As comic writer Steve Gerber recently observed, "I’ve been wondering why I don’t blog more about comics." Yeah, me too. Has it really been two years since I've done a comic book review? Wow, sorry about that. This blog entry's title is from a quote Entertainment Weekly reproed that was heard on the TV show The OC, wherein a character observes of meeting a woman who likes comic books, "It's like finding a unicorn." Of course there are tons of women who not only like and read comics, but also create them, but I digress. So without further ado, let's reopen the Pen-Elayne For Your Thoughts review format and take a look at the new crop of fantasy comics that have been debuting this spring and summer:
Pen-Elayne For Your Thoughts
Fantasy and Fairy Tale Comics
Fantasy and Fairy Tale Comics
Introduction: In the past I've often observed how superhero comics are, to me, just another aspect of fantasy (with a lot of soap opera elements thrown in), and as a lifelong fantasy and fairy tale reader I found it fairly easy to get into reading them as an adult. But superhero stuff (and even much of the magic-related stuff put out by the mainstream imprints, like Marvel's current Spellbinders series) tends to focus more on fight scenes and big explosions (what's often thought of as the male appeal) than on how the hero can use his or her powers to help others and, in the process, grow into his or her own by gaining a stronger sense of self (i.e., the more universal appeal). And it's the latter aspect of fantasy, together with a hefty dose of fun, that I look for in my reading. Oddly (and disappointingly for me), every single one of these books is written and/or drawn by men. While I still long for more fantasy comic series done by women, I'm certainly not going to hold their gender against these guys in reviewing their work.
DOROTHY GALE: JOURNEY TO OZ
Book 1: The Journal
Writer/Artist: Shane Kirshenblatt
Lettering and Effects: Jennifer Halpern
Published by Jake Lake Productions Inc. and Freefall Entertainment
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
I tend to be leery of Oz-based comics, as so many of them seem to feel the need to "improve" upon Baum's vision and universe by remaking or changing the point of it, rather than expanding upon and celebrating the children-of-all-ages joy of the original books. Unfortunately, this book is of the former variety. In this incarnation, the narration informs us that "Glinda's curse (on the Winged Monkeys) had poisoned Oz, and the inhabitants grew to hate her." Not an auspicious beginning insofar as one of the main good-guy Oz characters is concerned! Dorothy is still a farmgirl (although 17 years old, well past the age of the book's character) but rather than being a dog, Toto is the nickname of her sticky-fingered male best friend, which aids in dialogue but feels forced anyway. (I also didn't like her snarling expletives directed at Toto; right away that'll turn a lot of folks off of giving this to kids.) And there's no cyclone to return her to Oz (yes, "return" – there are strong hints that she's originally from there and was found by Aunt Em as a baby, a la the Superman mythos); instead, she and Toto and a local peddler named Ed tumble through a storm cellar to arrive at their dark destination. Kirshenblatt's art is colored pencil drawings, very crude in places, with no panel borders to make it easier for neophyte comic readers to follow. Upon second review the book is not that much of a mess, it'll certainly work as an adventure and seasoned comic book readers can follow the meandering art fairly well, but the tone just isn't upbeat enough for me to want to come back for more.
So, what did y'all think?
OZ: THE MANGA #1 and 2
Adapter/Artist: David Hutchison
Editors: Doug Dlin and Paul Kilpatrick
Published by Antarctic Press
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
Now this is more like it. It's faithful to the source material while adding its own angle – in this case, as Hutchinson says, "I don't think there has been a manga version of The Wizard of Oz, at least not to my knowledge," and his goal is to bring this version to readers unfamiliar with the original. His drawing skills are solid, the pacing and effects are top-notch, and the style falls very much within manga readers' comfort zone, all without sacrificing any of Baum's essentials. As of this review we're through issue #2 where Dorothy, the Scarecrow and Tin Woodsman are about to encounter the Cowardly Lion. The necessary constraints of comic book storytelling mean you're not going to get the rich detail found in Baum's book, but all the important stuff is here and it's a breezy and fun read. Recommended.
So, what did y'all think?
