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sdelmonteRunaways 30 - Remember when Marvel announced that Joss Whedon was going to be writing Runaways and i was so excited? That was something like 18 months ago, and I had no idea that his run on this book would be so late, so frustrating and ultimately so terrible. It's hard to believe that this run was written by Joss. The story was clumsy and confused, the character notes hammered at over and over again, the end of the tale adding nothing other than one more character (and one that doesn't seem remotely interesting). Marvel is restarting this comic again in a couple of months with acclaimed writer Terry Moore. While I normally don't like seeing books cancelled and restarted, this is one series that needs it. Every bit of buzz that surrounded the Runaways during Brian Vaughan's run on it is gone. A new start can only help.
Madame Xanadu 1 - Wherein we meet one of DC's lesser known but more notable women of magic in her youth, when she called herself Nimue and was a player in the times of King Arthur. This will eventually set up stories set in the present day, but for now we get some very pretty art and an entertaining but familiar and lightweight tale. There is little here that demands the Vertigo treatment. Indeed, there is more violence, (implied) foul language and adult theme in Final Crisis. But I think DC has long since decided that characters like Madame Xanadu will not sell well if attached to the main DC Universe. And it's possible that author Matt Wagner has plans that will lead things in a most Vertigo-esque direction. After one issue, though, there is little here that demands attention. I will give it a little time since Wagner is capable of greatness (as we've seen in Mage and Grendel). And I will hope that Wagner restores the air of mystery and mysticism that made Xanadu so intriguing as a supporting player in The Spectre in the early 90s.
Madame Xanadu 1 - Wherein we meet one of DC's lesser known but more notable women of magic in her youth, when she called herself Nimue and was a player in the times of King Arthur. This will eventually set up stories set in the present day, but for now we get some very pretty art and an entertaining but familiar and lightweight tale. There is little here that demands the Vertigo treatment. Indeed, there is more violence, (implied) foul language and adult theme in Final Crisis. But I think DC has long since decided that characters like Madame Xanadu will not sell well if attached to the main DC Universe. And it's possible that author Matt Wagner has plans that will lead things in a most Vertigo-esque direction. After one issue, though, there is little here that demands attention. I will give it a little time since Wagner is capable of greatness (as we've seen in Mage and Grendel). And I will hope that Wagner restores the air of mystery and mysticism that made Xanadu so intriguing as a supporting player in The Spectre in the early 90s.
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Date: Jul. 3rd, 2008 07:42 pm (UTC)You're right about the disjointed "Runaways." It didn't feel at all like, well, Runaways.
On the other hand, the new Buffy comic, with Joss back on writer duties, seems pretty solid. Maybe he just can't handle the characterizations in Runaways, but he's more comfortable with characters he knows better.
The only thing is, before that reboot for Runaways, there's a three-parter fitting into the Secret Invasion thing, the same way there was a miniseries during Civil War. And again, it's with Young Avengers, which means I for one am completely lost. But I'll make the best of it.
And the other thing is, given the cover for the new Runaways #1, I...worry. That's a bit too cartoony, and a bit too anime-influenced for me. (And I like anime...in its place.)