I suppose I have to see more of his work, like, say, Congo Bill.

It's great until the part with the giant monkey in the last issue.

I didn't like Zezelj's art on Desolation Jones or that thing he did around that time (so sue me, I can't remember it), but I liked the latest issue of Northlanders and the preview art for Luna Park looks good. I suppose I have to see more of his work, like, say, Congo Bill.

You suck Burgas!

I haven’t seen too much of Zezelj’s art, but I’ve never been too impressed with it.

Fuck, you suck!

Seriously though, you really don't like his stuff?
I think he's quite amazing.
He did art on anold Vertigo mini 'Congo Bill' - crossing the 90's politics and genocides of the Congo region with the tale of a giant monkey!!! - that looked really, really good.

The X-Men just turns people into bad writers.

Except Morrison, of course.

No, only Didio could accomplish that!

Except Morrison, of course.

But everybody else!

Whoever dares attempt to pen the series is doomed to mediocre results. It's bested Casey, Austen, Milligan, Brubaker, and now Fraction.

Hell, you could include Alan Davis and Chris Claremont (the second time around, at least) on the list as well.

I guess the theme of the book, from a character standpoint, is Mme Xanadu constantly losing everyone around her and having to start over. The Phantom Stranger keeps popping up and she feels a kindred spirit in him, but he's very cold to her, etc etc. Through where I am, there's not a whole lot in terms of a over-arcing plot (but it could be something subtle I'm missing), but there's been a whole lot in terms of cool stories about certain eras of history. And it's been beautifully drawn by Amy Reeder-Hadley.

I don't know what Shatterstar's current deal is, but I don't care too much, as long as David writes a good story.

Omar: I'm not sure what the deal is with Madame Xanadu, because I skipped the first ten issues. This story takes place in the 1930s and the 1490s, so I'm not sure if it's a good place to find out what she's doing these days. I just like the story so far, and of course the art is nice.

Brian: Yes, that's Sinead O'Connor and it is Daddy I'm Fine. A fine tune from her 2000 album Faith and Courage.

Jbird: My point about Fraction is not that he can't write the characters well, because he seems to be able to write some of them okay. My point is that he doesn't seem to be terribly inspired about writing the book except when he brings in certain plots. If that's the case and he's not getting interference from the editors, why isn't he just writing stories about the X-Club? I'd read that book? When I write the X-Men (it's going to happen, Joey Q!), if I'm not hampered by editorial, I'm not going to write about characters I have no interest in. Why would I? Unless there's the aforementioned editorial interference. Fraction seems to be writing characters, like Karma, who don't interest him. Therefore they show up and do nothing. Why bring them in?

The X-Men, honestly, seem like they would be HARD to write. So much backstory, so much absolute regrettable ridiculousness in the origins and secret origins and secondary mutation origins of the characters, and so many 'fan-favorite' characters that no team is going to satisfy anyone, really.

Unknown Soldier is really clicking now. Your thoughts above sum it up really well.

I liked Zodiac, mostly for Fox's Paul Pope meets Brandon Graham stylings, but also because it's the kind of Casey story I enjoy. I didn't buy the Lethal Legion mini that came out last week, but from reading a review of it on CBR main, it seems like it has the same starting plot point. Is that true? And if so, is it stupid or brilliant? Because I know I'm not buying a Frank Tieri book, and I doubt many of his fans are buying a Joe Casey and indy artists one.

Greg, Battle for the Cowl was only 3 issues long so I think it beats the decompressed crap that the Fables Crossover was.

Cheers,

B

It seemed pretty clear, thought at times the art didn't construe this as well as it should have