Anarky (comic book)

Supercbbox|
title = Anarky


imagesize=180
caption = Cover to "Anarky" (Vol.1) #1. Art by Norm Breyfogle.
schedule = Monthly
format = Limited series (vol. 1)
Ongoing series (vol. 2)
limited=y
ongoing=y
publisher = DC Comics
date = May - August 1997 (vol. 1)
May - December 1999 (vol. 2)
issues = 4 (vol. 1)
8 (vol. 2)
SciFi = y
Superhero = y
multigenre = y
main_char_team = Anarky
writers = Alan Grant
artists =
pencillers = Norm Breyfogle
inkers = Josef Rubinstein
colorists = Noelle Giddings
creative_team_month =
creative_team_year =
creators = Alan Grant
Norm Breyfogle
subcat=DC Comics
sort=PAGENAME

"Anarky" was a short lived comic book series published by DC Comics between May and August of 1997, and May and December of 1999. It was written by Alan Grant, with pencils by Norm Breyfogle, and inks by Josef Rubinstein. The comic was a spin-off title derived from the "Batman" franchise, and followed the adventures of Anarky, an antagonist of the Batman character.

Although Anarky had originally been created to reflect the philosophy of Anarchism, the primary influence on both volumes was the philosophy of Neo-Tech. The comic was overtly political in nature, exploring a number of themes including antimilitarism, homelessness, and political corruption.

History

The first volume of "Anarky" was originally published as a four-issue limited series between May and August of 1997, as a result of a request Norm Breyfogle made to DC for employment, following the comic book crash of the mid 1990s. Darren Vincenzo suggested multiple projects which Breyfogle could take part in, including an Anarky mini-series, written by Alan Grant, which was eventually the project decided upon. [Comic Book Resources.com interview, [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8581 Catching Up With Norm Breyfogle And Chuck Satterlee] , by Edward Carey. (2006) Comicbookresources.com Accessed January 24, 2007.] Following the dual success of the mini and a trade paperback collecting several of the title character's appearances, the comic was expanded into an ongoing series that ran between May and December of 1999.

While Grant has commented that the first volume stands among his favorite works, he did not wish to create the ongoing series. Convinced by Norm Breyfogle to continue the series, he chafed under what he felt were excessive demands made by editors for specific plot changes, such as "toning down" Anarky's philosophy and including cameos for Superman, the Haunted Tank, and the Justice League.

One of the earliest of these was that Grant was "made to" remove Anarky from Gotham City.cite web |url = http://www.adelaidecomicsandbooks.com/granbrey.htm |title = Alan Grant & Norm Breyfogle |accessdate = 2007-05-18 |last = Best |first = Daniel |date= 2007-01-06 |format = html |work = Adelaide Comics and Books| publisher =ACAB Publishing] This was achieved by explaining that following an Lonnie's parents disappeared, their house was destroyed, and he was threatened by Batman to leave the city. As one of many refugees who escaped from No Man's Land, he relocated to a new base of operations beneath the Washington Monument.Cite comic | Writer = Alan Grant | Penciller = Norm Breyfogle | Inker = Josef Rubinstein | Story = Aberration! Part One: Power Play | Title = Anarky | Volume = 2 | Issue = 1 | Date = May 1, 1999 | Publisher = DC Comics | Page = | Panel = | ID = ]

Grant considered abandoning the project, but continued it for Breyfogle's sake, as the illustrator was still struggling for employment. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20040814114730/http://www.411mania.com/comics/columns/article.php?columns_id=2769 Getting The 411: Alan Grant.] 411mania.com Accessed August 14, 2004]

