tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350877819755424359.post5445538180013855936..comments2009-04-17T09:11:46.123-07:00Comments on Graphic Novel Hovel: Secret Invasion graphic novel reviewThe Masked Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644029200442481539noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350877819755424359.post-19703669196619226122009-04-04T00:40:00.000-07:002009-04-04T00:40:00.000-07:00Hey,I liked this review a lot. I haven't read Secr...Hey,<BR/>I liked this review a lot. I haven't read Secret Invasion. Never been a fan of huge crossovers, so'll skip this as well. I still think the review was thorough, thought provoking and well written. Everybody is talking about all the good blogs the review comics. I have read (and heard) a lot of sucking up to blogs, that praise every boo cause they had it sponsored. That is no use to me. I want intelligent, in depth analysis. More, please.jnchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653417933060515001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350877819755424359.post-25661449519535162042009-03-29T07:25:00.000-07:002009-03-29T07:25:00.000-07:00Mark, constructive feedback is always welcome. Let...Mark, constructive feedback is always welcome. <BR/><BR/>Let's look at why many print reviews in the comic book and graphic novel industry are short (including many of the reviews I used to write). <BR/><BR/>It's mainly that space is at an absolute premium. Now we come to online reviews. These reviewers have seen these short reviews in print, and feel that they must reflect that form in an attempt to portray professionalism.<BR/><BR/>While I agree with you that less is often more, as a result, many online reviews aren't in-depth enough and appear curt. And remember, space isn't at a premium online as it is in print. Movie magazines and newspapers are a good example of an opposing position: these media often feature long reviews (be it books, film, theatre, television etc) and don't suffer for it. It allows for a considered and insightful approach.<BR/><BR/>All the above resulted in my decision to put some meat on my first review for Graphic Novel Hovel. I might scale down future reviews, but we'll see. The fact that I can open my wings a little more has opened up possibilities that I've not had before in reviewing, such as an occasional subject hop (ie. Secret Wars). So there's advantages and disadvantages to both reviewing forms (short and long).The Masked Reviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16644029200442481539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350877819755424359.post-65253218115824446762009-03-24T06:35:00.000-07:002009-03-24T06:35:00.000-07:00I realize I'm not a professional, but in case you ...I realize I'm not a professional, but in case you don't mind constructive criticism, you might consider a bit more brevity in your reviews. Not just the soul of wit, being able to communicate needed information in as few words as possible also demonstrates a command of language that is quickly becoming extinct.Mark A. Nickleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05405164232597964210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350877819755424359.post-18295412713629499622009-03-23T09:39:00.000-07:002009-03-23T09:39:00.000-07:00Comments are coming in, and while I can't always g...Comments are coming in, and while I can't always guarantee a reply, let me try touch on some of the main points.<BR/><BR/>Regarding a couple of people’s statements…<BR/><BR/>Secret Invasion clearly has "graphic novel" printed on its cover. To me that classes it as a graphic novel.<BR/><BR/>“Friendly Neighborhood” Anonymous…<BR/><BR/>I won’t run your huge comment for these reasons: I’ve absolutely no idea who you are, and it seems that you’re simply attempting to ride on my coattails. And all of your points seem mute when you claim your approach worked for you. In which case, exactly why wouldn’t anyone else want to try it? <BR/><BR/>Finally, you said a certain Marvel EIC told you that reviewing is akin to committing suicide before you’re even born in the industry as a pro? I must take note with this. If he said that, fine, it’s his opinion. Other editors don’t by default share it. But aside from the fact that at this juncture, that statement is only hearsay, most editors like to see that writers can deliver professional content and to tight deadlines. Whatever that content is. And as a writer myself, I believe anything that gets you writing and honing your craft is a good thing. I started out on reviews for a mag, and I believe without question that it helped my fiction writing. So this too, makes me doubt your reasoning, if not your legitimacy.<BR/><BR/>Robert Why…<BR/><BR/>The review is of the British edition, and only a British currency (£) is listed. Yes, I could be British. Or perhaps I made mention of that to make it seem as though I am.<BR/><BR/>'Disco Beyonder' didn't appear until the sequel, Secret Wars II. Thanks for making me say that, as now the geek glass is over me. The first series, Secret Wars, was to partly support the Mattel toy line. As was one of the most imaginative cartoon series ever, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. I can't be a snob when it comes to such fiction. If it's good, it's good. And yes, Secret Wars was to sell as many units as possible. As is Secret Invasion. Marvel is a business first and foremost. Anything and everything that it produces is to sell as many units as possible. Fans often don't like to hear that, but it's the harsh reality.<BR/> <BR/>What is noticeable is that you seem critical about Secret Wars’ writer Jim Shooter, a man you probably have never met. Is this on the basis of negative things you’ve read? A lesson I learnt long ago is always make your own judgement about a person, don't listen to hearsay. Besides which, Shooter – whatever people think of him – is an immensely talented writer. Don't believe me? Read his article, "How to Write Comics". It's a real master class that could even teach other pro writers a thing or two - including how to deal with important plot developments! (I once heard Shooter even got his first pro writing gig at the age of 11!)<BR/><BR/>It’s a bit unfair to be dismissive of Shooter on the one hand, but Bendis can do whatever he likes on the other, and chalk the latter’s technical flaws in this story down to "poetic license", which it really isn’t. That’s playing favorites. Both are pro writers, and both owe it to the readers to act as such in their storytelling. After all, we are the ultimate barometer of how good it is. We’re the ones spending our cash on it. Therefore the final say rests with us (did you hear that, Friendly Anonymous?). My feeling is that these plot points were dealt with in detail in monthly titles that tied in to Secret Invasion (and aren’t included in the graphic novel), so Bendis perhaps made a genuine oversight.<BR/><BR/>Totally agree with your point of Nick Fury and the big gun: jealous I didn't focus on that! The Doc Strange and Thor point is equally valid, although, like I say in my review, we aren't really told how the Skrulls managed to carry this out, so making assessments is difficult.<BR/><BR/>Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Marvel’s huge crossovers. They bring me up to date with old favorites, and new faces, and help the ever-inspired idea of a shared universe to keep simmering away nicely. But it seems like as every decent heavyweight goes straight after the champ, every crossover tries to usurp Secret Wars. Why? Why can’t they make their own legacy and forge their own trail?<BR/><BR/>Mark Allen…<BR/><BR/>Someone who shares my thoughts! I don’t believe it, I thought I was alone! It would be nice to see Marvel merry again. I’m not saying that there’s not current writers and titles that still take the more light-hearted approach, but Marvel’s output is so huge, and comics so expensive, it’s not always possible to track these things.The Masked Reviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16644029200442481539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350877819755424359.post-28870119596970512052009-03-22T09:40:00.000-07:002009-03-22T09:40:00.000-07:00A couple points - 1) The book you've reviewed isn'...A couple points - 1) The book you've reviewed isn't actually a graphic novel, it's a collection of comic books. A graphic novel is one that's been conceived and written as a book. Technically speaking, Watchmen isn't a graphic novel, either. There are countless sites devoted to reviewing comics. If you're going to stand out, sticking to graphic novels - per your name - would be smart.<BR/><BR/>2) The anonymity thing doesn't work. Since we don't know who you are, and DO know you're an industry professional, it's reasonable to wonder if reviews are being given to work based on external factors, such as whether or not you're the creator of the book, or if you have issues with the creators.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350877819755424359.post-1466259846965471812009-03-21T13:03:00.000-07:002009-03-21T13:03:00.000-07:00Like you, I miss the fun that used to be found in ...Like you, I miss the fun that used to be found in most Marvel comics, and now seems to be an endangered species. There seems to be a generation of writers (perhaps artists, as well) who have appeared on the scene in the last few years who believe comics need to be more in line with "real life." My question is, how do you steep a superhero, i.e., a man/woman who flies, lifts vehicles, spins webs, or what have you, in reality? The two simply don't seem to go together.Mark A. Nickleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05405164232597964210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350877819755424359.post-86922669358371928052009-03-20T23:55:00.000-07:002009-03-20T23:55:00.000-07:00Okay just for the record I hadn't read a mainstrea...Okay just for the record I hadn't read a mainstream GN in quite a long time until recently, and I still think the best GN's I read last year were the decidedly non-mainstream Las Locas and Dash Shaw's Bottomless Bellybutton, but...recently I've read several mainstream GN's, (most of them with Bendis at the helm) and I‘ve found most pretty entertaining. Thus I actually have read Secret Invasion and will don my geek-goggles long enough to respond to your review.<BR/><BR/>You mention 1984's Secret Wars crossover fondly. I remember that event mostly for the outlandish premise (a Jim Shooter concoction to move as many units as possible I believe), and the disco-suited principle character. You may find it interesting that recently Bendis amazingly made some sense of The Beyonder character (and safely stored him away) in another GN (The Illuminati).<BR/><BR/>As for mainstream comics getting too "gritty":<BR/>The current wave of creators would probably argue with the semantics and simply suggest the comics they create are more "sophisticated." I'd say the trends are mostly cyclical. Any time the preponderance of mainstream comics get too dark and violent there's simply a backlash where weary fans and creators attempt to reinvigorate "the wonder" and absurdity in comics (a la Alan Moore's ABC line, or Kurt Busiek's Astro City).<BR/><BR/>The two Secret Invasion plot points that you find annoyingly unexplained, I would chalk up to poetic license. 1)Reed slapped together some fancy gadget (just as he would've in the Lee/Kirby era) that could expose the Skrulls. 2) Skrull military tech found a way to avoid detection (ditto). Simply put Bendis needed these two plot devices or his whole story unravels immediately on the first one; and becomes far harder to resolve without the convenient second one.<BR/><BR/>I take far greater issue (and yes any time one attempts to debate this stuff it inevitably sounds like the sort of hyper-nerdy fanboy obsessives sane people laugh at) with the "Super-Skrulls" themselves. For all the careful work Bendis has put in to set up this crossover and make the incredible seem somewhat credible, he totally capitulates to your "fun factor" in slapping together skrulls with a mishmash of Marvel’s superheroes’ powers. Once again this is sort of in the Lee/Kirby tradition and Bendis makes it clear that the Skrulls have snagged tissue samples from all of the heroes to perfect this technique. And Leinil Francis Yu has fun with the concept. But for all the pseudo-sophistication, when push comes to shove the endless hoards of skrulls fall just as easily as all cut-rate villains en masse when the story needs to be wrapped up. Skrulls supposedly with the exact powers of the Hulk and the X-Men combined crumble like papier mache when Nick Fury shows up with a big gun (somewhere Rob Liefeld smiles).<BR/><BR/> And how to explain tissue samples of deities and magicians like Dr. Strange and Thor allowing for easy replication of powers that I thought were less genetic than the result of ages of acquiring mystic knowledge and a magical indestructible hammer? And for that matter when the Skrulls joke about the simplistic technology behind Iron Man's armor, you're left wondering why they wouldn't just outfit a few thousand of their warriors in armor equally simplistic and easily wipe out the entire Marvel Universe. Once again any such quibbles can be explained away as poetic license, or simply taking this all too seriously; and yet the very idea of attempting to tell a wholly unrealistic story with this much realism demands that you cover your ass as regards such obvious silliness.<BR/><BR/>All that said, I take Secret Invasion for what it is: Big, goofy, over-the-top spectacle put together by very competent creators. SI is entertaining enough but Bendis and Marvel might want to dial down the crossover spectacles for awhile until they can restock the cupboard.robert whyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14282626214018050383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350877819755424359.post-91384495424582846322009-03-20T22:13:00.000-07:002009-03-20T22:13:00.000-07:00Okay mate, well I think we at least know that you'...Okay mate, well I think we at least know that you're a British scribe, given that you list the retail price as £14.99. Additionally I think the explanation and validation of this blog just under the title is a bit long; and many fans quibble that books like Secret Invasion (and likely most of your future review offerings) are technically collected volumes of monthly comics, as opposed to graphic novels which are typically a single self-contained original story...but I view that as unnecessarily anal.robert whyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14282626214018050383noreply@blogger.com