The Loners #6
An unsatisfying end to an interesting book. Essentially a spinoff of Runaways, although not penned by BKV. Perhaps if it had been, this series wouldn't have been quite so uneven. The action never seemed to balance properly with the dialogue, and said action was poorly rendered by Karl Moline. So many of the plots and intrigues that filled the first five issues of this series end up not meaning much by the close of this issue. And it never made me care about any of the characters. Basically, the entire series was about getting these ex-superheroes in costume in the same place at the same time, in order that they be able to start over again as ex-superheroes. If it sounds pretty dumb, that's probably because it is. The best part of this series were its covers, which homaged teen movies of the eighties. Otherwise, the whole thing has been pretty EH. Also, I never thought I'd say this, but apparently there is such a thing as too much recap. This issue has a full page of densely spaced small text. I mean, for god's sake! It's just a miniseries!
Showing posts with label Runaways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Runaways. Show all posts
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Final Crisis pairing announcement
Although Grant Morrison and JG Jones do, indeed, make an excellent pairing, that will only be true on Final Crisis if Grant is heavily edited. Otherwise, we'll end up with storylines which are non-linear in the extreme as The Invisibles was, or nonsensical - especially when considered in the framework of the greater universe - as Marvel Boy was. Both of these series require the reader to hold an advanced degree in Philosophy (or the equivalent thereof) to even begin to make sense of.
I'll admit openly that after reading the full series of The Invisibles, I still had no idea what it was about. I did not like it, Sam I Am.
Likewise with Marvel Boy. The series makes no sense, since it occurs in what is quite obviously NOT the mainstream Marvel Universe, yet Noh-Varr shows up in Civil War: Young Avengers and Runaways. Either that's a dfferent person, or somebody seriously dropped the ball on that one.
Morrison's work on Batman has been spectacularly disappointing - and nowhere near the readability of his Animal Man stories, which I consider a classic by any definition.
It all boils down to the editing. If Morrison is given Carte Blanche, we're bound to get an indecipherable mess.
If, however, the editors force him to more or less obey the established constraints of Superhero writing, we may very well end up with a classic.
Regardless, it will certainly be pretty.
I'll admit openly that after reading the full series of The Invisibles, I still had no idea what it was about. I did not like it, Sam I Am.
Likewise with Marvel Boy. The series makes no sense, since it occurs in what is quite obviously NOT the mainstream Marvel Universe, yet Noh-Varr shows up in Civil War: Young Avengers and Runaways. Either that's a dfferent person, or somebody seriously dropped the ball on that one.
Morrison's work on Batman has been spectacularly disappointing - and nowhere near the readability of his Animal Man stories, which I consider a classic by any definition.
It all boils down to the editing. If Morrison is given Carte Blanche, we're bound to get an indecipherable mess.
If, however, the editors force him to more or less obey the established constraints of Superhero writing, we may very well end up with a classic.
Regardless, it will certainly be pretty.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Runaways #27
This issue is not as good as I would have expected, but it's certainly not bad. Last time, the Runaways got shunted back in time. This time, they discover they've been time displaced 100 years, and meet another gang of superhumans, or "sticks", one of whom is apparently the winged monstrosity from last time. Though the art doesn't quite make that clear. Also, there's a puzzling scene where Karolina fends off an attempted rape, upends a flower cart, and then inspects the roses fallen from it before inexplicably flying off to sit on a building and spy on the urchin who was apparently selling them. It's not bad art, it's Whedon's fault. It truly feels as if there's at least a page's worth of exposition missing from this issue, and being that there's no letters page, there's no excuse for that. Plus there's some sort of Punisher analogue around, but his presence remains entirely obscure. Perhaps it's supposed to be ominous, but with zero context to put it in, it's merely puzzling - and instantly forgettable. Good comics craft would dictate that this character be introduced in a later issue wherein his appearance will be somehow immediately relevant to the plot.
Still, Whedon keeps the pace moving, and we find out that there's a group of superhuman bad guys around in this era too, being led by the late lamented Gert's parents.
My major concern with this issue is the potential problems it creates with Marvel's historical continuity. I'm not so familiar with Marvel history, but I seem to recall the original Human Torch being the first superhuman in the Marvel universe. Or possibly Namor? The presence of other superhumans, several decades early, throws that long-held belief into question. Sure, 1907 seems like a long time ago, but it really isn't. We're getting dangerously close to messing with the fabric of time as far as the Marvel universe's history goes. Now, perhaps this is the intended effect, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
Also, although I have read every issue of this book, it'd still be nice to be told who the characters are - at least by name - ONCE in the issue. But only four ever get named, most of them indirectly. And the dinosaur too, also indirectly. Their powers are also not clearly defined for new readers. Sure, I'm NOT a new reader, but since this book would like to pull in the kids, it'd be natural for nearly every issue to be a jumping-on point. Perhaps this is the odd issue out. Perhaps. I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt as far as that's concerned. But it's really not good form to issue a book as impenetrable to new readers as this one.
Barely OKAY.
