Should we call it "The Scarab Gambit" now?

As you, dear readers, are no doubt aware by now, I'm very much obsessed with Disney's Gargoyles. Likewise, astute followers of my blog will notice I've taken a shine to Alex Ross's Project Superpowers series. But did you realize that both have more in common than my adoration?

It came to my attention that both series share similarities in regards to certain characters. In Gargoyles, you have the character of David Xanatos. He's the suave, wealthy pseudo-antagonist of the Manhattan Clan. In P:SP, you have Amon Khadul, aka The Scarab, the suave, wealthy pseudo-ally of the returned Golden Age heroes.

These two characters share many traits; so much so that it's quite possible they're really the same character. Observe the evidence!

1) Both are wealthy, handsome businessmen of Mediterranean descent- Xanatos is Greek, Khadul is Middle Eastern, quite possibly Egyptian.

2) Xanatos made his fortune by selling a rare coin that he came across, then using the proceeds and his natural genius to parlay that into a multi-billion dollar empire. Khadul made his fortune by selling a rare scarab amulet he found, then using the proceeds and his natural genius to parlay that into a multi-billion dollar empire.

"Intriguing. Go on..."

3) Both have incredible aptitude in science, specifically electronics.

4) Both have developed incredibly advanced suits of battle armor that overcome their lack of superpowers.

Though the Scarab's armor is a bit more sleek.

5) Xanatos is a member of the Illuminati, a secret group that secretly controls the world. In secret. Khadul is a member of the Supremacy, a clandestine group that... uh... clandestinely controls the world.

6) You're never sure which side either one is really on.

7) Xanatos hangs out with Goliath, a large, intimidating gargoyle named after an Old Testament strong man. Khadul hangs out with Samson, a large, intimidating superhero who might actually BE an Old Testament strong man.

Now, you're probably saying that these are highly coincedental. That happens in comic-booky type stuff. After all, the X-Men are basically just the Doom Patrol with more popularity and fewer deformities. Well, I've saved the most telling proof for last. Prepare to have your mind blown.

8) The name of the firm which manufactures all of Xanatos's high-tech equipment is called SCARAB ROBOTICS!!!

My mind has been blown!!!

Now, I'm not accusing Alex Ross or any of his collaborators of plagiarism. What I am suggesting is that perhaps he should make a donation to Greg Weisman or any of the other creators of Gargoyles. He can mail the check out to me, I'll make sure they get it. Oh, and make it out to "Cash". Mwa-ha-haaa! (Now why did I type that last part out?)

Also, this is my 96th post. We are drawing ever closer to my epic, 100th post extravaganza. I promise you I will have a MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT! What could it be? Can you stand the suspense?!?

Death-Defying 'Devil TPB- A review!

Another 4-issue miniseries, Death-Defying 'Devil, much like the Black Terror arc, helps to bridge the gap between Chapters 1 & 2 of Project Superpowers. The star for this story is the Golden Age Daredevil, who might have the best "look" of any of the characters of PSP.

In Chapter 1, the 'Devil, rendered mute by his time in the Urn, reappears in Paris. There, he befriends a French counter-terrorism agent, Justine Boulet. Together, the two begin to investigate the Claw, an international terrorist organization that just so happens to share the name of one of the 'Devil's greatest villains.

The DDD mini-series continues their quest. Joined by Silver Streak and the Ghost, two heroes with their own history with the Claw, the heroes attempt to foil a plot to destroy Hong Kong. Complicating matters is the appearance of the Deadly Dreaded Dragon, a mysterious figure claiming that the 'Devil is a fraud!

The art is WONDERFUL. Edgar Salazar does a phenomenal job with this title, so much so that I'm tempted to say he's the best artist associated with Project Superpowers thus far.

As for the story, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, it's action packed, and sets up a good deal of mystery later down the line. On the other hand, the story falls into the same trap that most of the Meet the Bad Guys miniseries did; the story has two antagonists, and neither are dealt with in a decisive fashion. The whole thing just screams "Stay Tuned!".

