|
Quick Critiques for 9/21/2005
There's no way that Randy and I can cover all of the material we have for review in full reviews, so these capsule reviews will offer some brief comments on other recent releases.
DR. TIM BOOK ONE
by Christopher Varian (Etompro)
 Christopher Varian's main character and approach to humor definitely stand out as unique, but the quirkiness this collection of surreal snippets from the life of a cute, bald, adventurous scientist just isn't sufficient to sustain one's attention from start to finish. This consists mostly of one-page, single-panel gags, with occasional plotlines stringing some of them together. Ultimately, these single-panel comic strips are just too disconnected from one another. There's a slightly bent psyche behind the innocently honed humor that's intriguing, but the sheer randomness of the ideas proves to be more of a flaw than a strength. Varian's designs are simple but striking, and they convey a lot of personality and unusual circumstances despite the simplicity of style. In the end, I have to admit I didn't fully get Dr. Tim, though I do see some potential in the property. I think the creator just neesd to refine his storytelling a bit so he can appeal to a wider audience. 4/10
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
ECLIPSE & VEGA #1
by Saul Colt & Guy Abergel (SSS Comics)
 Randy and I get a ton of comics to read, from previews from the big publishers to self-published efforts such as this one. The creators' passion for super-heroes shines through in this book, but also just as apparent is their need to develop as storytellers. The origin story of two buxom super-heroines (whether they're teens or college-age women, I can't tell) is rather generic, but that may be the point. At times, this reads like super-hero satire, but at others, the writer plays it straight. Eclipse & Vega doesn't know what it wants to be. The art is as rough as the writing. There's rarely much in the way of backgrounds, and the characters are rendered inconsistently. The creators have followed this book up with a number of other issues, so it seems they've found an audience. Good for them. I suspect that means they've had the chance to hone their craft further and move beyond the more amateur level of performance here. 2/10
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
SAMURAI: HEAVEN & EARTH #4
by Ron Marz & Luke Ross (Dark Horse Comics)
 When this series began, I had no idea of the more creative directions writer Ron Marz planned to take. I'm not one for period pieces, be it in comics or film or whatever, but the authentic yet accessible qualities that the script and art offer make it easy for me to get over that personal bias. Marz's dialogue brings the culture and politics of the 18th century to life. Despite the exotic locals and purple prose, the story is thoroughly accessible and enjoyable. It's time to give credit where credit is due, though. As impressed as I am with Marz's plotting and scripting, it's artist Luke Ross who really steals the show here. Ross is clearly influenced by Butch Guice and Greg Land here, and it stands to reason, as all three artists worked in the CrossGen Comics collaborative environment before that publisher's collapse. The detail is convincing and mesmerizing, and colorist Jason Keith brings a dreamy, painted look to the art that's in keeping with the classic love story that serves as the foundation of the series. 9/10
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1
by Mark Millar & Jae Lee (Marvel Comics)
 Of the four annuals released recently in Marvel's Ultimate line, this is surprisingly the weakest of the lot, mainly because there really doesn't seem to be much point to the story. Millar and Lee introduce the Ultimate Inhumans, and I love the dramatic changes the creators have made in the characters (notably the transformation of Gorgon as a woman). But after reading the story, I don't get the impression that we're ever really meant to see the Inhumans again. In other words, after reading the issue, I didn't get that "OK, what's next?" feeling. Essentially, every character is as he or she was at the beginning of the story, and in the Ultimate Universe, lasting change is really what's called for. Lee's art is darkly exotic, and it's nicely to see the artist from the landmark Paul Jekins Inhumans series return to the characters (albeit in altered form). Millar's script doesn't always make sense (why would a race of beings that wants to stay hidden leave a teleporting dog with knowledge of the whereabouts of the secret city alone in New York?). 6/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
|
