| ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL.6 – FRIGHTFUL |
[Jul. 2nd, 2009|04:40 pm] |
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL.6 – FRIGHTFUL
By
Mark Millar, Greg Land, Matt Ryan, Mitch Breitweiser, Justin Ponsor, Jason Keith, Randy Gentile.
UFF #27
We start with a really strange sequence.
Apparently, Reed Richards has taken the UFF into the past and is chatting to his younger alter ego before they go further back and prevent their transformation from ever taking place. In Chile, Susan Storm finds a tomb for someone called the Super-Skrull…
Johnny is getting beer recipes from Zombie Reed. The evil Reed again alerts them to the fact that they’re going to escape soon. Ben gets in trouble with the police for doing more damage than actually helping. As he becomes the laughing stock of Johnny’s party we get to see just how bad things have been for Ben.
This issue closes with yet another alternate reality, one where every single human on the planet seems to possess super-powers and where Thor is president of the USA.
( Click here for more on Mark Millar's FANTASTIC two story arcs!!! ) |
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| ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL.5 – CROSSOVER |
[Jul. 2nd, 2009|01:13 am] |
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL.5 – CROSSOVER
By
Mark Millar, Greg Land, Matt Ryan, Mitch Breitweiser, Justin Ponsor, Jason Keith, Randy Gentile
UFF #21
Here starts the tie in with the Zombie books…
In a word, Reed Richards from a parallel reality contacts with young Reed from the Ultimate Fantastic Four, luring him into his world. Obviously, consumed by curiosity and wishing to help his seemingly benevolent alter-ego, young Reed does precisely that. But, what he is soon to face is much more horrible than he could ever expect. Fortunately for him, his mates are coming to the rescue… and causing even more trouble along the way…
There are no intros in this volume and Mark Millar doesn’t tell us if he was asked specifically to write something to tie in with Kirkman’s stints into the Ultimate continuity.
It kind of feels that way, a bit artificial. And the same with the artwork. Beautiful but too smooth. Too shiny.
(though it grows on you, I’ll give you that…)
One of the things that I didn’t like was that panel where we can see Reed crossing his fingers. It feels corny and dated. It would’ve been preferable for Reed just to say something like “science is more important than what YOU think is important”. Or simply not stating anything and letting us see Reed break his promise instead.
I think the Ultimate FF team is trying to makes us perceive Reed as being a closet egotistic and irresponsible teenager, but I feel we’re getting some contradicting (or at least not strong enough) messages here. It may well be that the artwork doesn’t display clearly enough his obsession with science - science at all costs. But mainly I think we would need more scenes, day to day things, unimportant things that would show us just that. In this way it feels like some things he disguises so well, whilst others he fails at miserably. Reed’s character, in particular, doesn’t feel cohesive enough throughout the series.
Then again, this is a recurring problem with super-heroes, because there has to be x amount of action sequences per issue, it’s very rare that creators actually get around to tackle their characters efficiently. Especially because the plot has to be continuously worked upon, tension sustained and the terrain prepared for adventures to come.
(Think Tank was an amazing exception to this – and it again makes me think that the first stints of a writer on a comic are usually the best)
Nevertheless, the first cliffhanger is quite good!
( More... you know you want it... go on... just click... that's it... ) |
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| Free comics from Cory Doctorow |
[Jun. 28th, 2009|02:40 pm] |
 | | Nimby and the d-hoppers by Cory Doctrow. Adapted: Dan Taylor , Art:, Dustin Evans, letteres: Robbie Robbins, editor: Tom Waltz, collection editor: Justin Eisinger, collection designer :Neil Uyetake. Remix-adapted Yael Duckwen. |
( Quick! Free comics... ) Ganked from Boing Boing
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 25th, 2009|10:35 am] |
Remember last week I told you all about mine and Melisa's Harry Potter festival?
Well apart from location,venue,times etc I also left out the biggest most important detail of all - if you are a member of the Lambeth comics group then you get in for free!!
Just send me an email letting me know if you are going to come/interested in coming and we will put you on the guestlist. (supercasio@hotmail.com)
If you do come then make sure you buy a raffle ticket or buy something from the cake stall as all the proceeds are going to the St Vincent Community Centre in Brixton.
For all the details about the event head over to our myspace for the full line up, schedule of events, and venue information. http://www.myspace.com/hogwartsjamboree
We hope to see you there!
Holly |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 17th, 2009|04:04 pm] |
Ok rather than leave a super long comment replying to Dickon I thought I would make a seperate post about the Harry Potter diy fest for any of the Lambeth comics group that wants to come along. Sorry for being a bit off topic, I know this isn't technically comics related but two members of the Lambeth comics group are organising this...
Myself and Melissa are organsing an all day mini Harry Potter fest called Hogwarts Jamboree Sunday 28th June(http://www.myspace.com/hogwartsjamboree). This is to raise money for the St Vincent Community Centre in Brixton that run a wonderful art scheme for children and young people.
The day will feature a screening of the documentary 'We Are Wizards' which is a great film about cultural activism inspired by Harry Potter fandom.
There will also be performances by Harry Potter inspired bands, including my very own slightly awful band! Performances include Siriusly Hazza P, Riddle TM, and The Shrieking Shack Disco Gang (that's me!).
As well as all that there will be a small zine stall - anyone who has a zine is welcome to come and sell or trade!
We will also be having craft sessions, a Harry Potter quiz, cake stalls, merchandise stalls, craft stalls, raffles, and sweets.
There will be a real mix of people, some kids, some adults, but lots of geeks. Even if you hate Harry Potter it still should be a lovely day out and it's for a great cause. If anyone from Lambeth comics groups wants to come and support us that would be great. Check out our myspace for full details about venue/tickets/line up.
Woah, that was a long post wasn't it! Sorry!
Contact me for further details:
Holly - supercasio@hotmail.com |
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| SW2 Readers do Zombies! 13th July |
[Jun. 15th, 2009|07:36 pm] |
Streatham Library Graphic Novel Readers Group Meet to Review Zombie Comics from 19:30 onwards at Streatham Library on the 13th July.
 | | Illustration from 'Tokyo Zombie'... best I could find in the time I had- go figure? |
To avoid confusion please leave a comment below letting us know which ‘Zombie’ graphic novel you wish to read and offer for review.
Venue:
Streatham Library 63 Streatham High Road, London, SW16 1PL Map
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| Pat Mills & Illya at Streatham |
[Jun. 13th, 2009|04:07 pm] |
On Saturday the 23 May 2009 Pat Mills and Ilya turned up at Streatham Library to talk to us about comics. There was little preamble between Pat Mills and our Master of Ceremonies. Pat Mills launched into a talk with the experience of one who sells new ideas to publishers on a constant basis.
What did we take from his talk? Well, if there is one comic creator whose life and work proves you can have your comics and your culture too then it is Pat Mills.
Pat Mills has, with many contemporaries, strived to produce comics in the UK that deliver engaging, exciting stories that are relevant to social and political topics of the day to social and political topics of the day. And yet he has produced comics that avoid slavishly adhering to the US homogenous, bland, superhero fiction that UK publishers look to as the perfect fare for comic publishing businesses.
( But I’m not a fanboy so what would I know about this?... )
Much more than this was discussed but this post is well past the date I should have got it out so I am cutting it short. Please reply to this topic if there is anything else you would like to discuss about Pat Mills and Illya’s appearance at Streatham Library this, past, May,
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| ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL.3 – N-ZONE |
[Jun. 12th, 2009|10:12 pm] |
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL.3 – N-ZONE
By
Warren Ellis, Adam Kubert, John Dell, Scott Hanna, Mark Morales, Nelson and Larry Stucker, Dave Stewart, Chris Eliopoulos
This is what happens when Warren Ellis indulges on his SF imaginings…
Reed and the others are back at studying the N-Zone but also what has happened to their bodies.
(turns out that Johnny’s skin isn’t actually his skin but rather some kind of plasma generating scales)
Reed is somewhat obsessed with the N-Zone and figures exploring it is the best way to uncover what the heck Victor did with the superpositioner.
For this to happen he needs not only to convince Think Tank’s Dr. Storm, but also, SHIELD, the United States Army whilst getting some of Tony Starks gear on the side...
Implausible?
Nah.
It takes them about half a dozen pages to get it all going. And never mind the fact that it’s a teenager calling the shots to a bunch of people whose sole concern is more weapons. A 19 year old kid getting all the stuff together just because he asks and makes a few promises?!
I know it’s important to let your imagination go but this is asking a bit too much after the much tighter script on the previous volume.
It would’ve been a fun idea if it had been well written and as smart as it pretended to be.
But, again, this is what I feel happens with a lot of writers. They’ll write a great first script, pulling all the right punches, with a really good first story arc, grabbing us for more, and then it all starts to go downhill from there.
There are exceptions of course, but these are rare and usually related to creator owned characters.
(go figure…)
( Click here to see why I REALLY wanted to write this review ) |
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| Marvel's Ultimate makeover |
[Jun. 12th, 2009|06:07 pm] |
We read and reviewed the Ultimate titles published by Marvel just this Monday gone the 8th June 2009.
It was a good meeting. There were mixed reactions to the the Ultimate titles. Not totally unexpected since the Streatham Graphic Novel Readers Group is always fairly demanding of any work done in the graphic narrative. And the major publishers of superhero comics in the west; DC and Marvel have been passing off bland, stereotyped superhero fiction as standard fare for a long time because they are used to profiting from comic buyers who cannot tell such pablum from a good product. Said comic buyers don't know any beter to demand better quality comic fiction for their $/£
Though there were those with us Monday evening that were avid supporters of the genre.
Hi Carl!
Hi Nathanial! ( We decided to read the Ultimate titles because.... )
(We really didn't have enough time to discuss every aspect of the Ultimate titles so if you have something to contribute please do get stuck in and let me know what you think.)
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| ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL.2 – DOOM |
[Jun. 11th, 2009|10:13 pm] |
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL.2 – DOOM
By
Warren Ellis, Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, Dave Stewart, Chris Eliopoulos
Warren Ellis is clearly more suited to write the Fantastic Four than Brian Michael Bendis. Bendis is quite good at crime stuff but SF is not really his mettier…
Warren on the other hand has been writing SF for ages.
And his plan is simple, to really give us some of his weird and warped science ideas.
With a title like this (Doom) we all know what we’re going to get - well, at least those of us that know the Fantastic Four before the first film came out or so…
Warren sets Victor Van Damme nicely (even though that last name always makes me think of the martial artist…) and adds quite a bit more depth to the character. At the same time that he grows and matures to be the mad dictator that he is, one cannot but still see his father’s hand and his ancestral heritage, behind it all. He is guilty but he does not stand alone with the blame.
It’s a simple idea but that really transformed the character for me.
( Click here to continue reading this review... ) |
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| I was there - honest |
[Jun. 10th, 2009|02:05 pm] |
Just in case you didn't see the reply. I turned up and missed the library closing time. So waited outside for AGES while you guys rabbited on. I left just before quarter to nine -feeling v sorry for myself. I bought some bananas to cheer myself up. I now have a working mobile phone so this will never happen again. Anyway I hope it was a good session and see you in a few weeks!
See you next time- you zinesters you. |
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| Meeting - Tonight - 7.30pm - Streatham Library |
[Jun. 8th, 2009|10:46 am] |
It was posted here but I guess some people have forgotten all about it...
(yes, I mean you Dickon!)
(naughty naughty...)
We're meeting at 7.30pm for some Marvelous discussion on whatever Ultimate you might've read recently.
(or not so recently...)
(guess what I'm reading?!)
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| ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL.1 - THE FANTASTIC |
[Jun. 7th, 2009|08:18 pm] |
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL.1 – THE FANTASTIC
By
Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar, Adam Kubert, Danny Miki, John Dell, Dave Stewart, Chris Eliopoulos
I have to admit that this was a better read than I was expecting.
I mean how many times can you reinvent superhero origins?
Well, Mark and Brian do seem to have put their wits together and come up with something that not only makes some sense but is actually more credible than the original version of the Fantastic Four…
(The cosmic rays thing might’ve worked quite well when Stan and Jack came up with the idea but these days it just feels a bit dated … well, it could still work but only if they came from another dimension or something…)
This month we’re doing the Marvel Ultimates line in the Graphic Novels Reading Group and so, thinking that most people are going to be reading the Ultimates or Spider-Man or something like that, I decided to dip into the Fantastic Four. This was for two reasons:
First, Mike Carey gets to write it.
(but, only further down the line… I only realised this as I tried to snatch all the various volumes from Lambeth Libraries…)
Second, it’s been a long time since I’ve read a Fantastic Four comic.
And I kind of missed them.
Because, believe it or not, I’ve read a few good stories with them.
(the one that comes to mind was written by Grant Morrison and is called 1 2 3 4)
( And away I went... ) |
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