The Dying and the Dead 1 (January 2015)

The Dying and the Dead #1 The Dying and the Dead sure seems like it’s got some good old fashioned zeitgeist elements to it, like the ancient protagonist who’s still an action movie badass. What would aging Hollywood actors do without mainstream “indie” comic book writers coming up with new projects for them to turn down?

Writer Jonathan Hickman does change some stuff. He’s got a Bond villain organization but they’re secretly immortal and clones and the only person who can stop them is this old guy who has a dying wife and nothing to lose. Except the dying wife, presumably. Guess they didn’t have kids.

Ryan Bodeheim’s art is really detailed and occasionally interesting to read–and the comic does go on forever (it’s a double-sized issue) so it feels very full. It’s just nothing original and nothing special. It’s decently executed, just empty.

And that title’s not going to get Liam Neeson’s attention.

CREDITS

Writer, Jonathan Hickman; artist, Ryan Bodeheim; colorist, Michael Garland; letterer, Rus Wooton; publisher, Image Comics.

God Is Dead 1 (August 2013)

282190 20130904184916 large God Is Dead is godawful.

The comic’s concept is simple–the ancient, mythological gods return to Earth in the present day and wreck havoc. Zeus, Odin (writers Jonathan Hickman and Mike Costa are gleeful in their Norse god usage, presumably to stick a finger up at Marvel and Thor), the Egyptian gods, the Aztec god… no Native American spirits, however.

The execution is hideous. There’s a human resistance movement, of course. The resistance is the smart people but there are only five of them. One’s a cute, acerbic witted girl. Got to have her. The lead’s apparently the new member of the resistance.

But Hickman and Costa–how they split writing tasks is unclear, but Hickman’s the credited creator in case Hollywood comes knocking–stick with Odin and his god party.

Indescribably bad. Di Amorim’s art isn’t good but even he deserves a better script.

It’s Edith Hamilton for morons.

CREDITS

Deus. Rex. Terra.; writers, Jonathan Hickman and Mike Costa; artist, Di Amorim; colorist, Juanmar; letterer, Kurt Hathaway; publisher, Avatar Press.

Strange Tales (2009) #2

St2

The second issue starts real strong with Bertozzi’s perv Watcher intro and then immediately drops. Tony Millionaire’s Iron Man manages to be a wee bit learned to be effective. Maybe I just don’t see Iron Man as ripe for humor, except maybe drunk jokes–regardless, grafting absurdism with Marvel heroes doesn’t work in the story.

Johnson’s Fantastic Four story is well-illustrated but incredibly lame (Johnson basically tries to come up with every awkward blind joke he can). Not sure if it’s disappointing, but it helps set the tone for the issue (one of failure).

The Brother Voodoo thing’s lame.

Then there’s the fantastic Vasquez M.O.D.O.K. story and some good FF stuff (lots of FF stuff this issue). Chabot’s FF is the strongest thing this issue overall.

Again, the Bagge Hulk disappoints. The Kindt Black Widow is pointless.

There’s some nice artwork here, nothing slacking, but the writing doesn’t match.