Moench and Baikie's Electric Warrior (reviews by shaxper)

[thwhtGuardian]

The way the momentum really picked up in this issue made up for the short comings of the last one in a lot of ways. It really made me excited to read the story again.

[MWGallaher]

Dangit! I just caught a glimpse of #8!!!! I didn't realize there was a spoiler there too! I have officially flipped over the entire stack so that I can no longer see any covers until it is time to read them.

That's wise. Looking over the covers, I see that #15 has a pretty big spoiler, too.

[thwhtGuardian]

Doug Moench just accepted my facebook request and I saw that he replied to your invite to read the thread, which was pretty cool.

He wishes us good luck on our reading adventure.

[shaxper]

Doug Moench just accepted my facebook request and I saw that he replied to your invite to read the thread, which was pretty cool.

He wishes us good luck on our reading adventure.

I was positively thrilled to see this! If I haven't mentioned it here before, Doug has quickly become my favorite writer in all of comicdom. I'll be meeting Stan Lee for the first time at the Pittsburgh Comicon at the end of the month, and yet I'm infinitely more thrilled by this!

[shaxper]

Double post

[thwhtGuardian]

I was positively thrilled to see this! If I haven't mentioned it here before, Doug has quickly become my favorite writer in all of comicdom. I'll be meeting Stan Lee for the first time at the Pittsburgh Comicon at the end of the month, and yet I'm infinitely more thrilled by this!

It's the same for me, I really love his work. His Batman is probably my favorite interpretation, I'm really enjoying this story and through reading your reviews of PotA I might need to check out his work there next. Or, since he suggested it, perhaps his Batman/Dracula trilogy.

[shaxper]

I might need to check out his work there next.

Oh absolutely! And don't just settle for Boom!'s upcoming reprint of the Terror on the Planet of the Apes storyline. There was a lot more Moench Apes work in those magazines that was equally unforgettable.

[thwhtGuardian]

I was thinking that collection might be a decent place to start since it will be so easy to obtain, but I'm interested in getting more after that. I really love PotA and I like Moench a lot so it's a sure bet as far as I can tell.

I think I've seen the Dracula/Batman trades at my library so I might check those out as well. I like a good elseworlds from time to time.

[shaxper]

Electric Warrior #7

"The Maker Man"
writer: Doug Moench
art/co-plotter: Jim Baikie
inks: Pablo Marcos
letters: Todd Klein
colors: Tom Ziuko

grade: B-

Note: This review contains major spoilers about this issue. If you haven't read it yet, be forewarned.


With a dead give-away on the cover as to 9-03's final fate, the pressure was on Moench and Baike to give the character a powerful farewell since his death at the end wasn't going to impress anyone through shock value alone. Moench makes an admirable attempt. 9-03's philosophical conversation with Quintana about the class system in their society is at least as good as the ones she had with Two Shadow, and 9-03's developing a sort of faith by the end was impressive too. He almost began to have a personality I could care about. However, I still wasn't feeling the whole romance with Kinsolving (which was pretty essential to his life and death), and Baikie's depiction of 9-03's final moments was purely literal, evoking no particular emotions. What a waste.

I was similarly disappointed with how Two Shadow was handled in this issue, making a bold about-face in his beliefs and then immediately making another abrupt about-face immediately after he sacrifices his sacred glade to stop the Electric Warriors. If anything, it makes him feel wishy-washy and a bit annoying. Again, I think much of this falls on Baike, who failed to add any level of feeling to the sacrifice of Two Shadow's sacred glade through evocative imagery. If we'd felt even a fraction of the loss that Two Shadow felt, I don't think I would have found his abrupt change of mind jarring or annoying at all. However, without that emotional link to the character, it's easy to just get impatient with his inability to choose a path and stick with it.

Both the solicitation for the next issue ("Future Frankensteins") and some hints Moench drops in the letters column about Derek and a massive change coming next issue suggest that my theory will come to fruition next issue -- Derek will be turned into a Cyborg, probably joined with the remains of 9-03. Another parallel between the two characters in this issue (their debates with Quintana and her resulting confused emotions) seems to further suggest a shared destiny between the two.

It's frustrating, really. Obviously, Doug had ambitious plans for this issue, but it so often falls upon the artist to create those emotional investments that make a writer's ideas truly come to fruition. Baikie just isn't bringing it. Who knows? Perhaps a different artist could have made us understand the romance between 9-03 and Kinsolving, simply giving her an adoring look that makes you see true beauty within her even in spite of the surrounding wrinkles and warped flesh. A parallel is drawn in my mind to when Moench was writing Nocturna for Batman and Detective Comics. It wasn't until Newton and Colon truly found her unique beauty in their illustrations that I was able to understand and empathize with Batman's love for her. Art matters, especially in a love story.


The minor details:

- We learn more about the class structure of this society (which is still nameless after all this time). The middle class is becoming over-populated, and there is downward mobility from middle class to the Warrens, but the Techno class has remained unchanged. There is no upward mobility in this society.

