CBR NEWS: PREVIEW: "Dust" #2

[CBR News]

The first issue of the Image series "Dust" wowed fans and sold out at the publisher. The second issue of the series by artist Paolo Parente and writer mink ships September 5th and we've got an advance look.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11715

[cronevald]

I'm still baffled by reports that the first issue did so well. This was easily the worst book I read all year.

[JimmyDee]

I'm still baffled by reports that the first issue did so well. This was easily the worst book I read all year.But it looks purty!

[cronevald]

Oops, that must have been my mistake. I actually tried to read it. ;)

[moviemink]

I'm still baffled by reports that the first issue did so well. This was easily the worst book I read all year.
Hola Cronevald...

So please be more specific why this was the worst book of the whole year?

Was it the art, writing, layout, design, coloring, print quality , cover art or something else we missed entirely on? I am keeping in mind that all art is subjective and any point only 50% of any audience will enjoy that art that a creator creates. You are entitled to your opinion but I need some specifics please and yes our sales are indicating that perhaps the 50% of the audience including the lines at comic-con (thank you and you know who you are ) who bought the book are really enjoying our efforts.

thanks ... peace & respect mink y Paolo

[moviemink]

But it looks purty!

Correctamundo ... Thanks Jimmy... Pick up the perrrrrtt-ier issue #2 next week and a trade at x-mas time..:) peace and respect mink

[cronevald]

Hola Cronevald...

So please be more specific why this was the worst book of the whole year?

Was it the art, writing, layout, design, coloring, print quality , cover art or something else we missed entirely on? I am keeping in mind that all art is subjective and any point only 50% of any audience will enjoy that art that a creator creates. You are entitled to your opinion but I need some specifics please and yes our sales are indicating that perhaps the 50% of the audience including the lines at comic-con (thank you and you know who you are ) who bought the book are really enjoying our efforts.

thanks ... peace & respect mink y Paolo

Well, this may not help much but honestly I wouldn't know where to begin. I was definitely excited about this book. Perhaps my expectations were too high. While the covers are very pretty I thought the interior art was a big disappointment and very derivative of the kind of European comics often published by Heavy Metal and Metal Hurlant for several decades now. It certainly wasn't anything we hadn't seen before, as I'd been led to believe by the pre-release articles hyping the book here on CBR. I will say the Paolo Parente is generally a damned good artist, but his work here (with the exception of the covers) is quite a letdown.

I like the concept and the genre very much, but the actual story (what little of it there was) was fairly typical and predictable. We get a tiny bit of "character development" (ie, overused cliches) for the lead, some setup, an unresolved fight scene, and a introduction to the badass villain who has to shoot one of her henchmen to prove how evil she is. Meanwhile, two pages in the beginning of the book that could have been used for more story space are wasted on character headshots/bios and most of those characters aren't even in this issue.

I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but this is the only book I've purchased in quite a while where I wanted my money back after I'd finished reading it.

[moviemink]

Well, this may not help much but honestly I wouldn't know where to begin. I was definitely excited about this book. Perhaps my expectations were too high. While the covers are very pretty I thought the interior art was a big disappointment and very derivative of the kind of European comics often published by Heavy Metal and Metal Hurlant for several decades now. It certainly wasn't anything we hadn't seen before, as I'd been led to believe by the pre-release articles hyping the book here on CBR. I will say the Paolo Parente is generally a damned good artist, but his work here (with the exception of the covers) is quite a letdown.

I like the concept and the genre very much, but the actual story (what little of it there was) was fairly typical and predictable. We get a tiny bit of "character development" (ie, overused cliches) for the lead, some setup, an unresolved fight scene, and a introduction to the badass villain who has to shoot one of her henchmen to prove how evil she is. Meanwhile, two pages in the beginning of the book that could have been used for more story space are wasted on character headshots/bios and most of those characters aren't even in this issue.

I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but this is the only book I've purchased in quite a while where I wanted my money back after I'd finished reading it.

