REVIEW: THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS

I never thought I would be reviewing a book (I tend to stick to comics) but this one has two things going for it: 1) it is a book about comics and 2) it is a book about the my favourite superhero, Daredevil. That’s not to say it was a given that I would pick it up. I had a quick glance at the contents page and it seemed to offer quite a variety of topics related to the man named Matt Murdock. I’ll give a quick summary of each essay:

      1)  “A Different Daredevil” looks at the various creators who were involved at the very beginning (Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Romita Sr and so on) and ponders various what ifs including one that John Romita Sr seems to ponder himself of what if he stayed on the book he seemed to really enjoy working on (He was moved to Spider-man after Ditko’s departure).

2)      “Grabbing the Devil by the Horns” examines Daredevil’s early rogues gallery and how week and weird they were.

3)      “Being Mike Murdock” looks at Matt’s fictional brother and what it says about the psychology behind his creation.

4)      “Daredevil and the Missing Father” is an examination of the relationship between Matt and Jack Murdock while looking at father/son relationships in Western Literature.

5)      “There Will Be Blood” is a discussion of the violence in the book and why Daredevil’s villains are more bloodthirsty.

6)      “Science Fact!” looks at the Marvel Physics behind Daredevil’s powers and how they hold up in the real world.

7)      “Daredevil: Not Ready For Primetime?” ponders why Daredevil works better alone and not as part of a group like the Avengers.

8)      “The Life and Times of Foggy Nelson” takes a look at Matt Murdock's law partner and best friend.

9)      “Blind Dates and Broken Hearts” is a look at Matt Murdock tragic love-life.

10)  “Daredevil and Spider-man”. Is Daredevil a dark Spider-man? A comparison of the two early 60s creations.

11)  “Daredevil and Punisher” asks are Daredevil and The Punisher polar opposites?

12)  “What Fall From Grace?” takes another look at the much maligned Daredevil run by Daniel Chichester.

13)  “.22 Caliber, a Girl’s gun” takes a look at Vanessa Fisk’s role in Brian Michael Bendis’ Daredevil run.

14)  “When Things Fall Apart In Hell’s Kitchen” looks at Brian Bendis’ run.

15)  “Daredevil: Intermediate Super-Hero Filmmaking” looks at super-hero movies and Daredevil (2003).

16)  “The Only Way Is Down” examines Ed Brubaker’s run and how it is akin to 1970’s Film Noir.

I enjoyed the variety provided. It is a book that you can pick up and read a chapter and get something different each time. It never looks down on the subject matter (I was worried that “Science Fact” might but it tends to highlight where the powers are factually correct) and it examines various aspects of the storytelling that has had me picking up Daredevil in interesting ways. I think it is a must for all Daredevil and comic fans in general.   

FIVE COMICS I AM READING (MARVEL) NOW

X-men: Legacy (Vol. 2)

Remember Charles Xavier's son? The chap with the funny hair who caused the Age of Apocalypse? Well they gave him his own series. Living up to the title, David Haller aka Legion must deal with the death of his father and whether he should try to follow "Xavier's Dream" or go his own path. He also has to deal with a “legion” of personalities with different superpowers who could take over his mind if they get the opening. Si Spurrier has crafted an interesting journey and has redeemed the character for me. It also helps that the series has some of the most interesting covers out at the moment.

 

                                     Avengers Arena

The premise is that Arcade has kidnapped a bunch of super-powered teenagers and is demanding that they fight each other until there is one character standing. It seemed very Lord of the Flies, Hunger Games, Battle Royale... and so on. It didn't seem like my sort of book but I gave issue one a shot. Dennis Hopeless won me over with a mixture of great characterisation and a feeling that anything can happen. Death is the end and can occur at any time. Arcade has become a badass and Hopeless and Walker have created a bunch of great new characters (I would love to see a book about the Braddock Academy). Another series with great covers.

