Archive for the ‘Amanda Conner’ Category

Zatanna #12 Review

Posted: April 25, 2011 in Amanda Conner, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Matthew Sturges, Pat Brosseau, Stephane Roux, Zatanna
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Nettirw Yb: Wehttam Segruts

Tistra: Einahpets Xour

Tsiroloc: Nhoj Zsilak

Revoc Tistra: Adnama Rennoc

Rerettel: Tap Uaessorb

Rotide: Yeoj Ireilavac

Eht Yllacigam Gnitevir Tolp

A wanna be thug and rapper, named Backlash, takes it upon himself to utilize his time reversing device to assist him in his dastardly and murderous deeds.  After slaying a group of mer-people, this simple minded jerkwad takes his blood-thirsty agenda to San Francisco where Zatanna practices her backwards enchantments.

While taking a stroll through the city, our fish-net wearing heroine finds herself doin’ the mystical tango with the Backlash. (Original name huh?)  As time runs backwards, and Zatanna’s spells are spoken correctly, (making them useless) she must now use her mighty wit and outsmart our rhythmless evildoer and save Tinkerbell!

Wait…What?

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I have now decided to go back eleven issues and play catch up with the Zatanna series.  I’ve always loved her, but never did I imagine that she had enough potential to have her own title.  Finally, one year later, I decided to pick up issue #12 and see what all the excitement was about.  And I told myself I wasn’t going to pick up any more titles to help save a few bucks…this was a bad way of sticking to my comic book diet.

The interesting thing Sturges does with #12 is the play on the reverse aspect of Zatanna’s world.  How could a writer put a twist on Zatanna’s spells without seeming to unoriginal?  I got it!  Force her to say the spells forwards instead of backwards!  And I’ll be honest, as corny and stupid as the new villain Backlash is, the idea propelling this story is quite creative.

I liked Sturges’ portrayal of Zatanna having to constantly practice her magical spells.  Sure, she’s been around since the late 60’s, but everyone gets rusty right?  She doesn’t seem inept to me, just staying on top of things.

I can only imagine how much fun Sturges had in thinking up as many Palindromes as he could for Zatanna to spout out.  For those who loves word games, comics, and action, this is the ultimate storyline.  I wonder if Sturges decided to challenge Stephanie Roux and create some difficult artistic situations through the dialog that only the best artists could render.

Maybe it’s my problem having hopped on board with Zatanna 12 issue after it began, but I wasn’t fully sure where this thug came from, where he got his “wicked sword,” and where this green fairy came from.  It all seemed very random to me and out of place…but thus is the nature of comic books.  So all I have to say is “give me more randominity!”

It was nice to see Stephane Roux back on board with the art on a title.  I haven’t actually seen her work for some time which is quite sad.  We very rarely see Zatanna out of her magician’s uniform and in regular clothing.  But even then, Roux gives a very modern and exotic look to her, even as she flies over the city of San Fransisco.

Speaking of which, I hear rumors around the World Wide Web that Sturges’ description of San Francisco was a spot on match to what it’s actually like in the real world.  I’ve never been to the magical city, but if what Zatanna says is true, I might need to pay it a visit one of these years.

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Overall, this was a very well thought out book.  It had its confusing and out of place points but, eh, nothings perfect.

Oh, that the cover by Amanda Conner is freaking amazing!!!!

7 out of 10 stars

Jimmy Olsen One-Shot Review

Posted: April 5, 2011 in Amanda Conner, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Jimmy Olsen, Nick Spencer, RB Silva, Superboy, Supergirl, Superman, Uncategorized
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Written By: Nick Spencer

Artist: RB Silva with Amilcar Pinna

Inker: Dym & Rob Lean with Pinna

Colorist: Dave McCaig

Cover Artist: Amanda Conner

Letterer: Rob Leigh

Editor: Will Moss

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

Who would have ever thought that Jimmy Olsen would go from being one of the biggest geeks in comic book history…to STILL being one of the biggest geeks in comic book history…but seem cool at the same time?

The Pickle Olsen Gets Himself in…

The Jimmy Olsen One-Shot comes to us at a time when Superman is taking is his afternoon stroll across America…which obviously means everything evil and demented will be thrown at Metropolis, leaving only Jimmy Olsen to clean up the mess.  But not before his girlfriend, Chloe dumps him for playing the hot new video game release of Superman: The Video Game!  (Queue epic music please!)

What follows is a series of catastrophic events which stick Jimmy in the line of fire that put both himself, the city of Metropolis, and the world in danger!  But these Earth shattering and angst driven catastrophes are more than just random occurrences with no meaning.  While not on purpose, everything Jimmy encounters all lead to an important truth about himself and the one he cares about the most.

And When All Is Said And Done…

Jimmy Olsen has grown so much within the comedic realm of comic books, but here in his own One-Shot we see a new development occur in his character.  The humor remains strong and predominant, but Jimmy (after all these years) truly is becoming a character with a lot of depth.

In a way, Spencer sends us on a journey of Olsen’s strongest and most intense fantasies in a series of tales; becoming a genie with all sorts of power, saving the world from an alien invasion, outsmarting an alien race of party-animals, overcoming his own desire to be like his idol Superman, and constantly battling his seedy arch nemesis, Catcher Block!….er, I mean Sebastien Mallory! But at the center of all this was his real-life conscious, Chloe.  Certainly his brains and cunning help him to overcome the trials and tribulations, but his true test lie with his friend and former lover.

It was a delight to see Jimmy grow in this degree.  Sure, he acted like a typical guy, trying to prove himself by pumping his three chests hairs out for the world (and Sebastien Mallory) to see, but we see by the books end that none of it really mattered if Chloe wasn’t apart of his life.  And it is in this end we see, while the two never officially get back together, real love at work.

But let’s skip all the sentimental, lovey duvey crap ok!  Let’s instead take another look at the incredibly awesome scene of Jimmy Olsen in the Superman costume, shouting his battle cry…

Click To Enlarge

Triumphant?  Yes, I know it is.  The humor in this book is nothing short perfection.  Jimmy’s clever ways of fixing these sticky situations in the absence of an all-powerful Superman is a comedic opportunity Nick Spencer capitalized on and didn’t disappoint. With incredible writing like this, why can’t DC give the young photographer back his own title?  It would quickly rise in popularity in the same degree that Power Girl did.

Speaking of which, isn’t that cover by Amanda Conner simply amazing?  In fact, the entire book was an artistic masterpiece with RB Silva and Dym helming the pencil and Crayola.  What a taxing process it must be to pump out 69 pages of art, never wavering on the quality and purpose behind each panel.  The facial expressions and body language of each character complimented Spencer’s writing perfectly.  Although, I wonder why Chloe continually gave me the jolting “horse eye.”  (just thumb through the pages and stop to look at Chloe’s face…you’ll see what I mean.)

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

I completely agree with the comment made by AOL’s Comics Alliance plastered at the top of the cover, this is one of the top 10 comics of the year.  (2011, not 2010…geez!)  It was serious enough to feel enticing, but funny enough to keep me  smiling.  You’ll even get a Superman history lesson in the process!

10 out of 10 stars

Plus 1 incentive point