Comic Book Reader Report
Aug. 27th, 2004 02:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sdelmonteFeeling like talking about some of what I'm reading (or plan to read) these days...
Some SPOILERS ahead!
IDENTITY CRISIS - If you follow DC, you are no doubt aware of this 7-part Big Event minseries, written by novelist Brad Meltzer and drawn by Rags Morales. And if you participate in any sort of online discussion of comic books, you probably know how controversial this story is. Indeed, the debates have grown so discordant that for the most part I am keeping for the rest of the run of the comic.
In short, though, the controversy might be well-earned, as is some of the praise. This tale seeks to cast DC's Silver Age heroes in a different (somewhat harsh) light, as one hero's wife is brutally murdered (possibly by the same villain who we learn also attacked her years ago); as we learn that some things our heroes did in the old days (what we call the Silver Age) were not so perfect; and as the DC Universe is looking a good deal grimmer. If you object to seeing old heroes written with irony and with bite and with never-before-seen flaws; or if you don't like seeing DC's super-heroes books turning unexpectedly dark and harsh; or if you are tired of seeing more wives and girlfriends of heroes killed , then this comic is not for you. Which is to say, the complaints about this story may be justified.
That said, Meltzer is a really good writer, better than many veteran full-time comic book writers. Batya had never met many of the characters we met in the first issue, but came to care immediately about Sue and Ralph Dibny (the first victim and her grieving super-hero husband). Meltzer also has a feel for making these characters interesting, even though I am not sure he is using their usual personalities. The notions that supervillains are not all buffoons, and that super-heroes have to make very difficult choices to operate effectively, are intriguing ones worth pursuing.
But three issues in, the double-sized $4 comics feel a bit padded, and the apparent murder of a second hero's ex-wife at the end of the third issue felt tawdry and lurid. (I do have reason to think, however, that what we thought we saw is not what actually happened. Assumong the rumor mill is accurate.) I really have no idea at this point if Meltzer is going to save the DC Universe from stagnation, or propel it towards a new stage of unrelenting darkness and doubt. I plan to read the next issue, still interested, but also not happy with the direction it seems to be going. Nonetheless, it's a hit, bringing in lots of new readers to DC, and it has fans talking.
ASTONISHING X-MEN - Or as we call it at home, X-Joss. I am not a fan of the X-Men. If almost anyone else were writing this, I wouldn't care. Indeed, I still don't like Wolverine much, or Emma Frost. But Joss Whedon is not "anyone else." He is doing a great job playing in the X-Universe, aided by some amazing artwork by John Cassady. There's an intriguing and unpredictable plot, and some amazing dialogue that is both perfect for the characters and what we expect from a Joss script. Joss clearly cares about these characters, and the interactions between them are great as well. What's more, I think that Joss is writing much of this for newbies and people like myself who last read an X-Men book when Reagan was president. The result is something that is accessible, entertaining, witty, fun, and gripping.
GOTHAM CENTRAL - Why aren't you reading this? It's possibly the best mainstream comic on the market, certainly the best comic set in the DC Universe, and its sales are around 10,000 a month. Don't you like a good police procedural? OK, I know some of you don't like super-heroes much, but Batman is not the star here. He's barely in it most months. This is a comic about cops, all of whom are fleshed out quite well by Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker (who alternate between the day and evening shifts). And the art by Michael Lark is brilliant. So why aren't you reading this?
FABLES - I know a lot of you are reading this. So I won't go on about how good it is. But if you missed out on it so far, the third trade paperback is coming soon, and it will include last year's "Last Castle" special.
FANTASTIC FOUR - The book is in a bit a slump of late, coming off a silly (if entertaining) Human Torch/Spider-Man team-up and a rather dull story focusing not on the FF but on their occasional enemies, the Frightful Four. But a new tale has just begun, and it looks like this book will get back on track again.
