Green Lantern: Mosaic #2 (1992)

Green Lantern: Mosaic #2 (July, 1992)
"Nuts"
Writer - Gerard Jones
Penciller - Cully Hamner
Inker - Dan Panosian
Letterer - Albert DeGuzman
Colorist - Steve Mattsson
Editor - Kevin Dooley
Cover Price: $1.25

This past weekend I decided to go through some of my first few blog posts... from when I thought I'd only have a few blog posts before getting distracted by something shiny and abandoning this place.  I guess when I wrote my earliest posts, I was unaware that my phone had a camera equipped... with which I could actually post pictures on this here blog.  These posts looked barren and uninviting (or at least more uninviting than my current stuff)... I decided to (start to) remedy that.

The first review I "brightened up" was Green Lantern: Mosaic #1... I found myself flipping through, and actually rereading the issue again... and, really really enjoying it.  This begged the question, why hadn't I continued down the Mosaic rabbit hole?  I guess today I (start to) remedy that.

--

If you need to catch up, Green Lantern: Mosaic #1 is right here (now with pictures!).

We open on a rather disturbing scene in which several squirrels are embroiled in cannibalistic combat.  Mouths are wet with froth and blood while former Green Lantern Ch'p slumbers the winter away.

At that moment, the Mosaic's main-man, John Stewart is stirred from his own rest.  His mind is preoccupied with concern over his proposed road project on this patchwork planet.  Despite his best efforts to fall back to sleep, Stewart relents and decides to visit the road.

John arrives just as a ledger truck is about to careen off into a fissure left in the road.  John observes that there is not currently a creature powerful enough (at least not on Oa) to wreck such havoc on this arterial avenue.  John bathes the truck in green energy and saves both its driver and cargo from plummeting.

Back with Ch'p, hibernation has come to an end.  He describes his tree-mates as being in "nut-frenzy", they have just woken up and "stink of hunger".  Ch'p suddenly remembers the life he'd left behind as a heroic Green Lantern and leaves.

Outside on the bare-treed snow-covered landscape he comes across former comrade in arms, Salaak.  Salaak appears to be in a meditative state, he is however responsive to Ch'p's inquiries.  He too remembers their time as Lanterns, though he would rather he didn't.  Ch'p shares that he had charged his ring for the first time since the Corps. disbanded, and when he did he saw New Lanterns.

Back on Oa, John is visually auditing the amount of damage the road had received when he is suddenly joined by a pair of old friends.  Ch'p is delighted that John recognizes them, and they return to his home to catch up.

Ch'p asks why he was suddenly seeing new Green Lanterns.  John fills him in on recent happenings concerning Hal Jordan's New Corps.  Ch'p is saddened that Hal did not make any attempt to recruit him, and questions whether or not he still has any value.

John offers Ch'p a job helping him on the Mosaic world as a monitor of the road.  He explains that the road is a vital artery for the world, as it will create consumption communities that will link the disparate inhabitants in a web of economic interdependence.  Following their talk, a yellow ledger truck comes barreling down the road, narrowly missing our man Ch'p.

We now join Ch'p on his patrol.  He watches as a large portion of overpass that get blown up real good.  As he approaches to survey the damage he is blasted with a bolt of red energy.  When he recovers he finds himself facing a large red energy creature.  Pelting it with Lantern energy proves fruitless, the being simply laughs and appears to absorb it while splitting off into a second green form.  Ch'p is deeply disturbed by what he then sees.

Nearby, John wakes up in a panic.  Feeling that something is wrong he rushes to Ch'p's aid.  After arriving, he finds Ch'p in an almost catatonic state.  He is unable to answer any of John's questions.  He begins to panic, and throws himself in front of an oncoming truck.

As he lay dying, he shares with John that he saw something... something, RED.

John agonizes over how death always seems to follow him before turning to us... yes, us.  He pleads with us to tell him what we saw... what we know as this chapter fades to black.

--

Another wonderful, terrible, disturbing visit to John Stewart's patchwork Oa.  This is almost a magical series... There is no point in reading this issue where I felt comfortable.  This is nearly a quarter-century old, and I've read it many times... yet it still has the ability to bring me in, and keep me somewhat on edge.

