moriarty@fluke.UUCP (The Napoleon of Crime) (10/09/84)
Ah, back to a nice even two-week schedule.... **************************************************************************** |==>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| |==>E< Boring AND stupid or childish. Example: Secret Wars. | |==>F< Actually offensive. Example: Several of Haney's UNKNOWN SOLDIERs | **************************************************************************** SIX FROM SIRIUS #1-4 [Art: B+ + Story: D- + Plot: D = D ] WHO wrote this? Doug Moench? Nah, must be another Doug Moench. See, I remember this guy named Doug Moench who worked with the artist from SIX FROM SIRIUS (and others) to create one of the greatest comics of the 70's, titled MASTER OF KUNG FU. Hey, that Doug, he could write characters and suspense/spy/zen/adventure stories that would knock your socks off! Well, then this thing must have been plotted by his younger brain-damaged brother. I really found it slow, and with quite a few characters who just seemed to glow with one-dimensionality. The dialogue actually caused me to stop in places, it was so stiff and lumpy. The real Moench should sue for damages. A bit more seriously, I really wonder what has happened to Moench. I don't read Batman, or whatever he does now, but I find this to be almost a parody of his former style. I really hope he does better next time. Please note, though: the art is the FINEST stuff Gulacy has ever done. Amazing work... Steranko to the third power. It almost made up for the dialogue. SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2 [A+]: After a certain age (I think it was my junior year in college), I began to think that while I still enjoyed comics very much, and was still stimulated by the stories and dialogue, and still appreciated the artwork, I would never again find a comic that would really emotionally involve me. Like X-Men 100-101 (Jean rises as Phoenix), the Englehart/Rogers Batman in Detective, the Marvel Team-Up by Claremont & Byrne with Iron Fist and Spider-Man, Michael Gilbert's The Wraith in Quack (not just another funny animal, believe me!), Starlord (again by Byrne/Claremont), the Moench/Gulacy Master of Kung-Fu sagas (and much of the non-Gulacy work), and any of the Byrne/Claremont X-Men issues. Killing off super-heroes has become a trend, and I (and others on the net) have grown pretty cynical about it -- which one has to do, considering that it becomes a media event at Marvel. The last things to get a tingle going along the spine was X-Men #175, the X-Men graphic novel ("God creates, man kills"? -- truly one of the best endings in a long time (the progressive frames going from the wounded Rev. to the policeman who shot him... that STILL gets me!)), and Don McGregor's and Marshall Roger's Detectives Inc. (McGregor's last totally sane work, to my mind); these were all good, but most were one shots... the X-Men got uneven in their own book (as did Claremont and Byrne, though I still have much respect for their work (even though I bitch all the time about it :-) ), and I found myself enjoying the comics where humor was more prevalent. Blue Devil, Zot, American Flagg, Journey and Cerebus (on even weeks) have made this a major feature of their atmosphere, and while many go farther than strictly humor (particularly Zot, AF & Journey), I guess I still see them in a "comic" light. So when I read a letter about how some kid cried when he watched Karate Kid die, I cringe somewhat... My first reaction is a sarcastic "Oh, BROTHER, what trauma!" -- and then I remember my reaction to Jean Grey's death, and hold back a little, wondering, gosh, maybe that event wasn't that effecting either; maybe it was just my age. My eventual conclusion is that Claremont & Byrne did much better work, and that Phoenix's death was a much more moving story (though not THE most moving X-Men story), and that I'll never be effected by a comic story like that again. Until last Friday. Thank you, Mr. Moore -- standing ovation time. And a round of applause also to Mr. Bisette. While I have always considered Moore to be good, this ups him, in my opinion, to *great* (and I haven't even read any of his British work -- I can hardly wait!). All the issues which have lead up to this have been incredible combinations of horror and beauty. Abbey's death in the parent magazine was handled very skillfully (I assumed she might very well STAY dead), and the avoidance of the cliche "hero lusts for revenge" scene was very well done -- ST's march back into the swamp with Abbey, with Arcane/Cable taunting him was an interesting method for intensifying the feeling of despair. What can I say about this issue (other than if you haven't read this issue/series you're ding-wacka-hoy-hoy)? Well, the ability Moore has in taking DC characters and adding personalities and about three layers of dimensionality without leaving a seam in his graft is amazing. Deadman and the Stranger (especially PS) are such good people (yes, folks, I'm loosing my grip on reality) -- Deadman's helping the child to find the mother, and the PS's debate with the Spectre (hey, YOU try to pull a funny on him -- maybe he laughs like crazy, maybe he turns into a pair of giant scissors...) -- you just get the idea that these people would BELONG in a heaven (and admire the PS the more since he has forsaken said dimension). Moore's idea of heaven (and hell) itself I like; both Moore and Bisette contrast beauty and true ugliness very well... The Demon's comments on Hell, about how man builds them himself, and is not maintained or created by "God" seemed very fitting to me (it seemed a pretty logical response to the old "if there is a God who loves us, how could he/she allow this?" question -- hey, man, it's not his responsibility!). The Demon himself I could go on for quite a while about -- his sardonic humor, the flower (one is never certain if he is doing it for the beauty of the flower, for the torture it will provide when compared with hell, or just to piss off his fellow demons) being his price... and when he punts Arcane's head like a football, well, it couldn't happen to a NICER guy (Moore makes Arcane so repulsive by showing just how sadistic and petty he is -- he can survive Hell as long as he knows how much hurt he has caused -- true sickness & true evil). And Bisette's conception of Hell & other dimensions is the most original concept of other dimensionality since Ditko. I'm sure many would think that the previous statement too effusive; but every view of "another state of reality" has always seemed to me to look rather like Ditko viewed through a kaleidescope. Bisette's view of other plane's of existence are combinations of organic matter and empty spaces... I find it quite different from anyone else's view I can remember in comics (except perhaps Alex Nino's, and it's not half as well done there), and pretty unnerving. And the dialogue here cannot be emphasized enough in its excellence. Phrases and single WORDS stand out in my memory: Arcane's realization that he has only been in Hell one day; Etrigan's poems; and the line spoken by The Swamp Thing upon entering the waiting dimension: "But why... is it... so *empty*? Was there *no one*.. who was *good* enough?" I read this comic intently. It made me think, it made me smile, and it made me sit back and look out the window for a while. Oh, yah, it didn't make me cry... ... but it came DAMN close. And now for something COMPLETELY different.... HAROLD HEDD #1 [D+]: Disappointment City. I remember the old HAROLD HEDD grass-smuggling issue -- anus-clenching adventure, indeed! It was, to put it one way, the very model of a model underground comic... weird humor, minor porn & lotsa drugs. And funny. This one has lost the humor, the drugs haven't shown up yet, and while I could care less about the porn, it's absence seems to give Kitchen Sink's HH a rather washed-out feeling. Like maybe Harold's sold out and become just another toker, and Elmo's not half as outrageous. Oh well, another boyhood idol shattered. POWER PACK #6 [B+]: Hee hee hee... you see ha ha they go looking for Spider-Man... har har hee and this has such an eye for kids hyuck hyuck... Witty dialogue and situations... and can't you just picture Bill Cosby finding something like that in HIS basement... "OK, which of you kids brought the 15-foot wino home..." AMERICAN FLAGG #16 [B]: A bit slow, but middle issues usually are. Best cover of the month (note who Raul is stomping... maybe Eddie Murphy is around somewhere as Buckwheat? ("B-Hey, Mister B-Flagg...")). Maybe I should just leave this out of the reviews unless it becomes even better (whoo-boy) or gets worse (oh, my heart...). PS Anyone note how Chaykin and AF SWEPT the Eagle Awards American division? Best Penciller, Best Writer, Best Comic, best Character, best story, best supporting character (Raul, of course!), and others (he was nominated for Best inker, too!). Has anyone EVER swept the awards like this before? Can't say I don't think it's deserved... STAR TREK #10 [B]: Well, I (for one) happen to like the idea of the Mirror, Mirror invasion; it seems a very clever way for Kirk to get the ship back (however, he may not -- I don't think Barr is that predictable a writer, at least not on this book). I've also enjoyed his "comic-only" crew members (Bearclaw & Konom seem to be getting along these days, which is unusual for a former lyncher and lynchee), and I'm glad to see them back. Also, an ACTUAL ship boarding (whew... always wondered how that would work), and anyone who hates the Excaliber class will LOVE this issue (Warp 17, indeed... they make it sound so ORDINARY!). X-MEN #189 [B-]: Steve L's (yes, I'm not going to attempt THAT again) inks make Romita Jr.'s art look rather like Ernie Colon's, don't you think? The '-' is for a mistake I think I found: In the X-Men annual, hasn't Kitty just gotten back from Japan with Logan? Because if this is true, then why is she in Japan when Ororo leaves? (Multiple No-Prize ICBM's are ready to go, sir...). One thing: I believe that "newscast" on the Sony Watchman shown at the end must have been a paid political broadcast. I cannot believe that America has devolved enough in the X-Men's world where fascist propoganda could go out over the airwaves as a newscast. A paid political broadcast, yes (Lyndon LaRouche does it ALL the time!), but the newscaster doing it would indicate a general rottenness at the core -- I just don't think it could go over so blatantly. I mean, there must be a Moriarty clone on Earth-Marvel... what the hell's HE up to? Organizing Pro-Mutant-Rights marches, I'll bet... :-) AMAZING SPIDERMAN #260 [C+]: Coming back to this comic was a gratifying experience... the last few writers of AS have been bending the borders of the character's concept without destroying that old Spider-Man I enjoy coming back to... his