moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer) (04/16/85)
First and foremost.... These are immensely late. Along with my
projects at work, preparing summer vacations and commencement, Spring
Housecleaning, preparations for the Seattle Film Festival, etc., I've
been immensely busy. I'm going to try to keep up with new comics every
three weeks, but it will be an upward struggle, especially with the
summer stuff coming out this year. Oh, well, we all make sacrifices to
art...
...speaking of which, Thanks, Jerry! Any comments preceded
with > are excerpts from Jerry Boyajian's columns.
And now, awwaaay we go!
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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
****************************************************************************
|==>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 |
****************************************************************************
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #2 [D]:
Brilliant satire? WHAT brilliant satire? Give me a break... I fail to
see the appeal of this book, unless, as Ambush Bug's guardian angel
says, team books really DO sell...
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BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #22-23 [D+]:
> Comics publishers are low-life scum. They'll go to any lengths to get
>a guy to buy a comic. I mean, here I was, blissfully despising BATO, when
>without so much as a By Your Leave, Sir, they go ahead and put Alan Davis on
>the art chores.
Argh! BATO -- The Comic Book No Critic Can Decide On! Yeah, well, now with
Davis's art (which is good) replacing Aparo, I've lost interest. It may be
this ridiculous Halo origin story (back to Metamorpho next issue, which is
a much better character to bounce off of), but I prefer Jimbo. Oh, well,
there's no accounting for taste...
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CROSSFIRE #8-9 [C]:
Well, *really*, how can anyone not like a nice guy like Jay Endicott?
I'll read this book for Evanier's solid writing and occasional
Hollywood jibes, and for Dan Spiegle's classic comic-strip style art,
but also, aren't you just a little glad to see a hero without neurotic
hangups or a taste for wisecracks? I realize that the moniker "Super
Good Samaritan" lacks something in the "oomph" department, but it does
read as a pleasant change to the other good books out here (not to
mention all the bad ones). Also, Rainbow and Jay's relationship is
moving along very nicely. Sham is going to feel *really* paranoid if
the rest of his family keeps hightailing it over to the human side of
the tracks for a little romance...
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normalman #8 [D]:
A waste. I'll follow this through to the end, because Valentino can
come up with some funny stuff, but this Star Wars sendup just does not
make it. However, the Musical Quotes section on the letters page was
pretty good (Did you know Julie Brown sang a song with the lyrics "What
kind of a guy does it for me? Superman with a lobotomy". The title is
"I Like 'Em Big and Stupid").
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THOR 356 (Hercules story) [B]:
Now, I know I've been pretty critical so far, but hey, this was a GOOD
month-and-a-half for comics. And this was one of them. From the cover
on, it was one of the best fill-in issues I've seen in months. The
nice-kid-who-gets-bullied Marvel subplot is expanded into one of the
funniest examples of Hercules' rather bombastic personality. His
one-sided story is hilarious (JARVIS (in Hercule's tale): Oh, Master
Thor, why must you always embarass yourself? Beat Master Hercules?
Oh, that IS rich!). But you really get to enjoy him... he tends to
resemble one of those storytellers who you listen to just because the
lies are so entertaining. And he is really quite a nice guy, after
all...
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THOR 357 [B]:
This is the issue where Simonsin regains my respect for his writing.
The last few issues of the Asgard/Surtir war were just too "Old
Marvel"... mostly battle scenes, with little of Simonsin's wit or
character development showing. Though he is often lauded for his art,
I have always found his writing to be his stronger suit (he is know one
of the best working at Marvel (sadly, this isn't saying much)). It's
all here on display: Sif and Bill have one of the few comics
relationships going that I could call romantic; Loki has NEVER been
done better (he's such a complete cynic that you have to enjoy him
anyway, tho' he wouldn't hesitate to rip out your heart -- with a
smile); and the wonderfully comic fight scene with Bill and Sif
(COMPUTER: THOR -- 73.29% Probability. No Further Enhancement.
Options: TAKE COVER). Also, Thor himself has to be up there with
Jay Endicott in the "nice guy" area... And if that's not the Titanium
Man in the shadows, I'm nuts... Also the best ending messages in the
business. "Has Marvel's fabulous, Rock 'em - sock 'em book degenerated
io nothing more than puerile SOAP OPERA?" (you mean, like Dazzler?).
