I bought a copy of DC's re-launch of the Vigilante title last week.
I know why I bought it. Walt Simonson is doing the covers and Rick Leonardi is doing the interior art. Two artists whose work I greatly enjoyed through the late 80s and 90s (and even some this decade, though their output has certainly diminished to some degree). And the Vigilante is a character I quite enjoyed in the late 80s as well. In fact, it was the first DC title I actually read on a regular basis.
I knew absolutely nothing going into the re-launch here about this most recent incarnation of the character. And frankly, the character has tough shoes to fill. Because Adrian Chase was THE Vigilante as far as I'm concerned. And Adrian Chase is dead. Long dead. And really, that is where the Vigilante should be. There doesn't need to be another one. The comics universe doesn't need yet another person running around wearing the same color scheme and calling themself the Vigilante.
But I bought the first issue anyway. And the shoes didn't get filled. Nowhere near filled. I expected as much. I did enjoy Leonardi's interiors though. I wish he was working on a title that I do read on a regular basis because I would like to see more of his work. Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to see it on this one because there just isn't any place for it on my reading list. As I said, the Vigilante should remain dead and buried. This particular incarnation is adding nothing to the mythos that I consider worthwhile.
I don't want to leave on a negative note however. While I've found that I've been disappointed in recent months with comics as a whole, there have definitely been some bright spots in my reading list. Not as many as I would like, there are definitely books such as Wildcats which make me continually question a) why I continue to buy it, b) why it is being published because there seems to be no clear cut direction, and c) how can a title be relaunched so many times and still be at a point where I feel as a reader that no one knows what the hell to do with it other than sling stuff against the wall and hope something sticks. But see, there I go again with the negative.
As I started to say, there have been some definite bright spots. Titles that I pick up and read, and when I put them down I feel like I got something out it. I was entertained. It was time and money well spent on my part. So I just want to hit on a few of those. I'm not going to go into detail, I'm just going to list them. In no particular order. Wonder Woman. Terra (put Amanda Conner on something and I'm gonna buy it --- I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the new Power Girl series). Trinity (it has been a little more hit and miss of late, but overall I've thoroughly enjoyed what Kurt Busiek - with Fabian Nicieza's assist on the secondary stories - has been doing here). Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Fables (definitely one of my favorite titles month in and month out). House of Mystery. Terry Moore's Echo (this one has been a very pleasant surprise). Madame Xanadu. Ted Naifeh's Courtney Crumrin one-shots. Dead Ahead.
I'd like to be able to say Green Lantern makes the cut on this list, but I've been just a little disappointed with the past few issues. Admittedly, it is tough to maintain at such a high level after a great epic like the Sinestro Corps War. I am very much looking forward to the Blackest Night arc this coming year. I think it will elevate the title back up so that it will deserve inclusion on this list.
I know why I bought it. Walt Simonson is doing the covers and Rick Leonardi is doing the interior art. Two artists whose work I greatly enjoyed through the late 80s and 90s (and even some this decade, though their output has certainly diminished to some degree). And the Vigilante is a character I quite enjoyed in the late 80s as well. In fact, it was the first DC title I actually read on a regular basis.
I knew absolutely nothing going into the re-launch here about this most recent incarnation of the character. And frankly, the character has tough shoes to fill. Because Adrian Chase was THE Vigilante as far as I'm concerned. And Adrian Chase is dead. Long dead. And really, that is where the Vigilante should be. There doesn't need to be another one. The comics universe doesn't need yet another person running around wearing the same color scheme and calling themself the Vigilante.
But I bought the first issue anyway. And the shoes didn't get filled. Nowhere near filled. I expected as much. I did enjoy Leonardi's interiors though. I wish he was working on a title that I do read on a regular basis because I would like to see more of his work. Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to see it on this one because there just isn't any place for it on my reading list. As I said, the Vigilante should remain dead and buried. This particular incarnation is adding nothing to the mythos that I consider worthwhile.
I don't want to leave on a negative note however. While I've found that I've been disappointed in recent months with comics as a whole, there have definitely been some bright spots in my reading list. Not as many as I would like, there are definitely books such as Wildcats which make me continually question a) why I continue to buy it, b) why it is being published because there seems to be no clear cut direction, and c) how can a title be relaunched so many times and still be at a point where I feel as a reader that no one knows what the hell to do with it other than sling stuff against the wall and hope something sticks. But see, there I go again with the negative.
As I started to say, there have been some definite bright spots. Titles that I pick up and read, and when I put them down I feel like I got something out it. I was entertained. It was time and money well spent on my part. So I just want to hit on a few of those. I'm not going to go into detail, I'm just going to list them. In no particular order. Wonder Woman. Terra (put Amanda Conner on something and I'm gonna buy it --- I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the new Power Girl series). Trinity (it has been a little more hit and miss of late, but overall I've thoroughly enjoyed what Kurt Busiek - with Fabian Nicieza's assist on the secondary stories - has been doing here). Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Fables (definitely one of my favorite titles month in and month out). House of Mystery. Terry Moore's Echo (this one has been a very pleasant surprise). Madame Xanadu. Ted Naifeh's Courtney Crumrin one-shots. Dead Ahead.
I'd like to be able to say Green Lantern makes the cut on this list, but I've been just a little disappointed with the past few issues. Admittedly, it is tough to maintain at such a high level after a great epic like the Sinestro Corps War. I am very much looking forward to the Blackest Night arc this coming year. I think it will elevate the title back up so that it will deserve inclusion on this list.
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