Jayson > Recent Status Updates

Notes:
(1) I still don't know what the point is of Nemesis' seemingly wanton murder and destruction, but situations here are definitely interesting and high-tension.
- I just wish Kitty, the undercover CIA agent, was the clear-cut protagonist. Then not knowing Nemesis' master plan makes sense.
- As it is, since we get no answers, seeing Nemesis' POV just muddies everything.

Notes:
(1) Two issues into this and there's still no real plot nor point to this series.
- It's even referenced in the story how nobody knows what the point is of all the chaos and destruction.
(2) There is a subplot about a female CIA agent going deep undercover to take Nemesis down from the inside.
- While interesting, it gets drowned out by all the over-the-top violence.

Notes:
(1) This issue is entirely setup.
- I mean, there isn't an inciting incident nor even a discernible plot.
- Just seemingly random chaos.
(2) The only notable thing about this issue is that Matteo Scalera totally changed up his art style.
- It had been very brushy, expressive and Disneyesque, whereas now it looks like a cross between R.M. Guéra and Werther Dell'Edera.

Notes:
(1) Joker goes on a Christmas murder spree and Robin's along for the ride... literally.
- Specifically, Robin rides shotgun... not literally.
(2) This was surprisingly violent for a mainstream title—not "Killing Joke" violent, but a lot of people die.
- Not that I'm awarding bonus points for being edgy, but more so because it's different, higher stakes and memorable.

Notes:
(1) I don't know what to make of this... it's not campy exactly, but it does have Silver Age sensibilities.
- It's sort of like a cross between "Batman: The Animated Series" and "Batman" 1966.
(2) The art's also odd. It looks kind of mixed-media, like digital color pencil or oil pastel.
- I'm usually into more painterly styles, but this just looks not-quite-finished.

Notes:
(1) The problem with reading issues out of order is that I'm already spoiled on twists, character fates, etc.
- On the other hand, it does pique my curiosity about how things happened—like, why is Batman so pissed off at Zatanna later on?
(2) Overall, a fun Penguin issue with nice cameos and pop culture parodies.
- We see this universe's Paris Hilton and Criss Angel.

Notes:
(1) So, we get a pretty dramatic style shift from the last issue, both in terms of story and art.
- The last issue was pure detective mystery, with very little supervillain elements. This is the exact opposite.
(2) As for art, Benitez seems to be doing his best McFarlane impression.
- Characters notwithstanding, if you told me this was early "Spawn," I'd believe you.

Notes:
(1) It might just be me, but I don't recall Paul Dini stories ever being so dense and convoluted.
- I guess he's really leaning into the "detective" aspect of "Detective Comics," but it's not a great fit for comics nor for Batman.
(2) Hey, Roxy Rocket's in this!
- She's Paul Dini's other notable, if far lesser-known, "Batman: The Animated Series" villainess creation.

Notes:
(1) The plot here is really dense and possibly too complex for a single issue.
- Though, this was the very start of Dini's "Detective Comics" run, so I'll cut him some slack.
(2) Williams III brings his usual Mucha-esque art style, but in two different forms.
- A very bare-bones coloring style for Bruce Wayne scenes.
- His usual painterly style for the Batman scenes.

Notes:
(1) A cat-themed collection
with sequel injection.
- Cat in the Hat-verse plots,
wherein junior versions
seek desperate reversions
and trouble's born of thoughts.
(2) Middle one's a Yertle spin,
so alike they could be twins.
- A conceited king as well.
- Just with tails instead of shells.
(3) So, overall, not really new,
as well, too little plot ensues.

Notes:
(1) Kind of like "Green Eggs and Ham,"
different ways-and-means are spammed.
- Though, herein, not offering food,
but standing still and being shooed.
- So, not exactly thrills achieved,
just different ways for one to leave.
- And none of it is even real,
a dreamed up hyperbolic deal.
(2) Art's weak too, it's real phoned-in.
- A kid's book, sure, but still it's thin.

Notes:
(1) Feels not-coherent (disparate parts),
like patchwork/quilted random art.
- Could be repurposed sketches/pieces.
- All solid/pleasing strange caprices.
(2) Lyrically, it's awful hazy.
- Rhyming nonsense words is lazy.
- It doesn't really have a point.
- Thematically feels out of joint.
(3) Though, story-wise, it doesn't jive,
the art is great and where it thrives.

Notes:
(1) Neither any plot nor real feeling,
so, while well done it hits a ceiling.
- I find its simpleness appealing.
- For kids, but still, there's not much meat:
the subject matter's just on feet.
(2) The rhyming's crisp and not absurd.
- No cheating using nonsense words.
- Less Seussical but still preferred,
as one who rhymes, it's more a feat:
intuitive and easy beat.

Notes:
(1) It feels dialed down, hardly weird nor exciting,
no eye-catching art nor exceptional writing.
- Really, making up words just to end on a rhyme
is awfully lazy, if no lyrical crime.
(2) With no proper story nor dazzling art,
it gets pretty dull, even lifeless in parts.
(3) As a childlike daydream, it's fueled by bizarre,
but weirdness is muted—low gas in this car.

Notes:
(1) Magazine stories, much wordier rhymes.
- Penned for adults, less for children this time.
- It's comic strip humor, a thinkier mood,
less silly and lively—it's all more subdued.
(2) Echoes of plots, be them future or past.
- Some outright recycled with players recast.
(3) The artwork's alright, not his signature look.
- A style more in line with his earlier books.

Notes:
(1) Not about luck, more on not feeling strife:
listing misfortunes, compared to your life.
- Mostly just jobs, yes, a work day is rough;
vis-à-vis kids, being young's luck enough.
- There's no luck examples at all in this story,
just relative hardships, no luckiness glory.
- Moral: when you grow old it really does suck,
and so unemployment is where you'll find luck.

Notes:
(1) A poem set to pictures: commencement address.
- On life's ups and downs (re: success and distress).
- No rose-tinted glasses nor too pessimistic,
a median tone more-or-less realistic.
(2) Illustrations aren't great, very simple and loose,
but I'll give it a pass as the last Dr. Seuss.
- Amorphous/abstract, as if fuzzy/unset,
symbolic of future encounters not met.

Notes:
(1) On constructing tall tales, reality-loose,
just kept very simple—the earliest Seuss.
- Illustrations in profile, real 2D routine,
if quite cinematic (done long in widescreen).
(2) A Pre-War aesthetic, from pictures to words.
- Restrained, while it's silly, it's never absurd.
(3) And a good moral too, on not being bad:
while imagining's fine, you don't lie to dad.

Notes:
(1) Unfinished story—it is what it is,
found in a box, neither flavor nor fizz.
- Proto "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish."
- Hardly well done—a really rare (bleu) dish.
(2) Not more than an outline and awfully plain.
- Pets imagined and real—did not pick a lane.
(3) The ending's okay, but for kiddies not nice.
- "What Pet Should I Get?" Non-reveal won't suffice.

Notes:
(1) We have here a story on cleaning a stain
that comes off but transfers, so effort's in vain.
- That's all that it is, a repetitive plot,
not twisty nor wacky—creative it's not.
(2) The most notable things here are Mini-Me Cats,
twenty-six (for each letter), kept each in a hat.
- Matryoshka doll logic, these cats in their hats,
a visual gag overdone and falls flat.

Notes:
(1) All seemingly silly, but really thought through,
a rhyme book of substance, no randomness stew.
- Far more than mere nonsense (haphazardly strewn),
it much more resembles political toons.
- All clever and pithy, if ludicrous fare.
- Not simply a'rhyming up sawdust and air.
(2) As well, illustrations are prime Dr. Seuss.
- All expertly rendered, not lazy or loose.

Notes:
(1) It all feels very Aesop, old animal fables,
wherein pride is a sin and delusions disabled.
- Very Icarus too, too close to the sun,
forgetting mortality: fallen/undone.
(2) There's also a theme of the weakest of souls
inducing collapse of imperious goals.
- Whether the cleverest worm making foolishness sting,
or the lowest of turtles who can humble a king.

Notes:
(1) Quite un-Dr. Seuss, all visually loose.
- Its scribbly artwork just doesn't have juice.
(2) Writing for kiddies is no good excuse,
it's still very lazy and narrative-hazy.
- Erratic and random, and never gets crazy.
(3) "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut"? Awful ironic.
- "Read with eyes open" is the whole moral/tonic.
- I hate to be scathing, but the title's moronic.

Notes:
(1) Another one not made for me,
a preschool pre-word echo spree.
- See an animal, read the sound,
then ask the kid to do a round.
- It's ipso facto not profound.
(2) All interactive stuff, I guess,
but nothing for me nonetheless.
- At best, I find the concept mid.
- But, once again, I'm not a kid.
- But, maybe if I have a child,
I'll find the concept more than mild.

Notes:
(1) Entirely concept, not stories but hooks.
- All intros and heating, but none of them cook.
(2) The bookended ones have endings, at least,
but ending the tales all-famine-no-feast.
- Jokes minus punchlines, momentum is ceased.
(3) Good morals to tell, but once again, merely,
just hinted, not shown nor hammered out clearly.
- Not satisfying nor played out sincerely.

Notes:
(1) A lot like before in "If I Ran the Zoo,"
this goes on too long—'round a factor of two.
- Concept's quite decent, but real repetitious:
roll call of bird names all silly/fictitious.
- That's fine if a twist or a turn is thrown in,
but doesn't switch gears and gets watered down thin.
(2) Still, above average creature array.
- I'd read it again, just not right away.

Notes:
(1) It's nothing I would read again, but then I'm not a child.
- Just all alliteration rhymes, alright if fairly mild.
(2) Pictures here are pretty good, well done if unexciting.
- Alphabet examples shown are mixed with nonsense writing.
(3) Good fun, I guess, for younger kids: all silliness, no plot.
- Bit twisty—though not frequently—might tie your tongue in knots.

Notes:
(1) Real absurd, but hardly grand,
it's simple stuff to understand.
- A plain request dressed-up, you see,
to the most ridiculous degree.
(2) And catchy verses, like a song
with chorus bits to say along.
- Indelible, it's impact-strong,
you memorize it as you go,
(3) The moral: try new things and grow.
- Appearances are only show.
- All said and done, you never know.

Notes:
(1) All very unique, well, comparably so
(re: most Dr. Seuss books) in artwork and flow.
- A lyrical downer, like Shelly or Poe.
(2) Also a '70s-style and feel
Bakshi-like anti-industrial deal.
- Pretty politically conscious as well,
a "do your part" fight against capitalist hell.
(3) Well done overall, if too on-the-nose.
- An activist handbook with mission imposed.

Notes:
(1) More than just whimsy, it's all really clever,
each page is a quirky and witty endeavor.
- Not so much plot as a loose theming, yet,
filled to the brim with amusing vignettes.
(2) The artwork, as well, is more deft and detailed,
at least on the Seuss book comparison scale.
(3) Less so for kiddies, more wordy and dense.
- Surreal but not silly, more logical sense.