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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Wednesday, June 15, 2005
From COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #1606:
"A life-long blessing for children is to fill them with warm memories of times together. Happy memories become treasures in the heart to pull out on the tough days of adulthood."
- Charlotte Davis Kasl
My official website being the creature of self-gratification that it is, a discussion of THE GOLDEN AGE OF DC COMICS: 365 DAYS led to a conversation about a gorilla who challenged the world, a search for stories featuring the anthropoid adversary, and a retro-review of FROM BEYOND THE UNKNOWN #5 [July, 1970], which reprinted those tales. None of which I actually plan on writing about here. It's just the set-up for the next bit.
I received an e-mail from one of my legion of online readers shortly after posting the retro-review. That issue of FROM BEYOND THE UNKNOWN was one of the first comic books he had ever owned and he was writing to thank for the warm nostalgic moment my review had given him. So I sent him the comic book.
That was no big deal. I'd purchased the issue on eBay for the purpose of writing about it - Tax deduction! - and had no further use for it. It ain't as if Casa Isabella is lacking in boxes and boxes and more boxes of comic books. I was happy to send the issue to someone who would clearly get a kick out of having it again, and the letter I received in return made my day:
Thanks so much for sending me FROM BEYOND THE UNKNOWN #5; it really brings back memories. It's a lot of fun to see old stories that I read so long ago and completely forgot about over the past thirty years.
This book, with all the other Marvels and DCs of the late '60s and early '70s, was among the first comic books I read as a child and sparked a lifelong love/obsession with comic books and reading in general. My earliest and one of my fondest comic-book memories was INCREDIBLE HULK SPECIAL #1 with possibly the coolest cover of all time: the Hulk struggling between giant stone letters ("Hulk Battles the Inhumans!") trying to crush him, by Steranko no less. I read this book until it literally fell apart and my mom, in her mom wisdom, taped the cover back together with green cloth tape. Hey, the Hulk was green!
I long ago lost that original taped-together book and replaced it with a nicer, complete copy, but I will never forget reading and re-reading that book when I was five years old.
I guess I got a little off track. I just wanted to say thanks and let you know I appreciate you helping me relive a little bit of my youth.
Reading that letter and recalling how many similar letters on special comics moments I've read over the years, I wonder if there are comic books being published today that, in three decades' time, will generate the same kind of grand memories. If there are, I have a feeling that they aren't being published by DC or Marvel. I think it would be difficult - if not impossible - to get all warm and fuzzy over Sue Dibny's rape, murder, and mutilation, or Ant-Man blowing up real good, or Gwen Stacy having mercy sex with the Green Goblin, or any of the other shocking moments nee sales events that drive the Big Two to such a great extent.
Today's five-year-old readers will have to look elsewhere for tomorrow's fond memories. We're taking the classic super-heroes of comics away from them. We've forgotten how to write intelligently for all ages, limiting the audience to those satisfied by blood and circuses passing for creativity.
Maybe I'm a doddering old pessimist. Maybe thirty years from now a CBG columnist will be running a letter from a comics fan who read IDENTITY CRISIS or AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED until his mom had to hold them together with dark red tape.
But I don't think so. How about you?
******
The Checker Book Publishing Group is earning a good name for itself with collections of outstanding comics material ranging from the early works of Winsor McKay to THE X-FILES of the late 1990s. Emannual Civiello's A BIT OF MADNESS [$24.95] is their latest and perhaps most ambitious release, collecting an epic fantasy tale in a 200-page full color trade paperback.
Civiello is a renowned European comics artist whose work has been serialized in HEAVY METAL magazine. In A BIT OF MADNESS, he combines elements of Celtic legend and THE LORD OF THE RINGS for a world-changing battle between good and evil. The Tolkein elements will be screamingly familiar to all: a reluctant and unlikely hero charged with a great task and pitted against powers he can scarcely imagine much less overcome. But, though the elfen Igguk isn't as sympathetic as a Frodo Baggins, he is a protagonist with whom most of us can relate.
A BIT OF MADNESS falls into the category of comics I want to like so much more than I do. Civiello's painted art is beautiful and scary and wondrous, but it often fails in what should have been its primary function: telling the story.
The writing fails on multiple levels. The pacing of the story is erratic with key plot points unnecessarily withheld until they suddenly appear. Character relationships aren't always as clear as they need to be. There are sequences where additional copy would have aided reader comprehension and other sequences where so much information is given that you have to claw your way past the words to see the art. A BIT OF MADNESS is a story worth telling, but a stronger editorial hand at the birth of the project would've helped Civiello tell it better.
