Recently I have read a few more books - the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and two Tiffany Aching Discworld books (spoilers for the final Discworld book - A Shepherd's Crown). I have also read a few comics.
Showing posts with label princeless. Show all posts
Showing posts with label princeless. Show all posts
Friday, December 29, 2017
Sunday, October 04, 2015
Comic reviews from June/July/August
It took me nearly 6 weeks to read these. I managed to post short reviews (thoughts) on twitter so I'm going to rewrite those comments for here.
Bombshells 1 - Pretty good. Nice designs. I'm glad I got this.
Hawkeye - this made me cross. Then my friend pointed out that the thing that made me cross didn't actually happen, and then I felt relieved. If you've read it you'll know what bit I mean.
Raven the Pirate Princess 1 and 2 are VERY GOOD. There is a not all men joke. Fnaar.
JLU 11 and 12 were pretty good. Nice art and a new direction for the series,in terms of team members. It's big heroic efforts to save.the whole world, and that's the sort of story I like
Batgirl 42 was good fun. Nice cartoony physical artwork. The annual had similar fun art and took us to the other Batladies! Including this era's Spoiler. It was a good intro (for me) of the character to the post-Flashpoint universe. Or is post-convergence now?
Starfire 3. Look at this Terra as drawn by Emanuela Lupacchino, inked by Ray McCarthy and coloured by Hi-Fi. 
Justice League Gods and Monsters: Wonder Woman 1 - I did enjoy this and JL Gods and Monsters 1 and 2. It's a decent alternate Trinity story.
Sex Criminals 9 and 11 were both good comics. I don't seem to have 10 so I bought that next time I was at the comic shop. I was pretty tired when I read 9 and 11 so didn't have any actual commentary. I've kind of forgotten the details of the two issues too.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Let's write up some comics
This week I bought and read this lot:
Black Canary 1
Much more interesting than I thought it would be from the preview. It doesn't really feel like my Dinah though, but I guess I'm looking for a Dinah in her 30s ready to settle down with Ollie (who to be fair would never be a rock star). So this version not feeling like her isn't a criticism. It is a good comic. The only thing that pulled me out of it was that I don't buy her wearing her Canary outfit on stage. If they'd given her shorts or a skirt it would work much better.
Harley/Peej 1
This was a lot more fun than I expected. I've been underwhelmed by Harley's main series but this was far better. The two of them work well together. Unfortunately the cover is not Amanda Conner's finest hour. The inks are rather heavy and it just doesn't flow very well.
Sensation Comics featuring Wonder Woman 11
Another bad cover, Yeeuch. Badly composed, badly pencilled, badly inked and badly coloured. Inside is Jamal Igle's pencils which are much better but the inks are a bit too heavy handed. The colours are OK. Overall, this lacks the finesse of the Gates/Igle Supergirl work, but that's not Igle's fault. In the issue Di goes to Africa to try to get two sides of a warring nation to reconcile. It sounds a bit white saviour-ish doesn't it. I don't think it comes across that way but I'm willing to listen to other opinions.
Princeless book 4 issue 1
The story is good but I hate the art. The composition of the panels is good, the actions (and interaction) of the characters are good, but the style of faces, the inks and the colours are horrible. It won't stop me buying this series, but if you do pick it up please be aware that this art is not indicative of the rest of the series' art! And on the plus side, we do have killer squirrels:
Battleworld: Thors 1
I think I bought this for horse Thor. It's OK. I suspect it's more for Marvel aficionados than me. It seems like a bit of an industry vanity project, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Battleworld: Runaways 1
The only actual Runaway in this is Molly Hayes. The rest are mutants, Cloak and Dagger and some other randoms who I expect regular Marvel readers will know. They are all attending a school to train them as Doom lackeys, or some such. I tell you what, I do like the premise for Battleworld. It works far better than Convergence, at least for these two titles. This was a fun enough comic. It also queered up Jubilee and Pixie, which was good to see:
Are they gay in the regular 616 universe?
Ms Marvel: Crushed (trade)
This is volume 3 of the current Ms Marvel run. I really liked it, it's a good young adult comic about teenage crushes and the pitfalls that come with it, with added superpowers. The only thing I didn't like was the thinly veiled lesson about consent. It just seemed a bit too obvious to me, but maybe that's because I've been seeing this sort of stuff discussed for years and given where I am at the moment, I really could do with not having these conversations. Quite frankly, I don't care. That sounds awful doesn't it. But I don't. I'm concentrating on my pregnancy and everything else that requires energy, or passion can piss off. So, I'm wondering who the teenage audience this is aimed at would take this lesson. If they don't find it too much, then I guess it's a good thing.
Batman: The Ring, The Arrow and The Bat
I've been meaning to get this for about 2 years. Despite the name, it's a Green Arrow trade, not a Batman book. The first story is Hal and Ollie meeting for the first time. Hal is working for the government and doesn't realise he's being used, and Ollie is out for a good vigilante time, until he realises the wrongs being done, and then he gets all angry about it. It's quite a quick change. Hal and Ollie argue but end up friends. Art is by Greg Land, before his porn tracing days. If you like these two, and you like these trades, then you'll like this story.
The second story is Green Arrow and Batman meeting and working together for the first time. There is lots of snark and one liners. The villains in the story are stereotypical/generic Asian bad guys, which makes me wince, and plot development is a bit obvious, but apart from that, it's good fun.
I've also been watching Arrow season 1, and while I'm kinda enjoying it, it's a bit bloody miserable isn't it? Oliver Queen enjoys life, but Ollie in Arrow doesn't. Granted, he has just come back from the island and is traumatised, but by all accounts he doesn't get any happier over the seasons. Le sigh. I like the flashbacks to the island the best. He looks and acts more like 'my' Ollie there.
Black Canary 1
Much more interesting than I thought it would be from the preview. It doesn't really feel like my Dinah though, but I guess I'm looking for a Dinah in her 30s ready to settle down with Ollie (who to be fair would never be a rock star). So this version not feeling like her isn't a criticism. It is a good comic. The only thing that pulled me out of it was that I don't buy her wearing her Canary outfit on stage. If they'd given her shorts or a skirt it would work much better.
Harley/Peej 1
This was a lot more fun than I expected. I've been underwhelmed by Harley's main series but this was far better. The two of them work well together. Unfortunately the cover is not Amanda Conner's finest hour. The inks are rather heavy and it just doesn't flow very well.
Sensation Comics featuring Wonder Woman 11
Another bad cover, Yeeuch. Badly composed, badly pencilled, badly inked and badly coloured. Inside is Jamal Igle's pencils which are much better but the inks are a bit too heavy handed. The colours are OK. Overall, this lacks the finesse of the Gates/Igle Supergirl work, but that's not Igle's fault. In the issue Di goes to Africa to try to get two sides of a warring nation to reconcile. It sounds a bit white saviour-ish doesn't it. I don't think it comes across that way but I'm willing to listen to other opinions.
Princeless book 4 issue 1
The story is good but I hate the art. The composition of the panels is good, the actions (and interaction) of the characters are good, but the style of faces, the inks and the colours are horrible. It won't stop me buying this series, but if you do pick it up please be aware that this art is not indicative of the rest of the series' art! And on the plus side, we do have killer squirrels:
Battleworld: Thors 1
I think I bought this for horse Thor. It's OK. I suspect it's more for Marvel aficionados than me. It seems like a bit of an industry vanity project, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Battleworld: Runaways 1
The only actual Runaway in this is Molly Hayes. The rest are mutants, Cloak and Dagger and some other randoms who I expect regular Marvel readers will know. They are all attending a school to train them as Doom lackeys, or some such. I tell you what, I do like the premise for Battleworld. It works far better than Convergence, at least for these two titles. This was a fun enough comic. It also queered up Jubilee and Pixie, which was good to see:
Ms Marvel: Crushed (trade)
This is volume 3 of the current Ms Marvel run. I really liked it, it's a good young adult comic about teenage crushes and the pitfalls that come with it, with added superpowers. The only thing I didn't like was the thinly veiled lesson about consent. It just seemed a bit too obvious to me, but maybe that's because I've been seeing this sort of stuff discussed for years and given where I am at the moment, I really could do with not having these conversations. Quite frankly, I don't care. That sounds awful doesn't it. But I don't. I'm concentrating on my pregnancy and everything else that requires energy, or passion can piss off. So, I'm wondering who the teenage audience this is aimed at would take this lesson. If they don't find it too much, then I guess it's a good thing.
Batman: The Ring, The Arrow and The Bat
I've been meaning to get this for about 2 years. Despite the name, it's a Green Arrow trade, not a Batman book. The first story is Hal and Ollie meeting for the first time. Hal is working for the government and doesn't realise he's being used, and Ollie is out for a good vigilante time, until he realises the wrongs being done, and then he gets all angry about it. It's quite a quick change. Hal and Ollie argue but end up friends. Art is by Greg Land, before his porn tracing days. If you like these two, and you like these trades, then you'll like this story.
The second story is Green Arrow and Batman meeting and working together for the first time. There is lots of snark and one liners. The villains in the story are stereotypical/generic Asian bad guys, which makes me wince, and plot development is a bit obvious, but apart from that, it's good fun.
I've also been watching Arrow season 1, and while I'm kinda enjoying it, it's a bit bloody miserable isn't it? Oliver Queen enjoys life, but Ollie in Arrow doesn't. Granted, he has just come back from the island and is traumatised, but by all accounts he doesn't get any happier over the seasons. Le sigh. I like the flashbacks to the island the best. He looks and acts more like 'my' Ollie there.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Commissions by Princeless artists
I promised I'd put something up about this weeks ago, so here goes:
Ted Brandt and Rosy Higgins, the artists of the most recent Princeless volume, The Pirate Princess, (and who I interviewed here), are doing commissions.
They came up with this rather excellent way of showing their rates:
I've not seen a graphic quite like that before, and I think it's ace. Consider asking them for a commission why don't you?
Ted Brandt and Rosy Higgins, the artists of the most recent Princeless volume, The Pirate Princess, (and who I interviewed here), are doing commissions.
They came up with this rather excellent way of showing their rates:
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Comic reviews: Convergence week 4 and lots others
So many comics to write about. I'll try to keep each review brief.
Justice League 40
I bought this one for the boy band cover and obviously now want to watch Magic Mike, the film it is apparently from. I did rather like the story too. Metron is about and meets the anti monitor and all the crises are referenced. At the end the Amazonian birthed anti-God turns up, which feels less stupid than it did in the WW FCBD story.
Multiversity 2
I think this reestablished the pre 52 Multiversity, with new universes, and established a group of protectors for it, including lady Aquaman. It also has a panel of Vampire Wondy and Vampire Bats craving coffee. Which is fun.
Superman 40
This is a very strange comic, The JL are being written like they are all aged about 18 or 19, or younger. The plot kind of works, but the way in which it's delivered is weird. John Romita JR writes and pencils, and the pencils are bloody awful.
X-Men 26
The Krakoa storyline ended. All but Rachel seem a bit bloodthirsty. It's a reasonable ending, I suppose.
Bitch Planet 4
I adore this comic and the editorials. Y'all should read it.
Princeless the Pirate Princess 4
Fecking wonderful, as ever, and Raven is confirmed queer. Love this,
FCBD offering from the CBLDF
This is a bit too much issue focused for me to really enjoy it. I'll pass it on.
FCBD offering: DC's Divergence
Ridiculous. Commissioner Gordon is the new Batman in the Batsuit that looks like a Blue Beetle suit. Lois has told the word Clark's secret. An Amazonian fucked Darkseid and the child is the anti-God. What a load of crap.
FCBD offering from Dark Horse
The Fight Club story was quite good. I haven't bothered reading the other two.
FCBD offering from Boom studios
I've flicked through this and it looks good, but I haven't had the headspace to read it in totality.
Convergence 4
I can't be bothered to flick through this and re-acquaint myself.
Convergence: Shazam 1
One of the best Convergence books so far. It has that innocence the Marvel family used to have, when they were unashamed at being written for kids. It's got Sivana and Tawky Tawny but isn't written as a nostalgia trip - it's a genuinely good story and a good addition to Marvel canon.
Convergence: Blue Beetle 1
This is about Captain Shinypants, the Question and Blue Beetle, with a guest appearance by Booster. Pretty Good, even with Shinypants in it.
Convergence: Crime Syndicate 1
Somehow I liked this. I normally find the Crime Syndicate really really dull, but this was enjoyable. Nice art too.
Convergence: Booster Gold 1
Pre 52 Booster meets New 52 Booster and if you like traditional Booster you'll like this issue. the Legion of Superheroes turn up. Fights ensue. This was one of the highlights of this week's comics.
Convergence: Detective Comics 1
Helena Wayne and Dick Grayson from the earth where they are proper adult legacy heroes. I liked their squabbling an the clear characterisation of all involved.
Convergence: Infinity Inc 1
I'm not clear on the background or history for this, but I quite enjoyed it.
Convergence: Plastic Man 1
I get the Freedom Fighters existing in a world where the Nazis won the war, I don't understand what Plastic Man is doing there. Was he ever part of that world? I did enjoy the comic and the Freedom Fighters as a team, so that's a job well done by the creators.
Convergence: World's Finest 1
This I did really enjoy. It feels like a decent standalone story in it's own right.
Convergence: Action Comics 1
Another good one. Like World's Finest, it simply works as a story by itself.
Convergence: Justice Society of America 1
This week turned out a bunch of corkers. This feels like it was created by people with real respect for the JSA era and the main guys in the team. Good work.
JLA Paradise Lost 1
I got this from the comic shop in Brugges in March, but forgot I'd bought it. It was pretty good. It has Zauriel in it trying to stop a fellow angel take over Heaven.
JLA Incarnations 6
Also from the Brugges comic shop. This is the JLI at it's finest and it much better than the Convergence JLI issue. The first story is led by Booster and Beetle, and proves why they shouldn't be allowed to roam around unsupervised. The second story is led by Captain Shinypants when he's on Extreme Justice and just proves that team is rather incompetent. Worth reading for the JLI story.
Superman Krypton Chronicles 1 and 2
These are really good fun, and a bit batshit. Plot holes a aplenty but as they aren't meant to be serious, who cares? Clark is asked by the Daily Planet boss to put together an article on Krypton's history, so Clark has to travel to Kandor with Supergirl, now on the planet Rokyn, to meet with Supergirls parents and learn about Kryptonian history. It's all a bit unhinged, but it allows the writers to have fun, and so the reader has fun too. The reasoning for getting Kryptonian's history seems a bit bandwagon jumping though:
Justice League 40
I bought this one for the boy band cover and obviously now want to watch Magic Mike, the film it is apparently from. I did rather like the story too. Metron is about and meets the anti monitor and all the crises are referenced. At the end the Amazonian birthed anti-God turns up, which feels less stupid than it did in the WW FCBD story.
Multiversity 2
I think this reestablished the pre 52 Multiversity, with new universes, and established a group of protectors for it, including lady Aquaman. It also has a panel of Vampire Wondy and Vampire Bats craving coffee. Which is fun.
Superman 40
This is a very strange comic, The JL are being written like they are all aged about 18 or 19, or younger. The plot kind of works, but the way in which it's delivered is weird. John Romita JR writes and pencils, and the pencils are bloody awful.
X-Men 26
The Krakoa storyline ended. All but Rachel seem a bit bloodthirsty. It's a reasonable ending, I suppose.
Bitch Planet 4
I adore this comic and the editorials. Y'all should read it.
Princeless the Pirate Princess 4
Fecking wonderful, as ever, and Raven is confirmed queer. Love this,
FCBD offering from the CBLDF
This is a bit too much issue focused for me to really enjoy it. I'll pass it on.
FCBD offering: DC's Divergence
Ridiculous. Commissioner Gordon is the new Batman in the Batsuit that looks like a Blue Beetle suit. Lois has told the word Clark's secret. An Amazonian fucked Darkseid and the child is the anti-God. What a load of crap.
FCBD offering from Dark Horse
The Fight Club story was quite good. I haven't bothered reading the other two.
