Warren Ellis is hit-or-miss with me. Some of his stuff I love.
(Pretty much anything he writes about space exploration.)
Other things leave me unmoved.
(His "Tough Cigarette-Smoking Cynic Versus An Evil Conspiracy" tales.)
Still others? Utter repulsion.
(Like his deathly dull, written-for-the-trade Ultimate Galactus trilogy.)
That said, I usually find his stuff worth a look...even if the project is a revival of Marvel Comics' New Universe.
This was an ill-fated attempt by mid-80s Marvel to create a "world outside your window" super-hero universe. No aliens. No magic. No impossible science. No costumes.
Just an unexplained anomaly, then suddenly ordinary people discover they have super-powers, and try to figure out their place in the still very mundane world.
It's actually a pretty cool idea, though many of the New Universe titles didn't pan out very well.
In fact, other than the cult following the Jim Shooter-written issues of Star Brand has, many of the titles were jokes even back in the day.
(There was a time when just saying "Kickers Inc." provoked instant snickers.)
Still, the core ideas have potential.
In newuniversal #1, Warren Ellis introduces us to a world that is definitely -not- the world outside our window. China is the world's leading space exploration super-power and John Lennon is still alive, for example.
Around the world we see various people going about in mundane activities...some typical, some tragic, some endearing...all very human.
Then, the White Event happens.
Suddenly a woman in San Francisco has the power to walk through the dreams of other people.
A brain dead police officer comes out of his coma with the ability to "see" every murder his nurse has committed...and performs an act of violent retribution.
An ordinary boy who took a nap with his girlfriend out on a field awakens to find her a seared corpse...a bizarre star burst pattern radiating out around him.
Oh, and remnants of a strange Bronze Age civilization have been unearthed by Johnny Depp lookalike...with artifacts displaying that same pattern.
It's intriguing stuff. And one doesn't have to be familiar with the original versions of Star Brand, Justice, Nightmask, and (judging by the next issue blurb) Spitfire to enjoy any of it.
I'm interested in seeing what fans of Heroes think of this series. It may be just up their alley.
[ December 07, 2006, 07:50 PM: Message edited by: Puffy Treat ]
Posted by Eduardo St. Elmo (Member # 9566) on :
I haven't seen anything of the TV series Heroes but from everything I've read on it, most of it on this forum, it also has similarities with the comic series Rising Heroes, which was published around the turn of the century I believe. Having normal people come to grips with seemingly supernatural powers is apparently an idea that has been used before on several occasions. However, this 'newuniversal' is probably worth some further investigation on my part. Thanks for the heads up.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
As it happens I love his "Tough Cigarette-Smoking Cynic Versus An Evil Conspiracy" stuff -- there's a Spider Jerusalem action figure on my desk at work -- and he's doing some really silly stuff with "nextwave" so I'll definitely check this out.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
quote:Originally posted by Eduardo St. Elmo: I haven't seen anything of the TV series Heroes but from everything I've read on it, most of it on this forum, it also has similarities with the comic series Rising Heroes, which was published around the turn of the century I believe.
Rising Stars, I think.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
quote:Originally posted by Chris Bridges: As it happens I love his "Tough Cigarette-Smoking Cynic Versus An Evil Conspiracy" stuff -- there's a Spider Jerusalem action figure on my desk at work -- and he's doing some really silly stuff with "nextwave" so I'll definitely check this out.
My main beef with it is he keeps repeating the exact same story, with the exact same tricks...over and over, when he tells Wistful Drug-Addicted Cynic's story.
He's capable of so much more.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
quote:Originally posted by Eduardo St. Elmo: Having normal people come to grips with seemingly supernatural powers is apparently an idea that has been used before on several occasions
Where did I say it wasn't? My post brought up the original New Universe line as an attempt to do such.
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