Shadowpact #16
Wow! Another great issue! Danny's lawyer runs into some complications in hell. And back on the material plane, Danny gets assigned thirteen impossible tasks, the first of which is to curb the advances of Zatanna's mother's people - the Homo Magi - upon our realm. Alone. What an engine for the next few years' worth of stories! Although it doesn't really leave room for the rest of the Shadowpact. I suppose his lawyer will just have to find a way out of this mess, or will have to get Blue Devil his own book.
Eve transports tens of thousands of Chicagoans to the shadow dimension, saving them all. Detective Chimp shows that he's a natural when it comes to working with children. The Justice League shows up to render assistance. Nightmaster and Enchantress take Doc Gotham on and nearly defeat him before he escapes, and then
uh, no, that's pretty much it - the issue just ends! It's as if Willingham had two more story pages written, but ran out of space for them. What? It's a very unsatisfying ending to such an incredible read as this issue. It truly detracts from the enjoyment factor to the extent that what was once very good is now merely GOOD.
Showing posts with label Shadowpact. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shadowpact. Show all posts
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Superman #666
Superman #666
I'm not sure what Busiek was trying to do with this story, other than figuring out some reason for Supes to have a hell themed story for his 666th issue. I figure that Busiek is mimicking some older story with which I am not familiar, but this certainly doesn't read like a typical Kurt Busiek story. For one thing, it's pretty disjointed. For another, it really doesn't make much sense. In general, when Busiek writes dream or alternate reality issues, they still make sense. Not so, this issue. The gist of it is that when Krypton exploded, one of the demons of its theological hell hitched a ride with baby Kal-El's spaceship, and nestled in his subconscious (?) until he killed someone, whereupon it made a deal with the lords of human hell to acquire his soul. Yeah, I know, it REALLY doesn't make any sense. I've read some good hell stories, in Moore's Swamp Thing, Gaiman's Sandman, and even in the recent issues of Shadowpact. This story is not good. It doesn't make any sense, and Walter Simonson's odd artwork doesn't contribute anything towards understanding it.
It's not good, but I'm hesitant to rate it lower than EH. Because maybe I'm just not getting it. But I didn't enjoy it. Which is surprising, as Busiek's run on Superman (both titles) has been one of my favorites in years. For a long time Supes was being written by people who just didn't understand who he was or how to write him. Busiek gets him. So I'm not sure what's going on here.
I'm not sure what Busiek was trying to do with this story, other than figuring out some reason for Supes to have a hell themed story for his 666th issue. I figure that Busiek is mimicking some older story with which I am not familiar, but this certainly doesn't read like a typical Kurt Busiek story. For one thing, it's pretty disjointed. For another, it really doesn't make much sense. In general, when Busiek writes dream or alternate reality issues, they still make sense. Not so, this issue. The gist of it is that when Krypton exploded, one of the demons of its theological hell hitched a ride with baby Kal-El's spaceship, and nestled in his subconscious (?) until he killed someone, whereupon it made a deal with the lords of human hell to acquire his soul. Yeah, I know, it REALLY doesn't make any sense. I've read some good hell stories, in Moore's Swamp Thing, Gaiman's Sandman, and even in the recent issues of Shadowpact. This story is not good. It doesn't make any sense, and Walter Simonson's odd artwork doesn't contribute anything towards understanding it.
It's not good, but I'm hesitant to rate it lower than EH. Because maybe I'm just not getting it. But I didn't enjoy it. Which is surprising, as Busiek's run on Superman (both titles) has been one of my favorites in years. For a long time Supes was being written by people who just didn't understand who he was or how to write him. Busiek gets him. So I'm not sure what's going on here.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Shadowpact #15
Shadowpact #15
But, but...I don't wanna die! I'm scared.
VERY GOOD. Especially for the fact that this book made me forget myself for a little while and actually fear for the safety of all those in Chicago.
But, but...I don't wanna die! I'm scared.
