Mother Panic #1 (January, 2017)
"A Work in Progress, Part 1"
"Gotham Radio, Scene One: 1621"
Writers - Jody Houser & Jim Krueger
Illustrator - Tommy Lee Edwards
Back-Up Pencils - Phil Hester
Back-Up Inks - Ande Parks
Back-Up Colors - Trish Mulvihill
Letterers - John Workman & Deron Bennett
Editor - Molly Mahan
Special Thanks - Shelly Bond
Curated By - Gerard Way
Cover Price: $3.99
Had an idea that I thought might be pretty cool. For those who know (or care), there are a handful of new releases I cover for Weird Science DC Comics... and if there was one book that made me want to run (not walk) away from comic book reviewing... it was early Mother Panic.
I hate, hate, hated this book... and would get agita at the thought of not only reading... but writing about this book. It was definitely the low-point in the Young Animal line for me. Fast-Forward a year-and-change, and it's just about the only Young Animal book I can stand to read! Go figure.
As I currently quite dig the book (comparatively), I thought it might be only fair to revisit the first issue of the series, and maybe give it our first-ever Discussion, Review, and Retrial.
To check out my original thoughts on Mother Panic #1 (from November 9, 2016), click here.
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We open with Violet Paige returning to Gotham City after being away for some major surgery. Upon arrival, she is greeted by her waiting public. Ya see, she something of a dilettante (also referred to as a "celebutante")... so, she's more or less famous for being famous. She's kind of a jerk.
We flash back to when Violet was a child. She's about to go on a hunting trip with her father... and it's made plainly clear that her mother might not be quite in her right mind.
We shift scenes to an older man taking his bodyguard to a storage facility of sorts in order to show him a piece of artwork he'd had commissioned. The bodyguard, Dom, finds the piece... interesting.
Back to Violet, she's about to head into some kind of high-society party. As she enters, she flashes back to that hunting trip she'd taken as a young girl. She and her father are accompanied by another man... it's the fella who commissioned the art.
Back in the present, Violet is at the bar. She is approached by a reporter who wants to ask her some questions about the "mysterious" death of her father some fifteen years earlier. She politely tells him to back off.
It's made pretty clear that she is there to find that man with the art. We'll call him Hemsley... because that's his name. Hemsley, however, is looking for Dom... for some reason. He calls some other bodyguard-types to fetch him... because, as they put it: He (Dom) witnessed something he wasn't ready for.
They proceed to beat the hell out of him... until...
Mother Panic swoops in and takes out Hemsley's men. There is a mess of symbolism between her blows... which really feels "too cute by half" at this point. When the dust settles, she grabs Dom and takes him away... just as a certain other Gotham Crusader arrives on the scene.
She takes Dom to her compound... and learn that while Violet's (oh yeah, Violet is Mother Panic... not sure if that's been made clear) father is dead... her mother yet lives! She's still quite mad though.
We shift back to Hemsley who is frantically seeking the artist from whom he'd commissioned the work... claiming that it could get her "caught". He is allowed to pass though... this, hole... into a white room full of... other holes. Not sure if this is supposed to be on a separate plane of reality or whatever. Even with the benefit of hindsight, I'm not entirely sure. Anyhoo... this is where we meet Gala, the blood-painter... who, well, paints with blood.
Back at the compound, Mother Panic has Dom chained to a toilet so she can question him about Hemsley. He doesn't appear to be terribly useful at this point.
We close out with a vision of a large burning home.
Our backup features a radio personality waxing philosophically... well, it would seem deep if he were in junior high school, but whatever. He talks about gratitude... and claims that he is thankful for... the Batman. At which time, he is murdered in the studio.
This short-feature closes out with a hooded man saying "Thanksgiving".
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I guess time doesn't always "heal old wounds", because I still really didn't care for this. I mean, it's clear that Violet's churlish and flat-out unlikable character is kinda the point... but, that doesn't necessarily make it any more fun to read about her.
A lot of these panels feel like they were written "for the retweets". I mean, there's literally one where Mother Panic says "F*** the Bat" How adorable, right? That's gotta be worth a few retweets... maybe some Tumblr re-whatevers. It's full of many of the things that I'd cite as "mature" in comics... when I was 13. Today, however... some two decades-plus later... it just makes me cringe.
One of my main complaints about this book (the first time through) was the over-dependence on cursing... I get that I'm very likely not in the age-range this book was looking to attract... but, when I read this... I feel kind of embarrassed. This is the kind of book I wouldn't want my wife to see me reading, because... a) it's rather petulant, and b) it might inform her opinion on what "mature comic books" entail.