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ZOT #8 [A]:
How can one book have so much good stuff in it? Honestly! The tie-up
of several subplots. Several moments where I noticed quite a lump in
my throat (the characters are THAT good, gang). Beautiful art (the
"key" mural on the last page... with the door as the last panel).
Prince Drufus and the pipe (that really got to me). The little girl
who IS Sirius IV -- how many times has a comic tried to inject
wonderment and failed? Not here. Never here. And of course, GREAT
characters (I'm sorry that we won't be seeing Gregory again, for a
while) and humor:
THE WALL ("Aww, forget it, I QUIT! C'mon and shoot me, guys! See if
*I* care!").
"WELCOME, MY FRIENDS, TO THE *FUTURE*!"
"What, AGAIN?!"
"...beg pardon?"
I hope to be reading ZOT!, more than any other comics on the market
today, for a long time to come...
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X-MEN #194 [C+]:
Whatever you can say about X-Men falling on hard times, the parent book
definitely has a) a great artist, in the form of John Romita, Jr. (I
love the opening sequence with The Juggernaut), and b) a relatively
good writer, when he can keep from getting "sensitive". More on this
in the "Black Dragon" review. Anyway, a good issue... subplots aren't
too rushed, the main characters are allowed to show a bit more
personality, and we're left with an interesting scene... the Russians
show more compassion for the mutant condition than the U.S. government.
Hey, maybe Claremont IS a pinko :-). Anyway, nice touch; maybe this
trend will continue...
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JOURNEY #17 [C+]:
A good ending to the Fort Miami storyline, and the reintroduction of one
of Messner-Loeb's finest supporting characters, Jemmy Acorn (right up
there with Elrod the Albino, in my book). "An', so de t'ree frien'
vanish into de falling curtin of snow an' de swirling mist' of
'ISTORY..." Indeed.
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JOURNEY #18 [B+]:
And, now, for straight laughs (and Wolverine MacAlistaire, who is,
after all, the star of the show...), there is nothing to beat this
issue. Mostly due to Mr. Acorn, whose rather amazingly psychic tunes
have had me rolling. I particularly love MacAlistaire walking out of
the woods with the "Davy Crockett" theme being mangled behind him. "I
climbed it an prayed for God t' give me a sign of his favor. He did."
And what a punchline! Good show...
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X-MEN #195 [C-]:
Then again, maybe not. This is still not a bad issue, as an issue of
the Power Pack. But frankly, I've about had it with the Morlocks, just
as I have grown tired with the whole issue of Mutant Persecution; I'm
hoping it is resolved in the near future, or at least brought back to
old levels. At least, clear up Rachael's future and ours (hey, kids,
let's put on a Crisis in Infinite Futures!). Also, the ending shows
that Secret Wars lives again (GAG!).
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THOSE ANNOYING POST BROS. #1 [D+]:
Along with a couple other comics, this is getting put down as too
out-to-lunch to be funny. I love weirdness which grabs my spleen and
tickles it a little -- but here, we just seem to have another episode
of LOUTS IN SPACE. Or maybe THE PIRANHA BROTHERS GO YANK. The
multiple realities can be very funny (especially the cartoon one), but
I doubt they can wean much more out of that gag. This one is on
probation (please, Ron, I was just kidding! BANG BANG BANG...).
--------
VORTEX #11 ["The He That Walks": B]:
I haven't read the rest of this issue, but this is a good reminder of
why Jaime Hernandez is one of the best writer/artists on this planet.
In six short pages, he manages to entertain, satirize, and make his
reader smile. Constantly. The Astro Boy take-off was great (Cheetah
Torpeda!), and I really got to enjoy the narrator; you like to see
him happy at the end. If there's another poll for best writer/artist
at the end of this year, my vote will go to Jaime, hands down; nobody
else can get a mood across in such a short number of pages, through
precise art and writing. We really are going through a "golden age"
of comics...
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THE GARGOYLE #2 [B-]:
By George, an adult comic from Marvel? Must have been an oversight!
