moriarty@uw-june (Jeff Meyer) (01/20/84)
This is the article that finishes out the trilogy (yes, that is pretentious)
of reviews about comics in '83. The first article gave an overview of the
1983 comics scene in general, while the second dealt with a honor list of
the people in the comics field who had done an excellent job (please note
Jim Shooter was NOT included in it). Here we come to my favorite, My
Choices for 1983 Titles.
/------------\
| THE BEST |
\------------/
CAMELOT 3000:
This could be argued by many (including me) that it is not the best
comic of 1983, but it has certainly been my favorite. Mike Barr has
translated a love of the Arthurian legend into something special... he has
created a sequel to an epic that is epic in itself. He has captured the
characters, and Arthur especially, with a great deal of wit and care, and
has done as fine a job on The Pendragon as Mary Stewart has done with
Merlin... he has caught Arthur's love of people, his idealism, and his
optimism in the face of constant dissappointments. Others may fail Arthur,
but Arthur never fails them. My only dissappointment has been in Barr's
depiction of Merlin, but this may change by the next issue (also, he is
dealing more with Mallory's image of Merlin that Stewart's). Brian
Bolland's art has always always accentuated these impressions, and he really
knows how to grab your emotions and accelerate 'em. I'll be sorry to see
this one end.
CEREBUS:
I am amazed that there are people in the industry (i.e. who should
get all the in-jokes) who do not enjoy this series... I think it has the
most constantly amusing writing combined with the most creative artwork at
this time in the comics field. Plus moments that just freeze in your
mind... the scene with Cerebus running, blade drawn, towards the approaching
mob, assuming they are invading troops, to discover that they are allies...
Sim's artwork just floored me (and this a black & white book!). Hope that
the series popularity is not just a phase or a fluke... it improves my
opinion of the human race as a whole that Sim is lauded for his work (and I
don't mean the Comics Journal, who would praise The Unknown Soldier if it
was in style, and kick anyone at all who doesn't believe that entertainment
is enough in comics). Plus, the Cootie just kills me...
RONIN and LOVE & ROCKETS:
Two books which I approached with caution, because both were being
praised up and down by all the wrong people (anyone on the CJ, Harlan
Ellison, and Don McGregor, who is apparently living off of Jungle Action's
reputation and constant statements of how much he loves his family... I'm
glad to hear it, but a paragraph every issue?). But Ronin has shown that
Frank Miller can write & draw a STORY... I think that this series will be
very enjoyable as long as one looks at it as a Sci-Fi novel or a (buzzword
time!) graphic novel... definite beginning, definite conclusion, and a
strong plot. I admit that this series is a little short on
characterization (so far, except for Casey's husband), but the plot is
there, and in a future nightmare world like this, characters would be pretty
shell-like anyway. Love & Rockets depends... no issue of Jaime's strip has
been poor, all well-drawn and characterization (what I really look for in a
comic anyway) just incredible... feel like I've known Maggie over the last
four years. The other strips (including Jaime's new space strip) have been
less interesting, but still worth the time. Lot of promise here.....
JON SABLE, FREELANCE:
Finally, Grell has something he can really let loose at....
three-dimensional characters, interesting plots, and a really understated
drawing style... taken the tough-guy private-eye character into something
with weight. His dual identity has got to be the best one on the market.
AMERICAN FLAGG:
How Chaykin does this, month after month, is beyond me.... the
artwork is so detailed, and the script so complex (this is a compliment
here) that I wonder what time this man has for a personal life. I've
noticed how, after bitching about how everyone is finding Orwellian features
in America today, I've started to notice more and more of The Plex in
everything (Bob Violence to He-Man or The A-team, etc.). I think (I hope)
that Chaykin will show Flagg to be a patriotic man in a period where
patriotism seems insane.... and it's my bet he'll make it believable.
STAR TREK:
There seems to be a lot of dissension around about this subject, but
I think this is really going to turn out well. The characters script reads
so true that I can conceptualize it on the Small (or Big or 19-inch) screen.