Now, with all of that said... I cannot deny that this has many of the "nuts and bolts" a first issue of a comic book ought to have. This was definitely the easiest to follow of the initial Young Animal offerings, with only a bit of flashbacking and symbolism to really have to parse... instead of all the psychedelia from the rest of the line.
The art here... ya know, I remember really liking it the first time through... but, this time around I find it a bit too scratchy and unclear for my liking. Perhaps I've just been spoiled by the more cartoony/comic booky artists this book would have later on down the line.
Overall... still not a fan of these early issues of Mother Panic. I was hopeful that my current enjoyment of the book/character might allow me to have a better appreciation for the initial outing... but it only makes me realize just how large a leap in quality this book has made over the past year and change.
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Et-Cetera:
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Flash (vol.5) #45 (June, 2018)
"After the Storm"
Writer - Joshua Williamson
Artist - Christian Duce
Colorist - Luis Guerrero
Letterer - Steve Wands
Assistant Editor - Andrew Marino
Editor - Rebecca Taylor
Group Editor - Marie Javins
Cover Price: $2.99
If you've been following the blog, you'll know that I've become rather taken with the current arc on Flash. Figure it's only fair to better familiarize myself with this volume, as I haven't been disappointed yet!
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We open up, just as the title suggests... "after the storm". Wally is attempting to purchase some flowers, however the poor florist's shop was among the wreckage of Grodd's attack. Luckily, the Flash Family is rapidly putting the city back together again.
We shift scenes to Iron Heights, where Barry is chatting up the incarcerated Negative Flash, Meena Dhawan. He tries to assuage her guilt from recent events... but she insists that she wasn't completely under Grodd's control. Some of it, she attributes to the danger of the Speed Force.
They are soon joined by Wallace West and Avery Ho. Barry leaves them to get reacquainted.
On his way out, Barry stops to talk to Kristen Kramer for a bit. They discuss Godspeed, who at that very moment is being contacted by... someone.
Later, at S.T.A.R. Labs Kid Flash and Avery flirt a little bit... with Wallace passing on an opportunity to return to China with her. Turns out Robin has witnessed this entire exchange... as he's visiting to discuss some future-Titans business.
Back at his office, Barry runs into Iris... and they have a really nice chat. Iris insists that she wants to know both Barry Allen and the Flash.
They exchange "I love you's", and Barry tells her that he's ready to tell her everything... including, introducing him to a certain redheaded speedster.
Wally enters, and hands her the bouquet... before sheepishly pulling away. Then... Iris remembers! She strokes his face... and knows, he's Wally!
The memories come flooding back to Iris... but she wonders... where is everybody else? This question triggers something in Wally...
Now, he remembers everything too!
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One'a them nice, quiet, post-event issues.
Really enjoyed this, despite not really knowing much of what came before. Characters like Negative Flash, Avery, and Godspeed are completely new to me... I'm sure I've seen them on a "flip thru", but cannot claim to have ever read about them.
My takeaway from the Iris/Wally reveal... and I think I've already asked this in a later Flash Discussion/Review... if she remembers Wally... and "everybody else", does she also remember that she was married to Barry? I get that memories can be picky-choosy, but this one's really gonna bug me.
Also, she does say "everybody else"... but only remembers Jai and Irey later. Who might she be referring to here?
Another thing... and it's silly... but, Wally buying flowers for his aunt on a regular basis? I mean, I get what they're going for... but, still... I feel like that's kinda weird. Maybe I'm off-base...
Overall... really dug this. Only wish I'd actually read it a couple months back when it came out instead of letting it get lost in the shuffle of new releases!
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Titans #29 (July, 2001)
"Kid Stuff"
Writer - Jay Faerber
Penciller - Paul Pelletier
Inkers - Bud LaRosa & Dennis Janke
Letterer - John Costanza
Colorist - Gregory Wright
Separations - Heroic Age
Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards
Editor - Andrew Helfer
Cover Price: $2.50
Last week, before my trip... I introduced you to the D.E.O. Kids (or the D.E.Orphans as someone on Twitter dubbed them). We left with them being sent away... but returning just a couple of pages later. Let's see what they've gotten themselves into...
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We open with Tempest arriving home to Atlantis to meet with his new wife, Dolphin and new baby, Cerdian... and boy does she give him an earful. They get into it a bit about his not ever being home... which gives him the opportunity to catch us all up on the recent goings-on at Titans Tower (ie. The D.E.Orphans). She ain't buying much of it... and implies that her hubby's priorities are all sorts of outta whack. Just then... wouldn'tcha know it, his Titans Communicator starts beeping.
