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Tony Mantegna

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Tony Mantegna is one of six strangers brought together by a mysterious, hooded figure that is known only as Mockingbird. Each of these people has experienced a loss or setback of some type. Mantegna had won a Pulitzer for an exposé he wrote on corruption in a mine workers union. While researching, he was caught in a suspicious, accidental dynamite blast that resulted in a loss of hearing. Mockingbird wants this new Secret Six (the original group from the late 60s comic have retired) to be his mission operatives. In exchange, he offers each of them some device that compensates or eliminates their losses. Tony receives a sophisticated (certainly outmoded by contemporary standards) headset. The Secret Six had only a couple of missions before the story ended and Action changed its format back to a monthly 32-paged comic from the weekly anthology experiment.

The story of Mantegna’s mine workers union piece is recounted in Action #624. Harry Shandler, a union foreman, was alleged to divert union money into his personal bank account. Mantegna contacted Shandler, and an interview was arranged for his magazine employer. A new photographer, Tom Pearson, was sent along with him. Quoting the story: “But I was working with a new photographer, Tom Pearson—helluva nice guy, but there were…certain tensions. And I guess I just wasn’t on my game.” The two were given access to explore a mineshaft alone. They stumbled across a live charge, and Tom pushed Tony away from it just as it exploded. They were rescued. The story gives no indication of Tom’s injuries, but Tony later awoke in hospital and discovered his sense of hearing had been lost. The closing scene of this chapter is set in a Los Angeles cemetery. Tony is talking aloud at a grave. He talks about leaving town for good and moving to San Francisco.

“…You know…the way we always talked about doing some day. I’m sorry we didn’t get around to it while you were still here. I won’t be able to visit as often. But I’ll still bring flowers. And I’ll never stop loving you, you know that.”

Tony places the potted flowers on the grave. An older woman approaches him from behind to ask if he knows where a particular section of the cemetery is located. Tony can’t hear her though because he’s not wearing the electronic device Mockingbird gave to him. A caretaker informs her that he can’t hear her (“He’s stone cold deaf.”). She asks the caretaker if he knows him and he replies, “Not really. I just see him a lot. He comes out here once a month on this date, every month…to put flowers on his lover’s grave.” The final panel is a close up of the head stone with the name “Thomas John Pearson” engraved on it.
Art by Frank Springer
The Secret Six and Mockingbird referred to here have no connection to the villainous Secret Six seen most recently in current DC comics.

Mantegna first appeared in Action #601 and confirmed gay in Action #624 (Dated 11/1988). Created by Martin Pasko and Dan Spiegle.

© and ® DC Comics. All rights reserved.

Thanks to Angie for bringing this character to my attention!

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Josiah Power

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Josiah Power was in Metropolis meeting with a Lexcorp attorney when he was caught in an explosion during one of the first wave of attacks in the Alien Invasion. With the aid of Daxamites, Earth’s super heroes fought and won against the Invasion forces. Life was returning to normal for Josiah and the rest of the world when the alien Metagene bomb exploded and affected Earth’s heroes. Josiah, like many other normal humans, was mysteriously affected. Lab tests showed normal results and Power was released from the hospital and returned to practicing law in San Francisco. A few weeks later during a court case his powers began to manifest.

Reluctantly he resigned from the law firm. Power began to let life pass by him until he replied to a mysterious email about a meeting regarding his “condition”. Upon his arrival it became apparent that the same email had been sent to other people affected by the bomb. “The Agent” and his associates announced that everyone were now prisoners to be trained and used as super villains. Josiah was kept drugged and had tests performed on him during this time in an attempt to learn how to trigger his transformation.

During this time several trial runs with other prisoners were made. Each of these met in failure and remotely triggered death. Josiah had secretly been trying to trigger his change with very limited success. A week later, the Justice League arrive to thwart a team sent to raid the Chicago branch of STAR Labs. In their escape attempt, The Agent and associates decide to blow up the building killing all the prisoners. That is until Josiah steps up and off panel single-handedly puts an end to their imprisonment. The Justice League arrives too late to do anything more than clean up. At the end of the story, Josiah is standing at the edge of skyscraper’s roof looking down and contemplating his life. Superman appears to give the proverbial pep talk.

