Sunday, June 04, 2023

Sunday Splash Page #273

 
"Self-Promotion," in Jaco The Galactic Patrolman, chapter 10, by Akira Toriyama

Released in 2013, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman is about. . .Jaco, the Galactic Patrolman, sent to Earth to try and intercept a dangerous alien believed to be headed there. Being fairly inept, Jaco hits the Moon and crash lands on Earth near an island that was formerly a research lab. Now it's home to a grouchy old widower named Omori. Omori reluctantly agrees to let Jaco stay until he sees if he can repair the ship enough to radio for help.

Several problems quickly arise. Omori learns the government wants the island as a getaway for important officials and so he has to move. Jaco can't resist fighting crime, but also can't keep a low profile, so once he beats up two cops he thinks are part of the gang he just stopped from robbing a young girl named Tights, he's a fugitive.

Toriyama writes Jaco as vain and more than a little incompetent, but not necessarily a bad guy. He doesn't get flustered about most things, unless it jabs at his pride. He gets angry about the extremely inaccurate sketch the police circulate of him, and also that they refer to him as "Mask Man," but the fact he's a fugitive doesn't bother him (partially because he's strong enough humans don't seem like a threat.) He did legitimately want to help Tights when she was in danger. At the same time, he admits that if the alien he's supposed to stop is an adult, he won't be able to stop it and then he'll just run away. He's here for his job, but he's not going to get killed over it.

Which makes for contrast with Omori, who has isolated himself for years and scoffs and sneers at what he sees of the larger world on TV. Yet when Jaco takes him at his word about humanity being awful and offers to use his "extinction bomb" capsule, Omori changes his tune and pleads that there are still many good people out there. Hanging around Jaco brings more people into Omori's orbit and forces him to open up and starting caring again.

(Also, when Omori pleads with Jaco to be careful with his extinction bomb, Jaco replies he only accidentally triggered one once. Like I said, more than a little incompetent.)

Toriyama fills the panels with lots of little details and visually interesting characters. The gang that menaces Tights is comprised of four guys each dressed as a different type of warrior (samurai, Roman legion, barbarian). Why? Because they thought they look cool, probably. Omori's island is circled by a giant shark with spikes sticking out of its back and multiple rows of visible teeth. It's freaking awesome.

He also uses Jaco's deadpan reactions for good comedic effect. When Tights helps he and Omori escape onto the top of an apartment building, Jaco gets on the railing to loudly introduce himself as a Galactic Patrolman. Which draws the attention of the police searching the streets. When Omori asks what's wrong, Jaco very simply replies that the police saw him, which leads to a panel of Omori freaking out. Toriyama knows how to draw action, but he's always been good at comedy, and Jaco lets him get back to that a little more.

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