big trouble in little mogadishu

THE CREW is about four guys bound together initially out of self-interest who become inspired to a higher cause in defending the residents of a dangerous no-man’s land.

The tone is derived largely from the film Three Kings, a Gulf War film about three guys pursuing their own agenda who end up becoming heroes. Three young guys, one veteran guy. Lots of testosterone. Very clever dialogue. Can I please read my Iraqi ass map.

Just as the Kings crew was not a team, neither is our CREW: James “Rhodey” Rhodes, formerly The WAR MACHINE, anchors the George Clooney role. The senior guy, our tech guy, the savvy commander. Rhodey’s WAR MACHINE experience has changed him somewhat from the gung-ho adventurous yahoo to a more intense Clooney type: eyes that lock on you and a steel trap mind that’s always working the angles.

Rhodey’s young crew consists of two men in their early twenties: Danny Vincent, aka Junta, and Kasper Cole, a New York narcotics cop who becomes a White Tiger, an acolyte of the Wakandan Panther Cult. Danny is an ex-spy who is constantly looking to exploit Rhodey’s Crew for his own personal gain. Kasper is an NYPD narcotics officer obsessed with getting promoted to Detective.

Although he doesn't appear until issue #4, the entirety of the first arc, “Big Trouble In Little Mogadishu,” is, essentially, the origin of JUSTICE, the son of Isaiah Bradley from TRUTH: RED, WHITE & BLACK. Though, initially, Rhodey will appear to be the leader, Justice will eventually take center seat— likely without realizing it.

While not quite The Black Avengers— and quite more like The Dysfunctional Avengers— The Crew nevertheless resonate with the early days of Marvel’s historic team, with a black Iron Man (Rhodey), a black Captain America (Justice), and two men who resonate the roles of Black Panther (Kasper) and Hawkeye (Danny), respectively.

These guys are, initially, not terribly likeable or heroic, but they become both heroic and sympathetic when they trade off their individual agendas (in the film it was Kuwaiti gold) to save the lives of impoverished victims (in the film it was Iraqi political prisoners, here it will be the residents of Little Mogadishu).

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THE CREW, THE BLACK PANTHER, related characters and their respective likenesses Copyright © 2003 Marvel Characters. All Rights Reserved. Text Copyright © 2007 Grace Phonogram eMedia. All Rights Reserved.