Boom! Wham! Pow! The ComiQuad is a column dedicated to the spandex-laden world of comics and superheroes. It goes up each Tuesday and will alternate between comic book reviews and other comic book news. Reviews shall try to be spoiler-free. Zam!
Danger Girl: Revolver #2 (Advance Review)
This comic, starring Indiana Jones-like ladies Abbey Chase and Sydney Savage, is all business. And by business, I mean lady business.
As pages turn, it becomes strikingly clear that the intended audience for the book, at least visually, is comprised of people who enjoy looking at lady parts. The ladies are wet, the ladies are dry, and the ladies are occasionally bent in positions that don’t look real.
That being said, the overall campy story, although not groundbreaking in literary quality, is pretty fun. The protagonists are written with care, and the dialogue between the characters is special enough to distinguish it from other comics who objectify their ladies. An eye-roll or two will be produced from reading the book (especially for fans of soap opera endings), but it feels almost intentional.
The art, when not focusing its lenses solely on cleavage, is of decent quality. Although there are few differences between the facial features of the female protagonists, there are many differences in their expressions. The accessible, humorous art style coupled with strong coloring also adds to the comic’s light-hearted feeling.
If you can get past the barrage of booty and lack of much depth (which is no easy feat), there is a fun experience to be had in Danger Girl: Revolver #2. It just takes patience.
Review: 7/10
Wonder Woman #6
In a whiplash-worthy 180 degree turn from the last review, Wonder Woman #6 demonstrates many heroic accomplishments, including how to have a female character fight a tentacled monster without being exploitative.
Despite a somewhat jumpy overall storyline, this comic has proved that Brian Azzarello’s writing, especially his dialogue, is Wonder Woman’s fiercest ally. Not only does he give every single character a distinct voice, but he also manages to pull of some fancy wordplay and puns in the interactions between Greek gods. And generally speaking, Greek gods are not known to be punny.
Tony Akins, the artist temporarily replacing Cliff Chiang, impresses more in this issue than in the last. His artistic knack lies in drawing other-humanly creatures such as Poseidon and Cerberus, but his portrayal of humans has improved. In short, Wonder Woman looks a lot less like Katy Perry this month.
Overall, it is a thoroughly entertaining issue that relies more on humor and characterization and less on brute action, although that does exist as well.
Review: 8.5/10
Snarked #5
As a part of BOOM! Studios’ kaBOOM! kids’ line of comic books, Snarked #5 is a peculiar story (featuring characters from Alice in Wonderland) that seeks to bemuse readers of all ages.
The comic book’s biggest problem is neatly and symbolically wrapped up in the problems of one character: Wilburforce J. Walrus. This aristocratic Arctic mammal, although incredibly charming, has a very dense vocabulary. His speech bubbles take up half of the panel, and his language nearly warrants the assistance of a dictionary. And this commentary is coming from a college student who’s writing about a children’s comic.
The book suffers from the same problem as a whole. The clever artwork, zany characterization, and hysterical wordplay is often buried deep in the tar pits that are the story’s written narrative.
With that said, the comic does have strong points. The storybook/comic strip hybrid art style makes for a visual gift. The weird characters, especially Cheshire Cat, and some occasional rhyming create numerous uplifting, enjoyable moments. It’s unfortunate that the comic’s strongest points are bogged down so hard by tendency to tell and not show.
Review: 6/10