It's been a busy week for me this past week as I have been working my hardest to make the time so that I could get around to completing my submission for Band of Bards Comics' upcoming anthology, From the Static.
Fortunately I was able to make that time and so I have now submitted my idea and all I have to do is wait.
However, by some miracle, I also managed to make enough time to get a fair bit of reading done this week as I not only attempted to get started on my birthday reading but also get through the last few pull list comics of 2021.
Now, I must admit that I've probably overdramatised what goes on in this story but, regardless of whether its concept is bigger or smaller than I've described, I found this to be a highly captivating read. Of course, I did find myself concerned that this wasn't the case to begin with as I struggled to connect with the first issue during my first readthrough. However, this was less the case during the my second readthrough (because I somehow managed to have an abundance of time to read it twice) as it was a much easier read, making a lot more sense to me, probably due to the notion that I had a better idea of what I was reading (I suspect the first time I had expected something very different than what I got.)
The rest of the issues in this trade I found to be a lot more engrossing (although, issue 3 was the weak link thanks to the change in perspective from Edison to some random character not seen until this issue ... unless I missed something), With the character of Hark coming off as a really intriguing character and very much a true noir hero in the sense that he's an anti-hero despite his apparent unlikability (as I recently discovered in an episode of the Netflix series 'Voir', characters can be engaging but unlikable). In fact, I lot of this really resonated with me thanks to its noir influence with every page, every panel, I read being done so with a noir type tune in my head (the way the old movies used to be). That said, while everything about it came across as classic noir, I couldn't but feel a sense of relatability in the story with present times, with the notion of Brexit feeling like a similar concept towards Europeans as the American immigration ban against the Chinese.
I guess some things never really change, we always need someone else to blame for our problems.
Anyway, much like the story, I really loved the art in this series. Alexandre Tefenkgi's style has so much European flair (which, of course, makes sense) and as I looked through the pages I really fell I love with his work. It made me think it was like Darwyn Cooke crossed with Cliff Chiang, although that may be too easy a comparison. Regardless though, it really sold me on the Noir vibe and really trippy in places, which worked well with the otherwise classical aesthetic that the art, as well as Lee Roughridge's colouring and Jeff Powell's lettering gave, the former of which really looked like no two pages were coloured the same way, adding to it this night time in the big city feel.
After the other week, I really didn't expect myself to be annoyed with a cliff hanger ending so soon but I guess I'm here again. I really enjoyed the Good Asian and now need volume 2 to see how it ends (and not just because I have my theories and want to see if I'm right.)
After that I went through a few one/two issue reads, starting with Dancing with the Dragon #1-2 by Rob MacKinnon and Luca Casalanguida. and published by Scout. This comic followed and Irish couple struggling to get by in San Francisco (again? What are the odds?) until chancing upon a dead money laundered sees the pair attempt to move in on his business. However, things go awry when they attempt to double cross the Triads all the while an FBI happens upon their trail.
Now, I've before been silly enough to judge a book by its cover and with this it is much the same, although in the opposite direction. When the cover for the second issue came across my computer screen, I found myself intrigued by both the title and the visual to think that this might worth my time. Unfortunately, after searching out the first issue and reading both it and the second issue, I have to admit that I just don't think that this is my thing. The thing is that there is nothing technically wrong with it, but I only found small niggles to these issues which I struggled with.
These included the main characters, both of whom really didn't connect with me in the same way as many beforehand (such as the Good Asian above, who took a arguably unlikable character and made him interesting), making me struggle to care about their journey as well as the pace feeling almost breakneck, as I zoom through the issues although this was less in an engrossed way and more like it just eager to get done.
On the other hand, I did think the art was solid, if unmemorable compared to some of the things I've recently been reading. Unfortunately, in the end, these two issues just didn't grab me in any way (which is a shame) and, as a result, I highly doubt I'll be back for the rest of the run.
Next up, fresh from my pull list, was Star Trek: The Mirror War - Data #1, a tie-in to the Tipton mini series which Celeste Bronfman, Roberta Ingranata, Valentina Pinto and Neil Uyetake tell a small one-and-done story between the cracks of the main event. This issue focused on the Enterprise's resident Android who, with a brief window in his schedule, confronts the newly returned Lt. Barclay as he struggles to re-acclimatise to the Mirror Universe. However, upon learning the truth behind Barclay's distance, the pair return to his home world in order to right a past wrong and get the Lt.'s mind back onto the mission at hand.
