Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-akov68!boyajian From: boyajian@akov68.DEC (Jerry Boyajian) Newsgroups: net.comics Subject: Ketchup Reviews (Others) Message-ID: <3505@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Mon, 3-Sep-84 23:19:17 EDT Article-I.D.: decwrl.3505 Posted: Mon Sep 3 23:19:17 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 13-Sep-84 05:36:43 EDT Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 97 Since I have less non-Marvel comics to review than Marvels, they are all lumped together here, but separated by publisher. Again, I'm using Jeff Meyer's rating system. **************************************************************************** |==>A< One of the best of the year. Example: Byrne/Claremont's Starlord | |==>B< A very good issue, one of the best of the month (usually 6/month) | |==>C< A well done, entertaining issue. Satisfying. Example: Jon Sable | |==>D< Rather boring, or a few good spots mixed with more bad ones. Ex:Mars| |==>F< Boring AND stupid or childish. Example: Secret Wars. | |==>Z< Actually offensive. Example: Several of Haney's UNKNOWN SOLDIERs | **************************************************************************** JEMM, SON OF SATURN #4 D Well, I can't say that I didn't give JEMM a decent try. Here we are 1/3 of the way through the series, and I still find nothing intriguing about it. The Colan/Janson art is rather mundane, and there is nothing particularly original to the story. This is it for me on this title. STAR TREK #9 D OK, I confess that I got this one because I was interested in seeing how they'd pick up from the end of THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK. I also happened to know what it was setting up for the next issue, too (more on that later). I haven't been buying this title, since I don't care for the writing or the art (I read my girl friend's copies of #1-3 and didn't like them). As it turns out, this issue isn't much more than a space-filler until the last few pages, where we get set up for the next issue. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to pick up the next issue, too, since it's a "sequel" to my very favorite ST episode, "Mirror, Mirror". What's annoying is that I can see exactly what just might happen. My crystal ball says that Kirk & Co. are going to defeat para-Kirk & Co., and until the time comes for the adaptation of STAR TREK IV, our guys will flit about the galaxy in the para-*Enterprise*. At that time, the para-*Enterprise* will be destroyed or re- captured by the para-crew (who escape back to their own dimension), so that ev- erything is back to status quo. somehow, I don't think I could take that. TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #49 B- Of course, the big thing here is the revelation about Kid Flash. I'm not particularly pleased with this, feeling that it's kind of gratuitous (though I can't pin down why). I agree with whomever it was that said that this is probab- ly going to be dragged on for a year or more (after all, KF *does* appear in the Baxter TITANS). I also get the feeling that all this is going to solved by hav- ing KF get killed in the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS series, so that he won't have to suffer a prolonged death. But what I really liked about this issue were the little snickers in the opening sequence. "Dickie, you're Donna's friend. You think she maybe has a sis- ter?" "Certainly does, Barry. But I think she's going with someone." (heh heh) or "That answers it, Jer -- Bowser City!" (heh heh heh). I wonder, though, if I am supposed to recognize this Sharon character who claims to be Donna's ex-room- ie. Does anyone remember her from the old Titans series? MS. TREE #10 A- This comic made the transition from Eclipse to Aardvark-Vanaheim beauti- fully. I'm constantly being impressed at not only how good a comic it is, but at how good a *mystery* story it is, too. Of course, the biggest question that this issue brings up is how successful the duo-tone printing is. Personally, I think it just fits the mood of the comic, giving it (as Max Collins says in the letter column) more of a *film noir* feel than a four-color or black & white comic would. I hope they do this on a permanent basis. GRIMJACK #5 B This is the best issue so far. Jericho Noleski is quite a character, and a perfect partner for Grimjack. One of the things I like about the series though is the little things. For this issue: (1) "Yeah, but they are *law-abidin'* jack rabbits." (2) "Rule of Thumb #34: never never *never* shoot a gas pump!" and (3) the "Miller-Kennedy Truckin', Ltd." on the cab of the truck ("Kennedy Miller" is the name of the production company that produced the Mad Max films --- Byron KENNEDY and George MILLER). ZOT! #5 A- As with GRIMJACK, this is the best issue so far. Aside from the zany hu- mor and complex machinations, I think what I like most about this series is the growing friendship between Zot and Jenny. One can see it slowly, and completely innocently, develop from an initial attraction/crush to a strong, true love. At this point, I think Jenny realizes that she is actually in love with Zot, though he's still a bit dense in that respect. This has to be one of the most realistic (proto-)romances in comics. This comic is a must read; if you aren't reading it yet, shame on you! PATHWAYS TO FANTASY #1 C+ Here goes another Bruce Jones Associates anthology comic, said I, when this one appeared. surprisingly, though, I rather liked this on the whole. I can't really say much for the scripts (except for Christina Rosetti's "Goblin Market", which despite the forced rhyme scheme, is a very nicely done story). The art, however, is another thing altogether. John Bolton's art for "Goblin Market" is beautiful, follow closely be Barry Windsor-Smith's for "Stalking". Lela Dowling did a nice job on "Hunger", and Jeffrey Jones' on "A Night to Re- member" fit the mood of the story very well. The only art job I didn't care for was Scott Hampton's for "Oh What a Lovely Estate Have We" (which also is the least story in the book). I think what impressed me most about this comic, how- ever, was the breadth of fantasy that it presented, from the Grimm-style fairy tale of "Goblin Market" to the traditional ghost story of "A Night to Remember". Worth picking up. --- jayembee (Jerry Boyajian, DEC, Maynard, MA) UUCP: {decvax|ihnp4|allegra|ucbvax|...}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-akov68!boyajian ARPA: boyajian%akov68.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA