IN THE FIRST BAR IT WAS STOP-AND-STARE, IN THE SECOND BAR IT WAS LAISSEZ-FAIRE
Yes, we’re reduced to talking about American comics as some form of wretched two-party system yet again. Marvel VERSUS DC, two twisted Gods throttling each other while the real work occurs elsewhere… but the pendulum has swung again, I’m afraid. Marvel’s day in the sun is setting into some beautiful golden sunset that will turn to HARSH LEAD the moment Morrison, Milligan and Millar – the M people – jump ship like some kind of groovy rats. Rodentia Afro Kennus! They stalk among us and know when to leap, baby. And we’re all clued in now to the new wave so let’s go go go!
DAREDEVIL has been the hyper-ride in the funky super-circles for a while, but not even Bendis can keep this Maakieesque tramp steamer that is Marvel afloat, even if he writes EVERY SINGLE MARVEL COMIC like he appears to be doing. There’s a lot of cool stuff happening here, a lot of buzz, but there’s something unhealthily non-final about the big, multi-artist ‘final fight’ which dominates this issue. (Yes. A big fight dominates the issue, like last month and the month before. I pray for something to lift this trend, mostly because DD is a crime/courtroom drama now, and the usual doesn’t fit it well.)
DC, meanwhile, urinated on the Quesada Quorpse this week. To call ABC related to DC in any way other than the most technical and legalistic would be the act of a dead soul, but whatever diseased string holds them together still conducts the juice, and it was flowing today. SMAX is a fine, fine piece of work as per usual from Moore. But – shamefully – what really made me salivate was – in the Vertigo imprint – the sweet, sweet return of THE HUMAN TARGET. Oh yaaaas! This is new breath for Vertigo, and I expect it to join with THE LOSERS in causing a new crime-caper-related UK Invasion. But where LOSERS is light and funky, TARGET is dark, dark. On finishing the issue readers will know how many punches are to be pulled here. (SPOILER: Few.) I cannot recommend this highly enough because it is not only a wonderful continuation of what has gone before but the perfect jumping-on point for those unfamiliar with the twisted world of the deadly chameleon with the movie-star looks. Get in, get in, this magic bus will not wait so long for you again.
Milligan does Marvel too, obviously, and X-STATIX is currently their shining light. But. Remember what I was saying about DC doing good, self-contained, accessible books in their Vertigo imprint? I was a mere fool.
CINNAMON: EL CICLO is an all-ages book with the DC banner, and it does what is generally reserved for Vertigo. It is good. It has no common ground with the ‘universe’ they’ve spent so much recent time worshipping, it is aimed at functioning adults but can be legally read by smart kids without the state of Texas hurling the vendor into an oubliette, and it’s GOOD. REALLY GOOD. Jen Van Meter is to be watched. Tight, good, that cool feel everybody’s chasing, sets it all up in one fully-packed issue. Francisco Paronzini is highly reminiscent of Eduardo Risso, but is more detailed in places, looser in others and has a general hard Bisleyesque feel. This is where it will be at. This is the future.
Even WONDER WOMAN scored big today. I mean… WONDER WOMAN. Under Greg Rucka it’s turned into The West Wing. Another good place to start.
The outside of this ugly Marvel/DC boxing ring is still the place to go for good comics, but it’s nice to watch these two bruisers evolve.
(Thanx to Al Stuart – see below – for turning me on to some gems today.)
Vic Fluro in The Brown Wedge • 86 views