A few years later Power has taken an idea and used his experience and assets to turn it into reality. Based in San Francisco, the Power Company is organized like a law firm with partners and associates and provides superhuman services (security, recovery, and investigation) on contract.

Josiah makes a brief appearance in Manhunter #13 (Sept. 05) to identify the body of Kirk DePaul, the previous Manhunter who was a member of the Power Company.

The exact nature of his powers remains to be determined. What we have seen is Josiah transform his body into a stone-like substance with some type of energy emanating from his body. Power made his first appearance in JLA #61 (vol ?). DC published a set of Power Company specials to promote the concept and followed them with a short-lived series.

© and ® DC Comics. All rights reserved. Created by Kurt Busiek and Tom Grummett.

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Walter Kasko and Samual Daly

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Contributed by John M. Eagen

Art by Eddy NewellContributed by John M. Eagen

Former Olympic champion and part time super hero Jefferson Pierce (aka – Black Lightning) was a teacher at Carver High School. During his tenure he befriended Walter Kasko, a white teacher at a  predominately black highschool. Kasko was a man of integrity and guts who took deep interest in the students of Carver High. He was used to the gangs and weapons present in the poor district and made every attempt to set misguided students on the right path. One such student was Lamar Henderson. Lamar was targeted for a gang slaying, but Kasko and Jefferson Pierce both threw their bodys in front of the young man, taking the bullets for him.

Walter Kasko died during the incident and Jefferson Pierce was rushed to the hospital. In an attempt to revive Pierce, doctors used electric paddles, only to have the electricity “feedback” due to Pierce’s own internal (and secret) lightning powers. In an attempt to find the cause of the incident, metagene tests were ordered for Pierce.

Lying in the hospital recovering, Pierce was visited by an African American lab technicion named Samual Daly. Daly introduced himself to Pierce “My name is Samual Daly. Walter Kasko was my friend. Actually , he was more than my friend.” Jefferson admits that he didn’t know much about Kasko’s personal life and Daly continues… “Some of us keep our secrets better than others. But you know all about secrets don’t you?” It is at this point that Daly informs Pierce that not only did Walter Kasko know that Pierce was indeed Black Lightning, he (Kasko) also covered for him so that his identity would remain a secret.

Samual Daly continued his lover’s legacy by doctoring the metagene tests so that Pierce’s results would be negative. Pierce consoles Daly with these parting words of thanks and praise… “Be angry, be very angry, at this cruel and stupid world we live in. It deserves all the rage you can muster. But don’t ever be angry at the man you loved. His kind of courage is the only hope we have.”

Reflecting back on the entire events that led to Walter Kasko’s death, Pierce (Black Lightning) finds strength in his friend’s untimely death… “Walter Kasko died. He threw himself in front of one of his students and he died. Walter didn’t want to die on the cold linoleum floor so far from his companion. But he wasn’t going to lose a good kid. Walter Kasko was a hero. I don’t know if I am. But I’m going to keep working at it. Until I get it right. One more thing… I remember Walter’s face now — and I always will.”  (Tony Isabella)

Walter first appeared in Black Lightning #2 (vol 2) and Samual in #5. They were revealded to be a couple in #5. The setting of this story is Brick City, a lower class suburb of an unnamed city.

Tony Isabella reflects on these characters here.

Black Lightning created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden. © and ® DC Comics. All rights reserved.

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Speedy’s Not So Fabulous Life

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Roy Harper’s has had some hard knocks in life for a four color comics character. Recently targeted by Prometheus, to prove both his bad assery and that his penis isn’t tiny, Harper’s right arm was literally mangled and amuputated and daughter Lian was killed by writer James Robinson as an excuse for transformative catalyst through great personal tragedy (or as proof that he can write poorly). The phrase “epic fail” comes to mind, but is that term so 2008 or what?

Decades before this in the real world, Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams made Roy into a heroin junkie, as I recall, out of jealousy of and lack of attention from pseudo daddy Oliver Queen who was heavily involved in a socially relevant On The Road a la Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassidy tour of America in the Green Lantern/ Green Arrow comic of the 70s. Thankfully, kind hearted Dinah came to his rescue during the bromantic adventures. And somewhere along the way wasn’t Roy ignored or rebuffed by Donna in Teen Titans?

Then there’s the time Roy was injured in an adventure with Green Arrow in a story from World’s Finest #112 (9/1960) titled The Spy in the Arrow Cave. See back then a lot of Batman had, Green Arrow copied: a secret cave hideout, a sleek for the times bright yellow Arrowcar, a quiver full of trick arrows instead of a utility belt, and of course the requisite kid sidekick. Though none come to mind, Green Arrow probably had his share of gaudy costumed villains, too. Such is not the case with the bad guy of this 6 pager, the escaped embezzler Flint Morgan wearing prison grays, accidentally stumbles across the entrance to the Arrow Cave and decides the secret lair makes a perfect place to escape the law. Green Arrow thinks there’s no ready solution and so relents. And you know that situation would have a completely different ending today.

Morgan spies a large map of Star City that’s marked with a patrol schedule on it. The convict doesn’t want to hurt Green Arrow but sees the map as an opportunity to make some cold cash as a retirement fund by selling it  cigar chomping, gang leader Mike Bancroft, who eagerly pays $10,000 for the map and puts it into quick use by staging a low level burglarly to distract the archers from a huge jewelry store heist. An arrow signal (see, another Batman rip off) alerts the duo to more trouble and their police radio gives the details. They speed off in the crime scene’s direction, only to be stopped by a drawbridge in use. But wait! The “Battling Bowmen” aren’t giving up! One button push propels them from the front seat across
the raised bridge section, and an off balanced Speedy breaks his leg! Noble, young Speedy urges his mentor to ignore him and go after the crooks, but even nobler Oliver holds the boy in his arms, determined to get to a hospital. The story wraps up
in another 9 panels in the typical nonsensical fashion DC Silver Age stories often did. Morgan literally is faced with the consequence of his actions, and throws himself in front of gunfire from Bancroft to save the heroes and make up for his own life of horrid crime by sacrificing his life.

Plus, Green Arrow really seems to like holding Speedy in his arms. Some readers may be tired and frustrated with the grim and grit of many of today’s comics, but there was also some real crap, sometimes charming crap, but still crap back in the Silver Age.

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Private Island For Sale

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Spectacular views and exclusive beaches await you at this unique private island paradise, offering both seclusion and accessibility for occasional guests.

Current owner and tenants pride themselves on the incomparable Greek architecture, including a palace, temples, plazas, private residences in various buildings (perfect for condos or boutique hotel suites!), parks, athletic facilities, and medical and research buildings.

Art by Alex Ross

The island provides numerous opportunities for gentrification and modernization awaiting a visionary’s guidance. From a resort and tax haven for the wealthy to friendly refuge for political despots to a welcoming and accepting idyll for the Sapphicly inclined to a pulsating Dionysian bachanal sure to rival Ibiza!

Owner is extremely motivated to sell in order to relocate to new location. All tenants currently occupying island’s various buildings will accompany her. Property and various buildings sold as is. Sale includes all appliances and conveniences for daily life. Not included in sale are all and sundry medical, technological, and scientific devices.

For further information and to set up an appointment, contact Hippolyta via email at hippolyta@themyscira.org.

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Rucka Departs Batwoman

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

Update Rucka has commented on his site that his motivation for departure is simply to concentrate on his other, creator-owned projects. Good enough for me. His writing on Batwoman will still be missed, but such is life. A writer can’t be happy if he or she feels a stronger compulsion to write another story while chaining themselves to something else.

Unless you’ve spent the last 48 hours completely immersed in the real world (in which case I admire you), you’ve read the good news about writer Greg Rucka focusing on a few projects like Stumptown and a Queen & Country novel and looking forward to a second series with an arc drawn by the talented Nicola Scott. It’s been a few years since Oni published the last issue of Queen and I’ve missed it. With only two issues to date the writing and art on Stumptown have completely drawn me into that world.