I'm don't think that this is either a supernatural thriller, or as a
super-hero story... DeMatteis seems to be telling a story of people,
and this supplements the genre of the book. I don't think I've seen
such a (disturbingly) real character in a Marvel comic in a long time.
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POWER PLAYS #1 (AmeriComics) [A-]:
The best comic of 1984 (1983?) is reprinted, appended with a new Barker
story, and I could NOT be happier. I've been meaning to write to the
Mike Kelly, the artist and writer, for several months, to ask when the
next episode of his independently-published book would be out (Just how
independently published was it, Johnny? His *parents* loaned him
money...). Well, what should appear on the stands, but POWER PLAYS #1,
published by (Raspberry please) Americomics. I used to be able to say,
if it's from Americomics, it must be trash (you can replace trash with
"enough T&A to blow your eye-sockets out", but why bother...); not any
more. This comic has fantastic potential to be a great mini-series
(Kelly plans 16 issues).
Just to remind you, when this came out, I encouraged you all to buy it
(I whined some). Well, looks like it something clicked, because Kelly
sold enough books to interest Bill Black of Americomics to get
involved in this project. For those of you who haven't picked this up,
this is a book about, uh, what would happen, uh, what would REALLY
happen, uh, if people all over the world started getting super-powers.
Well, what *might* happen, if the met the Chicago Elite. *THE* best
dialogue I've read in comics in YEARS! Entertaining! Naturally Funny!
BEST CHARACTER OF THE YEAR: Barker the Beagleman, an homage to
Philip Marlowe, Sherlock Holmes and Archie Goodwin (the detective, not
the editor/author). I admit that this might not be for your tastes if
you're just starting comics, or absolutely require "pro" art -- but for
someone who has seen every situation in comics rehashed 50,000 times,
this book is marvelous. Oh, and if you bought the first issue before,
I strongly recommend the Americomics 1st issue... the 6-page Barker
story is worth it. Uncle Moriarty says, check it out!
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MOON KNIGHT: FIST OF KHONSHU #1-2 [C]:
A book like this normally rates a D with me, but there are several
things going for it: E.R. Cruz's inks over Chris Warner's pencils, and
a really old-fashioned story, pulled up and ornamented by Alan
Zelenetz. One of those stories that could have come out of Marvel in
the 60's, the only thing I can say is it works, for the most part
(especially issue #2), at tugging the nostalgia strings. No great
hash, but works well if you think of it as a period piece.
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SWAMP THING #37 [B]:
A combination of pleasant mood and imagery (this is the most sensual
(i.e. appealing to the senses -- all of them) book on the market),
with Alec "growing up" (the Jiminy Cricket comment by Abby was
wonderfully placed), intercut with a building sense of suspense and
horror... like the theme from "The Exorcist", starting out subtlety, but
building and building upon itself, until the final scene, which unites
all the subjects. The nightmare that kills Emma; the stupified look on
the Sister's face when she breaks out of her convulsion (how do you
look when you pop out of a bad dream? Yup...). And John Constantine
looks to be one of the best new characters to come along in quite a
spell -- even for Swamp Thing.
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SWAMP THING #38 [B+]:
Well, other than not being able to get near the bathtub for the last
week, this was a damn fine issue. The sequence with the boys at the
pond was wonderful -- watch how Moore, Bisette and Totleben move the
ordinary into the horrible, with the rumors of the place imposing on
the natural imagery, and then the introduction of the leeches, and then
that underwater shot.... Brrrrr! Mawwwwm!
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FLAMING CARROT #5 [D]:
Yup, I'm starting to give up on this. The first few issues of this
were looney enough to be funny; but Burden seems to be trying to throw
ga-ga at his readership, in the hope that they'll mistake it as weird
humor. Weird, yes. Humor, no. If he doesn't get his act together,
this book will be heading for the shoals.
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BADGER #6 [B]:
But what, you say, is GOOD weird humor? Well, it's where the darndest
things are happening during the plot, and the little touches of humor
mount up like bee stings, until you're just rolling. Mike Baron is the
current master of the medium, with The Badger and Nexus, juxtaposing
the serious, the humorous, and the very weird/silly in equal portions.
The Badger is the most blatant:
"I'm making a sandwich run. Orders?"
