Voodoo, Vol.2 – “The Killer In Me” (DC)

March 31, 2013 Civilian Reader Comics, Review Aliens, Clones, DC Comics, Graphic Novel, Jessica Kholinne, Joshua Williamson, Killer In Me, New 52, Sami Basri, Volume 2, Voodoo

Writer: Joshua Williamson | Artist: Sami Basri | Colors: Jessica Kholinne

Black Razor Agent Fallon has finally tracked down Voodoo and has her cornered! Now it’s time for revenge. But Voodoo knows the truth of her own origins and will decide if she’s going to be a hero – or a villain! Then, Pris is forced to confront exactly what she has become after being experimented on by the Daemonites. She’s offered a deal by the Black Razors… but wherever way she turns, it’s guaranteed more blood will be on her hands.

Collects: Voodoo #7-12 & #0

This book brings the Voodoo series to a close. Given the critical reaction at its start, I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did. I liked the ideas the series included, and it’s a pity it had to end. That being said, some of the chapters in this book felt like the series had been written off.

As the story begins, Pris has escaped from captivity, accompanied by Black Jack and Fallon. Voodoo is on the daemonite ship, facing their Council. She’s told the truth about herself, and the daemonite lord says she has to be captured and reprogrammed. She… disagrees with his assessment of the situation…

The two groups are on a collision course, and by the second chapter, the shit really starts to hit the fan. The chapter (issue #8) was basically one long face-off between Voodoo, Pris and Fallon. All does not go well… Strangely, Pris is offered a job by a dude from the Blackhawks (a series I’ve only read one issue of, but also another that has been axed).

The rest of the story follows all the various threads of the series being tied up – some in not particularly satisfying manner (there’s some interstellar flight, too). As Pris and Voodoo are trained, almost in parallel, by different forces – Pris by the Blackhawks, Voodoo by Helspont. Pris also discovers that Voodoo worked as a stripper in order to remain below the radar. She is not happy.

In the final chapter, the Zero Issue, we see Priscilla Kitaen’s “birth” on the daemonite ship, before freaking out and fighting her way out. It ends with her being taken into custody by the Black Razors. Then we get Voodoo’s birth as well, as a loyal hybrid. And finally, we join Grifter as his life is saved by Voodoo. I’m not sure it works at all as a “#0”, because it ends on “Continued in Grifter”… Really it’s a series epilogue. It did make me want to catch up on Grifter, though (I’ve read up to #7).

This series crosses over with so many: Superman, Stormwatch, and Grifter. Sometimes these crossovers can be fun or interesting, but when it happens too often, which certainly feels like the case recently (there have been a number of larger, cross-title story-arcs recently). Well, it gets both irritating and expensive… I’m not sure this needed to cross over quite so much. Cameos probably would have sufficed for many scenes and snippets of exposition.

Towards the end of the book, the writing felt a little rushed, but at least it never took itself too seriously. It has a ’80s/’90s action-SF-movie feel to it: it doesn’t all make sense, there are some narrative jumps, etc. The dialogue never quite manages Expendables-levels of cheesy awesome, but that was the vibe I got, sometimes. Not bad, overall, but it’s not too difficult to see why it was sent out to pasture. For the story to really work, it would have required more time and space to properly grow. I think most people will see this was on the outs from early on in this book.

I do like the artwork a lot, though. There are so many nice little details in each issue. I really hope the team are hired on for more of another series.

Original Voodoo Cover Art #7-12 & #0

Batman: Dark Knight – “Golden Dawn” (DC)

March 31, 2013 Civilian Reader Comics, Review Alex Sinclair, Batman, Batt, Dark Knight, David Finch, DC Comics, Graphic Novel, Greg Adams, Jason Fabok, Peter Steigerwald, pre-New 52, Richard Friend, Ryan Winn, Sal Regla, Scott Williams, Super-Heroes, Tony Avina

Writer: David Finch | Artist: David Finch (#1-4), Jason Fabock (#4-5) | Inks: Scott Williams (#1-3), Richard Friend (#3), Ryan Winn (#4), Batt (#4-5), Sal Regla (#5), Jaime Mendoza (#5), Ray McCarthy (#5), Greg Adams (#5) | Colors: Alex Sinclair (#1-3), Peter Steigerwald (#4-5), Tony Aviña (#5)

Delving into the more supernatural and esoteric areas of Gotham City, the five-part storyline explores the horrific murder of one of Bruce Wayne’s childhood friends… and the terrible ramifications the brutal crime has on Batman’s life.

Collects: Batman: Dark Knight – Golden Dawn #1-5

Just a very quick review. I’d been going back and forth about reading this book for a while, but I eventually bit the bullet and dove in. It was pretty good, but not without its flaws. Overall, if you’re a fan of the darker, weirder and more-supernatural elements of the DCU, then this should suit your tastes.

The synopsis isn’t quite as accurate as it could have been. Batman is on the trail of a missing society girl, Dawn Golden, who he knew as a child. Naturally, Batman gets close to crossing the line (he does a real number on the Penguin). Judging by the first couple of issues/chapters of this mini-series, I can certainly see why DC offered Finch his own Bat-title for the New 52.

At the same time, it has all of the same hallmarks, and some of same weaknesses – for example, the story’s pretty short, and as a result doesn’t delve too deeply into the events, and certainly doesn’t spend much time with set up. It felt a little like an early Darkness story, actually, weird as that may sound (a series published by Image/Top Cow). For example, it was odd to see the demon Etrigan involved. And some other, more demonic characters.

I think I would recommend this if you like your Batman stories a little more supernaturally-flavoured (which I usually do not). I think this could and should have been longer. There’s just not enough character development, and Etrigan’s involvement doesn’t feel particularly well incorporated. The relationship between Bruce and Dawn could have been expanded a great deal, I think, and would have allowed for more of a psychological, backward-looking story.

Sadly, this felt a little thin in the end. That being said, the visuals are excellent. Sadly, that aforementioned lack of build up also robs the ends of its tragic impact (it’s sad, sure, but I think we were meant to find it more affecting).

