BOOK REVIEW: Method Man

Welcome to world of biblical monsters, hallowed warrior orders, and marijuanaclogged adventures. In Method Man’s self-titled graphic novel via Grand Central Publishing, omni hero Peerless Poe leaves his disheveled private investigation office and joins forces with John Albeit, Arilion Despite, and Jeanne D’Arc to combat Lillith Morningstar, a grand witch who plans to use the […]

Welcome to world of biblical monsters, hallowed warrior orders, and marijuanaclogged adventures. In Method Man’s self-titled graphic novel via Grand Central Publishing, omni hero Peerless Poe leaves his disheveled private investigation office and joins forces with John Albeit, Arilion Despite, and Jeanne D’Arc to combat Lillith Morningstar, a grand witch who plans to use the tower of Babel to decimate the earth. As descendants of Cain, Poe and his crew find strength in each member’s ability to channel the same wrath against the enemy that their sacred ancestor summoned to commit the earth’s first murder.Meth was looking out for the martial arts fanatics and five percent philosophers in this novel. The Shaolin hall of famer supplies intriguing mathematics for both followings in the form of scripture references and travels to holy grounds. The villain of the novel, Lillith, is an evil version of Eve, created as Adam’s counterpart only to spawn him and declare herself a superior being. Also, Peerless Poe and the order travel to Stonehedge and hold headquarters on the holy Mount Ararat in Turkey. Even biblical demons come into play as the crew battles leviathans, behemoths, and goliaths during their adventure.The book’s urbanisms and sly witticisms set it apart from the regular joe schmo comic.Peerless Poe comes across as a lovable scamp; too rag-tag for his martial arts disciplinebut a tested avenger nonetheless. He is unmistakably strong and Black, holding office in the ghetto and slaying monsters with smack talk and a smirk. He is anti-establishment, tearing into the business of world saving with a Hip-Hop swag. He is the type of superhero not just to forgo his order’s vow of celibacy, but to chide his sidekicks for still following it.Method Man is a delightful hour-on-the couch-read. By now, most of us have heard its brand of Shaolin temple braggadocio in bar form from the various Wu-Tang LPs, but it’s cool to see it manifested in a vivid graphic tale with masters, swords, codes, triumph and all.  Its high voltage illustrations appeals to kids and its vocabulary challenges adult readers. Meth has successfully found another alternative but imaginative medium for the Wu’s glorious, thugged out fairy tales.