Kevin Sutton
Feb 23, 2008, 05:55 pm
<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/orderv2-08.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/orderv2-08t.jpg" alt="The Order #8" hspace=10 align="left"></A> Reviewer: Kevin Sutton kevinsutton@cheerful.com
Story Title: 8: Holly; Search and Destroy
“Why do you want superpowers?”
...don’t say revenge, don’t say revenge...
“Uh......revenge?”
Writer: Matt Fraction
Breakdowns: Barry Kitson
Finishes: John Sibal, Stefano Gaudiano, Paul Neary, and Barry Kitson
Colors: Sotocolor’s J. Roberts
Letters: Artmonkeys Studios
Assistant Editor: Alejandro Arbona
Editor: Warren Simons
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Published by: Marvel Comics (http://www.marvel.com)
I’m struck by the appearance of a ‘Who do you trust?’ symbol on the upper left of this comic’s cover. Is this title even going to be coming out when that Skrull story gets off the ground? There’s about two issues left in this comic, but I must admit the knowledge of its’ impending end coupled with the newfound urgency of the plot makes me feel as if it’s already over. What can truly be wrapped up in two more issues aside from a few quick answers? With two issues remaining, will Matt Fraction wrap up his story line or will he throw out the plot in exchange for one final short story that takes advantage of this comic’s unique qualities?
I must admit I’m a little disappointed that the writer has chosen the former. As I suggested before, this comic dispenses with the slow and mysterious plot, substituting instead a full head-on Bond villain exposition scenario. All villains are in it together, and all answers all spelled out for the reader in small black font. Such a story can still rely in part upon the dramatic value of the action, and I think at least one character has truly connected with me as a full-fledged person ; while two others make themselves appear a little shallower. Despite the series’ impending doom, we haven’t yet dispensed with the now obligatory interview, and to be fair it’s not really detracting from the story at this point. However, if the book is pressed for space I can’t help but think that the writer would need as much space as he can get.
The plot has its’ clever turns, and its’ weak moments. I found Milo’s trick to be quite clever, but I was not particularly impressed with the lack of attention paid to the Dahlia’s anarchistic/egalitarian motives, or even Heavy’s overwrought under-his-breath admission that sounds like it was stolen from some war movie. Also, I didn’t have a clue who this Stane character was supposed to be. It didn’t help that he looked like the Injustice League’s IT guy.
The art in this book was pretty good, though I think readers are used to that by now. There aren’t that many truly dramatic moments, though the final Phoenix-like pose is a pretty dramatic image to leave on; actually, the entirety of the final sequence is pretty strong . Kitson’s work has mostly been about great detail or consistency, and very workhorse like. However, the colours are a little more vibrant than usual, owing to a combination of effects, glass, atmosphere, and lighting to keep the pages looking lively. It shows how a colourist can often utilize more exciting or more complementary colour schemes even if the pictures don’t seem to call for it, without being inappropriate or outshining the details. I also can’t help but look the credits, and come to the conclusion that it’s indeed possible for a good artist to put out on-time high quality work, if efforts are made to provide assistance –although maybe tat’s only for comics with more secure bottom lines.
It’s a shame this book won’t be long for the shelves. Some of the characters were starting to grow on me, and I would have liked to see this expansive conspiracy get more room to unfold. But what I’ve enjoyed most of all were the weird short adventures like the appearance of Zobos, communists, and Namor. These kinds of antagonists were unusual and provided opportunities for stranger plots. I still hold out hope that Fraction can use his last two issues to construct a story that really sums up whatever it was that he didn’t have time to do with this series, but I think I’d still be satisfied with something memorable. Kitson may wrap up everything in a nice pretty package in typical fashion for an ending series, or maybe the Order will quit the business –at worst they’ll show up in another comic just to be killed wholesale. (Remember when comics would use that in their finale?) Maybe everyone will turn out to be a Skrull or something.
RATING:
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FIND this issue at X-WORLD and SAVE! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=25715)
Story Title: 8: Holly; Search and Destroy
“Why do you want superpowers?”
...don’t say revenge, don’t say revenge...
“Uh......revenge?”
Writer: Matt Fraction
Breakdowns: Barry Kitson
Finishes: John Sibal, Stefano Gaudiano, Paul Neary, and Barry Kitson
Colors: Sotocolor’s J. Roberts
Letters: Artmonkeys Studios
Assistant Editor: Alejandro Arbona
Editor: Warren Simons
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Published by: Marvel Comics (http://www.marvel.com)
I’m struck by the appearance of a ‘Who do you trust?’ symbol on the upper left of this comic’s cover. Is this title even going to be coming out when that Skrull story gets off the ground? There’s about two issues left in this comic, but I must admit the knowledge of its’ impending end coupled with the newfound urgency of the plot makes me feel as if it’s already over. What can truly be wrapped up in two more issues aside from a few quick answers? With two issues remaining, will Matt Fraction wrap up his story line or will he throw out the plot in exchange for one final short story that takes advantage of this comic’s unique qualities?
I must admit I’m a little disappointed that the writer has chosen the former. As I suggested before, this comic dispenses with the slow and mysterious plot, substituting instead a full head-on Bond villain exposition scenario. All villains are in it together, and all answers all spelled out for the reader in small black font. Such a story can still rely in part upon the dramatic value of the action, and I think at least one character has truly connected with me as a full-fledged person ; while two others make themselves appear a little shallower. Despite the series’ impending doom, we haven’t yet dispensed with the now obligatory interview, and to be fair it’s not really detracting from the story at this point. However, if the book is pressed for space I can’t help but think that the writer would need as much space as he can get.
The plot has its’ clever turns, and its’ weak moments. I found Milo’s trick to be quite clever, but I was not particularly impressed with the lack of attention paid to the Dahlia’s anarchistic/egalitarian motives, or even Heavy’s overwrought under-his-breath admission that sounds like it was stolen from some war movie. Also, I didn’t have a clue who this Stane character was supposed to be. It didn’t help that he looked like the Injustice League’s IT guy.
The art in this book was pretty good, though I think readers are used to that by now. There aren’t that many truly dramatic moments, though the final Phoenix-like pose is a pretty dramatic image to leave on; actually, the entirety of the final sequence is pretty strong . Kitson’s work has mostly been about great detail or consistency, and very workhorse like. However, the colours are a little more vibrant than usual, owing to a combination of effects, glass, atmosphere, and lighting to keep the pages looking lively. It shows how a colourist can often utilize more exciting or more complementary colour schemes even if the pictures don’t seem to call for it, without being inappropriate or outshining the details. I also can’t help but look the credits, and come to the conclusion that it’s indeed possible for a good artist to put out on-time high quality work, if efforts are made to provide assistance –although maybe tat’s only for comics with more secure bottom lines.
It’s a shame this book won’t be long for the shelves. Some of the characters were starting to grow on me, and I would have liked to see this expansive conspiracy get more room to unfold. But what I’ve enjoyed most of all were the weird short adventures like the appearance of Zobos, communists, and Namor. These kinds of antagonists were unusual and provided opportunities for stranger plots. I still hold out hope that Fraction can use his last two issues to construct a story that really sums up whatever it was that he didn’t have time to do with this series, but I think I’d still be satisfied with something memorable. Kitson may wrap up everything in a nice pretty package in typical fashion for an ending series, or maybe the Order will quit the business –at worst they’ll show up in another comic just to be killed wholesale. (Remember when comics would use that in their finale?) Maybe everyone will turn out to be a Skrull or something.
RATING:
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FIND this issue at X-WORLD and SAVE! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=25715)