This issue is about the end of a saga, we find out if the world will be
reborn, and the damage that was done undone. This tale told is one of
remarkable power and style. The characters have personality and there are
touches that only someone with a great love of this subject would be able
to accomplish. The writing was good if not perfect. But the story
telling and art are indeed perfect. I find some of the pages to be eye
popping, and unexpected. I love comics, I love myth, for me this is an
example of a comic that will linger in my memory. I deeply recommend
this series. You know, you find that in comics usually, that very few
comics are written or drawn because they just are. That is, I do not
often find a done in one project that is an end unto itself, with no
seeming aspirations for purchase for movie rights, or a larger series, or,
politics or whatever. One prime example is the recent Captain Atom
series from DC Wildstorm. I read every issue, enjoyed them, but the
final issue and particularly the final 4 pages or so was by no means
satisfactory, it was clearly just a means to reboot the Wildstorm hero
universe rather than be a story unto itself. The end felt forced,
artificial and quite honestly it felt like I was kicked and laughed at and
mocked for having invested 30 dollars in comics that could just have been
done in a single panel with Jim Lee saying, hey we are starting all over.
Forget everything we’ve done before. But then again, they would not
have lifted the 30 dollars from my pants pocket and wallet had they done
that. Returning to my point, THE PORTENT by Peter Bergting goes about
telling a beautiful story, in a limited amount of pages and has the
feeling of having been done just right. No fluff, no bullshite, just
a good book.
A Few Steve Niles Books The Cryptics
Ben Roman and Steve Niles Image
In mini vignettes and scenes four young men, boys actually, are junior
versions of bigger monsters, from the monster movies, Dracula, the
Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Wolfman and Doctor Jekyll. They are
friends, they are monsters. They do what young monsters do, naughty funny
things. The art is very unique. The line work is quirky and fun, the
color work is incredible. Pastels and grunge if that makes sense to you
the reader. The writing, while somewhat loose seeming, was interesting.
But honestly, jokes about monsters and such, this was a strange offering
by Niles. It both satisfied and made me curious why it was done. This
is a good book, and I did like it, but have no idea what readership would
like it particularly. Humor is that way and Monsters too. But man that
art is awesomely done.
Cal McDonald Feat of Clay
Kyle Hotz and Steve Niles Dark Horse
Cal McDonald, a-religious, a-moral, crusty vile drug abusing and hard
drinking detective meets a golem of clay, sent out for revenge by a Jewish
man seeking revenge oriented justice. This concept is fairly unique, and
done in such a way that makes me appreciate Niles as a writer more.
Because, whatever the end result, (we know Cal is not going to die) the
juxtaposition of morally and psychically wounded amoral human versus
religious tool of revenge is quite powerful. The concept is well
considered, the realized story well done, the art very good. I wish I
had seen more playing with the archetypes in reverse, but hey, it worked
for me.
The Creeper
Justiniano and Steve Niles
DC Comics
Noisy reporter/commentator Jack Ryder discovers genetic drug inventor Dr.
Yatz has friends who are dangerous. He gets hit by the drug and we get
THE CREEPER. This is a reboot/reimagining of the character and setting
of THE CREEPER. It follows years, even decades of DC trying to get the
character to fit into the DC Universe, and mostly failing. Based upon
the failures with the character it might be argued that either the talent
or concept failed. But the character is valid, the concept unique to his
time, and from the pencil and mind of Steve Ditko, it is notoriously hard
to interpret by others. I am a fan of Ditko’s version, and while this
book in itself was well done, I rather hated it. So perhaps I am biased
too much. But I must say, I like Steve Niles’ personally and creative
output wise one hell of a lot more than I am attached to the character of
the Creeper. If you never enjoyed the Creeper before you might enjoy
this. But if you have been a long suffering fan, this might seem, as it
did to me, to be a reboot without a soul.
30 Days of Night Rumors of the Undead
Jeff Mariotte and Steve Niles
IDW and Pocket Star Books
Barrow, Alaska is once again spawning stories of horror, ones that are
reminiscent of the tales found in the comics’ world series 30 Days of
Night. FBI Special Agent Andy Gray’s life has collided with the world of
the undead, and vampires in particular. The slaughter begins and the
rumors, alluded to in book title, better not be true or there is something
very dangerous going on. I enjoyed this book. The writing got to an
uncomfortable truth about Vampires. They are not sexy. They are not
clever manipulators of humans. They are violent murderous beasts. I
cannot tell what is Niles versus what is Mariotte, but I suspect that
either they worked out a format where one plots and the other writes or
something. Who knows. I think this book ought to be read at night, with
a comfortable blanket and pillow, and make sure to keep a baseball bat by
the side of your bed,<
