Review: Saga #15
Saga #15 is a kind of fill-in issue, but that’s not a bad thing. Not every issue of Saga can be a mind-meltingly amazing experience. Sometimes Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples just have to take a step back and move the story along on an issue-by-issue basis. We’ve got plot, we’ve got sub-plot, we’ve got a few fun character moments, and most importantly, we’ve got another good issue of Saga. The story is moving along at a nice little pace, so there’s no harm in Vaughn taking a break to enjoy his world for a moment.
Saga #15
Saga #15 is kind of a way station in the ongoing story. Marko, Alana and the gang are enjoying their time in Heist’s lighthouse, while The Will and his team have their own concerns. The larger narrative takes a step back this issue so that we can enjoy the little things in life.
Comic Rating: 7/10 – Good.
I read both of Vaughn’s previous comics – Y: The Last Man and Ex Machina – in tpb form, and that was an excellent way to read each series. Vaughn is a man who writes to the bigger picture. His comics aren’t the typical, never-ending superhero dramas. They have beginnings, middles, and, most importantly, endings. So I’m fairly certain Vaughn already knows the general strokes of where Saga is going and how it’s going to end. So maybe the best time to read Saga is when it’s all over, like a novel. But because I’m such a fan of his work, I decided to go issue-by-issue, and while I’m not disappointed, it does lead to issue like this one.
Again, this is in no way a bad issue. It’s Saga‘s usual greatness. But we’re still no closer to the cliffhanger at the end of Saga #12, which I’m really excited to see resolved. Instead, we pause for some R&R. It’s good, enjoyable R&R, but it’s rest and relaxation nonetheless. I’m also a little surprised/confused by the developments for The Will’s team. I’ll get to it in the synopsis, but for now, I’m just not sure what it means for the story as a whole. The Will deserves his own stories, but is this an example of Vaughn writing for the single issues? Or is this new twist part of the larger narrative?
Read on and we shall see!
Someone at Agents of SHIELD is Reading My Blog; I Hope it’s Joss!
Marvel has released the synopsis the Nov. 19th episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., called The Well. I don’t normally post this sort of thing, but this one is special because I had the idea first!
Here’s the synopsis:
“The Well” – In the aftermath of the events chronicled in the feature film Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World,” Coulson and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. pick up the pieces–one of which threatens to destroy a member of the team, on Tuesday, November 19 (8:00-9:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
So the team from Agents is going to deal with the aftermath of Thor: The Dark World? More synergy between the show and the movies? That’s exactly what I suggested in my list of 6 things I want to see from the show! So clearly somebody saw my list a few weeks ago and immediately spun it into a script, then filmed it and produced it for television in these short, few weeks. The wonders of television, amiright?
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 11/2/13
I come to you today, my friends, with a heavy heart. This week saw the release of The Sandman Overture #1, a return to that famous character by world-renowned writer Neil Gaiman, with artist J.H. Williams III on pencils. There’s a very good chance, considering the subject matter and the creative team, that The Sandman Overture could be the greatest comic book of the year. Like everyone else in the world, I love Gaiman’s original run on Sandman. But I’m sorry to say that I just couldn’t bring myself to review the new first issue. I bought it. I read it. I enjoyed it, but I am a mere mortal. I have no place bestowing a grade on work such as this. And besides, after reading issue #1, it’s clear to me that this is a ‘read all at once’ kind of story. So maybe at the end I’ll write something
For now, let’s stick with the superhero stuff, shall we?
We’ve got the final chapters of both Lights Out and Battle of the Atom to enjoy, though I found both to be a little underwhelming. Two chapters of Infinity shipped this week, but nothing new there. The only real stand-out – and therefore Comic Book of the Week – was Superior Spider-Man #20, in which writer Dan Slott seems to gleefully start tearing down both the lives of Peter Parker and Otto Octavius. Slott’s overall plotting on Superior Spider-Man has been a master class in comic-bookery. everything he’s set up so far is about to come crashing down, and it’s going to be a real pleasure to read.
As for Moment of the Week, our last visit with the Time Traveling Icemen pulls it off with aplomb.
Comic Reviews: Infinity #5, Avengers #22, Green Lantern Annual #2, Superior Spider-Man #20 and X-Men: Battle of the Atom #2.
Super Smash Wars is the Nintendo/Star Wars Mash-Up We’ve All Been Waiting For
James Farr has been making a name for himself with awesome Nintendo mash-up cartoons. Have you seen his Mario/Ghostbuster videos? Fantastic! Now he’s done an extended Star Wars cartoon, and it’s pretty good. Maybe a bit too long for my taste, but good nonetheless. I hope you enjoy!
The LEGO Movie Continues to Look Amazing
A second trailer is out for The LEGO Movie, and it continues to look like the best, most adorable movie coming out in the near future – possibly the greatest movie of all time. But that has yet to be seen. Still, after viewing this trailer, hopes are high.
Chris Pratt is amazing as the main character, and the frequent Batman jokes are a hoot! The animation looks great, the characters are hilariously diverse; The LEGO Movie could be the film I’ve been waiting for my entire life.
