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And back to the Awesome Universe for a bit, though a slightly different part of it than the superheroic bit we've been looking at lately.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this comic. I don't know John Stinsman's work, and a quick look at the GCD shows that he was involved in both the Avengelyne and Lady Pendragon series that Maximum and Image, respectively, put out. He's also the artist on Chapel, and on the single issue of Avengelyne that Awesome produced, which I'll get around to reading once I'm ready to read Avengelyne's non-continuity Avatar Press adventures. But let's focus on Scarlet Crush, shall we?
I get a heavy Star Wars vibe from this comic, likely because it involves our main character attempting to recruit a mercenary and his large companion for a mission at a seedy bar. Star Wars has reached a level in our culture in which it has become a touchstone, one that many will recognize when it's referenced, even tangentially, like it is today. The four main protagonists prepare to engage in a rescue mission when they are attacked by the evil characters in the series, the Tiamatians. For some etymology, Tiamat is an ancient Babylonian goddess associated with chaos, and is also a 5-headed dragon goddess in Dungeons & Dragons. It's probably even money as to which of these Mr. Stinsman drew inspiration from.
As I say, heavy Star Wars vibe, partially because this series is set in the future. The question I have is is this the future of the Awesome Universe, or is Scarlet Crush meant to take place in its own continuity? The reason I ask this is Prophet. I've waxed lyrical about the effect that Brandon Graham and company's amazing future superhero series has on its predecessors. In a very different way from Supreme, Prophet contextualizes the Extreme/Maximum/Awesome heroes by giving them a future. Though Lt. Icaria (the main character of Scarlet Crush) doesn't show up or get a mention (as far as I remember), her presence in what is ostensibly the future of the Awesome U means that she fits into this timeline somewhere. Given that Prophet takes place in a future so distant it's hard to imagine, the present series, at only 2 issues long, could rest comfortably in a temporal nook or cranny somewhere along the way.
Okay, last thing before this post gets too long: the costume and wings she sports on the cover? They never show in the comic. Icaria wears a police officer's uniform, albeit a mini-skirted one. I'm curious as to where this other costume comes from, when it will make its appearance, and whether it's a commentary on global warming, as it really looks like it might be a bit chilly to wear on Earth.
More to follow.
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