Difference between revisions of "Louse"
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==Solicitation== | ==Solicitation== | ||
| − | '''Redemption,' Chapter 4: Louse''. How many [[mutates]] does it take to screw in a light bulb? Well, if you're [[Sevarius|Dr. Sevarius]] and [[Fang]], the answer is: 'Never enough!' Can [[Robyn Canmore|Hunter]], [[Yama]], [[Dingo]], and [[Matrix ]] stop our mad scientist's nefarious plan for the city of [[Manhattan]]?" | + | '''Redemption,' Chapter 4: Louse''. How many [[mutates]] does it take to screw in a light bulb? Well, if you're [[Anton Sevarius|Dr. Sevarius]] and [[Fang]], the answer is: 'Never enough!' Can [[Robyn Canmore|Hunter]], [[Yama]], [[Dingo]], and [[Matrix ]] stop our mad scientist's nefarious plan for the city of [[Manhattan]]?" |
==Summary== | ==Summary== | ||
| + | ===Main Plot=== | ||
| + | Fang destroys the robot pinning Yama. After goading him for a “thank you”, Yama throws two throwing stars in Fang's direction. | ||
| + | Five days earlier, Fang captures Hunter and Yama, who takes them to Sevarius and his latest test subjects. Dingo and Matrix have not made any progress, so Matrix spreads its nanobots to cover more ground, eventually finding the captors before Sevarius can experiment with both Hunter and Yama. Sevarius reminds the Squad that Fang is at [[Times Square]] with the [[CV-1997 Carrier Virus]], which will transform the crowds there into armored mutates. Matrix contains the virus just in time at the stroke of midnight, and Fang is subdued by Yama. The victory is short-lived however when they discover that Sevarius has escaped and [[Tasha]], one of mutates, loses all hope for a cure. When the [[Redemption Squad]] prepares to leave New York, Hunter asks a [[Director|superior]] to reconsider their newest recruit: Fang. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Suplots=== | ||
| + | Sevarius claims a client of his is interested in the practicality of creating a mutant army. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Dingo short-circuits with Matrix when Fang attacks them with electricity. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Thug]] returns with [[Benny]] and [[Erin]] to the Labyrinth, the details of its existence the Redemption Squad is not too clear about. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Review=== | ||
Review by Todd W. Jensen | Review by Todd W. Jensen | ||
| − | "Louse" continues the story of the | + | "Louse" continues the story of the Redemption Squad, taking one of the darkest turns in the [[Gargoyles Universe|''Gargoyles'' Universe]] to date. Hunter, Dingo, Matrix, and Yama are pitted against Sevarius, who's continuing his corrupt genetic experiments – but has come up with an even more ambitious scheme than before. This time, he's decided to test his new carrier virus on the crowd assembled at Times Square on New Year's Eve, ensuring "a wonderful variety of Mutates", as he puts it. |
I had suspected that Sevarius would be carrying out such a scheme after noting that [[Estranged|#3]] was taking place on New Year's Eve; while the notion of a super-villain unleashing something dreadful upon a crowd eager to ring in the new year at Times Square has become almost cliched, that would fit Sevarius's character perfectly. And the story makes it clear that Sevarius is going over the top, particularly when Fang (who's serving as Sevarius's henchman) grumbles about how Sevarius *had* to have the virus released at exactly midnight. | I had suspected that Sevarius would be carrying out such a scheme after noting that [[Estranged|#3]] was taking place on New Year's Eve; while the notion of a super-villain unleashing something dreadful upon a crowd eager to ring in the new year at Times Square has become almost cliched, that would fit Sevarius's character perfectly. And the story makes it clear that Sevarius is going over the top, particularly when Fang (who's serving as Sevarius's henchman) grumbles about how Sevarius *had* to have the virus released at exactly midnight. | ||