- As much as I'm not sold on Zeedle and Janda at all, I truly felt for them when they got to enjoy nature for the first time in this issue, particularly as Janda exclaims, "But water without scorth-acid, Zeed -- an' not even brown!" I could instantly relate on an emotional level; we all know what it's like to take a shower after feeling particularly dirty, perhaps for so long that we didn't even notice how fundamentally uncomfortable we were until we experienced the joy of being cleansed. It's a perfect parallel to their socioeconomic situation. While Baikie's art could have been more evocative here as well, Moench hits on a note so primal and universal that it soars anyway.



A disappointing issue, if only because I could almost taste the excitement and emotional impact Doug was reaching for, and yet, almost like some warped nod to Tantalus, it was just beyond my grasp.

[thwhtGuardian]

Issue seven had the promise of greatness, and it nearly touched it on several occasions but for one reason or another it fell rather short of that height when viewed as a whole.

Though I've praised Baikie's art in the past for its crisp lines and the beautiful simplicity of his designs, I believe it was a detriment in this issue. The art was just too simplistic and generic to create the emotional intensity that the scenes really deserved. Instead of scenes illustrating the trees in Derek's glade slowly being engulfed in flame, we got big orange sun bursts that obscured most of the panels, there was no sense of real loss because there was no sense of realism to it. It was similar with the destruction of 09-03, he died in a generic pink sunburst piercing his body, if it was more detailed it may have had a larger impact. And it really did deserve more impact, I mean this was the first issue where I actually found 09-03 interesting, I really loved the way his conversation with Quintana paralleled her earlier conversation with Derek. I think it was that connection that really made me "get" 09-03 for the first time, and I think that bodes well for what must be the immanent merging of Derek and the remains of 09-03.

So although it disappointed on the whole, there were small gems that still made it enjoyable and really held the promise of greater things to come.

C+

Oh, and if you thought this cover was a spoiler avoid the cover of the next one if you can Shaxper. I dropped my pile after finishing seven and glanced at eight while picking them up and though it didn't spoil anything I hadn't already guessed at it was none the less a surprise.

[thwhtGuardian]

What started out with one of the strongest beginnings with the line, " At the end of red dreams, scorched and twisted fragments are all that remain of 09-03, he who died for his maker, man." petered out with an extremely heavy handed ending.

That first line had a strong, poetic power to it that instantly roped me into the story. It had a dread-filled gothic feel to it that beautifully mirrored the Frankenstein theme of the story. That feeling was carried on through out the issue, there as a lingering darkness to the mood of the narrative that had never before been featured in the story up until now, it really brought a new breath of fresh air to the story, one that was sorely needed after the last few issues. Despite the Gothic horror flavor there was also a sense of fun to the story, thanks greatly to the art, I couldn't help but smile as Baikie paid homage to the original Universal Frankenstein film in portraying the awakening of Simon Soaring. The art was also strong in the scenes with Derek Two Shadow in the mountains, there was a deep sense of melancholy there that was really beautifully done. Overall the art was very capable of invoking an emotional response in me, which I haven't had in a while with the series and was a major failing in the last issue.

What stops this issue from being truly great though was the ending. Quintana's reaction to Derek's state, having a button that magically allows Derek to keep his freewill, and the way it was repeatidly hammered home that Derek was getting 09-03's parts were all just too clunky and really dragged down the pacing of the issue.

And the tired Christ image at the end?

Ug. It was enough to gag me.

If the issue had just ended on the page that showed Kinsolving walking alone ,the Astronomer passed out drunk and 09-03's scattered parts it would have been a perfect issue. That page provided a brilliant bookend to that perfectly somber opening line, and would have given a much more satisfying sense of closure to the issue than the five pages that followed. The only line of note past that page was, "and one of Two shadows darkens." That should have been the perfect coda...but it wasn't and what could have been a near perfect issue was sadly squandered.

That aside it was still one of the stronger issues thus far, gaining an A- in my mind, I'm just frustrated because it came so close to being so much better.

[shaxper]

Electric Warrior #8

"Under Bad Signs"
writer: Doug Moench
pencils/co-plotter: Jim Baikie
inks: Pablo Marcos
colors: Bob LeRose
letters: Todd Klein
editor: Doug Moench

grade: B+

First off, I often do not understand Moench's titles. Just saying.

Secondly, I called it.

Third, this issue gave me exactly the same frustrations as the previous one. The cover gives it all away, so the not so surprising ending isn't going to impress on its own merits. Instead, Moench and Baikie are going to have to make Two Shadow's semi demise powerful and tragic. Again, Moench tries, especially in pouring on what should have been some deeply emotional moments for Quintana, Kinsolving, and even Simon Soaring. But again, Baikie goes far too literal/realistic in his depictions. The action is always centered, kept at an appropriate distance, and restrained. There's absolutely no subjectivity or emotion, even as we watch characters cry, or scream, or die. Derek spitting in Quintanna's face was probably the single most disappointing panel in the issue in this respect.