The second volume was heavily criticized by reviewers and failed to catch on among readers, until it was announced in the seventh issue that it would be canceled due to poor sales following the eighth issue. ["Anarky" (vol.2) #7 (November 1999)] . At the time of cancellation, two issues had been fully written and illustrated, but remained unpublished. [ These details are provided by Breyfogle in the [http://www.normbreyfogle.com/media/articles.asp?page=ankbye "Anarky Farewell"] , an article written in response to the cancellation of the series. Normbreyfogle.com Accessed February 11, 2007] These were intended to include an encounter with Superman, a story arch set in East Timor, and a confrontation with Capital Eagle, a new antagonist for Anarky that had been created by Grant and introduced earlier that year. [ The character Capital Eagle first appeared in "DCU Heroes: Secret Files and Origins" #1 (February 1999), "An Anarky Primer". The information regarding the unpublished issues of "Anarky" can be seen in illustrations created by Norm Breyfogle, provided in the [http://www.normbreyfogle.com/gallery/anarky.asp Anarky Gallery] section of his website. Normbreyfogle.com. Accessed March 30, 2007.] Despite poor sales in the US, Grant noted that it was popular among philosophy students and sold well in Latin American countries, particularly Mexico and Argentina, perhaps owing to a history of political repression in the region. [ Alan Grant specifies that "Anarky" was popular among philosophy students and foreign sales were high in Latin American countries in a [http://www.2000adreview.co.uk/features/interviews/2005/grant/grant7.shtml 2000 A.D. Review interview] , by Edward Berridge. (2005) 2000adreview.co.uk Accessed January 24, 2007. He later specifies Mexico and Argentina as two of these countries in [http://web.archive.org/web/20040814114730/http://www.411mania.com/comics/columns/article.php?columns_id=2769 Getting The 411: Alan Grant.] 411mania.com Accessed August 14, 2004]

The series ended with the controversial suggestion that Anarky was the son of The Joker. This was originally a serious suggestion put forward by Norm Breyfogle, and advanced by Alan Grant as an attempt to solidify Anarky's role as a part of the "Batman" franchise. The idea was protested against by Dennis O'Neil, who only allowed the publication of the story to take place provided a rebuttal be written six months later. However, the series was canceled before the agreed upon date. [ [http://ohdannyboy.blogspot.com/2007/01/batman-alan-grant-norm-breyfogle-speak.html Batman: Alan Grant & Norm Breyfogle Speak Out] , by Daniel Best. (2006) Ohdannyboy.blogspot.com Accessed February 10, 2007.] As of 2007, this has yet to be addressed further by any DC publication, and the story remains in conflict with the DC universe timeline, as Anarky was born before the first appearance of the Joker. [The Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe provides this explanation as part of an [http://www.dcuguide.com/Anarky/Anarky2_008.php overview] of "The Sins of the Father" "Anarky vol.2 #8" DC Comics December 1999. Dcuguide.com. Accessed January 24, 2007. For more information, see the Timeline of the DC Universe]

Political and philosophical themes

While previously the character Anarky had been described as an anarchist, both volumes were instead based on the philosophy of Neo-Tech, an offshoot of Objectivism. It is unique as the only mainstream comic book ever influenced by this philosophy. [* [http://web.archive.org/web/19980218141349/http://gocomics.com/alangrant.htm Holy Penis Collapsor Batman! DC Publishes The First Zonpower Comic Book!?!?!] gocomics.com. Accessed February 18, 1998]

A recurring theme in the first volume included four scenes, at one page per issue, in which Anarky expounded philosophy to his pet dog, and indirectly for the reader, including explaining a bicameralism, ["Anarky" (vol.1) #1 (May 1997)] the difference between Plato and Aristotle, ["Anarky" (vol.1) #2 (June 1997)] the concept of economic "parasites," ["Anarky" (vol.1) #3 (July 1997)] and how the elimination of irrationality would allow society to advance. ["Anarky" (vol.1) #4 (August 1997)] In an interview, Alan Grant explained that in the original script, these monologues were titled "The History of Consciousness part 1 through 4", and that Norm Breyfogle designed the illustrations so that a single quarter of a Circle-A would act as a backdrop to each, which when placed together created a complete poster image. [* [http://web.archive.org/web/19980218141349/http://gocomics.com/alangrant.htm Holy Penis Collapsor Batman! DC Publishes The First Zonpower Comic Book!?!?!] gocomics.com. Accessed February 18, 1998] This theme was not utilized in the second volume, but story narration continued to allude to these concepts. Bicameralism and philosophy of the mind remained a topic of concern to Grant while writing the series, which Grant hoped could act as a vehicle for his thoughts on the origin of consciousness.cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/comics/columns/article.php?columns_id=2769 |title=Getting The 411: Alan Grant |accessdate= 2004-08-14 |last=Cooling |first=William |date=2007-04-21 |format=html |work=411Mania.com |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20051113004943/http://www.411mania.com/comics/columns/article.php?columns_id=2769 |archivedate=2005-11-13] The comparison between Plato and Aristotle had been used in two earlier stories which featured Anarky, although at the time the character was described as an anarchist. [ Anarky enters into monologues in which he describes the difference between Plato's concept of guardianship vs. that of Aristotle's concept of self-responsibility in "Batman: Shadow of the Bat Annual" #2 (1994), "The Tyrant", and "The Batman Adventures" #31, "The People's Court". (April 1995)]

