There's no good reason why Felix Faust isn't a major DC villain. He was an early, potent Justice League villain with access to incredible mystic power, enough to give even the heaviest hitters pause. His name comes from the ancient German myth about a man who sells his soul to a devil, rather than being a noun or adjective with an "o" tossed on at the end. By Silver Age standards, he was fairly menacing, and his overall look has aged well, easily modernized with modern tweaks. He's immortal, and with a company whose history is as rich as DC's, it always helps that he can be plugged into a story set in pretty much any time period. He even has a legacy, an essential DC element, through his sorcerous anti-hero son. And yet, you don't like him, I don't care about him, and creators have tended to be consistent in their apathy. Why? Is it the first name Felix? Is it the inconsistent characterization? Does he just falter under the generally negative reaction by readers toward magic users in super-hero comics?
Well, I don't think the Martian Manhunter works well in supernatural settings, and he has no specific beef with Felix Faust. However, folks seem to like the classic visual of the League as finger puppets on Faust's hand, and it seems to get recreated each time Felix here gets a profile page/trading card, etc. So here's ringfinger J'Onn J'Onzz, joined by Green Arrow, Aquaman (always his partner in these things,) Green Lantern Hal Jordan and the Flash. Art by Craig Brasfield & Joe Rubenstein from the Who's Who looseleaf edition.
No comments:
Post a Comment