Orchid Comes to An End with #12

***SPOILER ALERT***

The beginning of this month brought us the ending to Tom Morello's maxi series, "Orchid."  In 12 issues, first-time comic-book Writer, Tom Morello, and Artist Scott Hepburn told us the story of Orchid: a young girl who only cares about the survival of herself and her immediate family, but transforms into a great fighter of all oppressed people living in fear of the evil dictator, Tomo Wolfe.

This last issue is action-packed with lots of great moments where you don't know if the cast of characters will survive the final battle with Tomo Wolfe.  But, of course, there are last-minute reinforcements to come save the day, personal sacrifices, and some unexpected surprises to keep you hanging on.

There's even a nice epilogue to show what all the key characters ended up doing after their hard-fought victory and to show the new--much better--community that everyone now enjoys.  (There's even a scene that leaves enough room for a possible sequel).

Orchid's gradual transformation from a person willing to just do anything to survive, into someone who finally only wishes to do all she can do away with the current living conditions of all who live in misery was the whole point of this story. And it takes new friends, many battles, many deaths, and the help of a magical mask to help her become the courageous and ferocious fighter for the people that she becomes.

For now, "Orchid," can be collected in 12 separate issues or three volumes.  But, I'm hoping, Dark Horse will release some sort of special edition hardcover containing the entire 12 issues.

Art Criticizing Anti-Immigrant Law Deemed Too Controversial

Last month, for an exhibit of Troy University faculty members, Art & Design Professor Edward Noriega created some pieces that criticized Alabama's anti-immigrant law, HB 56, (which some people have said is tougher than Arizona's infamous SB 1070).

But directors of the Heritage Hall Museum, in Talladega, objected to some of the content in his artwork and had some of his best pieces removed from the exhibit.

Some of the pieces deemed too controversail were a portrait of the Virgin Mary holding a broom and dust-pan called, "Nuestra Señora de la Limpieza," ("The Cleaning Lady"); an ashtray adorned with the words, "State of Alabama," and "Feed me -- Get Out"; something that looks similar to a stack of Ajax cans, but instead reads, "ALA with HB56 ethnic cleanser"; and a swastika that sharply points out the indifference, or non-action, by religious denominations in resisting HB 56 become law.

"I wanted to be able to compare what Alabama is doing with that the Nazis did. I do believe that this law is a form of ethnic cleansing," Noriega told a local news station.

You can view all of Noriega's political artwork on his website: http://politicalabamadesign.com/