Several of the issues contained strong anti-war messages, including issue #6. Near the conclusion of the "War and Peace" storyline, a brief scene is shown in which Lonnie Machin uses the internet to hold an instant messaging session with the public in which he debates the need for war, arguing that money and time used on military research would be better spent on agriculture to solve the global overpopulation crisis. ["Anarky" (vol.2) #6 (October 1999)]

The series also introduced atheist leanings into the character's portrayal, coinciding with Grant's Neo-Tech philosophy. ["Anarky vol.1" #1 (May 1997): Metamorphosis Part 1] Grant later commented on how this conflicted with inherent assumptions concerning the existence of demons in the DC Universe:

quotation|...the villains I have him fighting against in part one is actually a demon, the demon Etrigan.

Demons of course are an irrational product of man’s mind, and right therefore I’m face with a severe problem right from the start. Here’s this guy Anarky who espouses Neo-Tech, and possible purity of man’s consciousness, and he’s fighting against a superior demonic being from an irrational universe.|Alan Grant|Holy Penis Collapsor Batman! DC Publishes The First Zonpower Comic Book!?!?! [ [http://web.archive.org/web/19980218141349/http://gocomics.com/alangrant.htm Holy Penis Collapsor Batman! DC Publishes The First Zonpower Comic Book!?!?!] . gocomics.com. Accessed February 18, 1998]

Political messages were also occasionally displayed in the backgrounds of scenes, as graffiti or fluttering newspapers displaying politically charged headlines which alluded to social problems, such as white collar crime, and homelessness. ["Anarky vol.1" #3 (July 1997): Metamorphosis Part 3: The Economics of The Madhouse] Breyfogle later commented on his artistic contributions to the comic's political messages in an interview:

upporting cast

Several new characters were introduced in the second volume. These including MAX ("Multi-Augmented X-Program"), a supercomputer possessing artificial intelligence ["Anarky vol.2" #1 (May 1999)] , Roach, a homeless girl, ["Anarky vol.2" #1 (May 1999)] Lieutenant Ryne, a police officer, ["Anarky vol.2" #2 (June 1999)] Capital Eagle, a government employed superhuman, ["Anarky vol.2" #6 (October 1999)] and Mr. Staines, a mysterious figure employed by the federal government. ["Anarky vol.2" #6 (October 1999)] Of these characters, only MAX appeared in every issue of the series. Due to the short run of the series, all of the other original characters appeared in a limited number of scenes, although Roach, Mr. Stains, and Capital Eagle were intended to appear in two unpublished issues. [The information regarding the unpublished issues of "Anarky" can be seen in illustrations created by Norm Breyfogle, provided in the [http://www.normbreyfogle.com/gallery/anarky.asp Anarky Gallery] section of his website. Normbreyfogle.com. Accessed March 30, 2007.] Due to the limited number of scenes they appeared in, it is not possible to judge what role they were intended to play in the long term.

