Moody Bastard

Hm. I haven't been around the board since before Mina's run started (too wracked up by Mike's departure, possibly). But I'm a little surprised to see her virgin arc getting the heat it is. I agree with most of the thoughts regarding her pacing; reading it month-by-month has been a bit of a struggle. In fact I can't remember an arc for any title that I've had to "review" as much for each month. But I think, as some have suggested, that it'll read like a bastard once collected.

What I was most relieved at upon starting this story is that Mina's portrayal of JC was a very smooth transition from Mike's. In fact, I could've believed it was our Liverpudlian friend writing those first few issues. You could feel within mere pages of the first issue that you were in the hands of a terrific writer, and her dialogue, for me, is pretty much on par with Mike's. Much as the structure of the story has been a bit lopsided--I recall getting restless for real, satisfying progression around Part 3 or so--the plot itself is a fascinating addition to the Hellblazer canon. Part of my admiration for it, I'm sure, stems in no small part out of pure relief: some of you may recall a comment Mina made in an interview last year about how she wasn't going to compete with Mike Carey in the fantasy/supernatural realm because, I believe her words were, he'd done it so well and that wasn't where she felt her strengths lied. This immediately set off alarm bells in my head! I envisioned "Empathy is the Enemy" as nothing more than a freaky little police procedural. Happily, that wasn't the case. DM has completely proven herself, for me, in the magic/dark history realm. The tale of the Third Place and the Oronsay Contingent feels appropriately rich in brimstone and traditional JC shadowplay.

(I dunno, it still reminds me of something Carey would've attempted!)

Just wanted to weigh in. Hope everybody's doing well around here.

1. Hellblazer:All His Engines-We never thought anything would knock Watchmen off the top stop, but comic readers are all saying, "Alan Moore, who? We want Carey!" Yes, this story truly is as good as anything by Joyce, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, Tolstoy, or Hemingway. It's your #1 comic story of all time!

Day-am. I'm still in mourning over Mike's imminent departure and have been saving All His Engines so that I'd have Carey HB to read after his run was over. So you are getting my thighs somewhat sweaty, sir.

There's a combination of eloquence and exceedingly sharp wit to Mike Carey's work that's made him one of my very favorite writers- not of comics, not of genre writing, just, of. What the hell does that mean? I actually do place him in Faulkner's company. Plus he never did anything to Clarice with a corncob. That we're aware of.

Can't wait for that novel, Mike!

It's also a dreadful John Cusack romantic comedy

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Er, just nosing in to say that's likely Serendipity, James. And yes. Dreadful is being kind.

Hol-ee socks. I did not see that ending wallop coming! Definite 9 here, even though I was getting a little restless with First of the Fallen's

deux ex machina-like appearance toward the climax--bim bam boom, lemee help you out here John--and just like that, the family from hell are shark chum.

More than agree with others though, that this conclusion is "the good old stuff." Will haunt me for days. Great job, Mike/Leo.

P.S.

Also unclear as to Nergal's fate, Grinning Fellow. On the last page, we hear John musing to himself, "I went to hell and I came back. In one piece. More or less. While my enemies burned black and crispy."

Ambiguous as to whether this includes Ratso or not.

12 issues! Sweet merciful crap.

But then I think of what it must have been like reading Alan Moore's From Hell as a monthly. Thing's a friggin phone book.

Was pleasantly surprised to find a thread largely about "The Fear Machine," the arc I'm currently reading as well and wanted to pick a few brains about. (But I've got two issues to go and have been desperately trying to avoid spoilers!)

My question is simple: aren't nine-issue arcs a stretch? Don't get me wrong, the Fear Machine is a really neat idea, and maybe I've been reading three- to five-issue segments for too long, but it just feels like Delano was writing and writing this one and figured, eh, he'd stop when he felt like it. It doesn't feel very mapped out to me, and the dramatic unity suffers a bit as a result (in my opinion). This feeling is enhanced, possibly, by the fact that there are none of the "Part x of 9" style announcements at the start of each issue as we get now. Which at least let you know if you're in for a little jaunt or a cross-country trip.

In fact, in at least one Fear Machine installment, we got a little box in the last panel saying "End"! Don't know about you all, but I take that to mean, story over! Next month- something new.

I defer to thee, older and wiser Blazers. Do I kvetch unreasonably?

Hm. Feels like it should be higher, but I can't go more than a 7.