Next up, five comics published under the Image label, but retaining the individual copyrights of their creators, which I'll refer to as imprints below:
LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS
Writer: Mike Bullock
Artist: Jack Lawrence
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Editor: Ron Marz
Imprint: Alias Enterprises, LLC
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
Given the title, I thought this was a good segue from the Oz books. It's a charming tale of a boy whose grandma gives him a set of "Night Pride" stuffed animals to guard his bed when he and his mother move away to a new neighborhood, and how those animals come to life at night and lead him on an adventure that involves saving a kingdom, rescuing a damsel in distress and all that good stuff. I loved this original and fanciful story, with its good plot turns, its strong female characters (two out of the four Night Pride animals are female but they're not drawn to any caricature of same, and the Grandma and Courtney, the kid from the new neighborhood, are both well realized), its charming, accessible art and its bright colors. Highly recommended. All four issues are out now, and will probably be collected into a trade paperback if you want to wait for that.
So, what did y'all think?
LULLABY: WISDOM SEEKER #1 through 3
Writers: Mike S. Miller and Ben Avery
Artist/Creator: Hector Sevilla
Colorists: Simon Bork, David Curiel and Ulises Arreaola
Letterer: Bill Tortolini
Editor: Mike S. Miller
Imprint: Alias Enterprises, LLC
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
The story, featuring another version of Wonderland's-Alice-grown-up, undoubtedly means well, but I think it's a case of too many cooks, particularly concerning the confusing art (manga-esque style without really having any manga storytelling flow; this is one you could not follow by just looking at the art alone) and oversaturated color (it took three guys to make it look that muddy?). It plays on a lot of fairy tale conventions and tries to tie together different fictional universes, but never gets to the point where you really care about the characters, and there are too many things going on at once and too much reliance on fight scenes (particularly concerning a pirate character and Pinocchio). As the characters all seem to be converging toward Oz, I'm interested enough in what happens next to keep buying it for myself, but I don't know that I'd recommend it to others.
So, what did y'all think?
THE IMAGINARIES: LOST AND FOUND PART 1
Writers: Mike S. Miller and Ben Avery
Pencillers: Mike S. Miller and Greg Titus
Colorist: Greg Titus
Letterer: Bill Tortolini
Editor: Mike S. Miller
Imprint: Alias Enterprises, LLC
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
The third entry from Alias, and another spin from the same writers as the abovementioned book, with much more accessible (though unpolished) art and colors that don't hurt the eyes nearly as much. This conceit is that there's a realm, called the Imagined Nation, into which all discarded playthings are thrust, from dolls to drawings to imaginary friends, and where they must learn to make new lives for themselves without the belief and help of their companion children. Both the real-world and imaginary world segments are paced nicely, and I look forward to seeing how the rest of the series plays out. I'd recommend at least giving it a flip-through at your local comic book store.
So, what did y'all think?
THE STARDUST KID
Book 1: The Two Boys
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Mike Ploog
Colorist: Nick Bell
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Special thanks to Ian Feller
Imprint: Desperado Publishing
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
Speaking of unreal friends, this is a fresh look at one who proves not so much imaginary as alien – a shape-shifting imp who befriends young Cody DiMarco, much to the consternation of his family and former best friend Alana and to the apparent delight of the somewhat intrusive omniscient narrator who can't seem to tell a straight story. Marc DeMatteis' writing seems to try too hard to be clever, but the whimsy factor of Mike Ploog's art overcomes that for the moment. The two experiment with a few too many disparate storytelling styles for the book to have any coherence, but it certainly doesn't lack charm and magic. A professional if crowded effort, and I'll be curious to see whether the creators can get themselves together and go a bit more linear next time. Recommended with the aforementioned reservations.
So, what did y'all think?
BEYOND AVALON
Wanderlust, Parts 1 and 2
Writer: Joe Pruett
Artist: Goran Sudzuka
Letterer: Nate Pride
Colorist: Len O'Grady
Imprint: Desperado Publishing
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
This is a fairly standard heroic quest story, featuring as its protagonist the princess of Avalon, who leaves her home with a magic sword in search of her wandering father and the magical world to which he has returned, picking up what Neil Gaiman describes as "plot coupons" along the way. I want it to be a little better than it is (as with Desperado's other title reviewed above, part of the problem may be the lack of an editorial hand), but the pacing is fine so far, and Sudzuka's art is quite lovely (except for Megan's "spaghetti hair"), so I'll stick around to see how it all turns out.