The bad news is Greg Rucka and DC have parted, and the future of the acclaimed Batwoman feature is unknown as it languishes now in publisher limbo. Rucka commented that it was agonizing to walk away from Batwoman but has yet and likely will not publicly comment on behind-the-scenes circumstances. Whatever precipitated the decision may never be known though I’ll guess it happened a few months ago, giving DC enough time to bring Marc Guggenheim on Action (assuming Rucka wasn’t stepping back already). Collaborator J. H. Wiliams alluded to a snafu at Emerald City Comic Con as well as some kind of disagreement between DC and Rucka on his blog.

Meanwhile, Newsarama has posted the following comment from DC Senior Story Editor Ian Sattler and Geoff Johns (presumably speaking as Chief Creative Officer).

[DC Senior Story Editor Ian] Sattler: “We have plans for Batwoman.”
[DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff] Johns: “We want Greg (Rucka) to write it, but he’s focusing on his career right now.”
Sattler: “There’s no shelving.”

The question in my mind now becomes how strongly DC wants Rucka (and Williams) to continue on Batwoman? Do the quartet of Diane Nelson, Didio, Johns, and Jim Lee do whatever it takes to woo back Rucka. In my opinion the answer is an unqualified yes. As a publishing company, DC is the sum of its intellectual properties, the characters we love as fans. However, any publisher is foolish to discount the influence of writers and artists in bringing interest and excitement to its stable of characters. Case in point: a yellow and red clad Batwoman, a campy beard for Batman post Frederic Wertham who was transformed into a compelling (and lesbian) character in her own right in the capable hands of two talented people whose work received a GLAAD award. [Disclosure: Rucka and Williams unreservedly got my vote in the award.]

DC is tarnished until such a time that amends are made and Rucka and Williams return to work on Batwoman.

Comics Alliance first posted the news here

CBR and J. H. Williams

Visit Greg Rucka’s website

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Rick Stone

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Art by John Paul Leon

Rick Stone is one of Virgil Hawkins’ (Static) close friends. We see him throughout the series, usually briefly in his role as a supporting cast member. In other issues which will be highlighted here, he figures more prominently. In issue one, he’s on the receiving end of a gay taunt from a “friend” about his performance at a school assembly the day before. He replies with: “I don’t have to listen to your limp dick gags.” Another student tells Rick to lighten up; it was just a joke.

Skip ahead to issue #5 when Rick, Virgil, and friends Chuck, and Felix are playing an intense superhero roleplaying game. Virgil gets a lucky role and an exasperated Rick says, “I wish I could get rolls like that with Airburst.” Chuck jumps in and exclaims Airburst is “so gay.” The tension escalates a little before Rick diffuses it by throwing an empty plastic soda bottle at Chuck.

Another gay taunt happens at school (issue #11). Chuck has insulted Rick by calling his shirt “fruit-flavored.” Once again, Chuck excuses himself by labeling his rude comment as a joke. Rick’s patience is reaching a limit though, and Virgil and best friend Frieda have to keep the two boys separate.

The boys are hanging out at one of their houses, talking about action movie heroes (issue #15). Virgil brings up “Captain Thunder.” Chuck proclaims, “He’s so gay, man!” Virgil questions Chuck because Thunder is strong enough to punch through mountains, and tries to enlist Rick in his argument. Instead of getting involved, this time Rick states, “he is kind of a Boy Scout” and walks away. Rick apologizes to Virgil for not sticking up with him the next day at school.

Yet again the boys are together when for no apparent reason Chuck calls Rick “Richard the Pink, Knight of the Tutu.” Again, Rick blows up, but his point is completely diffused when Chuck makes another joke, and he, Felix, Larry, and Virgil laugh.

Virgil has remained silent and non-supportive of Rick. Later, Static is on patrol when he comes across some skinheads attacking others on the street. They start to run off with Static in pursuit when one of the figures calls out for help.

