It’s Renkon Rants About Comics time!
Today we’ll be talking about a vignette from the Masters of the Universe “Origins of Eternal” vol. 2. I actually have at least one complaint about every vignette in this volume, but there’s one in particular that irritates me enough that it deserves its own post.
Evil-Lyn’s “Origin” Story
First of all. It’s not an origin story at all. Lyn is already Evil-Lyn. Not only is she already Evil-Lyn, but Evil-Lyn is already well known enough that a person can take one look at her and be like, “Oh, shit! That’s Evil-Lyn who works with Skeletor!”
So where’s the “origin” part of this “origin story”? Where is it? Huh? Huh, Kyle Higgins, Writer? Where is the “origin” part of this origin story you’ve written?
But, ya know, that’s not even my biggest complaint.
The story isn’t even about Evil-Lyn!
In a comic that’s supposed to be all about origin stories, I expected the story entitled “Evil-Lyn” to be about Evil-Lyn. I wanted to read about Evil-Lyn!
Instead, the story focusses on and is told through the eyes of this guy:
Nolar Blak, a washed up and utterly unremarkable former member of the Eternos guard.
The comic begins with him monologuing in a bar about how people move to the big city to get a big name and be somebody, or for power, or whatever.
We don’t even meet Evil-Lyn until the bottom of the second page. And considering that the whole story is only 10 pages, that means that 15% of this vignette goes without it’s title character.
Even after we meet Evil-Lyn, the story still does not switch focus to her. It’s still all about this bland and generic male protagonist. We’re subjected to more monologuing about how they go about their lives only meeting up to casually sleep together every now and again. (Which, honestly, good for her! I’m glad Lyn’s getting some from somewhere because there is some debate in the fandom over whether or not Skeletor is putting out for her. So, go you, Evil-Lyn. Get it gurl!)
Anyway, he asks her to run away with him and she says she can’t unless he steals this powerful magical item for her. So he does, and after he gives it to her Evil-Lyn kills him and goes back to Skeletor.
I honestly… I’m so confused by this vignette. Like, are we supposed to feel bad for this guy? Are we supposed to empathize with him? All we see him do for 10 pages is drink, fight, have sex, and die. He’s just so un-compelling. I was relived when Lyn got rid of him and went back to Skeletor. Serves him right for trying to be the main character in a story that was supposed to be about Evil-Lyn.
it’s not an “origin” story at all
it’s not even about Evil-Lyn
They made her a side character in her own story!
I wanted to read about my Bad Bitch. Instead I got this sad-sack.