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AICN COMICS REVIEWS 7 SOLDIERS FRANKENSTEIN! PUNISHER VS BULLSEYE! WALKING DEAD! AND MORE!!!
#27 | 11/23/05 | align=right> #4 |
(Click title to go directly to the review)
7 SOLDIERS: FRANKENSTEIN #1
PUNISHER VS BULLSEYE #1
THE WALKING DEAD #24
7 SOLDIERS: ZATANNA #4
Indie Jones presents…
CHEAP SHOTS!
SEVEN SOLDIERS: FRANKENSTEIN #1
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Doug Mahnke
Publisher: DC Comics
Reviewer: Prof. Challenger
"Tell them...Frankenstein lives!"
-- Frankenstein
Ok. Let's look at the cover first ~ our first look at DC's new "Frankenstein" character. He's huge, muscular; kind of green-ish with the classic monster flathead, scars, and even has bolts sticking out of his head. But he also has holes (bullet holes maybe?) all over his body that moonlight is shining through. He's also dressed in such a way that bespeaks a history of adventure that has yet to be told. He's wearing a French military tunic from the era of Napoleon and American cowboy boots with spurs, and a tattered trench coat. In his hand he holds a Jules Verne-esque steam-powered pistol and he is being swarmed by unholy creatures that look like a human/maggot hybrid. The character design by Doug Mahnke is so interesting that it is searing my artistic drive to put pen to paper and draw that monster myself. There's something intriguing when a character is dressed in the tatters of a uniform that implies an adventurous history prior to the reader is introduced to the character. Think of Jonah Hex and how part of the visual appeal, beyond the horrible scar ring on his face, is the fact that this deadly gunslinger/bounty hunter is dressed in a ragged rebel Civil War uniform. At a glance, the reader is treated to a taste of an intriguing history to the character that may or may not ever be fully told. Similarly, the costuming choices for Frankenstein establish his tumultuous and globe-spanning longevity at a glance.
This ain't the SPAWN OF FRANKENSTEIN that appeared in the 70s as a backup feature for the PHANTOM STRANGER comic book. This is a ballsy "in your face" reinterpretation of the original Frankenstein creature. Morrison even opts to eschew the usual pedantic author's conceit of stressing for the reader that "Frankenstein" is the name of the CREATOR of the monster and not the monster itself. Nope. Morrison just lets the creature be Frankenstein and it seems a fitting choice as a piece of the overwhelmingly audience-pleasing SEVEN SOLDERS puzzle. After all, if you ask most people here in the West who Frankenstein is, they'll tell you he's that big, green, flat-headed monster with bolts in his neck.
Anyone else out there who vaguely remembers that SPAWN OF FRANKENSTEIN series in the '70s will also remember that the creature had that noseless green-tinted corpse look with stringy long brown hair, and ran around shirtless with tattered pants. He was also lankier than anything and few in the way of scars. In his short story-life, he was resurrected by a modern '70s analog to Frankenstein named Victor Adams. Don't remember much more than that. Later on, Roy Thomas introduced the creature into his YOUNG ALL-STARS comic where the creature was discovered alive in the arctic. He was tall, grayish, with long black hair. This was during the time period where Roy seemed to be making an earnest effort to introduce all public-domain literary characters into his 40s era stories. I'm sure that, given enough time, Roy would've introduced Mowgli, the Scarlet Pimpernel, and Anne of Green Gables into DC continuity, but I digress...
Neither of these versions of the creature ever seemed to have much concern for nor impact upon continuity and have been largely forgotten. There's a good reason for that: unoriginality. The SPAWN OF FRANKENSTEIN was simply an attempt to replicate the original Shelley FRANKENSTEIN story but set it in "modern" day and the Roy Thomas attempt was simply taking Shelley's character and slavishly depicting him as he was described in the original novel. Morrison kicks all these other versions out the window and provides the 21st century with a powerful creature who is a spiritual agent of wrath ~ presumably for God Himself. He wields a steam-powered pistol and a sword that for all appearances looks to be the sword of the Archangel Michael. He is also poetically literate, more in line with his original depiction by Shelley, and this adds to his appeal as a wrathful, murderous monster with a literary bent fighting on the side of the angels.
There is an intensity to the storytelling; an uneasiness. There is an atmosphere of visceral horror in the best tradition of true horror comics like the classic original SWAMP THING and MAN-THING series. Where else in a mainstream comic book are you going to find the hero of the book ram a sword through the back of the neck of a teenaged boy, regardless of the fact that the boy is possessed of evil? Even on BUFFY: THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, they tended to avoid the graphic killing of underage students by the Scoobies. The artwork has a real European look to it; very detailed but not overly polished. For me, the colorist, John Kalisz, contributed a lot to the atmosphere. Where I had seen some black and white preview art, I was a bit under whelmed, but once I saw the finished product with the line work and the color together, I was impressed.
The writing was very good. It's not overly verbose, like, say TOMB OF DRACULA, but instead is driven by the visuals. The prologue sets up Frankenstein's connection to the SEVEN SOLDIERS mythology by presenting a final battle in 1870 between Frankenstein and the villainous Melmoth, last seen in the KLARION mini-series. The battle ended with a train crash (which I must confess to a bit of confusion about the one page that appeared to show the train crash popping in and out of time over the course of 130 years or so ~ I don't know if the page was missing some captions or what). Bottom line is that the train crashed, trapping Frankenstein inside, while the next century saw a town built over the site. Now, the creepy maggot soul-suckers that were on that train with Frankenstein have parasitically latched onto a bunch of teenagers because of the villainous teen known as Uglyhead. Uglyhead is what every comic book geek fears he looks like to the rest of the world. He's short, fat, ugly, and sweaty, with glasses and acne. He also can read everyone's thought balloons which leads him to a CARRIE-style showdown at the school dance. However, when he comes face to face with Frankenstein, who claws his way up out of the ground to confront him and his maggots, Uglyhead only sees the image of a skull in Frankenstein's thought balloon. Death is all that occupies his thoughts.
Morrison is quite clever with the idea that Uglyhead reads everyone's thought balloons rather than just their "thoughts." He's also clever with the symbolic presence of butterfly imagery throughout the story. I'm sure there's maybe some more literal meaning behind it, but for me, the symbolism seemed evocative of the teenagers' transition from adolescent to young adult and, perhaps, the rebirth of the evil of the Sheeda, but also Frankenstein's emergence from the ground where he tore out like a butterfly from his cocoon. Drawn to the surface by the stench of evil, Frankenstein has been given a new life and a new mission. And....one final note of enjoyment, the teenaged girl who first encounters Frankenstein almost immediately tries to join him in his mission as "Girl Frankenstein." That was a funny bit in an otherwise deadly serious story and it seemed appropriate in this Morrison corner of the DC Universe for her to do that. Thankfully, Frankenstein turned down her generous offer.
PUNISHER VS. BULLSEYE #1
Writer: Daniel Way
Artist: Steve Dillon
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Reviewer: Sleazy G
Daniel Way seems like he’s got a lot of potential. I’m liking his NIGHTHAWK miniseries set in the SUPREME POWER corner of the M.U. (also with Dillon), and he did a pretty solid job with the tragically HOUSE OF M-related WOLVERINE issues so I’m interested in seeing where he takes that title next. Steve Dillon, of course, has been around for quite a while now. Some people don’t like the boxiness of his characters’ faces or how manly most of the women look, but he’s definitely got a lot of style and handles graphic violence like nobody’s business (take, for example, his patented “dude getting his lower jaw shot off” work—nuthin’ like it). That’s why I was really looking forward to this series.
I’ve never hidden how little I enjoyed Garth Ennis’ first two rides around the block with Frank Castle, since he handled the whole thing like a joke and indulged himself in his most immature impulses. I’ve also made it quite clear just how impressed with the complete turnaround Ennis has made on the relaunched MAX PUNISHER, a book that handles the subject matter far more seriously and to far greater effect. Unfortunately, this first issue is much more akin to the first two considerably weaker Ennis attempts. Don’t get me wrong—not every Punisher story needs to be a dismal bummer. There’s room for a more direct action romp now and again, and seeing the two titular characters play off one another should allow for a lot of fun. No, the problem I have here is that once again we have the kind of juvenile character that detracted from the three or four years of PUNISHER pre-MAX. I just didn’t need to see yet another jab at mob guys who cross-dress, and how them wearing panties makes them a pussy, and all the rest. Not only is a mob boss doing this for a coupla decades in secret utterly unbelievable, it’s also a cheap, pointless way to “develop” a character—oh, he wears a dress! Ha ha! Which leads to the next point, and the most unforgivable one: it’s just not funny. I mean, it wasn’t funny when The Russian was an unstoppable killing oaf who wanted boobies and a skirt, and it’s not getting any funnier.
Don’t get me wrong, the series has some potential nonetheless. Way’s dialogue is pretty solid, and having Bullseye off a guy by dropping a quarter off the Empire State Building was inspired. Dillon’s art is as good as ever, and I’m not surprised that he’s a good fit for Way’s writing considering the similarities to his old running buddy Ennis. It’s just that there’s a major element of the story that was so jarringly out-of-place that it left a bad taste in my mouth through the rest of the issue. I keep hoping that at some point this type of snickering drunken frat-boy attempt at “humor” will be given the boot by editorial at Marvel, and I keep getting disappointed. I’ll give the next issue another shot because I think Way’s got some chops and the two characters should generate some sparks when they clash, but I was definitely let down here.
THE WALKING DEAD #24
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Art: Charlie Adlard
Publisher: Image
Reviewer: Ambush Bug
If Robert Kirkman is trying to convey the utter boredom and frustration the cast of THE WALKING DEAD suffer from on a day to day basis in a world where the only thing that dies and stays dead are civilization and humanity, then he’s doing a bang up job. Entertainment-wise, though, not so much.
For the better part of four issues, we’ve been force-fed the zombified version of AS THE WORLD TURNS. Stuck in a safe haven/penitentiary, the survivors of the zombie holocaust attempt to formulate a society. Tensions arise involving laws, morality, loyalty, and the division of power. Like many zombie movies, THE WALKING DEAD serves as the perfect mirror of our own humanity stripped raw. It forces one to face their ultimate fear — the fear of death itself. For the first twenty some issues, Kirkman did a great job of mapping out the danger and introducing us to a cast of characters that spark investment from the reader almost immediately. Recently though, the problem is that the plot has screeched to a grinding halt.
After the intensity of the first twenty some issues filled with zombies around every corner, death of major characters, and tough decisions made by others, the last few issues have focused more on the moral aspects of the survivors’ current situation. This makes for some powerful reading – the type of powerful reading that has permeated this book since issue one, but those first twenty had something these last four issues don’t – the presence of said danger. Namely, the zombie menace.
Kirkman sprinkled the horror with the human stuff pretty evenly for the most part of this series. Characters had to push aside morals and beliefs to adjust to this new chaotic world, but there was evidence of this threat in every issue. There were zombie attacks, major characters died and rose again, and conflicts forced characters to go off on their own. There was a true sense of horror in this book. The last few issues have forgotten all of that and focused on the horror of man itself, not the zombies.
