by J.T. Krul (Author), Heubert Kahn Michael (Artist), Alex
Ross (Artist)
Publisher : Dynamite Entertainment
(January 4, 2017)
Softcover, 166 pages
This is part of Dynamite publishers Project Superheroes line where the
writers took nearly every single public domain superhero from the forties and
fifties and shoved them all in the same comic, creating an instant universe
with a self-built backstory. While the line is almost defunct, if not actually
defunct by this time, it managed to reassert a lot of old characters who were
left out in the cold. The problem that a lot of people seemed to have - based
solely on what I’ve read online, none of my friends even heard of it, but then
they’re all illiterate - is that most of the characters had been in limbo so
long, most modern readers had no idea who they were. Second, a lot of them had
redundant powers, backstories, and even costumes. I remember the original
series lacked differentiating one from the other - in fact most of the time
they didn’t even try to give some backstory.
Which is where I supposed these spin-off
volumes come in. To tell and reflect on the personal tales of those characters
involved in the bigger picture dynamics. The Owl is their latest, and probably
last, addition to this group. The character of the The Owl was first published
by Dell comics in Crackajack Funnies #25
and had a brief popular flourish for about three years, before being dropped
and forgotten for decades.
The character was really a generic makeup
of other superheroes. A policeman who found being a vigilante foiled crime much
easier than following the law. He was fitted with tons of gadgets, including a
“black light” which threw darkness instead of light, and a specialized Owl Car.
His girlfriend discovered his secret identity and then joined him as Owl Girl.
I mean, how many other superheroes fall into this category? In reality, The Owl
comes across as a poor man’s Batman and that is nearly impossible to shake off,
but the tale in this book does raise some interesting questions about moral
absolutism.
The story presented in this volume, deals
with The Owl being literally a man out of time. All the heroes having emerged from
their magical prison after eighty years, threw him for a loop. He especially
misses his fiancée, Owl Girl, and then discovers that her granddaughter has
become the new Owl Girl. Unfortunately, her style of vigilantism does not match
his. This new owl Girl is violent, nearly unhinged, and plunders the crooks to
support her lifestyle. Worst of all, she does not hesitate to kill. The Owl has a difficult decision ahead of
him.
For more readings, try books by Rex Hurst
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