While I really, really like this, it's not nearly as stand-alone as Black Terror or Masquerade. If you're already reading P:SP, it's a great book; if not, then don't start here.

Masquerade TPB- A review!

This book collects the 4-issue Masquerade mini-series. This book is a bit different than some of the other Project Superpowers offerings for a few reasons.

First, it's set almost entirely in the past. The story follows Miss Masque's adventures in the late '40s and early '50s. Specifically, it revolves around the one case she was never able to solve. That leads into the other differentiating aspect- it's a very personal story with personal stakes. It doesn't engage the ongoing metaplot of the Project Superpowers. That perhaps makes this the best place for readers new to the PSP setting to jump into the action.

Carlos Paul, the artist for Chapter One, returns for this story, and I must say there's a marked improvement. Not that he was bad before, but there's a good deal more consistency in the art. This is possibly due to the smaller scale of the story; Paul doesn't have to worry about large battle scales and can focus on the details.

The main attraction, though, is the star, Miss Masque. This is a very character driven piece, and Phil Hester and Alex Ross deftly showcase the strengths of her character. As a character who is both (initially) non-powered and female, the story showcases the condescension she's often subjected to by her peers and how she overcomes it.

Masquerade is a story that combines emotion and action in healthy amounts, making this a fine offering from Dynamite Entertainment.

Black Terror Volume 1 TPB- A review!

Black Terror, Volume 1 collects the first four issues of the first (and thus far only) ongoing series set within the Project Superpowers Universe. The Black Terror was a fairly popular Golden Age character and, as such, is a natural focus for the PSP brand.

The story picks up right where Chapter 1 left off. The forces of the U.S. government send their superhuman goons, the Crusaders, to apprehend the newly emergent Superpowers. During the scuffle, BT learns that there are heroes being held underneath Washington, D.C.; believing his sidekick Tim the Kid Terror is among those being held, the Terror heads straight to the White House to hold the Commander-in-Chief, President West, accountable for what has transpired so far.

What follows is straight up super-action at it's finest. There are some brilliant gags to be found; for example, the Black Terror is super-strong and nigh-invulnerable, but he can't fly, but that doesn't stop him from becoming airborne, and how he does it is a work of genius.

This arc also introduces several more characters to the PSP universe. In addition to the captured heroes, we see the formation of the Super-Patriots, five Americana-themed heroes who, upon their release from the urn, pledge themselves to the Presidency, as well as the Inheritors, the PSP equivalent to the Teen Titans.

The art is by Mike Lilly, who turns in a superb job. The action scenes pop, and he's got a pretty good handle on facial expressions.

The story, by Ross and Kruegger, is similarly good. First off, it gives the reader more insight into who the Black Terror is. Making his "quest" about saving his sidekick adds a needed personal stake into the story.

Like PSP Chapter 1, this arc is rather political, but not quite as obviously. The Superpowers and the Super-Patriots both end up with members on their team that don't necessarily agree with the party line. The message here is that a dissenting voice is needed in any philosophy to foster healthy debate and policy. Likewise, the "bad guys" of the piece actually make compelling arguments for what they're doing. Sometimes, an argument about a topic isn't quite as simple as "right versus wrong".

Most importantly, the story starts and ends with the idea of checks and balances. Initially, the Superpowers promise to be an additional check on the established government, but end with the acknowledgment that for all their power they might need checks on themselves as well. This a powerful message that can (and SHOULD) carry over into our real world. Granted, we don't have superheroes in reality, but there are forces that exert a good deal of influence on many aspects of society. Perhaps if we had some more checks and balances on, and I'm just spitballing here, say mass media or big business, we might have avoided some of the problems facing America today.

While BT Volume 1 does serve as a bridge between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of Project Superpowers, it does serve as a complete and satisfying story in its own right.

Project Superpowers Chapter 1 Review!

As I mentioned previously, Chapter 1 of Project Superpowers is an 8-issue miniseries. Since you all saw the link I provided for issue #0, I'll skip that and talk about the rest of the series.

