Flex Mentallo is a Grant Morrison creation that was created as a parody of Charles Atlas, the strongman bodybuilder, the hero of the beach with a strong vibe of 1930s pulp heroism attached to him. This oversized hardcover is the first reprinted re-collection of a 1996 mini-series done by Morrison & Frank Quitely, with brand new coloring by Peter Doherty.
The book can be read as an autobiographic of Morrison because it touches a lot of things he utterly beliefs at, while his shamanistic symbolism and sigils is also there, his childhood fear of atom bombs and the concept idea of superheroes being able to save lives and leap forward to become something real and existing amongst us. It’s a tribute from Morrison to all the things he loves about comics, while inserting a huge chunk of his own personality into it. This is further evident if you’ve read the book Supergods or seen the movie Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods.
The story follows Wally Sage, a young adult who is about to commit suicide and is talking to a mystery man on the phone to discuss his childhood and most importantly his love to comic books, such as his favorite hero Flex Mentallo, who was brought alive by a child’s wish and again if I start delving into the story further, it’s not only spoiling but me reciting what Grant Morrison utterly believes, so I don’t wish to comment further on the story.
The brand new coloring removes the “Silver Age” vibe the book had going, but with its wacky concepts and more modern look, I’d simply call this a “Neo Silver Age” book akin to what Grant Morrison has been writing for the past few years, dark, while still carrying an hopeful message with high sci-fi concepts.
concepts. Frank Quitely’s art is absolutely gorgeous, if you’ve read We3, Batman & Robin or All Star Superman, that’s the sort of art you’re in ready for, with obvious modern coloring & inking. Flex’s over the top muscle massed body is larger than life giving this very Herculean look around him, the expressions are clear and the environmental settings can be larger than life.
Rating: 96/100 – As a Morrison/Quitely fan I was more than pleased, but I would feel the writing could come across more evident on what Morrison wants to aim, because as a longtime Morrison fan I’ve read his interviews, watched the documentary movie and read Supergods, so I already have a strong sense of what he aims, believes and how he has made the comic fan community seen him as. So for a non-Morrison fan some of the concepts might seem outrageous or flat out weird. Still it’s a wonderful oversized hardcover for your book shelves.
