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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Dec 20, 2017 22:11:35 GMT -5
So while I still plan to tackle Invaders, I also feel the need to dive into this series and review it. A lot of people have said it is a hidden gem from the 70's and I just recently picked up the entire run for next to nothing. Again, this is a series I know nothing about other than the fact it exists. Without any more rambling, let us dive in!
Omega The Unknown #1
The Cover Not a bad looking cover. Omega has an okay look. I don't usually love capes though unless they serve a purpose (flight, to add mystery, to swallow people with). His cape seems like it kinda ordinary. The robot looks cool though. And we have a young boy involved in all this. I am feeling a Captain Marvel/Rick Jones vibe but I hope it is better than that because, while initially interesting, having cap tied to Rick became very annoying and pointless. I also love that the boy is reading Spider-Man...a little Marvel within Marvel. Which issue is that is the real question!
The Story Omega is running away from these robot guys and is eventually captured. He almost seems unsure of his abilities as he is captured quite easily. His scream as he is shot in the back transitions to the boy, James-Micheal (herein referred to as JM for simplicity sake) who awakes from his dreams screaming. His parents come in and there a brief debate about how in the morning, he must start school. JM talks about people being boring and how he prefers it where he is. His father insists that his son be taken to school.
The next morning they are seen leaving a motel as JM and his parents hop in a car and head for New York. JM is still concerned about going to school. His mother says she envies the learning journey her son is going to embark on. JM just wants to be left where he is and again talks about humans being dull. Then, as they round a bend, JM tells his mother to brace herself for impact as there is a collision coming. Sure enough, a truck rounds a corner and collides with their car.
JM survives. He sees his mothers severed robotic head telling him that he will be okay and that "only the voices can harm him". She says "it's dangerous to listen" before her face just melts away. Confused, JM seems to start reacting in shock and we then transition back to Omega, who is tied to a wall. He watches at the robot men are destroying buildings. He manages to break free and run to some sort of spaceship, launching himself away from this forsaken planet. He looks back at it, claiming he shall return for revenge one day but until then, he will be looking forward only.
We then see JM waking up in a hospital. He is restrained because, according to the nurse, he had been thrashing around in his sleep. The nurse pages Dr. Barrow who comes and releases the restraints. He questions JM, who responds that he remembers the accident and says recalls his parents dying. He then says he has nothing to fear except the voices. When JM says this, the doctor seems alarmed but JM dismisses it. The doctor reveals he has been under their care for a long time. The nurse then gives JM some pills to help recover and heads outside to speak with Dr. Barrow. He reveals that the "board" is not happy with them taking on JM as a patient and he wants his nurse to get as much information out of the boy as possible so he can continue to study the boy. The nurse (her name is Ruth Hart) agrees even though she says she has trouble relating to people.
In the weeks that come, she cannot get any information from JM. The "board" seems upset that her and Dr. Barrow are continuing to try and study this boy. Dr. Barrow says to Ruth that they have no other option but to have JM live with Ruth and her room-mate Amber. We then see Amber enter the room where JM is playing chess and she mentions these "voices". Ruth arrives and tells Jm that he will be staying with her and Amber.
The final scenes show JM trying to fall asleep but suddenly, a robot crashes into his window. He is followed by Omega and a battle ensues. JM tries to hide but the, out of nowhere, he uses some pulsing beams to destroy the robot that was battling Omega. JM confronts the mysterious hero, saying he has seen him in his dream. Omega grabs the robot corpse and leaves just as Dr. Barrow comes in (so JM is still staying at this hospital). JM tells of the pain in his hands and when he and Dr. Barrow look at them, the Omega symbol has been burned into them.
Opinions Wow....I don't know where to start. I am trying to recall the last time I had to re-read certain pages of a book from the 70's. The story is very intriguing and the dialogue is very sophisticated for a comic from this time. There is a lot going on. Obviously, there is some weird link between Omega and JM. Are they one and the same? Is Omega some alternate version of JM in his mind? Then we have the whole notion of JM's parents being robots. An article on the letters page by Gerber makes it sound like JM did not know his parents were robots but while reading, I got the impression that he did. Mind you, he may not and that could explain why he went into shock. After all seeing this could do that
Either way, I am very intrigued as to where this is all going.
Of Note Gerber credits Stan Lee with the name and says that Mary Skrenes had a lot to do with helping him develop this character. He also was very happy that he got to have Mooney do the art and said Romita helped with the costume design for Omega. |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Dec 20, 2017 22:48:38 GMT -5
^I had thought the Spidey issue was #164 but it came out nearly a year after this...however the purple seen on the cover looked like the pant leg of Kingpin from this ish.  |
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Post by mikelmidnight on Dec 21, 2017 12:45:26 GMT -5
This series is, to my mind, the apex of Gerber's writing and one of my favorite series of all time. I've written an entire graphic novel partially inspired by it. Michael Chabon told me once he has plans to write a sequal to Kavelier and Clay, largely about the revolution into articulate comics in the 60s and 70s, and that Omega was a significant inspiration to him as well. I've never forgiven Steven Grant for his deliberate trashing of the character in Defenders.
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 21, 2017 19:51:34 GMT -5
This series is, to my mind, the apex of Gerber's writing and one of my favorite series of all time. I've written an entire graphic novel partially inspired by it. Michael Chabon told me once he has plans to write a sequal to Kavelier and Clay, largely about the revolution into articulate comics in the 60s and 70s, and that Omega was a significant inspiration to him as well. I've never forgiven Steven Grant for his deliberate trashing of the character in Defenders. Cool, what have you written or are you undercover? |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Dec 21, 2017 21:10:38 GMT -5
I believe I have those two Defenders issues which I will add to these reviews just to see how they fare. I have heard they are not good.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2017 21:17:31 GMT -5
pinkfloydsound17 I have never heard of this series & I pride myself on being a BIG 1970's DC/Marvel fan. Thanks for sharing these reviews.
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Post by berkley on Dec 22, 2017 0:14:14 GMT -5
I think it's one of the most interesting series ever written, and it's a great loss that Gerber and Skrenes were never able to finish it.
I feel more anger about the more recent miniseries by Lethem than the Steven Grant thing, because everyone knows those stories were just assignments and aren't to be taken seriously. IIRC, Gerber never harboured any resentment towards Grant about it, since he knew how the industry worked and that Grant's career would probably be over if he refused the job. I think it's more fair to direct that anger towards Marvel for having given the assignment to anyone other than Gerber and/or Skrenes.
But with the Lethem series, I think the author deserves some of the blame, because as an established novelist he didn't really need that job. But he went ahead with it anyway, knowing (perhaps not initially but later on) that Gerber and Skrenes weren't happy about it and had never been able to bring their own story to a conclusion the way they wanted.
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Dec 22, 2017 7:33:26 GMT -5
I had read that the new version was initially not liked by Gerber but then when he met and talked to Lethem he realized that his vision was very similar to Gerber's and actually gave the story praise. I don't have the 2007 series but I do want to give it a look eventually.
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Post by EdoBosnar on Dec 22, 2017 8:18:58 GMT -5
Don't know anything about Gerber's possible reconciliation with Lethem, or the backroom politics around the publication of Lethem's series - I just didn't like the story as such.
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Post by mikelmidnight on Dec 22, 2017 12:57:43 GMT -5
Cool, what have you written or are you undercover? I've written a script for a graphic novel, and an 8-page segment from it which was intended for an anthology but I missed the deadline. Currently looking for a publisher for the full book. I feel more anger about the more recent miniseries by Lethem than the Steven Grant thing, because everyone knows those stories were just assignments and aren't to be taken seriously. IIRC, Gerber never harboured any resentment towards Grant about it, since he knew how the industry worked and that Grant's career would probably be over if he refused the job. I think it's more fair to direct that anger towards Marvel for having given the assignment to anyone other than Gerber and/or Skrenes. I'me not angry at Grant for daring to touch their character, I'm angry because he did such a crappy job of it, misrepresnting some of the core aspects of the series, that it seemed like a deliberate trashing. |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Dec 24, 2017 20:10:29 GMT -5
Omega The Unknown #2
The Cover A nice Buckler cover. Most might know I am not a Hulk fan but I do like him when he makes an appearance. Plus, I love battle covers so this all works for me. I am going to assume that those balls in the corner are produce of some kind? Or maybe potatoes?
