Todd Klein's Blog, page 177

And Then I Read: THE FLASH #8

Image © DC Comics.

Things I like about this issue: Kid Flash is back. Not the one I remember, but close enough. Barry gets to work things out with his former partner August, now the powerful Godspeed, at least for the moment. The large group of extra speedsters are no more.

Things I don’t like: The Speed Force is becoming unpredictable and more like magic than science. Case in point: a new uniform for Kid Flash suddenly appears out of nowhere, seemingly created by it. This title was better when Flash’s powers had more credibility and predictability.

The story by Joshua Williamson is generally fine. The art by Carmine DiGiandomenico is full of action, but in the quieter moments the characters are looking more like fashion advertising art than comics art at times.

Mildly recommended.

And Then I Read: HAL JORDAN & THE GL CORPS 8

Image © DC Comics.

Hal Jordan is missing and once again presumed dead, along with Sinestro, after their epic battle last issue, though Hal’s ring seems to be searching for him, or for someone…

The rest of the diminished Corps is on their headquarters, the planet Mogo, and joined by small group of Yellow Lanterns, led by Sinestro’s daughter Sora, who explains that they led a rebellion, freeing prisoners, including Guy Gardner, before the destruction of Sinestro’s home base by Hal. Much remains to repair and rebuild on Mogo, but before they get far, word arrives that the planet Xudar is under attack. John Stewart leads the Corps in a response, and what they find there is both familiar and alarming.

Though I’m sure the title character will be back soon, I enjoyed this issue by Robert Venditti and Ethan Van Sciver. Recommended.

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERNS 7

Image © DC Comics.

A story that focuses on character and family rather than lots of fighting makes this issue an enjoyable read for me. Jessica is struggling with her anxiety and fear of talking to strangers, and she’s at Simon’s sister’s house and trying to help him make dessert. Simon is worried about how his mother will take the news about his new career as a Green Lantern. He hasn’t told her yet, but she’s on the way over, and Jessica encourages him to reveal all to her. Meanwhile, a Guardian of the Galaxy is up in the attic doing some kind of strange meditation while Simon’s young cousin tries to get his attention. Things will get back to fighting soon, but as always, these kinds of stories are a nice change of pace. Well written by Sam Humphries, nice art by Ronan Cliquet.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: WONDER WOMAN #10

Image © DC Comics.

Writer Greg Rucka continues to alternate issues, telling two stories. The even numbers are a “year one” retelling of Wonder Woman’s beginnings in America, and it’s the story I’m enjoying the most. The art by Nicola Scott is excellent, and the lettering effects by Jodi Wynne successfully carry some subtle ideas about how Diana’s language is different from ours, and the imperfect ability of her translator, Barbara Ann, to speak it.

Steve Trevor and Etta Candy round out the trio of handlers and helpers working to bring Diana to the realities of man’s world, and to help with that they propose a field trip into downtown San Diego from the Naval Base on Coronado Island where Diana is being held. This leads to a delightful set piece in the Horton Plaza mall where Wonder Woman first gets to see some children close up, among other things, reminding us that there were no children in her home, Themyscira. Then things turn violent with the attack of a terrorist group.

While the present-day storyline has its moments, this one really works for me. Recommended.

Pulled From My Files #47: KAINE LOGO

Images © Marvel.

Some time probably in 1995 I was asked by Marvel editor Eric Fein to submit logo design sketches for their character Kaine, who first appeared in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #119 dated Dec. 1994. I’m guessing they were planning to feature him in a mini-series, but none appeared at that time. Later the character appeared under the names Tarantula and Scarlet Spider, eventually gaining his own series by that name in 2012. These sketches are drawn by hand in pencil and inked with markers, so it’s unlikely I would have done them any later than 1995, as after that I began moving to doing logo sketches on my first Apple computer (even if first drawn by hand). From the variety of these three designs, I doubt I was given a particular direction to go in, they just wanted ideas. I have a note on the margin of this page next to version 1 (not shown) that says “A” and “stone,” so I think they wanted the A to be more standard than version 1, and wanted to try some new ideas made of stone. (Not sure why, based on the character’s powers and m.o., but that’s what they asked for.)

Here’s what I came up with for that request. Version 4 is rather ugly and not very stonelike. Version 5 is along the lines of a familiar Hulk logo, so not terribly original. That’s all I did as far as I know, I don’t have a finished logo in my files. Possibly the idea was nixed before I got that far.

 

And Then I Read: I SHALL WEAR MIDNIGHT by Terry Pratchett

This is the fourth book about Tiffany Aching, a resident witch in the chalk hill country of what appears to be England, but is actually part of the author’s made-up place Discworld. It’s a very old rural England part of Discworld, anyway, and Tiffany, despite her young age, has worked hard to make a place for herself and her magic in the district she grew up in. Helping her are a band of tiny but very powerful creatures, the Nac Mac Feegles, who consider Tiffany to be under their protection, whether she likes it or not, and sometimes she doesn’t.

