Review: A Small Killing (Avatar)

A Small Killing
Written by Alan Moore
Art by Oscar Zarate
May 2003
Avatar Press

Avatar has provided a reprint of the original graphic novel "A Small Killing" by Alan Moore and Oscar Zarate, a distinctly different piece of work for Moore, who claims it to be his first non-superhero work. This is a story beautifully painted by Zarate about memory, searching for meaning, and inner conflict (amongst other things). The description makes it sound like a critique on capitalism and little else, but the tale is actually woven into a commentary on life in general during modern times and how to reconcile yourself within that.

The story itself is not a groundbreaking one, but has Moore's unique flair for human drama and insight into psychology. The story develops quickly and progresses throughout a very well polished theater of mixed up memories and flashbacks that is vaguely reminiscent of the movie "Memento," though far less contrived and more interesting.

Zarate's artistic contribution to the piece makes it majestic and something that is visually rich and unique by today's comic and graphic novel standards. The panels are all so interestingly styled and worked, that while the painting at moments is not the best, it is intriguing and complementary to the story. This relationship speaks to the amazing collaboration between the artist and author, explained in detail in the afterword consisting of a few interviews with Zarate and Moore by the publisher.

The resolution of the story is somewhat abrupt and not the most satisfying - in a movie the ending would be anticlimatic, something that luckily the graphic novel gets away with because of the richness of the majority of the book. While Moore never shoots for satisfying, this resolution lacks an element of closure that most of his works conduct beautifully. Having said that, the remainder of the book is a true graphic novel - the kind that Scott McCloud envisions as the literary graphic masterpiece. The dialogue is perfectly crafted, and the majority of the book is a monologue through caption which takes the reader on an adventure through the mind and daily life of the main character. Taking the best elements of Moore's works on "humanity" (typically superhumanity) this text molds what could be a cliche story into an enjoyable, interesting, and valuable graphic novel.

Overall Grades:
Art = A-
Coloring = A
Overall Writing = B+
Dialogue Writing = A-
Overall Rating = A-

Review: Excalibur 14 (Marvel)

Excalibur # 14
Written by Chris Claremont
Art by Aaron Lopresti
July 2005
Marvel

It took fourteen whole issues and here it is - the reason that people actually like Chris Claremont (people includes myself of course). This is the final issue of Excalibur, an odd situation in which it was not solicited for the last two months, yet the announcement only came last week that it was being axed for House of M. According to the letters page in the book, it will return in November with New Excalibur # 1 (being the fourth incarnation of Excalibur for the x-books) to deal with the House of M after-effects.

This book is called a "House of M" prelude - the Marvel Summer saga which if you have not yet heard about you are living under a rock (and I would like to join you there). For the last few issues of Excalibur, they decided to actually take part in continuity and show us what Magneto was up to with his daughter, the comatose and crazed Scarlet Witch after the events of Avengers Disassembled. This issue wraps all that up and sets the stage for House of M.

Last issue seemed to give a hasty wrap up to the sideline story (well it was a main story, but felt as useless as a sideline) on the other Genoshan characters. Now we get to the meaty part of continuity in which we explore Dr. Strange's arrival to Professor X and Magneto dealing with the fate of Scarlet Witch. The issue opens up in a warped reality of Professor X's mind, offering us answers to questions we didn't know we should have - such as his role in this, Magneto's onset of powers, some great exchange between Gaby Haller and Xavier, and a few more bits and pieces.

As typical Claremont, if you are not steeped in x-history you may lack something. You need to know about Magneto's origin, Professor X's origin, Gabrielle Haller, and more for this to really set in as being quality. Once you have those facts under your belt, the story sets up an intriguing psychodrama and really provides insight into what this House of M is all about. While Marvel is keeping most underwraps, it seems it has to do with Magneto and Scarlet Witch uniting to re-make the world in an ideal form. Here we get to see how and why the two would be intricately linked - and how their powers might play off each other (details and loopholes abound, but with a little suspension of disbelief it seems interesting for now).

Overall not the best X-title for non-diehard fans, and not the best final issue. This issue did give Claremont the chance to write a storyline that is not overly contrived and dialogue that is not painfully "Stan Lee" esque. So with above average art (as the series run has had) and a good story, this issue makes me interesting in these characters again, interested in what the House of M has to offer, and interested (but also wary) of the relaunch of Excalibur.

Overall Grades:
Art = B+
Coloring = B
Overall Writing = A-
Dialogue Writing = B
Overall Rating = B+

What I'm Reading This Week (5/25/05)

A Small Killing (Avatar)
Promethea Entire Series (DC / America's Best Comics)
Global Frequency TPB (DC / Wildstorm)
Transmetropolitan TPB 2 (DC / Vertigo)
Excalibur 14 (Marvel)
Otherworld 3 (DC / Vertigo)
Day Of Vengeance 2 (DC)
The OMAC Project 2 (DC)
Superman / Batman 8-13 (DC)
The Return Of Donna Troy 1 (DC)
Everwinds 2 (Awakening)
Karney 2 (IDW)
X-Men 170 (Marvel)
Outsiders 24 (DC)
Rogue 11 (Marvel)
X-23 6 (Marvel)
New X-Men: Hellions 1 (Marvel)
Runaways 4 (Marvel)

Review: Superheroes and Philosophy (Open Court)

Superheroes and Philosophy
Edited by Tom Morris and Matt Morris
2005
Non-fiction Book
Open Court

Part of the "Popular Culture and Philosophy" series of books (other titles include Buffy, Seinfeld, Simpsons, Lord of the Rings, and so on), this book should be either informative on super hero / comic book culture or even academically charged to provide new intellectual insight into these characters and universes. Sadly the book does neither.