So, what did y'all think?
THE GRIMOIRE #1
Writer: Sebastian Caisse
Penciller: Djief
Colorist(s): Kness
Lettering House: Hawke Studios
Published by Speakeasy Comics
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
Only very good stories can afford to start in media res, and this doesn't quite make it. It's interesting enough, and we do find out a bit about the protagonist about a third of the way into it, but we have to wade through a lot of confusion first. And the teeny tiny lettering and utter lack of line definition. I suspect this may be one of those "we don' need no stinkin' inkers, the coloring house can go over the pencils and it'll be just as good" titles, which of course are never just as good unless the penciller's among the best – but yes, you caught me out, I'm biased. Coincidentally, it also features a girl searching for her father, who's been imprisoned, with various companions and plot coupons along the way, only instead of a magical sword Amandine carries the titular book. In any case, it's pretty bog-standard but fairly unreadable to these old eyes, which is a shame because I want to like it, but the one-word creator names and by-committee feel and lack of editorial control just keep pushing me away. If I'm going to all the trouble to squint and read the thing, don't give me typos too, y'know? Guys, if you need an editor for this, I'm available; until then, I'm passing on future issues.
So, what did y'all think?
DREAM POLICE
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Mike Deodato
Colorist: Rain Beredo
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Associate Editor: Warren Simons
Editor: Axel Alonso
Published by Marvel Comics
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
I don't know if Straczynski was inspired to do this Dragnet parody by Alan Moore's and Dave Gibbons' "Chronocops," but I wouldn't be surprised. Where the Joe Saturday of that story and his slowly-driven-mad partner Ed concerned themselves with time paradoxes, the Joe Thursday and his partner Frank in this tale help keep the peace in the dreamscape. Both stories are laugh-out-loud funny, with just enough gentle Webb mockery to get the point across before plunging ahead with the preposterous plots. (There's even a "continuity loop" gag that seems to be a Moore/Gibbons nod.) But while the pacing of "Chronocops" was rather frenetic (but hey, they only had five pages), DREAM POLICE takes a bit more time to flesh out its concepts and build up to the punchlines. Which means that even if you see them coming (loved the warm water bit!) you snicker at the setups. The only reason I'm putting this in with fantasy comics is because the dreamscape world itself is never explained (how could dreamers call the dream-cops to complain about their situations if they're not dreaming lucidly?) but must be taken as a given, but it's more a sitcom sketch than anything else, and a darn good one at that – which it should be, coming from such a seasoned TV scribe. I thought that Deodato & co. could have been sharper on the art, and the printing seems a bit dark, but the humor triumphs over most things… all except for the fact that I'll be a long time forgiving these people for getting that Cheap Trick earworm stuck in my head. Highly entertaining, and highly recommended.
So, what did y'all think?
DOROTHY GALE: JOURNEY TO OZ
Book 1: The Journal
Writer/Artist: Shane Kirshenblatt
Lettering and Effects: Jennifer Halpern
Published by Jake Lake Productions Inc. and Freefall Entertainment
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
I tend to be leery of Oz-based comics, as so many of them seem to feel the need to "improve" upon Baum's vision and universe by remaking or changing the point of it, rather than expanding upon and celebrating the children-of-all-ages joy of the original books. Unfortunately, this book is of the former variety. In this incarnation, the narration informs us that "Glinda's curse (on the Winged Monkeys) had poisoned Oz, and the inhabitants grew to hate her." Not an auspicious beginning insofar as one of the main good-guy Oz characters is concerned! Dorothy is still a farmgirl (although 17 years old, well past the age of the book's character) but rather than being a dog, Toto is the nickname of her sticky-fingered male best friend, which aids in dialogue but feels forced anyway. (I also didn't like her snarling expletives directed at Toto; right away that'll turn a lot of folks off of giving this to kids.) And there's no cyclone to return her to Oz (yes, "return" – there are strong hints that she's originally from there and was found by Aunt Em as a baby, a la the Superman mythos); instead, she and Toto and a local peddler named Ed tumble through a storm cellar to arrive at their dark destination. Kirshenblatt's art is colored pencil drawings, very crude in places, with no panel borders to make it easier for neophyte comic readers to follow. Upon second review the book is not that much of a mess, it'll certainly work as an adventure and seasoned comic book readers can follow the meandering art fairly well, but the tone just isn't upbeat enough for me to want to come back for more.
