Letters from Heather

It's been awhile since I read an American comic/graphic novel anything. The last thing I read was Adam Warren's Livewires, which it seems was cut short before ever moving past the first volume. Tuesday evening I decided to go to Borders instead of home to watch tv, and I was able to locate this Superman graphic novel by Grant Morrison, and a bunch of other comic people. Duh. Someone at work was trying to sell their two copies (this and volume two) on a social email, but I thought I'd check it out someday instead of buying it first. Thus, me finding it at Borders equalled one hour of straight comic reading. It amazes me how beautifully these American comics are colored, every page is a testament to the talent of these professionals. It's absolutely ridiculous to compare the art quality of these comics to that of Japanese manga on the shelves beside it, and yet there are so many more manga than comics at the store. And, likewise I've read a lot more of Japanese comics than American. Sad, I know.

All Star Superman was someting that references a lot of obscure and older facets of a character older than I am, so I was pretty "wow, that's neat but I have no idea what's going on" a few times, but nothing unbarable. The personality of Louis Lane is different from how I recall it, but Super is perfectly Supermanny and Clark Kent buffoonery to a S. I probably won't buy this, but it's definitely worth the read. It has it's laughs and a few mini surprises, and I really want to read volume two but I can't seem to find it in paperback at Borders. I'll have to try Barnes, I suppose. I'm really spamming this meager little blog up today.

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Initially the main character, Kenji, is so boring I expected him to coast off into nonexistence immediately. But his stubborn personality, coupled with his admirable affection towards his neice–deeply contrasted by his comical disagreements with his mother–really start to draw you into their little Japanese world. Then a whole series of weird news reports and strange events cuts into Kenji's blah adult life and leads him seeking answers to questions he probably wouldn't be asking if it weren't for the strange clues left behind that hint to his childhood.You're introduced to the gang of boys Kenji grew up with as they come together for a wedding, and then a funeral for an old friend "Donkey". The circumstances surrounding his death are questionable, but ignored, until Kenji receives a letter from Donkey asking about an old symbol (a hand with a creepy hairy eyeball pointing up with its index finger). It takes his group awhile to recall that the emblem is from their childhood, but where it actually originated is unknown. They conclude that someone who knows the symbol is using it as a vehicle to spread their own sort of cult and it appears that this cult is related to the strange deaths happening around town (including their friend's)...and perhaps something they prophecised long ago. 

The entire story really has the conspiratoral flavor and irks of daily life that appear in Paranoia Agent, mixed with foreboding hints to an old-fashioned sci-fi robot apocalypse to come.

With every memory, another piece of the puzzle appears, and the story keeps dragging you further and further inside the group and the conspiracy surrounding the emblem. The facial expressions Urasawa uses throughout the story coupled with quirky memories and daring characters certainly precludes an awesome series to come. I haven't even mentioned that the entire novel is a tribute and constant reflection on the beginning of rock music and the era it started in. Can't wait for the rest of the manga to be translated, I'm really surprised that a series like this, that was awarded and created back at the real turn of our century hasn't recieved proper attention in the states until now. Then again, I only happened to pick it up out of "this one looks like an oddball" curiosity. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what comes next.

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