Street Angel, Mr Punch, Death of Stalin

Death of Stalin

I’m not sure why this is considered a satire or comedy; while the committee politics are somewhat absurd, there’s nothing that I would classify as particularly funny.  Well, this bit was pretty good:

That said, I really enjoyed reading about the political maneuvering during and following Stalin’s demise, mostly orchestrated by Beria.  (Though his reign of power didn’t last long.)  Politics in comics, especially done well, is a rare thing.  (The manga Eagle is the only one that comes to the top of my mind.)  So this is a welcome addition to my collection.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Street Angel: After School Kung Fu Special

Maybe I’m in a better mood than when I read the original series, but this wasn’t bad.  I mean, not like there’s a lot of substance to it (Street Angel gets challenged to a fight after school), but it was entertaining enough, and the deceptively simple art is actually really dynamic and fun to look at. 

But it’s certainly not worth the twenty dollar cover price.  Nor is it enough to make me want to buy the other stories that I’ve apparently missed along the way.

Regret buying: Yes

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Mr Punch

I purchased this at the height of my “Oh my god I’ve just discovered Neil Gaiman he’s the best writer ever I must buy this new thing he’s written” mania in high school.  I was immediately underwhelmed, if not completely disappointed after I took it home to read.  It’s a slow-placed, seemingly pointless narrative about a kid’s summer with his grandparents.  But I went into this re-read thinking that there would be subtleties that I’ve missed; I haven’t read this in at least fifteen years, surely I’ve learned a few things.  

So on the plus side, I picked up a lot of new plot points that bring a lot of clarity to the story.  I’m a lot like the narrator himself, not getting a lot of stuff until years after the initial fact.  On the negative side, it doesn’t make the story any better.  I get the whole “the world looks different through a child’s eyes” bit, but the things he’s seeing aren’t interesting enough to sustain this graphic novel.  (His grandfather and great-uncle are involved in an affair with a young woman who gets pregnant.)  Interspersed among that is the Punch and Judy puppet show, something that you have to be British to know about, I think.  With this comic as my only point of reference, it looks creepy as fuck, I have no idea how children would find this entertaining.

Dave McKean is a genius.

Gaiman has a few choice insights into a child’s mind that spoke to me, but other than that, this is not one of his stronger works.

This is true, and something to remember now that I'm a parent.

Also true.  I hope I don't screw up my kid.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Death of Stalin, Archie, War Stories, Judas, Mage

I’m on the road for the next few days, and I’ve had to bring a bunch of comics with me so that I can maintain my routine for this project.  I feel like a kid again, packing a ton of comic books for the road.  There’s really nothing more space-inefficient for travel than comics.  They’re super heavy as baggage goes, and they get read so quickly that they’re dead weight for most of the trip.  

I also overpacked - I stopped by the comic store on the way to the airport (as one does) to pick up my new books for the week, so I now have more than I’m probably going to be able to read through.  But on the plus side, new comics!

The Death of Stalin

I had not heard of this until I saw the trailer for the upcoming movie, which seems to be a farce based on actual events.  I don’t know how much of it is true, but the broad strokes seem correct enough.  Judged on its own merits as a piece of entertainment, it is pretty successful.  Watching Beria and the rest of the Soviet leadership vie for power was an engrossing experience.

Archie 28

Good clean fun.  Archie’s clumsiness, which has always blown past any semblance of reality, somehow manages to amuse each time.  I like that Veronica and Betty remain friends despite their shared love of Archie.  I don’t understand why Waid spends so much time on Reggie when he’s so loathsome.  Reading about him is not an enriching experience.  Spending a third of the comic on him is a waste of space.

War Stories 26

I do not know how I did not see that twist coming.  I suppose the coincidence of it all defied believability.  But seeing Robin do the right thing without any hesitation was genuinely touching.  The fact that, knowing him as we do, it could have gone either way makes it all the more heartbreaking.  And when he flies back into harm’s way, with nothing to lose once more, I feel a twinge of sadness and wonder if he’s going to come back from this one.  Because he probably doesn’t want to.  Fine work by Garth Ennis.  

Judas 3

If Jesus died for our sins, wouldn’t that mean that He went to Hell for the three days before His resurrection?  Such an elegant conceit, and impressively executed by Jeff Loveness and Jakub Rebelka.  If only the cliffhanger didn’t degenerate into what appears to be the most convenient of directions - Judas realizing that he needs to rescue Jesus.  Too easy, and I hope it doesn’t end the way that’s being suggested in the final issue.

Mage 6

The usual fine work by Matt Wagner.  Love the use of red here: