Kevin Sutton
Apr 19, 2008, 02:11 pm
<a href=" http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0408/PRGME_Cv10.jpg" target="_blank"><img src= "http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0408/PRGME_Cv10t.jpg" alt="The Programme #10" hspace=10 align=left></a>
Reviewer: Kevin Sutton, kevinsutton@cheerful.com
Story Title: Home of the Free
Reprogramming
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: C.P. Smith
Colorist: Jonny Rench
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Assistant Editor: Kristy Quinn
Editor: Ben Abernathy
Published by: Wildstorm / DC Comics (www.dc-comics.com)
The Programme is reaching its penultimate issues and the war between the Russian supermen and their American counterparts enters a quite stage. The disappearance of the Russians appears to be like the eye of the storm, and the American operatives are all trying to regroup. Though I think this issue would have a more singular quality if there was something unique about all of the conspiring going on, but that seems to be par for the course in this series. I must also admit, that over the course of this series, I’ve had a harder and harder time remaining interested in the Programme regardless of the appeal it originally had on paper.
Over the past ten issues, a gang of Russian experiments with unusual and mighty powers have embarked on a campaign of destruction in the heart of the United States, resulting in mass hysteria and outbreaks of racial violence. Joe, the Americans own creation has at the prompting of Pravda shifted from a paranoid nationalistic patriot to a paranoid rebel against his own government. Of course, he may have cause I suppose given the circumstances) But neither brainwashing effort seems to be completely holding on his rattled psyche. Meanwhile Max; the Nazi super soldier is regaining his sense of moral purpose and his confidence in his ability to protect the United States –just in time to fail and be betrayed by the same.
The Programme plays off a lot of good little ideas, and Milligan uses many of these to poke at the United States, but it all plays out so very dryly. The characters seem to operate in such a vacuum due to their neurosis that even deep characters like Max don’t come off as very identifiable. It’s also hard to see where all of this is going. There’s potential in this concept but no heart. I think the theme is supposed to be about how the United States reacts to a crisis with moral compromises while old fault-lines crack the nation… but it doesn’t seem to be all that clever or revolutionary. As I said above, it just seems better on paper than in the comic. (I’m not sure if that metaphor works for comics) The villains are pretty shallow, with the possible exception of the President, although Stella’s appeal to his better nature caught me by surprise. He had previously seemed to be comically hypocritical and undiplomatic. Who was this man seen in this issue? He seemed wistful and regretful. Maybe I hadn’t been paying enough attention...
The art is really striking, but like the story, it lacks heart. When you look into the face of someone like Stella in this comic, trying to make a desperate appeal to her President—and there’s no emotion to be seen; something is missing. Shadows are used heavily to suggest menace in some expressions, but that’s all that seems to work for the pencils. That’s not to say that the story doesn’t look good or the action doesn’t look good. (Though it isn’t very kinetic) But it’s also pretty awkward looking and occasionally unclear. The memorable cover might be the best part of this issue. The use of colour in this issue is not exactly positive. There’s an overuse of bland and off colour shades. It’s pretty distracting and there doesn’t seem to be a particular reason for any the color choices.
Overall, I’m finding that The Programme is a somewhat strikingly average story. A great plot concept and some great ideas are diminished by somewhat uninspiring visuals and a lack of kick to the story. This particular issue doesn’t really offer anything that wasn’t seen in previous issues and I don’t think there’s a strong reason to stick around. Except perhaps to see how it ends –I’ll admit that there’s no clear direction so there’s no guarantees about how any of this turns out. I’m just not sure if there will be a reason to care when the time comes.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wshalf.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsnone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsnone.jpg
Buy this issue at X-WORLD and save! ( http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=2738&cat=PROGRAMME)
Reviewer: Kevin Sutton, kevinsutton@cheerful.com
Story Title: Home of the Free
Reprogramming
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: C.P. Smith
Colorist: Jonny Rench
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Assistant Editor: Kristy Quinn
Editor: Ben Abernathy
Published by: Wildstorm / DC Comics (www.dc-comics.com)
The Programme is reaching its penultimate issues and the war between the Russian supermen and their American counterparts enters a quite stage. The disappearance of the Russians appears to be like the eye of the storm, and the American operatives are all trying to regroup. Though I think this issue would have a more singular quality if there was something unique about all of the conspiring going on, but that seems to be par for the course in this series. I must also admit, that over the course of this series, I’ve had a harder and harder time remaining interested in the Programme regardless of the appeal it originally had on paper.
Over the past ten issues, a gang of Russian experiments with unusual and mighty powers have embarked on a campaign of destruction in the heart of the United States, resulting in mass hysteria and outbreaks of racial violence. Joe, the Americans own creation has at the prompting of Pravda shifted from a paranoid nationalistic patriot to a paranoid rebel against his own government. Of course, he may have cause I suppose given the circumstances) But neither brainwashing effort seems to be completely holding on his rattled psyche. Meanwhile Max; the Nazi super soldier is regaining his sense of moral purpose and his confidence in his ability to protect the United States –just in time to fail and be betrayed by the same.
The Programme plays off a lot of good little ideas, and Milligan uses many of these to poke at the United States, but it all plays out so very dryly. The characters seem to operate in such a vacuum due to their neurosis that even deep characters like Max don’t come off as very identifiable. It’s also hard to see where all of this is going. There’s potential in this concept but no heart. I think the theme is supposed to be about how the United States reacts to a crisis with moral compromises while old fault-lines crack the nation… but it doesn’t seem to be all that clever or revolutionary. As I said above, it just seems better on paper than in the comic. (I’m not sure if that metaphor works for comics) The villains are pretty shallow, with the possible exception of the President, although Stella’s appeal to his better nature caught me by surprise. He had previously seemed to be comically hypocritical and undiplomatic. Who was this man seen in this issue? He seemed wistful and regretful. Maybe I hadn’t been paying enough attention...
The art is really striking, but like the story, it lacks heart. When you look into the face of someone like Stella in this comic, trying to make a desperate appeal to her President—and there’s no emotion to be seen; something is missing. Shadows are used heavily to suggest menace in some expressions, but that’s all that seems to work for the pencils. That’s not to say that the story doesn’t look good or the action doesn’t look good. (Though it isn’t very kinetic) But it’s also pretty awkward looking and occasionally unclear. The memorable cover might be the best part of this issue. The use of colour in this issue is not exactly positive. There’s an overuse of bland and off colour shades. It’s pretty distracting and there doesn’t seem to be a particular reason for any the color choices.
Overall, I’m finding that The Programme is a somewhat strikingly average story. A great plot concept and some great ideas are diminished by somewhat uninspiring visuals and a lack of kick to the story. This particular issue doesn’t really offer anything that wasn’t seen in previous issues and I don’t think there’s a strong reason to stick around. Except perhaps to see how it ends –I’ll admit that there’s no clear direction so there’s no guarantees about how any of this turns out. I’m just not sure if there will be a reason to care when the time comes.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wshalf.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsnone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wsnone.jpg
Buy this issue at X-WORLD and save! ( http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=2738&cat=PROGRAMME)