September 5, 2013

Review: Satellite Sam #3

Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Howard Chaykin

“Mike reaches out to the only woman he recognizes in his dead father’s collection of personal girlie snaps, and not only does she have stories about the old man would curl your hair, but she sees a method to the old man’s madness. What if there’s a picture of his killer somewhere in the room where he died?”

Up until this issue I’d found it difficult to care about this comic, the first two issues failed to grab me. I’m happy to say that my faith in Matt Fraction was rewarded with this issue. I found that this issue was much easier to follow than the previous two issues and not once did it lack the wit and intelligence that has become the signature of Fraction’s work. The pacing of the narrative was perfect and the whole thing flowed seamlessly from beginning to end. As a fan of Fraction’s dialogue, it was nice to see it being used to full effect in this issue. I was glad for the absence of the live television aspect of the story, it made for a welcome change in my opinion. Non-linear storytelling can be difficult to pull off but Fraction does so flawlessly in this issue. This appears to be the taking off point of Satellite Sam, if future issues follow suit then this could quite easily become one of my favourite current series.

I have to admit, Chaykin’s black and white artwork has grown on me. I was unsure if it was going to work for me in the first couple of issues but this issue blew me away. Chaykin’s use of textures is something to be marvelled at and his panel layout is sophisticated and classy, two things that this book is on so many levels. The colouring (or lack thereof) really immerses you in this post-war 1950s world of black and white television. There is a beautiful scene in a jazz club that has just made me fall in love with this comic. Chaykin clearly understands what Fraction is going for with his narrative and, from it, is creating some visual masterpieces. I’m also really enjoying the cover work that Chaykin is doing on this series and I certainly look forward to more.

This issue has revealed more than the previous issues and I feel that was really necessary for this series. Fraction appears to be playing the long game, which is fine as long as I’m kept interested. I see this issue as a massive improvement on the two previous issues and personally, I cannot wait to read more. This issue is what the series really needed: a kick up the arse to get it going.

9/10

July 14, 2013

Review: East of West #4

Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colours: Frank Martin

East of West is quite easily my favourite ongoing series and issue #4 was the best issue so far. It follows on directly from issue #3 with Death attacking New Shanghai and the House of Mao. Long story short, Death tears shit up. His lovely wife, Xiaolian, reveals herself to a total badass and after the events of this issue, the new leader of the House of Mao. War, Famine and Conquest are still pursuing Death to no avail. Without Death, they are nothing.

I have often said that East of West is a complex comic book, while this statement remains true, I feel that character complexity has now overtaken the complexity of the story. Before this issue, I could never quite see where Hickman was taking the story. This issue has given the characters more depth and in turn revealed more about the narrative. Hickman has managed to surprise and entertain me with this issue but has still left me longing for more. This issue is the clearest of the 4, it flows beautifully and it’s some of the best storytelling I have seen for a while. This issue is exciting and the events that take place will act as a catalyst for the continuation of the story. Hickman has managed to incorporate a lot of aspects into this wonderfully unique story. At first I thought this book was story driven but now I realise that the characters are what really make the book. I am intrigued to see where Hickman will take this story.

Opening the first page of the book I expected to be greeted with a sort of credits page as is the norm with mainstream comic books. However, I was taken aback and delighted to see a whole page of Dragotta and Martin’s epic artwork. New Shanghai is the scene, a fictional setting but one that looks exactly how you would imagine it. Every panel, every page is perfection. The subtleties make the book, a panel that contains a flashback has no border, as in the first issue. These little bits of continuity only help to strengthen the integrity of the book. While Dragotta’s full page work is beautiful, in this issue he shows what he can do when working with smaller panels. I find it difficult to imagine another artist working on this title. Dragotta has taken Hickman’s words and transformed them into beautiful pieces of art that just happen to form a narrative.

I believe this is the best title on the market right now and you’re a fool if you’re not reading it. I feel honoured that a story as incredible as this is available to me.

