aligned moon

drive-by readings

Vengeance of the Moon Knight #10 (Marvel) "Team Player" Gregg Hurwitz Juan Jose Ryp Andres Mossa Joe Caramagna Francesco Mattina (cover)

its great to see Juan Jose Ryp in a non-Warren Ellis blood-and-gore-raining Avatar-published work. it may not fit his style in the long run, but he does a good job here - the level of detail and line work can be dazzling. thumbs up.

so, what do we make of 616's resident loony hero? well, there was a time when he wasn't that loony, and Gregg Hurwitz thankfully brings that part of him back. maybe its just luck that he got over the hump by himself, just in time for Captain America Steve Rogers to offer him (Secret) Avenger membership. last couple of times this happened, Moon Knight spurned Iron Man and escaped a lopsided battle with Norman Osborn.

now we see him becoming a team player for Rogers' weird bunch (how long is this thing going to be a secret?), and reining in his murderous urges for the most part. he's like the Hulk, since you're not sure if he's gonna snap sometime soon (Rogers could have implanted him with nanotech failsafes for all we know). although it seems MK is the wild card or odd man out here, i don't think Hank is suited for fighting pirates, or deep sea creatures (experience with S.W.O.R.D. notwithstanding). i don't know, it just seems really ... off. he's the science guy, sure he'll get his licks in once in a while, but generally his best work is figuring out how to save lives without breaking bones or sweat. also, seriously, its Moon Knight who figures out a way off a sinking ship? not Hank? not War Machine carrying the whole piece of ship deck where they're standing?

as for Moon Knight, i have high hopes for this gig working for him this time. he may be a low-rent Batman (hey, look, Daredevil has a white haired cop with a moustache for a supporting character now), but he'll have his spots and roles. right now, its to be an Avenger. welcome to the big leagues, Marc. let's just say WCA, no matter how kooky & lovable it was, doesn't count.

cover of the week

No Hero #1 by Juan Jose Ryp

drawing the line

Black Summer
Warren Ellis/Juan Jose Ryp
Avatar Press

for some people, this would be a dream come true:


too bad for them, its only Warren Ellis' latest take on Superhero mythos, injecting himself once again into the reality of the world today.

i always liked Ellis when he messes around with the globalpolitik and challenges sacred cows, fueling fantasies of superheroes, or at least, heroes, who get their hands dirty doing the right thing. i mean, this guy already killed God at least once (The Authority #9-12).

now we have in our present world (at least in the Avatar universe) superheroes running around, but they have seen the light ... that America needs to be saved from itself, and who else is more qualified to draw the line than the people you entrust with your freedom and safety (not you, Dick Cheney).


who wouldn't get hooked when the cover shows the Oval Office Massacre (though i can't tell if Alberto "I Only Have 64K of RAM" Gonzales was among the victims), with a cape, John Horus, all bloodied from the death-dealing? he then walks into the White House Press Room, and reassures the world that this is not a coup d'etat, that this needed to be done, and that it is time to start again (and yes, votes will be counted this time, so don't fuck up, Florida).



an emerging backstory is the original team of heroes John belonged to, the Seven Guns, who have disbanded for years - a few bit the dust while one, the crippled Tom Noir, has been a despondent alcoholic -and whose role in the coming war between the government and superheroes is something to watch out for. you'd think the govs would quit just because Bush and Cheney are dead? John Horus better watch his back - Nancy Pelosi can kick his ass!

Black Summer was the result of a bet initiated by Avatar Press' EIC Bill Christensen, on whether Ellis could produce a zombie story, a fantasy story and a cape story. After Blackgas and Wolfskin, Ellis has completed all 3 challenges. here's to him winning a few more.