Mr. A. #2

Steve Ditko's Mr. A #2

by Steve Ditko

Similar in concept to Ditko's The Question, Mr. A is another of Ditko's unusual characters and is one of the clearest examples of Ditko's belief in the Ayn Rand philosophy known as "Objectivism". The character "Rorschach" in Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' brilliant Watchmen is based on both Mr. A and The Question.

Color Covers. Black and White comics

The plot: Rex Graine is a newspaper reporter for the Daily Crusader. He is known for his uncompromising principles and incorruptibility. In order to fight crime Graine will wear metal gloves and a steel mask that resembles a placid face, thus becoming Mr. A. In keeping with the hardboiled detective theme, both personas typically wear suits and fedora hats; Mr A's outfit is completely white. Mr. A uses half white-half black cards to signify his arrival, as well as to represent his belief that there can only be good and evil, and no moral grey area.

Genres: Comics

36 pages, Paperback

About the author

Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko was an American comic book artist and writer best known as the co-creator of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange.

He was inducted into the comics industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1990, and into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1994.

Reviews

[Philmore Olazo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was going to be a more linear story, with the introduction of Count Rouge, who embodies the philosophy of "Reversalism," believing that good is bad and bad is good. Initially, it appears that the story will follow a more linear structure, focusing on the clash between Mr. A's unwavering commitment to absolute morality and Count Rouge's inverted worldview. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that there is more to the plot than initially meets the eye.

While Issue #2 attempts to tell a more serialized narrative, I felt that it lacks the depth and exploration of morality present in the first issue. The examination of good and evil is not as engagingly portrayed or as interestingly portrayed as in the previous issue.