It’s Rick, who’s kneeling next to an unconscious boy. Static is shocked that the boy who shouted out is Rick (he’s unaware that Static is his friend Virgil). Static asks what prompted the attack and Rick confesses it was a gay bashing (issue #16). Static flies the boys to a hospital. In transit Rick says he’s gone to a gay teen support group, and implies that he was attracted to the other boy. The skinheads attacked them when they left the meeting. Meanwhile, Static is secretly freaking out over the news is friend really is gay. The two boys are admitted, and Static flies away. Virgil is shocked to learn that Frieda is aware of Rick’s sexuality when he brings the incident up to her. Virgil decides to act as if nothing has changed (for now). At the end of the chapter, Rick, face bruised and bandaged returns to school. When questioned by his friends, Rick confesses he was gay bashed, and for the first time, puts Chuck in his place. Rick talks about a plan to organize a teen group for the school and asks his friends for support. (Issue #17)

The scene continues with the next issue with Rick angrily walking away from Chuck who’s still trying to turn it all into a joke. Later, Rick is sorely disappointed with Virgil when he protests that everyone is looking at the two of them, and telling Rick he should’ve kept the secret to himself. Virgil finds out that Frieda is angry at him for this when he calls her and a recorded answering machine greeting instructs him to see his “phony, homophobic buddies.” (Issue #18)

Rick discovers some students don’t think he’s a pariah when Frieda, Daisy (a girl that is dating Virgil) , and a new boy have lunch with him the next day (issue #19). They make plans to go to a gay rally after school that afternoon. Daisy confesses her mother is a lesbian and will go with the kids. The tension at the rally is already high between gay activists and homophobes when the kids arrive. Violence erupts when members of the Sons of Odin, apparently led by a mutant named Hotstreak, initiates intimidating actions against the gay protesters. Static appears just as things get out of control. The requisite fight involving Static and Hotstreak follows. The police take care of the other Sons of Odin and Static stops Hotstreak. With the mutant handcuffed in a police wagon, Static leaves the scene, assuming everything will be fine. However, a Son of Odin member has infiltrated the police force and creates an accident scenario that frees Hotstreak. The mutant grabs Frieda out of the crowd, and from atop a light pole threatens to harm her unless Static returns. He has unintentionally made himself a good target. It isn’t the police who shoot him though; it’s Rick from the sidelines. It isn’t elaborated where the gun comes from, but the implication is it came from Ducky, the new student. (Issue #20)

Rick is feeling guilt and remorse over the shooting as he and the rest of the gang take a subway trip to see a movie playing at a theater on the somewhat seedy Paris Island. (Issue #21) The feelings worsen after he’s realized someone will figure out he’s responsible for the shooting, and as these things work out, two police officers visit his home as he returns from walking the dog. One officer instructs the other to help kindly Mrs. Stone bring some more cookies from kitchen as a diversion to speak with Rick alone. He has a talk with Rick, and reveals that he’s figured out Rick shot Hotstreak. But he’s a compassionate, if not completely by the book, officer because he’s devised a story that will satisfy the investigation and end any attention to Rick, who quietly agrees to comply. Later in the story, Virgil comes to visit Rick. The two boys go for a walk, and Virgil awkwardly apologizes for his homophobic behavior, ending by saying: “Good. Then we could, like, be like it never happened, right? Still friends?” Rick doesn’t want to let him off so easily and replies, “As long as you remember that it did happen, sure…why not?” (Issue #22)

It’s interesting to note that Rick’s gay-bashing and coming out story happened eight years before Terry Berg’s gay bashing story written by Judd Winick in Green Lantern. Winick’s story caused a media controversy whereas as far as I know, this earlier story caused barely a ripple outside of its readership as noted by letter writers. In 1994 Bill Clinton has been in the White House since January of 1993 and with the later story, Bush has been in office for approximately the same length of time. In those eight years the Internet became pervasive and conservative/ evangelical elements in this country came to the forefront.

The last development of any kind with Rick happens in issue #27 when he gets a part time job working a hot dog cart. Rick and Virgil remain friends through the series (it ended with #44) and has a cameo appearance in #1 of the Static Shock mini series of 2001. An adult Rick appeared with Virgil at the end of the two part Milestone Forever mini (2010) though there is no relevant information to add.

Rick first appeared in Static #1 and is confirmed gay in Static #16. The character transitioned to the Static Shock animated series. Read the Wikipedia entry.  Thanks to Xrstoryteller for the reminder about this character. Both Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington III wrote Static and each presumably had a hand in crafting Rick.

© and ® Milestone Media. Used without permission.

