Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Final Crisis Aftermath - Ink #5 - DC

We get some insight into Mark's past this issue. A few years ago, when he was a Marine, his chopper was shot down and he was taken hostage as a prisoner of war. But the people who took him weren't interested in using him as leverage. They didn't like the war, or the Western involvement in it, but . . they also didn't like being downtrodden by ' . a tyrant whole rules our bodies but fails to rule our souls.' When they give him the gift of the tattoos . . a gift that comes with incredible pain . . they tell him 'The only world that matters is that which lies within. We will help you see it. From now on, you will live your life as we do . . from the inside out.' We see all this as his younger brother rips it from his memory. Mark had thought him dead, but instead the government had experimented on him to give him the power to control others. Some type of telepathy, I guess. Anyways, I think all of this is happening for two reasons. One is the classic conflict that will happen between brothers when they find themselves on opposing sides of an ideal. Mark's brother want to take over the Hill. He wants to be king. Mark wants to save it. Unfortunately, right now . . the only way he can do that is by turning his back on his family, and turning himself over to the police. A corrupt and evil department that is every bit as bad as the gangs that run the neighborhoods. The second reason I think all of this is happening is to help, or teach Mark how to control his power . . his tattoos. That's why they've been running loose and wild. He's never fully been in control of them. But I think this conflict . . these decisions that Mark's had to make for the interest of his family and his community . . they're the strengths that are going to teach him to control his gifts. So, as he sits in his cell trying to silence Altura and the Ronin, he contemplates his powers and his path. And he's also visited by Roy. He's here to inform him that because of recent events, he's been suspended from duty in the JLA. So with this issue . . he's been completely deconstructed. He's reached the bottom. Next issue . . the last issue . . he has to put it all back together and rise from the ashes. Do you think he can do it? I guess we'll just have to wait and see. This was a great issue by Eric Wallace and Fabrizio Fiorentino. I really liked the way it all played out, and the overall look and feel of the book. I can't wait to see how it all wraps up. If you're interested in this story at all, this will be a great TPB to look for when it comes out. It's a pretty intense story.

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