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Post by Admin on Aug 5, 2007 9:01:13 GMT -5
Please let us know what you think!
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Post by David on Aug 7, 2007 14:31:32 GMT -5
What an atmospheric and interesting new series! Not only is it executed with a florid, pulpy style, but it honestly evokes the period with a great sense of detail and solid grasp of history.
I thrilled at the first scene. I'm a big fan of Andrew Bennet, and thought that the writer expertly captured the key elements of tragedy and nobility that define that character. And I wonder is this the historical John Dee of occultic legend or somehow the Dr. Destiny of the DCU...? Or are they one and the same?
The Speed Saunders stuff is straight out of a Indiana Jones movie (or a Robert E. Howard pulp), and probably my favorite part. I love the exotic locale and the little details like the balmacaan coat and the Trilby hat! And did you create the Ineffable Libram, or is that some obscure esoteric text? Seems tailor-made with it's danger trail connotations!
And with all this, there was still some great action! The Enemy Ace is quickly growing on me (the fight at the bookseller's had me on the edge of my seat, and his answer to the secret to life kinda makes sense), and if this series doesn't rehabilitate King Faraday's reputation at the DC2, I don't know what will!
This story was masterfully paced, beautifully staged and I am hooked! Can't wait to find out the secrets of the Ineffable Libram, and the Black Dragon Society. I'll definately be back next month, and I strongly reccommend that everyone read this exciting new series.
Fives stars for the DC2 debut of a prodigious talent!
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a2uton
Junior Member
Posts: 63
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Post by a2uton on Aug 7, 2007 23:22:21 GMT -5
One of the problems I had during the run of All Star Squadron was that Roy Thomas seemed oppossed to fully intergrating it into the DCU. For instance, he complained in a recent column that he couldn't figure out a way to bring Hop Harrigan into the book. Well, Hop may have been nice to see but there were plenty of other flyers/adventurers around such as Capt. Desmo and Spin Shaw. Characters long underused. I'm glad to see you do a book like this and I hope you don't limit yourself to just the five or six best known. There were plenty of adventurers from Abdul, the Arab to Wings Wendell and everyone in between. They fought the good fight on land, sea, air and even the spaceways. If you can keep the excitement and characterization going this book could be another winner.
I do have one suggestion for a future appearance. Margo, the Magician appeared in 1940. At that time she was established as the daughter of Presto, the Magician, carring on his work. That means he would have to have been active during the 20s and 30s. I don't know if Presto ever showed up in the strip but there is no reason you can't use him.
By the way, I liked the May, 1935 angle. I'm sure it wasn't an accident that you chose the date when National Periodicals first started publishing brand new stories as oppossed to the reprints then popular in the industry.
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Post by mockingbird on Aug 9, 2007 22:52:21 GMT -5
very wonderful work as always, my friend. I love the time that you're working with, and not being familiar with the source material only makes it better and more fun, because i don't know where the story is going. Very nice use of nonlinear flashbacks, to give out information in intriguing ways. You're so good at this time period, all of the description and dialogue feels so perfect. I'm definitely excited to read more and see what's next!
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Post by HoM on Aug 10, 2007 4:20:30 GMT -5
Bloody hell, Don! This was a wonderful piece of writing, and the entire feel of the book... Wow. You brought together so many genres, and the amount of winks and nudges to things that have come before was wonderful. Speed was awesome! Seeing him in the DCU, you see him as this intrepid, elderly adventurer, but here, in the DC2, wow! Indianna Jones on CRACK!
Well done, D. Well done indeed.
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Post by lissilambe on Aug 10, 2007 10:37:25 GMT -5
Thanks for all the kind comments, they're appreciated. I'm looking forward to taking you all along with our cast of characters down the Trail. Interesting names and suggestions offered up a2uton, and I'll look into them. I'm not sure how obscure I will get with characters, but there is one obscure character due up in #3-4, and Presto is an interesting choice; both him and the King are characters I've been looking at, so it's possible they'll pop up. And the May '35 choice was as much coincidence as anything else. i needed to find a date to use, and that worked out, and then the added cachet of being National's start of new material just sealed the deal.  It is the historical/partly-mythical John Dee of Elizabethan fame, but if there are further connections to Doctor Destiny, who knows? However, the Dee family's race down the Danger Trail and through history will continue through the series, and wait until you see the Dee of the Thirties. A character of my own that I've been waiting to unleash for a long time. And Robert E. Howard and Lovecraft are huge influences (among the other pulp writers like Lester Dent, Walter Gibson, noirish writers too like Hammett), so it's a great, great compliment to see Howard's name evoked. The Ineffable Libram is my contribution to the Cthulhu Library, and what it holds will bring us to this strange, ethereal, eponymous trail. More to come, and I hope you all enjoy where we're headed. I love these guys, and I love this period of history (both in the literary sense and in the sense of the actual history), so hang in for a great ride. Take care Don As a glossary note: Balmacaan is a kind of overcoat with raglan sleeves (sleeves that go up to the neck line); a Trilby is a kind of hat, similar to a fedora but with a narrower brim and higher crown, and most famously known right now as worn by the Blues Brothers; and the c96 Mauser is the well-known "broomhandle" Mauser, most recently made famous by Han Solo (oddly enough). |
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Post by starlord on Aug 11, 2007 10:55:05 GMT -5
I loved the attention to detail in this story. It didn't distract from the main plot, but added to it in a wonderful way. Other then Faraday, these are characters that I am barely familiar with, so I'm kind of a noobie with these people.
This first issue had a little bit of everything and a whole LOT of mystery. It was great, I mean really great. Outstanding job on the story and on the cover. I'll be back for the next issue.
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Post by mouseman on Aug 12, 2007 0:46:25 GMT -5
I'd give this six stars if I could.
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Post by arcalian on Aug 12, 2007 21:40:28 GMT -5
I didn't recognize all the "pulp" characters, but of course I knew Enemy Ace immeditaely.
Faraday's "prediction" about war as amusingly ironic.
As Idlewilder said, has a very pulp feel about it. So far, very good indeed!
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Post by Romans Empire on Sept 25, 2007 18:35:45 GMT -5
I'd give this six stars if I could. OK, any book that can draw Mouseman out of the shadows with a comment like that, deserves my attention! You opened the book with Andrew Bennett form I Vampire and I was thrilled. But then you had to go and bring in Speed Saunders and Enemy Ace! Are you freaking kidding me! I wanted to jump up and down in my seat! Now it's no secret that I don't really care for the DC2 version of King Faraday but I had faith that you would restore him here before I even read the issue. Now I know my faith was well placed. Your writing has such style and depth to it. Your ability to convey so much emotion and characterization with a few select words is beyond impressive. Your love for these characters shines brightly as does the time period in which their story takes place. There is so much mystery, action, and suspense in this one issue I can honestly say that I am anxious to see where the Danger Trail leads and will be there every step of the way. Six stars indeed! |
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