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From: moriarty@fluke.UUCP (The Napoleon of Crime)
Newsgroups: net.comics
Subject: Re: Jayembee Reviews
Message-ID: <18@colossus.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 9-Mar-86 15:18:56 EST
Article-I.D.: colossus.18
Posted: Sun Mar  9 15:18:56 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Mar-86 03:43:44 EST
References: <1507@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Organization: The Institute for Criminal Masterminds
Lines: 78

It's nice to have someone else's reviews to respond to...

>BLUE BEETLE #1		[DC, $.75]		C-
>
>	A lot of writers could take lesson in plotting from this issue;
>Len Wein gives us a text-book example here, and it makes for fascinating
>reading just for this reason. I'll probably stick with this for a little
>while, but unless BB acquires some distinguishing characteristics, to set
>him apart from the other super-heroes, I can't see keeping with this one
>for too long.

I agree with your analysis of the plotting, but I think the real thing
keeping me to this book is the art by Paris and Patterson.  As long as they
stick around, I probably will too (unless the scripts get much worse...).
This is the kind of book that NEEDS good art, because the story just doesn't
have the "oomph" to carry itself otherwise.

>THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #201		[DC, $.75]		D+
>
>	While I like the basic idea of the book focusing on the Corps, and
>not just Hal Jordan and/or John Stewart, I'm not sure I like the direction
>Englehart seems to be taking it in. We shall see.

Agreed here, also, though Englehart's pervious issues will keep me glued to
this book for a little while longer.  I just hope that the personal lives of
the main characters don't get lost in the shuffle of all the characters.
And let's not get into cutesy-aliens or another ALIEN LEGION clone, huh,
guys?
This book had the stamp of Ambush Bug's guardian angel all over it -- "team
books sell!"

>'MAZING MAN #6		[DC, $,75]		"Brenda's Story": B+
>
[Re: "Brenda's story"]
>	It's a sad, but ultimately uplifting story, and I couldn't recommend
>it more. I urge any of you that haven't tried this comic to do so. I had my
>doubts about it, even after reading the first issue, but in just a few short
>months, it's risen to become my second favorite regular DC title (right after
>SWAMP THING, of course).

Really have to disagree here; I like this comic's basis and some of it's
style, but not enough to regularly buy it.  However, went out and got this
issue and read "Brenda's Story"... and didn't find anything particularly
facinating or innovative in it.  Especially in it's presentation, which from
Jerry's review I was expecting something really well-done.  It isn't bad, or
even fair; it's just a solid story coming from a comic which specializes in
solid stories.  It's the kind of drama you don't often see in comics, true;
but I've seen this story done in several other mediums several different
ways, and I didn't think the conversion to comics was very fruitful.

>THE UNCANNY X-MEN #206		[Marvel, $.75]		D+
>
>	Just another duke-out with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants---oh,
>excuse me---Freedom Force. And I think JRJR is bound and determined to turn
>all of the X-Women into new wave punks --- this time it's Kitty's turn.

Right on the nose.  Not to mention Claremont seems to be trying to
excommunicate the male members of the X-Men... and Kurt is being portrayed
as a chump.  How does Peter feel about all this decadent fashionware going
on around him?  Last question:  How did Amanda Sefton go from being on a 747
bound for LA to a San Francisco hospital in the space of 6 or 7 hours?  Must
have been one hell of a commute...

>	What intrigued me about this issue was a possibility that is brought
>up in the story. In one scene, Lt. Bree Morrel of the San Francisco Police
>pretty much offers the X-Men a home in SF. For reasons I won't get into here
>(basicly because I'd have to retell the story), they decline the invite. I
>think this is a shame, and I wish Claremont would reconsider. 

So do I; however, I wonder if Big Jim didn't want them "isolated" out there
on the West Coast where they couldn't easily team-up with other characters...

			"I *SAID* I LOVE ALL MANKIND **DAMMIT**!!"

                                        Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
ARPA: fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPA
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<*> DISCLAIMER: Do what you want with me, but leave my employers alone! <*>