Reading Round-Up: Marvel Comics

March 30, 2013 Civilian Reader Comics, Review 2009, 2010, Amazing Spider-Man, Dan Slott, Daredevil, Fred van Lente, Graphic Novels, Hawkeye, Jeph Loeb, Jonathan Hickman, Marc Guggenheim, Mark Waid, Marvel, Nick Spencer, Rick Remender, Ultimate Comics, Venom, X-Men

A strange combination of having had a ton of spare time to read and a new job means I probably won’t be able to write my usual-type of review for many of the books and graphic novels I’ve read over the past couple of months. For some books, I will still write longer reviews, but for many (if not most) I’ll include them in occasional round-/catch-up posts with mini-reviews. Today, I take a look at recently-read Marvel titles.

Reviewed: Amazing Spider-Man “Red-Headed Stranger”, “Return of the Black Cat” & “The Gauntlet Vol.1”; Rick Remender’s Venom Vols.1-3, Ultimate Comics – X-Men Vol.1, Ultimate Comics – Hawkeye, Daredevil Yellow

Amazing Spider-Man: Red-Headed Stranger

Writer: Fred van Lente, Brian Reed | Artist: Barry Kitson, Robert Atkins, Javier Pudilo, Luke Ross, Rick Magyar, Yanick Paquette, Mark Farmer | Inks: Rick Ketcham, Barry Kitson, Victor Olazaba, Joe Rubenstein | Colors: Jeromy Cox, Antonio Fabela, Javier Rodriguez, Rob Schwager, Nathan Fairbairn

The Chameleon returns with a terrifying new mission that has Mayor J. Jonah Jameson squarely in his sights!

Meanwhile, the Anti-Spidey Squad narrows its dragnet around the Web-Crawler, and Peter Parker gets a brand new job – will it bring him closer to the newly-returned Mary Jane, or push her further away?

Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #602-5

Ok, so the villain Chameleon is pretty creepy. This isn’t a bad story, over all. It doesn’t delve too deeply into the relationships between Peter’s crowd (which I would have liked), and the Mayor is cartoonish in his irrational hatred of Spider-Man (Zeb Wells writes him better, though no less Spidey-hating, in the first issues of Avenging Spider-Man).

The issues included in the book don’t feel as focused as other series I’ve read, but then, these are beyond the 600th issue, so there’s been a ton of story- and world-building beforehand. It has a more round-about way of telling the story. In some ways, Amazing Spider-Man feels a little like a sitcom that’s been on the air for years and we’re comfortable just randomly dropping in to the story. It’s good for that reason, actually. But, also, not as satisfying as it could have been.

Amazing Spider-Man: Return of the Black Cat

Writer: Joe Kelly (606-7), Marc Guggenheim (608-10), Joe Kelly (611) | Artist: Mike McKone, Adriana Melo, Marco Checchetto, Luke Ross, Rick Magyar, Eric Canete | Inks: Andy Lanning, Mike McKone, Justice, Smith, Benes | Colors: Chris Chuckry, Jeromy Cox, Fabio D’Auria, Andre Mossa

“WHO WAS BEN REILLY?”

Raptor is back for revenge against the man he claims killed his family – Ben Reilly, the clone of Spider-Man. Unfortunately, the only person alive that fits Ben’s description is Peter Parker. As this super-powered psycho with a thirst for vengeance targets Peter, his family, and his friends, even Spider-Man might not be able to save the day this time.

Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #606-611

This is another not-particularly-focused book, to be honest. The Black Cat story was short, but good, as she and Spidey tackle a strange case involving Diablo and some cut-price “steel”.

Then there’s a continuation of the Ben Reilly fallout from Amazing Spider-Man Annual #36 (which was included in Died In Your Arms Tonight). It’s a pretty good story, actually, but throwing in Kaine as well near the end meant I got a case of clone-overdose… (I read this before I tried Scarlet Spider, so I wasn’t familiar really with who Kaine actually was).

Finally, there’s a Spidey-Deadpool story, which was… well, just nuts. It also foreshadows the long (perhaps drawn-out) storyline, “The Gauntlet”. (See below.)

Amazing Spider-Man: The Gauntlet, Vol.1

Writer: Mark Waid (#612-14), Fred van Lente (#615-616) | Artist: Paul Azaceta (#612-614), Javier Pulido (#615-616) | Colors: Dave Stewart (#612-614), Javier Rodriguez (#615-616)

The wife and daughter of Kraven the Hunter want Spider-Man dead and they’re sending his oldest enemies to do the job… First up, Electro and Sandman! Plus: Norman Osborn seeks to check off the number one item on The List: Kill Spider-Man!

Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #612-616

This is the first of five volumes covering “The Gauntlet”, featuring confrontations with Electro and Sandman. One thing to say from the start: I didn’t get that these two villains were “sent” by Mrs. Kraven and her evil offspring… Rather, it seemed to just be Their Turn to go up against Spider-Man, in their never-ending roundabout of fight, defeat, incarcerate, fight, defeat, incarcerate…

We start off learning about Electro’s fall, how he got to the sorry point he’s at now (yes, involved Spider-Man royally kicking his ass and foiling his various Nefarious Plans). On page 17, Electro offers a rousing “rooftop rant” for the 99%, following news of a bailout for Dexter Bennett, a billionaire and owner of “The DB” (formerly known as the Daily Bugle). Then all hell breaks loose for Spidey, as Electro rides the wave of Wall Street frustration and popular unrest. The Thinker (awful name for a villain) helps Electro power up, before he takes off to fulfill a vendetta against Bennett. It doesn’t go well for all concerned, and things will change for Peter and everyone else at The DB.

The tale featuring Sandman involves a kidnapped a girl who started calling the bad guy “daddy”, after he dated her mother for a little while. Spider-Man goes to Governor’s Island to rescue her. They fight. It’s a pretty straight-forward story, but not bad. It ends on a tragic note, though.

