boyajian@akov68.DEC (Jerry Boyajian) (01/21/85)
Here is the second half of my latest comics reviews, covering DC and Marvel (the independents were covered in Part 1). Ratings for the comics reviewed are as according to the Mad Armenian Scale, a shameless rip-off of the Moriarty Scale, stolen out from under the very nose of the Napolean of Crime. Nyah-ah-ah!! ******************************************************************************** |=>A+< A veritable Classic. One of the best of All Time. Example: THE SPIRIT | |==>A< One of the best of the year. Ex: TEEN TITANS #39: "Who Is Donna Troy?" | |==>B< A very good issue, one of the best of the month. Example: CEREBUS | |==>C< A well done, entertaining issue. Satisfying. Example: JON SABLE | |==>D< Rather boring, or a few good spots mixed with more bad ones. Ex: ROM | |==>F< Boring AND stupid or childish. Example: MARVEL SUPERHEROES SECRET WARS | |==>Z< Actually offensive. Example: DAZZLER --- THE MOVIE GRAPHIC NOVEL #12 | ******************************************************************************** AMERICA VS. THE JUSTICE SOCIETY #4 [D+] This comic can be looked at on two levels. The first is that of a retrospective of the career of the JSA. As such, it is both interesting and worthwhile. However, this is done within the context of the second level, a story in which the JSA is faces a Congressional committee investigating allegations that the JSA were agents of Hitler during WWII. On this level, the framing story, the book really falls apart. As Bob Ingersoll, whose delightful column on law as portrayed in comics appears in THE COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE, points out, we have a hearing (not a trial), to which the JSA were brought in handcuffs. One doesn't arrest someone without charges being filed, and if charges are filed, then a *trial* follows, not a hearing. This is just the first of a bunch of legal idiocies in this comic. But even aside from all of this, I found the framing story to be dull, dull, dull. I'm afraid Roy Thomas blew it on this one. CAMELOT 3000 #12 [C-] In THE COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE, Don Thompson, in a review of the STAR- STRUCK graphic novel, came up with the perfect term for it --- a Ukrainian Easter Egg, which is, basicly, a beautiful work of art surrounding a rotten egg (meaning that the art is stunning, but the writing sucks). Now, I'm not suggesting that CAMELOT 3000 is another Ukranian Easter Egg (I agree with Thompson that STARSTRUCK is), but it's clear that the artwork here by Brian Bolland is *vastly* superior to the story by Mike Barr. It certainly makes for some enjoyable reading, but unfortunately, there are no surprises, except for maybe the fact that Barr has taken what is generally an unworkable concept and made it work to an acceptable degree. Maybe my appreciation has dulled with the passage of time, but I really feel that the later issues lacked the energy and enthusiasm of the earlier issues (perhaps Barr and Bolland just wanted to get it over with). At any rate, it's *still* worth picking up for the stupendous artwork by Bolland and Terry Austin. DETECTIVE COMICS #549 [C-] I've made no secret that I'm not especially taken with Doug Moench's work on the two Batman titles. This is a rare exception. Moench has put more feeling into the character of Harvey Bullock than has appeared in every other appearance of the character to date. Bullock is shown to be far more than the brutish slob that we were previously given to believe he was. Here he is a Jekyll and Hyde, with two distinct personas --- one for home and self, one for work and others. And the truly wonderful part of it is that, like Batman and Bruce Wayne or Superman and Clark Kent, we really don't know which persona is the "real" one, and which is the put on. A truly well-crafted tale; Moench's best on Batman. GREEN LANTERN #187 [C- (because of artwork)] I confess that the reason I picked this issue up (I haven't been reading this title for a while) is two-fold. The more immediate reason was becasue the back-up "Tales of the Green Lantern Corp" story was by Mike Baron and Marshall Rogers. The other reason was so that I could ease a little more into the comic when, starting next issue, it's picked up by Steve Englehart and Joe Staton. I was a bit disappointed in the Tales story. Rogers here uses the cartoony style that he fostered for CAPTAIN QUICK, which is not necessarily a bad