FCBD offering from Boom studios
I've flicked through this and it looks good, but I haven't had the headspace to read it in totality.
Convergence 4
I can't be bothered to flick through this and re-acquaint myself.
Convergence: Shazam 1
One of the best Convergence books so far. It has that innocence the Marvel family used to have, when they were unashamed at being written for kids. It's got Sivana and Tawky Tawny but isn't written as a nostalgia trip - it's a genuinely good story and a good addition to Marvel canon.
Convergence: Blue Beetle 1
This is about Captain Shinypants, the Question and Blue Beetle, with a guest appearance by Booster. Pretty Good, even with Shinypants in it.
Convergence: Crime Syndicate 1
Somehow I liked this. I normally find the Crime Syndicate really really dull, but this was enjoyable. Nice art too.
Convergence: Booster Gold 1
Pre 52 Booster meets New 52 Booster and if you like traditional Booster you'll like this issue. the Legion of Superheroes turn up. Fights ensue. This was one of the highlights of this week's comics.
Convergence: Detective Comics 1
Helena Wayne and Dick Grayson from the earth where they are proper adult legacy heroes. I liked their squabbling an the clear characterisation of all involved.
Convergence: Infinity Inc 1
I'm not clear on the background or history for this, but I quite enjoyed it.
Convergence: Plastic Man 1
I get the Freedom Fighters existing in a world where the Nazis won the war, I don't understand what Plastic Man is doing there. Was he ever part of that world? I did enjoy the comic and the Freedom Fighters as a team, so that's a job well done by the creators.
Convergence: World's Finest 1
This I did really enjoy. It feels like a decent standalone story in it's own right.
Convergence: Action Comics 1
Another good one. Like World's Finest, it simply works as a story by itself.
Convergence: Justice Society of America 1
This week turned out a bunch of corkers. This feels like it was created by people with real respect for the JSA era and the main guys in the team. Good work.
JLA Paradise Lost 1
I got this from the comic shop in Brugges in March, but forgot I'd bought it. It was pretty good. It has Zauriel in it trying to stop a fellow angel take over Heaven.
JLA Incarnations 6
Also from the Brugges comic shop. This is the JLI at it's finest and it much better than the Convergence JLI issue. The first story is led by Booster and Beetle, and proves why they shouldn't be allowed to roam around unsupervised. The second story is led by Captain Shinypants when he's on Extreme Justice and just proves that team is rather incompetent. Worth reading for the JLI story.
Superman Krypton Chronicles 1 and 2
These are really good fun, and a bit batshit. Plot holes a aplenty but as they aren't meant to be serious, who cares? Clark is asked by the Daily Planet boss to put together an article on Krypton's history, so Clark has to travel to Kandor with Supergirl, now on the planet Rokyn, to meet with Supergirls parents and learn about Kryptonian history. It's all a bit unhinged, but it allows the writers to have fun, and so the reader has fun too. The reasoning for getting Kryptonian's history seems a bit bandwagon jumping though:
Superman Confidential issues
These are a great set of issues, and it's a great run. Superman stories where he's being heroic from different stages of his life. It's only 14 issues long and the ones I picked up were written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, who nearly always turn out reliably solid work, with the later issues pencilled by Phil Hester, who I adore.
Superman issues, pre 52 ones
One is a Christmas issue which I recall liking a lot, one is a one year later one that I already had, but forgot about and because it had Supergirl on the cover I bought it again. She's barely in it.
The Adventures of Superman Annual 1997
I'm always disappointed by these pulp heroes annuals that don't have a pulp themed story. Upon reading this it occurred to me that perhaps it's just that I don't know what it meant by 'pulp'. The letters section was intriguing as everyone was complaining about the blue and red Superman. It reminded me of all our kvetching about Supes' new solar flare power. Oops. Perhaps we should just roll with it...
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Convergence week 2
Princeless the Pirate Princess 3
This is good. I'm now convinced Raven is gay. She has a supremely confident attitude and her body language and style just makes me read her as gay. I know that's not a very technical or specific description, but I just think she's gay. I wonder if straight readers also get this vibe off her? Let me know.
Danger Club 8
This is the alternate ending. I have lots of thoughts about this, and I shall write them up in a new readers review.
Sensation Comics 9
Mike Maihack draws the main story and Ben Caldwell does the cover. I really wish DC would hire these guys properly. The first story is about sisterhood and sibling rivalry, it's an all ages comic. the second is Diana and Lois meeting fairly on in their careers. Lois has been asked to do a fluff piece on Diana, and neither of them are impressed by the questions she's been given, so they rile each other up. Diana is drawn with really good posture. Then there's an alien attack and they end up working together. Standard plot of heros meet, fight then realise they are both on the same side, but done with words, in character and with motivation, and executed really really well.
Convergence 2
Let's see, Dick Grayson has a son and they've lost Barbara outside the dome, and Dick's son gets killed for dramatic effect. Not cool guys. The Earth 2 heroes are around and Dick somehow meets with them, there are fights with the guys from a video game based world (Injustice?) and Earth 2 Thomas Wayne Batman meets post Flashpoint Bruce Wayne Batman. And Alfred proves his worth via his understanding of everyone's favourite types of tea. I liked this issue but I couldn't remember the details from it. This might make a reasonable mini series.
I see now that week's 1 tie ins were set in Gotham. Week 2's are set in Metropolis. I wonder where week 3 and 4 will be set.
Convergence Aquaman 1
Hook handed Aquaman! My favourite. If you like Aquaman you should buy this issue. It's great.
Convergence Supergirl 1
OK, so this was a fun comic, but it is not Matrix Supergirl. I'm not sure exactly when in her timeline she is meant to be from, but she is with a Lex who is treating her like dirt, and she has no problem with this. This Lex is rude and belittling and awful. I know I haven't read many Matrix comics but I don't recall the Lex that Matrix was with ever being this awful to her.
Mae fights Lady Quark and her husband, and the writer, Giffen, tries to tell us that Quark and husband are gay, but in denial. It doesn't really work, it's quite odd. The Ambush Bug turns up. I didn't know they knew each other.
If you read this as an alternate Supergirl it works, but it's not Matrix Supergirl.
I like the art a lot. The colourist has made everybody shiny like they are plastic, which I usually don't like, but the colours are bright, the pencils are cartoony and the inks provide definition without being harsh. Having said that, I can't forgive this opening splash page:
Convergence Green Arrow 1
Another one that I can't figure out where is from in the timeline. Connor Hawke is in Metropolis hunting down his Dad, Oliver Queen. I don't think the writer had ever read a Connor Hawke comic, because this is not Connor. He does not dress like that, nor talk like that. Nonetheless, I like it as an alternate version of the Arrows. My alternate theory is backed up by the appearance of Dinah and a teenaged blonde Canary who is Ollie;s daughter, apparently.
Convergence Catwoman 1
This was in line with the Catwoman of it's time, right down to the 'sexy' art (my 2010 post about which remains one of my most popular of all time). Selina is protecting the downtrodden under the dome, which isn't something I recall her doing at this point in her career but nevermind, and is given Kingdom Come Batman to fight. If KC Bats isn't trying to avoid a fight in the next issue I'll be... not pissed off, but rolling my eyes at editorial incompetence.
Convergence Steel 1
I like Steel and so I quite looked forward to this issue. I have no idea what he's up to in the New 52 but I think I probably won't like that version of him.
This version is the Steel I know and like, and it has Natasha (hooray!) and a nephew who I'm not familiar with. There are quite a few plot holes in this issue, see Anj's review here for more detail on that. But I mostly enjoyed it. The organic spiky metal cat is very much of the era this weeks books are channeling, and that I'm not too keen on, just for aesthetic reasons. It's a damn ugly cat. My main problem with this is Natasha and brother seem to think that they are unrecognisable in their armour. Their armour is moulded to their face, even to their dreadlocks for fucks sake, and we are supposed to believe that people can't recognise them, when in armour their faces are exactly the same but silver? No.
Convergence Shadow of the Bat 1
I do not like the art in this. It's very computerised and gritty. The cover has classic angry Batman on it though, always entertaining.
So the book is about BruceBatman and Jean Paul (Azrael). They team up undercover to take down criminals, then team up in costume. Bruce does a shocking job of keeping people safe as folk die while he's involved with these criminals.
Convergence Green Lantern/Parallax 2
This I liked a lot! The Lanterns are Kyle Rayner and Hal Jordan, but as Hal is depowered he understands what he did as Parallax and has voluntarily put himself in gaol as punishment for his sins. Then the dome goes down and Kyle and Hal get their powers back, and Hal gets uppity and decides to destroy Electropolis. There's a panel showing images from this weeks' Supergirl issue and her skirt is coloured blue, not red. Now that pissed me off. Apart from that I very much enjoyed this issue. Get it if you are a 90s GL fan.
Convergence Justice League International 1
Another slightly odd execution. Ted Kord is the leader of this JLI, which I do not understand, not when J'onn J'onzz and Cap'n Shinypants are around. The Kord of that era was not leader material and I don't think the dome would have changed that. I'm also a bit mystified as to how and he and Beatriz got together.
Having said that, it was really nice to see this gang back together and if you ignore those continuity errors it's a fun read, with reasonable art.
They end up ready to fight the Kingdom Come folks. Ted's declaration of being ready to fight seemed a bit at odds with what he'd just gone through. I don't really understand why the Kingdom Come lot are so ready to fight and kill alternate universe heroes. I mean, they are still heroes, and I don't think the KC world changed them *that* much. At this point I'd like to see more heroes refusing to fight, like last weeks' Superman was refusing to fight.
Convergence Superboy 1
This was the best of them all! Superboy as he was written in the 90s, as the Metropolis Kid with his fantastic costume:
No content spoilers from me. If you like the Super family this issue and last week's Superman are the ones to get.
Convergence Suicide Squad 1
If you like the Ostrander Suicide Squad run you should get this. Waller is the Wall again and it's got the added bonus of Oracle and Carol Ferris. I don't want to spoil it, so I'll just say you get this.
Now, I was under the impression that each of these issues would be characters from a different universe, but it seems that the Metropolis' are from the same post crisis 90s, universe. Is that right? Is each week's story set in the same dome but focusing on different characters? In which case, why aren't the heroes in contact with each other? A year isn't enough time for them to all give up and drift away. And why are there so many villains being sent to dome? I thought it was 1 champion per dome. Help me out here guys.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Princeless volume 3: Interview with the artists
Have you all read Princeless? If you haven't I hope you've at least heard about it. It's written by Jeremy Whitley and the official tumblr is here. It's about Princess Adrienne who is locked in a tower and told to wait until a Prince comes to rescue her. Stuff this, she thinks. She rescues herself, befriends a dragon and decides to go rescue her sisters who are also stuck in towers (put there by their crappy yet loving parents because that is how things are done). Adrienne befriends a female blacksmith who is quite exuberant about anything, battles demons protecting her sisters and in volume 3, rescues Raven, the Pirate Princess, who is also stuck in a tower. Raven is also known as the Black Arrow. Obviously, I like her a lot.
So I got an interview with the two UK artists who are doing volume 3. Ted Brandt and Rosy Higgins. We talk about lettering, inking (because I love hearing about that shiz) the art process, their influences and how they got the gig.
Read on!
What parts of the art do each of you
do?
Ted: It's a completely collaborative work, honestly. We have pretty
complementary strengths, so it works out pretty cleanly, at least most of the
time. In theory, I do the layouts, Rosy pencils, I ink, Rosy colours and I
letter, but it doesn't always quite work out that neatly.
Rosy: Ted
pretty much summed it up really. It's a lot of juggling about, there's a lot of
suggestions to each other about things that could be improved or need fixing.
We keep each other on our toes.
Ted: We are doing all the art for volume 3; it's all been handed in and
approved, so all that's left is to solicit and get it into stores!
Rosy: We really hope the fans enjoy it. There will
be 4 issues and I think issue 1 comes out January 28.
So, after a few years I've just got the joke in the action lab logo.....
Can you describe to me, or link me to, your favourite visual pun? Or draw
me one....
Ted: I can't find a link to it now, proving my Google-fu is weak, but I
always loved that Alex Ross line-up of the Justice League, with the
whole “picture with flash”/”picture without flash” that saw the latter
both dimmer, and missing Barry Allen.
Rosy: I'm quite fond of this one.
How did you get the Princeless gig?
Ted: We got the gig mostly by luck, honestly; I was following Jeremy's tumblr,
when I saw him say that the third volume was going to be delayed as the
scheduled artist was having difficulties. Since we both wanted to get into
comics, I suggested we ought to get in touch and offer our services!
Rosy: We sent an email saying how much we'd love to be a part of
Princeless and asked if we could get some sample scripts to show off what we
could do. Jeremy liked our stuff and our approach and we got the job!
How much guidance did you get from Jeremy for panel lay out, new
character's design, mood of the comic etc?
Ted: The great thing, and the
challenge, of Jeremy's scripts is that they're very open to interpretation. It
means that as far as the layouts go, it’s an open playground, which is as
terrifying as it is freeing! The mood of the work was fairly evident from the
scripts; it comes organically through the characters and their exploits.
Rosy: As for the character design stuff, for the main characters we're
given a name, a race and a brief physical description which is again very open
to interpretation really. For the less significant characters we can
go wherever we want, unless there’s anything specific that Jeremy had in mind
and even then it’s usually only suggestion. Jeremy is very trusting of us for
that kind of stuff.
How long did it take you to do this issue of Princeless? How many
redrafts did you go through?
Ted: The first issue took…a little longer than we would have liked. It
was our first professional issue, our first time collaborating together, and
our longest comic to date. There was a steep learning curve!
Rosy: A very steep learning curve, yes! I'd never done anything on this
scale before and it took a little while to get into the swing of things. It’s
quite a test of stamina!
Can you explain the job of the inker to someone who doesn't know
anything about comics?
Ted: I've never inked anyone else outside of my collaboration with Rosy,
so I can't speak for the job as far as others go. For us, it's about
clarifying, really: as the penciller, Rosy creates all the expressions, body
language, and all the other details that breathe life into the comic and the
characters. It’s my job as the inker to create a purer, condensed version
of her lines so that they're neat and consistent, without taking away the
spark that she gives them.
Rosy: Ted also corrects any mistakes I make, most frequently he makes
hands look like hands rather than some kind of weird root vegetable.
I really appreciate the art of lettering but I don't know much about the
technicalities of it. Can you explain how you decide on a font and
placement of the letters, and how you make the lettering work? Do you
draw the panel first then fit the lettering on or do you work out where the
speech bubbles go and then draw the panel around it?
Ted: Lettering is a grossly underappreciated art in comics. I didn’t
even realise how underappreciated it was until I started lettering this book
and realised how many critical choices letterers make. For the fonts I use,
they are mostly made by the excellent Comicraft font foundry - there simply
aren’t any better out there.
The lucky thing about this book is that I do the layouts as well as the
letters: it allows me to take into account how much speech is needed in the
panels before I design each page, which means I can shape the panel sizing as
well as the layout to make sure that our art balances with Jeremy’s dialogue,
neither treading on the other’s toes. That said, I'm still pretty new to this,
so it’s definitely a case of learning as I go!
Is comic-ing your day job? If not, how do you fit the comicing in with
the day job?
Ted: It is! This volume has been our first outing into the world of
full-time comics work. It's always scary leaving the regular world of work
behind, but I'm pretty sure we'll have more fun this way.
Rosy: We're really lucky to be in a position where we were able to take
this job on. I feel very privileged to
have this opportunity.
Any advice for Brits wanting to break into comics? Do you feel like
you've broken into comics?
Ted: I'll probably feel more like I've broken in once our first
collected volume is out in print. Once we have our first book in our hands,
it’ll all feel more real!
As for advice: chance favours the prepared mind. If an opportunity does
arise, you need to not only see it but be ready. That said, take those chances!
Fail upward!
Rosy: The chance to work on Princeless came completely out of the blue
so I'd advise anyone wanting to get into comics to always keep an eye out for
opportunities and don't be afraid to make a grab for them when they turn up.
