We've all seen the pattern over and over in super-hero comics: the villain defeats the hero, the hero comes back from the jaws of defeat, the villain starts scheming his next great masterplan to destroy his nemesis. Whether it is Superman and Luthor, Batman and the Joker, or Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, the result is always a never-ending struggle that neither hero nor villain can win. Seems kind of pointless, doesn't it?
In the latest Astro City Special (The Eagle and the Mountain) from Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson (with a snazzy Alex Ross cover), Samaritan and his arch-nemesis, the immortal Infidel, have worked out a pretty unique solution to this eternal problem. They quit trying. Having realized that they just can't get rid of each other, can't win with any finality, they end the cycle of pointless rematches by calling a truce. Infidel minds his own business, living in extravagant luxury, but not enslaving the human race or conquering the world. Samaritan continues to fight the good fight, defending humanity, but leaving Infidel to his own devices.
Once a year these two arch-enemies meet for a civilized meal and discussion of their respective philosophies. Of course, each is constantly gauging the other for signs of weakness, signs that maybe they could finally get the edge needed to win once and for all. The fight goes on, but without all the pointless property damage and violence. Not a bad way to deal with a stalemate, really.
Kurt Busiek is a great writer of "traditional" super-hero stories, but he can always be relied upon to find a slightly different way of looking at the world of heroes and villains. Would a super-genius villain waste his time and energy with endless rematches, just asking for another beat down from the hero? Probably not, which is what makes this deeper look at two Astro City characters so interesting and thought-provoking. Busiek has also put this tale together in such a way that it absolutely doesn't matter if you have ever read an Astro City comic before. I hadn't, and I had no problem totally enjoying this self-contained story. Brent Anderson's art is perfect for this kind of in-depth character study. His work may not be as flashy as some, but his ability to tell a story and create characters who feel real is rock-solid.
So, if you've ever wondered WHY the Joker goes looking to get a Bat-fist in his face over and over again, this Astro City Special is well worth your time. Great art, great characters, and a done-in-one tale. What's not to love? Just look out for the reality-altering booby trap your arch-nemesis has cleverly disguised as an advertisement on page 7! And the fact that this is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week is NOT just some sort of plot to lure you out in the open. Honest!
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
An Excellent Jumping On Point: Justice League of America #0
Any time you put a group of people together, there are bound to be conflicts. Whether you are talking about a family, a band, or a team, it is simply inevitable that there will be trouble. Sometimes the tough spots make your group stronger, and sometimes they make it fall apart. So if your brother's band or your little league team have problems, imagine how much worse it would be for a group of super-powered heroes, aliens, and Amazons!
That's exactly what Brad Meltzer and an all-star artist jam are thinking about in Justice League of America #0. (Doesn't the zero issue concept mean that this book doesn't actually exist in our reality? Is it made from anti-matter? Should I read this with lead-lined gloves?) This issue doesn't really have a linear storyline. Instead, it jumps around in time and shows us many of the highs and lows in the League's history. In particular, how those highs and lows are mirrored in the relationship of DC's Big Three: Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
This issue is a good jumping on point for someone like me, not really a big DC reader, because I learned everything I needed to know about the League to be interested in what happens next. I imagine that long-time DC fans will appreciate some of the details that slipped past me, but I didn't feel left out of the story. Meltzer's character vignettes have something for every reader, new and old alike.
There is a huge roster of artists on this book, and each one is given an era to illustrate that best matches their style. This gives a distinctly different feel to each era of the League's history represented in this issue. Whatever your artistic preferences, you will find something you like here. Sometimes, the art changes from panel to panel as the time-shifts occur more frequently, which is a really neat way of handling the whole flashback thing without using the wavy lines trick from '80s sitcoms.
Justice League of America #0 gives readers a nifty, self-contained history, while looking forward to the future. If you are interested in where the League has been and, especially, where it is going, you really should pick up this (non-existant) issue now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. Just don't forget to share it with your family and friends, you wouldn't want to start a fight!
That's exactly what Brad Meltzer and an all-star artist jam are thinking about in Justice League of America #0. (Doesn't the zero issue concept mean that this book doesn't actually exist in our reality? Is it made from anti-matter? Should I read this with lead-lined gloves?) This issue doesn't really have a linear storyline. Instead, it jumps around in time and shows us many of the highs and lows in the League's history. In particular, how those highs and lows are mirrored in the relationship of DC's Big Three: Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
This issue is a good jumping on point for someone like me, not really a big DC reader, because I learned everything I needed to know about the League to be interested in what happens next. I imagine that long-time DC fans will appreciate some of the details that slipped past me, but I didn't feel left out of the story. Meltzer's character vignettes have something for every reader, new and old alike.