I'm also starting to think the coloring is adding to this problem. Whereas the bright contrasting colors we keep seeing in this book made sense in first exploring the bright future of the Techno level and the spacious beauty of Primmie society, it doesn't belong in a story that is becoming increasingly dark and drastic with each issue. I wonder if it's simply an issue of not having adjusted to the potential of the Baxter Paper format yet. Perhaps printing on grainier, dingier newsprint requires brighter, higher contrast colors. At any rate, it isn't working here.

So I'm losing some hope for this series. Moench is finally FINALLY where he wants to be with the story, but Baikie absolutely cannot keep up, and thus Moench's powerful ideas are still too far removed from our emotional center. I think the series has hit a sort of ceiling just when the heavens should have been opening up for it.

Still, Silver Simon -- COOL idea I hadn't anticipated. Sure, the idea of Derek's former rival coming back as a cyborg antagonist is a little cliche, but his look is so cool, and even while I can't fully accept the premise of a proud warrior reducing himself to become a king of thieves so spontaneously, it's a fun concept nonetheless.

Another aspect of this story that resonated with me: With all the characters I felt for in this issue, Derek wasn't one of them. I feel as though he'd already lost all sense of self and, after so many years of searching, wasn't likely to ever find it again. While I felt for Quintana in her guilt for what she'd done to Derek, I actually felt excitement for Two Shadow himself. Maybe this was the change he finally needed -- the opportunity to pursue true purpose in his life.

And, back to the first point I ever made in this thread, we're back to the basic premise of Deathlok, only with far more thematic backstory this time. Amazingly ambitious to take 8 full issues before even introducing the main character of the series. Heck, we're nearly halfway through the run!


Minor details:

-So who has free will and who doesn't? I thought the very surgery involved removing the portion of their brain responsible for free will and self awareness, yet Silver Simon appears to still possess both, and there was a switch that was supposed to do this to Derek (and speaking of which, why was the second switch even there? In what situation would the doctors say, "You know what? Give this one free will."?)

- It's winter in the glade, but we saw Zeedle and Janda skinny-dipping in the sun there just last issue. Has a lot of time passed between these two issues that wasn't made clear? Seemingly not, since the remains of 9-03 are still being carried away.

- What was the logic in giving 9-03's parts to a Cyborg who already had a spark of independent thought? Was Marder somehow trying to honor 9-03? This wasn't clear to me.


Gutsy issue, overall. Moench's script is probably an A to A+ by itself, but Baikie's art is definitely pulling the book down a few notches. I'm not getting the impact from this story that I should be, and it seems almost entirely due to the art.

[shaxper]

I couldn't help but smile as Baikie paid homage to the original Universal Frankenstein film in portraying the awakening of Simon Soaring

I saw it more as a tired cliche than a purposeful homage, but if it worked for you, the more power to it. Whale's Frankenstein is one of my favorite films of all time. I'd think that if Moench was going for a homage (as the title implied) there were far more meaningful/memorable aspects to have been borrowed. Perhaps they'll surface next issue.

And the tired Christ image at the end?

Yeah. Add to that the reference to the Zig "savior" having given his life for them earlier on in the issue. I still felt the Christ parallels were subtle enough that they didn't get in the way, and I kind of liked 9-03's lasting memory amongst the Zigs, but the visual you reference did feel somewhat unearned.

If the issue had just ended on the page that showed Kinsolving walking alone ,the Astronomer passed out drunk and 09-03's scattered parts it would have been a perfect issue. That page provided a brilliant bookend to that perfectly somber opening line, and would have given a much more satisfying sense of closure to the issue than the five pages that followed. The only line of note past that page was, "and one of Two shadows darkens." That should have been the perfect coda...but it wasn't and what could have been a near perfect issue was sadly squandered.

This is an excellent point.

At the same time, it seems like Moench and Baikie were in a rush to get to the introduction of the main character of the series (it had already been 8 issues, after all), and that final panel gives a clear look at the basic foundation of who he will be.

[thwhtGuardian]

The art is one of the serious flaws so far, though I felt there was some slight improvement in this issue, though that may largely be because there was less impact that needed to be delivered art wise.

Your description of the way Baikie depicts the action, as being centered and kept at an appropriate distance, really hit the nail on the head. I had been striving to put just that feeling into words in writing about the last issue but the closest I could get was that the art looked generic, your wording is much more apt.

[shaxper]

The art is one of the serious flaws so far, though I felt there was some slight improvement in this issue, though that may largely be because there was less impact that needed to be delivered art wise.

Really? I felt the need for visual impact more in this issue than in any of the others, especially with Quintana.

Your description of the way Baikie depicts the action, as being centered and kept at an appropriate distance, really hit the nail on the head. I had been striving to put just that feeling into words in writing about the last issue but the closest I could get was that the art looked generic, your wording is much more apt.

You're too kind. For what it's worth, you frequently put thoughts into words that make me think, "Dang. I wish I'd said it like that." I think we're a pretty good team for this kind of project!