What comics would you recommend to new readers and to long term readers?
Editor's note: Links are to the Comixology or Amazon storefronts but don't forget you can get the issues in your local comic shop too!
Ted: Lucky you asked! There are a lot of great books out there
right now. Superhero-wise, I'd recommend Marvel’s Captain Marvel (editor's note - I reviewed the first volume of Captain Marvel here), Ms Marvel and
Thor; from DC, the revamped Batgirl and Gotham Academy are both flawless. All
of the above are pretty all-ages friendly, fun, and wicked-smart; perhaps most
importantly, they're all new enough to be new reader-friendly.
I’ve tried to pick ones that worked for new or longer readers - they all
are new enough that there's not a lot of catching up on the specific stories
currently being told, while (in the case of the superhero books, at least)
still having plenty of characters and references that longer readers will
appreciate.
Independent book-wise, I was bowled over by the first issue of ODY-C, loved
Gail Simone’s Red Sonja, and am waiting very impatiently for Kelly Sue
DeConnick’s new Image book (Bitch Planet).
ODY-C might be more suitable to longer readers simply because of the way
the pages are constructed - they're as much design pieces as comics pages in a
lot of ways, so I can certainly see that being intimidating for people who are
new to the medium in general. Content-wise, however, it's a new book, so
accessible to all. Bitch
Planet and Red Sonja are both suitable for new readers, though may be less
suitable for younger ones.
I'm not reading much that's mired much in continuity generally; while I
can easily get it, I generally find that stuff that's accessible to new readers
is more entertaining.
While I'm not reading anything really non-accessible continuity-wise
right now, older series are a gold mine for that kind of stuff. Final Crisis is
definitely fantastic (editor's note - for non comicers I explain Final Crisis here). That said, DC's Multiversity is definitely steeped in
continuity - not just in terms of DC, but in terms of Morrison's work there: it
stands as the final piece of a story he started back when he first took the
reins on Batman, and including Final Crisis, his run on Action Comics, and
more.
As to the other part of your question, looking for comics
recommendations for books that are less accessible to new readers in terms of
being new to the medium, well, that's harder. Jason Shiga's Meanwhile is a
great example - it's a fantastic comics version of a make-your-own adventure
with an alarming number of stories to be told. David Mazzucchelli's AsteriosPolyp is similarly challenging in its storytelling, but is possibly the most
intelligent book I've ever read. Semiotically speaking, Asterios Polyp is
active on every level, with each line and colour imbued with meaning that may
not be obvious on immediate inspection.
Rosy: For someone who wants to work in comics I’m actually
really, REALLY bad at reading them.
To be honest I'm not even really that big a reader. Unlike Ted I don’t like to get individual
issues because I'd end up losing one of them and then wouldn't be able to
follow the story, so I prefer to get the trade paperbacks. Unfortunately, I
haven't been able to pick up any in a while so I'm really behind
I guess I'd recommend
anything Stuart Immonen has worked on, because even if you don't completely get
everything that's going on you'll still have spectacular visuals to look
at.
(Editor's note - I review two Stuart Immonen books here).
Oh, and absolutely everyone should read Princeless, obviously.
Question to Rosy: May I ask how you
find drawing comics/storytelling when you don't read that much of them?
Rosy: The truth is that Ted is the one who sorts out where everything is
going on the page, blocking out not just the panels but the general positions
of the characters and how everything flows together. My job is to flesh out his
ideas. It's sort like he's the director to my actors.
My background is that I learned to draw through watching cartoons. I
initially wanted to be an animator; I found out I lacked the patience and
stamina for animation during my first year at university. I did, however,
really enjoy doing storyboarding and animatics and thought comics could be an
avenue to go down. I ended up transferring to another course at another
university specifically for graphic novels, which was where Ted and I
met.
Now, to find out more about Princeless and these guys' work, follow these links:
Rosy's tumblr: Unassumingpumpkin.tumblr.com
Rosy's twitter: https://twitter.com/RosyTintedSpecs
Ted's tumblr: Tenbandits.tumblr.com
Ted's twitter: https://twitter.com/ten_bandits
Action Lab website: http://www.actionlabcomics.com/
Release date for Princeless vol 3 issue 1: January 28th 2015
New readers Princeless
review: http://paipicks.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/princeless-save-yourself.html
View all Princeless available issues here (and go buy them!):
Thanks to Rosy and Ted for their time!
This interview also appears on my New readers... start here! blog - www.paipicks.blogspot.com - which normally contains comic reviews for new readers.
This interview also appears on my New readers... start here! blog - www.paipicks.blogspot.com - which normally contains comic reviews for new readers.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Comics review - catch up
These will likely be three sentence reviews as I'm really behind and have to start cooking dinner in half an hour.. I will talk about:
Justice League America 7, Animal Man Annual, X-Men 3, Fearless Defenders 7, Princeless Tales of Girls Who Rock, Adventures of Superman 3, Resurrection Man 17, Supergirl Annual 2 (1997), Legion of Superheroes (5 years later), Demon Knights 23, Thor 11 and Fearless Defenders 8.
I'll never get these all written in half an hour...
Justice League America 7, Animal Man Annual, X-Men 3, Fearless Defenders 7, Princeless Tales of Girls Who Rock, Adventures of Superman 3, Resurrection Man 17, Supergirl Annual 2 (1997), Legion of Superheroes (5 years later), Demon Knights 23, Thor 11 and Fearless Defenders 8.
I'll never get these all written in half an hour...
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Really out of date comic reviews
Here we go.. All these comics are at least 2 weeks old so yeah, spoiler alert, but I bet the content won't be news to many people. Comics covered are:
Princeless Get Over Yourself Issue 4 and Tales of the Family Ashe, Justice League 22, Fearless Defenders 6, Demon Knights 22, Clockwork Watch: Breakaway, Batman/Superman 1, X-Men 2, Uncanny X-Men 7, Larfleeze 1, Hawkeye 11 and 12.
Thoughts will be short as I've got such a lot to cover.
Hawkeye 11 and 12
11 was told from the perspective of the dog. It was rather cleverly done. Lots of unintelligible words and symbols to convey dog thoughts and dog understanding. When I read it I had an awful virus and couldn't take a lot in, so parts confused me. But I enjoyed it. Even if I needed a nap afterwards.
12 is told from the perspective of Clint's (estranged?) brother. the pages are broken up into a lot of different panels. There's usually at least 10 on each page. Colours are nice. Dialogue is nice. Story is interesting. Good stuff.
Larfleeze 1
This was great fun. Like the DCU used to be. This went straight onto my pull list. It will be interesting to see how and why there are other Orange Lanterns, as I thought Larfleeze could be the only one. I mean, the whole orange thing is about greed, so I bet he'll go mental when he meets the others.
Uncanny X-Men 7
I bought this by mistake, I intended to get another X comic, that was recc'd to me, but got confused in the shop. It's got very pretty art and Cyclops did get knocked on the head by a flying rock, which is always nice to see. Don't think I'll be buying any more though.
X-Men 2
Also great fun. It's got Jubilee and Mohawked storm, and Shadowcat, Rogue, Psylocke and a redhead from the Summers family tree. So apart from Psylocke and the Redhead, all my favourites. This is great.
Batman/Superman 1
Another good offering from DC. Like Larfleeze this went straight on my pull list. The art is fantastic, changing to suit the scenes. It starts off in Gotham, and is all gothic, then moves to Kansas and the colour palette goes summery. It's beautiful. Even though it's the new 52 Superman and Batman I really enjoyed it. I have high, high hopes for this title.
Clockwork Watch: Breakaway
This is the second issue in the Clockwork Watch series (issue 1 reviewed over on New readers...) and it moves the story along nicely. The art is gorgeous and Janav has matured into quite the attractive young man. Clockwork servants have become more and more advanced, with many resembling humans (apart from their eyes, which have little cogs for pupils). Janav has been pushed into a sort of police force where he has to hunt down renegade Clocks.