There is a huge roster of artists on this book, and each one is given an era to illustrate that best matches their style. This gives a distinctly different feel to each era of the League's history represented in this issue. Whatever your artistic preferences, you will find something you like here. Sometimes, the art changes from panel to panel as the time-shifts occur more frequently, which is a really neat way of handling the whole flashback thing without using the wavy lines trick from '80s sitcoms.
Justice League of America #0 gives readers a nifty, self-contained history, while looking forward to the future. If you are interested in where the League has been and, especially, where it is going, you really should pick up this (non-existant) issue now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. Just don't forget to share it with your family and friends, you wouldn't want to start a fight!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Your teacher's a super-hero? Sensational Spider-Man #28
Teachers are SO cool! How much closer can you get to real-life superheroes? Teachers fight the good fight every day to improve lives, fight ignorance, and make the world a better place. Plus, teachers tend to be both intelligent and good-looking. Ummm, am I giving away what I do for a living here? OK, let's move on before someone starts throwing spitballs.
Even if you don't think teachers are the coolest people around, you should still get a kick out of Marvel's Sensational Spider-Man #28 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Clayton Crain. If you've been hiding out in your underground lair for the last few months, you may have missed the fact that Spider-Man recently unmasked himself for all the world to see in Civil War. The first question most fans asked about this unmasking was, "How does this change Peter Parker's life?" This issue addresses that question, but looks even more deeply at how Pete's unveiling changes the lives of those around him. Particularly, the people around Peter that we've never thought much about before.
Jordan Harrison is a pretty typical high school kid. He works hard to keep up his grades, even though they aren't always great. He daydreams about his lab partner, who is a "total hottie." He worries about getting into a good college, so he can become a Marine Biologist someday. And his favorite teacher, his Biology teacher, is a guy named Parker who just made a big splash on the news wearing his Spider-Man tights. That is a big step for Spidey and a REALLY big deal for Jordan.
For the naysayers out there who were worried that Marvel would backpedal, failing to give the unmasking story the follow-through it deserved, this issue should help you to unclench just a bit. Clearly, this story is going to have huge ramifications, and they start here. Aguirre-Sacasa gives readers a great, self-contained story. Jordan, and his fellow students, are believable. Pete's first "unmasked" run-in with an old sparring partner is worth the price of admission all by itself. Clayton Crain's art is always amazing in the level of detail and realism he brings to a story. His images really seem to jump off the page. I always enjoy Crain's work, but I think it is even better than usual in this book, since there is less of the dark quality that sometimes makes his art hard to see.
Are we still paying attention class? This is a fun book, tied into major Marvel Universe events, but with a totally done-in-one story. Don't make me keep you after class, read Sensational Spider-Man #28 while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. And don't forget to thank a teacher today!
Even if you don't think teachers are the coolest people around, you should still get a kick out of Marvel's Sensational Spider-Man #28 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Clayton Crain. If you've been hiding out in your underground lair for the last few months, you may have missed the fact that Spider-Man recently unmasked himself for all the world to see in Civil War. The first question most fans asked about this unmasking was, "How does this change Peter Parker's life?" This issue addresses that question, but looks even more deeply at how Pete's unveiling changes the lives of those around him. Particularly, the people around Peter that we've never thought much about before.
Jordan Harrison is a pretty typical high school kid. He works hard to keep up his grades, even though they aren't always great. He daydreams about his lab partner, who is a "total hottie." He worries about getting into a good college, so he can become a Marine Biologist someday. And his favorite teacher, his Biology teacher, is a guy named Parker who just made a big splash on the news wearing his Spider-Man tights. That is a big step for Spidey and a REALLY big deal for Jordan.
For the naysayers out there who were worried that Marvel would backpedal, failing to give the unmasking story the follow-through it deserved, this issue should help you to unclench just a bit. Clearly, this story is going to have huge ramifications, and they start here. Aguirre-Sacasa gives readers a great, self-contained story. Jordan, and his fellow students, are believable. Pete's first "unmasked" run-in with an old sparring partner is worth the price of admission all by itself. Clayton Crain's art is always amazing in the level of detail and realism he brings to a story. His images really seem to jump off the page. I always enjoy Crain's work, but I think it is even better than usual in this book, since there is less of the dark quality that sometimes makes his art hard to see.
Are we still paying attention class? This is a fun book, tied into major Marvel Universe events, but with a totally done-in-one story. Don't make me keep you after class, read Sensational Spider-Man #28 while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. And don't forget to thank a teacher today!
