Showing posts with label Secret Six. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Secret Six. Show all posts

Monday, 5 October 2015

Atoll Comics Round 23

Or changes to my Top-Ten comics

Due to having an entertainment budget and an urge to buy better comics, I have decided to be selective about which superhero comics I read. Harnessing the Awesome Power of Maths, I have determined that I can afford to read 10 ongoing titles. So I get to read 10, and only 10, titles published by either Marvel or DC as well as one trade paperback a week of my choosing.

A complication of this is that I am forced to drop an on-going title if I want to try reading a new on-going title, an act of very tough love. Being financially responsible is the worst.

I will be adding Mockingbird and dropping Secret Six.



Why Mockingbird: I think a good description of why I'm reading Mockingbird at the moment is encapsulated in this bit of dialogue: "I'm not going to shoot anyone darling. I'm a biochemist...I wouldn't even know how to fire this thing." which is said while Bobbi Morse clearly demonstrates familiarity with a firearm. As an actual biochemist, this particular bit of dialogue tickles me, but as a more general comics reader this snippet I think showcases the wry, playful wit that runs throughout Mockingbird #1 and makes it fun to read. It's playful and smart and I like it. I'm curious to see what it will develop into in a longer format espionage story. The one caveat of my recommendation at this point is I'm not completely sold on the artwork: while it features clear storytelling and has a distinct style, it doesn't quite have the facial acting needed to nail every joke and doesn't really innovate. But it is early days yet, and I'm willing to see give the creative team a chance mesh and completely win me over.



Why not Sectre Six: Secret Six was a comic I was hoping would become playful and smart and a comic I would like. But, even with a substantial chance or the series to find it's voice... it's just not clicking for me. A past iteration of Secret Six, one of my favourite comics, was a heartfelt look at a group of amusing sociopaths who went on morally complex adventures. It was sometimes challenging, bizarrely warm, and absolutely hilarious. This Secret Six just never worked for me. The characters in the series seem somewhat slapped together and lack the maniacal edge and chemistry needed to make the series work. On top of this, Secret Six has suffered from art inconsistencies: the final issue in the current story arc in particular, which featured a fill-in artist suffered from especially poor storytelling and really didn't jive with the aesthetic of the main series artist. If there is one thing that kills my interest in a comic, it's when a story conclusion features subpar artwork. All that said, I've found that Gail Simone comics often have rocky starts but eventually find their stride. I'm hoping Secret Six finds its voice and a more consistent art team and that I get to try it again in a few months.

Previously
AC Round 22: Hank Johnson AOH in and Black Widow out
Atoll Comics Round 21: Black Canary in and Hawkeye out
Atoll Comics Round 18: Secret Six in and Wonder Woman out
Atoll Comics Round 17: Batgirl in and Batman out
Atoll Comics Round 16: Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier in and Rocket Raccoon out
Atoll Comics Round 15: Rocket Raccoon in and Moon Knight out
Atoll Comics Round 14: Secret Avengers in and Avengers Assemble Out
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Friday, 13 March 2015

Atoll Comics Round 18

Or changes to my Top-Ten comics

Due to my spouse seeing how much I spend on comics and an urge to buy better comics, I have decided to be super-selective about which superhero comics I read. Harnessing the Awesome Power of Maths, I have determined that I can afford to read 10 ongoing titles. So I get to read 10, and only 10, titles published by either Marvel or DC as well as one trade paperback a week of my choosing.

A complication of this is that I am forced to drop an on-going title if I want to try reading a new on-going title, an act of very tough love. Being financially responsible is the worst.

I will be adding Secret Six and dropping Wonder Woman.


Why Secret Six: One of my all-time favourite comics was the last volume of Secret Six. It featured a loveable group of despicable rogues having adventures that were at once bonkers fun and deeply disturbing. It was hilarious and complex, featuring people who were obviously crazy and willing to do terrible things, but also loyal and loving and capable of always surprising acts of nobility. It was kind of perfect. This new series of Secret Six has the same writer as the previous iteration, namely Gail Simone, so I'm really hoping it catches some of the same tone and magic. After the first issue, I am encouraged, but it's hard to judge. The cast of this volume of Secret Six is largely new, and the plot of the first issue is a throwing together of strangers in a bad situation machine, so the character work and relationships that drove the previous iteration haven't really developed yet. There is also, I think, some growing pains associated with a new creative team learning how to work together with new characters. But I think I can see the foundation of the comic I want to read here and a collaboration that will be pretty amazing. I'm willing to give it a chance to become the Secret Six I so desperately want. 


Why not Wonder Woman: Because it's over. I mean, Wonder Woman is not literally ending, but the creative team that has steered and defined the character for the last three years has finished their story and are moving on to new projects. Their idiosyncratic take on the character, one which leans heavily into a quirky remixed Greek mythology, has been really fresh and endlessly fun to read. I understand why diehard Wonder Woman fans may not have liked it or found aspects of the run problematic, but as someone who always had a hard time engaging with Wonder Woman I found it a really great comic. Wonder Woman has also been, with Azzarello, Chiang, Akins, and Wilson one of DCs best made comics and just about the only title where an ambitious, auteur driven run has reached its organic ending. This comic was great and complete and I'm really, really happy I read it. Which I think makes this a great jumping off point: with a dubious incoming creative team and a satisfying and complete story, I think it's time to walk away from Wonder Woman and savour the fun I had.

Previously:
Atoll Comics Round 17: Batgirl in and Batman out
Atoll Comics Round 16: Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier in and Rocket Raccoon out
Atoll Comics Round 15: Rocket Raccoon in and Moon Knight out
Atoll Comics Round 14: Secret Avengers in and Avengers Assemble Out
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Sunday, 1 July 2012

Death-toll Comics


Or ten comics that were cancelled that I really wished were not.

The premise of this blog is that I have decided, due to economics and preference, to read only ten on-going superhero comics titles. As a result I am interested in reading the best comics being published at any given time to maximize my reading experience.  However, it occurred to me (while doing my annual comics sort) that during the five or so years I’ve been reading comics some remarkably good comics have been cancelled or discontinued. Each one of these titles could easily have made my top-ten Atoll comics list if they were still being published. This post, then, is in remembrance of some terrific comics by talented creators.

My top ten cancelled titles after the cut:

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