The lettering and speech bubble lines are lovely. When Janav is visiting his mother's grave his dialogue is written in the style of an Indian alphabet (I wish I knew exactly what). When he's writing to his childhood friend in India the speech bubbles lines are rough, like that of old paper. When the Clocks are speaking a little cog is incorporated into the speech bubble. When Janav is angry the speech bubble drips with aggression.
The Clockwork Watch team is at SDCC this weekend and I think they are previewing the next issue. I'm jealous because I want to read it!
You can buy copies of both issues here, in hardcopy and digitally.
Demon Knights 22
Oh blimey. The get the grail. The Horsewoman's injuries (?) are healed and she can walk again. I'm so sad this series will be finishing soon.
Fearless Defenders 6
I cannot get over Valkyrie's ridiculous boob armour. People complain about sexualisation in comics. They complain about Peej's boob window. Have I missed all the complaints about Val's costume? or is that not a thing?
Great issue, but Annabelle got killed. I'm sad. But I'm sure she shall be back!
Justice League 22
This is the start of Trinity War and Gods help me I actually enjoyed it. Superman appears to kill Dr Light. Except he doesn't. It's quite clear by other characters exposition that he doesn't. I have little patience for people who took this as badly as they took Man of Steel. I've put the Trinity War issues on my pull list. We'll see how that goes.
Princeless Get Over Yourself Issue 4 and Tales of the Family Ashe
As usual, this is brilliant. If you aren't getting it, go order it now. The trades are out. It's so much better than most Marvel or DC fare. Go buy.
Princeless Get Over Yourself Issue 4 and Tales of the Family Ashe, Justice League 22, Fearless Defenders 6, Demon Knights 22, Clockwork Watch: Breakaway, Batman/Superman 1, X-Men 2, Uncanny X-Men 7, Larfleeze 1, Hawkeye 11 and 12.
Thoughts will be short as I've got such a lot to cover.
Hawkeye 11 and 12
11 was told from the perspective of the dog. It was rather cleverly done. Lots of unintelligible words and symbols to convey dog thoughts and dog understanding. When I read it I had an awful virus and couldn't take a lot in, so parts confused me. But I enjoyed it. Even if I needed a nap afterwards.
12 is told from the perspective of Clint's (estranged?) brother. the pages are broken up into a lot of different panels. There's usually at least 10 on each page. Colours are nice. Dialogue is nice. Story is interesting. Good stuff.
Larfleeze 1
This was great fun. Like the DCU used to be. This went straight onto my pull list. It will be interesting to see how and why there are other Orange Lanterns, as I thought Larfleeze could be the only one. I mean, the whole orange thing is about greed, so I bet he'll go mental when he meets the others.
Uncanny X-Men 7
I bought this by mistake, I intended to get another X comic, that was recc'd to me, but got confused in the shop. It's got very pretty art and Cyclops did get knocked on the head by a flying rock, which is always nice to see. Don't think I'll be buying any more though.
X-Men 2
Also great fun. It's got Jubilee and Mohawked storm, and Shadowcat, Rogue, Psylocke and a redhead from the Summers family tree. So apart from Psylocke and the Redhead, all my favourites. This is great.
Batman/Superman 1
Another good offering from DC. Like Larfleeze this went straight on my pull list. The art is fantastic, changing to suit the scenes. It starts off in Gotham, and is all gothic, then moves to Kansas and the colour palette goes summery. It's beautiful. Even though it's the new 52 Superman and Batman I really enjoyed it. I have high, high hopes for this title.
Clockwork Watch: Breakaway
This is the second issue in the Clockwork Watch series (issue 1 reviewed over on New readers...) and it moves the story along nicely. The art is gorgeous and Janav has matured into quite the attractive young man. Clockwork servants have become more and more advanced, with many resembling humans (apart from their eyes, which have little cogs for pupils). Janav has been pushed into a sort of police force where he has to hunt down renegade Clocks.
The lettering and speech bubble lines are lovely. When Janav is visiting his mother's grave his dialogue is written in the style of an Indian alphabet (I wish I knew exactly what). When he's writing to his childhood friend in India the speech bubbles lines are rough, like that of old paper. When the Clocks are speaking a little cog is incorporated into the speech bubble. When Janav is angry the speech bubble drips with aggression.
The Clockwork Watch team is at SDCC this weekend and I think they are previewing the next issue. I'm jealous because I want to read it!
You can buy copies of both issues here, in hardcopy and digitally.
Demon Knights 22
Oh blimey. The get the grail. The Horsewoman's injuries (?) are healed and she can walk again. I'm so sad this series will be finishing soon.
Fearless Defenders 6
I cannot get over Valkyrie's ridiculous boob armour. People complain about sexualisation in comics. They complain about Peej's boob window. Have I missed all the complaints about Val's costume? or is that not a thing?
Great issue, but Annabelle got killed. I'm sad. But I'm sure she shall be back!
Justice League 22
This is the start of Trinity War and Gods help me I actually enjoyed it. Superman appears to kill Dr Light. Except he doesn't. It's quite clear by other characters exposition that he doesn't. I have little patience for people who took this as badly as they took Man of Steel. I've put the Trinity War issues on my pull list. We'll see how that goes.
Princeless Get Over Yourself Issue 4 and Tales of the Family Ashe
As usual, this is brilliant. If you aren't getting it, go order it now. The trades are out. It's so much better than most Marvel or DC fare. Go buy.
Thursday, June 06, 2013
Another week, another set of reviews (and a Bamf session)
I guested on Radio Bamf again on Sunday. I feel a lot more positive about this episode, although I have come to realise that I suck at verbally summarising and reviewing books. I’m much better responding to other people’s thoughts and ideas. Anyways I had fun, I think it was a good show, so go have listen to episode 15 either at the website or on Youtube (with automatic captions) and iTunes. Links are on the we Are Arcade page.
Thanks again to the Bamf team for having me on. Catch them on twitter and facebook.
Now read ahead for comic reviews and spoilers of Supergirl/Prysm Double shot, Signs and Voices, Professor Elemental, Adventures of Superman 1, JLA 4, X-Men 1, Fearless Defenders 4 and Princeless # 3 (second volume).
Thanks again to the Bamf team for having me on. Catch them on twitter and facebook.
Now read ahead for comic reviews and spoilers of Supergirl/Prysm Double shot, Signs and Voices, Professor Elemental, Adventures of Superman 1, JLA 4, X-Men 1, Fearless Defenders 4 and Princeless # 3 (second volume).
Monday, May 20, 2013
Comic reviews from Free Comic Book Day, and probably before..
I am soooo behind.
Right, Free Comic Book Day. I ended up going to 2 shops, one in Norwich, and Orbital in London as I was visiting the big smoke for the day to see a Deafinitely Theatre showcase. The Theatre was amazing and all I can say is, you hearing folks are missing out. I don't think think I have ever seen theatre this imaginative or this good.
Anyway comics. I tend to pick up everything I can. I got a hardcopy of Off Life which if you like indie street comics is well worth a look. It's available online as well.
The Walking Dead completely failed to impress me. I have no idea why this is so popular.
Superman: The Last Son of Krypton was a surprise, as it's a reprint of the first chapter from this trade, but the cover is of new 52 knickerless Supes. What a bizarre marketing decision.
Action Labs' Molly Danger/Princeless was great fun but I am not convinced I want to buy Molly Danger. Perhaps if I had a 10 yr old niece or nephew I'd get it for them, but it's not for me.
The Mouseguard sampler was wonderful and I am determined to put it on my pull list. Every year I get the free copy and every year I enjoy it, yet never get round to ordering it. For shame on me.
I also got Sesame Street/Strawberry Shortcake, Infinity and Uglydoll Comics. I just can't work up the enthusiasm to read these.
In other non Free Comic Book Day purchases, I got:
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 22 - AHHH MILES' MUM DIED!! *sobs* This comic is SO GOOD.
Animal Man 20 - this issue was a film plot that Buddy is starring in, about a superhero with family issues. It echos Buddy's life. It was unexpected.
Demon Knights 19 - Obviously I really enjoy this series so obviously it's not selling well and is being cancelled. Damn it. I know DC are out to make money, but really, can't they also make sure they publish quality books too? This issue has vampires and amazons. What's not to love?
