Planetary
hidalgot...@my-dejanews.com
angle.
If you have....can a pulp expert point out who the characters are based on?
Axel Brass is obvious...and I am pretty sure I see Tarzan and the Spider.
Who else?
Thanks,
Chuck
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
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Geoffrey Tolle
> If you haven't picked up this new comic...sneak a peek just for the pulp
> angle.
>
> If you have....can a pulp expert point out who the characters are based on?
> Axel Brass is obvious...and I am pretty sure I see Tarzan and the Spider.
That's an awfully good question. I'm glad you asked it 'cause I'd like to
know the answer as well. Here are my thoughts and observations - for what
they're worth. Going around the council table from right to left:
1) A foreboding trenchcoated figure with broad-brimmed hat, a menpo (half-face
mask over the lower half of the face, and twin shoulder holster. On his chest
is an elongated eight-legged figure. He is heading for Chicago and is always
serious. At first I thought this was an analog of the Shadow but the Spider may
be be a better choice.
2) His lordship from England with Africa in his childhood. This easily a Tarzan
analog.
3) A blond male in red shirt, flying goggle around his neck, lab coat, and a
pistol at his hip. He is called Edison. There has been a suggestion that this
is a Flash Gordon analog but this doesn't seem to fit. I can't really think of
anyone other than Airboy who is too late and showed considerable mechanical but
little electronic aptitude. I really don't know. Oh, by the way, he uses an
electrical discharge "pistol".
4) Dr. Axel Brass - This is a Doc Savage analog. In an interesting twist he has
learned to control his body to such an extent that he has stopped aging, can
stay awake for nearly 50 years, and can heal wounds that would otherwise have
been fatal. He also manage to engage a Superman analog in hand-to-hand combat
and defeat him.
5) An aviator type with flying helmet and goggles. He uses a tommy gun. I can
only suggest that he is a Dusty Ayres or G-8 analog but I haven't read either
so I can't say for sure.
6) A business-suited man with a scar over his right eye and a smoking habit. He
is called Jimmy Hark (I believe). He operates on the West Coast where things
are going "strange". He is, apparently, a mathematical genius. I am reminded of
Dr. Occult but I have no good ideas on this one.
7) An oriental individual with extremely long nails. He is philosophical.
Again, I have no ideas.
Geoffrey Tolle
Ray Elliot
kar...@my-dejanews.com
gto...@infinet.com wrote:
> hidalgot...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
>
> > If you haven't picked up this new comic...sneak a peek just for the pulp
> > angle.
> >
> > If you have....can a pulp expert point out who the characters are based on?
> > Axel Brass is obvious...and I am pretty sure I see Tarzan and the Spider.
>
> That's an awfully good question. I'm glad you asked it 'cause I'd like to
> know the answer as well. Here are my thoughts and observations - for what
> they're worth. Going around the council table from right to left:
>
> 1) A foreboding trenchcoated figure with broad-brimmed hat, a menpo (half-face
> mask over the lower half of the face, and twin shoulder holster. On his chest
> is an elongated eight-legged figure. He is heading for Chicago and is always
> serious. At first I thought this was an analog of the Shadow but the Spider may
> be be a better choice.
>
shadow, but the fangs on the mask and the eight-legged figure suggests the
spider.
> 2) His lordship from England with Africa in his childhood. This easily a Tarzan
> analog.
>
> 3) A blond male in red shirt, flying goggle around his neck, lab coat, and a
> pistol at his hip. He is called Edison. There has been a suggestion that this
> is a Flash Gordon analog but this doesn't seem to fit. I can't really think of
> anyone other than Airboy who is too late and showed considerable mechanical but
> little electronic aptitude. I really don't know. Oh, by the way, he uses an
> electrical discharge "pistol".
>
if we are keeping with the pre-comics literary heroes, my best guess would be
tom swift. he and doc are the geniuses of the group. although the idea of a
flash gordon analog taking out a flash analog is pretty nifty.