I get what Kirkman is doing. He mapped it out plain as day in the ten page discourse by the main character Rick as he addresses the rest of the survivors. I understand that these past issues have established that the true horror is man himself and that the zombies aren’t the real walking dead, it’s the survivors. The thing is, we already know this. This has been a theme present since issue one. We don’t need the main character to stare at the reader in a double splash page screaming “WE ARE THE WALKING DEAD!” We know this. That dead horse has been beaten flat, risen from the grave, and then run over with a steam roller. No need to cram it down our throats for ten solid pages of dialog ending in a double splash page and finally a single splash. This is the type of literal, obvious, space-wasting storytelling that I would expect from any number of lesser writers, but given the caliber of storytelling that has been present from issue one of this series, I expected better from Kirkman.
As much as I appreciate this slow-build storytelling (I’m fairly certain the payoff will be worth it), I have to say that the last few issues have been the worst in this otherwise stellar series. The literality of the storytelling, the pacing, the ham-fisted melodrama – it’s just too much. The beauty of George Romero’s DEAD films touching on these same themes is that in between the study of the human condition, we got to see some zombies tearing people apart. We got scares and thrills and entertainment. Somewhere along the way, Kirkman seems to have forgotten this, or at least he’s taking way too long a pause in between.
One last maddening aspect of this book is the fact that at the end of the book we get seven full pages of fan letters. I understand fan appreciation. Kirkman seems like one of those good guys who truly loves his fans, but do we really have to read every letter the guy gets in the mail? Hell, I think I saw his electric bill printed on one of those pages. I fucking hate hippies as much as the next guy, but when the letters page takes up almost ten pages, even I have to start thinking about those poor trees that lost their lives to make those extra pages.
We’re often hardest on the ones we love and I do love this book. I’ve followed Rick and Co. through thick and thin, and still will, but Kirkman needs to pick up the pace soon. This zombie-crawl, spelled-out, daytime-soap storytelling in THE WALKING DEAD has got to go.
SEVEN SOLDIERS: ZATANNA #4
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Ryan Sook (pencils), Mick Gray (inks)
Publisher: DC Comics
Reviewer: Prof. Challenger
"The book of water is a kind heart. The book of Earth is a graceful body. The book of air, a keen mind. The book of fire is strength of spirit. Do you understand? I wrote my books in you, Zatanna. You were my greatest spell, my gift to the world."
-- Zatara
I really dug this mini-series. I'm a huge fan of Morrison's SEVEN SOLDIERS just in concept. I thought the SEVEN SOLDIERS kick-off special was outstanding. As to the first batch of related mini-series, I thought GUARDIAN and SHINING KNIGHT were good but not good enough for me to stick with for the whole 4 issues. I had no interest in KLARION (just a general and personal ho-hum about anything even half-way "goth"-oriented), so I avoided it. But, ZATANNA hooked me in issue one and kept me through to the end.
I'm not 100% sure about everything that happened, but Morrison kept the whole convolution intriguing. Doesn't hurt that Zatanna's running around this issue in a full-body fishnet that leaves little to the imagination. Drawing together elements from the other SEVEN SOLDIERS stories told so far, Zatanna and her gloomy little sidekick, Misty, take off on Sir Justin's (SHINING KNIGHT) winged horse to visit the swamp from the SEVEN SOLDIERS SPECIAL #0. Here she faces her worst nightmare in Zor, a twisted and demonic living effigy of her father Zatara. The sadistic creep uses his magic against Zatanna, even warping reality so that she becomes Zorina, his wicked little daughter. In a brilliant move, Morrison has the evil Zorina do just what she would do to cause trouble for her disgusting "father," she immediately speaks a spell to restore Zatanna in her place. Where some lesser writer would've taken Zorina for a spin, probably in her own mini-series, Morrison pulls this whole stunt off in one page. One page. Storytelling economy at its best and most effective.
Following that, the all-out magical battle between Zatanna and Zor is just mind-boggling. Morrison seems to really understand that if magic were "real," what a powerful force it would be to wield. Imagine the ability to bypass the laws of nature and reality and to bend them to your will. It would be a wonder that the universe could keep from falling apart. Thankfully, in Morrion's corner of the DC Universe, there are individuals like Zatanna with such depth and strength of character that they can resist the temptation of godhood and commit their lives to preventing those of lesser character from destroying everything.
Morrison also moves the SEVEN SOLDIERS story along as Zatanna comes face-to-face with the "Seven Unknown Men." At this point, evocative of THE MATRIX to some extent, these 7 bald-headed clones in suits and ties appear to be outside of our dimension, but in some way controlling certain events in our world. Morrison also provides Zatanna with closure that she's never had before by allowing her to talk with her father, Zatara, one last time. In her quest for the lost Books of Zatara, she neglected to look in the mirror. Zatara hid his magic in Zatanna and made her his last blessing to the world. So, by the end of this comic, Zatanna has found her confidence, her purpose, and she is extraordinarily powerful. And in the final panel, Misty comes flying back on the scene to whisk Zatanna away for the upcoming adventure in SEVEN SOLDIERS SPECIAL #1.
Now, one of the things that just really pissed me off about IDENTITY CRISIS was simply the wholesale gutting of Zatanna's characterization by Brad Meltzer. What pissed me off about it was that he disregarded any semblance of how Zatanna had previously been portrayed just to further his idiotic brain-wiping idea. Meltzer's pervasive misogyny seemed to require that Zatanna be portrayed as a weak-willed little girl who could be bullied by a bunch of angry men into raping people's minds. What pissed me off about that was simply that the whole idiotic brain-wiping story did not require the character violations that he performed ~ see how Geoff Johns has told similar stories to see how it can be accomplished without rewriting characterizations. In fact, it was one of the things that so angered me that I packaged up those first two issues of IDENTITY CRISIS and shipped 'em back to Paul Levitz and demanded my money back.
Thankfully, Morrison has basically kicked Meltzer in the nuts by how strong a character he has made Zatanna by the end of this series. I am enthused by where she stands now as a confident, strong-willed character that just happens to like dressing up and being on stage. Here's hoping this mini-series will springboard into another Zatanna series with this level of quality.
GIANT MONSTER #2
BOOM! Studios
This issue surprised me in a number of ways. First and foremost, Nat Jones’ depictions of mayhem and violence are jaw-droppingly good. This is a true up-and-coming artist whose scratchy detailings give the entire read a sense of rawness. Jones’ Giant Monster is all teeth and muscles and if Marvel doesn’t nab up this guy to draw the Hulk someday, they’re a bunch of idiots. The second thing that surprised me was the fact that the FINI at the end of this book looks to mark the last issue for this miniseries. I say this because Steve Niles’ story just sort of ends. With all of the hardcore violence and drama which leads up to the last page of this issue, I was left with that “what-the-fuh?” feeling as the story doesn’t so much as come to a resolution as much as it just stops. This is the same sense of befuddlement that I felt at the end of Niles’ LONELY TOMBSTONE one shot. A few more pages of resolution may have been nice, but I guess with the events that occur in this issue, there really wasn’t many left kicking to take part in said resolution. The shock value deaths that occur in this issue seemed to have painted Niles into a literary corner, leaving him with no one to tie any sort of ending to. I guess this is the writer’s fault for not writing this story with any character that the reader can relate to or sympathize with. Aside from the structural flaws of the story, I did have a hell of a good time reading this story due to some well placed cool moments. Seeing a giant Nazi robot swoop in to save the day in this issue, witnessing the Giant Monster take on a gaggle of great white sharks in the last issue, the scene between the Giant Monster and his estranged wife – these were the moments that make this two-part series worth picking up. - Ambush Bug
PARIAH
Written by: Orlando Harding
Art by: David Miller
Published by: Revolution Comics
Reviewer: superhero
When I got this book in the mail and opened the package I honestly didn’t know what to think.
I mean, just look at the cover image. If that isn’t a set up to get some kind of reaction then I don’t know what is. Honestly, I was afraid that what someone had sent me was comic book espousing some sort of religious extremist viewpoint.
Turns out, strangely enough, that the religious aspect of the book wasn’t what I should have been concerned about at all. What I should have been concerned with was getting a coherent story…something I definitely didn’t get in this book.
PARIAH opens up with some very compelling storytelling. In the first few pages the victim of an apparent accident is being rushed to the hospital via ambulance. The victim’s legs and left arm have been cut off and her vital signs are non-existent. Any attempts to inject an I.V. have failed as the needles keep breaking off on her skin. By all accounts the woman should be dead and the doctor on call at the hospital states this to the EMS workers en route but they insist the opposite. They claim this because of the fact that she was actually conscious a second ago was able to actually to speak to them while her vitals were down.
As I said, the first few pages are pretty interesting stuff with the ambulance crew arguing back and forth with the doctor who refuses to believe that the person that they’re bringing in could possibly be alive if she has no vitals. As compelling as this sequence is, though, it absolutely makes no sense. The problem with it is that while they’re bringing this mystery woman in she’s actually unconscious so how in the heck are they supposed to think that she’s alive? I mean, if someone is passed out and shows no sign of life then how would an EMS worker assume she was still alive in the first place? As illogical as this bit was I was willing to forgive it as the actual situation itself seemed intriguing. The first few pages do exactly what an introductory sequence should do. They pulled me in and kept me interested as the staff learns that the woman apparently has no internal organs as well. The story so far had me where it wanted me. Suddenly, I wanted to keep reading this comic despite of the plot hole in its opening. This comic actually seemed like it might be a decent read.
Well, I’m actually sorry to say that as quickly as the book had me it let me slip through its fingers almost as immediately.
The problem begins when the mystery woman springs to life in the emergency room. You would think that this would be the incident that really gets the story moving but instead it brings it to an absolute and awkward halt. Honestly, I can’t think of the last time I read a comic book that had me so interested and then ended up crashing and burning as much as PARIAH did. What was it that turned me off about the last part of the book? Well, pretty much everything.
As soon as the mystery woman awakens she begins to ask the doctor about his faith and talk to him about his grandmother and the closet monster he was afraid of as a boy and asks him if he believes in heaven and hell. In short the story devolves into almost nonsensical gibberish. The dialogue gets so ridiculous that at one point this woman claims to have actually been the closet monster that terrified him as a child. Not only that, but the story itself then takes an absolutely bizarre turn. The woman assaults an orderly in the hospital by ripping his eyes out (how she manages to do this without legs is beyond me) to show him a vision of hell and no one except the head doctor acts as if anything is even remotely wrong. As a matter of fact the doctor actually wheels the woman away in a wheelchair so they can get some privacy!
Let me get this straight. A woman who was supposedly brought in dead, has no legs and one arm, has unbreakable skin that no needles could get through, has no internal organs, and just tore a man’s eyes out just gets wheeled to another room in the hospital so she can have a private chat with the doctor who just cracked her chest open and no one does anything????? I mean, even in the fantastic world of comic books this was a little too much for me to swallow.
What follows after that is several pages of, quite literally, the doctor and his organless patient talking. They sit in a room and talk. About what I honestly couldn’t make out because none of it is presented in any coherent fashion. Apparently something bad is going to happen and it has something to do with a second fallen angel who isn’t Satan. Either way the dialogue just goes on and on and just serves no real purpose other than to fill up space. By the end of the story I was just so tired of reading bad dialogue that didn’t make any real concrete sense that I just didn’t care about the story anymore. The writer of this book should really learn to condense his thoughts more so as to get his point across more quickly. I mean Bendis goes a little crazy with the talky-talk but at least his stuff is compelling. This was just…I don’t know what to call it. Not only that but the letterer, Nate Piekos of Blambot fame, needs to learn how to lay out his word balloons and captions. So much of the dialogue is just crammed into one balloon or caption at a time. Part of making dialogue flow in a comic is the placing of the balloons. Honestly, I actually feel bad for the letterer because I get the feeling it may not have been his fault as there are just SO many words you can fit into a word balloon or caption. I mean, the guy runs blambot.com. It’s hard for me to believe that he doesn’t know what he’s doing when it comes to laying out a comic page. But when you’re laying out balloons with too much dialogue in them, well, that might make your job impossible.
As far as the art goes…well, it’s not perfect but I’ve seen worse. Honestly, the artist’s storytelling ability is actually pretty good but I would actually suggest that he try and take some life drawing classes. As it is his style comes across as a bad early Image knockoff artist. The anatomy of all his figures is way off and his work is harsh and overly angular. There’s actually some potential there but the artwork itself looks very rushed. As a matter of fact, the artists of the book should thank their lucky stars for their colorist, Roderic Rodriguez, as I believe it’s his coloring that actually uplifts the quality of the artwork. If anything it’s Rodriguez’s work that comes across best in this book. His palette and use of effects is extremely capable and if anyone’s work comes across with star quality it’s his. This guy could color for the pros. The problem is that when the star of your book is the colorist, well, then your book’s got problems.
The thing of it is that the creators of PARIAH have actually put together a really nice package with this book. The book is printed on terrific quality paper which helps the artwork and colors pop off the page. A lot of the time an attractive package can be half the battle with an independent book so this gives me the feeling that the creators of PARIAH actually have their act together in a way. Now if they could only go back and re-tool their concepts and visuals a bit PARIAH could actually be something interesting. Unfortunately, right now it’s a project that’s in serious need of some focus or, at the very least, clarity.
Remember, if you have an Indie book you’d like one of the @$$holes to take a look at, click on your favorite reviewer’s link and drop us an email.
Remember, if you have an Indie book you’d like one of the @$$holes to take a look at, click on your favorite reviewer’s link and drop us an email.
RUNAWAYS #10
Another great issue. Vaughan is doing a bang-up job interacting the kids with some of the more recognizable heroes of the Marvel U. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to the shit that really set off my freak-o-meter. Was I the only one creeped THE FUCK out by the scene where the leering Gomer Pyle lookin’ orderly is about to give the comatose Dagger a sponge bath? - Bug
BATMAN & THE MONSTER MEN #1 (of 6)
This was an interesting sort of issue. Normally, I’d be frustrated with the sheer amount of non-appearance by the Batman. The action is pretty sparce in this book, but none-the-less this was an interesting read. The set-up of similarities between Hugo Strange and Batman was extremely well done. As was the cocktail party scene where Hugo Strange tries to impress the crowd with talks of genetic manipulation and ends up with egg all over his face. Like I said, not much by the way of action happens in this issue, but Wagner’s writing is top caliber. As is, as always, his art. The cliffhanger indicates that the pace will quicken in the next issue, so I guess I’ll stick around to see what transpires. - Bug
X-MEN: DEADLY GENESIS #1
Easily one of the better issues of an X-book I've read since ASTONISHING X-MEN #4 hit the stands over a year ago. While I'm not really all that knowledgeable of mid-70's X-Men lore (I'm more of a mid-80's and up guy) I'm having fun speculating on exactly what's going on as the shit is hitting the fan. Professor Xavier has been a bad man, and we've got some things/people coming back from the dead as a trigger from the result of HOUSE OF M. Apparently, as Beast speculates, there's a massive amount of energy gathered about from all the mutants that lost their abilities and it looks like it's gathered in outer space. Admittedly, the story and art are a little spotty. The story involves the reader needing some knowledge of HOM and some X-Men lore to full grasp what's going on (and looking to get more involved as the story goes on) but it definitely isn't inaccessible, and if anything, Brubaker's ability to easily grasp the "voice" of each character makes it easier to take in. And the art is definitely very detailed and dynamic, but some heavy inks and colors tend to make things very indiscernible at times. Overall this is a good start to a mini that I hope ends as a good wrap up of some HOM plots and is the beginning of a new age of non-sucky X-Men stories. - Humphrey Lee
GREEN LANTERN #5
Confession time. Sharks scare the living shit out of me. No matter how cheesy the movie or documentary is, scenes of sharks racing forward with all of their teeth and anger always makes me pee a little in my pants. The thing is, I love being scared. Needless to say, a trip to the drug store to pick up some Depends is always necessary during Shark Week on the Discovery Channel at the Casa de Bug. That said, I enjoyed the snot out of this issue of GREEN LANTERN. Ethan Van Sciver rejoins Geoff Johns just in time for Hal Jordan to face off against the Shark. This is an extremely brutal issue in which Hal almost loses limb after limb as the vicious Shark plows in and out of the water in pursuit of a tasty green meal. Johns is developing an interesting plot revolving around alien abduction, but the star of this phenomenal issue is Van Sciver’s raw and toothy renderings of the Shark in full attack mode. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go ring out my shorts. - BugYOUNG AVENGERS #9
Y’know, I didn’t want to like this series as much as I do, but I do. A lot. I can only liken this series to the early TEEN TITANS comics all those years ago in that it takes a group of young heroes and puts them into situations that are completely relatable and fun. This issue finds the kids struggling to use their powers for good as their parents, the law, and the Avengers themselves are working double time to make them lead normal lives. Hulkling takes center stage and boy, is YA #9 a doozy of an issue. There are revelations galore as the Super Skrull shows up insisting that the Hulkling is a Skrull. As the chaos ensues, clues as to who Hulking’s father is start to surface. Ties to the Skrulls, his father died of cancer, the Skrull says Hulking is strong “like his father.” Anyone who is up to snuff on their Marvel(or Mar-vell) history will already have a clue as to Hulking’s father’s true identity. Or maybe it’s a red herring. All I know is that writer Allen Heinberg is one of the few creators who have made the leap from TV to comics successfully. - Bug
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Right on!
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You blew it!
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Your writing was a bit ambiguous; I couldn't really tell.
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Nov 30, 2005 7:44:34 PM CST
I saw the word FRANKENSTEIN in the headline and it got my hopes
by mr. anderson
that maybe a new issue of DOC FRANKENSTEIN had finally come out. How silly of me to think that two writers should be able to write more than two issues a year...
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WTF is that all about? I mean, I get that she has about the same skill level as Daredevil, hence the restricting mask. I get that she has similar ties to mystical ninja kaka. What I don't get is: A) Why the manly getup, and B) What, Cap didn't notice the voice coming out of the mask was female? I mean, c'mon.You guys (the writers & editors) act like ther's somebody in the Marvel Universe watching fans through a spyglass and trying to find ways to screw with our heads, yet failing. When I saw who it was, I was like "eh". That's right: "eh". As in "who cares?". This was not a revelation. This was a cheap plot device that did nothing to further the story. Boo.
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Over hyped, over priced and unoriginal. Astonishing X-men was a great ride because it wasn't included in any lame cross-overs or in need of 'Earth shattering' storylines. Over the past few years I've honestly tried to get back into comics after the Great Image Burnout of the 90's. I've picked up a lot of books friends have recomended and have been recomended here as well. Mayhap I'm just jaded now, but I can't find a book that conveys a sense of adventure and excitement. Everything seems like 'dark, thought prokoking' story telling. Or it's filled with political statement or how the hero is so terribly flawed and how what they do hurts other people. Seems people like the Young Avengers, but that Disassembled storyline was utter crap. New Avengers is utter crap. And Young Avengers looks like crap. Just can't get past the character designs on that one. Yeah, I know...that shouldn't stop me. But 'Hulking', 'Asgardian', 'Iron Lad'? C'mon...how hackey can ya get? And I'm betting it's all a mystery as to what each characters true orgins are and not just Hulking. They'll bleed the series on the 'mystery' of who they are and what villians/heroes they'll be in the future. Bah! Love to find a solid and exciting book. One without cross-overs or special events. And a non dark one, if you please. Any suggestions out there?
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Great book.
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Way to insult our intelligence. AGAIN. Ronin isn't just dressed in manly clothes, fer fuck's sake. She was drawn like she was goddamned bodybuilder. Go back to the covers, the first issue she was in (stopped flipping thru after that one), the promo art. Look at the size of those thighs, shoulders, biceps. Now look at the art in all of Echo's previous Daredevil appearances and try to tell me they're the sam fucking person. It's wasn't a Shocking Reveal or a Big Secret or even Meh. It's downright insulting. Not to mention really, really goddamned pointless: nobody knows who Echo is anyway (I mean in the Marvel U., although the same is true for readers). It's not like Echo is such a well-known, high-profile character she needed a secret identity--she's a complete cipher. Once again, a bunch of pointless empty hype followed by a quarter-assed delivery and a huge letdown. Another reason it's a bullshit stunt? The reader can't hear the character's voices coming out of the pages. If it's built like a man, it's a man. If it has boobs, it's a woman unless it's a Garth Ennis book. Just a cheap, dirty trick. Not that I'm surprised, of course. Ah, the exciting adventures of the New UnAvengers--can't wait for next month.
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Just wanted to say thanks for the props last week. I had some technical issues, so by the time I saw it my reply woulda been buried, but I appreciate it, man.
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Nov 30, 2005 8:49:06 PM CST
I love how Bendis whines when Jeph Loeb points out that he write
by kintar0
yet constantly fills virtually every issue he writes with fucking people standing around talking. And I thought Echo was deaf. The only good thing about New Avengers is the art. The dialogue and content is crap.
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here is the link http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/piratesofthecaribbeandeadmanschest.html
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Still waiting for that elusive issue 4 but i should of been more cynical over a Wachowski product. Meh, doesn't matter anyway. Local comic shop closed for seven days, may have to scout the bins outside and see if i'll find a dumpload of joy and the sad realisation the closest comic shop is 50 miles away.
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If the Elongated Man had crawled up Doctor Lights ass and then expanded himself, would that have gone over better? I think mindwiping is a pretty wimpy way to deal with someone who just raped your wife. Besides, the mindwipe wasn't punishment, it was to erase the memory of their identities. Like Martha says, "It's a good thing."
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Nov 30, 2005 9:31:40 PM CST
How does Morrison's Frankenstein compare to the Wachowski...
by 3 bag enema
I haven't read either yet, so I'm curious. Anyone? Anyone?
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Try All-Star Superman, or The Goon, or Godland.
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Or, or any of Alan Moore's America's Best Comics, or Legion of Superheroes by Waid. And please don't tell me why they're bad before you've read them, mmkay?
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I know that book gets reviewed alot around here, but one of the consistent gripes is that there's hardly any action. Well, I think this iss. made up for a few of those that were chock-full of word balloons. Not that Bendis gets off the hook. He should be flogged for the shoddy treatment of Omega Red in Ult. Spidey and this Ronin "reveal" was TERRIBLE. When I read "When I see somebody do something, I can do it too" I thought for about half a second that it would be Taskmaster. THAT would have been freaking cool, but no, we get this drivel. And don't get me going with the House of M stuff. No more mutants? Sounds like Marvel's burning down the village in order to save it.
