Review: O.M.A.C. #3

When reading O.M.A.C. #3, it occurred to me just why I love this comic so much. My love for Jack Kirby has more than a little to do with it, but what I think really gets me is the similarity to Japanese tokusatsu shows. They both have transformations, over the top heroes and villains, a heaping helping of silliness, and of course, wonderfully fun action scenes. Toku is something I think comics could stand to take some cues from, and it's great to see O.M.A.C. doing just that, even if it isn't intentional.

New characters and concepts are introduced at a neck breaking speed throughout the issue. From the terrifically fun Checkmate Elite to the surprisingly powerful Psi-Fi Man, O.M.A.C. throws out ideas in at a rate few comics do. The rapid pace would feel overwhelming in a lot of comics, but there's a simplicity at O.M.A.C.'s core that really makes this work. I often get frustrated when comics don't spend much time on something I find interesting, but jumping from idea to idea feels natural to O.M.A.C. If the book sticks around, I imagine we'll get some kind of big bad, but I hope we still keep getting peeks at wacky henchmen and crazy future tech. O.M.A.C. just wouldn't feel right if it was too focused on one thing.

But in spite of all the new content, this issue didn't measure up to the last one for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm still having a blast with O.M.A.C., but I think some aspects of the book are losing their impact for me. I was excited by what was truly new, but O.M.A.C. himself is becoming less interesting to me. There was some focus on Kevin's relationship with Brother Eye here, and I really hope that we see some kind of shake-up soon. Kevin has the potential to be a likable, engaging character, but it hasn't been tapped yet. Right now, I'm more entertained by everything around him than I am by anything he's done, and I think the book would be much more involving if I had a stronger attachment to him. So much about O.M.A.C. is impermanent, and I want Kevin to be the constant.

Keith Giffen's artwork is absolutely essential to the book, and it's only been improving with each issue. I've spent a lot of time talking about how effectively use channels Kirby's style, but there's plenty to love here that's pure Giffen. The composition of his pages is spectacular, and every panel is full of energy. One of my favorite things about his work is how much fun most of the characters look like they're having. Even O.M.A.C., who is always completely focused on the task at hand, seems to gain some pleasure from throwing his punches. It's little details like that that keep the constant action interesting. I really enjoy the book's dialogue, but the story Giffen tells with his art would hold up without a single word.

O.M.A.C. #3 isn't quite as entertaining as the issues that came before, but it's still a great send-up to comics of old. This issue probably won't pick up any new fans for the comic, but it's good enough that those who were already enjoying it should stick with it. I'm hoping O.M.A.C. can keep all its eccentric charm, but finds something that will attract new readers as well. I'm having a lot of fun reading O.M.A.C., but it's time for the comic to do a little more.

By Marceline with No comments

Panels Of The Week - Week Of 10/05/11

It's the start of a new comics week, which means it's time to spotlight the best panels of the week before. For me, there's nothing this week that tops the two page spreads in Animal Man and Swamp Thing, but there were still plenty of terrific standalone panels. From indestructible baby blankets to getting blamed for the moon, here are our top 5 panels of the week.

5. Penguin: Pain and Prejudice #1

Don't even *think* about accidentally messin' with the Penguin. The way Szymon Kudranksi draws Penguin walking is what really sells this for me. Destroying lives is just part of a regular day.

4. Action Comics #2

I'm pretty sure this takes the crown for the most badass baby blanket of all time. All those bullets and it doesn't even look wrinkled. 

3. O.M.A.C. #2

I'm a sucker for goofy editor's notes. Every time I look at this one I start giggling. It's a great callback to issue one and fits in nicely with the book's retro pastiche.

2. Stormwatch #2

This one might not work out of context, but it context, it was the funniest moment of the week. The expression on Booster Gold's face is what takes it from hilarious to downright hysterical. 

1. Animal Man #1

For the second month in a row, Animal Man has our favorite panel of the week. I was creepy enough as a kid to have found reanimated animal corpses cute too. I love that Ellen's primary concern is the milk spilling on the table. 

By Marceline with No comments

Why You Should Check Out O.M.A.C. #2

September's preliminary sales charts have been released, and to my surprise, O.M.A.C. #1 was the lowest selling title of the new 52. I know that the comic's retro pastiche has limited appeal, and I wasn't expecting to tear up the charts, but I definitely thought it'd do a little better than it did. The audience for a comic featuring a giant blue mohawked man punching crazy looking things can't be that small, and I thought that word of mouth from the terrific first issue would give sales a nice boost. While O.M.A.C. still sold well enough to justify a reprint, the bottom of the heap isn't a great place to be, especially when few comics boast bigger numbers for their second issue than their first.