> 4) Dr. Axel Brass - This is a Doc Savage analog. In an interesting twist he has
> learned to control his body to such an extent that he has stopped aging, can
> stay awake for nearly 50 years, and can heal wounds that would otherwise have
> been fatal. He also manage to engage a Superman analog in hand-to-hand combat
> and defeat him.
>
very philip jose farmer-ish.
> 5) An aviator type with flying helmet and goggles. He uses a tommy gun. I can
> only suggest that he is a Dusty Ayres or G-8 analog but I haven't read either
> so I can't say for sure.
that and all the other aviation heroes of the pulps. i think he is more
representive of his genre than a specific character.
> 6) A business-suited man with a scar over his right eye and a smoking habit. He
> is called Jimmy Hark (I believe). He operates on the West Coast where things
> are going "strange". He is, apparently, a mathematical genius. I am reminded of Dr. Occult but I have no good ideas on this one.
again, i think this character is representing his genre more than a specific
character. some people on the comics.misc newsgroup have suggested operator 5.
personally, i think he's a stand-in for all of the hardboiled detectives.
>
> 7) An oriental individual with extremely long nails. He is philosophical.
> Again, I have no ideas.
this one's a bit odd since all of the asian characters of the time were
villains however he's a tip of the hat to fu mancu, yen-sin, wu-fang and the
rest.
TVPowers
it!
Tom Powers
Ray Elliot
stores.It is by Warren Ellis and art by John Cassaday.Basically,it is a group
of three people exploring the secret history of the world for a secret
organization.Well written and drawn.First issue dealt with them finding out
about the pulp heros of the world and what happened to them on Jan 01 1946(ie
why they all diaappeared).
Robert Gurskey
>
> 4) Dr. Axel Brass - This is a Doc Savage analog. In an interesting twist he has
> learned to control his body to such an extent that he has stopped aging, can
> stay awake for nearly 50 years, and can heal wounds that would otherwise have
> been fatal. He also manage to engage a Superman analog in hand-to-hand combat
> and defeat him.
>
5) as an alternative universe version of DC comics Justice Society of
Ameria. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Green Lantern (in
this case blue) were obvious. I have no idea who the green character or
the purple guy with green cape are.
I would love to see a follow-up to the four displays in the trophy
room. They look really intriguing.
emb...@email.mot.com
We meet in flashback these 6 pulp heroes. Only one is still alive, Dr. Axel
Brass. All are based on different types of heroes. In a recent post over at
rec.arts.comics.misc, a poster made a guess, which was confirmed by the
author. Basically they are:
Dr. Axel Brass, a Doc Savage character A Shadow/Spider character A G-8
aviator hero character A Tom Swift character A hard boiled detective
character A Tarzan character A Fu Manchu character (except this one is a
hero, whereas in the pulp magazines all the oriental characters were
villians: Wu Fang, Yen Sin, etc.)
Not sure if they named them all or not, don't have the comic here with me.
Also, Wildstorm is now fully owned by DC. Under their 'America's Best
Comics' imprint they are doing comics written by Alan Moore. The first issue
of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is out. This month's Previews has
info about the upcoming series Tom Strong, who is a Tarzan/Doc Savage type
character.
The League has characters from the 18th centuary. We meet Capt Nemo (who
survived the 'Mysterious Island' incident, and is shown as a Hindu mariner),
Allan Quaterman, Dr. Jekyl & Mr Hyde, Auguste Dupin, Mina Harper from
Dracula, and it is mentioned that the head of British Secret Service is
Mycroft Holmes, now refered to as "M". We meet someone named Campion Bond,
who I guess to be an ancestor of James Bond.
Michael R. Brown
emb...@email.mot.com
rgur...@erols.com wrote:
> Geoffrey Tolle wrote:
> >
> > 4) Dr. Axel Brass - This is a Doc Savage analog. In an interesting twist he
has
> > learned to control his body to such an extent that he has stopped aging, can
> > stay awake for nearly 50 years, and can heal wounds that would otherwise
have
> > been fatal. He also manage to engage a Superman analog in hand-to-hand
combat
> > and defeat him.