| − | But, as I said in the opening paragraph, Sevarius's experiments are darker than in [[Metamorphosis|"Metamorphosis"]]. For one thing, now his victims include children (Benny and Erin). Even worse, one of his victims, | + | But, as I said in the opening paragraph, Sevarius's experiments are darker than in [[Metamorphosis|"Metamorphosis"]]. For one thing, now his victims include children (Benny and Erin). Even worse, one of his victims, Tasha, commits suicide after realizing that Sevarius has no intention of curing her. The remaining new Mutates will find sanctuary at the Labyrinth, but their plight is still clearly worse than Talon's and Maggie's was. |
Sevarius is also ready to try mutating Hunter and Yama, though fortunately Dingo and Matrix thwart him in time. He plans to use [[gargoyle]] DNA (from Angela, to be precise) on Hunter (whose horrified response indicates that she hasn't completely freed herself from her old prejudices), and [[human]] DNA on Yama (though we don't learn whose it was from). | Sevarius is also ready to try mutating Hunter and Yama, though fortunately Dingo and Matrix thwart him in time. He plans to use [[gargoyle]] DNA (from Angela, to be precise) on Hunter (whose horrified response indicates that she hasn't completely freed herself from her old prejudices), and [[human]] DNA on Yama (though we don't learn whose it was from). | ||
| Line 42: | Line 54: | ||
The first four pages contain more material from the ''Bad Guys'' [[Bad Guys (leica reel)|Leica reel]]. | The first four pages contain more material from the ''Bad Guys'' [[Bad Guys (leica reel)|Leica reel]]. | ||
| − | + | Sevarius recognizes Hunter from their previous encounter in [[Hunter's Moon Part Two|"Hunter's Moon" Part Two]], and even mentions her then-alias of Robin Correy. | |
| − | + | Benny and Erin are named after [[Greg Weisman]]'s children. The real Benny and Erin chose the mutated forms of their comic book counterparts, leading Greg Weisman to create the armor theme around their choices. [http://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=10963] | |
The word "[[gargate]]" finally becomes canon rather than canon-in-training in this issue. | The word "[[gargate]]" finally becomes canon rather than canon-in-training in this issue. | ||
Revision as of 17:51, 16 July 2023
"Louse" is the fourth issue of the Gargoyles: Bad Guys comic by SLG, and Chapter Four of the Redemption story arc. It was released on August 20, 2008. The issue was reprinted in Gargoyles: Bad Guys - Redemption.
- Writer/Creator: Greg Weisman
- Artist: Karine Charlebois
- Art Director/Cover Pencil Artist: Greg Guler
- Cover Color Artist: Robby Bevard
Contents
Solicitation
'Redemption,' Chapter 4: Louse. How many mutates does it take to screw in a light bulb? Well, if you're Dr. Sevarius and Fang, the answer is: 'Never enough!' Can Hunter, Yama, Dingo, and Matrix stop our mad scientist's nefarious plan for the city of Manhattan?"
Summary
Main Plot
Fang destroys the robot pinning Yama. After goading him for a “thank you”, Yama throws two throwing stars in Fang's direction.
Five days earlier, Fang captures Hunter and Yama, who takes them to Sevarius and his latest test subjects. Dingo and Matrix have not made any progress, so Matrix spreads its nanobots to cover more ground, eventually finding the captors before Sevarius can experiment with both Hunter and Yama. Sevarius reminds the Squad that Fang is at Times Square with the CV-1997 Carrier Virus, which will transform the crowds there into armored mutates. Matrix contains the virus just in time at the stroke of midnight, and Fang is subdued by Yama. The victory is short-lived however when they discover that Sevarius has escaped and Tasha, one of mutates, loses all hope for a cure. When the Redemption Squad prepares to leave New York, Hunter asks a superior to reconsider their newest recruit: Fang.
Suplots
Sevarius claims a client of his is interested in the practicality of creating a mutant army.
Dingo short-circuits with Matrix when Fang attacks them with electricity.
Thug returns with Benny and Erin to the Labyrinth, the details of its existence the Redemption Squad is not too clear about.
