There is a lot to cover on Wednesdays. We should know, as collectively, we read an insane amount of comics. Even with a large review staff, it’s hard to get to everything. With that in mind, we’re back with Wrapping Wednesday, where we look at some of the books we missed in what was another great week of comics.
Let’s get this party started.
Above the Clouds #1
Written and Illustrated by Melissa Pagluica
Reviewed by Matthew Garcia
Gorgeously illustrated and cleverly structured, “Above the Clouds” #1 is a new fairy tale/fantasy story by Melissa Paglucia. Set in a small feudal town, the story opens with a bunch of warrior boys returning home, and all the local girls waiting to court them. This includes Eily, who has her eye on Cian, who isn’t entirely romantically interested in her, yet nonetheless is willing to share the story he’s been writing. And it’s in the story-within-a-story that “Above the Clouds” #1 comes to life.
The fairy tale scenes are the most immediately engaging, what with the dragons and shapeshifting monks and whatnot. And Pagluica has this keen eye for what to show and how to generate tension from it. Yet the “real world” scenes are compelling and interesting in their own right. By giving herself the challenge of delivering these sequences wordlessly, Paglucia creates a story even more fascinating. Nothing that happens in the “real world” scene is original or new, but her delivery of it makes it fresh and exciting.
Pagluica renders her pages in these soft, fanciful watercolors. They’re so flowing and confident it’s intoxicating. The scenes set in the “real world” rely on pantomime and gesture, and Paglucia’s control over staging and expression keep these scenes engaging and comprehendible. Text doesn’t appear on the page until Eily starts reading Cian’s book, and Paglucia goes to great lengths to incorporate it into the flow and energy of the artwork, as opposed to having it on a different, separate layer. It’s an efficacious manner of visualizing the method of reading, of that moment when you get so caught up in a narrative that it ebbs and kicks around your head and occupies your entire mindspace.
Since this only the first chapter of a longer story, there’s not much beyond basic sketches and gestures we know about these characters. But with her wonderfully rendered artwork, strong pacing, and confident balance between the real world and the fairy tale narrative, I’m on board to watch everything unfold.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – And if nothing else, this book is simply wonderful to look at.
Gotham Academy #17
Written by Brenden Fletcher, Michael Dialynas, David Peterson
Illustrated by Adam Archer, Annie Wu, Michael Dialynas, David Peterson
Reviewed by Ken Godberson III
Okay, I am officially ready for ‘Yearbook’ to be over and now am in Waiting For ‘Second Semester’ Mode.
Recently, I guest hosted a DC3 podcast where we talked about “Gotham Academy”. I mentioned I felt that — even before it was confirmed that the book would be returning — this switch from long-form storytelling to anthology setting didn’t feel earned. Now that we are four months in, that is felt harder than ever. Before you come at me with vitriol, I will say that none of the stories here are bad. But at this point it feels like the mentality is “Damn! We have to run out the clock to May for Rebirth!”
Case-in-Point: the Fletcher/Wu/Lapointe story is the strongest story in this issue because it actually does pick up plot threads from earlier issues of “Academy” as well as “Black Canary”, a book I’m told is excellent/good/okay/bad/dig my eyes out with a spoon (delete where appropriate). It brings Pomeline’s turbulent relationship with Heathcliff back into focus after he left to manage Black Canary’s band. It’s very sweet and poignant with Wu and Lapointe taking a softer aesthetic than the rock energy of the “Black Canary” book.
The other two stories are good as well, if not as emotionally resonant. Dialynas’s cartoon work features fun emotional expressions, and his giant monsters reminded me just how far behind I have fallen on “The Woods”. On the other hand, Peterson’s tale from years past had some great semi-realistic artwork and some great creature work as they explored the Dungeons & Dragons stand-in game that Maps is a huge fan of.
Continued belowBut the more I think on it the more I realize they had five issues from the start of ‘Yearbook’ to conclusion with next month’s issue #18 and there couldn’t have been a larger story? Something to keep people coming back? Because truthfully, I was going to stop after the first issue of ‘Yearbook’. The only reason I didn’t was because we then learned that the book would return after Rebirth (granted, DC didn’t mention that in their Rebirth livestream, which was a colossally stupid move) and I’m more in the know and pay attention to the industry more than regular customers. I am fearful this arc is going to drive more people away than bring on and create a lukewarm atmosphere for ‘Second Semester’. Let’s face it, good though these stories are, they are fluff pieces. Now, fluff can be good every now and again, but too much too quick and you’re going to crap purple.
Final Verdict: 6.0- Well to do stories that don’t mask the feeling of spinning wheels.
Heartthrob #1
Written by Christopher Sebela
Illustrated by Robert Wilson IV
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
“Heartthrob” is a story of a woman, Callie, who gets a heart transplant when transplants were still a very new thing, and one that wasn’t necessarily a guarantee of anything. The first three quarters of the book is very much Callie’s life story up to this point – sick, sad, and seemingly temporary. Robert Wilson IV (“Knuckleheads”) does a great job of making Callie’s life seem borderline tragic without relying on any of the tropes of tragedy. Her sadness is all behind her eyes, in her body language, and in the body language of those around her. Wilson is an artist that also knows how to get a laugh across now and then, such as Callie and Mercer’s first kiss, where the scene is both hilarious and true to the tone of the rest of the issue. Wilson is one of the more underrated artists working today, so it is great to see him get this opportunity.
Who is the aforementioned Mercer, you ask? Well, Mercer is the original owner of Callie’s new heart, and he manages to be a sort of phantom living within her, able to interact with her and only her. He is also a master thief, and that influence appears to creep through the cracks of Callie’s broken world relatively easily. Chris Sebela writes Mercer like a bit of a scumbag, but a scumbag that would probably be fun company. Everything about their ‘relationship’ is dysfunctional and creepy, but you can also see why it appeals to Callie in a way.
The issue takes a sharp turn towards the dramatic (and traumatic) in its final ten pages or so, but the beginning of the issue absolutely earns the payoffs that come at the end. Suffice to say, Mercer’s influence on her life is strong and immediate, and will more than likely shape the rest of the series. I’m truly fascinated to see where it goes.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – A strong debut from two underrated creators
Limbo #6
Written by Dan Watters
Illustrated by Caspar Wijngaard
Reviewed by Alice W. Castle
I was really expecting to open this review with ‘”Limbo” isn’t your usual detective story’, but in a lot of ways “Limbo” isn’t your usual anything. Perhaps that’s what makes it so captivating. It wears its influences on its sleeve, sure, but it’s a melting pot of ideas that’s been poured out of six issues to tell a story about identity, about choice and about morality in a world where these things should be irrelevant. It’s a stark look at ourselves and our society filtered through a detective story filtered though about a million other things.
Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard team up here to bring the house down with a sense-shattering conclusion and it’s, frankly, amazing. Wijngaard has really outdone his already astonishing artwork here with a setpiece fight scene positioned entirely behind the main character, Clay, in a sequence that would make The Raid feel jealous. And, honestly, if “Limbo” is remembered for nothing else let it be for the vibrant, neon, low-contrast colours that make every page feel like a kick to the teeth.
Continued below“Limbo” is Raymond Chandler meets H.P. Lovecraft filtered through Videodrome, Hotline Miami, Drive, Lucha Underground, and Louisiana Voodoo. It’s a dizzying, introspective spin through pop culture and how we define our identities through what we consume.
And you know what? It was great.
Final Verdict: 9.1 – A must read.
“Mockingbird” #2
Written by Chelsea Cain
Illustrated by Kate Niemczyk
Reviewed by Stephenson Ardern-Sodje
“For anyone who has ever felt dismissed, undervalued, forth tier, ‘too eighties’, unheard, unworthy, lightweight, thinly sketched…” Cain’s clarion call for the unappreciated amongst us comes at the end of this issue, accompanied by a Bobbi Morse paper doll that blends slinky outfits and humourous accessories with legitimate clues to the “puzzle box” narrative she’s been setting up over the past few issues. Cain’s vivid, and vibrant take on one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s more underutilised spies sees her take a pleather-coated trip to the London branch of the Hellfire club to rescue on-again-off-again beau Lance Hunter. Once there, the duo find themselves in hot water, until Bobbi’s spy smarts, and her enigmatic new skilset, help bail them out.
Cain has managed to construct a truly retro-futuristic feeling book that feels reminiscent of the over the top spy romps of the 60’s and 70’s. And, just like the paper doll at the end of the issue, Cain gets the blend of sex appeal, comedy, and compelling story just right to keep you racing from cover to cover to find out more. While this issue feels a little light on overall story, Cain’s flair for fun and fulfilling characterisation means that you’ll forgive her pacing, as it give you more time to just kick back and see cool spies doing cool spy stuff.
Niemczyk’s polished art style lends itself perfectly to an issue peopled with characters in shiny rubber gimp-suits. The issue opens with Lance in a pair of rubber trunks and a dog collar, while Bobbi’s outfit, for all its provocative spikes and heels, is actually much more reserved than many female superheroes out there at the moment. There’s something really visually funny about this flip of tradition, and watching Lance stumble through the issue all-but naked really makes you stop and think about all the women who have had to fight crime in thigh highs and hot pants over the years without complaint. Niemczyk’s comedic artwork also comes across in much more subtle ways, most notably a series of infographics, tally charts, and other meta visual aides that remind the reader they’re consuming a comic book and demonstrate the truly unique elements of the medium that often get left underused.
Final Verdict: 7.2 Fast, fun, and full of sweet characterisation and little meta moments. Well worth rediscovering this not so secret agent.