> >
> It was easier for me to identify the other seven characters (actually
> 5) as an alternative universe version of DC comics Justice Society of
> Ameria. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Green Lantern (in
> this case blue) were obvious. I have no idea who the green character or
> the purple guy with green cape are.
Think he is based on J'onn J'onz, the Martian Manhunter, who was in the JLA
from the begining. J'onn is a big, green humanoid with a blue cape.
> I would love to see a follow-up to the four displays in the trophy
> room. They look really intriguing.
>
Yup.
W Kenner Rawdon
: In article <19990206140431...@ng141.aol.com>,
: raye...@aol.com (Ray Elliot) wrote:
: The League has characters from the 18th centuary.
19th.
: We meet someone named Campion Bond, who I guess to be an ancestor of
: James Bond.
"Campion" must refer to Allingham's Albert Campion, but "Albert Campion"
wasn't his real name; he was royalty, or close to it. Pulp fans who are
not familiar with Margery Allingham's Campion novels, especially the
earlier ones, should take a look.
TVPowers
and get it - the Leauge of Extraorinary Gentelmen sounds great, too. That one I
had had heard of at least. Glad to know it's finally out.
TOM POWERS
Michael Rawdon
> It was easier for me to identify the other seven characters (actually
>5) as an alternative universe version of DC comics Justice Society of
>Ameria. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Green Lantern (in
>this case blue) were obvious. I have no idea who the green character or
>the purple guy with green cape are.
My conclusion was that the 7 superbeings are actually analogs of the original
(circa 1958) Justice League of America, not the 1940s Justice Society, which
makes the figures on the splash page when the first appear, clockwise from
top:
Superman
Wonder Woman
J'onn J'onzz, The Martian Manhunter
Batman
Green Lantern
The Flash
Aquaman (hence the gills)
They are also referred to as having a "mountain hideaway" like the original
JLA.
I also inferred that the reference to multiple realities and the superbeings'
reality being on the verge of destruction was at least a little inspired by DC
Comics' 1985 series Crisis on Infinite Earths.
I also wonder whether this variant of the JLA is partly inspired by Marvel
Comics' Squadron Supreme, which was itself a JLA take-off. Similarities
between the Planetary group and the Squadron include a Wonder Woman variant
with a shield, and a Green Lantern variant with his power device mounted on
the back of his hand.
(Yes, I read too many comic books. :-)
> I would love to see a follow-up to the four displays in the trophy
>room. They look really intriguing.
Me, too. I hope Axel Brass shows up again at some point, as well. I'd like
to see the series have an ongoing storyline rather than be a series of
one-offs.
By the way, as the page after the end of the story in Planetary #1 says, there
was an 8-page Planetary story which appeared in both Gen-13 #33 and C-23 #6,
putting a twist on a cornerstone Marvel Comics character. Granted, $2.50 is a
lot to pay for an 8-page story...
--
Michael Rawdon Madison, WI
mailto:raw...@msn.fullfeed.com http://www.msn.fullfeed.com/~rawdon/
Poverty: Having too much month left at the end of the money.
Robert Gurskey
> I also inferred that the reference to multiple realities and the superbeings'
> reality being on the verge of destruction was at least a little inspired by DC
> Comics' 1985 series Crisis on Infinite Earths.
>
I thought the alternate realities were created and destroyed by the
quantum computer as it calculated solutions to the equations that the
group had input. This group of superbeings realized what was going on
and wanted to stop the computer from rejecting their universe as a
solution to the problem.
[As the recent Key to the Kingdom mini-series reveals "hypertime", it
looks like Crisis on Infinite Earths has become moot.]
Alan Travis
> 5) as an alternative universe version of DC comics Justice Society of
> Ameria. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Green Lantern (in
> this case blue) were obvious. I have no idea who the green character or
> the purple guy with green cape are.
Martian Manhunter. And the team referenced here is the Justice League of America,
not the JSA.
> I would love to see a follow-up to the four displays in the trophy
> room. They look really intriguing.
Since Warren mentioned that Doc Brass is coming back in #5, you just might. ---Alan
Alan Travis
> One of them is a Flash Gordon-type.
