Happy Thanksgiving - have a great day everyone.
Did they have to cook it or can heat vision cook it evenly?
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving - have a great day everyone.
Did they have to cook it or can heat vision cook it evenly?
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The Real Meaning of Thanksgiving
I'm sure you're expecting some big discussion about Pilgrims and Indians and all that mush, but I think it's safe to say that the meaning of Thanksgiving has changed over the years.
It's still about giving thanks for the things we have but it's also taken on the added sense of "Thank goodness I'm not you!"
I think it started as families became more dispersed around the country. Because my brother lives in New Hampshire, and my cousins live in Colorado and California, I don't get to see them as much as I once did. It also means that when we get together it becomes a huge competition to see who has the best kids.
I’ve always noticed that my kids were better than your kids but I always wondered if my kids were better than my brother’s kids. My brother has been in town for a couple of days and this is what I have noticed…
My kids like to "push the limits"
My brother's little girl is a "trouble maker"
And your kids... Well good luck because the way your kids acts they are going to jail.
My kids occasionally have trouble with pronunciation.
My brother's little boy makes “sounds” with a thick Boston accent
And your kids... Are you teaching your kid English? Because I'm pretty sure he/she couldn't be understood by a mime.
My kids are "independent thinkers"
My brother's kids don’t like to follow directions
And at the rate your kids are going, they will have their name sewed into the their shirt for whatever job they are lucky enough to get.
But, I'm glad my brother is here and I enjoy seeing him. And, I bet that he's says the same thing about my kids!
Have a great Thanksgiving y'all.
It's still about giving thanks for the things we have but it's also taken on the added sense of "Thank goodness I'm not you!"
I think it started as families became more dispersed around the country. Because my brother lives in New Hampshire, and my cousins live in Colorado and California, I don't get to see them as much as I once did. It also means that when we get together it becomes a huge competition to see who has the best kids.
I’ve always noticed that my kids were better than your kids but I always wondered if my kids were better than my brother’s kids. My brother has been in town for a couple of days and this is what I have noticed…
My kids like to "push the limits"
My brother's little girl is a "trouble maker"
And your kids... Well good luck because the way your kids acts they are going to jail.
My kids occasionally have trouble with pronunciation.
My brother's little boy makes “sounds” with a thick Boston accent
And your kids... Are you teaching your kid English? Because I'm pretty sure he/she couldn't be understood by a mime.
My kids are "independent thinkers"
My brother's kids don’t like to follow directions
And at the rate your kids are going, they will have their name sewed into the their shirt for whatever job they are lucky enough to get.
But, I'm glad my brother is here and I enjoy seeing him. And, I bet that he's says the same thing about my kids!
Have a great Thanksgiving y'all.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Best to Worst of Last Week
This was a really good week for comics and especially for DC in my opinion. It is interesting doing a best to worse ever week, because often if a book showed up on a different week it might win, but the luck of the draw can put even a really good book down a few notches.
All Star Superman #9 - Each issue is a well crafted gem. Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly have put out the best Superman series ever done. I know we have almost 70 years to choose from and I have not read every Superman comic, but this book honors the past and makes it modern. This book has love, humanity, compassion, great supporting cast and the best portrayal of Superman ever done. Morrison has written many, many books, but for me this is his big seminal moment eclipsing all of his others. Frank Quietly maybe producing this book slow, but like Planetary I want Morrison and Quietly to complete the 12 issues run and I don’t care when we get an issue. Quietly has a barrel chest Superman, the clumsy awkward farm boy Clark Kent, the stunning and beautiful Lois Lane, the dorky Jimmy Olsen, ex-jock Steve Lombard all done to a “T”. Not 100% sure what digital inking is, but the digital inks and coloring by Jamie Grant should not be ignored as that is what takes Frank’s art to the next level.
Simon Dark #2 - Okay when a character pops his eye out and
places it on a wall for surveillance that is pretty wild. Steve Niles and Scott Hampton are telling one heck of a story with Simon Dark. So far we only know he is dead and was killed again this issue and doesn’t stay dead. What he is and who he is and who all the other strange people around him has yet to be revealed, but I’m looking forward to this story.
Black Adam The Dark Age #4 (of 6) – Tomasi (writer) and Mahnke are putting out one of the top mini-series, especially for a super-hero book. Teth-Adam is a compelling character and even though this series will end where Countdown begins, the journey itself is an incredible story of love and obsession and a desire for power.
Fables #67 - Issue after issue this book is always a great read and an enjoyable tale. The Good Prince storyline is no exception. Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham and Steve Leilioha are producing on of the great all time series.
Atomic Robo #2 (of 6) - Really a well done book. The artwork is so clean and so solidly laid out, that it makes it an easy read. From fighting giant ants to flying WWII planes it is all well done. Ultimately though the simple story told is that Atomic Robo is outliving his friends and while he can’t cry, you understand how much it hurts him. Brian Clevinger (story) and Scott Wenger (art) have a winner with this series.
Teen Titans East Special #1 – I really enjoyed this special and thought Winick as the writer (who just make a makes a comic move) and Ian Churchill as artist (who just gets better) put together a really nice re-launch to the original Titans reforming. This book was all set up for that to occur and while some friends of mine disparaged my enjoyment of the book, they are wrong.
Green Arrow Black Canary #2 - Cliff Chang really makes this book move. His fluid style and clean lines are great for this action adventure series. Judd Winick never lets up on the gas pedal and his dialogue and humor is really well done. DC has another winning series on its hands. The best part was Speedy mouthing off and then Diana having to fight an Amazon to settle the matter.
Booster Gold #4 - This series continues to impress. This issue the mission ends up being about saving Barry Allen from being wiped out of existence as the Flash. At the same time they continue to advance Booster’s own storyline. Really great stuff, told with a modern style, but has all the good elements of a silver age book. Dan Jurgens layouts are really well done and with Norm Rapmund finishing the work the book looks terrific. Geoff Johns (writer) is having a stellar year.
Countdown to Final Crisis 24 - This book has really gotten a lot better since #26. First off the artwork has stepped up and Thomas Derenick has never looked better. I was unimpressed by his work in Shadowopact, as he was competent, but not wowing me. This issue he really shines and his Superman Prime was terrific. The story was exciting also as Superman Prime is searching for his world and he destroys Earth 15, Mary Marvel blows off Darkseid and Desaad is split from Firestorm by the Atomic Knights.
Superman/Batman #42 - This was the best arc ever done on the book and I especially enjoyed the Batman/Bekka relationship. Superman/Batman survived their encounter with Darkseid and Desaad and Bekka appears to have been killed or taken as everything ties to Countdown and Death of the New Gods. I liked this arc so much I mat get the trade.
After the Cape II #1 (of 3) - Nice opening. Captain “G” has now become a full fledge super villain as Mass Effect. He goes to meet his wife and is drunk again. Other bad guys are after him and shoot up the place and hit her. The black and white artwork is muted with heavy blacks, but the artwork is solid and suits this story of a hero going further down the drain. Created & Scripted by Howard Wong, Plotted by Jim Valentino and art by Sergio Carrera.
___________________________________________________
Nightwing #138 - Solid part of the “Ras As Ghul” storyline and especially enjoyed Fabian Nicieza’s dialogue in making Dick a really intelligent super hero. The overall storyline itself is a well planned cross-over. Don Kramer’s artwork was well done and his action scenes were really nice.
Batman and The Outsiders #1 - Solid opening story. It seems to have dropped whatever was going on with the last lead up to this issue, but still a good start. Chuck Dixon is one of the most professional writers in the business. I don’t think he ever writes a bad comic and if you want an action adventure story, he does it very well. We have all the members of the team deployed to check out a company Batman has suspicions about and low and behold they were making or healing an OMAC. Julian Lopez and Bit do a solid job on the artwork with the opening four pages being especially well done.
World War Hulk #5 (of 5) - It was an okay ending. The Hulk and Sentry fight to a draw, wreck havok in New York, Rick Jones dies, we find out Miek sabotaged the shuttle killing Hulk’s wife etc., Hulk allows himself to be hit by some weapon that takes him out. Romita’s art was okay, but the best picture may have been Finch’s cover. So Bruce is locked up, somehow Hulk’s child is born fully grown on the Planet Skarr. I guess at least we got lots of bruised faces.
Salvation Run #1 (of 7) - Nice start to this story. I really enjoyed that as the villains are thinking they are double crossed it appears that some other people purposely set up this danger world. By the silhouettes it appears to be Darkseid and Desaad. Still a bunch of bad guys fighting against the world and forced to be allies could create a lethal combination if they get back home to Earth.
Nova #8 - Another good issue, but a disappointment as Nova is totally out of the picture for the Annihilation Conquest right now. Still he is on the edge of the Universe and trying to find his way home while focusing the bulk of his power on the virus in his system.
Wonder Woman #14 – Gail Simone finally starts on the book and it was just an okay start. What Gail did do was quickly establish that Wonder Woman has a different method of handling a crisis situation then Superman or Batman, violence is not her only response. Otherwise it was a lot of set up and I will not get a good read on this series until the first arc is done. Regardless Gail gets a lot of forgiveness from me as I hope she will be on this book long term and she knows how to write. Easily better then this book has been.
Superman Confidential #9 - This first meeting between Superman and the New Gods has been well done. The timing of this book could not be any better as it plays off well with what is happening in Death of the New Gods. I especially enjoy Orion and Superman’s relationship and the battle between the two of them was really well done.
X-Factor #25 - Well I give Messiah Complex one thing, it is reading like one long story with everyone getting face time. I hope with how they set this up they have not written Layla out of X-Factor. Still X-Factor has a totally different feel to the book then before it become part of the mega event.
