moriarty@fluke.UUCP (The Napoleon of Crime) (05/06/85)
THIS MONTH: [Jerry suggested a brief header summary; excellent idea]
- DAREDEVIL #220 (Death of Heather)
- THREE GREAT HUMOR MAGS: AMBUSH BUG, MEGATON MAN, AND JOURNEY
- STAR TREK: BACK TO THE BASICS
- X-MEN: A GOOD ISSUE
- AND FULL REVIEWS OF RAWHIDE KID, NEXUS, CRISIS, JON SABLE,
THUNDER BUNNY, AND THE BLACK DRAGON
Well, I have to get these out of the way; the Seattle Film Festival
starts next Wednesday, and I'm going to be in that debacle for almost a
month...
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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: Byrne/Claremont's Starlord |
|==>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< Rather boring, or a few good spots mixed with more bad ones. Ex:Mars|
|==>F< Boring AND stupid or childish. Example: Secret Wars. |
|==>Z< Actually offensive. Example: Several of Haney's UNKNOWN SOLDIERs |
****************************************************************************
DAREDEVIL #220 [D]:
Well, can't say I see this as the shock Jerry described, but then, I
was forewarned. Heather has always been portrayed as pretty unstable,
and the story lets Matt off pretty lightly (actually, Miller always
made Matt seem like somewhat of a jerk, and O'Neil has done nothing to
change this).
--------
NEXUS #11 [B-]:
Backup is a bit dry this time (Clonezone should be more outrageous),
but Clausius getting his just desserts was enjoyable. I hope The Anvil
shows up at a later time. This looks like one of the last humorous
issues in a while. Art is really spectacular, even at today's
standards.
Kapitan, my Kapitan,
Take your brains off the shelf.
That gun's not for them --
It's to use on *yourself*.
--------
AMBUSH BUG #2 [B+]:
How does ONE CREATIVE TEAM manage to satirize so many comics
conventions in ONE ISSUE? It's beyond me! The heart attack which
turns out to be gas... "Meanwhile"... The costumes submitted by the
readers... just tons of beautiful sight and word gags. It must seem to
Julie Schwartz that his life is flashing in front of his eyes.
I could go on. The little things (The headline: SUPERMAN SAVES
DESSERT; Plans To "Eat It Later"); the AWWWWWW bit; the Ambush Bug
Guide to Collecting Comics ("DON'T BUY MULTIPLE COPIES OF FIRST ISSUES.
It's so predictable."). These guys deserve credit for consistently
hitting the spot.
--------
MEGATON MAN #3 [B+]:
If asked to describe the difference between humor in AMBUSH BUG and
MEGATON MAN, I'd have to put it this way: In AMBUSH BUG, I'll be
chuckling through the length of the book, constantly surprised by the
directions the humor's taking (the reader's costumes, for instance).
In MEGATON MAN, the humor is concentrated at several points in the
comic, and the jokes are not all that unexpected, but Boy Howdy, are
they funny! I had to stop reading for a couple of minutes during the
reading of the "I am called BAD GUY, mortal!" scene! I am laughing
right now, just going over the title page! You can expect to see my
signature lines for the next few months reflect this issue! Yow!
Interestingly enough, who would have expected MM to also become a more
complex humor mag? Pamela Jointly seems almost like a real person who
has been caught up in an insane world (like normalman, except REALLY
normal). It even tends to make one sit back and think (GASP!). Also,
the Doonsebury drawing is so well drawn as to be a terrific lampoon.
--------
JOURNEY #19 [B]:
One last type of humor, of which this magazine is exemplary: that which
is based upon knowing the characters so well that you enjoy one playing
off of another. The humor is more subtle, but after "acclimation", it
can be one of the funniest ("Cheers" springs to mind, as does "St.
Elsewhere"). It also leaves room for drama, pathos, and emotion, and
JOURNEY is truly a great example of this.
I hope Elmer Alyn Craft stays around for a while. He is an excellent
raconteur of McAlistaire's adventures, with his jaundiced eye and
literate story-telling. His writing style, while being derogatory (the
"February 12... I fall in with dolts" line really got me, as a good
insult of Diane by Carla would have me laughing elsewhere), shows that
he is really interested in what goes on around him. He may consider
himself superior to his companions, but not superior enough to learn
from them and listen to their stories, albeit with a cynical ear. A
comic which consistently pleases.
--------
RAWHIDE KID #1 [C+]:
I'd purchase this for John Severin's art alone, which I enjoy very
much, and which is very well done in this book; but the story, if not
spectacular, is interesting, especially especially as it occurs in the
period where the Legends of the West have actually become legends, but
still actually exist, if only in the old. Done with a gentle touch of
humor, this reminds me a bit of what an "Old Maverick" TV program might
have been.
---------
STAR TREK #17 [B]:
Now, this is what this book should always have been: dwelling on the
intracacies of Trek folklore, examining the minor characters to a
greater degree; a Kirk not worn down with grief; a non-galactic menace
(though a bit of world-exploring would be pleasant, instead of
military/police jobs). And the touches that make me sure that Barr IS
the writer for Trek abound:
The Bones/Kirk "Truth Serum" gag (Kirk has been getting quite a rep
around the galaxy; maybe they're mistaking him for T.J. Hooker).
When Kirk asks Scotty to add phasers and a transporter on the
already-souped-up smuggler ship (rather like the Orion ship in "Errand
of Mercy"), Scotty agrees with "Aye, Captain, and I might make it a wee
bit *faster* to boot."
The idealistic, moralistic, there-is-a-right-and-a-wrong Kirk,
displayed upon finding the slavers on Cetus 5. The tight line of
disgust, the hard eye; Matt Dillon at warp speed. It may be corny,
but Somebody's got to do it...
