I finally got some time here lately to read some of my books. Just recently I got a chance to read some issues (I had bought awhile back)of Suicide Squad and Captain Atom, both published by DC Comics. They were both written in the mid to late 80's.
There is always an aura in comics that reflect what is going on in the world at the time. I noticed that a lot in Capt Atom and SS (Suicide Squad). The Russians are always the enemy. Nuclear warfare was at the brink of annihilating the world because of the stockpile of nuclear weapons from both the US and Russia (or USSR at the time, I'm not sure). SS is a team of super villains and disavowed government agents that work under the law of the government to accomplish tasks that the US military cannot do legally. Such as the last issue I read, where they were to assassinate a HUGE Colombian drug dealer. Which legally is wrong, but morally it is debatable. With Enchantress' powers (not to be confused with Marvel's Enchantress, based on Norse mythology) she could vaporize the entire cocaine stockpile that he had. Which the amount was somewhere in the tons.
Capt Atom is a bit different. Through an accident working for the government, Adam, was changed to Capt Atom. Since he was already military personnel, the military wanted to use his powers to serve the US military. The thing that I liked about comics in the 80's was all the conspiracy that surrounded both the US government and others. It was a time of uncertainty for Americans with the Cold War and the amassing of nuclear weapons by the strongest nations. I think that a lot of comics today, are a bit naive. They don't carry that aroma of distrust and uncertainty. Now they have Dubyah in the front law of the White House naked and scared (as seen in the Ultimates) or Hulk uttering phrases like "I ate him (speaking of Freddie Prince Jr)." Maybe it is a different approach for a different generation and I just don't get it. The comics of the 60's, 70's, 80's and even some of the early 90's comics were the ones that got me hooked. But after the "Bad Girls" of the mid 90's, comics seemed to have taken a downward slope. Not all, but as a majority. Perhaps it is just my perception of this world now, and how it is reflected in comics.
There are some good issues still out there. Ultimate Spider-Man has consistently entertained me. And presently Grant Morrison (Animal Man) is writing Batman. Although I have always enjoyed Green Lantern, Hal Jordan was never my favorite GL, and he has returned as Earth's sanctioned GL. Anyway, just some thoughts. As I strive to stay more sober these days, I find that reading keeps my mind off alcohol. It is working, so I am sticking with it. Maybe this is what I needed to get this weblog back up and running . . . some sobriety.
