Review code format (ranked 1-5, blah to faboo): [writing / art / new reader? / non-comics reader?]
Planetary: Leaving the 20th Century (Vol. 3) (Wildstorm) [5/5/3/4] (collects #13-18)
w. Warren Ellis; a. John Cassaday
Ellis’ tale of cross-genre wonders and conspiracy continues. We learn therein more about John Snow, of his early training, about his early adventures with Planetary against the Four and the consequences that established his rediscovery at the beginning of the series. We get tales wrapped up in Australian myth, Chinese martial arts, lost African cities and the English Lords who are adopted by them, and of a Vernean attempt to reach the moon a century ago. As always, thrilling and intriguing and
just damned fine reads. Planetary is always a “bottom of the stack” (saving the best for last) for me.
Power Girl (DC) [3/3/4/1] (collects Showcase #97-99, Secret Origins #11, JSA #32, 39, JSA Classified #1-4)
w. various; a. various
Power Girl was originally the Earth 2 version of Supergirl, but DC’s desire to retain the character while getting rid of the whole Earth 2 thang meant that her origin’s been tweaked and changed so many times since that it’s not surprising they tell stories about her being confused at to what her powers and lineage are.
This volume gives some of the key tales in the PG canon — her original 70s solo stories in DC Showcase where she was a Kryptonian refugee; her 1987 stories where she abruptly became the grandchild of Atlantean sorcerer Arion, moved to the present to escape his evil brother; and the 2006 tales that very self-referentially incorporated all those suggestions and many more plausible ones … and eventually led to the final (?) truth in the Infinite Crisis series, making her once again the last survivor of Earth
2 from before the Crisis. Until another writer gets a burr up his butt about her.
One can’t talk about PG without noting that she’s consistently drawn with huge assets besides her muscles. That’s always been the case, though it’s not clear when it became a matter for humor and fan-boy panting. I will say that, bust size aside, I very much like the physical appearance of the character — her costume is basic, simple, yet dynamic, and she and her appearance is the (ultimate) basis for my CoH character Eliza Dee.
Powers: Psychotic (Vol. 9) (Icon) [5/3/3/3] (collects Vol. 2 #7-12)
w. Brian Bendis; a. Michael Oeming
This book continue to evolve. In a world where Powers (superheroes) are now outlawed, only supervillains use their abilities — except for heroes who defy the ban, or people who blur the line between hero and villain. In this volume we get someone who buys the powers of a retired hero; a cop whose capture and torture by a super-villain leads to some power suprises of its own; and a hero who not only crosses the line, but decides the line doesn’t really exist.
All through this, the emphasis (despite occasional gouts of gore) is not on the fisticuffs or the powers, but on the people and principles and emotions and what people talk about. It’s part of what’s made this series so long-lasting and so well-regarded.
Queen & Country Declassified: Vol. 3 – Sons and Daughters (Oni) [4/3/4/4] (collects #1-3)
w. Anthony Johnston; a. Christopher Mitten
Though Greg Rucka only serves as a consultant on the series, this tale, part of the background of Minder Nicholas Poole, focuses on “the Troubles,” the violence in Northern Ireland, and Poole’s time in the SAS. It’s occasionally as muddled a mess as the Northern Ireland situation itself, but the tale is still tense and exciting, as conflict across generations, political idealism, and duty surmounting orders leads to a spiffy climax.
Not as good as one of the normal Q&C tales, but solid entertainment nonetheless.
(listening to: Knox, Buddy, “Party Doll” from Best of the Boppin 50’s)
(listening to: Death In Vegas, “Song for Penny” from Lost In Space – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
(listening to: McKennitt, Loreena, “Come by the Hills” from Elemental)
(listening to: Baez, Joan, “No Expectations” from Joan Baez – The First 10 Years)
(listening to: Pet Shop Boys, “This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave” from Behavior)
(listening to: Isaak, Chris, “Forever Blue” from Forever Blue)
(listening to: Sting, “The wild wild sea” from The Soul Cages)