The book finishes up with “Dark Reign: The List – #8 Kill Spider-Man” (writen by Dan Slott, art by Adam Kubert and Mark Morales, colors by Dean White). I really love the artwork here. I couldn’t quite figure out how it fit in with the series continuity, though. Nevertheless, it’s a decent story, as Peter/Spidey steals some key information – video-logs of Norman Osborne’s heinous crimes and human experiments – and tries to get the information out into the world. It’s a very strong story, actually, I just wish it had fit a bit better.

Daredevil – Yellow

Writers: Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale | Artists: Richard Starkings & Wes Abbott | Colors: Matt Hollingsworth

In this retelling of the early career of The Man Without Fear, the Eisner Award-winning team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have taken an inspiring action adventure story and blended it with a romantic comedy. The result is the heartwarming and heartbreaking story of two young people in love: Matthew Murdock and Karen Page.

Collects: Daredevil – Yellow #1-6

The first thing that jumped out at me in this book is the great artwork. It’s moody, subtle, with really nice use of greys and black in the start, the only color being Daredevil’s red outfit:

In the story, Matt Murdock is writing a letter to “Karen”, and decides to look back at the start, to how it all began for him as Daredevil. Later on, it became clear, for the uninitiated (including myself), that “Karen” is Karen Page, Murdock & Nelson’s secretary – someone both Matt and Foggy had crushes on. Naturally, Karen only had eyes for Daredevil… So Lois Lane-Clark Kent/Superman…

Matt reminisces about his father’s boxing career. Issue one takes us up to the catalyzing event of his father’s murder (very like the movie, actually). In issue two, Daredevil is born, and goes after those who killed his dad (a little time has past by this point).

The story takes a little time to get going, but I found myself reading throughout. Matt’s new in town, still making a name for himself as both a lawyer and also Daredevil (he goes after Electro), that sort of thing. Usual origin-story stuff.

I really love the New York details in the artwork – lots of noticeable city landmarks, well realised on the page.

The story skips towards the end to post-Karen, tying up the whole book. But without telling us what actually happened to Karen. All we get is:

“The rest of the story you know too well. It’s been told a lot of ways, with many other people in my life, but this is the way I choose to remember it when I think of you. Foggy never found love. You found out that Daredevil and Matt Murdock were one and the same. And now… And now you are dead.”

Daredevil’s an interesting character, still. In some ways, he’s not only physically blind, but also emotionally. His father was crooked, but redeemed himself (almost selfishly) at the end, and this act has left its permanent fingerprints on Matt’s own approach to justice.

Summing up, this isn’t a bad book. It’s a slow-burn comic, more about Murdock & Nelson, rather than Daredevil. Quite good, also a bit sad and emotional. I think I prefer Mark Waid’s run on Daredevil, though. (I’m not sure if that’s still being published, though… I know he’s started the rather excellent Indestructible Hulk as part of the Marvel NOW re-boot.)

Ultimate Comics: Hawkeye

Writer: Jonathan Hickman | Artist: Rafa Sandoval | Inks: Jordi Tarragona | Colors: Brad Anderson

Hawkeye’s back in a bad way. Armed and dangerous, Clint Barton is tasked with his most perilous mission yet. And what he discovers will reverberate across the entire Ultimate Universe. Tasked on a covert and dangerous mission, Hawkeye finds himself in the middle of an international arms race – but on the brink of obtaining a serum that will change the course of mutant history, has the eagle-eyed hero aimed too high to succeed?

Collects: Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #1-4 (Complete Series)

Ok, a really short review: ultimately, it boils down to “I really enjoyed this.” There’s a lot of action, as everything in the Southeast Asian Republic (SEAR) goes nuts. You see, the SEAR leaders have developed a new breed of super-humans. Why does this matter? Well, in the Ultimate Comics universe, not only have mutants been hunted to near extinction, but many of them were wiped out in Ultimatum. So yeah, a bit of a game-changer. Hawkeye’s sent to SEAR to see what’s going on, and to steal a sample of the serum against the new virus that the SEAR government also unleashed on the world. The four issues tie in with certain events in Ultimate Comics: X-Men, and leads into the second issue and beyond of Ultimate Comics: Ultimates (which I still have to read).

Sidebar, I really like the cover for the fourth part of the series:

Ultimate Comics: X-Men Vol.1

Writer: Nick Spencer | Artist: Paco Medina | Inks: Juan Vlasco | Colors: Marte Gracia

The biggest mutant cover-up has gone public as the true history of the X-Gene is revealed. the United States government has been outed as the X-Gene’s creator and mutants have been branded terrorists. as an identity crisis rocks the mutant world, the mistrust between man and x-man gets deeper… and it is in this insanity that the X-Men emerge. Who are the X-Men? and how will they fare in a world where they are criminals? Will these outlaw mutants be willing to defend mankind, when all of humanity cries out for their imprisonment?

Collects: Ultimate Comics X-Men #1-6

There’s a really shocking opening scene in this book, as Karen Grant (formerly known as Jean Grey) visits a family whose daughter has recently manifested mutant abilities. Then we’re re-introduced to the mutants from Ultimate X: Origins, and also Kitty Pryde:

“I’m sixteen years old – And this is the story of how I became the most feared and hated terrorist in the history of the United States.”

Jimmy Hudson, Wolverine’s son (who also has the same powers), has left the group and gone on a solo-journey to find out what happened to his father. Meanwhile, the rest of the group of young mutants face off against various aggressive and hostile forces, and eventually a particularly zealous anti-mutant crusader. Shit goes down, I can tell you.

The artwork can be a little off, sometimes (for example, the president’s press secretary’s fingers at the announcement near the beginning; Quicksilver’s eye when he’s with Fury and the US President; and a couple others). But, for the main it’s excellent: bright and vivid, clear and eye-catching. There are also plenty of instances of great nuance in the characters’ facial expressions. It’s not often that I come across comic art that can do so much with small twitches and changes to characters’ expressions. Really impressed.

Overall, this is a pretty cool start to the series, with the group forming, some world-building going on, and the usual beginning-of-series inclusions. It’s not particularly deep, but the story taps into a Government-as-Bad-Medical-Experimenter conspiracies pretty well, and sets things up nicely for the future. I think they were playing this a bit safe, perhaps unsure if people would take to the new direction.

