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What was his purpose? Destroying things was necessary to make room for the new? Gaiman and insight again. I love the way he could take something that could typically be seen as a negative, and flip it into a positive. Very metaphysical.
-------------------- No regrets, Coyote.
From: Missouri | Registered: Oct 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: I dug through the back issue bins and picked up Black Terror #1 because Outdoor Miner has been collecting it and he's led me in the direction of several great comics lately. It's by Dynamite Entertainment and spins out of the Project Superpowers event/storyline they have going featuring the usage of several Golden Age characters now in the public domain from companies like Nedor, Lev Gleason Publications, Standard, Centaur and I think a few others.
A little disclaimer: I have not read any Project Superpowers stories and did not intend to; so my feelings toward Black Terror are very much reflected by the fact that I'm reading a title directly tied into a larger title. I simply have read enough ensemble comics lately that aren't doing it for me and am tired of the 'large group of superheroes = cool" mentality pervasive in comics. I also feel that every comic book should stand on its own.
So from the above, you can guess what criticism I have against Black Terror, that it is too tied into Project Superpowers which kind of hurts it and I think that its a fair and accurate criticism. On the other hand, having so many other characters appear in the opening pages was exciting to see, and helped accentuate how Black Terror stands out among them. For a #1 issue, I would let it pass and hope that in future issues Black Terror is more the sole focus (though some guest stars are okay).
Alternatively, the most obvious and biggest feat was the immensely terrific interior art by Mike Lilly. Alex Ross is the spiritual guru of this whole event and does some gorgeous cover work, but I actually thought the interior work by Mike Lilly was superior to that--it was actually quite impressive! Black Terror is portrayed as very much a superhero with dynamic action sequences, but there is also a dark, moody quality to it in places. And then there is a third element, a swashbuckler feel that adds a layer of excitement and 'fun', despite the serious story. All of this could be picked up from the artwork, and I'm so impressed that its enough to get me to buy #2.
Black Terror himself is a character that is pretty groovy. He's got a long history, being a Golden Age superstar and then having a brief comeback in the 1980's. He's a bit unique, having a pirate / death motif, like a swashbuckling Punisher that is a bit more superhero than that description would you think. I currently collect no other comic books with a star like him.
The plotting and scripting was done by Jim Krueger which was 'okay'. The plot is interesting but it's really feeling like a subplot of the larger Project Superpowers plot. That's okay for right now, but I hope Black Terror eventually stands out on its own.
The scripting portion of it I felt was very over-narrated, with far too many dramatic adjectives to describe an emotion or situation. It reminded me a bit of the 1970's when that was more common, and that's not always a good thing--for every 1970's comic that was well-written there was one that wasn't.
So I'm on the fence. The plot & scripting were only okay, but the art and the character have peaked my interest. I'll likely now dig through the bins for #2 and make a decision after that.
So I liked #1 enough to hunt down #2 (and see its easy enough for me to complete the back issues if I want to go forward). The second issue was very similar to the first with perhaps a further step in the right direction writing wise.
The most immediate thing I noticed once more was the absolutely fantastic artwork by Mike Lilly! It is so noticeably good that I would rank it right up there among the best art in comics right now. This should be the guy drawing Superman eventually...I don't want him leaving Black Terror yet as I'm just getting into it and the Black Terror's look is so unique that I'm finding him more visually appealing than most other superheroes these days.
The writing in #2 reminded me of one other creator: Frank Miller. Specifically, Frank Miller of the mid-late 80's, in the Batman: Year One and Daredevil: Born Again era. I don't mean to say this story ranks with those all-time greats in terms of how good it is (that would be a huge overstatement), but rather, the tone of the narration and the single-minded obsessive nature of the lead character. The Black Terror here is like Miller's DD and Batman in that he's so incredibly focused that it almost feels like he's a crazy nutjob. This is neither a bad nor good thing, but something I've noticed that sets Black Terror apart right now. I'm not sure if I like it or not.
I'm also not sure if Black Terror is supposed to be a right wing nutjob or not and I'm reading some crazy right wing propaganda, since a case could totally be made for that. On the other hand, I might just be reading too much into that. Being a more left-leaning, I actually don't find this to be too distracting, I find it another fascinating aspect of the series.
