Witchman Book 1
Created by Rachel Young
www.witchmancomic.com
There are comics out there that you may never see even if you are looking. Often behind those comics are artists and writers doing something that they love. These small independent books are more than just comics they are someone’s dreams becoming reality. Rachel Young is the creator of Witchman and she strikes me as one of those artists, a true dreamer.
Witchman is typically the kind of comic that I dismiss upon pure precedent. At first glance it is filled with all the stuff that I hate. There is the dark magical forest, and of course the elves, and a baby that needs to be protected, and so on. Of course the “first glance” approach is a terrible way to judge a book for review. I like to be a good comic book reviewer, so I read the book. Guess what I discovered? Witchman is not your run of the mill Tolkien rip-off. It is a funny tongue and cheek spin on the standard superhero comic with a little Dungeons and Dragons mixed in. For instance the main character has a traditional comic book secret identity, but instead of being a mutant his powers are magical. He of course has super villains to deal with, but they mythical monsters instead of mad scientists. In a recent interview with Hero Spy Rachel Young described the leading man this way “The title character is something of an unlikely hero, who didn’t exactly sign up for the job, but finds himself getting tangled up in a mission to destroy seven goblin creatures representing ancient evils. Meanwhile, he’s making friends with ghosts, demons and fairies. So it’s cool because it’s a genre crossover story that has a little something for everybody.”
Young’s artwork has a very animated quality. I noticed that her artwork progressively improves throughout the book, which means it goes from really good to really really good. She seemed to have a much better sense of the characters as she went. There is no doubt in my mind that book two will take Young’s style to the next level.
All and all I enjoyed Witchman. I laughed, I cried, the artwork was great, and I was delightfully entertained. I completely recommend this book. Witchman is good wholesome fun.
See the comic for yourself at Rachel Young’s website: www.witchmancomic.com
Siege #3
Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Oliver Coipel
So here we are at the second to the last issue of this climactic siege and I for one am having a great time. Before I started writing this review I perused the net to see what others are saying about this epic battle and I was surprised to see some really bad if not very disappointing reviews. Everyone has an opinion or an expectation I guess, but I for one am in it for the entertainment value. I love the artwork and the fantasy. I feel no need to over think the ramifications or critique the realism of my beloved Marvel universe (at least not today). I’m really beginning to dig seeing all my favorite heroes and villains beating the hell out of each other. I may be a little shallow when it comes to comics but this is not meant to be artsy. Siege is a Marvel event, which really equates to an opportunity to watch any and every super human in Marvel-land beat on each other and put right what once went wrong (Quantum Leap reference).
I’ve decided to shorten this review a bit since the writer and artist part would just end up being the same as my review of issue #2 (you can read that review here: Siege #2 Review). Instead we will just take a gander at the plot and then go right into the verdict.
Let’s break it down.
The Plot
In the halls of Asgard and on the streets of small town America the entire Universe is gripped in a the greatest battle ever seen: SIEGE!! Lives have been lost! Lines have been drawn! And the battle for Asgard is in full force. The moment for revelations and life-changing moves is here, and for some, this will be the last choice they ever make in this world. What happens next is so epic, so historic, that it changes the entire dynamic of the Marvel Universe. You’re gonna want to be there for this one…trust us.
The Verdict
This is an action packed battle filled with gods and supermen (superwomen) and a bunch of great villains. I thought it was a blast. My only complaint with this issue is the length. Siege #3 feels very short. Otherwise I loved it. I was thrilled to see the Juggernaut arrive and the Sentry is all kinds of cool. Issue number 4 will wrap this mini up. I for one am hoping to be satisfied but I’m concerned that the payoff may be weak. I loved 1-3 and I’m banking on Bendis to pull out all the stops for the grand finale.
Wolverine: Old Man Logan
Written by: Mark Millar
Art by: Steve McNiven
A friend of mine sent me this comic a while back and I of course put it in my pile and forgot it. Finally after some prodding and a good 6 months after the comics release I have finally read Old Man Logan. I have always been a fan of the “what if” type storyline and Old Man Logan is all about the “what if”. It’s taken me so long to get to this series that it has already been collected. The bright side is that you can read the complete series in one sitting and probably pick up the book for under $20.
So let’s break it down.
The Plot
Nobody knows what happened on the night the heroes fell. All we know is that they disappeared and evil triumphed and the bad guys have been calling the shots ever since. What happened to Wolverine is the biggest mystery of all. For 50 years, no one has heard hide nor hair from him…and in his place stands an old man called Logan. A man concerned only about his family. A man pushed to the brink by the HULK GANG. A man forced to help an old friend—the blind archer, HAWKEYE—to drive three thousand miles to secure his family’s safety. Get ready for the ride of your life, Logan.
The Writing
Logan was written by Mark Miller and let’s face it, he is a master. I have been following Mark ever since he started writing “The Ultimates” and he has proven to be fearless when it comes to re-imagining characters. I don’t think anyone would argue that his take on The Hulk is always brutally entertaining. With true Miller style the writing on Old Man Logan is realistic, imaginative, and thought provoking.
The Art
Well, what can I say about the art? Steve McNiven has a style that is just… cool. From Red Skull to Wolverine, Steve’s take on the most iconic characters is amazing. I hate to keep bringing up The Hulk but it has to be mentioned that McNiven’s Version of the green giant is terrifying. This guy has a brilliant eye and he knows what comic geeks want to see. I’d have to say that seeing the Red Skull wearing Captain America’s costume was unsettling. Steve McNiven’s work is brilliant and I am officially his number one fan.
The Verdict
Old Man Logan is gory, dark, disturbing and brutal, I loved it. I would recommend picking up the trade and adding it to your collection.
Publisher: Dynamite
Written by Kevin Smith
Art by Phil Hester (breakdowns) and Jonathan Lau
Five years ago Kevin Smith announced that he was writing and directing a big budget version of the Green Hornet. We were all very excited. Soon after that announcement Kevin chickened out and eventually the studio passed the property on to Seth Rogen (that part of the story is neither here nor there). This comic (if you haven’t already guessed) is Kevin’s movie more or less. I’ll admit that I’m happy that he decided to do this book. I kind of hope that he can do the same thing with his Superman movie script, which he bitched about for something like 10 years. The man needs to get this stuff out of his system and if I am entertained in the process than it’s a win-win.
So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.
The Plot
Not much going on in Issue #1. Green Hornet and Kato have been fighting crime for 5 years and the city is finally cleaned up. With their mission completed they decide to retire. Jump forward 10 years and we are introduced to the son of the Green Hornet who appears to be a lazy trust fund baby. What could possibly happen next?
The Writing
Kevin’s writing is fine but there just isn’t anything happening in this issue. I wasn’t real impressed.
The Art
Jonathan Lau’s artwork is good. There are moments in the book that really pop, and others that look amateur at best. Maybe my standards were set to high. I expected a lot from this comic since Kevin Smith plastered his name right into the title. I’m disappointed
The Verdict
Maybe issue #2 will be amazing, but I won’t know, because issue #1 is as far as I go. I have a stack of comics that I want to read and another stack that I need to review. For my money Kevin Smith’s Green Hornet #1 was a waste of time. Sorry Kevin, I really love the majority of your comics but this is never going to be one of them.