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3BagEnema, they are sort of like apples and oranges. Going into Morrison's Frankenstein, I was expecting a carbon copy of Doc Frankenstein, but really DC is hitting a bit of a different angle with the character. Morrison's take is darker, includes more horror, and all around creepy. The Wachowski Bros. take is more pseudo intelluctal, over the top, ridiculous in-your-face action movie fodder. (Plenty of humor too.) Doc Frankenstein's arch nemesis is pretty much a militarized version of the Catholic Church. So, what I'm saying, is that beyond the look of the characters, they don't have too much in common. If you're a Frankenstein freak, I say pick up both.
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The way I read things is after HoM, he's one of the mutatnts who has lost the X-gene, right? No more mutant=Wolvie? He "remembers evereything", which was tied to his healing factor, correct? So, if this is the case, how is he popping the claws out in every panel? Shouldn't he be, oh, I don't know...bleeding profusely from the razor-sharp blades portruding from his hands? Help me clear that one up please. Hey, Negative Man, go pick up the Justice mini that Alex Ross is doing. It only comes out every couple o' months but it's been good so far, with none of the stuff you're trying to avoid. As far as regular books, perhaps: Ultimate Spidey & Ultimate FF, Green Lantern as well as Fables (good call Beaker). And give Young Avengers a shot. Trust me, everyone here had the same take you have: "Iron Lad"?!? "this is going to blow. It doesn't. Oh, and Sleazy, no problem, anytime. Late.
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I wonder if you would consider adding a manga reviewer or two to your attractive and hearty line-up of reviewers. Now that B&N has three freakin rows of manga books, I mean. I don't have time for trial and error, people! How am I supposed to know what to buy? You are my guardians, my gatekeepers, my keymasters of Zool. Cos otherwise I'll be forced to consult my neighborhood greasy-haired otaku, a labor-intensive procedure which inevitably results in a four hour Tenchi vs InuYasha debate and ends up with me forced to gnaw off my own arm at the shoulder to escape. As Negative Man said, current comics sometimes feel a bit stale. God forbid manga has its share of cliches, but you guys at League of @$$holes (or whatever you call yourselves these days) could really help out clueless people like myself by writing up the occasional manga-based cheap shot. What? What'd I say? ... Guys?
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Nov 30, 2005 11:02:54 PM CST
Re:meersan Sock him upside the head with some big-eyed Japanese
by heywood jablowme
Meersan, that manga stuff don't play too well here. Me, I never touch the stuff (and don't bother trying to convert me). But, Dave F and a few other manga-holics pull weight around here, so they hit the manga stuff every few weeks or so. As recently as 3 weeks or so ago as a matter of fact.
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Are the individual "Seven Soldiers" series going to be reprinted in trade form? Thanks in advance...
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cog lost-aholics...am i the only one that hates charlie? i mean not in the show, i mean dominic in real life...why all this hate? probably because he's dating evangeline lilly and after a kate centric episode i get a bit jealous from the thought...oh and comics...a new column...
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OK, this is going to be geeky... his getting his memory back was part of Wanda's wish (that everyone she knows get what they think will make them happy - Peter Parker is married to Gwen Stacey, for example) NOT losing his healing factor. Which he still has. I have House of M issue 8 in front of me. Cyclops: "Oh no... Logan!" Nightcrawler: "If he too lost his abilities, the adamantium --" Cyclops: "-- in his skeleton would kill him!" Kurt BAMFs away and finds Wolverine. Very much still alive, saying "I remember. My whole life... I remember all of it." With a traumatised look on his not-dead-at-all face. So i think we can assume that yes he DOES have his powers still and is still a mutant. Seriously, if there was ANY mutant who was NOT going to get changed, it would be Wolverine. Marvel ain't THAT frigging dumb.
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I feel like killing something. I think she's taller than he is, and that's not a Hobbit joke either!***If i hear one more person say "comics aren't fun & exciting anymore wah wah" i'm gonna take a shit on someone's head...i mean...first of all, it's an entire fucking art form, are you telling me there's not bound to be at least hundreds of titles all around the world that cater to your personal whimsy? And second: I get the feeling that people think movies can have many shapes and sizes...they can be dark, light, scary, innocent, fun, intelligent etc etc etc, but comics? They have to be Fun & Exciting or else they're no fucking good. ARGH! I hate people so much!!! Bendis writes entire pages filled with people standing around and talking...he must be satan or something, his comics have no fights in them! Drop dead, idiot.***Angry rant over.
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Dec 01, 2005 1:50:55 AM CST
El Vale, take some diazepam and a breather... And thanks for eve
by negative man
Vale, the reason I find comics not 'fun & exciting anymore' is because most titles are unoriginal mish-mosh of other comics or movies/TV shows. You can call the plot and direction from a mile away. I started reading comics with Spidey Super Stories 30 years ago when I was 5 and quickly started reading everything from X-Men, Spider-man, Swamp Thing to seeking out Kirby and Ditko Silver Age books. Not to mention hundreds of different titles after those. I sought out Manga to comics from Mexico (though, each were not translated back in the day). So, I think I have a pretty good understanding of the art form, where it came from and what it can be. I've worked in comics as an editor, ghost writer (yep...they have them. So careful where you pile your praise) and an assistant letterer. I just happen to be looking for a comic that will suit me at the moment and keep finding the racks filled with books similar to each other in more ways than one. Plus, it seemed like people were critiquing Bendis and not calling him Satan. So go have fun crapping on some ones head. Or grab a mirror and squat over it. Whatever rests your tensions.___And to those suggesting titles, thanks for your help. I think I'll drop by the ol' House of Secrets or Earth-2 and check those titles out. 3 Bag, I enjoyed the first run of Tom Strong. Is Sprouse still doing the pencils? Yeah, it's been that long since I picked it up. HA! I'll look into the others you mentioned. And thanks for the suggestion on Fables, Beaker316. It's one of those titles I keep forgetting to try while looking through the racks. Thanks again y'all!
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I sound like a pissy 80 year old when i do that. If you don't find comics appealing that's totally cool, who am i to judge? I think i meant to say if you don't find them appealing it doesn't mean they aren't. Suggestions? I really don't know about light fun comics because every time i've picked some up (Like Runaways and Invincible) based on reviews and such i've come away pretty dissapointed, or feeling they're WAY too light and fun and not challenging in any way. I do know that i've never read or seen or heard anything as entertaining as Preacher...but i don't know if it qualifies because of the horror elements and the ultra violence. Light and fun but still Vale aproved? Tintin and Asterix, all the way.
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Sometimes a book can be so praised there's simply no way it'll live up to expectations once you've finally read it. Maus surpassed them.
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good reviews all around guys.i think i might check out that frankenstein book and pariah made me want to see how bad it really gets.i second the fables recomend as well as the as superman(but not the as batman,im still on antibiotics with that mess).new lost was kate centric but i founf myself more interested in the ***spoilers***sub plot involving the dharma film. also the thing with walt(?) at the end was too fucking much to leave us with for 6 weeks.anyone know why theyre taking time off?***end spoilers***i know what u mean abouty charlie blackthought but for some reason i like his character on the show.***i visited heathen's myspace page(not just the pics of his girl) and under the 'heroes' section he listed us cogs-i like heathen!
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Tintin and Asterix are always fun romps. I enjoyed the Hell out of Preacher. I'm just over my Sandman/Preacher/Vertigo phase and find myself rounding back towards books like the ones Kieth Giffen or Evan Dorkin wrote. Giffen's Justice League and Legion work being stand outs. And if you've never read them, track down Evan (Milk & Cheese) Dorkin's Pirate Corp$ (later renamed Hectic Planet). It's irreverent fun and worth the trip to your local comic store. Though, best to order them online since they are hard to find. Sarah Dyer's Action Girl is very fun as well. Also, Dave Stevens' The Rocketeer is amazing pulpy fun.
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Maus is one of my absolute favorite comic/graphic novels of all time. Its right up there with Batman: Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, Sandman, Harbinger & Magnus: Steel Nation - which I just read again today thanks to this article: http://www.sequart.com/columns/?col=13 (plug for a cool site that I have nothing to do with)
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but only the first two trades (and they're not a couple)
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Wow! As Ian Brill put it, that's one of the reasons why I'm reading comics.
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i like charlie to on the show, just not so much in real life...not until he breaks up with evangeline...but if he does so he's retarded.
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Dec 01, 2005 7:32:32 AM CST
Daniel Way & Steve Dillon have been giving us the excellent Nigh
by gus nukem
Because of Way's scripts, the master Steve Dillon has been getting mainstream publication *and* giving us superheroic art. Imo, Bullseye was great and Nighthawk has been excellent so far. Rock on, guyz.
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yippee, yippee. I just finished reading all of 100 Bullets...damn fine read. How many issues are left now?
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Prof C: What's with the 4 elements 101 in your review? I mean, obviously, it's a quote, but what about the bolding? Was that yours or the book's? In any case, darn it, the mixture of the elements and Morrison means I have to pick it up now. You're making me get ideas I need source ref like this for.. *** Darth: Lost is really finally picking up steam, huh? It looks like they're going to winter break. It's about right that they take off at this point in the season then return mid-January or so. And the Walt thing isn't too much. As far as I know, the worst way to leave an audience hanging when going to this break is Connor sleeping with Cordelia. *** Negative Man: Are you reading Giffen's Justice League currently? What do you think? I'm working my way through some early issues for the first time, myself, a couple every Friday on the trainride home. This week's batch for me includes the intro of L-Ron and Manga Khan.
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Actually, in the case of Doc Light, it was implied that it was MORE than a "forget our secret identities"... but instead a full-fledged personality makeover. Secret ID forgetfulness wouldn't have helped Ralph and Sue anyway, since they were "public" figures.
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While I hate the prospect of having to wait 6 weeks for another new Lost, I hate people railing against the show itself for doing so this time of year. (Not that I'm implying that level of complaint from THIS august group of ... cog-smooches?) Look around folks, most shows take the holidays off of new episodes. It'd be great if there was always a new episode to look forward to, but that's not the way it works.
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WTF is up with almost a 2 month void between the release of IC#2 and #3? Sons of bitches... (heh)
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Dec 01, 2005 9:35:30 AM CST
Am I the only one that really really really really wants a Zatan
by shigeru
And who the crap is Ryan Sook anyway? I loved the art on this book. I imagine the coloring had a lot to do with it too, but damn. *** Ambush Bug you perfectly summed up what I think about the recent ish's of TWD. Bravo. Somebody kill that 7 page letter space. Kill it with a shovel.
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I read that the fat lady with the chocolates is former supposed Wonder Woman sidekick and all around NPC, Etta Candy.
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we all want zatanna, i know i do...oh, you mean as a monthly comic...er...
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Or at least have some good stuff. The bit a few issues ago where they fought The Wrecker was great.
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Bug, finish off the letters page w/ a hammer! Yeah, I agree about 7-10 pages each issue of "what's your fav zombie movie?" or "when are the aliens coming?" Ahhh!!! As far as Bugs review for Walking Dead (and the rest of his this week) he was spot on. Good reviews Ambush. I hear that Kirkman is shipping WD bi-weekly in order to get that giant HC out before X-Mas, which I understand to a point, but not when it's obvious that I'm getting a lot more splash pages and such than normal. Still, one of the best books out, but these past few have been the worst so far.
