Here we are at the end of the road. So after Dorian Chase's viiglante ended. There was no more Vigilante.
The New 52 had Pat Trayce make a couple of appearances in the Deathstroke title.
But 2016 was a very good year. DC wound back some of their New 52 changes with Rebirth and brought back some of the iconic versions of characters.
For Season 5 of Arrow it was announced that Adrian Chase and Vigilante would appear.
And DC announces that there is a new Vigilante series Vigilante Southland, which used the Vigilante logo from Adrian Chase's series.
Could it be that Adrian Chase was being ressurrected? It seemed possible.
Instead we got a new Vigilante Donny Fairchild in a six issue miniseries written by Gary Phillips and art by Elana Casagrande. However only the first three issues were released in floppies and the other half of the series was a trade exclusive.
It seems that poor reviews and sales killed the series but at least the entire series was released in a trade paperback.
When the series came out I pointed out some of the problems I had with the series as the continuity was a little hard to follow ie the main character shaves his head between panels. and this reread was a much soomther experience knowing some of these things but I needed to have muddled through it the first time figure out what was going on,
In many ways the story reminded me of the Howard Chaykin Miniseries Midnight Men (for Marvel's Heavy Hitter line). Donny Fairchild has no connection to any previous Vigilante (including the original Greg Saunders) but there seems to be a group of vigilantes operating in LA, Donny's girlfriend Dorrie Smallwood wears a similar outfit and is killed at the start of the story. As far as I can tell she never uses a codename like Vigilante.
Her mentor Mike Relagardo, used the indentity of the Eastsider 20 years ago before he was shot and paralysed. I like the idea of a legacy group of heros all operating in the same area using differnt names but I'm not sure if Vigilante is be the best alter ego for this idea.
But the floppies kept me interested enough to seek out the trade.
But Gary Phillips wasn't only one reviving Vigilante in 2016. Arrow brought Adrian Chase and The Vigilante into the series in season 5.
In a surprise move Chase wasn't The Vigilante - he was Prometheus the big bad of that season. Arrow as a show cops a lot of crticism for not being 100% faithful in the adaptation, but I don't mind it.
In this case it meant the the reveal of Prometheus was a surprise because as comic readers we expected Chase to be Vigilante and I was going "who is Vigilante?" (BTW there was a sweet George Perez sketch of Vigilante in at least one episode)
In season Six we discover that Dinah (Black Canary III) Drake's old police partner Vincent Sobol.
Vigilante was a fun antagonist for Team Arrow and who knows someone might cast a Donny Fairbanks, Dorian Chase, Justin Powell, Dave Winston or Alan Welles and bring back the Vigilante.
Showing posts with label Vigilante. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vigilante. Show all posts
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Thursday, November 8, 2018
The Great Vigilante Reread:Vigilante 2009
So our 2005 Vigilante, Justin Sutter did not set the world on fire and Marv Wolfman the creator of Adrian Chase brought in a new Vigilante - this one was a cool and mysterious foe for Nightwing in his title.
Then the new Vigilante appeared in Gotham Underground where Batman handed him his ass.
It was a little later that we fianlly got a new Vigilante series that ran for 12 issues. The series really brought up more questions than answers and it wasn't until issue 7 that we discovered his name was Dorian. Issue 9 we discover that he was Adrian Chase's brother and issue 12 that we discovered his backstory.
I bitched and moaned about this series back in 2010 when I first read it and its realiance on living in the DC shared universe. Several issues were tied in with "Faces of Evil" issued 2, Origins and Omens issue 3 (with visit from Nightwing), Titan's Deathtrap (4,5 and 6) with reference to another miniseries (DC Universe Decides) and Batman appearing in issue 10.
I'm even more frustrated with this series now than I was then. The idea of a hero searching for redeption to atone for his sins is an interesting one.
It seems like story lines chopped and changed as the book was written and it felt like a heap of filler and tie-ins to get to an end result.
And questions - JJ is alive? How did that happen? but he died in issue 10 of the 1980s series he was definately dead. I know DC likes to rewrite their universes history but this was jarring.
Adrian has a younger brother? One that was never mentioned before even when Adrian confronted his father about being a disappointment because he became a DA instead of joining the family law firm?