The story follows the Fighting Yank and the Green Lama as they attempt to rescue their fellow heroes from Pandora's Urn and strike back at the corrupting forces in modern society. It's fairly straight-forward, with action and intrigue galore.

Now, some folks have argued that one of the faults of PSP is that there are too many characters, and yes, there are quite a few. However, comics have done stories like that for YEARS (Crisis on Infinite Earths, Secret Wars, etc.). Really, there are only about 5 or 6 main characters who drive the story forward in Chapter One- the Yank, the Lama, Black Terror, Samson, the Scarab, and Dynamic Man.

While the remarkable Steven Sadowski did the art for #0 (and did a fine job), the rest is done by Carlos Paul. Paul is a relative newcomer, and it shows, as his art for this project is a bit inconsistent at times. Mostly, it's very good, but at certain points (especially large battle scenes), he starts skimping on the detail.

The story, written by Ross and frequent collaborator Jim Kruegger, was written in the waning days of the Bush administration, and it shows. One of the key plot points is that the U.S. is deployed in the "Middle East" waging a war about oil. Similarly, when the heroes reappear, they are labeled "terrorists" as they might upset the long-range policy goals set in place by the powers-that-be. Now, some folks may get upset about this, to which I say- Get over it. The "Evil Government Conspiracy" plot has been a staple for decades now, regardless of what party is in control; Ross and Kruegger just use modern analogs to make it more accessible for modern readers.

Another interesting aspect is how strongly the issue of faith comes into play. In most superhero comics, the issue of religion is usually glossed over (have often have you seen Superman go to church?). In PSP, however, it is an integral part of many of the characters backgrounds. The Green Lama is Buddhist, the Flame is Christian, and Samson is (presumably) Jewish. All three characters mention their religious beliefs as key elements for why they do what they do. It's something that's I find remarkable and quite refreshing.

Now, you'll notice their are two different trade paperback editions. The cheaper one is a softcover; the pricier one is hardcover, and includes a LOT of bonus material- the Fighting Yank's War Journals, character sketches by Ross, etc.

Overall, it's a good story, and one I recommend; the only problem is that the ending, while not a cliffhanger, does feel more like a "Stay Tuned For More" than an actual, decivise conclusion. Granted, Ross and company planned it as several insallments, but in this age of continuous crossovers, one yearns for a story that's complete unto itself.

Still, I like what they've done. They've taken old characters and made them seem fresh and exciting again. It's good stuff.

Project Superpowers Overview

I've talked about Alex Ross' Project Superpowers quite a bit, but I don't believe I've ever really discussed what it's all about.

For starters, those of you who haven't read any of it should start with Chapter 1, an 8-issue series numbered from #0-#7 (comics, everybody!). Now, I know how you folks like free stuff, and it just so happens that issue #0 is still online, right here! Read it, if you're so inclined, and then come back. I'll wait.

So, anyway, Alex Ross has gone and made a new superhero universe, using Golden Age characters that have lapsed into the public domain.

As those who read issue #0 are aware (and you should be; that's why I posted the link), the Fighting Yank trapped his fellow heroes in Pandora's Urn. Without any heroes around, the bad guys went wild, using political, economic, and social clout to slowly take the reins of society. Some sixty years later, the Yank realizes his mistake and releases his comrades, who now have to survive in this new world.

Since Pandora's Urn is magic, that gives Ross and his collaborators a little bit of leeway. First, the heroes don't reappear all at once. They show up randomly at various points around the globe. Even though it's a very different approach, it reminds me of Season 1 of Heroes- who's going to show up, what can they do, etc.

Similarly, the Urn serves as a handy deus ex machina to change a character's powers. Partly, the creators do this because there were many, many Golden Age characters that didn't have powers at all, and partly this is because of copyright and trademark issues. Regardless, it makes for a nice, uniform hook to the cosmology of the setting.

One more thing: Project Superpowers gets VERY political at times. How this comes into the story I'll discuss in the various reviews.

Overall, Alex Ross and company have come up with a unique setting and have breathed new life into some classic characters.