Mr. Staines was later featured in a Batman one-shot, ', by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle. The story presents Mr. Stains as an enigmatic scientist spearheading a top secret, black budget, mind control program in "Dreamland" (aka Area 51). Staines is represented as an idealist who believes that society can be rid of war, crime, and chaos if the minds of individuals are controlled by authority figures. [Batman: Dreamland"' (w) Grant, Alan (co writer) Breyfogle, Norm. (artist) Breyfogle, Norm (letter) Workman, John (colorist) Giddings , Noelle C. (separator) Digital Chameleon. 2000]

Plot

"Metamorphosis"

*"Anarky" (vol.1) #1 (May 1997): "Metamorphosis, Part One: Does a Dog Have a Buddha Nature?"
*"Anarky" (vol.1) #2 (June 1997): "Metamorphosis, Part Two: Revolution Number 9"
*"Anarky" (vol.1) #3 (July 1997): "Metamorphosis, Part Three: The Economics of the Madhouse"
*"Anarky" (vol.1) #4 (August 1997): "Metamorphosis, Part Four: Fanfare for the Common Man"

The story describes that Lonni Machin narrowly survived an explosion which faked his death in #40 and 41 (July - August 1995). Several months later, he has begun a new plan to liberate the world of government. As Anarky, he attempts to create a device which will emit beams of light on frequencies which will trigger the human brain of all who see it. The people will then be "de-brainwashed" of all the social constraints which society has placed on the individual. Utilizing a makeshift teleportation device capable of summoning a boom tube [The device is vaguely referred to as a "teleportation device" or inaccurately as a "boom tube" at different times during the two volumes of the series. The term "boom tube" is inaccurate as it refers to the portal opened by such devices, not the devices themselves. Further, the device is never described as being akin to a Mother Box, another device in the DC universe capable of generating a boom tube.] , he begins a quest to capture the power sources the device will need: the madness of Etrigan, the evil of Darkseid, and the goodness of Batman. During the confrontation between Anarky and Batman, the device is damaged. Thus, when Machin activates it, it only effects himself. The vision that follows reveals what may have happened if he had succeeded, with nightmarish consequences. The conclusion of the story is that if society is to change, individuals must accept that change voluntarily. When Batman turns off the machine, Anarky awakens and promptly escapes, vowing to continue his mission, "until they all learn to choose for themselves."

"Aberration!"

*"Anarky" (vol.2) #1 (May 1999): "Aberration! Part One: Power Play"
*"Anarky" (vol.2) #2 (June 1999): "Aberration! Part Two: Green for Danger"
*"Anarky" (vol.2) #3 (July 1999): "Aberration! Part Three: Wishing Well"

Taking place during the "No Man's Land" story arc, sixteen-year-old Lonni Machin, aka Anarky, is chased from the ruins of Gotham City by Batman, who refuses to face Anarky in a turf war over the city. With financial independence and technical genius, Anarky invents new ally, MAX, an artificially intelligent computer, and uses his teleportation device and wealth to reestablish a secret base below the Washington Monument. He then begins a war against supervillains and the United States Government, while simultaneously searching for his parents, who disappeared in the aftermath of the ' story arc. During research, Anarky mathematically predicts the eventual appearance of an "Aberration," an anomaly of physics that will destroy the planet, and steals a Green Lantern power ring to combat it. This draws the attention of Kyle Rayner, who attempts to regain the ring before teaming up with Anarky against the Aberration. Near the end, Anarky is nearly seduced by the power of the ring and tempted to keep it, but comes to the conclusion that "power corrupts" and opts to return it, only for the ring to be destroyed during the battle. As an epiloque, MAX"' uncovers evidence that the Machins adopted Lonni as an infant, and that his real father is "a madman." The mystery of the alleged father's identity becomes a recurring subplot of the series until the final issue.

"War and Peace"

*"Anarky" (vol.2) #4 (August 1999): "War and Peace, Part One"
*"Anarky" (vol.2) #5 (September 1999): "War and Peace, Part Two"
*"Anarky" (vol.2) #6 (October 1999): "War and Peace, Part Three"

Anarky stumbles upon a black market transaction between a US senator and anonymous henchmen, and disrupts their meeting. He discovers that the senator was selling codes that revealed coordinates of bio-warfare factories in Iraq, and later that Ra's al Ghul was the buyer. The international terrorist's goal is to launch missiles against the factories from Israel, releasing clouds of deadly bacteria and sparking a war in the Middle East, the result of which would be a death toll in the millions. Ra's al Ghul eventually obtains the codes and launches his missiles. However, Anarky supplies him with the incorrect codes and the missiles land harmlessly over the desert. He then uses the Internet to alert the world to the plot, which results in the missile sites being discovered and destroyed by US warplanes. As an epilogue to the story, a secret meeting is held by key members of the federal government in the White House. The threat Anarky represents to the men attending is discussed, and it is decided that Mr. Staines, a mysterious figure employed by the federal government, would be charged with the task of neutralizing him. Mr. Staines suggests the use of Capital Eagle, a government employed superhuman, to defeat Anarky.