thing, since it's still good art, and it *does* fit the characters here, though less so than in CQ. Baron turns in a semi-silly story that exudes a certain charm, but that charm doesn't really last after the end. I *was*, however, positively surprised by the lead story. Bill Willingham turns in an art job here that is distinctly his own, and yet, all the characters look just as they have since Neal Adams started drawing the book 15 years ago. It's almost hard to believe that the inker here (Rich Rankin) is the same one who turns in much less exciting job on THE ELEMENTALS. Anyways, the story by Paul Kupperberg isn't terrific, more or less just marking time till Englehart arrives. But, there are some intri- guing things going on with some of the characters. If you, like I, stopped reading GL for a while, you might want to give it another look. FANTASTIC FOUR #277 [C+] Byrne has done it. When he took over the FF almost 50 issues ago, I didn't care all that much for the stories, even if I did like the art. Over the course of time, the writing improved, and my admiration for it grew (I must say, though, that the art had started deteriorating, though it picked up again, especially with the addition of inkers Al Gordon and Jerry Ordway). With the last few issues, though, I'll go on the record that FF is now one of Marvel's top books (right behind DOCTOR STRANGE, POWER PACK, and THOR). Byrne tells two stories here, with a method that I can remember being done before only once (by Vaughan Bode, in a Cheech Wizard comic). One story is told on the top half of the page, while the other is told on the bottom. The latter story isn't great shakes, though it does introduce some major ramifications in the characters. This is why I didn't give a higher rating. It's the "top" story that takes the cake, though. In a way, it's really three stories, only one of which is mundane. First, we have the Thing coming back from space, and finding out about Johnny and Alicia. Byrne handles this with pathos and integrity. Then, Ben and Johnny get involved with the final fight with the Wraiths. Once this is over with, we have the touching scene in which She-Hulk prepares to leave the FF now that Ben's back. You can guess which part I thought was mundane. I've always liked FANTASTIC FOUR, but it's never been one of my favorites. Now it is. Byrne has done it. KITTY PRYDE AND WOLVERINE #6 [C-] Despite the lackluster art by Milgrom, and a story that, quite frankly, isn't one of Claremont's best, this comic has proved to be a fairly interesting read. I'd like to say that there were no surprises here, but I do admit that I was wrong. I expected that Kitty would end up killing Ogun to save Logan, but that turned out not to be the case. And it's com- pletely consistent with the character. If nothing else, what impresses me most about this series is that it makes for a major development in the character of Kitty, which doesn't just go away at the end. This story concerns what is probably *the* most significant episode in her life (except for maybe joining the X-Men), and its effect on her maturation and growth is profound. It's not quite up to the earlier Wolverine mini-series, but it's certainly one of the best mini-series to come along since they started a few years ago. MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS #12 [F] Boy, this is a month for wrap ups, eh? Well, after one long arduous year filled with torture, we are finally given an end to the pain (more of a respite, I suppose, since SWII is due in April). No surprises. No thrills. No characterization. No redeeming values, except that it wasn't as bad as the Dazzler graphic novel. Trees died for this? MOONSHADOW #1 [C- ??] This is a rather hard comic to really pin down. It's different, weird, charming, weird, pretty, weird, and bizarre. And to top it all off, it's weird. I'm not sure what to make of it. I like it, though. THE NEW MUTANTS #27 [C+] Well, the vote is finally in, as far as this particular comics reader is concerned. During a year of being treated to the rather strange and stylized artwork of Bill Sienkiewicz, opinions flew as to the quality and/or appropriateness of it. Up till now, I've been of the feeling that the art, *as art*, was great, a true alternative to the sameness of most comics art, but at the same time, I've felt that this style wan't right for this type of comic in general and this book in particular. While I still question the appropriateness of the artwork, I've decided that all-in-all, it's been a positive influence on this book. While McLeod, Buscema, and Mandrake worked on it, it was just another super- hero team comic. But Sienkiewicz's impressionistic art has made Claremont a lot more creative. Just as Sienkiewicz has been daring and innovative in his art, Claremont has been daring and innovative in his stories. A hint of this was given in the Demon Bear issues, strengthened in the Cloak & Dagger issues, and confirmed in this current story about David Haller/Legion. The child (NEW MUTANTS) has finally surpassed the parent (X-MEN). THOR #354 [C-] Well, this is more or less just a breather issue, a sort of rest following near-Ragnarok. As such, it isn't all that exciting, not do major developments occur, except for the brief epilogue, in which Don Blake is finally laid to rest. What's most intriguing is the brief bit which links up the events in THOR with those in ROM. Beta Ray Bill just barely finishes leading the Asgardians in battle with Surtur's minions when he's off with the Avengers to fight the Dire Wraiths. A superhero's work is never done, I guess. --- jayembee (Jerry Boyajian, DEC, Maynard, MA) UUCP: {decvax|ihnp4|allegra|ucbvax|...}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-akov68!boyajian ARPA: boyajian%akov68.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA
boyajian@akov68.DEC (JERRY BOYAJIAN) (06/24/85)
Reviewed this time around: ALL-STAR SQUADRON #49 STIG'S INFERNO #4 THE WEST COAST AVENGERS #1 DRAGONFLY #1 SUPER POWERS #1 THE VISION AND THE SCARLET THE NEW MUTANTS #32 VALENTINO #1 WITCH #1 SOLOMON KANE #1 DETECTIVE COMICS #554 (out of sequence) Ratings for the comics reviewed are as according to the Mad Armenian Scale, a shameless rip-off of the Moriarty Scale, stolen out from under the very nose of the Napoleon of Crime. Nyah-ah-ah!! "For a critic, it's better to have wrong standards than none at all." -- Elmer Allyn Craft ******************************************************************************** |=>A+< A veritable Classic. One of the best of All Time. Example: THE SPIRIT | |==>A< One of the best of the year. Ex: TEEN TITANS #38: "Who Is Donna Troy?" | |==>B< A very good issue, one of the best of the month. Example: CEREBUS | |==>C< A well done, entertaining issue. Satisfying. Example: JON SABLE | |==>D< Rather boring, or a few good spots mixed with more bad ones. Ex: ROM | |==>F< Boring AND stupid or childish. Example: MARVEL SUPERHEROES SECRET WARS | |==>Z< Actually offensive. Example: DAZZLER --- THE MOVIE GRAPHIC NOVEL #12 | ******************************************************************************** DRAGONFLY #1 [Americomics, $1.75] D+ [with a B for effort] I figured that between MS. VICTORY and NIGHTVEIL, I'd sampled all of the standard Americomics I needed to (or could without upchucking). DRAGONFLY, however, like POWER PLAYS, is "creator-owned" and just published/distributed by Americomics, so I thought it might be safe enough. The creator in this case is Rik Levins, and he's got a pretty good concept on his hands. It seems that in the universe of this comic, there was an earlier, male Dragonfly, who gained his powers through a mystic ritual invoking an insect god of some sort. In the present, an engineer for whom the occult is a hobby, comes across the diary of the original Dragonfly, and attempts to repeat the ritual. Unfortunately, right at the crucial moment, his fiancee walks in, and *she* gains the Dragonfly powers. So now we have a woman who's got these powers, but she's not sure just what she can do or how much. Plus there are a few other complications that come with it. The script and art are uneven --- at times they're very pedes- trian, at other times, they shine (I'll confess that part of the reason I thought of giving this a try is that Dragonfly's outfit is pretty sharp). But Levins is putting a good honest effort into this, and he does have talent that's worth developing (moreso in the art department --- if he plotted and pencilled, and had a good writer and inker, this book could be really good). I'll stick this one for a while, as well as look for Dragonfly's previous appearance in AMERICOMICS #4. THE NEW MUTANTS #32 [Marvel, $.65] D- A very nice cover by Steve Leialoha, with very uneven interiors by same. As for the story, well, Dark Claremont rides again! I wish the hell he'd clean up his act. THE NEW MUTANTS is sliding downhill faster and