Brit # 3 - So far this is just a goofy a** book. Brit’s sister beats up some sort of Brit clone and we find Brit on the streets forgetting who he is. Cliff Rathburn style fits this book and Bruce Brown is doing a fine job of working with Kirkman’s concepts and keeping true to the Kirkman spirit of thing, while making it his own voice. This book is okay so far and growing on me. ___________________________________________________
Thor #4 - I really, really want to like this book, but JMS tells story so slowly that I almost scream waiting for stuff to happen. Plus he once again does a little social preaching to us about problems in Africa. At least he states it has to be resolved internally. The Warriors Three was telegraphed a mile away, but it was never meant to be a big secret. After a year we will have a story and it will probably read well, but not as an episodic comic. He did the same crap on Squadron Supreme stuff and that just ended in the middle of a story.
Captain Marvel #1 (of 5) - Okay start. My love of the character and enjoyment of Lee Weeks artwork will keep me hanging in on this mini-series. Captain Marvel is back and he wanders around for no good reason and then comes back to New York. A religion has grown up about his return from death. Why? He was not that big of a deal in his day in the Marvel Universe and other heroes have returned from the dead without religions spring up. Seems dumb, even in the context of a comic.
Killing Girl #4 (of 5) – The art is really hurting this book and the story degenerated into a lot of excessive sex scenes that were not all demanded by the story. I would really love to see this comic redone with a little editing and a different artist and it could be a really strong book as the underlying story is great.
Gen 13 #14 - Nice start for writer Simon Oliver, gave us a nice set-up with the group heading off the New York and a new menace from the group that created them. Carlo Barberi is such a fantastic artist, that I think DC should have him on a major book. His work is really clean and concise and he varies his viewpoint and panel layouts very well.
JSA Classified #46 - Decent ending to J’onn J’onzz fight with the telepathic remnant of his brother. Not a book for the ages, but Justin Gray and Rick Leonardi gave us a decent read.
House of M Avengers #1 (of 5) - Alright first off the new 48 page comic with 22 pages of story is just ridiculous, so I guess I should just buy the trade. Next the Canadian Price is still 5 cents higher then the US, but their dollar is worth more then ours now – so why the price difference going the wrong way? To the comic itself, nice art by Mike Perkins, who is getting better. The story was way too text heavy and all set-up. If we are getting this book we read House of “M” and know who Luke Cage is. What we got was his origin story modified for the “House of M” world. A plodding story, that was okay with decent enough art. I should probably cut it, but I’ll give the writer Christos Gage a little leeway as I like most of his work.
New Avengers #36 - This comic is so fragmented that it is impossible to get a read on what is going on or what the point of this book is at this time. Bendis has the New Avengers as ancillary to the Venom virus being loosed on New York and you get the feeling that the Mighty Avengers story line is being usurped due to Cho’s lateness on that book. Note to Marvel start publishing the next arc and make Cho’s last chapter an Annual (see DC – Superman). Lenil Yu’s scratchy style does not suit this book and Bendis just scripts everyone with almost the same voice. Although he really tries to give Luke a more distinctive voice by having him curse all the time.
Welcome to Tranquility #12 – The final issue. A little convoluted for the final issue, but still it was a decent little book by Gail Simone and Neil Googe.
Mice Templar #2 - Way too dense and way too mythical. This book lacks the charm and lush art of Mouse Guard and really fails to draw me into the story. Cancelled.
So only one book got cut, although House of M and Captain Marvel barley made it through to the other side. DC had a really strong week and while they seem to be producing an incredible number of comics on a monthly basis, the level of their quality has been high. The independents were light this week and not all the best, but I strongly believe that the small press has more of the new and exciting stuff. I also know that way too many fans refuse to even order a small press book and many stores don’t order enough to put them on their selves. I’m lucky enough to have the disposable income to follow all of them and I just hope everyone will commit to trying one new small press book every month.
All Star Superman #9 - Each issue is a well crafted gem. Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly have put out the best Superman series ever done. I know we have almost 70 years to choose from and I have not read every Superman comic, but this book honors the past and makes it modern. This book has love, humanity, compassion, great supporting cast and the best portrayal of Superman ever done. Morrison has written many, many books, but for me this is his big seminal moment eclipsing all of his others. Frank Quietly maybe producing this book slow, but like Planetary I want Morrison and Quietly to complete the 12 issues run and I don’t care when we get an issue. Quietly has a barrel chest Superman, the clumsy awkward farm boy Clark Kent, the stunning and beautiful Lois Lane, the dorky Jimmy Olsen, ex-jock Steve Lombard all done to a “T”. Not 100% sure what digital inking is, but the digital inks and coloring by Jamie Grant should not be ignored as that is what takes Frank’s art to the next level.Simon Dark #2 - Okay when a character pops his eye out and
places it on a wall for surveillance that is pretty wild. Steve Niles and Scott Hampton are telling one heck of a story with Simon Dark. So far we only know he is dead and was killed again this issue and doesn’t stay dead. What he is and who he is and who all the other strange people around him has yet to be revealed, but I’m looking forward to this story.Black Adam The Dark Age #4 (of 6) – Tomasi (writer) and Mahnke are putting out one of the top mini-series, especially for a super-hero book. Teth-Adam is a compelling character and even though this series will end where Countdown begins, the journey itself is an incredible story of love and obsession and a desire for power.
Fables #67 - Issue after issue this book is always a great read and an enjoyable tale. The Good Prince storyline is no exception. Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham and Steve Leilioha are producing on of the great all time series.
Atomic Robo #2 (of 6) - Really a well done book. The artwork is so clean and so solidly laid out, that it makes it an easy read. From fighting giant ants to flying WWII planes it is all well done. Ultimately though the simple story told is that Atomic Robo is outliving his friends and while he can’t cry, you understand how much it hurts him. Brian Clevinger (story) and Scott Wenger (art) have a winner with this series.
Teen Titans East Special #1 – I really enjoyed this special and thought Winick as the writer (who just make a makes a comic move) and Ian Churchill as artist (who just gets better) put together a really nice re-launch to the original Titans reforming. This book was all set up for that to occur and while some friends of mine disparaged my enjoyment of the book, they are wrong.
Green Arrow Black Canary #2 - Cliff Chang really makes this book move. His fluid style and clean lines are great for this action adventure series. Judd Winick never lets up on the gas pedal and his dialogue and humor is really well done. DC has another winning series on its hands. The best part was Speedy mouthing off and then Diana having to fight an Amazon to settle the matter.
Booster Gold #4 - This series continues to impress. This issue the mission ends up being about saving Barry Allen from being wiped out of existence as the Flash. At the same time they continue to advance Booster’s own storyline. Really great stuff, told with a modern style, but has all the good elements of a silver age book. Dan Jurgens layouts are really well done and with Norm Rapmund finishing the work the book looks terrific. Geoff Johns (writer) is having a stellar year.
Countdown to Final Crisis 24 - This book has really gotten a lot better since #26. First off the artwork has stepped up and Thomas Derenick has never looked better. I was unimpressed by his work in Shadowopact, as he was competent, but not wowing me. This issue he really shines and his Superman Prime was terrific. The story was exciting also as Superman Prime is searching for his world and he destroys Earth 15, Mary Marvel blows off Darkseid and Desaad is split from Firestorm by the Atomic Knights.
Superman/Batman #42 - This was the best arc ever done on the book and I especially enjoyed the Batman/Bekka relationship. Superman/Batman survived their encounter with Darkseid and Desaad and Bekka appears to have been killed or taken as everything ties to Countdown and Death of the New Gods. I liked this arc so much I mat get the trade.
After the Cape II #1 (of 3) - Nice opening. Captain “G” has now become a full fledge super villain as Mass Effect. He goes to meet his wife and is drunk again. Other bad guys are after him and shoot up the place and hit her. The black and white artwork is muted with heavy blacks, but the artwork is solid and suits this story of a hero going further down the drain. Created & Scripted by Howard Wong, Plotted by Jim Valentino and art by Sergio Carrera.
___________________________________________________
Nightwing #138 - Solid part of the “Ras As Ghul” storyline and especially enjoyed Fabian Nicieza’s dialogue in making Dick a really intelligent super hero. The overall storyline itself is a well planned cross-over. Don Kramer’s artwork was well done and his action scenes were really nice.
Batman and The Outsiders #1 - Solid opening story. It seems to have dropped whatever was going on with the last lead up to this issue, but still a good start. Chuck Dixon is one of the most professional writers in the business. I don’t think he ever writes a bad comic and if you want an action adventure story, he does it very well. We have all the members of the team deployed to check out a company Batman has suspicions about and low and behold they were making or healing an OMAC. Julian Lopez and Bit do a solid job on the artwork with the opening four pages being especially well done.
World War Hulk #5 (of 5) - It was an okay ending. The Hulk and Sentry fight to a draw, wreck havok in New York, Rick Jones dies, we find out Miek sabotaged the shuttle killing Hulk’s wife etc., Hulk allows himself to be hit by some weapon that takes him out. Romita’s art was okay, but the best picture may have been Finch’s cover. So Bruce is locked up, somehow Hulk’s child is born fully grown on the Planet Skarr. I guess at least we got lots of bruised faces.
Salvation Run #1 (of 7) - Nice start to this story. I really enjoyed that as the villains are thinking they are double crossed it appears that some other people purposely set up this danger world. By the silhouettes it appears to be Darkseid and Desaad. Still a bunch of bad guys fighting against the world and forced to be allies could create a lethal combination if they get back home to Earth.
Nova #8 - Another good issue, but a disappointment as Nova is totally out of the picture for the Annihilation Conquest right now. Still he is on the edge of the Universe and trying to find his way home while focusing the bulk of his power on the virus in his system.
Wonder Woman #14 – Gail Simone finally starts on the book and it was just an okay start. What Gail did do was quickly establish that Wonder Woman has a different method of handling a crisis situation then Superman or Batman, violence is not her only response. Otherwise it was a lot of set up and I will not get a good read on this series until the first arc is done. Regardless Gail gets a lot of forgiveness from me as I hope she will be on this book long term and she knows how to write. Easily better then this book has been.
