comics! #2
Ultramega no.7 (2024)
Great, bonkers artwork, but the story … James Harren needs a writer or another editor. It's his story, i just don't feel like it has his full attention.
Justice League Unlimited no.1 (2024)
As i predicted, this book is an all around pleaser. It utilises some of the animated Justice League lore, sets up the bad guys and the intrigue that keeps the reader engaged; pats on the back all around. And i have not read any of the Absolute Power titles, and felt like it didn't matter, just in case.
Void Rivals no.14 (2024)
The glacial pacing i scoff at in between release dates, and when a new issue is released, i enjoy the ride. We're on issue 14 and while it feels like the summary fits on a napkin, it's an entertaining napkin.
Smoking behind the Supermarket Bnd.4 (2024)
Nobody should read this, it's engineered to go nowhere as slowly as possible until publication either gets stopped by the publisher due to declining sales or the creatives due to a shortage on creative juice. It's about the slowly developing romance between an »old« salaryman and a clerk who share a cigarette behind the supermarket once in a while. The hook is, that the clerk he actually wants to spend time with, is the clerk he's sharing a smoke in a wig. Dungeon Toilet should be my jam, i can't help myself … Pre-ordered volume 5 which is scheduled for April 2025.
It's lonely at the center of the earth - Zoe Thorogood (2022)
Reading over this text, i realise, i should read it again and think about it. Nevertheless, i'll let this stand here, and gestate further in my thoughts.
I wanted to read this for a long time now, and until the end of the year profits are donated to organisations that help people with mental illness; what better time to read it?
It's fine. An artist takes us with her to look at a part of her life through her senses. It's messy, intimate, feels honest and fictional at the same time, it's unique in seemingly being loose while there had to be a rigid plan behind it; and if there wasn't, phew, it's a masterpiece. Something, someone loved doing when given the opportunity.
It's certainly not everyone's favourite chocolate, nothing is, and in particular with the presented themes of depression, anxiety, developing and using complex strategies to navigate a complex and chaotic world as well as being heralded as one of the future stars in your business, and what that brings with it. And yet, and the end it felt like »we reached this point, so bye!«. And that should be ok, it deals with the chaos life throws at us, and as every artform, it also reflects onto the reader, what he brings with him--not enough in my case. And i'll read it a second time, and perhaps, think completely different about it.
There is one panel and sentence though, that will echo through my memory for a long time to come, a good reminder about how absurd and serious things can be at the same time.