The Movement 1 - I thought I enjoyed this, then I finished it and thought about the indies I wanted to buy and realised I had no interest in this at all. The art is nice though.
Princeless book 2; Get Over Yourself issue 2 - As ever this is great. We get to see more of Adrienne's family and the other Knights, and there's a beard/moustache/dwarf joke. Great.
Right, Free Comic Book Day. I ended up going to 2 shops, one in Norwich, and Orbital in London as I was visiting the big smoke for the day to see a Deafinitely Theatre showcase. The Theatre was amazing and all I can say is, you hearing folks are missing out. I don't think think I have ever seen theatre this imaginative or this good.
Anyway comics. I tend to pick up everything I can. I got a hardcopy of Off Life which if you like indie street comics is well worth a look. It's available online as well.
The Walking Dead completely failed to impress me. I have no idea why this is so popular.
Superman: The Last Son of Krypton was a surprise, as it's a reprint of the first chapter from this trade, but the cover is of new 52 knickerless Supes. What a bizarre marketing decision.
Action Labs' Molly Danger/Princeless was great fun but I am not convinced I want to buy Molly Danger. Perhaps if I had a 10 yr old niece or nephew I'd get it for them, but it's not for me.
The Mouseguard sampler was wonderful and I am determined to put it on my pull list. Every year I get the free copy and every year I enjoy it, yet never get round to ordering it. For shame on me.
I also got Sesame Street/Strawberry Shortcake, Infinity and Uglydoll Comics. I just can't work up the enthusiasm to read these.
In other non Free Comic Book Day purchases, I got:
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 22 - AHHH MILES' MUM DIED!! *sobs* This comic is SO GOOD.
Animal Man 20 - this issue was a film plot that Buddy is starring in, about a superhero with family issues. It echos Buddy's life. It was unexpected.
Demon Knights 19 - Obviously I really enjoy this series so obviously it's not selling well and is being cancelled. Damn it. I know DC are out to make money, but really, can't they also make sure they publish quality books too? This issue has vampires and amazons. What's not to love?
The Movement 1 - I thought I enjoyed this, then I finished it and thought about the indies I wanted to buy and realised I had no interest in this at all. The art is nice though.
Princeless book 2; Get Over Yourself issue 2 - As ever this is great. We get to see more of Adrienne's family and the other Knights, and there's a beard/moustache/dwarf joke. Great.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Comic Reviews for week 3rd April 2013
Spoilers ahead for Animal Man 19, Batwing 19, Action Comics 19, FF 5, Princeless Vol 2 issue 1: get Over Yourself and the Superman vs Shazam trade. The best ones are Princeless and Superman vs Shazam.
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Thursday, December 27, 2012
Weekly comics reviews.
Likely to be drunken reviews by the end of the post..
Spoilers ahoy! For: DCU Presents Black Lightning and Blue Devil 15, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 18, Danger Club 3, Wonder Woman 15, Princeless Short Stories for Warrior Women 2, Superboy 15, Supergirl 15, Birds of Prey 15.
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DCU Presents 15 : Black Lightning and Blue Devil
I finished this and I thought, eh, not as good as the first one. Definitely a filler between the opening and closing issue. Then I thought about it and thought NO. This does expand their story, I did like it. What I don't like are that Blue Devil is human 70% of the time and I don't like Lightning's new costume. But that's superficial rubbish. I do like the story. If you exclude the silly physical and verbal posturing. Blue Devil now becomes a blue devil by putting on an old devil skin (I know, yeuuch). In this issue the devil in question want sit back. But it doesn't want him. Ooops. And Jeff's Dad gets involved and kidnapped.
Yeah. I'm looking forward to the concluding arc. I picked this up off the shelf, it's not on my standing order list, and I def think that's the way forward. Even though I'd recc pre new 52 Black Lightning Year 1 to folk who wanted to learn about the character.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 18
Marvellous! Much better! Still part of the stupid crossover but so much better! Mostly cause Miles is left alone and has to fight a giant woman in the desert. And then Spider-Woman turns up and they get all honest with each other (up to a point). And Miles' Dad has to face up to stuff he did in the military crisis. But overall, yeah! I do like Miles.
Danger Club 3
Finally got this in! MY local comic shop had problems with this title, so I got 4 before 3. Nevermind.
This may be about kids, but it's def one for the adults. It's violent, and distressing and sad, and threatening, It is nothing like Supergirl Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade, done by the same team, but it is still damn good. I believe the schedule has slowed due to personal, family problems with the creators, but that makes it more special when it comes out. If you're sick of DC or Marvel's offerings try this out. It's set on a world where all the adult heroes have left the planet, disappeared, perhaps dies. Just the kid sidekicks are left. They have to face up to the few villains also left, deal with rifts amongst their community, and deal with missing their parents and mentors. In this issue some of the kids get caught in a mindbending trap by a (presumably now dead) villain, another one finds out the president (himself an ex hero) killed all the adults, and another, the most grown up of them all (and probably analogous to a Robin), has to keep the Olympian sedated. The Olympian is another teen, who in the first issue went power crazy and had to be put down by our Robin analogue. The Olympian is still pretty destroyed in this issue.
Dammit this is good.
Wonder Woman 15
Better than I expected! perhaps I'm in a better mood this week because it's the Christmas holidays?
Anyway, Wonder Woman herself is, as always, amazing. She's diplomatic with Hera and Zola, she's a great fighter with Milan and Orion.
She got surprise swords after that battle cry too.
I adore the depiction of the Gods, and I'm dying to know more about Milan (blindfolded, sees through the eyes of flies). And Orion is here! Presumably heralding the rest of the new Gods. So long as they don't make the Greek gods inferior to the New Gods I'll be happy. If they do, you shall hear wailing and gnashing of teeth.
You know what though, I def preferred Cliff Chiang's art when he was doing Green Arrow/Black Canary. it seems awfully stilted now. Like there's lots of static shots and no flow.
Princeless Short Stories for Warrior Women 2
I HEART THIS TIMES A THOUSAND
Go buy it. Either in your shops or in comixology. It's a perfect antidote to the shit that Marvel and DC can put out. It's funny. You can give it to your kids to read. It turns fairy tales on their head. It's got a dragon and an elf and a hapless Prince (winning the Charm classes does not help you in daily life when your daily life is stuck in a dungeon and you have no castle to hand). And we learn a bit more about our runaway action Princess, but mostly about her armourer (and her family).
I rabbitted on at length about Princeless over on New readers.. and I have since found out you can buy it on Comixology. So go buy it. Now. Treat yourself to a late Christmas present.
Superboy 15
Hooboy. It's H'el on earth. I expected this to be utterly dreary. Instead, i got something fun. And moody Superman! T-shirted and Caped Superman! Why hasn't he thrown that stupid outfit out yet? I was disappointed to discover that Martha Kent has HAD NO INPUT into his costume. Way to go. Martha making his duds was cute, and sweet and lovely. Now he's got battle armour. Battle armour. On a Kryptonian living in Earth's atmosphere. That's ridiculous.
Nevermind. I liked the issue.
Supergirl 15
We see a bit of Kara at home, on Krypton, happy and smiley. I want more of this Kara please. I understand she's had a shit time, and man I want H'el to just be defeated and fuck off, but I also want positive, optimistic Kara back. I want to see her positively adjusting to earth life. Judging by what we've now seen of her in Argo City I reckon this art team can do it.
See, unlike other favourite heroes of mine, I can identify with Kara and want to emulate her. At her snottiest previous incarnation I understood her rage and her need to go and shitfaced and ignore the world. In her lighter days I admired her carefree attitude. I've always wanted her powers, and I reckon she gets to have more fun than Superman does (definitely this current Superman who I don't care for at all). I admire her silver age happiness, her good naturedness. Unlike my other favourite female heroes I feel closer to Kara. Wonder Woman is someone I aim to be (but I will never be mature or wise enough to be). Black Canary is someone I want to be friends with (and probably get drunk with) but Kara is someone who has been a mess, but has come through it and is a good sweet, kind person. She sometimes strikes out in anger, don't we all, but on the whole she does her best. And that makes her far more human than the others. Lets face it, I will never have Black Canary's ninja skills and Wonder Woman is a goddess. I can't match that. But I can make mistakes like Kara does and I can try and fix them. And try to be a decent person.