Superman Confidential #9 - This first meeting between Superman and the New Gods has been well done. The timing of this book could not be any better as it plays off well with what is happening in Death of the New Gods. I especially enjoy Orion and Superman’s relationship and the battle between the two of them was really well done.
X-Factor #25 - Well I give Messiah Complex one thing, it is reading like one long story with everyone getting face time. I hope with how they set this up they have not written Layla out of X-Factor. Still X-Factor has a totally different feel to the book then before it become part of the mega event.
Brit # 3 - So far this is just a goofy a** book. Brit’s sister beats up some sort of Brit clone and we find Brit on the streets forgetting who he is. Cliff Rathburn style fits this book and Bruce Brown is doing a fine job of working with Kirkman’s concepts and keeping true to the Kirkman spirit of thing, while making it his own voice. This book is okay so far and growing on me. ___________________________________________________
Thor #4 - I really, really want to like this book, but JMS tells story so slowly that I almost scream waiting for stuff to happen. Plus he once again does a little social preaching to us about problems in Africa. At least he states it has to be resolved internally. The Warriors Three was telegraphed a mile away, but it was never meant to be a big secret. After a year we will have a story and it will probably read well, but not as an episodic comic. He did the same crap on Squadron Supreme stuff and that just ended in the middle of a story.
Captain Marvel #1 (of 5) - Okay start. My love of the character and enjoyment of Lee Weeks artwork will keep me hanging in on this mini-series. Captain Marvel is back and he wanders around for no good reason and then comes back to New York. A religion has grown up about his return from death. Why? He was not that big of a deal in his day in the Marvel Universe and other heroes have returned from the dead without religions spring up. Seems dumb, even in the context of a comic.
Killing Girl #4 (of 5) – The art is really hurting this book and the story degenerated into a lot of excessive sex scenes that were not all demanded by the story. I would really love to see this comic redone with a little editing and a different artist and it could be a really strong book as the underlying story is great.
Gen 13 #14 - Nice start for writer Simon Oliver, gave us a nice set-up with the group heading off the New York and a new menace from the group that created them. Carlo Barberi is such a fantastic artist, that I think DC should have him on a major book. His work is really clean and concise and he varies his viewpoint and panel layouts very well.
JSA Classified #46 - Decent ending to J’onn J’onzz fight with the telepathic remnant of his brother. Not a book for the ages, but Justin Gray and Rick Leonardi gave us a decent read.
House of M Avengers #1 (of 5) - Alright first off the new 48 page comic with 22 pages of story is just ridiculous, so I guess I should just buy the trade. Next the Canadian Price is still 5 cents higher then the US, but their dollar is worth more then ours now – so why the price difference going the wrong way? To the comic itself, nice art by Mike Perkins, who is getting better. The story was way too text heavy and all set-up. If we are getting this book we read House of “M” and know who Luke Cage is. What we got was his origin story modified for the “House of M” world. A plodding story, that was okay with decent enough art. I should probably cut it, but I’ll give the writer Christos Gage a little leeway as I like most of his work.
New Avengers #36 - This comic is so fragmented that it is impossible to get a read on what is going on or what the point of this book is at this time. Bendis has the New Avengers as ancillary to the Venom virus being loosed on New York and you get the feeling that the Mighty Avengers story line is being usurped due to Cho’s lateness on that book. Note to Marvel start publishing the next arc and make Cho’s last chapter an Annual (see DC – Superman). Lenil Yu’s scratchy style does not suit this book and Bendis just scripts everyone with almost the same voice. Although he really tries to give Luke a more distinctive voice by having him curse all the time.
Welcome to Tranquility #12 – The final issue. A little convoluted for the final issue, but still it was a decent little book by Gail Simone and Neil Googe.
Mice Templar #2 - Way too dense and way too mythical. This book lacks the charm and lush art of Mouse Guard and really fails to draw me into the story. Cancelled.
So only one book got cut, although House of M and Captain Marvel barley made it through to the other side. DC had a really strong week and while they seem to be producing an incredible number of comics on a monthly basis, the level of their quality has been high. The independents were light this week and not all the best, but I strongly believe that the small press has more of the new and exciting stuff. I also know that way too many fans refuse to even order a small press book and many stores don’t order enough to put them on their selves. I’m lucky enough to have the disposable income to follow all of them and I just hope everyone will commit to trying one new small press book every month.
Monday, November 19, 2007
What I’m Getting Wednesday
This is a killer week for me with hard covers, trades and a ton of new material. Since Thanksgiving is Thursday and I’m not off on Friday I will have to do a lot of reading before Sunday morning. Every other week I participate in the Cosmic Comics Conversation and we have been doing them at 9AM. I’ll skip stuff that we won’t cover, but still as you will see this is a monstrous list.
As a side note I have to mention that we got our first “pull quote” in a published comic. In Atomic Robo #2 they did a quote for their house ad for Neozoic. It was nice to see the blog got a little publicity in published form – Thanks Red 5 Comics!
Side note #2 – DC is back on top of the October sales chart. A while back DC beat Marvel for one or two months and they were neck and neck and then Marvel started to crush DC in the market place share. This month DC barely won, but they did win as neither company had any major event books in the October numbers (World War Hulk skipped shipping in October). The bigger surprise to me was to see Dark Horse move up to a 7% market share. Nice to see that everyone is fighting like hell to keep it competitive.
52 Volume 4 Trade Paperback – The final trade to round out the year long event. I really want to sit back and read all four trades one day. Countdown looks like I may skip the trades until the second half of that series.
Action #859 – Superman in the future with the original version of the Legion of Super Heroes by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, I loved Part 1 and Part 2 should be even better. Superman goes to the future and Earth is under a Red Sun. Part of it is nostalgia, but this arc really has me excited for Wednesday.
Batman Confidential #11 – Continuing the Joker origin story by Michael Green and Denys Cowan. This has been an entertaining version of Joker’s origin. In my mind I cannot consider this to be actual canon as some of the events and actions are totally out of character for Bruce Wayne and Alfred. Still Denys Cowan has really brought his “A” game to this series and Michael Green can write a comic book.
Birds of Prey #112 – Tony Bedard is still filling the for one more issue until Sean McKeever takes over as the writer and this issue appears to focus on one of my favorite lower tiered characters Lady Blackhawk. Looks to be a good issue.
Brave and Bold #8 – Really one of DC’s best launches in a long time. Mark Waid and George Perez have been turning in stellar issues. This issue the Flash and the Doom Patrol are fighting an unstoppable force. Always look forward to this book.
Catwoman #73 – Selina is back as a thief and per the hype she has to keep ahead of Batman and Gotham’s Underworld. I’m guessing there is more to it then that and there will be repercussions in trying to cross the hero/villain line yet again. If it wasn’t Will Pfeifier at the helm I’d have my doubts if this could work. A quick thanks and recognition to David and Alvaro Lopez on being really good artists and consistently delivering this book month in and month out.
As a side note I have to mention that we got our first “pull quote” in a published comic. In Atomic Robo #2 they did a quote for their house ad for Neozoic. It was nice to see the blog got a little publicity in published form – Thanks Red 5 Comics!
Side note #2 – DC is back on top of the October sales chart. A while back DC beat Marvel for one or two months and they were neck and neck and then Marvel started to crush DC in the market place share. This month DC barely won, but they did win as neither company had any major event books in the October numbers (World War Hulk skipped shipping in October). The bigger surprise to me was to see Dark Horse move up to a 7% market share. Nice to see that everyone is fighting like hell to keep it competitive.
52 Volume 4 Trade Paperback – The final trade to round out the year long event. I really want to sit back and read all four trades one day. Countdown looks like I may skip the trades until the second half of that series.
Action #859 – Superman in the future with the original version of the Legion of Super Heroes by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, I loved Part 1 and Part 2 should be even better. Superman goes to the future and Earth is under a Red Sun. Part of it is nostalgia, but this arc really has me excited for Wednesday.Batman Confidential #11 – Continuing the Joker origin story by Michael Green and Denys Cowan. This has been an entertaining version of Joker’s origin. In my mind I cannot consider this to be actual canon as some of the events and actions are totally out of character for Bruce Wayne and Alfred. Still Denys Cowan has really brought his “A” game to this series and Michael Green can write a comic book.
Birds of Prey #112 – Tony Bedard is still filling the for one more issue until Sean McKeever takes over as the writer and this issue appears to focus on one of my favorite lower tiered characters Lady Blackhawk. Looks to be a good issue.
Brave and Bold #8 – Really one of DC’s best launches in a long time. Mark Waid and George Perez have been turning in stellar issues. This issue the Flash and the Doom Patrol are fighting an unstoppable force. Always look forward to this book.Catwoman #73 – Selina is back as a thief and per the hype she has to keep ahead of Batman and Gotham’s Underworld. I’m guessing there is more to it then that and there will be repercussions in trying to cross the hero/villain line yet again. If it wasn’t Will Pfeifier at the helm I’d have my doubts if this could work. A quick thanks and recognition to David and Alvaro Lopez on being really good artists and consistently delivering this book month in and month out.
Checkmate #20 – “The Fall of the Wall” concludes. I have to assume Amanda gets kicked out of Checkmate and than just leaves and continues to run the Suicide Squad, but I still can’t wait to see how she gets beat. Greg Rucka has really crafted a great series with Checkmate. I know he is busy with his novels, but I wish we could see more work out of him at DC. Also I wish they would do a hard cover collection of Gotham Central.
Countdown to Final Crisis #23 – This book continues to pick up steam. If you dropped this book a few issues back, I understand why, but get back into it as it has really heated up. Last issue with Superman Prime going on a rampage and taking out Earth 15 was really well done.
Countdown Presents The Search for Ray Palmer Gotham by Gaslight – Only one of these books has been a thrill for me and that was the Crime Syndicate World. We are visiting an old Elseworlds tale this issue and I’m going in with lowered expectations. These, for the most part, have been pointless add-ons to Countdown.
