Saturday, March 14, 2009
Comic Art
SO BAD, THEY'RE GOOD
Not sure what it is with DC Comics and talking apes, but the DCU (DC Universe for the uninitiated) is overrun with them. The king of the bad talking apes is Gorilla Grodd, arch-enemy of The Flash.
The origin of the idea of bad guy apes seems obvious. You have to remember, this stuff was born when King Kong was a prevailing image in the American consciousness, but I have to think it is the imagery that have made them hang around after all these years. Grodd is a run of the mill megalomaniacal type. As a character there is little to distinguish him from Luthor, Brainiac, Kang, Thanos, et. al.
But look closely at the images in this post - there is something extraordinarily compelling in them. They say that monsters are at their scariest when then look like us. I think the appeal to an ape enemy is precisely that - so close to human, and yet so perverse. I could almost get spiritual about it. Our inherent distrust of an animal so close to us biologically speaking says something about our sense of right and wrong in the created universe.
But enough philosophy/theology for a comic book post. I am generally not a big fan of villains. I usually buy books based on the hero character(s). But Grodd is an exception. I buy books featuring Grodd. I mean, I don't care who he is fighting, it just looks cool. Especially when he let's lose with the whole army of gorillas thing. (BTW, I hated the deal in the animated JL Unlimited where he lead the army of bad guys - that was just goofy) An army of uniformed apes marching down Wall Street, is, well, one of those things you will only see in the comics - spectacular, extraordinary, and fun.
Not sure what it is with DC Comics and talking apes, but the DCU (DC Universe for the uninitiated) is overrun with them. The king of the bad talking apes is Gorilla Grodd, arch-enemy of The Flash.The origin of the idea of bad guy apes seems obvious. You have to remember, this stuff was born when King Kong was a prevailing image in the American consciousness, but I have to think it is the imagery that have made them hang around after all these years. Grodd is a run of the mill megalomaniacal type. As a character there is little to distinguish him from Luthor, Brainiac, Kang, Thanos, et. al.
But look closely at the images in this post - there is something extraordinarily compelling in them. They say that monsters are at their scariest when then look like us. I think the appeal to an ape enemy is precisely that - so close to human, and yet so perverse. I could almost get spiritual about it. Our inherent distrust of an animal so close to us biologically speaking says something about our sense of right and wrong in the created universe.But enough philosophy/theology for a comic book post. I am generally not a big fan of villains. I usually buy books based on the hero character(s). But Grodd is an exception. I buy books featuring Grodd. I mean, I don't care who he is fighting, it just looks cool. Especially when he let's lose with the whole army of gorillas thing. (BTW, I hated the deal in the animated JL Unlimited where he lead the army of bad guys - that was just goofy) An army of uniformed apes marching down Wall Street, is, well, one of those things you will only see in the comics - spectacular, extraordinary, and fun.
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