Uh, nope. Not according to the writer. ---Alan
Alan Travis
> mask over the lower half of the face, and twin shoulder holster. On his chest
> is an elongated eight-legged figure. He is heading for Chicago and is always
> serious. At first I thought this was an analog of the Shadow but the Spider may
> be be a better choice.
It's both, actually.
> 2) His lordship from England with Africa in his childhood. This easily a Tarzan
> analog.
Yep!
> 3) A blond male in red shirt, flying goggle around his neck, lab coat, and a
> pistol at his hip. He is called Edison. There has been a suggestion that this
> is a Flash Gordon analog but this doesn't seem to fit. I can't really think of
> anyone other than Airboy who is too late and showed considerable mechanical but
> little electronic aptitude. I really don't know. Oh, by the way, he uses an
> electrical discharge "pistol".
Actually, it's a Tom Swift analog.
> 4) Dr. Axel Brass - This is a Doc Savage analog. In an interesting twist he has
> learned to control his body to such an extent that he has stopped aging, can
> stay awake for nearly 50 years, and can heal wounds that would otherwise have
> been fatal. He also manage to engage a Superman analog in hand-to-hand combat
> and defeat him.
That's made him quite a bit tougher than our favorite Doc.
> 5) An aviator type with flying helmet and goggles. He uses a tommy gun. I can
> only suggest that he is a Dusty Ayres or G-8 analog but I haven't read either
> so I can't say for sure.
G-8 it is.
> 6) A business-suited man with a scar over his right eye and a smoking habit. He
> is called Jimmy Hark (I believe). He operates on the West Coast where things
> are going "strange". He is, apparently, a mathematical genius. I am reminded of
> Dr. Occult but I have no good ideas on this one.
Operator #5.
> 7) An oriental individual with extremely long nails. He is philosophical.
> Again, I have no ideas.
Fu Manchu.
I had guessed all but the Tom Swift character. These opinions were confirmed by
Warren Ellis, the writer. He also mentioned that Doc Brass would return in issue
#5. Be sure to pick it up! ---Alan
Alan Travis
> I got a copy of Planetary, I wont get a second, nor will I buy the 2 prequels.
There is only one preview story before this one.
> The art is pedestrian at best.
You don't have to like it, but I don't see how you can call the art pedestrian,
especially within the medium of comic book art. I find it to be a nice mix of
clean lines and realism.
> The concept behind the story is reminiscent of a fanboy's attempt at a story with
> a "huge scope". The plot is stereotypical and hackneyed. the characters are
> wooden.
Again, your opinion is yours to form. A little more explanation behind your
criticism might make it more interesting to read. It would certainly make it sound
like more than a stereotypical and hackneyed critique. ---Alan
emb...@email.mot.com
raw...@tiac.net (W Kenner Rawdon) wrote:
> emb...@email.mot.com wrote:
> : In article <19990206140431...@ng141.aol.com>,
> : raye...@aol.com (Ray Elliot) wrote:
> : The League has characters from the 18th centuary.
>
> 19th.
>
> : We meet someone named Campion Bond, who I guess to be an ancestor of
> : James Bond.
>
> "Campion" must refer to Allingham's Albert Campion, but "Albert Campion"
> wasn't his real name; he was royalty, or close to it. Pulp fans who are
> not familiar with Margery Allingham's Campion novels, especially the
> earlier ones, should take a look.
>
Never heard of these. Any pointers to further info on this character and his
stories?
emb...@email.mot.com
Alan Travis <amtr...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> > 1) A foreboding trenchcoated figure with broad-brimmed hat, a menpo
(half-face
> > mask over the lower half of the face, and twin shoulder holster. On his
chest
> > is an elongated eight-legged figure. He is heading for Chicago and is always
> > serious. At first I thought this was an analog of the Shadow but the Spider
may
> > be be a better choice.
>
> It's both, actually.
>
Well, realize that the Spider was himself based on the Shadow, a kind of cross
between the hero pulps and the 'weird menace' pulps. Both wore broad-brimmed
hats, cloaks, and carried twin .45 automatics. Beyond that they differed.
