GVN Talking Comics Review: Mad Cave Studios ‘You’ve Been Cancelled’ Issue 3 – “Just Doing My Job”

Last Time

When last we left Cancelled, the star of the show Roland Endo, had been changed from the hunter to the hunted. Come to find out, it was all the work of a 12 old girl who had hacked into the Cancelled database. Endo had tracked her to the stacks and was now waiting for an explanation of why she had put him out there like a raw steak in front of Ravid dogs. He waited for this information, still knowing that it was only a matter of time before the next pack of Cancellers came a calling. A change of venue was in order.

Revenge

Feeling slightly vulnerable at the girl’s home, Endo took Rose and her mother to his handler’s residence to await the story behind the little girl’s actions. Needless to say, the Rose was not happy. As for the reason she hacked into the Cancelled system and redirected it to point at Endo, it was simple: Revenge. He had killed her brother.

The Reason behind the Hack

The news was not necessarily enlightening for Roland as he had killed a great many people in his career. But she laid out the details of this particular incident. Her brother was a programmer for the show. He was a brilliant coder. One among the many such people the show used. His job was to work on the newest version of the software used for the show, Cancelled 3.0. But during his work, he stumbled upon some information he was not supposed to. The fact that the show was using their software to target people whose only crime was they were getting in their way. Politicians, business rivals, competitors…they were putting their names into the database to be eliminated. Their own personal hit squad.

Her brother had assumed that corporate was unaware of this, and he brought forward what he had learned. Only to find out they were QUITE aware, and they added her brother’s name into the system. They put out that he had hacked into the system and was stealing money from cancelled subscribers. Naturally their number one Canceller was put on the case and Endo did what he does.

Just Doing My Job

At first, Endo was defensive about the situation. Whether the system was corrupt or not, HE was just doing his job. The girl told him that many people throughout history have used the excuse of “just doing their job.” More often than not, it didn’t make them right. She then asked him to think about all the people he has killed. They might have been bad, good, guilty or perhaps innocent. How did that make him feel when he considered the carnage he had wrought? Roland considered for a time and then vomited. Apparently not too good.

Maverick Returns

They needed to put an end to it. Or at least, he did. The end to the whole rotten system and those who were behind it. But before he could contemplate further, the side of the room blew in. Company was a calling. Just like he knew it would. A lot of company. Twenty of them, led by the recently unretired Edge Maverick (see Issue 2).

Endo told his handler to get Rose and her mother out of there and he would deal with the incursion. Twenty people? Just another chance to do what he does best. After the civilians left the premises, the battle commenced. Despite everything, this was Endo in his element. Dispatching those stupid enough to challenge him with impunity. But despite his prowess, 20-1 odds can wear you down. Which Maverick had no issues in taking advantage of. He let his men do most of the attacking (and dying) while he waited for opportune openings. Which had finally presented itself.

To the Rescue

But before he could take full advantage of this, a huge electrical pulse shut down not only Maverick’s armor but Endo’s as well. Come to find out, the girl had come back and engaged a localized EMP to shut down the power to the suits and the OS. Without the power, they might have well been made of cardboard. This gave them a chance to grab Endo and leave. Maverick raging that he would chase Roland down as soon as he could get powered back up. Endo made sure he let Edge know he was number one as he left with the middle finger salute.

Arming and Planning

Later, Endo had taken them back to his place. Pretty much everyone was dubious about returning there. It would be the first place anyone would go. But Endo needed to re-arm and plan. It was time to take HIS armor out of storage. His handler reminded Endo what had happened the last time he had tried to use it. It hadn’t gone well. Roland was unphased. All it would require would be some “elbow grease” and perhaps, some of the girl’s know how. But first, he needed to leave a message for the suits at Cancelled.

Cancelling ‘Cancelled’

He let the world know what had been happening at Cancelled. How they had used the game to eliminate competition and fatten their bank accounts. While they also made money from the public as they paid to watch. Roland admitted that he too had gotten rich off the system. Killing people without any thought as to whether they deserved to die or not. “Just doing his Job.” But that would all end here. He was coming for those who were behind this corrupt system. He was going to cancel Cancelled!

Doubling Down

Naturally, the suits behind the show were unhappy about their dirty laundry being put out there. They thought Endo’s post might be a single stream they could kill. But it was put out on all the social media platforms. There was no way to bury it. So, instead, they doubled down and raised the bounty on Endo’s head to one billion credits. Open to anyone willing to claim it. For that many credits, that was a lot of people. But Endo felt he was ready for them. Armor on and ready to bring things to an end.

Thoughts

Well things have hit a fever pitch in Curt Pires and Kevin Castaniero’s You’ve Been Cancelled.  Which was a pretty good trick since Curt’s name was clearly on the list of victims cancelled. Although, it would not be too much of a surprise considering he was ratting out the whole system in this book. Apparently, they also got Kevin as well. But I didn’t see letterer Micah Myer’s name on the hit list nor Colorist Jason Wordie. Coincidence, since it was Micah doing the lettering. I think NOT! 😏 Hopefully Endo was merciful in his work.

The “Doing My Job” Debate

I thought the discussion between Rose and Endo about “just doing his job,” was very enlightening. She is pretty sharp for a 12-year-old. And she was not wrong. Plenty of people have tried to justify wrongdoing under the mantle of just doing their job. I’m sure that was the defense of many a Nazi in WWII who committed atrocities. They were just following orders. They were doing their job. Endo came around after a bit.

Is It Too Late

Speaking of Endo, He is now aware of his responsibility in the company’s corrupt programming and the likelihood of his taking of innocent lives. He has said he is willing to do something about it, but is he too late? Have the odds of hundreds of credit hungry vigilantes become too much to overcome? And where does the morality of the decision to kill those who are just looking for a way up in life fit in with his new morale code? Unfortunately, when that many people are trying to kill you, such philosophical thinking would only get you killed. Even if you ARE wearing your armor. Leave that highbrow thinking to the shrinks. Endo DOES have a job to do.

Mad Cave Studios You’ve Been Cancelled Issue #3 by Curt Pires, Kevin Castaniero, Jason Wordie and Micah Myers is available now through the Mad Cave Subscription site and where great digital comics are sold.