So, what did y'all think?
OZ: THE MANGA #1 and 2
Adapter/Artist: David Hutchison
Editors: Doug Dlin and Paul Kilpatrick
Published by Antarctic Press
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
Now this is more like it. It's faithful to the source material while adding its own angle – in this case, as Hutchinson says, "I don't think there has been a manga version of The Wizard of Oz, at least not to my knowledge," and his goal is to bring this version to readers unfamiliar with the original. His drawing skills are solid, the pacing and effects are top-notch, and the style falls very much within manga readers' comfort zone, all without sacrificing any of Baum's essentials. As of this review we're through issue #2 where Dorothy, the Scarecrow and Tin Woodsman are about to encounter the Cowardly Lion. The necessary constraints of comic book storytelling mean you're not going to get the rich detail found in Baum's book, but all the important stuff is here and it's a breezy and fun read. Recommended.
So, what did y'all think?
Next up, five comics published under the Image label, but retaining the individual copyrights of their creators, which I'll refer to as imprints below:
LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS
Writer: Mike Bullock
Artist: Jack Lawrence
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Editor: Ron Marz
Imprint: Alias Enterprises, LLC
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
Given the title, I thought this was a good segue from the Oz books. It's a charming tale of a boy whose grandma gives him a set of "Night Pride" stuffed animals to guard his bed when he and his mother move away to a new neighborhood, and how those animals come to life at night and lead him on an adventure that involves saving a kingdom, rescuing a damsel in distress and all that good stuff. I loved this original and fanciful story, with its good plot turns, its strong female characters (two out of the four Night Pride animals are female but they're not drawn to any caricature of same, and the Grandma and Courtney, the kid from the new neighborhood, are both well realized), its charming, accessible art and its bright colors. Highly recommended. All four issues are out now, and will probably be collected into a trade paperback if you want to wait for that.
So, what did y'all think?
LULLABY: WISDOM SEEKER #1 through 3
Writers: Mike S. Miller and Ben Avery
Artist/Creator: Hector Sevilla
Colorists: Simon Bork, David Curiel and Ulises Arreaola
Letterer: Bill Tortolini
Editor: Mike S. Miller
Imprint: Alias Enterprises, LLC
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
The story, featuring another version of Wonderland's-Alice-grown-up, undoubtedly means well, but I think it's a case of too many cooks, particularly concerning the confusing art (manga-esque style without really having any manga storytelling flow; this is one you could not follow by just looking at the art alone) and oversaturated color (it took three guys to make it look that muddy?). It plays on a lot of fairy tale conventions and tries to tie together different fictional universes, but never gets to the point where you really care about the characters, and there are too many things going on at once and too much reliance on fight scenes (particularly concerning a pirate character and Pinocchio). As the characters all seem to be converging toward Oz, I'm interested enough in what happens next to keep buying it for myself, but I don't know that I'd recommend it to others.
So, what did y'all think?
THE IMAGINARIES: LOST AND FOUND PART 1
Writers: Mike S. Miller and Ben Avery
Pencillers: Mike S. Miller and Greg Titus
Colorist: Greg Titus
Letterer: Bill Tortolini
Editor: Mike S. Miller
Imprint: Alias Enterprises, LLC
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
The third entry from Alias, and another spin from the same writers as the abovementioned book, with much more accessible (though unpolished) art and colors that don't hurt the eyes nearly as much. This conceit is that there's a realm, called the Imagined Nation, into which all discarded playthings are thrust, from dolls to drawings to imaginary friends, and where they must learn to make new lives for themselves without the belief and help of their companion children. Both the real-world and imaginary world segments are paced nicely, and I look forward to seeing how the rest of the series plays out. I'd recommend at least giving it a flip-through at your local comic book store.
So, what did y'all think?
THE STARDUST KID
Book 1: The Two Boys
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Mike Ploog
Colorist: Nick Bell
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Special thanks to Ian Feller
Imprint: Desperado Publishing
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
Speaking of unreal friends, this is a fresh look at one who proves not so much imaginary as alien – a shape-shifting imp who befriends young Cody DiMarco, much to the consternation of his family and former best friend Alana and to the apparent delight of the somewhat intrusive omniscient narrator who can't seem to tell a straight story. Marc DeMatteis' writing seems to try too hard to be clever, but the whimsy factor of Mike Ploog's art overcomes that for the moment. The two experiment with a few too many disparate storytelling styles for the book to have any coherence, but it certainly doesn't lack charm and magic. A professional if crowded effort, and I'll be curious to see whether the creators can get themselves together and go a bit more linear next time. Recommended with the aforementioned reservations.
So, what did y'all think?
BEYOND AVALON
Wanderlust, Parts 1 and 2
Writer: Joe Pruett
Artist: Goran Sudzuka
Letterer: Nate Pride
Colorist: Len O'Grady
Imprint: Desperado Publishing
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
This is a fairly standard heroic quest story, featuring as its protagonist the princess of Avalon, who leaves her home with a magic sword in search of her wandering father and the magical world to which he has returned, picking up what Neil Gaiman describes as "plot coupons" along the way. I want it to be a little better than it is (as with Desperado's other title reviewed above, part of the problem may be the lack of an editorial hand), but the pacing is fine so far, and Sudzuka's art is quite lovely (except for Megan's "spaghetti hair"), so I'll stick around to see how it all turns out.
So, what did y'all think?
THE GRIMOIRE #1
Writer: Sebastian Caisse
Penciller: Djief
Colorist(s): Kness
Lettering House: Hawke Studios
Published by Speakeasy Comics
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
Only very good stories can afford to start in media res, and this doesn't quite make it. It's interesting enough, and we do find out a bit about the protagonist about a third of the way into it, but we have to wade through a lot of confusion first. And the teeny tiny lettering and utter lack of line definition. I suspect this may be one of those "we don' need no stinkin' inkers, the coloring house can go over the pencils and it'll be just as good" titles, which of course are never just as good unless the penciller's among the best – but yes, you caught me out, I'm biased. Coincidentally, it also features a girl searching for her father, who's been imprisoned, with various companions and plot coupons along the way, only instead of a magical sword Amandine carries the titular book. In any case, it's pretty bog-standard but fairly unreadable to these old eyes, which is a shame because I want to like it, but the one-word creator names and by-committee feel and lack of editorial control just keep pushing me away. If I'm going to all the trouble to squint and read the thing, don't give me typos too, y'know? Guys, if you need an editor for this, I'm available; until then, I'm passing on future issues.
So, what did y'all think?
DREAM POLICE
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Mike Deodato
Colorist: Rain Beredo
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Associate Editor: Warren Simons
Editor: Axel Alonso
Published by Marvel Comics
Here's what I thought…
Warning: May Be Spoilers Ahead
I don't know if Straczynski was inspired to do this Dragnet parody by Alan Moore's and Dave Gibbons' "Chronocops," but I wouldn't be surprised. Where the Joe Saturday of that story and his slowly-driven-mad partner Ed concerned themselves with time paradoxes, the Joe Thursday and his partner Frank in this tale help keep the peace in the dreamscape. Both stories are laugh-out-loud funny, with just enough gentle Webb mockery to get the point across before plunging ahead with the preposterous plots. (There's even a "continuity loop" gag that seems to be a Moore/Gibbons nod.) But while the pacing of "Chronocops" was rather frenetic (but hey, they only had five pages), DREAM POLICE takes a bit more time to flesh out its concepts and build up to the punchlines. Which means that even if you see them coming (loved the warm water bit!) you snicker at the setups. The only reason I'm putting this in with fantasy comics is because the dreamscape world itself is never explained (how could dreamers call the dream-cops to complain about their situations if they're not dreaming lucidly?) but must be taken as a given, but it's more a sitcom sketch than anything else, and a darn good one at that – which it should be, coming from such a seasoned TV scribe. I thought that Deodato & co. could have been sharper on the art, and the printing seems a bit dark, but the humor triumphs over most things… all except for the fact that I'll be a long time forgiving these people for getting that Cheap Trick earworm stuck in my head. Highly entertaining, and highly recommended.
So, what did y'all think?
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