Post by jugglingman on Jul 10, 2008 17:04:04 GMT -4
Huntress: Year One #5
There are strong writers who know how to avoid genre tropes and surprise the reader. Ivory Madison's strength lies in knowing how to use genre tropes in just the right amounts and surprise anyway. Huntress: Year One has been a classic superhero story made exciting all over again!
Issue #5 (of 6) tells the story of a young woman getting deeper and deeper in doodoo but somehow thriving. The issue features several members of the Bat-family including Batman and the interactions are handled with authority and strength. The underlying theme of moral self righteousness becomes increasingly apparent as these headstrong characters clash both physically and philosophically. It is fascinating to watch events nudge Helena into the realization that there is more at stake in this affair than her own personal agenda. In previous issues, I felt that the dialog was occasionally somewhat clunky but this is certainly not the case in #5. The book is rife with great lines delivered as swiftly and decisively as the action portrayed in the panels.
The art in this series has gone from good to better and now to great! We are treated to some superb spreads that come across as simultaneously chaotic and easy to read. And the color! My goodness they are gorgeous! If this book was candy it would taste sweet, smooth and velvety. Yum!
I am completely won over by the tremendous strength that exudes from this series! 5 from 5
Joker's Asylum: Penguin #1
his my first Jason Aaron read. Joker's Asylum: The Penguin #1 is a character piece in which the Joker plays the role of storyteller. I'm already intrigued! Aaron explores Oswald Cobblepot's inner workings while sparing us his origin story. The issue runs the emotional gamut that is par for the course when the lead character's ego is as fractured as Oswald's. It's a love story - Cobblepot "rescues" a girl and they fall for each other. It's a tragedy - this same girl rejects Oswald upon discovering his dark secrets. It's a comedy - Penguin simply sighs in response to Batman vehemently tossing henchman around the room; "yes, yes, see you next week" he says. It's all those things wrapped in a very concise and elegant package.
Evidently the communication channels between writer and artist were squeaky clean. The inclusion of such subtle details as Oswald's art deco sensibilities serve not only as decoration but also as characterization - incidentally, good job on the book's word mark fitting the art deco motif. The colors? Music for the eyes!
I am however puzzled. We are shown events in The Penguin's life that demonstrate his off-kilter psyche, but the root of his unbalanced reactions are left up to the reader's interpretation. I have to ask myself: Why does a tale about a man's undoing happen to a man who is already undone? Perhaps that is the point?
Metaphysical musings aside, I liked this book a great deal. It is an excellent one-shot appetizer for what I hope will become a Jason Aaron buffet of DC stories. 5 from 5
Invincible Iron Man #3
Things really get rolling in this issue. It opens with Tony Stark's superbly scripted reaction to an attack from Ezekiel Stane followed by a series of scenes designed by Fraction to shove Iron Man further and further out on a limb including Pepper suffering from life threatening injuries. Ezekiel is very much coming into his own as a genuinely threatening villain under Fraction's pen and the international character of the story framework becomes increasingly prominent. Everything is written in a very precise and calculated manner that reveals layer after layer while hinting at still more underlying complexity.
The past two issues contained fairly atrocious artwork however. Wildly inconsistent facial features, hit and miss inclusion of photographic elements, coloring that makes my eyes puke and so on. Larroca however draws great panel layouts and kicks major butt when drawing technology and architecture of which this issue features truckloads! So your eyes can eat lunch before reading. But every character still looks like a shrink wrapped barbie doll, except in a flashback scene where the coloring is superb! Making the "regurgitated saran wrap" style of coloring present in most of the book that much more disconcerting.
Criticisms aside, I enthusiastically recommend this title. Particularly to fans of the hit Iron Man movie. It expands on the Iron Man lore in a graceful, easy to digest manner. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
There are strong writers who know how to avoid genre tropes and surprise the reader. Ivory Madison's strength lies in knowing how to use genre tropes in just the right amounts and surprise anyway. Huntress: Year One has been a classic superhero story made exciting all over again!
Issue #5 (of 6) tells the story of a young woman getting deeper and deeper in doodoo but somehow thriving. The issue features several members of the Bat-family including Batman and the interactions are handled with authority and strength. The underlying theme of moral self righteousness becomes increasingly apparent as these headstrong characters clash both physically and philosophically. It is fascinating to watch events nudge Helena into the realization that there is more at stake in this affair than her own personal agenda. In previous issues, I felt that the dialog was occasionally somewhat clunky but this is certainly not the case in #5. The book is rife with great lines delivered as swiftly and decisively as the action portrayed in the panels.
The art in this series has gone from good to better and now to great! We are treated to some superb spreads that come across as simultaneously chaotic and easy to read. And the color! My goodness they are gorgeous! If this book was candy it would taste sweet, smooth and velvety. Yum!
I am completely won over by the tremendous strength that exudes from this series! 5 from 5
Joker's Asylum: Penguin #1
his my first Jason Aaron read. Joker's Asylum: The Penguin #1 is a character piece in which the Joker plays the role of storyteller. I'm already intrigued! Aaron explores Oswald Cobblepot's inner workings while sparing us his origin story. The issue runs the emotional gamut that is par for the course when the lead character's ego is as fractured as Oswald's. It's a love story - Cobblepot "rescues" a girl and they fall for each other. It's a tragedy - this same girl rejects Oswald upon discovering his dark secrets. It's a comedy - Penguin simply sighs in response to Batman vehemently tossing henchman around the room; "yes, yes, see you next week" he says. It's all those things wrapped in a very concise and elegant package.
Evidently the communication channels between writer and artist were squeaky clean. The inclusion of such subtle details as Oswald's art deco sensibilities serve not only as decoration but also as characterization - incidentally, good job on the book's word mark fitting the art deco motif. The colors? Music for the eyes!
I am however puzzled. We are shown events in The Penguin's life that demonstrate his off-kilter psyche, but the root of his unbalanced reactions are left up to the reader's interpretation. I have to ask myself: Why does a tale about a man's undoing happen to a man who is already undone? Perhaps that is the point?
Metaphysical musings aside, I liked this book a great deal. It is an excellent one-shot appetizer for what I hope will become a Jason Aaron buffet of DC stories. 5 from 5
Invincible Iron Man #3
Things really get rolling in this issue. It opens with Tony Stark's superbly scripted reaction to an attack from Ezekiel Stane followed by a series of scenes designed by Fraction to shove Iron Man further and further out on a limb including Pepper suffering from life threatening injuries. Ezekiel is very much coming into his own as a genuinely threatening villain under Fraction's pen and the international character of the story framework becomes increasingly prominent. Everything is written in a very precise and calculated manner that reveals layer after layer while hinting at still more underlying complexity.
The past two issues contained fairly atrocious artwork however. Wildly inconsistent facial features, hit and miss inclusion of photographic elements, coloring that makes my eyes puke and so on. Larroca however draws great panel layouts and kicks major butt when drawing technology and architecture of which this issue features truckloads! So your eyes can eat lunch before reading. But every character still looks like a shrink wrapped barbie doll, except in a flashback scene where the coloring is superb! Making the "regurgitated saran wrap" style of coloring present in most of the book that much more disconcerting.
Criticisms aside, I enthusiastically recommend this title. Particularly to fans of the hit Iron Man movie. It expands on the Iron Man lore in a graceful, easy to digest manner. I'm looking forward to the next installment.