Were things better in the past?
Comic Reviews for week ending 7/31/2022
Good morning, my friend,
You may already know this, but in case you don’t, I’m a regular contributor to the Weird Science comic review network. This week, I had a rare opportunity to contribute to a Weird Science podcast about this week’s release of Ant-Man #1 from Marvel Comics.
You can listen to the podcast in full here: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-k23hm-1284eea
As you can tell from our positive critique, credit is due to the wholesome vibe Al Ewing captures in homage and respect to the Silver Age of comics. I can’t help but wonder what the current comics ecosystem would be like if every major publisher suddenly swerved every title on the shelf into the same Silver AGe level of wholesomeness, sincerity, and simplicity. The phrase “It was a simpler time” rings truer now more than ever.
On the same topic but with a completely different example, SDCC 2022 is a memory now, and I’m not ashamed to admit the announcements which stoked my excitement levels more than any other are the future works coming out of Dynamite Comics. Let’s take a quick look:
An expanded universe based on the seminal animation classic Fire and Ice
A new Tarzan comic called Lord Of The Jungle #1 starting in November
The return of Cat-Man & Kitten (public domain heroes)
A Green Hornet crowdfunding campaign (check it out here)
A new series based on the hit Disney cartoon Gargoyles written by the cartoon’s creator, Greg Wiesman
That’s not all, but it’s a good start, and nothing here makes me want to roll my eyes and say, “Whatever!” like a petulant teenager. If you’ve read our reviews (of course, you have, because you’re excellent), you know we don’t give faux praise or undue promotion. If we say we’re excited, that’s because it’s the truth. This list is exciting.
What does Al Ewing’s homage to Silver-Age Ant-Man and Dynamite’s announcement SDCC list have in common? They create something new in the present by drawing inspiration from the successes of the past. Not a cynical deconstruction of the past but sincere respect for the past.
To answer the question in the subject line, no, things were not better in the past. There's good and bad in every era, but it would be foolish to discard what worked simply for being dated, old-fashioned, or just plain old.
My plea to every comics publisher is to look for the characters and storylines that worked so you can build on them, expand them, and find new avenues to explore. The current crop of comics coming out of the Big 2 are increasingly coming off as stagnant rehashes of the same four or five characters with the same four or five storylines.
If a publisher can’t dream up something new to get out of a rut, look to the past for inspiration. There’s bound to be something there for everyone.
Before we get into this past week’s reviews, next week’s review list is going to be a little short. The team is taking a much overdue vacation, so we’ve pared down the list to give everybody a break. Never fear! We’ll be back, refreshed, and renewed before you know it.
Now, let’s ease on down the road…
SHOW’S END: THE SECOND COMING #1 – Review
OVER THE ROPES: BROKEN KAYFABE #2 – Review
MECHANIX #1 – Review
ULTRAMAX #3 – Review
THE OBLIVION TRIALS #2 – Review
BEASTO BLANCO: SPACEWAVE CONQUEST (ONE-SHOT) – Review
GOOD BOY (VOL. 2) #3 – Review
BLOODBORNE: THE LADY OF THE LANTERNS #1 – Review
BOOK OF SHADOWS #1 – Review
VICTORIA BLACK #1 – Review
NINJA KAIDAN #1 – Review
JOHN CARTER OF MARS #4 – Review
VAMPIRELLA: YEAR ONE #1 – Review
RED SONJA (VOL. 6) #11 – Review
Cover the Dead With Lime #1 (Blood Moon Comics)
007 #1 (Dynamite Comics)
Project Superpowers: Fractured States #5 (Dynamite Comics)
Red Sonja: Red Sitha #4 (Dynamite Comics)
Grimm Fairy Tales #62 (Zenescope Entertainment)
Grimm Spotlight: Iron Maiden (Zenescope Entertainment)
Doctor Who: Origins #3 (Titan Comics)
That’s the shortlist for now. We’ll add more titles and adjust as time and resources allow.
Again, thanks for your support. Please share (the handy dandy ‘Share’ button is down below) this newsletter with everyone you can. Your support ensures we can keep bringing you great content for a very long time.
Also, follow us on all the socials (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) via @ComicalOpinions
Have a great day!