Monday is Weary
I’m tired, worn out and a little fuzzy headed. So all I have to say today is – this is awesome.
*note I meant to publish this on Monday but I guess I forgot – oops!*
Fables Vol. 12 – The Dark Ages review
I’m going to try and do this without any spoilers. Emphasis on try because, like most of the Fables stories, the plot is an integral part of the story. In the last volume, the war ended and lots of us were left going “that was it? seriously? ok….what comes next?” Usually the war is it, the big payoff followed by bittersweet burying of your dead and series done. Except this is Fables and there’s always more, thank god.
Turns out the war is really the beginning. The powers that be didn’t truly think through the consequences of this war. Geppetto, former big bad Adversary, tries to tell them but since he’s a known tyrant they ignore him. Then it happens. I’m not going to tell you what “it” is of course but, trust me, it’s pretty bad.
As usual, the writing is awesome, pushing the story forward while leaving time to develop the characters. The artwork is still stunning, especially the use of color and movement. One of my favorite things about Fables is the political strife. In this volume a group calling themselves the Society of Seconds (first generation Fables born in America) demand passage into the homelands. What they want is somewhat ridiculous, as the homelands aren’t anywhere near safe, yet also speaks to the disconnection first-generation immigrants have.
If I have one complaint, it’s emotional fatigue. I’m worn out, I’ve been through a war for gods sake! Can’t I take a break? One volume where maybe Snow White and Bigby take a vacation in the homeland? Let us see how it’s rebuilding or a journey East to see some different fables?
Webcomic Wednesday – It’s the Man of Steel!
Young Bill Young here. From the USA Today website:
“Every week, usatoday.com will feature a new episode of the Superman serial running in Wednesday Comics, a weekly collection of 15 newspaper-sized comic strips from DC Comics. The complete package is on sale every Wednesday for $3.99 at comic book shops.”
We’re already into week five of a twelve-week run of Superman, but you haven’t missed anything. USA Today still has the earlier comic strips up. Start your Superman web adventure here!
(By the by: If you’re on a Mac, use the Safari browser. Firefox totally didn’t work for me.)
Huntress Year One review
I like the Year One and Origin comics because they let me get to know a character that I might not be familiar with. Since they literally start from the beginning there’s no need for prior knowledge. So Huntress Year One sounded great. I was pretty excited about the cover – an angry woman with a crossbow. But you know what they say about judging a book by its cover….*sigh*
What I found inside was a cliched mess. Little Helena Rose Bertinelli watches as her family is murdered. Of course, she is inexplicably left alive, I think we are supposed to assume it’s because she’s a little girl. But still, sloppy work assassins. Helena’s family isn’t just any Gotham family; her father was the Don of Gotham. Helena is sent to live and hide out with a family in Sicily where she dreams of revenge. Naturally.
What follows is the story of a woman bent on revenge and falling in love and losing that love and we’ve seen it all before. The artwork is flat, failing to convey any kind of emotion besides anger. Luckily, Helena is angry a lot. The dialogue is stilted, full of conversations like this:
Huntress: Everyone thinks they’re the good guy.
Batgirl: Sometimes there really are good guys.
Huntress: You settle for being good. I’m going to be the best.
There’s also the issue of feminism which, like Helena’s “take it when it works” approach to faith, is constantly brought up. Yet, it’s hard to get into girl power when all the women are caricatures. Helena’s cousin is crabby and petty and jealous. Well, of course, she is – she’s fat! You can tell Helena is “feisty” cause she is rude – I mean, speaks her mind. Batgirl is good, we know this because she’s bubbly and tries to make friends. Catwoman on the other hand is dark and edgy, just look at her cigarette.
I’m not quite sure what the point of this was. To remake the character, (who has apparently had several incantations)? To explain why in later Birds of Prey the Huntress hints at being a lesbian? Cause you know, nothing will turn you gay like the guy you love turning into a jerk over something you (sort of) did. It’s that easy ladies!!!
In conclusion: cool cover, weak delivery.
Batman R.I.P. – review
You’ll have to forgive me. I have a bad cold and I’m attempting to review Batman R.I.P. so there’s a very good chance that none of this post will make sense.
