Monday’s Mutant is Typhoid Mary

One of the few things that came out of Netflix’s Iron Fist is the introduction to mainstream fandom the character, Typhoid Mary. Though her character has little to do with the Typhoid Mary in the comic books. In the Netflix adaptation of the character, Mary is a veteran who somehow escapes from a prison and kills everyone who has held her captive. Inside of Mary are various personalities that manifest themselves as needed. But in the comic books, Mary’s origin is something quite different.

Typhoid Mary’s first appearance was in Marvel Comics issue #254 of Daredevil in May of 1988. She was created by Ann Nocenti and John Romita Jr. and came into being when Matt Murdock tracked a villain to a brothel where Mary worked. Matt attacked the villain and the women at the brothel moved to protect the man. In the melee, Matt knocks Mary out of the window. In the fall, Typhoid Mary’s multiple personalities come alive and she vows never to allow another man to harm her again.

Inside of Mary there are three separate personalities. There is Mary, the pacifist. Then there is Typhoid, adventurous, lustful and violent. Then there is Bloody Mary, sadistic and misandrous. She has highly developed martial art skills, with telekinetic powers and pyrokinesis, lower level mutant abilities.

Mary carried on with a love/hate relationship with Daredevil. At times being his lover and at others, a hired assassin in the employ of Kingpin. She quickly became a favorite of Kingpin and was even romantically linked to the crime lord. She would later disappear from sight, learning to control her personalities and violent tendencies through hypnosis. She began to lead a normal life, even becoming an actress on a soap opera.

But eventually the personalities are too strong and Mary begins to kill again. She focuses on men who abuse women. But the guilt gets too strong and she turns herself in to the police. She is confined to a mental institution where each of the personalities hires a mercenary. Mary hires Deadpool to kill her. Typhoid hires Deadpool to break her out and Bloody Mary hires Vamp/Animus to break her out as well so she can continue her killing spree.

Mary remains a complicated character in the Marvel Universe.  More villain than hero on almost all accounts. A cross between Bullseye and the Punisher, her pain from the abuse she suffered as a youth still drives her hatred for men. Like far too many of Marvel’s women, she is a broken vessel. A foil to make the male characters more of a hero or a passing love interest to make them seem vulnerable. This is way too bad when it comes to Typhoid Mary. There is an incredible well of depth here with this character. I am not saying that she could ever be a hero, but like Punisher and Daredevil, she can walk that grey area that makes for some of the best comic books.

Hopefully they will work with Typhoid Mary and give her a storyline that will bring more attention to this complex character. It would be a mistake to remove the edge to this character as is going on currently with Domino, no keep her pain and edge, just explore and develop one of the better damaged characters Marvel has in its arsenal.

From Hell – Alan Moore

 

(This review was previously published in Books and Lesser Evils)

From Hell by Alan Moore once again proves my earlier statement.

“…Alan Moore is a graphic novel God…” me.

He is. He so freakin’ is!

“…I shall tell you where we are. We’re in the most extreme and utter region of the human mind. A dim, subconscious underworld. A radiant abyss where men meet themselves. Hell, Netley. We’re in Hell…”

In the late 1800s, in the dark and squalid alleyways of the seediest parts of London, England, a monster hunts. Over the following weeks, he will kill with such brutality and utter abandon that it will become the stuff of legend and nightmare. He will be known only as, Jack the Ripper.

  

Alan Moore steps onto the brick streets and dark alleys of Whitechapel to offer his version of the Jack the Ripper murders. And is typically Moore, it is done in epic style. The graphic novel encompasses nearly 600 pages of story and artwork, all in black in white, there is no great splashes of red needed here. Moore does that plenty with his story telling.

In From Hell, the killer is not some blood thirsty perversion of humanity but something even more terrifying. He is a well educated physician in the service of the Queen herself. A Mason whose faith in the rituals and power of the Mason’s has no peer and his service to the crown without question.

