Otherworld

[lintubation]

Despite how excited I was when first mention was made of this project, the previews (despite Phil Jimenez' beautiful art) and solicits leave me feeling terribly underwhelmed. I'll still pick up the first issue or two, but have felt my expectations steadily plummet.
Am I alone in this? Anyone care to offer their reasons for or against anticipating this series?

[Tobei Miyake]

Despite how excited I was when first mention was made of this project, the previews (despite Phil Jimenez' beautiful art) and solicits leave me feeling terribly underwhelmed. I'll still pick up the first issue or two, but have felt my expectations steadily plummet.
Am I alone in this? Anyone care to offer their reasons for or against anticipating this series?I don't know, the previews looked pretty good to me. Granted, that first preview page (that depicted the magical side of Otherworld) didn't really wow me either, but the rest of it looked really good. And of course we are just talking about three preview pages here. But the mix of science fiction and fantasy, of various sociopolitical themes, and a dash of super heroes... it sounds like it should be fun. And like you said, the beautiful Phil Jimenez art.

I read in an interview where he said that he hopes that it does well because he'd like to do other volumes. I hope it does. And I'll support it; I'm on for the 12 issues.

[hamsterdance]

This is actually one of the few new Vertigo projects I'm really interested in. I have the feeling it may be similar to reading a slow starting novel. You know...the kind everybody says it's slow through the first half but then suddenly picks up and gets really good.

[kenaustin]

Despite how excited I was when first mention was made of this project, the previews (despite Phil Jimenez' beautiful art) and solicits leave me feeling terribly underwhelmed. I'll still pick up the first issue or two, but have felt my expectations steadily plummet.
Am I alone in this? Anyone care to offer their reasons for or against anticipating this series?

Yeah, I think I'm there with you on this. I just read the article in CSN and the more I thought about it, the more it put me in mind of the 1986 mini "Lords of the Ultra Realm". I know that they're technically different; one is good/order vs evil/chaos, and the other is myth/magic vs tech/science, but I can't help it. Twenty years ago I remember liking LotUR, but it hasn't kept it's appeal over the years. I think I'll check out the first issue in the store and go from there.

[Stephane Garrelie]

I don't know, the previews looked pretty good to me. Granted, that first preview page (that depicted the magical side of Otherworld) didn't really wow me either, but the rest of it looked really good. And of course we are just talking about three preview pages here. But the mix of science fiction and fantasy, of various sociopolitical themes, and a dash of super heroes... it sounds like it should be fun. And like you said, the beautiful Phil Jimenez art.

I read in an interview where he said that he hopes that it does well because he'd like to do other volumes. I hope it does. And I'll support it; I'm on for the 12 issues.
It's the best comicbook of the week.
Great Fantasy/superheroes/SF stuff.
With a politic dimension and very literary too.
With an Hollywood SF blockbuster Starwars/Lord of the rings side too.
A must-read.

[Tobias March]

I liked the set-up well enough and the character beats. What I enjoyed most actually was the phonetic Irish dialogue! That was fun to translate :p

[Stephane Garrelie]

This is actually one of the few new Vertigo projects I'm really interested in. I have the feeling it may be similar to reading a slow starting novel. You know...the kind everybody says it's slow through the first half but then suddenly picks up and gets really good.
:p This is the one vertigo project I'm really interested in.
I'ts an amazing, astonishing, fantasticly great book.
Did I said I loved it? :)

[CaptMagellan]

It was a good ish. I'll definitely be picking up #2.

[Tobei Miyake]

...What I enjoyed most actually was the phonetic Irish dialogue! That was fun to translate :pHeh. I hated that; I had to read it a few times to figure it out.

Otherwise, I really liked it; it was really good. The art. And the colors...

It was a nice, quick introduction to all the players. So far my favorites (from what little we know of them) are Billie (her hair) and Angel; I like the way he looks.

I read a review at thefourthrail.com (http://www.thefourthrail.com/reviews/critiques/032805/otherworld1.shtml) where the reviewer said:...I liked the intellectual sparring between lovers here, and the friendships that are explored here are pretty strong, for the most part. But Siobhan, Donnie and Jason -- the three most prominent characters among the earthly cast -- really aren't nice people at all. Siobhan's too much of a coward to end a relationship she doesn't want anymore. Jason's something of a bully, and Donnie's a cad who places more emphasis on sex than friendship. These are our heroes? Character flaws are important to breathe life into a drama's players, but these characters seem to be nothing but flaws.It's weird, but that's what I liked most about them. Of course, again, we're just getting started. So if there were others who didn't like them either, I'm quite sure he'll flesh them out more as we go along.

***
A side thought on the intellectual sparring: I guess it might be fun to check out that MoMA/C.I.A./Abstract Expressionism/Cold War propoganda tool theory that Jason brought up when he was arguing with Siobhan. (Because there is Picasso and Guernica (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0452284155/qid=1112722026/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/102-7837048-4392116) -- so if there's anything to it, I'm guessing it has ties to that.)

[Tobias March]

Heh. I hated that; I had to read it a few times to figure it out.
I'm guessing it has ties to that.

If anyone wants to post the dialogue, I don't have the comic here with me, I can do a quick trans. That is if you guys don't know Irish of course.

[Spiderchick1974]

I was turned off by the description of Matrix meets LOTR meets InsertNameOfAnotherHitFantasy/ActionFilmHere.

And though I adore Jimenez' art, his writing is in my opinion very pedestrian and disjointed.

[UniqueFrequency]

I was turned off by the description of Matrix meets LOTR meets InsertNameOfAnotherHitFantasy/ActionFilmHere.

And though I adore Jimenez' art, his writing is in my opinion very pedestrian and disjointed.

i loved the art too, but didn't pick up the book. i figure if it does indeed read well, it will in collected form.

[stealthwise]

Hmm, interesting. I added this to my box and will have to read the first issue before weighing in, but I was surprised that I hadn't heard about it before. Is it just me, or does Vertigo need to publicize their new series more?

[Bakema NL]

Easy choice to pick this one up. Something different, Phil Jiminez......me like. First issue was very nice, let the fun begin now.

[west3man]

The first issue "had me at 'hello.'"

I'm not fan of fantasy comics, but this was tight. I hope the same level characterization and character interaction/relationships remains throughout the run. Ol' Phil just might convert me like this.

That monster was downright oogly, though. Bad design. Yuck.

[Samurai]

Great art, rather poor story IMO. But I'll get at least the first few issues and give it a chance to get going.

[Dante]

I really enjoyed this book.

This is the first I have seen of Jimmenez, but I really enjoyed his artwork. Just beautiful stuff.

I also usually don't pick up mature titles. But this one just caught my eye and it was highly recommended by the manager at my comics shop... he usually has pretty good taste.

Dante

[Captain Blitz]

I´ll check it out because of Jimenez´ art, but if the writing´s good I´ll be that more pleased. :)