May 17, 2004

WHAD'JA THINK: FALLEN ANGEL, SPYBOY: FINAL EXAM

Out last week are Fallen Angel #11 (concluding the "Down to Earth" storyline) and the first issue of "Spyboy: Final Exam," the latest Spyboy LS.

Whad'ja think?

PAD

Posted by Peter David at May 17, 2004 11:07 AM | TrackBack | Other blogs commenting
Comments
Posted by: Jason Froikin at May 17, 2004 11:17 AM


You're asking the wrong person: I'm a hopeless Spyboy addict who's always eagerly waiting for the next one. :)

Fallen Angel: Interesting how the indestructible Angel is watching her safety net crumble away beneath her.

Posted by: Michael Pullmann at May 17, 2004 11:54 AM

I liked the heck out of Spyboy, but I did notice a dearth of background information for new readers.

I'm still rolling Fallen Angel around in my head, which is pretty common for that book.

Posted by: The StarWolf at May 17, 2004 12:09 PM

I'm curious. The story itself was up to standards for the book, but the cover...? Any resemblance to what was going on inside was, to my mind, purely coincidental, not to mention incomprehensibly subtle. Did the printers accidentally switch the cover with one for a later issue?

Posted by: Scavenger at May 17, 2004 12:49 PM

re: Fallen Angel...I'm thinking #12 will likely be my last issue. It's interesting, but it's not grabbing my imagination. It's no comment on the quality, just not my cuppa, I'm afraid, but we'll see what #12 has to say....

re: Spy Boy. Not sure what it is, but something about this issue made it sing for me like others haven't. Everything clicked just right.

Found this review of it online, thought it should be pointed to:

"One thing I always know when I go to a comic shop is that if it is written by Peter David, it will always be a good read. "

http://www.411mania.com/comics/reviews/article.php?reviews_id=3328

Posted by: Rick Jones, really at May 17, 2004 12:54 PM

I thought FALLEN ANGEL was absolutely fantastic. Without a single punch being thrown, the story was riveting. Angel's description of the curse effects chilled the blood and the whole "Que es mas macho? Mi ovaries o su testicles?" showdown was great.

Finally, I thought the art, for some reason, was much better this issue. Especially the smile on Angel's face as she's getting ready to commit to Dr. Juris.

Great stuff.

Posted by: Ben Rosenberg at May 17, 2004 01:09 PM

I would have to say that issue 11 of FA was the best I've read so far. I've been giving FA a chance because it's written by PAD and I've loved his work for years. But I haven't been very excited over the book until this issue. It had that certain something that makes me want to recommend it to everyone I talk to that would read comics an even those who haven't read comics.

Cheers! And keep the good work!

Posted by: Hugh Casey at May 17, 2004 01:10 PM

I apologize for the OT posting:

Peter,

Will you be at Wizard World East in Philadelphia, PA, this weekend?

If so, I hope to see you there.

Hugh Casey
Philcon

Posted by: Simon DelMonte at May 17, 2004 01:26 PM

I fear that I must agree with Scavenger. I'm done with FA after this. The art is great, the scripts are great, and most of the characters are worthwhile. And yet the overall effect is just not grabbing me 11 months later. I'm not reeally enjoying it, and just cannot get a handle on where this series is going. Wish I could say otherwise, but it's not to be. FWIW, with most other writers, I would have dropped the book sooner. There is enough PADian here to have made the effort to get hooked worth my time and money. But ultimately, it's just not working for me.

Posted by: Charlie Anders at May 17, 2004 02:16 PM

I'm afraid I have to concur with some of the other posters. FA isn't quite grabbing me, even though I want to like it. My biggest problem is pacing. The story has been quite slow-moving and hasn't contained enough startling or memorable moments per issue. This is a problem I have with many comics these days, actually.

