by Dave Scrimgeour and Kevin McCluskey Story: Denny O'Neil Art: Neal Adams & Dick Giordano Editing: Julius Schwartz SYNOPSISOllie presents Dinah with a box of roses which also contains a couple of Harpies, which ultimately leads to him being put through the window of the florist he bought them from, and Hal being trapped inside a jewel. Yep, that you read that right. That is a real sentence. And of course, Dinah has to step in and save both their bacon. Never send a man to do a woman's job and all that. Dave So, back onto something a bit lighter in tone, after the heaviness of 'Weapon X' and the first part of 'Batman: Year One.' Our old buddy, buddy pals, Green Arrow and Green Lantern are back to deal with the Harpies. I like this cover it's dynamic, bright and reminds me of 'Battle Of The Planets.' Kev Yeh, I can see that. I think it’s a bit busy. There’s a lot going on what with the dressing and stuff, but the composition and the execution of the actual image are outstanding. Especially against that brilliant white background. Dave It does look very dated with the "All New! All Now!" slogan and Lantern standing, pointing, but I like that. It really adds to the quaintness and the fun of this series. Kev Yeh, it's certainly of it's time, that's for sure. I have to keep reminding myself that these comics are as old as they are. They're even older than us. And that's something that we get to say less and less with each passing year, sadly. This is a bit of a bittersweet review actually, in that Denny O’Neil passed before we posted the last of our previous set of these reviews, and Neal Adams also passed between then and now, so yeh, these are going to tinged with a certain amount of sadness. Dave Yeah, that is a shame with Neal Adams passing on. We can dedicate these reviews to him. Kev We certainly can. Dave Do you know what year this issue was from? Kev 1971. Dave It puts me in mind of Greek mythology. Just with the type of characters you would see in those stories. Even the name, "The Harpies" Kev Yeh, there's definitely a lot of mythological influences in this one. Dave And Arrow here, trying on the smooth approach with Canary. I like the playfulness of this first page, setting up the chemistry between them for this issue. Kev Yeh, I love how the “melancholy autumn evening” panel is coloured in a flat, cold, blue/green that’s not even warm enough to be a turquoise. Obviously Dinah has requested that Ollie give her some space to continue to recover, perhaps even deprogram herself, from her indoctrination into the cult and stuff from the issues that we discussed in.... I was about to say last year, but it was 2020. Holy shit! That was three years ago. Time flies, eh? We'll be dead before we know it. Dave Yep. We sure will. It's a good job that Arrow doesn't suffer from some form of OCD, and opened the box of roses earlier to check them when he was on his own, otherwise he'd' have been stuffed. Kev Ha, ha! That's true. Dave And of course the splash page is very bright, and dynamic, and cartoonish looking as well. I like how Arrow is being very courtly in his manners, adopting a real gentleman's demeanour. Kev Yeh, he's an old-fashioned gentleman, alright. Emphasis on the old-fashioned. We’re wasting no time with a set-up here, one page, and BOOM, we’re right into it. I like how Dinah calls out Ollie the dinosaur though. She sees right through his lies about his visit, and puts him in his place when he tells her to get back, as well as letting him know that his smart-arse idea with the tear gas arrow just backfired on them. Dave Yeah, he is old-fashioned. I like how that plays off against her strong willed nature. She's having none of it, isn't she? Kev Absolutely none. Dave It maintains the ongoing tension between these two characters, even in a situation where they are being attacked by unknown opponents. Kev Yeh, there is obviously a passing of a certain amount of time here though, as Hal talks about not being on duty due to a “long leave of absence.” The reasons for which we've discussed before. Dave I like that narrative on page 4, where it shifts scene, "And so, a few hours later, in a drab hotel room…” It reminds me of those old black and white serials from the 40’s, with the narrator's voice-over to guide us, the viewer, through events. Kev That's a good point, man. It really is, isn't it? O'Neil is using that, and some conveniences, as well as a lot of plot contrivances to get, and keep, this story moving along at such a breakneck pace. Dave I've got to say Hal Jordan is taking a chance by offering the concierge the opportunity to, "Add a nice tip for yourself to my bill." Kev That's a good point as well. Hal is leaving himself wide open to having his bank account fleeced here. Dave Green Lantern is still at odds with himself, and very internal again on page 