This second volume delivers some of the most memorable short stories of the series (feat. nanotech consciousness downloads; human culture reservationsThis second volume delivers some of the most memorable short stories of the series (feat. nanotech consciousness downloads; human culture reservations; people awaking from cryogenic freezing to a hostile future: “Fuck off back to your freezers!”), as Ellis and Robertson are firing on all cylinders. It may not be perfect, but it’s the kind of wild ride that doesn’t have to be. The one thing that actually bothers me is the story’s underlying macho ethos: “How do you know I can’t kill you by staring hard?” Then again, this macho ethos probably allowed the series to succeed in an industry obsessed with superheroes. ...more
With its critical, abstract, ambitious reflections on the history and ideology of Black Panther comics, Black Panther: A Nation under Our Feet might hWith its critical, abstract, ambitious reflections on the history and ideology of Black Panther comics, Black Panther: A Nation under Our Feet might have worked as an academic essay. As the superhero title it is, however, the book makes for a rather difficult, frustrating, slow and ultimately boring read. 1.5 stars, I’d say....more
I’m generally not all that much into folk music (where are the synthesizers?) and tend to avoid biographies (don’t trust ‘em), so it took an enthusiasI’m generally not all that much into folk music (where are the synthesizers?) and tend to avoid biographies (don’t trust ‘em), so it took an enthusiastic 5-star review by my good friend David Schaafsma for me to pick up Nick Hayes’ 272-page comic-book biography of American folk music icon Woody Guthrie. And as you can see from my rating, I couldn't be happier that I did (thanks, David!). Woody Guthrie and the Dust Bowl Ballads turned out to be both less and so much more than what I expected: While it thankfully makes no attempt to illuminate every aspect of Guthrie’s life, its loose, broad, poetic strokes add up to a wonderfully unorthodox, philosophical yet intimate exploration of the rather unglamorous roots of popular music, as well as to a potent critique of capitalism that couldn't be more relevant today. Highly recommended to fans of alternative comics!...more
As you may recall, protagonist Matty generally looks excellent amidst the ruins of New York City. He’s the cool, tough, handsome type, you see, thoughAs you may recall, protagonist Matty generally looks excellent amidst the ruins of New York City. He’s the cool, tough, handsome type, you see, though not necessarily the brightest bulb on the porch. Which is unfortunate, as it's Matty’s smarts the reader ultimately relies on when it comes to making sense of the story.
Coming into this fourth volume, the only thing journalist Matty has been able to figure out is that “this is a war of extremes pushing against each other”--whatever the hell that means. And by the end of the volume, he hasn’t exactly made a lot of progress: “I don’t know a single fucking thing more than I did yesterday. Except that everything about this is still shit.”
Yep, same here, Matty. Four volumes in, and the only thing I know for sure is “that everything about this is still shit.” Which isn’t really all that surprising, considering we’re still looking at war through the eyes of a hipster who “never paid attention to politics.” Wait a minute, thinks Matty, “or is this war just so fucked up that no one has a handle on what they’re doing anymore?” Whoa, that’s deep, Matty, that must be it......more
I don’t know, every single Brian Wood comic book seems to be about some kind of young, tough, sexy, street-smart hipster who looks very cool in a gritI don’t know, every single Brian Wood comic book seems to be about some kind of young, tough, sexy, street-smart hipster who looks very cool in a gritty world. Why the world is such a gritty place never seems to matter much, it’s just background designed to make our young hipster look as tough and sexy and cool as possible.
In the case of DMZ, young, buff, independent hipster reporter Matty (who has sex with a sexy media chick named Zee) looks very tough and cool and sexy amidst the ruins of a civil war. There are suicide bombers on every corner, terrorist cells, a corrupt private military contractor (read: Blackwater) is moving in, there is torture... and yet I still have no clue what this gritty civil war is supposed to be all about.