What is it about Batman that makes me so sad? The whole Dark Knight, troubled soul, citizens of Gotham – just brings me down. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing, a lot of beautiful writing comes out of sadness. Elie Wiesel’s Night comes to mind and of course there’s England’s version of the Bat, Hamlet. But the level of sadness in Batman has really been cranked up hasn’t it?
Batman faces the Black Glove. He’s on the Glove’s trail when his “love” Jezebel Jet betrays him, whispering the code word that shatters his psyche. Luckily, he’s got a backup personality – I promise it’s much cooler than it sounds. Together with Robin and Nightwing (who aren’t much help but what can you do) the new Zur en Arrh Batman continues his efforts to destroy the Black Glove even at the cost of what’s left of Bruce Wayne’s life.
Batman R.I.P. isn’t so much about Bruce Wayne’s physical death or even his psychological death (that happened a while back) but his emotional end. I can’t decide if I think this is brilliant or cheap. I’ve heard people argue that Bruce Wayne had it coming. In fact, the book itself makes the point, in clue flashbacks from The Butler Did It, that Bruce Wayne has had numerous chances to take his pain and actually learn from it and doesn’t. But to break him with a rumor? Though it’s a pretty good one and I love the idea that maybe the Wayne’s aren’t the saints we thought – still…
There’s no beating Morrison’s feel for plot or timing. I loved the second personality even if it came with some kind of freaky little batkid. Actually, I became sort of attached to that Life with Louie looking sidekick. There’s also the sad truth that no one understands Batman except his worst enemy, who happens to be insane. That’s when you know it’s all gone horribly wrong, when the Joker speaks reasonably about what the rational thing to do is and of course everyone ignores him. It suggests that maybe the Joker is a twisted Cassandra, telling the sad fate of Gotham to power hungry villians and heroes.
I do have a few gripes though. First, Arkham Asylum – when is this place going to get some better security? I mean, really. It’s just irritating. Second, the artwork is too over the top. I’m sure Morrison and Daniel were intending it to be this way. A friend of mine told me the back story of the whole Zur en Arrh, explaining that Morrison is heavily influenced by past, campy Batman stories. So the artwork reflects that but I don’t know if it needs to. Joker looks too much like a monster, like Pennywise the Clown and the faces of Gotham citizens sit flat. Finally, I always find myself wondering stupid things like where the Joker finds purple pinstripes on such short notice? Does he have a special store that he stops by? Do they let him keep some in Arkham?
That may just be the cough syrup talking….
WE3 Live Action Film
Ok, I’m going to talk about Thomas the Train for a minute but I swear this has a point, so bear with me. In 2000, Thomas came to the silver screen in Thomas and the Magic Railroad. In 2009, my son discovered that he loved Thomas (all trains really) more than anything. He watched the dvd and had some kind of freak out when the trains left the screen. Unfortunately for him, there’s not really a ton of train action in the movie. It’s filled up with stupid people.
Which brings me to this:
‘We3’ Lands ‘Kung Fu Panda’ Director John Stevenson
A live action WE3 film? Interesting…interesting. I like how the article is quick to point out that it will be R rated. Duh. How could it not be?
WE3 is a thin masterpiece (in my opinion) that turns three animals into weapons. Once these fluffy killers escape the lab they try to find their way back home, using their instincts which are now attached to guns. The result is bloody and heartbreaking. Each animal has it’s own personality, not based so much on emotion but those qualities which make them what they are. For example, the dog is a needy creature, bred to please it’s master.
As the animals pretty much plow their way through the city, there is very little human interaction in the book. There doesn’t need to be. It’s a catastrophe of human hubris as seen through the eyes of the weapons.
So, my concern for the movie would be, like Thomas, that in order to flesh out a small book they add more human characters. They turn the doctors into central characters. I hope not. I can’t wait to see a preview.
Jack of Fables – Turning Pages review
If you’ve been reading the wonderful Fables but haven’t picked up the Jack of Fables spinoff, you’re missing out. Jack of Fables is the story of Jack (that egotistical but irresistible hero) after he leaves Fabletown to seek his fortune. What follows is a series of hilarious mishaps, seductions and new Fables. It doesn’t have the weight and worry that the Fables series has and that’s a good thing. Jack narrates, that’s also a good thing. He’s just as narcissistic as ever, often getting upset when one character gets a little more “screen time”.
