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Underground > Comic Books >

We3 #3

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11:02 / 28.01.05

did youo szsee the panels where tikcer and bandit push we4 out of the paneland on the next page?
The man's a genius
.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

11:29 / 28.01.05

Glad it's not just me. I thought I was just being over-emotional. Yet again I made the mistake of reading my comics on the bus home from the shop. And crying. DAMN YOU, GEORGE!!!

That was... beautiful.

Why is the US government stealing its citizen's pets? Wouldn't it be easier to breed their own animals than to land Black Helicopters in back yards across the nation and make off with beloved family animals?

You know, this was something that was bugging me until about three weeks ago, when I read in the paper about some decommissioned (50-years-on and all that) documents admitting that the (I think it was UK) government HAD been stealing animals for research. I saved the article in anticipation of rejoining this thread after #3 came out, but I'm buggered if I know where it is now.

WRT the armour- they had been pretty beaten to fuck. One of Bandit's leg-pieces has already fallen off ("IS COAT NOT BANDIT"), and if you've ever tried dismantling anything with sod-all knowledge of how it works, you'll agree that once part of it's gone, the rest can often easily be taken apart with a bit of "brute" force. With all four paws free, Bandit could have made quite a go of freeing Tinker. A bit of a stretch, maybe, but not TOO far to go.

And yes, it was Roseanne's last moments with Bandit that really set me off. Both the muzzle-holding and clapping her hand over her mouth when she says "Oh God, I'm so sorry"... I swear, I could hear her voice breaking when I read that.

Poor Pirate. Although I wasn't even sure at issue's opening whether he was still alive or whether it was just the suit keeping him going, it still hurt when he went.
And yes, I did feel bad for Mastiff. But I'm not entirely sure I wasn't supposed to.

And, incredibly, we got what we were promised. A spectacular, ultra-violent, heartbreaking version of The Incredible Journey about cyborg assassins. This could be one of GM's best yet. (I mean, I'm loving JLA:Classified an' all, but how can it be anything other than a letdown after that? KNEW I should have read that first...)

Truly fucking beautiful. I'll post more when I've managed to get myself together enough to read 'em back to back.

The Natural Way

14:31 / 28.01.05

Bomb-poo.

Black barking.

Wall smashing.

"Uh Oh", you motherfucker.

Why Grant Morrison rocks.

And as someone else mentions above - 4 dying as a result of humans underlines the fact that he's just a fucking slave-weapon, too. Grant's making a simple point. The real enemy isn't 4.

15:26 / 28.01.05

Reichian character armor IS COAT NOT BANDIT = right on.

Other's projections of who we are and who they think we should have to be falling away.

>> That cover is so heartbreaking.

Damn right. The rabbit looks so incredibly harmless and CUTE!!! on that cover. The little kids petting it and their little kid legs makes it even moreso, plus the handwriting is priceless.

01:21 / 29.01.05

I've never cried at a comic.

You guys are totally pathetic.

I do feel quality increased throughout, issue by issue, here and will share my very beautiful thoughts on the book when I've read it allthegethir, assuming I have a workable computae (this, from which I type, is not mine.)

I must admit to finding the lack of dialogue quite difficult on occasion.

07:46 / 29.01.05

Oh yeah, I completely forgot to mention the 'black barking'. That bit just really stuck out for me.

Well, my credibility as far as comics, and especially We3, may have been shot after the 'God' debacle from the comments on the first issue, but I'm going to give this idea a go, anyway.

There's sufficient doubt as to the plausability of the homeless guy removing what were likely to be extremely complicated implants, so I'm thinking that it may have been Doctor Trendle who removed the implants.

He seemed to be developing a growing sense of disgust at the We- program in general, and curiousity about Roseanne's fate was enough to tear him away from worrying about whether a cybernetic Tinker was about to tear his face off before We4 caught up to her.

