Bob Layton Interview!

So, how do we follow-up a recap of DC's "The L.A.W."? By interviewing one of the creators involved. The great Bob Layton! 

Bob Layton and Dick Giordano

Kord Industries: You've had a rich career in comics; co-founder of Valiant, co-creator of DC’s Huntress, multiple Marvel credits including the historic “Demon in a Bottle” Iron Man story…what led to your work on DC’s “The L.A.W.”?

Bob: Dick Giordano, credited as the father of the Charlton Action Heroes, mentored me throughout my entire career. Unfortunately, we were always positioned at opposing companies throughout our careers.  When he was the head guy at DC Comics, I was on contract to Marvel or running Valiant Comics as Co–Founder and Editor-In-Chief. So, when Dick stepped down from his job as DC’s Managing Editor and went freelance and I stepped down from Valiant, we decided to finally work together on various projects.  Together, we did several Batman Elseworlds (“Batman: Dark Knight of the Round Table” and “Batman: Hollywood Knight”) and of course, the L.A.W..  Dickie’s passion for those characters had not diminished over the years and he yearned to revisit them once he returned to freelancing. So, I began to put together a pitch proposal we dubbed “The Charlton Project” for the Powers-That-Be at DC Comics.

KI: You did double duty on “The L.A.W.”, writing and inking (with the legendary Dick Giordano on pencils). Were you already familiar with the look and personalities of the Charlton Action Heroes? A fan?

Bob: I was a big Charlton fan since the days of the Giordano Action Heroes. I was honored that he took me under his wing when I was a kid of 19. Dick admonished me, as his apprentice, to learn every single aspect of the business—because that knowledge would insure me continuing to get work when times are tough. I have to say that he was correct.  For the majority of my career, I've been able to function as an editor, writer, penciller, or inker—depending on what’s available at the time, thanks to Dickie’s sage wisdom. In the mid '70's, Charlton was struggling to re-establish some sort of footing in the superhero market.  Marvel and DC had house fan publications of their own, namely F.O.O.M. and Amazing World of DC Comics. Charlton wanted to establish a fan presence, as well and formed an alliance with my Indianapolis-based CPL/Gang fan publication to produce the Charlton Bullseye. They gave us unlimited access to unpublished material from their vaults by the likes of unpublished Blue Beetle and Captain Atom stories by Steve Ditko, and a host of others titles. While I was producing Bullseye, I began taking on inking work on their anthology books.   Though I never actually worked in the Charlton offices. I DID, however, live about two blocks away from their Derby, CT. offices.  Plus, I did double duty in my early days as a background assistant with Dick’s close friend and neighbor, Frank Mclaughlin, creator of Judomaster. So, I was thoroughly steeped in Charlton and its lore. It was extremely nostalgic to connect with the Charlton characters after my fan association with them.

Judomaster, and his sidekick Tiger, play crucial roles in the story. Were they your favorites?

Bob: As I stated earlier, I worked as a background assistant with Frank McLaughlin in my early days, so I had access to his insights into the Judomaster character. And, let’s face it, I've always been attracted to characters without super-powers. Just look at my passion for Tony Stark/Iron Man if you don’t believe that.

When I put together the original pitch for”The Charlton Project”, Giordano had the wild idea to have Judomaster currently living in timeless Nanda Parbat. (Something he remembered from his days with Deadman and Neal Adams) Since it exists in a temporal nexus outside of time, Rip Jagger would still be young and alive in present day.  I thought that was brilliant and that backstory spurred the idea of an abandoned Tiger turning to the “dark side”. What I wanted to do with Tiger was to show how driven and obsessed he had become about stepping out of his now-legendary master’s shadow.  Keep in mind that Tiger learned from example.  After the war, when Tiger was denied entry to the country he risked his life to defend, Judomaster dragged him around Southeast Asia for almost a decade in his obsession to find the legendary city of Nanda Parbat. Obsession is the nature of megalomania and insanity.  I don’t believe that any would-be conqueror actually thinks out the big picture.  It’s all about ‘getting there’

The story includes a few updates, a new BUG for Blue Beetle, an entirely new look for Peacemaker, the transformation of one hero into the story’s villain.  How much freedom were you given?

