January 25, 2008

OUT THIS WEEK/LAST WEEK: "Fallen Angel #23," "She-Hulk #25"

"Fallen Angel" twists storytelling chronological narrative as the war, glimpsed in #22, truly starts with #23. Meanwhile She-Hulk and Jazinda talk about feelings, which of course women NEVER do. Whad'ja think?

PAD

Posted by Peter David at January 25, 2008 11:31 AM | TrackBack | Other blogs commenting
Comments
Posted by: Luigi Novi at January 25, 2008 11:45 AM

Fallen Angel was awesome, Peter. It's one of, if not the most thrilling issue of the series I've read, because you did a good job of setting up a genuine sense of threat and tension with an adversary that actually comes across as someone who can harm Jude and Lee, and change the status quo, with respect to things like Black Mariah.

She-Hulk was good too. I really had no idea about Cazon's true nature, and the flip you pulled on us, whereby the Badoon bounty hunter was revealed to be essentially a good guy, was well-done. You also did a good job of setting up a one-off character so that her murder later in the issue meant more to the reader, something I've noticed you've done well since the "Ground Zero" storyline you did in Hulk.

Posted by: Shawn at January 25, 2008 01:00 PM

I liked She-Hulk #25. The interaction between She-Hulk and Jazinda is wonderful and it's my favorite part of the series right now. Getting a glimpse of Jen's state of mind regarding the superhero life was quite interesting.

It annoys me to no end when I read posts saying things like "I don't care about how she turned her back on registration, the Initiative, or the superhero thing because we know she ends up searching for Hulk w/ Tony Stark and joins the Defenders so who cares?"

With that dumb logic, the only comic that'll ever matter is the very last one. What fun is that?

Moving on, I'd also like to say that the second go-round for Man-Elephant was really cool. The story was good and Adriana Melo's work was magnificent. I can't wait to see her Ms. Marvel stuff.

And "Seetorak"? Are we talking Cyttorak here? Was that shard of a gem a piece of another Crimson Gem somewhere out there?

One final question - Who's actually penciling #28? I've seen a solicit that says Reilly Brown and one that says Val Semeiks. And is this a fill-in artist situation or something more permanent? I've been enjoying Moll's work.

Anyway, thanks for another good issue.

Posted by: The StarWolf at January 25, 2008 03:06 PM

Wow.

OK, you'd hinted as to who Dolf really is. This issue's the next best thing to seeing his real business card. But it leaves us with the possibility, however unlikely, of Dolf & Maria both being killed off. Or or far more likely of one or the other being killed off. Or, has someone really turned a new leaf?

And we have to wait at least a month to find out? Grrrrrr.

Posted by: Dave Van Domelen at January 25, 2008 03:14 PM

I'm wondering about all the hints about Jaz's father, given that the hints point to someone who recently was revealed to have his pre-adult son supposedly killed off, and no indication of a daughter. Unless Jaz's dad has already forgotten her entirely after whatever it was happened to drive them apart, I guess.

Posted by: Luigi Novi at January 25, 2008 03:20 PM

Shawn: ...we know she ends up searching for Hulk w/ Tony Stark and joins the Defenders...
Luigi Novi: Which book is that in?

Posted by: Scavenger at January 25, 2008 04:32 PM

Luigi: Hulk #1 and the upcoming Defenders comic.
You said: "really had no idea about Cazon's true nature"

Really? To be honest, I felt it was a very PAD thing to do, down to his final comment to Jaz. It had very much a feel of...I've seen PAD do this before a number of times. As soon as Cazon had said he'd been accused of being a murderer etc, I knew he was indeed a murderer etc.

I agree with Shawn that the interplay between Jen and Jaz rocks, though.

Physicist at Large (but no longer a large physicist) is referring to the comment in the Letter Col. of #25 that says "We'll be learning more about Jaz's dad, and it'll be Super." which hints at something conflicting with a recent mega-story from Marvel.

Posted by: Gérard at January 25, 2008 05:10 PM

About Fallen Angel, a few thoughts. First, it's obvious that 'Dolf has not changed his views on humanity. Not one iota.

Second, if there's no Hell, where do bad people go? Yes, I know, Bête Noire. But after that?

More later.

Posted by: Doug at January 25, 2008 07:52 PM

Oh, Peter. You're going to get Shulkie to kill you.

Interesting issue. Great art, sort of saw the alien betrayal coming. Nice use of a Badoon. Long time since I saw those in a book.

Posted by: The StarWolf at January 25, 2008 10:51 PM

>First, it's obvious that 'Dolf has not changed his views on humanity. Not one iota.

Quite. But, though his real identity has been suggested in the past, never quite so blatantly. Too, what's he going to do? The obvious is often the wrong way to think where PAD's works are concerned. But if Dolf does ... then the possibility that he's put those days behind him has pretty much gone down the spout. In which case, what else would be capable of? A time to worry.

Posted by: Luigi Novi at January 26, 2008 12:41 AM

Starwolf: This issue's the next best thing to seeing his real business card.
Luigi Novi: Where in the issue was this? I just looked through it, and couldn't find it.

Scavenger: Luigi: Hulk #1 and the upcoming Defenders comic.
Luigi Novi: Oh yeah. I read that book. But how do we know that took place after Shulk's career as a bounty hunter?

And I agree with Shawn. I don't think the twists and turns of her career is the most interesting thing about how she's written so much as the effects those twists and turns have on her and her outlook on life.

Scavenger: Really? To be honest, I felt it was a very PAD thing to do, down to his final comment to Jaz.
Luigi Novi: See, with me, I try to sit back and enjoy the ride. As long as the stuff isn't poorly written, and such revelations telegraphed, then it's easier for me to enjoy the surprise as it was intended.

Posted by: Vaidyan at January 26, 2008 01:35 AM

While Leukemia is newly diagnosed and patient and all in the family are wondering what treatments are available, one may go through the details of Indian Ayurveda options. Here is a bit on, probaly the only center in the world where patients get sustainable remission with out side effects.

www.jamesvaidyanhealing.com

Posted by: atlittle at January 26, 2008 08:18 AM

Both stories have a great mix of resolving previous and introducing new concpets that are keeping me hooked.
AND THEN - I look on the rack and I see "Scream," by Peter David. Issues 1-3 all waiting for me to snatch up.
That was a good day.

Posted by: The StarWolf at January 26, 2008 10:29 AM

Starwolf: This issue's the next best thing to seeing his real business card.
Luigi Novi: Where in the issue was this? I just looked through it, and couldn't find it.

To explain this requires

SPOILERS

or, as some might put it

*S*P*O*I*L*E*R*S even ...

Mariah's been mortally wounded. Dolf has sent everyone else away. He's alone with her. He then starts to rant ...

"For you, whose very skin marks her as inferior, barely above an animal, certainly not human..."

... and on about betrayal, untrustorthiness, so forth.

Which loon-tune WW II German leader does this remind you of?

He then finishes holding a pillow near her face.

Is he going to be true to [former?] form and axphyxiate her? Or is it misdirection? Stay tuned ...

Posted by: Luigi Novi at January 26, 2008 05:57 PM

Oh, that. I misread your statement, understanding that he actually showed a business card. D'Oh.

Posted by: Bill Myers at January 26, 2008 07:40 PM

OK, first of all, there was a new Fallen Angel this week? That's on my pull list and I didn't get one. I'll have to call my retailer and get to the bottom of that.

And no, they don't stock it. I have to pre-order it.

Jerry Chandler warned me that it's not the type of series you can pick up in mid-stream and understand it. But I figured I could read a few issues to get a feel for it, and then decide if I want to buy the compilations. I hear the big-ass hardcover with all of the extras was expensive -- but also very, very nice.

Posted by: sharon simmons at January 26, 2008 08:48 PM

Sorry to post this in the wrong location. I want to talk about Before Dishonor. How do I start a new topic on this site?

Posted by: sharon simmons at January 26, 2008 08:49 PM

Sorry to post this in the wrong location. I want to talk about Before Dishonor. How do I start a new topic on this site?

Posted by: Jerry Chandler at January 26, 2008 09:39 PM

Hey! Don't get me in trouble with the management. I didn't say "series," I said "story arc." The implication being that you should shell out the money for a few more back issues and a few tpbs. It's not like you need that money for food, electricity, rent or anything like that.

Some people...

Posted by: mike weber at January 26, 2008 09:58 PM

Posted by The StarWolf

OK, you'd hinted as to who Dolf really is. This issue's the next best thing to seeing his real business card.

