Marvel Comics Presents #4 (Master of Kung Fu)
"Crossing Lines, Part 4 of 8: Water"
Writer - Doug Moench
Pencils - Tom Grindberg
Inks - Dave Cockrum
Letters - Michael Heisler
Colors - Petra Scotese
Assistant Edits - Michael Rockwitz
Edits - Terry Kavanagh
Chief - Tom DeFalco
Another evening visit with MCP here at the humble blog. I say this as though when someone discovers this post sometime in the future, they'll care that this post was published in the PM!
Let's Shang-Chi!
--
We open with Shang-Chi, Reston, and Black Jack Tarr conferring to plan how they may go about rescuing the kidnapped (or, as they put it in this story "kidnaped") and newly one-handed, Leiku Wu. They're assuming she was napped/naped by a one-handed fella called Argus. It's a pretty contentious chat... with neither Chi nor Tarr really seeing eye-to-eye as to how they go about it. Ya see, Chi wants to leave Tarr and Reston behind... which, causes Jack to flip out... it's really quite an annoying little scene that kills a few too many panels in my opinion.
Shang-Chi assures the fellas that, while he doesn't want them to accompany him, that doesn't mean he's going alone. He's got frenemies (oof, I can't believe I actually used that word. Stop me if I do so again) in low places... and so, we are introduced to Shen Kuei... the Cat. I've never seen this dude before, but it seems as though he and Chi have had a tussle or two in their time... even had a few women come between them, one of them Leiko Wu herself! Upon learning that she is in trouble, the Cat agrees to help out.
Speaking of Ms. Wu, we join her as she's been tied to a chair by... none other than Argus. During her... uh, interrogation (?), she manages to break free... but is quickly kayoed with a (literal) right-hook to the mush.
We shift scenes to a boat (called The Junk), where Tarr is giving Chi and the Cat the quick and dirty on their mission. He tries making it far more complex than it needs to be, but what it all boils down to is... Chi and Kuei are both Asian... and they're going to replace some Yakuza weapon-buyers in order to get in close to Argus. Once they're inside, they'll assume the roles of "Red Wolves", whoever they are.
Chi and Kuei think the first part of the plan is solid... but, that second-half... they're not so sure. They all board a little rowboat to head back to the docks from The Junk. Just as they arrive on dry land, however, The Junk is blown sky-high. Game on.
--
I have this little... hmm... problem with "Part 4's". If you've listened to any of my audio exploits, I'm sure you've heard me mention it a time or two. In today's decompressed comics landscape, "Part 4 of 6" pretty much means you're in for a garbage issue... full of poorly-told recaps, with the teensiest bit of momentum toward the climax.
Now, this chapter wasn't recappy in the slightest... but, it felt like quite the time-killer. Which is kind of a shame, as I've been kinda digging on this story up to this point. Hopefully this was just a lull... and next time out, we'll be back to business as usual. I don't wanna be too hard on it, going by the "three chapters = one issue" model we've been using... I suppose this was decent enough "first third" of an issue.
Perhaps if I had any familiarity or attachment to Shang-Chi and his crew, I'd be a bit more excited seeing folks like The Cat.
Tomorrow: Fear Bug... take four!
Marvel Comics Presents #3 (Master of Kung Fu)
"Crossing Lines, Part 3 of 8: Fish"
Writer - Doug Moench
Pencils - Tom Grindberg
Inks - Dave Cockrum
Letters - Agustin Mas
Colors - Petra Scotese
Assistant Edits - Michael Rockwitz
Edits - Terry Kavanagh
Chief - Tom DeFalco
We're back at our... for whatever reason... most popular feature! Not sure what it is, but for two-weeks in a row, Master of Kung Fu is really gettin' those clicks! Whether these are actual readers or bot-squatters, I haven't the foggiest... but, in this game... we take what we can get!
Let's do it.
--
We pick up three days after the attack on Xiao's home and the abduction of Leiko. Our man, Shang-Chi is pounding the pavement looking for answers... but ain't getting none. He doesn't seem overly trusting of the Hong Kong citizens... nor should he, the answers he gets seem dodgy at best here. He next heads up a hill to Xiao's final resting place. Black Jack Tarr is there paying his respects... and openly questions whether or not he's got it in him to be a leader of this little group of anti-radicals, or whatever. Shang-Chi takes a seat and they begin a weird, and somewhat contentious chat. Tarr takes this odd tack of trying to get Shang-Chi to work for him... by more or less blaming him for everything that's gone down during the past couple of chapters.
