Punk Mambo #0 Discussion

[BugsySig]

A decent read. I liked the story overall. Gave us the origin of the character, who was playing a large role in the Shadowman books. But without any new Shadowman on the horizon, I'm not sure how this plays into the larger VEI landscape. It could have had more impact if it were released while the character was still appearing in other books...whether in the past or in the future.

[Ibero]

i liked it, simple yes, but well told, and with a lot of character, which was needed in shadowman. Since he had more prepared to continue shadowman, i would like to see it.

[Spylocke]

Maybe this and the Dr. Mirage series are Valiant dipping other toes into their supernatural universe. Until Shadowman can be reworked I'd be fine with either character getting the ball rolling on that part of the universe.

[BugsySig]

I hope this is a portent of either Shadowman returning or the characters appearing somewhere else, like Unity or a crossover, sometime soon.

[Captain Craig]

I was unsure what to expect from this one shot, like the 1%, but found it to be an enjoyable and informative read.
Why is it in ONE issue of Dr.Mirage and ONE issue of Punk Mambo I can be given more character backstory, growth and nuanced details than in the ONE issue of Shadowman #1?? I've come to think they should've started Shadowman #1 with Jack already as Shadowman(cause that "I'm Shadowman" last flash panel is cheesy&rushed and burned into all our minds) and sprinkled in his origin over the opening arc.

Knowing that Punk Mambo is actually from the 70s and has been granted a long life due to the events of that betrayal add that much more mystic and supernatural flair to her character for me. I still don't see her as a leading character but this helps her as a character going forward all the more. I do see Dr.Mirage as a solo lead though.

A solid effort by VEI, well done I say.

[David_Cody]

Didn't know what to expect, but thought it was a decent read overall. Definitely going to buy the next one.

[mateo107]

it leaves me curious where this will go, since VEI clearly has a corner of their universe they're cultivating, but it doesn't seem to have future plans after Dr. Mirage wraps up. Shadowman seems to have been teased in a future Unity arc, voodoo was referenced in a Quantum & Woody arc. maybe Master Darque could return in an event broad enough to tie into the whole line?

[first_citizenx]

That would be cool. It would be interesting to see everyone's reactions/interactions with Shadowman, Doctor Mirage and Punk Mambo.

[SJS4]

I really enjoyed this comic. Good Story, good art, and a completely self contained story. Between this book and the first issue of the EW issue I am starting to like Milligan's work with VEI.

[erwinrafael]

I was unsure what to expect from this one shot, like the 1%, but found it to be an enjoyable and informative read.
Why is it in ONE issue of Dr.Mirage and ONE issue of Punk Mambo I can be given more character backstory, growth and nuanced details than in the ONE issue of Shadowman #1?? I've come to think they should've started Shadowman #1 with Jack already as Shadowman(cause that "I'm Shadowman" last flash panel is cheesy&rushed and burned into all our minds) and sprinkled in his origin over the opening arc.

Knowing that Punk Mambo is actually from the 70s and has been granted a long life due to the events of that betrayal add that much more mystic and supernatural flair to her character for me. I still don't see her as a leading character but this helps her as a character going forward all the more. I do see Dr.Mirage as a solo lead though.

A solid effort by VEI, well done I say.

I feel for Milligan who has been unfairly criticized for his brief work in Shadowman. VEI's mistake with Shadowman is when they greenlighted the superheroic cheesy take of Zircher. Milligan had to work with damaged goods in an attempt to salvage the situation and steer Shadowman into a more supernatural direction. End Times is a meh series, but that's VEI just instructing Milligan to close the chapter on Jack, not really the direction Milligan is going for if we go his short four issue stint in the ongoing.

[David_Cody]

I really enjoyed this comic. Good Story, good art, and a completely self contained story. Between this book and the first issue of the EW issue I am starting to like Milligan's work with VEI.

Great point. Agree 100%.

[jmatt]

I really enjoyed this comic. Good Story, good art, and a completely self contained story. Between this book and the first issue of the EW issue I am starting to like Milligan's work with VEI.

Great point. Agree 100%.

Same here. My one thought when I finished was: That was a good story. That may sound trite but story and character win the day every time.

[TheFerg714]

I didn't like the writer, I didn't care about the character, and I didn't like the comic she came from, but for some magical reason I really enjoyed this issue. Why is it that every magic-related thing in the Valiant U is awesome unless Jack's Shadowman is involved?

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

This felt like a Vertigo book to me. I mean, granted, Milligan was writing it, but the art, colors, it felt like a 90's Vertigo book. And I mean that in the best way possible.
Very much liked this book. Could've been a #1, not #0 IMO. But, good, solid book.

[Phantom]

Just read it.
Fills a gap in the market.
Great boook, great. This needs to continue.

[Phantom]

Looks like this will continue, maybe included or combined with another title.

[BugsySig]

Looks like this will continue, maybe included or combined with another title.

Darque Passages starring: Shadowman, Dr. Mirage, Punk Mambo, Jaunty and Sandria Darque

[Tony_H]

The points Milligan made about the pitfalls associated with nostalgic thinking and vengefulness were worth a lot more than the cost of the comic. An excellent issue packed with advice I was glad to get.

[jmatt]

The points Milligan made about the pitfalls associated with nostalgic thinking and vengefulness were worth a lot more than the cost of the comic.

+1

Yes, I liked that she had a moment of reflection.

[Tim]

#1. As someone who currently writes reviews of punk bands for a few zines and who has had a Maximumrocknroll subscription for more than a decade, I can say with just a little authority that no one who is currently or ever considered themselves "punk" every gave the Sex Pistols more than two seconds worth of their time. The Pistols are a classic rock band at worst and an art performance at best and rest assured no "punks" have ever taken them seriously. Black Flag or the Ramones would have been much better choices as they're both well-known enough to not be totally unfamiliar to readers. That alone has made the whole character a joke to me.

#2. Protagonist is victimized. Protagonist finds inner strength as a result. Protagonist seeks revenge. Protagonist finds revenge unrewarding. Protagonist leaves with a newfound sense of personal pride and clarity. It's been done 1000 times and it was a yawn for all 1000 of them.

#3. I'm sure he's done genius stuff in the past but after the Eternal Warrior book is done can we please never allow this man write comic books again?

[erwinrafael]

LOL. Are you from the UK? Because from the things I have read on the punk movement in the UK, the Sex Pistols were big. Just because they were not big in your circle does not mean that they were not big anywhere.

[Captain Craig]

Then there are those of us(likely the majority) who aren't too concerned with what "the scene" considers true Punk and what is actually considered Punk by the industry.

Sex Pistols, ok works for me. Ramones would have as well but I'm not letting that detail, which is minutia to me, stand in my way of the character/book.

[erwinrafael]

I am not even sure if that "scene" is a valid representation of the general view of punks on the legacy of the Sex Pistols. Milligan, like his contemporary Grant Morrison, lived through that time when punk erupted in the UK, so I would take his views on punk any day.

[bygranddesign]

Finally got around to reading this ... And it felt like Milligan was really in his element. Felt like I was reading an excellent Vertigo issue. A nicely told one shot that gave us a taste of what the Punk Mambo is all about and was full of personality. The story wasn't too ambitious or over the top - it was nicely grounded and enjoyable read. The fact that I'm not sure where this character is going is both a good and bad thing. I'd like to have gotten some indication that she will be part of the larger VEI universe ... but I sort of also like how it feels disconnected from everything.

I haven't been a huge fan of Milligan ... but this issue made me a believer more than any other issue he has done for VEI (including Bloodshot 25 which i thought was really good). I'm not sure if Punk Mambo can have her own title ... but as part of some Supernatural team title or maybe a Darque Passages anthology book - I think would make a lot of sense. Maybe if her popularity builds a bit ... an ongoing title would make sense.

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.

[pixierosa]

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*.