  

From Hell takes its premise from the theory that the Jack the Ripper murders were actually a conspiracy to cover up the birth of an illegitimate child by Prince Albert Victor who was in line for the throne of England. In his youth and stupidity Prince Albert has an affair with a young shop girl and fathers a child. The crown in the visage of Queen Victoria orders that the girl and the child be dealt with and to do so she requests the services of Dr. William Gull. The mother is imprisoned and her sanity questioned. Gull performs a procedure upon the mother rendering her insane. The child disappears. The mother’s friends, themselves falling on hard times decide that the best way to help themselves is to blackmail the Crown with the truth of the illegitimate child. The Queen once again calls on Gull to handle the remaining women and to keep the truth hidden. Gulls answer to the problem gives birth to the Ripper. With the aide of his coach man John Netley, Dr. William Gull hunts the women and murders them and then butchers their remains in a manner that hides his true intent. The city is horrified and the police clueless. But none suspect that the acts are simply to erase those who know of the scandal. Instead they hunt a killer and a madman. Instead of a calculating assassin for the Crown.

Moore has penned a graphic novel that is both disturbing and insightful. He has brought forth, through his narrative and the stunning black and white artwork of Eddie Campbell a tense and terrifying tale of murder, lust and the incredible power of self delusion. I am not sure which is more horrifying. The murders of these women or the spiritual descent into madness that Dr. Gull gives himself to.

Do not be swayed by the Johnny Depp movie of the same name that was loosely based on this graphic novel. Alan Moore delivers a powerful indictment on the power of haves and the desperation of the have nots. And the from this class distinction, the monster it gives birth to.

Laura Kinney. The New Wolverine.

Laura Kinney is taking the helm vacated by the death of Logan, the mutant known worldwide as the Wolverine. The clone of Logan, created by geneticist Doctor Sarah Kinney, the mutant known as X-23 has had a tragic and brutal rise in the world of Marvel Comics and unlike many of the currently popular superheroes, did not begin her existence in the form of comic book character. She began as a character in X-Men Evolution, the animated series. X-23 has super healing factor, super strength and agility, and retractable adamantium bone claws in her hands and feet. Laura was named X-23 because the only available DNA sample salvaged from the Weapon X project had a damaged Y chromosome. When the attempts to repair the sample failed, Dr. Sarah Kinney decided to create the clone with the sample as is, minus the Y chromosome. After 22 failed attempts, the 23^rd survived the adamantium fusion. So was created X-23, a female Weapon X.

The project’s director, Doctor Martin Sutter was angry at Dr. Kinney’s insubordination at creating a female Weapon X and forced her to become the clone’s surrogate mother and Kinney gave birth to X-23. She was then raised in captivity and trained to become the ultimate assassin. The Weapon X that the Wolverine was designed to be. But Dr. Kinney fought against the programming the child was receiving and worked hard to instill in her a sense of humanity. This further angered Sutter and his protégé Dr. Rice. It was Dr. Rice, was father was killed by the original Weapon X; Wolverine, when he escaped, who created a chemical compound that triggered X-23 whenever she came upon its scent into a berserker rage. Kinney, fearing what they were doing to her, ordered X-23 to destroy the remaining clone pods and kill Rice. But Rice got his revenge as he exposed Dr. Kinney to the trigger scent, sending X-23 into a berserker rage and killing her mother. As Kinney lay dying, she names the clone, Laura.

    

In true Marvel fashion, X-23, Laura Kinney does not resurface until years later where she is working as a prostitute for a pimp called Zebra Daddy. Marvel’s history of turning their heroines into sex slaves of one sort or the other is legendary. See early history of Captain Marvel Carol Danvers, the Black Widow, the rape of the Black Cat and Jessica Jones and the list goes on and on. It is here where X-23 comes into contact with other mutants and with their help frees herself form Zebra Daddy. She then takes the job as an enforcer for several nefarious characters, killing their enemies and anyone who threatened her. The killings, because of their manner and ferocity implicate a mutant better known in the Marvel Universe.

The Wolverine.

This prompts the X-Men to investigate and clear the name of the Wolverine. By instinct X-23 attacks Wolverine on sight but he is able to calm her down. Logan then begins to unravel just who X-23 is and she in turn, realizes who he is. Theirs is a troubled relationship, brother and sister, but more like father and daughter. X-23 becomes fiercely loyal and protective of Logan and he in turn, becomes responsible for her. Much as he was for Jubilee in the past. It is the Wolverine who teaches young X-23 her social skills so one can imagine what a mess that was.

      

By now, X-23 uses her given name of Laura Kinney and searches out her mother’s family. Protecting and befriending them, though she can never let them know that it was her who killed her own mother. She also befriends, Shadowcat, Psylocke and Rachel Summers, becoming part of their X-Men team. It was during this time she even became Captian Universe for a brief period.