"THANK YOU! THAT IS VERY GRATIFYING! BUT I AM SORRY TO TELL YOU, I
DON'T KNOW HOW TO STOP THESE THINGS! ... DO YOU HAVE A SANDWICH?"
"Cowabunga!" "Cowabunga!" "Cowabunga!"
And another butcher's apron... (REALLY weird ending, but we'll
see...).
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MOONSHADOW #2 [C]:
Now I'm SURE J. M. DeMatteis has something on Jim Shooter... this book
is much to good for Marvel. Exquisite art, a very sad, crazy, poignant
story. Can't wait to see what Moon get's into next time (but I will
miss Sunflower).
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NEXUS #10 [B]:
Dave, Nexus, Sundra, Claude, Jil, Tyrone, Judah, Clausius (CLAUSIUS?).
It's so much fun to visit with old friends, catch all the latest in-
jokes (Clausius's henchman wearing the "MOZART" jacket). Terrific
stuff. Wish there were a few more Dave's to go around. Like, What it
is.
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SHATTER #1, and in JON SABLE #25-26 [D]:
Having a Macintosh (writing this on one), I'm a bit more qualified (or
jaded) than the average reader, so I'll hit this on the old one-two of
writing and art:
Writing is very dry. The character has too little background for you
to empathize with him. The one touching moment is his discovery of the
women who plays her dead lovers music. Mostly, though, the plot seems
to serve the art.
The art, or course, is what sells it, and in the premiere issue it is
very good. The two Sable issues have shown a disturbing tendency in
two areas:
1) Reusing the same picture over and over again, with little or no
modifications other than stretching of close-ups. I don't mind
insertion of images throughout different panels -- that is, after all,
the advantage of using a computer as an artistic tool. But you don't
expect a standard, non-computerized artist to use the same panel he did
two pages ago on the next page... that would start up a lot of scorn.
2) The issue in Sable #26 is almost completely digitized. This REALLY
grinds me -- the artist took pictures of two models with a digitizer
and a camera, an plunks 'em down in the different panels, and expects
me to go "oooh". I suspect that they're hoping that people will think
Saenz actually drew this stuff. Frankly, I think he's been struck by
the Dreaded Deadline Doom, and so is passing off computerized Foometti
as art. I'll hope for an improvement, but I've been annoyed by this...
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THE BLACK DRAGON #1 [D+]:
This is a book where some good points and some massive flaws rage to
create a mediocre book. John Bolton's work looks badly underdone, or
at least poorly colored, so much of the romance of the story is lost
(you *need* good art for this type of a story -- much of the appeal is
the period). The nightmare sequence is not that much differently drawn
than the other scenes.
But the main problem is (you guessed it, kids!) Claremont. He doesn't
emote like crazy this time around, but there are points you'd like to
yell "SHUT UP, and let us LOOK at the scenery and build up some
ATMOSPHERE! Bloody Hell!" And then beat him over the head with a
stick of pepperoni (oh, well, maybe not...). A good enough plot to
keep my interest, but I hope Bolton's work improves, and is given a bit
more room to grow...
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STAR WARS #96-97 [B-]:
Real adversaries, a chance for Luke to really show his stuff, and the
loss of a fine character (maybe). Exactly what STAR WARS should be.
Dani has grown into a fine character, and here's hoping Kiro makes it
into Jedi training (i.e. hope he's alive). Incidentally, it's nice to
see one of the best books on the market with a female artist and writer
team. If this kind of quality keeps going, I hope that there's an
Amazon uprising at Marvel ("Off with Shooter's kneecaps!").
--------
IN BRIEF
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POWER PACK #12 [C-]: Nice to see that SECRET WARS II (which I *refuse*
to buy) hasn't wormed itself into this book yet.
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MS VICTORY #1 [F]: Thought maybe something AC publishes besides POWER
PLAYS might be good. Nope.
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2000 AD 3-4 [D.R. and Quinch: D]: This is fun, but not enough to keep
my interest. I'm afraid 2000 AD will be bagged, from my point of
view...
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THE ALIEN LEGION #7 [C]: More good serial space-opera. Solid.
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SUN DEVILS #12 [D]: Well, at least *that's* over...
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GREEN LANTERN #189-190 [C-]: Needs a bit more time to ferment. I'll
be interested to see what Englehart will do once the sub-plots he was
saddled with by Wein are sewed up.
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LOVE & ROCKETS #11 [C+]: Beaky buys it in a most chilling manner.
This may be Archie of the 80's, but I'm-a-gonna follow it forever...
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THE NEXT MAN #1 [F]: Totally mindless psuedo-Kirby. I expect better
from Roger McKenzie....
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TIMESPIRITS #4 [C+]: This continues to develop nicely, and shows that
at least the Epic line at Marvel is doing well. Archie Goodwin should
be complimented...
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GRIMJACK #12 [C+]
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BLUE DEVIL #13 [C]: Funny Poetry, a starry-eyed demon, and Etrigan
rips off Emily Latella. Wauggh! I love it!
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BLUE DEVIL #14 [C]: Hee Hee Hee...
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RED TORNADO #1 [D+]: I've always found Tornado as John Smith more
interesting than the Tornado as hero. This looks to be a real
turkey -- the Construct has always been a boring foe (and that was when
Englehart was scripting it).
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MAGE #6 [B]: Absolutely the most outrageous sight gags since Warner
Bros. Excellent art, *great* use of color, and an always-intriguing
plot.
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THE MASKED MAN #2 [B-]: More good stuff....
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AMERICAN FLAGG #21-22 [B]: I think I like reading these in threes...
Raul for President, says I...
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TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #55 [C+]: First Titans story since Perez left
that was worth it's salt. Fine, fine ending...
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THE NEW TEEN TITANS #9 [D]: Blood & Thunder * 29....
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THE NEW TEEN TITANS #11 [C]: One of the "rest" issues which Wolfman
does so well...
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MS TREE #17 [F+]: Blah! Altogether, I'd rather be in MegaCity 1.
What ridiculous stereotypes...
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FF 279-280 [D+]: Great art with little story.
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STAR TREK #15 [D+]: Too much busy work, and no surprises.
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STAR TREK #16 [C]: This, however, is more like it. The characters
shine through; Barr's writing works well; the humor is perfectly
ingrained into the story (I particularly liked the reporter). And
though I'll miss Spock, it'll only be a year until the next movie.
Hope they leave us with less of a cliffhanger next time... And the
adventure continues!
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BATMAN ANNUAL #9 [D+]: I'd hoped for better after last year's Wraith
story, but this 4-story bit is just not up to my expectations. Very
uneven, and the middle stories are not good at all (Alex Nino is NOT
the artist for Batman).
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AMBUSH BUG #1 [B]: I hope Julie Schwartz is having as much fun editing
this as I am reading it... considering the drivel that has passed over
his desk during the last few years, he DESERVES a little fun...
> I tell you what --- if you liked the Bug's previous appearances, you'll
>like this. If you've found that you don't care for the style of humor in those
>other stories, than you can pass this by. I won't argue with you, though I
>might look at you a little strangely.
As one might look at someone who has had their sense of humor surgically
removed.
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CEREBUS #71 [C+]: Lord Julius! Lord Julius! Lord Julius! Lord Julius! Lord Julius! Lord Julius! Lord Julius! Lord Julius! Lord Julius! Lord Julius!
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CAP'N QUICK AND A FOOZLE [C-]: Well, I guess anybody'd be late if they
had Reverend Jim for a cabby.
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PRESSBUTTON #3-4 [C-]: I'd like me own Zirk, mum...
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HAWKMAN #3 [C-]
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CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #4 [B-]: "Run Away! Run Away!"
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DNAgents #19-20 [D+]: Evanier seems somewhat lost on this. Cadaver
was nowhere NEAR as much fun as his first excursion...
--------
SISTERHOOD OF STEEL #3 [C]: This is about as close as I'll ever get to
"barbarian" stories; I hope the elements which keep it interesting for
me (political intrigue) don't toss other people away from it.
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JON SABLE #25-26 [C+]: Good flashback sequences; glad to see Myke and
Jon loosening up....
-----------------------------
Well, that's all for this month folks. Be back somewhat sooner next
time...
"The Angels...! The angels were speaking to
me! And do you know what they said?"
"No... vhat?"
"We are the men from Texico,
We work from Maine to Mexico,
We're close to you no matter who you are..."
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
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