Our hero doesn't really initially address the accusation... he's still lost in thoughts of Leiko. Here, Tarr, finally gives us the meat-and-potatoes of this whole deal. Ya see, Hong Kong will soon no longer be under British Protectorate... and, as such, rival terrorist organizations have combined forces to kind of stake their claim(s) on the place. We also learn that Tarr n' the Gang are doing this job gratis. Xiao came to them with a story... but no shekels. Since these mercs really believed in this endeavor, they took the gig for free.
Shang-Chi doesn't agree to help just yet... but, they head back home anyway. There, Reston... that geek who started smoking to look Hong Kong Cool last chapter, is a few bottles deep... and is wielding a pistol. After nearly shooting Tarr and Chi, he reveals that someone dropped off a package for the latter.
In it... well, some fish. Also... a hand. Leiko's hand! With Xiao's ring still on its finger! Our hero is unphased, and rather than freaking out at the sight of the woman he loves' severed mitt, he just asks Tarr if Leiko and Xiao were lovers! Dude's got tunnel-vision... though, I guess I "get it".
We wrap up with our hero finally deciding to at least hear out Tarr's plan. He isn't "all in" with the mission... but, if their gig intertwines with his hunt for Leiko... they may as well have each others' backs.
--
A very "tawky" third chapter... but, I tell ya what... this story needed exactly this!
I remember early on in our Action Comics Daily coverage... when a given eight-pager didn't make much sense, I would try and wait until we got three-chapters in before making any sort of of sweeping quality-leveling judgment. Way I looked at it, three anthology chapters were akin to a single issue's worth of a story. 24 pages, give or take.
Here we are, 24 pages (or one single issue) in on our Master of Kung Fu serial... and, ya know... this is pretty good stuff! These three chapters would fit nicely into a single issue... get us through all the preliminary exposition... address the threat... give us some tension... set us a goal. These together would make a fine first issue! Unlike Man-Thing which sorta leaves us with more questions (and less interest in finding answers), Master of Kung Fu lays a firm foundation to build upon.
Shang-Chi's obsession with Leiko is interesting... and really helps to depict him as conflicted in his mission. Really, as we open this chapter, he doesn't even have a mission, per say. He's just looking for Leiko... and screw Black Jack's gig. His inability to purge feelings of worry and jealousy aside to focus was really well done as well. Feeling bad that Xiao was murdered... before remembering that he died at Leiko's bedside. Seeing Leiko's severed hand... and only really being able to see Xiao's ring upon its finger. Really good stuff here.
Overall... I'd be more than happy if the subsequent chapters of this feature took a similar "tawky" and "internalized" tone. This was a pleasure to read... and I'm happy we finally got a little backstory to our setting.
Tomorrow: Revoltin' Developments wit' da Fear Bug...
Marvel Comics Presents #2 (Master of Kung Fu)
"Crossing Lines, Part 2 of 8: Bait"
Writer - Doug Moench
Pencils - Tom Grindberg
Inks - Dave Cockrum
Letters - Agustin Mas
Colors - Petra Scotese
Assistant Edits - Michael Rockwitz
Edits - Terry Kavanagh & Michael Higgins
Chief - Tom DeFalco
Hey, hey, hey... WHAT is going on here? < / belding > We're only one issue in, and Doug Moench and Steve Gerber have already swapped features???
I already made that "joke", didn't I? What can I say... I figured it probably went over so well yesterday, what's the harm of doing it again. Also, I'm a rather uncreative fellow.
Today we're going to hop back into Shang-Chi's "return" to... wherever he's returning to, from... wherever he's returning from. This feature was a surprise hit last week... garnering the most views out of any of the four MCP stories. Not sure if there's any rhyme or reason for that... does ol' Shang have a Netflix series out or something?
Oh well, whatever the case... who's ready for some more fish references?
