Relationships Create Vulnerability

First Look for January 03, 2018

The theme I pull from today’s first look is that relationships create vulnerability. In both Vision #4 and Tales of Suspense #40 we can see that the close relationships between the heroes and either family members or “girlfriends” can cause trouble for them. That’s not to say that things are always bad, but for Tony Stark, he would really have no knowldge of the troubles in Granville if it weren’t for Marion Rodgers, but he’s got something going on with her. In the Vision, if Virginia didn’t have the fear that her husband would be upset about her killing the Grim Reaper, she would never have gone off to see the blackmailer. In either case, relationships cause vulnerability where otherwise there would be no problems for our heroes.

The Vision #4

Balls in the Air by Ton King and Gabriel Hernandez Walta. Published by Marvel Comics in 2016.
Well, we now know who witnessed Virginia burying the Grim Reaper and what the blackmail is all about but we also see that Vision is pretty much a secondary character in his own title. While secondary though, his presence creates a large shadow. The whole reason for Virginia’s lies and deceit is because her relationships create vulnerability. In her attempt to maintain a “normal” life and support Vision’s goal of being more human, Virginia has opened up the possibility of blackmail and increased the stakes for when Vision finally finds out what happened. Meanwhile, the kids are dealing with their own issues of trust and prediction and how to attend a high school where most of the students don’t want them around.

There is one bright spot though in Chris Kinzky, Viv’s lab partner. He refuses to give in to the hate and bigotry of his fellow students and even his dad. He truly seems to like Viv and want to be her friend. The 2 pages where he walks her to class are very touching and actually create a vulnerability in the reader for what is to come.

This issue, for me, is the best of the series so far. The art by Walta and the script by King all meld so well together that it is a very moving story. I can really feel and see the emotions that are going on and understand where the various characters are coming from. Everything works in this issue, even the Kirby homage page that harkens back to the family we were introduced to in Fantastic Four #1.

If Vision ever gets his own movie, I’d love to see this tale play a part of it – it’s so good.

You can find first looks at other issues in this title linked in my January reading list.

Tales of Suspense #40

Iron Man vs Gargantus! by Stan Lee, Robert Bernstein, Jack Kirby, and Don Heck. Published by Marvel Comics in 1963.
Tony Stark is a scientist, playboy, and superhero and now he rocks a C–3PO colored outfit. I suppose all the grey robots will be upset with this issue, but I think the gold paint will help keep the rust off the iron. Beyond that, I actually liked the pseudo-retelling of the origin story in this issue. It seems like Stan and company are working harder to not simply repeat the previous narrative.

In any case, Marion Rodgers, a girl Tony’s been dating had to live in THE town the aliens decide to drop Gargantus into. No problems, after Iron man takes out the cats at the circus and leaves his gay (this definitely had different connotations in the 60s and was not offensive) party, he uses his brain and his gadgets to figure out Gargantus is controlled by aliens and he destroys the robot with his mighty transistors. Interestingly, this issue gives credence to ancient alien astronaut theorists since the last time the aliens were on Earth, they interacted with the Neanderthals. This was a fun issue, well drawn and inked by Kirby and Don Heck.

You can find first looks at other issues in this title linked in my January reading list.