The final summer vacation issue. Is it over already? Really? Damn. It may have been a little boring, a little meandering, but it's still better than school, right? Right? We'll look back on these three issues as the best time we spent reading The Intimates, I'm sure.Destra and Punchy conclude their journey into the heart of Devonshire by visiting a factory in Montana (I believe). Not much actually happens or is learned, but there is a funny moment when Destra uses an EMP to disable the security... and then later tries to use one of the company computers. Punchy damn near pisses himself laughing at her. This emphasises that despite their training, these are just inexperienced kids, really. Inside the factory, they come across Sparky, a former student at the Seminary last seen in issue four where he used his electric powers to "spike" the punch. He apparently powers or works as security at the factory now? The issue begins with brief flashbacks to him being put to work by someone. He attacks Punchy and Destra, but they manage to fight him off and escape.
The actual fight sequence is well done with a haze of action and a mix of big and small panels. It's not exactly clear all of the time, but that works for it. The two escape in a river or the sewers or something (that's unclear) and Punchy perfoms CPR on Destra, which leads to the wonderful closing line of "HEH. / TOUCHED YOUR BOOB," as they lay there resting from the ordeal.
Empty Vee has moved up in the world and is sleeping with the lead singer of the headlining act. Duke is back at home and has an experience with UFOs and his mentaly challenged sister who is kept in a small shed.
The best part of this issue is Casey's use of the infoscroll to look back on and discuss summer vacation. During the four-page fight sequence between Sparky and Destra/Punchy, he even slows down/spaces out the infoscroll items to match the fast pace of the action. Probably one of the best uses of the infoscroll as a coherant whole. Some of the best parts:
* "WELL, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT THE INFO SCROLLS COME AND GO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EMOTIONAL TENOR OF THE SCENE. IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. IT'S JUST ANOTHER TRICK WE'VE COME UP WITH IN A DESPERATE GRASP FOR ORIGINALITY. LIKE USING THE INFO SCROLLS THEMSELVES TO RAMBLE ON ABOUT THE CONCEPTS OF SUMMER, JUST AS WE'RE REACHING THE END OF THE THREE MONTH SUMMER VACATION STORY IN THE BOOK ITSELF (AN IDEA THAT CAME TO ME IN THE SHOWER, BY THE WAY)..."
* "SUMMER DOESN'T EXIST FOR ADULTS..."
* "REMEMBER WHEN YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF SUMMER WERE SO GREAT..."
* "AND RATHER APPROPRIATE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. THREE MONTHS OF JOYOUS FREEDOM VS. NINE MONTHS OF CONFORMIST HELL. KINDA SUMS UP THE RATIO OF LIFE IN GENERAL..."
* "BUT, OF COURSE, I JUST GET TO WRITE ABOUT IT. NEXT ISSUE, WE'RE BACK IN THE SEMINARY (AS SOON AS I CAN THINK OF A STORY CONSISTING OF SEEMINGLY UNRELATED EVENTS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY COALESCE IN THE END)..."
I didn't include a lot of his summer thoughts, because then I'd just be copying out every fucking infoscroll...
Casey tells us what to expect next issue. He doesn't mention that the art continues its downward spiral. Oh god, it sucks. See you Thursday.
Edit: I've been wondering what the relationship between the one big action sequence of the series and the end of summer. Is the fight with Sparky the end of the summer party? Especially, with Punchy and Destra at the end all wet, tired and Punchy amused because he touched her breasts? Casey once said that fights replace sex in superhero comics, after all. Sparky is electricity and creates a fire... a bonfire? Big explosions are fireworks? Something to think about.