Review
Review by Todd W. Jensen
"Louse" continues the story of the Redemption Squad, taking one of the darkest turns in the Gargoyles Universe to date. Hunter, Dingo, Matrix, and Yama are pitted against Sevarius, who's continuing his corrupt genetic experiments – but has come up with an even more ambitious scheme than before. This time, he's decided to test his new carrier virus on the crowd assembled at Times Square on New Year's Eve, ensuring "a wonderful variety of Mutates", as he puts it.
I had suspected that Sevarius would be carrying out such a scheme after noting that #3 was taking place on New Year's Eve; while the notion of a super-villain unleashing something dreadful upon a crowd eager to ring in the new year at Times Square has become almost cliched, that would fit Sevarius's character perfectly. And the story makes it clear that Sevarius is going over the top, particularly when Fang (who's serving as Sevarius's henchman) grumbles about how Sevarius *had* to have the virus released at exactly midnight.
But, as I said in the opening paragraph, Sevarius's experiments are darker than in "Metamorphosis". For one thing, now his victims include children (Benny and Erin). Even worse, one of his victims, Tasha, commits suicide after realizing that Sevarius has no intention of curing her. The remaining new Mutates will find sanctuary at the Labyrinth, but their plight is still clearly worse than Talon's and Maggie's was.
Sevarius is also ready to try mutating Hunter and Yama, though fortunately Dingo and Matrix thwart him in time. He plans to use gargoyle DNA (from Angela, to be precise) on Hunter (whose horrified response indicates that she hasn't completely freed herself from her old prejudices), and human DNA on Yama (though we don't learn whose it was from).
Fang is his usual obnoxious, loud-mouthed self; he stoops to his lowest when he tries making a joke about Tasha's death – and almost gets decapitated by a disgusted Yama. Hunter stops Yama in time – and Fang is enlisted on the Redemption Squad, to the alarm of everyone else (except possibly Matrix, whose response is not shown).
Dingo and Matrix continue their interplay introduced in #1; Matrix argues near the start that if Dingo had not rushed off so impatiently, they might have achieved their goals much sooner, and then goes scouting ahead in the form of many different strands, each venturing down a different tunnel. Later, Matrix removes himself from Dingo to stop the virus from being released, resulting in Dingo almost falling to his death before Hunter saves him. When Dingo protests afterwards, Matrix says "I assumed you did not want to be mutated, and I calculated Hunter could save you." The partnership clearly still has its problems.
There are other great touches: Benny curling up in his shell in response to Tasha's suicide, and Dingo unwittingly repeating himself each time he's zapped by Fang. All in all, this makes a fine continuation of the Redemption Squad's story.
First Appearances
Character
Object
Tidbits
The front cover is an excerpt from the Daily Tattler, mentioned in the television series in "The Thrill of the Hunt" and "Hunter's Moon" Part One.
The first four pages contain more material from the Bad Guys Leica reel.
Sevarius recognizes Hunter from their previous encounter in "Hunter's Moon" Part Two, and even mentions her then-alias of Robin Correy.
Benny and Erin are named after Greg Weisman's children. The real Benny and Erin chose the mutated forms of their comic book counterparts, leading Greg Weisman to create the armor theme around their choices. [1]
The word "gargate" finally becomes canon rather than canon-in-training in this issue.
Sevarius's sample of Angela's DNA came from his extracting genes from her in "Monsters" (the same extraction which led to his discovery that she was Goliath's biological daughter).
Brendan and Margot are among the crowd in Times Square (bickering as ever), as are Terry and Tri Chung. Many real-life Gargoyles fans make cameos as well: Jennifer L. Anderson, Stephanie Lostimolo, Eric Tribou (also known as Gorebash, Station Eight's administrator), Cindy Kinnard, and Seth Jackson.
Links
- On Sale at TFAW
| << Previous Episode: "Redemption, Chapter Three: Estranged" | Next Episode: "Redemption" Chapter Five: Strangled >> |