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Justice League – Cry For Justice #7

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Martin Gray

This review appears by the graciousness of Martin Gray. When not being a missive maven on GLA’s email list, Martin frequently pens comics reviews on his blog, Too Dangerous For A Girl, where this piece first appears. Please stop by to visit him there.

I like a big stupid blockbuster as much as the next person. Massive disasters, bombastic dialogue, it’s all good . . . except when the story can’t get from point A to point B without characters who are Too Stupid Too Live.

And that sums up every hero in this book. Green Lantern, the Atom, Green Arrow, all these and more are here unable to use their skills and powers, their brains and experience, to foil the schemes of one man. Yes, the destruction of Star City is well underway as this finale issue begins, but the perpetrator, Prometheus, is in League custody. Available to end the destruction are heroes with magic rings, super strength, ultra-speed, and yet not a single building is seen to be saved. Green Lantern doesn’t so much as throw up a few supports. Firestorm carries people on lumps of pavement rather than throwing his incredible power set at the big picture. That sort of thing.

With the threat of similar destruction across the world via cunningly planted bombs, the heroes have no choice but to let Prometheus go free in exchange for deactivation codes. Because he can counter any attempt to force him to give up the information – knock out a mental maven via psychic feedback, stop magical attacks – anything. So what if Prometheus is neither magical nor telepathic, he’s The Man With the Plan and in the DC Universe (see Batman, Deathstroke etc) a bit of forward thinking always wins the day.

Burying a bomb under a river but want to keep speedsters at bay? No problem, simply arrange it so that unless the ‘exact cubic tonnage’ of water surrounds the explosive, it goes off. And so on. It’s silly, and not in a good way. Prometheus is so brilliant, and the heroes so rubbish, that when it comes down to ‘free the guy and get the codes, or let millions die’, the good guys are utterly paralysed with indecision in a laughable two-page spread. A decision has to be made and the JLA and chums decide to have a conference call. ‘What do we do?’ ‘No! No way he walks!’ ‘We’re loosing (sic)’ ‘I don’t know what to say.’

This really is excruciating stuff from writer James Robinson; it might work on TV, with quick cuts and split second flashes of dialogue, but laid out on the page it’s corny and unconvincing. And the internal monologue given to the blue Starman as he’s meant to be helping people would disgrace an afternoon soap: ‘Tony . . . can you believe it? It all came down to this? You died because of this. I feel so alone.’

Which is weird, because sometimes you can read a James Robinson comic – such as the recent Starman: Blackest Night – and be thrilled by the subtlety and smarts of the script.

Not here, where you’re more likely to laugh at the words given to poor Freddy Freeman, his lips sewn together to prevent him summoning his Marvel-powered form: ‘Yeath. Juth get m’to the dewiseth! Matgic of Shaztham!’ After a few lines of this I was expecting two magic words: ‘Thufferin thuccotash!’

The big emotional moment is the death of Lian, Roy Harper’s cute little daughter, crushed by a building. Allegedly 90,000 people perish as Star City falls but poor old Lian – whose demise was cleverly hinted at in the set-after-this Titans #21 a couple of months back – is the only corpse in the book. It sucks to be a superhero’s kid, but the tragedies are necessary for the upcoming adventures of Grim Arrow and Stumpy. Super.

The close of this story sees said Ollie Queen finally finds a target – Prometheus’ stupid helmet and the brain matter behind. As it’s the end of the mini, suddenly there is something Prometheus hasn’t planned for, while a hero is allowed to remember his skill set. The contrivances are a bit rich but nevertheless the death of Prometheus provides the most satisfactory moment of the series.

Mauro Cascioli, Scott Clark and Ibraim Roberson handle the pencils and, backed by a veritable league of inkers and colourists, produce mostly attractive, effective work. While some of the emotional beats called for by the script are a tad OTT, the artists capture them just fine. And someone had a very good time drawing Starfire’s cosmic bottom trying to escape her hips – an honourable DC tradition.