No apologies nec.. Now doesn't that feel better... It is much more clear to add a concise, cohesive argument to a statement like "I want my money back or easily the worst book I read all year" . Like I said before art(comics included) is all subjective and where as you think Paolo's interiors are trite or uninteresting I think he is a breathe of fresh air in a very busy market. His work is very european(see his magic the gathering and world of warcraft cards) and perhaps not for everyone (including yourself). He also is an ILLUSTRATOR not a comic artist and there is a difference. So the usual feel a comic book will have is different with an ILLUSTRATOR. In fact we are very conscious of that fact as we work with 12 Gauge/Image and make constant efforts to keep it more North American & less guide book in feel and tone. Down to the lettering done by Star Wars lettered Mike Thomas and the layout by 12 Gauge. I will be clear again this is a european book( as the military campaigns are all in europe & the lead artist is ITALIAN living in PARIS, Koshka(the female lead) is a take on the artists girlfriend who is a real russian model) and it is done overall as a homage to the great fluffy(shot in europe) action adventure war movies of the seventies(Where Eagles Dare, Guns of Navarone, Dirty Dozen etc...), WW II modeling kits and sci-fi role playing games. It is an amalgum of a lot of things and ment to be taken light heartly. In regards to the writing it will never be more than just great tasting ice cream or a favorite saturday morning cartoon . Eat it, enjoy it for what it is and smile and go on with your day. The stories are written from a serial type slant with tounge and cheek reference to todays pop culture and always introducing cool new tech in regards to weapons, robots, etc.(LOOK through issue #2 in the stores this week and you will see all the characters in the story & new tech). So if that's not your thing then perhaps this isnt the book for you. If you want pages of pages of characters talking about their days, lives, loves, families back home and fears this isnt the book for you. But if you want pages of ass kickery, crazy bad guys with wacked out plans, great looking girls, cool military tech & killer robots all wrapped up in twisted WWII CALL of DUTY style universe then please take a look. Thanks for the feedback and best with your work in the business( as I see you work in it) if you want your money back please send me an address on my myspace page and we will post your money back 2 you... if not thank you for picking up the book and I am sorry this was such a huge dissapointment... (the customer is always right regardless)... for those who enjoyed it (thank you to all the love we have gotten especialy from Europe and at the Con). Issue #2 next week, the board game is available now through diamond, a trade at the end of the year and then a new four part series starting in the spring focusing on the USA side of the universe..... ciao.... peace & respect to all fans ... best as always mink....

[K.O.V.G]

This is good the artwork in this is amazing

[pigkiller]

I can sort of see where cronevald is coming from. Dust is easily the most excited I've been about a comic in a long time. And then it came out a couple weeks late, and it seemed to finish really quickly and I felt a little let down, and I wasn't sure I was going to keep getting it after the first arc, but. . .

I picked up the 2nd issue and was really blown away. I could see how it still wouldn't fit some people's tastes, but nazi-zombies with concrete saws I just had to love it.

I think seeing the rest of Koshka's men really added to it, in #1 it seemed like she was the only one we saw once she got into the castle.

After #2 I'm definitely in for the long haul.

Are we gonna find out more about how Chef got there, and what Marcus was doing in later issues?

[moviemink]

I can sort of see where cronevald is coming from. Dust is easily the most excited I've been about a comic in a long time. And then it came out a couple weeks late, and it seemed to finish really quickly and I felt a little let down, and I wasn't sure I was going to keep getting it after the first arc, but. . .

I picked up the 2nd issue and was really blown away. I could see how it still wouldn't fit some people's tastes, but nazi-zombies with concrete saws I just had to love it.

I think seeing the rest of Koshka's men really added to it, in #1 it seemed like she was the only one we saw once she got into the castle.

After #2 I'm definitely in for the long haul.

Are we gonna find out more about how Chef got there, and what Marcus was doing in later issues?

Sweet name...

Yes the new series will explain the whole team and how they came to be and how Joe met Koshka and how Joe's team works as opposed to the Sino-soviets team. Look for the new series in the spring as well as a trade in January... The board game is available now through DIAMOND and collectable mech robots with soldiers at xmas time in blister packs from each country avail through the website DUSTGAME.COM . FIGHT STRONG!!! and enjoy...

thanks for the support it is very very appreciated.... peace mink