Issue #132
January 28th, 2008
When people get asked about their favorite comic took moments, or for the sake of narrowing it down a bit, lets say favorite “Marvel” moment, you tend to get a lot of those ‘classic’ moments. The Death of Gwen Stacy, the arrival of Galactus and Silver Surfer, Dark Phoenix, the death of Elektra, Hulk fighting somebody whose ass he should clearly kick for the 100th time– and these are terrific and natural selections. For the record, I have an extensive collection of comics, so I certainly recognize significance, and I have a ton these moments in the Tomio-files, including of Silver Age Marvel keys. That said, when it comes to my own personal favorite Marvel moments, I’m bit of an oddball and quite random. I will go to my grave telling you that within Warlock and the Infinity Watch #1 you will find one of the great Marvel stories and moments ever. I will go on and tell you that when Zartan puts an arrow in Serpentor during the Cobra Civil War in G.I. Joe#76, you witnessed perfection! I’ll also tell you that within Brubaker’s Cap run is another moment that I put on that level. There is an issue where Brubaker has Bucky and Namor meet at Toro’s grave that puts into play one of the few moments Marvel can initiate that really has that historical weight and substance that DC is able to do with most of their characters. The Invaders comic came out in the 70’s, and the team appeared in the Avengers in the ‘60’s, but the team itself goes back to ‘40’s Schomburg kicking-ass-and-taking-names covers. The Marvel Universe was born in the ‘60’s – its history, lies in the ‘40’s and ‘50’s. So, when you have Namor and Bucky going on a mission with Black Widow (who also has a Golden Age version – not related to this one though, and you can see her in Straczynski‘s The Twelve) doing some liaison, via Brubaker and Epting? You can’t really go wrong.
The issue is a big budget spy movie. Namor and Bucky in a jet, surviving WWII mad scientists, a rendezvous for a drink with a beautiful Russian spy, but it is one that has a tremendous amount of heart, and all heart really implies is motivations that we can understand that keep these super-humans and their exploits grounded. Namor’s acceptance of Bucky’s new threads is curt, but has meaning to both men. Those who knew him best aren’t caught up in subject that would be irrelevant to them. Namor knows Steve Rogers, and though he understand that the uniform has meaning, he is able to differentiate. More importantly, Brubaker allows the second half of that equation to be more subtle, but no less an assurance: Namor knows James Barnes, and in a manner perhaps only the ego of the Prince of Atlantis could hold to after Bucky’s prolonged absence. There is a tested camaraderie between the two, and gift of terseness, of not being overly dramatic, comes with such a relationship, even from the traditionally dogmatic Namor. Don’t let the spy-like feel and Brubaker’s reputation cloud everything that occurs in his books – these two are soldiers.
I’m not sure if there is currently a better writing and art tandem in a monthly at Marvel. This is a great looking book with Epting is just knocking this out of the park with the skills that almost made even Civil War bearable to read; and the coloring is beautiful – check out the backgrounds and horizons – so kudos to D’Armata.
I just read and reviewed the first issue of Brubaker’s Incognito, the author’s self-admitted twist on a the pulps, and here he is playing with characters whose first incarnations were products of that era, and he may be putting that modern twist even better here, but this has more of that Cold War ambiance in what is still a very modern story. In truth, a universal story. They are going on a mission to go get their boy.
Meeting at Toro’s grave, Cap‘s death; damn, invasions, reigns, and galactic kings – this is Invaders business. Open since the Golden Age.
- Jay Tomio
Jan-ken-pon is the time traveling, force-walking, multiverse crossing column of Jay Tomio, owner of 1/3 of everything you see currently on screen and the editor of Heliotrope. He wishes that the Black Widow needed to pump info from. Some call him the Bodhisattva.
