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Ragman (Volume 2) Issues 1-8
- GenresDc Comics
192 pages, Unbound
Published January 1, 1991
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15 people want to read
About the author
Robert Loren Fleming
175 books8 followersRobert L. Fleming is an American comic book writer. He is best known as the co-creator of Thriller with Trevor Von Eeden and for his collaborations with Keith Giffen.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 22, 2022
One of DC’s odder superheroes, Ragman or “The Tatterdemalion,” was Jewish for a brief stint starting in the early 90’s, so I couldn’t help but track down the back issues.
This version of Ragman has an interesting and unique premise, but practically collapses from its weight. Rory Regan’s father was a Jewish Holocaust survivor, and he carried the mantle of Ragman during the Warsaw Ghetto as a spirit of resistance during the uprising. (if you're unfamiliar with this pivotal moment in WWII and Jewish history, here's the Wiki.) He somehow escaped, immigrated to the US, and became a junk man in a poor part of Gotham. His son Rory, himself carrying trauma as a Vietnam veteran, eventually inherits the mantle, and learns that the costume’s tatters are a patchwork of evil souls the Ragman defeats. Is that enough for you? Because a rabbi who knew Rory’s dad in the ghetto also arrives to train him, and a Golem (a protector of Jews made of clay from medieval Jewish folklore) is after Ragman to save his soul, and also Batman tracks him down….
…there is just SO much going on in these 8 issues. It should have covered at least three arcs. Rory and his character development is done a disservice (his trauma is never fully addressed, nor do we really have time to connect with him), nor are basic questions about the suit (how its sentience along with those evil souls works, basically), and the 8th issue seemed to suggest a time jump, with Rory having more experience as Ragman. But the Golem is a great arc, particularly the angle that he’s just trying to become human with each good act - and surprisingly, the Rabbi and Rory’s friend Betty are flawed but somewhat memorable too.
As a Jewish professional, I may be in the minority of a minority who loves the frank Jewishness, with reference that are quirky and niche to the point that I'm linking wikipedia entries. I respect how Fleming incorporates aspects of Jewish folklore and history that, even considering the great amount of Jewishness in comics, rarely make it into the mainstream. Plus, the American public was just starting to talk openly about the Holocaust in the 90's thanks to the Anne Frank series, but Jews writing comics were doing it since the 50’s - so this is also an interesting progression in its own right. Even the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising isn’t discussed as much as the camps (for good reason, but still).
However, the Jewish part of the book feels like one half that's totally disjointed from the gang wars and evil billionaire antagonist (not Bats, another guy) in present day Gotham, and part of me wonders what the editors and higher ups wanted from this arc that Fleming was forced to add in. Honestly, invoking the Warsaw ghetto and the Holocaust just for one issue might have been a little much.
The art and dialogue are straight from the 90’s and that isn’t a huge compliment. The ads were straight from the 90’s and that is a huge compliment. I will always love old back issues for that reason.
Jews and comics/Jewish superheroes is my thing so this was a must read for me, and if that’s your thing too, this might be worth picking up - if you can find it in single issues (it will probably never be collected as a trade - I found mine on Amazon).
This version of Ragman has an interesting and unique premise, but practically collapses from its weight. Rory Regan’s father was a Jewish Holocaust survivor, and he carried the mantle of Ragman during the Warsaw Ghetto as a spirit of resistance during the uprising. (if you're unfamiliar with this pivotal moment in WWII and Jewish history, here's the Wiki.) He somehow escaped, immigrated to the US, and became a junk man in a poor part of Gotham. His son Rory, himself carrying trauma as a Vietnam veteran, eventually inherits the mantle, and learns that the costume’s tatters are a patchwork of evil souls the Ragman defeats. Is that enough for you? Because a rabbi who knew Rory’s dad in the ghetto also arrives to train him, and a Golem (a protector of Jews made of clay from medieval Jewish folklore) is after Ragman to save his soul, and also Batman tracks him down….
…there is just SO much going on in these 8 issues. It should have covered at least three arcs. Rory and his character development is done a disservice (his trauma is never fully addressed, nor do we really have time to connect with him), nor are basic questions about the suit (how its sentience along with those evil souls works, basically), and the 8th issue seemed to suggest a time jump, with Rory having more experience as Ragman. But the Golem is a great arc, particularly the angle that he’s just trying to become human with each good act - and surprisingly, the Rabbi and Rory’s friend Betty are flawed but somewhat memorable too.
As a Jewish professional, I may be in the minority of a minority who loves the frank Jewishness, with reference that are quirky and niche to the point that I'm linking wikipedia entries. I respect how Fleming incorporates aspects of Jewish folklore and history that, even considering the great amount of Jewishness in comics, rarely make it into the mainstream. Plus, the American public was just starting to talk openly about the Holocaust in the 90's thanks to the Anne Frank series, but Jews writing comics were doing it since the 50’s - so this is also an interesting progression in its own right. Even the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising isn’t discussed as much as the camps (for good reason, but still).
However, the Jewish part of the book feels like one half that's totally disjointed from the gang wars and evil billionaire antagonist (not Bats, another guy) in present day Gotham, and part of me wonders what the editors and higher ups wanted from this arc that Fleming was forced to add in. Honestly, invoking the Warsaw ghetto and the Holocaust just for one issue might have been a little much.
The art and dialogue are straight from the 90’s and that isn’t a huge compliment. The ads were straight from the 90’s and that is a huge compliment. I will always love old back issues for that reason.
Jews and comics/Jewish superheroes is my thing so this was a must read for me, and if that’s your thing too, this might be worth picking up - if you can find it in single issues (it will probably never be collected as a trade - I found mine on Amazon).
January 23, 2024
This book is extremely ahead of its time in its handling of themes of poverty, gang violence, and most notably gentrification. A comic book where the main villain is a real estate mogul pumping drugs and weapons into an impoverished neighborhood so he can drive families out to pave the way for his demolition is extremely progressive for any time, but for 1991 it’s insane. The fact that the gangs are treated sympathetically and not like faceless bad guys is also great to see.
The backstory relating to Jewish mythology adds a lot to this character, and while it has aged in some ways I think it handled things really well. I also love the way Batman is treated in this, I won’t spoil anything but it’s a very nuanced perspective on who he’s willing to help.
Has the book aged poorly in some ways? Yes, of course. Particularly when it comes to Betty’s dialogue and some of the art. But so much more of it has an incredibly progressive view on inner city poverty.
For me I think this book is a new favorite, I was blown away by every single issue, and I’m heartbroken this has never been released in a collected edition. I’d encourage everyone who can to track down the back issues of this one, I think it’s a masterpiece. I mean there’s literally a full page drawing in here of the golem of Prague killing a KKK member, need I say any more?
The backstory relating to Jewish mythology adds a lot to this character, and while it has aged in some ways I think it handled things really well. I also love the way Batman is treated in this, I won’t spoil anything but it’s a very nuanced perspective on who he’s willing to help.
Has the book aged poorly in some ways? Yes, of course. Particularly when it comes to Betty’s dialogue and some of the art. But so much more of it has an incredibly progressive view on inner city poverty.
For me I think this book is a new favorite, I was blown away by every single issue, and I’m heartbroken this has never been released in a collected edition. I’d encourage everyone who can to track down the back issues of this one, I think it’s a masterpiece. I mean there’s literally a full page drawing in here of the golem of Prague killing a KKK member, need I say any more?
September 22, 2024
God, how I love this comic, is all a good superhero story should be and more, a good character arc, good ambietantion, a motive is all there
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews