King-Size
Conan #1
I read this last out of the stack, though I actually went
to the comic store to get this, but I’m putting it first for this post because the
cover looks cooler than the rest. I saw Zack’s video review before reading and it didn’t spoil anything. It also confirmed my own opinion: this was a
really good comic. For $7 freaking
dollars, it better be! It is double-sized
on slick paper with minimal ad intrusion (though there should have been none
for the price). This was put out to
celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Marvel Conan comics.
The issue is supposed to show Conan in his different
careers, like barbarian and thief. For
being called “King-size,” it doesn’t show Conan as the king of Aquilonia. The artwork is excellent, except for the
Kevin Eastman segment. (I hate to just
single someone out, but it sticks out like sore thumb.) All of the stories are pretty well
written. I’ll pick the Thief story as my
favorite.
I’m not sure about that price, but out of the stack of
comics I got, this was easily the best of the bunch.
Vertigo
Essentials: Fables #1
I picked this one up as an afterthought, after getting the Conan and the two gift comics. Since it comes so highly recommended, I couldn’t resist trying Fables as a $1 sampler of the first issue. The main problem with Fables is that it’s been co-opted by other works before and after, such as Into the Woods and Once Upon a Time. This is a much more thoughtful work with a highly developed mythos.
I think. It’s hard
to tell a lot from the first issue of a series that ran for (let me look at the
checklist provided with the issue) over 25 volumes. I know there’s a whole bunch more to the
story and setting, but a serial killer investigation featuring fairy tale
characters didn’t really grab me. I will
say that the artwork certainly did. I’m
already in love with Snow White. For the art alone, I’d probably at least want
to get (rechecking the checklist) Volume 1.
This is a double-sized comic, though the comic itself is
only normal-sized. The rest of the pages
are a catalogue of DC trades. There’s
some interesting-looking stuff in there.
Arion
#’s 1, 13, 17
None of the comics being reviewed here are decompressed
quick reads, by the way. I have to give
credit for that at least. It’s nice to
get into a meaty comic. I’ve mentioned Arion before as an intriguing backup
feature in Warlord. These comics were the truly happy finds in
the bargain bin. I’d wanted to see what
a full issue would look like.
Issue #1 unfortunately picks up right where the backup
storyline ended. I say, “unfortunately,”
because anyone picking this up off a grocery store spinner rack in the 80’s
would have been hopelessly confused by it.
Even having read what directly led to this issue, I was lost. The story starts with Arion in a celestial
metaphysical battle with cosmic entities.
It’s not entirely relatable . . . for anybody. I would have started with some sort of recap
of the setting and characters first before resuming the ongoing storyline. On the other hand, the artwork is magnificent
and thoroughly compelling. As a reader
in the 80’s, I would have given this comic another chance next month. I suppose I should scan more examples, but,
really, need you see more than the above picture?
Issue #13 was a bit water damaged and I can’t believe that
before they put in the bin, the store was selling this as a collector’s
item. It mostly featured the
barbarian/Indian supporting character, Wyynde. #17 featured Arion mostly wallowing in
angst-y spiritual conflict. Artist and
co-creator Jan Duursema seems to be
really torn in fascination between frail pretty boys and muscular he-men. In any case, the art’s really good.
It’s not so much the story that falls flat, it’s the
characters, especially the main character.
(Grognardia also made this observation.) The character takes a lot of inspiration from Elric
I’m told, but he’s not any sort of anti-hero.
He feels more like a victim than a hero for some reason. I guess because he’s continuously suffering. Wyynde feels like he should be main
protagonist, but that might be a little too Conan-ish.
So, Arion is
basically a heroic derivative of Elric,
who was the complete opposite of Conan, and also pairs him up with a derivative
of Conan. Not to say this couldn’t have
worked. It should have! Certainly with this artwork! This comic is a frustrating enigma. If I find any more classic issues, I’ll pick
them up, but my expectations have been diminished. The worst of it is that this character has
been thoroughly mangled by all of the DC universal reboots. (I think he was Power Girl’s dad at one point, or something like that.) Arion would certainly be worth a coherent
relaunch if somebody can figure out what’s wrong with the concept.
Part 5
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