Countdown to Mystery #3 (of 8)- The new Doctor Fate has totally captivated me already. Number one I love the character to begin with and two the story is not part of Final Crisis, based on what the writer Steve Gerber’s blog has said. A brand new Fate tring to figure out what the heck is going on with these powers. Eclipso has been a nice little series also as she continues to corrupt some of the good guys in the DCU.
Detective #838 – Continuing the “Resurrection of Ras As Ghul” story. Usually once you kill off a major character I am all for leaving them dead, but not Ras. The perfect counter point to Batman deserves to be in the picture. So far I have gotten a kick out of this cross-over with all the Bat titles.
Flash #234 – Mark Waid really can write the Flash better then anyone else. I loved Johns run on the book, but Waid is Wally West. The examination of Wally and Linda’s kids continue as does the back up exploring the world they grew up on. Flash has continued to be a great book as it is ever evolving, changing and growing.
Countdown to Final Crisis #23 – This book continues to pick up steam. If you dropped this book a few issues back, I understand why, but get back into it as it has really heated up. Last issue with Superman Prime going on a rampage and taking out Earth 15 was really well done.Countdown Presents The Search for Ray Palmer Gotham by Gaslight – Only one of these books has been a thrill for me and that was the Crime Syndicate World. We are visiting an old Elseworlds tale this issue and I’m going in with lowered expectations. These, for the most part, have been pointless add-ons to Countdown.
Countdown to Mystery #3 (of 8)- The new Doctor Fate has totally captivated me already. Number one I love the character to begin with and two the story is not part of Final Crisis, based on what the writer Steve Gerber’s blog has said. A brand new Fate tring to figure out what the heck is going on with these powers. Eclipso has been a nice little series also as she continues to corrupt some of the good guys in the DCU.
Detective #838 – Continuing the “Resurrection of Ras As Ghul” story. Usually once you kill off a major character I am all for leaving them dead, but not Ras. The perfect counter point to Batman deserves to be in the picture. So far I have gotten a kick out of this cross-over with all the Bat titles.Flash #234 – Mark Waid really can write the Flash better then anyone else. I loved Johns run on the book, but Waid is Wally West. The examination of Wally and Linda’s kids continue as does the back up exploring the world they grew up on. Flash has continued to be a great book as it is ever evolving, changing and growing.
Shadowpact #19 – Our intrepid band of heroes is forced to walk into a trap. I really like this series, but I worry that it never seems to get noticed enough to survive long term.
Spirit #11 – The second to last issue of Darwyn Cooke's run as artist and writer, who will be greatly missed. Continuing the El Morte adventure. A rare multi-part story by Darwyn. This has been a wonderful series and I would love to see the first twelve put in a hard cover as I am not a fan of the six book hard cover.
Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Volume 3 – I can’t not own this set. The official hype “The third of four volumes collecting Jack Kirby's classic 1970s classic "Fourth World" magnum opus! In this volume collecting THE NEW GODS #7-10, THE FOREVER PEOPLE #8-10, SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #146-148, MISTER MIRACLE #7-10, Darkseid's deadly schemes reach Earth as Orion of the New Gods battles Kalibak, son of Darkseid, the Forever People run afoul of the DC Comics hero Deadman and more!” In fairness this was not the best written material and it was the boxy style art that Jack used later in his career, but the ideas and concepts are still being used by DC today and will be for many years to come.
World War III Trade Paperback – Reprinting the four chapters done outside of 52. This series tried to fill in some of the blanks that 52 never answered. Unfortunately many explanations were short 2 panel explanations. Hawkgirl as a giant was never explained away.
Mad Archives Volume 2 – This stuff was flat out funny and very daring for its day. Just look at the list of talent on this book : Harvey Kurtzman; Will Elder, John Severin, Wallace Wood, Jack Davis, Basil Wolverton and Bernard Krigstein. Really a no-brainer for me.
Wetworks #15 – The last issue of this ill fated re-launch. If they hadn’t cancelled I would have two issues ago as the series lost its momentum.
Wetworks Armageddon – This has been a so-so series. I think Christos Gage has over extended himself as his last few books have not been his normal stellar job. The Armageddon material has been somewhat pointless so far and feels like it is all set-up.
Programme #5 – The slow gathering of the Russian super people and the US super people being woke up has gotten better as each issue comes out. This will probably read great as a trade, but I’m really enjoying this series now.
Hellblazer #238 – Diggle rocks with this character the official hype “London becomes a veritable Hell on Earth for John Constantine when smoking is outlawed in pubs! But nicotine withdrawal is the least of his problems when he finds himself hunting a group of "urban explorers" who have disappeared into a shadowy parallel London where every urban myth is true. And they'd better pray he finds them before the Chelsea Smilers do...”
Testament #21 – Why this series continues to draw me in, when I should switch to the trades is beyond me. Still the Bible stories and near future stories being tied together gives the book a very different feel to it. The official hype “"Exodus," Part 3. When Gods refuse to die, it's the job of humankind to kill them. If Alan Stern and his son Jake want to rescue the world from Pierre Fallow's insidious nanos, they must turn the technology into a plague that destroys faith in the false idols of our modern age.”
Captain America #32 – The follow up story to the “Death of Captain America” continues and while this is still a good story it is really starting to feel stretched. First off I had read the arc was supposed to be five issues and became nine issues and then the “Fallen Son” mini-series needed to be published before continuing forward with the regular book, so the story is taking way too long to develop. That being said we appear to be getting to a breaking point and hopefully Bucky and friends can take down the Red Skull.
Heroes for Hire #15 – Zeb Wells is really crafting one heck of a great run on a book that has no real hook as far as a major character is concerned. Still with a bunch of B, C and D list team members forming this group he has turned in one of the better series from Marvel. This issue is the end of the WW Hulk tie-in and it appears one of the group does not make it out alive.
Incredible Hulk #111 – The fall out to the end of Hulk Must Smash, I mean WW Hulk. Marvel seems locked into trying to make every thing with the Hulk an event and that is growing tired. I personally feel WW Hulk was a blah ending, but it has me curious as to what is next.
Iron Man Director of Shield Annual #1 – Annuals are always long shots, but the official hype for this issue makes it sound pretty damn good “S.H.I.E.L.D. has a problem, and her name is Madame Hydra. The leader of the world's deadliest terror organization is also the lawful ruler of Wolverine's old stomping ground: the island nation of Madripoor. Unable to depose her openly, S.H.I.E.L.D. sends in its best man to secretly take her down. His name? Stark...Tony Stark. But with his Extremis powers blocked and his Iron Man armor hovering in orbit for emergencies only, can the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. survive against enemies like Bloodscream and Roughhouse, who've nearly killed Wolverine himself? Wizard's 2007 Writer to Watch, Christos Gage (Iron Man), and in his stunning Marvel debut, artist Harvey Tolibao (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic), bring you a roller coaster ride of action and espionage that will change Madripoor forever!” The end part of the hype is funny - will change Madripoor forever – like really who cares, please you had me at Madam Hydra.
Marvel Illustrated Last of the Mohicans #6 (of 6) – Never read goes to Gwen – okay one day (Gwen) we (I) need at least a blurb as to what you think of the Marvel Classic Illustrated stuff you read.
New X-Men #44 – Sadly the Messiah Complex has forced me to buy this book as the story is pretty much being picked up from issue to issue and is one long story so far. I have yet to sense what the end point for this “event” is but it needs to have a solid payoff or else I believe the x-franchise will be further weakened.
Penance Relentless #3 (of 5) – I’m really enjoying this mini-series in spite of my hating what Marvel did to the Robbie Baldwin character. Paul Jenkins (writer) and Paul Gulacy (artist) have really built a good mystery as to what is Penance doing. A quick compliant, why do we need Wolverine in this book, hell in was the Sub-Mariner mini-series already, has two books, in two major teams – STOP! I used to love that character now I’m sick of him.
She-Hulk #23 – Peter David’s second issue and we hopefully learn why the heck there is a She-Hulk and Jen Walters both running around. Almost any other writer I might have dropped the book after last issue, but David always has a long term plan and I’ll give him a few issues to reel me in.
Thunderbolts Breaking Point – A one shot that focuses on the relationship between Songbird and Moonstone, written by Christos (I’m writing 15 books this month) Gage and pencils by Brian Denham. I like the subject matter, but I get the sense that the Ellis series is really slowing down in coming out and we are getting these one-shots as opposed to fill in issues. Also I’m worried that Gage is over extended as his books have been weaker then they used to be. I guess when you are starting to be noticed it is hard to say no.
Ultimate Vision #5 (of 5) – OMG this book never finished. Geez, I wonder if I can even remember anything that went on with this book. I feel like an idiot when I sign onto a mini-series and then the damn thing comes out with this type of publishing schedule. There are no excuses for this type of stuff.
Left on Mission # 5 (of 5) – Do I really need to say anything more then what I said yesterday? No I don’t think so either. I’ve read it, now you read it.
Circle #1 – Some stores got this book last week and we get it this week. The official hype “THE GOLIATH TRAP, Part One A stringer for MI6 has stumbled into a continent spanning battle between the deadly mercenary group, "The Circle," and a rogue CIA assassin hell bent on revenge. The prize: a stolen nuclear missile train!” The premise and the cover art (by the interior artist) sold me. While I’m not a huge fan of what Brian Reed has written for Marvel it is more a matter of the characters he wrote that I don't care about and not his writing.
Graveslinger #2 (of 4) – The first issue was fun, mixing undead killers and western adventure together. I have seen a lot of genres being mixed together lately in many of the independents and I think it makes for some great ideas and helps to break down certain conventions.
Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Volume 3 – I can’t not own this set. The official hype “The third of four volumes collecting Jack Kirby's classic 1970s classic "Fourth World" magnum opus! In this volume collecting THE NEW GODS #7-10, THE FOREVER PEOPLE #8-10, SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #146-148, MISTER MIRACLE #7-10, Darkseid's deadly schemes reach Earth as Orion of the New Gods battles Kalibak, son of Darkseid, the Forever People run afoul of the DC Comics hero Deadman and more!” In fairness this was not the best written material and it was the boxy style art that Jack used later in his career, but the ideas and concepts are still being used by DC today and will be for many years to come.World War III Trade Paperback – Reprinting the four chapters done outside of 52. This series tried to fill in some of the blanks that 52 never answered. Unfortunately many explanations were short 2 panel explanations. Hawkgirl as a giant was never explained away.
Mad Archives Volume 2 – This stuff was flat out funny and very daring for its day. Just look at the list of talent on this book : Harvey Kurtzman; Will Elder, John Severin, Wallace Wood, Jack Davis, Basil Wolverton and Bernard Krigstein. Really a no-brainer for me.Wetworks #15 – The last issue of this ill fated re-launch. If they hadn’t cancelled I would have two issues ago as the series lost its momentum.
Wetworks Armageddon – This has been a so-so series. I think Christos Gage has over extended himself as his last few books have not been his normal stellar job. The Armageddon material has been somewhat pointless so far and feels like it is all set-up.
Programme #5 – The slow gathering of the Russian super people and the US super people being woke up has gotten better as each issue comes out. This will probably read great as a trade, but I’m really enjoying this series now.
Hellblazer #238 – Diggle rocks with this character the official hype “London becomes a veritable Hell on Earth for John Constantine when smoking is outlawed in pubs! But nicotine withdrawal is the least of his problems when he finds himself hunting a group of "urban explorers" who have disappeared into a shadowy parallel London where every urban myth is true. And they'd better pray he finds them before the Chelsea Smilers do...”Testament #21 – Why this series continues to draw me in, when I should switch to the trades is beyond me. Still the Bible stories and near future stories being tied together gives the book a very different feel to it. The official hype “"Exodus," Part 3. When Gods refuse to die, it's the job of humankind to kill them. If Alan Stern and his son Jake want to rescue the world from Pierre Fallow's insidious nanos, they must turn the technology into a plague that destroys faith in the false idols of our modern age.”
Captain America #32 – The follow up story to the “Death of Captain America” continues and while this is still a good story it is really starting to feel stretched. First off I had read the arc was supposed to be five issues and became nine issues and then the “Fallen Son” mini-series needed to be published before continuing forward with the regular book, so the story is taking way too long to develop. That being said we appear to be getting to a breaking point and hopefully Bucky and friends can take down the Red Skull.Heroes for Hire #15 – Zeb Wells is really crafting one heck of a great run on a book that has no real hook as far as a major character is concerned. Still with a bunch of B, C and D list team members forming this group he has turned in one of the better series from Marvel. This issue is the end of the WW Hulk tie-in and it appears one of the group does not make it out alive.
Incredible Hulk #111 – The fall out to the end of Hulk Must Smash, I mean WW Hulk. Marvel seems locked into trying to make every thing with the Hulk an event and that is growing tired. I personally feel WW Hulk was a blah ending, but it has me curious as to what is next.
Iron Man Director of Shield Annual #1 – Annuals are always long shots, but the official hype for this issue makes it sound pretty damn good “S.H.I.E.L.D. has a problem, and her name is Madame Hydra. The leader of the world's deadliest terror organization is also the lawful ruler of Wolverine's old stomping ground: the island nation of Madripoor. Unable to depose her openly, S.H.I.E.L.D. sends in its best man to secretly take her down. His name? Stark...Tony Stark. But with his Extremis powers blocked and his Iron Man armor hovering in orbit for emergencies only, can the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. survive against enemies like Bloodscream and Roughhouse, who've nearly killed Wolverine himself? Wizard's 2007 Writer to Watch, Christos Gage (Iron Man), and in his stunning Marvel debut, artist Harvey Tolibao (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic), bring you a roller coaster ride of action and espionage that will change Madripoor forever!” The end part of the hype is funny - will change Madripoor forever – like really who cares, please you had me at Madam Hydra.Marvel Illustrated Last of the Mohicans #6 (of 6) – Never read goes to Gwen – okay one day (Gwen) we (I) need at least a blurb as to what you think of the Marvel Classic Illustrated stuff you read.
New X-Men #44 – Sadly the Messiah Complex has forced me to buy this book as the story is pretty much being picked up from issue to issue and is one long story so far. I have yet to sense what the end point for this “event” is but it needs to have a solid payoff or else I believe the x-franchise will be further weakened.
Penance Relentless #3 (of 5) – I’m really enjoying this mini-series in spite of my hating what Marvel did to the Robbie Baldwin character. Paul Jenkins (writer) and Paul Gulacy (artist) have really built a good mystery as to what is Penance doing. A quick compliant, why do we need Wolverine in this book, hell in was the Sub-Mariner mini-series already, has two books, in two major teams – STOP! I used to love that character now I’m sick of him.She-Hulk #23 – Peter David’s second issue and we hopefully learn why the heck there is a She-Hulk and Jen Walters both running around. Almost any other writer I might have dropped the book after last issue, but David always has a long term plan and I’ll give him a few issues to reel me in.
Thunderbolts Breaking Point – A one shot that focuses on the relationship between Songbird and Moonstone, written by Christos (I’m writing 15 books this month) Gage and pencils by Brian Denham. I like the subject matter, but I get the sense that the Ellis series is really slowing down in coming out and we are getting these one-shots as opposed to fill in issues. Also I’m worried that Gage is over extended as his books have been weaker then they used to be. I guess when you are starting to be noticed it is hard to say no.
Ultimate Vision #5 (of 5) – OMG this book never finished. Geez, I wonder if I can even remember anything that went on with this book. I feel like an idiot when I sign onto a mini-series and then the damn thing comes out with this type of publishing schedule. There are no excuses for this type of stuff.
Left on Mission # 5 (of 5) – Do I really need to say anything more then what I said yesterday? No I don’t think so either. I’ve read it, now you read it.
Circle #1 – Some stores got this book last week and we get it this week. The official hype “THE GOLIATH TRAP, Part One A stringer for MI6 has stumbled into a continent spanning battle between the deadly mercenary group, "The Circle," and a rogue CIA assassin hell bent on revenge. The prize: a stolen nuclear missile train!” The premise and the cover art (by the interior artist) sold me. While I’m not a huge fan of what Brian Reed has written for Marvel it is more a matter of the characters he wrote that I don't care about and not his writing.Graveslinger #2 (of 4) – The first issue was fun, mixing undead killers and western adventure together. I have seen a lot of genres being mixed together lately in many of the independents and I think it makes for some great ideas and helps to break down certain conventions.
Strange Embrace #6 (of 8) – The book that embodies its title as the story itself embraces you and pulls you further and further into it. The way the story has been told is like the old box within a box thing and we are now at the center box.
Invincible #46 – Okay stop the presses I will say something negative about Invincible. #46 was solicited for August, not November. Back to my usual raving about this being one of the best super hero books on the market. I know and everyone else knows we only got 9/10 issues a year, so why be too aggressive in soliciting the book.
Atlantis Rising #2 (of 5) – The first issue was much better then I imagined it would be. It was really fast paced and pulled you into the story immediately. I also appreciated that issue #1 just came out a couple of weeks ago and we are already getting issue #2. A jump start for a mini-series like that is a good thing to keep interest high on the book.
Conan #46 – I’m really looking forward to the final chapter of “Born on a Battlefield” by Kurt Busiek and Greg Ruth. The story of Conan’s youth has been an enjoyable one and has stayed very true to the character and enhanced his back story all at the same time. It will be worth getting the eventual trade collecting all the chapters together.
Goon Chinatown HC – Eric Powell is giving us a 128 page epic tale of the Goon as an original hard cover. I have really become a big fan of Powell’s artwork over the last couple of years and enjoy the tongue in cheek and sarcastic humor in Goon. This book should be excellent and I’m really looking forward to it.
Invincible #46 – Okay stop the presses I will say something negative about Invincible. #46 was solicited for August, not November. Back to my usual raving about this being one of the best super hero books on the market. I know and everyone else knows we only got 9/10 issues a year, so why be too aggressive in soliciting the book.Atlantis Rising #2 (of 5) – The first issue was much better then I imagined it would be. It was really fast paced and pulled you into the story immediately. I also appreciated that issue #1 just came out a couple of weeks ago and we are already getting issue #2. A jump start for a mini-series like that is a good thing to keep interest high on the book.
Conan #46 – I’m really looking forward to the final chapter of “Born on a Battlefield” by Kurt Busiek and Greg Ruth. The story of Conan’s youth has been an enjoyable one and has stayed very true to the character and enhanced his back story all at the same time. It will be worth getting the eventual trade collecting all the chapters together.
Goon Chinatown HC – Eric Powell is giving us a 128 page epic tale of the Goon as an original hard cover. I have really become a big fan of Powell’s artwork over the last couple of years and enjoy the tongue in cheek and sarcastic humor in Goon. This book should be excellent and I’m really looking forward to it.Scream #1 (of 4) – Peter David and Bart Sears are the writer and artist, respectively. Peter David is always a draw for me to consider a book. I have not seen any Bart Sears work since his horrible work on the ill-fated and ill-conceived revival of Warlord from DC. That work was certainly not his best, so Bart is a maybe for me as a draw. What sealed me trying it out was the premise, the official hype “Danny Duncan’s life is a mess. His job is mind-numbingly boring, his elderly father is slipping into senility, and since Danny got out of the Belle Foux treament facility people have been saying he’s crazy. On top of all that, odd things have started to happen around Danny. People are behaving strangely around him, as if they’re reacting to his thoughts and daydreams . . . What is this strange phenomenon, and how is it tied to Danny’s recent stay at Belle Foux?”
Grendel Behold the Devil #1 (of 8) – Matt Wagner as writer/artist returns to his seminal creation, Hunter Rose. I have been really looking forward to this book and I have avoided reading any of the recent hard cover reprints I have picked up as I want to come at this book with a clean perspective. The biggest problem with these type of projects is living up to the hype others may have generated in talking about the original run on the book.