It was after the comic arc known as M-Day that X-23 became a prevalent player in the mutant universe. One of the few mutants who were not rendered powerless by the Scarlett Witch’s mad attack, she joins the X-Men under Emma Frost and is instrumental in saving the remaining mutants from an attack by William Stryker. But her destiny is certain. She is her father’s daughter and with the story arc of the Death of Wolverine and the subsequent storyline of the evil mutant Mr. Sinister’s attempts at creating an army of Wolverines; it was obvious there was only one person who could step into Logan’s shoes.

Here is Weapon X. X-23. Laura Kinney. The New Wolverine.

RunLoveKill Vol.1 by Jonathan Tsuei

RunLoveKill, Vol.1 by Jonathan Tsuei is a stylish thriller with artwork and storyline that is more likely to be found in Asian comics than in one released by the daring and innovative new writer driven Image comics.

Rain Oshiro is looking for a way out. Out of town, out of her life, out of the memories that haunt her. She’s looking to meet up with a smuggler who will get her out of the city of Prygat but before she can get it going, her vehicle gets re-possessed. But what Rain doesn’t know is that her day is about to get much worse.

The military organization that runs Prygat is known as The Origami and they have a special interest in Rain Oshiro. Rain had once been one of theirs and The Origami want her back. Rain is a trained assassin and has been on the run ever since she escaped from The Origami, but her luck is starting to run out. The Origami know where she is and they are about to drop a load of trouble on her head. Can Rain escape and get free and if she can, what will be the cost in innocent lives?

Granted, the plot is not that original. Super Assassin/Spy has change of heart and turns against the corrupt and totalitarian regime they had been a part of to save the lives of innocent people. Now they are on the run and there is love and betrayal all around them. In Books and Movies this is very familiar. The Bourne series, Kill Bill, etc. What makes RunLoveKill so good is that the characters are very well written and the artwork stylish and crisp. This futuristic science fiction thriller should garner a good audience in a genre that comics, unless its some campy super hero book, generally ignore. The science fiction comic book is making a comeback and it is gritty and realistic. More Blade Runner than Flash Gordon.

Descender by Jeff Lemire

Descender by Jeff Lemire came into being amid huge fanfare and critical acclaim and it is well deserved. There is perhaps nothing like this comic out in the medium right now and may have never been. Hidden behind this tale of a lost and abandoned little robot are the underlying demons of our own society. This is the tale of loss and brutality and the heartache of loneliness.

With the writing of Jeff Lemire and the artwork of Dustin Nguyen, Descender is book that should quickly garner a cult following. In this futuristic world, bounty hunters are looking for the remains of robots that they will take to the scrap yards for a fee. It is in this world that a small boy refered to as Tim awakens. He has been in a sleep state for years and the world that he had known is gone. More so, Tim is not just a boy, he is in fact, an android. A robot known as TIM-21.

       

Tim awakens to a world, where his memories are slowly working back to him. All the humans who he had served, who had treated him as one of their own, are dead and gone. Their remains litter the small deserted mining camp. But there is more for TIM-21 to worry about. The bounty hunters who are searching for him. The others that want him for their own needs and the untapped power hidden in his small body.

Descender is science fiction that is not comic book in its material at all. It hearkens to Clarke and Asimov in its subject matter. Presented through the experience of a small robot with the innocence and fear of a young child. TIM-21 is a new age re-telling of Pinocchio. A lost little boy that is not a boy at all but with all the childlike wonder of one.

     

Descender is far from dry. There is betrayal and heartache and torture and death. There is, a story, a damn good story and one that needs to be followed.

Descender may be the best written comic of 2015.

Deathstroke Gods of War by Tony Daniel

Deathstroke Vol 1: Gods of War by Tony Daniel is a reboot of the character that will no doubt gain further notoriety with the upcoming film, The Suicide Squad. In Gods of War Daniel retools Deathstroke by giving him two eyes and making him younger, a change that actually works against the assassin.

Deathstroke goes on assignment, accompanied by his love interest Angelica to take down a villian known as Possum. But Deathstroke is betrayed and in the ensuing battle is so badly wounded his healing factor (ala Wolverine and Deadpool) can’t catch up. As he recuperates with the help of an old friend, he undergoes changes. His eye is healed so that he now has two and his body becomes that of a much younger man. Still not fully healed he is attacked again by the same group. He escapes but is now aware that cadre of assassins that are after him are sent by Lady Shiva and a villain called Odysseus, who happens to be Deathstroke’s father. To make matters even more complicated, Odysseus has kidnapped Deathstroke’s son who own powers are becoming out of control. Gods of War story line is the tale of Deathstroke attempting to rescue his son from his father with the help and hindrance of Angelica, Possum, Lady Shiva, Harley Quinn, Batman and his daughter, Rose Wilson.

