moriarty@fluke.UUCP (The Napoleon of Crime) (09/30/85)
Reviewed here:
STAR TREK SISTERHOOD OF STEEL WORDSMITH
CEREBUS LOVE & ROCKETS
ROCKETEER GRAPHIC NOVEL
-------------------
STAR TREK #21 [C-]:
Not a great issue, but Bob Rozakis does a good job. What I
particularly liked was that they let the readers know what was
coming up on the horizon for Star Trek, and the next four issues
promise to make up for the last set of mediocre stories: two
issues with Tony Isabella (who has long been one of my favorite
authors) bring back the Jack the Ripper story, and two issues by
Diane Duane, one of the few writers writing new Trek novels that I
enjoy. Hope springs eternal...
SISTERHOOD OF STEEL #6 [C]:
One of the most consistent comics in quality I've seen. Reads like
a good drama. I'm also glad that magic does not seem to be a
reality in this story's dimension -- Christy Marx proves that good
writing is an excellent substitute for fantastic doings. I've heard
rumors that this book is going south -- hope it isn't true.
WORDSMITH #1 [D-]:
Deni Loubert claims that this is the beginning of a new wave in the
comics field -- stories without fantastic overtones. She claims
that this should be no hurdle to overcome -- other forms of
entertainment doesn't have the incredible attributes most comics
do. Well, I have absolutely no qualms with this statement, and I'd
back it up 100%; but before I ever buy another issue of Wordsmith,
I will want to make sure that the characters who are being
portrayed ARE entertaining, because this prototype issue does not
have that quality. It seems a fine slice-of-life story set in the
early thirties; but my interest in pulp magazines does not extend
far enough to keep me interested in what is being said here -- and
what is being discussed is usually pulp magazines. I do enjoy the
sequences with the main character trying to get his characters out
of a spot, but after the second or third one, it all seems a bit
stilted. Renegade press seems to have little going for it other
than MS. TREE & NEIL THE HORSE these days...
CEREBUS #77 [C]:
Well, I'm not sure what to call this; I mean, do aardvarks **** in
the woods? No, the piss on the bed...
LOVE AND ROCKETS #13 [A-]:
13 is not an unlucky number here: while none of the stories here
are really up to `A' status, almost every one is a `B+', and I think
that deserves some credit. One of the best Locus stories I've ever
seen (which is saying a hell of a lot); the emergence of a "Young
Locus" series (once again, an "Archie" parallel, i.e. the old "Little
Archie" series); "An American in Palomar", certainly a new way of
looking at a very familiar bunch of people; and a preview of a new
series called "Lloyd Llewellyn", drawn completely in that "cool"
1960's style graphics (a good example is the opening credits for
the "Mr. Lucky" show). A real time warp experience, and I am
enjoying it immensely. So much good stuff in one package is a
treat...
THE ROCKETEER GRAPHIC NOVEL [C if you have the comics; B+
otherwise]:
The first Graphic Novel worth $7.95. And more. Jerry said it all in
his review, and I'll leave it at that (though Ellison cannot help being a
jackass in at least one part of the intro; it is probably genetic...).
"Actually one of the biggest reasons I have for
doing Cerebus is to give wives and girlfriends of
comics fans at least one comic book they can read."
-- Dave Sim
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
ARPA: fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPA
UUCP: {uw-beaver, sun, allegra, sb6, lbl-csam}!fluke!moriarty
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