5. I like the transformation panel, then him flying through the air, and then a sudden encounter with a Harpie. This story moves with a quick speed of pace. Kev Yeh, Hal Jordan is such a narc. He can’t even think about rock music without “rock” being in quotation marks. I know I might be looking at this through 2023, decompressed storytelling eyes, but the pace of this issue is almost giving me motion sickness. It's THAT quick. Dave It’s really quick, isn't it? In saying that, we have just come off ‘Weapon X,’ which sometimes had 8 pages of dialogue, but with very little happening at times. I really like those aerial panels on pages 4 and 5. Kev I think Adams' artwork on this issue, particularly his panel composition is outstanding. He has caught the kinetic energy and been able to depict the aerial chases with such a pleasing visual aesthetic, it's brilliant. And I love his figures. They're just so lean and athletic looking. Dave Lantern knows he's being led into a trap, yet still goes in with his judgement being clouded. That bottom panel, with Witch Queen, is a great example of what you were saying. Kev Yeh, The Witch Queen is looking pretty hawt in that sexy outfit. And nice to know that Hal couldn’t “bring” himself “to strike a woman…” He’s such a boy scout. Dave Also, the brightness of the colours really adds to the sci-fi/fantasy element of the comic book storytelling. O'Neil and Adams are clearly enjoying playing around with these characters, and how they look and stuff. Quick note; it's a good job Witch Queen said these words and not Green Lantern on page 7, "And feel the irresistible tug of my jewel." Kev Ha, ha! Yeh, probably better that line came out of her mouth. There's quite a few double entendres at play in this issue, isn't there? There's some shafts going into rings later on as well. "Ooh, Matron!" This issue really does feel like them having a bit of fun, doesn't it? But after the social commentary of the earlier stories in this run; this feels very much how critics use the term “comic booky” when they’re being critical of work in another medium. “A couple of non-existent monsters and a weird jewel! To me, it adds up to a plot.” Not sure it does to me though, Ollie, if I’m being honest. Although, apparently it did to Denny O’Neil as well, and he's a legend in his field whereas I'm just another schmuck on a website no-one reads, so… Dave It's certainly indulging in the intergalactic elements of the storytelling. This is more 1950’s sci-fi in the slightly wonky plot, mixed with ‘Jason and the Argonauts.’ Kev Ah, man. I do love a bit of 'Jason and the Argonauts.' Dinah’s dismissal of Ollie’s tone-deaf compliment is fantastic. He tries to shine her on by saying, “As Dinah Drake, you’re…well, pretty! But as the Canary, you make Raquel Welch look like Little Orphan Annie!” To which she simply replies, “Can’t hear a word you’re saying over the roar of the engine…and I don’t think I want to!” Ollie must like her more as Canary just be because she went from raven haired to a blonde. They do say blondes have more fun, I suppose. Or maybe it's just because he's blonde as well, and he's a bit of a narcissist so she reminds him more of himself as a blonde. Who knows. Dave I quite like that panel. It is light humoured. Kev Yeh, the humour in this issue is pretty spot-on. Like you said earlier; O'Neil is clearly having some fun here. Dave Jesus Christ, if Arrow had actually opened this box earlier he could have saved us a few pages, as he has only just discovered the gem now, plus, he could have fended off the Harpies too. The pace of this story would've been so fast though, we would've broken the space/time continuum and travelled through time. It doesn't take long for it to spring into action, with Arrow being knocked through a window. Kev If only they had themselves some cyan, magenta, yellow and key-tinted spectacles. Maybe then they could have travelled through time like we do. Man, that panel of Ollie being put through the flower shop window looks brutal. Dave Canary get's really protective towards Arrow here, when these soldiers talk about slaying him. Now this story has gone all Roman influenced. Did Denny O’Neil watch ‘Ben Hur’ and ‘Jason and the Argonauts’ in the same weekend? We really get to see the ass kicking Canary in this story. Page 11 is another great page panel. Kev Ha, ha! Good point. Maybe Denny did watch some Hollywood classics while he was writing this issue. On Black Canary, “None who ever lived can match her skill at ancient fighting arts.” You hear that Bat fanboys? “None! And that's coming from Denny fucking O'Neil, who knew a thing or two about the Caped Crusader. Dave I always like when an artist has to draw fighting scenes, just to see what they envision the martial arts choreography to be. I used to love the old G.I. Joe/Action Force