I just picked up the last three month's pulls at my shop.

Jude's comment to Asia Minor about a famous dictator being long dead just proves to me that Jud is not necessarily the brightest bulb in the chandelier...

Posted by: Bill Myers at January 26, 2008 10:41 PM

Sorry, Jerry. That cold you passed to me over the telephone is messing me up. I didn't mean to imply that you implied "Fallen Angel" was completely inaccessible to new readers.

Like I said, though, not worried. If after a few issues I decide I like it, the older stuff is available in some form or another.

Posted by: Bill Myers at January 26, 2008 11:03 PM

Upon further thought, I'd better clear this up before a real misunderstanding ensues. Jerry never attempted to discourage me from reading "Fallen Angel." He did advise me that the story is very "dense" -- as in, "full of substance," -- and that I shouldn't feel discouraged if some of it is tough to follow given the fact that I've jumped on board in the middle of a story arc.

Frankly, any well-written multi-part storyline will be a bit tough to pick up in the middle. It's the blessing and the curse of serializing a story in a periodical. On the one hand, the price of entry is cheap -- you can sample one chapter rather than having to plunk down the money for the whole book. On the other hand, you're missing some parts of the story.

But, like I said, that's what the trades are for.

Frankly, I've heard so many good things about "Fallen Angel" from so many people, I felt like I couldn't *not* give it a try. Jumping on in the middle of an ongoing story doesn't daunt me. If it did, it would be pretty hard for me to sample new titles.

On the other hand, if I can't get my hands on the book, that *will* be a problem. I can't read something I ain't got. It's only been on my pull list for a three months, and already I missed an issue. As I said, I'll have to talk with my retailer.

Posted by: Luigi Novi at January 27, 2008 03:50 AM

Sharon Simmons: Sorry to post this in the wrong location. I want to talk about Before Dishonor. How do I start a new topic on this site?
Luigi Novi: Only Peter or Glenn Hauman, the webmaster, have the ability to do that.

Peter had a board for Before Dishonor in November, which you can see at: http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/005833.html

But to suggest boards in the future, you can ask Peter by emailing him at: padguy@aol.com.

Posted by: Joe V. at January 27, 2008 02:33 PM

I enjoyed them both. Both issues were intense and exciting. She Hulk took a few pages to get going but then took off like a bullet.

Thanks

Joe V.

Posted by: Lee K. Seitz at January 27, 2008 06:06 PM

I'm still trying to decide if I like She-Hulk's new direction or not. But I'm thankful, PAD, that you recognize your inability to follow precisely in Slott's footsteps and so are trying something different. However, I'm not entirely sold on your characterization. In particular, She-Hulk's never struck me as quite the science fiction enthusiast you're painting her as with the "felgercarb" reference in the WWH prelude and a Hitchhiker's Guide reference in #25.

Specifically regarding #25, I didn't see the twist that was coming, but felt somewhat foolish for it at the end. I'm also a little leery of Man-Elephant wanting vengance on Shulkie at the end of his backup. I picked up the ESSENTIAL SHE-HULK last year and at the end of his story, he admitted he was the one at fault for their fight. Maybe the influence of "Seetorak" is to blame, but he also swore off making super suits, so even supporting armored heroes before Stark shut him down seemed counter to his first (and only, as far as I know) appearance.

Posted by: Craig at January 27, 2008 09:35 PM

She-Hulk main story was good! I'm loving the new direction. I'm still not crazy about the artwork storytelling wise but it could be worse. The extras were good too. It was especially fun reading the comprehensive new "Marvel Universe" entry.

Posted by: A different Mike at January 28, 2008 08:09 AM


Re: She Hulk

Several of my customers (practically everyone who has it subscribed) mentioned that they would have preferred to have the She Hulk 4 page throwaway at the end cut out in favour of actual story pages.

Posted by: Peter David at January 28, 2008 11:16 AM

Actually, Dan was originally supposed to do the four pager. The notion was to have him present in some way for the 25th issue since he was such a huge part of the book. But then Dan wasn't able to and we had a four page hole, and it was too late to expand one of the other stories to take up the space. So I wrote the four pager. It was either that or ads.

PAD

Posted by: Rick Keating at January 31, 2008 11:58 AM

Finally picked up Fallen Angel yesterday.