Bob:  It was important to update and modernize the characters for a new generation.  It’s not like I haven’t had success with that before with such characters like Iron Man, Hercules, X-Factor or Solar: Man of the Atom. But I didn't have the freedom to do that with the Charlton Heroes as much as I would have liked.  To be honest, I see in retrospect that the entire project was a big mistake and doomed from square one. Originally, I had proposed it as an Elseworld series that explored the time gap that began when their series' ended at Charlton and the time they first appeared in the DC Universe (about ten years). It's a shame too, because it was a much better story that the one that appeared in The L.A.W.. In fact, we didn't come up with the title of the series. The L.A.W. was the stupid name that the Powers-That-Be at DC Comics came up with after they outright rejected the fifty-plus title suggestions that Dick and I came up with!  Fifty-three to be exact.  I shit you not.  I can show you the original document with all fifty-three proposed titles listed on it. 

Also, our original proposal had a darker, more Watchman-like tone to it and took place outside of DC universe continuity.  Some of those characters had fallen on hard times and our story was more about them finding their way “back into the light”.  In many ways, it deconstructed the super-hero genre in a very interesting way. Eventually, they wind-up trapped in a galactic upheaval that thrusts the Charlton Heroes into an alternate reality—which, coincidentally, was to be the DC Universe.  Unfortunately, those Powers-That-Be convinced Dick and me that it would sell better if we set it in the regular DC Universe from the beginning.  In order to do that, “The Charlton Project”, as we called it, had to be seriously retooled.   Subsequently, it started getting edited by committee, with each editorial department insisting we "Do this" or "Don't do that" and they insisted that the Justice League had to be guest-stars.  As a result, the content became diluted to the point that I no longer recognized it as the story Dickie and I had created.  At DC, a creator always has to deal with a certain amount of reverence to their history, bureaucracy and red tape.  But this project was ‘off the chain’ with bureaucratic foolishness. We were told, at the beginning, that we were going to get some big crossover promotions for the series (since it now guest-starred the JLA) but it never materialized.

Nothing. 

Crickets…

After the L.A.W., I left DC and never looked back.  And that fiasco almost broke Dickie’s heart in the process. Very tragic.

KI: I’ve been looking back at “The L.A.W.” over the last several months, inspired to re-read it after picking up Grant Morrison’s “Multiveristy: Pax Americana” which also featured the Charlton Action Heroes. Characters like Blue Beetle and Captain Atom had been involved in the bwahahahahaha “Justice League International” prior to your story. Were comparisons to those more lighthearted takes on the characters a challenge at the time?

Bob:  No.  I just ignored what came before at DC and tried to build on what’s good about the basic Charlton concepts. Do you think I went back and read all the uninspired Iron Man stories that were done before I revamped the book?  Not likely. And, as I said, the original story took place in an alternate reality, so none of that mattered.

KI: Was this always intended as a mini-series, or was there talk of uniting these characters in an ongoing series?

Bob: As I stated earlier, the series was doomed before it ever saw print. And, without any promotion or crossover push, the books didn't pull in acceptable sales numbers.  It's too bad it wound up the way it did.  Dick and I had big plans for those characters down the road in a proposed regular series but that never stood a chance in Hell of happening after the whole editorial fiasco.

KI: So, if you were given a chance to do this story again, would you? Would you change anything?

Bob: Are you kidding? No.  But if I did, I’d change EVERYTHING! Ha!

KI: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this! I really appreciate it! 

