STEEL CAGE #1 (Ahoy Comics, June 26 release date) Three features: 1) TRUE IDENTITY written by Tom Peyer with art by Alan Robinson; 2) BRIGHT BOY written by Stuart Moore with art by Peter Gross; and 3) NOAH ZARK written by Mark Waid with art by Lanna Souvanny.
Remember when comics publishers used to release pilot-themed issues to test the market for new series? Think of Marvel Premiere, DC’s Showcase and Dark Horse Presents - - to name just a few. Ahoy Comics takes that concept and makes it a competition, previewing three potential series in one issue and asking readers to vote online for their favorite, which presumably will become their next new series. The Steel Cage wrestling comparison is appropriate - - only one will be declared the winner — whichever story earns the most votes.
I really like this idea. I also love that readers get a chance to participate and influence the publisher’s direction. I hope this results in increased sales and equally good voting so that Ahoy gets rewarded for their efforts. I just wish that one of these stories was vastly superior to the others, to make the choice easier for me. I think they are all equally good. This is going to be a tougher decision, but I’m still going to make it - - and share at the end of this article. (But don’t let that determine your decision. We all have different likes.)
As I prepare to read my preview copy of Steel Cage, I’m already considering what it’s going to take to earn my vote. I’m always looking for something that is different from standard comic book themes. Since I’ve read far too much superhero fare I’m pretty jaded about this genre and require something really unique to keep my attention. Oh no! The very first entry is a superhero story. We’re not starting off very well.
The promotional description of TRUE IDENTITY describes the story as one “in which we learn what secret anguish drives the most beloved superhero on Earth.” In case readers don’t know the definition of the word “penultimate”, the story title of “Penultiman: The Next To Last Step In Evolution” is there to help us along. Our hero is muscular, handsome and powerful and will remind readers of Superman and/or Captain Marvel/Shazam - which is probably deliberate. More of a missed step rather than the next to last step, Penultiman is deemed a failure by the cosmic race that birthed him.
This is what makes Penultiman different from other all-powerful superheroes he reminds us of - - - he has very low self-esteem. Unlike Superman’s alter-ego - Clark Kent, the confident star reporter for a daily newspaper - - Penultiman’s secret identity is a lowly FBI employee that is not regarded as competent enough for other agents to take him on assignment.
The Evolution Police from a future society (a race of hairless, unisex dwarfish intellectuals with cross-eyes) can’t tolerate the presence of anyone this ugly, so they send him back in time to be rid of him.
The usual Peyer brand of humor is on display here. I love the idea of a giant robotic bull attacking the Stock Market. Later, when deciding what to do with the misfit Penultiman, the best choice is to “then place him in a more primitive population with stupider people around whom he can excel.” He’s sent back to the year 2019.
In an actual cage match, Penultiman would easily be the winner as he’s the most powerful of the three characters in STEEL CAGE. But, this isn’t a physical battle. I’m amused by this story but still undecided. Bring on the second contender.
BRIGHT BOY is described as a “grim tale of the world’s smartest human - - and the havoc he leaves in his wake.” Reading that title prompted some shivers of Golden Age nostalgia to tickle my memories.
I’m warming up to this before I even begin reading it. I’m reminded of the very short-lived superhero BRAIN BOY title, a Dell Comic from 1962-63 in which a super-smart boy with powers of telepathy, levitation and mind control worked for a secret government agency. He had no costume, just a nickname.
In “Desire Lines” the main character is a super-intellectual employed by the government, who wears business attire and adopts the “Bright Boy” nickname before the story ends. Doctor Litman is supremely confident and a bit arrogant. In a near future U.S.A. where Trump is not the president (thank you!) he’s pulled into a stymied computer control center to help prevent a nationwide power blackout with serious consequences.
There are also some interesting secondary characters in the presence of agents Beamer and Corman (who remind me of Mulder and Scully) and two robotic bodyguards who speak in poetic but apparently incorrect analogies. Litman resents their assistance, and prefers to work alone. Corman explains why - - “because when you’re called in on a job people tend to die.” Without giving too much of the story away, when Bright Boy gets stressed or excited near the completion of a challenging task, it activates some unwanted powers that others don’t want to be near when it’s released. This is a smart tale with some clever dialogue an interesting character and an interesting Catch-22 problem. I would like to see more.
NOAH ZARK is described as “an alien boy is kidnapped into an interplanetary zoo - - and becomes the protector of the animals.” The whimsical nature of the art compliments the story, which is cute and friendly and perhaps a bit too whimsical for my tastes. This seems like its’ aimed at a younger audience and has a episodic nature to it.
Since Noah appears to be the leader/commander of the spaceship which houses the zoo, I’m wondering about that “kidnapped into an interplanetary zoo” description. Perhaps he started out as a hostage and led a revolution to take over command. That would probably make for a more interesting but much longer backstory, so we get a shorter, complete tale here. (My assumptions only, I’m not privy to inside info on this.)
In this introductory tale, the zoo is pursued by another ship from a spacefaring circus and menagerie that claims some of it’s beasts were stolen from them. The ark eludes them and travels to the home planet of one of its zoo members, only to be enlisted into helping prevent a weather catastrophe. It’s fast paced fun and amusing, but not something that’s going to keep me coming back month after month.
By the way, the art is good in all three of these tales, and the illustration style suits the contents. I especially appreciated the change in color palette and shading in the grim moments of Bright Boy. But this isn’t about art. It’s the stories that will bring us back and that should have the most influence on the vote.
I started out thinking this would be a tough decision, but the exercise of having to think about and then write descriptions of these stories has made my decision easier. I vote for BRIGHT BOY. I want to read more BRIGHT BOY.
Now it’s your turn. Pick up the book and make your own decision.
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