So far I have been a little quiet in regards to the main Mirror War story, feeling as if the plot is only slowly moving forward. With this Data one-shot, I certainly found myself much more invested and entertained as I got through it. I thought the issue was a nice way of looking into Barclay's history while also allowing us to see the differences between the mirror and Prime Data's.
What I enjoyed most about this issue, though, was the art. I really liked Roberta Ingranata's art style in this issue as it had this clean, almost porcelain-esque style which actually worked well for an issue about the man-made Data. In fact, this art and Pinto's colours on top of it really made me think that we are seeing everything through Data's eyes, with the clean perfection of it all being how the Lt. Commander perceives the world he is in. Overall, this issue gave me a lot to think about compared to the main story and, while I have hope that the Mirror War will be something great by the end, this Data one-shot was a good read while I wait for the rest.
Afterwards, I read Fantastic Four: Life Story #5, the penultimate instalment of Mark Russell, Sean Isaakze, Carlos Magno and Nolan Woodard's true time depiction of Marvel's first family which saw the day finally come where Galactus arrives. However, as the world submits itself to its upcoming fate, the Silver Surfer approaches Reed with an offer he may not be able to refuse as he and his family continue to find a way to stop the Destroyer of Worlds from devouring theirs.
Up until now I've found this series to be up and down a bit but generally OK. However, with this issue I thought it was a really enjoyable issue as the seeds which had been sown since the beginning came to fruition. What I like about this issue is just how emotional it was, from the lead up as the world prepared for the end, to the final Showdown and Reed's fateful decision. However, what really struck me that I didn't expect was Dr Doom's eleventh hour proposal that made me wonder why no one had ever considered such a plan before (as terrifying as it sounds).
As for the art ... well, there is little I can say about Sean Izaakse art which I haven't gushed about before. Once again, I absolutely loved the art in this issue, which just looks fantastic in my eyes. The look of some many of the characters, from Doom to Galactus, the Surfer and even the final shots of Reed are so gorgeous to me, helped by Carlos Magno's colours which I thought gave every this really movie-like sheen to it (if that makes sense).
All in all, this has got to have been the strongest issue of the series so far and has me looking forward to next month and to see how Russell ties everything off.
And finally for the week, I read Batman: The Imposter #3 by Mattson Tomlin, Andrea Sorrentino and Jordie Bellaire This issue finished the Black Label series which saw the Dark Knight find and defeat a vigilante killing criminals in his name all the while continuing to contend with the inquisitive cop on his trail and his former therapist blackmailing him into sessions on the couch in the hope to change his ways.
Much like it's prior two installments, I found myself really enjoying this issue as I read through it. In fact, it was really engrossing right up until the end when it felt like the story just couldn't stick the landing. The thing is though that, upon thinking it over for a little bit, I realised that maybe its underwhelming finish was more my problem than the story's. Mattson Tomlin's story is a rather engrossing single story, perfectly placed within the Black Label because it doesn't belong within continuity. However, I realised that this story could be the most realistic depiction of Batman I've ever read. It feels hopeless, and cynical and unable to make some giant sweeping change. These are all things which, for a guy who expects such things from his superheroes, maybe I wasn't expecting or ready for.
The artwork, meanwhile, gave me no such ambivulent emotions. I really love Andrea Sorrentino's art and have done ever since the New 52 Green Arrow introduced me to it. While this issue seemed to have a degree more of a horror slant than the previous issues, Sorrentino's work, coupled with Bellaire's colours I thought gave it this real gritty, very real look which actually works a lot better than I realised when I think about the realism the story is trying to set up. This issue was another good read, but I do wonder to myself if it is better or worse than my initial feelings. Therefore, I'm going to have to read all three combined when the new year is underway to get a definite opinion.
And that's another week done. Now with only one until Christmas and two until the new year, I'm going to have to see how much I can cram in before I begin afresh for 2022.
For next week though, in honour of his new show, the main read is going to have to be based on Boba Fett!
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