Written by Mike W. Barr
Art by Terry Dodson; Al Vey; Patrick Owsley; & Moose Baumann
Cover Art by Terry Dodson & Gary Martin
SUMMARY:
Entitled “The Woman Behind the Mask,” Malibu Comics released this issue for August 1993. Now possessing single mother Eden Blake’s mortal form, macho warrior/sorcerer, Lukasz, faces Warstrike inside Eden’s suburban home. Awkwardly adjusting to womanhood, a weary Lukasz also finds that faking Eden’s personal life and work is a challenge. Lukasz/Mantra is aware that the nefarious Boneyard has his minions set on acquiring a stolen mask up for private auction.
Infiltrating Edgar Strauss’ nightclub, The Conjuror’s Club, a sultry Mantra makes a desperate grab for the silver cat-face mask that mystically ignites her sorcery. Teaming with an undercover Warstrike, they must fight off Notch and his thugs. Amidst bonding time with Eden’s two young children at a movie theater, Mantra is attacked by Notch’s replicating crew of Repo Men.
REVIEW:
Known as a veteran DC Comics scribe, writer/creator Mike W. Barr’s storytelling here treads the thin gray area between dismal and competent; perhaps describing his rudimentary approach as half-hearted best applies. Unlike the sufficient (i.e. less blatant) interior visuals, the tawdry cover image fixates on the character’s overt sex appeal. It’s a predictably sleazy ploy, in spite of Eden Blake/Mantra’s presence as one of Malibu Comics’ best and most original creations.
Hence, in some scenes, Mantra # 2 conveys potential for an intriguing ongoing series. The ironic flip side is observing how Malibu’s flagrant male chauvinism defining Lukasz/Eden Blake/Mantra’s depiction spells itself out.
ADDITI ONAL CONTENT:
Include thumbnail cover reveals, there’s a two-page spread for Malibu’s “Ultrafiles” news-and-notes column.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3 Stars