All that's a shame, because this issue has even more to offer readers than the last. From the introduction of Checkmate to an editor's note that literally had me laughing out loud, this comic never stops throwing cool ideas at you, and never stops being fun. Everything that was great about the first issue, from the sense of energy and epicness to Keith Giffen's Kirby channeling, is still here. And everything else? Is better. There's more story, snappier dialogue, more focus on characters. The action scenes are bigger and more exciting, and this is where we really get a sense of what O.M.A.C., Brother Eye, and Cadmus can do. Giffen and Dan Didio deliver plenty of story and excitement for the money, and give readers lots to think about while they wait for next month's issue.

What's great about O.M.A.C. #2 is that it works as a jumping on point in spite of picking up right where the last issue left off. Within the first page, we know that what O.M.A.C. is, that he's Kevin Kho, and that Brother Eye is using O.M.A.C. to control him. They say that every issue is someone's first issue, and O.M.A.C. makes sure that new readers can read this one with no problems. The increased focus on Brother Eye provides readers with some interesting in-depth explanations, and I actually think several elements from the last issue are easier to understand here. The first issue is good stuff, and I recommend reading it, but this issue is still a perfect place to start.

I love dark and creepy series like Animal Man and Swamp Thing, but that's not all I want to read. O.M.A.C. is the comic book equivalent of a chaser, giving you enough goofy, crazy fun to knock gruesome thoughts out of your head and make your next read more potent. There are a lot of horror books in the new 52, and if you're trying to add some variety to your pull list, O.M.A.C. is a great way to do it. Odds are you're not reading any comics that contain the word "OMACTIVATE", and your life might be just a little bit better if you were. I've also seen many people lamenting the lack of comics they can give to younger readers. While a bit of mild language keeps O.M.A.C. from being a true all ages title, it's definitely appropriate for a younger crowd, and it's something fans of kid friendly books might want to support.

Maybe Giffen's Kirby style artwork isn't your thing. Maybe you were scared off by Dan Didio's co-writing credit, or by the righteousness of O.M.A.C.'s mohawk. Maybe all you know of OMAC are the cyborgs we saw in Infinite Crisis, and can't figure out those guys could carry an ongoing series. Whatever kept you from trying O.M.A.C., I impore you to give the second issue a chance. I can't promise that you'll like it, but I can promise that it's a well constructed comic that offers something really different from most books on the shelves. It's the sort of comic that's worth trying, even if it doesn't seem like your thing. And the final page reveal should leave any longtime DC reader intrigued.

So if you missed out on O.M.A.C. #1, try flipping through issue #2 and seeing what you think. If you like it, try grabbing the reprint of issue #1 or getting it when it takes a price drop on Comixology. Most importantly, if you thought it was awesome, be sure to tell your comic reading friends. I'm not going to let a comic as good as O.M.A.C. go down without a fight. O.M.A.C. is never going to outsell stuff like Batman or Green Lantern,   but word of mouth can still make a difference in the comics world. Here's hoping that next month, O.M.A.C.'s place on the comic book charts is a little bit prettier.

By Marceline with 1 comment

Top 10 Comic Book Quotes- Week of 9/7/11

Before we get to appreciating (and not appreciating) the next round of DC number ones, here's one last look at this week's comics. In no particular order, here are the top 10 comic book quotes of the week.

1. "I--I'm sorry, Daddy. I just wanted a pet of my own."-- Maxine Baker, Animal Man

2. "I told Batman that a man dressed as a bat will not instill fear in the average criminal in Africa. They have seen too much. He told me, "You just have to sell it.""-- David Zavimbe, Batwing

3. "Hey! Is that -- Green Lantern?" -- Random civilian on Booster Gold, Justice League International

4. "We used to have laws in this town. Like gravity. You remember gravity, right?" -- Detective Blake, Action Comics

5. "Jenny Q., out of all the Century Babies, I want you to know-- you're in my top eighteen." -- Adam One, Stormwatch

6. "Behold. I give you Superman. Stay in touch." -- Lex Luthor, Action Comics

7. "I know that my father, he was telling the truth. Because plants can scream. For me, they're screaming all the time." -- Alec Holland, Swamp Thing

8. "Not only do they get the handsome, brilliant, über-genius Virgil Hawkins...they also get the not-so-mild-mannered, super-cool, and fiercely awesome Static." -- Static, Static Shock

9. "I grab my favorite "Action Hero" cocktail of animal abilities...strength of an elephant, reflexes of a fly, speed of a cheetah...and the bark of a dog. That one always freaks them out." -- Animal Man, Animal Man

10. "What I want is your complete attention and for you to understand that your life is now mine. I am BROTHER EYE. And you and eye have much to talk about. But first, call your girlfriend, she's worried about you." -- Brother Eye, O.M.A.C.

By Marceline with 1 comment

Panels of the Week - Week of 9/7/11

A new week of comics is almost upon us, but before that starts, here's a countdown of this week's 5 best panels. A lot of this week's best moments took up an entire page, but DC put out so many enjoyable books this week it was still easy to come up with a list of single panels. So, without further ado, here are DC's Top 5 Panels of the Week!