At the end of the day, I think I'm going to start collecting Black Terror, so long as Mike Lilly is doing interiors. The artwork is so good that its almost a crime not to continue and I find I'm just too fascinated by the character and Frank Miller-esque writing to not want to see more.
I also humbly request that the legendary Outdoor Miner request a Project Superpowers / Black Terror thread here in Dr. Gym'lls which will serve as a home base to our posts, since he is the one who turned me on to this series.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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I also picked up #1 of Marvel's latest Rawhide Kid miniseries. Ugh. I will not be picking up #2.
I love Marvel western heroes which is why I picked it up against my better judgment. Why did I have reservations? One thing: Ron Zimmerman. He did a few series for Marvel in the early part of the 00's and they were all basically the worst comic books of the entire decade. I was surprised to see his name attached to this. He hasn't gotten better. The parts where he is trying to be funny seem cutesy and forced.
Howard Chaykin provides the artwork and rather than Chaykin being cutting edge like he can sometimes be, its the Chaykin who sometimes wants to create a nice 'fuck you' to the audience. Chaykin fans know what I mean.
The "Rawhide Kid is Gay" debacle could have been a bunch of different things but at the end of the day, the way Marvel did it a few years ago was to make it a farce and a platform for gay jokes that didn't win over gay fans or western fans. This is an extension of all that but to a lesser degree. If the series was any good, it might feel like it mattered a little, but the quality just isn't there.
Too bad. I could get behind a solid western series and I could get behind a solid statement-making series. But this...I'll pass.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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So, the second Sandman story I'm reviewing was from volume 8, World's End. It's called The Golden Boy, and it's illustrated by Mike Allred.
Gaiman once again utilizes an obscure DC character, this time being Prez, from the short-lived Prez series from the 1970s. He was created by the same man who created the Green Team, Brother Power the Geek, the version of Sandman who appeared later on, and the original freakish Outsiders, Joe Simon. The man who also helped create Captain America.
An Oriental man recounts the story of a different America during the 60s and 70s. Prez Rickard, born in the town of Steadfast, was named "Prez" because his mother believed he was destined for great things. Indeed, the boy showed an amazing amount of depth and a love for his country (not an over-agonizingly "red-blooded, patriotic America man" type of thing), but a respect for it. He also had a bit of a thing for watchmaking and repair, for Steadfast was a town famous for it's clocks. It wasn't until Prez came along that all the clocks were not set at the same time.
In this America, eighteen year-olds were allowed the right to vote, and voted to allow the age limit for presidency lowered to 18. A mysterious man named Boss Smiley, the "Prince" of this world with a head like a giant smiley face, approached Prez. The boy had just turned 18, and offered him the role of American president. In return, Boss Smiley wanted him to work for him, sing his praises, and such. Prez refused, and decided to run for President and win on his own terms. Boss Smiley just smiled.
One night, Prez was approached in his bedroom by Richard Nixon, who informed him that he would indeed be replaced by the young man. Nixon explained, though, that no matter what you do, the American people are going to hate you, and years later they'll wonder why they never appreciated him. Four years of being an empty-figurehead, and all you get is an animatronic display at Disneyworld. Prez was not deterred by Nixon's hopeless words, and still remained determined to fix America.
At 19, Prez was elected president, and turned America into a golden kingdom. He dealt with pollution, nuclear arms, homelessness, corruption in big business. He was all about setting America's problems in order first before worrying about anything else. He even appeared on SNL, and John Belushi, in his later years, described it as one of the most inspiring moments of his life. Near the end of his term, Boss Smiley approached him again. Prez told the smiling stranger that he had all government facilities try and find any info on him, but all they found were rumors. Smiley warned Prez that running for a second term might be dangerous.
During said second term, Prez began dating his former high school sweetheart, Kathy, and planned to marry her. The two were happy, until Kathy was killed in a botched assassination attempt on Prez. The killer was a woman obsessed with Ted Grant, who thought killing the president was a surefire way of getting Grant's attention. Prez had no illwill towards the woman, and even offered her clemency, but still she went to the electric chair.