--
We open with Shang-Chi, having been reunited with some of his old running buddies, getting suited up. Reston suggests that his new costume would do Bruce Lee proud. Our hero hasn't the foggiest idea who "Bruce Li" is. Is that funny? I think that's supposed to be funny. Anyhoo, once dressed, Black Jack Tarr gives us the quick 'n dirty on how he got into his new position. Having zero familiarity with any of this, I suppose this is kind of helpful. Then again, since I do have no familiarity with this, it comes across as pretty meaningless. As Tarr bloviates, Shang notices how chummy Xiao and Leiko have grown... more on that later.
After Jack shuts his trap, Shang notices that Reston has taken up the old past-time of... smoking! He questions him on this decision, leading to our fair-haired boy nearly hacking out a lung. I think this was supposed to be funny as well. Anyhoo, Tarr suggests that with Shang's return, everything will go back to the way it used to be. This causes our hero to kind of flip out. He didn't return just to repeat the past, you see. He dramatically throws up his fist... then stomps out of the room like an eight year old girl whose parents wouldn't buy her a pony.
Shang hangs out in the courtyard... for like hours, it seems. Thankfully there's a pond/pool out there, so he could make more fish references. We definitely haven't seen enough of those yet! After awhile, he grows tired of this... Lord knows I am... and decides to, uh... try and get a li'l alone time with Leiko? She turns him down, promising to explain everything the following morning. Shang-Chi... De-Nied.
We follow our hero to bed... where he's awakened by nightmares of demons or something... probably has something to do with his old title. It's a darn good thing our man does wake up, however, because the compound is under attack! Shang's friends are bein' sliced and diced... and so, he springs to action - but is held off by a ninja with a gun.
The baddies ultimately flee... and it looks like they've taken Leiko with them! Tarr, Reston, and Shang reconnoiter, and we learn that Xiao did not survive the attack. We also learn that Xiao and Leiko were recently engaged... ya see, Shang noticed that the ring Leiko was wearing (which we saw in that attempted booty call panel) was new.
--
Much like yesterday's Man-Thing chapter, I didn't love this... nor did I hate it. Despite knowing next to nothing about them, I'm kinda digging these characters. I guess where I'm struggling a bit is with the threat. I don't know that's it's really been established properly... especially for folks who are new to this property.
Are we just to assume that Shang-Chi will be attacked by a group of ninjas every night? Is there going to be some big reveal that the old man Tarr took over for is behind this? If you're new to Shang-Chi (or even if you're familiar with his adventures), will that even "move the needle"? I dunno. It feels like the obvious route to take... but that doesn't make it any more interesting, does it?
For this story... I thought the character bits during the first half were pretty strong, especially those coming from Shang's sorta-kinda displaced point of view. He gets this weird melancholy feeling that... despite the fact that he was "away", life for everyone else went on. I've been in a similar situation as that... and, lemme tell ya, that's a tough pill to swallow. The realization that the world, and even your friends' lives don't necessarily "revolve around you" is a humbling, and almost spirit-crushing sensation.
Shang sees that Xiao and Leiko have moved on... together. Black Jack Tarr has taken over whatever the hell organization he's taken over. Reston... uh, started smoking. Life goes on... with or without our involvement. Trying to reconcile that, with Jack's suggestion that, with Shang back, everything could go "back to the way it was", was too much for our hero to handle... leading to his odd (and, assumedly out-of-character) emotional outburst. Sure, I had a little fun with it during the synopsis... but, it was very effective if you stop and think about it.
Overall... this was a bit of an uneven chapter... could've done without the ninja attack, though, it couldn't be avoided if we want to move the story along. I'm sure we'll talk more about Xiao and Leiko as we move forward through the serial. I'm definitely looking forward to more!
Tomorrow: The Captain America meets... Proto-Parallax!
Marvel Comics Presents #1 (Man-Thing)
"Elements of Terror, Part 1 of 12"
Writer - Doug Moench
Pencils - Tom Grindberg
Inks - Dave Cockrum
Letters - Agustin Mas
Colors - Petra Scotese
Assistant Edits - Michael Rockwitz
Edits - Terry Kavanagh & Michael Higgins
Chief - Tom DeFalco
Now here's a character I'm kind of excited to learn a bit more about. Covering Marvel Comics Presents this way affords me (and us) the opportunity to spend some time getting to know a who's who of the B, C, and D-List of the Marvel Universe. Man-Thing, outside of an odd appearance here and there, is a pretty big blind spot for me. Outside of a couple "dur-hur, Giant-Size Man-Thing" issues, I doubt I even own anything else with his name on it!
