Post by ryokowerx on Oct 2, 2011 17:32:32 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:
The issue opens at the Voodoo Cub, a strip club, where Priscilla aka Voodoo (the most popular dancer always bears the name of the club) is dancing. She is being observed by a man and woman, Tyler and Fallon. The woman leaves and is accosted outside by a bunch of teenage thugs and she easily beats them up. Back in the club, we get a bit of talking with Voodoo and the other girls back in the dressing room before she is summoned to a private dance. In the room, we see that it is Tyler. And he gets a little bit of her background out of her but makes a mistake and demands that she turn herself in before others haul her off for medical experimentation. Voodoo freaks out, changes into a green alien thing and kills Tyler. Voodoo takes his phone and assumes his appearance and heads off for the hotel room where Jessica Fallon is.
THE ART:
Sami Basri is the artist and it is a odd choice. Basri has a very fine line style of art that suits the feminine form very well and really puts of a euro comic vibe to the whole production. It falls a bit flat on the drawings of men and alien creatures however. I can honestly say that, while they might have been going for horrific, I found the alien form of Voodoo to be pretty poor and almost laughable. So it's a mixed bag here. Some really good and some pretty bad.
THE STORY:
Ron Marz is the writer and this is off to a good start even if it is a bit of a throwaway issue. Voodoo was one of those 1990s characters built more of sex appeal and appearance rather than story potential. Marz is a good choice for Voodoo as he took another character, Witchblade, that had the same problem and completely turned it around. So, unfortunately, we really needed to get her start as a exotic dancer out of the way before the real story can kick in. If you really knew nothing about the character, that's taken care of after this issue and the main story can start.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
This one depends. It's not worth $2.99 for the comic itself as it covers ground that I'm already familiar with. However, if this is one that you were interested in, this is the ground floor of what I believe could turn out to be a good comic. I'm a little disappointed at the lack of any real integration of the old Wildstorm characters into the new DC Universe. Neither Grifter or Voodoo got any hints that they exist in the same universe while Stormwatch had plenty. I hope this is coming later.
NEXT WEEK:
All Star Western #1, Batman The Dark Knight #1, Blackhawks #1, Flash #1, Fury Of Firestorm #1, Green Lantern New Guardians #1, I Vampire #1, Justice League Dark #1, Savage Hawkman #1, Superman #1, and Teen Titans #1.
VOODOO #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:
The issue opens at the Voodoo Cub, a strip club, where Priscilla aka Voodoo (the most popular dancer always bears the name of the club) is dancing. She is being observed by a man and woman, Tyler and Fallon. The woman leaves and is accosted outside by a bunch of teenage thugs and she easily beats them up. Back in the club, we get a bit of talking with Voodoo and the other girls back in the dressing room before she is summoned to a private dance. In the room, we see that it is Tyler. And he gets a little bit of her background out of her but makes a mistake and demands that she turn herself in before others haul her off for medical experimentation. Voodoo freaks out, changes into a green alien thing and kills Tyler. Voodoo takes his phone and assumes his appearance and heads off for the hotel room where Jessica Fallon is.
THE ART:
Sami Basri is the artist and it is a odd choice. Basri has a very fine line style of art that suits the feminine form very well and really puts of a euro comic vibe to the whole production. It falls a bit flat on the drawings of men and alien creatures however. I can honestly say that, while they might have been going for horrific, I found the alien form of Voodoo to be pretty poor and almost laughable. So it's a mixed bag here. Some really good and some pretty bad.
THE STORY:
Ron Marz is the writer and this is off to a good start even if it is a bit of a throwaway issue. Voodoo was one of those 1990s characters built more of sex appeal and appearance rather than story potential. Marz is a good choice for Voodoo as he took another character, Witchblade, that had the same problem and completely turned it around. So, unfortunately, we really needed to get her start as a exotic dancer out of the way before the real story can kick in. If you really knew nothing about the character, that's taken care of after this issue and the main story can start.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY:
This one depends. It's not worth $2.99 for the comic itself as it covers ground that I'm already familiar with. However, if this is one that you were interested in, this is the ground floor of what I believe could turn out to be a good comic. I'm a little disappointed at the lack of any real integration of the old Wildstorm characters into the new DC Universe. Neither Grifter or Voodoo got any hints that they exist in the same universe while Stormwatch had plenty. I hope this is coming later.
NEXT WEEK:
All Star Western #1, Batman The Dark Knight #1, Blackhawks #1, Flash #1, Fury Of Firestorm #1, Green Lantern New Guardians #1, I Vampire #1, Justice League Dark #1, Savage Hawkman #1, Superman #1, and Teen Titans #1.