Back in 1990, Morrison teamed up with artist Frank Quitely,
who has worked with Morrison on many of the titles listed above to create a
spin-off from another series by Morrison called 'Doom Patrol' which is tied
into other works such as 'The Invisibles' & 'The Filth' forming what
Morrison calls his 'Hypersigil Trilogy.' This spin-off featured the character
'Flex Mantello.'
Although Flex Mantello was completed as far back as the
early 90s, legal issues had kept it from being reprinted due to a lawsuit filed
against DC Comics by the Charles Atlas Company. You see Flex Mantello's
character was a parody based on the infamous advertisement printed in past
American comic books called 'The insult that made a man out of Mac.' When Grant
Morisson's work was brought to the company's notice long after it was finished,
they filed suit. The suit was dismissed by the court based on the fact that it
was a fairly produced parody. So after being reprinted in Doom Patrol
collections, Flex Mantello finally got its own deluxe hardcover edition newly
printed in 2012 through Vertigo.
Flex Mantello is a hard work to recommend to casual readers
of graphic novels. It will however find interest with veteran comic book
readers familiar with Morrison's work on Doom Patrol, or anyone looking for
something out-of-the-ordinary with quirky and unique characters and highly
imaginative stories. Frank Quitely's artwork is certainly characteristic enough
to enjoy for its flexible, loose, detailed and colorful style.
The plot involves Flex Mentallo on the trail of an
organization called 'Faculty X' who go around terrorizing people by throwing
around cartoon Bombs that don't explode, as if just to taunt the general public
by exposing to them how fragile their lives are. However another story is also
happening simultaneously where, as if in another dimension entirely, is that of
a man who has hit rock bottom in his life. Seemingly overdosing on drugs to commit
suicide, he calls a suicide hotline simply to have someone to talk to in his
final moments. And he wants to talk about comic books and superheroes. As to
how these two stories relate and cross paths with each other; that is best left
to the reader to discover.
Flex Mentallo's story and world are pretty wild in a sense
where just beneath the veneer of a downtrodden world, there lies one of magic
and sentimentality. Beneath the fantastical and depressing story is a homage to
a by-gone era of comic books where characters were designed to be free,
flamboyant and nonsensically funny. Things enjoyed by young boys before the era
of the dark and anti-heroes. When comic books went from being fanciful
children's entertainment, to becoming more complex & adult. Flex Mentallo
aims to merge them both to reach a sense of hope and brightness. As such it is
highly recommendable to lovers of comic books!
The hardcover deluxe edition of ‘Flex Mantello’ is available
at our store for the U.S. Cover price. There is also an interesting story that
acts as an introduction to the book along with an end section looking at artist
Frank Quitley’s process! We also carry Grant Morrison's other works from Doom Patrol, the Invisibles and the Filth! So be a big, strong man and grab some copies to beef up
your rewards account today!
