Wednesday, of course, is new-comic day, and an opportunity for me to rattle off some pithy quickies instead of strain myself by trying to articulate anything insightful:
- Identity Crisis #7 (of 7): Meh. At least this one had a cover I really liked. This series started off with a pretty powerful emotional kick, but just couldn’t hold its momentum across all these months. It might work better as a trade, but I tried rereading a few issues in a batch, and I couldn’t get through it without wondering about if it was gonna rain the next day or do we have any cake or is there some Gilmore Girls on the Tivo or something. For a big finale, this wrapped things up tidily, but it’s hard to care. Especially when they reveal the killer right at the beginnning and then follow it with blah blah blah blah blah. Oh well. I bought them all, so I guess DC’s fiendish plan worked in the end.
- Ex Machina #7: Ah, such bliss. I love this book more and more every month, and that’s after I started loving it completely when I read the first issue. I love the overall concept, I love how the characters are written so well, and I really want to see where they go with the new twists they’re adding to the story now. Just brilliant.
- Space Ghost #1: Ooooh, pretty! Oooooh, not so much fun. If they were gonna make Space Ghost all serious science fiction, I would have preferred the more inventive touch of Warren Ellis or someone.
- Birds of Prey #77: This is another series I wish I’d discovered much, much earlier. It’s really wonderful. That being said, this issue was a little weak, but I think they’re just getting going with a different story arc, so we’ll see. Like Joss Whedon, Gail Simone doesn’t go too crazy with the plot devices (even though lots of good ideas come into play), instead getting most of the power of each issue from the development of the main characters. That aspect doesn’t taper off, even when the action part of the story doesn’t kick in so much.
And since the subject came up again recently, I finally bought the first trade collection of Alias, and I feel like a goddam idiot for not paying more attention to it when it was underway. Incredible! Totally, totally incredible. I’m actually really glad that Bendis didn’t intend to use Jessica Drew for the main character (as is often thought), because I wouldn’t want her taken in this direction, but I think it’s even more brilliant for developing a brand new character as if she were an embittered has-been. It’s a great story, and surprisingly emotionally resonant. And just funny enough just often enough to keep it really punchy between the grim parts. And don’t even get me started on how gorgeous all the covers (by “total snack” David Mack) were. I kinda noticed those right before the series ended, when I decided not to get involved so far into a story. Now, of course, I have to get them all. Curses!
I was going to add this comment to the Jessica Drew post but now it fits better here: It’s funny that Marvel wouldn’t let one of their “real” characters star in Alias. Is it because she takes it from behind from Luke Cage in the first issue? Interesting sexual politics there; apparently it’s OK for a Marvel character to pitch but not to catch? Maybe I’m reading too much into it.
Wow, maybe that explains why Northstar can’t get laid.
Bendis claims that Jessica Drew was out of the picture so early on that there was never an idea of taking it all in this direction until Jessica Jones really developed as her own character. Still, I love that J. Drew came up in Carol Danvers’ gossip about Luke Cage’s thing for “capes.” So maybe you can still hold on to that image of Spider-Woman getting stung from behind.
I was also going to respond to your Spider-Woman comments but was just too busy. The two Jessica’s are very cool, and I’m glad you picked up the ALIAS trade. The entire series is very worthwhile, and so is PULSE (although I don’t think it’s as good as ALIAS.) As for why Northstar can’t get laid, maybe there should be a scene where he and Jessica (Jones) compare notes?
re: Space Ghost–I thought trying to make him a serious character was a bad idea anyway (even in the 60’s, it was pretty campy), but giving it to Joe Kelly sealed the deal for me. I’ve never liked his writing. He always seems contented to go for the easy joke or plot, and not really challenge himself or the reader. I really liked Deadpool as a character until Kelly ruined him for me. As for Space Ghost, if he’s headed to comics, I say give it to Evan Dorkin and Sara Dyer. They’ve alredy proven themselves.