Punk Mambo #0 Discussion

[Cormix]

I enjoyed the issue, left me interested in Punk and wanting to know more about her.

[Baramos]

I really really really liked it. Probably one of the best "stand-alone" issues I've read. And that art...man. Blew me away. I've found I really like psychedelic palettes and this gave Kano a run for his money.

I hope she comes back in the next story arc of Doctor Mirage or Shadowman or whatever is coming up now...

[bygranddesign]

In regards to The Sex Pistols .... They initiated the Punk Movement in the UK in 1975. I'm assuming the flashbacks take place during that time - And if you were in the UK and into Punk - More than Likely you were OBSESSED with The Sex Pistols. I'm not sure how that can be denied.

Actually, The Pistols (and I will admit, I was a big fan when I was a small town kid in Nebraska - they were so much cooler than hair bands in the 80s) didn't initiate the punk movement. They were the public face for it, and that was well managed by McClaren and to an extent, Vivienne Westwood (owner of SEX and other clothing stores). Johnny Rotten may have wanted to be in a band, but they were dressed for the part by McClaren and Westwood. Heck, Sid couldn't even play badly. They were more like the packaged boy band version of punk rock. Punk itself was a backlash against the current state of affairs in England - musically, politically, and economically. There's a great Pistols documentary called The Filth and The Fury. It has lots of interesting footage from England and gives great insight as to why the movement gained popularity.

Punk is an attitude, not a particular speed of rhythm but it's hard to not classify it. I'm a long-time punk fan, and while the Pistols were visually and lyrically punk, their actual music was more garage band. Doesn't matter really. All early punk was slow compared to standards like Bad Brains and thrash bands.

As for the book: it was an okay read. I feel bad saying this, but I don't like Mambo. She's a *SQUEE*.
She was a *SQUEE* teenager (bit of a poseur who still hasn't yet grown out of it decades later, like an adult who thinks shopping at Hot Topic is edgy), was victimized, and despite this, continues to be self-centered and victimizes others. She has no purpose, just wants to snort head glue vapor. Don't bring her what she wants? She'll hex you and let you wander about in a swamp (get eaten by gators? - not her problem).

She's not trying to help anyone. Even worse, she hurts people. If she wants to be alone, she has other options to keep people out other than choosing a way that endangers them. Mirage figured out how easily enough.

Then she finally has the realization that revenge doesn't heal anything. Awesome. Best cracker jack bit in the book. Too bad she didn't feel a sense of justice to help save others from the fate she had. Nope, she returned to the swamp and is ready to hex again if you don't bring her skulls to stew.

I'm not totally bashing the book. The writing was fine. I'm bashing the character - it's hard to get into a book about a character that you don't like. I really wanted to like her. We don't get many female lead books -- so I am disappointed that I didn't care for her story. It wasn't bad but definitely didn't impress either.

I hope Dr. Mirage gets the opportunity to kick her *SQUEE*.

Yeah, I won't disagree with your assessment of the character. She is a *SQUEE*

She is clearly not some Heroic archetype. I don't think she is meant to be sympathetic.

Like many Valiant characters, she blurs the lines of simple classification of good or bad; hero or villain.

She fits best as a good example of an Anti-Hero.

She was a youthful rebel ... but she seemed for the most part pretty innocent until that terrible betrayal happened to her.

That ultimately shaped her ... and not into something good or really bad. But someone that I think is pretty complex. And interesting. Like many of the best anti-heroes, you don't have to like them to find them fascinating. I want to know more about her. I want to see her mistakes ... I want to see her do bad things. I want to see her grow. I want to see her change. I want to see some redemption and/or I want to see her get what she deserves ... Thats what makes an anti-hero interesting to follow. You're feelings for them can change depending on the situation. Like Walter White ... Or Michael Corleone ... or Toyo Harada - they are characters that you actively root against at times but can still find enjoyment in following their story ...and have some level of attachment to their character.

