The Comics Column #7
The Long View
Well, well, well and
I was so looking forward to it and, boy, I was disappointed. No not ‘Man of Steel’-that
kicked ass but more about that later- but this week’s big debut issue from DC:
BATMAN/ SUPERMAN. Where do I start? The art’s amazing, Jae Lee knocks it out of
the park (a baseball analogy probably isn’t the best way to start a column for
us Brits but its done now, so let’s move on), it’s beautifully stylised and
design wise the panels are placed for best story telling potential.
The look of
Batman and Superman is almost manga-esque and this gives the whole comic a
different feel to anything else from the big
two (D.C. and Marvel), and that first page -WOW- you just want to frame
it and put it on the wall. But where the comic is let down is with the story
(SARCASM MODE-which I feel is an important part of the whole
package).
It’s not that the writing is bad per se it’s just that it feels like
it’s been done before as we are (re)introduced to the two main protagonists
(yes they actually introduce us to Superman and Batman, two of the most
recognisable fictional characters of all time!) and we are shown parts of their
origins on a splash page; although to be fair Superman’s has changed a little
since the DC Universe was rebooted two years ago and the scene is included to
show what the characters have in common.
The scene where Bruce and Clark meet
is well executed and the dialogue is spot on but it doesn’t stop the feeling
we’ve been here before. AND to make matters worse there’s an unscheduled change
where the last eleven pages of the comic are drawn by Ben Oliver, who can
handle himself artistically but just isn’t Jae Lee; this jolted me right out of
the story- what little there is- and spoilt the overall experience. However
having said all that if Jae Lee remains on the title as the only artist and the
story moves into more interesting territory I will probably be picking up the
second issue wholly based on the art, and my love for the two characters, as
this is a reinterpretation of them meeting for the first time and I want to see
how it is ultimately handled.
Another comic out
this week that solely works on the strength of its art is JUPITER’S LEGACY. A
New take on superhero kids living in the shadow of superhero parents, written
by the popular Mark Millar creator of Kick Ass (you may recall the film
adaptation in 2010). For my money Millar runs hot and cold and with his purposefully
controversial style of writing he really is Marmite.
However I fully enjoyed his
work on The Ultimates (which is pretty much the update of the Avengers that the
movie was based on) and Old Man Logan-a future set tale of Wolverine as a kind
of man with no name wanderer in a landscape where most of the Marvel superheroes
have been killed-but his ultra-violent Kick Ass 2 and Nemesis series were, for
my money, overkill (literally) and all style and no content. But with Jupiter’s
Legacy he has teamed with Frank Quitely whose art is so unique and like no
other artist working in comics, the series suddenly becomes a must buy.
Quitely’s art harks back to a more adventurous underground comix style which is
actually his artistic background- and has been described by some as beautifully
ugly; when you see his work this makes perfect sense. The story itself is not
wholly original (see: Watchmen, Squadron Supreme, Rising Stars where
superheroes are shoe horned into the ‘real world’ to see how they cope,
interact, react etc.) but with Quitely on art at least it’s going to be an
attractive, if bumpy (both Quitely and Millar are notorious for not being able
to stick to a schedule) ride.
Quick Looks
Greg Rucka’s LAZARUS
continues Image Comics’ amazing run of high quality titles: incl. The Manhattan
Projects, Saga, Fatale, East of West and Change i.e. some of the best comics of
the year. Lazarus tells the tale of Forever Carlyle as she is reborn, returning
from the dead, to protect her family’s estate in a dystopian future where
society is nothing but a financial battleground: a world where you must prove
you are useful or you become 'waste'. Greg Rucka is such a strong writer he
manages to set up a powerful and intriguing story in one issue without any
rush, and Michael Lark is the perfect artist to make all you read seem almost
believable.
UNCANNY, like
Lazarus, is another first issue that start a new world from scratch; unlike
Lazarus it’s a little more slow paced and stumbles where Lazarus is well paced.
However the concept is intriguing- the main protagonist can absorb the thoughts,
skills and talents of others (if a little unoriginal as that is basically what
Mystique from X- Men does). What is unique is how he uses his ability to be a
con artist, specifically gambling, and this gives the comic that much needed
twist. The writer- Andy Diggle- is backed by the impressive art of Aaron
Campbell who has an almost painted style and there’s enough set up in this
issue to make you want to buy the next.
And if kids want to
get in on the action give them SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES VOL. 1 as its FUN FUN
FUN and will make them a Superman fan for life and love you forever. And who
doesn’t want that?
Man of Steel came out
a few weeks ago to big box office but it really spilt critic and comics fans
alike. If you’ve seen it you’ll know why; there’s a certain scene near the end
that caused the most controversy and got tongues wagging. The movie presents a
more doubt filled, insecure Superman who’s really trying to find where he fits
in the world. He’s not super confident (pun intended) and over the film he
finds what it means to be a hero and, almost as importantly, to be human with
the aid of his earth parents- Martha and Jonathan- and Jor-El, his Kryptonian
father. Thematically ideas of destiny, legacy, family and trust push the story
along.
But what really made
the film for me was that the usual story beats of the Superman legend were
changed, tweaked and modernised so even the most rabid Superman fans don’t know
what’s coming next, and that’s exciting because, as I’ve repeatedly mentioned
in this column, I want to see new and fresh perspectives on old classics.
Like
Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, JJ Abrams’ Star Trek or Moffat’s Sherlock (and Guy
Ritchie’s and the American ‘Elementary’ with Jonny Lee Miller as well) this is
a reboot or restart of a well known character but unlike those adaptations,
Superman fans seem to have been more vocal about changes and I’m wondering if
it’s a combination of a nostalgic fondness for Christopher Reeve, as well as
Superman being a character people like to ‘know where they are with’ as there’s
something comfortable and reassuring about the character. But for me Man of
Steel worked superbly on so many levels really getting under the skin of a
super powered character and how it’s a curse as well as gift.
Finally he has a
villain worthy of him (Michael Shannon- one of the most intense actors of our
generation as Zod) and the more ‘silly’ aspects: the glasses hiding his identity,
Lois working with him every day but not knowing who he is, where he gets his
costume from, those red undies, are all dealt with in story, and in a mature
and 21st century way. The movie is filled with Jesus allusions - he
is ‘Christ in a cape’ more than ever before - and there’s a post 911 feel to the
finale; again something critics didn’t like and even though it’s debatable
whether it should be dealt with in a superhero movie I believe all kinds of
fiction - and any good art and literature -
should mirror back to us, in some way, our fears, dreams and beliefs so
we can scrutinise them and, maybe, understand them a little better. But as with anything it’s down to the
individual, so go see Man of Steel and decide for yourself.
Anyway that’s me done
for another week, so all I have to say is: ciao and happy reading.
The Comics Column is
written by Martin Shepley.