Umbrella Academy #3 (of 6) – Since I waited until #2 came out to try this book, I feel like #3 showed up fast. This book has a unique vibe to it. It is not a normal super hero book and it is not an X-Men type of book where students train together. Still it is an enjoyable read as it crafts its own little corner of the comic world.
Zero Killer #3 (of 6) – Matt Camp the artist on this book has a style that is reminiscent of Paul Gulacy, whose work I enjoy, so the book starts with solid artwork. As it is a post-apocalyptic world, that is a plus and the story itself by Arid Nelson has been interesting. Bottom line I’m glad I got in on this series as I’m sure it is planned to be a series of mini-series.
Drafted #3 – What I have really enjoyed about this series is that I went in thinking I knew how it was going to play out and they have not gone that route. I love it when a book takes me by surprise. Ultimately we will get to the Earth fighting the alien menace, but how we are getting there has been fun and I’m looking forward to hanging on this series for a long time.
Incursion #1 (of 4) –Platinum Studios has had some hits and misses with what I have read from them, but enough good stuff for me to try out a new #1 from them. The official hype “The story opens deep in the battlefields of Afghanistan and culminates in a war-torn dimension known as Twilight. The four-issue series combines thrilling action with rugged humor as our heroes fight to save the souls of humanity.” Going in with limited expections.
Grimm Fairy Tales #18 – Zenoscope at times frustrates me and at times surprises me. The Annual was frustrating in how misogynist it came across, Return to Wonderland has been a really solid and entertaining book while still being over the top with good girl art and gore. The core series has started to focus on Sela, who was a framing device, as opposed to the tales themselves. I’m curious to see if that will be the future direction of the book or do we go back to the fractured fairy tales.
Fall of Cthulu #8 – The best horror book on the stands. The fact that I maybe one of the few people getting it bothers me because I know there are plenty of horror fans out there. This book is chilling and gruesome on subtle and overt levels. Try out the first trade of the series if you enjoy horror tales.
Hunters Moon #4 (of 5) – This has not been the strongest mini-series out there, but it is certainly a good story of a man trying to save his son and being caught in a situation where the whole small town he is visiting is against him.
As I said this is a huge week of books. As much as I enjoy big weeks, sometimes crafting the blog in reviewing what is coming out it can be a daunting task to write up such a long list. If you add Suicide Squad (which my comic store was shorted on) you have 23 books from DC, 10 from Marvel and 17 independents. Lots of really great looking books coming out. I think the Mad Archives and Goon Hard Cover should both be gems.
Grendel Behold the Devil #1 (of 8) – Matt Wagner as writer/artist returns to his seminal creation, Hunter Rose. I have been really looking forward to this book and I have avoided reading any of the recent hard cover reprints I have picked up as I want to come at this book with a clean perspective. The biggest problem with these type of projects is living up to the hype others may have generated in talking about the original run on the book.Umbrella Academy #3 (of 6) – Since I waited until #2 came out to try this book, I feel like #3 showed up fast. This book has a unique vibe to it. It is not a normal super hero book and it is not an X-Men type of book where students train together. Still it is an enjoyable read as it crafts its own little corner of the comic world.
Zero Killer #3 (of 6) – Matt Camp the artist on this book has a style that is reminiscent of Paul Gulacy, whose work I enjoy, so the book starts with solid artwork. As it is a post-apocalyptic world, that is a plus and the story itself by Arid Nelson has been interesting. Bottom line I’m glad I got in on this series as I’m sure it is planned to be a series of mini-series.
Drafted #3 – What I have really enjoyed about this series is that I went in thinking I knew how it was going to play out and they have not gone that route. I love it when a book takes me by surprise. Ultimately we will get to the Earth fighting the alien menace, but how we are getting there has been fun and I’m looking forward to hanging on this series for a long time.
Incursion #1 (of 4) –Platinum Studios has had some hits and misses with what I have read from them, but enough good stuff for me to try out a new #1 from them. The official hype “The story opens deep in the battlefields of Afghanistan and culminates in a war-torn dimension known as Twilight. The four-issue series combines thrilling action with rugged humor as our heroes fight to save the souls of humanity.” Going in with limited expections.Grimm Fairy Tales #18 – Zenoscope at times frustrates me and at times surprises me. The Annual was frustrating in how misogynist it came across, Return to Wonderland has been a really solid and entertaining book while still being over the top with good girl art and gore. The core series has started to focus on Sela, who was a framing device, as opposed to the tales themselves. I’m curious to see if that will be the future direction of the book or do we go back to the fractured fairy tales.
Fall of Cthulu #8 – The best horror book on the stands. The fact that I maybe one of the few people getting it bothers me because I know there are plenty of horror fans out there. This book is chilling and gruesome on subtle and overt levels. Try out the first trade of the series if you enjoy horror tales.
Hunters Moon #4 (of 5) – This has not been the strongest mini-series out there, but it is certainly a good story of a man trying to save his son and being caught in a situation where the whole small town he is visiting is against him.
As I said this is a huge week of books. As much as I enjoy big weeks, sometimes crafting the blog in reviewing what is coming out it can be a daunting task to write up such a long list. If you add Suicide Squad (which my comic store was shorted on) you have 23 books from DC, 10 from Marvel and 17 independents. Lots of really great looking books coming out. I think the Mad Archives and Goon Hard Cover should both be gems.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Left on Mission #5 – A Review
The best mini-series of the year ends with this issue. Hands 
down this was the best short story produced in the comic book world in 2007. Better then James Bond, makes Bourne almost boring, ups the ante by making the spy thriller genre a great read.
Even if you have not gotten any other issues I still think you could enjoy issue #5 and if you have to skip the final issue, then do yourself a real favor and buy the trade coming out in December.
I was worried about the final issue, because so many great stories fizzle out when it comes to delivering the end. Either the writer has decided to do a cop out and take the easy way out or the writer has some decree from above to soft pedal the ending. Even worse the writer sees potential in the characters he has created and is worried about going too far with the story and messing up a future payday.
Chip Mosher (writer) holds nothing back and delivers everything you could want in an
ending to a story. The ending makes sense, is consistent with who the characters have
been portrayed as and is a firm conclusion. Have you ever read a story and can see that something has to happen because the writer has set it up so well. You know at least a part of how something is going to end. As you are reading or watching a movie you look forward to seeing how that element you know has to happen will occur and then it never does because the writer pulled some rabbit out of his hat to change everything. You feel totally cheated because the writer controls everything and never let you in on the deus ex machine so you could never see it coming. The writer may think it is clever, often I feel gypped or taken advantage of by the writer.
In Left on Mission you know that while Eric is married, that he and Emma have to sleep together and they do.
You also know that not everyone can get out alive and they don’t. A perfect ending to a perfect story. 
Now while I have continued to rave about the story. Let me also talk about the art. The pacing on this book is phenomenal and this book just further seals the deal. There is a two panel spread that is absolutely fantastic. While it is a classic great two panel picture at the same time the layout is advancing the story. So often big two panel spreads just are there as pretty action shots or just letting the artist cut loose. This does all of that and more. I have to see one of Chip’s scripts because I’m guessing that he is acting as a director while Francesco Francavilla is providing the brilliant photography.
There is plenty of room for flashback stories and there is certainly enough going on for a follow-up story also
(as no one who is alive ever has their story end), but you have a complete story with this mini-series.
Left on Mission provides international landscapes, spy games, action, romance and some decent political views. This book works as a spy story, a love story, an action movie, a travelogue and has some good intellectual underpinnings.
If you missed it, then you missed out on it.
For 2007 – No one did a better mini-series then Chip Mosher (writer) and Francesco Francavilla (artist).
down this was the best short story produced in the comic book world in 2007. Better then James Bond, makes Bourne almost boring, ups the ante by making the spy thriller genre a great read.Even if you have not gotten any other issues I still think you could enjoy issue #5 and if you have to skip the final issue, then do yourself a real favor and buy the trade coming out in December.
I was worried about the final issue, because so many great stories fizzle out when it comes to delivering the end. Either the writer has decided to do a cop out and take the easy way out or the writer has some decree from above to soft pedal the ending. Even worse the writer sees potential in the characters he has created and is worried about going too far with the story and messing up a future payday.
Chip Mosher (writer) holds nothing back and delivers everything you could want in an
ending to a story. The ending makes sense, is consistent with who the characters have
been portrayed as and is a firm conclusion. Have you ever read a story and can see that something has to happen because the writer has set it up so well. You know at least a part of how something is going to end. As you are reading or watching a movie you look forward to seeing how that element you know has to happen will occur and then it never does because the writer pulled some rabbit out of his hat to change everything. You feel totally cheated because the writer controls everything and never let you in on the deus ex machine so you could never see it coming. The writer may think it is clever, often I feel gypped or taken advantage of by the writer.In Left on Mission you know that while Eric is married, that he and Emma have to sleep together and they do.
You also know that not everyone can get out alive and they don’t. A perfect ending to a perfect story. 
Now while I have continued to rave about the story. Let me also talk about the art. The pacing on this book is phenomenal and this book just further seals the deal. There is a two panel spread that is absolutely fantastic. While it is a classic great two panel picture at the same time the layout is advancing the story. So often big two panel spreads just are there as pretty action shots or just letting the artist cut loose. This does all of that and more. I have to see one of Chip’s scripts because I’m guessing that he is acting as a director while Francesco Francavilla is providing the brilliant photography.
There is plenty of room for flashback stories and there is certainly enough going on for a follow-up story also
(as no one who is alive ever has their story end), but you have a complete story with this mini-series.Left on Mission provides international landscapes, spy games, action, romance and some decent political views. This book works as a spy story, a love story, an action movie, a travelogue and has some good intellectual underpinnings.
If you missed it, then you missed out on it.
For 2007 – No one did a better mini-series then Chip Mosher (writer) and Francesco Francavilla (artist).
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Danger's Dozen - A Review
Jim: In the last Independent review, http://comicsand.blogspot.com/2007/11/independent-preview-review-january.html , Lee and I included Danger's Dozen #2 from First Salvo. I picked it to point out I didn't think this was the best concept for a new company to start with. Apparently the publisher noticed our remarks and invited us to review the first issue. As often as possible we like to have all three of us included in a review and therefore we get our roundtable format in reviewing this book. To mix up the style of our review we will do a little back and forth and then try and summarize our feelings at the end.
Lee: First, let’s start with a plot summary.
The Preview blurb states:
Boss Aman, mysterious man of action. Following WW2, this former RAF pilot was ready for his next mission – the defense of the earth against new dangers created in the wake of a terrible tsunami which broke the boundaries of reality! Aman’s surviving 11-man crew of handpicked, ex-military men and women – including a former Australian air ace, a US Army Corps of Engineers genius and an earth elemental –carry out their mission, test-piloting the incredible new technologies, exploring new accessible dimensions, employing the incredible energies now available to earth! This Danger’s Dozen, led by Boss Aman, mad adventurers of the extreme who have survived each mission, must not fail in their duties. Will they? Better call the Dozen!
My only problem with this blurb, besides some really atrocious grammar, is the fact that it contains more information about the story than I was able to get from the actual story itself. The book opens in September 1945 in Italy as our hero, Boss Aman, tries to capture an Italian war criminal called Immortalian. In the middle of the battle, the blazing eyeball, Wadjet, gives Aman a vision of a galactic catastrophe that is destroying worlds. Aman recovers from the vision just in time to help defeat Immortalian. He then travels home to warn the newly founded UN about the impending galactic storm. The UN doesn’t believe him but one of the British delegates introduces him to a delegate from Magnolia, a newly formed country. Apparently Magnolia has advanced technology and wants to help Aman assemble a team to attempt to stop the galactic thingee that’s coming. He is then sent to a secret British intelligence agency that tells him he needs to get help from an American with superpowers called Ex. Aman goes to Ex’s castle, gets his help and the two of them fly off to get another member of the future team that will be needed to stop the mysterious galactic whizzeee.
There’s also a backup story by Mike Baron and Gabe Eltaeb which I assume is about an adventure Aman had prior to the current storyline.
So, that’s the story in a nut shell. On with the reviews.
==============================================
Jim: I have been told that it is best to always say something positive first so I will state that
Norm Breyfogle's artwork still looks great. Hard to believe that the guy who used to be a premier Batman artist and was the driving force for a character called "Prime" from the short lived Malibu comics is working for what is a small press publisher. Norm's work still has his very unique style which has a really clean lines and dynamic super hero action.
As for the story, I feel like I jumped into the middle of a very complex storyline and had no clue where I was going. After the opening confusion we jump from scene to scene and I never quite grasp what the heck is going on, what is the premise of the book and who the heck all of these people.
Lee: I couldn't agree more about the art. It is obvious that Breyfogle is still at the top of his game. The quiet moments flowed smoothly and the action sequences had lots of zing. There
were some ridiculously melodramatic moments and pointless nudity but I blame them on the writers and not Norm.
The story and plot are a different matter. It's obvious the writers have a grand plan in mind but the execution doesn't quite pull it off. There seemed to be too much going on in too little space to give the ideas any form of justice.
I didn't understand the flaming floating eyeball. It's supposed to be something that is powerful and can do things. Trust me, it took two reads of the book to figure that out. AND, to really make it a random thing, no one could see it. So, in every panel with the main character there was a flaming eyeball that typically wasn't doing anything but floating and flaming. It was more distracting than anything else.
Another thing that bothered me was the name of the characters. I understand that I read comic books and there are all sorts of silly names out there, but the characters name has to be at some minimal level cool. Calling the flaming eyeball a "wadjet" is strange. I assume "wadjet" is some mystical myth mumbo jumbo from some religion but I sure don't know it. And, I'm really not going to look it up either which means "wadjet" is just silly. And, having a nation that supposedly has super advanced technology named "Magnolia" is a bad decision too. Once again, I understand silly names but Wakanda sounds a lot cooler than Magnolia.
Gwen: I have to agree with the general consensus about the art here. As much as it was a bit cartoony for my taste, it was still very well done. The one thing I really enjoyed were the expressions, they were excellent. Honestly I could amuse myself for hours just looking at the expressions on various characters' faces in this book.
The plot... well, quite honestly I had a difficult time following the story. First we're in the middle of Aman's battle with a character that merits a summary at the beginning of the book - and yet seems to have no actual bearing on the story so far at all. There's a floating eye that's supposedly spiffy and powerful but all it does is bench the main character in the middle of some seemingly important battle. Then there's no more battling, but instead we go nation hopping to try to save the world from a cosmic storm. Or something... I'm still a bit confused. I mean, I understand streamlining a story, but this was too fast paced and on top of it you're literally in the middle of a story with little to no starting background. I have to say that one of the advantages of picking up the first issue of a book is usually some sort of knowledge of what the
heck is going on. I feel that this story tried to start up too fast.
I'm also confused by Aman's pointy ears. It's like he's some sort of half-elf. Still, they make him sexier I suppose. Then again, anything is more attractive than the naked General and his random harem of hookers. *sigh* Honestly I have to say that there's not much here to endear a female reader so far. Except the art, the art rocks.
Oh yeah, and this picture here? The look on Aman's face says, "Oh my God, that man must have every STD know to humanity!"
Lee: I have to disagree with you Gwen about Breyfogle’s art being cartoony. I think that particular word doesn’t do his art justice. When I think cartoony, I think Bruce Timm Justice League, Animated Batman, or even Skottie Young’s work on New Warriors from a couple of years ago. Cartoony to me has a more exaggerated style with disproportionate figures and a simpler overall design. That isn’t Breyfogle at all. I would describe his work as angular or even linear but not cartoony. The figures are correct and there’s really a high level of detail. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not George Perez crazy detail, but there’s a lot there. And, as you pointed out, the expressive nature of the characters is amazing.
Back to the story, after multiple reads I understand where the story is going now. It’s Lee
Marvin’s Dirty Dozen with superheroes. But, boy oh boy was that an effort to figure out. If that’s the premise then there might be something here as long as the execution can pull it off. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. The writers try to leave enough mysterious hints like “the mysterious events at Lake Moder” and the nation of Magnolia but they fall flat because of general confusion within the story itself. There are too many questions that I have no answer for. For example: (1) Why is there a burning eye floating around? (2) What are his powers? (3) What are the crazy eye’s powers? (4) Why does he have pointy ears? And the list goes on.
The problem becomes there are too many questions and not enough answers to make me interested in finding out. And the backup story was pointless because I wasn’t sure what was going on or why it was relevant. There wasn’t a date listed so I really had no clue when that aspect of the story was supposed to take place which made it even more pointless. It was well executed but pointless.
Gwen: I agree with Lee about the backup story. It wasn't as confusing as the rest of the book, but there didn't seem much of a point in having it at all.
As for the art, I still do think it's somewhat cartoony, but the more I look at it the more I enjoy it. It is still somewhat exaggerated, and I think the little bit that turns me off is how he draws women. That may not be the artists fault though, so I'll withhold judgment there.
After reading our comments on this book so far I wondered if we were being fair about this book. I know that it's easy to get hyped up about something and it was certainty easy to tear this story apart. So I went back and read it again, just to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I wasn't. I feel justified in my criticism at this juncture. I feel that there's always hope for a story to improve, and maybe this one will. However, it may not make much of a difference. In the world of comic books if you don't have an already popular character you really have to make the first issue count. Without that good first impression it will be very difficult to build a readership. If I hadn't been asked to review this book I wouldn't have read past the 'cosmic storm' riff.
Also, being 25 I have no idea what Lee Marvin's Dirty Dozen is (or at least I didn't until Lee mentioned it). So really, if that's what the average comic reader is supposed to know going into it, I'm not sure how many will care.
Jim: I give Lee and Gwen credit as they tried to work out the plot. I flat out gave up. It was almost an incoherent babble to me. I follow a lot of comic books (well over 100 different titles) and can pick up on almost any storyline even if I come in on the middle of the entire storyline, but this was unreadable.
The Conclusion:
Jim: Overall a D. I enjoy Norm’s work, but no matter how you cut it there has to be a coherent story in anything I read and here there wasn’t one. I want to like small press books and it seems like there are some good ideas here but it was like an excited child trying to tell you what happened and they blurt out bits and pieces and you have to slow them down to understand what they are saying.
Well we may have made Thad regret asking us to review this, but we feel that honesty is the best way to go with a review. Still I think if the ideas are re-worked and maybe a co-writer and editor a brought in, it could be built into a fun series.
Lee: Overall, a C-. If you are a Norm Breyfogle nut then go out and get this because the art is really nice but I can’t recommend the book because of the story. I think there are some good ideas here but the writers need to slow down and flesh them out a little better.
Gwen: D. The plot seems to be somewhere in there, but it took to much time and effort to get a glimmer of it. Maybe they need to take a step back and look at a better method of pacing and decide how to improve the execution of this project. If you're going to go for the weird, trippy drug induced style of writing you may want to use Seaguy as a point of reference. At least in Seaguy the floating companion made more sense - well, kinda. It's okay to be strange and random but there has to be a coherent time line of events.
Lee: First, let’s start with a plot summary.
The Preview blurb states:
Boss Aman, mysterious man of action. Following WW2, this former RAF pilot was ready for his next mission – the defense of the earth against new dangers created in the wake of a terrible tsunami which broke the boundaries of reality! Aman’s surviving 11-man crew of handpicked, ex-military men and women – including a former Australian air ace, a US Army Corps of Engineers genius and an earth elemental –carry out their mission, test-piloting the incredible new technologies, exploring new accessible dimensions, employing the incredible energies now available to earth! This Danger’s Dozen, led by Boss Aman, mad adventurers of the extreme who have survived each mission, must not fail in their duties. Will they? Better call the Dozen!My only problem with this blurb, besides some really atrocious grammar, is the fact that it contains more information about the story than I was able to get from the actual story itself. The book opens in September 1945 in Italy as our hero, Boss Aman, tries to capture an Italian war criminal called Immortalian. In the middle of the battle, the blazing eyeball, Wadjet, gives Aman a vision of a galactic catastrophe that is destroying worlds. Aman recovers from the vision just in time to help defeat Immortalian. He then travels home to warn the newly founded UN about the impending galactic storm. The UN doesn’t believe him but one of the British delegates introduces him to a delegate from Magnolia, a newly formed country. Apparently Magnolia has advanced technology and wants to help Aman assemble a team to attempt to stop the galactic thingee that’s coming. He is then sent to a secret British intelligence agency that tells him he needs to get help from an American with superpowers called Ex. Aman goes to Ex’s castle, gets his help and the two of them fly off to get another member of the future team that will be needed to stop the mysterious galactic whizzeee.
There’s also a backup story by Mike Baron and Gabe Eltaeb which I assume is about an adventure Aman had prior to the current storyline.
So, that’s the story in a nut shell. On with the reviews.
==============================================
Jim: I have been told that it is best to always say something positive first so I will state that
Norm Breyfogle's artwork still looks great. Hard to believe that the guy who used to be a premier Batman artist and was the driving force for a character called "Prime" from the short lived Malibu comics is working for what is a small press publisher. Norm's work still has his very unique style which has a really clean lines and dynamic super hero action.As for the story, I feel like I jumped into the middle of a very complex storyline and had no clue where I was going. After the opening confusion we jump from scene to scene and I never quite grasp what the heck is going on, what is the premise of the book and who the heck all of these people.
Lee: I couldn't agree more about the art. It is obvious that Breyfogle is still at the top of his game. The quiet moments flowed smoothly and the action sequences had lots of zing. There
were some ridiculously melodramatic moments and pointless nudity but I blame them on the writers and not Norm.The story and plot are a different matter. It's obvious the writers have a grand plan in mind but the execution doesn't quite pull it off. There seemed to be too much going on in too little space to give the ideas any form of justice.
I didn't understand the flaming floating eyeball. It's supposed to be something that is powerful and can do things. Trust me, it took two reads of the book to figure that out. AND, to really make it a random thing, no one could see it. So, in every panel with the main character there was a flaming eyeball that typically wasn't doing anything but floating and flaming. It was more distracting than anything else.
Another thing that bothered me was the name of the characters. I understand that I read comic books and there are all sorts of silly names out there, but the characters name has to be at some minimal level cool. Calling the flaming eyeball a "wadjet" is strange. I assume "wadjet" is some mystical myth mumbo jumbo from some religion but I sure don't know it. And, I'm really not going to look it up either which means "wadjet" is just silly. And, having a nation that supposedly has super advanced technology named "Magnolia" is a bad decision too. Once again, I understand silly names but Wakanda sounds a lot cooler than Magnolia.
Gwen: I have to agree with the general consensus about the art here. As much as it was a bit cartoony for my taste, it was still very well done. The one thing I really enjoyed were the expressions, they were excellent. Honestly I could amuse myself for hours just looking at the expressions on various characters' faces in this book.The plot... well, quite honestly I had a difficult time following the story. First we're in the middle of Aman's battle with a character that merits a summary at the beginning of the book - and yet seems to have no actual bearing on the story so far at all. There's a floating eye that's supposedly spiffy and powerful but all it does is bench the main character in the middle of some seemingly important battle. Then there's no more battling, but instead we go nation hopping to try to save the world from a cosmic storm. Or something... I'm still a bit confused. I mean, I understand streamlining a story, but this was too fast paced and on top of it you're literally in the middle of a story with little to no starting background. I have to say that one of the advantages of picking up the first issue of a book is usually some sort of knowledge of what the
heck is going on. I feel that this story tried to start up too fast.I'm also confused by Aman's pointy ears. It's like he's some sort of half-elf. Still, they make him sexier I suppose. Then again, anything is more attractive than the naked General and his random harem of hookers. *sigh* Honestly I have to say that there's not much here to endear a female reader so far. Except the art, the art rocks.
Oh yeah, and this picture here? The look on Aman's face says, "Oh my God, that man must have every STD know to humanity!"
Lee: I have to disagree with you Gwen about Breyfogle’s art being cartoony. I think that particular word doesn’t do his art justice. When I think cartoony, I think Bruce Timm Justice League, Animated Batman, or even Skottie Young’s work on New Warriors from a couple of years ago. Cartoony to me has a more exaggerated style with disproportionate figures and a simpler overall design. That isn’t Breyfogle at all. I would describe his work as angular or even linear but not cartoony. The figures are correct and there’s really a high level of detail. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not George Perez crazy detail, but there’s a lot there. And, as you pointed out, the expressive nature of the characters is amazing.
Back to the story, after multiple reads I understand where the story is going now. It’s Lee
Marvin’s Dirty Dozen with superheroes. But, boy oh boy was that an effort to figure out. If that’s the premise then there might be something here as long as the execution can pull it off. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. The writers try to leave enough mysterious hints like “the mysterious events at Lake Moder” and the nation of Magnolia but they fall flat because of general confusion within the story itself. There are too many questions that I have no answer for. For example: (1) Why is there a burning eye floating around? (2) What are his powers? (3) What are the crazy eye’s powers? (4) Why does he have pointy ears? And the list goes on.The problem becomes there are too many questions and not enough answers to make me interested in finding out. And the backup story was pointless because I wasn’t sure what was going on or why it was relevant. There wasn’t a date listed so I really had no clue when that aspect of the story was supposed to take place which made it even more pointless. It was well executed but pointless.
Gwen: I agree with Lee about the backup story. It wasn't as confusing as the rest of the book, but there didn't seem much of a point in having it at all.
As for the art, I still do think it's somewhat cartoony, but the more I look at it the more I enjoy it. It is still somewhat exaggerated, and I think the little bit that turns me off is how he draws women. That may not be the artists fault though, so I'll withhold judgment there.
After reading our comments on this book so far I wondered if we were being fair about this book. I know that it's easy to get hyped up about something and it was certainty easy to tear this story apart. So I went back and read it again, just to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I wasn't. I feel justified in my criticism at this juncture. I feel that there's always hope for a story to improve, and maybe this one will. However, it may not make much of a difference. In the world of comic books if you don't have an already popular character you really have to make the first issue count. Without that good first impression it will be very difficult to build a readership. If I hadn't been asked to review this book I wouldn't have read past the 'cosmic storm' riff.
Also, being 25 I have no idea what Lee Marvin's Dirty Dozen is (or at least I didn't until Lee mentioned it). So really, if that's what the average comic reader is supposed to know going into it, I'm not sure how many will care.
Jim: I give Lee and Gwen credit as they tried to work out the plot. I flat out gave up. It was almost an incoherent babble to me. I follow a lot of comic books (well over 100 different titles) and can pick up on almost any storyline even if I come in on the middle of the entire storyline, but this was unreadable.
The Conclusion:
Jim: Overall a D. I enjoy Norm’s work, but no matter how you cut it there has to be a coherent story in anything I read and here there wasn’t one. I want to like small press books and it seems like there are some good ideas here but it was like an excited child trying to tell you what happened and they blurt out bits and pieces and you have to slow them down to understand what they are saying.
Well we may have made Thad regret asking us to review this, but we feel that honesty is the best way to go with a review. Still I think if the ideas are re-worked and maybe a co-writer and editor a brought in, it could be built into a fun series.
Lee: Overall, a C-. If you are a Norm Breyfogle nut then go out and get this because the art is really nice but I can’t recommend the book because of the story. I think there are some good ideas here but the writers need to slow down and flesh them out a little better.
Gwen: D. The plot seems to be somewhere in there, but it took to much time and effort to get a glimmer of it. Maybe they need to take a step back and look at a better method of pacing and decide how to improve the execution of this project. If you're going to go for the weird, trippy drug induced style of writing you may want to use Seaguy as a point of reference. At least in Seaguy the floating companion made more sense - well, kinda. It's okay to be strange and random but there has to be a coherent time line of events.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Redwall: A Brief Review
Sometimes books are just meant for their original medium. That’s not to say that some stories can’t jump from one method of story telling to the next – I just think that adapting a novel to a small graphic novel is many times the equivalent of making A Princess of Mars into a viable movie (i.e. very difficult to pull off).
Redwall is no exception to this. While I enjoyed reading this little book I felt that there were large gaps in both the story and the heroic adventure. I’ve never read the novels but having heard such great things about them from friends I’m going to give Brain Jacques the benefit of the doubt. The story is coherent enough, there just seems to be something missing – mostly the time it takes to build up characters you can more easily empathize with. Most of the characters, including the main one, seemed two-dimensional to me.
The art is alright I suppose. I think they put too much stock in wanting the mice to have human expressions (as many times they really don’t look like mice at all). The villains were very well done though, and if you like that newspaper comic strip type feel the art is adequate. I just felt that it didn’t help the story much; they should have probably gone with something simpler.
I really like the character of Warbeak (I like him better than Matthias, the main character). The sparrow language was highly entertaining and I enjoyed the character interaction between Warbeak, his mother and Matthias.
Overall I feel this graphic novel does not stand well on its own. Perhaps someone who has read the novel it was based on would get more out if it. In the end this is a simplistic kind of children’s book whereas I have the feeling that the novel was geared towards a wider audience. Sometimes these adaptations just don’t work out. Perhaps it will be enough to encourage people to go out and read Jacques’ books and then it will have served some sort of purpose. I think we should just illustrate some novels in the Frank Frazetta/Princess of Mars style and stop attempting to cram and entire novel into one small comic book (Anita Blake, Last of the Mohicans, etc).
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