The Invisibles #5 (1995)
Written by Grant Morrison
Artwork by Jill Thompson
Inks by Justine Mara Andersen, Colors by Daniel Vozzo
Chef’s Note: For a deadly, globe-trotting, S&M-styling assassin, Gideon comes off as quite whiny here when he first arrives. It is true that fish ‘n chips are most excellent, but who really is going to be this grumpypants about a nice plate of nasi goreng?
The explanation for his boorish behavior is, in fact, due to his globe-trotting ways. He literally just came back to London from Indonesia, where he no doubt had his fair share of nasi goreng, given that peoples there eat it pretty much on a daily basis.
He also did all of his uber-cool interdimensional-spy training in Indonesia – so it could be by now that he is simply well done with it. There’s something to be said here about the expatriate experience, but I’m not sure exactly what it is just yet.
Chef’s Note: I know they call themselves The Invisibles but the real invisible characters here are the wait staff.
Seriously, they all go from having champagne and empty plates right up until Gideon walks through the glass door. Right after that, all their plates are full – WTH.
Chef’s Note: As always one of the most important questions here is: where are they eating?
What do we know? It’s a restaurant in London that offers nasi goreng. There are white tablecloths, champagne, and an ornate decor (tassled chandeliers!). Also of note is the pingfeng behind them.
My best guess is that they are at Bali Bali. It is a well-known Indonesian restaurant in London, it has white tablecloths, and a glass front door. They definitely feature nasi goreng on their menu but I’m not seeing champagne.
Still, I imagine the Invisibles crew are probably BYOC.
And yes, I acknowledge the lack of current ornate decor in the photos that follow, no visible pingfeng for example…
Still, it must be understood that the mid-1990s were a much more ornate time, so the interior decor here may have changed/diminished over the years, sad to say.
Oh, whence the days of tassled chandeliers!