The Story After Dr. Barrow found JM's room in shambles and the Omega symbols inscribed on his palms, Barrow believes JM was trying to hurt himself. Barrow thinks that the accident that killed JM's parents has affected JM which is why he had a rampage (but we know it is because he was fighting some robot aliens).
We see Omega outside watching as Barrow runs some tests on JM. Then as Omega is leaving (with the alien robot corpse slung over his should) a mysterious figure zaps him and the steals the robot, saying he will fix it up and put it to good use. It is a shadowy figure but the electric lines around his face make it easy to guess him to be Electro. Electro is one of those villains who to me was iconic, but really never appeared as much as I thought he should. Only 2 or 3 appearances in the first 150 issues of Amazing Spider-Man, then I think 3-4 in the first 120 issues of Daredevil. Did he have many more elsewhere?
Anyway, back to the tale. We see JM on his way to his new place with Barrow's nurse, Ruth and her friend Amber. They live in Hell's Kitchen and upon entering the lobby of their apartment, Ruth smells human excrement. Seriously, the comic tells us that someone has shit in the lobby! They show JM their beat up apartment and the bed where he will sleep.
Jump back to Omega who is out looking for some clothes to help hide his caped identity. He breaks into a second hand suit store only to find some would-be thieves already trying to steal money from the till. He makes quick work of them until one pulls a gun on Omega. This crook is then startled by an old man brandishing a weapon behind him and the crook shoots Omega in the shoulder. We then see JM waking from yet another "nightmare", clutching his shoulder. The girls rush in and Ruth calls Dr. Barrow. Meanwhile, back to Omega and the old man who has the crooks rounded up as the police arrive to help. Omega hides and then comes out when the cops are gone. The old man (called "Gramps") offers to bandage Omega up and also offers him a job at his shop.
The next day, Amber and JM are out on their way to meet up with Ruth (she had not been able to reach Dr. Barrow last night during JM's "nightmare" episode). They pass by a man standing outside a shop who looks like Omega in regular garb. Amber makes the comment of how attractive the man is and says she would "change her stance on monogamy" if JM grows up to look like that guy. The two then duck into a restaurant for an egg cream
Meanwhile, out on the street nearby, some guys start hassling a shirtless drunk. The guy wakes up and reveals himself as Bruce Banner! The guys harass him to the point that he turns into Hulk and they smash into the nearby restaurant where JM and Amber are. Hulk starts fighting the men, Amber starts snapping pics and JM says he can hear the voices inside the green man.
The handsomely garbed man sees this kerfuffle and intervenes (of course, it is Omega). Ruth also arrives and she rushes to find JM. A comment is also made about how she lived through some "experiences she rarely speaks about" and that the man she shared these with now writes to her from prison. Anyway, Omega manages to subdue the Hulk for a moment but then Hulk breaks free again. Suddenly, Electro arrives and he zaps both Omega and Hulk. He then takes Omega away, making a statement that he needs our hero to help him repair the robot he stole earlier. We finish with JM on the floor inside the restaurant unconscious, much like Omega was after being zapped and kidnapped by Electro.
Opinions Wow what a good story! This just keeps getting more intriguing. Not sure if Hulk's involvement extends beyond this ish but again, I am fine with seeing him briefly here (apparently he found himself here after Defenders #35). Electro is an odd villain choice as mentioned above but I am very excited to see him next ish. I believe they have given a big hint in this issue about JM and Omega when Amber mentions him growing up. Perhaps Omega is from the future or some alternate reality and that is why they are so connected? Either way, a great issue!
