Sunday, November 30, 2003
maybe someday, simply by making a statement, i can affect the country's economy. but not that way. crazy sh!t.
before i rant further on the sad state of the nation (holy cow! eighties songs!), i think i will just post my first formal review of something i've read or heard. if i feel that maybe i write something nice, maybe it won't be the last, thereby leaving me something to look forward to for the coming days (at least the sub-chaotic ones we in the Philippines all have left) and if anyone is reading this, and wants to comment, feel free to. anyway, here goes.
Review: Bill Willingham- Sandman Presents: Taller Tales
everybody has to know sandman. neil gaiman's series put Vertigo on the map, re-established mainstream comic books as serious (yet again), and made gaiman so revered that even when he puts out something subesequently bland (his non-graphic novels), it's still critically acclaimed. but gaiman gave something back. he left sandman with so many open windows that it was but natural for Vertigo to make use of them by letting prodigious writers explore these windows, to bank on sandman's popularity and at the same time expose comic book readers to talents other than gaiman. from this concept came the series of, among many, the dreaming, mike carey's lucifer (easily the superior of all sandman offshoots), and bill willingham's sandman presents. taller tales compiles 3 of willingham's previously released material and 1 new story. (at least i've never seen it in single issue form- could be wrong, though).
unlike the dreaming and lucifer, sandman presents takes an irreverent poke at the mythos of gaiman's universe, and may be considered as the 'joker' in a sandman deck of cards. it serves as a nice relief, to me, to the hyper-melodrama of gaiman's (and the other writers of his spawns') writings. and though casual readers will easily appreciate the tongue-in-cheek treatment given to the characters (especially in the last installment), those very familiar with the characters will appreciate this collection the most, because they know the idiosyncracies of these characters already- you will hardly be amused with the fairy gift nuala if you don't know who the heck she is in the first place.
like i said, however, even casual readers will appreciate the stories- i especially recommend the last two entries. 'The Thessaliad', wherein a Thessalian witch is being hunted down by four death gods, mixes wit, suspense, and mystery with a little bit of violence and romance- a concoction Willingham also does for his Eisner Award winning Fables (to better results). And there is, of course, 'Everything You Wanted To Know About Dreams- But Were Afraid To Ask'- this is where Willingham, i believe, tries to make something for everyone- the obvious humor is there, but it's familiarity with the characters that ultimately takes it to the next level. i'd like to think he wanted something affectionate for the faithful ones, and something to draw the semi-initiated into the fold.
if you haven't read the sandman series, or at the very least any of its offshoots, well, this may prove still to be a very nice collection of stories- but it's not the best place to introduce yourself to this part of the comic book universe. if you have, then this volume will be a very entertaining read (unless you've already collected these in their short forms).
as an addendum, if you like bill willingham's works, then i seriously recommend any of the Fables comics, or at the very least the trade paperbacks/ special edition books. Fables: Legends in Exile, Fables: Animal Farm, and Fables: The Last Castle will be available at your local comic book shop. a wonderful series full of wit and suspense, and a little bit of everything else.
before i rant further on the sad state of the nation (holy cow! eighties songs!), i think i will just post my first formal review of something i've read or heard. if i feel that maybe i write something nice, maybe it won't be the last, thereby leaving me something to look forward to for the coming days (at least the sub-chaotic ones we in the Philippines all have left) and if anyone is reading this, and wants to comment, feel free to. anyway, here goes.
Review: Bill Willingham- Sandman Presents: Taller Tales
everybody has to know sandman. neil gaiman's series put Vertigo on the map, re-established mainstream comic books as serious (yet again), and made gaiman so revered that even when he puts out something subesequently bland (his non-graphic novels), it's still critically acclaimed. but gaiman gave something back. he left sandman with so many open windows that it was but natural for Vertigo to make use of them by letting prodigious writers explore these windows, to bank on sandman's popularity and at the same time expose comic book readers to talents other than gaiman. from this concept came the series of, among many, the dreaming, mike carey's lucifer (easily the superior of all sandman offshoots), and bill willingham's sandman presents. taller tales compiles 3 of willingham's previously released material and 1 new story. (at least i've never seen it in single issue form- could be wrong, though).
unlike the dreaming and lucifer, sandman presents takes an irreverent poke at the mythos of gaiman's universe, and may be considered as the 'joker' in a sandman deck of cards. it serves as a nice relief, to me, to the hyper-melodrama of gaiman's (and the other writers of his spawns') writings. and though casual readers will easily appreciate the tongue-in-cheek treatment given to the characters (especially in the last installment), those very familiar with the characters will appreciate this collection the most, because they know the idiosyncracies of these characters already- you will hardly be amused with the fairy gift nuala if you don't know who the heck she is in the first place.
like i said, however, even casual readers will appreciate the stories- i especially recommend the last two entries. 'The Thessaliad', wherein a Thessalian witch is being hunted down by four death gods, mixes wit, suspense, and mystery with a little bit of violence and romance- a concoction Willingham also does for his Eisner Award winning Fables (to better results). And there is, of course, 'Everything You Wanted To Know About Dreams- But Were Afraid To Ask'- this is where Willingham, i believe, tries to make something for everyone- the obvious humor is there, but it's familiarity with the characters that ultimately takes it to the next level. i'd like to think he wanted something affectionate for the faithful ones, and something to draw the semi-initiated into the fold.
if you haven't read the sandman series, or at the very least any of its offshoots, well, this may prove still to be a very nice collection of stories- but it's not the best place to introduce yourself to this part of the comic book universe. if you have, then this volume will be a very entertaining read (unless you've already collected these in their short forms).
as an addendum, if you like bill willingham's works, then i seriously recommend any of the Fables comics, or at the very least the trade paperbacks/ special edition books. Fables: Legends in Exile, Fables: Animal Farm, and Fables: The Last Castle will be available at your local comic book shop. a wonderful series full of wit and suspense, and a little bit of everything else.
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