Todd Klein's Blog, page 241

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN 33

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

The Durlans need one more thing to recreate themselves as the most powerful beings in the known universe: a massive supply of pure energy. The planet Zezzen has it, and that energy is alive; living beings of pure energy but little in the way of defense against the Durlans. The Corps, led by Hal Jordan, is making a stand, building a wall of green energy and willpower. Will it hold? That’s what the issue is about. Nicely done, lots of interesting character moments and plot twists to make it more than just a battle. Both the writing and art are quite good.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: ASTRO CITY 13

Image © Juke Box Productions.

First, isn’t that a great cover? The backdrop is in the style of Peter Max, and the foreground figures sure look like they’ve been cut out and dropped onto it, though it may just be Alex Ross painting wizardry.

This may be the most ambitious issue of ASTRO CITY to date, at least plot-wise. It follows several threads that, of course, intersect at times, and is further complicated by tagging each page of the story with a time-stamp, then mixing them all up so the reading order is not chronological order. This made me want to shake writer Kurt Busiek at times, as I had to keep flipping pages to see how certain events connected, and I suspect I actually read each page at least twice. But in the end it all made sense…I think. The mixed time order is something of a distraction, but the story is strong enough to overcome it.

And it’s a story of ordinary people, as so often in this book, but also a mythic god or spirit, The Dancing Master, apparently brought forth as an unexpected side effect of a scientific project. The character does indeed dance through the issue, in a variety of interesting styles, including that of Peter Max. We also have a super-hero vs. super-villain fight, a robot on Io, one of Jupiter’s moons, an attractive bank teller, some overworked scientists… in short, it’s a well-crafted juggling act. The interior art by Brent Anderson is also excellent, and allows him to show off a variety of styles, including some I wouldn’t expect from Brent. I bet that was fun for him. The emotional content is fragmented by the storytelling, so the impact of that is less than some recent issues, but in all, well done.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: THE ROYALS 5

Image © Rob Williams & Simon Coleby.

Just when I thought this miniseries couldn’t get any more depressing, or the characters any more reprehensible, the King of England takes center stage. His younger son Henry is still trying to fight the good fight but ineffectively, his older son Arthur continues to be cruel, horrible and worthless, at least until he finds out what has happened to their sister Rose, but it’s the father who proves the worst of the lot by far. If your idea of tragedy is looking closely at destructive behavior, you may enjoy this series. I don’t, but having come this far, I’ll read the final issue when I get to it.

Not recommended.

First Sand Castle of 2014

Ellen’s family is visiting for a long weekend, and yesterday on the beach we did a group-effort castle. Here are several views. this one feature’s Dave Greene’s design with S.H. for Stone Harbor, where we go to the beach.

This side features bridges by Zach Greene and some decorations by me on the hillside. I also did most of the castle towers at the top.

This side shows more decorations by me as well as some by Anne Greene.

A closer view of the main gate with “Stone Harbor” in stones and shells by Ellen Klein over the doorway (hard to read in this light).

Flanking the main door are dripped Gargoyles by Anne.

Here’s the castle-making crew, also giving a sense of scale. Took us several hours, but they were hours when it was cloudy and raining lightly, so a good way to pass the time. Once the sun came out, we all went swimming.

As the tide came in, the castle first became surrounded by water…

…and then began to succumb to the waves. We didn’t have time to watch the entire castle fall, but such is the way of this ephemeral art.

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN CORPS 32

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

The focus of the force against them has sharpened for the Corps, and it’s now clear that the Durlans are the real threat. They’re a sly, tricky lot, and when your enemy are shape-shifters, the hardest task is to identify them. Luckily, the Corps has one Durlan among them who shows the way, in a clever move that had me thinking the concept of power ring has certainly changed. Now it has a database that can be updated! Who knew? The Durlans are after the super-abilities of the people of Daxam, who under a yellow sun are as powerful as Superman, though not under their own red sun. Can the Corps stop them? That’s what it’s about here.

I’m continuing to enjoy the “Uprising” crossover storyline, it’s full of good ideas, making clever use of existing alien races and peoples from LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES and elsewhere, and while not lacking action, is written with heart and intelligence by Van Jensen (here). The art by Bernard Chang and Moritat is excellent.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: DETECTIVE COMICS 32

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

The best thing about this book and this issue is Batman really being a detective. The second best thing is watching him interact with another one, Gotham City Police Detective Harvey Bullock. Both men are following clues and making intelligent decisions based on those clues. Then there’s the gang/drugs angle which doesn’t interest me as much, but it leads this time to an entertaining set piece in the former Gotham Aquarium between Batman and a very large sea creature. There’s also a nice scene with the daughter of the woman who has just been murdered on Bruce Wayne’s doorstep, poignant and moving. The art is terrific, atmospheric, colorful, moody, perfect. Oh, and there’s a brief glimpse into Harvey Bullock’s personal life that I loved, too. After a start I wasn’t quite sure about, Manapul and Buccellato have made this a must-read.

Recommended.

San Diego Comicon — not this year!