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Dec 01, 2005 10:47:48 AM CST
TempusFugitive, I don't mind, gives me a chance to catch up!
by computerguy68
Did Warren Ellis ever finish Iron Man Extremis? I can only find info for the first four and nothing on the final two. Have I missed them or is he taking his sweet time to get around to finishing the story?
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Huh? Uh, wow
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... and which upcoming All Star title will feature the inevitable overly radiated psycho abusive perve, I wonder. (Big chin optional.)
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If so, wow
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Dec 01, 2005 12:03:10 PM CST
Well, Heathen, I believe moviemack just answered your question.
by shigeru
heh. wow. They will probably come out with a ginormous Seven Soldiers hardcover like a year from now but it's worth it to buy them now.
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Dec 01, 2005 12:11:49 PM CST
COMICS is not a writer's medium, one artist/writer's opi
by heystantheman!
I wanna say a little something here.
I -
PARDON ME -
***when the art ISN'T even mentioned, I get a little peeved -
IC #2 hasn't even been out a month. #3 just got pushed back so presumably they can do a better inking job. *** As for Frankenstein, I blame the early Hollywood/Karloff movie. All the other monster movies' titles included the name of the creature at the center of the movie (as in all other cases it often came from the title of the written work), so it obviously stuck even though the subtitle of Shelley's work is 'A Modern Prometheus', which aptly applies to the creator only. That the subtitle was dropped and the special makeup effects detracted attention away from the creator, thus was born the confusion. Furthermore, if panicked villagers were running away and trying to give a one-word answer as to the problem at hand, well, why not use the creator's name if nothing would do for the creature? The creature never had a name in the book anyway, and one of the book's big themes was which was more monstrous, creator or creation? If people were asked to name the monster, why not say Frankenstein?
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I think most everybody here would agree with you. I certainly give you a hearty amen. I think the 90's very much have a lot to do with what you are talking about. I would wager everyone here lived and bought comics in that time and has a hard time forgetting it. It's always kind of looming in the back of our heads, for good or ill. The pendulum swung, and now writers are the superstars of the biz instead of artists. In a perfect world it would be 50/50, but the form of comics itself doesn't make a ton of sense. First you have clear, sequential pictures that flow and tell a story with actions and movement...and then jammed right in you have these weird word baloons with text that you have to take time to read. Where do I look?? Do I examine the art first? Do I read the words first and just glance at the art before turning the page? It's a really tough thing to pull off smoothly. On another note-- I always wonder what % of writers write detailed panel-by-panel scripts, as opposed to the "bare bones of a plot and dialogue" as you put it.
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"In fact, it was one of the things that so angered me that I packaged up those first two issues of IDENTITY CRISIS and shipped 'em back to Paul Levitz and demanded my money back."
You are sooooo cool. -
I was under the impression it was a "forget our secret identities" GONE BAD that Light CLAIMS made him an idiot. But there's strong evidence that he's been an idiot all along. Don't mix this up with what Barry Allen tried to do with the TOP where he used Zatanna to repress an evil entity who has possessed an innnocent civilian. As usual, DC Heroes do things that are "kind of bad" instead of things that are "downright evil." and then get all bent out of shape over them.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments. As to the %, I'd say it's 50/50 but even in the case of detailed scripts, there's still much the artist has to do, and thats me saying it, a writer who has alos provided an artist or two with a pretty detailed script. I like to think, that as an artist, I do write pretty visually but even still, "my" artists know that theyre pretty free to do what they feel they have to make the peice work visually. It's also why some writers like Frank Miller sometimes elect to provide layouts with their scripts for other artists. But Frank has said, as a good example, how much Martha Washington is Dave Gibbons' book, etc. My point is that it's the artist that brings the book to life, much as a singer and arranger brings a song to life.
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that the JLA did lobotomize him, as indicated by Green Arrow using those actual words, and others dropping lines like "we went further than that..." and "tinkered around a bit..." and the cops saying "I thought this guy was supposed to be tough?"
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I heard Desperate Housewives S2 premieres on february due to...some shit or another. Basically they're promoting it as "A new episode every week, no reruns...but you'll have to wait till February for that" and i'm pretty sure they're doing the same thing with Lost. So of course FUCK FUCKITY FUCK FUCK FUCK! Two more fucking months. Is it fair?! I don't think so!!! On the other hand, i do get a new episode every week no matter what.
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Yep, Thayla speaks the truth, it hasn't been a month yet since IC#2. But it WILL be 7 weeks between issues. Regardless, my post was intended to poke fun at myself for my previous complaint about Lost-complainers. Humor attempt: unsuccessful. Regarding Doc Light, I'm pretty darn sure they went above and beyond with his "mind-wipe" because if they'd just performed the forget-our-secret-id mojo, he just would have read about Ralph and Sue in NewsDay, and gone right back after her, as they were "out". That was the excuse used by the wipers for playing extended whack-a-mole with his personality.
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Frankly, I think that 20+ straight weeks of new Lost episodes would cause spontaneous brain hemorrhages. So you see, they're trying to protect us! Too many "WTF?!?" moments can't be good for us....
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Dec 01, 2005 1:18:31 PM CST
I don't think I could write a comic and NOT use the layout f
by rev_skarekroe
But then, I haven't written a comic since childhood, so what do I know?
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Who are you man? Any clues? Nice to have you on board. We don't get many pros around here, or at least not any opinions from pros. We had the Elk's Run dude pop up a few months back but it was all self promotion if i remember correctly. Now i'm gonna play devil's advocate for a minute here...i think if the @$$holes favour a writer over an artist in a review, it would indicate their feelings on the art, wouldn't it? I've read reviews where the writing is commented on, the art is commented on and then finally the two working together is commented on. If it's a good review it would indicate an amazing use of the form and an incredible synergy from the creative team. If all that stands out in a review is the writing, maybe the art was capable but uninteresting all things considered. When the connection between the writer and the artist is seamless then STORY would be favoured because it's in the story that both sides are inseparable and you couldn't really tell when one starts and the other ends, if that makes any sense. In that case it'd be easier for a reviewer to comment on Story first and foremost, seemingly leaving the artist behind, but i wouldn't consider that the case. In fact i kinda think it's the artist's job to kind of dissapear into the work (which doesn't mean the art shouldn't hold appeal) but you know what i mean. When both sides of the equation mesh completely and STORY takes priority, then you have yourself a comic book. Prime examples would be the Morrison-Quitely collab, or the way you couldn't envision Preacher working without Dillon. So yeah my point is i don't think the @$$holes hold the writing in a higher standard than they do art. Maybe, if it isn't mentioned enough, the art did the job of telling the story but it never captured their attention the way it should have.
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I just wanted to take my shot at spoiling X-Men: Deadly Genesis without even having read the book. I'm also curious if Morrison's releasing his Frankenstein well after the similar "Doc Frankenstein" has anything to do with his getting pissed at Warner Brothers over the Invisibles/Matrix similarities?
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i'd like to know his identity too...come on stantheman, spill...most of us here are able to handle such info.
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People seem to give you a lot of flack on this board for whatever reason, but you did one right by me. And with a fine and funny post about "The Monster" as well, I might add.
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Dec 01, 2005 3:33:33 PM CST
I think Shigeru made a good point about the "name" writters gett
by heywood jablowme
Especially since it's now en vogue to hire T.V. writers (Whedon & JMS) or now apprently best-selling authors like Stephen King. It seems that unless your name is Jim Lee, George Perez, or Alex Ross, the artists don't get alot of credit on the talkbacks here, which is a shame and you are right to point out. However, the full reviews above and in the past have always been pretty consistent in mentioning the work of the pencil & ink guys. They also do a good job of giving props to artist-driven projects like Vroom's review of Capote in Kansas, by Ande Parks a few weeks back. So, in summary, the artists do get some run here. Hopefully that can be reflected more in the talkbacks. Especially artwork involving Zatanna. Mmmmmm fishnets...grrrr.
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I came back and moviemack graciously answered my question and we have a professional artist in the talkback expressing his views on the artist/writer relationship and importance. Wow. I'm never let down by this column's talkback. I think I may try to wait for the hopefully huge HC collection of 7 Soldiers. I like a good, big collection rather than the paper trades. I'm also interested as to who heystantheman! is. I agree with him wholeheartedly, but I'd like to point out that Prof. Challenger did a pretty good job giving both Mahnke and Morrison credit in his review, and I also thought his statement of how he wanted to draw Frankenstein, "The character design by Doug Mahnke is so interesting that it is searing my artistic drive to put pen to paper and draw that monster myself." was a very good compliment to Doug Mahnke. And Lost for 20 weeks in a row would cause brain spasms, good luck Vale!
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both make perfectly valid points. But I don't think Sook's art didnt get mentioned in the Zatana review due to any lack of merit. In fact, my point is just the opposite. Though of course some poeple may disagree, my main tenant is that if the overall impression of the story is positive, no matter who the writer, the art if the primary agent of that positive experience. BTW, not that it should make a difference except in that I'm privy to the process, I am a pro, I am not a Jim Lee or an Alex Ross but I do all right, and I do work for the big two. But for obvious reasons, and it he interest of total frankness, I'm gonna keep my ID to myself.
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Like Brubaker, don't care for Hairsine much and I thought the inking was horrible too. I liked Brubaker's take on the X-Mens characters and thought he had a good idea of who they were. My favorite part of the book was when Cyclops outsmarted the Sentinel and Wolverine was impressed by it, and let Scott know he was. Felt natural. I'm not liking the vibe I'm getting from yet another person being "reborn" especially reborn evil or corrupted *yawn* and I hope it's not Thunderbird, and if it is, maybe Brubaker (if anyone could) make me give a care. But why? We just had an alternate universe story and now we have a gathering of bad energy story? Reminds me of Age of Apocalypse followed by the Onslaught storyline, which is when I dropped comics for the first time
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And if you are, The Atheist rocks. If not? Hmm?
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Liefeld. I mean, it would be real funny, but you better not be. And if you are - I hear you're a real nice guy, but if you can make a Gail Simone book boring then you need to evolve, but you're not though are you?
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come on guys, i wanna be able to use the occasional forum to give you gys an open back and forth. dont guess who i am.
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Stan-The-Man-Lee? Ah, I'll leave it alone, sorry if I bothered you, unless you are Liefeld, then you owe my eyes, but anyway. I'm sure a lot of us would appreciate more of your insight in the comics business if not for curiousity alone, but for some good stories and anything else.
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Dec 01, 2005 4:41:17 PM CST
I'll leave it alone (see above post after subject header)
by the heathen
No more guessing.
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He said he got some props in the column a few times or so, and i don't think anyone's given Liefeld props in the past 10000000000 years. Or maybe that's what Liefeld wants us to think! That's low, man.
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Sorry
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Anyone else read JSA: Classified #5 from last week? Huh, huh?
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ok, im not liefeld, not that theres anything wrong with it
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I'm gonna have to disagree. Anyone with me? I think we handle our prop distribution fairly here in the talkbacks.
