moriarty@fluke.UUCP (The Napoleon of Crime) (02/24/86)
REVIEWED IN THIS ARTICLE:
X-MEN JON SABLE ADVENTURES OF THE OUTSIDERS
THE NEW TEEN TITANS ELECTRIC WARRIOR MISTER X
TIMESPIRITS THE SHADOW DAREDEVIL
DAKOTA NORTH ACTION FIRESTAR
PUNISHER FASHION IN ACTION THE OUTSIDERS
DEADMAN THREAT! NORMALMAN 3-D ANNUAL
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"There *are* standards. If you can't see one, you *make* one and stick to
it come Hell or high water -- until you see a BETTER one."
-John Gaunt
"Well, if you can't believe what you read in a comic book, what *can*
you believe?!"
-Bullwinkle J. Moose
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|==>A< One of the best of the year. Example: ZOT #8 |
|==>B< A very good issue, one of the best of the month (usually 6/month) |
|==>C< A well done, entertaining issue. Satisfying. Example: Jon Sable |
|==>D< Boring, but with a few good points. Example: SQUADRON SUPREME |
|==>F< Boring AND stupid or childish. Example: Secret Wars. |
|==>Z< Actually offensive. Example: Several of Haney's UNKNOWN SOLDIERs |
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X-MEN #205 [C-]:
Yes, the art is very nice, but I feel like I'm missing out on something here.
Who is Lady Deathstrike? I don't remember from any of the previous X-Men
or the Kitty & Wolverine mini-series. *Grumble* *Grumble* The X-Men
are so popular that Marvel tries to spread them over as many comics as
possible, thus screwing up any character development in their own mag.
JON SABLE #36 [C+]:
I'm not sure I like Grell's new heavier-inked style; however, it contrasts
Sable's final portrait very nicely. And besides, I read this book for the
characters and the way the book moves graphically (close-ups of faces in a
variety of lighting). It's a pleasant change from other books, at the very
least.
ADVENTURES OF THE OUTSIDERS #33 [C-]:
Alan Davis's artwork keeps this from boredom, but, really, Adolph Hitler
AGAIN?! The poor sod has been re-animated so many time's, he must leave
a wake-call with his answering service! Finally, didn't you look at the
cover and wonder why the Outsiders were staking out a McDonald's
franchise?
THE NEW TEEN TITANS #20 [C+]:
This is the best issue of the Titans in a while, though I don't feel it's as
good as several other reviewers have. Much of what goes on will not have
a great deal of impact if you never read the old Titans books (which
weren't very good, for the most part); and the cliffhanger, with the
combination of intent to kill and a paternity suit, must interest Robert
Ingersoll no end. Still, much better than what has gone on lately. I still
want Perez back, though (greedy bugger that I am).
ELECTRIC WARRIOR #1[D]:
The problem with Doug Moench is that he really needs good art to match
his plots. His best stuff has been intricate mystery or science fiction, and
always he has someone capable of making the thing interesting to look at
(Gulacy, Rogers, Zeck) -- once that's done, and a mood is set, then the
reader is prepared to take the time to digest Moench's somewhat flowery
dialogue and speech. Unfortunately, ELECTRIC WARRIOR's art (by Jim
Baikie) looks like something out of a forties Sunday Comic page -- it is
VERY static, and gives it an antique feeling, instead of the decaying-future
feel you'd want for such a plot.
MISTER X #6 [D-]:
I'd rate it higher except that I can remember what it was like under Los
Brothers Hernadez -- that really makes it look shabby.
TIMESPIRITS #8 [B-]:
This is a book I'm going to miss, if for no other reason than the kind of
weird tomfoolery of a trout introducing the story, and the final curtain
scene. An excellent example of the kind of good comics Archie Goodwin
brought to the Epic Line.
THE SHADOW #1 [B+]:
Hoo-hah! It is so much fun to watch Chaykin take fifteen disparate plot
threads (each presented in their own sequence) and put them together. Old
fans familiar with the pulps and comics will pick up on what's going on a
little faster than Shadow neophytes, but by the end of the first book it's
clear. Great stinger of an ending and beginning, and Chaykin's art is as
good, if not better, than FLAGG! here (he seems to be dispensing with the
use of ziptone in THE SHADOW). I can see, already, that this is going to be
an interesting four issues (wonder if Shaka Khan shows up at any point?
His (and The Shadow's) home is shown at the very beginning of this issue).
Finally, doesn't the tall guy bothering Mavis at work look a lot like Jim
Shooter?
DAREDEVIL #231 [B+]:
A lot of people have been talking about how moving the ending to this issue
is. I don't know about that, but I'll tell you, one of the most intense scenes
in comics has to be Ben Urich's wife strangling in the bathtub, and his
desperate, clumsy efforts to get her down. Miller turned Urich from a
minor character into something more on his first stint with the book, and
he is continuing the development here. Still, the best part of the book is
the relentless building of Matt's return. The juxtaposition of the Kingpin's
plans for destroying Matt and Matt's workout in the gym are excellent; and
after the extremely downbeat "hell and back" scenes of the last few
issues, this story has an "underdog on the way up" feeling I never got from
any of the Rocky movies. Very powerful, very good.
DAKOTA NORTH #1 [C-]:
Yeah, the story doesn't strike me as too hot either, and some of it is just
ridiculous, but much of the dialogue is sterling, and the North family
reminds me (somewhat) of the bizarre families you used to find in forties
screwball comedies. I'll give it an issue or two more.
ACTION #579 [D+]:
OK, if you're going to do a tribute to a wonderful comic, at least have the
good sense not to just copy the jokes from the tributed comic in the first
place. That's tacky. On the other hand, if this book gets just one person to
read ASTERIX comics, it'll be worth it (especially to the person who starts
reading them).
FIRESTAR #4 [C-]:
I'm almost ready to laud this because it didn't end terribly, as so many
Marvel mini-series do. Nothing splendid, but not bad.
PUNISHER #5 [F]:
Can you say "rushed". Sure you can! Can you say "Abort"? Wish Shooter
could!
SCOUT #4 [Fashion in Action: C]:
I haven't read the Scout lead stories for the last three issues, so I can't
comment on Truman's work, but FASHION IN ACTION should be given its
own book soon, so that SCOUT can die an undisturbed death.
THE OUTSIDERS #8 [B-]:
Goodnight, X-Men. I have found another to take your place.
DEADMAN #3 [C]:
While this hasn't had the most even plotline in the world, it has, all-in-all,
been pretty good. I look forward to the conclusion in the next issue.
THREAT! #1 [D; Enigma Funnies: F]:
I'm not crazy about books divided up into several stories. At best, most of
these can be seen as derivative of either Los Brothers Hernandez (Jaime in
particular), GrimJack, and American Flagg! (Bob Violence --> Bob
Mercenary). None of these strips, I think, could make it on their own, and
together doesn't help things any.
NORMALMAN 3-D Annual [C+]:
I'm not sure what I liked most, the destruction of the Multi-Verse or the
excellent 3-D work by Ray Zone, or maybe I just enjoy stupidly happy
endings. Probably the latter. Besides, Valentino assures us that a sequel
is impossible (praise Tarim!)
"Tune in again next week, same time, same station,
when Nick Danger meets.... The Arab!"
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
ARPA: fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPA
UUCP: {uw-beaver, sun, allegra, sb6, lbl-csam}!fluke!moriarty
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