Been a little bit, but here are some reviews of What I’m Reading …
- Powers: Roleplay TPB (Image) [3/3/*]
This TPB collects issues 8-11 of the book, the “Somebody’s Killing Kids Dressed Up As Capes” arc. Brilliant stuff, and, as everyone else notes, Bendis does great dialog. Oeming’s art is wildly cartoony, but when I think about anyone else doing it — it just seems wrong. Triffic stuff, absolutely triffic. - Hellblazer #170 (Vertigo) [3/2/3]
A greasy charred body in an LA bondage club. Everyone identifies it as John Constantine. Sh’yeah, right. Azzarello and Frustin are doing a fine job on this title, taking an unlikeable character and making him the hero. - Nightcrawler #3/4 (MarvPG) [2/1/1]
Kurt contniues to explore despair and the seamy side of New York, while battling verbally with his embittered priest. Intriguing enough not to suck. - Titans #37 (DC) [1/2/1]
I’m really trying to figure out why anyone would buy this, unless, like me, they were stuck with their pull list for another month. Uninteresting characters in dull situations only becoming moreso. - Captain America: Dead Men Running #1/3 (MarvPG) [2/1/1]
Because what America needs is a story of corrupt US soldiers. Yup. Though the impression that Cap makes on them is kind of interesting. - Powers #17 (Image) [3/3/3]
The scandel of FG-3 continues. Oeming seems to be working on a finer ink line — I’ll withold comment for a while. Good stuff. - Bone #46 (CB) [2/3/3]
A moderately humorous interlude until things can get seriously rolling toward the story’s climax. Not at the top of Jeff Smith’s game — but that’s like critiquing a lesser Hemmingway. - The Dark Knight Strikes Again #2/3 (DC) [2/3/3]
I’m waiting for this series to gel. Lots of interesting bits, but it’s scattered, shotgunlike in concept and art. I’m thinking this might all read more coherently at the end — but I’m worried. - BPRD: Hollow Earth #1/3 (DH) [3/3/3]
Hell Boy post-Hell Boy, focusing on the other remaining members of the BPRD, and the problems of that agency. Still fun, still intriguing, still entertaining. - Captain Marvel #28 (MarvPG) [2/2/2]
The “Time Flies” series continues — and if David’s Spider-Man 2099 was this good in the original, I’m sorry I wasn’t reading it. - Punisher #8 (MarvPG+) [2/2/2]
Ron Zimmerman and Mike Lilly demonstrate why not just everyone can handle the Grand Guignol which is the Punisher. - JSA #32 (DC) [2/2/2]
Peter Snejbjerg’s art plays better here than in Starman, and Goyer and Johns are doing a decent job of writing — as Johnny Thunder returns, with some rather dire consquences. Plus, Power Girl, in her underwear. Life is good.
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wa’du’ya mean, Constantine’s unlikable?
I’ve got to get down to the shop and pick up my box. My comic supplier loves/hates me… I don’t get down there but 4 times a year, but when I do, I drop serious money…
If I ever get organized, I may post my thoughts on what I’m reading… I like reading yours, even if my nose scrunches at half your titles… you’d probably have the same reaction to mine…
If John Constantine were my friend, I’d move. And not leave a forwarding address. And keep a shotgun by the door, just in case. And still probably meet a horrible, gruesome end. That “good” (or at least John) would be served by my death would be of little consolation.
I admire Constantine, the living magic embodiment of chutzpah. But he’s not a very nice man. He only looks like a hero in contrast to those he’s screwing over.
…
As to the rest … not to worry about what others like or dislike of what you collect. As Mark Twain put it, “It is not best that we should all think alike; it is difference of opinion that make horse races.”
And he should NOT be played by Mr. Cage.
Sorry.
[I still think the “Fear Machine” arc has a little too much to do with my current Amber game…]
Hmmm. Must be me then. For a long time there, I kept finding and getting emotionaly involved with Constantine’s many and myriad shadows.
There would be something to be said for meeting the reality, taking the blow, and moving on (or passing on, … I understand the costs involved… I do…)
He can’t be played by anyone who doesn’t speak the lingo. What’s the point if he hasn’t got the accent… bah. Boring.
Oh, he’s an emotionally involving character — that’s one reason why he has so many friends (and such a big guilt wrapped up in his tum).
It would be interesting to share a drink with him. Or maybe not — collateral damage occurs around him a lot, and even when it doesn’t, he has a disturbing talent for pointing out things to individuals he doesn’t take a shine to which I suspect probably seriously disrupt their lives. I’m not sure I’d want to take that chance, or give him the opportunity to pass judgment on me, my decisions, my beliefs.
Still, a drink might be interesting. Followed by a quick exit before the evening’s action start …
While Constantine “should” be played by a Brit, I’m not sure it’s drop-dead necessary. A lot depends on how they portray his character — trickster god, sonofabitch, flawed hero, rat bastard, the essense of humanity standing between heaven and hell … lots of choices (just as have been made over the course of the series by different writers). I hope they make a good one.
Really hard to do ‘all of the above’ – which is how I see him, always…
Movies on characters like that are tough… they should stick with Harry Potter… and the X-men… characters that only barely make it out to the third dimension…
(I love Harry – he is what he is – he just ain’t particularly deep. that’s okay)
I will be happy if it is a decent (well, “enjoyable” might be a better term) movie, “as inspired by,” rather than pinning my hope on “Wow, that’s just how I always pictured John Constantine.”
yeah, ya bloddy well can’t be callin’ anything with John init ‘decent.’
…got any silk cuts…?