(i should mention this is not the first mysterious Chase relative to turn up the TItans had Danny Chase a psychic and son of spies who made reference to his uncle Adrian)
Perhaps if the story had the chance to find its feet free of the confines of the DCU proper it would have been better.
Dorian hasn't been seen since but he is still alive. Who know he could get another shot but I wouldn't be holding my breath on this.
Then the new Vigilante appeared in Gotham Underground where Batman handed him his ass.
It was a little later that we fianlly got a new Vigilante series that ran for 12 issues. The series really brought up more questions than answers and it wasn't until issue 7 that we discovered his name was Dorian. Issue 9 we discover that he was Adrian Chase's brother and issue 12 that we discovered his backstory.
I bitched and moaned about this series back in 2010 when I first read it and its realiance on living in the DC shared universe. Several issues were tied in with "Faces of Evil" issued 2, Origins and Omens issue 3 (with visit from Nightwing), Titan's Deathtrap (4,5 and 6) with reference to another miniseries (DC Universe Decides) and Batman appearing in issue 10.
I'm even more frustrated with this series now than I was then. The idea of a hero searching for redeption to atone for his sins is an interesting one.
It seems like story lines chopped and changed as the book was written and it felt like a heap of filler and tie-ins to get to an end result.
And questions - JJ is alive? How did that happen? but he died in issue 10 of the 1980s series he was definately dead. I know DC likes to rewrite their universes history but this was jarring.
Adrian has a younger brother? One that was never mentioned before even when Adrian confronted his father about being a disappointment because he became a DA instead of joining the family law firm?
(i should mention this is not the first mysterious Chase relative to turn up the TItans had Danny Chase a psychic and son of spies who made reference to his uncle Adrian)
Perhaps if the story had the chance to find its feet free of the confines of the DCU proper it would have been better.
Dorian hasn't been seen since but he is still alive. Who know he could get another shot but I wouldn't be holding my breath on this.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
THe Great Vigilantre Reread - Viglante 2005
After finishing the 50 issues of the 1980's Vigilante I decided hey there's not that much more Vigilante stuff so why not just go the whole hog - dividing it up an entry or so for each new person behind the Vigilante's mask (with a couple of exceptions)
But first the Punisher/Vigilante near connection. IN Vigilante #39 (Mar 87) The VIgilante is driving around in an Ace Plumbing van. I say that seems familiar and grab out Punisher Essentials Vol 1 and in the story Death Sentence from Marvel Preview #2 (THe Punisher's first solo story) he is driving around in an Ace TV repairs van. So a little disappointing that it wasn't the same company.
So when we left Vigilante, all three bearers of the Vigilante name are dead and the supporting cast moved over to Checkmate.
Marv Wolfman was getting another Teen TItans spinoff off the ground Deathstroke the Terminator. In issue 9, we are introduced to Patricia Trayce, a Gotham city cop who found Chase's Equipment. Trayce became Vigilante and a supporting character in Deathstroke, then appearing in the all new Hawk and Dove miniseries and then a few random appearances arround the DCU. (She also appeared in a couple of issues in the Nu52 Deathstroke Title) But she never got her own series.
Also for a very short run in Deathstroke, Slade's wife Ademine briefly donned the costume.)
Then in 2005 it was announced that Micah Ian Wright was going to write a new Vigilante under the Wildstorm Banner with Carlos D'Anda on art, We got this piece of promo art.
Then Wright got outed as lying about his military service and the whole thing was called off and a new 6 issue miniseries appeared The Vigilante by Bruce Jones (writer) and Ben Oliver (art).
This was a completely different story that what we had been teased from Wright and D'Anda.
The series sets up a mystery with Vigilante killing criminals who escaped the law and three suspects as to who might be behind the mask. The story was set in Metropolis but Superman doesn't appear even when the Mayor is murdered.
And colour me surprised the Daily Planet has more employees than Perry, Clark, Lois and Jimmy who knew.
The twist as to who The Vigilante is surprising, I did a review on the old blog which pointed out that the origin of this Vigilante missed an opportunity to reference Adrian Chase.