More likely for the whole 'G-8 type' of character, including Bill Barnes, G-8,
Dusty Ayres, Terrence X. O'Leary, etc.
> > 6) A business-suited man with a scar over his right eye and a smoking habit.
He
> > is called Jimmy Hark (I believe). He operates on the West Coast where things
> > are going "strange". He is, apparently, a mathematical genius. I am reminded
of
> > Dr. Occult but I have no good ideas on this one.
>
> Operator #5.
>
Was Ellis clear that he is an Operator #5 analog? Others have put forth he
was a hard boiled detective analog or an occult investigator analog.
> > 7) An oriental individual with extremely long nails. He is philosophical.
> > Again, I have no ideas.
>
> Fu Manchu.
>
Yes, but Fu Manchu and other such characters from the pulps (Yen Sin, Wu Fang,
Shiwan Khan) were all villians. Is he instead a 'heroic Fu Manchu' type?
> I had guessed all but the Tom Swift character. These opinions were confirmed
by
> Warren Ellis, the writer. He also mentioned that Doc Brass would return in
issue
> #5. Be sure to pick it up! ---Alan
>
>
Am buying all of them. Too bad he killed them all off except for Brass.
Rick Hall
The art is pedestrian at best. The concept behind the story is reminiscent of a
fanboy's attempt at a story with a "huge scope". The plot is stereotypical and
hackneyed. the characters are wooden.
Rick
W Kenner Rawdon
: In article <79k1us$2...@news-central.tiac.net>,: > "Campion" must refer to Allingham's Albert Campion, but "Albert Campion"
: > wasn't his real name; he was royalty, or close to it. Pulp fans who are
: > not familiar with Margery Allingham's Campion novels, especially the
: > earlier ones, should take a look.
: >
:
: Never heard of these. Any pointers to further info on this character
: and his stories?
Albert Campion was the private detective hero of a long series of novels
by the British author, Margery Allingham (and her husband). "Albert
Campion" was a pseudonym. His true given name was Rudolph (I think). His
surname was never revealed because he was related to the royals. A
campion is a small flower and Campion affected the manner of a fool, so I
assume that "Campion" is an allusion to the Scarlet Pimpernel.
The earlier novels were pulpish. Those might be:
The Crime at Black Dudley (The Black Dudley Murder, U.S.) - (1929)
Mystery Mile - (1930)
Look to the Lady (The Gyrth Chalice Mystery, U.S.) - (1931)
Police at the Funeral - (1931)
Sweet Danger (The Fear Sign, U.S.) - (1933)
The PBS show, Mystery, broadcast a few of these.
Check your public library to sample these without investment. Also, set
your favorite search engine on "Margery Allingham."
Kenner
Arthur Phillips
>Besides, how many comic characters manage to be much more than wooden after
>only a single issue, anyway?
Alan Travis
emb...@email.mot.com wrote:
> Well, realize that the Spider was himself based on the Shadow, a kind of cross
> between the hero pulps and the 'weird menace' pulps. Both wore broad-brimmed
> hats, cloaks, and carried twin .45 automatics. Beyond that they differed.
Yes, I know. I'm sure that was what was in Ellis' mind when he combined the
character.
> More likely for the whole 'G-8 type' of character, including Bill Barnes, G-8,
> Dusty Ayres, Terrence X. O'Leary, etc.
I've only seen Ellis refer to him as G-8. I'm sure he's not excluding the other
necessarily.
> > Operator #5.
> >
>
> Was Ellis clear that he is an Operator #5 analog? Others have put forth he
> was a hard boiled detective analog or an occult investigator analog.
Yep. He said it was Operator #5.
> > Fu Manchu.
>
> Yes, but Fu Manchu and other such characters from the pulps (Yen Sin, Wu Fang,
> Shiwan Khan) were all villians. Is he instead a 'heroic Fu Manchu' type?
He mentioned that it was a Fu Manchu that had matured with age and had turned from
his evil ways. Hey, it's an alternate reality. Anything can happen.