So it’s over. Seven issues, most of them annoying, and yet I bought the things so more fool me. I nearly dropped the book once or twice but my faith in James Robinson, along with the saddo aspect of having to know how the story ends, kept bringing me back. Of course, the story isn’t ending, as the plights of Ollie Queen and Roy Harper lead into a JLA special, Arsenal mini and an arc in Green Arrow’s book. We’re promised falls, rises . . . maybe some people will eat this up, but it’s not for me. I’ll stick with James’ current run on the regular JLA book, which is already proving more to my taste than Cry For Justice. I should have cried off after the first issue.

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Achilles

Monday, December 28th, 2009
Art by Aaron Lopresti

Art by Aaron Lopresti

Upon the return of the Olympian pantheon following the incidents of Infinite Crisis, Zeus promises a dying Athena to care for and aid her Amazons (see Wonder Woman #26 and 27). As a consequence of their culpability in Amazons Attack, the tribe was enchanted to forget their identities and scattered among the people of the world in mundane lives till Zeus awakens them from the spell and calls them back to Themyscira. Zeus devises a circuitous plan to keep his promise to Athena by creating a new island named Thalarion upon which he resurrects the warrior Jason and his fellow soldiers, naming them Gargareans. In Greek mythology, the legendary Gargareans were an all male tribe that mated with the Amazons annually to ensure their mutual vitality. Female infants were raised by Amazons, males by Gargareans. Zeus charges this new tribe to create Paradise on earth, to “slaughter the dictators and dismember the warmongers” and promises to create a son for Jason.

While the Olympians were imprisoned by Darkseid and the evil gods, Diana made the weighty decision to call upon and give her allegiance to the Hawaiian god Kane Milohai. The elder Zeus visits Kane to request he renounce Diana’s pledge. Quick to anger, Zeus attacks when met with refusal. The fight that follows is swift and brutal, ending with Kane’s death at the hands of Zeus. A triumphant Zeus proclaims the promised son will have the heart of a god.

Returning to Thalarion, Zeus accepts tribute from the Gargareans as he tends a fire. The flames are the means by which Jason’s promised child will be created. Calling upon his powers, Zeus resurrects the skeletal remains of a warrior. Kane’s heart completes the fiery reincarnation of the long dead champion Achilles, now proclaimed by Zeus to be King of the Gargareans. Now charged with the mission orginally given to Diana, Achilles leads his men into action by shutting down military stockpiles across the globe. He leads a contingent of men to New York where he confronts the United Nations and later fights Diana one on one at an abandoned former Soviet military base. Achilles surprises Diana with his agility, but in the end she vanquishes the blond warrior.

Circumstances become vastly more complicated when Euphemus, one of Achilles’ commanders, is revealed to be complicit with Ares who is now angered by the death of Diana’s concurrent foe Genocide whom he intended to make his queen. As a son of Poseidon, Euphemus summons sea monsters to attack both Thalarion and Themyscira. In doing so, the Amazons and Gargareans become uneasy allies. While gaining victory, there is no joy or relief. Diana strikes a seemingly killing blow to Ares, and Achilles confronts the traitor Euphemus. Zeus appears and reveals to Diana that he slew Kane and put his heart inside Achilles. The Amazon retaliates in anger with a striking blow to her god. The consequence of this action is quick and shocking. The elder Olympian coldly states that Hippolyta is to be immediately replaced as ruler by Achilles and Diana tearfully renounces her heritage as the depths of captain of the queen’s guard Alkyone’s bitterness toward Diana becomes more apparent.

Determined to honor Zeus’ plan, newly installed as Amazonian King Achilles is met with animosity when he orders the women to turn over their weapons. Sensing the level of distrust, he propositions Alkyone to become his advisor and queen. Initially shocked, Alkyone contemplates the offer, undoubtedly thinking how to take advantage, and agrees to the betrothal when Achilles performs the appropriate ritual. Now bound, Alkyone exclaims their union to be a sexless marriage of state only. Achilles replies: “Of course not! I would never…I don’t even…No. Let no shadow, no unwelcome worry enter your…your heart…We will find lovers elsewhere.” His decision will prove dangerous in the following days as Alkyone presses her newly gained position to her vile agenda.

