Hellshock - Released, at last!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

It should be hitting comic shops in the next week or two, but I read my copy of Jae Lee's HELLSHOCK trade paperback last night.

The original issues are just as glorious as ever.

The new ending is underwhelming and a bit forced for the sake of "completing the story." To a certain degree, it can't be helped. It's been a number of years since the last issue and Lee's style has evolved. It doesn't look like that anymore. But to go from dark and dense storytelling to a breezy nearly-quiet and brightly colorful "final issue?" Disappointing.

I'd have also liked more explanation for what was in the book, also, and how it was put together. There's a black and white story in the back of the book that's completely disconnected from everything else with no explanation for what it is or why it's there. And it's really only half done, the rough pencils for a story that was never used. (Judging from hints, I think it was the original opening for the series, but it's so completely different that I guessed Lee changed his mind.)

The coloring and lettering have been completely redone, which likely is a product of the original film not being available.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

Did you get the HC or the SC? I've still got the SC on order from DCBS and very much looking forward to it!

I was reading this off of the rack back in the day. Even scored a signed copy of #1 and have it on the wall. It was far superior to his 1st HELLSHOCK story from the mid-90's, but I remember that he kept working on the same pages over and over, unhappy with how it was playing out. I think it got solicited up to #8 and only 3 issues saw print.

I can't see how it could possibly "live up to" anything. I'm just hoping that I can still get into the story now almost 10 years removed from it. Comparing the 1st printings to the new printings should prove interesting too.

Thanks for the heads up! :D

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I have the trade paperback. I think there might be more in the HC, but I'm not sure.

It's just disappointing that the first 3/4 is so dense and so heady and so packed with art, while the new thing looks like it was done by a manga person, with two panels per page, three pages devoted to some leaves falling, and not much narration. It's a letdown.

If I knew where my original issues were, I'd love to go back and compare. Maybe I'll find them this weekend. It's weird to think of replacing Jose Villarubia's coloring, but it loos like the new colorist -- Lee's wife, BTW, June Chung -- stuck very close to the original guidelines. And Simon Bowland's new lettering (in lieu of Comicraft) looks mostly fine, with only occasional issues with balloon size.

-Augie

[pmpknface]

I remember the issues being heavily narrated. Those were expensive comics, but you got your $'s worth. It's also one of the earlier comics that I actually remember paying attention to the colorist. Jose really made Jae's pages sing, so the art change should prove interesting.

Your manga comment doesn't exactly fill me with too much hope tho...

[miracle.eli]

Guys,
Please keep us updated with the comparison to the original issues. I'm going to pick up this trade for the ending, but plan on hunting down the singles as well -- I have the 1st series issues but missed these.
.wil.

[De Carabas]

Damn. Now I'm apprehensive. I already pre-ordered it, so there's no point fretting, but still...

I remember being absolutely blown away by issue #1 of the second series. The first mini was nothing more than an art book, with an original (for comics at the time) premise. Then the second series started, and I was hooked. Loved #1, thought 2 and 3 were still quite good, and then nothing. And this was pre-InturWeb, so no clue in the world as to what was going on. I remember bugging my retailer incessantly for #4. A crappy, we-only-buy-X-Bat-books store, and here I'm asking for a post-bust Image book.

Bummer that the ending sounds like a let down. Oh well.

EM

[insert Old Man voice] Back in my day, books came out when they came out. We didn't have any fancy press releases telling us the artist needs more time. Issue #3 of Wolverine/Havok: Meltdown took over a year to come out, and we were grateful to have it, dammit. [/Old Man voice]

EM

[pmpknface]

HAHAHAHA!!! That's awesome EM.

I only paid $10 for this collection, so even if the end isn't ALL that, I don't think I'm getting too hurt here.

[miracle.eli]

Imagecomics.com says that the HC came out this past week, which is progress. I preordered the TPB -- you guys have an idea of when that's shipping? Thanks,
.wil.

[pmpknface]

Shipping in seperate weeks? Check Diamond's site. I think they have both listed...

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

I saw the HC up for this week in regular and signed editions. No sign of the trade. Maybe they wanted the HC out before the trade, if only by a week? Maybe the HC took longer to print and that's why I got a copy of the trade a month ago when it still didn't make it to the stores? Nah, that's just silly.

-Augie