Back Issue # 81 September 2018 (magazine review)
Back Issue # 81 is also called the ‘All-Jerks Issue!’ For us in the UK, we don’t use the term ‘jerk’ very much as we also have a variety of words that sum it up better such as stupid, obnoxious and idiot, although with the latter that might only be a temporary condition. Here, we have a selection of American comicbook characters who fall under that category and some who are just blowhards so there is a sharing of levels of idiocy.
Obviously, for DC Comics, the top of the list is Guy Gardner. Writer Jim Kingman goes over Gardner’s history and fills in some gaps and certainly after I had to stop reading them. I do have some issues with him being a jerk after being hit on the head because it implies that all idiocy happen that way. Super-heroes should be capable of a wide range of personality types so why shouldn’t there be more jerks who are out for their own fulfilment than there for common good? The interest in Gardner grew when he joined the JLA and he was a radical change to them and probably only tolerated because he had the most powerful weapon on Earth and probably safer where they could keep an eye on him. Comicbook writer Beau Smith thought Gardner was a one-note character and instigated changes. Thing is, most super-hero universe have one-note characters. Look at Superman who is always described as a boy scout. That hasn’t changed. Nor for the Batman, who is another obsessive seeking atonement. Having Gardner doing the right things but for the wrong reasons can be just as effective as a character. In many respects, Lobo is an even bigger jerk but who is going to argue with the main man and I doubt if the Batman could sucker-punch him.
Writer John Wells looks at a selection of blowhard DC Comics supporting characters and some villainy that plagued Superman and the Batman, often with their alter-egos. Some of it was done purely for comic effect. Personally, I think there was also an underlying problem that their lives were a little too perfect and needed shaking up. Of all of them, only Harvey Bullock has stood the passage of time and even his role has changed somewhat or his incompetence would have had him off the Gotham police force by now. Metamorpho’s future father-in-law, Simon Stagg, was designed to be antagonistic from the start. Firestorm’s problems came from Ronnie Raymond’s fellow students at school. Thinking objectively, I do have to wonder how much of this reflects their writers lives at school.
Of course, the most well-known Marvel blowhard is a certain J. Jonah Jameson and writer John Trumbull gives his history. Considering he was financially responsible for the creation of the Scorpion and the Human Fly, you would have to wonder why neither of them revealed this when caught. According to the interviews with his various writers, Jameson admitted his involvement in the Scorpion’s creation at one point.
There was one other diehard in Peter Parker’s life, Eugene ‘Flash’ Thompson. The reverse of Jameson because he liked Spider-Man but bullied Parker. Writer Darrell Hempel goes over his history showing he didn’t have it all his own way and even took in Parker when his home was destroyed.
I was a bit puzzled by Namor, the Sub-Mariner, ended up here. An annoying super-hero with divided loyalties but I’m not sure if I’d regard him as a total jerk. Writer James Heath Lantz gives his take over Namor’s long career.
Just to show its not all super-heroes, writer Steven Thompson looks at Reggie Mantle, Archie Andrews’ nemesis. Taken in small doses, the readers of Archie Comics were less a fan when he was given his own title but it’s a common theme for any rivals. You do have to wonder at Archie’s girl-friends who go out on date with him.
I did have a ponder on any jerks missed out and think there’s an opportunity for a sequel issue covering Lobo, Ambush Bug, Booster Gold and Deadpool in these roles.
An issue of ‘Back Issue’ worth pursuing if you can lay your hands on a copy.
GF Willmetts
October 2025
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: varies. ISSN: 1932-6904. Direct from them, you can get it digitally for $ 4.99 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_54&products_id=1245