issues when Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow or Quick Kick had fight scenes. "Abruptly it is finished.” Everything that has happened in this issue has happened abruptly, so there was no need to point out it has ended abruptly. Kev Ha, ha! Yep, you are correct, Sir. Absolutely everything in this issue has ended abruptly. Comic book fight choreography often not the best, is it? Which is why Geoff Senior has always been one of my favourite comic book artists. He absolutely excels at that stuff. Dave Senior was a master at doing these kinds of scenes, no doubt. Canary is stealing the honours in this issue. Arrow and Lantern aren't having the best of days. Kev Totally agree. Dinah Drake is the MVP of this story, alright. Dave Nothing like a civilised punch up to get the narrative of the story going, it gives us, the reader, time to catch our breath. This sisterhood is a bit like the Amazonians in Wonder Woman. Kev Yeh, they were definitely drawn from the same pool of influences, I reckon. Not that I am accusing either O’Neil, or Adams of perpetuating the “male gaze” necessarily, but the women in this sisterhood are noticeably scantily clad for a matriarchal, patriarchy smashing, feminist, utopian society. And here was me thinking Dinah taking Ollie down a peg or two was just being done just for a bit of a laugh. I really am a stupid man. Dave It is very much in favour of strong feminist women, and Arrow and Lantern are playing second fiddle in this issue. Yeah, perhaps you jumped the gun earlier when you mentioned about previous issues dealing with social commentary, whereas this one didn't, it's just been cleverly woven into this story. Kudos to Denny O’Neil again. Plus, if you take Arrow, who is not going to want to accept what's going on, as the pigheaded guy who just won't listen, it creates a great dynamic between these characters. Kev You're right, I absolutely jumped the gun with that, yeh. O'Neil snuck that stuff in there disguised as humour, certainly to start with. He just gently eased us into another socially conscious issue. Clearly he is much smarter than I. Again, that'll be why he was a legendary comic book writer, and I'm just some blowhard, wittering on about comics on the absolute outer fringes of the internet. Dave Haha. I'm starting to see the genius of his writing, using a fantasy /sci-fi comic book story to essentially tell a story involving some form of social commentary. Kev Yeh, it's clever stuff. Dave I'm also starting to think O'Neil is a good 3 or 4 steps ahead of the reader in his writing, and knows where he is taking the story, as well as what message he wants to put across. Kev Absolutely. He is way ahead of us in that regard. As he should be, as the writer. Can you remember any times you were in a discotheque and the sound of gloating filled the room? Dave Haha. No. The panel on page 15, the one with the sister in the roman outfit, it's pretty clear that her costume’s got nipples. Kev Yeh. In saying that, Val Kilmer and George Clooney's Batman costumes infamously had nipples. Like I was saying earlier; the male gaze and all that. I love that single panel of the silhouetted rooftops, as Sinestro is doing the old villain exposition bit. Lovely stuff again by Mr. Adams. I also like when The Witch Queen asks , “And how did you happen to discover the nether-plane in which you imprisoned him?” he replies, “By chance…by sheer accident! I will not bore you with the details.” It’s almost as if Denny O’Neil was like, ‘Look, none of this bullshit is important, okay? Yada, yada, yada, nether-plane, let’s just get on with the rest of the story, alright? Cool!’ Dave There is a lot of waffling going on in this issue (and arguably by its current reviewers. Just before somebody else points it out) and it does feel like, who gives a shit, but it quickly jumps back into action on the next page. I like the panel on 16, as Arrow is so quick with getting the weapon all set to fire. Kev Couldn't agree with you more. Again, Adams’ composition on some of these panels is just exquisite. I like that Dinah says that she would save anyone’s hide, “just anyone at all,” including a “politician.” That’s very good. “The woman with the fancy hat must be their leader!” Ha, ha! That’s a good line as well. Dave Clearly this was written in 1971. That bit about saving a politician? I don't think that line would fly in 2023. Also, Canary is going back to pretending Ollie means less to her now that he's okay, and as we saw earlier when he was unconscious, she became fiercely protective towards him. Kev Yeh, not so many people would be so quick to save a politician these days perhaps. Dinah definitely “cherishes” Ollie, doesn't she. That’s some panel, that reveal of Medusa one. Dave It's a real variety of unusual characters, all thrown together without any