Wow...that was more honest and enlightening than I could have hoped for! I've actually enjoyed re-reading "The L.A.W." now more than I did when it came out, but that's not to say it didn't have flaws or moments that left me scratching my head. And now, thanks to Bob Layton himself, we have some of the answers. What other ideas did he and Dick Giordano have in mind? What were the 53 other titles DC rejected? Maybe he'll be gracious enough to share them at some point down the road.

In the meantime be sure to check out Bob's page boblayton.com for news and updates, convention appearances and more!

The L.A.W. #6: ...And Order!

Well, Beetlemaniacs, here we are...the final issue of Bob Layton and Dick Giordano's "The L.A.W." Most of the plot threads seemed to have wound down last tissue, but like the great Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over till it's over"

After the events of the last 5 issues, a battered and bruised Question finally returns home to his apartment in Hub City. Removing his mask, returning to his identity as Vic Sage, he contemplates whether or not he should tell this story, share the truth behind what happened. It might win him a Pulitzer Prize...or it might destroy him, and many others. In the end, he sits down at his computer and begins tying.

After Avatar's plot failed, the heroes reconvene at Peacemaker Project HQ. Blue Beetle is rushed to the infirmary for medical treatment, having suffered massive electrical shock shutting down the G.O.R.T., while Judomaster retires to his quarters to meditate, promising there will be much to discuss when he returns. 

After the others debrief, Questions pays a visit to his old friend the Blue Beetle. While the medical team has cleared him, Ted is not exactly "OK". Question is concerned that Ted isn't wearing a mask, openly showing the Peacemaker staff that he is Blue Beetle. Ted doesn't care. He's tired of secrets, tired of shouldering the burden of Dan Garrett's death, tired of living in the past. He decides it's time to stop being Blue Beetle...at least for a little while, while he sorts his life out.

Nightshade reappears, only to say she won't be staying long. She's uncomfortable with her new form, and wants to find a way to restore herself, but first she needs to give Uncle Yves (who's been waiting at Peacemaker HQ through all of this) an explanation. 

Mitchell Black goes before Peacemaker's governing body to request that he be relieved of duties so he can return to what he knows best...practicing medicine. The request is denied. The men behind the Peacemaker Project feel his humanity sets him apart from previous Peacemakers and makes him an invaluable asset...one they're not willing to give up just yet.

Then, everyone gets back together one last time...well, nearly everyone. 

Captain Atom, drained of his energy by Avatar, is stuck in a liquid state! He's alive, but just barely. Judomaster asks everyone to give him some privacy, but Question is permitted to stay behind and witness what will happen. Rip spends hours speaking to Captain Atom, reviewing his history, reminding him not just what happened but what made him the man he once was. Slowly but surely Captain Atom is able to reform himself, in a fancy new costume too! 

And with that we're reminded that "the events of the last few weeks had inexorably altered our paths...taking us in new, unforeseen directions." 

Finally a series of short epilogues reveal Justine and Sarge Steel continue their May-December romance with a ski trip...travelling on her private plane! We see that Salt was once a resident of Nanda Parbat, and has lived for centuries. He now stands by his friend Rip Jagger, the Judomaster, as he continues on his quest to save Tiger, aka Avatar. 

And lastly, in a cabin in the Himalayas, a man is trying to hire guides for a mountain trek. The man? Avatar. His destination? 

WOW! This really was a fun re-read...though a little sad at the same time. I said before, when this book first came out, I had mixed feelings. As excited as I was to see Blue Beetle, Captian Atom and the Question together...they weren't the versions I was familiar with at the time. I'd been so used to seeing the fun loving, wise cracking, Ted Kord of the JLI this was a bit of a shock. It's funny to me now though, writing this blog and going back to revisit old comics, as I realize that the tone in this book was a bit closer to the Charlton or even DC's Wein/Cullins series than I realized at the time. Curious how your perception can change or be influenced.

