moriarty@fluke.UUCP (The Napoleon of Crime) (12/07/85)
Or, "Moriarty Reviews II: The Close-up". Or "Back to the Past". Frankly, I
just like "BLAST FROM THE PAST", and I think I'll stick with that...
What I dribbling about is that I now have my 4000+ comics collection in
order, an in easily-accessible indexes; and often net.comics seems to be
concerned with only the latest comics on the market. I thought it would be
nice to occasionally head back into the vault, pull out a few of my favorite
series, and start a discussion about them. Or look back and talk about a
certain trend in comics history. Or point the finger at particularly good
or bad examples of comics, period. In short, a break from Current Events
and a sharp left into History.
Or [large "THWA-WHOOM" sound effect in evidence]: <<BLAST>> From The
<<PAST>>
However, don't worry -- the first two series I'm planning to review aren't
going back more than a year. I've been reading (for the first time) Aztec
Ace from issue one onto the present, and I hope to have a rigamarole about
that sometime in the next few weeks. However, I've promised Henry Vogel for
the very longest time that I was going to do a review of his series, The
Southern Knights, and I am a Napoleon of my word. Heck, even Don Thompson
takes requests...
SUMMARY: "The Southern Knights" is an independent title about a
rather informal group of superheroes working out of Atlanta. The
group came together (originally called The Crusaders) to prevent a
kidnapping in one of those co-incidences that occur only in bus
stations, airports and comic book origin issues. They discovered
they liked one another's company, and have fought crime in the
southern clime ever since. The group is made up of David Shenk,
an enthusiastic and somewhat naive electronics genius and comics
collector who had given himself electrical and magnetic powers and
called himself Electrode (though everyone in Atlanta seems to know
who he really is); Connie Ronnin (*ahem* -- I think we get the
point), who has the ability to produce (out of thin air) a
"psychic sword" which makes the person struck by it *feel* like
they 've been sliced without being cut (nice touch -- if Barr had
used something like that on Katana, he wouldn't have had to make
her so bloodthirsty); Kristin Austin, a "petite" blond who has
superhuman strength and limited invulnerbility; and Mark Dagon, a
dragon, and apparently the last of his race. He has the ability
to appear in human form (looking somewhat like Tom Selleck), and
has bummed around for the last couple thousand years until joining
up with the Knights. Oh, and he also writes science fiction.
REACTION: I suspect that part of the summary above explains the appeal of
SK for me -- this is a low-key superhero team that gathers its
appeal from quirky (but "normal") characters and events. No
end-of-the-world threats, no aliens from outer space. The major
nemesis of the Knights in the latter issues has been a criminal
cartel called Serpent, which reminds you more of AT&T than Hydra.
No fanatics running around in jumpsuits -- these criminals have a
great medical and dental plan, and a continuing education
program. The Knights themselves are provided housing by
Kristen's father, who is using it as a tax write-off (superheroes
are tax-deductible, you see...).
Basically what the Knights have provided is a pretty consistent
'C' grade for the majority run (from issue three on to the
present); it seems to have the same effect on me as when
Micheline took over the Avengers -- things kind of loosened up,
and the characters had some fun. This grade might be lower if I
was picky about art -- the pencilling roster has changed quite
often, and several of the first issues (issue #4 & #6 in
particular) are very plain -- this is much more noticable in B&W
art. However, things have evened out lately, and the art has
been smoother (but still not up to the level you find in the Big
Two or the major independents). Besides, this is not what I read
it for; ever since issue #3 Henry and Audrey Vogel have kept the
situations fresh and the touch light. Lawn parties, an Atlanta
magazine interview with a dragon, doctors with a sadistic sense
of humor, a Univ. of Georgia horticulturist playing Jarvis,
superheroes trashing 7-Elevens, a couple of hit men who sound
just like "Simon & Simon", and a the head of a criminal
organization who -- eats -- failures (well, at least
*something's* normal!). The only time the stories falter is when
the tone becomes melodramatic -- characters (especially Connie)
flashing back on her rotten childhood or Aramis Merrow's memories
tend to ring of Classic Marvel bathos, or weak Claremont.
However, the interview with Dagon the Dragon was tolerable, and
the dialogue is getting better and better ("Kristan Peanut
Butter!"). The backup feature about a futuristic detective,
"Missing Beings", has an unusual B&W art style, but neither the
dialogue nor the characters are strong enough to support a story
-- the jokes are weak, the plot dull (and far too much
wink-wink-nudge-nudge in its humor); I'd prefer more pages of the
Knights.
Basically, a fun book to read; if you enjoy a standard superhero
team with nice twists and laid-back characters, I think you'll like
this (it seems to work much better than the West Coast Avengers).
If you're going to start, I'd begin with issue #3 -- #1 sounds like
your standard comic (I only have a photocopy of it, and the Butch
Guice art isn't all that hot), and #2 only hints at the fun to come.
Besides, much of #1,2 and 3 are reprinted in #8, though in a neat
framing sequence.
"This looks like a job for BICYCLE REPAIRMAN!"
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
ARPA: fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPA
UUCP: {uw-beaver, sun, allegra, sb6, lbl-csam}!fluke!moriarty
<*> DISCLAIMER: Do what you want with me, but leave my employers alone! <*>