I had almost zero idea what was going on in this entry, which reads like the hallucinatory fever dream of an addict with the DTs after going cold turkI had almost zero idea what was going on in this entry, which reads like the hallucinatory fever dream of an addict with the DTs after going cold turkey. For a good 190 of its 200 pages I was utterly lost. The weirdness was never-ending and honestly should’ve just been a single issue, not 5-1/2. Frankly, I thought I had somehow missed an entry in the series. Nope, just thrown into the deep end of an ocean of psychosis.
Still, there are some cool moments and interesting dialogue, and the last few pages are very cool, making a promise that the shit is about to hit the fan. Hopefully Liu can stop being self-indulgent and actually tell a coherent story going forward.
James Harren takes the idea of a space virus infecting humanity and turns it to 11. In the Wild Cards series by George R.R. Martin and friends, a spacJames Harren takes the idea of a space virus infecting humanity and turns it to 11. In the Wild Cards series by George R.R. Martin and friends, a space virus gives people superpowers. Most people die from the infection while a tiny percentage are granted superpowers, but some look normal (Aces) while some become monstrous (Jokers). In Invasion of the Body Snatchers, spores come to Earth and take over people’s bodies. In Who Goes There?, aka The Thing, an alien crashes to Earth and has the ability to duplicate any person or animal, but can also assume monstrous shapes.
James Harren takes this basic idea and runs with it, with a cosmic virus descending on Earth and infecting people who then turn into gargantuan Lovecraftian monsters, some truly horrifying kaiju. Fortunately a few people turn into Ultraman-like giant heroes called Ultramega. Unfortunately they are outnumbered and outmatched.
This is some truly bonkers giant monster action with some genuinely gross creatures. He really leans into the body horror here. If they made a movie of this, I honestly wouldn’t be able to watch the trailer, let alone the film. He’s also taken some of the absurd aspects of kaiju to their logical conclusion, even more than Guillermo del Toro did in Pacific Rim, and in far grosser ways.(view spoiler)[ In one scene, an Ultramega gets his head punched off and the resulting exsanguination literal drowns thousands of people in a tsunami of boood — including his wife. This is pretty dark. (hide spoiler)]
If you like Godzilla movies but think they should be about 1000% more graphic and grotesque, this is the comic for you....more
This is terrific over-the-top action that manages to include some nice character work. Groshelle manages to cram a ton of story into one volume, and tThis is terrific over-the-top action that manages to include some nice character work. Groshelle manages to cram a ton of story into one volume, and that story just gets more insane as you go along. It starts off with a pitched battle in the Pacific theatre during World War 2, moving on to a Japanese POW camp where we get some noir coppers-and-gangsters background on our main characters, followed by a series of misadventures that lead to an uncharted island with a clandestine Japanese base where they’re breeding and weaponizing dinosaurs. And then it gets truly crazy.
This story is incredibly basic, featuring characters who are merely stereotypes. It’s weird that these European comics are so short — each one feels lThis story is incredibly basic, featuring characters who are merely stereotypes. It’s weird that these European comics are so short — each one feels like the first two chapters rather than part of an arc. If it were me, I’d want to use every available space for character development, rather than have multiple pages without dialogue. Although given the quality of the writing here I doubt double the space would add anything....more
Decent twist on legacy superhero stories, with a high school bully getting the powers of his superhero dad who was killed in action. A couple solid plDecent twist on legacy superhero stories, with a high school bully getting the powers of his superhero dad who was killed in action. A couple solid plot twists, leaning on the themes of generational trauma and “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”. I quite like that we don’t get definitive answers about who is right or wrong in this mess, we just hear both sides of the story. That’s fairly uncommon in such tales....more
At the back of Saga, Volume 11 was a link to this free online comic. It has copious trigger warnings for extreme violence and sex and hoo-doggies doesAt the back of Saga, Volume 11 was a link to this free online comic. It has copious trigger warnings for extreme violence and sex and hoo-doggies does it have those in spades. It actually kind of distracts from the main, er, thrust of the story about voyeurism, our culture’s fascination with sex and violence, and letting people just be who they want to be, while at the same time underscoring those themes. Be warned that it’s *very* graphic, but you can read it here: ExplodingGuraffe.substack.com...more
Solid entry in the series, clearly a halfway point between what was and what will be. I really have to keep myself from reading the individual issues Solid entry in the series, clearly a halfway point between what was and what will be. I really have to keep myself from reading the individual issues because I just want to know what happens next. I’m glad I wait, though, to get the story all at once....more
It’s not exactly a metaphor when it’s all displayed out on front street. This is about the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, which I remember well. EverythingIt’s not exactly a metaphor when it’s all displayed out on front street. This is about the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, which I remember well. Everything younger people recall about Covid 19 was a thousand times worse then. Everything here is repeating what happened then, pretty much verbatim. It’s a message that bears repeating, but it’s kind of one-sided.
Ryan White and the Ray brothers were young boys with hemophilia who died from AIDS that they contracted from tainted blood. At the time it was belied HIV could be spread through casual contact, and, to be honest, I’m not sure that it can’t be, because there are several strains of HIV, just as there are of Covid, some more virulent than others. At the beginning of the outbreak, a doctor determined that HIV can live outside the body for several days. Eventually that doctor’s findings were dismissed and then she was pilloried, with more than a hint of sexism and misogyny. 20 years later it was “discovered” that some strains of HIV can live outside the body for several days. This time by a male doctor, so it was taken more seriously. That said, it is believed that HIV doesn’t remain infectious for long, as it dries up and becomes inactive.
Remember during Covid how people were wiping down their groceries and boxes delivered to their homes? That’s what we did during the early days of the AIDS epidemic, too. People on Ryan White’s paper route canceled their subscriptions because they thought they might catch it from the newsprint. There was a lot of confusion and misinformation then. White and his family were terrorized. People protested them, attacked them in public, and even shot at their house. White wasn’t allowed to return to school for many months; when he did, he was bullied and ostracized. Eventually they had to move to get away from the constant torment. People had no empathy for a kid who was as much of a victim as anyone else.
And the fear is understandable, we didn’t really know anything about the disease, except that it seemed to be killing people left and right.
But here’s the other thing: almost all diseases become less lethal over time. If they kill their host too quickly, they don’t get passed on to infect others. When they mutate to hang around longer, they have a better chance of survival by infecting more victims. The common cold was probably once a deadly disease millennia ago; some common colds are caused by a coronavirus, the same as Covid. So it’s possible that HIV is becoming less deadly over time.
That would also explain why people like Kimberly Bergalis and a half-dozen other people might have been infected by their dentist back in the 1980s. Most of them died from AIDS, including Kimberly at age 23. Many doctors don’t believe it’s possible to contract HIV via dental procedures, but the counter-argument in this case is that all of the dentist’s patients had the genetically identical strain he did, and most of them, including the dentist, died from AIDS complications. Anyone who was alive back then can attest that few dentists wore gloves or masks. I still remember what my dentist’s fingers tasted like. Does that sound gross? It does to me, too. We were all so naive then. It was only after Kimberly testified to Congress before she died that dentists and other health care workers started wearing surgical gloves as a matter of course.
All of this is background for this superhero story. But like many such stories, it is necessarily simplified - there just aren’t enough pages to get across the complexity. But they should have at least tried. Like I said, I don’t blame people for being afraid of the unknown. That’s incredibly scary. Especially when it comes to a lethal disease that apparently showed up out of nowhere. That said, there’s no excuse for attacking victims of the disease, or for having a lack of empathy. In this story there’s no real nuance, as bigots are just stereotyped as being haters, full stop. Which is far too simplistic a take.
For me, it’s also somewhat undercut by the fact that Barbalien is clearly just riffing on the Martian Manhunter, a shapeshifting Martian working as a police officer. The Martian Manhunter is named J’onn J’onzz, while Barbalien’s name is Mark Markz. It’s super lazy and frankly I’m surprised DC hasn’t sued for trademark infringement....more
Storytelling is too decompressed and it jumps around too much. I kept wondering how they got from point A to point B so quickly. Art is quite good, thStorytelling is too decompressed and it jumps around too much. I kept wondering how they got from point A to point B so quickly. Art is quite good, though....more
This is very, very good. The trigger warning about teen suicide is front and center, and this deals with the subject in an adult, nuanced fashion, shoThis is very, very good. The trigger warning about teen suicide is front and center, and this deals with the subject in an adult, nuanced fashion, showing many reactions to such an event. (view spoiler)[There isn’t a suicide, just an apparent one, but one character *is* suicidal. (hide spoiler)] There is also drug use, but it is equally well-handled.
The characters are all distinct with quite different personalities and attitudes, and although we spend the most time with a bunch of teenagers, every age is represented as fully-formed individuals.
The basic story is that a generation ship crashed on a frozen planet and the survivors are fighting a losing battle against the elements and decaying tech that they’re not entirely sure how to operate. I was reminded strongly of Hugh Howey’s Wool Omnibus, adapted for Apple TV as Silo. Except this is a completely different story in both broad outline and specific elements, not to mention themes — it just shares a similar vibe.
I like how these intrepid kids explore their limited world, as well as their varying reactions to what they uncover. One wants to press on in secret, one wants to tell everyone, another freaks out and retreats… it runs the gamut.
There are a couple minor things that bothered me, such as glossing over where they get paper for notes and how does the fabricator shop whip up a new helmet visor, but these are nitpicky little things that aren’t that big a deal. Overall it’s really good.
The art is likewise excellent, with clear storytelling and characters different enough to be unique....more
512 pages of absolutely insane over-the-top cosmic clashes, featuring ALL of the heavy hitters of the Marvel universe. When Thanos and Galactus are th512 pages of absolutely insane over-the-top cosmic clashes, featuring ALL of the heavy hitters of the Marvel universe. When Thanos and Galactus are the least powerful entities in a story, you know you’re in for a freakin’ ride. Even Jack Kirby would’ve had his mind blown by this one.