Kirk and McCoy's dialogue just feels right, and it is so much fun to see
what the Oraganians etc. are up to these days. The Klingons will hopefully
be given a rest after the initial few issues for a while; at least Barr is
naming them after the recognizable Klingons from TV and from the novels
(I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Kor... he really is such a
prig). And it looks like (gasp!) Mudd looms on the horizon ("Mr. Saavik, I
don't suppose I could interest you in...."). Sutton's artwork is not great,
but I'm seeing this in my mind's eye anyway.
NEXUS:
Except for Camelot: 3000, I don't think I've looked
forward to a title as much as I have for this one. What a cast. What art.
What fun. 'nuff said. (Special Honorable Mention for the Nexus Twinkle Ad
in E-Man ("Clausius is feeding those miners COLD TWINKLES!!!!")).
THOR:
Probably the only REALLY good thing Marvel has, except Coyote and
(on occasion) X-Men. Simonson takes old Kirby gods and gives 'em a roguish
twist, and everyone looks like their having a good time (let's face it,
Ragganok isn't going to happen this time around anyway, so let's let
everyone put on a cheerful face and get the guy with the big anvil).
COYOTE:
Of all the renegade writers (i.e. the ones who left comics because
they were too stifling or something), Englehart was always the one with the
real talent. Captain America (the REAL Nazi Red Skull finally brought out),
Avengers, Dr. Strange, and the best rendition of The Batman in Detective
("With the rising of the sun he is.... gone!").... an amazing track record.
Still have not had a chance to read The Point Man, but am certainly looking
forward to it. While McGregor has gone on to demonstrate all the liberal
bad habits usually ascribed to Alan Alda, Englehart has always been good.
He is good here, though it varies... I think that if this new artist works
out, the book will return to the quality level of the first few issues. Not
too crazy about the mystical aspects, but like the Coytote stories.... well
done.
BATMAN & OUTSIDERS, TEEN TITANS & X-MEN:
A study in contrasts. Barr writes Batman beautifully, the rest
so/so; finally Aparo gets to work on something decent (Bob Haney's B&B added
new meaning to the phrase "stark, raving stupid"). Like the outlook of the
whole thing (when do we get to see Aparo do the Joker?). Teen Titans
writing varies: sometimes suffers too much of superflous
hugging/crying/emoting syndrome (which I'm partial to anyway), but "Who Is
Donna Troy" was one of the best issues of any comic I've ever read. Looks
like an interesting year -- I personally hope to see more of Dr. Light
("Sell my mother for a dime? No, never. Not for a dime!"). What is all
this two book stuff, anyway? Perez is an institution unto himself... get
the impression he is using models for these characters, the faces look so
real. Glad to see that someone is finally running the anti-drug campaign
right... wonder if Nancy brings home NTT books home for Ronnie to read?
Let's face it, when it comes to hugging/crying/emoting, one has to hand it
to Claremont.... Someone accurately mentioned that Byrne without Claremont
and visa-versa is deteriorating rapidly. I'm afraid this is more true for
Chris. While Paul Smith was the best artist I've seen on the strip ever,
the taughtness of plots and subplots and dialogue has been missing since
Byrne left the strip. Still great characters, but things are getting pretty
screwed up. Say, they mentioned this kid with the knack for software
(Kitty's friend) is a low-level mutant... how many more are there out there
(and do they all work for Bell Labs)? Rogue is the only really good thing
going now.... Morlocks could use a rest.
Other good stuff: Neil the Horse, Voyage, Elfquest, Amazing Spider,
FF & Alpha Flight (I think it helps to have a feel for the Great White
North), E-Man, and probably a few others I've forgot. Best improvement of
1984: Either Jim Shooter aborts Secret Wars or The Comics Journal Staff all
gets rabies and attack each other. Any comments are welcome and encouraged.
The Napoleon of Crime | Currently skulking around
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