Yesterday the first of DC Comics’ New Wave series came out, a crossover book starring Batman (the gun-toting Batman of the early ‘40s) and the legendary Man of Bronze, Doc Savage. Given as the writer, Brian Azzarello, was one I had never warmed up to, I didn’t expect much from the book…so I guess you could say I wasn’t disappointed. I, and Doc fans—and there are more of them than the callous comments of the writer indicated in an online interview he did—didn’t get much.
The cover artwork was pretty damn good, but the interior artwork was basically passable and in one case one character resembles Doc enough to be mistaken for him in a few panels. Doc was portrayed with lighter hair instead of the darker bronze stated in 182 original novels (give or take a couple misstatements by ghost writers). But that’s quibbling.
The weakness comes mostly with the lackluster story, or lack of story, and out-of-character Doc Savage. While this does take place on an alternate earth, and I guess that’s the excuse, Doc Savage, despite being an open good-doer, was still a private person, not the party-going, gregarious holier-than-thou Azzarello paints him to be. The use of “heh” and “Huh” too often for all characters was especially annoying after a short time and Doc’s open talking about the loss of his father to Batman just didn’t jibe with the pulp character.
Still it could have been worse and I tentatively have to recommend Doc fans pick it up and give it a try themselves. It’s far better than what DC did to Doc, The Shadow and The Avenger in the 80s.
What does scare me, however, is the brief bio in the back of the magazine for another pulp character I am especially fond of, The Avenger. Azzarello’s understanding of the character is dead wrong. I was looking forward to seeing Richard Henry Benson in comic format again, but now…I’m worried. However, I would recommend you keep your eye on Moonstone Books (www.moonstonebooks.com) for the “real” Richard Henry Benson, who will be returning in two all new prose anthologies in 2010, edited by Joe Gentile, a genuine Avenger lover, and yours truly. Joe is working on lining up some special things for the books as well. And pick up the first anthology, The Avenger Chronicles, for some great reading. While you're at it, grab a copy of my complete history of The Avenger,The Gray Nemesis.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
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4 comments:
Now I have to go and pick this up...thanks a lot! At least you've prepared me for what might be a bad experience. I only hope they don't dare mess with....THE SPIDER!
Hi Caine, check out Moonstone's Spider comics. I have written the forthcoming issue, The Strange Case of The Spider and Mr. Hyde, as well as two novel adaptations (one of which will be a three issue mini series) and I know the author (not sure if he wants me to give out his name yet) who will be doing the Spider after and he is fantastic. We are keeping The Spider true to the pulp!
Re: the Doc book, it's not horrible, just kind of dull and off kilter a bit. But it's a subjective thing, so give it a try. You might enjoy it. I know a couple other fans did. :)
Sad news for Doc, Howard. The only comic series I've enjoyed was the Dark Horse stuff from the 90s. One thing comic book writers don't seem to get is that Lester Dent was a hardboiled writer, and Doc, despite his money, his gadgets and his gang, was a hardboiled adventuring detective.
I look forward to seeing your Spider.
Howard,
I've said it elsewhere, but I hope Azzarello does play with the characters a bit. I don't expect canon treatment by comic writers.
But I'll admit I'm not a comics reader since the 60s. (Save for a couple of "You have to read this!" graphic novels I've been given.)
I wouldn't call Doc's attending that party as "gregarious." I saw it as going where he needed to meet the Bat-Man...and I do believe he already knew it was Wayne.
I took Azzarello's character studies of the the aides as close to canon...without needing to follow a letter even Dent would bend to fit.
As for discussing the loss of his father, it was a recent event...and we know from the first two novels that Doc just wasn't himself right after that event.
I'm more than willing to give the series a chance. I know it can't detract from the novels I grew up reading, nor will it diminish the novel-length fiction to come.
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