--------
CRISIS #5 [B]: Really excellent. I particularly like the "calming
influence" bit used by the Monitor -- it shows just how on-the-ball
Wolfman and Perez are. They notice the little things, and account for
them. Oh, glad to see the villain isn't Darkseid (Must have been his
week to work behind the counter :-) ). Anti-Monitor?
---------
JON SABLE #27 [B]: Very tender beginning of a long-awaited romance.
I suggest reading these three issues as a trilogy, it is particularly
insightful. The sax at the end was a bit much, but other than that...
Also, while I still dislike SHATTER, it was a wholly-original issue
this time. Mike Gold, even though one of my favorite editors, can get
rather obnoxious -- note his put-down of other companies not having a
computer comic. I suggest he get's this one working first, before
crowing.
---------
THUNDER BUNNY #1 (Warp) [C+]: The big surprise of the month. I
expected this to be too tame, after reading the previous incarnations,
but this was most unusual: a comic combining kids' themes, death,
humor, and some moralistic fiber. Not bad. The art is particularly
good, as dozens of people (probably Boston Fans and other comics
professionals) are dropped in. Particularly liked Archie and Jughead
getting torched. A sweet comic. :-).
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THE BLACK DRAGON #2 [C+]: Better scripting by far, but art has not
improved (the cover is an example of real Bolton art). Ahah! A
Claremontism! Ellianne's dream of wasting the countryside -- and
enjoying it! (Just keep her out of space shuttles, fellas...). Also,
guest-starring Errol Flynn (expected this).
--------
X-MEN #196 [B]:
NOTES:
1) Beautiful, beautiful scene with Magneto at the end. Whatever you
can say about CC, he does now how to write speeches (if Star Trek ever
goes on the tube, I'd like to see him write an episode. I think he's
do a great job). Perfectly logical reaction for Rachael, too, as she
has seen this happen, in horrible detail, before.
2) Must we always have Logan on the cover, with the claws bared?
3) Claremont can really create some terrible, extremely evil
villains, when he feels up to it. The bitch with the gun (in Africa)
strikes me as someone it would be fun to stake to the ground and pour
honey over, and then let loose the KILLER BEAGLES! Hee Hee... (guess I
didn't learn anything from the moral, huh?).
4) Nimrod's popularity seems natural; good idea.
5) Another nice scene; Kitty and the Cigar.
6) My pet peeve: I just don't believe that America (OUR America)
would have so many fascists running all over the place. I just can't
imagine it. I know, you'll say that it happened in Nazi Germany, and I
can't argue with that. I'll even admit that it could happen here. But
things are nowhere bad enough to cause that kind of hysteria,
methinks. And I'm really beginning to miss the cool heads (I mean,
when General Thunderbolt Ross is a "cool head", you know that someone's
missing). The Hate Monger behind this, too, maybe?
7) Glad to see Arcade back, though I doubt he'll be his wonderful,
zany self, as portrayed by Byrne & Claremont.
8) Oh, Claremont fitted the Beyonder very well, not making it
intolerable for those of us not reading Secret Wars II. I wonder how
many Claremont plotlines have been altered irevocably due to Jim
Shooters pansy plotting?
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IN BRIEF
--------
AMERICAN FLAGG #23 [B-]: Oh, no! Not the Girl-From-The-Past routine?
Oh, yes, I caught the Crazy Cat reference.
CROSSFIRE #10 [C]: I'm getting to like Cadaver...
DOCTOR STRANGE #72 [C]: Give me a break -- Clea's going to let her
father get the best of her? Un-uh.
E-MAN #24 [D]: Haven't been able to find #24; this one strikes me as
weak (the wave joke is funny, though). Mauser is called for, methinks.
THE GARGOYLE #3 [D+]: + for art.
SISTERHOOD OF STEEL #4 [C]: I'm enjoying this, finally -- one of the
few comics that deals with events, politics and the like (other than
Cerebus, and that is 60% humor). Boronwe is an extremely good central
character, and interesting to follow.
THE SHADOW WAR OF HAWKMAN #4 [C-]: Almost exactly what Jerry said.
The ending is really annoying (Like having Kevin McCarthy running into
their office yelling, "They're here!").
GRIMJACK #13 [C]
FF #281 [D]: Pretty boring stuff, except I'll be curious to find out
if the Hate Monger is still Adolph Hitler or not...
CEREBUS #72 [C-]: Lord Julius IS looking a bit tired...
THOR #358 [C+]: A bit too much quick repentance, if you ask me. Still
good stuff, though.
POWER PACK #13 [D]
FLAMING CARROT #6 [F+]: Better than last issue, but that's not saying
much. I'll stick around and see what the "new & improved" version
looks like next month.
LEGION OF SUBSTITUTE HEROES SPECIAL #1 [C-]: A few Hyuks, but Ambush
Bug it ain't.
STAR WARS 98 [D+]: Apparently Duffy & Martin couldn't make it this
month, so a Goodwin & Williamson replacement is done. Williamson art
is almost 3-D, and the story is clean, but I'm curious... is this a
newspaper strip recycled, or what?
TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #56 [D+]
SEVEN SAMUROID [D+]: A toy tie-in with a GRAPHIC NOVEL? Better than most,
but not worth your hard-earned sheckles, unless you like mediocre art and
Mantlo-style writing.
---------
Well, gang, that's it for this month. I'm going to sit back tonight
and watch "The Day The Earth Stood Still". Until next time, be good.
Oh, that must be the Domino's delivery person at the door now.
NO! NOT YOU! DARKSEID!
Woo!
(Hey! Where are the anchovies?)
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
UUCP:
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