NIGHTWING - Oh, poor Dick Grayson. His worst enemy is dead, killed by a new super-heroine who thinks she's his partner and who has the hots for him in the worst way. He naturally feels awful, and seems to be getting worse. And he hasn't told Batman yet! A recipe for a bad comic book? Perhaps. Devin Grayson's run is showing signs of creative exhaustion, mixed with moments of really good storytelling. But the downfall of Nightwing can't go on much longer without losing me as a reader. Devin has four months, till issue 100, to resolve things.
FLASH - A fun comic, but writer Geoff Johns seems once again to be showing how much he loves to play with the Flash's enemies without using Flash himself effectively. I dropped this series before, only to come back when I was convinced that Johns knew what he's doing. But with other comics tempting me, that might not be enough.
RUNAWAYS - Another comic I think everyone should read but that no one is buying. Alas, the series is about to end. But as it's part of Marvel's line of comics and digests aimed at younger auidences (as its protagonists are teenagers), it's getting a well-earned second "season" next year. Track down the first digest, for only $9, and I bet Brian Vaughan's writing will hook you. (And if such things matter, apparently Joss Whedon is a fan of this Buffy-esque but original comic.)
ASTRO CITY - I discovered Kurt Busiek's own private super-hero universe only in the past few months, reading the first and third TPBs, followed by last week's new special. Now I regret not trying it sooner. This is Busiek channeling the themes and fun of Silver Age Marvel and DC through his own vision, letting a bit of the real world seep in but never letting the fun seep out. His recreations of classic heroes are also characters who stand on their own two feet, characters that are easy to care about after only 22 pages. Currently, there is no monthly Astro City series, as Busiek prefers to write it in between gigs for Marvel and DC, but a "Guide to Astro City" is planned for the fall, as is a new TPB; and a new minseries, "The Dark Age" is coming next year.
BOOKS OF MAGICK: LIFE DURING WARTIME - It's Tim Hunter yet again, in a new series by British TV writer Si Spencer, with input from Neil Gaiman. Alas, this feels too much like a "Vertigo Comic," full of murky art and incoherent (and rather raunchy) storytelling, not gripping at all. Then again, that's always been my beef with Vertigo comics. That Batya - a longtime fan of Tim Hunter's career - is not too thrilled yet either is more telling. Time will tell, but my guess is that we won't be reading it for long.
Notice anything about this list? There's a lot less DC Universe on it than there used to be. I just noticed that now. How come? Well, SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT (readable but far from Mark Waid's best work) just ended, and I am not buying any Batman books just now. Still, I guess I have to admit that to some degree, DC has gotten stale.
Which brings me to my big two hopes for the upcoming months. First, Kurt Busiek will be the new writer on JLA. While his DC work has not been as sharp as his Marvel or Astro City writings, he showed a good feel for the JLA in last year's JLA/AVENGERS series. I expect he will do his best to keep things light, and to use all the Leaguers the right way. This won't be a reinvention of the JLA, but then I think most fans (myself included) just want to see the world's greatest super-heroes save the day.
Second, there's the new LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES comic, by the team of Mark Waid and Barry Kitson. Waid, as many of you know, is my favorite comic book writer. And while I haven't read Legion in some time, it was once my favorite comic, especially the last time Waid wrote it in the mid-90s. It's hard to see how the combination could go wrong, though Waid does have to deal with a lot of changes to the team since his first run, and with readers like myself who need to be caught up fast. Since I haven't read a Waid comic I didn't like (with the odd exception of his run on JLA), and since he and Kitson did wonders on last year's dark but gripping EMPIRE, I don't think I need worry much.
And now you know about my comic book reading habits this month. Unless you didn't click on the cut tag. See ya!
Some SPOILERS ahead!
IDENTITY CRISIS - If you follow DC, you are no doubt aware of this 7-part Big Event minseries, written by novelist Brad Meltzer and drawn by Rags Morales. And if you participate in any sort of online discussion of comic books, you probably know how controversial this story is. Indeed, the debates have grown so discordant that for the most part I am keeping for the rest of the run of the comic.