Above is an image that’s making the rounds on Facebook, not sure who put it together, but I found it amusing. I’m breaking a 21-year streak by not going this year. My reasons? Ellen and I wanted to save some moneyafter our spending slightly exceeded our income last year, never a good thing, and San Diego seemed a reasonable place to save a few thousand dollars. Also, we had other things going on in July before and after that are easier to manage if I don’t go. I’ll miss it, I love going, and am starting to get withdrawal symptoms already.

I’d heard lots of great things about the San Diego Con from friends in the business, but what finally got me out there in 1993 was my first Eisner Award nomination, and I was really happy to be there to accept it from Will himself! I loved the con, the city, and the company of many comics pros I’d worked with over the years but rarely got to see in person. It was all good. I had no problem signing up again and again.

1994 was the only year I arranged for and received a table in Artist’s Alley. I learned it was not as much fun sitting behind a table all day rather than walking around talking to friends, shopping, going to panels, and enjoying myself. Lesson learned. The only other time I’ve had a table was in 2008.

That year I was an official guest of the con. I couldn’t believe it when they asked me, I was beside myself with delight! Ellen and I went out with all expenses paid. We had con volunteers helping us with everything, I had a spotlight panel where I was also given an Inkpot Award, and I was on cloud nine the whole time. I don’t think any other San Diego experience could top it.

What I’ll miss most are the friends I’ve made in the business over the last 37 years who I might have seen there, like Kevin O’Neill. He’ll be at the con for the first time since 2003, when I took the picture above. There are dozens more. You know who you are if you’re reading this.

Meanwhile, I’ll be checking Facebook and the comics sites for the latest hot news, but it won’t be the same as being there. Maybe next year I’ll be back…

 

And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS 32

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

Last issue was mostly about Kyle Rayner, this one is mostly about the Guardians and Star Sapphire, as they investigate the apparent abduction by force of their Guardian brother. Anything that can take a Guardian by force, even these relatively inexperienced ones, has to be powerful. And to put a name to it, one only has to look at the cover above, Psions. The Psions were created by Marv Wolfman decades ago, and I used them a bit in my issues of THE OMEGA MEN, so I’m interested to see what writer Justin Jordan does with them. This issue is just a prelude to that. When Carol Ferris and the Guardians find and enter the gigantic Psion ship that’s holding their brother, you just know things aren’t going to go smoothly. The art by Brad Walker and Andrew Hennessy is quite good, and I particularly liked the coloring by Wil Quintana this time, great use of glow and lighting effects.

Recommended.

And Then I Read: HAWKMOON: THE SWORD OF DAWN by Michael Moorcock

Image © Michael Moorcock.

This third of four books about the warrior Hawkmoon’s struggles with the empire of Granbretan is very much a segment of the larger story. It begins with a synopsis of what happened in the first two volumes, and ends with an unsatisfying “to be continued” non-ending. That aside, it was entertaining, though not as good as the first book of the quartet, “The Jewel in the Skull.” It remains to be seen how satisfying the final book will be when I read it.

Hawkmoon, Count Brass, and the entire city of Kamarg have escaped the domination of the evil Granbretan empire by slipping into an alternate version of their Earth which seems to have no human inhabitants. It’s quiet and rather boring to the warriors of Kamarg, and even to the regular folks there. When a new person shows up on the border of the city, Hawkmoon is quick to investigate, and soon a troubling alternate method of reaching them is revealed. Hawkmoon and his friend Huillam D’Averc decide they must return their own world to investigate, try to find the sorcerer who has pierced their hiding place, and retrieve his devices and knowledge. The process is made easier by the fact that nearly everyone in Granbretan’s capital city of Londra wear ornamental masks covering their entire heads, a handy plot device. The quest and pursuit of Hawkmoon and D’Averc of the sorcerer, and themselves by their arch-enemy Meliadus of Granbretan, make up the first half of this volume. The second half dumps them in a distant land they know nothing about where they must contend with desert predators, river monsters, and pirates before reaching a special sword that can help them on a larger quest engineered by a mysterious figure who keeps popping up in the series, the Warrior in Jet and Gold.

The story and characters are appealing, the action and adventure keep things moving, but overall this entire book feels like the middle section of a long movie, and had me wishing for some resolution that won’t arrive until the final book, “The Runestaff,” apparently.

Mildly recommended.

And Then I Read: AQUAMAN 32

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

As a kid I was not a regular reader of AQUAMAN. I saw him mostly in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, or occasional backup stories. That may be one reason why I’ve enjoyed this new version, which restarts the characters and continuity. Mera seems much more interesting in the new series than she ever was to me before, and the undersea kingdom of Atlantis and related fiefdoms, with their cliques and infighting, feels fresh.

What would comics do without scientists out of control? Here, one creates a new threat which is sort of an anti-Aquaman, with many of Arthur Curry’s powers and enough hate to fill an ocean. Meanwhile, Mera is confronting the terrorists who are trying to kill her in their own deep corner of the sea. They think she’s stepped into their trap. She has, but they won’t like it. Nice writing by Jeff Parker, fine art by Pelletier and Parsons.

Recommended.