Letter Page On the letter page, Skrenes recounts an interesting conversation with some guy at Marvel (who Marv later reveals as Sanchez of the mail room). This guy gives Skrenes grief about the setting of Omega, how Omega doesn't talk and how he does not even believe she works on the book with Gerber. At the end, Marv has an apology note saying this "guy" would have picked on Don McGregor has he been around. Who was this "guy" really? Stan? It was an odd piece for a letter page to say the least. |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Dec 31, 2017 21:29:37 GMT -5
Omega The Unknown #3
The Cover Gil Kane gets the credit here and for me, it is not one of his best pieces. It is not bad by any means but perhaps I just wanted more facial expressions. Electro looks a little bland and simplified and you cannot really see Omega's face. Other than that, it is an intriguing cover and for the second time in three issues we see a character that is well enjoyed by fans (Hulk last ish, Electro this one).
The Story We start with JM in Dr. Barrow's medical center after his fainting episode at the end of last ish. He is talking with Ruth when he is then summoned to see the good doctor. He reveals that they are still baffled by JM's fainting and cannot seem to understand what he may be suffering from. Dr. Barrow pleads with JM to come to him if anything comes up, trying his best to get the strange young boy to confide in him. He mentions that Ruth will be enrolling him in school, something he thinks will be good for JM.
We switch to Omega who is chained up at the mercy of Electro. Electro threatens Omega, saying he will only be freed if he helps fix the robot alien thing from issue #1. Omega takes none of this and kicks Electro over. In the process, the robot also gets knocked over onto a railroad track and it gets shocked, appearing to bring it back to life. If this is the case, why couldn't Electro just shock it? Surely he would have tried that! Or maybe he really is that dumb.
We transition (without a blub, just a two page break) to JM at school. He finds his way to his class and the teacher and a student are going at it. JM sneaks up on the teacher who slaps him! For no real reason other than JM maybe startling him!
Anyway, JM finds his seat just as the bell rings. A girl name Dian advises JM to stick with her as they go for lunch. JM sits with her and another nerdy student when a bully named Nick decides to sit with them. He threatens JM but Dian tells him to knock it off.
Back to Omega now (again no transition bubble). Having now revived the alien robot, Electro makes a deal with it saying he will recharge it to its full power if it helps him first. Oh and he will also release Omega to the robot. So they take off, leaving Omega trying to escape his chains.
Back to school we go (by means of some excellent, though provoking dialogue) and we see JM leaving the school only tobe stopped by the bully, Nick. Amber arrives at this time too to pick up JM but not before Nick punches JM in the face. JM is stunned that someone would do this for no apparent reason. Amber chalks it up to city life. The two return to her place where JM turns on the TV to see Electro. He has highjacked a telethon and forced the proceeds to be sent in for him instead of the injured young boy that it was trying to raise money for (ruthless!). Suddenly, Omega bursts on the scene. He destroys the alien robot and then tackles Electro in an epic standoff. The young injured boy, Freddie, helps Omega defeat Electro in a very heroic moment. We finish with JM hearing voices again as he walks away from what he has seen on the TV, voices that he hears with more clarity and that speak to him.
Opinions Another really great issue. My summaries don't do this justice because this series is one you really have to read to feel it. The narrator is great and the moments where you normally have the hero jabbing and quick-witting his/her words with the villain are instead narrated in a very deep and thought provoking way. You have to read it to really appreciate it. Some of the transitions were quick too (as noted above by the lack of a bubble). I guess I am just used to one being there but this issue just decides to jump from JM to Omega without such a comment. Sure it may be on the next page or after an ad but it is different, and perhaps on purpose, as a way of showing that JM and Omega are connected. At any rate, that is now three great and interesting issues. Still questions to be answered for sure which is a good thing.