Seeing these heroes reborn, rejuvenated...kinda makes a guy wish there was more to it. Some kind of follow-up, another mini-series or monthly to tell us what happened next? Sadly...that was not meant to be. In fact, quite a few things about this series didn't turn out quite as expected. How do I know? I spoke with Bob Layton himself! Come back next week and check out my interview with Mr. Layton for all the details!

The L.A.W. #5: To Serve And Protect

We're nearly there! Bob Layton and Dick Giordano bring us the penultimate issue of their Charlton Action Heroes in the DCU series "The L.A.W.". The villain Avatar has managed to take control of the G.O.R.T. satellite with the help of a traitor inside Peacemaker HQ. Will our heroes be able to put an end to his plan once and for all? Read on...

Nightshade fights off hordes of Avatar's demons in an alternate dimension. With each wave of the attack she discovers more about herself. With the transformation that has taken place she now controls the shadows to even greater effect. But is it enough she wonders?

In space, the G.O.R.T.'s self defenses are online and firing on the BUG. Blue Beetle takes quick action, launching the BUG's own defense decoys, but he seems to be showing some unusual stress from the mission, and Peacemaker and the Question have taken notice. 

Back at Peacemaker HQ, Sarge Steel monitors the progress of his agents, while making things right with Justine (who he'd accused last issue of being a traitor). He's also had his old hand restored, "getting back to basics" he says...though somethings are changing.

Rip, sits in silent meditation preparing for an journey of astral projection. Using his finely honed mental skills he reaches out across the globe to Avatar, asking the villain to stop his plan of destruction and offering to help him. Avatar refuses.

Peacemaker decides to take risky measures to help take down the G.O.R.T. and takes a solo flight in space. He figures solo, he's too small for the satellite's defenses to lock onto, so he can clear the way for the BUG. 

It's just crazy enough to work...and it does! One page flip later and the BUG has docked and our trio is inside...where more defenses kick in!

Back in the alternate dimension, the Justice League has joined Nightshade in her battle with the Ravanan demons. A few pages later things are looking bad for an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, under heavy attack from Ravanan demons, until the League arrives to save the day...minus Nightshade who is nowhere to be seen.

In space, on the G.O.R.T., Peacemaker, the Question and Blue Beetle find themselves pinned down by the satellite's internal defense systems. Beetle freezes, unable to act, and flashing back again to the fateful day on Pago Island when his predecessor, Dan Garrett, died. Ted Kord is haunted by the idea that he could have acted, done something differently, to save his mentor and he refuses to make that mistake again! 

Charging at a damaged access panel, he tears at the exposed power cables, shutting down the satellite and nearly killing himself in the process. 

Steel tries to reason with Dr. Bhattacarja, but she tells him that her son is one of the many children Avatar "rescued". It gets worse when she explains that her son has a rare blood disease that Avatar has promised to heal, Steel knows there's no persuading her. "Oh, I see. In other words...we're dead." But when word gets back that the G.O.R.T. has been deactivated, Dr. Bhattacarja surrenders, though she worries her failure will upset Avatar and cost her son his life. 

In Pakistan, Judomaster confronts Avatar. In something of a surprise, Avatar concedes his loss, but adds that he is immortal and has all the time in the world to accomplish his plans. With that, he releases the children, including Dr. Bhattacarja's son, to the care of Judomaster. Before their meeting ends though, Avatar swears that he will kill Rip if their paths cross again. For his part Rip reminds his former sidekick that he has always loved him like a son, and will never stop trying to teach him forgiveness.

WOW! This issue was packed with some great character moments! The Justice League's return helped tie up a plot thread, but felt...unnecessary, this has been a great tale of the Charlton Action Heroes...and they've been doing just fine handling a global threat without the assistance of DC's mightiest heroes. Oddly we never saw Nightshade after they returned to our world either. Even though everything felt like it was coming to a close, there is still one more issue...perhaps we'll get some more answers there? You won't have to wait long either...I'll close up this visit with "The L.A.W." next week as I have something special planned for the end of the month! Make sure to check back!

