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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 Thursday, January 17, 2008
My life is oft-times a thing of chaos, my desk and files more so. That's my only excuse for waiting a year to read STORM by Eric Jerome Dickey [Marvel; $19.99], pencilers David Yardin and Lan Medina, and inker Jay Leisten with Sean Parsons. This handsome hardcover edition collects the six issues of the Storm mini-series that preceded her marriage to the Black Panther and told of their first meeting as teenagers.
Dickey, a best-selling author best known for his novels about contemporary African-Americans, revealed no difficulty in adapting his wordsmithing to comic books. Storm is a smoothly-told tale of two heroes, a powerful coming-of-age story for Ororo and T'Challa that's filled with unforgettable moments.
As the story opens, Ororo is a thief in Cairo, several years after the deaths of her parents, an American photo-journalist a princess of Kenya, during the Suez Crisis. She has been raised by a "family" of thieves, has become quite expert in her craft, and is just beginning to master her mutant powers.
T'Challa, future king of Wakanda, is on walkabout, a journey across Africa to learn the things he cannot learn in his affluent, secluded, technologically superior home. When Ororo and her fellow thieves are attacked, it is T'Challa who saves them...if only for the moment.
A word of caution. The villains of this story are as brutal as they come. They are murderers, racists, and rapists. Nor are they the only threats to Ororo's safety. Though beloved of the man called Teacher, who treats her as a daughter, Ororo is belittled by her fellow thieves. Even as she and T'Challa come together, the conflicted Zenja, Teacher's actual daughter, place Ororo in grave jeopardy. The emotions and savagery in this story are shockingly raw and real.
In this, his comic-book debut, Dickey proves himself a capable practitioner of the form. The artists tell this tale with clarity and passion. Colorist Matt Milla enhances rather than overpowers the art, making Storm a graphic novel of breathtaking beauty and excitement. Perfectly accessible even to readers not familiar with the back stories of Ororo and T'Challa, Storm earns the full five out of five Tonys.
I recommend seeking out the hardcover edition of Storm; it's a book you'll cherish and a bargain at its original price of $19.99. But, if you can't find a hardcover edition, or if you're looking to save a few bucks, Marvel has just this month published a trade paperback edition at $14.99. Hardcover or softcover, this is a must-have, must-read comics classic.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with another mini-TOT. Look for the return of full-sized columns on Monday.
Tony Isabella
<< 01/16/2008 | 01/17/2008 | 01/18/2008 >>
Discuss this column with me at my Message Board. Also, read Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined.
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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.
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