This issue is not as good as I would have expected, but it's certainly not bad. Last time, the Runaways got shunted back in time. This time, they discover they've been time displaced 100 years, and meet another gang of superhumans, or "sticks", one of whom is apparently the winged monstrosity from last time. Though the art doesn't quite make that clear. Also, there's a puzzling scene where Karolina fends off an attempted rape, upends a flower cart, and then inspects the roses fallen from it before inexplicably flying off to sit on a building and spy on the urchin who was apparently selling them. It's not bad art, it's Whedon's fault. It truly feels as if there's at least a page's worth of exposition missing from this issue, and being that there's no letters page, there's no excuse for that. Plus there's some sort of Punisher analogue around, but his presence remains entirely obscure. Perhaps it's supposed to be ominous, but with zero context to put it in, it's merely puzzling - and instantly forgettable. Good comics craft would dictate that this character be introduced in a later issue wherein his appearance will be somehow immediately relevant to the plot.
Still, Whedon keeps the pace moving, and we find out that there's a group of superhuman bad guys around in this era too, being led by the late lamented Gert's parents.
My major concern with this issue is the potential problems it creates with Marvel's historical continuity. I'm not so familiar with Marvel history, but I seem to recall the original Human Torch being the first superhuman in the Marvel universe. Or possibly Namor? The presence of other superhumans, several decades early, throws that long-held belief into question. Sure, 1907 seems like a long time ago, but it really isn't. We're getting dangerously close to messing with the fabric of time as far as the Marvel universe's history goes. Now, perhaps this is the intended effect, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
Also, although I have read every issue of this book, it'd still be nice to be told who the characters are - at least by name - ONCE in the issue. But only four ever get named, most of them indirectly. And the dinosaur too, also indirectly. Their powers are also not clearly defined for new readers. Sure, I'm NOT a new reader, but since this book would like to pull in the kids, it'd be natural for nearly every issue to be a jumping-on point. Perhaps this is the odd issue out. Perhaps. I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt as far as that's concerned. But it's really not good form to issue a book as impenetrable to new readers as this one.
Barely OKAY.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Runaways #26
Runaways #26
Happy. That's how reading this issue made me feel. Happy. Pure joy. Last issue was the first issue of this title that I read. You know why. For various reasons, I had never read beyond the recap page of any other issue. But after reading last issue, I just had to go and read every. Single. Issue. What an EXCELLENT story! I can't believe that all that time I was missing out on this truly wonderful story. Okay, well, actually, I read the FCBD story last year, and really wasn't impressed. And then, following my reading of all the back issues, I still wsn't impressed. That book was AWFUL! But this title is wonderful. And this issue is wonderful. Joss is fast paced, tells a complete story, and gets us from point A to point B in 22 pages - which seem like much more considering how much info he's packed into it. A cute Punisher cameo, with him on the receiving end of a Molly punch ("I didn't know he didn't have Powers" she cries). Some uncharacteristic internal monologues from Kingpin and Punisher, but you'd expect that from Joss Whedon. It's just bursting at the seams to be let out of his brain, and some of it must need to seep out. That's what I expect, and I'm willing to overlook it. Still, a bit jarring, but it's truly kept to a minimum. By the way, I love Molly! I want her to be MY kid! Except I don't want to be an evil mind-controlling mutant who tries to take over the world and prepare the way for some Biblical giants to rid the Earth of humanity by sacrificing innocent virgins to them, but you know what I mean. Another EXCELLENT issue in an EXCELLENT series. (Oh, and it's worth noting that even though BKV gave its writer a nod of approval, Runaways/Young Avengers sucked ASS.)
Happy. That's how reading this issue made me feel. Happy. Pure joy. Last issue was the first issue of this title that I read. You know why. For various reasons, I had never read beyond the recap page of any other issue. But after reading last issue, I just had to go and read every. Single. Issue. What an EXCELLENT story! I can't believe that all that time I was missing out on this truly wonderful story. Okay, well, actually, I read the FCBD story last year, and really wasn't impressed. And then, following my reading of all the back issues, I still wsn't impressed. That book was AWFUL! But this title is wonderful. And this issue is wonderful. Joss is fast paced, tells a complete story, and gets us from point A to point B in 22 pages - which seem like much more considering how much info he's packed into it. A cute Punisher cameo, with him on the receiving end of a Molly punch ("I didn't know he didn't have Powers" she cries). Some uncharacteristic internal monologues from Kingpin and Punisher, but you'd expect that from Joss Whedon. It's just bursting at the seams to be let out of his brain, and some of it must need to seep out. That's what I expect, and I'm willing to overlook it. Still, a bit jarring, but it's truly kept to a minimum. By the way, I love Molly! I want her to be MY kid! Except I don't want to be an evil mind-controlling mutant who tries to take over the world and prepare the way for some Biblical giants to rid the Earth of humanity by sacrificing innocent virgins to them, but you know what I mean. Another EXCELLENT issue in an EXCELLENT series. (Oh, and it's worth noting that even though BKV gave its writer a nod of approval, Runaways/Young Avengers sucked ASS.)
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