This might sound kind of odd, but the dialogue when 'whoever' finds Tinker and Bandit ("Well now. Here's where you've been hiding.") just sounds more like Trendle. Plus, he's got the knowledge to remove those implants without killing them. And the resources with which to track them down. That look he throws at the General's back after We4's head is blown up says something, I think.

We never really see a front shot of the homeless guy's boots, which seems to be the only reason to believe it was him (besides the "tools" comment, which seems kind of innocuous to me...) So yeah. I'm going with Trendle's heart growing 3 times bigger that day.

Off of that, another moment that got to me was Tinker going from being able to decimate an entire army of cyber-rats to pouncing on a single one. Very stylish.

10:55 / 29.01.05

("Well now. Here's where you've been hiding.") just sounds more like Trendle

that was my gut feeling too. perhaps trendle bumped into the hobo soon after, and they did a deal. there seemed to be a familiarity on the steps at the end.

Solitaire Rose as Tom Servo

12:13 / 29.01.05

As much as I loved this comic...I'm very glad I read it all in one shot rather than as it came out. The emotional impact of the story was heighted because it Just Kept Speeding Up. A lot of comics are quick reads because there isn't a lot to them, this one was a quick read because the story just grabbed you by the throat and dragged you along for the ride.

So many great bits in it all, but I am just amazed at how well the animal characterization was....reminded me a lot of "Watership Down" in a way, but without the endless dialogue.

I'm glad DC took a chance with this mini-series, since it is SO different from anything else out there. Besides, how cool is it that Morrison and Quitely left the X-Men to do something like this, which they had to know wouldn't do one quarter of the sales?

12:55 / 29.01.05

that was my gut feeling too. perhaps trendle bumped into the hobo soon after, and they did a deal. there seemed to be a familiarity on the steps at the end.

Quite. I was thrown by the shoes, but how else would he know exactly how clever Bandit had been if he hadn't found them?

Something that is bothering me, though, is Bandit's apparent surprise when the place he thinks is home turns out to be a building site. How long have they been away?

Yotsuba & Benjamin!

13:22 / 29.01.05

I think it's clearly the homeless guy, mainly because he's too late to do anything but care for them and remove the very last vestiges of their armor (struts and whatnot). Remember, the armor was removed almost immediately after they were cornered in the house. I sort of imagined that after that tremendous and explosive cock-up, Trendle gave up on the project, the general knew he was fucked, and he called the whole thing off. Let the homeless guy go, etcetera. Bandit and Tinker, however, could barely move two feet.

They couldn't have been that hard to find, just follow the burn marks in the ground to the big caved in construction site. Quitely even takes great pains to show that the homeless guy wears one cuff rolled up so that the bulge in the shadow is identical to the bulge that the soldiers have tucking their pants into their boots.

It's clearly El Hombre Sin Casa.

Tom Tit's Tot: A Girl!

13:40 / 29.01.05

I tend to download my comics due to lack of funds, and I found it very sweet that at the end of the We3 scan someone placed this:

A picture of a sweet-looking dalmatian snoozing on the couch, with word-bubbles saying "!!!SNURTT!!! !!!WUFF!!! Home. GUD DOG. HOME NOW."

Followed by the caption "I'm not only happy to have been around for these 100 issues, I'm grateful to have this book, of all books - which for some crazy assed reason touched my soul - be my 'Century Mark' scan.

Love your pets,

Rembrandt - DCP"

Thought that was awfully sweet.

15:24 / 29.01.05

It's definitely the homeless guy who finds the animals - he's wearing the same combat boots. Trendle wears shoes and trousers. Doesn't mean he doesn't care, though. He's welling up on the court steps at the end, and he hands over £400 dollars to the homeless guy. He knows who the animals are and he's just happy they escaped.

Tom Tit's Tot: A Girl!

15:58 / 29.01.05

16:48 / 29.01.05

I think it's clearly the homeless guy, mainly because he's too late to do anything but care for them and remove the very last vestiges of their armor (struts and whatnot).

