My Rating
“Swiss Cheese”
Fate has been teleported by some unknown force straight into the middle of the World Peace Summit in Switzerland. Jared Stevens has no idea who brought him here or why, and the local authorities aren’t exactly interested in hearing his side of the story. Within minutes, the wielder of the artifacts of Fate has been cuffed, stuffed, and locked inside a cramped storage closet. Can things possibly get any worse? Yes. Yes, they can.
Out on the main stage, four globally recognized champions of peace make their way toward the cameras. The news media goes into overdrive as technology mogul Sylvia Craig, Senator Horace Lunt, Mother Lucia, and billionaire philanthropist Tara DeSean climb the steps to greet the world. These four celebrities have become symbols of hope and international cooperation, but Jared’s mysterious arrival suggests something much more sinister may be lurking behind the carefully orchestrated spectacle.
Jared finally manages to break free of his mortal bonds, but now Mother Nature is calling—and she isn’t taking no for an answer. Forget supernatural conspiracies and world peace; Fate desperately needs to find a toilet! Will there be enough paper? Does Jared even have enough time to take care of business before all hell breaks loose? And who teleported him to Switzerland in the first place? What’s the plan, Jared? What’s the plan?!? Collect the series to find out!
Review
I’m honestly shocked the editors at DC Comics signed off on this much toilet humor back in 1997. Jared Stevens spends part of “Swiss Cheese” desperately needing to take a dump while an international peace summit unfolds around him. We have powerful politicians, religious leaders, billionaires, television cameras—and Fate wondering if he’s going to make it to the toilet in time. Times were a-changing at DC Comics. Jared literally needs to shit or get off the pot. LOL.
Yet this is exactly the kind of insanity I’ve come to expect from The Book of Fate. Keith Giffen continues to write Jared as the complete opposite of the traditional mystical superhero. Doctor Fate might have confronted a supernatural crisis with wisdom and dignity. Jared Stevens is more likely to swear at it, punch it in the face, and then ask where the nearest bathroom is located. Beneath all the comedy, however, Giffen continues building the mystery. Why was Fate suddenly transported to Switzerland, and what connection do these four celebrated ambassadors of peace have to his arrival?
Nine issues into this series and I’m still having a great time discovering this strange little corner of the 1990s DC Universe. The Book of Fate certainly isn’t afraid to get weird, crude, or downright ridiculous, and “Swiss Cheese” may be the best example yet. I’m still laughing that someone at DC looked at a script involving Fate desperately needing to take a shit during a world peace summit and said, “Yep, print it!” Four out of five stars.