This was OK but I don’t get a lot out of Gaiman’s fairy tales. I don’t find them emotionally engaging, even though this one was a tragic love story. TThis was OK but I don’t get a lot out of Gaiman’s fairy tales. I don’t find them emotionally engaging, even though this one was a tragic love story. The art was pretty nice but very simple, more reminiscent of P. Craig Russell’s interest in woodblock printing than the more ornate style of Mucha or Art Nouveau that I probably would have preferred. I did like seeing some of the Sandman characters reimagined as figures from Japanese mythology. Not having read the prose version, I’m not sure how that would compare, but I’m unlikely to check it out....more
This ties in nicely to the Roderick and Alex Burgess plot lines of the main Sandman series, so is mainly interesting from that perspective. It's probaThis ties in nicely to the Roderick and Alex Burgess plot lines of the main Sandman series, so is mainly interesting from that perspective. It's probably also quite good if you happen to be a fan of the Wesley Dodds version of Sandman, but I don't know if anyone is. I quite like the texture of the art, which is done in a chalky, painty style and can be a bit ambiguous at times. It would quite suit the dreamlike quality of the Sandman series except this story is set in the 'real world' of 1930s England. The party scene and the conversations of the attendees seemed a bit unnecessary but overall the comic worked well as a bit of a detective story interlude/crossover....more
I think I liked this a little bit more than 'High Cost of Living'. Consistently nice art again by Mark Buckingham, and I feel that this one had a few I think I liked this a little bit more than 'High Cost of Living'. Consistently nice art again by Mark Buckingham, and I feel that this one had a few more existential musings than the last series - or perhaps I connected with them more. Death is in this one a bit less and the comic mostly follows Foxglove and Hazel, who are interesting enough to carry the story....more
I'm pretty sure I've read this before but I didn't remember it so well. Very enjoyable with nice art and a few interesting characters. There are only I'm pretty sure I've read this before but I didn't remember it so well. Very enjoyable with nice art and a few interesting characters. There are only minor references to the larger Sandman universe so it possibly works as a standalone story. Death is one of more endearing characters of the Endless and this gets that across....more
I guess I was hoping for some sort of expansion of the Hellraiser world and I didn’t realise how closely this story would align to the film (right dowI guess I was hoping for some sort of expansion of the Hellraiser world and I didn’t realise how closely this story would align to the film (right down to the hilarious “come to daddy� line). Kirsty’s relationship to Rory is pretty unclear here, and I think the movie resolved this a bit better. I think I’ll need to resume the comics anthology series again soon, as those stories seemed to be more satisfyingly depraved. This was enjoyable though....more
The series ended on a pretty high note, creatively speaking. We learn more about Dream and his relationships through the eulogies at his wake, and theThe series ended on a pretty high note, creatively speaking. We learn more about Dream and his relationships through the eulogies at his wake, and there's also a nice story about Hob. All of the art is great but I'm always particularly fond of Michael Zulli who re-imagines the characters in his own style. I also enjoyed The Tempest story more than the earlier Midsummer Night's Dream issue. 4 stars. Why not....more
After several issues filled with stories that didn’t have a lot to do with the Endless, this book focuses on the Dreaming in crisis as Dream is pursueAfter several issues filled with stories that didn’t have a lot to do with the Endless, this book focuses on the Dreaming in crisis as Dream is pursued by the Furies. Several characters from earlier issues appear and lead a few subplots but I’d kinda forgotten the backstories of some of them even though I’d only read their stories recently. Despite some of the confusion, I enjoyed this and it was pretty action-packed. The only gripe I have with this and other writing in this series as that some of the motivations are not explained sufficiently. Dream vaguely dismisses Matthew’s confusion over his actions as basically “those are the rules�. Is is a broader comment on genre fiction, or is it just a bit lazy? The mysteriousness it’s a bit dissatisfying.