Including, as I've said, those bits which have apparently been hardwired into their nervous systems. That's what gets me.

18:27 / 29.01.05

Maybe there are still bits in there? Skin and hair grown up over the more inconspicuous diodes and whatnot?

And the "ARF!"... I assumed that the homeless dude had taught the dog to not speak to strangers, and alerting the populace. Hence the "good dog, clever little dog" from Trendle.

18:54 / 29.01.05

I hereby acknoweldge that's reading a bit too deep, and unnecessary... but it bridges the plothole.

A beautiful tunnel of ghosts

20:00 / 29.01.05

Best comic I've read in years, but I could hardly read this issue for greeting. I'll be buying the trade when it's published and I'll be rereading all three issues tonight. Quitely's artwork is detailed and evocative and I believe that this is the best work of his career, which further increases anticipation of his and Morrison's All-Star Superman. I'd be interested to know at what size the original artwork was drawn as well, as some of the panels, especially Bandit and Tinker's attack on We4 were incredibly detailed.

SPOIL BAD SSST!NK SSSPO!L READ WE3 GOOD

I was disappointed that Roseanne's training didn't prove to be the death of We4 - don't take the climax away from your protagonists - but I'd agree that the remote detonation implies the military's resignation about the project's flawed nature, going out with a whimper as well as a bang. The illustration of We4's death I found to be quite explosive as well and was a visceral shock.

I'll also agree that there are questions about the removal of the suits, the chemicals that they require to sustain them, and the removal of the implants. I was disappointed that Bandit and Tinker weren't disembodied heads that were hardwired into the suits and which used their neurological responses to stimuli to carry out their actions. It diminishes the idea for me to think of the animals running and jumping while inside suits of armour. The dog fires ground-to-air missiles, for example, which must be fairly heavy and if their endocrine systems are enhanced by drugs, this would suggest a short lifespan for each cost-ineffective test subject.

I felt that the layout of this issue also diminished the story as the splash page of Roseanne's death drew my attention to it instead of the preceding page. In addition, if We4 was being controlled remotely by a human operator, was its attack on the police officer a loss of control by the operator, or did they think they were playing GTA: San Andreas and wanted his patrol car for vigilante missions?

13:24 / 30.01.05

From what I could tell, they weren't so much "controlled" as "directed"; We4 could be shoved in a direction, and told to look "over there", and maybe even to "attack", but how he did that was pretty much up to him. The remote controller makes suggestions, not commands.

Loved it lots, especially 1, 2 and 4 piling out of the panel and through the wall. Poor Pirate.

yawn - thing's buddy

14:38 / 30.01.05

besht grant shince invishibuls.

want hardback to read to child.

A beautiful tunnel of ghosts

18:09 / 30.01.05

Paleface, having now reread the issue I agree that We4 is guided, not controlled - the dialogue refers to remote operators "steering" it into combat. Thank you.

21:23 / 30.01.05

And the "ARF!"... I assumed that the homeless dude had taught the dog to not speak to strangers, and alerting the populace. Hence the "good dog, clever little dog" from Trendle.

I just assumed the dog couldn't verbalize anymore with the implants removed. Didn't someone mention something about the likelihood of an external speaker in the comments for the first issue?

23:13 / 30.01.05

It might be entirely redundant, but I just wanted to add that this is the only comic ever that has caused me to well up - and on the damn bus, too. WE3 hit me right in the guts: not just the emotion of it, but the art, the innovation in technique, the characterisation, the pace. It does everything a comic could, and in only three issues. A new standard, I feel (although not to take away from Promethea). And Grant even managed to round the story off neatly. Quietly and Morrison are my new dream team.

Thanks for pointing out that WE4 had been pushed onto the next page, I hadn't noticed. It wasn't the muzzle that got me, it was Pirate's "Uh-oh." And "BAD DOG!" But the worst thing in the whole book was Pirate dragging the corpse out of the river in issue two, saying "GUD DOG. HELP MAN." I cried.

