1st issue Challenge

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:23 pm

27 #1 (Image) - I'm probably judging this one a bit harshly because it was nothing like I was expecting it to be. The adverts were talking about musicians who had all died at 27; Hendrix, Joplin, etc. I was expecting there to be some reference to this phenomenon in this issue, but nope. What we did get was a bit off-kilter, I'm going to give it another issue or 2 to 'click' with me.

Valhalla Cindermane (Enemy Transmission) - The art in this indy comic I picked up off the rack at the LCS is above average, but the story was very confusing. There were scenes of the eponymous Valhalla kicking @$$ & taking names intercut with scenes of another hero (called Perilous) and I couldn't really understand how they related to one another. The scene transitions were kind of jarring. I'd have liked this a lot better if they'd have just told the Valhalla story uninterrupted and done Perilous as a backup, since they seemed unrelated. I suppose it's possible that there was a printer error that mixed up the pages.....

Frank Castle · Post by **Frank Castle** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 12:59 pm

BobBretall wrote:27 #1 (Image) - I'm probably judging this one a bit harshly because it was nothing like I was expecting it to be. The adverts were talking about musicians who had all died at 27; Hendrix, Joplin, etc. I was expecting there to be some reference to this phenomenon in this issue, but nope. What we did get was a bit off-kilter, I'm going to give it another issue or 2 to 'click' with me.

I'm with Bob, though I won't be back for #2. There just wasn't enough there for me. I guess not all the #1 issues from Image can be winners.

spid · Post by **spid** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 9:48 am

Heroes For Hire #1 (Marvel) The general stuff was covered in a show. This is almost a blueprint of how you do a concept that has been done before, but put a unique spin on it that makes it fresh and new. Great writing and great art.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 11:27 am

Kull The Hate Witch #1 (Dark Horse) - I'm glad I get all the Robert E Howard comics from Dark Horse. This is a nice first issue with a big introduction to the latest villian, a witch, of course. I'm looking forward to what happens next. Nice "cartoony" style artwork and it really works.

Vampirella #1 (Dynamite) - This one is not for me. I really couldn't get past the artwork. It just wasn't to my tastes. I'm okay with a reimagining of Vampirella but this wasn’t it. It doesn't help that I'm sour to vampire stories right now unless it's a 4 or a 5, out of 5. Awesome covers but they reflect nothing of what's inside.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:37 pm

IanG wrote: Vampirella #1 (Dynamite) - This one is not for me. I really couldn't get past the artwork. It just wasn't to my tastes. I'm okay with a reimaging of Vampirella but this wasn’t it. It doesn't help that I'm sour to vampire stories right now unless it's a 4 or a 5, out of 5. Awesome covers but they reflect nothing of what's inside.

I question putting Vampirella in "normal" clothes. Seems to move away from the core of the "cheesecake" nature of the character. AND they always have her in the revealing costume on the cover (on MULTIPLE covers) but not dressed like that inside.

HassanT · Post by **HassanT** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:36 pm

BobBretall wrote:27 #1 (Image) - I'm probably judging this one a bit harshly because it was nothing like I was expecting it to be. The adverts were talking about musicians who had all died at 27; Hendrix, Joplin, etc. I was expecting there to be some reference to this phenomenon in this issue, but nope. What we did get was a bit off-kilter, I'm going to give it another issue or 2 to 'click' with me.
.

It seems to me based on your review and others that this was one of those books where the "hype" was better than the book itself.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:46 am

BobBretall wrote:
IanG wrote: Vampirella #1 (Dynamite) - This one is not for me. I really couldn't get past the artwork. It just wasn't to my tastes. I'm okay with a reimaging of Vampirella but this wasn’t it. It doesn't help that I'm sour to vampire stories right now unless it's a 4 or a 5, out of 5. Awesome covers but they reflect nothing of what's inside.
I question putting Vampirella in "normal" clothes. Seems to move away from the core of the "cheesecake" nature of the character. AND they always have her in the revealing costume on the cover (on MULTIPLE covers) but not dressed like that inside.

For me, it wasn't so much that the new costume wasn't as revealing but it wasn't very interesting to look at. She now just has on a big black trenchcoat. I feel like they could've had a costume that was more practical but still calling back to the original somehow. Mainly the story was [WebWiz12]

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 10:02 am

Conan The Road of Kings #1 (Dark Horse) - This is really issue 76 in a series from Dark Horse. It has a new creative team in writer Roy Thomas and pencilier Mike Hawthorne. While this is a okay first issue for a new creative time I'm not thinking it's a big improvement. The art is good but I'm not sure it's the best fit for Conan. That's the biggest difference here. I like that it's inked (by John Lucas), which we haven't seen in a long while, but it's a little blocky. This is one of my favorite characters so I'm willing to give it more of a chance. I'd give it a 3 out of 5, with hopes that the art will grow on me and the writing improves. Luckily, we've still got the old creative team coming up in King Conan: The Scarlet Citadel.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 12:08 pm

IanG wrote: For me, it wasn't so much that the new costume wasn't as revealing but it wasn't very interesting to look at. She now just has on a big black trenchcoat. I feel like they could've had a costume that was more practical but still calling back to the original somehow. Mainly the story was [WebWiz12]

My main point here is that they continue to show the original costume on 3+ variant covers for every issue, and then do not have that costume in the issue. They should have the cover match the interior (at least in broad strokes of showing the right costume, whatever that may be).

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 12:11 pm

IanG wrote: I'd give it a 3 out of 5, with hopes that the art will grow on me and the writing improves. Luckily, we've still got the old creative team coming up in King Conan: The Scarlet Citadel.

This is kind of interesting in that Roy Thomas is the "original" Conan writer for comics (and most prolific). I haven't gotten the issue yet, but I'm guessing Roy is writing the way Roy writes and is not likely to learn something new about writing to improve it over the next few issues.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 12:54 pm

BobBretall wrote:
IanG wrote: I'd give it a 3 out of 5, with hopes that the art will grow on me and the writing improves. Luckily, we've still got the old creative team coming up in King Conan: The Scarlet Citadel.
This is kind of interesting in that Roy Thomas is the "original" Conan writer for comics (and most prolific). I haven't gotten the issue yet, but I'm guessing Roy is writing the way Roy writes and is not likely to learn something new about writing to improve it over the next few issues.

I know Thomas is the original as I'm a fan of Conan. I generally enjoy his writing but this paticular start to a story was clunky. Also, give me something I haven't seen in just about every other story about pirates. I'll probably stick with it no matter what because Conan's my favorite. Let me know what you think after you read it Bob.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:20 pm

IanG wrote:
BobBretall wrote:
IanG wrote: I'd give it a 3 out of 5, with hopes that the art will grow on me and the writing improves. Luckily, we've still got the old creative team coming up in King Conan: The Scarlet Citadel.
This is kind of interesting in that Roy Thomas is the "original" Conan writer for comics (and most prolific). I haven't gotten the issue yet, but I'm guessing Roy is writing the way Roy writes and is not likely to learn something new about writing to improve it over the next few issues.
I know Thomas is the original as I'm a fan of Conan. I generally enjoy his writing but this particular start to a story was clunky. Also, give me something I haven't seen in just about every other story about pirates. I'll probably stick with it no matter what because Conan's my favorite. Let me know what you think after you read it Bob.

The art was a bit blocky, as you pointed out (though not so much on the intro panel of Olivia) but I enjoyed the story. Nothing groundbreaking, but a nice serviceable setup to get Conan & his traveling companions onto the Road of Kings.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 7:11 pm

Doc Macabre #1 (IDW) - This was totally NOT what I was expecting and at the same time TOTALLY wonderful. Great new character! The Bernie Wrightson art was spot-on for the "creepy" parts, but I'm not used to him drawing scenes of normal people interacting, that may take some getting used to if there are too many of those. I really like this guy, kind of a cross between Braniac-5 & Mister Monster. Nice creation by Steve Niles.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:46 am

Magus #1 (12 Gauge) - Where were you when the magic came back? Reading Magus #1! Great opening to a series. Nice art, cool story, more on next Weekly spotlight.

Next Men #1 (IDW) - If you like John Byrne's recent work (I do) you should like this. Nice follow-on from the classic series, with enough recap (told in the context of the story) to catch you back up if it's been 10 years or so since you last read Next Men or bring you up to speed if you never have before.

Wolverine: The Best There Is #1 (Marvel) - The best there is at telling an incoherent story, maybe. Even Juan Jose Ryp art could not salvage this one for me.

Northern Guard #1 (Moonstone) - I was really skeptical based on the track record of other Moonstone books I've read, but I really enjoyed this one. Set in a future when an event has wiped out the conductive/reactive properties in metals except in a path between eastern Russia & Long Island, NY. No more electricity or tech, except in a very limited area, most of which is in Canada. Oh, and there are super-heroes. Check it out!

HassanT · Post by **HassanT** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:12 pm

BobBretall wrote:Magus #1 (12 Gauge) - Where were you when the magic came back? Reading Magus #1! Great opening to a series. Nice art, cool story, more on next Weekly spotlight.

Next Men #1 (IDW) - If you like John Byrne's recent work (I do) you should like this. Nice follow-on from the classic series, with enough recap (told in the context of the story) to catch you back up if it's been 10 years or so since you last read Next Men or bring you up to speed if you never have before.

Wolverine: The Best There Is #1 (Marvel) - The best there is at telling an incoherent story, maybe. Even Juan Jose Ryp art could not salvage this one for me.

Northern Guard #1 (Moonstone) - I was really skeptical based on the track record of other Moonstone books I've read, but I really enjoyed this one. Set in a future when an event has wiped out the conductive/reactive properties in metals except in a path between eastern Russia & Long Island, NY. No more electricity or tech, except in a very limited area, most of which is in Canada. Oh, and there are super-heroes. Check it out!

Bob,

I read the first issues of both Magus and Next Men and loved them both. Both first issues gives the reader enough to get hooked. Good examples on how to write a first issue.

I purchased Wolverine: The Best There Is #1, but haven't read it yet. I didn't pre-order the other issues. This book has pretty much been universally pan. I have read some of Charlie Huston's novels and they are pretty good. Unfortunately, being a good novelist doesn't mean you are a good comic book writer.