FUTURE PROOF #9
“The Deepest of the Deep, pt. 1” (22 pages) [no ads]
Created by: Brian Phillipson & Alex Murillo
Written by: Alex Murillo
Art by: Alex Cormack
Colors by: Ashley Cormack & Alex Cormack
Lettering & Book Design by: Alex Murillo
Cover by: Alex Cormack
Publisher: Bliss On Tap
Cover Price: $3.99
ALL ABOARD!! The steam engine makes its way to NYC. There are several strangers on a train – two of them being our main guys Simon and James. They are less than impressed at the hot mess that is Edgar Allan Poe. The inebriated author awakens from his slobbery slumber when the conductor announces a pit stop in Baltimore.
The tortured tale-teller is a wily one. He manages to give the savvy agents the slip. They manage to track him down to a local tavern. James is all in. They can down one beer a couple of beers several beers while observing the passed-out poet.
James brings up the moon landing mission. Simon unenthusiastically recalls. Fast-forward (but really a flashback) to Simon’s send-off. He bids a heartfelt goodbye to his daughter and wife with the promise of returning in one piece.
Here I’ll admit that I’m beyond confuzzled. Admittedly, I still haven’t read issues #1-6. The next page shows a giant mechanical leg caked in blood looming over Simon and several corpses. He utters “Forgive meee…” Aside from this, the caption indicates that it relates to a particular war.
The mention of the moon landing has Simon access more of his memory bank. It’s kind of like INCEPTION!! President Nixon is addressing the nation lauding NASA for its imminent achievement twelve days before the actual event. His speech writer William suggests he acknowledge the inevitable peril and deaths for such an undertaking. POTUS is so hell-bent on beating the Ruskies in the Space Race that he orders that the video never be aired. He wants evidence of it edited, buried, destroyed. Whatever it takes!! G-Men Simon and James comply.
On the eve of the Apollo 11 mission, the time-tossed twosome enter Area 51. They narrowly escape a nuke testing. They are met by Dr. Wernher von Braun and introduce themselves as Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt. Nixon has ordered the filming of the event in case the actual take-off goes horribly awry.
Wernher agrees wholeheartedly but also reiterates Nixon’s determinate to trump the Russians. He also drops the fact that the assigned engines are not ready in time, therefore they will have to improvise. Simon almost gives away their cover when he misuses the verb tense regarding the historical date. Wernher passes off Simon’s concern and states that most people are blind followers and that one should trust everything aired on the boob tube.
Simon angrily asks if Wernher is a former Nazi, bringing up his association with the SS. The doctor is taken aback. However, he turns the tables when Von Braun addresses Simon by his real name! *gasp* He is one of them!!! Wernher forcefully and confidently outlines the back-up plan: all tapes will be erased and memory wipes will be done on the entire staff. He ribs at the duo with their familiarity in cleaning up an operation.
Wernher provokes James. He suggests that the traveler lift his mind from the veil. James retorts by refusing to take stock in it as well as participate in conspiracy theories. Their mission is to preserve the timeline, not twist it. Von Braun insults his intelligence and calls him a drunkard. The grand reveal – film director Stanley Kubrick will be helming the entire scenario!!!
This book is chock-full of interesting events. I’m enjoying it on another level since it is feeding my curiosity. I’ve always enjoyed learning and always had my nose in books. This is why I became a high school teacher with a passion for French and English literature. Natch!! I impart my knowledge on to you. Digging into some things increased my understanding.
Coop is the scoop: For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why the crowd was violent among the streets of Baltimore. Upon researching Poe’s bio, one theory of his death is attributed to ‘cooping’. This was forced voting done by snatching citizens, locking them in a room, and threatening major harm if they did not participate in elections. Some were made to cast more than one ballot. Others were given disguises so that they could go to different stations. Fascinating!!
Rolling in the deep: Nixon’s speech forecasting a worst-case situation is legit!! Apparently. Take this with a grain of salt. The phrase ‘the deepest of the deep’ is inserted in there. When I hit the web, it came up with an interesting list on io9. The speech itself is reprinted here. It really was never publicized.
The man is Safire: POTUS Nixon’s speech writer William Safire was real!! He is credited with the sympathetic but dire missive.
JFK A-OK? Beloved FPOTUS isn’t given much respect here. His knowledge of time travel botched things for our two guys.
Drop the name: NASA opted for another director: one who will create a film about a great white shark. Wernher is alluding to none other than Steven Spielberg who made waves with Jaws!!!
Figaro? No! Fidelio: Beethoven’s only opera. Alternately named Lenore, or The Triumph of Marital Love. The protagonist disguises herself as a prison guard to liberate her husband from execution. This is the codename given to Mr. Kubrick.
Mind blown yet again :0 I’m brushing up on or (re)learning history thanks to this comic book J I’m in awe with how the creators weave the real and the fake. This particular issue is one of many hot potatoes given the numerous debates over the validity of the United States’ first successful space endeavour. I took time to research, just like I had done the previous issue. History will always be subjective. The winners are the wordsmiths. Nevertheless, I found it fascinating the speculation that Stanley Kubrick was approached to create alternative footage after his accurate depiction of space travel in 2001: A Space Odyssey. My ignorance knows no bounds. I had no idea that by 1969, some alleged former Nazis would help the US Government with whatever special projects were in the works. Two words: Operation Paperclip. Case in point: Wernher Von Braun who was in fact employed by NASA due to his speciality in aerospace engineering. Why not??
Talk about a red herring!! I thought for sure the Edgar Allan Poe matter would be fully addressed this issue. Nope!! More teasing and waiting. On that note, I did a double-take upon noticing the creator credits. Alex Murillo has taken the reins!! I repeat that I still have to desperately catch up on #1-6. I truly want to. I need to know everything up until the present future. Brian Phillipson informed me that the two take turns with particular story arcs. Mssrs. Phillipson and Murillo are so in synch that they appear to be one entity. No disrespect whatsoever. I actually had not noticed until I started listing the obligatory info. I’m glad this is bi-monthly. I will definitely have read the previous six by the time March rolls around.
Time travel would make anyone’s head loop. Hence, I’m a bit at a loss with the couple’s chronology especially the futuristic setting.
Alex Cormack managed to drawn a blood-strewn page >_@ I don’t know if that’s his schtick since I gotta badly catch up but I’m strangely delighted. EAP is such a reasonable facsimile!! I feel like I’ve met him in person. The two agents wear their clothes well. I wouldn’t oppose to sporting the 19th century wardrobe. I pat Mr. Murillo on the back for his Nixon impression.
Ashley Cormack is definitely her hubbie’s partner-in-crime. She gets to paint the metallic limbs with human life liquid. Her use of shadow effectively relays details where needed. I especially liked the splash effect when Simon is washing up. His face is near invisible and indistinguishable.
How neat is it that Mr. Murillo gets to insert the letters from his own script? The screech could go for miles and miles!! He manages to drop an F-bomb or two 😉 It was quite the change to see green and red word balloons.
There’s a 120-year gap between adventures. Um, carry the 5 over the 4. UGH! I give this book 9 out of 10, just like the number of this issue.
A million thanks to my local comic shop ^_^