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Everybody loves H.A.T.E.! Nextwave #6
For comic book fans, Summer means huge crossovers, blockbuster movies and loads of promotional hoopla. This is all well and good, but it's also important to remember the great comics that don't get caught up in the media's gigantic PR machine. CNN may get all excited about Superman, Spidey's press conference, and the new Batwoman's sexual preferences, but, for some reason, they don't seem to care about H.A.T.E.! Get with the program, people!
As far as I'm concerned, EVERYONE should love H.A.T.E.-especially Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.! In case you have been missing out, Nextwave is a hilarious, action-packed spectacle of madness from the demented minds of writer Warren Ellis and penciler Stuart Immonen. It is also one of the craziest things ever published by Marvel Comics. It isn't always easy for one of the Big Two publishers to let creative minds just go mad with their toys, but, when they do, readers should take notice.
In this issue, our rogue agents of H.A.T.E. have a titanic throw-down with their former boss: the homicidal, suicidal, brain-damaged, lizard jerky chewing, cross-dressing, tooth grinding, Dirk Anger. The weapons in Anger's arsenal are fearsome indeed! He throws the robotic warriors of Samuroid Batch 23 at them! He unleashes the terrible Pteromen! He sends forth the scuttling horror of the Homicide Crabs! He may even release the Neo-Hyde Gutspawn (They eat girls, you know.)! How will our heroes survive? Since this is Nextwave, you know copious quantities of explosions and kicking will be involved. Oh, and there is a robot in a bra. How can anyone resist that?
Nextwave not only packs a ton of fun into every issue, it also makes sure that the fun is accessible for new readers. The stories are told in one or two issue bites, and there is a brilliantly funny primer page at the front of every issue to tell new readers anything they might need to know. The writing is (as you might expect from Warren Ellis) incredibly clever and loaded with twisted characters that make this book unique. Immonen's art is also stylish and action-packed. If you are a fan of crazy, over the top action, Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. will deliver in a big way.
So if your summer fun is fading in the aftermath of all the big movies and huge comic book crossovers, Nextwave #6 is just the breath of exciting fresh air you need. Don't miss out on all the H.A.T.E.-filled awesomeness! H.A.T.E. does it all for you! Show some appreciation and kick back with a fresh pack of pep-filled Lizard Zoom Sticks and the latest issue of Nextwave. You won't make Dirk Anger happy, but you might make him slightly less enraged. Isn't that the least you can do, after everything H.A.T.E. has done for you?
As far as I'm concerned, EVERYONE should love H.A.T.E.-especially Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.! In case you have been missing out, Nextwave is a hilarious, action-packed spectacle of madness from the demented minds of writer Warren Ellis and penciler Stuart Immonen. It is also one of the craziest things ever published by Marvel Comics. It isn't always easy for one of the Big Two publishers to let creative minds just go mad with their toys, but, when they do, readers should take notice.
In this issue, our rogue agents of H.A.T.E. have a titanic throw-down with their former boss: the homicidal, suicidal, brain-damaged, lizard jerky chewing, cross-dressing, tooth grinding, Dirk Anger. The weapons in Anger's arsenal are fearsome indeed! He throws the robotic warriors of Samuroid Batch 23 at them! He unleashes the terrible Pteromen! He sends forth the scuttling horror of the Homicide Crabs! He may even release the Neo-Hyde Gutspawn (They eat girls, you know.)! How will our heroes survive? Since this is Nextwave, you know copious quantities of explosions and kicking will be involved. Oh, and there is a robot in a bra. How can anyone resist that?
Nextwave not only packs a ton of fun into every issue, it also makes sure that the fun is accessible for new readers. The stories are told in one or two issue bites, and there is a brilliantly funny primer page at the front of every issue to tell new readers anything they might need to know. The writing is (as you might expect from Warren Ellis) incredibly clever and loaded with twisted characters that make this book unique. Immonen's art is also stylish and action-packed. If you are a fan of crazy, over the top action, Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. will deliver in a big way.
So if your summer fun is fading in the aftermath of all the big movies and huge comic book crossovers, Nextwave #6 is just the breath of exciting fresh air you need. Don't miss out on all the H.A.T.E.-filled awesomeness! H.A.T.E. does it all for you! Show some appreciation and kick back with a fresh pack of pep-filled Lizard Zoom Sticks and the latest issue of Nextwave. You won't make Dirk Anger happy, but you might make him slightly less enraged. Isn't that the least you can do, after everything H.A.T.E. has done for you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