Quote of the Issue "For a year now, he's served as a professional object of pity, watching flashbulbs explode in his face, listening to speeches about his courage from people who could never hope to understand--and who, in face, hope desperately never to have to. Now, he decides he's had enough-- exploit, pity and objectify him, will they? Oh yeah?!? - the narrator describing the young boy Freddie, who helps defeat Electro. Great, moving stuff! |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Jan 8, 2018 22:07:19 GMT -5
Omega #3 The CoverWell this cover is not one that screams must read. After three strong ones to start the series, this one seems destined to be a dud. A Spanish guy in a bland costume who appears to have control over....cats!?! Oh goodness, what are we in store for. Ed Hannigan does the cover, and the cats look okay....I guess? Let us see where this leads. The StoryOur story starts once again with excellent narration. Omega is contemplating his purpose and why he feels compelled to stay on Earth with humans (whose emotions seem foreign to him) when he sees a suicidal woman jumping off the 58th street bridge. He saves her and she thanks him. It is here we see him whisper the word "why" and speaking for the first time, as he does not understand the decision she made to jump off the bridge. We then see JM back at school. His new female classmate friend, Dian, helps him out of a bind with the bully from last ish, Nick. Oh and she also hands JM a copy of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" and tells JM to read it. As an English teacher, I approve of this  She then advised JM to make sure he does not get caught alone with Nick and his little gang...if he sticks with her and others, he will be fine. Because of his sheltered upbringing, JM has some difficulty grasping these social lessons. We then jump back to Omega who has taken the girl he saved to Gramps' place (from issue #2 where Omega worked briefly). The girl, Teresa Mendez, is resting and wakes in fear when a cat enters her room. She is Spanish and reveals that she should not stay here because she will bring death. We get her backstory, about how her mother passed due to an ailing heart. Teresa is upset with the medicine man, El Gato, whose cures did not work on her mother. Teresa knew her mom need open heart surgery but she was stuck in her ways and this El Gato character had her convinced his herbs and remedies would cure her. Teresa insults El Gato and leaves the church. Ever since, she has been cursed. Her fish die, her fiancé dies and a stranger dies so Teresa decided to kill herself to stop harm from coming to others as a result of this El Gato's supposed curse on her. Gramps tries to calm Teresa and Omega steps out, stunned about this new form of violence he has learned about. Back to the school, we see that bugger Rick switch beakers in science class, and when JM advises his science teacher that he is about to use the wrong chemical, the teacher thinks JM is talking back. Well JM's other new pal, John (who goes by his surname Nedley), saves the day by grabbing the beaker and tossing out the window. He and JM are then marched to the principal's office as the teacher thinks they are responsible for this prank. The principal sends them on their way and Nedley heads to the washroom, where Rick and his goons are. They think Nedley and JM snitched and they proceed to beat up Nedley. We finish with Omega returning from his walk to see El Gato trying to kidnap Teresa. A brief battle ensues in which El Gato sics a bunch of cats on Omega. Gramps helps out by unleashing a fire hydrant full of water on the cats. At this point El Gato tells Omega to ask Teresa what she wants and (under some trance) she states she wishes to go with El Gato. They take off in his limo, leaving Gramps and Omega wondering what to do. OpinionsI feel that the villain here really stunk. Why cats? Even his name is uninspiring...it is simply Spanish for the Cat. His costume is very lame. Why could they not just make him a strange witch doctor guy who caused bad luck? Why did he have to command cats to attack? At any rate, I feel this took away from what could have been an excellent continuation of the existing tail (pun intended). Sadly though, there is a part two at least to this as the caption implies Omega will be going into the cat's lair! Lovely. Quote of the Issue"Agonizingly aware, in fact--for the felines seem to drop from the sky itself--from unseen clouds--like hailstones with teeth and claws"- The narrator describing the cats attacking Omega. Boy that is some riveting stuff....not!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2018 23:07:28 GMT -5
Great Covers and I do remember the Hulk Story (vaguely) in Issue 2 and your write up here is right on the money and thanks you for reliving it. OMEGA has a nice logo and I'm thinking about using it for my 50 greatest logos and apparently going that direction. It's has that fancy Greek look and that's rather cool.  Greek Omega Character
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Jan 8, 2018 23:25:02 GMT -5
Yes I like it as a symbol...I am wondering if there is going to be more exploration into its meaning and how it ties into this run. The link below has some interesting points about the meaning of the symbol. Seems like an interesting idea to build a character around but so far I have not seen much of a link between the comic and the symbol. allaboutheaven.org/symbols/1036/123/omega |
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She then advised JM to make sure he does not get caught alone with Nick and his little gang...if he sticks with her and others, he will be fine. Because of his sheltered upbringing, JM has some difficulty grasping these social lessons.