Welp... let's see what get here! I'm getting Secret Six from Action Comics Weekly vibes here.
--
We open with Man-Thing rising from the muck, aware that something sinister this way comes. These narration boxes are a little too purple for my tastes... really feels like they're chasing Swamp Thing here. Then again, I'm not much of a Man-Thing aficionado, so for all I know folks who write this character were always a bit too pleased with themselves. Anyhoo, this dark and desperate being draws near... and, it's a weird fibrous-looking fella. Man-Thing bonks him on his head putting the creature down. Suddenly a pair of men enter the scene... they're looking for this fibrous fella, as he was a "test subject" of sorts. Upon finding what's left of him, this guy Zahner attempts to cut an implant out of the "corpse". This does not go well, as when Zahner makes skin-to-yuck contact with the beastie, he gets a rather awful burn on his hand.
Man-Thing watches this entire deal unfold... and kinda just lingers. Zahner and his partner Monteiro report in to a General that their subject went berserk and got away. The General notices the burn on Zahner's hand, and is given a quick-n-dirty explanation how it came to be. In learning this, the General suggests that this mission wasn't such a failure after all. He excuses himself, as he has a meeting with the Senate in Washington, D.C., leaving our two heroes behind with a whole lotta... COCAINE. Too bad "Dave Chapel" is in the Wolverine story and not this one!
Zahner and Monteiro load the coke on a boat... making sure to keep a little for themselves, before being attacked by... another weird shambling corpse just like that crispy critter from before! They open fire... naturally, this winds up being quite futile. At this point, Man-Thing (annoyed by all the FEAR in the air) decides to intervene... and winds up getting shot full'a holes himself... not that it matters all that much.
Man-Thing and the Subject wind up getting sorta intertwined... with the former actually winding up impaled on the latter. Man-Thing considers this the worst pain he's ever felt. Amid the skirmish and confusion, our two heroes make a break for it.
We wrap up with Man-Thing and the Subject briefly merging... before Man-Thing expels the strange creature, seemingly killing it... while perhaps absorbing a bit of it as well. The victory does not appear to be without injury, however... as it looks as though our Muck Monster is barely holding himself together!
--
I dunno.
This wasn't a bad story... but, man... those narration boxes. Are Man-Thing writers always so up their own butts? I mentioned it in the synopsis, but it really feels as though they're trying to keep up with what Alan Moore was doing with Swamp Thing over at DC. Trying to make this more "sophisticated" than perhaps it ought to be? I dunno. It's only one chapter at this point, but... this did not win me over. We've got time though! God help us, we've got another eleven weeks of this!
So, whatta we got? It's, say it with me, a "Chapter One"... which, for me, says we shouldn't be expecting all that much. We meet our bad guys, we meet the even badder guy they're working for... and we get a bit of an idea as to what they're trying to do. Well, maybe not exactly what they're attempting to accomplish, but we know it involves test subjects! That's something, right? Whatever it is, I'm sure we'll learn more as we go.
I think, if not for the very flowery narration... I probably would have enjoyed this a whole lot more. Not a deal-breaker by any means... but, just kinda cringy... and, if it is chasing Alan Moore, it's not doing all that great a job (in my opinion).
Let's look at the art. I really liked it! Tom Grindberg is an artist who, for the longest time, I assumed was a pen-name for a fill-in penciller. I mean, "Grindberg" just sounds too much like a name you'd give to a fill-in artist who's in a rush, doesn't it?
Anyhoo, the art here was pretty fantastic... it almost gave me an R. Crumb/underground comix sort of vibe. Really great stuff. Probably the best part of the story, if I'm being honest. I do look forward to future installments, and am optimistic that it'll all come together (famous last words).
Tomorrow: Mastering Kung Fu, the Shang-Chi way!
Action Comics Weekly #614 (Phantom Stranger)
"Death God"
Writer - Paul Kupperberg
Pencils - Tom Grindberg
Inks - Brett Breeding
Letters - B. Sean Pinaha
Colors - Petra Scotese
Editor - Mike Carlin
Today we wrap up our second brief "visit" with the Phantom Stranger. He'll kind serve as a "guide" through our Action Comics Weekly journey... popping up probably a half-dozen more times during the run.
