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: Comics Reviews #2 of 2 Message-ID: <4093@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 2-Nov-84 12:31:24 EST Article-I.D.: decwrl.4093 Posted: Fri Nov 2 12:31:24 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 3-Nov-84 20:53:41 EST Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 136 Ratings for the comics reviewed are as according to the Mad Armenian Scale, a shameless rip-off of the Moriarty Scale, stolen out from under the very nose of the Napolean of Crime. Nyah-ah-ah!! ******************************************************************************** |=>A+< A veritable Classic. One of the best of All Time. Example: THE SPIRIT | |==>A< One of the best of the year. Ex: TEEN TITANS #39: "Who Is Donna Troy?" | |==>B< A very good issue, one of the best of the month. Example: CEREBUS | |==>C< A well done, entertaining issue. Satisfying. Example: JON SABLE | |==>D< Rather boring, or a few good spots mixed with more bad ones. Ex: ROM | |==>F< Boring AND stupid or childish. Example: MARVEL SUPERHEROES SECRET WARS | |==>Z< Actually offensive. Example: DAZZLER --- THE MOVIE GRAPHIC NOVEL #12 | ******************************************************************************** MAGE #4 C- I confess that I never tried this one before. I glanced at previous issues, but weren't grabbed by them. But, since a good number of people have said some nice things about it, I thought I'd give it a try. To be honest, I'm not *completely* sold on it, but I liked it well enough to continue with it for the nonce. The character of Kevin Matchstick is intriguing --- there appear to be many hidden aspects to him, some of which we may learn, some maybe not. I can't say I think much of Mirth yet, though, or Edsel. I don't really know enough of what's going on to really comment on the story, and that's the big- gest complaint I have with this book. Not only am I plopped in the middle of a story (the synopsis given for the events of last issue didn't really help), but this issue doesn't seem to advance much whatever plot there is. I did go looking for back issues in order to catch up with what's going on, but I've only found the first issue so far, and that doesn't do much other than set up the two main characters. I can say that there seems to be a definite improvement in the art and production between the first and fourth issues. I'm still reserving judgement on this one, but I'm not writing it off yet, either. I still haevn't figured out why everyone's raving about it, though. But then, I can't figure out why THE ELEMENTALS is selling out so damn fast, either --- it's not *that* good! Grumble, grumble. I didn't manage to get a copy of the second issue of that one. Grumble, grumble. AXEL PRESSBUTTON #1 C This comic was originally scheduled from Pacific, but has been picked up by Eclipse due to the former's problems. It reprints, in color, material from the black-&-white British comic WARRIOR, concerning the psychotic cyborg, Axel Pressbutton, and his shapely partner-in-whatever, Mysta Mystralis, Laser Eraser. Anyone who's not used to the quirky and strange British comics may not take to this, but it is amusing, silly, and exciting. sort of like Judge Dredd, only different. It's not the *best* of WARRIOR, but it's nice to see this bizarre strip get some larger exposure. THE ROCKETEER SPECIAL EDITION #1 B Yet another ex-Pacific book picked up by Eclipse. We've waited a lonnggg time for this one, and it was well worth the wait. Stevens' art was as beautiful as ever (ahhh, Betty.... sigh!). The only complaint I have, and why I didn't give this an "A", is because the story seems rather empty --- more of a finish- for-the-sake-of-finishing than an honest to God resolution. Still, it had its high points, and I eagerly look forward to the next exciting episode... The portfolio was nice, too, though somewhat uneven. I didn't care for the Freeman, the Morrow, or the Jones, but I *really* liked William Stout's, as well as Mike Kaluta's back cover. SISTERHOOD OF STEEL #1 D+ There's nothing really wrong with this comic. The art isn't wonderful (Vosburg has some stylistic quirks that I don't like) but it's servicible. The script, as Mike Ciaraldi pointed out in his review, is a nice, straightforward origin story, that sets up all the characters and situations before diving into a long involved story. Yet, there's something missing from the book. My reaction to it was kind of along the line of "So what?" The characters didn't interest me, the situations didn't interest me, and there wasn't any fresh idea that sets this apart from the usual sword-and-sorcery heap (OK, so the heroes are all women? Big deal! Just a gimmick, like Evangeline being a nun). I'll give this a chance, as I do most books, but I don't expect very much from it. VOID INDIGO #1 C- Considering how much I disliked the graphic novel, I was somewhat sur- prised that I liked this as much as I did. Mayerik still isn't doing the art as well as I know he could, but the storyline is rather interesting, without being filled with nothing but blood'n'guts. Character and motivations have improved, and yet, remain somewhat mysterious. Not a terrific book, by any means, but one I'll keep an eye on anyway, to see how it goes. THE SPIRIT #6 A+ OK, I haven't reviewed this comic before, mostly because I think it's so good, there isn't really much to say about it other than "WOW!" Its quality seems so obvious to me. Eisner has some equals or near-equals in the business -- Hal Foster, Milt Caniff, Jim Steranko, et al. -- but he has no superiors. None. Zippo. He puts into seven pages what most writer/artists take *twenty*-seven to do. His sense of design is simple, yet dynamic and imaginative. And one of the stories in this issue is a perfect example of this. The first story in this issue, "Welcome Home, Ebony!", page 6, panel 7. Next time you're in the local comics shop, take a look at it. I was just blown away at how simple, yet how effective that panel was. The man is a master. I also highly recommend this book, because, aside from the contents, this is the best-produced comic around. The coloring, the printing, the paper, etc. are of that high quality that only a labor of love can produce. the only comics I ever seen that match it in terms of production were the Capital Comics --- NEXUS, THE BADGER, and WHISPER. Nobody does it better. NEW TRIUMPH (featuring NORTHGUARD) #1 C Imagine yourself as a comics fan (if you can :-). Then imagine that a hi-tech company makes you an offer to have you use a device which gives you an indefinite amount of energy to use against evildoers. What would you do? Most likely, exactly what the hero of this book does --- become a superhero! Mark Shainblum, the writer, is no Alan Moore or Marv Wolfman or Chris Claremont. Gabriel Morrissette, the artist, is no Barry Windsor-Smith or Paul Smith or George Perez. This book has a ways to go before it can be considered a great book. Yet it is off to a good start, and has the potential to be a real sleeper. The characters are interesting, the motivations intriguing, and the actions suspenseful. And the point of view character as a comic fan turned superhero is delightful. "Phillip. What are you going to call yourself in French? 'Northguard' hardly works. Let's see, 'Guardien du nord' is cumbersome. What about just 'Guardien'?" "No, somehow I don't think so." "Why not?" "Respect for the dead." It's been awhile since we've had a real *Canadian* comic book. The A-V stuff is set in other worlds and times. And ALPHA FLIGHT seems to be really an American comic set in Canada. With NEW TRIUMPH we have what I feel is a worthy successor to CAPTAIN CANUCK. I'm pleased to see that there have been a couple of other reviews for it in net.comics, because that means that it's being noticed. I urge any of you who haven't seen it yet to look for it and try it out. --- jayembee (Jerry Boyajian, DEC, Maynard, MA) UUCP: {decvax|ihnp4|allegra|ucbvax|...}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-akov68!boyajian ARPA: boyajian%akov68.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA