Plot: Thanks to the operation he underwent at the end of last issue, we see the Rhino is slowly becoming more & more intelligent. The first victim of the Rhino's newfound intelligence is Spider-Man, who the Rhino finally manages to defeat. We also see that now that he's got some brains to back up his brawn, the Rhino finds he is able to attract the interest of the young Stella. With Stella at his side, the Rhino sets out to make himself a criminal empire, and thanks to his growing intelligence he is wildly successful at the endeavor. However, the Rhino soon discovers that his intelligence is going to keep on increasing, and as this occurs he finds the world becomes a very dull place, as it becomes devoid of any measure of intellectual stimulus. Seeing how this is going to become a problem the Rhino comes up with a method to reverse the operation, and before going under the knife again, he makes one final, somewhat unusual request.
Comments: I've never read "Flowers for Algernon", but I have seen the 1968 film "Charly", so I have the general idea of why this story is being compared to that story, and if the film was true to the novel on which it was based, then I can also see where Peter Milligan strayed off the path to create his own ending. Now while I applaud Peter Milligan for taking a new path to reach his final destination, part of me is disappointed to see the dramatic climax of the story altered so that Peter Milligan could have his happy ending. Oh, the key elements are present, as this issue follows the Rhino as his intelligence begins to emerge, which results in some very amusing moments. However, right from the outset you knew that this story would finish with the Rhino back at his normal, dumb as a post, intelligence, so in this regard this story isn't really a surprised filled affair. I did like the Rhino's final request before going under the knife again though.
This story also brings up the rather unusual idea that one needs a little dumbness in their lives. Personally I love the fact that I can count myself among the great unwashed masses that find entertainment during prime-time television, and that my reading preferences are strictly in the fiction department of the book store. I also rather like the idea that I have no clue what my IQ is and that there are numerous gaps in my knowledge of everything around me, as there's nothing better than discovering some cool, new bit of trivia that I never knew before. I'm also operating under the assumption that the people filling in these gaps in my knowledge, are receiving some satisfaction from sharing what they know, with someone who didn't. Getting back to the story itself, I like my Rhino dumber than a doornail, and that final page is the perfect finish to the Rhino's brief visit to the world of the eggheads.
Duncan Fegredo has a style that suited itself quite well to this story, as it nicely conveyed the Rhino's move up the intellectual ladder. It also did a strong job conveying the Rhino growing disinterest in the world around him, as he began to move beyond the intellectual norm, and became an oddity. The art also does a fine job of the more amusing moments, as the Rhino's credit page solution to the maze test is a wonderful moment. Duncan Fegredo also proves himself to be quite capable of delivering the action sequences, as the scenes where the Rhino smashes his way through building, cars & even the occasional Spider-Man are visually exciting moments. Oh, and I must give mention to this issue's marvelous cover, as it perfectly captures the new Rhino. My only real complaint about this issue would have to be the colors were a bit garish given the tone of the story, and the look of the art itself.
Final Word: This issue didn't really go anywhere I wasn't expecting it to, but I will concede that I was surprised by the way Peter Milligan had the Rhino reach the conclusion that being smart wasn't as great as he thought it would be. This story is one of those, "be careful what you wish for" morality tales that are suppose to make the reader take stock of their own lives and realize that they should be happier than they've let themselves be, and in this regard this story was a success. I ended this story rather glad that I'm dumb enough, that I still have a lot to learn. I also enjoyed the idea that the story brought everything back to it's status quo so neatly, so that next time I see the Rhino, he'll still hold the title of Spider-Man's dumbest opponent.
