Sorry about the delay on last weeks comic book reviews. We will get back on track this coming week. We fell a little behind due to some personal issues and the promotional workload picking up for the Comic Book Swap Meet...If you didnt know already, check it out...Who is coming? More info over at https://www.facebook.com/comicbookswapmeet and https://www.facebook.com/events/1435564043396307/
Reviews by Joe David Thompson
Lots of new number ones and books returning from a production hiatus are all over the new comic releases this past week.
The
premise of Low is that as the sun begins to die, humanity is forced
under the water, setting up colonies under the ocean, complete with
rival factions and pirates. Civilization is hunting for a new planet,
while trying to survive on
the dying one. Remender introduces us to the plight of these people,
through the eyes of Johl and Stel Caine, the founders and protectors of
the city. Johl has given up hope in finding a refuge, while Stel
routinely checks their probes for new information.
Exposition is accomplished through an extended scene of playful
nakedness with the married couple, and we get TONS of information. Johl
is ready to bring his daughters into his world of donning the nearly
mythical "Helm," a suit that only Caine's can pilot,
and searching for food for the colony (as his son has no interest).
Stel, of course, thinks they aren't ready, but she goes along with her
husband's wishes.
Overture
is meant to be a prequel to Gaiman's iconic Vertigo series, The
Sandman, telling the story of the battle that led to Morpheus'
exhaustion and capture that set Sandman into motion. Gaiman's voice is
all over this book, which is
no surprise at all, and fans of the series and author are no doubt in
heaven. JH Williams III's art is jaw droppingly beautiful, which is
what comic readers have come to expect. It's a book that's dense with
ideas and deals heavily with one of Gaiman's favorite
themes, the power of stories. While I want to adore this book as much
as my eyes, a story as rich as Overture is difficult to penetrate with a
sporadic production schedule. I realize it's often out of the creative
team's hands, but for me (and I hate to
say this), I'm getting the vibe that I'll be waiting for the inevitable
deluxe collection to dive completely into this book. Overture isn't a
book to be taken casually. This is a book that rewards careful reading,
and immerses its readers fully into its
world.
Reviews by Joe David Thompson
Lots of new number ones and books returning from a production hiatus are all over the new comic releases this past week.
As
I'm currently plowing through Rick Remender's run on Uncanny X-Force, I
picked up his new sci-fi, apocalyptic Low, out on Image Comics (of
course!), to see what he's got going on over here.
The
premise of Low is that as the sun begins to die, humanity is forced
under the water, setting up colonies under the ocean, complete with
rival factions and pirates. Civilization is hunting for a new planet,
while trying to survive on
the dying one. Remender introduces us to the plight of these people,
through the eyes of Johl and Stel Caine, the founders and protectors of
the city. Johl has given up hope in finding a refuge, while Stel
routinely checks their probes for new information.
Exposition is accomplished through an extended scene of playful
nakedness with the married couple, and we get TONS of information. Johl
is ready to bring his daughters into his world of donning the nearly
mythical "Helm," a suit that only Caine's can pilot,
and searching for food for the colony (as his son has no interest).
Stel, of course, thinks they aren't ready, but she goes along with her
husband's wishes.
Remender does a great job balancing
the science fiction elements with more grounded character work. The way
he portrays Johl and Stel's marriage is honest in a refreshing way,
especially given the futuristic backdrop of this story. Likewise,
in the book's climactic battle, we get a full idea of the stakes and
the world, where survival isn't just about finding a new planet, but
living in this one. We're given a better look at the caste system
that's sprung up, and how this breeds vitriol.
Greg Tocchini is delivering some of
the best comic art this week. The devil is in the details and there are
plenty of them at play in Low, all of which work together to create the
world of this book.
My
other two big books this week are ones returning after a bit of a
stretch. Production delays are nothing new to comics, but with
serialized storytelling, consistency keeps the plot fresh in the minds
of the readers.
First up is Sandman Overture #3, from
celebrated author Neil Gaiman and acclaimed artist JH Williams III.
Here, we follow Morpheus as he accompanies himself on the path towards a
star that’s gone mad. It could possibly mean the death
of the universe and Morpheus himself as various interstellar races head
to the same location. Along the way, he and his cat self encounter the
three fates, and pick up a small child who’s family was murdered and
Morpheus avenged. There’s plenty of references
to the Sandman mythology and Morpheus tells a “love” story that he has
never told before.
Overture
is meant to be a prequel to Gaiman's iconic Vertigo series, The
Sandman, telling the story of the battle that led to Morpheus'
exhaustion and capture that set Sandman into motion. Gaiman's voice is
all over this book, which is
no surprise at all, and fans of the series and author are no doubt in
heaven. JH Williams III's art is jaw droppingly beautiful, which is
what comic readers have come to expect. It's a book that's dense with
ideas and deals heavily with one of Gaiman's favorite
themes, the power of stories. While I want to adore this book as much
as my eyes, a story as rich as Overture is difficult to penetrate with a
sporadic production schedule. I realize it's often out of the creative
team's hands, but for me (and I hate to
say this), I'm getting the vibe that I'll be waiting for the inevitable
deluxe collection to dive completely into this book. Overture isn't a
book to be taken casually. This is a book that rewards careful reading,
and immerses its readers fully into its
world.
Finally, Marvel's Hawkeye is back!!
Although
there's been sad news for this title of late, that writer Matt Fraction
and artist David Aja are leaving after issue 22, this issue still
proves they have the momentum to deliver an excellent tale. Hawkeye has
also been plagued
with delays, with four months having passed since the last issue.
Issue 19 proves these guys still got it, delivering an experimental
issue calling back to the famous "Pizza Dog" story. Of course, we have
to remember that Hawkeye's also spilt its narrative
between Kate Bishop, on the West coast, and Clint still in NYC battling
The Clown. What this means is that we haven't checked in on Clint
since January (our time), when he was shot.
Now
Clint is struggling with a hearing impairment, something we discover he
suffered with as a child. Unable to hear, the dialogue in this issue
is hardly present. Whenever Clint is on page, we see blank word
balloons where the intent
is told through the image and the shape of those balloons. In other
spots, great care is taken to render the ASL (American Sign Language) to
deliver the words. It's a striking undertaking, and one which Fraction
and Aja pull off with incredible results.
In
a flashback, we watch Clint and his older brother, Barney, as children
dealing with Clint's hearing loss and domestic abuse. There's a scene
with the brothers, one that both gives us a deeper glimpse at the bond
between these characters,
but sums up Clint's emotional state. Barney imparts his wisdom to his
baby brother: "Make everything something to hit with. And hit them
until they stop." It's a moment both tragic, that their world has taken
them to this point, and one that adds new depth
to Clint's character arc on Fraction's run. This memory inspires Clint
to make a speech to his building's tenants, one meant to inspire them
and prepare them for what's to come. Clint and Barney undertake a
massive assault on the "Bro's," hitting their businesses
and people.
Hawkeye
is also one of those books where the entire creative team creates
something larger than their individual parts. Fraction has grown into
an insightful writer, capturing subtle, yet impactful emotional
character beats with a clarity
we don't usually see in comics. David Aja's artwork and Matt
Hollingswoth's color palette have always jumped off the pages, an
integral part of the aesthetic that sets the tone of the book. Aja's
attention to detail to the signing in this issue gives readers
an idea of just how professional and dedicated he is to the work.
What did you like this week? What turned you off?
Joe David Thompson has been doing media reviews for websites such as Red Carpet Crash and the 405 Music Blog. For any questions or comments for Joe David Thompson, you can email him at jovid52@me.com and follow him on twitter @jovid52
Joe David Thompson has been doing media reviews for websites such as Red Carpet Crash and the 405 Music Blog. For any questions or comments for Joe David Thompson, you can email him at jovid52@me.com and follow him on twitter @jovid52