Anyway, one book to go until I see how this all plays out....more
This was a collection of stories within stories, with only small appearances by Morpheus and the rest of the Endless. Perhaps something clever was occThis was a collection of stories within stories, with only small appearances by Morpheus and the rest of the Endless. Perhaps something clever was occurring here in regards to the formal structure of fairy tales, or perhaps there were some interesting references to historical or literary figures, but all of this was lost on me. The Prez story was perhaps my favourite in this collection, but I didn’t realise that it had anything to do with an older comic character....more
This is a bit of a side arc focusing on Barbie and her housemates as they traverse Barbie’s dangerous dream world. There are some cute characters and This is a bit of a side arc focusing on Barbie and her housemates as they traverse Barbie’s dangerous dream world. There are some cute characters and much violence and tragedy, and it’s mostly illustrated by Shawn McManus, so it sort of resembles the Swamp Thing story ‘Pog� in a number of ways. I like the art and colouring through this, but the story was a bit confusing. It introduces a bunch of new concepts into the mythology of the Dreaming but I don’t think they have been explained very well yet. Morpheus takes a backseat here, but I’m looking forward to the Endless coming back into the storyline a bit more....more
This collection of issues makes up a nice standalone arc where Morpheus is handed the keys to an empty Hell and then has to decide what to do with it.This collection of issues makes up a nice standalone arc where Morpheus is handed the keys to an empty Hell and then has to decide what to do with it. There is a brief aside dealing with the return of the dead on Earth, and we’re first introduced to the ‘Dead Boy Detectives�, who I’m familiar with from the Children’s Crusade crossover but I didn’t know they made their start here. Possibly a good jumping-in point to the series as there are also handy biographies of the Endless in the first issue too. In terms of art, I particularly liked the Mike Dringenberg issues, and the Epilogue has a scratchy style reminiscent of Michael Zulli. ...more
I’ve read some of these stories a few times now and enjoy them more every time, so I forked out for the Absolute Edition of this. The binding of the bI’ve read some of these stories a few times now and enjoy them more every time, so I forked out for the Absolute Edition of this. The binding of the book looks great. The art doesn’t particularly benefit for the larger format, but I do really like some of it - the ‘cats� story (#18) is probably my favourite material by Kelley Jones. I generally do not like re-colouring but it’s fine here, and I have to admit that it makes some of the book easier to read. It’s just nice to have all of these issues collected in one nice volume. The bonus materials partly consist of forewords/afterwords of the trade paperbacks. But there is also Gaiman’s initial proposal for the series (which is interesting and accompanied by many preliminary sketches) and the entire script and pencils for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (#19 - which isn’t my favourite story but it might benefit from some re-reading). I'm getting into this series at the moment and hopefully will make it through to the end (issue #75) this time....more
This is basically an origin story for the Avengers, who have been inexplicably renamed as the Ultimates here. I’m not too familiar with these characteThis is basically an origin story for the Avengers, who have been inexplicably renamed as the Ultimates here. I’m not too familiar with these characters except through all of the MCU films, and those films seem to have borrowed a lot from this title so I can’t tell how much of a departure this is from anything that preceded it.
The story initially seems to focus on the relationships and banter between the characters for the most part, which got me interested, but then the last few issues are taken up with action and explosions and my interest waned. All of the characters are quite unlikable. Banner is a mopey guy who gets demeaned by his girlfriend, until he becomes the Hulk and begins killing innocent people. Hank Pym (Ant-Man) viciously beats up the Wasp. Everyone calls each other “moron� or “idiot� all the time, and insult each other’s masculinity. At one point, the Wasp flashes the Hulk her breasts to distract him. It’s all pretty immature, even if the target audience was teenage boys in 2002, so it doesn’t age very well.
The art is OK. I don’t like the colouring. The pages are primarily divided into 4 horizontal strips, giving it a cinematic feel which works pretty well....more
This was a very worthwhile continuation of the Alan Moore issues, and provides some useful background info on Captain Britain and his large cast of asThis was a very worthwhile continuation of the Alan Moore issues, and provides some useful background info on Captain Britain and his large cast of associates. There is a lot happening here - perhaps too many characters and subplots. Meggan and the Manor’s computer are transformed, and alternate versions of the Special Executive, Saturnyne, and the Captain himself appear. This is on top of new villains and competitors, and the return of Slaymaster and the Crazy Gang. The art (and colouring) is again pretty great for the most part, but there is an overall decline by the last couple of issues collected here. These were both scripted and illustrated by Alan Davis, whereas most of the issues in this collection were written by Jamie Delano (mostly known for the excellent first few years of Hellblazer). These final issues here tend to be a bit dialogue heavy as Davis tries to wrap up some of the many loose threads.
I enjoyed some of the standalone stories a bit more, when Captain Britain has a single villain to face. The highlight was definitely ‘Sid’s Story� (scripted by Mike Collins), which is a bit of a tragic swamp monster story where Sid is reminiscent of Alan Moore’s Nukeface in that both are toxic vagrants who unwittingly poison all around them. ...more
This comic was organised in some way by Joyce Brabner on behalf of the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors (CCCO). I'm only vaguely aware ofThis comic was organised in some way by Joyce Brabner on behalf of the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors (CCCO). I'm only vaguely aware of Joyce and her association with comics through her appearances in Harvey Pekar's Our Cancer Year. Here she has assembled a very strong list of writers and artists including Brian Bolland and Swamp Thing alumni Alan Moore, Tom Yeates, Stephen Bissette and John Totleben. The stories are interesting and educational and the art is consistently good. Moore tried to be a bit clever in his two contributions and present something that is a bit non-linear, but I think the more straight-ahead autobiographical stories work better.
All in all, a good comic for a great cause. I’d bought this a while ago but obviously hadn’t read it because the bag was still sealed with sticky tape. Imagine my surprise and joy to find that ALAN MOORE has SIGNED his story in my copy! I’d always wanted a comic that was signed by him and I’ve probably had this for a couple of years. I’m hoping I’ll find some more cool stuff when I venture to the UK later in the year. ...more
**spoiler alert** I read these issues via the ‘X-Men Archives Featuring Captain Britain� reprints, which were released in the mid-90s and collect ‘Mar**spoiler alert** I read these issues via the ‘X-Men Archives Featuring Captain Britain� reprints, which were released in the mid-90s and collect ‘Marvel Super Heroes� #377-388, ‘Daredevils� #1-11 and ‘Mighty World of Marvel� #7-12. I decided to check these out as a fan of Alan Moore’s, and also because I picked up a trade paperback of the Jamie Delano/Alan Davis run that immediately follows these issues.
These reprints collect several pre-Moore issues leading up the Moore arc (commonly known as "Jaspers' Warp"), and also include some other commentary and art by Alan Davis. I’m not sure if these preliminary Dave Thorpe issues are really necessary for the enjoyment of the Moore stories. Issue #1 of the Archives shows Captain Britain and his annoying elfish sidekick Jackdaw landing on a new world, and introduces the characters Jim Jaspers and Saturnyne. These Thorpe issues are a bit tedious but it’s interesting to see Davis� art suddenly improve after the first couple of issues and it is really quite great by the time Moore gets on board. It’s also interesting to see the exact moment that Moore takes over this, which seems to be from the last page before the ‘Crooked World� issue. Moore’s foreboding narration is easily identifiable if you’ve read some of his other work, especially from around this period, e.g. Miracleman and Halo Jones. With Moore and Davis on board, this also makes a great companion to Miracleman/Marvelman, which was being published in Warrior at the same time (Moore’s first Marvelman story appeared in March �82 and Davis joined that title in around October). Miracleman also makes a couple of out-of-continuity appearances in these issues, which was a real bonus.
The plot of these stories are pretty much as follows: Captain Britain finds himself in an alternate dimension where all of the superheroes have been killed by a crazed reality-warping politician called Jim Jaspers, who has also created an unstoppable superhero-killing robot called The Fury. There is another group lead by Saturnyne who are planning to poison the water supply to force an evolution and stop the British population from fighting itself. I believe that the violent society of this world was originally intended to portray The Troubles but, when this was published, the Protestant and Catholic factions were very thinly disguised. I think that Davis (quite sensibly) thought that Captain Britain flying to Northern Ireland and fixing a complex political issue might come across as a bit insensitive. By the time of these ‘X-Men Archives� reprints, any hint of English/Irish politics had been removed entirely and the violence was explained as South London gang warfare, which only adds another complicated element to this alternative Britain.
Anyway, Alan Moore begins writing and thankfully kills off Jackdaw quickly. Jaspers and his robot win the fight against the good guys, with Saturnyne fleeing and Captain Britain getting killed and resurrected by Merlin. Later, to protect other universes from the threat posed by Jaspers' reality-bending, this corrupted universe is completely destroyed by the Dimensional Development Court - an omniversal governing force - but not before the killer robot escapes that universe and follows Captain Britain to his home planet. The Captain finds that his sister and her extrasensory-perceptible friends are being hunted and killed, and eventually Jim Jaspers again rises to power and threatens to destroy the planet like last time. However, the killer robot shows up and the series culminates in an impressive battle where these two antagonists warp reality in an attempt to kill each other.
That’s the basic plot, and it’s all quite enjoyable, even though I had no familiarity with the weird cast of characters who are introduced and didn't know whether they are recycled from old Captain Britain issues, or whether they are new Moore/Davis inventions. (It seems that at least the excellent 'Special Executive' team were created especially for these issues). The Captain is not given much of a backstory, so this doesn’t feel as insulated as Miracleman (which remains one of my favourite superhero series) but the Jaspers' Warp issues do feel like a complete arc with a beginning and a conclusion and a sort of circular logic to it all. I didn’t expect to like these as much as I did, and now I’ll have to pick up these issues from somewhere....more
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