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Author
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Topic: Review - Midnight Nation 1-3
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Dave Thomer
Guardian of Peace and Justice in the Galaxy
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posted 12-05-2000 11:34 PM
   
Midnight Nation is the first comic from Top Cow/Image's Joe's Comics imprint, with the Joe in question being J. Michael Straczysnki, creator of Babylon 5. (And if you're not watching B5's third season, airing now on Sci Fi, you really ought to be.) Straczynski has been doing a lot of comics work lately, having launched Top Cow's Rising Stars last year and agreeing to write Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man starting next year. While I like Rising Stars, I think Midnight Nation is the better work.The first three issues do a good job of setting up at least the initial premise. LA homicide detective David Grey is attacked by a group of sadistic spirits known as the Men, and as a result falls into the Place In-Between. The Place In-Between is where people and things fade to after they are forgotten or abandoned -- it is a world of the homeless, the out-of-work, the out-of-date, and the out-of-luck. David is there because the Men have stolen his soul, and if he doesn't get it back in a year, he will become one of the Men himself. Along with Laurel, a guide to the Place In-Between who appears to be on a mission from some unseen higher forces, he sets off to New York to reclaim his soul. I'm really enjoying this comic. The story looks like it should appeal to fans of B5's cosmic conspiracies and exploration of spirituality -- plenty of mysterious forces are already at work. The characterization and dialogue were a bit shaky in the first two issues -- I thought Straczynski was trying too hard to evoke a sort of film-noir, tough cop atmosphere -- but they are much better in the third issue. Gary Frank's pencils are great to look at, and I think his storytelling skills are solid. I've seen some people say that his pencils are a little too clean and a little too perfect for the kind of lost, abandoned world Straczysnki has created, and I can see the point, but I kind of like the contrast between Frank's very clear style and the story being told. All told, this looks like a very solid comic, and I'm looking forward to subsequent issues. |
Dave Thomer
Guardian of Peace and Justice in the Galaxy
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posted 12-14-2000 03:42 AM
Just as a follow up -- issue 4 came out today, and it's a rather good one. It doesn't move the overall story forward that much, but there are some nice character studies. The study of those who fall through the crasks into the Place In-between opens up a lot of possibilities for studying the choices people make and the way they justify them to themselves, and that's the focus of this issue. The message of the story gets pounded home pretty hard, but it's a good message, and well-conveyed by the artwork. I'm wondering though, if this isn't the kind of series that will read better in trade paperback than it does as single issues. I'm gonna keep collecting it, for sure, but others with patience may want to hold out for the collection, whenever that may come. |
Brian Thomer
One of the Regulars
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posted 01-03-2001 01:33 PM
Hmmmm.... I hate it when me and Dave actually like the same thing... makes for much more boring posts on my part. I don't really have much to add on what Dave mentioned, just that it continues to amaze me how JMS keeps putting new, extremely interesting spins on old concept (i.e. certain superpowers, the homeless) although my one fear about this title is that it goes the same road as Rising Stars where it starts off slow and perfectly paced, but then about ten issues in, the shit hits the fan and the roller coaster hits the down side of the hill and you're so disoriented you just wanna hurl.... but so far that hasn't happened yet in this series so all is well.  ) |
Brian Thomer
One of the Regulars
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posted 01-03-2001 01:35 PM
I don't know what that face is but it was supposed to be a smiley.  |
Dave Thomer
Guardian of Peace and Justice in the Galaxy
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posted 01-11-2001 02:26 PM
This series, by the way, is scheduled to be half as long as Rising Stars -- 12 issues. You're definitely right in that it seems like JMS is going to have to do something to get these characters to New York in a hurry -- I'll be waiting to see what the next issue or two brings. (And I'll probably hold off any further official Review until the series ends.) |
Brian Thomer
One of the Regulars
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posted 01-12-2001 03:11 PM
Rising Stars is going 24 issues?? I didn't think they had that much story left to tell, I was thinking almost like 15, the way the last two issues or so I read went. As for Midnight Nation, I think the last two issues got them on a pretty decent start quickly. (Well as quick as one can go by foot anyway...) Actually I should say I think the story moved along pretty quickly, not necessarily their traveling... There seemed to be a big jump between the end of issue 2 and the beginning of issue 3. |
Dave Thomer
Guardian of Peace and Justice in the Galaxy
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posted 02-21-2001 01:29 AM
Midnight Nation 5 is now out, and it's a really good issue. David and Laurel are still on the road, and they run into a Walker -- one who used to be a human named Drake, just like David. He and Laurel had made the same trip to New York in search of his soul that David and Laurel are making now -- and came just short of the finish line. The thing is, the former Drake hasn't lost his humanity completely, and has a favor to ask of Laurel.This issue really brings home the stakes of the story. We understand exactly what David is trying to avoid becoming, which makes his growing fear and dread as that fate approaches -- as well as the small part of his psyche that perhaps is eager for it to come -- all the more understandable. And the direct confrontation with Laurel illustrates why this task of escorting the un-souled is such a thankless one. This sort of character, burdened with an impossible task, is a rich archetype, and Straczynski knows how to pluck the strings to get us to feel Laurel's pain. This is good stuff. I also continue to like Frank's art. The hollow, lost look in Drake's eyes as he approached the end of his life was very effective. |
Dave Thomer
Guardian of Peace and Justice in the Galaxy
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posted 03-29-2001 04:00 AM
OK, this may be the last time I mention this book until the story is finished and/or the trade comes out -- but issue 6 is out, and this series continues to build momentum. Laurel and David have made it as far as Chicago, but David's attempt to reconnect with a piece of his old life causes major trouble. Another strong story. |
Dave Thomer
Guardian of Peace and Justice in the Galaxy
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posted 08-26-2002 03:21 AM
The trade paperback of this series will be available in comics stores the week of September 4. I will do a more detailed review once the book is available on Amazon, but I wanted to give the heads up now because this is just a terrific story, one that's uplifting without being too sentimental or cloying, and I think a lot of people will enjoy it. |
Altwaalananda Saraswati
Just Got Here
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posted 01-28-2003 07:25 PM
ummm, the trade was laaaaaaaaaaate!!! But it did come out, i don't know if it was on amazon yet.. but it does have a isbn number... I have not read it, yet, i have more important things to do and the rest of the time i have only one thing left to do and that is sleep. I kind of "peeked ahead" a bit, but i don't think it runied the story for me.. but the interview with Jmc was interesting,, leaveing a cult a broken man, wandering the streets, really in the most creative state man can be in.. I now have the most respect and admiratin for the man, and when i do catch up on my sleep, i will read the whole trade in about week or soo. ther is 12 issues, plus the wizard 1/2 issue.. that's cool. i am out..
DID i just reawaken this topic??  I hope so..!
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Dave Thomer
Guardian of Peace and Justice in the Galaxy
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posted 02-19-2003 03:18 AM
The trade is listed on Amazon, I have a preorder in, but Amazon told me they wouldn't be shipping the book til mid-March. Sigh. Did get a chance to see the book in the comic shop. A very nice package. I like the cover - very understated, very moody. |
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