The Brute #3
Published and © by Atlas (Seaboard), July 1975
Title: “… Live or Let Die!”
Synopsis: A local police chief wants the Brute dead. Wait. No. No, he doesn’t. Oh. Stop. Yes, he does. Also: supervillain.
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Penciler: Alan Weiss
Inker: Jack Abel
Review: Wow. As with many of the final issues from the short-lived Atlas (Seaboard) line, Brute #3 is a mess. So many stereotypes in a single story: A macho, small-town cop wrestles with indecision thanks to the influence of a pretty lady. Despite being an archeologist on the job, said pretty lady throws herself at just about every male character she encounters. Add in another central-casting mad scientist, a generic supervillain in a ridiculous costume, and the still-nondescript title character, and this comic is a stinker. That said, it’s still a bit better than the first two issues (see reviews).
Grade: C
Cool factor: The art shows potenital this outing …
Not-so-cool factor: … but the Brute still seems to change size every panel.
Notable: According to the Grand Comics Database, Jim Starlin and Frank Brunner assisted on the art for this issue.
Character quotable: “Lord! I swear – I don’t know what to do! How can I be so torn? Why am I so torn?!” – Chief Frazier, the Altas (Seaboard) universe’s most indecisive law-enforcement officer
Editor’s note: This review was written March 1, 2022.
