Preview Day: Part Two
For this second batch of advance fun, we’re taking a look at two books that share a common thread of ultimate evil: One has the devil, one has Nazis. Other than that, these books are pretty danged different. They are The Programme by Peter Milligan and C.P. Smith and Speak of the Devil by Gilbert Hernandez.
First, let’s take a look at The Programme. Faithful readers should know by now that I’m going to pimp this book if only for Smith’s art. The guy was a big part of the awesomeness of the criminally under-read New Invaders series from a few years ago. Now he’s back with his first full series (he’s done a few solo issues), and it’s just awe-inspiring to see the guy’s work (even if the preview pages I received were B&W).
The story is pretty scattered, but in a good way. It starts with two Nazi scientists at the end of dubya dubya two, talking vaguely about portents of doom and how it would be better to be caught by Americans than Rooskies. Jump forward to the fictionalized present, with the USA caught in a war in the Middle East, and some soldiers suddenly overwhelmed by this frightening figure with massive powers who had been hidden amid an old soviet base.
Peter Milligan’s script is at its best in those horror-y settings and bogs down a bit with the parallel plot back in the USA with an aging bar owner who is most amazed by how he managed to bang his wife three times in a night. It eventually becomes obvious that this fellow has some kind of hidden power that the USA now needs to fight the mysterious villain. While it seems straightforward, there are enough unexplored areas to leave me excited for this series.
Also, the concluding text (I won’t ruin the surprise) indicates a more psychological examination of the hero-villain relationship. Color me impressed. And even moreso once I see the book in color.
The second book on the docket is Hernandez’s Speak of the Devil. It’s a typical not-much-happens rumination from Hernandez, although it’s maybe a little more weird than typical.
The main character is a teenage girl who loves gymnastics, her family, and dressing up like a devil and peeping in on her neighbors. WEIRD! Seriously, who does gymnastics anymore?
As is typical with the bounties-of-ennui indie comics scene, not a lot happens in the first couple issues. The girl does some peeping and see her parents doing it, then her mom pleasuring herself. She tries to figure out if her boyfriend is gay. She twists her ankle… You get the idea.
Honestly, this kind of story just isn’t my bag. I like the strength and style of Hernandez’s art, but there’s not enough plot, and there’s not enough examination of the mundane (or much of a look into why this girl is peeping) to justify the art. So it ends up feeling simply mundane.