Venom, Vol.1, Circle of Four & other issues

Writer: Rick Remender | Artist: Tony Moore | Inks: Crimelab Studios, Sandu Florea, Karl Kesel (#1-2) | Colors: John Rauch

America… meet your newest Hero! The lethal alien symbiote known as Venom is in the custody of the U.S. military… and with a familiar face from Spider-Man’s world inside the suit, the government’s own personal Spidey is going into action as one of the nation’s top covert agents in hostile territory!

Collects: Venom #1-5

Eugene “Flash” Thompson wears the symbiote suit. But he can apparently only do so for 48-hours, otherwise it will bond permanently with him, and start exerting more control over Flash’s psyche and body. I thought this was a pretty interesting development. I first ‘met’ Flash in an issue of Amazing Spider-Man, in which Chameleon has taken on Peter Parker’s identity. Pseudo-Peter attends a photo-op with the Mayor, to which Flash has been invited – he’s a double-amputee war hero – and Chameleon makes some time to take the piss out of Flash (they went to high school together, and Flash was the jock who took out his insecurities on Peter, despite idolizing Spider-Man).

The book drops us right into a war zone. Shit’s goin’ down, and we’re not given much time to figure out what or take much of a breath. It’s fast-paced, furious, and there’s some trouble with Jack O’Lantern (presented in a truly horrific, evil version of the character). O’Lantern crops up throughout the issues I’ve read (all the way up to #14), and he just gets madder and more brutal as the story goes on. I bought him as a genuinely dangerous, psychotic villain.

The rest of the book develops into a great character piece as well as an action tale. Flash is not only Venom, but also a recovering alcoholic, depressed, suffering from some PTSD, trying to make things work with his girlfriend Betty Brant, and attempting to avoid his father (who is ill and possibly dying).

Some lines of dialogue are used a little too often (for example, inserting the idea of pulling off a Hail Mary, and specific things related to rage and how that effects the symbiote). They’re not terrible, but it’s noticeable that they are either a vocal/authorial tic or a crutch.

This is a great book, though. I’m really glad i picked it up – and have, in fact already read #6-12 (which, for some reason, have not been collected together). The story continues to grow and deepen, as Flash deals with some more changes and tragedy. The fact that a criminal overlord knows his true identity is also putting strain on him, as a marker is finally called in.

I really enjoyed the first book if Venom. The next bunch of issues were also good, but kind of went off the deep end in some ways, and the quality and my interest dipped the more I read. Perhaps I overdosed, I’m not sure.

Specifically, the trip to Hell in “Circle of Four”, which teams Venom up with Red Hulk, X-23 and Ghost Rider (a new, female one, which was interesting). The misfits are in Las Vegas, but get sucked into Hell, as a demon prince decides to bring Hell to earth – through a casino. Naturally. The story’s ok, but it didn’t grab me as much as the earlier issues.

Overall, I think this series is worth a look, especially if you’re looking for a slightly edgier-Spidey series. I prefer Scarlet Spider, but this will do in a pinch, also. I’ll read more, but I’ll probably wait until it’s on sale again on ComiXology.

One thing I do really like? When the symbiote takes over, and Venom goes mental:

Review: DEVIL SAID BANG by Richard Kadrey (Voyager)

March 28, 2013January 21, 2015 Civilian Reader Review Devil Said Bang, Harper Collins, Heaven and Hell, Los Angeles, Richard Kadrey, Sandman Slim, Urban Fantasy, Voyager, WTF

How do you rule the unruly? Sandman Slim in Hell! Again…

While ruling the denizens of darkness does have a few perks, James Stark isn’t exactly thrilled at the course his career (not to mention his soul) has taken. Breaking out of Hell once was a miraculous trick. But twice? If anyone can do it, it’s Sandman Slim. While he’s working out the details of his latest escape plan, Slim has to figure out how to run his new domain and hold off a host of trigger-happy killers mesmerized by that bulls-eye on his back. Everyone in Heaven, Hell, and in between wants to be the fastest gun in the universe, and the best way to prove it is to take down the new Lucifer, aka Sandman Slim aka James Stark.

Then again, LA isn’t quite the paradise it once was since he headed south. A serial killer ghost is running wild and his angelic alter-ago is hiding somewhere in the lost days of time with a secret cabal who can rewrite reality. And starting to care about people and life again is a real bitch for a stone-cold killer

Ah, Sandman Slim… One of the best Urban Fantasy series on the market reaches its fourth volume. If you’re looking for a gritty tale of Heaven, Hell, Nephilim, batshit crazy supernatural people and creatures, weird hoodoo, and weird shenanigans, there’s really no better series or author to turn to. This series is a must-read.

[Disclaimer: There are some minor spoilers for the previous books in the series, but I’ve tried to keep the review short and to-the-point.] Continue reading →

“God’s War” by Kameron Hurley (Night Shade/Del Rey UK)

March 22, 2013 Civilian Reader Review Bel Dame Apocrypha, Bug Punk, Bugs, Del Rey, Fantasy, God's War, Kameron Hurley, Night Shade, Religious War, Sci-Fi

The start of a new, unconventional SF trilogy

Nyx had already been to hell. One prayer more or less wouldn’t make any difference…

On a ravaged, contaminated world, a centuries-old holy war rages, fought by a bloody mix of mercenaries, magicians, and conscripted soldiers. Though the origins of the war are shady and complex, there’s one thing everybody agrees on…

There’s not a chance in hell of ending it.

Nyx is a former government assassin who makes a living cutting off heads for cash. But when a dubious deal between her government and an alien gene pirate goes bad, Nyx’s ugly past makes her the top pick for a covert recovery. The head they want her to bring home could end the war – but at what price?

The world is about to find out.

This is an unconventional, highly original and enjoyable debut sci-fi novel. I took my sweet time getting to it, for reasons I cannot fathom, but since its release in 2010 it’s received a lot of positive coverage from around the blogosphere. And now I know why. It’s not going to be to everyone’s taste, but it’s tightly written, well-constructed (for the most part), and… well, bonkers. I enjoyed this.