Mosaic is quite likely my favorite Gerard Jones work.  This is just such an amazing, beautiful, and ugly world he is crafting.  His John Stewart is so well done.  He is perhaps the most powerful being currently on Oa, yet he is also the most vulnerable.  His (slipping?) sanity is another wonder to behold.  Not since Grant Morrison's run on Animal Man have I felt as though I was being spoken to by a comic book character... and in Morrison's run it felt like a more meta-commentary than anything.  Here... John Stewart may literally be losing his mind... and it's so much fun to watch!

Cully Hamner's art may just be the most appropriate for this issue (and series).  Somewhat angular and abstract, this style fits the narrative to a "T".  There is something almost disturbing about it, it suits the mood just so well.

Watching Ch'p go from scorned former ally, to embracing his newly-inherited responsibilities... to his ultimate fate was an amazing character study.  All Ch'p wanted to do was make a difference... to prove his worth.  For him to throw his life away out of fear really speaks to the unspeakable terror that our pending threat brings with it.  I don't have much of a history with our main man Ch'p, however, I can appreciate how powerful and disturbing this scene (hell, whole issue) must have been to those who did.  So well done!

This was an excellent issue... in an amazing series.  Even if you have zero interest in the Green Lantern Corps., this is a book you should check out.  It is, as I sometimes say... just that good.

--

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Phantom Stranger #1 (1987)

Phantom Stranger #1 (October, 1987)
"The Heart of a Stranger"
Writer - Paul Kupperberg
Artist - Mike Mignola
Inker - P. Craig Russell
Letterer - Workman
Colorist - Scotese
Editors - Mike Carlin & Denny O'Neil
Cover Price: $0.75

I'm finding myself having a lot of fun with the offbeat miniseries of the late 80's-early 90's.  It's interesting to revisit a time in which miniseries didn't just scream "cash grab".  These are all well thought out, and... well, fun.

--

We open in desolate blackness.  A man is floating.  Naked, save for a golden talisman hanging around his neck.  In the distance he observes a glowing orb.  Upon closer inspection, it appears to be a planet.  The man heads towards it while pondering existence.  Life and Death... do they apply to him?  Can he live?  Can he die?

We are now in Gotham City.  It is an awful rainy night.  There has been a murder.  GCPD Commissioner James Gordon is on the scene where earlier that night eleven "mob bigwigs" were all lined up and ran through with uzis.  Gordon appears short-tempered, and makes mention of the past few weeks having been "particularly gory".

Elsewhere, Dr. Bruce Gordon (no relation) is in his darkened office.  There is a television featuring a news report of a horrific earthquake in then-Soviet Romania.  He thinks to himself that the World appears to be falling apart, and questions his ability to keep something "locked up tight"... something he's felt coming to the surface... "happening again".  He retires for the evening, while asking God when (or if) it will ever end.

We are given a bit of insight as to the current state of the world.  Volcanoes are erupting, all manner of natural disaster are striking.  Delegates at the United Nations are resorting to fisticuffs, and war-like behavior and happenings are looming ever on the horizon... all while the Phantom Stranger looks on.

In Metropolis, we join Jimmy Olsen who is hot on the trail of a clerk for the mobsters.  This is following the arrest of a local mob ring.  He comments that it is strange for this simple clerk to have made bail before the mob bosses.  Jimmy proceeds to follow the clerk, and watches as he enters the Soviet Consulate.

Back in Gotham, at the Temple of Divine Light, there is something of a sermon underway.  The man preaching, Lycaon, sees the global events going on as divine retribution.  He calls for all members of the congregation to open their hearts to the Lord, yet he be called upon to bring them the cleansing light.  His seance is interrupted by the Phantom Stranger who attempts to reason with the members of the church.  He sees through Lycaon's facade, calling him the "Chosen of Chaos".

Lycaon summons a demon to deal with the Stranger, and a battle ensues.

 The Phantom Stranger finds that he cannot harm the demon when he attempts to bring forth his illumination.  This is a rather talkative demon, who offers that the members of the church see not a beast, but a beautiful golden angel.  He finds that the congregation would willingly give their lives for their perceived savior... allowing the demon to crush their bodies in his hands.