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i'm more art inclined in this talkback...awhile back i kept posting on who's every favorite or who they believe are the best artists and got some good feedback...what doesn't get enough ink though is the ads...that's what the modern comic book is really about...i think my favorite this week was the one proclaiming liefeld's retirement...wait...that didn't happen...sighs.
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Zounds! Check out The Shark! That cover had my li'l brown grommet all a'puckerin'.
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Dominic Monaghan and Evangeline Lily were recently either engaged or married.
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NOT funny! Nooo!
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Ryan Sook started off as a Mignola disciple, then his style started to change. He did the Arkham Asylum Living Hell trade, Hal Jordan Spectre, Hawkman, and then Zatanna. He is presently the penciller for X-factor written by Peter David, the first issue is due out in December. The only issue I have with Ryan is that he is slow. Zatanna was late and X-factor should have come out in November. The seven soldiers trade vol. 1 contains the original one shot (#0)Shining Knight 1-2, Guardian 1-2, Zatanna 1-2, and Klarion # 1.
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I think prop distribution is handled well in the tb's. *** And Van Scivers Shark is very scary indeed. These past two issues really showed how a GL may have a hard time with something like that. Thought the last page of #4 was particularly horrifying and the size of him in #5 and having the ability to increase his mass is pretty wicked too. *** JSA: Classified #5? Nope, have not Lady C. Haven' t been to my store and they missed shipment last week, should I pick it up? Do tell.
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He's about the only guy who can write Bat-Stories worth a shit these days.
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No chance to post last week, but I want to say that Superman is, IMO, pretty much the least interesting character ever, and totally hidebound by marketing and continuity. But I loved New X-Men and loved WE3 even more. So I gave in and bought A-S Supes, and it was outstanding! If I can be interested in anything Superman, it's a miracle. This is tribute to both writing and the art of Quitely, who is probably my numero uno current artist. But I got to give a bit of extra credit to Morrison because I love all the "Seven Soldiers" books, even the rather dorky Guardian.
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Artists are getting the short end of the stick these days, unlike the 90s. Maybe, it might have to do that many artists today choose not to imitate styles that make fans go crazy. Whether it be Joe Mad, Travis, Lenil Yu, Middleton, etc. Many artists today choose to embrace less popular artists who are still expert storytellers. But the drawback (I guess to their art pride) is that they fade into the story and tend to act as a compliment to the writer. Thus the writer gets most of the praise. I'm sure that these people get more work consistently because they are reliable. It's like the Wrestling equivilent of a "mid card" guy. Still respected, still hard working, yet not talked about often. If an artist is pissed of about not being noticed he has to try new things to do so. Like Stone Cold did. Steve Dillion doesn't have a comic "superstar" style but his unique take on sex and violence gets him noticed. Sadly, the artist has a hard road to follow as they all jocky for position of top dog. Sometimes a person's art is talented but not memorable. They can either change, or be satisfied with what they got (respect of their peers with less fame)
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Dec 01, 2005 5:47:26 PM CST
Vale, what I meant was that the stories and the given writer usu
by heywood jablowme
Any header with "Bendis", "Whedon", or "JMS" alone sets off rants that stretch the bandwidth here. Yeah, the artwork sometimes gets mentioned, but I would say that the writers and the stories definitely are the catalysts of debate around here. "Maybe it's Liefeld." Somebody owes me a new keyboard, as I just spewed Diet Coke all over it. That was freaking hilarious.
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I really enjoyed last week's and this week's reviews. I even found the rantings of some guy about the womenfolk and their crazy, mysterious ways, and the response to him, diverting for a while. I am normally not a fan of Prof C, but this Zatanna review is very good (I am biased since I agree about the misogyny of IC). Now, I haven't read my copy of New Avengers, and while it was totally spoiled here, I can't even care because I knew it would be lame. Bendis es el rey de dialogue, but he's el pendejo de plot (usually) and climax (always). Still, I must buy because I have this thing for Jessica Drew. Finally, though I don't watch Lost, I have heard that sometimes actors' relationships (even, if you can believe this, marriages) aren't 100% honest. I was shocked! to hear that sometimes they involve publicity or "beard"ing. So, keep your fantasies about this Lilly chick in mind and tell yourselves she's just covering for Merry's secret.
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Dec 01, 2005 5:55:14 PM CST
Don @ Thefourthrail gives Walking Dead #24 10/10 rating, calls i
by el vale
Thought you might find it interesting. Sometimes when an @$$hole calls something "boring" it brings Daredevil flashbacks: "People standing around talking? Yawn", so i guess i'd be more inclined to agree with the Fourthrail guys on this one. Another thing that bugs me...are you guys paying extra for the letters column? Because if you're not you could just...you know, not read them.
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Dec 01, 2005 5:57:10 PM CST
i wonder if theres "bearding" going on with evangeline lilly
by darth kal-el
or if shes fully shaved
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That is some funny shit! But i don't know about that. Again i've only read Bendis' Powers and Daredevil, but i've never had a problem with his plotting. Highly dramatic climaxes can be used as a crutch sometimes...it kinda reminds me of Adaptation when McKee says all you have to do is wow the audience with the third act and they'll forgive anything. And hey i just proved Heywood right, didn't i? Let's fix it: That Maleev guy sure can't draw action, can he? Discuss
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I read X-Men #178 last night and it ends with a nice, splashy FU to Bendis and the whole "No More Mutants" shubang. Color me pissed if this sticks. Granted, Iceman's been my favorite X-Man for ages, but come the fuck on!! I'd sooooo much rather watch him try to deal with being a hero WITHOUT powers than resort back to the "it was all a dream" bit. So much for House of M being the Marvel event of the decade. Granted, I still think it can have some decent impact, but let's stop backpeddling here. ALSO, anyone else see that Brubaker interview over at Newsarama? Deadly Genesis is going to tell the story of (among other things) THE THIRD SUMMERS BROTHER!! Let's hope we get a kickass m-fer' out of this.
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a third summers brother! how'd that happen? i'm a big fan of the summers boy...love cyclops...so marvel has 199 mutants now with iceman...shocking!
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Lots and lots of non-cog talkers. Sweet. *** Heathen, two thumbs up for JSA: Classified #5. I'd say this coming arc (thru #7) will be pretty enjoyable. #5's basically a "let's get the gang back together" story, the gang in question being the Injustice Society, including the likes of Ragdoll (the father, not the son) and Solomon Grundy. Fun stuff and I loved all the little details 'putting it together' as it were. Very solid writing and art. A good successor to the Power Girl story.
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are we going to have to hold tryouts?
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Either that or the Access guy from "All Access" (since he swings on both sides of the fence...).
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we get our analogues figured out and actually fight a crime first...too much banana bread, cage locking, cage slicing, mansion burning, halo-ing and just the usual cog debauchery.
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Yup. The bold was to make it match the way it was in the comic.
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In the original novel, the monster was always just "the monster". Even he, as literate as he became, never thought of himself as anything other than "the monster." The allegorical bent was always towards "creator" and "creature" and not really a father/son type of allegorical relationship. However, given the way the new FRANKENSTEIN series is written, I could see that character taking on the name himself -- assuming the role of the "son" after he ushered Dr. Frankenstein's body into oblivion as seen at the end of the original novel.
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You know I usually make a POINT of commenting on the art in most of my reviews. The absence of comment on Sook's work in ZATANNA was simply an oversight on my part -- I think because I really raved over his work in my review of ZATANNA #1 and, in my mind, I didn't focus so much on THAT because I thought I'd already said my peace on it. Instead, the main point of even reviewing the issue was because it wrapped up the story that I had reviewed the first part of. So, I was really focused on the story end. You're right, though, I should've noted the fact that Sook did a knockout job on the art and fans of his work there might want to pick up the new X-FACTOR book just for that reason.
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Why NOT call him Frankenstein? Well, given the perverse love/hate relationship between Victor and his creation, I would be inclined to feel like the monster would NOT want to be associated with Victor in any way after Victor's death. In truth, both were monsters in the end.
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Dec 01, 2005 10:54:29 PM CST
It's also a good name for a place that sells beer and hot do
by cookylamoo
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And I actually got a polite, but mildly terse reply from Levitz along with a little care package :) that helped ease the pain -- just a little. I give Levitz props for taking the time and effort at the time to respond personally. And regardless of how it was received, I know for a fact that my 2 page rant about that garbage series got read by the publisher. :)
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Well, one week late, but I picked up JSA CLASSIFIED #5 and....it's pretty good. Not great, but definitely good and intriguing enough to get me to pick up the next installment.
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D'oh! The love. The love!
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The Walking Dead is getting really fucking boring, and they need to pick up the pace soon.
meanwhile, the new Losers is awesome. -
Neither writing nor artwork are what is important in a comic - it's the storytelling, and that's done by everybody, from the scripter to the colorist and letterer. Sometimes the responsibility skews more one way or another, but in the end, if it isn't servicing the storytelling, it's useless. As a writer, I rely on an artist to help tell the story, because without them I might as well just write another novel instead.
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So boring that I didn't even realize a new issue had come out. And what's more, I'm not even sure I care.
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I thought that TWD's past two issues have been extremely dull NOT because there hasn't been any crazy zombie shooting action. That doesn't automatically make the story exciting. Rather, I've not liked them because they take themes that have been prevalent and built upon the whole series, and spelled them out directly in the reader's face, with all the subtlety of a boot to the nuts. Weak, weak, weak storytelling. SHOW rather than TELL. And Vale, the letters section might add to the cost of the book, who knows? But the point is that it's kinda hard to ignore. I DON'T read it, but it still sticks out like a sore thumb.
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first a post that seriously discusses comics without negativity, then a post drawing everyone's attention to the magnificence of Meg White "beating the skins" on the Daily Show. I may have to revise my estimation of you. *** Isn't the third Summers brother the half-Shi'ar guy with the ability to "ignite blood electrolytes" who was at first named X-Treme but changed to Adam X? My god the 90's sucked.
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Dec 02, 2005 11:21:53 AM CST
Prof C, tell me how you know for a FACT that he read it?
by the heathen
Just curious, I'd be interested to know what Mr. Levitz said in his polite, but mildly terse reply. And I guess it's cool that he read it, but two full pages? Damn, Prof! *** blackthought, check last tb for your query. *** White Stripes on Daily Show was bizarre. *** Kal-El, good theory
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Although the next storyline looks like it may pick things up a bit. Too bad he got so stuck on the prison arc for so long. Time to get the hell out of there. Oh, and the art to me is still really not great...
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Oh yeah. I've been thinking that Hulkling might be Mar-Vell since Joe Q mentioned in a Friday Newsarama thingy that Captain Mar-Vell had already returned but we and he didn't know it yet, and it wasn't Gennis. Wasn't their some mention of Hulkling as a Skrull in an earlier YA? If Mar-Vell is his father, who is his mother? Could he be a Kree/Skrull Hybrid? We saw a glimpse of Carol Danvers... was that a hint as to who his Mom is? I just got the Life and Death of Captain Mar-Vell trade by Starlin, so it hit me when I read the cancer line in this YA #9, too.
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captain mar-vell came back from cancer...good book though by starlin, i'll second that.
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...I'm going to be completely honest: part of the reason I don't always comment as much as I should on the art is that I feel terribly unqualified. I come from a liberal arts background with a strong basis in reading and writing, and therefore feel like I have a good sense of the good/bad/unique/etc. I am, however, such a lousy visual artist that I literally can't draw a round circle. I can tell good art from bad in any one given style, and I know what I like, but I just don't have the terminology and breadth of knowledge to comment intelligently. I do what I can, but there's only so many ways to say "the art is great/amazing/mindblowing" without actually going into detail before I feel like I'm just saying the same thing about everybody. It's not that I don't highly value the contributions of the artist, or that I don't know how important they are. Hell, I wouldn't be reading comic books without the artists, and we all know that. And I've heard from other writers in the past for the Big Two who have said, flat out, that an artist either improved on their story more than they could have imagined or flat-out ruined the whole thing. I assure you your contributions and those of your fellow artists are highly appreciated--it's just that I feel woefully inadequate when I try to explain what it is I like about an artist. I love Chris Ware's work, I think Phil Jimenez is fantastic, I dig Eduardo Risso and Ethan Van Sciver Chris Sprouse and so on...but other than saying things like "moody" or "detailed" or "sparse" or whatever, I just don't have the lingo down. You should know, though, that this is a problem that's been discussed internally before and I do make a real effort from time to time to focus on it more. It's a weakness, but we're trying to improve. Thanks for your insightful comments, and let me say that as much as I'd love to know who was stopping by, I understand and respect creators who prefer to keep a low profile. I'd rather have you stick around than know exactly who you are.
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Dec 02, 2005 12:16:38 PM CST
"I understand and respect creators who prefer to keep a low prof
by darth kal-el
i strongly second that and can only hope that stantheman wont be the last creator to share insight with us
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I LOVED ALIAS as a MAX book. I stuck with THE PULSE because I liked Jessica Jones so much as a character. I was rewarded with half-assed tie-ins to SECRET WAR, which is like a year late at this point. This was followed by half-assed tie-ins to DISASSEMBLED and HOM. Now I'm rewarded yet again with news that BMB is leaving the title and so is Jessic Jones. What a collossal goddamned fuck-up. Way to shit on the fans YET AGAIN. Creezus.
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I hate every last one a' you circle-drawin' bastards. First against the wall when the revolution comes. Well, okay, maybe not first, but sooner or later I'll be running short of backs to put up against walls, and that's when we're comin' for the circle-drawers.
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Alias was a kick ass book. The last story arc with the Purple Man was delightfully disturbing. Now the Pulse started out with a decent premise with the whole newspaper thing and the Green Goblin storyarc was good, but after that...well it's time for some new blood, sad to say.
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i don't mind lining up against a wall as long as liefeld's there with me, might as well make it a positive.
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listen to Death Fron Above 1979, they own The White Stripes like ten times over.
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somebody just name-dropped Death From Above! Right on. That song "Pull Out" is like the filthiest sweatiest sexiest shit you will ever hear. In a good way.
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Caught 'em over the summer. Definitely a sweaty, gritty rock show. Good time. That said, I first caught the White Stripes before they broke huge, and seeing them in a room with like 140 other people was frikkin killer. Amazing set. Meg was really nice when I talked to her, too. Unfortunately, the last coupla albums don't hold up as well for me as the first three. I hope they can pull it out for the next one. Oh, and I also hope DFA1979 can put out a strong follow-up some time next year. I need new stuff from them and another tour to go with it. Oh, and I saw a DJ set they did at a little club in Chicago last summer with David Cross. It was totally awesometastic.
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I want to tho. I imagine White Stripes in a smaller venue would be killer...and I agree that the first 3 records are quite better than the past 2. Ah, Meg White......
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But damn Get Behind Me Satan fucking rocks. Just with a piano and a marimba instead of guitars. I could listen to My Doorbell, Take Take Take and Instinct Blues over and over. And have. Then again, being from the city of motors, I'm sort of contractually obligated to love them. Not as much as I love the Detroit Cobras or the Dirtbombs, but still.
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I have some of their stuff on a compilation CD I got a few years back from Sympathy For The Record Industry. The tiny little club where I saw the Stripes? That show they had the Von Bondies open up, so when that whole thing went sour two years ago I was a bit surprised. I thought the VB's were great, too, and grabbed that CD. As for the last two albums, I actually dislike Satan *more* than Elephant. Not enough guitar. Not only that, but when Jack plays the piano you can actually hear him playing it on the guitar instead--they're not piano parts so much as guitar parts played on piano, if you see what I mean. Plus the album is waaaay too pussy. The older albums had some really sweet moments like "We Are Gonna Be Friends" and "Your Sweet Southern Ass Is Mine", but they also had lots of sweaty distortion and rocked. Stuff like "My Doorbell" is just wussy, with none of the beauty of their older but mellower stuff. I don't have a problem with artists maturing and expanding, but I do have a problem when they lose their chops. I think it's time to do what a lot of other musicians have done over the years: say "it was fun to experiment, but it's time to refocus" and then just come out and rock my fucking face off again.
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i know it doesnt relate to comics or music but i wanted to let u guys know today i was officially promoted to team lead for a new team in bilingual customer service.im pretty excited and just wanted to share
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Dec 02, 2005 6:16:29 PM CST
I Think A Lot Of Times, The Reason Art Is Overlooked Here...
by buzz maverik
...is that these are usually gut level reviews without a set format. No one pretends they are diagraming a sentence here. If the art isn't great or isn't terrible -- in other words if you're the modern equivalent of the Buscema brothers or George Tuska -- it served it's purpose, ya know? On the other hand, I know I've written reviews where I had no interest in the writing, not even enough to find the focus to mock it, but have talked almost strictly about the art. Some times, the artists should be glad they're ignored. It's sort like prison. You don't want THAT kind of attention paid to ya. Also, wrongly and foolishly, the industry is writer-centric right now because they never learn anything. They'll swing the other way when they discover a wave of artists who are the ones selling the books. Personally, I feel if a great artist is able to tell a story, I can grit my teeth through bad writing.
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Dec 02, 2005 6:22:20 PM CST
But, um, Blackthought...Liefeld CAN'T draw a circle so it lo
by superhero
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In a related subject: I think i'm in love with myself. Hey, Buzz is back! I missed ol' Buzz. He calls me El, he's an unstoppable comedy spewing machine. Actually that sounded like i was being sarcastic, here's something that won't: I wish Buzz were still an @$$hole. I think he wrote my fave review ever, but i'm not sure if it was him.
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I know for a FACT simply because he spoke to me specifically about some of my points.
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Dec 03, 2005 12:09:28 AM CST
Sleazy, watch what you say about piano players being pussies
by mortsleam
I jess might haveta slam my 88's upside yo head. That said, I certainly understand what you mean, but I actually enjoyed the fact that some of the piano songs were actually obviously written on a guitar and Jack merely transposed them to piano, which he proceeded to play just like a guitar. Particularly "The Denial Twist", which you'll note he played on the Daily Show on guitar. And seriously, if you can find them, buy the Cobra's second CD "Love Life & Leaving" & their newest "Baby". For albums full of covers of random forgotten 60's singles, they really rock. I know they play them at all the cool bars over there in your city, like the L&L off Belmont & Broadway. *** moviemack, you should know that when you say things like that, it incites nothing more than the vaguely pleasant sense that all is right with the world. It's when you say things that make sense that I get worried. *** Uh, this is supposed to be a comics talkback, right? Uhm... I think maybe a reason a lot of comic artists today are somewhat shortchanged is because of the heavy reliance on live models or photo-referencing. Which back when I was still actively not trying very hard to get a job in the biz was called "tracing."
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moviemack, why are you being so...nice all of a sudden?
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did he happen to mention to get over yourself?i hate to break it to ya',u dont have that much impact on the comic book industry.and your reviews are average to self indulgent at best.its not just me talking and u know it
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impact the comics industry buy subscribing to this comics column...whaaa you mean it's free? sighs...and true darth...moviemack has either reformed from his rogue status, but i'm not buying it yet...i've never actually been in a same TB with him and found it pleasant...maybe it's cuz the holidays...melts one heart...my heart though melts with zatanna...hmmmmmm..........
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001100111011010100101100011111
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If I would use one word, it would be a match between either 'wonderful', or 'perfect'. Honestly, if there ever has been one comic I have fallen in love with, that would be it.
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Dec 03, 2005 8:48:24 AM CST
the best bit of Punisher vs. Bullseye 01 was imo... (SPOILER)
by gus nukem
the 'human stain'. Discuss... (yeah, that'll happen)
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:sigh:Now all of us comics losers will have to fall back on stuff by Alan Moore, Paul Pope, Grant Morrison and the like. How long can Marvel sentence us to this... juvenility? Comics need to grow up. Bring some respected artists, make some graphic novels. GROW UP! *** PS Marvel should hire Charles Burns and have him do a Wolverine story. You know it'd be perfect. *** PPS I was funny, I was sarcastic, I was bitter and now it stops
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And congrats, Darth. :)
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Or in other words, how story-dense do _you_ (i.e. anyone reading this) like your comic books? What's the right balance between depth and movement? And would it be a sin against the form to put too much development into a single issue when it could reasonably (and perhaps more believably) be drawn out through story?
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Don't worry about your audience, tell the story you want to tell in the best way you think it can be told. Write for yourself.
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My inner fanboy is turning on me.. I've got a truncated story which strains some credibility for how quickly some things happen, and then I've got a version which is more drawn out but plays up and stays truer to characterization, though it takes forever to get to the point. Problem is, I get too storyteller-y, I should probably stop before I start because of the pace at which I'm putting words to page. *sigh* And all I really wanted was for Grant Morrison to rampage Metropolis like Godzilla...
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When facing the same problem, i try to do them both. I write the 2 (or 3) versions and i see which one i like best, which one works better. I know it sounds like shit, and even moreso if you're lazy like me. But if you think of it as a challenge it works better.
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...despite the fact I played piano for 9 years. In fact, there have been some awesome uses of piano over the years. Iggy and the Stooges "(Now I Wanna) Be Your Dog", for example. No, my problem is the combinationn of both wussier, less hooky songs *and* the use of a piano when Jack wasn't ready to write songs for it yet. Sure, some of the older stuff was a little more basic, but it also had more urgency and drive, which is what was missing for me. The fact that "Denial Twist" worked better for me on guitar, BTW, which is what I'm getting at about the piano parts. Jack needed to wait a year until he could write piano parts like they were meant for the piano. Oh, and you've been to L&L? Wow. A lotta people miss that one. Hell, I thought it was nothing but an old-man bar for years (it used to be), but now it's a veritable hive of bike messengers and other assorted hipsters. Oh, and they have Iron City Beer in those cool new aluminum bottles...
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Dec 03, 2005 2:33:56 PM CST
There's a description of the teaser trailer for X-3 at super
by heywood jablowme
Screw the naysayers. I'm all about showing love for this movie. Beast is in it. 'nuff said. Scooped again AICN! Why don't you dish out some more Kong stories.
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Dec 03, 2005 7:21:09 PM CST
When I walked into the L&L two years ago, first words outta my m
by mortsleam
Hey, this looks like a Detroit bar! Heh.
