May 7th of 2016 was Free Comic Book Day! Yes, it was more than 20 days ago but between graduation and family vacation and dealing with necessary government stuff, it's been difficult to find time to go through all these comics. I went with my comic book club at the Claremont Colleges to A Shop Called Quest in Claremont early before noon. I was really pumped because I watched Captain America: Civil War the night before and really enjoyed it! I might put a review of that up after I watch it the second time.
Some background: I've read some graphic novels in the past which you can check on this list (link to be active soon), a lot in the past semester due to a class I took in college called Contemporary American Graphic Novels, but I didn't grow up reading comics. As such, my opinion on the following comics are informed by what I know of the characters and events from popular culture without any real experience.
I'm dividing this post into two parts. This got a lot more extensive than I thought it would but oh well! Here are the first half in the order by which I find them compelling/would want to read more:
I remember reading Archie comics when I was younger and they were pretty funny but the comic equivalent of watching one of those syndicated half-hour sitcoms where each episode is pretty standalone and the stakes are quite low. That was before I grew to become obsessed with prestige dramas...
This all-new series is written by Mark Waid (Eisner Award Winner!) and drawn by Fiona Staples (SAGA <3). It's a lot less cartoony and uses shading and less common colors than the old Archie comics, an example of which you can see below. At the same time, it does feel like a modern revival and not something unrecognizable.
These two stories feel the most independent/edgy of the lot. They're rated mature. The former is about this outlaw guy and bulletproof girl but the issue is told from the perspective of a third person, a girl (Morgan) who just happens to witness the girl's indestructible nature. Apparently a lot of publications rated it as one of the best of 2015 and the little that I've read (a mere 9 pages!!!) suggests it could be. I like how organic and real the conversation and actions are and Morgan's quick wit. Teenagers, sex, drugs and superpowers has to lead to something great right?
The other story is about this girl who's been brutally trained by her dad to be intellectually and physically elite. It looks like the omic's going to explore her past, her father and the psychological trauma dealt to her based on the flashbacks to various parts of her life. I look forward to this for what it might have to say about society and family upbringing. The art is very difficult to look at for its gore but it gives the action a very visceral feeling.
Gives you a taste of the backstory and character of the members of the Suicide Squad like Deadshot, El Diablo, Harley Quinn, Black Spider, Voltaic and King Shark. They are portrayed pretty distinctly with their own thoughts and backgrounds.
Thought they would match the characters in the movie more (SO MUCH promotion for it inside) but apparently this is from 2002 as part of the New 52, a revamp and relaunch of DC's comic series.
Captain America has to deal with an ISIS-like Hydra using guerilla tactics with the help of SHIELD and they are hamstrung by congressional inquiry and lack of funding.
I like seeing the Captain work as part of a team with Sam Wilson as another Captain America, "Falcon" (Joaquin) and Sharon Carter as their commander. It's got a Agents of SHIELD feel mixed with real-life politics. The problem is one that the Russo brothers, directors of the last two Cap. America movies, had with Captain America. He's too square and I get that feeling here where in this first issue, he's too sure of what the right thing to do is and doesn't seem complex. I hope that changes. Pretty terrible art, which looks outdated and plasticky.
WHAT. A. RIDICULOUS. PREMISE. A person who becomes a hero for fun (he tells the villian this) and according to the synopsis, "he just can't seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! He is the One-Punch Man!" The comic is irreverent (there's a schoolgirl who wears a sweater that says "SCHOOL CHILD") and self-referential but I worry that the humor of over the top villianry and the assurance that One-Punch Man will always win will die out after a while. Very curious of the direction the comic goes in the next few issues.
A very short cute story about Korra trying to learn to waterbend and defy her parents' expectations as a young girl.
It seems like everyone I know in college has seen either/both Avatar: The Last Airbender and Avatar: The Legend of Korra. I think the comics may be targeted at an even younger age than the animation series so... pass.
Three vignettes about two fighters each from the popular videogame franchise. It's more interesting than you might think of licensed material but this series still seems like it's just for the hardcore fans...
Some background: I've read some graphic novels in the past which you can check on this list (link to be active soon), a lot in the past semester due to a class I took in college called Contemporary American Graphic Novels, but I didn't grow up reading comics. As such, my opinion on the following comics are informed by what I know of the characters and events from popular culture without any real experience.
I'm dividing this post into two parts. This got a lot more extensive than I thought it would but oh well! Here are the first half in the order by which I find them compelling/would want to read more:
- Archie #1 (Archie Comics)
This all-new series is written by Mark Waid (Eisner Award Winner!) and drawn by Fiona Staples (SAGA <3). It's a lot less cartoony and uses shading and less common colors than the old Archie comics, an example of which you can see below. At the same time, it does feel like a modern revival and not something unrecognizable.