It also has one of the greatest, make-you-sit-up-and-take-note first sentences: “Nyx sold her womb somewhere between Punjai and Faleen, on the edge of the desert.”

The short Part One is a rapid-fire, near-riotous introduction to Nasheenian society and our main protagonist, Nyx. She is a somewhat troublesome, sometime rogue “bel dame” (a sanctioned bounty hunter and enforcer, I suppose). She’s been doing work on the side, which she really shouldn’t, and her sisters do not take kindly to this. We get a few hints of her past, but not too many until very near the end. She is caught, punished and imprisoned. Then we jump forward about seven years, and Nyx has moved on from her bel dame past and is working as a bounty hunter with a motley crew of violent and eccentric misfits.

The story is pretty grim, overall. The two main nations featured are at war with each other, and have been for quite some time. The two sides are constantly experimenting with new and innovative ways of causing mass-murder, often utilising the novel’s greatest creating: the bug-related bio-tech. (This is why the term “bugpunk” has been coined, and you’ll quickly see how suitable it is.) Nyx can be brutal (emotionally and physically) to those close to her. She’s reckless, cavalier, and self-destructive. Rhys, her pet magician (and the second ‘main’ character), is long-suffering, but they have a really interesting dynamic. They embody everything about each other’s culture that they don’t like, and yet they are drawn to each other nevertheless, and have created a mutually beneficial arrangement that seems to suit them both.

Hurley’s characters are pleasantly diverse, and I liked the imbalance towards more female characters. (Nasheenian society is matriarchal.) I enjoyed the way Hurley wrote them all, and I think she’s created a great society and world with which to keep writing in and for fans to keep reading (there are two more books in the series). Rasheeda, in particular, is creepy as all get out. And bonkers. The inclusion of shape-shifters was interesting, too (all that mucous must be a bit of a bitch, though…). The characters are interesting, three-dimensional and felt distinct from each other. I particularly liked Nyx’s crew, who created a dysfunctional family to follow. Rhys was a great character, and I liked all of his P.O.V. chapters. He’s a good lens through which we learn of the Nasheenian matriarchal society and the differences between that and his own, highly conservative Chenjan culture.

Bugs! Let’s get back to the bugs for a moment. They are everywhere and in almost everything: medicine (needles have eyes, because they seem to be specially engineered creatures), magicians control them for various means (healing, torture, light, espionage, security and surveillance, communications, etc.), and even some weapons have biological components. “Bio-tech”, in other words, on this world, is really “bug-tech”. Maybe my favourite things about this were the “bakkies”, which seem to be semi-organic (at least) buggies or cars. It’s all very weird, but detailed and very well-devised and realised on the page. Hurley never delves too deeply into how it all works – she gives us just enough to know what to picture, and then gets on with the story. Once the book ended, though, I felt like I had a pretty clear picture of how it all worked and fit together. Very cool.

Elements from early on in the novel are tied up quite nicely by the end (there’s a nice circle to the narrative). As a first novel, there is of course a lot of world-building going on, almost all of it very good and often fascinating, intricate. This can sometimes feel like it’s taking over the story, however: relegating the bounty hunt (or “note”, as it’s referred to on this world) to a near-peripheral status. I didn’t mind so much, as I enjoy reading about the world and its various societies. That being said, there were definite times when I had to remind myself that there was a narrative running through this, and it wasn’t just an exercise in imaginative social and cultural creation. This makes the end a little bit busy, in my opinion, although I will accept that I was distracted by the world-building, so I may have missed a couple of salient points from early on.

The writing is very good. I was willingly pulled on through the story, and read it relatively quickly.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed God’s War and, while flawed, I can certainly see how it has grabbed the attention of a number of discerning SFF fans. As I said, it’s unconventional, but it also draws from a lot of SFF traditions and plays around with almost all of them in new and interesting ways. Highly original, it really is about time God’s War was picked up by a UK publisher – which it now has been, by Del Rey UK (who are proving to have a pleasingly eclectic taste in titles).

Definitely recommended. I’ll be reading Infidel quite soon, followed shortly thereafter that by Rapture (both of which I already have from the US).

Wonder Woman, Vol.2 – “Guts” (DC)

March 19, 2013 Civilian Reader Comics, Review Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang, Commentary, Dan Green, DC Comics, DC New 52, Graphic Novel, Guts, Kano, Matthew Wilson, Noah Berlatsky, The Atlantic, Tony Atkins, Volume 2, Wonder Woman

Writer: Brian Azzarello | Artist: Cliff Chiang (#7-8, 11), Tony Atkins (#9-10), Kano (#10) | Inks: Dan Green (#9-) | Colors: Matthew Wilson

Wonder Woman goes to hell! After playing Poseidon, Hades, and Hera against each other, Hades strikes back by kidnapping Zola and trapping her in the Underworld. It’s up to Wonder Woman — with a little help from the God of Love and the God of Smiths — to break Zola out. But what is Hades’ real game, and once you get into the land of the dead, how exactly do you get out?

Collects: Wonder Woman #7-12

I rather enjoyed the first collection of Azzarello’s run on Wonder Woman. Chiang’s artwork is great, and Azzarello’s story has some surprises and is a pretty interesting interpretation of Greek Mythology. Where the first collection, “Blood” was strong, “Guts” didn’t live up to my expectations as much as I had hoped – mainly because there’s a bit of a weak middle-section. Otherwise, though, this is still pretty interesting and it does end on a strong note.

One of the first things that jumped out at me in this book is the sinister, predatory, almost evil character Azzarello imbues the Amazons with (it involves the methods they employ to reproduce…). Wonder Woman and her allies have travelled to Mt. Aetna, seeking the help from Hephaestus (the gods’ weapon-maker). Over the course of the first chapter of “Guts”, we learn of the fate of male offspring of the Amazons, which shocks Diana’s impression of the Amazons’ culture to the core.

