Stephanie Kay
Oct 14, 2007, 11:23 pm
<a href="http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8608/fell7yi0.jpg"><img src="http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/5619/fell7tnbu6.jpg" hspace=10 align=left alt="Fell #7"></a>Reviewer: Manny Cordeiro, manny_cordeiro@hotmail.com
“And then he ordered a pizza. And put on a DVD.”
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Ben Templesmith
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover: Ben Templesmith
Published by: Image Comics (www.imagecomics.com)
Suggested For Mature Readers
Many comic readers react ambivalently and hypocritically to comic book delays. We complain about lateness while qualifying our disgust with a commitment to purchase the offending issue. I may be such a reader. This issue of Fell was delayed for several months and I am unsure why. My position on delays, particularly those of Fell, is as follows: Fell is good. I want to read it every month because it is good. Thus, it disappoints me when I cannot read Fell every month because I am denied the pleasure of reading a title that is regularly impressive. Was this delayed issue worth the wait? Read on.
This latest issue of Fell sees Detective Fell interrogate Bobby, a young man charged with several crimes. Fell is accompanied by ambitious county prosecutor, Helen Hackett, who is eager to witness another one of Fell’s interrogations.
The theme of individual in society is a common theme in the superhero genre. Bruce Wayne escapes into his Batman identity to crusade against the maniacal elements of Gotham City. Clark Kent struggles as an outsider in a society that he feels compelled to exist in. While each self-contained issue of Fell features Detective Fell encountering or investigating heinous situations and crimes, the series essentially explores the conflict between an individual and society. The title clearly indicates the series’ focus. Warren Ellis explores the following questions in this series: How does a righteous man survive in a society characterized by its corruption, filth, and horror. How does engaging with this society change a noble individual?
Warren Ellis’ ability to identify and discuss the absurdities of society is one of the strengths of Fell. In each issue, Ellis grasps onto an absurd aspect of our society and amplifies it to suit the depravity of Snowtown. From that perspective, one could argue that Fell is a satire of our society. In issue 7, Ellis’s subject is the justice system, which he examines through the distorted filter of Snowtown. It is this distorted filter that makes Fell unique among other comics dealing with similar subject matter and uniquely Ellis.
Fell is a title that rewards additional readings and careful analysis. Consider, for instance, the names of the characters in this series and what they suggest about each character. The county prosecutor, who is introduced in this issue, remarks to Fell about an incident with a fire axe. Her name is Helen Hackett. Clever. This issue’s perpetrator is named Bobby, short for Robert Able. His surname foreshadows the heinous acts that the accused is capable of. Finally, our protagonist, Richard Fell, has a name that possibly reflects his status in this ongoing series; he is frequently in danger of being consumed by the corruptive energy of Snowtown. He must be vigilant to keep himself from falling.
Ben Templesmith’s line work and colours brilliantly convey Ellis’ images of filth and madness. The creepy nun, while absent in this issue, is the best example of the synergy between both creators. Not to be outdone, issue 7 features its own gleefully filthy images. The opening page featuring a disheveled overweight lawyer sloppily eating a hotdog is sufficiently discomforting. Even Christina’s apparent purity is dulled by the colouring, which has a urine-like tint to it. This is a wonderful example of juxtaposition by Templesmith.
Furthermore, Templesmith’s colouring decisions effectively convey the hallucinogenic madness that grasps Bobby. It also gives the reader a sense of the horrific actions that Bobby is capable of as he approaches his victim. The mixture of vivid and saturated hues convey the hallucinogen’s potency and suggest a toxicity to Bobby’s thoughts. The panel featuring Bobby’s viral palm is particularly impressive but most disturbing panels in the issue are definitely the two panels depicting Bobby eating pizza naked on his victim’s couch while four bloody knives lie in her sink. The deliberate and meticulous sloppiness of Templesmith’s colouring in these two panels is evocative and stunning.
The significance of Ben Templesmith’s art, particularly his colouring, on this title’s identity can not be overstated. For the sake of brevity, I would like to discuss one final instance in which a colouring decision contributes to the book’s eerie tone. I’m referring to the use of white shadow and light throughout the issue. This element is best described as a fog-like, shape shifting apparition. It is pervasive throughout Snowtown and suggests that there is a supernatural element at work that highlights the town’s depravity and degrades its moral fibre like cancerous rust. These shadows are conspicuous once you recognize them and may be more than a stylistic decision.
Issue 7 of Fell was fantastic. Ellis succeeds once again in identifying elements of the human condition that simultaneously repulse and gleefully fascinate us. Ben Templesmith expertly conveys the gloomy character of Snowtown and the characteristics of its inhabitants. Aside from this issue’s stylistic brilliance, Ellis crafts a clever plot that instantly engages readers and culminates in a satisfying ending. Suddenly, the delays that have plagued this title are completely irrelevant. The issue’s only flaw is the absence of supplemental material. The reader letters and comments by Ellis are fascinating. The pages usually reserved for Back Matter were filled with a preview of Matt Fraction’s Casanova. While this was a suitable replacement, there is no substitute for Fell’s Back Matter. Then again, this title is still an incredible value at $1.99, even without the Back Matter.