Project Superpowers Translated, the Conclusion!

Crusader: Master Archie has dedicated his life to science and to explore the possibility ... when he went to my bank, I've never been on the river after the war. I do not believe that the "crusaders" unknown status, the first nuclear-powered hero Archie, but the lack of power is limited to the United States, initial activities.

Beetle: The new champion of the scene, it seems that the basis for the Middle East. These "exit" from the banks, anyway? If expectations and plans ...

Savoie: Then, the police and villages of Central America, Niketeli fight against crime, a new level of registered trademarks, and created a series of installations • machinery and vehicles. Obviously, the output of these instruments may not be necessary, and the cloud amount increased. Only time will tell ... Of course, when we eagle owl girl?

Member: Tony Trent stayed in the preparation of reports and mask to fight crime, support for terror, liars and thieves, very quiet. Now, back to the disk, you can suffer the fate of Tony, we can not hide it any, you belong, where Tony lived a normal life seems to be a part of them till the end ... live in fear.

Waterpower: Rob Blake is the owner of the land, in fact, when you think about it. To monitor and maintain life on this planet, Bob had to return to the era's most powerful new ally ...

Final: If three, agility and strength, 3 to stop it? Three different people in one place all the bodies, but did not leave a color splash ... how to change three throwers only one is true?

Force F: Some people think it is a myth, but life is really a beast, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, who bravely for their country to take in the Second World War battle. Now, the same forces were taken as well as non-life and disease, can not send soldiers were killed, Zhan cover ah and non-current, rather than scientific solution to replace the war to end war.

NOT the F-Troop that's featured in Project: Superpowers.

Project Superpowers Translated, Part 2!

Samson: We are all old and strong... I am the Nagasaki atomic bomb were killed in the Crossfire. However, in the Bible, it seems that his name Samson kill, even harder than men. Now, obviously, do not break the bank, but just to know. I know I will need more power than ever.

Samson killed steel samples*

Mask: I never knew Diana Adams, formerly known as the scourge of low background, active in the fashion world after the war, adventure and crime. It may even inspire you really call me a river, I do not know all the promises he is still a mystery and seems to have changed a lot...

Play to win Miss Congeniality will receive prizes and products, flowers and the fight against terrorism, the black struggle.*

Pyroman: Martin is still a friend ... After years of war, so I seized 49 tanks. I do not know how you feel, we are friends. He is in his possession until his death, and for producing electricity and heat, strong animals. As the energy and power, according to Bank of ... ah, it has to be seen.

Pyroman files and applications outbreak of the atomic bomb.*

Call: Jialipulei Preston Dalai Lama once again the spirit of green living people to discuss the humanitarian situation. Tibet was occupied by Harry's your body, and the power outage, and uses the same flame. Now he is looking at Linda, his former assistant, who is a symbol of flames of fire. I hope that the tragic outcome of the investigation, is not happy ...

Some people try to save the builder call.*

Police Company: I do not believe it, even when followed for a long time, but, after long efforts against fascism, Jack, service, open arms, light metals dynamic database and police-way streets and residential areas to provide our company. "They serve and protect" - but actually this service?

Arrow: Sometimes, the old way better, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, Ralph proves his bow technology is unparalleled, and can give the same speed and the Nazi machine guns, but very in-depth special mission in Berlin is easy. I remember my hands and fingers are ready to install... high degree of double.

Material forces boys shake hands in time to stop the killing?*

*Translation- Samson slays the Iron Monster

*Translation- Miss Masque wins a beauty pageant and is awarded a trophy and flowers by the Fighting Yank and the Black Terror.

*Translation- Pyroman bursts through a newspaper while carrying an atomic bomb.

*Translation- The Flame attempts to rescue some people at a construction site.

*Translation- Swinging the body of one of the ghouls, the Arrow went into action in time to halt the ticking death!