America didn't dissolve, but Prez became somewhat aloof. He was approached again one night by Boss Smiley, who offered to bring Kathy back to life in return for his servitude. Prez refused. Finishing his second term, Prez dropped out from sight to return to Steadfast.
"It's not that things got bad in America, it's just that they weren't spectacularly good again."
Prez often turned down offers to help the new President, until one day he just disappeared. It would be a few years later when Prez died. No one knew how or when, the stories varied, but everyone knew that somehow, Prez Rickard was dead.
And dead he was. Prez, his spirit pertaining his youthful, 19-year old self, is visited by Death. She explains that you never find out what happens to anyone else when they die. But in the case of his death, Prez is kind of special.
Prez asks Death if she's bringing him to the watchmaker. He explains that he heard, long ago, that if you found a watch in a desert, you have to assume somebody made it. A watchmaker. And if the watch stopped, you repair it.
"I don't think this guy made the watch, Prez. He just runs the local franchise."
She brings him to the guys who'll bring him to his world's heaven, but she hesitates for a moment. Prez arrives, and finds... Boss Smiley, gigantic, in a white suit, with an actual yellow smiley face for a head. He thanks Prez for a job well done and now wants him to sing his praises. But when Prez learns that his love Kathy isn't here anymore, he realizes that there are other worlds, other Americas out there, maybe even a desert of broken watchs, and decides to leave. Smiley threatens him, before Dream intervenes and whisks Prez away from an irate Smiley.
Dream explains that Death asked him to help Prez, and opens a doorway to allow Prez to travel to other worlds. Before he leaves, Prez gives Dream his father's old pocketwatch, which he fixed years ago, as a gift. And he departs.
...
Okay, so, the obvious imagery that Gaiman has with Prez is that of the American Dream. Ideal, positive, strong, and somewhat fleeting, as it will eventually end.
There are parallels with Prez and Jesus Christ, as his time as President makes him something of a messiah figure. He ushered in something of a Golden Age which died down, his pure idealism and the inability to corrupt him, no matter how tempting. Boss Smiley is obviously a devil figure.
Is it possible that Dream's role as the "Prince of Stories" means that the American Dream will always live on in stories and tales? We keep it going because of those stories? Or am I again clutching hairs?
Prez would appear again in a Vertigo Voices one-shot which focused on the remaining, obscure DC characters who appeared in Vertigo stories during the early 90s. Prez, Brother Power, Doctor Occult, Doctor 13, and Tomahawk. Prez's was done by Ed Brubaker and Eric Shanower, about a Generation X teen who went on a road trip looking for Prez, who he believed was his father.
The reason I've been thinking of this story is that, well, it's something of an inspiration now. You guys have heard that I've been attempting to get an appointment at DC Comics, to try and get a writing job and try and fix the mess they've made with Arsenal and Lian. I mean, I'm far from perfect, I don't have any conceited ideas of me being a Christ figure or anything. I'm not THAT egotistical. But, if he could run America, I could at least hope to do something. That, and I am about the same age as he was when he ran for president.
I guess I can't help but equate these stories to my own life, in a weird way.
-------------------- I want to be hated by lies - Bring Back Lian Harper
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I'm with you on Rawhide Kid, Cobie. I guess it was meant to be campy and over the top? The humor felt forced and the action just seemed silly. It's hard for me to be critical of Chaykin, but his talent isn't enough to bring me back for more of this mini.
-------------------- No regrets, Coyote.
From: Missouri | Registered: Oct 2003
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SK, my interpretation of the Prez story differs a bit from yours. One of the great things about art and storytelling, though - Gaiman in particular - is that there are so many different ways to interpret any given piece. The part where we differ is with the Christ/Devil parallels. To me, Prez is more symbolic of the social conscience of the 60s and early 70s. I like how you made the distinction between love of country and "over agonizing, red blooded" patriotism. That, to me, is the heart of the story. The idealistic social conscience of the time is what the Sandman allowed to live on through the stories. I don't think you're clutching at hairs at all with your conclusion of how it all tied together.