10/10

June 24, 2013

New Comics 26/06/13

Alright so it’s a new week which means I’m thinking about what’s on the pull list this week. I emailed my LCS yesterday and asked to drop Deadpool and Detective Comics and add Captain Marvel and Batman in place of them. So here’s this weeks pull.

Jupiter’s Legacy #2
All New X-Men #13
Gambit #14
Guardians of the Galaxy #4
Hawkeye #11
Uncanny X-Men #7
X-Men #2
Young Avengers #6

As you can see it’s a pretty big week for me which is unwelcome right now as I’m trying to save for my holiday next month. I’m probably most excited for Jupiter’s Legacy and X-Men out of those titles as both had strong first issues in my opinion.

So let me know what you’re picking up this week!

June 7, 2013

Cover of the Week 05/06/13

Here we go with another Cover of the Week post. These are 5 of my favourite covers from the last week.

5. Black Bat #2 Cover A by Jae Lee (Dynamite Entertainment)

4. Dark Shadows #17 by Francesco Francavilla (Dynamite Entertainment)

3. Winter Soldier #19 by Declan Shalvey (Marvel)

2. East of West #3 by Nick Dragotta (Image Comics)

1. Green Lantern #21 by Billy Tan (DC)

April 26, 2013

Cover of the Week 24/04/13

I wanted to shake things up a bit on here so, from now on Fridays are ‘Cover of the Week’ day on this blog. I’ll choose five of my favourite covers each week, there may be one or two honourable mentions some weeks. Now these can be covers to comics I’ve not read, from all different publishers. I’m going to rank them in ascending order and I would love to know what your favourite cover was this week or if you think I overlooked anything.

So with out further adieu, the list:

5. Transformers More Than Meets The Eye #16 Cover E, Nick Roche (IDW)

4. Talon #7, Guillem March (DC)

3. Jupiter’s Legacy Cover B, Bryan Hitch (Image)

2. The Shadow, Francesco Francavilla (Dynamite)

1. Gambit #11, Clay Mann (Marvel)

Let me know what you think and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @olivia217

April 25, 2013

Jupiter’s Legacy #1

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Frank Quitely
Colours: Peter Doherty

I didn’t pick this up yesterday because I wanted to wait for the general consensus on it. I read a few reviews and decided that I’d give it a go as I was in the city centre again today. To look at it you wouldn’t pin it as a superhero book but that’s the category I would put it in. The book opens in Morocco 1932, here we get a great deal of backstory but no so much that we lose interest. A few pages on and it’s 2013 in Los Angeles, Chloe and Brandon, the children of superheroes are in a seedy nightclub rather than joining their parents and other superheroes in an important fight.

This issue is a great introduction to the series. Millar has created a world very similar to our own, the only difference here is the presence of superheroes. He has included backstory in this issue to great effect, it feels like there is more to learn about what happened on that island. Chloe and Brandon are two cynical, stuck up little shits and as a reader I can’t stand them, in the right way. These characters are probably going to turn this around and redeem themselves later in the book. Millar leaves the issue on a cliffhanger, it’s quite a worrying scene. He has certainly made me want to read more. The writing itself is excellent, one thing I noticed was how well it flowed through the issue, there was no clunky dialogue. It’s nice to see a pro at work. I really love the concept of this book and I’m excited to see where it goes, there appears to be a turmoil in the superheroes’ lives, and I can see something big happening here.

One of the things that struck me when I first opened this book was the quality of the artwork, I don’t know if anyone can deny the beauty of the work on display here. Quitely is an amazing artist. His work in this issue is utterly flawless, his depiction of the island is beautiful, I only wish it was bigger than it is. His ability to dictate the mood of this book is one all artists should be envious of. He communicates the characters expressions with a certain realism. The artwork in this book speaks for itself and I’m glad Millar hasn’t felt the need to over explain every little thing, it truly is a wonderful partnership.

Even if you’re not into superhero books I would recommend this.

