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I started reading comics regularly after 'Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns'. Since then, I've become a co-host on 'The LanternCast' (a podcast dedicated to Green Lantern that's been on the air since 2008), started a new podcast covering the late 1980's DC series Action Comics Weekly (appropriately titled The Action Comics Weekly Podcast), and have been the curator of THE blog on the internet dedicated to the character of Ragman, created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert published by DC Comics starting in 1976 and currently appearing on The CW show 'Arrow' as portrayed by actor Joe Dinicol. I'm an avid fan of comics, classic rock, and speaking my mind. Welcome!

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

[SPOILERS] Ragman #1 - Return Fire!

(Photo by Ragman artist Inaki Miranda)
Tatters! This is a day we've been waiting for since the 2010 Ragman Suit of Souls one-shot. DC Comics has published a new Ragman title! 'Ragman #1' is officially available for purchase today! And your's truly was graciously provided with an advance copy so I can tell all the Tatters out there whether this new 2017 take on the classic 1976 character is worth the cover price of admission!

The answer?

YES.

Now let's disqualify any notions of outside influence on this review. DC Comics did NOT tell me they'd provide me with an interview and an advance copy for this series, so long as I make sure to sing nothing but it's praises. Nor am I taking a biased approach due to my clearly well documented Ragman fandom. So, that being said, here are my unbiased, unbought opinions on the new series.

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[SPOILERS]

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Ragman #1 is a good start for the character. Right away we open with Rory's military unit in the Israeli desert setting up his close knit brotherhood with his unit. We see him coping with civilian life in a therapy group. We see his father worried about him getting back into the world. We see his slight detachment from those around him.

Enter the Suit of Souls.


In all I feel that it's a story of purpose and reconnecting. Rory is a man torn from his brotherhood in a violent way. A way which he cannot comprehend. The horrors of his time overseas and the relative confusion he finds himself end leave him in his own head, going through the motions. Home, eat, group therapy, home, out. Nothing seems to have a sense of intent to it. But this thing he cannot explain has somehow followed him back to Gotham. Things he's seeing that he shouldn't.

So when the Suit attaches itself to him he's reunited with his unit, given a purpose. Thrust into a mission and a world which he's only caught a glimpse of previously. Hunting and dispatching this dark supernatural underbelly infecting Gotham. But when the stakes are raised to a more personal level at the end of the issue, the reader feels a sense of foggy confusion on Rory's part lifted. It doesn't matter what's happening to him now, he has a purpose.

Now let's talk about the art. Inaki Miranda KILLS it. Forget the demonic imagery or Ragman's new suit. Just the mundane looks stunning. And I have to give credit here in part to colorist Eva de la Cruz. The colors make this thing pop. From the darkened artificially lit chambers in the Israeli desert, to the fluorescent light in a largely empty group therapy room, to the multicolored light sources in Gotham itself, and the fires in the end of the issue...wow. Seriously, if you've already read the issue while reading this, go back and check out those colors again.



Back to Inaki's artwork, everything pops. I can't deny this mans talents. That being said, let's talk about the new suit. THIS is what every current Ragman fan is going to hyper focus on anyways so we need to have this conversation.

The patchwork rags are gone. The hooded cloak is gone. We're left with something vaguely reminiscent of a mummy that moves like Spawn or (for those who read it) Haunt from Image Comics. For those that miss the patchwork, calm yourself a tad and think a bit. Given how ancient this suit likely is, given the part of the world it's from, wouldn't it make MORE sense to have a suit made of strips of cloth as opposed to patchwork? Remember this is a Ragman suit which is most likely no longer made in close connection to the Golem of Prague from the 16th century or in connection with a war like portrayed in the Keith Giffen/Par Broderick series. It's OLDER than that now (and not the great collector artifact history revealed in ShadowPact #8). I like the addition of the glyph on Ragman's chest. What I'm NOT sure I like yet is the loss of the hooded cloak. Do NOT get me wrong, there were times Ragman was drawn in the past with it and I DID NOT LIKE IT. I really wasn't a fan of the sort of "tail" aspect it was drawn with on occasion. (see below)


That being said, this is only issue one. It's possible the design for the suit will evolve. Or, failing that, it's possible this is what we get and it'll just grow on me! That's entirely possible and has happened numerous times before in the past.