Project Superpowers... TRANSLATED!!! (Part One)

Hey, all. I was planning to do a whole bunch of Project Superpowers entries next week, so I thought I'd do a few previews this weekend. Using the Bad Translator, I thought I'd translate the Fighting Yank's war journals. Included in each hero's (translated) name is a link to their entry on the Project Superpowers Wiki, so you can know who I'm talking about (spoiler warnings for those who haven't read it yet).

CD-Fight: It is a long time since I've seen the picture. You see, playing the windows! Now the picture now seems very simple, it must reflect the strength of our power play is encouraged, the Liberal Party! There is only one old friend, long-term loss of painful memories.

Green Lama: Jethro "Jet" Dumont, an old friend and training partner, in the form of philosophical questions and human diseases. Yes, we had a great battle between good and evil. In Buddhism, said he is always strange, but in those days, a soldier might hope. Now, after all these years, I returned to face more of the weapons, the death rate in China is not good.

Spirit of America: In fact unknown until now my world is the opposite of instant messaging. The flag of death to life characters, who in this issue reflect costs. This is my destiny and control the disk? Finally, in the American spirit? If so, his grandfather, the original Hank struggle? I need to find eternal rest?

Terrorism Black: We are more than brothers, Benton, Bob, myself and another terrorism "blacklist" The meeting was difficult and painful. Always strong and brave during the bank, which will strengthen and seal the last traces of fear, and increase their anger. This is my truth, I have no doubt they will.

The Death of the Devil: Burt Hill have a secret ally of his time back with more confidence in the bank. In the great war, the most important day, it has the ability to re-crazy reason, even today, more and more secrets. I did not know what is wisdom ....

Dynamic wife and family dynamics: He concluded that idiot and human survival, and family structure and dynamic, constantly changing recalled power. As a family business in a dynamic and dynamic power and wealth of the world, more than anyone can imagine. I think I know it's ringtone, but we do not know ... any ideas ...

Project Superpowers: Meet The Bad Guys- A Review!

So, I picked this up the other day. Basically, Meet The Bad Guys is a 4-issue mini series (now in trade paperback) in which four of the heroes (Green Lama, the Fightin' Yank, Samson, and the Scarab) face off against new villains.

It's well written, and the art is gorgeous, but is it worth it? Well, as a stand-alone piece, no. It's more to set up future stories in the Project Superpowers line than an actual story in and of itself. Hero meets bad guy, bad guy gets dealt with without being actually beaten. That's pretty much the formula for all 4 stories included in this collection. It does flesh out some of the characters who aren't likely to get there own ongoing or mini-series anytime soon (plus, the book ends with some retellings of the origins of each of the 4 heroes), but it's really only good if read as part of the ongoing PS story. If that's the case, then by all means, pick it up. If you haven't read any of Project Superpowers yet, then this isn't the place to start.

Exciting business opportunity?

As you may recall, my last blog entry was about me discussing characters from Project Superpowers. Well, that apparently turned out to be so influential, I got contacted by other PS characters! Amazing, right? Anyway, here's what I found when I opened my inbox....

"Hello! My name is David, Boy King and Monarch of Swisslakia, and I have an interesting proposal. When my homeland was overrun by Nazis, I was forced to abdicate my throne and relocate my people to America. In our exodus, we left behind large amounts of money and national treasures. While searching for a way to reinstate my government, I became a mystery man and superheroe with the help of my stone giant named Giant and my magic sword. Unfortunately, I was trapped inside a magic urn along with several other young heroes for sixty years thanks to naughty action taken by a man called the Fighting Yank."

Seriously, don't leave the Fighting Yank alone with your kids.

"Now, I have escaped my entrapment and find myself in this new era. Not only have I found new technologies and social mores, but also good news regarding Swisslakia's assets! Recent legislation passed by the European Union allows my people to reclaim our monetary heritage. Unfortunately, as an official of Swisslakia and a superhero, I am legally barred from filing the necessary paperwork. However, my magic sword, which is totally magic and not made up, provided me with the e-mail address of a gullible civic-minded individual with a desire for both monetary gain and help for a foreign nation.

