Risky business in outer space
Oriental influence to his Canadian origins, by infusing Wolverine’s backstory with the presence of the Hand, the Yashida Clan, Yukio and Mariko. Definitely a refreshing departure from the usual battles with Magneto, Sentinels and the Hellfire Club back then.
Magik: Illyana and Storm ( 1983)
This limited series written by Claremont is my personal surprise pick, as I have a soft spot for Illyana Rasputin ( Colossus’ sister). Magik has had to endure the worst childhood ever – kidnapped by Limbo’s demon lord Belasco when she was six, she was later trained by friends ( and a foe) to become the ruler of Limbo at the tender age of 14. None of the other X- Men ( including Cable) ever had it this bad.
the Light and Darkness War ( 1988)
Imagine a mash- up of Avatar and World War Z, and you have The Light And Darkness War – a sixparter by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy.
Jones is a disabled Vietnam veteran who not only lost his legs in the war but also four of his brothers in arms. After years of depression, he gets a second chance ( and so do his squadmates) to finish the war, albeit in another dimension, against Lord Na and the forces of Outer Darkness. Writer: tom King artists: Barnaby Bagenda, romulo Fajardo Jr
DID you know that DC’s Main Man, the marauder named Lobo, first appeared in issue # 3 of The Omega Men back in the early 1980s? Although the comic about spacefaring mercenary superheroes was kind of fun to read while it lasted, being the birthplace of the unkillable Last Czarnian has always been the title’s biggest claim to fame.
The Omega Men themselves were created by Marv Wolfman and Joe Staton in the pages of Green Lantern in 1981. When the gang was given its own title, writers like Roger Slifer and Doug Moench and artists like Keigh Giffen and Shawn McManus worked on the book.
The title was cancelled after a three- year run, but the Omega Men showed up now and then over the years in various DC cosmic epics like The Rann- Thanagar War and Infinite Crisis. They are back now in their own title in DC’s post- Convergence DCYou relaunch, in a similar setting to their original run – the densly- populated Vega star system, ruled by a tyrannical regime operating out of the fortress moon known as the Citadel.
As before, these “updated” Omega Men are considered terrorists by the Citadel. Led by the humanoid Primus, the team consists of the savage bipedal feline warrior Tigorr, the deeply spiritual “gentle killer” Broot, the medical robot Doc, and the scrappy fighter Scrapps, described by writer Tom King as “the muscle and guns of the team” – as if it needed any, with Tigorr and Broot on board.
The new Omega Men is a gritty and violent title that is decidedly on the darker side of the publisher’s stable.
For example: White Lantern Kyle Rayner gets killed in an eight- page sneak preview in a disturbingly similar way to how certain terrorist groups carry out their acts of murder.
The consequences of that murder take up most of issue # 1, in which the Viceroy, the brutal and callous ( yet also deeply spiritual, how about that) governor of the system, sends Citadel forces after the Omega Men in response to Rayner’s death.
( Apparently, thehe Green Lantern Corps cannot interfere in the affairs of the Vega Systemstem thanks to some sneaky manipulation of intergalactic politics.)
And in issue # 2, we learn a little more about the Vegangan people’s belief in the concept of the “Alpha”lpha” and “Omega”, while the Viceroy himselfimself shows up to exact a terrible toll on the unfortunate planet where the Omega Men chose to work from.
Are they terrorists or misunderstood heroes? The signs right now point to something in between, individuals with a purpose who are uncompromising in their commitment and methods. So manyy shades of grey here, and no bondage involved at all – well,ell, maybe a bit,it, for the Omega Men’s surprise guest who we meet in issue # 2.
I am soldold on King’s handling of the story – there is plenty of intrigue and tantalising hints about what the Omega Men are really all about. The strong spiritual undercurrent running throughout the
Tigorr is the best at what he does, Oh, wrong comic book. book also gives it an added dimension. We’re definitely not in the 1980s any more but in a post- War On Terror world where the issues are ... complicated.
Barnaby Bagenda’s art is taking a little longer to grow on me, though, after two issues and one sneak preview. Strangely, his human characters are near- caricatures ( ears and noses a little too big, expressions a tad exaggerated) while the non- humans are strongly drawn. But he does keep the action and story flowing smoothly, making effective use of the standard nine- panel layout.
Definitely one of the better efforts from the new post- Convergence DC You, which means it might not be with us too long – so enjoy it while it’s around.