Comics! Comics!
6 Nov 2013 22:48![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
patentdragonYay, it's comic delivery time again, and some pretty major events are either continuing or winding up, as I shall now report...
Sooooo.... what's the big news? Well, Marvel's big event, Infinity, is heading towards a conclusion next month, but... well, this is an odd set-up, with mega-baddie Thanos, at some point soon to be the next figurehead villain - no, let's be honest here: pivotal Big Bad - in the Cinematic Universe, kinda taking a back seat to a massive intergalactic war with the supposed creators of life in the universe, the "Builders", who've only just appeared out of nowhere at the start of the latest run of Avengers (spawned out of a need to up sales by publishing yet ANOTHER #1). The logic (if logic there is) behind this hasn't reached me, I'm afraid, especially after the spectacular mini-series Thanos Rising, which expanded greatly on the villain's past, and already they're setting up ANOTHER "event", as the Inhumans, mutated humans from the early days of the Fantastic Four, take up a far greater part in whatever's left after the dust of battle clears. Like many events, it seems that you'll have to weigh up the whole thing once it's published... but unfortunately, events like these are becoming too frequent to keep your attention for that long. Thankfully, Infinity is only six issues - with various tie-ins along the way in the various Avengers titles.
However, I find it a bit hard to take on board the idea that, under ANY circumstances, that Captain America would sanction an assassination, under a supposed flag of truce. Spectacular, yes, but grating... B-
Weighing in at only FIVE issues, and all of them in this month's parcel, is "Lights Out", the latest in an all-too-quick-fire series of Green Lantern events. The last survivor of the universe that existed before the current one is on an apparent mission to save all life from extinction at the unwitting hands of the various coloured Lantern Corps, who are draining the universe's vital energies every time they fire up a power ring, just as the "Lightsmiths" of the previous reality did before them. It's time to clear the decks of a lot of the stuff written into the Lanterns' world by previous star writer Geoff Johns - it's kind of a reboot, but will anyone make any lasting use of such an opportunity? I liked what Johns did, weaving a more cosmic mythos behind the Green Lanterns, and bringing about the emergence of The Emotional Spectrum, and the Lanterns representing each of those new powers, but whilst the conclusion of this storyline makes logical, and apparently final, use of some elements of that mythos, it has the feeling of, well, I already said it; clearing the decks to make way for someone else's vision, and that may probably never get the chance to get properly rooted, and that's a bit self-defeating. Just let things settle down for once, guys - there's a lot to be said for letting a story tell itself in its own time... B-
A classic case of such is the much-loved series Elfquest, which I adore, and which sees its first published material in quiter a few years. Part of the Final Quest Special first appeared as a weekly web release, before coming to an abrupt cliff-hanger end several months back, which is now brought to its conclusion in a story spanning several DECADES, and featuring new lives, deaths, and the creeping sensation that all really isn't well on The World Of Two-Moons. After the famine, this is quite a feast, and a far more satisfying read than much of the other material in this parcel (or what I've been able to read of it so far). A
Another example has been the latest run of Captain America, which has taken the character completely out of his "comfort zone", given him a "son" to look after in a harsh alien world, again over an extended period - a whole decade, this time. I was expecting not to enjoy this, and yes, it did take a while to truly grab my attention, but now that that story is over, and Cap's back in the "real" world, and having to face "reality"... well, you'll believe a hero can cry. The "Dimension Z" storyline was a brave thing to try, and now it's paying off in spades - and I hope new character Jet Black won't end up being fuel for a predictable turnaround, not when the character has so much going for her with a most extended storyline. B
Meanwhile, more little snippets are getting out about the Guardians Of The Galaxy movie, and there seems to be a concerted effort to talk up the whole project, whilst keeping as many of its secrets as possible. I am still firmly behind this movie, and I cannot see Marvel Studios dropping the ball after SEVEN movies and a TV series. It's going to work - trust me on this - and "I am Groot" will be the catchphrase of next summer.
Sooooo.... what's the big news? Well, Marvel's big event, Infinity, is heading towards a conclusion next month, but... well, this is an odd set-up, with mega-baddie Thanos, at some point soon to be the next figurehead villain - no, let's be honest here: pivotal Big Bad - in the Cinematic Universe, kinda taking a back seat to a massive intergalactic war with the supposed creators of life in the universe, the "Builders", who've only just appeared out of nowhere at the start of the latest run of Avengers (spawned out of a need to up sales by publishing yet ANOTHER #1). The logic (if logic there is) behind this hasn't reached me, I'm afraid, especially after the spectacular mini-series Thanos Rising, which expanded greatly on the villain's past, and already they're setting up ANOTHER "event", as the Inhumans, mutated humans from the early days of the Fantastic Four, take up a far greater part in whatever's left after the dust of battle clears. Like many events, it seems that you'll have to weigh up the whole thing once it's published... but unfortunately, events like these are becoming too frequent to keep your attention for that long. Thankfully, Infinity is only six issues - with various tie-ins along the way in the various Avengers titles.
However, I find it a bit hard to take on board the idea that, under ANY circumstances, that Captain America would sanction an assassination, under a supposed flag of truce. Spectacular, yes, but grating... B-
Weighing in at only FIVE issues, and all of them in this month's parcel, is "Lights Out", the latest in an all-too-quick-fire series of Green Lantern events. The last survivor of the universe that existed before the current one is on an apparent mission to save all life from extinction at the unwitting hands of the various coloured Lantern Corps, who are draining the universe's vital energies every time they fire up a power ring, just as the "Lightsmiths" of the previous reality did before them. It's time to clear the decks of a lot of the stuff written into the Lanterns' world by previous star writer Geoff Johns - it's kind of a reboot, but will anyone make any lasting use of such an opportunity? I liked what Johns did, weaving a more cosmic mythos behind the Green Lanterns, and bringing about the emergence of The Emotional Spectrum, and the Lanterns representing each of those new powers, but whilst the conclusion of this storyline makes logical, and apparently final, use of some elements of that mythos, it has the feeling of, well, I already said it; clearing the decks to make way for someone else's vision, and that may probably never get the chance to get properly rooted, and that's a bit self-defeating. Just let things settle down for once, guys - there's a lot to be said for letting a story tell itself in its own time... B-
A classic case of such is the much-loved series Elfquest, which I adore, and which sees its first published material in quiter a few years. Part of the Final Quest Special first appeared as a weekly web release, before coming to an abrupt cliff-hanger end several months back, which is now brought to its conclusion in a story spanning several DECADES, and featuring new lives, deaths, and the creeping sensation that all really isn't well on The World Of Two-Moons. After the famine, this is quite a feast, and a far more satisfying read than much of the other material in this parcel (or what I've been able to read of it so far). A
Another example has been the latest run of Captain America, which has taken the character completely out of his "comfort zone", given him a "son" to look after in a harsh alien world, again over an extended period - a whole decade, this time. I was expecting not to enjoy this, and yes, it did take a while to truly grab my attention, but now that that story is over, and Cap's back in the "real" world, and having to face "reality"... well, you'll believe a hero can cry. The "Dimension Z" storyline was a brave thing to try, and now it's paying off in spades - and I hope new character Jet Black won't end up being fuel for a predictable turnaround, not when the character has so much going for her with a most extended storyline. B
Meanwhile, more little snippets are getting out about the Guardians Of The Galaxy movie, and there seems to be a concerted effort to talk up the whole project, whilst keeping as many of its secrets as possible. I am still firmly behind this movie, and I cannot see Marvel Studios dropping the ball after SEVEN movies and a TV series. It's going to work - trust me on this - and "I am Groot" will be the catchphrase of next summer.