THis Vigilante appeared in Infinite Crisis #7 in a crowd scene and never again.
But first the Punisher/Vigilante near connection. IN Vigilante #39 (Mar 87) The VIgilante is driving around in an Ace Plumbing van. I say that seems familiar and grab out Punisher Essentials Vol 1 and in the story Death Sentence from Marvel Preview #2 (THe Punisher's first solo story) he is driving around in an Ace TV repairs van. So a little disappointing that it wasn't the same company.
So when we left Vigilante, all three bearers of the Vigilante name are dead and the supporting cast moved over to Checkmate.
Marv Wolfman was getting another Teen TItans spinoff off the ground Deathstroke the Terminator. In issue 9, we are introduced to Patricia Trayce, a Gotham city cop who found Chase's Equipment. Trayce became Vigilante and a supporting character in Deathstroke, then appearing in the all new Hawk and Dove miniseries and then a few random appearances arround the DCU. (She also appeared in a couple of issues in the Nu52 Deathstroke Title) But she never got her own series.
Also for a very short run in Deathstroke, Slade's wife Ademine briefly donned the costume.)
Then in 2005 it was announced that Micah Ian Wright was going to write a new Vigilante under the Wildstorm Banner with Carlos D'Anda on art, We got this piece of promo art.
Then Wright got outed as lying about his military service and the whole thing was called off and a new 6 issue miniseries appeared The Vigilante by Bruce Jones (writer) and Ben Oliver (art).
This was a completely different story that what we had been teased from Wright and D'Anda.
The series sets up a mystery with Vigilante killing criminals who escaped the law and three suspects as to who might be behind the mask. The story was set in Metropolis but Superman doesn't appear even when the Mayor is murdered.
And colour me surprised the Daily Planet has more employees than Perry, Clark, Lois and Jimmy who knew.
The twist as to who The Vigilante is surprising, I did a review on the old blog which pointed out that the origin of this Vigilante missed an opportunity to reference Adrian Chase.
THis Vigilante appeared in Infinite Crisis #7 in a crowd scene and never again.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
This is the End:Vigilante (1980s) Great Comic Reread
The 1980s version of the Vigilante has been one of those series that I've been collecting for awhile. Debuting in New Teen Titans Annual #2 Adrian Chase saw his family killed and became The Vigilante, killing the mobsters and hired assassins who killed his family.
Fairly quickly he was spun off into his own series that ran for 50 issues, two annuals and an appearance in DC Presents Superman's team up title. I spend years searching for these issues get down to the last issues and wouldn't you know it DC starts reprinting them.
By and large this revolves around Adrian Chase and falls into four periods, issues 1- 19 where Adrian is the Vigilante until he retires to become a Judge. One of his helpers JJ is killed in issue 10 and Chase feels guilt for his death for the rest of the series (Pay attention this will become important for later Vigilantes)
Period 2 is issues 20-28 where there is a mysterious new and more violent Vigilante appears. Adrian dreams that he is committing the crimes, Nightwing appears to take down Chase and lets Chase hunt down his replacement.
Issue 28 reveals that Vigilante #2 (yes I know that Greg Saunders is the first Viglante making Adrian Vigilante 2 but in terms of this series Saunders is never mentioned so I'm just going to go with the numbering for Chase's Legacy), where was I? Vigilante #2 was one of Adrian's fellow Judges Allan Welles.
We were set up that Welles might be a recurring villian The Electrocutioner but nope The Electrocutioner was some random no name. (the Electrocutioner himself became a legacy - The name and costume were too cool not to use)
Once Welles died, Chase's baliff Dave Winston took over the mantle. A Viet Nam veteran he was calmer and more Batman like, prefering mercy bullets. This was the version that met Superman is DC Presents.
Welles did not survive his encounter with Peacemaker, making his DC debut in issue 36. (Peacemaker was the inspiration for The Comedian in Watchmen)
Chase returned to be Vigilante until issue 50 working for an unnamed spy agency. In the final issue Chase realised that he had become what he had been hunting a psychcotic killer and took his own life. It was a heavy issue.
The supporting characters and the spy agency then spun out into the 1988 series Checkmate which ran for 33 issues.
