Book-It 'o12! Book #39
The Fifty Books Challenge, year three! (Years one, two, and three just in case you're curious.) This was a secondhand find.
Title: Powers, Vol. 4: Supergroup by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
Details: Copyright 2003, Jinxworld Inc
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover): "Widely considered the best storyline of this Eisner Award-winning series.
When one of the key members of a popular super group is found violently murdered, the events that follow unveil the mystery players behind the multi layered control of the superhero elite and how far the cover up goes.
Walker and Pilgrim are forced to make choices that will forever change their lives and careers, and how the world at large will see their heroes."
Why I Wanted to Read It: The next I read of a clump given to me found secondhand! The first I read of this series (again, I stress out of order), is this one. This volume is actually the one intended to be read after the first one I read.
How I Liked It: I had high hopes for this volume after reading the back cover, and for the most part, it didn't disappoint. The storyline was sharp and the plot twists well-timed. The fact the story also plays even further into appreciating how deeply layered the creators have endeavored the universe makes it pretty easy to see why this is such a revered volume.
However, my irritations about the art that arose during the first book were only exacerbated by this one. Since this one features more female superheroes than the first book I read, we have more opportunity to see them in action, and they all appear to fly by their breasts. Also, whenever possible even when it seems kind of unnecessary, a female is naked, whether it's a "malfunctioning" superheroine or a dream sequence.
Also of note is the fact the storylines seem to feel the need to almost self-consciously prove that they are for adults (nowhere is a "MATURE READERS" label on the cover). The blood and gore in this volume seemed especially rough. The raunch also appears dialed up (a sleazy executive is summoned from his head buried between a buxom blonde's thighs while she complains about his stubble).
The strengths (including some storyline that appears to grow the relationship between the two protagonists, although it's hard to judge reading it out of order) still outweigh the weaknesses, and this is still worthy of the acclaim it appears to have reaped.
Notable: Various ads for the graphic novel Torso appear in several background scenes. I wondered what the connection was (I enjoyed most of Torso) until I found my copy and as to be suspected, the author (Brian Michael Bendis) is the same. I love little touches like that.
Title: Powers, Vol. 4: Supergroup by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
Details: Copyright 2003, Jinxworld Inc
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover): "Widely considered the best storyline of this Eisner Award-winning series.
When one of the key members of a popular super group is found violently murdered, the events that follow unveil the mystery players behind the multi layered control of the superhero elite and how far the cover up goes.
Walker and Pilgrim are forced to make choices that will forever change their lives and careers, and how the world at large will see their heroes."
Why I Wanted to Read It: The next I read of a clump given to me found secondhand! The first I read of this series (again, I stress out of order), is this one. This volume is actually the one intended to be read after the first one I read.
How I Liked It: I had high hopes for this volume after reading the back cover, and for the most part, it didn't disappoint. The storyline was sharp and the plot twists well-timed. The fact the story also plays even further into appreciating how deeply layered the creators have endeavored the universe makes it pretty easy to see why this is such a revered volume.
However, my irritations about the art that arose during the first book were only exacerbated by this one. Since this one features more female superheroes than the first book I read, we have more opportunity to see them in action, and they all appear to fly by their breasts. Also, whenever possible even when it seems kind of unnecessary, a female is naked, whether it's a "malfunctioning" superheroine or a dream sequence.
Also of note is the fact the storylines seem to feel the need to almost self-consciously prove that they are for adults (nowhere is a "MATURE READERS" label on the cover). The blood and gore in this volume seemed especially rough. The raunch also appears dialed up (a sleazy executive is summoned from his head buried between a buxom blonde's thighs while she complains about his stubble).
The strengths (including some storyline that appears to grow the relationship between the two protagonists, although it's hard to judge reading it out of order) still outweigh the weaknesses, and this is still worthy of the acclaim it appears to have reaped.
Notable: Various ads for the graphic novel Torso appear in several background scenes. I wondered what the connection was (I enjoyed most of Torso) until I found my copy and as to be suspected, the author (Brian Michael Bendis) is the same. I love little touches like that.