What is best about Deathstroke Gods of War is undoubtedly the artwork. It is big and bold and hearkens back to the early days of Image comics. But what Deathstroke does that the early days Image could not, is that it actually tells a story and a fairly good one at that. The search to save a son who doesn’t trust him and to battle a father who would kill him, creates alot of introspection in Deathstroke and Daniel does not shy away from it. Besides its also pretty cool to see a battle with the Batman from the opponents viewpoint.

A terrific comic run that should be noticed and followed.

Lady Killer #5 by Joelle Jones…a moment please….I need a moment…

I have not blogged for a little bit on comics because I knew this one was coming. Lady Killer issue #5 brings to a conclusion the story arc that introduced us to Josie; housewife, mother, assassin. A character who is a cross between June Cleever (for those who don’t know, think the complete opposite of Mama Kardasian) and James Bond. As we know from previous issues, Josie has fallen out with her employer after she refused to murder a young boy. Now the group that pays her to kill, has a contract out on Josie and perhaps even her family.

Josie’s two worlds collide at the World’s Fair for the final showdown. To be free, she has to kill those who hire her to kill. If she fails, she dies and her husband and her children as well. Her mother-in-law as well but that does not seem to be such a bad thing. In a climatic, incredibly bloody fight, she finally prevails. No longer tied to any one group, what will Josie do now? She is free, able to lead the quiet life of a housewife…but can she? Let’s hope not. Let’s hope that Josie picks up that knife, that blunt instrument, that gun or whatever else is handy because Josie can use them all with incredible and deadly force.

            

Joelle Jones has done more than create a comic book with blood and gore and gorgeous women. She has created the quintessential renaissance woman in Josie. A female character who wants it all and will kill to have it all. The home. The husband. The children. The murder spree. The job.

There is also a backstory here to Josie. A hint that she can become unglued at any time. A fear her now dead employer had that she could not be controlled. In a prior issue there is an opened file on Josie that shows her as a child, blood on her hands and dead bodies at her feet. Had she been raised as a killer or did something horrible happen to Josie? So you can see, it simply cannot end here. There has to be more.

Lady Killer is possibly my favorite comic of the year and has made me a Joelle Jones fan for life. Her artwork is crisp and fits the era of the story perfectly. Josie plays the little lady of the house to a tee. You come away feeling that this is something she wants, but her job intrudes. A job she doesn’t want to stop doing. A job she may not be able to stop doing.

Lady Killer is a great comic. Pick it up. Read it. And then read it again.

Lady Killer – Joelle Jones (Dark Horse Comics)

It has been awhile since a new book has hit the comic book shelves that makes me think for a moment, that maybe someone is getting this right. Lady Killer by Joelle Jones and Jamie Rick (artwork by Joelle Jones) is one such book and another reason why small press like Dark Horse Comics are so important to the industry today.

Issue one introduces us to Josie Schuller, the epitome of the 1960’s housewife. Unassuming, attractive without being the caricature of the comic book heroine. No over flowing and independent thinking breasts or a spine that contorts and poses like a nymphomaniac elastic woman. No Josie is a housewife and mother of two beautiful girls. She cleans the house and takes care of her children as well as cares for her German, over-bearing mother-in-law. Josie also sells Avon products. Or at least it appears she does.

We also get to meet the other Josie. The cold blooded and incredibly efficient assassin. Think of  Angelina Jolie (and when don’t I) in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Without the high powered weapons and Brad Pitt. Just Angelina, in a soft blue Avon calling outfit and an assignment. Josie Schuller is a ruthless assassin, brutal if necessary. But she is a wife and mother as well. How long can she keep her two lives separate? Will she be found out by the police? By her husband? By her domineering and nosy mother-in-law?

The setting is very Mad Men-esque and it is categorized as a comedy. I’m not sure about that. It is fresh and inventive and in a market that is glutted with super powered and super bodied women, Josie Schuller is a welcome breath of fresh air. Even though it is a somewhat murderous scent in that air.

If the non-Adonis looking guy behind the counter is drooling over a book. That is always a good sign. Pick this one up and give it a read. Also remember the name of Joelle Jones, this is a writer and artist to keep track of.

 

.