In short, though, the controversy might be well-earned, as is some of the praise. This tale seeks to cast DC's Silver Age heroes in a different (somewhat harsh) light, as one hero's wife is brutally murdered (possibly by the same villain who we learn also attacked her years ago); as we learn that some things our heroes did in the old days (what we call the Silver Age) were not so perfect; and as the DC Universe is looking a good deal grimmer. If you object to seeing old heroes written with irony and with bite and with never-before-seen flaws; or if you don't like seeing DC's super-heroes books turning unexpectedly dark and harsh; or if you are tired of seeing more wives and girlfriends of heroes killed , then this comic is not for you. Which is to say, the complaints about this story may be justified.
That said, Meltzer is a really good writer, better than many veteran full-time comic book writers. Batya had never met many of the characters we met in the first issue, but came to care immediately about Sue and Ralph Dibny (the first victim and her grieving super-hero husband). Meltzer also has a feel for making these characters interesting, even though I am not sure he is using their usual personalities. The notions that supervillains are not all buffoons, and that super-heroes have to make very difficult choices to operate effectively, are intriguing ones worth pursuing.
But three issues in, the double-sized $4 comics feel a bit padded, and the apparent murder of a second hero's ex-wife at the end of the third issue felt tawdry and lurid. (I do have reason to think, however, that what we thought we saw is not what actually happened. Assumong the rumor mill is accurate.) I really have no idea at this point if Meltzer is going to save the DC Universe from stagnation, or propel it towards a new stage of unrelenting darkness and doubt. I plan to read the next issue, still interested, but also not happy with the direction it seems to be going. Nonetheless, it's a hit, bringing in lots of new readers to DC, and it has fans talking.
ASTONISHING X-MEN - Or as we call it at home, X-Joss. I am not a fan of the X-Men. If almost anyone else were writing this, I wouldn't care. Indeed, I still don't like Wolverine much, or Emma Frost. But Joss Whedon is not "anyone else." He is doing a great job playing in the X-Universe, aided by some amazing artwork by John Cassady. There's an intriguing and unpredictable plot, and some amazing dialogue that is both perfect for the characters and what we expect from a Joss script. Joss clearly cares about these characters, and the interactions between them are great as well. What's more, I think that Joss is writing much of this for newbies and people like myself who last read an X-Men book when Reagan was president. The result is something that is accessible, entertaining, witty, fun, and gripping.
GOTHAM CENTRAL - Why aren't you reading this? It's possibly the best mainstream comic on the market, certainly the best comic set in the DC Universe, and its sales are around 10,000 a month. Don't you like a good police procedural? OK, I know some of you don't like super-heroes much, but Batman is not the star here. He's barely in it most months. This is a comic about cops, all of whom are fleshed out quite well by Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker (who alternate between the day and evening shifts). And the art by Michael Lark is brilliant. So why aren't you reading this?
FABLES - I know a lot of you are reading this. So I won't go on about how good it is. But if you missed out on it so far, the third trade paperback is coming soon, and it will include last year's "Last Castle" special.
FANTASTIC FOUR - The book is in a bit a slump of late, coming off a silly (if entertaining) Human Torch/Spider-Man team-up and a rather dull story focusing not on the FF but on their occasional enemies, the Frightful Four. But a new tale has just begun, and it looks like this book will get back on track again.
NIGHTWING - Oh, poor Dick Grayson. His worst enemy is dead, killed by a new super-heroine who thinks she's his partner and who has the hots for him in the worst way. He naturally feels awful, and seems to be getting worse. And he hasn't told Batman yet! A recipe for a bad comic book? Perhaps. Devin Grayson's run is showing signs of creative exhaustion, mixed with moments of really good storytelling. But the downfall of Nightwing can't go on much longer without losing me as a reader. Devin has four months, till issue 100, to resolve things.