Over so many issues with several artists the art is inconsistent. Some is great, some is not, but the underlying story keeps it moving along....more
This is an almost completely incoherent mishmash of sci-fi movie cliches. This seems pretty clearly a bad screenplay clumsily adapted to comic form. IThis is an almost completely incoherent mishmash of sci-fi movie cliches. This seems pretty clearly a bad screenplay clumsily adapted to comic form. It’s almost as if someone asked, “How can we make Independence Day but stupider?” Throwing in bits from writers like Robert Heinlein (The Puppet Masters) and Jack L. Chalker (A Jungle of Stars) just muddies the story.
There were a few times where characters were suddenly in places completely different from the page before, causing me to flip back to see if I’d missed something. It’s almost as if pages are missing, or that they accidentally included bits from a previous draft. Not that it matters, since these are stock characters saying stock lines, to the point where they are indistinguishable. The art doesn’t help, either. If it weren’t for the fact they have the token child who has blonde hair and the token woman who has red hair, it would be impossible to tell any of the characters apart.
It is so self-consciously striving to be a four quadrants screenplay that it all just feels cobbled together. Guns for the guys, divorced parents for the gals, aliens for the kids, spaceships for the geeks, inane dialogue for the morons… bleh....more
Decent overall story. I don’t think anyone has ever really nailed Daken down, so they keep throwing various versions of him out there to see what sticDecent overall story. I don’t think anyone has ever really nailed Daken down, so they keep throwing various versions of him out there to see what sticks. Here he’s in “master manipulator” mode which would be better suited for Kingpin or even Elektra. Other than that this is fine - a story about the push and pull of organized crime versus legitimate government on Madripoor, Marvel’s version of Singapore/Hong Kong....more
Weird Western with magic guns, clay golems animated by the spirits of the people killed by said guns, a zombie Confederate General, and even more creeWeird Western with magic guns, clay golems animated by the spirits of the people killed by said guns, a zombie Confederate General, and even more creepy stuff. Plenty of action, with reveals and reversals coming regularly. Bunn really nailed it with this one. Artist Brian Hurtt does an excellent job as well, conveying the action and story clearly....more
Oof, grimdark fantasy, comic book style. Crom’s art looks a bit like Sergio Aragones at first, but as the story progresses and gets bloodier and more Oof, grimdark fantasy, comic book style. Crom’s art looks a bit like Sergio Aragones at first, but as the story progresses and gets bloodier and more brutal, that comparison fades away. It’s ultimately about finding one’s personal freedom no matter the cost… and the price is high....more
I have no idea what was going on here. Jubilee is a vampire now? Demons and Captain Universe? It all feels so random, so I suspect there’s a bunch of I have no idea what was going on here. Jubilee is a vampire now? Demons and Captain Universe? It all feels so random, so I suspect there’s a bunch of cockamamie crossover stuff going on, but I have zero clue what it was about,...more
I didn’t realize this was a middle grade book or an Elseworlds story. Neither of which are bad in and of themselves — I actually *prefer* Elseworlds sI didn’t realize this was a middle grade book or an Elseworlds story. Neither of which are bad in and of themselves — I actually *prefer* Elseworlds stories because mainline DC continuity is FUBARed — but this bears no resemblance to any existing characters or situations other than the names.
Pearson states in his forward that he has no idea about DC comics and then spends 160 pages proving it. I wouldn’t even mind Superboy and Robin having completely different personalities and backgrounds, which is the fun of Elseworlds tales, if they weren’t such bratty little whiners. I just wanted to line all these kids up and slap them.
I have no idea who the two new girls are, because Pearson does a terrible job of explaining that. We get backstory for one, but it seems to be completely out of order, making me wonder if there was a time jump or something. Nope, just bad writing. It would’ve been easier to just use existing DC super kids such as Wonder Girl in these roles, but that would require Pearson to know the first thing about these characters and this world.
Which brings me to the ultimate question: how do you grow up in America without knowing who the hell Batman and Superman are? These are arguably two of the most famous fictional characters in existence, but he clearly has no clue what they’re like other than Batman is rich and lives in Gotham and Superman is a reporter who lives in Metropolis. This dude hasn’t read ONE comic book or seen a single movie about these characters in his whole life? Bizarre. My wife doesn’t read comics or watch DC superhero movies, but even she knows enough about them to hold a basic conversation about story. I kinda think Pearson grew up on Mars. It’s the only explanation for this level of ignorance.
And if you were hired to write about characters for some bizarro reason (what was DC thinking?), wouldn’t you at least read a wiki article about them? Or like two comics? These things take 20 minutes to get through. Way to not do the bare minimum, bro.
The kicker? It’s very long and extremely boring, and yet it’s just part one. Saints preserve me....more
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