basically a series of vignettes of the past and "future")... and I'll do my best to fill in the bits and pieces as we go.

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We open in the Batcave... a long time ago.  This is happening right after Justice League of America #9 (February, 1962) "The Origin of the Justice League" (Gardner Fox/Mike Sekowsky)... ya know, the one with where the Leaguers are almost turned into trees?  Superman is trying to convince Batman that when a threat becomes too big for one of them, they should band together as the Justice League to take it down.  Batman kinda hems and haws, before accepting.  This is drawn in a time-appropriate style, the "face" part of Batman's cowl is darker than the rest, sort of like the Adam West '66 show.

After the handshake heard 'round the world... both men look a bit ill at ease.  Turns out they aren't alone.  Wonder Woman is also there... invited by both men without checking with one another, it's a pretty cute bit.

We jump ahead in League history to around issue #102 of Justice League of America (October, 1972) "... And One of Us Must Die!" (Len Wein/Dick Dillin) where Red Tornado sacrifices himself to save the team.  Our trinity really starts tearing into one another about this... Diana thinks Red Tornado was kind of their best bet for a sacrifice, as "it's better we lost a machine than one of our own."  Batman is furious... he always thought they considered Tornado "one of their own" regardless.

Next stop, the future... or a possible one, at least.  The trinity is attending the wedding of... Hal Jordan?  Ehhh? They are joshing one another about the betting odds for some of the male Leaguers taking a wife.  Behind the three is a woman lost in thought... I'm gonna take a stab and say this is Carol Ferris... and Hal's marrying another woman.  This story (to my knowledge) never came to pass, so it's pretty moot.

The talk of weddings leads us to a flashback to an issue we discussed here not too long ago!  The wedding of Donna Troy and the Creep... er, Terry Long in Tales of the Teen Titans #50 (February, 1985) "We Are Gathered Here Today......." (Marv Wolfman/George Perez).  We get a neat callback (via Perez's own pencil!) to a discussion Dick and Bruce had during the reception.

Tales of the Teen Titans #50 (Feb, 1985) / Words-Wolfman - Art/Perez

Back to... the future, where we see the trinity fighting Lex Luthor!  Lex has actually punched Batman in the face so hard he knocked a tooth out!  He's ranting about something having happened to his son... which, again... this is a possible future, I suppose.... buuuuut, being as though this is right after Infinite Crisis, an event that saw the death of Superboy (Kon-El/Conner Kent), who was cloned from a DNA cocktail featuring the mojo of Superman and Lex Luthor, he might be referring to that.

Back to the past, and we're at around Justice League of America Annual #2 (1984) "The End of the Justice League" (Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton).  This is at the dawning of the Detroit-League run by Aquaman, and featuring characters like Vibe, Gypsy, Vixen, and Commander Steel.  Batman ain't quite feelin' it... I feel like that's something of a theme here.  Superman and Wonder Woman try to get him to settle his tea kettle... and tell him it's Arthur's turn to run the show.

Back to the future... and this is a story that actually came to pass.  We're in Smallville, and in the shadow of Pa Kent's passing (at the end of the Brainiac storyline right before the New Krypton saga), Clark has returned to try and remove all traces of Superman.  Of interest, he fills in the tunnel from his childhood bedroom, which I've always associated with pre-Crisis Superboy... hmm...

Back to the past... and the Batcave!  Batman and Wonder Woman spar as Superman looks on.  Batman is excited that he's found himself a new partner... Jason Todd!  This kid's gonna be great, really great!  This is the first time in awhile Batman feels "alive".  Can't really place this one... since, ya know... Batman met Jason Todd twice.  His happiness here makes me think pre-Crisis, however everything Red Hood related from here on makes me think post.

To the future!  We're on Paradise Island as Wonder Woman is preparing for her upcoming nuptials.  Apparently her taking a husband brings with it a sacrifice... her immortality!  Can't say that this story ever happened... my Wonder Woman knowledge is pretty spotty.  I'm gonna go with "never happened".

In the past, we get a little bwa-ha-ha, when the trinity huddles around a photo of a kayoed Guy Gardner.  This occurred in Justice League #5 (September, 1987) "Gray Life Gray Dreams" (Keith Giffen/J.M. DeMatteis/Kevin Maguire) They ask Batman about the (to my mind, kinda "over referenced" by this point) "one punch".  It's sad that an entire (amazing) run of Justice League is often reduced to Batman punching Guy Gardner.