FLASH - A fun comic, but writer Geoff Johns seems once again to be showing how much he loves to play with the Flash's enemies without using Flash himself effectively. I dropped this series before, only to come back when I was convinced that Johns knew what he's doing. But with other comics tempting me, that might not be enough.
RUNAWAYS - Another comic I think everyone should read but that no one is buying. Alas, the series is about to end. But as it's part of Marvel's line of comics and digests aimed at younger auidences (as its protagonists are teenagers), it's getting a well-earned second "season" next year. Track down the first digest, for only $9, and I bet Brian Vaughan's writing will hook you. (And if such things matter, apparently Joss Whedon is a fan of this Buffy-esque but original comic.)
ASTRO CITY - I discovered Kurt Busiek's own private super-hero universe only in the past few months, reading the first and third TPBs, followed by last week's new special. Now I regret not trying it sooner. This is Busiek channeling the themes and fun of Silver Age Marvel and DC through his own vision, letting a bit of the real world seep in but never letting the fun seep out. His recreations of classic heroes are also characters who stand on their own two feet, characters that are easy to care about after only 22 pages. Currently, there is no monthly Astro City series, as Busiek prefers to write it in between gigs for Marvel and DC, but a "Guide to Astro City" is planned for the fall, as is a new TPB; and a new minseries, "The Dark Age" is coming next year.
BOOKS OF MAGICK: LIFE DURING WARTIME - It's Tim Hunter yet again, in a new series by British TV writer Si Spencer, with input from Neil Gaiman. Alas, this feels too much like a "Vertigo Comic," full of murky art and incoherent (and rather raunchy) storytelling, not gripping at all. Then again, that's always been my beef with Vertigo comics. That Batya - a longtime fan of Tim Hunter's career - is not too thrilled yet either is more telling. Time will tell, but my guess is that we won't be reading it for long.
Notice anything about this list? There's a lot less DC Universe on it than there used to be. I just noticed that now. How come? Well, SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT (readable but far from Mark Waid's best work) just ended, and I am not buying any Batman books just now. Still, I guess I have to admit that to some degree, DC has gotten stale.
Which brings me to my big two hopes for the upcoming months. First, Kurt Busiek will be the new writer on JLA. While his DC work has not been as sharp as his Marvel or Astro City writings, he showed a good feel for the JLA in last year's JLA/AVENGERS series. I expect he will do his best to keep things light, and to use all the Leaguers the right way. This won't be a reinvention of the JLA, but then I think most fans (myself included) just want to see the world's greatest super-heroes save the day.
Second, there's the new LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES comic, by the team of Mark Waid and Barry Kitson. Waid, as many of you know, is my favorite comic book writer. And while I haven't read Legion in some time, it was once my favorite comic, especially the last time Waid wrote it in the mid-90s. It's hard to see how the combination could go wrong, though Waid does have to deal with a lot of changes to the team since his first run, and with readers like myself who need to be caught up fast. Since I haven't read a Waid comic I didn't like (with the odd exception of his run on JLA), and since he and Kitson did wonders on last year's dark but gripping EMPIRE, I don't think I need worry much.
And now you know about my comic book reading habits this month. Unless you didn't click on the cut tag. See ya!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: Aug. 27th, 2004 03:31 pm (UTC)*hugs*
LMG
Some thoughts.. Or ramblings.
Date: Aug. 30th, 2004 01:06 am (UTC)Runaways - I am! I picked it up when they had Cloak & Dagger. One more trade, and I'll have the whole set.. but it is really getting to a decent end point, i'd imagine. A second season would be nice.
As for interesting... You are reading Pulse, right? You did read Alias, and some of the other Bendis stuff? And dare I ask if you are reading Supreme Powers?
I'm also enjoying some of the Image comics- Phantom Jack for one...
This would be me enjoying way more Max & Knights line stuff.. I'm beginning to get way too long a pull list. Bad me.
Re: Some thoughts.. Or ramblings.
Date: Aug. 30th, 2004 02:16 am (UTC)