I mean, I mostly agree with the official politics of DMZ (with its critique of the U.S. government's growing dependence on private companies to wage war, for example, not so much with its underlying ageist, lookist, racist and sexist tendencies), but everything feels so contrived and shallow that I’m finding it really hard to cheer for Matty....more
Another “revisionary” superhero story by Mark Millar, and at this point you probably know the name of the game: a bunch of two-dimensional characters,Another “revisionary” superhero story by Mark Millar, and at this point you probably know the name of the game: a bunch of two-dimensional characters, a little genre homage, a little genre parody, a little ultra-violence, a little politics, a little shallowness, a little cynicism.
Let’s see, there’s the mysterious King Kong-like expedition that turned our protagonists into superheroes back in 1932, enabling them to save capitalist America from the Great Depression. Problem is, as we know today, things have not worked out so well in the long run: “The global economy’s hanging by a threat and we’re still just out there wrestling like children...”
So does that mean our protagonists should never have saved capitalism? Or should they at least now use their powers to “step in and fix this chaos”? Should they actually change the system instead of just trying to patch it? Well, I guess not, as the characters who make that point and do change things all turn out to be ruthless, egomaniacal, murderous bastards. The end.
I don’t know, as tongue-in-cheek as the story may be, this just doesn’t strike me as the most original or profound kind of meta-commentary. I did enjoy the King Kong homage, though, plus it’s pretty much impossible to not be impressed by Frank Quitely’s detailed yet elegant artwork on some level.
Bottom line: Jupiter’s Legacy is fun to look at and entertaining enough in places, but underneath the surface it doesn’t really have a whole lot to say as far as I can tell....more
So that was it, a very appropriate ending to a great post-apocalyptic series. You should definitely read FreakAngels for yourself, so at this point alSo that was it, a very appropriate ending to a great post-apocalyptic series. You should definitely read FreakAngels for yourself, so at this point all I'm going to say is that it ranks among Warren Ellis’ very best work IMO, up there with Transmetropolitan and The Authority. Even if you don’t consider yourself an Ellis fan you may want to give FreakAngels a try... and let its thoughtful, subtle, humane approach surprise you. Really good stuff!...more
Still targeted primarily at children, most pre-Watchmen superhero comics are a bit on the cheesy side, and Mark Gruenwald’s 1985 maxi-series Squadron Still targeted primarily at children, most pre-Watchmen superhero comics are a bit on the cheesy side, and Mark Gruenwald’s 1985 maxi-series Squadron Supreme is generally no exception to the rule—at least as far as characterization, dialogue and plot development are concerned. On a conceptual level, though, Squadron Supreme stands out as an early attempt to deconstruct the superhero paradigm in a real-world setting, raising questions along the lines of: Wouldn’t beings with superhuman abilities get tired of cleaning up our mess? Wouldn’t they take control of the world’s governments and run the planet at their discretion? What would such a totalitarian world look like? Recommended to anybody interested in the history and ideology of superhero comics!...more
Having now read all six volumes of the series, I gotta say: Wow! MIND MGMT is certainly one of the most complex, intriguing, strangely rewarding comicHaving now read all six volumes of the series, I gotta say: Wow! MIND MGMT is certainly one of the most complex, intriguing, strangely rewarding comic-book stories I have come across in a while. What is it all about? Hmm, the difficulty of keeping an open mind and doing the right thing in an increasingly manipulative world, maybe?
All I know for certain is that the ongoing format lends itself beautifully to Kindt’s loose, open style, providing it with all the space it needs, and that the results are, well, kinda mind-blowing. And yet, if genre entertainment of the more conventional variety is what you’re looking for, this final volume (for now, at least) also delivers the action-packed conclusion to a pulpy, character-driven spy thriller.
Either way, MIND MGMT delivers the goods, and you should definitely check it out!...more
Our young revolutionaries have not exactly achieved Utopia ever since they ended the world as we know it, have they? So what is it they need in order Our young revolutionaries have not exactly achieved Utopia ever since they ended the world as we know it, have they? So what is it they need in order to make a better job of things? Why, an upgrade, of course. And that’s literally what they get in this penultimate volume of the series, in appropriately trippy fashion.
What I like about the upgrade on a conceptual level is that it does not turn our flawed protagonists into more awesome and aloof individuals, quite the contrary. It gives them a new humility, teaches them that in order to make the world a better place they must first “get past all the constant fucking moaning and hating and fighting.”