Achilles proves his steel and narrow minded resolve to carry out Zeus’ commands in a second confrontation with Wonder Woman. As the Thalarions and Diana’s unlikely ally Giganta watch on, Achilles and Diana trade blows. He boasts of once being considered the greatest warrior before his resurrection and without Athena’s spear as his weapon moments before Diana takes him by surprise proving Achilles can bleed. Rejecting Diana’s creed, Achilles seeks to remove Diana’s interference with the announcement that Hippolyta will hang if she intercedes again.

Alkyone persuades Achilles that to prove his strength as king to Diana he must follow through on his threat to kill Hippolyta. And so he orders the former queen to be chained. When Diana comes to remove her mother from Themyscira she is horrified to see her in manacles and the admission she’ll willingly give up her life if it ensures peace for the Amazons. Pressing her position, Alkyone takes Diana’s  tiara to wear, orders the Amazon to forfeit her bracers and girdles, and then imprisons her. Her aim is shortly revealed when Achilles confronts her over the news that the princess will be executed. Despite her obviously treacherous bent, Achilles appears persuaded to allow Diana’s execution until he opens the box containing Alkyone’s wedding gift of armor and Diana’s bracelets. Realizing the depths of his foolishness, Achilles visits Diana in her cell, asking her forgiveness and her help in ending Alkyone’s threat and terror.

Tensions escalate as events quickly unfold. Amazons attack Achilles, piercing his body with arrows and a spear thrust through his heart. The wounds don’t prove fatal though, an unforeseen benefit of having a god’s heart. The king and queen engage in a fierce, final battle, and it appears Achilles is mortally wounded by a cut from Alkyone’s sword forged from the poisonous tears of the Medusa. A freed Hippolyta ends the civil war with an arrow shot through the traitor’s heart. Zeus appears to the crowd. Diana shoulders the wounded Achilles; perhaps saved by Zeus or Kane’s heart. In light of everything, Achilles and his Thalarions and Diana and the Amazons stand united in defiance of Zeus. As a final surprise, Zeus confesses his misdeeds and frailty before disappearing.

What developments Gail Simone has in store for Achilles remains to be seen.

Achilles’ first appearance is Wonder Woman #30. Confirmation of Achilles’ sexuality came from Simone in a DC Comics message board thread. This version of Achilles created by Gail Simone.

© and ® DC Comics. Used without permission.

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Mary Loo

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Contributed by Sidney Osinga

Art by Greg LaRocque

Art by Greg LaRocque

Mary Loo was the producer for the talk show “Flagg Waving”. It’s host, Johnny Flagg, was secretly the hero Fighting American, and also Johnny’s brother Nelson’s brain in Johnny’s body. Johnny/ Nelson was attracted to Mary, but something always interrupted when she tried to explain why she couldn’t return his feelings. She was outed in issue #4 when it showed her joining her girlfriend, Denise, in bed.

Mary helped Fighting American and his unnamed sidekick against the Free Association and their minions, the Media Circus, Gross National Product and his sidekick Def Izzit, and Phoroptor. She also discovered that Congressman Dorkin, the man in charge of the Fighting American project, was in league with the Free Association. They tracked Dorkin to Ireland where they found that an unnamed alien was in charge of the Free Association.

It captured them, and what followed is one of the funniest exchanges in comics that I ever read:

Fighting American: Mary, I’m sorry I dragged you into this. If things had gone differently, we might have been married… Lived in a house with a white picket fence…

Mary Loo: Johnny, can’t you get it through your sweet, thick head? I’m gay!

F.A. : That’s what I love about you, Mary! Even at a time like this, you’re so upbeat, so happy…

M.L. : Not Happy… Gay! GAY! I’m oriented toward my own sex!

F.A. : … oh. F.A.: Sheesh! Why didn’t she say so in the first place?

They were freed with the inadvertent help of a family named the Nielsens. Fighting American forced the alien to flee and congressman Dorkin was captured, although the Free Association remained active.

This was a really good series that sadly lasted only six issues. It’s too bad that this series wasn’t continued, since it was, in my humble opinion, a lot better than Rob Liefeld’s version of “Fighting American.

Mary Loo’s first appearance is in Fighting American #2 and her sexuality is confirmed in #4. Fighting American was based on concepts created and © by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

© and ® DC Comics. Used without permission.

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