“Yesterday’s” Comic> Freex #3

Not getting along. I can see why Marvel was after them.

Freex #3

Malibu Comics/Ultraverse (September, 1993)

“Targets”

WRITER: Gerald Jones

PENCILER: Ben Herrera

INKER: Mike Christian

INK ASSISTS: Jasen Rodriguez

COLORIST: Keith Conroy

LETTERER: Tim Eldred

EDITOR: Hank Kanalz

Michael is shot by the cops but manages to escape into the city’s electrical system, which is harder for him to navigate than cyberspace. Learning over police radio that Val and Rush are attacking a genetics lab, the Freex head out there while cops are ordered back by a group called Biotech that somehow has that authority. The “bloodhounds” fight both sides but lose. Then Rush attacks the Freex because they still want to talk Val into joining them. Eventually, Val realizes that the Freex understand her better than Rush, who just wants another Ultra to partner up with, and he runs off.

What they got right: We learn a bit more about the Ultras of this comic. Rush chose to become Ultras while the others were “gifted” their powers and mutations. The captions will give our Freex their “superhero” names.

What they got wrong: And they’re very lame. Michael, the guy who travels cyberspace and electrical currents, gets the name “Plug” and ends up in a robot body we don’t see him in during the story. Val, the bitch with fire powers (sorry, that’s the best description besides “girl”), will go by Pressure. Lewis, the guy who goes all goopy, is Anything…yes, really. Ray, the gray muscular guy, is Boom Boy. I thought Lewis calling Angela, the girl with all the rope tentacles on her body, Sweet-Face was him trying to flirt with her, but that’s her codename now. Really? That’s the best you could do, even in the 1990s?

What I think overall: I think I can stop here as a good jump-off point. I just couldn’t get into these characters and won’t be continuing this series.