So for that reason, I want to see a different Kara in the pages of Supergirl. I want her happy. I want her content. I hope that will come soon, after the H'eL on Earth storyline.
Birds of Prey 15
A-ha! The one I do want to be drunk for. I've worked out what I'm not happy about with this series. they are too happy to kill people.
Starling has guns for gods sake.
Katana stabs people with her sword. And guts them and kills them.
I don't want to read a comic with heroes where they kill people. I want my heroes to be heroic. I want them to save the day and the innocents without murdering people.
And then there's the really stupid artwork. Katana and Condor are fighting lots of ninja nasties and they decide to destroy the cube shaped bomb which will otherwise destroy part of Japan.
The next 2 pictures are the top and bottom of the same page.
Let's look at Katana again shall we:
it appears we have an escher girl in our BoP comic.
Now for clarity, here is the panel afterwards where they look at the cut bomb:
After bitching about this to my boyfriend he drew this version:
I think it's better.
B/c it's blurry, top left corner says 'ZOMG!! A BOMS!!'. Top right says 'FAST! SLICE ITS'
bottom left says 'SLICES' and bottom right says 'YAY! WORLD A SAFE'
Figures are stick men and the bomb looks like an egg on a block, lying on it's side. He didn't use the comic for reference.
Spoilers ahoy! For: DCU Presents Black Lightning and Blue Devil 15, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 18, Danger Club 3, Wonder Woman 15, Princeless Short Stories for Warrior Women 2, Superboy 15, Supergirl 15, Birds of Prey 15.
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DCU Presents 15 : Black Lightning and Blue Devil
I finished this and I thought, eh, not as good as the first one. Definitely a filler between the opening and closing issue. Then I thought about it and thought NO. This does expand their story, I did like it. What I don't like are that Blue Devil is human 70% of the time and I don't like Lightning's new costume. But that's superficial rubbish. I do like the story. If you exclude the silly physical and verbal posturing. Blue Devil now becomes a blue devil by putting on an old devil skin (I know, yeuuch). In this issue the devil in question want sit back. But it doesn't want him. Ooops. And Jeff's Dad gets involved and kidnapped.
Yeah. I'm looking forward to the concluding arc. I picked this up off the shelf, it's not on my standing order list, and I def think that's the way forward. Even though I'd recc pre new 52 Black Lightning Year 1 to folk who wanted to learn about the character.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 18
Marvellous! Much better! Still part of the stupid crossover but so much better! Mostly cause Miles is left alone and has to fight a giant woman in the desert. And then Spider-Woman turns up and they get all honest with each other (up to a point). And Miles' Dad has to face up to stuff he did in the military crisis. But overall, yeah! I do like Miles.
Danger Club 3
Finally got this in! MY local comic shop had problems with this title, so I got 4 before 3. Nevermind.
This may be about kids, but it's def one for the adults. It's violent, and distressing and sad, and threatening, It is nothing like Supergirl Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade, done by the same team, but it is still damn good. I believe the schedule has slowed due to personal, family problems with the creators, but that makes it more special when it comes out. If you're sick of DC or Marvel's offerings try this out. It's set on a world where all the adult heroes have left the planet, disappeared, perhaps dies. Just the kid sidekicks are left. They have to face up to the few villains also left, deal with rifts amongst their community, and deal with missing their parents and mentors. In this issue some of the kids get caught in a mindbending trap by a (presumably now dead) villain, another one finds out the president (himself an ex hero) killed all the adults, and another, the most grown up of them all (and probably analogous to a Robin), has to keep the Olympian sedated. The Olympian is another teen, who in the first issue went power crazy and had to be put down by our Robin analogue. The Olympian is still pretty destroyed in this issue.
Dammit this is good.
Wonder Woman 15
Better than I expected! perhaps I'm in a better mood this week because it's the Christmas holidays?
Anyway, Wonder Woman herself is, as always, amazing. She's diplomatic with Hera and Zola, she's a great fighter with Milan and Orion.
I adore the depiction of the Gods, and I'm dying to know more about Milan (blindfolded, sees through the eyes of flies). And Orion is here! Presumably heralding the rest of the new Gods. So long as they don't make the Greek gods inferior to the New Gods I'll be happy. If they do, you shall hear wailing and gnashing of teeth.
You know what though, I def preferred Cliff Chiang's art when he was doing Green Arrow/Black Canary. it seems awfully stilted now. Like there's lots of static shots and no flow.
Princeless Short Stories for Warrior Women 2
I HEART THIS TIMES A THOUSAND
Go buy it. Either in your shops or in comixology. It's a perfect antidote to the shit that Marvel and DC can put out. It's funny. You can give it to your kids to read. It turns fairy tales on their head. It's got a dragon and an elf and a hapless Prince (winning the Charm classes does not help you in daily life when your daily life is stuck in a dungeon and you have no castle to hand). And we learn a bit more about our runaway action Princess, but mostly about her armourer (and her family).
I rabbitted on at length about Princeless over on New readers.. and I have since found out you can buy it on Comixology. So go buy it. Now. Treat yourself to a late Christmas present.
Superboy 15
Hooboy. It's H'el on earth. I expected this to be utterly dreary. Instead, i got something fun. And moody Superman! T-shirted and Caped Superman! Why hasn't he thrown that stupid outfit out yet? I was disappointed to discover that Martha Kent has HAD NO INPUT into his costume. Way to go. Martha making his duds was cute, and sweet and lovely. Now he's got battle armour. Battle armour. On a Kryptonian living in Earth's atmosphere. That's ridiculous.
Nevermind. I liked the issue.
Supergirl 15
We see a bit of Kara at home, on Krypton, happy and smiley. I want more of this Kara please. I understand she's had a shit time, and man I want H'el to just be defeated and fuck off, but I also want positive, optimistic Kara back. I want to see her positively adjusting to earth life. Judging by what we've now seen of her in Argo City I reckon this art team can do it.
See, unlike other favourite heroes of mine, I can identify with Kara and want to emulate her. At her snottiest previous incarnation I understood her rage and her need to go and shitfaced and ignore the world. In her lighter days I admired her carefree attitude. I've always wanted her powers, and I reckon she gets to have more fun than Superman does (definitely this current Superman who I don't care for at all). I admire her silver age happiness, her good naturedness. Unlike my other favourite female heroes I feel closer to Kara. Wonder Woman is someone I aim to be (but I will never be mature or wise enough to be). Black Canary is someone I want to be friends with (and probably get drunk with) but Kara is someone who has been a mess, but has come through it and is a good sweet, kind person. She sometimes strikes out in anger, don't we all, but on the whole she does her best. And that makes her far more human than the others. Lets face it, I will never have Black Canary's ninja skills and Wonder Woman is a goddess. I can't match that. But I can make mistakes like Kara does and I can try and fix them. And try to be a decent person.
So for that reason, I want to see a different Kara in the pages of Supergirl. I want her happy. I want her content. I hope that will come soon, after the H'eL on Earth storyline.
Birds of Prey 15
A-ha! The one I do want to be drunk for. I've worked out what I'm not happy about with this series. they are too happy to kill people.
Starling has guns for gods sake.
Katana stabs people with her sword. And guts them and kills them.
I don't want to read a comic with heroes where they kill people. I want my heroes to be heroic. I want them to save the day and the innocents without murdering people.
And then there's the really stupid artwork. Katana and Condor are fighting lots of ninja nasties and they decide to destroy the cube shaped bomb which will otherwise destroy part of Japan.
The next 2 pictures are the top and bottom of the same page.
Let's look at Katana again shall we:
Now for clarity, here is the panel afterwards where they look at the cut bomb:
After bitching about this to my boyfriend he drew this version:
B/c it's blurry, top left corner says 'ZOMG!! A BOMS!!'. Top right says 'FAST! SLICE ITS'
bottom left says 'SLICES' and bottom right says 'YAY! WORLD A SAFE'
Figures are stick men and the bomb looks like an egg on a block, lying on it's side. He didn't use the comic for reference.
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