9/10

April 24, 2013

East of West #2

Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colours: Frank Martin

Unsurprisingly, this is an intellectual book. I’ve had to re-read this issue, as with the first issue, to fully grasp what’s going on. Usually, this would be a negative comment for a comic but I mean it as a compliment. I want to understand, if it were just a poorly written book I wouldn’t bother reading it again. There’s a bit of a gap between the end of the first issue and the beginning of this issue. The book opens at the White Tower with The Three Horsemen, Conquest, War and Famine, quizzing the Vice President, who is next in line to be President. The Horsemen aren’t quite happy with this and what ensues is a brutal yet undeniably enjoyable few pages of comic. A new President is chosen and is sent to meet her peers at Armistice. There appears to be something bigger going on, obviously the Apocalypse is nigh. Death is continuing with his quest which, as of now, isn’t entirely clear. Andrew Archibald Chamberlain, Chief of Staff at the Black Towers proves to be an interesting character for both the reader and Death.

I’ve already said that is is an intellectual book, it’s well written, Hickman doesn’t give too much away yet he keeps you interested. Many of the characters have hidden motives, it’s full of drama and tension, things that are hard to find in an ordinary comic book. The meeting at Armistice was almost like a scene from Game of Thrones, I was waiting for Varys to make an appearance. Joking aside, Hickman has created a completely alternative world that works. The storytelling in this issue is clever and gripping, never, for even a moment, was I bored when reading this. I’m not sure this book is for everyone, pretentious readers will love it.

Dragotta and Martin have not only kept the standard that they set in the first issue but there are many instances where they have utterly outdone themselves. The first page, an exterior of the White Tower, is so intricately and perfectly drawn. It doesn’t end here, there’s an equally magnificent exterior of the Black Towers. Dragotta is perfect for the style of this book, no-one else could do what he has done with it. He’s put visuals on Hickman’s brilliant storytelling like no-one else could. Everything is so clean. As in the first issue, there are plenty of wordless panels. Hickman has allowed Dragotta’s work to tell the story at times, his faith is rewarded. Martin makes Dragotta’s work pop and deserves an equal amount of credit for the quality of the work.

This book is excellent. Try it if you can.

10/10

Follow me on Twitter @olivia217

April 15, 2013

East of West #1

Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colours: Frank Martin

When I first read this comic it confused me, I wasn’t 100% sure what was going on and who the characters were. I’ve now read this issue 3 times and the plot does become somewhat clearer the more you read it. Saying that, not much of a plot has been revealed in this first issue. We know that the year is 2064 and that the apocalypse is in it’s first year. We also know that the history of the world is different to ours since 1860ish.

I found that this issue didn’t quite hold my attention as other books have, it’s very wordy at the beginning. I don’t necessarily think that this is a bad thing because we wouldn’t really know that the world is different to ours or why. It’s evident from the get go that this is not a ‘light reading’ sort of comic. I really like the concept that this book presents in this first issue, it’s something that as a comic reader I’ve not seen before. Of course we’ve all seen post-apocalypic worlds in the likes of The Walking Dead, Judge Dredd and other such titles. This comic shows the apocalypse in a different way, from the perspective of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who have been reduced to the Three Horsemen because Death appears to have found some new friends. I found this issue to be well written although in parts quite confusing, I’m going to let that slide for now because I think more will be revealed in later issues. It’s certainly an intriguing piece of work from Hickman, a far cry from the likes of FF. I’m excited to see the direction in which he takes this comic.

I really like the artwork in this issue, I love the literal depictions of the Three Horsemen as children, it’s really quite clever. I love the use of colour and how it is used in the telling of the history of the world as it is in the book. The colours are softer and the lines aren’t as harsh on these two pages. It separates this part of the book from the rest, just the fact that the panels are not outlined is brilliant, it’s a subtle yet effective touch. Dragotta and Martin have worked exceptionally well together on this issue and I hope to see this repeated in future issues. I love the way Death and his companions are presented in this book, they stand out among the other, more colourful characters.

I would recommend this book to people who are looking for something a little different from a comic.

8/10

Follow me on Twitter @olivia217