VERY GOOD. Especially for the fact that this book made me forget myself for a little while and actually fear for the safety of all those in Chicago.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Shadowpact #14
Shadowpact #14
I enjoy this book every month. This month is no exception. A charming little story which serves as the opening to a larger arc, but which actually would work quite well taken on its own. Zauriel accosts Blue Devil at the bar, sent by God to kill him to prevent his admirers from making deals with the devil to be just like him. Sure, it sounds farfetched, but this is the DCU, and Zauriel says it's happened, so I'll take him at his word. Cassidy takes Zauriel to Coast City to fight, then Zauriel airlifts them to an unpopulated region on the outskirts of town. And then, instead of fighting, they TALK! Whoa, breaking all the rules here, guys! Zauriel explains why Blue Devil must die, and BD actually agrees. Seeing that he won't have any trouble fulfilling his heavenly commandment, Zauriel offers BD a few days to look for a way out of his predicament. The first thing BD does is go on national TV and out himself as a fraud. After seeing this address, an attorney approaches him, saying that he'd love to represent Cassidy against the finest lawyers of hell, seeing as Blue Devil sold his soul for movie stardom, and never, in fact, acheived it! At the end of the issue, Blue leaves the team to try to correct his mistakes, and Zauriel takes his spot. See? Nearly entirely self-contained! Oh, and the new Doctor Gotham from last issue gets worked on a bit, and Laura Fell shows up at the bar! VERY GOOD.
I enjoy this book every month. This month is no exception. A charming little story which serves as the opening to a larger arc, but which actually would work quite well taken on its own. Zauriel accosts Blue Devil at the bar, sent by God to kill him to prevent his admirers from making deals with the devil to be just like him. Sure, it sounds farfetched, but this is the DCU, and Zauriel says it's happened, so I'll take him at his word. Cassidy takes Zauriel to Coast City to fight, then Zauriel airlifts them to an unpopulated region on the outskirts of town. And then, instead of fighting, they TALK! Whoa, breaking all the rules here, guys! Zauriel explains why Blue Devil must die, and BD actually agrees. Seeing that he won't have any trouble fulfilling his heavenly commandment, Zauriel offers BD a few days to look for a way out of his predicament. The first thing BD does is go on national TV and out himself as a fraud. After seeing this address, an attorney approaches him, saying that he'd love to represent Cassidy against the finest lawyers of hell, seeing as Blue Devil sold his soul for movie stardom, and never, in fact, acheived it! At the end of the issue, Blue leaves the team to try to correct his mistakes, and Zauriel takes his spot. See? Nearly entirely self-contained! Oh, and the new Doctor Gotham from last issue gets worked on a bit, and Laura Fell shows up at the bar! VERY GOOD.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Shadowpact #13
Shadowpact #13
For their unlucky 13th issue, Willingham does something completely different. He delivers an issue starring none of the Shadowpact. Our erstwhile narrator, the Phantom Stranger, spends this issue detailing six new threats about to beleaguer our heroes. In the manner of a good public speaker, Willingham is setting everything up right at the outset, in order to keep his audience's interest. And it works. I'm certainly interested. And I'll be sticking around to discover what the next 13 issues might hold for our intrepid band of heroes. Nice art too. EXCELLENT.
Would it be out of place for me to state here that I want the old "new" members of the team to have recurring roles? Especially Laura.
For their unlucky 13th issue, Willingham does something completely different. He delivers an issue starring none of the Shadowpact. Our erstwhile narrator, the Phantom Stranger, spends this issue detailing six new threats about to beleaguer our heroes. In the manner of a good public speaker, Willingham is setting everything up right at the outset, in order to keep his audience's interest. And it works. I'm certainly interested. And I'll be sticking around to discover what the next 13 issues might hold for our intrepid band of heroes. Nice art too. EXCELLENT.
Would it be out of place for me to state here that I want the old "new" members of the team to have recurring roles? Especially Laura.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Shadowpact #12
Shadowpact #12
In the immortal words of Elliott Smith, oh well, OKAY. This issue is a pretty good jumping on point for newcomers to the title, but for those of us who've been with it for a while now, it's merely a "Secret Origin of Nightmaster", which, don't get me wrong, is a good thing to have, and even better that it's written by Willingham. The real problem is that DC truly did the "Secret Origins" thing to death, by having a Secret Origin one-shot for everybody, their mother, and their mother's dog. Plus, they very rarely coordinated these one shots with the writers of the titles which they were meant to be back-ups for. And then they bulked the issues out with stupid stats pages that nobody read. There's a reason they're not published anymore. But yet, there remains a need for them to be done correctly. This issue is a case in point. We get a short version of the Nightmaster's origin, with a huuuge retcon thrown in. The only thing that actually happens in this issue though, is that Jim wakes up from his "death", pulls his sword out of his body, and then the Shadowpact, old and new, have a one page party. That's it. See? Now you see why this needed to be in a Secret Origins? We could have had an origin of each of the original members of the Shadowpact, plus one for each of the new characters, and even a quick one-page recap of Day of Vengeance. With Willingham writing it, and good artists working on it, it'd make for a good issue. Say, 48 pages, maybe? Perhaps 60? But this? It just feels like I opened this issue of Shadowpact hoping for some furtherance of the story and plot, and instead got nothing. I've come to expect that from other writers. But not from Willingham. Still, the story, what story there is, remains competently executed, so, oh well, OKAY.
