The Web Haunt of Ryan K Lindsay

This week brings 3 more titles back into my life, which seems to be a bit of a good number each week. I wonder how I’d go round-tabling with nine comics in one week. I’d have to keep it short, but this week won’t be short because I’ve got three very interesting, very talkative titles sitting here with me so I’ll kick off with Spider-Woman.

Spider-Woman, it kind of felt like some stuff happened this week.

Spider-Woman: Thank you, Ryan.

Well, it felt that way but then I looked back and it’s really just one long interrogation scene. A good scene, but one that took pretty much a whole issue to get through. It’s like you’ve not been listening to me at all about any of this. Pacing. woman, what’s up with the pacing?

Spider-Woman: We simply hope to ensure that the story is full and covers much.

The way I see it is that I’ve just bought an intro arc where Jessica Drew is hired by S.W.O.R.D. as an agent, she is then sent to Madripoor (which could and should have been so much more awesome). Once there she’s attacked by a Skrull, taken in by cops, jail-broken by Viper, given a Skrull to kill, then escapes from Viper and then goes back to jail this week only to escape from it again. Five issues for all of that. Stan Lee could have done this in half an issue, and I think Brian K Vaughan (who I’ll rank as this generation’s writing equivalent of genius) would have busted through this much in about two issues. But we get five for it.

Spider-Woman: You always seem angry with me, Ryan.

I know, and I’m sorry, but it’s just that I expect and want so much more from you. I enjoy you, sure, you’re relatively well written in parts, and you look gorgeous, but you’re the first thing I read every week, guaranteed, no matter what else I bought. You are the bottom of my pull list and I’m sticking around because it has to get better. Now, I’m not sure who to blame, Bendis or Maleev. Perhaps both, or just myself for sticking around and continuing to sink money in here.

Spider-Woman: Don’t be like that, Ryan.

How else should I be. I just scanned through it all and found about five pages I could have skipped, or blended into other pages. Five pages where you could have added more story instead of just padding so that when the Thunderbolts are revealed it’s the end of the issue. It’s like each issue has an end image in mind and then just meanders to get there in the requisite 22 pages. That’s not how comics should be made.

Spider-Woman: Wow, anything else to add, Ryan?

Yeah, you look good in the suit, finally. I actually didn’t mind just having Jessica Drew running around in a singlet (not to sound dirty) but I’m interested to see what Spider-Woman does next month. Fingers crossed for being impressed. Now, I’m off to talk to another comics that I think might have been my favourite of the week. Cowboy Ninja Viking, how are you?

CNV: We are fine, pardner, just fine.

I want to thank you for being a dense and interesting comic this week. I felt like I spent an hour with you just taking it all in, not to mentioning all of the pauses to actually laugh out loud. There are some wickedly funny moments in you. I find it reads a lot like it could be a movie, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is one day, and I like the added lines and pacing that really build to certain instances. Considering the issue really centres around one scene, on a roof top, you made me feel like so much more happened. Sure, you cut away here and there, but ultimately it’s all about that roof and I am glad we got that scene and opened and closed it in one issue. Very well done.

CNV: Thank you, Ryan. May we meet in Valhalla one day to once again enjoy the spectacle that what our third issue.

I’m sure we will, man. And we sure will be laughing about it. I have to say, there were a few lines that really cracked me up. Duncan is one funny bastard, and he bounces really well with his many personalities but not quite in a Deadpool way. More like a gang of mates way.

CNV: They all do like each other so much. I guess if you’re put together in the one head and made to survive you have to find some way to bond.

I’m going to say that my line of the week came after Duncan ran across the top of a jet and jumped through the window of a high-rise office. That one line was perfect and really fits with the Duncan character. It’s things like this that really keep me loving this new title.

CNV: Did you appreciate the Amish/Demolitions Expert/Green beret character?

I did, a very interesting character, but I also liked the chef/samurai/sniper. Who turns out to be connected to our main character, as does someone else that has been mentioned. The depth of this story continues to be developed and I appreciate it all.

CNV: Anything that could be improved?

Actually, yeah, one massive thing. I just found out that your trade, coming from Image in April, will feature pin-ups and character galleries, and an index. Why no love for us, the monthly hordes? Why pander to the fickle wait for trade crowd when we’re here on the front lines supporting you every month? I have to say that I’m majorly disappointed in you. I feel betrayed and fooled.

CNV: Uh…

Exactly, you take a month to think about it. I’m off to chat to Weapon X, and the conclusion of the Insane In The Brain arc.

X: How did you think everything wrapped up?

Honestly, it felt a little rushed. We had the mob bosses who kind of felt ignored, we had Charlie Chainsaws who didn’t get to do enough at all, we had Dr Rot getting his abdomen slashed and his reply being to strangle Logan with his intestines, and we had Logan getting double syringes to the eyes and then kind of shrug it off. I was hammered with a bunch and not a lot had explanation, which is a shame. I loved this arc, absolutely loved it, but the ending wasn’t wrapped up completely convincingly. It seemed convenient that Psylocke was sent for as she could handle the psychic brain bombs and Nightcrawler seems pretty superfluous.

X: Hrumf…so things between us have changed?

I just felt that it was slightly unsatisfying. Even the cover was underwhelming, just another piece of Wolvie Pin Up nothingness. There were great moments, sure, but the pieces didn’t seem to fit to make the whole. Perhaps because you want to keep Dr Rot around as a new villain for Wolvie is the reason why everything couldn’t be tied up with a little bow exactly. And I admit, he’s an interesting character and I like that Jason Aaron created him to be that mental foil to Wolvie whose brain and memory are his biggest weak points. You can’t punch him into submission but you can manipulate him into it.

X: In the end, did you enjoy the arc?

Yeah, I did. Too much craziness for me to not, I just wish all of the pieces coming together had meant more upon contact. I did like this arc and I would be interested in checking out the next Dr Rot storyline, but sadly I won’t be around with you next month.

X: What‽

Yeah…budgetary restraints, man. I can only afford so much and I loved this arc, loved it, but the next one’s about Deathloks, and you cost $4, and decisions had to be made, man. At least we’ll always have the Dunwich Sanatorium.

X: Yes, we will. And perhaps you’ll be back when Dr Rot is?

Anything can happen, man. With Jason Aaron around anything can happen at all. And I take Yanick Paquette’s Logan as my favourite version so if you get him it just might happen indeed.

Posted on January 24th, 2010 by ryan
Filed under: Uncategorized