5. Static Shock

This is a pretty simple panel, but there's really a lot going on here. Not only does this give new readers some Hardware backstory without breaking up the story, but it gives them a feel for both character's personalities and what their relationship is like. In a first issue, it's easy to spend too much time on exposition, and I appreciate any panel that tells readers what they need to know in a fun and streamlined way.

4. Stormwatch

This entire page, in which media manipulator The Projectionist searches the internet for mentions of Apollo, is terrific, but this panel is my favorite. The concept of photoshopped superhero fights feels so authentic, and I love that fans were given a look at a fantasy throwdown that will probably never be. Just being reminded that the two characters now exist in the same universe is pretty exciting for me. An honorable mention goes out to the panel just above this one, which discusses Apollo slash fiction.

3. O.M.A.C.

Not only does this panel showcase the kind of wacky, imaginative action that made the first issue of O.M.A.C. great, it's a direct reference to the first page of Jack Kirby's original O.M.A.C tale! For me, Build-A-Friend was the highlight of a wonderfully fun comic, and this panel in particular really made me smile. Also, as far as onomatopoeias go, FFRRAATZZ is a pretty terrific one. Something I could easily see coming out of the mouth of a Pokemon.

2. Action Comics

I love everything about this panel. The people of Metropolis fighting to protect their Superman, the reference to "leap tall buildings in a single bound", and just the sense of playfulness and curiosity about his own powers that this version of Superman has. I loved Action Comics from start to finish, but if I had to show people a single panel to sell them on the issue, it'd be this one.

1. Animal Man

This is why Buddy is great. This is why Ellen is great. This is why marriage in comics is great. I love that a story about a man who takes on the abilities of animals can be so down to earth and relatable, and nothing showcases that better than this panel. Animal Man's family is an essential part of his character, and in this one moment, new readers get that as much as long time fans of the character do. And that makes this my panel of the week.

By Marceline with No comments

Review: O.M.A.C. #1

Jack Kirby was one of the greatest gifts the comics industry ever had. From Darkseid to Etrigan, Big Barda to Klarion, he was never afraid to create, never afraid to do something totally new or unusual. His presence is still everywhere in comics, from the Mother Box in Justice League #1 to the Grant Morrison's entire oeuvre. But nowhere are Kirby's footprints stronger than in O.M.A.C.'s debut issue.

Opening O.M.A.C. is like stepping into some strange kind of time portal, one where the most psychedelic comics of the 1970's are filled with everyday modern conveniences and where that decade's art style can now be viewed in the rich, high-def colors that we've become accustomed to. Even the dialogue is a weird mix of dated and current, with corny lines that somehow work for me because of the book's strange, retro-futuristic style.

"Krackling" Keith Giffen's talent as an artist is obvious, but this issue was still an eye-opener for me. The way he channels Kirby is truly incredible, and he pulls off an extremely difficult pastiche flawlessly. There is so much going on in every page it's almost overwhelming, from action scenes to bizarre creatures to fantastical technology, and Giffen manages to keep up with all that's going on and then some. The blindingly bright colors were provided by Hi-Fi, and it really helps to complete the book's look.

Comics in the 70's were extremely dense, and this issue stays true to that as well. We go from zero into the first rumbles of our opening action scene in a single page, and the pace never really lets up from there. O.M.A.C. jumps from building to building, from fight to fight with hardly any time to breathe. It really drives home what a powerhouse O.M.A.C. is at this point, and while the character was conceived as a futuristic Captain America, he currently feels more like the Hulk. Right now, most of what's thrown at him doesn't seem to challenge him, and I'm guessing that means bigger fights and foes in the issues to come.

It may seem like mindless action on the surface, but I think there's more depth to this comic than people might realize. I especially liked how, as O.M.A.C., Kevin constantly repeats what's being said to him, as if he has no mind of his own. Seeing him break free of the control of Brother Eye will be an interesting process, and I'm excited to see O.M.A.C. become less and less robotic and more and more human. The tidbits of Kevin's past we got were intriguing, and I can't wait to find out how they tie into the greater story. I can't say I'm particularly invested in either Kevin's girlfriend or their lovable jerkbag co-worker, but they both have some potential and I wouldn't mind seeing more of them.

I also love how much imagination in poured into these creatures, even if they exist only for O.M.A.C. to take them down. The writing on this book is a collaborative effort between Giffen and DC co-publisher Dan Didio, and the two obviously compliment each other well. Wacky underground genetic experimentation laboratories aren't the easiest sell, but somehow everything works for me here, from start to the smile-inducing finish.

As much as I enjoyed this, I'm not sure how much appeal the book will have for people who aren't looking for a send-up to Kirby or comics of old. There's so much to appreciate here, but it's so different from the current comics status quo, and I'm worried that this isn't going to be accessible to the new readers that the relaunch is bringing in.

On the other hand, I let my 2 year old nephew take a look at my new stack of comics, and O.M.A.C. was the one he instantly gravitated towards. "He a bad guy," he said. I smiled and corrected him. "Oh," he replied, looking at the cover a little longer. "I like that guy".

By Marceline with 2 comments