The main series until the last part rarely interconnected with the DCU - Cyborg appeared in issue 3, Nightwing as mentioned above. There is a really badly shoe horned red sky Crisis on Infinite Earths issue and an appearance by Batman in issue 47.
As a complete series this ran the gamut from psycho killers, terrrorists, child sex traffickers, and costumed hitmen. Issues 17 and 18 were written by Alan Moore which was a trip and a half.
There's more but we might leave that for the next few posts.
Fairly quickly he was spun off into his own series that ran for 50 issues, two annuals and an appearance in DC Presents Superman's team up title. I spend years searching for these issues get down to the last issues and wouldn't you know it DC starts reprinting them.
By and large this revolves around Adrian Chase and falls into four periods, issues 1- 19 where Adrian is the Vigilante until he retires to become a Judge. One of his helpers JJ is killed in issue 10 and Chase feels guilt for his death for the rest of the series (Pay attention this will become important for later Vigilantes)
Period 2 is issues 20-28 where there is a mysterious new and more violent Vigilante appears. Adrian dreams that he is committing the crimes, Nightwing appears to take down Chase and lets Chase hunt down his replacement.
Issue 28 reveals that Vigilante #2 (yes I know that Greg Saunders is the first Viglante making Adrian Vigilante 2 but in terms of this series Saunders is never mentioned so I'm just going to go with the numbering for Chase's Legacy), where was I? Vigilante #2 was one of Adrian's fellow Judges Allan Welles.
We were set up that Welles might be a recurring villian The Electrocutioner but nope The Electrocutioner was some random no name. (the Electrocutioner himself became a legacy - The name and costume were too cool not to use)
Once Welles died, Chase's baliff Dave Winston took over the mantle. A Viet Nam veteran he was calmer and more Batman like, prefering mercy bullets. This was the version that met Superman is DC Presents.
Welles did not survive his encounter with Peacemaker, making his DC debut in issue 36. (Peacemaker was the inspiration for The Comedian in Watchmen)
Chase returned to be Vigilante until issue 50 working for an unnamed spy agency. In the final issue Chase realised that he had become what he had been hunting a psychcotic killer and took his own life. It was a heavy issue.
The supporting characters and the spy agency then spun out into the 1988 series Checkmate which ran for 33 issues.
The main series until the last part rarely interconnected with the DCU - Cyborg appeared in issue 3, Nightwing as mentioned above. There is a really badly shoe horned red sky Crisis on Infinite Earths issue and an appearance by Batman in issue 47.
As a complete series this ran the gamut from psycho killers, terrrorists, child sex traffickers, and costumed hitmen. Issues 17 and 18 were written by Alan Moore which was a trip and a half.
There's more but we might leave that for the next few posts.
Sunday, December 4, 2016
What I bought November 2016
Okay a couple of days late, but the order came in on 1 December.
Vigilante: Sounthland #2 by Gary Phillips & Elana Casagrande
After the first issue I was a bit hesitant to read this but this issue was definitely better and I followed it better. We're still in the origin arc and it seems that there were other heroes who have operated here in the past including one who operated as The Eastsider. I'm really starting to get into this story and I'm looking forward to the next issue.
Red One #3 by Xavier Dorison and Terry and Rachel Dodson
Colour me as sucker for female spies - Danger Girl, Black Widow, Modesty Blaise. I was intrigued by this title produced for two issues a year. I'd found issue 4 a couple of months ago and said lots of naughty words when no one had issue 3 - so I'm grateful to Secret Identity comics for ordering this in for me. The idea of a Russian spy acting as an American superhero as a propaganda tool is unusual and I'm keen to see what next year's issues bring.
Peepland #2 by Christa Faust and Gary Phillips and Andrea Camerini
A solid follow up to the first issue. New characters and complications get added to the plot and I'm really enjoying this series.
James Bond: Eidolon #11 by Warren Ellis and Jason Masters
We're in the final stretch of this arc and Ellis is ramping up everything for a final confrontation.
20 Years of Tomb Raider by Meagan Marie
Wow it's been 20 years since the first Tomb Raider Game. This is a beautiful overview everything Tomb Raider. The Game not surprisingly take up half the book but Marie examine Books, Comics, novels, movies, cosplay, and the various fan activities such as Fan fic, fan art, fan films. The various models, voices and musicians for the game are also looked at.