The L.A.W. #4: Martial L.A.W.

Bob Layton and Dick Giordano continue their tale of the Charlton Action Heroes in the DCU. The villain Avatar has been revealed as the former sidekick of Judomaster, but can our heroes stop him in time? Read on, as we look at "The L.A.W." #4.

After last issues reveal of Avatar's identity, it's not too surprising that this issue begins with a flashback. It's 1944 and we get to see Rip Jagger, the Judomaster, and his sidekick Tiger (future villain Avatar) in action. They make short work of Japanese soldiers, and Axis villains, until WWII ends. Then they find a fight they can't win. The US government is still leery of the Japanese, and refuses to allow Rip to bring his young ward home to the States. Rip is upset, but decides to make lemonade out of these lemons. He'll take Tiger around the world "seeking out the lost secrets of the martial arts" until they're allowed to return to the US together. Before their journey begins though, he swears an oath that he'll never let any harm come to Tiger. 

Jump ahead to 1953 and Tiger is sick of it. He wants a home...a life...not this. So he does what any angry teen sidekick would do...he runs away. Back in the present we learn that Rip, after years of searching, eventually gave up trying to find Tiger and made his way to Nanda Parbat. Once there he became a favored follower of Rama Kushna and achieved the pinnacle of martial arts mastery. He even tells Avatar that he knew he was Tiger from the moment Rama called him, and cast him out because of the coming evil. Avatar shares his own tale, of seeing children orphaned by war, fighting against hunger and despair. How this fueled his hatred of warmongers and led him to the legend of Parashrama, the slayer of the warrior caste. He eventually learned everything there was to know about Parashrama, including the location of the temple that held the deity's weapons and serum of immortality. After hearing all he needed to hear, Rip breaks free of his bonds and the two began to trade blows. 

Praying for Rama's forgiveness, Judomaster strikes a deadly blow that stops Avatar's heart. He then frees what's left of Captain Atom and the story could have ended there...but then Rip recalls his oath. He can't let Tiger die. 

Back at Peacemaker HQ, Sarge Steel is pissed! "You revived him?!" He hammers his feelings home with a "Every drop of blood the Avatar spills from this point forward is on your hands, mister!" Steel then accuses his new lady friend Justine of being a traitor, before coming to the conclusion that she's not and Dr. Bhattacarja is! Sadly he's a little late on this, as Dr. B has already made contact with the revived Avatar and is already putting plans into play to take over the G.O.R.T. satellite. To make matters worse, Avatar unleashes another demon attack on a global scale! After reviewing security footage from the Peacemaker HQ, Steel comes to a terrible conclusion...Dr. B has been controlling him using his new cybernetic hand! Instead of tearing off the offending hand, he leads a security team to her room instead. (in fairness he does make an appointment to have it removed later) She's gone though, having locked herself in a secure room housing the controls of the G.O.R.T. While the security team tries to get access, Steel moves ahead with a plan B. Peacemaker (Mitchell Black), Blue Beetle, and the Question head off into space to shut down the G.O.R.T from there! 

Meanwhile, in another dimension, Nightshade makes contact with Martian Manhunter...too bad there's a horde of Avatar's demons hot on her heals.

Well, that was interesting. Not much Blue Beetle, but interesting. We had a false stop, which makes sense, both from Judomaster's standpoint (he can't kill the kid he swore to protect) and the fact that we're only on issue #4 of a 6 issue miniseries. That said, even with everything going on, half the issue was flashbacks and then...well, I was hoping for more story progression. 

We're almost to the end of this adventure Beetlemaniacs...what do you think?

The L.A.W. #3: The Past Is Always Present

Bob Layton and Dick Giordano are back with DC's take on the Charlton Action Heroes. Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, the Question, and the gang continue to wage war against the mysterious Avatar in "The L.A.W." #3.

Ted Kord is facing a dilemma. Dan Garrett the original* Blue Beetle has been swarmed by robots created by Ted's uncle, Jarvis. If they don't stop Jarvis he'll unleash the robots on the world, but Dan is quickly becoming overwhelmed by the mechanical onslaught. Help Dan? Take down Jarvis? What should he do...and why does this all seem so familiar? Easy. He's dreaming. 

Once Question confirms that the BUG was on autopilot, and they're not in danger, everyone relaxes a bit...at least for a moment. Rip Jagger offers Ted some advice, there are truths in the terrors of our dreams and if we have the courage to confront them, then we may be receptive to their message. Ted's ready to chalk it up to a microwave burrito, but before the philosophical debate can continue, Peacemaker radios them that they're approaching their destination...Avatar's stronghold!

In the Netherworld, the Justice League is frozen in time but Martian Manhunter uses his psychic abilities to try to reach out for help. There doesn't seem to be any response.

Meanwhile, in France, Eve Eden (aka Nightshade) witnesses the attempted kidnapping of French Ambassador Yves Forte. He's an old family friend, so she decides to step in as Nightshade. Good thing too, the kidnappers are actually Ravanan demons! Using a shadow cyclone she takes out the demons, then opens a portal to transport Yves and herself to safety. 

Justine and Steel quickly find out what Eve considers safety, as Nightshade teleports into Peacemaker HQ. Steel then gets a report of some radar anomalies in the flight path of Peacemaker One and the BUG, but it's too late...the heroes have flown into a trap!

Over the skies of Pakistan, Avatar and his demon hordes fly toward the heroes. How did he know they were coming? Well, probably that meeting with Dr. Bhattacarja last issue. There's no time for the heroes to figure it out, oddly Rip has time to don his Judomaster costume though. Avatar and his demons tear into the aircraft. Salt, Beetle, and Question battle the winged monsters. Peacemaker's ship, Peacemaker One, is destroyed and Mitchell Black is presumed dead. And all the while, Avatar simply watches...that is until one demon tosses Judomaster out into the air like an old doll. 

That gets the villain's attention. Shortly after the demons retreat, but not before Peacemaker makes a miraculous return and manages to tag one of them with a homing device.

As the heroes regroup, wondering the fate of the missing Judomaster, the powers that be decide to launch a geo-stationary operations and reconnaissance technology system...a sort of satellite communications translator, to help unite the world in it's fight against Avatar. Problem is, the device was developed by Dr. Bhattacarja and its launch is exactly what she and Avatar were counting on. Avatar then goes back to his Bond villain shenanigans by taunting Captain Atom again and revealing more of his plan. He wants to be the voice of the "lost children of a thousand wars" and punish the "so-called superheroes, costumed egomaniacs". The rant tires him out a bit and he decides it's time to hit the bottle...a bottle of Soma, an elixir of immortality! As he drinks he begins taunting another unseen prisoner until the issue's final reveal...that second prisoner is Rip Jagger, Judomaster. And Rip believes that Avatar is his long lost sidekick, Tiger!

Quite a bit of story progression this issue, several reveals, but not too much action. That said, at the halfway point of this mini-series, it's moving along nicely. 

*Original within the Charlton/DC continuity...they seem to ignore Fox's rookie patrolman Dan Garret 

The L.A.W. #2: The Way Of The Warrior

Bob Layton and Dick Giordano return to continue weaving the tale of how the world deals with a threat when the Justice League disappears...it turns to the L.A.W.

Captain Atom, captured last issue by the villain Avatar, attempts to escape his crystal prison, as the villain's demon minions taunt him. Avatar parades in, like the Pied Piper surrounded by children, and like a classic James Bond villain reveals his plan while encouraging Captain Atom's struggle. He's using the prison to drain the hero's energy to fuel his plans for reshaping the world. The more he struggles, the faster it works.

