WABAC Wednesday - Milestone's Icon

It’s WABAC Wednesday here at Analog again, and since DC has announced the upcoming two part mini series Milestone Forever. We thought would take a look back at The Milestone imprint. We’ll review two of it’s best titles in my opinion Icon and Static. If you don’t know what Milestone was, and haven’t read these titles you are definitely missing out. You need to track these down these back issues.

In 1993, Milestone Media was launched in partnership the DC comics with the idea to be a minority owned line to promote the diversity that was lacking in mainstream comics. Unfortunately, not much has changed on that front in the comics world. The project was overseen by editor-in-chief Dwayne McDuffie (you might know him from Justice League Animated series). It also introduced us to such talent as John Paul Leon, Mark Bright, Chris Cross along with veteran and Milestone founder Denys Cowan.

So let’s take a look at my favorite Milestone Comics imprint Icon. that’s right, I said Icon not Static. Icon was written by Dwayne McDuffie with art by Mark Bright

Our story begins in 1839, with a disabled alien spaceship above earth’s atmosphere. Sensing the ship’s impending doom, one of it’s crew makes his way to an escape pod. Jettisoning towards earth, the pod finds it’s way to the deep south plantation where it crashes. A female slave at the plantation hears the crash and heads to investigate. She finds the small craft in a cotton field. Sound familiar? Here’s where the story diverges from the one you know. She touches the craft and the alien inside transforms in something that will appear to blend in with it’s new home. In this case, an African American male child. The slave, of course, takes the defenseless baby home to protect it.

We fast forward to current day 1993. We find the occupant of the craft to still be alive and grown into a lawyer named Augustus Freeman the Fourth who is contemplating a recent surprise meeting. We are then introduced to the real star of this book 16 year old Raquel Ervin.

We cut back to her earlier joyride with Raquel boyfriend Noble and his gang. Much to her surprise, Noble announces that this is no longer a joyride, they intend to rob a rich neighborhood. Mr Analog is amused by the next line. As Noble says to Raquel “Maybe we’ll make enough for you to get yourself a typewriter”. Funny no? Seen any typewriters lately?

Noble’s gang, with the protesting Raquel in tow, break into a house. Raquel more interested in looking around than robbing, finds a whole room full of books. She is impressed by the owner having more knowledge than actual wealth.

About this time, the robbery goes south. Augustus Freeman appears, who the robbers mistake for the butler. Freeman tells them that they are mistaken about several things, including the fact that they are robbing his house and taking his things. A gun toting Noble panics at this point, and shoots Augustus. A shocked Raquel has never seen anyone shot before, but knows something is wrong.

Augustus rises from the floor unharmed, the panicked robbers try to flee. In the process of being captured, Raquel has a life changing experience. She sees a man take flight under his own power. Not just any man, a black man. The gang is rounded up. Since Augustus has exposed his secret, he can not turn them over to the police. However, He can threaten to watch and come after them if they try a stunt like this again.

The stunned Raquel can not return to her life as it was. She then becomes the star and the driving force behind this title. She conceives a plan and boldly returns to Augustus’s house a day later. She has designed a sketch of them in superhero outfits. He will be Icon, and she will be his sidekick, Rocket. Icon will be an ideal or as Augustus corrects her a symbol for something better. Augustus refuses to go along, and tells her that she doesn’t need an example. She just hasn’t tried hard enough like he has. “He tells her to pull herself up by her own bootstraps”. The angry Raquel then replies “It’s a lot easier to pull yourself up by your own boot straps if you already know how to fly.”

Raquel leaves the shaken Augustus to ponder what just happened. After thinking over, he concedes to her plan. Uniforms are made based on her design, and a force field belt is presented to her by Augustus to protect her. Thus, Icon and Rocket are born. We start out with a Superman and instead get a Batman with super powers. Plus a Robin who will run the show.  But that is a simple explanation of a concept that is something more. It’s a great book. Look for it and your local comics show back issue bins. We will take a look at Static in the next week’s article.

Those interested in finding out more about Icon might check out this link.

And for a review of Milestone Forever look here

Comments

[TalonSoulbender]

That's a read Max, was never a fan of Milestone myself, but that was still a cool article!

Talon

LOD

[fishmilkshake]

I never read the Milestone stuff because was already getting too much at the time. Sounds great though and something I'll keep an eye out for in TPB.