Posted by: Wade Tripp at May 17, 2004 02:20 PM

Fallen Angel - I am viewing Fallen Angel as something that I need to gather and collect (like some of Priest's Black Panther) and just read them together all at once when I have time to go though slowly. There are to many details in it (such as policeman giving direction also being the pick pocket) that you feel as if you need footnotes or popups to do the minor detail. Right now there are to many blanks and open holes for the strange suspense that just make it to hard to read. I like for comics to be fun reading, but there just seemed to much work to get all the details and know all the "rules" work in Belle Noir and everything relates. Perhaps I will go over and reread everything for minor detail, but I am also thinking of saving money and no longer getting Fallen Angel.

Spyboy - This seemed alright, but it felt as if the focus of having "Spy_____" boy/man/girl/etc... to be a running gag that forces to much of the regular stuff that makes it intersting.

Posted by: Andrew Holman at May 17, 2004 03:48 PM

I was a bit confused about something in Spyboy: Final Exam #1... At the end of the Spyboy Special, it had seemed to me as though Alex and Bombshell had definitively gotten together, whereas in Final Exam #1 they were acting like this had never happened. Did I miss something, or will this be explained later on? Other than that, it was the usual fun read.

As for Fallen Angel, I admit with shame that I dropped it after issue #3. Though I found it interesting, I'm afraid that, at this point in my life, I'm trying to buy comics that I actively *like* in addition to being interested in. Also, the realization that Lee would never be acknowledged as Linda didn't help.

Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if, a couple years down the line, Linda was reintroduced in a Superman book and any way of believing that Lee is Linda would be completely shot. Sorry, I guess I'm letting my cynicism show...

Posted by: Eric Recla at May 17, 2004 06:56 PM

Just wanted to comment that I'm still buying Fallen Angel and have no intentions on stopping.

Posted by: Trigunfan1 at May 17, 2004 07:08 PM

I was shocked to see it on the stands but thank goodness I did the issue rocked. As a suggestion I think PAD should give us warning before a project as great as this one hits the stands otherwise those of us that don't regually read Dark House would have lost out on a great read.

Posted by: David Hunt at May 17, 2004 07:12 PM

I'm glad someone said that, Eric. It's like all the readers are using Juris' dumping of Lee as an excuse to dump her, too.

I'm still here, Peter. I understand what some of the posters mean when they say that they're interested, but it hasn't grabbed them. However, that's what I felt like for about a year of your Supergirl run, and I eventually decided that it was the best comic book that was being published at the time. Also, I'm enjoying the heck out the mysteries that surround Lee.

Posted by: Rob Staeger at May 17, 2004 07:49 PM

I really enjoyed this week's FA, and the last page really threw me for a loop. It hit me like it must have hito Lee, with no warning whatsoever. Great job.

I wonder why Juris decided that. Why now?

Rob

Posted by: Chuck at May 17, 2004 08:11 PM

I enjoyed it. I read each issue as it comes out. Then after each arc finishes, I read them again as a collection. So far you have me hooked. The entire premise is ambiguous, for the readers interpretation. She's Linda, if that's who you want her to be, if not fine. I'm just enjoying the stories. I plan on buying the TPB, mainly to help show support.
Thanks PAD.

Posted by: Dennis V. at May 17, 2004 08:45 PM

FALLEN ANGEL is now priced at $2.95? Oy! I guess the price hike ocurred the last issue and I never noticed it until I bought this issue. Sorry, but once comics reach this price range I'm very very selective and FA just doesn't make the cut.

-Dennis

Posted by: Neil C. at May 17, 2004 09:21 PM

I liked it a lot. Then again, I'm enjoying the entire series. Particularly well done in this issue is how most of the scenes are nearly static, but still effectively convey agitation and contention. Creates a nicely powerful conflict.

And it was refreshing to see a genuine smile on Lee's face in the last pages (though I'm a fan of her wicked smile as well). As for the
resolve that came with that smile -- well, I hope that Juris' rebuff doesn't shake it too badly; seems like she's actually in a bit of a
fragile place, emotionally speaking. But then I guess all that fits in well with the idea of balance that's running though everything.

Looking forward to #12.

Neil (who won't be dropping it at all... and besides, his wife would kill him 'cause she likes it so much)

P.S. To whomever was asking last week: The Chapters site (Canadian bookseller) has the Fallen Angel TPB available for preorder now.

Posted by: Cory!! Strode at May 17, 2004 11:28 PM

Oddly enough, this was the issue of FA that really grabbed me, which puts me in a minority. I loved the "battle" which was all like a huge poker game in action, showing just how rich and deep the little corner fo the DC universe PAD has staked out is. And the page of the vanishing smile was just as devastating as it should have been.

And, I am a sucker for Steelfreeze's art...any chance he'll be staying on as cover artist?

Posted by: James Tichy at May 17, 2004 11:45 PM

FA #11 was fun and I'll gladly be buying this series for as long as I'm able.

Posted by: KET at May 18, 2004 12:48 AM

"I wonder why Juris decided that. Why now?"

That's what's got me curious, too. Did Juris suddenly decide that Lee would always be stringing him along? Or does he feel threatened because she's an uncontrollable force who creates chaos in her wake of good intentions? Or perhaps Slate told something about Lee that made him even more uncomfortable....

Posted by: Tommy at May 18, 2004 03:09 AM

FA # 11 hasn't reached me yet (always takes about a month before I get them over here) but I just wanted to say that I am enjoying this Book very much and have no plans of drpping it.

Posted by: Baerbel Haddrell at May 18, 2004 03:39 AM

My latest FA issue is #10. I am still a big fan of this series and will definitely continue buying it.

I haven`t decided yet if I will buy MadroX. I have never been a fan of the Multiple Man and Strong Guy is not my cup of tea either. But the art examples I could see here look great, certainly much better than what I am used to nowadays from Marvel.

Posted by: sara at May 18, 2004 04:17 AM

My husband and I are still buying Fallen Angel. I'm hooked on the mystery that is Lee. Yeah, people could argue that things are unfolding slowly, but hey, I'm trusting that the pay-off to all the things swirling around and about Lee will be a good one.

Posted by: marc at May 18, 2004 07:00 AM

Thought F.A. #11 was excellent. I Think the whole series really has been some of your best writing, I only ever had a prob. with the Supergirl/Linda marketing of it in the very beginning. I’ll be staying with it for the long haul.

Posted by: John at May 18, 2004 09:30 AM

I will chime in with this being my favorite issue of FA so far. I entered comics through the back door at a later age than most, and PAD was one of those who opened the door for me.

That said, crime noir isn't my favorite, mostly because of the darkness, and I'm sticking with it because of the writing. I most likely will try MadroX...and if it is a little lighter, but the writing is as strong as PAD's writing usually is, I might find myself dropping Fallen Angel. I do have a preference for lighter material.

Posted by: Eric Pilgrim at May 18, 2004 09:34 AM

So im a virgin....I went to my local comic shop and seen Fallen Angel # 11 on the stand. I think to myself..."this title is all over PAD's website, supposed to be the shit hu?" So i pick it up...but wait!!..i also pick up #6-10 in the back issue bins. Ya! So i bring it home and read #6 and I am most confused, But the end of issue 8 im screaming this Kicks ass!!! so ya i liked issue 11...now i gotta find this spyboy? Damn....

P.S. Did ya read the Darkness/ Hulk one shot....BOOOOOOOOO!!! (but at least Dale can still draw!!>

Posted by: RabidWolfe at May 18, 2004 09:56 AM

Fallen Angel is the one comic I won't drop now. It's too cool, and PAD's best work yet.

Honestly - If I ran out of money for comics, FA would be the last one I drop from my pull list.

Posted by: Ray Cornwall at May 18, 2004 11:40 AM

That opening sequence to FA was sick and twisted, my kind of opening. And the bluff was really interesting. I'm still intrigued and still here.

Posted by: Dave O'Connell at May 18, 2004 11:45 AM

Off-topic, but related to a recurring Peter post topic: Reuters is reporting that FOX has picked up Tru Calling (as well as another low-rated show, Arrested Development) for a second season.

-Dave O'Connell

Posted by: David Hunt at May 18, 2004 11:58 AM

These comments were made on the Maddox thread but I decided that PAD's FA thread below was the proper place to comment after I saw the the length of my reply.


Mike: "Not having read the Supergirl stuff every time the Lee/Linda connection is mentioned I feel a little more out of the loop with the series like I'm not in on a joke and there's no way I'm going to be in on the joke. It only serves to alienate the first time reader."

Travis: "Really? I never read Supergirl... okay, I read the first eight issues... it wasn't my bag, and I love PAD's writing ( I was just going to write "I love PAD" but I thought that would, well... be misinterpreted) but I think FA is great. I'm invested in the characters now. Uh oh. Hopefully it's not like my favorite tv shows that I get hooked on...

"Besides that, I think FA is some of PAD's most intriguing (sp?) writing yet. I'm not alienated by it at all."

Mike & Travis,

There's no reason to worry about any connection that there might be between Fallen Angel and Supergirl. It's my opinion that any connections are more thematic than anything else. But in case you're curious, the most obvious connections are that Supergirl (Linda) suffered some tragic losses toward the end of her series. She had previously been raised to the status of an angel, but she lost that status and was, therefore, a Fallen Angel. Right at the end of her series, she lost her daughter to temporal shifts/hypertime fluctuations that would take (me at least) too much space to explain. All that's important to know is that she blamed herself for it, although I don't know/remember to what degree she blamed herself for it.

If you've been reading FA from the beginning, then you've seen the hints that Lee could be some form of actual fallen angel. It also seems obvious that some tragedy befell a child of hers that she feels responsible for.

Also, Linda's powers (strength, toughness, flight, telekinesis) could be used to dulplicate the feats that we've seen Lee pull off.


As I said, I consider the relationship between the two characters to be simply thematic, but others believe/wish the characters to be the same person. It's my opinion that you'll get more out of the book if you don't try to shoehorn Lee into being a previously established character. Her past becomes more mysterious. Vague hints about previous events start to build up an interesting backstory that you can try to imagine rather than try to reconcile with another book. The few glimpses that we get into what's really going on in Lee's mind can be used to try to figure out what makes her tick rather than used to see how another character morphed into her, etc.

Posted by: Scavenger at May 18, 2004 01:47 PM

Look, the Supergirl/FA connection is a nudge-nudge/wink wink thing. Is it there? It is if you want it to be. As far as can be told, FA isn't even in the DCU. Now, it's not unheard of for characters from PAD's canceled books to wander into new series....sometimes crossing time, space, and company lines, but don't let that stop you from trying the series.

Posted by: Dee at May 18, 2004 03:25 PM

Just chiming in with my $0.02 (and hoping I'm coherent):

I've been reading "Fallen Angel" from the start, partly because I'm a PADdict but mostly because I really enjoyed the concept of an amoral, anti-heroic protagonist who was tough without being "butch". The Supergirl question was never really a deciding factor for me: the hook was Lee herself.

But it's been almost a year, and in that time I've felt a growing sense of detachment. I think it's mostly because of Lee's problematic (IMO) characterization: she starts out with this kind of ominous dread surrounding her, because you don't really know her agenda or what she's capable of. But pretty soon it becomes obvious that protestations of neutrality aside, Lee clearly DOES give a damn about a great many things: she destroys Asia's drug shipment, kills the Beast, protects Azmil's son, teaches high school girls... a lot of positive acts with no clear motivation aside from doing good. Heck, even her worst on-panel act (torturing Mariah) could be justified as a means to get the Shard. The fact that she suddenly develops an emotional attachment to Juris also seemed very out-of-place; it seems to imply that she's undergone some kind of development after her encounter with the Beast, but I just couldn't see how the dots connected.

Maybe it's just me, but I've really felt like something's been missing since "Down To Earth" started. There were plot elements I felt were a bit vague, the intrigue and mystique of the supporting cast has been absent, and Lee's discussion with Dolph about her "function" made her seem like less of an independent entity and more like she's just a cog in the wheel.