Meanwhile, the Question and Blue Beetle have arrived in India, having managed to track a group of Avatar's followers. The Question quickly finds himself outnumbered. The crowd is quickly distracted by a "leper", Blue Beetle in disguise, who uses the new "neuro-stunner" on his BBGun to aid the heroes in their escape.

At the headquarters of the Peacemaker Project, "Sarge" Steel is introduced to Justine Ramagas, head of their Global Communication Network. They discuss his inability to contact Nightshade, and trade some flirtatious banter...

Justine notices his missing hand (melted by demons last issue), and offers to get their medical team working on a replacement, then flirts some more before they get word that the communications team picked up a frantic call from Senator Eden (Nightshade's father)...and there's trouble!

Back in India, Blue Beetle and Question make it to the docks, only to find themselves cornered by another mob. As the thugs close in, a bald man steps off a boat and into the scene. "Pardon me, but of what crimes are these men guilty?" he asks. The response is a knife tossed at his chest...

He catches the knife and throws it at a cargo net, dropping bags over the mob of Avatar followers. The man is Rip Jagger, and Blue Beetle is impressed! The trio then runs down an alley, narrowly avoiding being trapped in a dead end, thanks to Rip, and just barely evading the mob.

In Bethesda, Maryland, Steel and Salt arrive at Senator Eden's home. What they find is Eve, trapped in some sort of temporal rift. Salt does what any clear thinking person would...he reaches into the void.

\

In India, Beetle, Question and Rip find themselves at the end of a pier, caught between the Avatar's men and the water. With no where left to run, Beetle taps a button on his glove and summons the BUG, allowing them to escape. They fill Rip in what has happened...Avatar destroying NASA's Mars project, disposing of the Justice League and their lunar base...but Jagger is confused, so much as changed since he went to Nanda Parbat. Beetle asks, "Rip...have you been frozen for decades in a block of ice...being worshiped by eskimos..." (is that a dig at Captain America? lol) and then alerts everyone of a change of course. They're being summoned by "Sarge" Steel!

At Peacemaker HQ, Mitchel Black talks prosthetics and women with "Sarge" Steel. Mitchel saw Justine flirting, and tells "Sarge" to stop worrying about age being an issue...it's the nineties! Steel hesitates on the prosthetic long enough for Salt to come in and announce that Nightshade is awake...and asking for Steel. Arriving in the infirmary, Steel finds Eve Eden...free of the succubus, but also void of emotion. 

She says she's free, and changed. She's just not sure how changed. 

When the BUG arrives, Salt drops to his knee, bowing before a "Master"...Rip Jagger. 

While Steel gets fitted with a new hand, courtesy of Dr. Bhattacarja, the head of the Peacemaker Project's advanced sciences department, Blue Beetle and Question pay a visit to Eve's room. Once there though, they find she's transformed into a new version of Nightshade. She seems unsure of what's happening but doesn't stick around, even when Blue Beetle offers to talk to her. She says she promised Steel she'd find the missing League...and she needs to get to work.

Then to wrap things up (in rapid succession) Mitchel Black gets his official promotion to THE Peacemaker, and plans to save the children Avatar has been hiding behind. Dr. Bhattacarja, reveals herself to be a mole, having a clandestine meeting with Avatar (via mystical gem communication). 

Steel and Justine have a little grown-ups behind closed doors with the lights out kind of meeting, while Beetle, Question and Peacemaker take to the skies in preparation of a surprise assault on Avatar.

Sweet baby James, this issue was packed with more action, character reveals, and romance than an episode of the A-Team! And who'd have pegged "Sarge" Steel to be "Face"? I'd have guessed Hannibal! Can't wait to see what's in store for issue #3!

The L.A.W. #1: Avatar Rising

After reading "Multiversity: Pax Americana", I wanted to dig into more Charlton hero team-ups. I've already covered a few, including Americomics "Sentinels of Justice", and "Justice League Quartley #14". So I jumped in to my time machine and traveled to September of 1999, when Bob Layton and Dick Giordano brought us..."The L.A.W."