While in the company of Hephaestus, we also get the Wonder Woman-equivalent of the “Guns, lots of guns” scene in The Matrix. Only, they don’t just pick up guns (Wonder Woman has, initially, a more conventional, traditional approach to weaponry).

Issue #9 onwards dropped a little in quality, I must say. The story becomes a little more odd, and gets just a tad silly. I still really enjoy the depiction of Greek mythology and so forth, but the story just didn’t feel as strong as past issues. The ending to issue #10 was… A bit meh, too. I’m not sure if it was meant to be a morality tale, or a clunky attempt at a future-redemption tale. Or if it was just a long lead up so they could have that final page, when Wonder Woman employs Eros’s guns in a particular way. I’m just not sure what to make of it. I didn’t hate it by any means, but it was an oddly-written issue.

Ultimately, Wonder Woman has become a tale of squabbling families, deals and bloody betrayals. Which is rather appropriate, I think, given the Greek Mythology that infuses Azzarello’s version of the Wonder Woman story (I have no experience reading any previous Wonder Woman series or storylines, so I can’t comment beyond this). The final chapter ends with a nice twist, before offering quite the tease for the next story arc.

I really love Cliff Chiang’s artwork. Atkins & Kano’s issues/chapters do a very good job of matching Chiang’s style, but we start to see some odd touches coming through (for example, exaggerated facial expressions – particularly Strife’s). Thankfully, Chiang returns for issues #11 and #12. The depiction of Hell is pretty interesting, too.

Although, I’m not sure why a Greek god would re-create a hellish version of London… (Despite some earlier issues taking part there, Diana and everyone else in this series is either a Greek God/myth or American, so London is an odd choice, no?)

To be honest, I didn’t like this collection as much as Volume 1. Despite the very strong artwork and aesthetic, Azzarello’s story (particularly the botched wedding/romance with Hel in the middle) just failed to grab my attention. Nevertheless, apart from that mid-point wobble, it is still not a bad read – I just think there have been better issues in the series, and Azzarello has definitely produced some better comics. If you’re a fan of more “modern” approaches to classic comic heroes, then I think you’ll find something in here to enjoy and meet your needs.

Original Issue Cover Art

***

Further Reading: The Atlantic ran a story on their website about Azzarello’s Wonder Woman, “Wonder Woman’s Violent, Man-Pandering Second Act” by Noah Berlatsky (who also runs Hooded Utilitarian), which I thought others might find interesting. I also had more to say about the article than I did about the book, so if you’ll indulge me…

Berlantsky believes Azzarello has betrayed the original intent of Wonder Woman’s creator. William Marston, who seems to have been quite the polymath in his day, created the character of Wonder Woman sometime in the mid-1940s, in reaction to the comics available at the time. Me being me, I tracked down the original article, and it’s pretty interesting, so I’ve included a couple of quotations from it, below.

In The American Scholar, Marston wrote that, “from a psychological angle” the comics of that era’s “worst offense was their blood-curdling masculinity.” (In “Why 100,000,000 Americans Read Comics”, Winter 1943/4 issue, pp.35-44, in case you’re interested in tracking it down). Berlantsky offers a nostalgic run-down of the classic ideals Marston brought to his series (space kangaroos!), and then moves on to how Azzarello has broken with it. I should mention from the outset that all I’ve read of the character has been the first two volumes of the New 52 series, and a few Justice League-related books (including Geoff Johns’ New 52 iteration of that series as well).

I won’t deal with everything from The Atlantic article, but there is one thing I’d like to pick up on. Specifically, the guns.

He takes particular objection to Chiang’s cover pieces that depict Wonder Woman wielding Eros’s guns:

“Chiang’s interior cover for issue #8 shows Wonder Woman leaping from the side, shooting two golden pistols while discarded golden shell cases rain down around her — the insufficiently swaggering golden lasso nowhere in sight. Elsewhere in the series, we get to see Wonder Woman shot in the chest; a woman displaying her gashed open and bleeding arms, a giant devouring monster zombie creature, and another interior cover showing Wonder Woman with a death’s head toting those cool golden guns again.”

Berlantsky has a point, in some respects. But, given the ending of issue #10 (which I mentioned above), there is a little bit more to it than the chance to just give Diana big, gold-plated (shiny!) guns. I do agree with him that the ending is “banal”, but perhaps I wouldn’t have used quite as strong a word. When maybe I should have. He goes on:

“The fact that the guns belong to the god Eros, and shoot bullets of violent infatuation just emphasizes that, for Azzarello, even love is a blood-curdling business best expressed through phallic firepower.”

Also possible, but part of me thinks Azzarello’s use of pistols may be more of a nod to Baz Lurman’s Romeo & Juliet (“Take up your .45-Magnum-semi-automatic swords!”) and the inspiration for updating classical weaponry for more modern firepower. I have absolutely no proof of this, though, so it’s entirely possible I’m wrong. It’s just an optional theory.

I think Berlantsky’s right, though, about Azzarello & Co.’s “eagerness to demonstrate the adultness of the adult content” of the New 52 series. But, I think he sadly does not appreciate Azzarello’s take on Greek Mythology:

“each [god/character] is rolled out to demonstrate their cool-as-shit, bad-ass powers and complicated dynastic motivations. Everybody – Hades, Wonder Woman, everyone – bargains and schemes and betrays and manipulates everyone else. It’s a god-eat-god world out there – and one built, in every way, on blood”

This is, actually, a pretty faithful interpretation of Greek mythology. In some ways, then, despite the obvious added masculinity, Azzarello has returned Diana’s story and that of her supporting cast to a point closer to the source material? True, this defeats the intended “purpose” (for want of a better word) of the original series, but it is nevertheless an interesting story. Comics writers are frequently criticized for trying new things with characters (often, it is met with Screaming Denunciation from long-time-fans, and bemused incredulity from newer readers).

Berlantsky’s article has an interesting omission, though, which I think supports his point even better than Diana taking up twinned fire-arms. One could argue that there is even more “blood-curdling masculinity” in the way Azzarello changes Diana’s classic weapon. Berlantsky says the guns are more attractive to the “(much smaller) audience of (mostly) men in their 20s, 30s, and 40s” than Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth. (I always thought it was a whip, but that could just say something about me…) In this book, Hephaestus gives Diana a different whip (definitely a whip this time), which can cause some pretty nasty, fiery damage/pain/destruction. Surely it is the bastardisation of her traditional weapon (“tool”? “Accessory”?), the one that set her apart as the hero who settles conflict non-violently, that is more indicative of the shift Berlantsky wants to highlight?

Ultimately, the article finishes on a note I agree with: the justification of (using Berlantsky’s terminology) “blood-curdling masculinity” as a short-hand for “maturity and realism”. Or, in fantasy community terminology, short-hand for “grimdark”!

“But making Wonder Woman more violent doesn’t make her more mature or more real. It just makes her more conventional.”

Not mentioned in Berlatsky’s article is a Marston quotation, also from The American Scholar, his reaction after an attempt to submit Wonder Woman to a comics publisher:

“A male hero, at best, lacks the qualities of maternal love and tenderness which are as essential to a normal child as the breath of life. Suppose your child’s ideal becomes a superman who uses his extraordinary power to help the weak. The most important ingredient in the human happiness recipe still is missing – love. It’s smart to be strong. It’s big to be generous. But it’s sissified, according to exclusively masculine rules, to be tender, loving, affectionate, and alluring.”

A lot of the article is rather dated, but there’s something nice about reading an article by a writer back in the 1940s who was so clearly irritated by male-domination of comic literature. I also rather liked this passage from Marston’s article, with regards to why people read comics:

“Nine humans out of ten react first with their feelings rather than with their minds; the more primitive the emotion stimulated, the stronger the reaction. Comics play a trite but lusty tune on the C natural keys of human nature. They rouse the most primitive, but also the most powerful, reverberations in the noisy cranial sound-box of consciousness, drowning out more subtle symphonies. Comics scorn finesse, thereby incurring the wrath of linguistic adepts. They defy the limits of accepted fact and convention, thus amortizing to apoplexy the ossified arteries of routine thought. But by these very tokens the picture-story fantasy cuts loose the hampering debris of art and artifice and touches the tender spots of universal human desires and aspirations, hidden customarily beneath long accumulated protective coverings of indirection and disguise. Comics speak, without qualm or sophistication, to the innermost ears of the wishful self. The response is like that of a thirsty traveler who suddenly finds water in the desert – he drinks to satiation.”

Review: BEFORE THEY ARE HANGED by Joe Abercrombie (Gollancz/Pyr)

March 18, 2013May 12, 2016 Civilian Reader Review 2007, Before They Are Hanged, Brilliant, Fantasy, First Law, Gollancz, Joe Abercrombie, Must Read, Pyr

The awesome, second novel in the First Law trilogy

Bitter and merciless war is coming to the frozen north. It’s bloody and dangerous and the Union army, split by politics and hamstrung by incompetence, is utterly unprepared for the slaughter that’s coming. Lacking experience, training, and in some cases even weapons the army is scarcely equipped to repel Bethod’s scouts, let alone the cream of his forces.

In the heat-ravaged south the Gurkish are massing to assault the city of Dagoska, defended by Inquisitor Glokta. The city is braced for the inevitable defeat and massacre to come, preparations are made to make the Gurkish pay for every inch of land… but a plot is festering to hand the city to its beseigers without a fight, and the previous Inquisitor of Dagoska vanished without trace. Threatened from within and without the city, Glokta needs answers, and he needs them soon.

And to the east a small band of malefactors travel to the edge of the world to reclaim a device from history – a Seed, hidden for generations – with tremendous destructive potential. A device which could put a end to war, to the army of Eaters in the South, to the invasion of Shanka from the North – but only if it can be found, and only if its power can be controlled…

I am a relative newcomer to Joe Abercrombie’s First Law series. Despite buying (and subsequently losing) all of his novels. I read the first book, The Blade Itself, and while I enjoyed it a great deal, I didn’t quite see the genius that so many of my friends and fellow reviewers saw. Then I read Before They Are Hanged. NOW I get it. This is a fantastic book, that had me hooked from the first page onwards. Joe Abercrombie is, frankly, a fantasy genius. Continue reading →

Gotrek & Felix: “The Reckoning” by Jordan Ellinger (Black Library)

March 14, 2013 Civilian Reader Review Black Library, Dwarfs, eBook, Fantasy, Gotrek and Felix, Jordan Ellinger, Lost Tales, Novella, Reckoning, Warhammer

A Novella from the Upcoming Gotrek & Felix: Lost Tales

Gotrek and Felix: unsung heroes of the Empire, or nothing more than common thieves and murderers? The truth perhaps lies somewhere in between, and depends entirely upon whom you ask… Summoned back to Barak Varr by the outraged King Grundadrakk, the pair discover that a terrible crime has been committed – the dwarfen hold’s Book of Grudges has been stolen, right out of its sealed vault. Given that his own name appears upon its fading pages, Gotrek is honour-bound to join an expedition to recover the ancient tome. How far will the trail lead, and just what manner of individual would seek to rob the dwarfs of their vengeful legacy

I’m not a fan of buying novellas individually if they will be released later in a collected anthology, but when The Reckoning was released, I really fancied a short dip back into the Warhammer setting with my two favourite characters. And luckily, this story is really rather good.

To be honest, The Reckoning didn’t start too well, as the captain of the Dorabella was given a bit of a cliché accent. (The Dorabella is the ship on which our heroes are fleeing a mob intent on capturing them for… something they may or may not have done.) The story is set twenty years since the Window Tax Riots in Altdorf, the event that resulted in Gotrek and Felix’s first encounter – and, as can happen from time-to-time, after much alcohol resulted in Felix pledging to write Gotrek’s epic.

A group of heavily armoured Dwarfs attack the Dorabella, board it and apprehend our much-put-upon heroes. Apparently, Gotrek committed a crime before leaving Barak Varr (which he visited on his way to the Slayer Shrine to make his oath).