Turning Pages is volume 5 and is a good jumping in point. The first story is sort of unnecessary. Way back in they day (before the events in Fables) Jack is the leader of an Old West gang, killing lawmen and stealing horses, the whole bit. Sheriff Bigby (the Big Bad Wolf) gets wind of this criminal behavior and sets out to bring Jack back. While it’s a fun story, it’s mainly filler. Though it is interesting to see Bigby before Snow White manages to calm him down.
After that brief interlude, comes the stories of the three Page sisters. They are Literals and librarians working at the Golden Boughs Retirement Community (it’s not nearly as nice as it sounds). Their background stories lead into what appears to be a very sticky situation for Jack.
This isn’t the strongest volume in the series but it’s nice to have a break from the building action. Willingham and Sturges make sure to keep the laughs up, even as the stakes get high. One of the best things about this series is the use of American Fables like Paul Bunyan and his strange blue ox Babe. Like the original series, this one is packed with imagination.
If you’re looking for a delightful prose read that’s a lot like these series, pick up the Thursday Next mysteries by Jasper Fforde.
Elliot Stabler is the Green Lantern!
The New Green Initiative | Graphic Novel Reporter - New Green Lantern cartoon movie coming to DVD!
The above article includes an interview with Chris Meloni, or as I like to call him angry Elliot Stabler. You may also recognize his name from Harold and Kumar go to White Castle - yes, that was him!!
He sounds all excited about the prospect of voicing a superhero, “You become a kid again. I’m doing what my five-year-old son does in his bedroom. Only I get paid for it. That makes it even more fun.”
I think Meloni is a great choice. He’s got a strong voice but it isn’t too deep (think Batman) or too unsure (think Superman) or too high (think Spiderman).
Green Lantern is certainly getting a lot of attention. I read the beautifully illustrated and mythos heavy Sinestro Corps War. I was confused, it’s true, but enjoyed it none the less.
Batman Game preview
I’m not a huge gamer. I mean, I’ve been known ( on occasion) to stay up late trying to desperately level up my Final Fantasy characters in order to get past one dumb monster so I can go back into town to get more weapons. I did have a slight obsession with Paper Mario and I did enjoy Harvest Moon before it became even more boring than my regular life.
As you can tell, if I do play a game I want it to a.) be pretty and colorful, b.) not involve a whole lot of fighting and c.) have some kind of a story attached to it. Superhero games always seemed like first person shooters in a cape. If there’s one thing I hate more than a first person shooter, it’s a first person shooter in a costume I can’t change or color or do anything fun with.
But then…there this:
Batman Arkham Asylum: Invisible Predator Trailer | PopCultureShock.
Anything having to do with Arkham Asylum and I am there. It’s the best place in Gotham.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Our week of love comes to an end. You still have today though – so grab a glass of champagne, hug your loved one and read these -
Top 5 Graphic Novels for Valentine’s Day (according to me)
1. Ouran High Host Club -having one boy fall all over himself to get to you is great. Having six (including some hot twins) is even better!!!
2. Fake – this yaoi features a touching relationship between two men who actually appear to like and respect each other. It’s also funny and smiles on Valentine’s are always good.
3. Sand Chronicles – sometimes being in love means breaking your heart and taking that chance is the bravest thing you do.
4. Empowered – ok, so suggesting a graphic novel where the main character sheds her clothes every time she uses her superpower might seem like a weird recommendation coming from me but I promise, you will melt at Empowered’s relationship with one of the villian’s henchman.
5. Canterella – I’m not exactly sure if this is romantic or not, on account of all the evil manipulation, but it is exciting! Anything with the Borgias in it is bound to be a good read.
Or if you hate this holiday, like I know many of you do here’s
The Top 5 Anti-Valentine’s Graphic Novels (once again, according to me)
1. Y the Last Man – you would think that a story about the last man on earth would include some romance or at least a date but nope.
2. Death Note – the only relationship in this manga is soooo cold! .
3. Watchmen – no love lost between these superheroes.
4. V for Vendetta – if Valentine’s Day makes you feel like getting revenge on the world, then this is your pick
5. Marvel Zombies – Spiderman ripping into Mary Jane, literally.