Being a witch in this time and place is very hard work, combining elements of herbalist, doctor, midwife, undertaker, psychiatrist, elder caretaker, magic advisor, and many other things. She has special powers over fire, and a broomstick to fly on, as well as other magic, but hardly has a chance to enjoy it. As we meet Tiffany in this book, she is running herself ragged trying to handle all the problems brought to her, and bigger threats are waiting off-stage to pounce. As problems mount, it seems like everyone is against the girl except her family and the Feegles, even those who had been good friends. Advice is gained in a trip to the big city, but more trouble emerges there as well.

The first half of this book is what I call a “piling-on” plot, where new difficulties keep being added onto the shoulders of the protagonist until it seems she’ll never overcome them. Not my favorite kind of story. Fortunately, in the second half Tiffany begins to find new friends and allies that can help her, and Tiffany’s own cleverness begins to win out over steep odds, leading to a very satisfying resolution.

I’ve enjoyed all the Tiffany Aching books, and there’s one more to go, completed not long before Pratchett’s death, I think. And lots of other Discworld books I haven’t read yet. I’m looking forward to more. Recommended.

Incoming: FORBIDDEN BRIDES OF THE…well, just read it.

Image © Neil Gaiman and Shane Oakley.

This was lots of fun to letter. I’d worked with Shane once before, on ALBION, but I thought this project was a better fit for him, personally. Neil wrote a funny send-up of over-the-top gothic horror that is, at the same time, a clever turning of such stories upside down AND a modern tale of bleak mundanity. Should be available now.

And Then I Read: DOCTOR FATE 17

Image © DC Comics.

The penultimate issue of this series is the first of two parts written by Paul Levitz with art by Brendan McCarthy. While participating reluctantly in a protest march against racism, Khalid begins to see strange threads from all the people around him leading into the sky. As Fate, he follows them to a mystical cauldron and an insect-like being, Clothorus, who seems to have the life threads of all living beings in her control. Khalid manages to escape her, but finds himself in more strange places.

I’m sorry to see this series going away soon, I’ve enjoyed it. This issue has cool psychedelic visuals by McCarthy, and the story is okay, a mystical quest, though I’d hoped for more resolution for previous storylines and characters.

Mildly recommended.

And Then I Read: CAVE CARSON 2

Image © DC Comics.

Though the approach is scattershot, a story is emerging with this issue that I find intriguing. It begins with what seems a past incident where Carson receives the Cybernetic Eye of the title, then jumps ahead to Carson now, after hours at the high tech company that owns the current version of his mole car. In a confrontation with the company head, revelations abound, as does Cave’s anger. Meanwhile, his daughter Chloe is being kidnapped by company thugs, and Cave steals the mole car to rescue her. Somehow Wild Dog is involved, and joins Cave in the rescue. As expected, things get weirder at the end. (And I’m still not reading the Super Powers backup, sorry.) I like the non-linear writing and characters by Way and Rivera, and definitely want to know more. The art by Michael Avon Oeming is at times too simple for my taste, but is saved by nice design sense and storytelling.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: KNIGHTS OF THE SQUARE TABLE 3 by Teri Kanefield

I’ve greatly enjoyed this trilogy, read with the Kindle app on my phone, about a group of six very smart teenagers who met and bonded through a high school chess team in San Francisco. In the first book they are traveling back from a chess competition in Europe when their plane has to make an emergency crash landing on a small, barren island near Iceland. The book’s first half is a survival story in which the kids end up leading efforts to keep everyone alive and healthy until they are rescued. Back in San Francisco, the news is all about the threat of nuclear war from a dictator in a country meant to resemble North Korea. The group decides they want to try to do something about that, and they hack into the country’s communications system and convince the dictator to back down.

The second book has the kids involved in another well-meant hacking event trying to take money from banks they feel was gained illegally and redistributed to those in need. This time they are found out, and are forced to flee. Their friend, the pilot of the crashed jet from book one, helps them return to the barren island, where they set up camp again, and through the internet, begin to work once more on creating a more peaceful world. Through clever plans and negotiations with international groups, and with the help of media fans, they are actually able to make some progress with this.

In the third book, their camp on the remote island gets invaded by the press, creating problems, and their peace negotiations hit roadblocks. The parents of the children are also unhappy with their role and situation, and some come to break up the club. Meanwhile, a world-famous pop singer is helping them, and fundraising events on the internet are bringing some of their goals closer to reality, but can they actually succeed when so many have failed, even with millions of fans and many new friends?

This is a fun and smart series. Each of the kids is a well-rounded and unique person, and their interactions are as important as the larger plot line. The stories are never predictable, and the books are well-written. Any smart teenager would probably enjoy them. I’m not one of those, but I did too.

Recommended.