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I'm sorry but i love this guy. It's funny that he could not keep from saying the words "Batman" and "begins" back when he was being all nice and personable. I can tell he really tried. I think he loves Batman Begins. It's like those guys who are so homophobic that there's not a chance in hell they're NOT gay? "Gay people are totally gay, they should die" *dies*
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Dec 04, 2005 12:14:34 AM CST
true vale, can't reconcile his love for the beginnings of th
by blackthought
and moviemack no one ever offered you membership in anything and your still an ass but you make a good rogue for the cogs.
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Sleazy, I definitely think that it comes down to what Jack White does *next*, whether he continues to break new ground with his new songwriting voice, and comes up with material that fits more organically with the piano, or whether he abandons it for whatever wierdness he finds. But personally, Get Behind Me Satan is my favorite since De Stijl. Which ironically is his own least favorite album. Since he recorded it in his home studio, he feels it's his most self-indulgent. That is possibly why it's my favorite, because I get an almost Beatles-esque vibe from some of the songs. Of course, as a former Walrus, it's guaranteed to affect me. I'm talking purely subjective, DNA-hardwired, weakness/affinity here. *** Thayla: by all means, be true to the characterization. But just make sure that something actually happens in each installment, preferably something that is thrilling and actiony yet still advances the plot. There, was that so hard?
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has definately been renamed AICNMUSIC
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hair bands from the 90! This IS the coolest section of AICN!!!
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"Be sure to drink your Ovaltine." Ovaltine? A crummy commercial? Son of a bitch!
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ovaltine
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The mug is
round, the jar is round, they should call
it Roundtine. (pauses) That's gold Jerry,
gold!-Kenny Bania -
What will they think of next?
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If not, when? Sometime this year right?
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Now when do I get my dinner at Mendy's? Allegedly Lost Girls is supposed to be out in time for Comic-Con '06. But with Moore, do we ever really know anything for sure? Hopefully it will be worth the wait.
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i am eager to see reactions of hard-core columbus helmed potter lovers as to why gof is on its way to making less domestically then poa...they'll probably blame cuaron...and for my cogs...i want brothers hue, lou and drew for xmas present...i need a few wooden soldiers to protect my cage.
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Just wondering.. why are you protecting an empty cage?.. (And GoF is actually pacing ahead of PoA and the others, from what I read)
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I didn't like that Beast...looks too "Hear me roar!" for my tastes. I mean if anything, Hank McKoy is a gigantic nerd, where are the glasses? I'm willing to give it a chance since it's Kelsey Grammar they hired and not Vin Diesel.
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But Angel looks f'n sweet (ok, Warren could be a little taller, but..).
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i'm was just taking into account with narnia and kong coming out within the next week and half...and no comment on the empty cage gaurding...my attorney deems it so...
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Dec 05, 2005 2:16:31 PM CST
I think it's heading to make more than PoA at least domestic
by the heathen
PoA domestic total = $250 mil GoF domestic total (so far) = $230 mil. Wouldn't Kal-El just heat vision your wooden soldiers like the cage? And did Thalya ever get out of there? Where is everbody? Stinking Mondays. Looks like we did scare away Kirkm
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There's an old 90's trading card of Beast that is a painting of him mixing chemicals that looks like Grammer, but I can't find an image, but that's what he SHOULD look like.
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and your thoughts on beast?
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For one thing, if those shows get sold out, HP is probably going to be the backup, not to mention the first two HPs came out around the same time as GoF and those were LOTR years, not to mention other holiday blockbusters. *** And yeah, apparently I'm out for now. You're going to have to go all Hunt for Oracle to get me back in there, blackthought. I expect a full flaunting of superpowers and everything.
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http://tinyurl.com/dx5el ** Good point about the other films not hurting GoF too much, it'll probably do about the same, maybe a little less because Narnia and Kong are the two movies (even morons) are talking about waiting to see. Wish Zathura got more business. Btw, since the browncoats aren't too popular around some of these parts, I'd like to say that Sci-Fi may show some Serenity TV movies as a possibility in the near to distant future. Can't wait for the DVD to come out Dec. 20th too.
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GoF will do more than PoA, but maybe not as much as it would have due to Kong and Narnia, maybe it'll peter out around 260-270 domestically.
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Please read my latest journal http://tinyurl.com/9v7cq
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Vale, do you ever imagine yourself giving an awards show speech? ;)
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"She swallowed"" I got it"
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Thalya...i didn't get that...ohhh the shame!
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Explain please!
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http://tinyurl.com/aygn3
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check out the previous column's talkback
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But my fav line was: "Women smell like perfume for women" Wow.
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Thanks for your thoughtful comments and your honest assesment of your own strengths and limitations. Obvsiouly, one of the main problems is that you guys are writers. You practice writing everyday. I'm sure many of you are writing your own projects and tryign to get them off the ground. Drawing, it's a different vocation. I do both and i have to tell you, all thigns being equal, drawing is harder, more time consuming and potentially take a lot more time to learn to do well. Others may disagree and thats fine. I do both at least well enough to be cosnidered professional doing either one by itself (whether or not anyone actually think anything I do is any good is another story). Here's some proof: I don't know or know of a big name pro comic writer that does less than 2 books a month. Writing a book just doesn't take that long. Try drawing two books a month at the level of quality that fans expect nowadays. Again, others may disagree. But I digress. The real point is that wehn everything meshes well, when the story is good and the art is TELLING the story well, it can be difficult to sperate the two and say "this is working well because of THIS" and "this is working well because of this." To be specific, I'll often read here a comment like "David wrote a good moment there." But to me, even though surely, he created the oppurtunity for that moment to happen, it was the drawing of these two characters, the choice of the artist to shade them just this way, and maybe the colorist to use just those tones, that made the illusion of that moment real. I mean, in a movie, you'd never look at a kiss in a movie, be moved and say, "WHAT A WRITER." I mean, sure, for that moment to happen, to have resonance, the writer had the create a context, but then again, if the kiss is hot or poiniant, that's the actors doing that, and the director framing it, and the lighting guy...well, you get the picture. All those other things that the writer doesn't do in a film, that's what the artist has to do! Hair, makeup, lighting, framing, pacing, continuity, etc etc etc.
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...those posts were some funny shit. Nicely done.
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Glad i had you going Shigeru
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Dec 06, 2005 11:00:09 PM CST
The hell? No buzz on the X-3 trailer from the comic geeks?
by heywood jablowme
And you call yourselves fanboys. IMHO everything looks pretty good except for Juggy. Too bad, because Vinnie Jones is badass and shouldn't look like some inflatable gimp. Beast will play much better on film than in that lame still promo (should've had him in his iconic pose hanging upside down with his nose in a book). My projection at this point: better than X1, doesn't touch X2. Not that any of this matters, seeing as how the next Spidey/Black Cat is out Wednesday. I figure the Apocalypse is nigh.
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I think i missed that one, when does he make his teaser appearence? I liked the trailer, actually...especially that shot of storm and the...storm. Much better trailer than i anticipated, and i have faith in Frasier as Beast cause it's perfect casting. Give us your thoughts everyone!
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Didn't catch that...thanks so much for reading and the kind words *hug*
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Check out the scene of the Brotherhood in the woods, he's on the right of Mags. He's also shown in some sort of prison cell. You can't miss him. He's in this S&M leather outfit with his goofy helmet and inflatable muscle suit. Looking goofy as hell I might add.
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Quite perplexing why they would use a bare-chested rubber muscle suit for Jugs. That thing can NOT look right when he moves. But yeah I think the consensus on that trailer would be "Pleasantly Surprised"...considering expectations for Ratner, I suppose that wasn't hard to do, but....
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That they kept the same production designer goes a long way towards the impact of the trailer, I think. Me? I think the stories in the first two have been weak and timid compared to the comics except in places, and I'm waiting for the second generation films to go balls-to-the-wall and hit everything running instead of slowly introducing everything to the audience. Other than that, I agree with Shigeru.
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a very cool Juggernaut smiley I just made (he wears the classic 60s pointy helmet and is a bit puzzled about sth.)
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to see how I had envisaged it, copy & paste my previous comment's subject to a .txt editor
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Maybe I'm smiley-retarded or something. *** Yeah Thalya I would say that the first two X-Mens' strongest strengths come from sequences, scenes, bits and pieces. IE: Magneto Concentration Camp Intro, Wolvie's intro in the bar, Wolvie first in the mansion "what do they call you? Wheels?", Rogue and Wolvie in the car "When they come out, does it hurt?" "Every time.", Nightcrawler intro, Mags breaking out of prison, Phoenix manifesting, ect ect ect... Great character writing, but the PLOTS? Not so interesting. Could we see a reverse in 3, with a more engaging plot but not so great character moments??
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where is my JSA movie?
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Dec 07, 2005 11:46:16 AM CST
Sabretooth thwacking Wolvie with a tree trunk did it for me..
by thalya
And the Nightcrawler intro was the best thing about Summer 2003 movies. You'd think the X-Men running through a secret military installation would be more geektastic, but it wasn't. Could it be the shooting-in-Canada effect? All the little in-betweens were just meh.. and should've been excised or written better. And maybe the actors in the second generation will be more spot-on. That there was a weak Cyke and Storm in the core team? And Bobby Drake's cute but not as character-deep as could be? Warren Worthington III better be an unbearable playboy/snob type..
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They'd have to get through a JLA movie and then a JLA/JSA Crisis crossover..
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I liked the music. I liked when Wolverine used his claws to scale down the corner of the wall. Some, of the effects looked good like the bridge. Liked the car crashes too. And now the rest: Beast doesn't look or translate right on the screen. This bothers me, because Grammer is perfect for the role. Juggernaut? Please, if you can tell from a computer monitor that he's wearing a rubber muscle suit like Kal-El used to sport at Halloween, then you know something is wrong. His helmet is retarded and he looks too small. Use the Harry Potter movies and the LotR movies as examples as how to make something look 10 ft tall when it really isn't. I also like Vinnie Jones too, but that costume looks like something from an eighties B-movie. Angel is too short as well. The spinning. That's right the spinning. I believe Storm does so twice, and that's really too many times, especially for a teaser and this leads me to my next complaint. The wire work. Way too much wire work. Just look at the shot with all those people landing or the shot with Wolvie lunging, ahhrrgg - too much. But here's the gipper, the main reason why I'm disappointed and don't have faith even though the music and effects are good: the leaked script that Mori went over on this very site, the one that was an 'older version' is the one we saw a preview for. SPOILERS (as if you couldn't tell from the trailer) Dark Phoenix, bye bye Prof X and Magneto, Cyke vaporized (I mean, we saw his glasses just floating there!), Storm and Logan w/ bigger roles, San Francisco, Angel and the third time in a row having used a plot about making mutants not-mutants, or making humans mutants, etc., etc. I think that sums it up. Arghh!!! Yet, I still hope for the best, but I'm surely not expecting it. Btw, a friend brought over Fantastic Four last night, and it was freaking horrible and laughable all at the same time. It made me glad that I haven't really read too many FF issues. Christina's brother liked it though
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My smiley was hilarious and really smart. In order to see how it should look, just copy and paste this ( {]||:||-|[ \ ]] ) - without the parentheses - to the windows .txt editor. Beware; in my version ol' Juggie wears a pointy cap.
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I have to admit i LOLed...JoeQ must be ripping out his testicles as we speak.
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new column's up.
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and for me, but not for your reasons. Joe Q will still make shitloads of money from this and will LOL in his turn come 2007.
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