A BIT OF MADNESS delivers good value for its cover price. I read it from an advance galley and the reproduction of Civiello's work was outstanding there. But, alas, story always carries much more weight than presentation in my corner of CBG. On our scale of zero to five, A BIT OF MADNESS gets a respectable (but still a bit disappointing) three Tonys.
******
BETTY AND VERONICA SPECTACULAR #69 [Archie; $2.19] ushers in a new format and a new look for the long-running title. The cover is more magazine than comics style, the comics content in the title is reduced to a mere 17 pages, and there's a much greater emphasis on fashion and text features. None of the changes are inherently bad, though I wish they could have been implemented without losing so many story pages.
The new format really showcases Dan Parent's work and that's a good thing. His cover pops out on the newsstand and his fashion-oriented scripts let him give an open pin-up poster feel to many of the comics pages. Content-wise, I thought the first of his three tales was too thin, but he redeemed himself with the solid premises and funny punch lines of the other two stories.
The feature pages were a mixed bag. With so many fashion-type shots in the comics stories, I could have done without additional non-story fashion pages.
The "Are You a Betty or a Veronica?" quiz was a cute idea, but the limited choices also limited the fun one could have with it. My final score was midway on the "Betty" scale and, lately, I have been thinking CSI MIAMI's David Caruso would look much more dreamy if he had a waffle-scar on the side of his head.
The advice column continues to offer intelligent suggestions to Archie's young readers, but also shies away from darker concerns those readers might have. I don't expect the girls to dive deeply into serious topics like drugs and sex, but they could tastefully skirt such matters and direct readers to seek more information from their parents, teachers, and other responsible adults.
From time to time, Archie comics have included inspirational pages on young people accomplishing terrific things. I'd like to see more of those and I think they would be a good fit for the new direction of this title.
Not withstanding the room for improvement, BETTY AND VERONICA SPECTACULAR #69 is a cool comic book. It earns what I hope is an encouraging four Tonys.
******
Two years back, I reviewed my good friend Thom Zahler's RAIDER FROM THE SHADOWS [Maerkle Press; $14.95] and gave it three-and-a-half Tonys. Because Zahler is a pal, I have to trot out the little speech I've given here before:
I have been kicking around the comics industry for over three decades. I know a lot of comics professionals and I like most of them. It doesn't affect my reviews of their comics, but you should take for a given that I like more of them than I don't. However, when the creator is particularly close to me, as is the case with Zahler, I tell you that up front. It does not influence my review - a friend's bribe spends as well as a stranger's - but my personal critic's code of honor demands I tell you this.
Zahler's RAIDER: A COLD DAY IN HEAVEN [$13.95] is the second in the series and builds upon the promise shown in the first. Even if you haven't read the first still-available-at-fine-comics-shops-and-bookstores book, the introductory "what has gone before" piece in this one will bring you right up to speed.
Raider is a man of mystery fighting the global conspiracy that created him with the enhanced abilities and skills they gave him. He works with the top-secret Benefactor Agency, but he doesn't work for them. He is driven by his own demons and is often frightened by the darkness within him.
In "Rai," Zahler has created a hero who is extremely likeable despite the darkness of his world. That stands in blessed contrast to the lightless existence of the grim-and-gritty cut-ups found in too many other adventure hero comics. Unlike those guys - and I'm talking to you, Batman - I do care when things go horribly awry for Raider. I'm still reeling from the revelation of this book's final pages. Say it isn't so, Thom!
In COLD DAY, the deaths of four residents of a retirement home puts Raider and his allies on the track of the deadliest designer drug ever created. It also reunites him with a lost love and pits him against the man who trained him. The 125-page story is a great mix of edge-of-your-seat action and compelling human drama. Even the supporting players shine in this one.
Visually, Zahler's storytelling is first-rate throughout this book, each panel and page moving the reader along. His drawing is good, but not up to his storytelling. Right now he's a good artist and a better writer. If I might speculate, as an artist, Zahler is still waiting for that eye-opening epiphany that will make it all fall into place and super-charge his art.
When Zahler signed this book to me, he wrote he hoped it would earn him another half-Tony. No problem. I give RAIDER: A COLD DAY IN HEAVEN four Tonys.
******
Let us speak not of prideful comics publishers who squandered the great scribes and artists they had summoned to that weird land men call Florida. Let us, instead, celebrate that so many of those creative talents have found new venues from which to entertain us mightily. In other words, get your fanny down to the local comics shop before it sells out of SAMURAI: HEAVEN AND EARTH #1 and 2 [Dark Horse; $2.99 each] by Ron Marz and Luke Ross.
