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Saucer Country #1

As a former resident of New Mexico, who has a great love for the state, I couldn't pass this book up after reading the solicitations. I'm really glad I got it. It captures the unique spirit of New Mexico. Governor Alvarado promises to be a complex and interesting character. It looks like the supporting cast is going to be solid. The mixture of politics and aliens is a perfect fit for the Vertigo brand.

Looking forward to checking it out, Jerry! This one looked like it could be the best of Vertigo's new four.

Also checked it out. It was actually a bit different than what I thought it would be, though in a good way.

It's kind of an odd thing. I found the alien aspect of it kind of 'meh'; I even found the running for President aspect of it kind of 'meh'. But the part about a woman who may have been abused overcoming that trauma really seemed to work here. It was chilling and I felt very sympathetic and I cheered her on during the speech moment. I can see how Cornell can use the idea of alien abduction as a not so subtle allegory to the loss of empowerment someone abused (physically, sexually or even other ways) might feel. That was well done.

It wasn’t my favorite Vertigo launch, especially considering how well done Unwritten, Scalped and American Vampire are right now. But it was certainly unique and with a very strong lead character, and I can see how with those two things, the potential is pretty strong.

Awright, Awright, Aw-effin'-RIGHT, already! I finally read that first Unwritten trade I've been sitting on for nearly two years last week......and I thought it was very good!

A good foundation was set up in the opening arc for the mystery and mythology swirling around Tom Taylor and his world. I can see enough in those issues alone to set up years worth of stories. Then, issue 5, which rounds out the trade, shows potential for even more stories beyond that with its focus on Rudyard Kipling and how his story ties into the larger mythology the book is bringing across.

Basically, it was an entertaining read in and of itself, but i can just see that the best is yet to come. That's a recipe for a great series and one that Vertigo has particularly excelled with over countless successful books it's put out over the decades. (It doesn't hurt either that the artist is Peter Gross, btw.)

So, yeah, I'll be picking up subsequent trades very soon and will likely continue to collect the series as such for the foreseeable future.

So...LEAVE ME THE **** ALONE ABOUT UNWRITTEN, ALREADY, COBIE!!!

I enjoyed this (... but there's a but in there .... like Cobes ... )

I thought it was like a new tv show I would watch and follow BUT ... in this era ... comics really need to bring it because there is so much good coming out .. .

so i will definitely get number 2 ... I found it satisfying but not world shattering.

Re: Unwritten

very good but ... a bit too heavy on the literature nerd aspect ... and I wish they were a bit more abstract on the Harry Potter correlation ... I find it heavy handed.

but ... when not showing off how smart it is I really enjoy it when it runs with the ball ... like it is now.

Unwritten is a little awkward to me because comics are already metaphorical (literally good versus evil) and then to change it and have these characters exploring their situation inside the metaphor ... is awkward.

hmm that's just me, I buy it so obviously I like it but, I feel annoyed by it sometimes.

(sorry don't mean to be a buzzkill)

I also recently read the first 2 vols. of 100 Bullets, which I bought for half price during a sale my CBS had about two months ago.

The premise, if you're unfamiliar, revolves around a mysterious guy named Agent Graves approaching average joes, giving them irrefutable evidence of someone's culpability for something bad that happened to the joes and then giving them a gun with untraceable bullets to get their revenge if they so choose. But even across the two trades, you learn that there's a lot more going on behind the scenes than that simple set-up which revolves around Graves' motives and an organization called the Trust.

It's a pretty gripping crime series with very appropriate, stylized art by Eduardo Risso. I can see already how writer Brian Azzarello earned his rep on this book even if it didn't always work on all of his other projects.

I'd say that so far it's not as great of a crime book as Criminal or Scalped, but this is definitely a series I'll be buying further trades of. I initially bought the first issue or two when it first came out, but didn't continue. The initial 3-issue storyline is pretty good, but you kinda get lost in all the urban slang in a way that can turn you off. But it gets much better from there, and you learn to appreciate the initial arc for what it was in that it had so much to set up for the series.

Reposted, in case Mr. Cobaltus missed this at the bottom of the previous page....

^

Totally missed that, as you surmised!

Glad you enjoyed it! I think you'll continue to enjoy as it goes forward, and I suspect it reads even better in trades. It stays very good for quite awhile and then around #30 just gets so freaking good it hurts.

I'll leave you alone for 6 months and then start pestering you for a read / review of the next trade. Like I should be doing with Scalped.

Lardie, I ended up with an extra copy of the fifth trade of UNWRITTEN, collecting 25 thru 30... let me know when you're ready for it and you can PM me where I can mail it...

I'm looking forward to seeing how the next trades are put together... I saw from the previews that Carey was very ambitious in his storytelling, what with two concurrent stories running each month over last summer(?)... the main story and a separate yet related narrative in the ".5" issues. Have I got that right, Des? Didn't that start with #31, and where exactly does it stop?

You have it right and it ended up being genius. The .5 issues were each a revelation while the main story picked up steam--and them BAM!!, it all came together in a fantastic way.

I was actually a bit skeptical when I heard about it, but I was quickly proven wrong.

As far as other Vertigo books, I'm trying out the 4 "new" Vertigo titles-- Saucer Country, Fairest, The New Deadwardians and Dominique Laveau: Voodoo Child-- thanks to DCBS' 75% 0ff bundle. I'm perfectly willing to pay coverprice for FAIREST, so I'm really getting the rest for free... If any of them are good, it's a win/win.

COOL. Can't wait to get the trade.

Did anyone pick up New Deadwardians? Although the premise sounds terrific, a coupla flip-thrus at the store didn't impress me enough to pick it up. Hopefully, someone who's actually read it can give a clear picture for us....

^ did same exact thing as you. And actually was curious if anyone grabbed it.

(I also passed on Voodoo Child.)

And after considering Saucer County #2 for awhile, I put it back on the shelf. #1 was good (not great but good) but I just wasn't feeling excited enough to continue with the next issue. Perhaps I'll be swayed.

I picked up the New Deadwardians ...

I'm in for number 2 but it better get damn good by number 2 and/or 3.

I liked the art, the set up seemed like some mish mash of things i've read/seen before ... which is ok 'cause it's still in my interest ...

There is a cliffhanger ending, which didn't quite effect me as much as it should have because I didn't fall in love with the main character or story. I need some more back story or story in general before I care that this world is knocked topsy turvy.

Anyway, I enjoyed it, was worth the cash but like I said ... it better get good really quick .. especially with it's current competition.

I would rate it well above Fairest. (IMO) fairly above Saucer Country ... about on par with IZombie ... and trailing Unwritten. (even before Unwritten picked up the can of whup ass that has been the last few issues)

Except there's not a lot of fresh in the New Deadwardians .. in premise or characters ... the setting is fairly interesting ... an alternative history ... but it will take a talented scribe to fulfill that potential. (this so far seems more like a movie IMO ala sherlock holmes or abraham lincoln vampire hunter ... )

You know what #1 reminded me of .... A PILOT ... for tv ... where it has to spend a bunch of time setting the scene and introducing ... usually I think tv pilots or a mess or thrown in everything and the kitchen sink and the following season can't compete with it's pilot.

New Deadwardians #1 was ok. it definitely ticks all the boxes of a good comic book but just didn't excite me with anything wow worthy. it's still kinda cool though.

I did also get Voodoo Child ... and I barely remember it ...

It is well below any of the comics I mentioned above ... it hardly seems professional even. Which is disappointing because the writer is supposed to be a good writer.

art is 90s esque. the plot .... jumps the fricking orca whale ... so that i had a hard time seeing how the main character got from point a to point b.

In fact, i'd say Voodoo Child is ... bad.

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not so sure about getting sauer country 2 myself ... i thought it was allright despite average art ... but i thought the explanation of the whole mystery in the first issue was ... pretty average. I was hoping we would have to figure out what happened to her and what was ging on over the course of the series ... and at the end of issue one i felt like i knew everything i wanted to know about the book, and didnt care about the things i didnt know.

i'll probably flip through #2 on the stands and put in back on the shelf.

I recently picked up trades one and two and ... i'd echo what you said ... I am much more interested in the major players than each issue's story .. but I can see the snowball building.

and there's a lot of hook and mystery that has me wanting more. my enjoyment of this comic built as i read issues.

I also picked up the first two trades of Unknown Soldier a while ago, I thought they were good enough to read but I think they were just too dark and depressing for me, the main character is a bit too conflicted to keep me interested ... and the book is really about dragging you into his mental illness and turmoil .... pretty well done just not my cup of tea right now.

Thanks for the review, Peebz! Between your mostly-positive review and this glowing 4 and a half star review I found on CBR , I think I may give it a chance. It makes sense that a Victorian zombie/vampire mash-up might work with it being in a more subdued style than normal for those genres.

Lots of good reviews Peebs! You've helped confirm for me my own feelings on Saucer County and Voodoo Child.

Unknown Soldier is definitely not an easy series on the reader. If you're not in the right mindset to deal with that type of all too real tragedy, it could be easy to want to pass.

Def looking forward to your review of New Deadwardians, Lardy!

I've never read any 100 Bullets at all but both your reviews have me curious. Glad to know that there is a little bit of 'getting through the first arc'.

I bought the first two issues and decided not to continue. The first didn't do much for me. The second almost hooked me, but I decided not enough. I think that if Azzarello didn't have that annoying feaux-futuristic dialogue in it, it'd be much better actually. Oh well. Reviewers aren't exactly lavishing praise on it at the websites I trust, so I don't think it's just me.

Well, it'll be awhile! If I buy it next week, you'll see my reaction mid-to-late May!

It's def not for everyone, as Cobie says. If you like some escapism, Soldier's a little too real for comfort. I enjoyed it, though. Still gotta get those concluding trades....

I'll let y'all know what I think about Saucer County #1 when I get to it. I read so many good reviews that I had to try it out.