Comics Round-up: February First Issues
Mar. 5th, 2014 07:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23The Adventures of Apocalypse Al (Image) -written by J Michael Straczynski- The last year has seen JMS launch an ambitious comics project like he did a decade and a half ago. This is the fourth of five titles and the books seem generally well-received.
Apocalypse Al is Allison Carter, and JMS says he's trying for 'noir humor'. A knock on JMS has been that some of his ideas aren't that original, and this is a well-traveled road. Comic fans will immediately think 'female hellblazer" but others will think of various tv shows and movies that feature go-betweens in the afterlife.
All that said, it is a lot more fun than the previous paragraph explains it out to be. It is quick witted and the characters are well-developed. if JMS isn't particularly original in his concepts, he still draws them out better than most.
There's a lot here to like, and though I suspect this will do better as a graphic novel collection for most readers, it is a funny, easy read that delivers enough (if you like post-mortem comedy with a lot of noir elements) to make it worth picking up
Fantastic Four (Marvel) -written by James Robinson- It wasn't that long ago I was attacking Robinson's recent launch of All New invaders, disappointed by what could have been.
Although it might be hard to put a finger on what the differences are, this comic seems to be the opposite of that. James starts things off with a big event (in this book, we don't really have details yet, but we sense the tension) and does a great job of really establishing the main characters. Obviously, I think FF fans are going to have a leg up on knowing all of the characters in that universe (besides the primary four), but I don't think new readers would feel lost.
Another high point has to be Leonard Kirk's artwork. The book has a sci-fi feel and a big classic comic feel. Kirk is perfect for that, and that really seems to be what Robinson is best at. While this doesn't have the easy accessibility and quick grab of some of the better Marvel titles on the shelf right now, I have to say I am pretty excited about this book.
Apocalypse Al is Allison Carter, and JMS says he's trying for 'noir humor'. A knock on JMS has been that some of his ideas aren't that original, and this is a well-traveled road. Comic fans will immediately think 'female hellblazer" but others will think of various tv shows and movies that feature go-betweens in the afterlife.
All that said, it is a lot more fun than the previous paragraph explains it out to be. It is quick witted and the characters are well-developed. if JMS isn't particularly original in his concepts, he still draws them out better than most.
There's a lot here to like, and though I suspect this will do better as a graphic novel collection for most readers, it is a funny, easy read that delivers enough (if you like post-mortem comedy with a lot of noir elements) to make it worth picking up
Fantastic Four (Marvel) -written by James Robinson- It wasn't that long ago I was attacking Robinson's recent launch of All New invaders, disappointed by what could have been.
Although it might be hard to put a finger on what the differences are, this comic seems to be the opposite of that. James starts things off with a big event (in this book, we don't really have details yet, but we sense the tension) and does a great job of really establishing the main characters. Obviously, I think FF fans are going to have a leg up on knowing all of the characters in that universe (besides the primary four), but I don't think new readers would feel lost.
Another high point has to be Leonard Kirk's artwork. The book has a sci-fi feel and a big classic comic feel. Kirk is perfect for that, and that really seems to be what Robinson is best at. While this doesn't have the easy accessibility and quick grab of some of the better Marvel titles on the shelf right now, I have to say I am pretty excited about this book.