The ruckus going on in the temple soon gets the attention of the GCPD, led by the still surly James Gordon.  Gordon wastes no time getting into it with the demon.  As the beast approaches, Gordon unloads his clip into it... killing it.  The Stranger is shocked that a human succeeded where he could not.  Before Gordon could interrogate the Stranger, he vanishes to ponder the meaning of this latest event.

We watch Dr. Bruce Gordon getting good and sloshed at a local cocktail lounge before viewing a brief vignette featuring the Doom Patrol's Negative Woman, Valentina Vostok wherein she is discussing one called Maverick.  It appears that he is in extreme danger, and it is ultimately decided to let him die.

We are now in an almost medieval setting.  There is a man shackled to a brick wall.  In front of him is a turbaned man brandishing a scimitar-like blade.  He is ordered to kill the man by a shadowy figure in the fore.  He obliges, ending the prisoner's life.

It is revealed that the man giving the orders is indeed Eclipso.  The Phantom Stranger arrives on the scene, claiming that he used Eclipso's own evil as a beacon.  Eclipso is nonplussed, having expected the Stranger to arrive sooner of later.  The two exchange threats, culminating with Eclipso claiming that the Cosmos is nearing its end, and the Stranger is powerless to intervene.

We make a brief stop at S.T.A.R. Labs where Dr. Jenet Klyburn is looking into the odd seemingly-natural activity currently going on worldwide.

Finally, we close with Bruce Gordon being thrown out of the bar, and landing smack in the middle of a familiar silhouette.  The Phantom Stranger knows there is a bond between Gordon and Eclipso, and claims that together, they can both vanquish the evil and end Bruce's suffering.

The issue ends with a text piece from Paul Kupperberg discussing his history with the Phantom Stranger:

--

This was a very intriguing way to start this miniseries.  Before now I have had limited-at-best knowledge of the Phantom Stranger, having only really read his New-52 iteration.  I thought it was okay, but nothing spectacular.  This, however, was quite good.

Phantom Stranger's mystique, at least to me, was that it was never revealed who or what he was.  I thought that was amazing.  It was the only thing I knew about the character, but it was interesting enough to put him on (admittedly peripheral) radar.

It was neat seeing Commissioner Gordon dealing with a character outside of the Bat-family.  When Batman and Company are involved, you almost get a feeling of comfort from Gordon.  Here, with the Stranger?  The Commish is noticeably ill at ease.  I really liked that.

Eclipso is another one of those characters that I am mostly-unfamiliar with.  Like most folks my age, I followed the 1992 DC Annuals "Eclipso: The Darkness Within", but other than that... he's something of a novelty to me.  His inclusion (along with Dr. Bruce Gordon) is welcome.  I'm hopeful that when we continue with this miniseries more will be revealed.

Paul Kupperberg's writing, is as it often is... really good.  The dialog has a near-perfect blend of "street talk" and overblown fanatical rhetoric the likes of which one may see at a Brother Blood event... or out of one of Etrigan's contemporaries.  The juxtaposed lingual tones are a tad jarring initially, however, I think that's kind of the point.  The creature summoned, the fanatics, and the Phantom Stranger himself are out of place in Gotham City.  Mr. Kupperberg appears to have a passion for this character, and it truly shows here.

Mike Mignola's art, is as it often is... really good as well.  The entire art team did a wonderful job of conveying the mood of this piece.  It is dark... it is dank... Gotham at night is not a pleasant place to be.  It is light horror, and it is beautifully done.

If you come across this one, pick it up.  Even if you have no interest in the character of the Phantom Stranger, this piece has a lot to offer.  A great unique peek into Gotham City (and her people), and just a somewhat different and off center type of story.

--

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This one has long been in the collection... unread.
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Girls' Love Stories #138 (1968)

Girls' Love Stories #138 (October, 1968)
"A Second Look at Love!"
"Tell Me How to Love!"
"Don't Leave Me Again!"
no credits
Cover Price: $0.12

People may have different reasons for getting into blogging.  Maybe it's to make connections... maybe it's to make inroads into professional writing... maybe it's even to make money (!).  I did not start blogging for any of those reasons.  Sad as it may sound, one of my primary goals for getting involved in blogging was I saw it as a way to make... friends.

