U.S. WAR MACHINE vol. 2 #2
(November 2001) "Book 1: Chapter 2." Story: Chuck Austen. Art: Chuck Austen, Wild and Wooly Press and NIC Entertainment. Layout: Victor Lopez.
If you hadn't done your homework before the series was released, James Rhodes was the one in the War Machine Armor in #1. "Seven people are dead," Stark laments, and then fires Jim. Jim heads home, only to be ambushed. The attacker turns out to be Parnell, a former War Machine armor wearer who wants Jim's suit. Just as Rhodes and Parnell banter like they're in a Lethal Weapon movie, Shield drops in to make a call on Rhodes, care of Fury himself!! Parnell's reaction to seeing the [SHIELD] helicarrier for the first time is priceless. The story seems to be on a slow burn thus far.
TJ's Recommendation: USWM patches!
Hube's Response: Austen begins to touch on the race theme here, via a neat tit-for-tat between Rhodey and security guard "Bernie." Bernie's an older guy, and is obviously uncomfortable -- or unsure -- of how to refer to black people...does he use "black" or "African-American?" Well-done. The scuffle between Rhodey and Parnell is a bit overly drawn-out.
Hube's Recommendation: 3 USWM patches!