faster with each issue. SOLOMON KANE #1 [Marvel, mini-series, $1.25] C+ Solomon Kane is another of Robert E. Howard's sword-and-sorcery heroes, though instead of being a barbarian in a time-lost land, he's a Puritan who travels around 16th Century Europe on a mission for God. I've always been more fond of Kane than any of Howard's other heroes, and I'd always hoped that we'd get a decent comic featuring him one day. He *has* appeared here and there in some of the black-&-white magazines of the early to mid 70's, as well as a couple of issues of MARVEL PREMIERE (by Chaykin). This first issue of a 6-issue mini-series adapts the story "Red Shad- ows", which was done once before (by Chaykin, if memory serves), but that's OK, it's done better here than it was before. It's been a while since I read the original story (I must re-read the collection one of these days), so I can't tell how faithful the adaptation is, but I can say that it *feels* right. While I have some minor quibbles, Ralph Macchio has a good grasp of the char- acter, and the Steve Carr/Bret Blevins art is quite suitable (it can't match the Alan Weiss and Neal Adams work that graced previous Kane appearances, but I certainly won't hold *that* against it). Future issues will be mixing adaptations and originals. Whatever, I'll be looking forward to them. STIG'S INFERNO [Vortex, b&w, $1.75] B- No doubt about it. Now that the AMBUSH BUG mini-series is over, STIG'S INFERNO is back to being the funniest comic book on the market. I urge you to try it, just for laughs. SUPER POWERS [DC, mini-series, $.75] F It's bad enough that Marvel had to inflict SECRET WARS II on us. Now, DC inflicts a second SUPER POWERS mini-series on us. Gag me with a smurf. The Kirby/Theakston art isn't too bad, actually, maybe even better than it has been recently. But the story is awesomely awful. Picking up where the HUNGER DOGS graphic novel ends, we have Darkseid once again up to no good --- this time, attempting to remake Earth in Apokolips image. A bit of warning (if the above wasn't already enough!): the heroes in this comic seem to be more derived from the SUPER FRIENDS cartoon show then the DC multiverse --- Hal Jordan is Green Lantern, and Dr. Fate is hanging around. Also, they meet in the "Hall of Justice". VALENTINO #1 [Renegade, b&w, $1.70] D+ Short autobiographical stories by the writer/artist of NORMALMAN. Interesting, but forgetable. The best piece was the one about his grandmother's death of cancer. Having had a father go from the same, I can say that it struck me right at home, but others may find it too depressing. For completists only. THE WEST COAST AVENGERS #1 & THE VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #1 [Marvel, $1.25] Both: D+ [Marvel, maxi-series, $1.25] Lo! how the mighty are fallen. In the 70's, Steve Englehart was a writer to be reckoned with, considered then to be one of the best in the business. Now, his stories seem to just limp along, competent at best. And these books are no exceptions. I'm reviewing them together since they are tied together (along with the next issue of each). Ultron is back, along with a few other old-time baddies, and the objects of their hunt are the two embodiments of Simon Williams: Wonder Man and The Vision (this might give you a clue to who Ultron's ally is). Two minor comments: (1) I must say that I was quite taken aback when Wanda gave Gyrich "the arm" in TV&TSW. (2) What DC does, Marvel does better --- Black Canary gets an awful new outfit, and Iron Man gets an even awfuller new one. God, that is the *ugliest* costume I've *ever* seen! DETECTIVE COMICS #554 [DC, $.75] D+ Welllllll.... the Canary's new outfit isn't *that* bad. I suspect that it'll grow on me (those "wings" really have to go, though). It's amusing that the cover says "For the FIRST time anywhere...the ALL-NEW BLACK CANARY", when this new outfit has already shown up in WHO'S WHO and CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. That's alright, though, since Marvel did *this* better, too. Iron Man's new armor, which is to be the big revelation in #200, has already appeared in THE WEST COAST AVENGERS #1, as well as ads for SECRET WARS II #4. --- jayembee (Jerry Boyajian, DEC, Maynard, MA) UUCP: {decvax|ihnp4|allegra|ucbvax|...}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-akov68!boyajian ARPA: boyajian%akov68.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA soon to be: boyajian%akov68.DEC@DECWRL.COM