Issue(s): Power Man #28, Power Man #30, Power Man #31
Cover Date: Dec 75 - Apr 76
Title:
Credits:
Don McGregor - Writer
George Tuska / Rich Buckler & Arvell Malcom Jones / Sal Buscema - Penciler
Vincent Colletta / Keith Pollard / Crusty Bunkers - Inker

Review/plot:
Don McGregor's run on Power Man is not the masterpiece that his Panther's Rage arc in Jungle Action was. It definitely has its good points. But in addition to some attributes of McGregor's writing style possibly not being the best fit for Power Man, the run is marred by scheduling problems. Note that issue #29 is not included in this entry because it was a fill-in (Mr. Fish; no relation to the Piranha Jones appearing in this story). Also note the array of artists on these three issues, including the "Crusty Bunkers" collective on inks for issue #31. Part of the reason for deadline problems is a shift from a bi-monthly to monthly schedule, and with issue #32, the run will get a regular artist in Frank Robbins (whose own very stylized art clashes with McGregor's writing style), but McGregor is off the book by issue #35 (and issue #36 is a reprint, indicating that the schedule didn't exactly get back on track). So while you can see that McGregor was potentially laying the groundwork for a multi-tiered story arc here, we never get to see the plans come to fruition.

Anyway, plotwise, Charlton Grundge from Adonis Chemical hires Luke Cage to find a former employee that has stolen some plans. The guy is killed before Luke gets to him, but Luke learns that Adonis intends to ship poison gas canisters through the city. Disgusted by the company's lack of concern for human safety, Cage turns on Adonis, roughing up Grundge.

Grundge responds by preparing to bring charges against Cage through his lawyer, Grassy Moss.

The bad guys of the arc, who are trying to get the poison canisters for their own purposes, are the stooge Cockroach Hamilton, a short and dirty guy (he lives with cockroaches and doesn't mind when they crawl through his food) that wields a six-barrel shotgun he calls "Josh"...

...and the mastermind, Piranha Jones, who has steel teeth and a man-sized tank full of piranhas.

Both characters are, of course, phenomenally goofy, but not so different than other Power Man villains like Cottonmouth, Black Mariah, etc.. You can also see similarities with the likes of King Cadaver and Baron Macabre from McGregor's Jungle Action run.

This story also introduces Quentin Chase.

Chase is a cop that first runs into Cage after the death of the Adonis employee, and while he doesn't believe that Cage is the murderer, he is suspicious of Cage and keeps showing up asking for Cage's social security card and things like that. He's an ally against Piranha Jones' organization, though.

We're also introduced to Chase's family.

A contrast is made between the environment Cage lives in and the suburban paradise that Chase gets to go home to at night.

The story also introduces a running gag where Luke struggles with a soda machine in D.W.'s theater.

One other introduction: D.W.'s girlfriend Win.

The main thing about McGregor's storytelling, though, is his... ah, verbosity.

Issue #28 also sets up a story that will begin in issue #33. Noah Burstein is nervous, and someone is watching him.

McGregor's wordiness isn't necessarily accessible, but at its best it's a compliment to a good story. In Jungle Action, where there was great art and a strong theme in the plot, the endless caption panels added an extra literary element to the story. McGregor's captions are not like, say, Roy Thomas'. They don't just repeat what is, or could be, told in the art. And that's true here, as well, at least in attempt. You'll note that in the panels above, the captions are not narrating the plot; they are delving into the heads of random characters on the streets observing the plot.

Other times, it just provides additional color.

The result is the equivalent of a hard-boiled detective novel. Your mileage is going to vary on whether or not you think it is worthwhile. If you want to experience these right, you really have to set aside a decent chunk of time and sit and read them. Normally when i read comics i like to grab a big stack and tear through them, at maybe 20 minutes an issue. These will take longer. Or you can just skim all the narration panels. For Panther's Rage, i found it rewarding to spend the extra time. For these issues, especially thanks to the goofy nature of the villains and the unreliable art, it seemed like the wordiness just created clutter.

So the issues are ambitious, and there are some nice scenes, but ultimately it's a little disappointing.

When Cage is bitten by the Piranha, the narration completely ignores the previous storyline where a (fake) vampire did bite Luke's neck.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - introducing a few minor characters

Chronological Placement Considerations: Placing this after the fill-in in Power Man #29.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A