I have no reason for quoting Elliott Smith, other than that upon completion of this book, the song started playing in my head. I'm a believer in synchronicity. So there you have it.
In the immortal words of Elliott Smith, oh well, OKAY. This issue is a pretty good jumping on point for newcomers to the title, but for those of us who've been with it for a while now, it's merely a "Secret Origin of Nightmaster", which, don't get me wrong, is a good thing to have, and even better that it's written by Willingham. The real problem is that DC truly did the "Secret Origins" thing to death, by having a Secret Origin one-shot for everybody, their mother, and their mother's dog. Plus, they very rarely coordinated these one shots with the writers of the titles which they were meant to be back-ups for. And then they bulked the issues out with stupid stats pages that nobody read. There's a reason they're not published anymore. But yet, there remains a need for them to be done correctly. This issue is a case in point. We get a short version of the Nightmaster's origin, with a huuuge retcon thrown in. The only thing that actually happens in this issue though, is that Jim wakes up from his "death", pulls his sword out of his body, and then the Shadowpact, old and new, have a one page party. That's it. See? Now you see why this needed to be in a Secret Origins? We could have had an origin of each of the original members of the Shadowpact, plus one for each of the new characters, and even a quick one-page recap of Day of Vengeance. With Willingham writing it, and good artists working on it, it'd make for a good issue. Say, 48 pages, maybe? Perhaps 60? But this? It just feels like I opened this issue of Shadowpact hoping for some furtherance of the story and plot, and instead got nothing. I've come to expect that from other writers. But not from Willingham. Still, the story, what story there is, remains competently executed, so, oh well, OKAY.
I have no reason for quoting Elliott Smith, other than that upon completion of this book, the song started playing in my head. I'm a believer in synchronicity. So there you have it.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Shadowpact #6
Shadowpact #6
Approaching this as someone who hasn't read the first four issues of Shadowpact, hardly remembers Day of Vengeance, and never really read magical comics - with the exception of the Delano and Ennis trades of Hellblazer, and obviously anything Gaiman - in the first place, you can trust me when I tell you that this is a GOOD book. I'm not very familiar with the characters, I have no idea who the guy in his underwear is, and yet, I am entertained. What more can you ask from a single issue of any comic? The dialogue is witty and the ideas are original - as far as I can tell. The only problem I have with this issue is the villain. What's his motivation? Who is he? Has he ever appeared before? How is he dispatched so easily by Blue Devil? For that matter, how does he defeat Enchantress and Ragman so handily? And what do the dogs do? Who were they? The cover tells me that this is the Wild Huntsman, so does this have anything to do with the Welsh/British legend of the Wild Hunt? Or is this just some random meta who thought it'd be a cool name?
Still, since the fight isn't the point of the issue - rather, the point of the fight is to turn Enchantress and Ragman into dogs - I'd say that this is a GOOD issue. I can't say that I'm looking forward to the next issue, but I'll definitely read it (as oppsed to saving it for later).
Approaching this as someone who hasn't read the first four issues of Shadowpact, hardly remembers Day of Vengeance, and never really read magical comics - with the exception of the Delano and Ennis trades of Hellblazer, and obviously anything Gaiman - in the first place, you can trust me when I tell you that this is a GOOD book. I'm not very familiar with the characters, I have no idea who the guy in his underwear is, and yet, I am entertained. What more can you ask from a single issue of any comic? The dialogue is witty and the ideas are original - as far as I can tell. The only problem I have with this issue is the villain. What's his motivation? Who is he? Has he ever appeared before? How is he dispatched so easily by Blue Devil? For that matter, how does he defeat Enchantress and Ragman so handily? And what do the dogs do? Who were they? The cover tells me that this is the Wild Huntsman, so does this have anything to do with the Welsh/British legend of the Wild Hunt? Or is this just some random meta who thought it'd be a cool name?
Still, since the fight isn't the point of the issue - rather, the point of the fight is to turn Enchantress and Ragman into dogs - I'd say that this is a GOOD issue. I can't say that I'm looking forward to the next issue, but I'll definitely read it (as oppsed to saving it for later).
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