Comments for Comics Fondle

Comment on Special Forces 2 by vernon wiley

vernon wiley — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:05:09 +0000

I believe Baker has worked exclusively on a computer for his books for years now. It was fairly obvious in Plastic man, and by the fourth issue of the title, Special Forces seems to be trying some new techniques.

Comment on X-Men: Legacy 214 by vernon wiley

vernon wiley — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:21:02 +0000

I recently lambasted Dwayne McDuffie for his horrible run on JLA, especially since he did a great job over at Fantastic Four before switching to DC. Through Rich Johnson’s column, he talked in an interview about editorial pretty much negating any meaningful and interesting journeys he wanted to take with them. It seems he was told repeatedly his direction was either at odds with what the “planners” had for the “grand scheme”, or that the characters he wanted to use were also being used in different manners than he wanted. At what point I wonder is it fair to even critically analize writer’s work on “franchise” books just due alone to editorial interference. At what point should we “allow” them the essentially editorially driven plots that they are forced to participate in this years promotion? Perhaps it may only be fair to criticize them for B list books, as they are dictated direction and characters
on the A list material. I guess we should write our criticisms toward editorial in some instances and the writers themselves on others. Case in point the magnificent work by Jeff Parker on Mysterius at DC (no sales), versus the decent, yet hamstrung work on Agents of Atlas(decent sales)which follows the dictates of the “Dark Reign” scenario.

Comment on Unknown Soldier 6 by vernon wiley

vernon wiley — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:22:25 +0000

Glad to see you able to finish the arc. Really good debut, with a bit of change of focus in the second arc so far. There are so many decent comics these days, I am somewhat dishearted to see Unknown Soldier get as much oomph from DC and not Mysterius, which actually is a better crafted book, I feel. I also heard from a reliable source Mysterius is a Dr. Strange treatment Marrel rejected that got turned into Mysterius. Their loss is our gain, and the project has a much more enthusiastic aura it couldn’t of had being bogged down being Dr, Strange. I also heard Marvel was impressed enough with the treatment that they gave him Agents of Atlas to keep his foot in the door. What a great win win for us.

Jeff Parker’s Agents of Atlas, four issues in, is easily one of the best books Marvel puts out right now. Phonogram from Image has also shown two really strong, experimental issues despite it’s distinct indie publishing strategy (2 issues in four months), the original first series a TP.

Also, from the Dept of unbelievable news, Radical has actually published a comic I can push, Hotwire, by Warren Ellis & Steven Pugh. 2 of 4 issues in, and it’s great, fast paced, well fleshed out stuff. Plus, the other Radical artists can learn how to actually use a computer paint program that looks good, and can tell a story effectively. HooHah!

Comment on Battlefield: Dear Billy 3 by vernon wiley

vernon wiley — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:15:07 +0000

Ennis talents are certainly at their peak here, as what seems to be a story on the horrors of war becomes a centerpiece of genuine person whose scars from the war will not end in merely the defeat of the enemy. A true masterpiece of the comics form, and certainly not one to dismiss as a great ” war story,”

Comment on Locke & Key 6 by vernon wiley

vernon wiley — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:25:20 +0000

Yeah, the set up was my only real complaint about the series, as it forces you to go to the next one. So far I’ve been enjoying it, but hope Hill has a resolution in stock for the future. At $3.99, this story will cost a pretty penny once it’s over.
But the unorthidox handling of the characters and Rodriguez sharp art have kept up the momentum in the second part so far. Part 2, chapter one adds new characters, and works them quite well, but the plot only advances as far as the antagonists origins. Who knows, maybe it’s the newest cable TV show?

Comment on The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones 12 by vernon wiley

vernon wiley — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:26:00 +0000

wow, like Marion is STILL wasted….

Comment on The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones 8 by vernon wiley

vernon wiley — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 02:27:45 +0000

Seems strange calling something from Indiana Jones derivitive, as I thought it was pretty much all derived from adventure cliches. Maybe if you look at it with ten year old eyes again it’ll be more magcal.

Comment on The Invincible Iron Man 11 by vernon wiley

vernon wiley — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:55:37 +0000

no no no. You gotta read #8, 9 & 10 first!

And of course the Marvel Universe is dumb. It was ever thus.

Comment on The Amazing Spider-Man 569 by vernon wiley

vernon wiley — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:50:28 +0000

aww c’mon. You mean you’re not on the bandwagon where Peter gives up the one true love in his life (that he’s married to) for saving old Aunt May? Someone should have told him the natural order of things is to give up your mother for your wife. Romita Jr has really never moved me as an artist. He does great bombast just fine, but a lot of it just seems to get mailed in. Rote by rote, Romita’s comics pretty much look the same no matter which one you’re reading.
The total lack of line variance makes all his visuals look flat. It would look emaciated if not for the coloring. But maybe that’s the point.

Comment on Mister X 6 by vernon wiley

vernon wiley — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:20:07 +0000

In defense of Seth, as he was a wee lad when doing these pages and had not yet the structural skill to pull it off. Besides, who the hell wants to follow the Hernandez Bros.? All in context, maestro.