Reviews,
commentary, general reactions, and random notes on the Dynamite Entertainment
comics that were released during June that I received at the
beginning of July.
The
Shadow #3
This
story seems to center around some mineral that can be used to power a
death ray. The Shadow continues to play an important role in his
Lamont Cranston identity, in which he continues to have philosophical
conversations with Margo Lane, but to leave a wake of blood in his
Shadow identity. I'm pretty sure he didn't have the power to
interrogate a dead man in the old pulps; was that an ability in the
radio show?
Lord
of the Jungle #5
Tarzan
saves Lt. D'Arnot in a sequence that is quite a bit different from
the book, partly because the cannibalistic antagonists are so
different. William Clayton and the French sailors arrive on the
scene shortly thereafter and massacre the tribe – in the book
didn't they simply find the village abandoned? Jane – and
Esmeralda – perceive that Tarzan is baby Greystoke, an idea that
William will not entertain, and although they convince their rescuers
to wait for a time, ultimately they must leave with the French.
Tarzan was delayed in coming back to the treehouse cabin by his need
to provide constant care for D'Arnot, who once he comes out of his
delirium teaches his rescuer to speak French. They finally do make
their way to the cabin. The incident where D'Arnot accidentally
almost kills Tarzan is omitted, but D'Arnot does present him with the
note from Jane, inspiring Tarzan to make his way to America. They
head out through the jungle, making their way toward civilization.
The scene of the bet with the thug by which they secure funds for
their passage to Europe remains intact, although I was thinking it
occurred in Libreville rather than “St. Eustache.”
Lord
of the Jungle Annual #1
This
is an apocryphal tale that takes place immediately after the events
of the regular series, issue #8, which as you can see is some time
away. Since I would be surprised if the adaptation of Tarzan
of the Apes
can be stretched out more than one more issue in the main series, I'm
presuming issues #7 and 8 must be some other interlude-type story,
because I interpret this story to lead directly into the events of
The Return of
Tarzan,
which I also figure will begin as a Dynamite adaptation in issue #9.
Tarzan
is back in Africa, where he is captured by a fight promoter and
brought back to New York City. There he is forced to prize fight.
Eventually he is helped to escape by the promoter's patroness – not
out of any sense of humanity but because … “Well, violence gets
me … It, ah, well, excites me. What you did to Starker was just
what we call 'The
Bee's Knees.'
And that alligator – mmm!” Ah, the wonders of civilization! In
any case, she books him passage back across the Atlantic as “Monsieur
Jean Tarzan” and assures him that no one will bother him –
because “I own the ship.”
Warlord
of Mars #18
“The
Gods of Mars, Part 6! Through Flood and Flame”
[ previous
issue ]
Dynamite
finishes out its adaptation of the second Mars
novel in fine style, although still this adaptation has felt more
rushed than did its version of A
Princess of Mars.
I am really liking the art here, especially the depiction of John
Carter. Next, we go not right into book three, the novel
entitled Warlord
of Mars,
but rather another apocryphal tale, going back to the threat against
the Atmosphere Plant that motivated the interlude of issues #10-12.
Warriors
of Mars #3 (of 5)
It
turns out Gullivar's magic carpet is also a time machine. He was in
the distant past when he first arrived on Barsoom – given the
life-span of Barsoomians, perhaps over a thousand years. I hadn't
thought about it previously, but it should have been obvious, given
he was a 19th-c. American who appeared on Barsoom some time before
Dejah Thoris was born, which – in Dynamite's apocryphal time-line –
was at least four hundred years ago. Now, we find that the carpet
also protected him after the fire at the end of the previous issue
all the way to the present, which is stated to be “many years after
John Carter's return to Mars.” In any case, he doesn't make a very
good impression on the Confederate veteran, but when Dejah Thoris
ends up captured by the Thither People, who have not been seen out of
their region of Barsoom in a long time, the two Jasoomians set out
together to find and rescue her.
Dejah
Thoris and the White Apes of Mars
#3 (of 4)
Dejah
Thoris tries to telepathically warn off Carthoris' airship – a nod
to the oft-forgotten telepathic abilities of the Barsoomians that I
like – but he gets only a fleeting impression of someone calling
him. His mother turns back on her white ape pursuer, armors herself
with bones of the apes' previous prey, and manages to kill it! And
eats...! She then wages her own campaign of terror against its
fellows by flinging its head into their midst. She manages to lure them
to fall to their deaths, all but an old scarred bull-ape – and
laughs maniacally in its face! I kid you not. As my old drunken
mentor used to ask, “Could I possibly
be making this up?”
Anyway,
we are left on that note with the promise, “Next Issue: It Ends!”
Thank Issus!
And,
on that note, Cheers, and Thanks for reading!
Reviews,
commentary, general reactions, and random notes on the Dynamite
Entertainment comics that were released during May (mostly) that I
received near the beginning of June. Caution: Spoilers ahead! [Link to previous month.]