I didn't expect to like the story this much but a mystery in the first issue goes a long way to holding the suspense and having Archie break the fourth wall to talk to the reader makes the story a lot easier to connect to than the old Archies, which felt more fluffy and composed of stories that took place in another world. Can't wait to borrow the first volume on Hoopla next month!
- Civil War II Issue #0 and All-New All-Different Avengers #9 as flip-side (Marvel)
Inhumans (haven't read/seen anything with them) and the Earth Avengers team with a bunch of unfamiliar/non-MCU characters like She-Hulk, Ms. America, The Human Torch, Blue Marvel, Dazzler along with mainstays like War Machine and Black Panther to fight Thanos so that he can't get the Cosmic Cube.
Thanos looks immensely powerful considering the amount of firepower the Avengers are mustering to fight him and the stakes look really high as two characters may be mortally wounded so I'm fascinated. The interracial relationship between Ms. Marvel and War Machine is cool to see also :D
- We Can Never Go Home and Young Terrorists as flip-side (Black Mask)
The other story is about this girl who's been brutally trained by her dad to be intellectually and physically elite. It looks like the omic's going to explore her past, her father and the psychological trauma dealt to her based on the flashbacks to various parts of her life. I look forward to this for what it might have to say about society and family upbringing. The art is very difficult to look at for its gore but it gives the action a very visceral feeling.
- The Stuff of Legend (The 3rd World)
A New York Times bestseller! A dark version of Toy Story, as you might be able to tell from the cover. This book is kind of scary as it has a boogeyman (who you of course never see) kidnap a young boy and his toys have to band together to save him.
I really appreciate the art in this work. It's entirely black-and-white but the art goes beyond the panels and there's a very handworn, aged look to it. I don't think I could look at toys in the same way after.
It's obvious that a lot of care has been taken in crafting the story but it's so early on that I don't know where it's going to go (not somewhere predictable I hope).
The following comics definitely interest me less than the above few.
- Suicide Squad #1: Kicked in the Teeth (DC)
Thought they would match the characters in the movie more (SO MUCH promotion for it inside) but apparently this is from 2002 as part of the New 52, a revamp and relaunch of DC's comic series.
- Steve Rogers: Captain America #1 and The Amazing Spider-Man: Dead No More Event (Marvel) as flip-side
Captain America has to deal with an ISIS-like Hydra using guerilla tactics with the help of SHIELD and they are hamstrung by congressional inquiry and lack of funding.
I like seeing the Captain work as part of a team with Sam Wilson as another Captain America, "Falcon" (Joaquin) and Sharon Carter as their commander. It's got a Agents of SHIELD feel mixed with real-life politics. The problem is one that the Russo brothers, directors of the last two Cap. America movies, had with Captain America. He's too square and I get that feeling here where in this first issue, he's too sure of what the right thing to do is and doesn't seem complex. I hope that changes. Pretty terrible art, which looks outdated and plasticky.
SPOILER: According to news, Captain America is actually a Hydra agent?!
The Spider-Man story is intriguing because it features Spidey's enemies attempting to save their SOs - characters that are supposed to be dead. The main villain is this character with an Anubis mask and he has Gwen Stacy with him in a possible romantic relationship (she died in "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" and it looks like that's part of canon here"). Spidey is CEO of a major corporation and his new armor and gizmos. Definitely want to check this out when it releases.
The Spider-Man story is intriguing because it features Spidey's enemies attempting to save their SOs - characters that are supposed to be dead. The main villain is this character with an Anubis mask and he has Gwen Stacy with him in a possible romantic relationship (she died in "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" and it looks like that's part of canon here"). Spidey is CEO of a major corporation and his new armor and gizmos. Definitely want to check this out when it releases.
- One-Punch Man (Viz Media)
WHAT. A. RIDICULOUS. PREMISE. A person who becomes a hero for fun (he tells the villian this) and according to the synopsis, "he just can't seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! He is the One-Punch Man!" The comic is irreverent (there's a schoolgirl who wears a sweater that says "SCHOOL CHILD") and self-referential but I worry that the humor of over the top villianry and the assurance that One-Punch Man will always win will die out after a while. Very curious of the direction the comic goes in the next few issues.
- The Legend of Korra (Nickelodeon)
It seems like everyone I know in college has seen either/both Avatar: The Last Airbender and Avatar: The Legend of Korra. I think the comics may be targeted at an even younger age than the animation series so... pass.
- Street Fighter V (Udon)
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