Disclaimer: All of the comics reviewed in this column were either comped by the respective creators/companies, or purchased from Dr. Volts Comics in Salt Lake City.
If you couldn’t guess by its title, this mostly weekly column will feature comics reviews by yours truly. First off, let me say that I’ve been reading comics for more than 80 percent of my life … beginning with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge comics, before moving on to Marvel Comics and Classic Illustrated and many more, infinitely diverse comic lines and titles.
Throughout that time, I’ve pretty much been Spider-Man guy, though I’ve cooled considerably on the character and concepts recently. But we’ll save that discussion for a later day.
But don’t worry, I don’t just favor Comics’ Big Two … or Three … or Four. In fact, I’m at least as big of a fan of independent publishers and the foreign press. Much like my tastes in movies, which get me tagged as a “Film Snob,” I really enjoy stuff that’s not just super hero-centric tales.
And … just to set the record straight, I really don’t hate DC Comics. In fact, if you quiz me, you’ll find that I have great love for and knowledge of such characters and concepts as The Justice League of America, The Legion of Super-heroes, The Flash and Blue Beetle. And if you haven’t been hounded by me into reading the Gotham Central series, trust me. You will be …
At any rate, this column will mostly concentrate on things that might not be in the publishers top 100 list, but are still noteworthy nonetheless.
LAZARUS #1-4 (monthly series, Image Comics, $2.99)
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE? Greg Rucka (writer); Michael Lark, with assists from Stefano Gaudiano and Brian Level (artist and letterer); Santi Arcas (colors).
Speaking of the late, lamented Gotham Central, this week’s column will take a look at the latest from two of that book’s creators. Lazarus is a long-simmering, sci-fi/action-thriller concept that re-teams Gotham Central’s co-plotter/scripter Greg Rucka and artist Michael Lark, who worked on most of the title’s 40-issue run.
This is a different kind of beast, though it’s still got some of Gotham Central’s trademark grittiness and action. In the future, the Earth is ruled by a handful of wealthy Families, who control the planet’s resources and govern their various Compounds with a firm hand.
If you’re lucky enough to work for one of the Families, you can live fairly comfortably as a Serf. Any and all others are considered Waste, who are left to fend for their own survival. Along with the Family Heads, Families are protected by Lazari, strong, tough soldiers who lead their armies.
Forever Carlyle is the Lazarus for the Carlyle Family, which rules the former United States. Biological “enhancements” make Forever tougher than even the toughest soldier – she’s almost impossible to kill, in fact. But she’s something of a cipher. And recent actions by her Carlyle siblings have led her to question her loyalties, as well as her origins.
THE GOOD.
Rucka has gained a reputation for creating strong and tough-as-nails, but still vulnerable and believable female characters (through not only Gotham Central, but also the Whiteout and Queen and Country miniseries, as well as DC’s Question and Batwoman books). Forever Carlyle is no exception to this rule. When we first meet her, she’s apparently been shot dead – only to come back to life and slaughter those responsible for her “death.”
He has also crafted a concept that uses real-life situations as its basis. Stem-cell research, economic strife and worldwide turmoil, they’re all used to explain how these things led us here. As thrilling as the first four issues of the series are, they’re chillingly plausible as well. (By the way, Image Comics has compiled the initial Family story line into a $10 trade paperback, so economical it’s almost impossible to resist.)
Rucka is also ably abetted by Lark, who continues to be one of comics’ unsung artistic heroes. (It’s ridiculous to think that DC Comics officials wanted Rucka and co-writer Ed Brubaker to replace Lark as the Gotham Central artist.) This book looks as good as it reads, and the action sequences have a convincing, easy-to-follow flow.
Santi Arcas’s muted but effective color palate also keeps this book looking and feeling grounded. His contributions aren’t to be underestimated either.
THE BAD.
Unfortunately, Lark isn’t the most prolific artist. So the book’s story “arcs” will require a few months in between, so he can catch up. (To be fair, he’s also doing the book’s lettering.)
And it also means he can’t do all of the art by himself. The third issue re-teams him with inker Stefano Gaudiano, whose muddy inks “ugly up” some of the character’s facial expressions. Contrast his work with that inker Brian Level, who cleans up some of Lark’s blotchier line renderings and seems more compatible with the tone of this work. (Gaudiano also worked with Lark on Gotham Central, where his style was more appropriate.)
THE UGLY.
Laughably, a few readers criticized Lark’s character concepts for Forever Carlyle as being too “masculine” and not feminine enough. However, she’s not a muscle-bound brute; she carries just enough muscle and a frame that makes her action convincing.
Also, an incestuous character relationship is a little troubling, but has been dealt with fairly quickly and tastefully, for the most part.
IN CONCLUSION.
We’re only four issues in, but so far Lazarus is every bit as good as you’d expect from these two creators. It’s not quite at “must-read” status, but that’s only because it’s so early in the book’s run. The upcoming second arc, Lift, promises to reveal more of Forever’s mysterious origins and move this story in a less-predictable direction as well.
Oh, and for those who enjoy letters pages, Lazarus often has spirited discussions of previous issues, as well as a handy “timeline” explaining the back story (though a few drawn flashbacks would be welcome). Rucka throws in a few blurbs and mentions of scientific headlines and other bits and pieces of the source material he’s employing.
Jerk-bot, better known in human form as Jeff Michael Vice, can be heard reviewing films, television programs, comics, books, music and other things as part of The Geek Show Podcast (www.thegeekshowpodcast.com), as well as be seen reviewing films as part of Xfinity’s Big Movie Mouth-Off (www.facebook.com/BigMovieMouthOff).