Post by ryokowerx on Sept 18, 2011 17:11:09 GMT -5
(cross-posted from my Facebook account. I hadn't originally intended on picking up all the new #1s but the 50% off deal at DCBS turned out to be too good to pass up. Feel free to discuss, agree or disagree
So what the hell is this? I'm going to try to write a review of each of the new #1 issues put out by DC Comics. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, DC Comics (home of Superman, Batman, etc.) is completely restarting most* of the history they have established with their comic books since 1939. (* some continuity remains but all events that remain are considered to have happened within a five year span of time) If you're still confused, think of it as everything being set back to square one and all these superheroes are new things to show up rather than a given part of the world.
Anything I say from this point on is my opinion and reflects only my feelings. Please take your nerd rage elsewhere if you disagree or at least be civil in your disagreement.
NOTE: I have not read Flashpoint #5 which kicks off this new history so I'm going to try to approach these issues as if someone completely new to comics were picking them up for the first time. If you're interested in what I have to say, I'd encourage you to go to your local comic book shop (if you have one) or you can buy them digitally at Comixology (http://www.comixology.com).
PLOT SUMMARY:
Resurrection Man opens, naturally, with Mitch Shelley coming back from the dead yet again. He steals clothes and a wallet from the changing room for the morgue assistants. He visits a ATM and uses his new magnetic powers to get a bunch of money from it. Resurrection Man always comes back with new powers and compulsions. This time is no different as he finds himself drawn to board a plane bound for Portland. On the plane he meets a woman named Sue with a strange teardrop tattoo on her face. After a brief talk, she turns into a creature and claims that it is time to claim his soul. She beings to trash the plane as they fight and the jet begins to loose altitude. Mitch takes the fight outside where he fries the creature formerly known as Sue but he gets sucked into the jet engine causing the plane to crash and explode. Mitch comes back and flees the crash site while discovering his new power allows him to liquify himself. One of the firefighters in the area also has a teardrop tattoo and he is on the phone with someone called Sauriel - who resembles Madame Xanadu. It appears the Resurrection Man is wanted both by angels and demons.
THE ART:
Fernando Dagnino does the artwork and is is adequate what I can make of it. Unfortunately, the inker, who is uncredited, really seems to get carried away and goes overboard with it whenever any heavy blacks are called for. As a comparison, look at the pages with the Body Doubles and the final page with the interior scene of Sauriel to see what I mean. Basically, the artwork is fine - just overworked.
THE STORY:
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning co-write the issue. I'm not sure if Abnett and Lanning have ever done any work for DC before but they are primarily known for their work over at Marvel Comics. While they are a talented team, this story really doesn't do much for me. Mitch comes back, gets on a plane, fights a "angel," and dies again before running away. I think the real crux of the issue is that Resurrection Man doesn't show any real initiative of his own. He's just following the compunctions he feels after coming back and chooses to run away at the end. He at least tried to save the people on the plane but they were doomed from the beginning so his actions meant nothing. Basically, he's just a figure going through motions that he has no control over. Everything just seems kind of irrelevant.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
Resurrection Man is only $2.99 but I just couldn't build up enough interest to consider picking up #2. The man caught in the middle might plot evolve into something interesting but, if so, I'll grab it in trade paperback.
NEXT WEEK:
Demon Knights #1, Frankenstein: Agent Of Shade #1, Grifter #1, Mister Terrific #1, and Suicide Squad #1.
RESURRECTION MAN #1
So what the hell is this? I'm going to try to write a review of each of the new #1 issues put out by DC Comics. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, DC Comics (home of Superman, Batman, etc.) is completely restarting most* of the history they have established with their comic books since 1939. (* some continuity remains but all events that remain are considered to have happened within a five year span of time) If you're still confused, think of it as everything being set back to square one and all these superheroes are new things to show up rather than a given part of the world.
Anything I say from this point on is my opinion and reflects only my feelings. Please take your nerd rage elsewhere if you disagree or at least be civil in your disagreement.
NOTE: I have not read Flashpoint #5 which kicks off this new history so I'm going to try to approach these issues as if someone completely new to comics were picking them up for the first time. If you're interested in what I have to say, I'd encourage you to go to your local comic book shop (if you have one) or you can buy them digitally at Comixology (http://www.comixology.com).
WARNING! SPOILERS OFF THE PORT BOW CAP'N!
PLOT SUMMARY:
Resurrection Man opens, naturally, with Mitch Shelley coming back from the dead yet again. He steals clothes and a wallet from the changing room for the morgue assistants. He visits a ATM and uses his new magnetic powers to get a bunch of money from it. Resurrection Man always comes back with new powers and compulsions. This time is no different as he finds himself drawn to board a plane bound for Portland. On the plane he meets a woman named Sue with a strange teardrop tattoo on her face. After a brief talk, she turns into a creature and claims that it is time to claim his soul. She beings to trash the plane as they fight and the jet begins to loose altitude. Mitch takes the fight outside where he fries the creature formerly known as Sue but he gets sucked into the jet engine causing the plane to crash and explode. Mitch comes back and flees the crash site while discovering his new power allows him to liquify himself. One of the firefighters in the area also has a teardrop tattoo and he is on the phone with someone called Sauriel - who resembles Madame Xanadu. It appears the Resurrection Man is wanted both by angels and demons.
THE ART:
Fernando Dagnino does the artwork and is is adequate what I can make of it. Unfortunately, the inker, who is uncredited, really seems to get carried away and goes overboard with it whenever any heavy blacks are called for. As a comparison, look at the pages with the Body Doubles and the final page with the interior scene of Sauriel to see what I mean. Basically, the artwork is fine - just overworked.
THE STORY:
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning co-write the issue. I'm not sure if Abnett and Lanning have ever done any work for DC before but they are primarily known for their work over at Marvel Comics. While they are a talented team, this story really doesn't do much for me. Mitch comes back, gets on a plane, fights a "angel," and dies again before running away. I think the real crux of the issue is that Resurrection Man doesn't show any real initiative of his own. He's just following the compunctions he feels after coming back and chooses to run away at the end. He at least tried to save the people on the plane but they were doomed from the beginning so his actions meant nothing. Basically, he's just a figure going through motions that he has no control over. Everything just seems kind of irrelevant.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
Resurrection Man is only $2.99 but I just couldn't build up enough interest to consider picking up #2. The man caught in the middle might plot evolve into something interesting but, if so, I'll grab it in trade paperback.
NEXT WEEK:
Demon Knights #1, Frankenstein: Agent Of Shade #1, Grifter #1, Mister Terrific #1, and Suicide Squad #1.
