Post by Zaius on Apr 11, 2010 6:12:27 GMT -5
I've finally found some time catch up on some of my reading and feedback my thoughts on the recommendation from Noctis, as well as the recent one-shot.
First up, X-23: Innocence Lost, and as I said previously X-23 is a character I was aware of without really knowing too much about her.
What a fantastic recommendation from Noctis - this book was a great introduction to X-23. Kyle and Yost expertly define the world that X-23 is to be born into - a world of intrigue, deception, limitless ambition ... and no little violence all contributing to the books 'parental advisory' status.
X-23 herself is beautifully written: she appears sad and vulnerable and always has a real sense of danger about her, I found myself pittying and warming to the character in equal measures without - for much of the book - really liking her. Does that make sense?
The cast of supporting characters (I'm doing them a disservice I know by refering to them as 'supporting' but you know what I mean I hope) serve the story incredibly well - well written with fantastic, realistic I'm sure, dialogue. There's a lot of story contained within the 6-issues in this collection and it's well told without ever feeling rushed.
Billy Tan's art is absolutely fantastic - it reminds me of some of the early <i>Darkness</i> books from Top Cow that I enjoy so much: contrary to the tone of the writing the illutrations are clear and bright with sharp, confident inks from Jon Sibal and great choice and application of colours courtesy of Brian Haberlin.
In conclusion, a wonderful recommendation: I can't remember enjoying a 'new' read this much in a very long time - now I need to pick up <i>X-23: Target X</i> which follows X-23's origin story across another six issue mini-series (but for some reason is particularly expensive here in the UK).
Thanks for a great recommendation Noctis!
Ironically, even before Noctis's X-23 collection recommendation I had pre-ordered the 'Women of Marvel' X-23 one-shot.
Written by Marjorie Liu, with pencils by Filipe Andrade and Nuno Alves and complemented by a great cover from Alina Urusov I had high - no, very high - hopes for this book and I'm afraid those hopes weren't met.
Maybe this wasn't intended to be the jumping-on point I had hoped it would be, maybe I just don't know enough about the character to fully appreciate the book but I found this a very difficult read - difficult because I was finding reading the book something of a chore.
Maybe it was the extended 'scream' sequences (if you've read it you'll know what I'm refering to, I can't think of another way to describe it) with their accompanying harsh - stratchy even - artwork that meant I just didn't get the book I don't know but despite the nearly forty pages there just didn't feel like there was enough story to keep me interested.
I didn't particularly enjoy the style of art throughout the book although, as I'm always quick to point out, I'm not suggesting it was bad - I just didn't like it. I like to see a little more detail in a panel - sharper facial expression for one thing - and instinctively find I'm turned-off by too many visually dark panels.
With hindsight, I suspect I wasn't the intended target audience for this book - not a criticism of the writing or the art just an acknowledgement that it wasn't for me, and that's fine: I took a £10 gamble on the collection and it payed off, massively; I took a $3.99 gamble on the one-shot and it didn't pay off. For me.
First up, X-23: Innocence Lost, and as I said previously X-23 is a character I was aware of without really knowing too much about her.
What a fantastic recommendation from Noctis - this book was a great introduction to X-23. Kyle and Yost expertly define the world that X-23 is to be born into - a world of intrigue, deception, limitless ambition ... and no little violence all contributing to the books 'parental advisory' status.
X-23 herself is beautifully written: she appears sad and vulnerable and always has a real sense of danger about her, I found myself pittying and warming to the character in equal measures without - for much of the book - really liking her. Does that make sense?
The cast of supporting characters (I'm doing them a disservice I know by refering to them as 'supporting' but you know what I mean I hope) serve the story incredibly well - well written with fantastic, realistic I'm sure, dialogue. There's a lot of story contained within the 6-issues in this collection and it's well told without ever feeling rushed.
Billy Tan's art is absolutely fantastic - it reminds me of some of the early <i>Darkness</i> books from Top Cow that I enjoy so much: contrary to the tone of the writing the illutrations are clear and bright with sharp, confident inks from Jon Sibal and great choice and application of colours courtesy of Brian Haberlin.
In conclusion, a wonderful recommendation: I can't remember enjoying a 'new' read this much in a very long time - now I need to pick up <i>X-23: Target X</i> which follows X-23's origin story across another six issue mini-series (but for some reason is particularly expensive here in the UK).
Thanks for a great recommendation Noctis!
Ironically, even before Noctis's X-23 collection recommendation I had pre-ordered the 'Women of Marvel' X-23 one-shot.
Written by Marjorie Liu, with pencils by Filipe Andrade and Nuno Alves and complemented by a great cover from Alina Urusov I had high - no, very high - hopes for this book and I'm afraid those hopes weren't met.
Maybe this wasn't intended to be the jumping-on point I had hoped it would be, maybe I just don't know enough about the character to fully appreciate the book but I found this a very difficult read - difficult because I was finding reading the book something of a chore.
Maybe it was the extended 'scream' sequences (if you've read it you'll know what I'm refering to, I can't think of another way to describe it) with their accompanying harsh - stratchy even - artwork that meant I just didn't get the book I don't know but despite the nearly forty pages there just didn't feel like there was enough story to keep me interested.
I didn't particularly enjoy the style of art throughout the book although, as I'm always quick to point out, I'm not suggesting it was bad - I just didn't like it. I like to see a little more detail in a panel - sharper facial expression for one thing - and instinctively find I'm turned-off by too many visually dark panels.
With hindsight, I suspect I wasn't the intended target audience for this book - not a criticism of the writing or the art just an acknowledgement that it wasn't for me, and that's fine: I took a £10 gamble on the collection and it payed off, massively; I took a $3.99 gamble on the one-shot and it didn't pay off. For me.