Reporting for GBS News, Vic Sage informs us that the Justice League, and their base on the moon have mysteriously disappeared! We get a flashback to 36 hours earlier, when a strange figure walks undetected across the surface of the moon before attacking the League's HQ with mystical energy. But, before they can do anything to stop it, the League vanishes in a burst of light. 

Returning to Vic's news broadcast we get a report of the same figure attacking the launch site of rocket destined to help build a new multinational space station. The being identifies himself as "Avatar", the reincarnation of a Hindu god and destroyer of the warrior caste. He also summons a horde of demons to assist him! Captain Atom is quickly on the scene, having been at the launch in his civilian identity of Air Force officer Nathaniel Christopher Adam, but Avatar is prepared. In fact, he was counting on the hero's appearance and opens a rift to capture him. "Your power is key to the success of my campaign." Then, saving (or kidnapping, depending on your perspective) a crying boy, Avatar disappears. 

With the last update Vic has had enough, storming off the set he tells his boss he needs to take some sick time...he doesn't believe anyone is asking the right "Question".

In the White House, Sergeant Steel meets with the President to discuss the Avatar, and how best to handle him. With the League out of the picture, and Avatar operating out of "countries not cooperative with current democratic governments" they can't use US or NATO forces without causing an international incident. So the President suggests Steel combine his forces, with another...the Peacemaker Project!

At Kord Industries, Ted Kord finds a party celebrating a recent billion dollar deal cut short when he receives an alert that someone has broken into his Beetle Cave! (Ok, it actually says "secret subbasement lab" in the comic, but I like the sound of Beetle Cave) The Question is looking for Blue Beetle's help in dealing with the Avatar, and he needs all the resources Ted has at his disposal to get to the bottom of things. And Ted has resources...the "largest private super computer in the world" (take that Batman!) and a newly upgraded BUG! 

Steel arrives at Peacemaker HQ, just in time to witness another attack by Avatar. He's sent his demons to teach the Peacemakers a lesson for spying on his affairs. Steel and his liaison, a man named Salt, join the fight...leading to Steel melting his metal hand trying to punch a demon. 

A Peacemaker in slightly different armor than the others appears and manages to save the day...Mitchel Black, the Peacemaker (for the this story anyway) and Salt's number one student. Steel and Salt head to a briefing where 4 obelisks representing Science, Industry, Religion and Government agree to allow the Peacemaker Project work with Steel...but they determine an operative with inter-dimensional abilities, like Avatar, may be needed. Lucky for them Steel has someone in mind.

Eve Eden, aka Nightshade, is unhappy, but intrigued when Fate (the weird post "Zero Hour" Doctor Fate-ish character) shows up unannounced and claiming he can remove the succubus inside her. 

Instead he strips her down to her "very essence" and leaves, assuring her someone will be along shortly to rescue her...knowing she has a much bigger role to play.

Finally, in the Himalayas, in the mystic city of Nanda Parbat, Ripley "Rip" Jagger is summoned to meet with the deity known as Rama Kushna. Lao, the young boy sent to summon him notices his scars and asks what they're from...but Rip dodges the direct answer, suggesting instead that although he has lived through many battles some of his opponents may have been merely old wives tales. He then heads to meet Rama Kushna. Rama has summoned him because of the monstrous evil that threatens the world of men. A shadow threatening to infect all that is good...and Rip is the source of that shadow! He's confused, unsure how he could be involved...but she only assures him that all will be revealed when he returns to the outside world...as the Judomaster!

So, this is the first time I'm rereading this in several years and I have to say, it's not a bad start. The first (of six) issues sets up the story and reintroduces the Charlton heroes very nicely. I do recall having mixed feelings when I read this the first time but so far, yeah, I'm kind of liking it. Five more to go though...so we'll see how it holds up.