"When Johnny Comes Marching Home"

*"Anarky" (vol.2) #7 (November 1999): "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"

A tie in to the "Day of Judgment" crossover event, Anarky encounters The Haunted Tank and teams up with its crew to defeat an army of zombies rising from Arlington National Cemetery. Anarky also encounters various founding fathers of the US in the process. The story carries a strong anti-war message, and ends when Anarky, demoralized by the sight of pointless fighting among men from every war in US history, refuses to fight and abandons the battlefield.

"The Sins of the Father"

*"Anarky" (vol.2) #8 (December 1999): "The Sins of the Father"

Taking place after the "No Man's Land" story arc, Lonni Machin decides to finally confront his supposed biological parents to uncover the truth of his lineage. He first meets with his alleged biological mother, Greta Mitchell, but finds that she is mentally unbalanced, due to the side effects of Joker venom she was exposed to years earlier. In a flashback, she tells the story of how she became pregnant by the Joker, and that due to her condition she was deemed unfit for parental responsibility and that her child was taken away from her. However, Lonnie is unable to get any more information from her. As a final recourse, Anarky breaks into Arkham Asylum using his boom tube and confronts his alleged father, now revealed to be the Joker. Meanwhile the Joker is in the midst of a prison break with other inmates, and takes advantage of the situation to steal the boom tube, and then forces Anarky to participate. Unarmed, Anarky plays along until he manages to regain the boom tube to escape, without the Joker having given him any clear answers either. Although the story presents no evidence, Anarky asserts that he personally believes the Joker is his father, and fears that someday he may become insane as well. The story Greta Mitchell tells Lonnie is in conflict with the DC universe timeline, as Lonnie was born before the debut of the Joker, throwing the entire flashback into question. [The Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe provides this explanation as part of an [http://www.dcuguide.com/Anarky/Anarky2_008.php overview] of "The Sins of the Father" "Anarky vol.2 #8" DC Comics December 1999. Dcuguide.com. Accessed January 24, 2007. For more information, see the Timeline of the DC Universe.]

Creators

*Alan Grant, writer, (vol.1) #1-4; (vol.2) #1-8.
*Norm Breyfogle, penciller, (vol.1) #1-4; (vol.2) #1-8.
*Josef Rubinstein, inker, (vol.1) #1-4; (vol.2) #1-8.
*Noelle Giddings, colorist, (vol.1) #1-4; (vol.2) #1-8.
*John Costanza, letterer, (vol.1) #1-4; (vol.2) #1-8.
*Darren Vincenzo, editor, (vol.1) #1-4; (vol.2) #1-8.

Collections

ee also

*Mr. A
*Question (comics)

Footnotes and citations

External links

*GCD|seriesid=6984|title=Anarky (1997 Series)
* [http://www.rzero.com/books/Anarky.html A Beek's Books review] of the "Anarky" limited series, "Metamorphosis", by Todd VerBeek.
*GCD|seriesid=10564|title=Anarky (1999 Series)
* [http://www.fanzing.com/mag/fanzing27/themount.shtml Anarky: Better Dead than Read] , a review of the "Anarky" ongoing series by Matt Morrison for "Fanzing #27 - Canceled Comics Cavalcade"."
* [http://www.normbreyfogle.com/gallery/anarky.asp Anarky: Norm Reflects] , a short essay written by Norm Breyfogle, Anarky co-creator and series illustrator, hosted on [http://normbreyfogle.com Norm Breyfogle.com] . Also includes the [http://www.normbreyfogle.com/media/articles.asp?page=anktpb Anarky Trade Paperback Intro] , [http://www.normbreyfogle.com/media/articles.asp?page=ankbye Anarky Farewell] , regarding the series cancellation, and galleries of completed pencil illustrations to multiple issues, including two unpublished issues of Anarky.