Daily Archives: 13 July 2012

Prophet 23 (March 2012)

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Graham does something interesting here–he gives John Prophet a nemesis, but doesn’t dwell on that relationship except a quick reference. Graham charts Prophet’s progress in the narration boxes, marking each day. Occasionally, it makes Prophet feel a lot fuller. Graham never quite encourages the reader to imagine what’s been going on between issues, but it’s always clear something did.

Probably something gross, even though Graham and Roy continue their lack of grossness this issue. The worst it gets here is a dismembered arm.

A dismembered arm isn’t much in the world of Prophet.

One strange thing about Graham’s approach to a future story is the lack of references to modern-day settings. Prophet has to climb an impossibly tall mountain and Graham avoids implying its anything extant in the reader’s modern Earth. It’s a nice, mature move.

initiate, from Frank Teran, backups the feature. Nice art but measly story.

CREDITS

Prophet; writers, Brandon Graham and Simon Roy; artist, Roy; colorist, Richard Ballermann; letterer, Ed Brisson; editor, Eric Stephenson. initiate, Part One; writer, artist, colorist and letterer, Frank Teran. Publisher, Image Comics.

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Swamp Thing 70 (March 1988)

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Veitch is still working on his bridge. While Alec heads home for some private time with Abby, Constantine tries to figure out what’s going on with the plants. He meets a bunch of his friends, piecing together various pieces of information.

The writing of these scenes is fine. Veitch makes each friend distinct, gives Constantine a strong voice. But it’s all pointless. Veitch is just busying the reader; none of Constantine’s actions here actually have bearing on what’s going to come.

The art is rather compelling, with the pencillers doing double pages, split into three strips. Alec and Abby get the center, Constantine gets top and bottom. There’s thoughtful crossover between them. Veitch is clearly and precisely thinking about Swamp Thing and its storytelling.

Sadly, he’s not thinking about it being interesting. The best stuff is Chester and Liz’s two bookend scenes, though the Crisis retelling with puppets is hilarious.

CREDITS

The Secret Life of Plants; writer, Rick Veitch; pencillers, Brett Ewins and Veitch; inker, Alfredo Alcala; colorist, Tatjana Wood; letterer, John Costanza; editor, Karen Berger; publisher, DC Comics.


Contemporaneously…