Spy spoof
that turns out to be a gay, madcap affair
It’s hard to
emphasize just how much I enjoyed Codename:
Knockout. Each time I’ve re-read the issue has inevitably left me with a
huge grin plastered from ear to ear and the desire to double check the rest of
the crapbox to see if I’ve got another issue hiding somewhere. Sadly, I don’t.
This mature-only Vertigo title lasted a scant 24 issues which were numbered
0-23. All the stories were written by Robert Rodi, an openly gay novelist who
brings something very special to the table. The revolving door of artists to
work on the book happened to stop on Yanick Paquette for the issue I hold in my
hand. I last saw Paquette lending pencils to The Uncanny X-Men.
What does
Codename: Knockout have that makes it so pleasing? I have to say it is the
plotting and snappy dialogue. Not since the
Giffen-DeMatteis’ Justice League have I out-right laughed so hard at one
comic book. Our setup here is a male-female spy duo who are currently double
agents working for G.O.O.D. (Global Organization for the Obliteration of
Dastardliness) to undermine E.V.I.L. (Extralegal Vendors of Iniquity and
Licentiousness). The agents are blonde bombshell Angela St. Grace and her
so-far-out-of-the-closet-he’s-in-the-next room partner Go Go Fiasco. Angela’s
recently gotten both of them inducted into E.V.I.L. at the whim of her Father,
who just so happens to be the organization’s leader. Angela has faked a
conversion to the “dark side” so she can infiltrate the group. Go Go appears to
be along for the ride.
We begin the
merriment with Angela trying to not be late for their first E.V.I.L mission
briefing. Unfortunately she has to wait on Go Go. Just a tidbit here: Go Go
never knew his Father either, and Angela is trying to come to grips with her closely-held
deduction that she may not be the E.V.I.L. leader’s only offspring.
That middle
panel is of course her Angela’s Father Damon’s head transposed onto Go Go’s
body. Angela’s pronouncement causes Go Go to quickly shave off his beard. What
follows is Angela trying to ignore her assumption while Damon and his right
hand woman Anita try to brief the pair on a new mission to take out a competing
international slavery ring/brothel. The lingering thought of Go Go’s parentage
is kind of distracting though. Especially given the mannerisms Go Go and Damon
share.
Which are
very quickly driving Angela over the edge.
Anita forges
ahead, providing both an explanation that the sex slave racketeer is beginning
to expand into E.V.I.L.’s business ventures and a nice panty shot.
Anyway, they
have a lead on the persons in charge being in Paris and are sending in three agents to
remove the competition. Angela and Go Go are asked to go in as mere observers.
The briefing concluded, Damon has to beat feet to make a prior appointment.
The lapsed Catholic
in me would be slightly offended, but I know it’s all in good fun. Meanwhile, Go Go
is not too taken with the other three members of the team, likening them to
“The Munsters.” Actually he’s being too kind as they are much less humorous than
the Munsters.
He can’t get Angela to comment and for the first time notices how withdrawn she
is. He tries to get her to come out of it by reminding her of how awful the
slave trader must be that they are going to go after.
Poor Go Go
doesn’t realize that he’s the reason she’s so distracted. And it doesn’t seem
like Angela’s the only one. After saying goodbye to his daughter and her gay
friend, Damon grills Anita about Go Go as well. Seems he’s getting a hint of
something off, but is much too dense to know what. Anita’s not really the
person to find out, as she and Angela are very distrustful of one another.
Maybe with good reason, as Anita might be in danger of being replaced by
Damon’s daughter.
Oh, and
speaking of something off, once our team arrives in Paris, Go Go is off to use Angela’s shower.
Why he won’t stay in his room, she can’t figure out. Remember folks that Go Go
is gay, so no hanky-panky is going on here. Just good clean fun.
If you
haven’t gotten it by now, it’s the witty banter between these two that keep the
series from getting stale. The plot is advanced around these “Will and Grace”
moments, but if you don’t warm up to Go Go and Angela’s interplay the book just
isn’t for you.
The three
stoogies plan out a strategy, two of them heading to check out the far suburbs
and one of them staying in town canvassing “whore central”. This a great plan
that will come back to bite them. Because while two of the E.V.I.L. agents are
somewhere in traffic, the solo agent in town is made by the opposing side and
dispatched in a rather permanent way.
Meanwhile our
two main characters are trying out a fancy French restaurant, when Angela
decides to drop the bomb on Go Go. And not the “explosion-go-boom” kind you are
used to seeing in spy movies. Angela brings up Go Go’s long lost Father.
Go Go not
getting it is just too funny for words. I may have giggled more at The
Extremist, but at least here the comedy is intentional. Angela presses on.
Go Go then
proceeds to drama queen out, which is even richer. Angela keeps working up to
his Father being someone else (and Angela thinks she has a good idea who, too!) but
Go Go is too far gone. After this final outburst, he storms out.
I can’t quit
you, Codename: Knockout. You are just too, too good. At the same time as all this
is going on, Damon gets word that his agent has been “compromised”. Couldn’t
happen at a worse time, either.
I hate it
when naked women are massaging my feet and I get bad news. Totally takes me out
of the mood. Damon is worried about where his daughter is and with great
reason. For at that moment, Angela is fighting off an attacker who means to add
her to his next shipment.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.