PGHHEAD’S 2022 COMIC ODYSSEY, PART 36
In 2021 I set a goal to post reviews here for 1,000 comics, and finished the year at 1,008 reviews. It was a stretch - - not to read that many comics, because I actually read quite a bit more. The challenge is to find and take the time to write a fair review of what I read - - but I made it. I’m up for a new year, and a new challenge. My goal for 2022 is to read and document 1,200 comics. That’s an average of 100 books per month, easy enough to check and update. Wish me luck!
# GOAL FOR September 10, 2022 . . . 833 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 842 comics documented
With THE FADE OUT, long time collaborators Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips set out to create a work that would evoke the atmosphere and mood of classic 1940's noir. That they opted to set their story in post-WWII Hollywood and the film industry instead of making it a detective story based in Los Angeles was a brilliant move.
This looks, feels, and reads like a classic 1940's noir film. I can see it play out in my mind. The script is complete and well-polished. The storyboards are finished - - all twelve issues that will take you through Acts One through Three. All that is needed is the casting department to determine the wide range of actors. I'm ready to buy a ticket!
Even though the primary character in this large cast is depressed screenwriter Charlie Parish, THE FADE OUT is a vivid and often brutal impression of how movie-making was accomplished in the 1940's, with a lot of smaller studios in closed systems, in control of their actors, directors, and screenwriters and often employing less than honorable methods to stay in control.
So much happens in the final act to define and illuminate that story. I tried to imagine how this would end and did not anticipate the final resolution. The mystery may be solved, but not everyone will be satisfied. True to the nature of the story, it's a "Hollywood" type of ending, which sometimes is not a happy one.
Brubaker's script and dialogue is spot-on. Phillips' illustrations are so expressive, and he is a master of indicating emotions through facial expressions and body language. The color work by Elizabeth Breitweiser both embodies the noir mood and elevates the story-telling.
This is a brilliant work, deserving of multiple re-reads. I read this in the single monthly issues and also enjoyed the back-content which featured stories of early Hollywood. THE FADE-OUT is a work that Im going to seek out a quality hardcover edition of for many return visits. Recommended. FIVE STARS.
In Volume One of SECOND COMING, God sends Jesus to Earth to live with a superhero, Sunstar (similar to Superman), to learn how to use his power more forcefully. Sunstar has his own problems, not always able to solve situations with his super-strength, and also struggling to conceive a child with his human bride, Sheila. Jesus realizes that love is more powerful, but has to get a bit forceful to defeat the devil. Both learn life lessons (while readers are laughing all the way). God rewards Sunstar and Sheila with a miracle pregnancy.
Volume Two picks up the story closer to the baby's birth, as Jesus realizes it is time for him to move out of Sunstar's apartment and figure out his next move. What ensues are some hilarious scenes as Jesus learns that humanity hasn't learned a whole lot about the purpose of God and religion in a few thousand years.
There's an opening scene that replays the destruction of the planet Zirconia (think Krypton) and the efforts of Sunstar's parents to protect him by sending him away in a tiny rocket to Earth. The preponderance of Zirconia's material possessions being made from "crystal" (think plastic) leads the planet to ecological disaster as Sunstar's father Voldor contemplates his last day as he has to entertain dinner guests, including an overbearing time share salesperson.
Jesus finds his way to Bible Safari, a religious amusement park where he is mistaken for the actor portraying Jesus and rushed onstage for an unauthorized sermon the guests weren't expecting. Writer Russell also has fun with The Crusades, some ancient rabbis arguing over the meaning of the Torah and a busload of retirees that crashes, sending them all to a Heaven that turns out to be a boring place.
The conversation between God and Jesus in the final issue about the Torah debate, the Ten Commandments, Jesus' teachings, and the Divine Plan is a hoot! FIVE STARS.
For my next two reviews, I wanted to cover two books that are polar opposites, just for a change of pace. I originally thought of an issue of MY LITTLE PONY paired with an issue of RED ROOM, but I actually like this combination better. First, some light-hearted fun entertainment. Then, some thought-provoking themes that make you wonder at the same time that you admire the story-telling. . . . . .
#825 BETTY & VERONICA Volume 2, #1 story and art by Adam Hughes (Archie Comics, September 2016)
It was around this time that Mark Waid, Fiona Staples and other creators took the iconic Archie family of characters and gave them a make-over more appropriate to contemporary times and cultures. In my opinion, Adam Hughes does a commendable job here and succeeds in that objective.
His characters look less cartoonish than standard Archie, and speak and relate in language we are more familiar with. Lots of joking and ribbing going on, and it plays out well. The legendary Pop’s restaurant and teenage hangout is about to close, the victim of a corporate coffee chain that wants the location and also owns the bank holding the mortgage on the property.
The Archie gang quickly dream up ways to raise enough money to help Pop out, only to learn that Veronica’s father owns both companies and is behind the hostile takeover. The very snooty Veronica (as portrayed here) knew about it, kept the knowledge from her friends, and is actually supporting her father. Betty and Veronica go head-to-head over this issue. To be continued . . . . FOUR STARS.
This book has made an impression on many readers. It stands as testament to the creative genius of James Tynion (a writer whose earlier work I could not appreciate - - what a turnabout!) My occasion for picking up yet another copy of this was the display of issues on the counter of 4th Wall Comics in Lancaster PA - - making this a store recommendation and offering Issue #1 for $1. Believe it or not, I still saw that display one month later. Even though I already own a copy, I had to support their efforts and pick another one up.
In essence, the premise is simple. Various conspiracy theories (the Kennedy assassination, a flat earth, fake Moon landings, etc) get turned on their head. “Up is down and down is up.” The opening prelude of three pages of the questioning and encouragement of Lee Harvey Oswald by unknown federal agents is a giant foreshadow of the craziness to follow.
As Cole Turner,newly poached agent of the Department Of Truth, begins to understand things “a ‘tulpa’ is a thought form . . . a belief given a body.”
His new boss defines things further: The more people believe in something, the more true that thing becomes. The more reality tips in the favor of that belief . . . . That is why this organization exists. We have spent the last century making sure that conspiracy theories stay conspiracy theories.”
That made me contemplate current affairs all over again. Here’s a possible explanation as to why some people who ought to know better ignore the factual evidence and rally around the lies. Department of Truth, I have a big job for you. FIVE STARS.
I thought that Gunslinger Spawn was the most interesting of the new characters introduced in the SPAWN UNIVERSE one-shot. I picked up the series, hoping to learn more about the character and his backstory, and dropped it after three issues. While the story is good, a mix of weird western with Spawn mythos, it didn’t keep me engaged - perhaps because after three issues I didn’t know much more about this character. Brett Booth’s art is fantastic. He may be better at this than McFarlane was. But art alone isn’t enough to keep me going.
Issue #1 has three stories, just one set in current times after Gunslinger crosses over. It’s the least interesting to me of the three - - Spawn meets Taylor, a young gas station/mini-mart attendant who educates him on how to keep motorcycles working. An anti-Spawn contingent is working to recruit Gunslinger, and Taylor’s dad happens to be working with them. That opens the door for a meeting between them and fights ensue, with Gunslinger ripping the wings off a demonic angel.
“The Lynching” is set in 1853, and reveals that Hellspawn still need to have financial stability despite their supernatural prowess, so Gunslinger takes on the occasional bounty hunter job. He brings justice to a grieving mother who lost her gunfighting sons
to a hanging. It weirds me out that nobody in the old West reacts to the spooky appearance of Gunslinger and respond as if he’s just another cowboy.
“Weapons” is very short, maybe just included for the purpose of giving us a little reveal about Gunslinger: normal bullets won’t kill many of his foes, so he has to sacrifice some of his blood to enhance them. That weakens him and reduces his strength, fairly depleted over the years.
In “A Small Gift” a story that reminds me of Jonah Hex, Gunslinger defends a servant boy being harassed in a border saloon following the Mexican-American War of 1848.
Issue #2 and #3 return to the current-day storyline and introduce a new and interesting player in gun-toting Dakota. Taylor is hanging with Gunslinger now, and gets him a pair of sunglasses that require him to partially lift his mask. He ends up looking dumber than a bag of hammers.
The art by Booth is fabulous, but I’m still not hanging around. How about some more backstory on this character, McFarlane? If you’re holding it for a later issue - - that’s going to be too late for me.
THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
In the early pages I thought I was reading a Brian Michael Bendis work because of the amount of dialogue. However, there are no close-ups of just faces and panels of talking heads that Bendis seems to be so fond of. The scenery and backgrounds by Bryan Hitch on art are marvelous to behold.
There are plenty of differences here to admire and keep readers’ attention: Cap is not such a nice guy. Tony Stark is smitten by the Black Widow, designs her an armored suit, and fawns over her. Bruce Banner takes the fall for the collateral damage and death caused by the Hulk in the last iteration of the Ultimates, where they stopped an alien invasion. His comrades seem to turn their back on him, realizing the public needs a fall guy to blame things on.
His imprisonment within the Ultimates HQ and subsequent trial take up the first half of the book. His self-analysis of his plight and acceptance of his eventual fate are very dramatic, and well-done by Millar. Despite Matt Murdock on defense, the jury verdict is not kind. Nor is his ending, which occurs off-panel ands leaves things open in a more optimistic fashion (readers' choice).
The second half of the book deals with uncovering who is the traitor that gave Banner/Hulk up to the media and blamed the Ultimates for hiding/covering up. Thor, who recently left the Ultimates over political and moral differences, is the prime suspect - - and the rest of the volume deals with his chase and take-down. Is he mentally unstable, a true God, another super-soldier with armaments (belt and hammer) that make him seem like Thor? Or is he being set-up by his devious brother Loki?
This is good stuff, and I'm looking forward to the continuation of the story in Volume Two. FOUR STARS.
Tony and Natasha are on the eve of their wedding, but when Nick Fury makes his move against the mysterious traitor that's been plaguing the team, the team will never be the same! Also, Captain America and Wasp hit a serious snag in their relationship. Is this the end for the Ultimate Universe's hottest couple?
That blurb almost makes this sound like a romance comic. Far from it.
With THE ULTIMATES 2, VOLUME 2: GRAND THEFT AMERICA, Mark Millar delivers on the build-up and foreshadowing in Volume 1 in a big, big way. This is epic. The Millar penchant for ultra-violence is also back, and Bryan Hitch gets to illustrate some fantastic battle scenes including some eye-popping multiple-page images.
Nick Fury gets duped as to the traitor in the midst of the Ultimates, as Thor warned - -"a wolf in the fold". Hawkeye shows why despite no super-powers he deserves his place on the team. What a bad ass, and what a tragic incident.
I don't want to spoil the storyline. I'm just going to say that if you don't want to read a lot of super-hero titles but would like a more adult-themed storyline - - then check out ULTIMATES 2, Volumes 1 and 2.
FOUR STARS.
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