Superman Adventures #65 Talkback (Spoilers)

[James Harvey]

SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #65

http://comics.toonzone.net/sa/covers/t-65.jpg (http://comics.toonzone.net/sa/covers/65.jpg)

Written by Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer; art by Aluir Amancio and Terry Austin; cover by Mike Manley and Austin

In stores January 2. "Power Play," Part 1 of 2. The long-comatose Livewire has sprung back to life at last…just in time to become a pawn of Lex Luthor in a deadly game between the millionaire and an enemy that can engulf even him!

Comments?

[Salvor]

I liked it. The story was pretty good, the art was -as usual- really amazing... though the colors almost made me throw up! :)

I hadn't read the Livewire/Brainiac story so I was a bit confused by the Luthor/Livewire relationship. And LW wasn't evil enough tp my mind. She barely looked evil at all! Otherwise, as a huge New Gods fan, I was thrilled to see the last two pages.

[James Harvey]

I really, really liked the art, too. I also noticed how much of a departure the art is from the established STAS style. I was skimming through it after I read it and this could easily pass for a "mainstream" comic. Granted the S:TAS-ness is still there, but it looks rela mainstream. And how much better would the art have looked with a good colorist?

[DisneyBoy]

Well, after finally deciding that I didn't want to exert the will power necessary to wait until the final issue comes out and read both parts together, I picked up #65 and here's what I thought:

Story: I have to give some props here to the newly married couple. Not only does this story keep continuity with Livewire's last appearance (something special since they didn't even write those issues!), it was action-packed and creative. Who knows why Lex wanted Leslie alive or why he hired Kanto to revive her. Hopefully it is more than just his wanting her electric powers as Mercy stated. I was disappointed that the events in the story lasted only five minutes, since spreading a story over a few days makes reading it last longer. I was also hoping for a sub-plot invovling Lois in there somewhere. I think she only appeared once in the whole issue, if that was her!

Art: Aluir's done some better stuff, I must admit. Why is it he no longer uses those bold lines that hold characters together (like those used on the cover)??? Instead, his super-sketchy style depends greatly on the colorist to flesh out the characters. It also makes every gesture look slightly over-dramatic. Generally, though, I can't really complain too much. I don't want to diss Amancio, as I'll really miss his work. DG, you are very right about how different his art looks from that in say, the first issue of the series, but somehow, it still works.

Coloring: Well, I think it's improved from last issue, but I'm stretching here! I can't believe that this is the same guy who colored that great "War Games" two parter! Of even that fantastic Supergirl issue!!! Those awful colors cheapen the look of the whole issue, and don't do much to improve Aluir's art. I started to feel like I was inside a cereal box last night! And the way Austin copps-out on those "explosion" type panels just ticks me off. Everything is either pink, yellow, green (seems Livewire's skin has changed color since last we saw her!) or some other ghastly color that just doesn't fit. And with all the possibilities there will be to color Akopolis in alien-neon bright shades next issue, I must admit I'm very concerned. The only colors I didn't mind we those used on Superman's ever-changing outfit. Dark blue, light blue, baby blue... yet somehow it made him look rather mature. N-E-ways, at least he got the colors right on those villains on the last pages...or was that green-native girl supposed to be beige?

Overall, a lot of dialogue, and fruity-colored action sequences made this issue sadly reminiscent of the whole "Brainiac Beyond" joy that was #64 (total sarcasm here folks!) When I read that the writer was trying to cram the story full of ideas, I hoped that they would include more than a 15 page fight sequence and a surprise visit from Akopolis. It would have been nice to see Lois and Jimmy at the scene of the riot, fearing for Superman's health, or even Kara watching the news from Smallville - anything to provide a change of scene from the fight. All in all, a great first four pages gave me hope that this story would greatly affect Metropolis, rather than being a simple fight/chase deal. Then again, maybe this buildup was purposeful. The simple things are often better than long, drawn-out dramas with little or no point. Then again, I was hoping for a better reason for beaming Livewire and Superman to Akopolis than "Oops, I did it again". Hopefully next issue will be more than one last 22 page fight sequence starring all the outer-worldly badguys under Darkseid's controll. A great two-parter needs one part development and one part action. They can either be equally spread between the two parts, or one part does the developping and the other, the fighting. Since we've seen Supes' outfit already torn to shreds, let's hope he'll spend some time working through his issues with Darkseid next month, rather than beating up his minions and then taking a mother box home. All I want for next issue is depth and purpose...
...and better coloring...
...and fuller art...
...and a better balance between action and development...
...and Lois...and Kara....and a Clark/Lois kiss...

I LOVE SUPERMAN ADVENTURES

[DisneyBoy]

I'm surprised that not more people have commented on the first part of the last Superman Adventures story arc! Have the sales dropped so dramatically that not even the fans here read it?? :rolleyes: Please, I'm really interested to hear what everyone else thought of this issue!

[James Harvey]

I'm surprised more people aren't talking about this either. It's sad to see how this series is ending, with just over 8000 readers. I thought the issue was pretty good, though there was a lot of exposition, I found. The art could have been better. Ever since seeing Neil Vokes art untouched by Terry Austin, I'm convinved the reason why the art is lacking is becuase of Terry Austin. I wish Terry Beatty could've come on for the last few issues.

[DisneyBoy]

Agreed. And whoever does the coloring for Gotham Adventures is much, much better than the current SA guy. A green Livewire? Pink clouds? VOMIT!