                              Indestructible Hulk

I was never much of a Hulk fan but Mark Waid has taken an interesting idea that fits the character of Bruce Banner and has run with it. Thinking of his legacy and realising that he can't cure the Hulk problem (for now at least), Bruce Banner has decided that he wants to be known for his inventions and not for random property destruction. He has done a deal with S.H.I.E.L.D. to accomplished this and surrounded himself with a cast of scientists who seem to have secrets. Waid nails the character and has created an interesting supporting cast. I wasn't always a fan but Leinil Yu is doing great work on the art side in this book. Also, Walt Simonson has stepped in for a Thor story. What more do you need?

                                Superior Spider-man

Like the Hulk, I never really read Spider-man. I have always liked his rogues gallery though. My favourite of these was Doc Ock. With Otto Octavius taking Peter Parker's place, this book is the one for me then right? Well not at first. It took a Comixology sale to get me to pick up issue one. Once I had read it, and understood what the premise was, I was hooked. Otto Octavius wants to prove himself to be a better Spider-man than Peter Parker, a Superior Spider-man. The interactions with the other Spider-villains is interesting as Otto has a history with some of them too. Dan Slott seems to be building to something great with another one of my favourite Spider-villains too. I like it. This storyline also has the side-effect of the very funny interactions in the Avengers books. Those people are beneath him.

                                        Hawkeye

I don't think I need to say much about this book. Hawkeye. Greatest sharpshooter known to man. He then joined the Avengers. This is what he does when he's not being an Avenger. That's all you need to know. Matt Fraction writes. David Aja and Francesco Francavilla draw. Matt Hollingsworth colours. More great covers.

AN' FOR EVERY HUNG-UP PERSON IN THE WHOLE WIDE UNIVERSE. MY REVIEW OF THEM.

 Having read Tommie Kelly's The Holy Numbers (review to follow soon – it will be a bit more in-depth as it covers the whole story), I was interested in seeing what else he had done. Where better to start than with something out right now. THEM issue one. In the books I have read, Tommie's stories cover the theme of our place in the universe and society while at the same time telling a very human story. With The Holy Numbers, he was looking at religion, spirituality and its affect on society and our connection with the universe. From what I have read so far, with THEM, he seems to be dealing with art, fame or the idea of launching an idea into the world or maybe all of the above. I haven't figured it out quite yet.

The issue starts with a plant growing as a metaphor of an idea being launched unto the world. We then see the protagonist, Roman, desperately running from THEM. They are only shown as shadowy figures. Who are they? Our first mystery. We then skip back to a scene of him on stage basking in the light of his fame. He has created a masterpiece. What is it? Mystery number two. We then cut back to when he's an ordinary, unrecognised artist. He is in getting art supplies when the universe hands him a black book. It has name and the date on it. The owner, Mr. Sheldrake, found it while looking through things. Another mystery. Roman feels the universe or Sheldrake is messing with him. He thinks the universe wants people to be unhappy. Sheldrake quips that he feels less happy since Roman walked in. Sheldrake worries that the artist is being too pessimistic. He assures him that he is content. He is lying.

Roman gives us a run through of his life. He sleeps all day and works on his painting at night. It is his only escape. When he is not painting, he is thinking. And drinking. It dulls the voices that have been his constant companion. He feels disconnected from people. He doesn't understand them. He is not a success with his art. The unpaid bills and debt are voices telling him he is a failure. Voices like that of his father whose voice is loudest. So he paints to escape. When he is out for drinks, he hears that someone that he knows, John Morrison, has gained fame after “painting for about two minutes”. John's life is everything that his isn't. The universe, Roman feels, hands him things when he wants them. His friends like Morrison's art and feel that his success will be good for them. They think he should let it go. Roman leaves the bar. Walking home he continues to ponder. He feels Morrison's success only highlights his failure. He has stolen his spot in the universe. He feels defeated. His spot will never come. The issue ends with Roman getting struck by a car.

