Review: Mister Miracle

Mister Miracle by Tom King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm literally going to get "Darkseid is." tattooed on my arm. No joke. I get a new tattoo every year, and this is going to be my next one. I already love Tom King's work so much I want to have his babies, but I do not mince words with I say Mister Miracle is a crowning achievement. Not only is it deep and emotional, but it also opens the mind to what comic books can be. It's that f%&@ing good.

Since nitpicking is my strong suit, I'll start there. If I can at least. I bounced possible complaints in my head, but there were soundly defeated by the positive vibes I feel for this book. The only one that stood up to this fairly one-sided mental battle was the bits involving Metron. It was a little too obscure and not fully fleshed out as far as explaining what he is even doing in this book. The cliffhanger at the end of issue #11 has no real resolution to it in regards to that singular plot point. I'm not saying #12 makes for a bad ending, it doesn't, but his involvement leads too much into fan theory territory. And I hate fan theories.

Besides that singular issue, the writing is God tier good. Seriously, one of the best books I've ever read. Well, the best within the last several years at least. The best comparison I can make is the movie Vertigo. Where everything is just so nuanced and layered. Grappling with issues like suicide and depression in a way that connects with whatever you call a soul. It also maintains a thorough plot with each issue laying out every point in express detail. I seriously don't know where Tom King goes from here.

The art is awesome. It matches perfectly with the story and conveys each aspect in the way comic books were meant to. Mitch Gerads and Tom King as a true dream team. I honestly think I'm running out of ways to say this book is great.

I try not to fanboy, it leads down a path of liking things that aren't genuinely good. Or worse, justifying things you would consider mediocre otherwise. Like saying Bumblebee is the best Transformers movie while ignoring how a legless pug could jump over that bar. The worst, of course, is not being able to like something that is great because some aspect of fandom tells you not to. I'm looking at you Star Wars fans. Regardless, I try not to love this book because I'm a fan of Tom King. I am a fan, but I would hate if I loved something that wasn't actually good. I still think this book is great, and you should too, but I pray to the New Gods that I never become that person.

Darkseid is.

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FML and an Honorable Mention

You should never write when you're under the heavy influence of either anger or depression. But my two fans won't be able to sleep tonight if I don't update them on the Atlanta conference that I just got back from. So, which negative emotion is coursing through my veins? Read and find out.

Disclaimer: The bit about the conference is towards the end. Not that you should skip to the end, but I don't want you to feel I'm burying the lede.

First up we have the Alabama Book Festival. To be honest, it felt like an off year. Even the food vendors were lacking. Which is a shame because I was really looking forward to a hot dog. Usually, it's an all-day affair for me, a holy day even. But, this year, I didn't show up until late in the morning (which is actually good because it was also Record Store Day). The first event I wanted to do was a poetry workshop. I was glad I decided to go because it was well worth attending. After that though, I should have left. There were no interesting guests and the book store was almost entirely travel, history, or true crime related. Even Christian literature had trouble showing up that particular Saturday. The next event of note was the comic book panel with the creators of Tuskegee Heirs. It was a good panel, but the lack of food had me more than a little tired. Then a massive wasp came into the room and everyone was super alert.  I wanted to stay for an indie publishing workshop at the end of the day, but I just didn't have the energy. So I left with no new books in hand. On the bright side, my to-read shelf is still only slightly overflowing.

I spoke last month about entering a short story contest, but that ended in failure. Well, at least sort of. I just decided to not enter because it turns out it had an entry fee. Unless the fee is something small to cover the use of a third party form service, the fees are usually bullshit. At least my work on the short story wasn't a waste of time because I will enter it into the Writers of the Future contest after I give it one last go through.

Speaking of Hubbardville, I'm getting an honorable mention for my first quarter entry. I know it's just one small step above a rejection, but it's a start. I should probably shop the story around. If you're reading this and know someone meaningful that publishes urban fantasy, comment below.

Now, the main event. The Atlanta Writer's Conference. Truth, I'm not totally sure I want to talk about it. It's still too early to say if anything will come out of it, but I have serious doubts. The highlight is that an editor really liked my sample, but she doesn't take unagented manuscripts. I could probably do an entire post on what is wrong with that, but I'll leave it be as it will not solve anything. The good news, I have a lead if I get an agent. The bad news is that I'm not likely to get an agent any time soon. Later this month I am sending two query letters to agents I met at the conference, so not all is lost. If anything, I learned that I should be more picky about who I pitch to instead of just throwing at everyone with their mitt out. Especially if I have to pay a butt load of money just to get in the room.

Plus side, I reacquainted myself with a couple of cool guys who are in the same boat as me. Or the same peas in the same pod. Which ever cliché suits you.

I could go further into detail about the conference, but I won't waste the time. My life, at least currently, isn't a zero sum game. In fact, it's going pretty well. We're moving into a bigger house later this year. My wife is super hot. Will probably start having kids by year's end. My friends are better than your friends. It just feels the lack of progress on my writing tips the scales into the negative. I know it's not true, that my life is awesome. Well, at least better than most. What am I feeling? Hopeful. It's just mixed with being angry and depressed. You know, how being alive is supposed to feel like.

Last note, I'm going on my honeymoon at the end of May, so it's unlikely I will do a blog entry at the beginning of June. If anything important happens, I'll be sure to like you know. If not, I'll catch you in July. I might do one before I leave, but, if you don't hear from me by May 31st, I'm too busy drinking German beer and trying to impregnate my wife.

Comment below if that was TMI.

Review: Blacksad

Blacksad by Juan Díaz Canales
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was going to try to open this review with a cat pun of some sorts, but I couldn't come up with anything. I just didn't leave this book with enough emotional investment to try as hard as I possibly could. This book is serviceable, even likable in some parts, but doesn't really convince me that it's worth more than a single pass. Bottom line, it's okay.

I wasn't completely sold on the idea on a noir cat story walking into this, and that's on me, but the book doesn't do a super great job selling it once you're in. The writing is just a little too standard for my tastes. It isn't bad but doesn't do well enough to fully engage me. There are sparks, but no ignition. For example, the opening to issue three is clever as all hell, but it isn't that good throughout the entire book. Plus, the narration can be nonsensical at times, which might be on par for the noir genre but is still annoying.

Probably my biggest problem with the writing was the lack of world building. It just borrows too many ideas from real-world events to create its world and characters. It mostly takes generic concepts about racism and dames to blend together with anthropomorphic characters. The thing is, if so much of this book is taken from the real world, why even bother with animal-like characters? With a little more creative world building and slightly tighter writing, I probably would have enjoyed this book a lot more.

Art-wise, I will say is fan-fucking-tasic. It's perfect for what intended purpose of the comic and is just great art in general. Some of the direction and paneling is uncreative, but that criticism is coming from a guy whose favorite method is nine perfectly same rectangles. If I graded this book purely on the art, I would have given it five stars.

If I was to sum up this book in one phrase, it would be: It's almost good. Which sucks. Because, despite popular belief, I want all books to be good. Instead, what I got was only okay. It's coke zero when I wanted a coke. I can see people loving this book, and that's okay. Blacksad isn't trash, but I wouldn't read it again on purpose.

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Review: POS: Piece of Sh*t

POS: Piece of Sh*t by Pierre Paquet
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It's difficult to rate a book that has unlikable characters. Even if the character is a jerk or just plain evil, they can still be likable in an engaging sense. It's even more difficult with this particular book because the unlikable character is unlikable by design rather than just shitty writing. So I tried to examine this book by other aspects than just the character. It was then that I discovered it wasn't just the main character that was unlikable.

Perhaps the biggest problem with this book is the plot structure. It seems to have a habit of focusing on a specific story aspect and jumps from subplot to subplot without much connection or organic flow. Basically, it reads like this: something happens then, four or five days later, something completely unrelated happens. It's not really a story but rather a sequence of scenes that aren't tied together very well. It's so bad that the epilogue is used to conclude a common story thread rather than be an afterthought side story like it should be.

Like I said before, the main character is unlikable by design, but that doesn't change the fact he is unlikable. What probably bothers me the most is that a good deal of the shit that happens to him is his own fault. If anyone says, "How hard can (pretty much anything) be?", don't get into business with them. It's not just a comment against the book, but general life advice you should take to heart.

The art is serviceable, but I didn't care much for it. It tells the story well enough, but this book was obviously done on a budget. I'm not saying only big-budget books should get noticed, but poverty isn't an excuse for a lack of talent. That being said, my biggest problems are still with the writing, so I still would have liked this book if the art was the same but had a better handle on its structural issues.

I can't really recommend this book. Obviously. I'm generally a negative person, so I'll seemly shit on a book I actually like. But, that is merely nitpicking without taking in the overwhelmingly positive nature of it. This book, however, has serious problems with its ability to tell a story. I get its point, but, like a bad joke, just because you get it doesn't mean it's funny.

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Review: The Vision, Volume 1: Little Worse Than A Man

The Vision, Volume 1: Little Worse Than A Man by Tom King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First, a couple of disclaimers. This my second read through for The Vision. I don't normally read books a second time, but I'm making an exception for a multitude of reasons. I don't mind though, it's an awesome book. Also, I didn't really know Tom King's work when this first came out, but he has quickly become one of my favorite writers. So please excuse me if I gush all over this review.

Different writers use different techniques in order to deliver their stories to their audience. Some use a strong main character or a clever plot idea. There is also good old fashioned shock, gore, and explosions. But, while this might not be good for a lasting narrative, these latter means always seem to be reliable for sales. However, if I had to truncate the technique used in this book down into one word, it would be: Engagement. The narrative takes a tone as if it's talking to you. Slowly building into its detailed lecture on the humanities. Fully engaging you every step of the way on what it has to say. And, almost by default, makes you care about the characters and plot along with it.

This means of storytelling is helped by it being a graphic novel. This book can tell a story and lecture you on the construction of a vase at the same time. The narration doesn't always seem to be in sync with the action of the panels, but it always finds a creative link even if it sometimes takes the long way around. Also, there is a reason for this story being told the way that it is, as if the telling of it and the happening of it doesn't seem to be one and the same. If this is your first time reading it, I won't spoil it, but the final pages of volume 1 will hit you like a hammer. Most writers don't have the will to wait halfway into their story for such a reveal. Most who do try to fail, but here, it works like nothing I've ever read before.

On a more technical note with a comic book lean, the art is great. Gabriel Hernandez Walta works well with King's writing style and the story flows from panel to panel with no problem. If there is one gripe, it's that the lettering is either too small in most cases or the font isn't working as well as it should. Maybe it's the black words on the dark purple background, maybe this book is wordier than most of King's works, or maybe I'm just getting old and need some reading glasses.

One final note as I wrap things up. Issue #5 is my favorite of the volume. Maybe of the entire 12-issue run. Even though only one thing really happens in terms of plot development, it truly speaks to King's strengths to storytelling. Also with how well he paces the book from issue to issue. I read it a second time before finishing the volume with issue #6. It's that damn good.

While the ending of volume 1 leaves you wanting to dive head first into the second and final book, I say wait for a moment. The Vision isn't something to binge on a free weekend. It's something to savor and think about. Let the words muster like your brain is a slow cooker. I know that's a terrible analogy, but I do my best. If you want great writing, read something by Tom King.

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