The first eight issues of Fell will be collected in a trade paperback sometime in the spring. I highly recommend curious readers to purchase it. This title does not disappoint.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ihalf.jpg
Buy Fell #7 from X-World and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1991&cat=FELL)
“And then he ordered a pizza. And put on a DVD.”
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Ben Templesmith
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover: Ben Templesmith
Published by: Image Comics (www.imagecomics.com)
Suggested For Mature Readers
Many comic readers react ambivalently and hypocritically to comic book delays. We complain about lateness while qualifying our disgust with a commitment to purchase the offending issue. I may be such a reader. This issue of Fell was delayed for several months and I am unsure why. My position on delays, particularly those of Fell, is as follows: Fell is good. I want to read it every month because it is good. Thus, it disappoints me when I cannot read Fell every month because I am denied the pleasure of reading a title that is regularly impressive. Was this delayed issue worth the wait? Read on.
This latest issue of Fell sees Detective Fell interrogate Bobby, a young man charged with several crimes. Fell is accompanied by ambitious county prosecutor, Helen Hackett, who is eager to witness another one of Fell’s interrogations.
The theme of individual in society is a common theme in the superhero genre. Bruce Wayne escapes into his Batman identity to crusade against the maniacal elements of Gotham City. Clark Kent struggles as an outsider in a society that he feels compelled to exist in. While each self-contained issue of Fell features Detective Fell encountering or investigating heinous situations and crimes, the series essentially explores the conflict between an individual and society. The title clearly indicates the series’ focus. Warren Ellis explores the following questions in this series: How does a righteous man survive in a society characterized by its corruption, filth, and horror. How does engaging with this society change a noble individual?
Warren Ellis’ ability to identify and discuss the absurdities of society is one of the strengths of Fell. In each issue, Ellis grasps onto an absurd aspect of our society and amplifies it to suit the depravity of Snowtown. From that perspective, one could argue that Fell is a satire of our society. In issue 7, Ellis’s subject is the justice system, which he examines through the distorted filter of Snowtown. It is this distorted filter that makes Fell unique among other comics dealing with similar subject matter and uniquely Ellis.
Fell is a title that rewards additional readings and careful analysis. Consider, for instance, the names of the characters in this series and what they suggest about each character. The county prosecutor, who is introduced in this issue, remarks to Fell about an incident with a fire axe. Her name is Helen Hackett. Clever. This issue’s perpetrator is named Bobby, short for Robert Able. His surname foreshadows the heinous acts that the accused is capable of. Finally, our protagonist, Richard Fell, has a name that possibly reflects his status in this ongoing series; he is frequently in danger of being consumed by the corruptive energy of Snowtown. He must be vigilant to keep himself from falling.
Ben Templesmith’s line work and colours brilliantly convey Ellis’ images of filth and madness. The creepy nun, while absent in this issue, is the best example of the synergy between both creators. Not to be outdone, issue 7 features its own gleefully filthy images. The opening page featuring a disheveled overweight lawyer sloppily eating a hotdog is sufficiently discomforting. Even Christina’s apparent purity is dulled by the colouring, which has a urine-like tint to it. This is a wonderful example of juxtaposition by Templesmith.
Furthermore, Templesmith’s colouring decisions effectively convey the hallucinogenic madness that grasps Bobby. It also gives the reader a sense of the horrific actions that Bobby is capable of as he approaches his victim. The mixture of vivid and saturated hues convey the hallucinogen’s potency and suggest a toxicity to Bobby’s thoughts. The panel featuring Bobby’s viral palm is particularly impressive but most disturbing panels in the issue are definitely the two panels depicting Bobby eating pizza naked on his victim’s couch while four bloody knives lie in her sink. The deliberate and meticulous sloppiness of Templesmith’s colouring in these two panels is evocative and stunning.
The significance of Ben Templesmith’s art, particularly his colouring, on this title’s identity can not be overstated. For the sake of brevity, I would like to discuss one final instance in which a colouring decision contributes to the book’s eerie tone. I’m referring to the use of white shadow and light throughout the issue. This element is best described as a fog-like, shape shifting apparition. It is pervasive throughout Snowtown and suggests that there is a supernatural element at work that highlights the town’s depravity and degrades its moral fibre like cancerous rust. These shadows are conspicuous once you recognize them and may be more than a stylistic decision.
Issue 7 of Fell was fantastic. Ellis succeeds once again in identifying elements of the human condition that simultaneously repulse and gleefully fascinate us. Ben Templesmith expertly conveys the gloomy character of Snowtown and the characteristics of its inhabitants. Aside from this issue’s stylistic brilliance, Ellis crafts a clever plot that instantly engages readers and culminates in a satisfying ending. Suddenly, the delays that have plagued this title are completely irrelevant. The issue’s only flaw is the absence of supplemental material. The reader letters and comments by Ellis are fascinating. The pages usually reserved for Back Matter were filled with a preview of Matt Fraction’s Casanova. While this was a suitable replacement, there is no substitute for Fell’s Back Matter. Then again, this title is still an incredible value at $1.99, even without the Back Matter.
The first eight issues of Fell will be collected in a trade paperback sometime in the spring. I highly recommend curious readers to purchase it. This title does not disappoint.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ifull.jpghttp://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ihalf.jpg
Buy Fell #7 from X-World and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1991&cat=FELL)