| SYNOPSIS: Elijah Snow and Doctor Axel Brass have a lengthy conversation on the grounds of the Planetary hospital where the latter is recuperating after his 50-year ordeal (see Issue #1). Their talk quickly turns to the fascinating origin of Doc Brass, whose parents were part of a revolutionary society endeavoring to create the Superman. Creating a new kind of diet, learning system, and exercise regime, they made each generation stronger -- "and stranger" -- than the last, culminating in Brass himself. Brass had his own plan for the future, which involved fighting great threats to mankind...and building a secret society of extraordinary men to save the world. Hark, the greatest mind the Asian countries had ever produced. Jimmy, a secret U.S. government operative. An English Lord raised by beasts. The Aviator. Edison. And the man in black. Together, encountering horrors, they said as one: "We cannot allow the world to be this way." And they did save the world...although for them, things didn't turn out so well. Brass also tells of Hark's daughter, Anna, a ruthless woman who planned to use her father's inventions, her father's money, and patience to build her future, including the Hark Corporation which has showed up in several issues of the series thus far. Brass's story, told in the straightforward words, dynamic images, and yellowing pages of old pulp novels, concludes, but Snow has further questions. Primarily, what is Planetary's secret agenda? Chiding him lightly (Think who you're asking, says Brass, who had been stuck in a mountain since 1944.), Brass counsels patience: establish your questions before you go looking for answers. Finally, reminiscing blissfully on the glories he and his fellow heroes enjoyed, he tells Snow he should have been there. "I was busy," says Snow, hanging his head. REVIEW: "Save the world, and it will repay you, every day." That is Brass's advice to Snow, and as he lies on his back in the grass, gazing at a gorgeous sunset, you can believe it. I won't pretend to have a great knowledge of old pulp novels, but I know enough to recognize the homage when I see it. A thorough knowledge of the Doc Savage character that Brass represents would help the reading of this issue, but on its own, it's a lush, emotional tale of heroism -- and glory. And the final page, as we see the image of joy Brass carries in his memory contrasted with Snow's apparent regret over his own past, is striking.  The renditions of Brass's chiseled features are electric and inspiring, as is no doubt intended. Clearly he, and Snow, are "extraordinary men." We now know much of Brass's past. When will we get Snow's?
"I was busy." The line, and the picture as Snow delivers it, says a lot. However, there are multiple interpretations of it. One: he wasn't, and regrets it, especially in the face of Brass's life. Perhaps Snow was hiding from the world then, too, as he is when Jakita first meets him. Two: He was, and it's something he's not proud of. A story, perhaps, for a later date. And if his regret is for all that he hasn't done with his extraordinariness, will events of subsequent issues be his reaction to this realization? | |  Random Thoughts:Anna Hark sees herself as a beautiful snake on a brightly patterned rug, which by moving carefully will not be seen by the casual eye. "The world was a gaudy pattern, and she a lovely, coiled thing of venom." We'll see a glimpse of that venom in Issue #8. Snow, Brass, and Jenny Sparks of "Stormwatch" and later "The Authority" (other Wildstorm series written by Ellis) all share a birthday: January 1st, 1900. Since each is extraordinary in their own way, it is clearly no coincidence. Presumably one hand, or perhaps force of some kind, was at work. Another mystery likely to be resolved soon. An entire issue without a sarcastic remark from Elijah Snow. The definition of respect. Cool to see Doc Brass in full bloom of health. Great cover. RATING: 9/10. If I were more familiar with Doc Savage I might have been even more entranced reading this. I'm planning on doing some research and getting caught up. Meanwhile, those who do know the other Good Doctor and want to tell me about it -- please do so.
|
