Vext

Supercbbox| title = Vext


caption = "Vext" #1 (March, 1999). Pencils by Mike McKone, inks by Mark McKenna.
schedule = Monthly
format =
publisher = DC Comics
date = March 1999-August 1999
issues = Six
main_char_team =
writers = Keith Giffen
pencillers = Mike McKone
inkers = Mark McKenna, Andy Lanning
colorists = Lovern Kindzierski, Digital Chameleon
letterers = Bob Lappan
creative_team_month =
creative_team_year =
creators = Keith Giffen

Vext is a fictional character created by Keith Giffen and the star of a short-lived 1999 comic book from DC Comics. The series was written by Keith Giffen, pencilled by Mike McKone, inked by Mark McKenna, lettered by Bob Lappan, and colored by Lovern Kindzierski with separations by Digital Chameleon for all six issues (with guest inker Andy Lanning filling in on issue 4.) The series was the last one edited by Kevin Dooley before he left comic books and was assisted by Harvey Richards.

Fictional character biography

Vext is a god from the Jejune Realm (also known as the Borough of Mawkish Indifference) in the Pan-Dimensional Pantheons. He is the "patron deity of mishap and misfortune," and true to that appellation, his world was phased out of existence because he and the other deities there were no longer actively worshiped by mankind"Vext" #1] . From childhood, he has been beset by misfortune"DCU Heroes Secret Files and Origins" #1, p. 53] , and even visited the Garden of Eden and accidentally caused the Fall of Man"DCU Heroes Secret Files and Origins" #1, p. 62] and the sinking of the Titanic"DCU Heroes Secret Files and Origins" #1, p. 47] .

It takes approximately twenty three years for the line of gods from the Jejune Realm to be processed. Everyone is told to cooperate or face instant termination. Vext finds himself in a waiting room, then dealing with a mustached female caseworker. She cannot get his name right and despite Vext trying to assist, she summons the executioners. They in fact go to the cubicle next door and kill the entity that the caseworker had mistaken Vext for.

Finally, he is simply evicted to a random realm, which turns out to be Midgard/Earth. He is given appropriate funds to start a new life and not much training. He is told he cannot interfere with the course of human affairs, try to take over the planet, or become a super-hero.

He rents an apartment, 4-A, in Mr. Danforth's apartment building in Delta City, which was also the home of a hero known as The Heckler (though he was not mentioned or seen in "Vext".) Vext's next-door neighbor is aspiring writer Colleen McBride, who does her best to help Vext adjust to his new life on Earth (not knowing, for most of the series, that Vext was a god). For example, she (at least tries to) help him deal with the concept of banks and the inaccuracies of the profoundly deaf landlord.

In the first issue, Vext is visited by Superman and the angel Zauriel who also tell him they will be keeping an eye on him. At first Colleen assumes that they are role-players.

Vext also must deal with the mistake-prone Department of Motor Vehicles. In one rare moment of 'luck', Colleen's treat of a fast food hamburger comes complete with an army of sentient microscopic bacteria. Vext's non-earthly biology swiftly deals with them, saving many innocent people.

A sub-thread running through the series is an amoral, murderous adventurer and his two equally homicidal assistants who wish to gain power through the exploitation of minor gods such as Vext. Much of their adventures deal with the God of Inappropriate Flatulence.

Gods of the Jejune Realm

Publication history

Unusually for a comic set in an established publisher-owned universe, "Vext" was half creator-owned: though all the characters featured in the book belong to DC Comics, Giffen retained copyright to the stories and art.

After cancellation by DC, the series was reprinted in Italian by Press Play Publishing as a back-up in the Italian "Lobo" series, issues 29-34 (January through June, 2000.)

Bibliography

*"DCU Heroes Secret Files and Origins" #1 (February, 1999):p. 47 - Vext Profile Page::Writer - Keith Giffen::Penciller - Mike McKone::Inker - Mark McKenna::Colorist - Tom McCraw::Separations - Digital Chameleon:p. 53 - "Tales of Turgidity Presents: Vext - The Formative Years with Baby Vext and Li'l Paramour"::Writer - Keith Giffen::Penciller - Mike McKone::Inker - Mark McKenna::Letterer - Bob Lappan::Colorist - Tom McCraw::Separations - Digital Chameleon:p. 63 - Timeline::Writer - Matt Brady
*"Vext" #1 (March, 1999):"In the Begining Beginning"::Writer - Keith Giffen::Penciller - Mike McKone::Inker - Mark McKenna::Colorist - Lovern Kindzierski::Letterer - Bob Lappan::Editor - Kevin Dooley
*"Vext" #2 (April, 1999):"Road Rage"::Writer - Keith Giffen::Penciller - Mike McKone::Inker - Mark McKenna::Colorist - Lovern Kindzierski::Separations - Digital Chameleon::Letterer - Bob Lappan::Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards::Editor - Kevin Dooley
*"Vext" #3 (May, 1999):"Germ Warfare"::Writer - Keith Giffen::Penciller - Mike McKone::Inker - Mark McKenna::Colorist - Lovern Kindzierski::Separations - Digital Chameleon::Letterer - Bob Lappan::Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards::Editor - Kevin Dooley
*"Vext" #4 (June, 1999):"Love Hurts"::Writer - Keith Giffen::Penciller - Mike McKone::Inker - Andy Lanning::Colorist - Lovern Kindzierski::Separations - Digital Chameleon::Letterer - Bob Lappan::Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards::Editor - Kevin Dooley
*"Vext" #5 (July, 1999):"Love Stinks!"::Writer - Keith Giffen::Penciller - Mike McKone::Inker - Mark McKenna::Colorist - Lovern Kindzierski::Separations - Digital Chameleon::Letterer - Bob Lappan::Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards::Editor - Kevin Dooley
*"Vext" #6 (August, 1999):"The Woman Who Knew Too Much"::Writer - Keith Giffen::Penciller - Mike McKone::Inker - Mark McKenna::Colorist - Lovern Kindzierski::Separations - Digital Chameleon::Letterer - Bob Lappan::Assistant Editor - Harvey Richards::Editor - Kevin Dooley

References

External links

* [http://www.dcdatabaseproject.com/Vext Vext on DC Database Project]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Zone/9524/vext/ Borough of Mawkish Indifference fan site]