Last time out, he was being drained of his energy by a Mayan Death God... let's find out if he survived!
--
We open with Au Puch tormenting the Phantom Stranger in Chichen Itza. The baddie refers to it as his "Realm", and that's good enough for me. The Stranger states that Au Puch was foolish not to simply kill him, for he will continue to fight so long as he draws breath (which is something I wasn't sure the Phantom Stranger even did!). The Mayan Death God informs him (and us) that he is powered by the "Cosmic Life Force" of his worshipers... and that Daniel Gleason's book brought him back to this mortal plane. He then tosses the Stranger into the "Sacred Cenote" aka. the "Well of Sacrifice"... which is, believe it or not, a real thing that exists!
In the depths, the Stranger regains his heft and more normal form... Au Puch had drained him of much of his essence beforehand. Ya see, this is the baddie's plan... he's going to continue to feed of the Stranger, again and again... for all eternity! When our man protests this decision, dozens of skeletons rise from the Cenote floor.
The Stranger fights his way through the skeletal "cattle", being careful not to take his full aggression out on them. Thing of it is, it ain't their fault they're being used this way! The Stranger escapes the Well, and engages in battle with Au Puch in the skies above it.
They fight, and it appears as though the Stranger's offense is in vain. Amid the battle, however, he manages to sneak one little spark of light into the nape of the baddie's neck. This opens up communication between the Phantom Stranger, and Au Puch's "human vessel", Daniel Gleason!
Daniel is instructed to make his way toward the light... which, I mean, if the Phantom Stranger (or anyone!) is telling me to "Go toward the light", I might not be so sure that it's a good idea. Daniel, however, does what he is told.
The Stranger finally lets loose with a massive blast of light energy which reduces the Mayan Death God to a pile of goopy flesh and bone... from which, Daniel Gleason emerges! All's well that ends well!
--
And so ends our second stint (of six or seven) with the Phantom Stranger. I feel like the ending didn't quite measure up to the open, but it was still quite good.
I appreciate the use of the real world Cenotes... which, up until right now, I didn't even know were a thing. Who says comics can't be educational!
The Au Puch "life-draining" gimmick is a pretty well-trodden trope... kind of like the Vampire who keeps his victims alive in order to keep feeding on them. I suppose, in a way, Au Puch very much is a Vampire... so, it works!
Convincing Daniel Gleason to approach the light was a creative way to shake him back to reality... and ultimately, a creative way of beating the baddie. This was well done.
My only complaint is... I don't feel like we get all that much in "closure". Maybe I'm just too accustomed to exposition to the Nth degree, but this ending didn't feel like it tied up properly. What happens to the Mind Games book now? Can it now be read without summoning a Mayan Death God Energy Vampire?
I guess it was more a morality tale... or sorts. We learn not to muck around with forces we don't know (or respect) enough. Fair enough! What's important (to me) is... I enjoyed it!
Tomorrow: Nightwing and Speedy do London!
Action Comics Weekly #613 (Phantom Stranger)
"Can't Judge a Book..."
Writer - Paul Kupperberg
Pencils - Tom Grindberg
Inks - Dennis Janke
Letters - Bob Pinaha
Colors - Petra Scotese
Editor - Mike Carlin
The Phantom Stranger again, eh? Well... at least it'll be short...
--
We open on the New York Subway, where a woman is reading a copy of Daniel Gleason's latest horror novel, Mind Games. Mind Games, eh? Hmm... I thought Hal already took care of that guy! Anyhoo, Gleason's work has been described as having the ability to (figuratively) "leap off the page"... and, well... you know where this is headed, don'tcha? After the bizarre attack, the woman lay dead, apparently dying of... old age?!
We shift scenes to Bruce (Eclipso) Gordon and the Phantom Stranger exiting a movie theater. They just saw something called About Sex Didn't Ask, which was a "Parody of Italian Art Films"... not sure if it ever existed, but it really doesn't matter. Whatever the case, the Stranger didn't get the references. They pass by a Newsagent and check out the headline, which talks about the mysterious death on the Subway. The Stranger snags a copy, leaving Poor Bruce to cough up a quarter and dime.
We jump to a beach where... a young fella is reading Mind Games. You'll never guess what happens to him!