As others have said, if Dolf is you know who, he retains certain racist attitudes, so to whatever degree he may have "reformed", he has some ways to go.

His words, combined with his body language suggested he intended to smother Mariah with the pillow, but as I read that page, part of me expected to turn to the next page (or to return to that scene a few pages later) to find that he'd actually put the pillow behind Mariah's head to make her more comfortable- that despite his intense dislike, if not downright hatred, he would care for her, however reluctantly. It's something you wouldn't necessarily expect, which is why I considered it a possibility.

However, it looks like we'll have to wait until the next issue, at the earliest, to find out what Dolf did. Personally, I think it'd be more interesting if he didn't (attempt to) smother Mariah. That would raise the question of why not? Because he's trying to be a better person, even if some of his old personality traits remain? Because he realizes she wouldn't suffer enough if she died that way? Or some other reason?

For now, only Dolf (and PAD) knows the answer. Although, if Dolf is a fully-realized three dimensional character, he may yet surprise PAD as to his actions and motivations. Not unlike the time where JMS intended for one character to assassinate Cartagia in Babylon 5 only to be surprised when another character "stepped forward" and "suggested" he do it instead.


And then there's Malachi. At the end, it looks like he's on "the other team." But is he? Or is he playing his own game against both sides? We already know a degree of enmity exists between him and Liandra, but we don't yet know how he really feels about the leader (whose name I can't recall) of "the other team" or the other players. The fact that it wasn't him who met with and stabbed Mariah suggests he's not 100 percent in agreement with the "other team's" methods in achieving its goals (and may not be in agreement about the goals themselves). If he were, wouldn't he have done the deed himself, either because he was willing to sacrifice Mariah as a pawn, or because he knew the strike would not prove fatal?

Although... it just occurred to me as I typed the above paragraph that Malachi may have been complicit in the attack on Mariah after all. He may have decided that since he has some familiarity with the workings of the human body, he could probably patch her up, and thus appear to be on the side of the Angels.

Well, one of them at least.

And for good measure, perhaps the other side had What'shisface impersonate Malachi then reveal his true self before striking for the benefit of whatever witnesses (including Mariah in the event she survives, or even was meant to survive) who may have been around.

I suspect, though, that Malachi's true allegiance is to himself. Just as the Master has formed apparent alliances with the Daleks as a means to his own ends, it wouldn't surprise me if Malachi is pursuing his own agenda. He may very well intend to Keyser Soze everyone.

Wait a minute. This is Fallen Angel. Everyone is pursuing his or her agenda.

Rick

Posted by: Tony Fuller at February 1, 2008 11:41 PM

Nice use of a Badoon. Long time since I saw those in a book.

Last time I recall is in PAD's last volume of Captain Marvel where they are shown on more than one occasion.

Posted by: Luke K. Walsh at February 2, 2008 02:06 PM

Well, I'm finally (pretty much) up-to-date with my comics; and I'm quite satisfied with all of your titles in my pile, PAD. (I haven't read enough of Slott's run to pick up on any nods to him in issue #24 of She-Hulk, btw, but I did spot the Angel, and possible Buffy, shout-outs.)

Nice work with making us care about the characters of Tanya and Eddie in She-Hulk #25. I really hoped they'd gotten out safely with "I'll get the grill".... And I liked the - emergency replacement, I guess - four page humor spot; if nothing else, one of the best title/title set-ups ever :)

Fallen Angel continues to be great. I liked Lee's pointing out the flaws in the ridiculous "Hell" concept (tempered, of course, as little is all that happy in Lee's world, with the note that there's something else unpleasant that will befall the dead woman). And Dolf... while he'll still be an interesting character, I'm sure, THAT page may have killed any ability he'll ever have to be sympathetic again....

(BTW - Bill Myers, it's too bad you don't live just a little farther to the east. My Syracuse-area store - currently called Play the Game, Read the Story and located in Carosel Center [once known as Altered States and located by the Spagetti Warehouse] regularly carries Fallen Angel on the rack [though I pull-list it anyway]; I believe my back-up comic shop also carries it. Good on Central New York :) )

Posted by: Luke K. Walsh at February 2, 2008 02:11 PM

Oops, that should be "further" rather than "farther" ("...to the east...").

Posted by: Luke K. Walsh at February 2, 2008 02:12 PM

Oops, that should be "further" rather than "farther" ("...to the east...").