The bottom line? This comic is FAITHFUL. We live in a world where DC did the New 52 and Rebirth. Where things are recycled and retconned and ripped to pieces and put back together again. Where entire portions of a characters identity or personality are erased or reused and updated in a way sometimes unrecognizable to fans. And that's not just from DC! We're fortunate that this comic retains SO MUCH of what makes Ragman a fantastic character.

Ragman is a story about a veteran. A likable but subtly broken man raised in Gotham in a crappy part of a crappy town, by a pawn shop owner just trying to make the community around him better. He finds a sense of purpose in an odd suit with newfound powers and sets about making the community around him better on a larger scale. Sometimes that scale is local and personal (1976 debut series, 1992 post-Crisis series) and sometimes it's on a grander more supernatural scale (Shadowpact).

Take that pitch and break it down. It applies to the debut series, it applies to the Post-Crisis reboot, it applies to this modern re-imagining. And honestly? Can you ask for ANYTHING more?

Ragman #1 is available NOW from DC Comics at your local comic shop. Written by Ray Fawkes, art by Inaki Miranda, colors by Eva De La Cruz, lettered by Josh Reed, covers by Guillem March. Edited by Diego Lopez and Marie Javins.


11 comments:

  1. I've been through it once but feel I need to go through it again. The suit reminded me of Haunt or even Spiderman/Venom at first.I do like the look of it. Also I like how the suit helps Rory. Anyway I think I need a little more time to formulate a better opinion. I am on board for the next issue though.

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    1. I'm really glad I'm not the only one who saw the Haunt connection. I loved that series (we'll, before it got all nuts and post apocalyptic). The suit has always been something Rory could tap into and use for his benefit, I do like that it takes a more active role, almost like Professor Stein does when merged with Ronnie into the Firestorm matrix. I can't wait for the next issue. I'm glad you liked it and I look forward to hearing your more concrete thoughts. It's good to know I'm not being totally blinded by my fandom.

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  2. He looks like the Ragman from Earth 13. You can find him in the Multiverse Handbook and Superman #15.

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  3. Read it twice, so far, and loved it! I was thinking he felt like a cross between Spawn and Spider-man. The new suit will take some getting used to but this change may be the best for this character if he ever wants to be taken seriously by DC and comic fans. Also love the glyph, the auto pilot powers and the fact that the suit has a name. And did you notice who Rory's father looks like.

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    1. SO glad you loved it man! I was hoping you'd come out the other side with a positive outlook! Rory's father looks cool, but I didn't quite place him. Who are you seeing?

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    2. He looks a bit like Joe kubert. They may be paying omage to the creator.

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  4. admittedly i haven't read the issue in full only a few pages and watched a couple youtube reviews. about two years ago Ragman made some appearances in a few issue of Batwoman http://suicidesquadtaskforcex.blogspot.com/2016/03/delivering-justice.html and he seemed pretty consistent with classic Ragman. it appears as if they've rebooted the character again and based on this first issue they've taken all the Jewish folklore right out of him. thanks for the review it looks like you just saved me a few bucks.

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    1. Oh for sure. That Ragman in Batwoman was great! However I would have to disagree with you that "they've taken all the Jewish folklore right out of him". The issue opens in the Israeli Desert where they find the suit in a tomb covered in Hebrew markings. If that's not Jewish folklore I don't know what is. And it's only been the first issue. So we definitely have more to learn about the suit's history!

      But I certainly understand your point of view. If this isn't your Ragman you're certainly welcome to your opinion! I'll be reviewing the series here on the blog so you can keep up with what's happening even if you don't want to actually read the issues.

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    2. That's a fair point, I'll be sure to see what you have to post about for the up coming issues.

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  5. just found some of the best classic Ragman fan art i've ever seen! https://suicidesquadtaskforcex.blogspot.com/2017/11/awesome-classic-ragman-fan-art.html

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