Regarding religious parallels, one of the things I like about Gaiman's work is that he frequently deals with these concepts head on rather than through symbolism. He does this specifically in "Season of Mists" and his novel "American Gods".
-------------------- No regrets, Coyote.
From: Missouri | Registered: Oct 2003
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You're right in your interpretation, I understand. Although I can say I'm glad that Gaiman decided to leave out some of the more... odd elements of Prez's life with this story, even if I love the odd.
Wesley Dodds, Cain and Abel, Eve, Matthew Cable, Lucien, the Mad Mod Witch, Cynthia, Mildred, and Mordred, Brute and Glob, Jed Walker, Hector and Lyta Hall, Destiny, Azazel, Element Girl, Doctor Destiny, Prez...
These are most of the obscure DC characters who appeared in Sandman. Did I get them all?
-------------------- I want to be hated by lies - Bring Back Lian Harper
I bought this comic for my 2 year old son. He has a Toy Story comic that he loves to look at, so I wanted him to have a Cars one as well. He loves both movies more than any other dvd we have, so I was hoping he would like this...and he did.
I just read through the issue, and it's not too bad. It tells the story of Lightning before the beginning of the movie. Before he had a sponsor, and even tells you how he met Mack. It's continued in the next issue, so I'll get him that eventually as well.
One nice thing about comics like this is that the voices are all in your head already. No need to try to figure out who sounds like what.
The story itself is pretty basic and suitable for any kid that liked the movie...or adult for that matter. Consistant art throughout, and the cars are easily identifiable. I'd be interested to see how the handle all of the known characters. Sine this one really only has less than a handful that we have seen before.
Overall, a good book for the kids to learn to read with, and the parent might enjoy it as well.
From: Turn around... | Registered: Jul 2003
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Hack/Slash was for the longest time the flagship comic book published by Devil’s Due and in recent months has transferred over to Image Comics since Devil’s Due is having major monetary problems. To commemorate things with the new publisher, Tim Seeley (creator/writer) kicked things off with a new miniseries that focuses on the origins of Cassie Hack, the main character.
I’ve never collected the series before because it just didn’t seem like my thing but I thought I’d give it a try since it was a new jumping on point / #1 and it focused more on the character’s origins. I didn’t expect much so I was surprised by much I liked it—certainly enough to pick up #2.
The best way I can describe this comic is it is probably the most like a B-grade teen slasher/horror film out of all the horror comics in the industry, so if you like those kind of movies (and I do), this might just be right up your alley. There is a fair amount of gore but it’s not really overwhelming—it’s probably less than you’d get from a random Blackest Night tie-in issue. Rather, it’s the creepy factor that is so prominent, and the low-level terror is ongoing throughout the entire thing. Seeley purposely has the subtle “teenager anxieties paralleling the horror” that many slasher flicks have constantly within the story but it’s not hitting you over the head. I unfairly thought it was going to be the opposite based on ads & covers for the series. It also has a strong “me against the world” vibe that anyone who remembers their teenage years can relate to (whether they were good or bad) but its more in the ‘cool’ sense than the ‘depressing’ sense which is a nice counter-balance to the horror going on in the story.
Anyone who’s seen a variant cover or marketing ad for this series will assume there is a HUGE amount of T&A involved and I admit I thought that would be the case too. I’m certainly not against some T&A in comics but sometimes it kind of gets on my nerves when its distracting—it’s just not what I’m looking for in comics somedays and I don’t exactly live with my brother and some pals anymore, so I can’t have something lying around I wouldn’t be embarrassed for my wife to browse through. So I was surprised to see I was actually a bit wrong on that front too: sure there is a little bit of T&A but its nowhere near as prominent as you’d think. I can name 30 Marvel, DC and other independent titles with more of it. I suspect it’s only so prominent on the covers to try to draw readers in.
Rather, what I was most delighted about was how strong and interesting the lead character Cassie Hack is. She is beautiful too, but her beauty isn’t always played up in sexy pin-up poses. Rather, what is seen is she is a complex person with a dark background, yet is very intelligent and very capable. As a reader, I liked her immediately, was incredibly intrigued by her, felt a great deal of empathy and above all, just wanted to see more of what she will do next.
