blogging by Andrew Wickliffe
The cover proclaims this final issue as a “collectors’ item.” Until the epilogue, it’s unclear why. In an amazing turn, Ka-Zar and Shanna end up in the League of Cancelled Marvel comics, or something along those lines. It’s pretty funny. Too bad Neary’s art is awful. Otherwise, it’s a silly sci-fi issue with Ka-Zar being […]
MoreCarlin’s destruction of the series seems to be complete now. In this issue, he reduces Shanna to a helpless damsel. He’s got Ka-Zar running around thinking about how he’s going to save after she falls victim to an absurdly drawn out incident. But this moronic event occurs halfway through the issue, until then it’s just […]
MoreReading Carlin’s Ka-Zar is watching a series collapse on itself. This issue does have Marie Severin doing these wonderful imaginings of Ka-Zar and Shanna as a sitcom married couple. Those scenes, totally pointless and unbelievable, are awesome. Otherwise… it’s awful. Carlin turns Shanna into a ninny and a little of a harpy. She doesn’t trust […]
MoreWell, after a couple good issues, Carlin’s Ka-Zar is starting to unravel. The issue also has major art problems; some of these problems might even make Carlin’s script worse, but he still makes some awful choices. He tries to keep up the high level of content, sending Ka-Zar and Shanna through a battle, imprisonment, another […]
MoreJones sends Ka-Zar, Shanna and company to Hell. Maybe. This issue is good, though not great–Jones is playing within a self-imposed constrain; there’s only so many places he can go. And they’re in Hell, after all, it’s not like Anderson has a lot to draw besides scary residents. Except a couple amazing double page spreads […]
MoreKa-Zar is nowhere near the level it was three issues ago, but Jones has definitely partially recovered. He gets away from the Atlantean technology and gives Ka-Zar and Shanna a real problem to deal with. Shanna loosed a giant griffin (inadvertently) and they need to deal with it before it kills all their flying friends […]
MoreBetween Jones exploring the history of Atlantis themed entertainment and Anderson apparently deciding to be lazy, Ka-Zar doesn’t feel much like itself. The problem isn’t really Anderson, though his lack of detail is stunning. He takes the time on his panel composition, but the actual faces and figures are broad. The issue is almost entirely […]
MoreThis issue isn’t a success, not entirely, but it’s not bad. It’s also why I love and defend Bruce Jones’s writing. I was almost going to say his honor. Anyway, the issue opens with Ka-Zar and Shanna bickering over Shanna getting busy with the Atlantean ghost last issue. It’s a fast, hilarious dialogue exchange in […]
MoreJones and Ka-Zar have their first mediocre issue. Anderson is fine, opening the issue with this amazing panel of a snow covered jungle, but the story is lacking. The issue concentrates on Shanna this time and Jones hurries her through a life crisis. It turns out Ka-Zar‘s Atlantis isn’t really in Marvel Universe continuity (or, […]
MoreIt’s a flashback issue, but only flashing back to right before the first issue of the series. Jones gives the reader an insight into what’s made Ka-Zar so thoughtful about his place in the world (other than being the protagonist in a thoughtful comic book). Jones gets away with a lot here because he realizes […]
MoreLots more Robert E. Howard influence to detail again. This time it’s lost Atlantean machinery. Now, it works great as a plot detail–and as machinery, apparently Atlantean devices are easier to use than Apple ones–but it’s got me confused. Ka-Zar is in Marvel continuity, right? Their Antarctica is all funky with these lost lands. But […]
MoreSo another similarity between Ka-Zar and Conan? Every woman Ka-Zar meets is beautiful… and of loose morale character. I wish the series were about Shanna, being some dedicated scientist who goes a little crazy with the jungle boy, but it’s all an act. Anyway, Jones’s back on track, even though the last issue was only […]
MoreI don’t love this issue of Ka-Zar as much as the first. Jones opens the comic with revelations from Shanna, but he’s iffy on showing her side of them. It’s actually a strange approach–he implies her perspective on them, with Anderson doing a great job complementing the implications, but it’s too little. Ka-Zar is from […]
MoreIf the first issue is any indicator, Bruce Jones’s Ka-Zar is a mix of Conan, Tarzan and Woody Allen. This issue is Ka-Zar roaming around, acting like a petulant teenager (even though he’s apparently late twenties) and thinking about his crazy life. It’s a rough life too. He starts the issue bedding Shanna of the […]
MoreWell, I’ve finally found something Bill Mantlo can write–little old ladies. This issue is mostly about Aunt May and her mysterious behavior. Turns out her pre-Ben Parker boyfriend is back and sending her love letters and causing these very distracting walks down memory lane. Of course, New York’s in different shape than it used to […]
MoreThere are some real problems this issue–Goodwin’s got to adapt the stuff without Deckard (who in his adaptation isn’t just not a replicant, but is also a lot more the Deckard from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) and it’s just a mess. The way Goodwin structures it–the noir with Deckard and Rachel–it just doesn’t […]
MoreAfter the first few pages, I think I decided Blade Runner is best comic adaptation of a movie I’ve ever read. Goodwin has a fairly complex and lengthy story to adapt here (especially since the film is confusing, especially the version Goodwin would have been adapting) and he comes up with a genius way to […]
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