The Doomino Effect for the week of Feb 25, 2009


I’m going to blast through this today because I am hopefully going to an early screening of Watchmen tonight and I need to get out the door.

Speaking of blasting through things, that leads me to Superman #685 in which Mon-El has emerged from the Phantom Zone but he’s gonna die from lead poisoning. Superman’s Legion flight ring isn’t working (He says “Something’s wrong with tomorrow,” naturally) and someone left him a bottle of magic Mon-El curing potion on the countertop.

Apparently security cameras are too advanced for all the futuristic otherworldly outer-space technology found in the Fortress of Solitude, so Superman has no idea who left said potion. But it works! Mon-El feels great, after a six-panel spread in which the obligatory “Is he dead? Is he dead? Is he dead? Is he dead? Cough! Nope, he’s alive!” process plays out. One of these days, I’d like someone to administer life-saving care and the recipient just wakes up and says “Well, that worked!”

Then Lois, who only cares about her needs, leaves the room and changes into a skimpy robe while her poor husband is struggling to grasp what’s going on. All she hears is “Better get naked quick because Superdong is leaving the planet.” And then he takes his supersuit off to satisfy his puny human wife, only for Lois to distract him with the news! I don’t know what’s gotten into that woman’s head.

Well I’m wasting too much time on this issue, but Superman decides he’s going to New Krypton to keep an eye on that untrustworthy General Zod — so he’s going to lie to them that he’s renounced Earth. That’ll show ’em, farmboy. Mon-El will take his place, since he’s a Daxamite and the earthlings only have a problem with Kryptonians. I don’t really feel like this idea is good or bad on its own; it’s enough to turn DeLuise off the book, but I think it’s all going to just depend on how it’s done. Mon-El is quite literally a placeholder in Metropolis, and if he’s treated that way in the comic book as well, it’ll stink. But if it’s taken as an opportunity to do something different, I’m all for it. I’ll give it one issue.

Speaking of one issue, that leads me to Doctor Who: The Whispering Gallery. This girl at the comic book store bought it and made me take it. For being totally free (for me), I thought it was great. I’ve never really gotten into the Doctor Who TV show, but what I’ve seen I’ve enjoyed. This comic had the elements of quirkiness and fantastic premise that I liked from the show, so on that front, I dug it.

Where I’m iffy is the art. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything illustrated by Ben Templesmith before. I found it to be simultaneously interesting and off-putting. I liked his rough drawing style, and it reminded me a little of Ted McKeever’s style. But I really didn’t care for the reliance on photos. As far as technique goes, it was interesting to look at. But it was just such a distracting contrast with the primitive context that I found myself just looking extra long at the photos he drew over.

The story also took place in a nondescript gallery or a foggy night scene, so there were little to no backgrounds. You’d think an advantage that Doctor Who comics would have over Doctor Who television episodes would be a complete lack of limitations on the scenery. That opportunity was completely lost in this issue, which is too bad, because Templesmith clearly has the talent and the imagination.

Okay I’m running out of time. Speaking of imagination, that leads me to Green Lantern #38. More Lanterns, Hal gets cured of his Red Lantern but adds a Blue. Green + Red = Brown but Green + Blue = Greenish Blue.

Speaking of red and blue, that leads me to Captain America #47. This series is great.

I’m out of here. Check back tonight for my spoiler-free thoughts on Watchmen.