I’ve never read any Hack/Slash prior to this, and all of those stories take place after, so I picked a good time to come in as a blank slate. I’m going to stick around for sure. If anyone else has read this before, please let me know what you think—especially horror buffs. I could see this spinning into a thread of its own!
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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My critique on Rise of Arsenal I'm sending to J.T. Krul.
Here there be spoilers
...
Hi, again. This is the last e-mail critique I’ll be sending to you involving “Rise” of Arsenal. This is all I can say about #4 in terms of a critique, and the series in general.
“Roy (Chasing Electrocutioner in Star City Penitentiary): You can't escape me Lester. You know what you did. And you know why I'm here. You're going to scream, Lester. Scream and scream, until the very end. If I know one thing, it's pain.
Hallucination of Lian: Gut 'im dad. Gut 'im like the pig he is. Roy: Anything for you, sunshine.
Roy (In the End): No matter what city I come to they all look the same- dark corners, dark secrets. Overflowing with the sewage of humanity. The wicked who prey on the weak. They're addicted to the power- the control. About time they learned the hard way- that road is a dead end.”
This is some of the most clichéd, played-out bits of “dramatic writing” I’ve ever read before. Scream and scream, really? The sewage of humanity? It sounds like the type of poetry you’d read in a depressed teenager’s blog.
There were tidbits in this. Very small tidbits of actual characterization, like the scene with Rose at the funeral, but they’re just bogged down by the rest of it.
It would have been more meaningful, barely, if Roy had killed Electrocutioner without the need for that rather horrible hallucination of Lian goading him. That just makes him insane. Which of course will be retconned by explaining it’s a result of his infected arm, brought on by whatever the heck Prometheus infected it with when DC decides to end this and do another redemption story. He’s maimed, psychotic, impotent, and he’s crossed the line.
As for the art on #4, in that two-page splash at the beginning, the artist got the costume wrong in the panel that was a flashback to the first Arsenal miniseries.
I’ve understood what you and everyone else has been saying about this being emotional and meaningful. That doesn’t mean anything now if it was as predictable as this was. I knew where this was going as did everyone else, but for the life of me I was hoping it would end slightly less as bad as it did. I’ve understood what you’ve said about it being hard to actually write this thing, but I don’t know whether or not to take that as a sign that this miniseries has been editorially-mandated, and controlled, from the get-go. I don’t even know if I can believe anything you type in a reply, if you’re being honest or if you’re just saying what your bosses want you to say. I’m sorry if that sounds mean, it probably does, but that’s how I feel now. Your job is hard, I understand that. And I know my opinion on this probably doesn’t matter, and I’m just another emo fan whom is spending his time whining and as I‘m writing this I feel about half the same way.
Roy has now become DC’s Punisher, which was pretty much a role that Jason Todd used to have. No, Roy’s now the Punisher and Jason Todd in a bad costume. Samurai swords, honestly? So, in all honesty, I can’t, and will not, support Titans OR Teen Titans. Or Green Arrow, Brightest Day, Justice League, and any of the books that fall under these banners. Originally, it had just been Green Arrow, the Titans, and the JLA, but that was before I saw the solicitation for Titans #26. And that was before I read Rise of Arsenal #4. I used to buy at least 38 books a month from DC. As of today I’m now down to 3, one of which is a limited series, and ONLY to support a friend. I’m always going to love these characters, but I will not in good conscience spend my money on these books in the state they are in.
But I am NOT going to spend my free time simply complaining on the internet. I’m actually going to take a page from another comic, something completed unrelated to all of this involving a character you‘ve probably never heard of unless you read Sandman. Getting angry is obviously not going to solve anything, so I’m going to use my energy for something more constructive to try and fix this. Voice my opinion more, get more people to join the Bring Back Lian Harper movement, anything to try and halt what the company has done so far to both of them, and to try and do something for Ryan Choi, Owen Mercer, Anima, Cassandra Cain, and all the other characters DC has shafted.
Thanks for listening, take it for whatever worth there is.
