Issue 97

Review by Jim Johnston

Title - Up From the Ashes

Story - Bill Black

Penciller - Brad Gorby

Inker - Mark Heike

Cover Artists - Brad Gorby and Mark Heike after Bill Black

Published 1996

Synopsis

• The adventure begun in the previous issue is concluded. Synn displays her new, smarter, more confident personality. The team is required to attend a charity function. There, they discover the Guest of Honour, Mr. Von Ferris, the millionaire property developer, is really Iron Jaw. In the course of the evening he is confronted by a fire entity, the restless spirit of a victim of his latest vile scheme. Later, Iron Jaw is exposed by the clever machinations of Dr. Myla Chang. The team takes him into custody and the spirit is put to rest - for the time being.

Story

• The action begins right where the previous issue ended. Reddevil, Crimebuster, and Squeeks swoop in and knock down the giant size Claw just as he is about to stomp an unconscious Tara. He turns his attention to the heroes but before he can deal with them a mental projection of Synn appears and imprisons him in a comic book (Golden Age Greats Issue 10). Then, Synn's mental projection takes charge of the aftermath by ordering She-Cat to buy the comic and take it into custody.
• Back at Oceanus, Synn reveals to Nightveil that she had planned the Claw's defeat and capture well in advance. Nightveil is impressed. Later, the entire team is called to the new FemForce HQ. They all get a tour of the very impressive building. Then everyone's status in the FemForce organization is outlined and confirmed. Ms. Victory expresses concern that outside agencies have access to the FemForce computer. General Strock replies that, because of the expense of rebuilding the HQ and government downsizing, they had to share their computer technology. Meanwhile, Nightveil speaks to Synn about the Manga babies. She warns her that Manga Synn and Popsie Popp would simply drop out of existence if Synn ever forgets to concentrate on them. Synn replies that she has already dealt with that problem.
• The team learns that they are required to attend a charity gala designed to raise money for urban renewal. As public relations officer, Synn has arranged for them to attend and has custom designed evening gowns for earch FemForcer. Once there, Ms. Victory realizes that the Guest of Honour, Mr. Von Ferris, is really Iron Jaw in disguise. More disturbingly, Dr. Myla Chang, who had previously been forced to create Iron Jaw's disguise by using her expertise in tissue regeneration, is his unhappy companion. Upon seeing this, She-Cat calls Mike McCusky, the Scarlet Scorpion.
• Suddenly, Von Ferris is confronted by a living fire-entity who accuses him of murder. The team is reluctant to act. General Strock reminds them of their duty and smartly orders them into action. Synn takes charge, driving off the fire apparition and directing Tara to save Von Ferris. General Strock orders Nightveil to go after the fire being and "Get to the bottom of this." Nightveil does so and the General privately expresses relief that the all-powerful sorceress followed her order. Nightveil and She-Cat pursue the fire-being to a burnt-out building where the trail goes cold.
• At the building, they meet Dani- a little girl who tells them that the fire entity is the restless spirit of Kathy, a dance instructor who was the victim of Iron Jaw's arson. Dani calls the spirit "Firebeam." Nightveil uses her mystic power to summon Firebeam and learn the circumstances of her death. We learn that in life Firebeam was Kathy, a beautiful dance instructor who refused to sell her dance studio to make way for Iron Jaw's urban development scheme. Iron Jaw burnt down the building housing the dance studio. Kathy and Dani's sister, Lisa, died in the fire.
• Meanwhile, back at the banquet things have quieted down. General Strock placates Von Ferris. Crimebuster and Scarlet Scorpion arrive, intending to have it out with the villain. Dr. Chang tells them to back off and she offers a fine cuban cigar to Iron Jaw. The cigar has been treated with a special chemical which destroys Iron Jaw's disguise and exposes his true face. Nightveil returns with enough evidence to have Iron Jaw arrested. Dr. Chang is finally free of her servitude and Firebeam can rest in peace.
• I really liked -
  1. The first appearance of Firebeam (created by the Black's daughter, Laura) - a really interesting new character with lots of potential.
  2. All the happy endings. Dr. Chang is free of Iron Jaw. Iron Jaw is arrested. Firebeam's spirit is at rest.
  3. Ms. Victory, in explaining their presence to Dani, states: "We mean no harm to anyone. We're protectors." That is an excellent definition of the FemForce (and it clearly separates them from many other current superheroes). Further to this point, when Dani recognizes Ms. Victory she knows she can trust them.
• I didn't like -
  1. The way that the Mayor of Miami was portrayed as being a voyeuristic little dweeb (He was continually sneaking a look at General Strock's cleavage). I really dislike it when civil authority is made to appear foolish or incompetent.
  2. The new smarter Synn. Actually, I'm of two minds about this point. I like the idea of a smarter, more confident, Synn, but in this book she came off as being cold, distant, and formal (midway between Nightveil and Ms. Victory). The team already has enough overly heavy/serious types. I think I would have liked it better if in addition to being smarter and more confident, Synn could have kept her sunny personality.

Art

• Cover - Firebeam literally blazing upward from out of the ashes (towards the viewer - creating the effect of an overhead view) with Synn, Ms. Victory, and She-Cat, dressed in evening gowns that reflect their costume designs, standing down on the ground looking upward in surprise. Special note - the FemForce 97 title banner is arranged vertically and coloured in such a way as to suggest the colours of rising flames.
• Splash Page - RedDevil, Crimebuster ,and Squeeks drive headlong into the action, and straight toward the reader.
• I really liked -
• 1. The ladies in those custom designed evening gowns which were cleverly based on their costumes. Also, how, although they are in civilian clothes, their appearance reflects their persona's. For example: Ms. Victory looks very formal, she wears her hair "up" and also wears jewelry; She-Cat's hair is wild and free and appears to be barely manageable; Tara still has the functional pony tail; Synn's big flowing mane is all over everywhere and Nightveil has a cowl (still in the shadows).
  2. The "on-going" background fun bits, for example: Manga Synn and Popsie Popp, little sprites that Synn had literally thought into existence; Squeeks (Crimebuster's simian companion) aiming Iron Jaw's lugar at Iron Jaw's discarded wig and then, while wearing that same wig, he gives the villain a big rasberry as he is being led away in handcuffs.
  3. The layout. The same set-up is never used twice. It really helped to tell the story. It was never overly complex nor did it get in the way of the action.
  4. Iron Jaw's melting face as the chemically treated cigar takes effect.
• I didn't like -
  1. Iron Jaw in his Von Ferris disguise. He was supposed to be handsome (She-Cat called him "a beautiful stud"), but to my eyes he looks grotesque. His face doesn't look right at all. The features all look too small. Plus, with that long flowing hair he looks like a 3rd rate Fabio.

Back