"By mailing a check for $3,ooo for the necessary notarization, you can aid Swisslakia in retaining her birthright. In return, I have authorized my parliament to deposit $1.5 million in your account once the process has been completed. I look forward to your assistance in this endeavor and eagerly await your reply!"

As I was writing out the check, I realized this was probably a scam. Swisslakia doesn't even show up on Google maps! Other aspects of his story probably don't make sense either. I quickly moved the e-mail to my junk mail and was prepared to make a sandwich when I recieved another email from another Project Superpowers character....

"Hey, remember me? It's Katie! We used to talk on AIM, remember?"

Her handle was TeenTabby69.

"Anyway, I don't use AIM much anymore; I've got a new website! You should stop bi if you wanna chat. I have a webcam and sometimes I get a little naughty. MEOW! lol. You should totally come visit and I'll give you a private show. THe site will ask for your credit card number, but that's just for age verification purposes. Hope 2 C U soon! TTYL!"

I've got a good feeling about this one.

The stunning conclusion to Golden Age Week!

So, my experiment in which I blog once a day for a week, wherein each post is dedicated to a larger theme, is about to come to an end. So, to wrap-up, I decided to do one of my cover mocking bits, with each cover being dedicated to one of the 10 most popular public domain heroes featured in Project Superpowers (which I determined by the extremely scientific method of looking at the Most Visited Entries section of the Project Superpowers Wiki). I've included links to various entries from the Public Domain Super Heroes site, so you can check those out for more info regarding any character. So, here we go!

The Black Terror

Strangely enough, "Elect the Black Terror" was the codename used by FOX News for any news story covering the Obama campaign.

The Fighting Yank

This cover illustrates the problem with superhero stories in the Post-WWII era. You couldn't fight Nazis or Japanese soldiers anymore, and costumed supervillains hadn't really come into vogue yet. As a result, the Fighting Yank here is depicted fighting a cow, which, honestly you don't need a superhero for. A sufficiently competent rodeo clown will suffice.

Doc Strange

Take a gander at the "damsel in distress" there. Not only does she not look frightened, she neither looks impatient or relieved regarding her impending rescue. I imagine her thought process goes something like this: "Hmm, I'm tied up with these leather straps, but they're not too tight, and they're not causing any chafing. This glass dome isn't too bad either; there's plenty of air, and it's a comfortable 68 degrees. Oh, what's this? I'm being rescued? Hmm...."

The Green Lama

The Green Lama vs. Henry the Eighth! Only in America, only on Pay-Per-View!!!

Daredevil (the ORIGINAL one!)

I'm not sure if this cover represents sexism, homophobia, or transphobia, or if it's just plain weird. I'm suspecting the latter, because DD back there seems to be enjoying this scene WAY too much.

Miss Masque

Ah, the 1940's. When you could not only depict all women as overly emotional, but as bad drivers to boot!

Captain Future

That guy is either grimacing because a) Captain Future just punched him in the face, or b) said punch apparently caused the gangster to shoot himself in the groin.

The Face (aka Tony Trent, Mr. Face)

Why is Skyman saying Face's name with quote marks? Is he being sarcastic? I hope Face's response is something like "And you did a good job hanging around with your thumb up your ass while I did all the work! Boom!"

Hydroman

First off, yes, part of that comics title is "Reg'lar Fellers"; honestly, I've seen rap album titles that were more grammatically correct. Second, as you can probably guess, Hydroman's powers include turning into water, sort of prototype for Zan from the Wonder Twins. Why he's fighting a lion, I have no idea. Clearly, the lion appears confused by it, too. "Seriously? What are you going to do, get my mane all wet? But, if you insist, then RROOARR, I suppose..."

Cat-Man (again, the original, not the DC one)

"Aah! It's Cat-Man! And you can see his scrotum poking out of his ridiculousy short pants! RUN!!!"

And, on that sublimely classy note, Golden Age Week concludes. I hope you all had fun. For more about these and other characters in all new adventures, check out Project Superpowers by Alex Ross and Jim Kruegger. They wrote Justice, and that was awesome, so you know this will be more of the same.