In the future, Superman arrives to the new JLA Satellite for his annual meeting with the rest of the trinity... alas, they are a no-show.  Clark sheds a single tear.  Not sure this one ever came to pass either.  It looks like the League has the head of the Incredible Hulk in their trophy room though!

Back to the past, looks like we're hopping into my wheelhouse, 1992.  Batman and Wonder Woman see the news of Superman's passing.  That of course happened in Superman (vol.2) #75 (January, 1993) "Doomsday!" (Dan Jurgens).  All Bruce can say is that they're going to need to build a stronger League next time.  A reference to Doomsday absolutely wrecking the current League, and perhaps the justification for Wonder Woman joining the "new" League immediately following the Death of Superman.

In the future, the trinity discuss a recent revelation by the Flash... wouldja believe, there's a second Earth out there?  I remember there being some rumblings and measures taken in regard to doing some Earth-2 stuff post-Infinite Crisis, but it never felt like it took off.

Back to the past!  Superman and Wonder Woman are reading Batman the riot act on his secretly having protocols on taking out each member of the League should they go rogue.  This doesn't sound like a terrible idea, until you consider what might happen if say... Ra's al Ghul were to get a hold of them.  This happened in the Tower of Babel arc in JLA, issues 43-46 (Mark Waid/Howard Porter).  In the fallout of this arc (JLA #50 - February, 2001 - Mark Waid/Bryan Hitch), the League members revealed their secret identities to one another.

And, back to the future... Wonder Woman and Superman are at Crime Alley in Gotham City discussing the passing of Batman.  This would (sorta) eventually come to pass nearly a half-decade after this issue!  Superman/Batman #76 (November, 2010) "The Brave and the Bold" (Judd Winick/Marco Rudy) featured Superman's reaction to the death(s) of Batman.  I get fuzzy here because Batman died in Final Crisis... and during Batman R.I.P., right?!

We next get a very brief flashback bit regarding Batman's involvement with Brother Eye... like one panel brief.  They are discussing events that occurred during the OMAC Project miniseries (2005-Greg Rucka) which was part of the lead-up to Infinite Crisis.

That's our last time-traveling moment here, as we (finally) arrive in the present.  Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are having their latest annual Trinity-Meeting.  Batman accidentally refers to the League as "friends", which is pretty cute.

Our issue ends with the big-three knowing they've got a few big decisions ahead of them... and, ya know, gets our hopes up about what new members they're going to add to the ol' order.

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It's hard to really review this as a story... but it's still something worth checking out.  Not only does it provide a fun Justice League history lesson (including art from the original artists, or in the style of) but it also helps us conceptualize what the current post-Infinite Crisis DC Universe may look like.

I remember having a ton of questions following Superboy-Prime's reality punch insofar as what is and isn't part of continuity anymore.  This issue allows us to observe vignettes to answer (even nebulously) some of those questions.

I think I could have done without some of the "flash forwards", which wound up not panning out.  Not sure if they were included as red herrings, or if they simply didn't wind up happening due to... whatever reasons.  It is interesting to consider that even as Infinite Crisis was a thing, DC already had an eye toward Final Crisis (if, in fact, that's what the Crime Alley scene was alluding to). Seems like an unreal amount of forethought for a comic book company of any era.

The first time I read this, I think my main takeaway was the idea that perhaps Superman was, at one time, Superboy.  I wasn't terribly familiar with the concept, or even fond of it at the time... but it was still intriguing.  I saw this as, potentially, the first radical shift (that didn't serve a larger story) to a character I'd "grown up with".  Hell, it's possible I was reading too much into it... but, that underground tunnel in Clark's room always yelled "Superboy" to me.

It was neat revisiting some older incarnations of the League... even if I could do without the "cheap pop" Batman "one-punching" Guy Gardner reference.  It really bugs me that when folks talk about that era they're all "One Punch!  One Punch!" rather than talking about all of the great stories and character work that amazing run brought with it.  Though, I guess it's good enough people remember it at all.

The art was... ya know, kinda jarring... but in the right way.  This is supposed to be something of a Justice League community quilt... it's supposed to look different as it goes.  I'll say that I wasn't a fan of all the art here, but feel it did all serve the tone(s) the book is going for.

Overall, as I read this I thought to myself "Self, this would'a made a really good Free Comic Book Day issue!" and upon further review, saw that it actually was the year after it came out!  Then I thought... hey, I can tell folks to check this one out digitally for free!  But alas, no... it is available digitally, but it's gonna cost ya some credits.  I'd say it's worth a look, though I would advise against breaking the bank to do so... it does, after all, feature Terry Long.

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