A word of caution before you proceed.
There are SPOILERS in the next paragraph.
I don't think they will come as a surprise to anyone who has ever seen movies or read adventure novels, but I wanted to warn you about them just the same.
Back to the review.
These first two issues cover some well-trod ground. Samurai Asukai Shiro is prepared to fight to the death to defend his master from a foe that outnumbers them. It doesn't work out like that for him. Much to his amazement, he survives the battle and learns that Lady Yoshiko, his lover, has not been killed by the murderous horde but has been taken as a plaything for Shiro's late master's enemy. Choosing to keep a vow to his lady over ritual suicide, Shiro heads off to do what a man's got to do. Once again, it doesn't work out as planned. The bad guy, tired of Lady Yoshiko's resistence to his charms, has sold her to a slave trader.
Next issue is where SAMURAI should really get going as Shiro begins his travels across Europe seeking the woman he loves. But that doesn't mean you should pass on the set-up for that adventure. Marz writes one heck of a story. He gets you into his characters quickly and keeps you interested in them. He moves the plot along swiftly, but the individual issues don't feel condensed or rushed. Each delivers a satisfying chunk of the overall story.
The art is breathtakingly beautiful. Ross draws evocative and exciting images throughout the issues, but never at the expense of the storytelling. Colorist Jason Keith brings a further sense of life and reality to the pages. These are some good-looking comic books, my friends.
With nods to editor Dave Land and letterer Dave Lanphear, two of the best in the business, SAMURAI: HEAVEN AND EARTH #1 and #2 get the full five Tonys. These issues are keepers.
******
Peter Carey's WRONG ABOUT JAPAN: A FATHER'S JOURNEY WITH HIS SON [Knopf; $17.95] will delight and fascinate any fan of anime and manga who wants to explore the culture behind these entertainments. When Carey's twelve-year-old son became obsessed with the Japanese cartoons and comics, the award-winning author found an interest in them as well. They watched and read them together and, ultimately, crossed an ocean to find a clash of cultures, not just between the West and Japan, but within Japan itself.
Charley wants to see the "real" Japan, the high tech world of his Japanese friend Takashi. His dad wants to experience more of the historical Japan. They both look forward to meeting those who create or are otherwise involved in anime and manga.
Very little fazes Charley, save for when he is bored by what doesn't interest him. He practices eating sushi in New York before their trip, determined to eat whatever exotic food is placed before him in Japan. He doesn't bat an eye at the transsexual otakus and other "costumed" folks they meet, though he does draw the line at using the communal baths.
Carey comes to Japan with notions of what various elements in anime and manga mean to their Japanese creators and viewers, only to be told frequently he is "wrong about Japan." However, on some occasions, it's clear he isn't wrong; his hosts merely express the ideas differently.
Carey creates an image of Japan as challenging and inviting, a land where both the ancient and the modern can be confusing to a visitor. Yet there is never a hint that this journey was anything other than exceptionally well worth taking.
If WRONG ABOUT JAPAN disappoints, it's only in that father and son did not spend more time in the country. It's a wonderful book and it earns the full five Tonys.
******
"Great Caesar's Ghost!" is but one of the comics interjections you'll find in ZOUNDS! A BROWSER'S DICTIONARY OF INTERJECTIONS by Mark Dunn with "cartoon commentary" by our pal Sergio Aragones [St. Martin's Griffin; $12.95]. You'll even learn Mark Twain was using it before Perry White.
Dunn contends interjections (ahem, howdy, pshaw, whoop-de-do and their fellows) may be the most overlooked part of speech in the English language. In this amusing book, he shares his light-hearted affection for interjections with us, taking a look at over five hundred of them. He discusses their history, their use, and how that use might have changed over time. While the volume's budget didn't allow for as many cartoons as Dunn would have liked, the Aragones art adds more fun to the proceedings.
ZOUNDS! is a great book for when you only have a few minutes to spare. Read it from cover to cover or skip merrily through its pages. Either way will put a smile on your face. I give it four Tonys, a loud Callooh! and a heartfelt Callay!
******
I'm taking a few days off, but I'll be back on Monday, June 20, as TOT switches to a Monday through Friday schedule for the summer. See you soon.
Tony Isabella
<< 06/14/2005 | 06/15/2005 | 06/21/2005 >>
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
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Medina, OH 44256
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