Book of Doom: Godland #16

Image set out to bring some new readers to their series Godland by putting out a special 60 cent issue this week. It was at least enticing enough for the Doomers to choose it as this week’s Book of Doom. Was it enough to convert us into faithful readers? I’ll let the crowd answer that themselves. (And remember, we sort of care what you think too, so feel free to share your thoughts.)

Doominator gives the book a B+ and says:

“Godland is strangely endearing. It’s wordy as hell, and the Jack Kirby rip art is a little clunky, but it reads like an old science fiction movie – which I love. It’s like the superhero movie you’d want to watch from back then if they had the right effects, one thing on top of the other. I got the feeling as I read it that it was the book I shouldn’t have liked, but I couldn’t tear myself away from its suspension of disbelief and cheesiness. I might have to pick this up, which is probably why it was only $.60.”

Fin Fang Doom is a little more on the fence:

“I wasn’t really certain what to make of this week’s Godland #16. It certainly wasn’t a typical issue of the series. It was almost like a Godland clip show from what I can tell. It did catch me up on what happened so far in the series, but I’m not sure it gave me a reason to keep tuning in.

The sense I got from the book is that its a series driven by the villains instead of the hero. That’s all well and good, because certainly guys like Spider-Man, Batman, The Flash and Invincible have greatly benefited from putting a strong emphasis on the villains of the title.

But unlike with those characters, I really don’t have any sense of the main character in Godland. What makes him tick? Why should I care if one of his sisters is missing? Why are the other two seemingly so annoying? Maxim seems like an interesting character, although not a terribly original one.

A year ago I read my first Godland tale in the Image Holiday Special 2005. The writing and art was enough to get me interested in the series then, and the exact same thing is true now. But honestly I don’t see myself picking up another issue this time either, because there just doesn’t seem to be enough to hold my attention.”

And Jim Doom joined Fin Fang in the land of indecisiveness:

“I’m going to need another issue to really make up my mind about this series.

The writing was so expository and hokey in nature, but I’m not sure if that was due to the confines of a summary issue or a sought-after old-school feel. I really want to see how the story flows when it’s concerned more with advancing a plot than filling in a bunch of new readers.

I was not wild about the art. I’ve never been a huge Jack Kirby fan, even though I understand his relevance. But this seemed almost like a Jack Kirby parody. There’s more to the guy’s art style than wide faces, excessive right angles and bright colors. Again, I suppose it’s there to convey that old-school feel, but there are other ways to go about it.

So I’m definitely going to buy the next issue, because I’m intrigued by the series. If it captures an old-fashioned comic book feel like books like Madman, Hellboy and The Goon do, then I’m on board. But if it presents more of a parody of old-fashioned comics, I’ll stop after issue 17. I don’t have to appreciate something for being good just because it effectively apes the worst aspects of something.”

As for me, the book really reminded me of an Adult Swim show based on an old Jack Kirby series. And, like Jim Doom, I saw that as more negative than positive. Godland doesn’t bring anything new to the table. It’s a slight creative step above all the blogs that make fun of silly old comics. Sure, those are entertaining at times. And so is Adult Swim. But there’s a reason Adult Swim shows last only 15 minutes. Any more, and the joke quits being funny.