adventures are so non-galactic, and there is such a well-defined crew of extra characters and villains (the Rose is excellent, and his understated costume may be the best out in quite a while) that it's just like wearing loafers -- few surprises and comfortable going. The only question is how entertaining the story will be... and Fingeroth is doing a good job. However, I'm hoping he has Harry NOT flip out and become the GG -- that he just overcomes it and lets Peter beat the pumpkins out of the Hobgoblin (hey, that's what I read this for... it has some of the only good fight scenes/dialogue in comics today, and I really can't take too much of it...). CAPTAIN AMERICA #301 [D]: I missed #300, so I guess I didn't get to see the Skull off (literally). It looks like he's pretty dead now... I suggest someone find a real clever, hating neo-nazi genius and make him the New Red Skull in the future (the severance of the Skull's ties to the Nazi's could be a nice touch... make him a symbol of facism everywhere). The only scene I enjoyed here was the Skull's pyre... it makes you remember what he's done over the years (especially under Englehart), and it makes his end all the more appropriate. The rest is suds ("Oh, Cap, we're with you.. sniff sniff"). The last panel could have been used for an ad for male potency... ("Old Avengers never die... they're just rejuvinated!"). NEW MUTANTS ANNUAL #1 [D]: Slightly cute, but not enough to pull this off. Old Marvel plot with new sexuality thrown in (when I get the chance I'm reviewing that Feb. '84 article in Psychology Today titled "Darkness At the Mall" (You will never find a more bogus piece of scum and villainy...)). CROSSFIRE #4 [D+]: Gosh, a new blood supply; hey, thanks, gotta go! This was pretty standard fare... the "California TV" air is missing from it, and the monster house is just too unreal for my tastes. ECLIPSE #10 [C]: Rio's last issue seemed rather hastily finished. However, the Masked Man was about as much fun as usual. I don't think many others provide such fine slapstick in their comics. THE P.I.'S #1 [D]: Well, back to the drawing board.... DREADSTAR #14 [C-]: "I~Imagine the announcer for Bullwinkle: "Well, it looks pretty grim for the boys this time! Stay tuned next week for 'Growing Old Gracefully', or, 'You Broke My Sword In San Francisco'!" "Gosh, Bullwinkle, what'll we do now?" NEW TEEN TITANS #4 [C-]: Art saves it. Since when is Lilith a prophet? I just thought she was a telepath with a thing for cavemen. All in all, a pretty nasty way for the gang to wake up... DALGODA #2: [C] Still a lovely concept and the art is good... but I was hoping for the richness of plot and detail that was shown in the first issue... this one seemed rather superficial, and not all that funny. Still good. TIME SPIRITS #1 [C-]: I believe this is still germinating... but Yeates is as spooky as he ever was in SWAMP THING, and the creature who inhabits the chief's body is pretty scary... I like the characters introduced here, but I'm still not sure what happened in the last few pages. Much potential here, though, if these fellows begin puttering around time and space. CRASH RYAN #1-2 [C]: A model of how INDIANA JONES *should* have been done. The drawing and characters recall that same atmosphere that was so prevalent in the old sci-fi and adventure pulps, but the graphics are good enough to leave behind the crudeness which the pulps used to have. The scene with Ryan and his buddy running from the boat up the stairs of the Aztec temple was excellent... letting the reader get an overview of what the whole scene looks like. Reminds me of some of the old "Buck Rogers" strips I've seen. A comic with moxie and style. SURGE #2 [C]: Moved along with no slow spots... but the high point was the Amber short story. I'm still not sure why they picked Surge for the series... Amber or Tank would have been more interesting to me. ALPHA FLIGHT #18 [C]: Very cute, John. No, no spare super-armor suits just laying around. Shaman is one of my favorite Alpha Flight characters (along with Puck and Heather), and it was good to see him on his lonesome. The scene with his daughter approaching the transformed grand-daughter is good... reminded me of a jump-out horror movie take. NEIL THE HORSE #8(?) [D+]: Recycled work... every twice in a while Sabra just seems to poop out and miss a deadline, and fill in with 50% text features. What's there is good, though; there's just not much of it. MS. TREE #11 [C+]: Ah, a REAL mystery. Just as long as it wasn't done by a Twinkles salesman... again, style. By the way, did Ditko work on the Mike Mist segment this time? Sure looked like it... FIRESTORM #31 [D]: Conway improves issue some... I am sticking around since he is taking over. Tuska's art really sticks out like a sore thumb (it's bad Tuska... I used to like some of his old Champions work). ----------- FINAL NOTES: Hmm, what is it with this Shooter/Giordiano debate? My money's on Jimbo for any real unprofessional behavior... Oh, news has it that Swamp Thing no longer carries the Comics Seal of Approval. OK, in unison: Awwwwwwwwww.... Guns don't kill people. I don't kill people. Moran, HE kills people. Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc. UUCP: {cornell,decvax,ihnp4,sdcsvax,tektronix,utcsrgv}!uw-beaver \ {allegra,gatech!sb1,hplabs!lbl-csam,decwrl!sun,ssc-vax} -- !fluke!moriarty ARPA: fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPA