Recommended Reading - Godland by Randy Lander Last Updated: November 26, 2005 Publisher: Image Comics Frequency: Monthly Price: $2.99 Status: Ongoing (5 issues currently out) Jumping-On Points: Every issue is fairly standalone, but the best place to start with Godland is currently #1 if you can find it Creators: Written by Joe Casey Illustrated by Tom Scioli Colors by Bill Crabtree Lettering/Design by Richard Starkings & Comicraft Website: Godland Online (Includes wallpapers, links to reviews and interviews, previews, a column by Joe Casey, a message board and more) The Basics: Adam Archer, cosmic-powered astronaut, deals with super-powered threats to the U.S. with the help of his three sisters, an alien named Maxim and a tech-stocked headquarters in Manhattan known as The Infinity Tower. My Overview: Godland is old school cosmic adventure with heavy doses of Kirby nostalgia, but it features Casey's modern pop-cultural awareness and experimental storytelling touches and a slick, retro design by Richard Starkings to make it unlike any other book on the stands. This is not retro comics like Marvel's Essentials, DC's Showcase format or Image's Big Bang comics, but a reinvention of the Kirby/Lee energy in a modern context, not unlike what Alan Moore did with his run on Supreme. Who's It For?: Fans of the Fantastic Four and the New Gods, Casey's writing (notably on books like Wildcats and Intimates), Jack Kirby and unapologetic superhero action with a twist of ironic humor. Reviews: Godland #1 Snap Judgment: Godland #2 Recent Issues: GODLAND #3 Synopsis: Adam frees Maxim from the villainous Basil Cronus, while the evil Discordia captures Crashman, America's most cherished hero. As Adam recounts the remainder of his superhero origin, Maxim hints that there may be more to it than mere chance. Review: This issue wraps up the initial story arc of Godland, if the free-flowing structure of the book can really be said to have story arcs. At any rate, after one last amusing glimpse of Basil Cronus, a fantastically whimsical villain design by Tom Scioli, the book settles into the introduction of the next equally interesting villain, the dominatrix-themed Discordia and further explores Adam's relationship with both his sisters and the government at large. Casey does a terrific job of giving the three Archer sisters distinctive and enjoyable personalities, and I find that I enjoy all of them, from the more devoted and professional Stella to the more rebellious Angie (who doesn't appear in this issue) to Neela, who is a strong enough heroine that she could support a book of her own. There's really a terrific blend of storytelling styles going on here, with Neela's sequences reading more like something out of Steranko's Nick Fury comics, while the Archer/Maxim pages read more like Fantastic Four, particularly those that involved the Inhumans, Celestials and other "out there" cosmic co-stars. Highlights: Basil Cronus's over-the-top behavior, Stella's indignant defense of her brother in the face of Maxim's scorn and learning more of Neela's resentment for what her brother's empowerment did to her hopes and dreams, leading her into a ballsy and intriguing course of action in the next issue. Quote: "Peace is for hippies! Haven't you heard? Violence is the new black!" -Basil Cronus GODLAND #4 Synopsis: Neela's attempts to infiltrate Discordia's fortress land her in hot water, and while Adam is marginally more successful in dealing with Discordia's torture-bots, he falls prey to a deadly trap as well. Meanwhile, Basil Cronus is interrupted in mid-teleport by the dastardly (but distinguished) Friedrich Nickelhead. Review: Again, with the more classic way that Casey weaves plot and subplot, it's hard to really say Godland has modern-style arcs, but this is pretty close to the start of a new arc, basically launching into the story of Discordia and her captives, all the while introducing the next villain down the line. Casey and Scioli are three for three with interesting villains in Godland, because while Cronus is a hilariously over-the-top hipster/mad scientist (I swear, just seeing his disembodied head spouting drug-fueled nonsense in this issue made me chuckle), Discordia is a pain/pleasure-driven torture fanatic in the mold of the New Gods' Desaad and Female Furies' leader Lashina with a touch of Granny Goodness's sense of power, and Nickelhead (from what we've seen of him so far) is a gentleman villain, similar to Cronus but more methodical, intelligent and cultured. Of course, that might just be me prejudging based on his natty Kirby-fied tuxedo and everpresent martini, great visual touches from Scioli. Leaving aside the villains, though, what I really loved about this issue were the two confrontations between Adam Archer and Neela Archer and Discordia's forces. At the start of the issue, it looked like Neela might take center stage, using gadgets and military training to pull off a rescue, and I love her take-charge attitude and clear heroic skills. My hope is that she'll play a bigger role in the book than just supporting cast, because she strikes me as a female Nick Fury type, confident and competent. Archer's fight, of course, is more classic superhero, involving pushing ray blasts to the limit (while calling upon them in a more Eastern, Dragonball Z fashion that I quite enjoyed) to take on giant robots. Casey also taps into a classic superhero trope here, the scientific deathtrap, and throws in a few modern touches as well, like the notion that Archer's powers allow him to recieve radio transmissions and email in his head. Highlights: Neela's badass turn as she infiltrates Discordia's castle, the banter between Cronus and Nickelhead and the immensely big and exciting fight between Adam Archer and the torture-bot. Quote: "He can receive radio transmissions without instrumentation? Fascinating..." "Are you kidding? He can get email attachments if he turns his head the right way." -Maxim and Stella Archer GODLAND #5 Synopsis: Adam Archer reluctantly teams up with hot-dogging hero Crashman to bring down Discordia, while Neela Archer's bitterness about her brother takes her off in a shocking direction, and Friedrich Nickelhead continues to scheme. Plus... who or what is Iboga? Review: There's a certain comforting formula in Godland, which is weird to say, since one of the things I love about the book is its unpredictability in terms of characters and moments. But Casey is definitely feeling a bit of an old school vibe on this book, always providing a good fight or two, some entertaining villain monologuing and a little bit of Stan Lee-esque melodramatic subplot. Casey also flavors the thing with his own modern dialogue style, keeping Godland just on the other side of kid friendly (you're never gonna see Dr. Doom using the word "bitches," for example) and on the right side of homage vs. cheap knockoff. Godland has a modern energy to go with its Kirby riff, and that continues in this issue. While Adam Archer and his sisters are interesting, the best aspect of Godland so far is its villains, and that's true this issue as well. There's something so twisted and fun about Friedrich Nickelhead drinking martinis while talking to the detoxed head of a former foe, and Discordia's feral intensity is likewise a blast to read, especially when she (and the reader) are confronted by the specter of the unknown that is her father. Could it be Nickelhead? The mysterious Iboga? Someone else? It's a good mystery, and a nice twist in the Discordia story thus far. There are other mysteries brewing as well, from what Neela will get up to now to whether there's something sinister behind Crashman or if it's just a jealousy thing, and when you combine good mystery with slam-bang superhero action, you've got a recipe for keeping my attention. Highlights: Crashman's over-the-top overconfidence and follow-through, Neela's eruption of anger at her brother and the melancholy results, Nickelhead's entertaining man-about-town supervillain act and an interesting lawyer-client chat with Mr. Tankrous and Discordia. Quote: "Enjoy your attosecond of freedom, bitches -- I've got upgrades to unleash upon your precious heads! Make them feel pain like they have never known!" -Discordia Email Randy Lander comments about this column.