After a slow-burning third volume, this fourth volume delivers all kinds of twists and action. I love how the story jumps around from one plot thread After a slow-burning third volume, this fourth volume delivers all kinds of twists and action. I love how the story jumps around from one plot thread to another, and how each new piece of information makes everything else appear in a different light. We even get to sneak a peek at what happened when “the world ended” six years ago, one that turns the whole story into a crude, horrifically flawed yet undeniably potent case of youth rebellion.
Come to think of it, FreakAngels now reads like an updated, shrewdly reshuffled version of John Wyndham’s 1957 science fiction novel The Midwich Cuckoos (made into two movies, both titled Village of the Damned, in 1960 and 1995). In both the novel and the comic book, a group of children with supernatural abilities is born in England at exactly the same time, and in both cases they represent a growing threat to the establishment as they grow older.
Unlike the authorities of The Midwich Cuckoos, however, those of FreakAngels find themselves unable to remove the threat by taking out those powerful kids. As a result, the kids of FreakAngels actually manage to overthrow the status quo. Coming of age amidst its ruins, they try to build and govern a new world, and the story ultimately revolves around their all too human efforts to do so....more
At its core, this is a story about power, guilt and responsibility. Kinda like Spidey, that’s right. The FreakAngels are far guiltier than Peter ParkeAt its core, this is a story about power, guilt and responsibility. Kinda like Spidey, that’s right. The FreakAngels are far guiltier than Peter Parker ever was, though, and so what really comes to mind while reading this is the role of so-called first-world countries in the devastation of the planet and of so-called third-world countries in particular, and more specifically the current “refugee crisis” in Europe. In other words, FreakAngels is the kind of science fiction dystopia that becomes more relevant by the minute. It is also one of the most thoughtful, nuanced, sincere and best comics Warren Ellis has written to date—read it already!...more
Targeted at young teens (I think), this graphic novel makes the valid point that the real lives of many online role-playing gamers around the world arTargeted at young teens (I think), this graphic novel makes the valid point that the real lives of many online role-playing gamers around the world are far from glamorous. Unfortunately, it drops the ball on all the related issues it initially seems to raise: Is there some kind of link between the privileges we enjoy and the repression/exploitation experienced in other parts of the world? Is it okay for marketers to promote games in schools? What about our game's tendency to celebrate violence and promote capitalism? Have the problems of sexism and racism in games really been solved when the white avatar of our white female protagonist dances with the white avatar of a male Chinese gamer in the end? I'm all for fostering critical thinking and political awareness, but I doubt the book's "gaming is awesome as long as you are aware that there are people out there who aren't as fortunate as we are"-conclusion will actually have that effect....more
If you think of Warren Ellis as a cynical bastard whose sole talent lies in the creation of nasty, drug-infused, over-the-top comics (it's a persona EIf you think of Warren Ellis as a cynical bastard whose sole talent lies in the creation of nasty, drug-infused, over-the-top comics (it's a persona Ellis himself often flaunts, after all) for a politically alienated and emotionally dulled audience, give FreakAngels a try. It might change your mind.
Despite the post-apocalyptic setting, there is nothing flashy or gimmicky or trippy about FreakAngels. The story is told in a very accessible, engaging, straight-forward style, congenially brought to life by Paul Duffield’s subdued, orderly, unspectacular yet quietly stunning illustrations.
What makes FreakAngels work so well are its characters. To be sure, they swear a lot (this is an Ellis comic), but they are also the most fully realized, fascinating, lifelike comic-book characters I have come across in a while—despite their mysterious superhuman powers.
I highly recommend Freakangels to anybody looking for that rare post-apocalyptic story that has both a brain and a heart!...more
The fighting, torturing and killing continues, as the spotlight shifts from the Green Lanterns to the magicians of the DC Universe, and to John ConstaThe fighting, torturing and killing continues, as the spotlight shifts from the Green Lanterns to the magicians of the DC Universe, and to John Constantine in particular: “I’m gonna kick the Man of Steel in the bollocks.” The story increasingly feels like a Who’s Who in the DC Universe, with countless long-established major and minor characters popping up (and, in many cases, dying) left and right. To the credit of writer Tom Taylor and artists Bruno Redondo and Mike S. Miller, though, the plot remains comprehensible even for someone like myself who is not exactly up to date with most things DC. In fact, it’s kinda fun to get introduced to all these bizarre characters while the fate of the human species hangs in the balance. That being said, the series still does not do justice to its rather complex underlying themes of terrorism and social control, but hey, we're talking about comic books designed to promote a fighting game here... Anyway, I’ll keep turning the pages....more
“I wonder If Anybody’s Ever Been Fired from the Avengers Before”
In this second volume, Clint Barton aka Hawkeye struggles with personal and profession“I wonder If Anybody’s Ever Been Fired from the Avengers Before”
In this second volume, Clint Barton aka Hawkeye struggles with personal and professional/super-heroic issues that don’t differ all that much from those he experienced in the first volume, yet the storytelling felt less organic to me this time around. Tone, style and even content change rapidly from one page to the next in places, partly as a result of fill-in artwork. I also didn't find this second volume as funny as the first one, and so I eventually found myself wondering: Why does everybody love Clint Barton so much? Could the success of the series have more to do with its updated hero concept than with anything else?
Let’s see, Clint Barton gets pushed around and exploited a lot (“I need your help again.”), lacks “job” security (“I wonder if anybody’s ever been fired from the Avengers before.”), lives in a dinky apartment (“Who still has an answering machine?”), likes to watch TV (“Gaah spoilers spoilers shut up. I got the whole season on this DVR at home.”), has no interest in political economy (“I don’t know anything about Wall Street.”) and generally lives what he refers to as a “car-crash life.” It's a scenario, in short, that probably does not feel all that far-fetched to many young people these days.
And yet Clint Barton is clearly awesome, isn’t he? He’s athletic, handsome, funny, charming, fights crime, rescues a dog, does good in the community, and beautiful women fall for him left and right (even if he is unaware of it and “the thought of a serious relationship makes [him] nervous”). When it comes to problems, humor takes the edge off, and we are given no reason to believe that the world of Wall Street Clint Barton knows nothing about could have anything to do with them. In fact, the only people who shout “We! Are! The ninety-nine percent!” in this book are terrorists. And fear not, true believer, the Avengers and a reliable police force quickly arrest those troublemakers: “No you aren’t. Shut up. Gahhd.”
Bottom line: Hawkeye's hero concept is designed as wish-fulfillment personified for increasingly marginalized young North Americans who already grew up in a largely corporate-controlled environment that promotes commercial culture over political awareness, and whose suicide rates have increased four- to five-fold since the 1960s. To troubled young men in particular, the series sends the reassuring, apathy-inducing message: You may hold very little political and economic power, but don’t you worry your little heads about that—you can still be “real men.” Just, you know, learn to roll with the punches, put on a few tough-looking band aids, be a good sport, develop a pacifying sense of gallows humor, keep watching TV, and for God's sake don't even think about rocking the boat! You'll see, everybody will love you for it: It's the new brand of masculinity!
Anyway, that's my attempt to make sense of the Hawkeye phenomenon, and you’ve probably gathered from the previous paragraphs that I’m not a fan. I realize not many (none?) of you share my ideological concerns, but I think they are a big part of what has prevented me from enjoying the series as much as everybody else.
PS: I did enjoy this volume’s final issue which is narrated from the perspective of a dog and manages to be both sweet and a little artsy....more
The showdown between our teenage protagonists and their parents is entertaining enough, if a bit on the generic side. The mole affair in particular coThe showdown between our teenage protagonists and their parents is entertaining enough, if a bit on the generic side. The mole affair in particular could have been handled more convincingly, I thought. Still a fun read, don’t get me wrong, just not quite as original, radical and daring as I had hoped based on the previous two trades. I’ll keep reading, though, especially since the final issue collected here marks a promising return to form. Who knows, maybe our teenage heroes still have bigger fish to fry!?...more
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