Being a dude in my mid-thirties, it's not too often "in real life" that I come across folks who dig comics as much as I do.  All of the anecdotes I share here "above the fold" at the blog, boring as they may be... are even more so to the uninitiated.  My offline social circle (as it were) could not care less about what books I found, or what they may potentially mean to me.

I feel lucky that in my short time blogging I have met a decent bunch of folks (please check out the great blogs on the sidebar) who share my passion about these silly comic books.  I have been afforded the luxury of being able to share ideas while broadening my horizons.  Even if it's a comment on a fellow blogger's site (of one of their's on mine) silly tho it may sound, I feel as though I'm part of a community.  I'm honestly having more fun doing this than I have any right to.

I want to start talking about various bloggers and buddies who've been inspirational to me, helped me on my way, and made this as fun and satisfying an endeavor as it's become for me.  Carving out a little while each day to read and write a bit has become something I look forward to.  The bloggy-bud that I wanted to mention today is Mike Carlyle from the highly recommended The Crapbox of Son of Cthulhu.  Mike reviews books he comes across in the cheap-o bins with regularity, covering all different publishers and various levels of quality.  He has a great wit, and provides a ton of insight to what he reviews.  The Crapbox is always a good time!  Today, I'm gonna crib a page from his playbook (I hope he doesn't mind... and I hope I do it justice) by picking a somewhat-random DC book from my own "crapbox" finds.

Today, I present... Girls' Love Stories #138 from 1968... I hope we survive the experience.

--

Today's entry features three titanic tales of titillation and trepidation, all having a special moral or takeaway for the impressionable young women of the late 1960's.

We open with "A Second Look at Love!" in which our unnamed young lead had been left one year prior by the dashing Bill.  Bill, a modern man, just couldn't be tied down to one woman... much less a "square" like our dear brunette.

That's cold-blooded, Bill

Our lead just couldn't get Bill out of her head... and who could blame her?  He is what every man ought to be.  In the past year she had dated several potential suitors in hopes that she could get over her lost love.  Each relationship was unsuccessful to that end.

One day, when it appears all hope is lost she receives a call.  Wouldn't you know it... it's Bill!  She excitedly prepares to renew her relationship with the "one that (almost) got away", and they plan to meet at a park.  She is so attuned to her man that she can point him out by the sound of his footfalls.

When he shows himself, our girl is shocked.  He just doesn't seem like the same Bill he was before.  She is suddenly seeing him differently.  It is only now that she knows that in seeing seeing him one more time she was finally able to let go.  Our moral here is to "never mourn a lost love".

--

Our second senses-shattering offering is "Tell Me How to Love!", in which we join Nora a young red-head who so desperately wants to be in love.

As she watches her sister Ann break up with her beau Larry, Nora cannot help but be overtaken by emotion.  She feels as though she could love Larry, and quickly devises a way to get his attention and help him forget.

You know it's love, when you drive in complete silence.

Their relationship becomes hot and heavy with the quickness.  Why, they walk... they dance... and they partook in silent drives!  Nora confides in her sister that she has romantic feelings toward her old flame... Ann, seeing through Nora's poppycock tells her she only thinks she loves Larry, because she feels sorry for him.

You get an E for Effort there, Nora.

Finally, the day came where Larry and Nora shared their first kiss.  Larry took the initiative, and instantly knew Nora just wasn't feeling it.  He knew Nora did not love him... she only pitied him.

Steve's a regular Doc Savage!

At the local pool that summer, Nora met Steve.  Steve, a champion swimmer and almost literal "man of bronze" was quite the popular fellow at the pool.  While he chose to share his time with Nora, she could not help but feel all the other girls' eyes upon him.

They would meet at the community pool daily, and in between bumping into elderly water aerobics partakers and dodging used band-aids, developed something of a relationship.

The time came when they too shared a kiss.  It was then that our gal realized, it wasn't love she was feeling for Steve... it was admiration, almost a hero worship.  Maybe she was a closet Doc Savage fan.

Later at a dance, Nora met Nick.  Nick and Nora?  Hmm... Anyhoo.  Nora was wallowing in what has become her trademark self-pity when Nick approaches and asks if he can "have this dance".  Nora (almost literally) jumps at the opportunity and we are back in business.

