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(More customer reviews)Some SPOILERS here.
Any comic book fanboy worth his salt knows of Steve Rude, that phenomenal multi-award winning artist from Wisconsin. Steve "the Dude" Rude exploded on the scene way back in the '80s with NEXUS (check out Nexus Archives Volume 1 (Nexus Archives)) and has since gone on to produce equally exceptional work (Space Ghost, X-Men: Children of the Atom, SPIDER-MAN: LIFELINE, Incredible Hulk vs Superman 1st Print #7249 Prestige Format, etc.). Along with the Silencer, the Moth is a costumed crimefighter initially created by Rude as an image on a trading card. But it was only a matter of time before the Moth graced a comic book, and, in 2004, it happened. This entertaining trade paperback collects The Moth Double-Sized Special, the 8-paged Moth story from DARK HORSE PRESENTS #138, and the four issues of the Moth's mini-series. The Dude provides the lavish artwork. His pal Gary Martin contributes the writing and the inking. You'd think Dark Horse Comics would've given this one more of a chance. You'd think wrong.
The Moth is Jack Mahoney, a young and brawny circus acrobat who comes to inherit the Vansant Circus. Jack not only has to watch over his stunted, addled twin brother Tad, but he now finds himself struggling to maintain the livelihoods of his circus folk. To help make ends meet, he frequently ventures into the night as a costumed vigilante/bounty hunter. Jack's an extremely gifted and strong athlete, and his costume does come with built-in gadgetry, including wings which grant him gliding capability. But he doesn't have super powers. Accordingly, his gallery of rogues is pretty much of the small fry variety. The Moth's exploits have him running afoul of a supernatural man-lion, a biker gang, various mobsters, and thuggish fellow bounty hunters. But, humorously, his most horrible challenge probably comes at the hands of a little girl's pet monkey.
But the Moth is not without his allies. First off, his so-called secret identity isn't so secret as everyone in the circus seems to be in on his crimefighting alter ego. So, he receives ample support, and particularly from the strongman Melvin and the bearded Sophia. He also is lent an occasional assist from the product endorsing celebrity/superheroine American Liberty. But, hold up, what's this? Does American Liberty have a hidden agenda? And just who is that tall, intimidating dude near the end casting dire threats at our hero? And what about that trio of burgling Japanese ninja girls?
We'll have to wait to find out. And wait, and wait some more. As far as I know, there hasn't been a sighting of the Moth since issue #4 of the limited series, which ended in 2004 in a cliffhanger, dammit. Rude just hasn't had much luck with publishing the Moth's adventures (more on that, later). But after one segment on DARK HORSE PRESENTS (in 1998), one special, and four more issues, Dark Horse Comics cited poor sales and opted to discontinue the title. Their loss. The fed up Rude then, with his wife, co-founded Rude Dude Productions, which would allow him to self-publish his works. But, even with Rude Dude Productions afloat, new Moth stories have still been hard to come by (On a totally positive side note, there are now new Nexus stories being released.).
(Some more backstory: Steve Rude had initially gone to Image Comics to publish the Moth. But Image was concerned about the death head's logo on the Moth's costume as Marvel, feeling that the Moth was infringing on the Punisher's look, was threatening legal action. Image asked the Dude to change the logo, and that was pretty much that. Rude instead approached Dark Horse Comics.)
With the preponderance of anti-heroes currently out there in comics, the Moth is a breath of fresh air. If anti-heroes accurately reflect these cynical modern times, then the Moth is a refreshing throwback to the Golden and Silver age of comics. Yes, I do like my dark, moody, and vengeful capes, but, every now and then, my taste swings 180 degrees, and, there, the Dude awaits with Jack Mahoney. The Moth adventures exude a certain timelessness and a lighthearted, even slightly offbeat flavor, even though it boasts its share of arse-whuppin' and grit. With a working man as its center, a blue collar sensibility resonates and it's apropos that the stories are contained on a scaled-down canvas. Unlike the galaxy-spanning Nexus, who deals with stakes that are sometimes beyond earth-shattering, the Moth's purview lies with the more pedestrian crimes being committed out in the city.
Steve Rude, obviously, is the gigantic draw. The Moth is his infant, and he tends to his baby with the utmost care. He's always excelled in smooth visual storytelling, and it's no different here. Here's the flawless composition and the sure, vibrant lines, in which you can occasionally see traces of the Jack Kirby influence (as Rude mentions in an interview, the Moth's look is something that King Kirby himself might've designed). Simply fabulous artwork, and inked by the underappreciated Gary Martin, who also writes these stories. Martin's contributions shouldn't be discounted. To be as objective as I can, I'll admit that I wasn't too keen on the Moth special ("Not of Flesh and Blood!"). For sure, I didn't dig the sequences in Botswana. But Martin hits his stride soon after that, and the ensuing stories are fine.
This TPB also comes with 12 pages of extras: an afterword by Steve Rude; photos of the Dude (and his kids) and Gary Martin at various meet-and-greets; the original 3-paged short story "The Honeypot of Doom" by Gary Martin; a two paged spread of American Liberty as pencilled, inked, and colored by Martin; and fan letters.
So, yeah, the Moth left us hanging. One wonders how Jack Mahoney became the Moth. What's the origin there? And why a moth? It's mentioned in an issue that the death's head logo is there for the "psychological factor" (the logo should be "the last image a concussed law breaker will recall"). Which is cool. But I want more details like that. The scenes of circus life are always fun, as are the affectionate but sometimes roughouse interactions among the circus folk. And American Liberty, with all the stuff going on around her, has the potential to be a breakout character. But we'll have to wait and see, won't we? C'mon, Steve Rude! Work faster. Pleeeease!
(Okay, from what I understand, new Moth stories will roll out in early 2008.)
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Jack Mahoney is an acrobatic circus member by day, masked vigilante by night! In this collection, the charismatic Moth battles a savage lionman, a bounty-hunting thug, bloodthirsty mob hit men, and a trio of mischievous cat burglars! Toss in celebrity heroine American Liberty, an outlaw biker gang, circus hijinks, African witch doctors, and a bearded lady, the virtuosic Steve Rude action spills effortlessly from the pages.
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