What first took the wind outta my sails was the realization this was a one-shot crossover to "Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men. . ." Thought I remember reading (here?) that we were going right into "Dead Men." But whatever. Several aspects of this story were outstanding, mainly (a) Chas gaining the much-deserved spotlight for a moment, (b) the intriguing idea that Nergal's dispossession of Chas's body would leave a particularly nasty "afterburn," and © Maria's first moments of doubt/humanity. Brilliant stuff, sensitively handled (as always) by Mr. Carey. That being said, the cumulative effect of the issue was that of a relatively minor detour, horror of Renee's beating aside. Again, this may tie in with my feeling of being just mildly cheated at the big ol' trip to Hell being put off another month.

As for Camuncoli. . . his style was an entertaining change of pace. I wouldn't say that it necessarily contrasted with the dark doings within the issue, since he drew a simply wonderful demonic Chas. But I don't think I'd vote him onto the series for any length of time. Nice place to visit, wouldn't wanna etc.

This week my secret shame was buying the new Billy Idol CD (weird enough) on the day of its release. (Ravenscar! Ravenscar!)

And f*ck me, it's great.

Don't like her politics, but Patricia Heaton still sets the willy ablaze.

The boob job certainly didn't hurt, either.

I actually *e-mailed* my reply to the mysterious Greg.

And I guess I was the only one who assumed he meant favorite character besides JC? Because, er, I said Ghant.

(Mark, or course, can attest to how Ghant's name just rrrolled right off my tongue.)

I did once forget my own father's name when sending a letter home, and had to address it to "Mr. Patterson". So in the grand scheme of things, this isn't really all that embarrassing.

Er, you're right. :happy: Honestly though, at the rate my brain's going, I wouldn't bet myself above that kind of lapse.

Let's see... nope, it's Richard. Still safe.

Thanks.

This never happened, Mark.

All right, serious brain fart here- what is the name of the guy in my avatar??

Thanks for the links, boys. Neat stuff.

James, I'll have to go back and check out the things you mention.

There's no need to 'accept the ruling' of anybody...

Welll, I'm still new here. ;)

Hm. I must not be as finely tuned to artists' work as you guys. . . I really didn't see where Frusin was starting to slide. I can remember certain panels in his last few HBs where it looked like he was getting "sketchier," a more pencilly, grainier style (?) But it didn't strike me as particularly bad. (Yet I'll accept the ruling of more experienced readers.)

Loveless sounds like it should be a kick. El Diablo certainly was.

Mark, re: Manco I've come to like if not quite love his work. (No offense, Cocteau!) He was just such a jarring switch from Frusin.

Thanks as always for the info, James, Mark, John. (Apostles for JC. Ha. Getit?)

-cricket chirp-

I know some folks thought he was getting a little sloppy at the end of his tenure, but I for one miss the guy's sinister style. Pretty much anyone who smiled came off looking like a psychotic. There's something beautiful about that.

Does anyone know if Manco's pretty much got the artist slot sewn up for now?

Ennis can be a great, classic writer when he's able to rein in his more over-the-top tendencies (my personal opinion). Fun as Preacher is, it always struck me as a little more sizzle than steak. But something like "Johann's Tiger," from his War Story series? You don't often find writing as good as that.

He, Brunner, and Jock all draw so very much alike

Danijel Zezelj draws in a woodcutty style that reminds me of these guys- he did the art for The Corinthian: Death in Venice a couple years back. Creepy little historical tale, that one. Wish it had gone to trade.

Interestingly, I had forgotten that John's great uncle Charles Constantine was one of the primary players of Death in Venice (!) Neato.

He's just signed an exclusive deal at Marvel.

*winces*

My condolences to his family.

Er, Map slipped Ed Brubaker into the pot a little ways back- that'd be pretty enticing to me. Especially with Sleeper's wrap-up approaching.

re: Adrian's comment that Gemma looks better than ever under Manco

At the risk of coming across as gauche during my virgin week here, I was amused to find, after reading #204, what an admirably unrepentant ass man Leonardo is.

'Strewth!

I see. Yeah, I wasn't sure if Rosacarnis was a character from back in the day or not.

Tanks again!

Awesome; thank you, guys. As a follow-up: did the PS have any prior relationship with Rosasarnis that was signifigant?

I have a burning question that more experienced 'Blazer Heads can answer readily, I'm sure.

Have to remember exactly which issue it was (and I don't have em handy, of course); think it was in around Ward 24/Out of Season or posssibly toward the end of Staring at the Wall. . . but it's one of Carey's first scenes with Rosacarnis. She receives a somewhat noir-y visitor who warns her about the games she's playing with Constantine. Who. Izz. Dat? Was it the Phantom Stranger dude I've caught allusions to recently?

As a relative HB bushleaguer, I actually thought he might've been the entity who was coming to John's assistance in Reasons to Be Cheerful. (Guess not.)