> Am buying all of them. Too bad he killed them all off except for Brass.
Brass will be back in #5. As for the others, there is always the time honored comic
book practise of flashbacks. ---Alan
Michael Rawdon
>Rick Hall wrote:
>> The art is pedestrian at best.
>You don't have to like it, but I don't see how you can call the art
>pedestrian, especially within the medium of comic book art. I find it to be
>a nice mix of clean lines and realism.
I agree. When I first saw Calimee's art in the X-Men/Alpha Flight story from
Marvel a year or so ago, I thought his work was too busy, stiffly laid out,
and tried a little too hard to be photo-realistic. I think Planetary fixes
pretty much all of those problems, and I like the art a lot (even if it is a
little too reminscent of Kevin McGuire for my tastes.)
>> The concept behind the story is reminiscent of a fanboy's attempt at a
>> story with a "huge scope". The plot is stereotypical and hackneyed. the
>> characters are wooden.
>Again, your opinion is yours to form. A little more explanation behind your
>criticism might make it more interesting to read. It would certainly make it
>sound like more than a stereotypical and hackneyed critique. ---Alan
Besides, how many comic characters manage to be much more than wooden after
"For a race that supposedly learns quickly, you'd think that they'd have
realized by now that, if sending one ship causes them to almost win, then
sending two ships would pretty much seal the deal."
- Peter David on the Borg in the film Star Trek:
First Contact, in Comics Buyer's Guide #1205
Robert Gurskey
> > Am buying all of them. Too bad he killed them all off except for Brass.
>
> Brass will be back in #5. As for the others, there is always the time honored comic
> book practise of flashbacks. ---Alan
Since the subtitle is "Archaeologists of the Impossible", the Planetary
group could uncover evidence of these 7 superheroes activities before
1945.
Did you also notice the Elijah Snow didn't do anything really special.
What are they paying him $1,000,000 for? Time, and future issues, will
tell.
Rick Hall
pedestrian,
>>especially within the medium of comic book art. I find it to be a nice mix
of clean lines and realism.
comic book art.
"realism" Not a surface rings true, wood, cloth, carpet, walls, upholstery,
hair, and skin all appears to be made of plastic. Cloth does not 'hang true'.
Hair appears as a solid mass. the layout is "arty". Panels are overlaid for
visual effect, not to further the story. Panels are set at odd angles merely
for looks. Instead of adding to the tale, the reader must break concentration
to decrypt the panel and muse over the reason for the skewed panels.
Perspective is often off. The bodies are drawn with anatomical flaws, past the
point of charicature. Color use is poor. not very realistic. All of the stupid
twiddly lines on the faces almost makes the skin look like stone, not skin.
Look at the door that appears twice on page 5, amateurish. The lines are harsh,
not clean.
The big snowflake is a poor excuse for a "Cool Steranko Effect".
> The concept behind the story is reminiscent of a fanboy's attempt at a story
with
> a "huge scope". The plot is stereotypical and hackneyed. the characters are
wooden.
>>Again, your opinion is yours to form. A little more explanation behind your
criticism might make it more interesting to read.
I do not care for any of the characters, none in the least.
My first impression of the larger story is not mystery, but vgueness.
Astro City takes "obscured" verons of familiar characters and places thm in a
larger scope. You are not TOLD the scope is large, but bits of it are revealed
and the reader notes the bit pieces left unmentioned in order to connect the
bits at hand. I am intrigued, issue to issue.
Planetary says "Hoo Boy, what a big story, a galactic concept, you'll love it".
I am unimpressed and left cold.
The story hinges on a non-believeable mcguffin, the quantum computer.
Plot Holes: Doc has been waiting 50 years for the callcuation to finish, will
Planetary stand watch in his abcence?
Comic books do not withstand analysis. A good review shold boil down to "Good,
Indifferent, Bad". A good reviewer is one whose impression matches yours.