23:36 / 30.01.05

I just assumed the dog couldn't verbalize anymore with the implants removed. Didn't someone mention something about the likelihood of an external speaker in the comments for the first issue?

My thoughts exactly. I didn't even pause over the "Arf!" as it seemed obvious the previous mechanical txt-spk was from an electronic vox box. I mean, it's not like you can train your dog/cat/rabbit to speak under the best of circumstances.

And "clever little dog" was from the fact that Bandit had managed to evade the entire forking military, get out of his exo-frame and find "Home" all on his own. And stay alive to boot. Gud dog.

09:46 / 31.01.05

I think that unless there is clear evidence *within the text* to suggest that Trendle removes the armour, etc... we should assume it's the hobo.

Slightly unbelievable for the reasons given by Ganesh, but oh-well.

Overall I loved the issue, but I'm beginning to wish someone would get the guts up to fucking edit Morrison. He's leaving too many frayed edges these days.

14:06 / 31.01.05

The dog barks now cause he can't talk anymore. Simple as that.

14:19 / 31.01.05

AGAIN:

I hereby acknoweldge that's reading a bit too deep, and unnecessary... but it bridges the plothole.

Really people. Of course I know the dog doesn't speak because he lost his implants, but my whole idea was a hypothetical supposition to suggest that the hobo wasn't smart enough to extract intricate neural-wiring. I'm just running alternates. TRIPLETS is of course right. Clever dog is an affirmation of the success of the dog's ability to survive the disaster of his life thus far. Duh.

14:44 / 31.01.05

My thoughts exactly, Bobossboy.

Haus of Mystery

15:32 / 31.01.05

I don't believe Morrison isn't edited anymore. 'Le Sexy' was pulled for precisely that reason. I felt 'WE3' operated on an predominantly emotional level, and as s uch I wasn't overly troubled about techniccal niggles. I can accept Wonder Woman flying around inn Invisible plane, I can accept these critters undoing their armour. And before someone accuses me of gushing, I am not a mindless Morrisonite, and have problems with his writing. It's just in this case the sheer verve and shameless emotional manipulation of the storytelling did a number on me. Ambiguity is not always 'bad' storytelling.

15:49 / 31.01.05

We3 was edited by Karen Berger and Pornsak Pichetshote, who were also the editors on Seaguy.

Trust me, they don't just sit and twiddle their thumbs. They are very involved.

16:18 / 31.01.05

And the "ARF!"... I assumed that the homeless dude had taught the dog to not speak to strangers, and alerting the populace. Hence the "good dog, clever little dog" from Trendle.

I don't care if it's implausible, I love that idea. It's just like Gaspode. Bandit's sitting there actually saying the word "Arf" so no one will suspect his secret. Wonderful.

Anyway--I'm posting this from school so I don't have the issue on me--doesn't unarmored Bandit or Tinker say something just before the homeless guy gets there with the tools? It seems perfectly plausible to me that their voiceboxes are implanted internally and he couldn't get at them. I agree that it's most likely the only external ports and things that he removed. Not only couldn't he do the internal stuff with "tools"--especially anesthetic! --but there's not as compelling a reason to do so since they don't pose a risk of infection.

17:05 / 31.01.05

Maybe there are still bits in there? Skin and hair grown up over the more inconspicuous diodes and whatnot?

Possibly - but it's the somewhat more conspicuous lumps of machinery apparently plumbed directly into their brains through the tops of their skulls, that I was thinking might be a tad tricky to detach.

02:34 / 03.02.05

just to add my voice to the crowd: what a fucking great comic! Grant was not kidding when he said his next works for Vertigo would be 'heartbreaking'.

this issue in particular was not as much as a punch in the stomach as were the other 2. I mean, Pirate had already been shot in the head and all. then again, watch him mumble in 'broken machine' talk was very uncomfortable, as seeing Tinker and Bandit sick in the end was - as seeing any pet ill always is. other unsettling moments of pet-damage: Bandit and Tinker coming out of the big sewer with red eyes in really rough shape, plus the state in which Tinker left the Big Black Dog [no eyes, eh?] made me feel sorry for him for a moment - not to mention when he was terminated.

as almost everybody I was expecting them all to be only heads attached to the suits, or be terminated somehow by military types / rejected by former owners / or simply die when had implants removed.

that was not a complete happy ending at all, wasn't it? Tinker and Bandit, while in the stairs with Clever Bum Guy looked in pretty bad shape to me. yeah, they'd been through a lot physically and now are free, but still. reminded me of BLUE VELVET, when Isabela Rosellini finally reunites with son [whose face we never see] in one big hug, but holds an expression of worry that lets us know everything's not so OK - or maybe they are now, but the damage is already done.

yeah, kudos to DC for betting on this and to Grant, Vince and Jamie [Jamie was the colorist, right?]. who took a sort of manga theme/technique and did it in a nice sort of experimental Ocidental style. and WE3 might just be the one true first good cinematic comic in the 21st Century post-GTA... Quitely had already the skill to make the scenes contained in the panels look 3D - now he managed with Grant to make the narrative point of view span in many simultaneous angles. those damn Scots have raised the bar again.

I'm willing to buy the collection along with SEAGUY and VIMANARAMA'S TPs [3 nice little gems]. WE3 should be given out in hospitals and schools...

I can only slightly imagine what a ride their Superman will look and read.

Dan Fish - @Fish1k

07:57 / 03.02.05

Just read part 3 last night. Just wanted to say I loved it - I was surprised to see WE3 still had bodies, but not enough to be brought out of the story.

I'm not a dog person, but Bandit just deserves a massive hug, and Tinker a nice long neck-pet. My cat died before Christmas, and between this and Zulli/Gaiman's 'Creatures of the night' (which I also read this week) I'm really missing him, (which is soppy I know, but thematically Morrisonesque).

The bit that made me all emotional wasn't so much the sad bits, as the happy ending. Knowing that [1] and [2] were being looked after was the bit that made me come over all Steel Magnolias.

Flex Mentallo was my favourite Morrison story, but even that seems somehow old-fashioned compared to WE3, Grant & Frank have evolved in leaps and bounds. To me, WE3 really tests the boundaries of how Comics can communicate.

WE3 is my new favourite. If the upcoming Superman is only half as good as this, I'll be more than happy.

12:21 / 03.02.05

i think there's probably just wee drill-holes in their skulls, nothing that the skin wouldn't grow over again. supersmart trepanned animals. treppanimals. once you levered off the scart-box things between their ears you could just leave the little wires in there, probably safer than removing them.

i reckon that after they blew up the building site they dragged their freshly-free arses halfway back across town to the neighbourhood where the homely guy told them to wait.

and they only needed medicine while they were plugged into the huge exosuits, bandit's illness after that is just withdrawal from the withdrawal.

no tears until i realised they were still alive, then uncontrollable weeping. total sucker for happy endings.

ONLY NICE THINGS

12:41 / 03.02.05

Followed by the caption "I'm not only happy to have been around for these 100 issues, I'm grateful to have this book, of all books - which for some crazy assed reason touched my soul - be my 'Century Mark' scan.

Love your pets,

Rembrandt - DCP"

Thought that was awfully sweet.

George Morrison's cats are starving. Because of you.

I felt that the conclusion was in some ways a bit of a cop-out - it left too many questions unanswered. How did the homeless guy remove their modifications? Why, if they could survive without their suits, did the military not just take their suits off and release them? For fear that somebody might hook them back up into battle suits and interview them? The narrative has been tending towards the death of these characters, be it violent, elegiac or whatever, and if you are going to do the twist ending, it needs, I think, to be a bit better explained.

On the other hand, this was still bloody lovely, but I'm appreciating it as a setof beautifully-illustrated vignettes rather than a coherent narrative, in a way.

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