[mkb28]

In regards to The Sex Pistols .... They initiated the Punk Movement in the UK in 1975. I'm assuming the flashbacks take place during that time - And if you were in the UK and into Punk - More than Likely you were OBSESSED with The Sex Pistols. I'm not sure how that can be denied.

Actually, The Pistols (and I will admit, I was a big fan when I was a small town kid in Nebraska - they were so much cooler than hair bands in the 80s) didn't initiate the punk movement. They were the public face for it, and that was well managed by McClaren and to an extent, Vivienne Westwood (owner of SEX and other clothing stores). Johnny Rotten may have wanted to be in a band, but they were dressed for the part by McClaren and Westwood. Heck, Sid couldn't even play badly. They were more like the packaged boy band version of punk rock. Punk itself was a backlash against the current state of affairs in England - musically, politically, and economically. There's a great Pistols documentary called The Filth and The Fury. It has lots of interesting footage from England and gives great insight as to why the movement gained popularity.

Punk is an attitude, not a particular speed of rhythm but it's hard to not classify it. I'm a long-time punk fan, and while the Pistols were visually and lyrically punk, their actual music was more garage band. Doesn't matter really. All early punk was slow compared to standards like Bad Brains and thrash bands.

As for the book: it was an okay read. I feel bad saying this, but I don't like Mambo. She's a *SQUEE*.
She was a *SQUEE* teenager (bit of a poseur who still hasn't yet grown out of it decades later, like an adult who thinks shopping at Hot Topic is edgy), was victimized, and despite this, continues to be self-centered and victimizes others. She has no purpose, just wants to snort head glue vapor. Don't bring her what she wants? She'll hex you and let you wander about in a swamp (get eaten by gators? - not her problem).

She's not trying to help anyone. Even worse, she hurts people. If she wants to be alone, she has other options to keep people out other than choosing a way that endangers them. Mirage figured out how easily enough.

Then she finally has the realization that revenge doesn't heal anything. Awesome. Best cracker jack bit in the book. Too bad she didn't feel a sense of justice to help save others from the fate she had. Nope, she returned to the swamp and is ready to hex again if you don't bring her skulls to stew.

I'm not totally bashing the book. The writing was fine. I'm bashing the character - it's hard to get into a book about a character that you don't like. I really wanted to like her. We don't get many female lead books -- so I am disappointed that I didn't care for her story. It wasn't bad but definitely didn't impress either.

I hope Dr. Mirage gets the opportunity to kick her *SQUEE*.

I agree with you Pixierosa and I could really do without this character altogether. However, out of the one-shots I have read so far, I liked this story the most.

Mkb28

[leonmallett]

Meh. Really not the kind of book I want to see from VEI. It just seemed like a poor Vertigo pastiche, and I say that knowing that Milligan was a pillar of 90's Vertigo.

I have almost zero sympathy for the character, and after the issue I am no more engaged with her than in the Shadowman issues. The beats of the story were such that no real sympathy or empathy was elicited in me for her circumstances. Even the 'revenge is hollow' message was undermined by her somewhat capricious treatment of the students at the start of the story. So she started her journey as arguably self-indulgent, and guess what, when we see her at the start and end of the story she remains so.

Crap writing for me.

Art was generally good, although the paramedics(?) looked like USA EMT's in those uniforms.

[agent_graves]

The Vertigo-ish vibe everyone speaks of, is what made this such a great read, hopefully Valiant has plans to further her story...

[lorddunlow]

Well, I loved it. This was much more enjoyable then any of the stuff I've read while catching up to this post. I want more of this, Mirage, and (done well) Shadowman.

VEI, don't make me get my fantasy/magic fix from other companies.

[grendeljd]

VEI, don't make me get my fantasy/magic

I read this far and thought 'uh-oh, where's this comment gonna go?'

[lorddunlow]

VEI, don't make me get my fantasy/magic

I read this far and thought 'uh-oh, where's this comment gonna go?'