Planetary, indifferent art, bad story
Rick
Alan Travis
> comic book art. "realism" Not a surface rings true, wood, cloth, carpet, walls,
> upholstery, hair, and skin all appears to be made of plastic. Cloth does not
> 'hang true'. Hair appears as a solid mass. the layout is "arty". Panels are
> overlaid for
> visual effect, not to further the story. Panels are set at odd angles merely
> for looks. Instead of adding to the tale, the reader must break concentration
> to decrypt the panel and muse over the reason for the skewed panels.
If you hadn't read a comic since the 1980's, I might find this to be true. To
blame the art in this book for the current trends of computer coloring and varied
panel layout is a little bit ridiculous. Still, if you didn't like it...
> Perspective is often off. The bodies are drawn with anatomical flaws, past the
> point of charicature. Color use is poor. not very realistic. All of the stupid
> twiddly lines on the faces almost makes the skin look like stone, not skin.
> Look at the door that appears twice on page 5, amateurish. The lines are harsh,
> not clean.
Gotta disagree on your laundry list of artistic flaws. I don't find any of them to
ring true.
> The big snowflake is a poor excuse for a "Cool Steranko Effect".
I didn't see much in the way of Steranko with that effect.
> I do not care for any of the characters, none in the least.
Well, you've hardly met them.
> Astro City takes "obscured" verons of familiar characters and places thm in a
> larger scope. You are not TOLD the scope is large, but bits of it are revealed
> and the reader notes the bit pieces left unmentioned in order to connect the
> bits at hand. I am intrigued, issue to issue.
How did Planetary tell the scope is large?
> Planetary says "Hoo Boy, what a big story, a galactic concept, you'll love it".
> I am unimpressed and left cold.
How so? More evidence, less conjecture.
> The story hinges on a non-believeable mcguffin, the quantum computer.
No more unbelievable than other things commonly found in pulps and comics.
> Plot Holes: Doc has been waiting 50 years for the callcuation to finish, will
> Planetary stand watch in his abcence?
I guess so. They took the Quantum computer..
> Planetary, indifferent art, bad story
Your mileage obviously varies. ---Alan
Rick Hall
> comic book art. "realism" Not a surface rings true, wood, cloth, carpet,
walls,
> upholstery, hair, and skin all appears to be made of plastic. Cloth does not
>>If you hadn't read a comic since the 1980's, I might find this to be true.
To
>>blame the art in this book for the current trends of computer coloring and
varied panel layout is a little bit ridiculous. Still, if you didn't like
it...
1) My credentials; I started reading comic books since 1958, I still do.
2) >To blame the art in this book for the current trends of computer coloring
and varied panel layout is a little bit ridiculous.
Bad art/design/layout is bad regardless of the media. If this book is following
a trend, and the trend is bad art, IMHO, that still makes the art bad.
> The big snowflake is a poor excuse for a "Cool Steranko Effect".
>>I didn't see much in the way of Steranko with that effect.
My point exactly. It is a badly done Steranko stylistic swipe. I refer you to
the Nick Fury stories where he battled Scorpio.
Art can be criticized on mechanical and aestetic grounds. Most of my quibbles
are on the mechanical side, not the stylistic. The "how" of it all, not the
"what".
I make snap judgements on comic books.
I am generally dissapointed with most of what is available at the local comic
shop. There have always been few gems, but nowadays there are few decent books
out there.
Perhaps I am old and disalusioned about the media. I'm 45, I own 10,000 comics
and have probably read 20,000. I try to not wax eloquent about the good old
days, lots of bad artists and styles I disliked back then, but still.
Mark Schulz (Xenozoic Tales, Cadillacs & Dinosaurs) could have walked into any
comic company from the 30s to the present and been hired immediately, ditto
Alec Ross (Astro City), Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo). (Excuse the misspellings, I
am away from "The Archives".) I dislike manga on stylistic grounds, but I don't
browbeat the art. But there is a lot of garbage art out there.
A shop had a BIG sale on back issues. I picked up a nice run of Green Hornet
(Now) loking for a good read. Beaucoup disappointment, but the Steranko poster
was excellent. I pay $10 cover price for Jim to do a comic cover to cover.
<end of exposition>
Rick