We jump ahead to the evening... or an evening, I'm not sure if it's the same day or not. The Phantom Stranger sits in his office... when suddenly, he feels a great and powerful evil headed his way. Turns out, he's about to be visited by Daniel Gleason. The Writer needs some assistance of the Occult variety, and has heard that's right up the Stranger's alley.
Gleason reveals that the mysterious aging death on the Subway wasn't an isolated incident... in fact, it's become quite the thing... so much so, that the F.B.I. has gotten involved. He hands over the book... which the Stranger drops, realizing that the evil he'd sensed is coming from the book itself!
Daniel explains that his book is about Evil Mayan Spirits. Hmm, wonder if any of them know Talaoc? The Stranger presses Daniel for more information, only to learn that the book contains actual incantations... including a chant to Au Puch, a name the Stranger recognizes as a Mayan God of Death. Check this out... Daniel then proceeds to, get this... perform the chant!
The window flies open, and Daniel is suddenly overcome with this purple energy cloud... when it dissipates, all that remains is the gruesome Au Puch!
The Stranger confronts the God, and vows to separate it from Daniel Gleason's body. Au Puch, however, has a much different idea... he snags the Stranger with one of his weird tentacles, and proceeds to drain him of his energy!
--
Welp, here's where your humble host... eats crow! I really liked this! Thought it was pretty great!
I wasn't sure what quite to expect during my initial "flip through". Just looked like Phantom Stranger-y hoo-doo, a great big beast, and ethereal smoke. What I'll tell ya, is... I wasn't looking forward to it.
When I actually set in to read the thing, however... I thought this was incredibly strong! I like the dynamic of the Stranger trying to act as though he were an ordinary human. An ordinary human with an expertise in the occult, but "ordinary" nonetheless.
The idea of a Mayan Death God being trapped in a book? It's alright as a concept... and it helps get us where we need to be. I dig the way Au Puch took over Gleason as his vessel, considering that he's the one who "trapped" it into the book... though, Gleason chanting the incantation? That's kind of a dopey thing to have done, wasn't it? Anyhoo, I'm really looking forward to seeing how this plays out... and maybe, actually, becoming something of a Phantom Stranger fan? Oof, I feel dirty even typing it.
I don't really have any complaints about this story... however, I've still yet to read a single "horror" comic book story that has scared me. I feel like this is supposed to be scary... at least a little bit, but I just didn't get the heebie-jeebies here. If anyone reading has any really scary horror comics to recommend, please let me know!
Tomorrow: Superman goes Coast to Coast
Green Lantern (vol.3) #87 (June, 1997)
"Last of Their Kind"
Writer - Ron Marz
Guest Pencils - Tom Grindberg
Inks - Romeo Tanghal
Colors - Adelle Giddings
Letters - Chris Eliopoulos
Associate Editor - Eddie Berganza
Editor - Kevin Dooley
Cover Price: $1.75
This weekend's episode of the Cosmic Treadmill (that's Episode #110, for time-travelers) is going to be a bit... inter-multi-versal. Er, that is to say (without giving it away), that it's going to be an intercompany affair.
Figured now's as good a time as any to take a look at an issue featuring, if I'm not mistaken, the only non-co-branded appearance of the character co-owned by Marvel Comics and DC Comics... that's right, today we're (very, very briefly) going to be discussing... ACCESS.
Heck, we'll even include the indicia for this one!
--
We open in Kyle Rayner's apartment... suddenly a portal opens, and out walks... our man, Access! Man, I still want that Radu's mug! Anyhoo, instead of finding Kyle, our man Axel finds Kyle's house-guest, Jade... and she's not exactly pleased to have this weirdo 'porting in. She's carrying a camera... which, at quick glance I thought were suspenders... was about to ask "Who dressed her?".
Access (sorta) explains who he is... and asks where Green Lantern's at. He also informs Jennie that her powers are pretty different from Kyle's... despite their similarity in color. Since Jade ain't spillin' the beans on GL's whereabouts, Access ports out... though, not before thinking to himself that he might check in with "that guy on the surfboard". Cute scene!
So... just where in the heck is Kyle? Well, he's hanging with the JLA! They are just wrapping up a meeting on whether or not they should posthumously consider Tomorrow Woman an official member of their ranks. She gets a thumbs-up, by the way. As the members get ready to leave, Kyle takes in the sight of all of these amazing heroes... and has trouble believing that he's now rubbing elbows with them.
