From rfernand@chuma.cas.usf.edu Mon Jul  7 12:56:48 1997
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 1997 12:50:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: Robert Fernandez 
To: rfernand@chuma.cas.usf.edu
Subject: getdoc.xp?recnum=<3tump9$4rq@monolith.cyberstore.ca>&server=db95q23&CONTEXT=868294621.15274&hitnum=1


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  Article 2 of 12

Subject:      [10]Attack of the Killer Comic Reviews!
From:         [11]The Frozen Bartender 
Date:         1995/07/11
Message-Id:   <3tump9$4rq@monolith.cyberstore.ca>
Newsgroups:   rec.arts.comics.misc,rec.arts.comics.info
[12][More Headers]


Attack of the Killer Comic Reviews!             no. 13

***********************************************************

Incredible Hulk 431-432 (Marvel)
Lady Justice 1 (Tekno)
Spawn: Blood Feud 1 (Image)
Star Wars: Jabba the Hutt: The Hunger of Princess Nampi (Dark Horse)
Teknophage 2 (Tekno)
Violator vs. Badrock 1 (Image)

***********************************************************

Incredible Hulk 431-432

W: Peter David  P: Liam Sharp  I: Robin Riggs (431-432), Jon Holdredge (431)

Maybe it's the out of proportion art by Liam Sharp, maybe it's the
expensive glossy paper, maybe I'm trying to rationalize my Marvel boycott,
but I don't like this book as much as I used to. Lately it's seemed like a
shadow of its former self. Most of the characters, especially the minor
ones, seem like caricatures. The dialogue and captions seem forced and
pretentious. I remember scenes like the one in "War and Pieces" where
Havok and the Hulk debated the morality of their respective actions. That
sort of thing still goes on in this book, but it doesn't seem as natural
or well-written it used to be. ($1.95 ea., Marvel)


(Neil Gaiman's) Lady Justice 1

W: C.J. Henderson  P: Mike Netzer  I: Rick Magyar

Lord, let me find some suckers with pockets this deep. How much is Neil
Gaiman getting for ideas this lame? Is this what passes for "High Concept"
these days? "It's a female version of the Punisher who kills with her bare
hands. And, here's the thing, her mask is a blindfold!" There's absolutely
nothing unique about this book; it's a cobbled together mess of cliches.
Typical origin - heavy trauma (parents dead, both brothers killed in the
same day by the same terrorist, dancing career cut short by confinement to
a wheelchair) and divine inspiration turn her into a super hero (or, more
accurately, a super killer) who prances about in a cleavage-revealing
outfit and high heels. At least she's wearing pants. In the space of five
days, she's up and about and beating the crap out of criminals, including
the terrorist who killed her brothers. But instead of Lady Justice, she
should be called Lady Revenge or Lady Torture, because she takes perverse
delight in doing away with her victims and prolonging their agony.
According to the wall clock, she pummels the face of the terrorist
collaborator for 46 minutes. "With what is left of his mouth...Gilbert
talks." She puts her high heels to good use by impaling the hand of the
terrorist with one of them. This book takes the concept of "justice" to
gruesome new depths, and, frankly, the gratuitous violence in this title
bothered me almost as much as the killing and butchering in the latest
From Hell. But there's a point to the latter depiction; this is merely a
pandering grotesque mess. ($1.95, Tekno)


Spawn: Blood Feud 1
Violator vs. Badrock 1

W: Alan Moore  A: Tony Daniel and Kevin Conrad
W: Alan Moore  P: Brian Denham  I: Jonathan Sibal

It's a double dose of Alan Moore Image books. The first one I read was
Violator vs. Badrock, an entertaining romp pitting the muscle boy against
the drooling demon. Witty dialogue makes the book a great read:
"...welcome you to the Whiteside-Parsons Institute, Mr. Rock." "Please
call me 'Bad'".

What a sharp contrast to the abominable Spawn: Blood Feud, which I tossed
on the floor half way through it. The pages where the monster stalks it's
victims are very well done, but the rest of the book cannot be taken
seriously. A paranormal investigator who could pass for Rutger Hauer
manages to convince the police and press that Spawn is a vampire. So the
cops plaster the city with "Extranormal Hazard - Beware" posters. Right. I
don't think I've ever groaned so much while reading a comic book. ($2.25
and $2.50, Image)


Star Wars: Jabba the Hutt: The Hunger of Princess Nampi

W: Jim Woodring  P: Art Wetherell  I: Monty Sheldon

This is Jim Woodring's second attempt at scripting the adventures of the
galaxy's least lovable Hutt. Heading home with the spoils of the previous
issue, Jabba's ship stumbles across a seemingly defenseless freighter. In
a stunning display of tactical stupidity, Jabba personally leads an
undermanned and underarmed raiding party into a trap. Yet it's quite
entertaining to watch him use his guile to weasel his way out of captivity
while his second is the embroiled in a seduction scene that seems like a
cross between Lina Wertmuller and John Waters. Admittedly, it's much
lighter fare than Woodring's series Jim, and the touch almost strikes me
as too light for the subject matter. Likewise, the art, like the art in
Teknophage, seems too bright and cartoony to fit the plot. ($2.50, Dark
Horse)


(Neil Gaiman's) Teknophage 2

S: Rick Veitch  P: Bryan Talbot  I: Angus McKie

Though it's probably not saying much, this is the best title Tekno is
publishing. (I liked Mr. Hero, but not enough to keep buying it when $$$
got tight.) The plot centers around an unscrupulous businessman named Rob
Nichols who is thrust into the hellish realm of Kalighoul, ruled by the
Teknophage. "Rob Nichols is being...challenged. Let's just leave it at
that." But is he being challenged by evil or tempted by good? Veitch's
plot is good, though marred by an overdone spot or two (like the
ridiculous Mayor Mackaboy). Talbot's art is fine, but I think it's a bit
too smooth and refined for the nature of the story, but that might be the
fault of the bright coloring or glossy paper. ($1.95, Tekno)

***********************************************************

Attack of the Killer Comic Reviews is posted on rec.arts.comics.misc,
rec.arts.comics.info, and Comics-L whenever I feel like it. An abridged
version is sometimes posted to rec.arts.comics.alternative and the comix
mailing list. Feedback is welcome and encouraged.

Comics and stuff sent to me will be reviewed here. Send me e-mail and I'll
give you my address. If you sent me something and have not received a
review or a response, please notify me.


        "In my life, this may be my             Robert Fernandez
         favorite insane moment."               [13]rfernand@chuma.cas.usf.edu
-- John Patrick Shanley, "Women of Manhattan"   techno Luddite supreme
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        "If I am the Devil's child, I will live then from the Devil."
                                        -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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