Tag: I.N.J. Culbard

Wild’s End 1 (September 2014)

Wild's End #1Wild’s End is supposed to be The War of the Worlds meets The Wind in the Willows. Only Dan Abnett’s approach to the quaint British townsfolk isn’t Willows, it’s a bad BBC show. There’s the sexy bruiser, there are the closeted elected officials, there are the annoying townsfolk. It’s dumb.

But End has some more problems. I.N.J. Culbard’s art isn’t anywhere near detailed enough or stylistic enough. The animal (properly attired, of course) cast is boring to look at. Culbard has no personality to the animals. Sure, doing anthropomorphized characters well probably isn’t easy but Culbard doesn’t even seem to be trying.

Some of the problem seems to be the lack of seriousness with End. Willows has, in recent years, become recognized as a work of literature and Worlds certainly has a solid reputation. Abnett and Culbard seem to be cashing in for a possible cheap CGI movie deal.

Boo.

D 

CREDITS

The Village Fete; writer, Dan Abnett; artist and letterer, I.N.J. Culbard; editors, Cameron Chittock and Dafna Pleban; publisher, Boom! Studios.

Brass Sun 2 (June 2014)

Brass Sun #2Culbard’s art continues to be a problem when it comes to people. I spent half the issue wondering about the evil old maid lady who turned out to be some guy. Worse, there’s not enough of the scenery for Culbard’s strengths to make up for his weaknesses.

But this issue of Brass Sun reveals more problems than just the art. Once again, the format–a collection of previously anthologized short pieces–is severely hampering the narrative flow. It starts and stops all throughout and, by the end of the comic, which has maybe one page in thirty-some where Edginton spends any time on character development, it’s just too thin.

The concept isn’t particularly original; it’s not steampunk because it’s too grandiose with a mechanized solar system. However to describe it, Edginton isn’t spending time in the right places–like on his protagonists.

Sun is dwindling by the end here.

C 

CREDITS

Writer, Ian Edginton; artist, I.N.J. Culbard; letterer, Ellie De Ville; editor, Matt Smith; publisher, Rebellion.

Brass Sun 1 (May 2014)

Brass Sun #1Brass Sun is incredibly problematic. I don’t think I’ve read such a spotty first issue in a while, particularly one where the writer–Ian Edginton–just keeps going and going until he makes the narrative connect. And it takes this issue a long time, until the last fourth.

The comic is collected from 2000 AD, which probably explains a lot of the disjointed nature of the narrative. Then there’s the art–I.N.J. Culbard’s art seems more appropriate for black and white than color. I’m pretty sure AD is still black and white.

There’s too much exposition, not enough tone, Edginton awkwardly establishes the characters–the problems go on and on and they’re very obviously the fault of the packaging. So when Edginton finally gets to something effective and it’s good, it seems really good. It redeems the issue.

The plot itself is vaguely unoriginal but I’m hoping the uptick will continue.

B- 

CREDITS

Writer, Ian Edginton; artist, I.N.J. Culbard; letterer, Ellie De Ville; editor, Matt Smith; publisher, Rebellion.