Even cooler is the fact that there is a flip book effect as various incarnation of Lara run, jump and shoot as you flick though the book.
It's a big book and the type of companion that I love to have in my collection.
After the first issue I was a bit hesitant to read this but this issue was definitely better and I followed it better. We're still in the origin arc and it seems that there were other heroes who have operated here in the past including one who operated as The Eastsider. I'm really starting to get into this story and I'm looking forward to the next issue.
Red One #3 by Xavier Dorison and Terry and Rachel Dodson
Colour me as sucker for female spies - Danger Girl, Black Widow, Modesty Blaise. I was intrigued by this title produced for two issues a year. I'd found issue 4 a couple of months ago and said lots of naughty words when no one had issue 3 - so I'm grateful to Secret Identity comics for ordering this in for me. The idea of a Russian spy acting as an American superhero as a propaganda tool is unusual and I'm keen to see what next year's issues bring.
Peepland #2 by Christa Faust and Gary Phillips and Andrea Camerini
A solid follow up to the first issue. New characters and complications get added to the plot and I'm really enjoying this series.
James Bond: Eidolon #11 by Warren Ellis and Jason Masters
We're in the final stretch of this arc and Ellis is ramping up everything for a final confrontation.
20 Years of Tomb Raider by Meagan MarieWow it's been 20 years since the first Tomb Raider Game. This is a beautiful overview everything Tomb Raider. The Game not surprisingly take up half the book but Marie examine Books, Comics, novels, movies, cosplay, and the various fan activities such as Fan fic, fan art, fan films. The various models, voices and musicians for the game are also looked at.
Even cooler is the fact that there is a flip book effect as various incarnation of Lara run, jump and shoot as you flick though the book.
It's a big book and the type of companion that I love to have in my collection.
Saturday, October 29, 2016
What I bought October 2016
Okay this is a new thing I'm going to do here. My local comic shop Secret Identity Comics gets their delivery monthly rather than weekly, so after I make my monthly pick up I'll blog about what I bought and other purchases during the month. Some items will have a quick capsule review others especially longer items will just be mentioned with a possible review down the track.
ARROW: THE DARK ARCHER DC
I'm a huge fan of the Arrow which has been aired here in Australia on Fox 8 express from the States. This has been an issue in the past when the show was on Free to Air and season 2 took sooooooo long to air. (let's not get me started on Agent Carter) .
I'll admit that the seasons have had a few missteps - the focus on a magical enemy in Season 4 being one but overall I love the show. It's gritty and street level, it deviates from the source material but I can live with that. I have been collecting the various tie-ins, four volumes of Comics and a novelisation. (I'm yet to read Arrow Vengeance but I was a little disappointed to see it was a novelisation of season two as I was hoping for an original story.
The comics are interesting, they started as digital comics and they expand the world of the TV series, letting us know more about other characters behind the scenes of the episodes.
The Dark Archer is a really interesting idea John Barrowman, who plays Malcolm Merlyn The Dark Archer, and his novelist sister writing a story that expands on the background of that character. The story jumps between the present (just after season 3) and events in 1985.
We discover that Malcolm's real name isn't actually Malcolm Merlyn but rather Arthur King (and we are left to wonder if this another pseudonym). We learn more about Malcolm and his history and we get a rather good action adventure story with young Arthur hunting down a mystical artefact and the consequences of that coming back to haunt him. These flash backs mimic the show but are tied into the present day story more effectively that the TV show does in some cases.
This is a solid story firmly set in the world of Arrow.
JAMES BOND #10 Eidolon part 4 Dynamite
So we are over halfway through Bond investigating Eidolon and this issue finally brings things to a head. We discover that SPECTRE had planted sleeper agents in various agencies around the world. Bond gets some very good action pieces as M and Moneypenny. I'm enjoying this series and look forward to the next issue.
