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COMICS!!!|OT| April 2019 | Legendary AF
- Thread starter Messi
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I actually read Identity Crisis for the first time a couple weeks ago. It was definitely a comic book.
It could have been good if it weren't for the misery porn, misogyny, weird character retcons/assassinations, deeply unsatisfying conclusion...
It could have been good if it weren't for the misery porn, misogyny, weird character retcons/assassinations, deeply unsatisfying conclusion...
Yeah like, if they came up with something different and published that instead? That might have worked.
If they had replaced all the pages with something good instead...I mean it's not too late for HiC. Have the same cover for HiC #9 but when ya open it up it's like The Anatomy Lesson From Saga of Swamp Thing instead. Don't announce it, or wink at the readers, just do it and see everyone reactions.
This is the former, the problem is that Tom King is a depressed psychopath who uses cape comics for therapy when he's not using it to justify his 'generous' imperial views when it comes to the Middle East.
Are you going to continue to torture yourself? Read Cry for Justice next.
Or, if you like Mary Marvel, the weekly series Countdown (to Final Crisis, but not really because nobody coordinated this with Final Crisis, or Death of the New Gods, or anything else, they just wanted your money for 52 straight weeks)
The only positive thing that I have to say about Identity Crisis is that it was a huge step in making the case the the DC Superheroes are an actual community behind the masks. Meltzer sprinkled so many little interpersonal nuances in between the garbage that I found myself caring more about DC characters after reading the book despite hating it.
Oh it's terrible. And it directly leads into the even worse Rise of Arsenal.
Listen to this man, he speaks the truth.
Gotta make a mental note to avoid it if I ever get around to going through the JL series @_@
I'm kinda-sorta in no particular order going through Green Arrow's history. So yeah, Cry for Justice is on that list... Ollie had a pretty rough go for most of the 2000s. Almost between Kevin Smith bringing him back and Lemire salvaging his New 52 run has a pretty poor-to-middling reputation.
Related: I read through Crossroads (the Green Arrow arc immediately after Grell left the book) and that was a real shitshow. One issue he's teaming up with Deathstroke to shoot up a bunch of drug runners, then a few issues later he's hanging out with Anarky and blowing up an ammunition factory?
Remember how great James Robinson's Starman run was? And how it was this thoughtful exploration of legacy, heroism, and the dynamics of father/son relationships? And how it's one of the best things DC has published?
Well take those warm, fuzzy memories and rip them to shreds, throw the ripped up remains into a dumpster and catch the whole thing on fire, and then nuke it for good measure. The charred radioactive ashes that are left are Cry for Justice.
Honestly post Mike Grell/pre Archers Quest, the best green arrow showcase was with Connor in that Morrison JLA The Key.
Heroes in Crisis - I enjoy King more than most others here but this event has really sucked. Whatever he wanted to do with this story is going to be lost with him making Wally responsible for all the deaths.
Action Comics - Set up issue but still a good one. Talia is up and about, Tiger makes an appearance and Kelex sasses Waller which is amusing. I'm really hoping Bendis nails Event Leviathan because I've enjoyed the set up.
Detective Comics - Now it feels like Tomasi has found his groove, feels like a new B&R issue. The premise is cliche and played out with the whole "No BATMAN is the real villain", but at least it looks like Tomasi isn't going to drag out the mystery of who the AK is. Enjoyed it for Damian mostly.
Terrifics - I think Yang has set up some potentially interesting follow ups to what Lemire did in his run. Holt's atheism contrasted with Pamela's faith could make for an interesting storyline. Solid first issue, hopefully DC lets this book survive long enough to be included in the upcoming relaunch that's sure to follow Snyder's summer event. A team book with no Bat or Super characters at DC is really enjoyable, helps establish this group as independent and not under the authority of the JL, something the Titans teams have never been able to do.
Action Comics - Set up issue but still a good one. Talia is up and about, Tiger makes an appearance and Kelex sasses Waller which is amusing. I'm really hoping Bendis nails Event Leviathan because I've enjoyed the set up.
Detective Comics - Now it feels like Tomasi has found his groove, feels like a new B&R issue. The premise is cliche and played out with the whole "No BATMAN is the real villain", but at least it looks like Tomasi isn't going to drag out the mystery of who the AK is. Enjoyed it for Damian mostly.
Terrifics - I think Yang has set up some potentially interesting follow ups to what Lemire did in his run. Holt's atheism contrasted with Pamela's faith could make for an interesting storyline. Solid first issue, hopefully DC lets this book survive long enough to be included in the upcoming relaunch that's sure to follow Snyder's summer event. A team book with no Bat or Super characters at DC is really enjoyable, helps establish this group as independent and not under the authority of the JL, something the Titans teams have never been able to do.
Yeah, the first scenes with Sofia were a real eye-roll moment for me with Sherriff. I read half of an interview he did on the book before I went to bed just to try and get an idea of where he's coming from and he implies she's some sort of culture because she's Iraqi, but an expat raised in the US and just... the lack of self awareness is astounding. There aren't enough pots and kettles in the world.
That's good to hear about MM though. And I have heard that before and I have enjoyed his romantic writing between Bruce and Selena, so I'm most curious about how Scott and Barda are written.
Yeah, I think of the issue for me with these books is he's so thoroughly convinced that he made the right call joining the war effort and there are monsters on both sides of the conflict that just need to be dealt with. He never once considers the genesis of the issue is intervention. And I just can't really rock with someone who hasn't put together (or refuses to) how detrimental it is.
Basically:
I don't have much to add to the discussion because it's obvious that HiC has been a disaster one every level, but the are are some truly bad faith readings on King's work from you guys who I know are way smarter than that.
Him posing under the Swords of Qādisīyah (Victory Arch) is some straight up George W Bush "Mission Accomplished!" level trash.
Sometimes I'll read something from King and be convinced the guy is just not a good writer but just has a few interesting ideas. But then I read some of his other stuff and it's genuinely great.
I don't know how to feel. Reading Heroes in Crisis, it's like Tony S Daniel levels of writing. Then Vision and Omega Men and several other things are fantastic in pretty much every way.
I don't know how to feel. Reading Heroes in Crisis, it's like Tony S Daniel levels of writing. Then Vision and Omega Men and several other things are fantastic in pretty much every way.
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While we're on the subject of Astro City does anyone know what's happening with the TPB releases? I was looking to get up to date (been buying the paperbacks for years) but the Ordinary Heroes TPB is unavailable and there doesn't seem to be any paperback listings for future volumes.
You convinced me, nothing wrong with a little jingoism if you write ok comics from time to time!
So, just doubling down huh? Cause if jingoism is what you've got from any of his works than then I made serious error in judgement earlier...
Edit: Said I was reclaiming my time and did this. I'm done with this discussion as It seems a few of us have different reads of his works and I don't have the energy for the subs and other shit.
Edit: Said I was reclaiming my time and did this. I'm done with this discussion as It seems a few of us have different reads of his works and I don't have the energy for the subs and other shit.
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Sure ting! I missed your post pre-edit, but if you ever do want to actually refute complaints here, I'm curious to hear you out. As it stands though, I really don't think it's particularly unfair to call out the imperialist mindset his work seems to be coming from.
Anybody else been keeping up with High Level, Goddess Mode, or any of the other Vertigo books?
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I haven't. I enjoy his books. I did stop reading Heroes in Crisis. I ain't got time to watch my faves die.
I don't think he was posing for that picture to make a statement or anything.
I'm amazed Tom King is still on Twitter. He's tweeting about people sending him death threats again.
Everyone time he writes be probably thinks, "If I don't write well, and please everyone, people are going to threaten to kill me and my wife".
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