The Fix vol. 3: Deal of Fortune

“Bedlam:”  Two volumes.

“Morning Glories:”  Ten volumes.

“The Fix:”  Three volumes.

What do all of these series have in common?  They’re all creator-owned series written by Nick Spencer which are all unlikely to see completion.  Apparently writing for Marvel Comics takes up so much of his time that he can’t work with the artists of these series to wrap them up.  It’s downright aggravating for a puzzle-box series like “Morning Glories” which kept raising new questions right up until its tenth volume, and only marginally less so for “The Fix” which ends its third volume on a cliffhanger.  There was going to be a thirteenth issue to kick off the next arc of this series, but it was cancelled earlier this year and has yet to be re-solicited.

The smart move would’ve been to wrap the series up in this volume.  It’s been a fun read thanks to Spencer’s witty writing and Steve Lieber’s expressive art, but its premise of “Isn’t it crazy what these bad cops can get away with?” has always had an uneasy relationship with current events.  That continues here as Roy wanders into a prostitution ring run by a (former) horny sitcom grandma, nearly gets auto-erotically asphyxiated, and then tries to pitch the whole experience as a movie. Mac, on the other hand, gets a more heroic arc as he tries to bring his boss’ henchman to justice only to wind up being fodder for the volume’s cliffhanger.  This would’ve stung more if I hadn’t gone into this volume feeling that it was going to be the last one after issue #13 was cancelled. As it is, these three volumes are entertaining if your sense of humor aligns with Spencer’s. If you’re looking for a complete story, however, stay the hell away from it — and any other future creator-owned work from the writer.