I really liked the first issue. I enjoy Tommie Kelly's art and the story is a good mixture of the everyday story of someone trying to make it in the world and the big theme of our place in the universe. One issue is not enough to review the overall theme as I feel this issue covers a lot of them, as I noted at the beginning of this review, it could be art, fame or launching an idea into the world or all of the above. Some writers try high concepts while sacrificing the basic story. There is a big idea but no human element to help us connect to the story. Tommie Kelly manages to have the high concept while giving us Roman to empathise with. His is an everyman story of trying to make his way in the world. I also enjoyed the unanswered questions. There was enough of Roman's story for us to start to understand where the story going but there are enough mysteries there to get you to come back for issue two. I will be reading it. I want to know more about THEM.

 *****

Follow Tommie Kelly 

Website: http://www.tommiekelly.com/

LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! HALF PAST DANGER!

 I was going to wait until the trade was out to do a review but certain events changed those plans for me. First of all, I really enjoyed the first issue and want people to know about. Secondly, I attended a signing with writer/artist Stephen Mooney (thanks to Rob at Sub City Comics) and his enthusiasm for the series was contagious. I have known of Stephen Mooney's work since his days on Atomic Diner's Freak Show where, amongst other things, he drew one of my favorite villains, the Director. He has since built a name for himself working on various titles for IDW including Angel and the A-Team. Having done this, he decided to use that notoriety to do his own story called Half Past Danger. I have known about these plans for over a year. I was privy to a preview of the art for the first issue at various conventions and was there for the announcement of IDW as publisher and Jordie Bellaire as colorist from issue two at last year's DICE convention. I was already excited about the series as I have gotten more and more into creator owned series because, in my opinion, you get the purest sense of what the creator is all about but the addition of IDW and Jordie meant that this was going to be a beautiful book. The panel at DICE also included an entertaining discussion on the Indiana Jones movies and which was best which led to my purchasing the series on Blu ray as preparation for the release of issue one.

The issue begins with the Staff Sergeant Tommy “Irish” Flynn leading a troop of American soldiers through a Pacific Island. He, like thousands of other Irishmen, joined the Allied Forces to fight Nazis. From the very beginning, you get Stephen Mooney's love of the movies. The opening scene is reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark. We get the other cast member's views of the main character before we see him and get a great sense of camaraderie amongst the troops. The main thing we find out is that he has gotten them off more than one scrape and hasn't lead them wrong. We also get the feeling that he is about to get them into the biggest scrape of their lives. The troops run into a mysterious Nazi camp that is much further east than they should be and Flynn decides they should avoid the Germans and, in doing so, leads them towards some dinosaurs. The creatures, in some superb action sequences, make short work of the troops and only Flynn escapes with his life.

The story then cuts ahead two months to Flynn drowning his sorrows in a New York bar. We are not yet privy to what has occurred since his time on the island but he appears to be a broken man. His self-pity is interrupted by the appearance of Englishwoman, Elizabeth Huntington-Moss, an American soldier named Captain John Noble and a mysterious Japanese fighter. Elizabeth wants Flynn's help (we don't the what and the why yet) and you get the impression that she is a lady that gets what she wants. Their first interaction quickly results in bar fight where we get to the combat prowess of both the American and the Asian. Elizabeth didn't get her hands dirty and tries to order herself a drink instead. Flynn is eventually subdued and wakes in what appears to be a hospital. The American informs him that they intend to get him back into the war.

I really enjoyed the first issue. It had all the elements of a great action movie. We have an interesting lead, there is fast paced action, there are humorous elements and there is a great supporting cast. My favorite thing about the issue is that we don't know everything about Flynn, we haven't found out what those Nazis are were up to on that island, we don't know what has Flynn been up to since the island incident and we have only begun to know the supporting cast and what they want with Flynn. There are questions to be answered. Why is this my favorite thing about the issue? Well it makes me want to pick up the rest of the series so I can hopefully get some of these answers. I do want those answers.

*****

Follow Stephen Mooney

Website: http://www.halfpastdanger.com/