Back at Titans Tower, the gang is trying to figure out what to do with their returned house guests. If you recall, last issue Donna dropped them off with Child Services... only to find that they beat her back to Titans Tower. Dick asks how they did it... but doesn't get much of a response... so, they get locked in the Conference Room until they decide to fess up.
Worth noting (I guess), Argent is taking Apex... which might be a dietary supplement... might be COCAINE?!!!... not sure yet. Either way, it makes her feel great.
Left to their own devices, the D.E.Orphans start arguing among themselves, until... they begin to exhibit their super-powers... natch.
The Titans rush back into the Conference Room to calm the kids down... amid the confusion, Nikki (the Autistic child) wanders out of the room...
... and into an elevator, passed some pervy repairmen... and into the Titans' Sys-Ops security center. Where she uses her nebulous powers to cause the Towers' defenses to go pretty crazy.
We get a few pages of the Titans trying to fight off their own security measures... and see that none of said measures are trying to inhibit the D.E.Orphans. They immediately deduce that Nikki is probably behind the fracas, and head off to find her.
On their way to the Sys-Ops center, they pass by those same repairmen, one of whom is currently having a heart attack. Grace tells Eli to use his "stupid-power" to slow down the man's heart so it doesn't explode out of his chest.
The Titans finally arrive to help the kids with the repairman... and Eli goes along to the hospital with them to keep that heartbeat on pace. Elsewhere, Grace and Donna find Nikki... it's confirmed that she has Austism... and Donna starts having either pangs of the maternal variety... or maybe it's just guilt.
Either way... later that evening, the Titans discuss what they ought to do with their orphan-infestation. Epsilon (the non-Titan) offers his two-cents... which Dick quickly shuts down. Donna, however, sides with the geek... and thinks maybe they should house the kids.
Dick thinks on it a bit... and actually considers that these D.E.Orphans might just be the next generation of Titans (heaven help us). Buuuuut, none of the Titans know anything about dealing with an Autistic child. Donna's all "ehhh, we'll figure it out", which seems like a well-thought out and highly responsible thing to say, considering the Autistic girl nearly killed everyone in the Tower earlier that day.
They put it to a vote (that we're not privy to), and it turns out the "ayes" had it... the D.E.Orphans can stay. Hoo-rah?
Later yet, we join the D.E.Orphans hanging out at the docks when... something approaches! They rush off to inform Tempest, who is just as surprised to find that... it's Dolphin and his son. Worse yet... they're moving in!
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Welp, we've only known the D.E.Orphans for about twenty minutes... and they've already worn out their welcome. I wonder what sort of wacky hijinks they'll get into next?!
This is definitely a case of "making chicken salad", because really... whatcha gonna do when your editor insists you add this painfully uninteresting and unfun element to your comic? You kinda have to illustrate that they have powers... and that they can "hang" with the rest of the group. You gotta throw in a flaw or two... I mean, all of the "nuts and bolts" are there... but at the end of the day, it's still not fun. It's still not a group of people I care to read about. Having the Titans on the periphery... but not as the driving focus here feels kinda like adding insult to injury.
Let's talk about the potential for things to go wrong for a bit... because that was my main takeaway from this issue. Nikki, the Autistic girl has demonstrated some pretty amazing powers here... powers, that nearly killed a man... and put the lives of all of the Titans in danger. Donna's nonchalance over how they should work with Nikki comes across as rather ignorant. It really is tantamount to "ehh, we'll figure it out".
I mean, I've got a saying I use facetiously sometimes... "We'll burn that bridge when we get to it"... but, that's said (mostly) as a joke. This feels pretty much like that, however Donna's being genuine! How many near-dead bodies is it going to take to realize that maybe a team of adventurers and crime-fighters might not be the best equipped to educate, aid, and guide a super-powered Autistic child?
... Especially when one of those crime-fighters might be hooked on diet pills??? I kid, I kid... but, I'd pop if we get a scene of a frantic Argent singing "I'm so excited"!
Worth mentioning... still love the art. Pelletier turns in his normal great work. The D.E.Orphans still look completely uninteresting, but it doesn't seem fair to lay that at the artists' feet. Feels like there were a few more fingers in the pot than usual when it came to their "design" (or lack thereof).
Overall... can't really say that this one is "must reading". The D.E.Orphans feel like they have enough "staying power" to fill a one-off... and I'm not looking forward to seeing them become a main focus moving forward.
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