Comic book review - Brat Pack by Rick Veitch

Welcome to the Leper's Hovel.  In here you will find rantings on current events, off beat entertainment, and other contrarian views.

For my first blog post, I would like to talk about a very underrated graphic novel by comic book artist Rich Veitch: Brat Pack

This has nothing to do with the 80's teenage movie genera.  I suspect that the name may be responsible for this comic's relative obscurity.  

First things first, this comic book is a post modern take on super heroes.  Much in the same vein as Watchmen, it tries to de-construct the American comic book genera.  Also like Watchment, it is straight up satire, and very dark satire at that.  Unlike Watchmen, however, Brat Pack is genuinely insightful into the superhero genera.  Watchmen, although a very good attempt, suffers from being a story told from an outsider's perspective.  Watchmen's creator, Alan Moore, was a part of the "British Invasion" in comic books along with Grant Morrison and Neil Gaiman.  The story of Watchmen, therefore, was essentially a Brit's attempt at deconstructing a quintessential American art form.




With Brat Pack, you get an American's perspective and insight into whole post-modern take.  Rick Veitch is most well known for his run on Swamp Thing in the 80's.  The guy is a veteran in the comic book industry.  This shows in Brat Pack, where he mocks the  merchandising and business side of superheroes.  Making money through marketing seems  more important to the vigilantes in Veitch's world than actually fighting crime.

At the heart of the story is the relationship between superheroes and their sidekicks.  Veitch explores every little dirty thing fans didn't want to think about:  The homo erotic undertones.  The reckless endangerment of teenagers.  The sexualization of young heroines.  It is as if all these seedy things had been going on in the background of DC or Marvel's universe but we choose not to notice it.  I mean, seriously, didn't anyone think it was weird when this happened:

Yes, oh, yes, you will see this and other uneasy topics explored with humor and cynicism in Brat Pack.  Highly recommended.