Before heading out, Wally asks Kyle if he wants to grab a bite. Kyle, unfortunately has a prior obligation. Ya see, he's going to be trained on monitor duty... by the member of the League who intimidates him the most... J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter!
Kyle's attempt at "breaking the ice" goes about as well as you might expect.
Thankfully, he's saved by the BREEPs... there's something going down! J'onn informs him that the on-board communication system has been jammed... so, they will not be able to call the other Leaguers back. Suddenly, a craft more than three-times as large as Manhattan Island cruises out of a portal... and it's headed straight for Earth!
Kyle and J'onn check the monitors to see what's happening. What they find is rather curious... the craft is blasting Earth with a terra-forming ray! When Kyle learns that the ray is aimed at So-Cal (where his mother lives), he and J'onn leap into action.
As they approach the craft... they are zapped by some rays, indicating that... whoever these invaders are, they're likely not up to talking things out peaceably. Kyle whips up a construct of a pirate ship (tch... artists...) to distract the lasers, so they can make their way inside.
In a great bit of continuity, J'onn reflects on the last time he'd trusted a Green Lantern... and how that ended with the planet Xanshi being wiped out during Cosmic Odyssey. Kyle promises that this will not end with the Earth being taken out.
Once inside, Kyle searches the corridors for any signs of life. What he finally finds, is... a very dead alien! What's more, this feller's been dead for a good long while, indicating that this tremendous craft is on auto-pilot.
Kyle suggests they just blow the whole thing up before it can do any real damage to the Earth. J'onn ain't feelin' that. He promises Kyle that the Earth will be fine... if his plan works. With that, J'onn attempts to telepathically connect to the craft's "organic component". What he learns is, this ship's mission was to find a new planet to transform into a suitable home for an extinct race... and they apparently chose Earth!
This gives Kyle an idea... and so, they redirect the craft... to an actual uninhabited planet.
That planet? Well, it's our new pal, Mogo!
--
Ah man, what a fun issue! Kyle makes a great "POV" character... and comes across as extremely relatable in how he's attempting to "fit in" with these legendary heroes... while at the same time, kinda keeping them all on a pedestal. It comes across as very human, and is incredibly well done.
I also dig how, in comparison to Kyle, Wally is no longer the "new pup" in the "legacy heroes" roundup. He's portrayed as pretty comfortable around the big guns... though, he had previously teamed with several of them during the earlier incarnations of the JLI. It's still pretty cool seeing him as a "veteran" when compared to Kyle.
Kyle sees Martian Manhunter as most intimidating member of the League... and it's easy to see why. Taking his appearance off the table, he does come across as somewhat cold. His wisdom and levelheadedness is such that, he isn't going to be all that "chatty" unless he really has something to say. To pair him with a young (and extremely nervous) Kyle makes for a pretty awesome little story.
I always say, you can judge the strength of a writer's ability to "write human" by putting a constriction on who they can use. It's the old "lock two characters in a room/elevator/wherever, and see what happens" deal. Gotta say, this was handled expertly. Not only did Marz bring to the fore the similarities between Kyle and J'onn (both being the "last of their kind"... Kyle the "last" Green Lantern, and J'onn the last Martian)... but, they also ended their adventure with a deepened respect for one another.
Kyle's idea for repurposing Mogo was pretty great... if he wasn't on monitor duty, who knows what might have happened! Plus, this was before Mogo was pulled out nearly every month, so there was a novelty to seeing the once-Lantern Planet. In fact, if you weren't aware of the legend of Mogo... this issue's reveal would've probably been just as much of a shock as the original Moore/Gibbons tale!
Then... we've also got Access! Really neat to have this scene here, despite its brevity. You know me, I'm a big fan of "everything matters"... and anytime I see a nod to something that isn't usually considered as part of continuity, I get kinda giddy. This scene is no different. Not only do we get Access... but a reference to the Silver Surfer! Love stuff like this!
Overall... had a blast with this one. Excellent characterization, as we've come to expect from Ron Marz... the art, despite being done by a "fill-in penciller" was quite good as well! Well worth checking out, shouldn't break the bank. Surprisingly, this issue is available digitally. Gotta wonder if there were any special concessions made for the co-owned Access to appear... if, in fact they didn't excise that scene completely!
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