Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Mar 16, 2016 9:03:31 GMT -5
Let's talk Marshall Law a little.
With all the recent conversations about 80ies seminal superhero work, I thought it was long overdue to mention one of my top 5 alltime ones, the great work of Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill and all it sequels.
I probably read it first around 1994 and was immediatly taken by the ferocity of the message and the artwork, the vivd colors and manic characters.
Worth to note, when Pat Mills wrote this, his exposure to american superhero comics was almost non existant and was mostly constitued of his outside perception of it all.
But what is striking to me is how it perfectly fits the current US climate, with the hostile take-over of the american dream by Trump, Cruz and Co, gloryfing morally devious wars and battles, the exaltation of patriotism without questioning its aims. It's also quite profetic of the shift of traditional US comics values, when the superpatriot's son choses sides with Marshall Law instead of his american dream father, in the same way the industry went all grim in the 90ies. It also tackles the topic of collective selective memory in a very effective way, showcasing a grill of analysis not too far away from Naomi Klein's, but long before. Criticism of blindfolded scientific progress, religion as tools of power, discovery of sexuality and inhibitions are also recurent themes.
All the series are filled with easter eggs referencing many aspects of pop culture and politics (Pink Panther, Friedkin's Cruising, CIA, High Noon, etc), which makes you wonder if O'Neill didn't have a part to play in the LOEG propension to this as well.
Marshall law, is funny, relevant, but more then anything frntal in its satire.
When Moore and others use clever metaphors and affection for the golden age to spread their messages/analysis, Mills has no interest in that. I can only think of a couple of panels where you will find any room for sentimentalism towards a so called golden age as Mills bluntly tells you that this was all a cover up to feel less bad about the under-the-carpet dusted reality of our world.
If it wasn't only for that, the series is just a very cool story with interesting spin off/cross overs with The Mask, Pinhead and Savage Dragon, all serving a real purpose far beyond the often commercial nature of such beasts.
Marshal Law #1-6. Epic Comics 1987-88.
Marshal Law Takes Manhattan. One-shot, Epic Comics 1989.
Marshal Law - Kingdom of the Blind. Apocalypse Comics one-shot, 1990.
Marshal Law - The Hateful Dead. One-Shot, Apocalypse Comics 1991. (Reprints Toxic! #1-8 with an unpublished prologue to the first series)
Marshal Law - Super Babylon. One-Shot, Dark Horse 1992.
Marshal Law Vs Pinhead-Law in Hell. Two issue series, Epic Comics 1993.
Marshal Law - Secret Tribunal. Two issue series, Dark Horse 1994.
Marshal Law/Savage Dragon. Two issue series, Image Comics 1997.
Marshal Law/The Mask. Two issue series, Dark Horse 1998.
Marshal Law - The Day of the Dead. Illustrated Novella, Titan Books 2004.
Marshal Law - Cloak of Evil. Illustrated Novella, Titan Books 2006.
Most of it is currently available as in print collections or cheap second hand back issues, all written and illustrated by the same creative team.
All in all, one of the great over looked great comics of hte 80/90ies!
What are your thoughts.?
With all the recent conversations about 80ies seminal superhero work, I thought it was long overdue to mention one of my top 5 alltime ones, the great work of Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill and all it sequels.
I probably read it first around 1994 and was immediatly taken by the ferocity of the message and the artwork, the vivd colors and manic characters.
Worth to note, when Pat Mills wrote this, his exposure to american superhero comics was almost non existant and was mostly constitued of his outside perception of it all.
But what is striking to me is how it perfectly fits the current US climate, with the hostile take-over of the american dream by Trump, Cruz and Co, gloryfing morally devious wars and battles, the exaltation of patriotism without questioning its aims. It's also quite profetic of the shift of traditional US comics values, when the superpatriot's son choses sides with Marshall Law instead of his american dream father, in the same way the industry went all grim in the 90ies. It also tackles the topic of collective selective memory in a very effective way, showcasing a grill of analysis not too far away from Naomi Klein's, but long before. Criticism of blindfolded scientific progress, religion as tools of power, discovery of sexuality and inhibitions are also recurent themes.
All the series are filled with easter eggs referencing many aspects of pop culture and politics (Pink Panther, Friedkin's Cruising, CIA, High Noon, etc), which makes you wonder if O'Neill didn't have a part to play in the LOEG propension to this as well.
Marshall law, is funny, relevant, but more then anything frntal in its satire.
When Moore and others use clever metaphors and affection for the golden age to spread their messages/analysis, Mills has no interest in that. I can only think of a couple of panels where you will find any room for sentimentalism towards a so called golden age as Mills bluntly tells you that this was all a cover up to feel less bad about the under-the-carpet dusted reality of our world.
If it wasn't only for that, the series is just a very cool story with interesting spin off/cross overs with The Mask, Pinhead and Savage Dragon, all serving a real purpose far beyond the often commercial nature of such beasts.
Marshal Law #1-6. Epic Comics 1987-88.
Marshal Law Takes Manhattan. One-shot, Epic Comics 1989.
Marshal Law - Kingdom of the Blind. Apocalypse Comics one-shot, 1990.
Marshal Law - The Hateful Dead. One-Shot, Apocalypse Comics 1991. (Reprints Toxic! #1-8 with an unpublished prologue to the first series)
Marshal Law - Super Babylon. One-Shot, Dark Horse 1992.
Marshal Law Vs Pinhead-Law in Hell. Two issue series, Epic Comics 1993.
Marshal Law - Secret Tribunal. Two issue series, Dark Horse 1994.
Marshal Law/Savage Dragon. Two issue series, Image Comics 1997.
Marshal Law/The Mask. Two issue series, Dark Horse 1998.
Marshal Law - The Day of the Dead. Illustrated Novella, Titan Books 2004.
Marshal Law - Cloak of Evil. Illustrated Novella, Titan Books 2006.
Most of it is currently available as in print collections or cheap second hand back issues, all written and illustrated by the same creative team.
All in all, one of the great over looked great comics of hte 80/90ies!
What are your thoughts.?