Instead this anthology of essays provides poorly written (for the most part), terribly thought out (on all counts), contrived and useless essays by supposedly well educated people. I reviewed and revised that sentence numerous times and truly could not come up with a less offensive way to say it. This book should have been sharp, interesting, fun, and educational. Enough about what it should have been, let's review what it is.

The book is an attempt to relate super heroes and their worlds to philosophical theories in a very sociological manner. The book is broken into four parts: The Image of the Superhero, The Existential World of the Superhero, Superheroes and Moral Duty, and Identity and Superhero Metaphysics. Each section has between 3 and 6 essays on different characters across the major publishers (and only the major two, Marvel and DC) and how they relate to some larger philosophical issue. The authors are primarily PhD recipients or candidates in academia, though there are a handful of comic book writers and such included as well (and these tend to be the best).

The first section, the Image of the Superhero, reviews Superman and his very human social qualities, the idea of a superhero, memes and the Crimson Viper, and superhero revisionism. From the start, three of these four essays sounded like "woah" and they could really do a lot. Sadly the texts didn't cite much, if anything, fell flat on their faces in terms of readability, and really provided the comic book enthusiast with absolutely nothing to work with. Being a comic book enthusiast and having a sociology degree myself, I learned nothing and felt that no one would have, regardless of their background - these essays simply missed the point of the exercise.

The second part, The Existential World of the Superhero, explore religion and Daredevil, Power, Myths and X-Women, Oracle and morals, Batman and social networks, the Fantastic Four and family, and wisdom. This section proved yet again to have such potential, and no execution. With my own personal bias lying with Oracle / Barbara Gordon and the X-Women, I was very excited for these essays. Yet again I find that nothing is offered here - and even worse they are boring and not even worth getting through. The X-Women essay centers only on the characters from the first two films, a true injustice to such intriguing characters as Storm, Phoenix, and Mystique (though there are far better choices here as well). The Oracle article proves to be one of the better, as it actually explores some dialogue and storylines from the breadth available on the character - yet again contributes nothing to her world or the analysis of it.

The third section, Superheroes and Moral Duty, analyzes (or hopes to) the idea of goodness, the choice to do good, responsibility, morals, and theology. Here the essays take on a more abstract and theoretical series of subjects which proves to be an up-turn in the essay content, but again is freed from any serious insight or analysis.

The final section, Identity and Superhero Metaphysics, features the final three chapters on identity and the Hulk, time travel during DC Crisis, and masks and secret identities. Yet again, the most useful part of these essays is the short length, allowing for a quick (and sadly worthless) read.

Overall the book is an intriguing endeavor, one that warrants credit for simply coming to fruition. As a comic fan and social analyst, I find it shocking that such useless and poorly produced essays were chosen. It almost seems the project may have been rushed in the end and prevented the real meat from being included. The essays occasionally make you go "Hmmm" with intrigue, but sadly I find that Archie comics make me go "Hmmm" the same amount of times as these essays. This does provide some quick and "interesting for the sake of the topics" reading for a comic book fan. Sadly no one but a comic book fan could even read it, as it provides little citation and reference to actual storylines. Definitely a project worth revisiting, definitely not a book worth reading.

Overall Grades:
Overall Writing = C- (Essays ranged from B to D-)
Overall Rating = D+

What I'm Reading This Week (5/18/05)

Olympus TPB (DC / Humanoids)
Slowpoke Cafe Pompous (Alternative Comics)
Global Frequency TPB (DC / Wildstorm)
Teen Titans 24 (DC)
Uncanny X-Men 459 (Marvel)
New X-Men 14 (Marvel)
Cable Deadpool 15 (Marvel)
Manhunter 10 (DC)
Wolverine 28 (Marvel)

What I'm Reading This Week (5/11/05)

Top 10 TPB (DC / America's Best Comics)
Transmetropolitan TPB (DC / Veritgo)
Slowpoke: America Gone Bonkers (Alternative Comics)
Desolation Jones 1 (DC / Wildstorm)
X-Men: The End Book Two 3 (Marvel)
Gambit 10 (Marvel)
District X 13 (Marvel)
Excalibur 13 (Marvel)
Astonishing X-Men 10 (Marvel)
Green Lantern: Rebirth 6 (DC)
Chemistry 1 (Awakening Comics)
Outsiders 23 (DC)
Rann-Thanagar War 1 (DC)
Wonder Woman 216 (DC)

What I'm Reading This Week (5/05/05)

Kingdome Come TPB (DC)
Supergirl 75-80 (DC)
Villains United 1 (DC)
Concrete: Human Dilemma 5 (Dark Horse)
Excalibur 12 (Marvel)
Rogue 10 (Marvel)
New X-Men 13 (Marvel)

News: Promethea Absolute Edition Petition

Based on comments by JH Williams III, there is a discussion occurring about the treatment of Promethea in an Absolute Edition. Check it out for the details of what could be a part of it. Additionally creator Michael Moorcock has expressed support and over 150 fans from 5 countries have become involved in the short time it's been up!

Go sign the petition to support this project to the publisher.

http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/Absolute_Promethea/

Spread the word!