concern for any of them not fitting the narrative. Kev That is a very good point as well, man. It's a hodgepodge, alright. Dave Yet somehow, it is so offbeat it still works Kev Yep. It does indeed. “He is a man - - therefore…enemy!” Pretty hard to argue that sometimes. Well, too times. Dave If I turned the page, and James Bond popped up, I wouldn't be surprised at this stage. It is certainly a wacky issue. Kev Yeh, might as well throw Jimmy Bond in there as well at this point. Why the hell not? That'd be fun too. Dave "You are being used...used to revenge someone else's grievance. You want to free yourselves... regain your dignity! Isn't that so? Well, mindless slaughter isn't the way to do it!" More social commentary weaved in on page 21 by Canary, after a few pages of pure lunacy. Kev Yeh, O'Neil bringing it back to earth somewhat, so to speak. This was all wrapped-up rather quickly. Another example of that abruptness you were talking about earlier. Reading this has kind-of felt like watching an episode of a cartoon from our childhood, 'He-Man' or the like, in that it has appeared to try to cram too much story into 20-odd pages, the way they would try to cram too much story into 20-odd minutes. Dave Why not bring in Man At Arms at this stage, "And the moral of the story today, kids, is...." Kev Ha, ha! Yeh, chuck him in there as well. “I did…I only look dumb!” Ha, ha. Nice line by Ollie. As much as I’m saying this has all felt too crammed and busy, the dialogue has been really smartly written and very amusing. O’Neil has done a cracking job with that. Dave Yeah, I bet you Lantern has learned to never underestimate a woman in a fancy hat again. Kev Ha, ha! Definitely. But only if she's wearing a fancy hat though. If not, underestimate away. Although, you never know what she could be hiding under that hat. Could be snakes or anything. Dave "Then" has to be the most pointless caption narrative so far, on panel 3 of page 22. It did wrap up real abruptly. This issue should be renamed ‘Meet The Harpies, Abruptly.’ Kev Or, 'How Do You Fight A Nightmare Abruptly?' Yeh, that "Then - -" is a bit, surplus to requirements, isn't it? Dave Actually, the captions seem like O'Neil is offering his personal opinions on this page because he can't be bothered retelling it, "And when the strange story is told.” And, of course, we're right back to the bickering of Arrow and Lantern. Although, it does end with a cheery "Right on!" I like that. Kev It's "right on," alright, if you know what I mean. Ha, ha! That's true, we do get a bit of a continuation of their bickering relationship. Dave So what did you make of this abrupt issue? I’ve just noticed that, on the very last panel, as Lantern is flexing his arms and muscles, it looks a bit swelled up. Kev Ollie loves having his guns out. He’s been making them gains, so he’s got to show them off. To be honest, man, I wasn't sold on it to start with. I thought the pacing was just insanely fast, and it felt so slight in terms of its subject matter, compared to the previous issues in this run. However, as I got further into it, and certainly as we've been discussing it, my opinion of it has changed for the better. It's a more lighthearted tale, maybe still feels a little bit disposable in the grand scheme of things, but it was certainly an enjoyable romp, with a nice little bit of social commentary whipped in there for good measure. What about yourself? Dave It somehow worked, even though it was all over the place, yet it kept a sense of fun to it, and the artwork, colours, and writing helped to do that. Once I saw O'Neil's social commentary come into play, I then realised that this guy must love subtly weaving these into his stories. It makes me want to read more of these issues, because I like the relationships between Arrow, Lantern and Canary. It also shows how far he can go with the fantasy stuff in these stories, without making a crap issue, so it worked out well in the end. And for a stand alone issue, it was jam packed. There was so much going on and then it "abruptly" ended. Kev Ha, ha! We've definitely moved from the more grounded nature of the earlier issues in the run, through a more cosmic setting, and now we're in more magical, mythological scenarios, but yeh, I agree, the social commentary has worked across the board on them. Dave So, as a testament to Neal Adams, he will be sadly missed, as the man was nothing short of an excellent artist. Luckily we still have more of his work to review in the future. Kev Yeh. He left behind a healthy body of work, alright, which, of course, is an understatement if ever there was one. But more importantly, he also left the comics industry in a better state for the creators through his advocacy for their rights. (D) & (K)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Back issues
November 2024
|