-------------------- I want to be hated by lies - Bring Back Lian Harper
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Here's one that shortly may make the jump from this thread to "Any Recommendations?" and even to its own thread. I'm talking about Turf published by Image Comics, written by Jonathan Ross and artwork by Tommy Lee Edwards.
Turf has a double-whammy: an exciting, awesome premise and a creative team that is able to execute it on every level.
First, the premise is just really cool. It takes place in the Prohibition days of the Roaring 20's in NYC, which is an era I love to read about but never really get to it seems (particularly in Chicago, NYC or other major US cities). It has vampires. It has gangsters. It has a plucky female reporter who is appalled at the willingness of people to indulge in excess even though it supports organized crime. And yes, it even has aliens. The last of those being one I just have no idea how its going to fit in.
The execution hits on every level so far. It's funny and the creative team obviously is acknowledging the combination of all of the above elements is a little funny. Yet, the entire story-telling and dialogue plays it completely serious, which is how I think it should be done here. So you, as the reader, feel completely engaged. The story is tight and moves fast, with solid pacing. And the sheer amount of story you get in the first issue is fantastic...it took me twice as long to read as a normal DC or Marvel comic these days.
Interestingly, I just committed to another vampire comic with a section that takes place in the 20's, American Vampire by Vertigo. Other than those two factors, the two series are completely different however and comparing the two doesn't really show much.
Jonathan Ross is I guess a big celebrity in Great Britain, but I've never heard of him in my corner of the USA. What I do know is that he is providing a solid story, great dialogue and interesting characters. He apparently is a true comic fan too, as I quick check revealed he was the guy who did that incredibly awesome Steve Ditko documentary for the BBC a few years back. This guy is no celebrity visiting comic books. He's a comic book fan who is able to cash in on celebrity status to pursue his hobbies.
Tommy Lee Edwards provides some great artwork as well. I'm not all that familiar with him, but I like his style. It's loaded with detail character designs, with inks that add a ton to each page and detailed backgrounds, all things that are a must for this reader. It has a very noirish feel with bits of horror, which fits for the style of the story. It's definitely a style unlike any other I'm reading these days. Perhaps the closest artist in style is Sean Phillips from Criminal.
Everything clicked for an excellent #1, which was worth every penny. I will definitely be picking up #2 and #3 and hopefully go from there.
Also, a great letters page introduction by Mark Millar who reminds me why he's so damn likable.
I picked up a second printing of Turf 1 based on this recommendation and found it very entertaining. It sets up very nicely as a gang war with the twist that it's human gangsters versus a vampire sect determined to muscle its way into the human rackets. That in itself would be interesting, but we are also set to have a third party, aliens (or at least one alien), enter the fold at the issue's conclusion.
The alien twist is a big wild card thrown into a story set-up that isn't exact;y well-worn itself. From the little bit of set up we are given to the alien involvement, it seems the aliens were set to deliver some guns and alcohol to Earth, though the narration doesn't make it explicit that Earth was the destination. It could be the Earth crash was a coincedence, but a big one considering this is the Prohibition era. So we've got what looks to be an authentic-feeling period piece that's got some wild elements that may cause it to spiral into something else.
We've got three intriguing main characters so far: Susie Randall, a reporter for the society pages of her newspaper who aspires for more cutting edge journalism. Stefan Dragonmir, an aggressive member of a vampire family determined to be proactive about his race's survival. Eddie Falco, a mob boss who doesn't relish what he does but finds himself targeted by the Dragonmirs.
Like Cobie says, this is a very dense read that's well worth your $3. Lots of dialogue and backstory. And very emtertaining.
I've seen Tommy Lee edwards's work before, but it's never gotten my attention like it has here! I think drawing stories like this one out of the superhero milieu suits his style really well. He excels here in a story that is part period piece, part monster movie and part sci-fi. Not many artists could pull this off, but edwards looks more than up for the challenge.
Issue 2 ships this coming Wednesday, so if your CBS is smart enough to carry current printings of issue 1, you would do a lot worse with your 6 bucks than to pick up both issues.
(It's a mini-series, btw, of either 4 or 5 issues.)
-------------------- "Suck it, depressos!"--M. Lash
From: The Underbelly of Society | Registered: Jul 2003
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