Sunday, December 2, 2018

Random Reviews: Oldies And Goodies

 

BLACK SUMMER  (Avatar Press, October 2004) Trade Paperback, 192 pages.  Warren Ellis, writer.  Juan Jose Ryp, art.  ISBN #1592910521. Winner of Grand Prix de I’Imaginaire for Bande designee comics 2010.

 

Summary from the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

When America's premiere hero kills everyone in the White House in pursuit of his own brand of justice, his innocent former teammates become the targets of a massive military crackdown.

 

What happens when a crimefighting hero's pursuit of justice leads him to the horrifying conclusion that he must kill his President to save his country? When John Horus decides that no one is above his personal law, he kicks down the door to the White House and throw the entire country into chaos. 

 

Now, his former teammates in the Seven Guns -- some crippled, some crazy, and all considered guilty by association -- become live targets for a military determined to wipe them all from the face of the earth. BLACK SUMMER is Warren Ellis' graphic novel about where you draw the line, and where justice is nothing but death from above. 

 

My review from the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

     Black Summer is the first of a superhero trilogy that Warren Ellis wrote for Avatar Press, where more mature content is the norm and creators seemingly have free rein, continuing through No Hero and finishing with SuperGod. It's been favorably compared to The Watchmen but it doesn't come very close to what that landmark series achieved.

 

    Ellis starts with an intriguing concept - - a superhero executing the President of the United States, Vice President, and advisors after finding them guilty of fabricating a rationale to go to war with Iraq (a not-so-subtle jab at the second Bush administration). It might have gone in more interesting directions from there, but Ellis sticks to the oft-used formula of government against the super-heroes allegedly turned criminal. To be fair, there are some interesting flashback scenes that shed light on the characters, but this is essentially a multi-issue free-for-all bloodbath that ends as you might expect despite the twisty reveal. 

 

     What saves it is the outstanding art from Ryp, as Black Summer serves as a brilliant spotlight on his work with double-page spreads of carnage. The art is hyper-realistic and sometimes so detailed that you've got to study it closely to understand everything that is going on. It's bloody and violent as hell, and very explosive and fiery - - also a showcase for the colorist. 

 

     For those who haven't experienced the creativity of Warren Ellis before and want to see what he can do with capes and tights - - I would recommend the Planetary series over this. It remains my favorite of his superhero work.  

 

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, VOLUME 1  (DC /America’s Best Comics, 2002)  Alan Moore, writer.  Kevin O’Neill, illustrator. Trade paperback, 192 pages.  ISBN: 1563898586. Winner of 2000 Bram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated Narrative.

 

Summary from the Goodreads website . . . . . 

 

London, 1898. The Victorian Era draws to a close and the twentieth century approaches. It is a time of great change and an age of stagnation, a period of chaste order and ignoble chaos. It is an era in need of champions.

 

In this amazingly imaginative tale, literary figures from throughout time and various bodies of work are brought together to face any and all threats to Britain. Allan Quatermain, Mina Murray, Captain Nemo, Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde and Hawley Griffin ( the Invisible Man) form a remarkable legion of intellectual aptitude and physical prowess: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

 

My review from the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

     I could go on for pages about how much I enjoyed re-reading this epic work, but considering the myriad of reviews already posted on Goodreads - I'll be brief.

 

     For my money, this is one of the best homages to classic pulp, detective and action literature that you're likely to come across. Moore takes the worlds of Jules Verne, Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle, and H.G. Wells and blends them all together for something quite marvelous.

 

      Set in an alternative Victorian era world, Moore unites all the classic characters for a combined adventure on high seas and high ground. The art is imaginative, visually stunning in spots, and perfectly compliments the complex storyline. Highly recommended. 

 

BITCH PLANET, VOLUME 2: PRESIDENT BITCH  (Image Comics, 2017)  Kelly Sue DeConnick, author.  Valentine De Landro and Taki Soma, illustrators.  Trade paperback, 144 pages. Hugo Award 2018 nominee for Best Graphic Story.  Goodreads Choice Award 2017 nominee for Graphic Novels and Comics.

 

Summar from the Goodreads website . . . . . .

 

A few years down the road in the wrong direction, a woman's failure to comply with her patriarchal overlords results in exile to the meanest penal planet in the galaxy. 

     But what happened on Earth that this new world order came to pass in the first place? Return to the grim corridors of Auxiliary Compliance Outpost #2, to uncover the first clues to the history of the world as we know it? and meet PRESIDENT BITCH. Collects BITCH PLANET #6-10.

 

My review from the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

     I liked Volume 1 enough to seek this out from my local county library and reserve it. Volume 1 detailed life on a future women's prison planet, where all females deemed "NC" (non-compliant) by a male-dominated ruling class are confined to an apparent life sentence (unless death results, as it does for some).

 

      It was meant to be satire, but gets a bit extreme and comes off as a very angry feminist rant which doesn't help the author make all her points seem valid. Things are very one-sided, with not a single empathetic male character in the whole graphic novel. There are many unanswered questions about the whole set-up which hopefully would be answered in future issues.

 

     Volume 2 reveals a bit more but still leaves unanswered the how and why this society reached this particular level of female subjugation. If you're female, fat, a minority or LGBT - - watch out. If discovered, a cell awaits you on the Bitch Planet. I'd still like to learn how things got to this state, but that remains a question for future tales to answer (I hope).

 

     Finally, there is a male character that has a human side. The first story in the volume is the best of the bunch, and the reason for that is a character and a family that I can relate to. While I can and do have empathy for the characters' plight in Volume 1, this particular story caused me to care and worry for the characters more than before. 

 

     A husband and wife (scientist and music professor) do their best to raise their two daughters and nuture their creativity while encouraging their independence and objectivity. When a work conflict forces the husband into a compromising situation, he rebels and prepares to pay the price until a family member intercedes on his behalf. It's sad, emotional and very heartfelt. More stories like this and I would give the book five stars. 

 

     Supposedly, the Bitch Planet series was intended for 30 issues to complete the story. There hasn't been any new issues from DeConnick and De Landro since this volume, except for a collection of shorts by other creative teams based in this universe. Here's hoping Image or another company will support the continuation. Maybe I'll get those questions answered.

 

BITCH PLANET: TRIPLE FEATURE VOLUME 1  (Image Comics, December 2017)  Trade paperback, 145 pages.  Various authors and artists.

 

Summary from the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

DeCONNICK & DE LANDRO PRESENT: THE TRIPLE FEATURE! 

 

Ripped directly from the world of BITCH PLANET, a crack team of creators spin 15 teeth-clenching tales of rage, revolution, and ridicule. Patriarchy beware…this sci-fi kidney punch can’t be stopped…! 100% Grade-A satire. Accept no substitutes. 

 

Collects BITCH PLANET: TRIPLE FEATURE #1-5

 

My review from the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

     This is a spin-off series set in the universe of Bitch Planet. Each issue featured three short stories by different creative teams. 

 

     If you're curious about Bitch Planet, read either Volume 1 or 2 before this to avoid being thoroughly confused. You won't learn anything new from reading this-- in some cases the story doesn't seem to be set in the same universe as DeConnick created. 

 

     Of the fifteen stories in this volume, there's only a small sample that I found enjoyable. Some were too obvious and I knew how they would end long before the last page or panel. Some are just plain angry. While I can understand the opportunity this presents to feminist creators to vent and rant about our misogynist society, there still needs to be a plot and decent characterization or the reader just won't care. 

 

     Here's the best of the bunch:

 

  •     "Bits And Pieces" by Che Grayson & Sharon Lee De La Cruz is a chilling tale of young girls engaged in an "appearance" competition.

 

 

  •     "What's Love Got To Do With It?" by Jordan Clark & Naomi Franquiz is a sad tale of a misfit female trying her best to find a partner via dating services (to avoid the government's consequences for her family) and coming up with a ghastly solution.

 

  •     I felt sorry for the manipulated female cat burglar in "To Be Free" by Vita Ayala & Rossi Gifford. The twist ending was a surprise, but the reason for the theft didn't make much sense after the reveal in the last panel. 

 

  •     "Everybody's Grandma Is A Little Bit Feminist" by Matt Fraction & Elsa Charretier is an amusing story of a Christmas family gathering that goes on a little longer than it needs to. Like many stories in this anthology it really doesn't seem to fit well into the overall Bitch Planet template. 

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