Polite Dissent

Madrox #1 – Rahne makes a joke comparing Jamie’s coffee to something the “Witches of Endor” might have brewed. At first, I thought she was making a reference to Andre Norton’s Witch World series, as writer Peter David has a habit of throwing sci-fi and fantasy allusions in his comics. Then I realized that they would be Withces of Estcarp, not Witches of Endor.
I recalled that “Witch of Endor” was the ship that Horatio Hornblower used to escape France in Flying Colours, but I didn’t know the allusion other than that. Thanks to Google and the Occultopedia, I now know that the Witch of Endor is a biblical reference (though I don’t know where the witches came from). I should have paid more attention in Sunday school, I guess.

Manhunter #1 – So basically Copperhead got off the hook because he has the meta-gene. One problem: he doesn’t. When he started out, he was a skilled contortionist with a poison fixation and a special slippery suit. He gained his current look and powers by selling his soul to Neron. There is no meta-gene in his background. If I were the D.A., I’d appeal (can the D.A. appeal?).

Nightcrawler #1 – Remember what I said before about psychiatrists? About how making a character a psychiatrist is a shorthand way of letting the reader know the character is up to no good? Nightcrawler #1 is simply the latest example of this trend. (And if I were Nightcrawler and my demonic-appearing visage were scaring a child, I would slowly back out of the room as opposed to teleporting out in a puff of brimstone — that’s not going to help the situation at all).