Sorry, Mr. David. I really, REALLY want to like this title... but if it doesn't reel me back in with #14, I'm dropping it. I still hope it does really well both in trades and the monthly so DC doesn't cancel it for the foreseeable future: FA issues aside, PAD is always better than no PAD. :)

That said, MadroX? I'm there. ;)

Posted by: Vicomte at May 18, 2004 09:51 PM

PAD, along with Chris Priest and Kurt Busiek, are on my list of creators who get a six month try out, whatever they do. All of them have produced some of my all time favorite comic books, and all of them have produced work I regret buying, but on balance, I trust them enough as artists to sink $15-18 into whatever they happen to be writing. Most other books that look worthwhile get 2-3 issues to blow me away.

I felt the same sort of want-to-like-it indifference that several posters have described for the first six months, and stuck with it solely because it's one of a handful (along with Lucifer, Fables Waid's Fantastic Four and whatever Steve Gerber is doing in a given year) of books my wife gets really excited about.

That said, I've found my appreciation growing over the last several months. It's probably the best book on the market at producing single issue stories which play into an ongoing arc, while still providing the reader a payoff or two.


Posted by: Johnny Fuller at May 19, 2004 12:50 PM

#11 was my very first issue of Fallen Angel. While it seems interesting, I am to out of pocket on it to appreciate what is going on. Hopefully I can catch-up somehow.

Posted by: Carrie at May 21, 2004 12:43 AM

I love Fallen Angel. It's the only comic I've ever read on a continuing basis, and I don't know what I would do if it stopped. I'm far too invested in Lee (and the rest of Bete Noir) to be able to give her up, at least without a lot of explanation.

Carrie

Posted by: gvalley at May 23, 2004 07:05 AM

Fallen Angel: Finally got around to reading the arc (it's what I do with many books, buy singles and read in complete arcs), and I thought it was fantastic. Probably your best title in recent memory, Peter (and I LOVE CM, so that's saying something). I love the moral ambiguities, the $&*#ed up personalities, the 'drip in the blanks as we go along' strategy - and Black Mariah.
However, and this is my concern about the book (and reading some of the comments above it's not unfounded), I feel it's being written with a very long-term in mind. 11 issues in and (assuming there is one) I feel we're on page 2, maybe 3 of the bible. It's a writing of exploration, of depth and width, of a well thought out universe being fleshed out bit by bit. And in today's market... well, I truly hope you have an emergency final arc all planned out to fill as many blanks as possible, Peter, in case the book gets dropped - otherwise FA will be remembered as one of the most extravagant failures of the last decades; because it's entire writing strategy feels based on the assumption that readers and the book will be there for the long haul. Which I sincerely hope is what will happen because the book deserves it (the long haul, not the dropping thing). I know I will keep buying.

Posted by: Michael Riggs at May 30, 2004 03:33 AM

I'll admit I was a HUGE fan of Supergirl when PAD was writing and my heart broke when it was canceled. For the last year I made up my mind that Lee was Linda, no matter what. With this last issue I have come to realize that whether or not Lee is Linda isn't an issue for me anymore. I love Fallen Angel for it's own breath. Lee is Lee, who is Lee? I have no idea, but I am enjoying the ride. No need for an absolution here. Keep the mystery flowing.....

Posted by: George Gebhardt at June 4, 2004 11:47 PM

I don't know if anyone is still reading this, but I enjoyed the issue. The added characerization/depth to Mariah & Wilde was a great touch. Lee's ruse was great.

The only thing I wondered was why the shard was that big of a deal in the storyline as a whole. The ending took a turn from what the initial storyline presented itself to be. It kind of looked like two storylines were smashed into one.

Posted by: George gebhardt at June 4, 2004 11:50 PM

One more thing. Did anyone read the solit for the August issue? I was reading it and it just sounded like things were going to end with that issue. Anybody get that kind of reaction?