The two dated, taking walks, going to the movies... stuff like that.  Now it's their turn to share a kiss.  This time it's different.  While with Larry and Steve, the fellas had to do all the work, this time Nora met her man halfway.  She was truly excited to kiss Nick.  It was then that she realized... say it with me, she wasn't truly in love.  She was only with Nick because she feared dying alone.  Okay okay, she just didn't want to be lonely.

Can we get a positive ID on this one?

Her story closes with several instances wherein she almost bumped into a rather nondescript (and unnamed) gentleman.  They saw each other at a concert, at the beach, at the theater, and at the park.  C'mon Nora... you don't think there's something a tad suspect about all this?  Okay, never mind.  It is this man who Nora realizes she loves.  This love was organic, and she did not do anything to force it.  It was a love surely to last a lifetime... until the police find where he stashed her body a few weeks later.

--

Finally, we are up to our Main Event... "Don't Leave Me Again!"

I really do love you Jim... you're like a brother to me!

We join Amy and Jim as they take in a football game.  All would appear to be well until we learn that these two crazy kids aren't actually a couple.  You see, Amy holds a candle for the "great glamour boy" Bruce.  Jim does not hide his romantic feelings for Amy, however.  She appears to be using him as a fallback when Bruce is unavailable... which is pretty often.

Amy keeps our man Jim in the "friend zone".  She tells him that he'd made the perfect husband... for some girl, all the while malaising over the fact that she hasn't seen Bruce in well over a month.  We observe Amy's endless struggle over her missing beau.  She decides that she hates him... which lasts precisely until he calls, one panel later.

Bruce makes his triumphant return, and sweeps Ms. Amy off her feet.  They share something of a magical week full of visits to the zoo and kisses, apparently.  When Bruce disappears on that eighth day, Amy gives her "silver medal" a call and rattles his cage.  They go to a movie, and have a heart of heart about Bruce.  Amy volunteers that when it comes to Bruce, she has no pride.

Yeah, romantic drive-in movie... followed by a cold shower.
Just another Friday night for our Jim!

One month later, Brucie is back.  When Amy questions their relationship he begs off, telling her not to get "so tragic" with him.  He begins kissing on her, which makes her lose control.  She is once more lost in Bruce City.

Once more, Bruce leaves (don't worry, he'll be back).  Amy again finds solace in her second prize, Jim.  This time, however, she promises that she will tell Bruce that it's over the next time she sees him.  Jim is understandably skeptical... however, Amy ensures him that she is sincere.

One month later... Guess who's back... Even before Amy can tell him off, he forces one of his magical mystical kisses on her, rendering her his slave-girl.  The two decide to head out to a local Discotheque, where Amy "goes through the motions".

Those are quite the... motions she's goin' through...

While there, she observes another couple with a situation that mirrors their own.  A woman acting as though she is the property of a man.  This is all it takes to shake Amy from Bruce's spell, and she breaks it off once and for all.

In the epilogue of our tale, we see Amy and Jim... finally together.

--

Extra bits:

A lonely-hearts advice column?

I will never again wear ski-pants or tease my hair before hitting the beach!
Thank you Mad Mad Modes!

--

So...

Okay, I gotta come clean.  This was a lot more fun than I thought it would be.  The writing was silly, almost numbingly melodramatic... but, it had charm.  The art was surprisingly solid!  I enjoyed the visual aesthetics a great deal.  The characters were all attractive, and the scenery featured more detail than a lot of books I'd read.  When we look at one of these ladies' rooms, it truly feels as though they "live" there.

This unfortunately came from an era before creators got their due credit for working in comics.  I did some research, and could not narrow down who may have been involved in this books creation.  Whoever it/they was, they did a fine job.  If anybody has any insight to the identity of the mystery creator(s), please pass that info on.  Perfectly fine for what it is, simple stories with morals and far above average art.

If you come across any old DC romance books in your friendly neighborhood "crapbox", do yourselves a favor... snap that sucker up and get ready for some sweet silly saccharine tinged with young adult and teen-age (that hyphen is a must) angst!

--

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