Peepland #1 Hard Case Comics imprint of Titan Comics
Christ Faust and Gary Phillips co-wrote this 80s noir story set in the peepshows of New York's Times Square. Oh man this is what I wanted to read - a gritty sexy story that would sit beside Control Freak, Money Shot and "The Foot Job". This first issue sets everything up for a great ride in the rest of this miniseries.
VIGLANTE SOUTHLAND 1 of 6
Gary Phillips' second entry in this list. When I heard that Vigilante was getting a new series and that Adrian Chase was appearing in Arrow season 5, I wondered if as part of Rebirth they were bringing back Adrian Chase.
The solicitations soon dispelled that notion and that we would be reading about a new Vigilante (which makes him the eighth person to use the name in DC)
I love Vigilante, I have nearly all 50 issues of the 80s series, and the other attempts at reviving the character after that. I found this issue a bit of a challenge to read and I suspect that rereading will reward me with things that I missed the first time. There's a jump in time that took me off guard in the start of the issue which took me out of the story and perhaps coloured the rest of my reading of this issue. I'm on board for the rest of the miniseries but I was left feeling that things hadn't been set up enough in this issue. I like the characters and the LA setting is a refreshing change for comics especially an LA away from the glamour strips we normally see.
Last but not least
THE STORY OF THE PHANTOM novel by Lee Falk published by Hermes Press
Back in the 70s Avon books published 15 Phantom novels. Over the years I've looked unsuccessfully for these books so I was super excited that Hermes Press is reprinting these books.
I'm really looking forward to reading this.
ARROW: THE DARK ARCHER DC
I'll admit that the seasons have had a few missteps - the focus on a magical enemy in Season 4 being one but overall I love the show. It's gritty and street level, it deviates from the source material but I can live with that. I have been collecting the various tie-ins, four volumes of Comics and a novelisation. (I'm yet to read Arrow Vengeance but I was a little disappointed to see it was a novelisation of season two as I was hoping for an original story.
The comics are interesting, they started as digital comics and they expand the world of the TV series, letting us know more about other characters behind the scenes of the episodes.
The Dark Archer is a really interesting idea John Barrowman, who plays Malcolm Merlyn The Dark Archer, and his novelist sister writing a story that expands on the background of that character. The story jumps between the present (just after season 3) and events in 1985.
We discover that Malcolm's real name isn't actually Malcolm Merlyn but rather Arthur King (and we are left to wonder if this another pseudonym). We learn more about Malcolm and his history and we get a rather good action adventure story with young Arthur hunting down a mystical artefact and the consequences of that coming back to haunt him. These flash backs mimic the show but are tied into the present day story more effectively that the TV show does in some cases.
This is a solid story firmly set in the world of Arrow.
JAMES BOND #10 Eidolon part 4 Dynamite
Peepland #1 Hard Case Comics imprint of Titan Comics
Christ Faust and Gary Phillips co-wrote this 80s noir story set in the peepshows of New York's Times Square. Oh man this is what I wanted to read - a gritty sexy story that would sit beside Control Freak, Money Shot and "The Foot Job". This first issue sets everything up for a great ride in the rest of this miniseries.
VIGLANTE SOUTHLAND 1 of 6
Gary Phillips' second entry in this list. When I heard that Vigilante was getting a new series and that Adrian Chase was appearing in Arrow season 5, I wondered if as part of Rebirth they were bringing back Adrian Chase.
The solicitations soon dispelled that notion and that we would be reading about a new Vigilante (which makes him the eighth person to use the name in DC)
I love Vigilante, I have nearly all 50 issues of the 80s series, and the other attempts at reviving the character after that. I found this issue a bit of a challenge to read and I suspect that rereading will reward me with things that I missed the first time. There's a jump in time that took me off guard in the start of the issue which took me out of the story and perhaps coloured the rest of my reading of this issue. I'm on board for the rest of the miniseries but I was left feeling that things hadn't been set up enough in this issue. I like the characters and the LA setting is a refreshing change for comics especially an LA away from the glamour strips we normally see.
Last but not least
THE STORY OF THE PHANTOM novel by Lee Falk published by Hermes Press
Back in the 70s Avon books published 15 Phantom novels. Over the years I've looked unsuccessfully for these books so I was super excited that Hermes Press is reprinting these books.
I'm really looking forward to reading this.
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