Have you spent sleepless nights wondering what happens after we die? If you've lost someone close to you, do you ever wish you could bring them back? And if you could bring them back, would you really want to?
The recurring theme of bringing loved ones back from the dead with dire consequences is one that audiences, be them readers or moviegoers or both, have become enthralled with. The idea that with a bit of luck, science, or magic you could be reunited with your recently deceased lover is usually greeted with enthusiam on the part of the bereaved. One of the biggest moral questions is whether or not it's right to interfere with the natural order of things. Many people feel that people die when it's their time and they should be allowed to go peacefully. If you mess with that, you could potentially open the door to something darker, like when Buffy was resurrected by Willow and lost her place in the peaceful after-life. Buffy was so pissed at being wrenched away from what she felt was a well-deserved rest back into a world full of hate that she. . . well if you don't know, you'll have to google it.
Comics are famous for killing and resurrecting heroes. When Superman died, the whole comic world mourned. When he came back, we hated his new costume but loved the fact that he was back. When Joker was beating the shit out of then-Robin Jason Todd, DC held a contest to decide his fate. Yep, he died. Beaten to death with a crowbar. Superman, Aquaman, Flash, Supergirl, Hal Jordan, Oliver Queen, the list of resurrrected heroes goes on. Point is: should they have come back?
DC's 'Blackest Night' and the on-going 'Brightest Day' series have both killed and brought heroes back to life that perhaps should have been left dead. When the twelve were resurrected, I cheered to see some of my favourites drawing breath again and silently despaired that others had been forgotten. The latest issue of 'Brightest Day' is far from disappointing even though it is a bit confusing. Here's my question: the heroes who have been brought back are still very much 'alive' yet their Black Lantern counter-parts are also 'alive'. How can this be? We thought that Black Lanterns could only be formed from the essence of the one they killed/possessed? And why is Mars green? So many questions, although the chance to see the Hawks in Black Lantern gear again? Priceless.
That's comics for you. Always throwing you a curve ball.
I picked up a comic called 'Shield' not realizing it wasn't the one I thought it would be and now I am completely confused as to why Leonardo da Vinci is the saviour of the world. I suppose I will have to hunt down the previous issues so that I can sleep again. Dear Hickman: What the hell is going on here? Robots living in the sun, secret socities, death; why wasn't I reading this before? Anyway. I will talk about that comic once I figure out what it's about.
'Batman Odyssey' is becoming a yawn. While I love Neal Adams, this just isn't doing it for me. Having said that, I still intend to pick up every issue because Neal Adams. D'uh. In issue #26, 'Secret Six' has finally remembered that the team functions best when it's disfunctional so. . . good job there. Wow, Catman. 'Hawkeye and Mockingbird' have broken up. Sorry, but they did. Marvel's answer to power-couple Black Canary and Green Arrow have called it quits. Like DC's team though, I wonder how long before they are back at it? Now it's time for my favorite book this week and if you didn't buy it WHY ARE YOU STILL SITTING THERE?!
Two words. Deadpool. Max.
Thank you David Lapham and double thank you Kyle Baker. Together, these guys have managed to capture the insanity and humour that is Deadpool. One of my favourite characters, Deadpool yuks it up while he's ripping your heart out and when you kill him, he comes back. Like in the just-wrapped Punisher series about the end of the world with zombies. In that, he keeps trying to deliver a message to Frank Castle and Frank keeps dismembering him. Good stuff.
Lapham's writing has allowed Baker's art to capture the essence of crazy, and there is plenty of that. The story centres on an undercover agent who is supposed to be working with Deadpool. Right off the bat you know it's going to go horribly wrong and the fact that the operative looks as though he's gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson is an indication of the hell he's going through. Trust me when I say you will need to pick this one up if for no other reason that to find out how to make an impression of a key using a turd. You heard me.
What are you waiting for? Get out to your nearest comic shop and get reading!
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