The best thing about this novella is the amount of detail it adds to Gotrek’s back-story. We learn a little more of his life pre-slayerdom. For example, I don’t remember knowing before this that he was a master engineer (it’s entirely possible I just forgot – there have been quite a lot of novels, now…).

“Where are we going?”

Gotrek’s single eye glittered. “To Barak Varr. I want to see for myself how these fools let someone into my vault.”

After examining the vault, Gotrek, Felix and their Dwarven captors recognise that there’s something else entirely going on, and so they descend into the tunnels below Barak Varr. As is so often the case with Gotrek and Felix, they are in pursuit of the mischievous and malicious Skaven, who have apparently stolen something very dear to the Dwarfs. We don’t really get to know the new dwarf characters as well as I would have liked, but it is by no means much of a problem – the action comes fast and often, and the story moves along at a good clip. The Skaven they are after are also an interesting, unique bunch, and I think Ellinger’s done a great job writing a new spin on the neverending war between the rat-kin and Dwarfs. (I won’t spoil what it is, but it’s well-written and executed.)

The Reckoning reminded me of the early Gotrek & Felix short stories, and particularly those found in Trollslayer. The atmosphere, the tight prose, and the ~~sword-~~axe-and-sorcery fun. It was, therefore, very enjoyable and a most welcome addition to the series.

Overall, then, this is a really good novella, and I’m now really looking forward to reading the other three in Gotrek & Felix: The Lost Tales, which will be published in August 2013. I really don’t know why I’m still taking so long to read Josh Reynolds’s Gotrek & Felix: Road of Skulls novel… (Soon!)

Guest Review: “What Lies Within” by Tom Vowler (Headline)

March 11, 2013 Civilian Reader Guest Post, Review Headline, Suspense, Thriller, Tom Vowler, What Lies Within

A tightly spun, atmospheric and powerful psychological suspense.

Reviewed by Milo Milton-Jefferies

Living in a remote Devon farmhouse, Anna and her family have always been close to nature, surrounded by the haunting beauty of the moor. But when a convict escapes from nearby Dartmoor prison, their isolation suddenly begins to feel more claustrophobic than free. Fearing for her children’s safety, Anna’s behaviour becomes increasingly irrational. But why is she so distant from her kind husband Robert, and why does she suspect something sinister of her son Paul? All teenagers have their difficult phases…

Meanwhile, a young idealistic teacher has just started her first job, determined to ‘make a difference’. But when she is brutally attacked by one of her students, her version of events is doubted by even those closest to her. Struggling to deal with the terrible consequences, she does what she can to move on and start afresh.

As the two narratives converge, the tension builds to a devastating denouement, shattering everything you thought you believed about nature, nurture and the true meaning of family.

There are several reasons why I love being a part of the blogging community, but I think one of the more important reasons is that there are literally loads of novels out there that I would never have heard of and discovered were it not for reviewing. When Stefan offered me the chance to guest review What Lies Within by Tom Vowler, I leapt at the chance, and this book turned out to be a very enjoyable reading experience, despite the fact I went into it knowing almost nothing about the book, except for the blurb and the cover.

The first thing that drew me to What Lies Within was that its location, Devon (for all you international readers, a county towards the south-west England), is where I live, and I don’t get the chance to read novels set in the same county as me very often, due to the fact that I’m a big reader of SFF books and very rarely do these take place in the English Countryside. So, I was willing to give Vowler the benefit of the doubt, and gave this book a try…

… And I was pleasantly surprised. This book deals with a touchy subject that not many people may feel comfortable with reading, and I couldn’t help but be compelled to support the teacher when reading this book, especially after all the things she’s subjected to. The theme of What Lies Within is essentially having to remain a good person even while you’re suffering bad events. What I liked about this book was that it really keeps you reading. It is hardly a comfortable read, mainly due to the subject matter, but What Lies Within is nonetheless an enthralling read.

And there’s a slow and gradual build up to this story. This book is very much a character-focused book as opposed to a plot-centric one. When I first read What Lies Within’s blurb, I mistakenly thought it would be a hunt for an escaped convict-type novel. But the book is far more than that, and an interesting read.

The story is told in the “present”, but the use of flashbacks is very interesting and develop over the course of the novel, as we learn more about certain events and discover that all things are not as initially clear-cut as we imagine them to be. Vowler has some strong, positive writing and really captures Anna’s personality. She’s a character with a harsh background and the author paints a sympathetic and empathetic picture of our protagonist.

I don’t want to give away the twist in the book, but it’s a pretty powerful one. What Lies Within is a book that’s full of surprises, and I am struggling to think of anything negative to say about it.

Review: THE DAYLIGHT WAR by Peter V. Brett (Voyager/Del Rey)

March 1, 2013January 6, 2015 Civilian Reader Review Daylight War, Del Rey, Demon Cycle, Fantasy, Inevera, Peter V Brett, Voyager

The long-awaited third book in The Demon Cycle

On the night of a new moon all shadows deepen.

Humanity has thirty days to prepare for the next demon attack, but one month is scarcely enough time to train a village to defend themselves, let alone an entire continent caught in the throes of civil war.

Arlen Bales understands the coreling threat better than anyone. Born ordinary, the demon plague has shaped him into a weapon so powerful he has been given the unwanted title of saviour, and attracted the attention of deadly enemies both above and below ground.

Unlike Arlen, Ahmann Jardir embraces the title of Deliverer. His strength resides not only in the legendary relics he carries, but also in the magic wielded by his first wife, Inevera, a cunning and powerful priestess whose allegiance even Jardir cannot be certain of.

Once Arlen and Jardir were like brothers. Now they are the bitterest of rivals. As humanity’s enemies prepare, the only two men capable of defeating them are divided against each other by the most deadly demons of all: those that lurk in the human heart.

After finishing The Desert Spear, it was not long before I had to dive into The Daylight War. I’d come late to the series, so I hadn’t been champing at the bit quite as much as other fans, but after finishing book two, I could certainly see why people were so very eager. The third book in the series continues to build on the excellent foundations of The Painted Man and The Desert Spear, as the story moves ever forward. This is an addictive, immersive and excellent fantasy novel. Continue reading →