Sophie Campbell (1)Reseñas

This was the volume where I fully and completely fell in love with Mara Zuzanny. Lots of fun, generally.

While I think it maybe moved a little fast and tidied things up a little much, there's so much to love about this final volume of Wet Moon that it's hard to be too bothered by that.

Huge and wonderful leap forward in terms of both storytelling and visual style. Campbell writes in the afterword about how a lot of people hated this book and its new style, but I don't mind stylization, especially when it means the characters are more visually distinct from each other. The whole story feels like it's starting to coalesce.

Reread in preparation to actually read the whole series. Not sure how I'm feeling yet...

It's really interesting to watch the artist's style develop across these books. I just started the third, and there's markedly different stuff going on from the first two already. But--to review any of these books individually seems....incorrect? At least, they don't entirely work for me as individual books, even accounting for them as a series, but I feel them starting to build toward something enough for me to keep reading.

I tore through this volume, deeply engrossed the whole time. This is maybe the most emotional this series has made me--everyone's reactions to Trilby being hurt felt so absolutely real and nuanced. As ever, watching Sophie Campbell's style change and grow is a fun aspect of these books all on its own.

OMG GUYS THIS IS SO GOOD!!! I CAN'T RECOMMEND THIS HARD ENOUGH!

But, yelling aside, this is srsly insanely good. The art is beautiful and does an excellent job of capturing the feel of the old Jem show while updating the characters and settings for a new generation. The way Sophie Campbell and M. Victoria Robado capture the essence of musical interludes in their art is truly stunning. And Kelly Thompson's writing is sharp and witty and super fun.

Also, Kimber Stormer 5eva.

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/QP8MglfxfcA

Enjoy!

• [Untitled - "My palms sweat."] / John Ridley, writer; Clayton Henry, artist
~ 2 stars ~
In an epilogue to World's Finest #192-193 from 1970, Clark Kent is anxious when he has to interview a man who tortured him years earlier when he was in a powerless state as Superman. A realistic downer.

• The Measure of Hope / Brandon Easton, writer; Steve Lieber, artist
~ 2 stars ~
A dead mom? More depressing mopiness about the limits of Superman's powers.

• The Boy Who Saved Superman / Wes Craig, story & art
~ 3 stars ~
So powerlessness is definitely a theme here. When Superman is down and out, it's up to a young immigrant to get him back into the fray. The right kind of inspiring.

• Human Colors / Dan Watters, script; Dani, art
~ 2 stars ~
A silly, if well-intentioned parable about the importance of color to humanity.

• The School of Hard Knock-Knock Jokes / Marguerite Bennett, writer; Jill Thompson, artist
~ 2 stars ~
Kindergartener Clark Kent stars in a heavy-handed afterschool special about shunning and friendship.

• Own / Steven T. Seagle, writer; Duncan Rouleau, art
~ 2 stars ~
Martha Kent rips her coffee clique when they make a slight about adoption.

• Into the Ghost Zone / Chuck Brown, writer; Denys Cowan, pencils; John Stanisci, inks
~ 2 stars ~
I'm not familiar with the Earth-2 Superman, Val-Zod, and this silly action piece does little to properly introduce him.

• Patience / Dan Panosian, story & art
~ 2 stars ~
Lex Luthor futilely attacks Superman with some new red kryptonite, including a boxing match. I grew up with Muhammad Ali clobbering Supes in glorious, full-color, treasury-sized Neal Adams art, and, friend, that is not a comparison you want to invite.

• My Best Friend, Superman / Stephanie Phillips, script; Marley Zarcone, art
~ 2 stars ~
Another obvious and heavy-handed afterschool special set on a playground. Or maybe it would be more at home on the corny old Superfriends TV show.

• S Is for Cyborg / Jason Howard, art & story
~ 2 stars ~
Cyborg Superman Hank Henshaw needs to be forgotten forever by everyone. Just stop with him already, DC.

• Deadline / Jesse J. Holland, writer; Laura Braga, artist
~ 3 stars ~
It's a little awkward, but I like this story of Bruce Wayne and Diana musing whether or not a busy and constantly distracted Clark Kent will make his newspaper deadline and their dinner date.

• Kilg%re City / Michel Fiffe, writer & artist
~ 2 stars ~
Nearly unreadable nonsense, but the art is sort of fun.

• A Man Most Saved / Brandon Thomas, writer; Berat Pekmezci, art
~ 2 stars ~
I like the premise of a man who has been saved by Superman repeatedly getting the chance to pay him back, but it felt like it needed a few more pages or a slightly different angle of attack to succeed.

• Something to Hold on to / Nick Spencer, writer; Christian Ward, art
~ 2 stars ~
Superman invites the kids from a group home to his Fortress of Solitude for a field trip. Toyman crashes. I zone out.

• Little Star / James Stokoe, story & art
~ 2 stars ~
I like the concept of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth hiding a special little mystery, but the end left me cold. That's not how Supes would've handled it.

• Namrepus / Mark Waid, writer; Audrey Mok, artist
~ 3 stars ~
A classic throwback sort of tale with Superman deciding to show up in the Fifth Dimension and prank Mr. Mxyzptlk. Funny and clever.

• Prospect of Tomorrow / Francis Manapul, writer & artist
~ 2 stars ~
Superman goes to Mars to play matchmaker with exploration drones? Bizarre.

• A Little Is a Lot / Robert Venditti, writer; Alitha Martinez, artist
~ 3 stars ~
A simple story of everyday heroism being a match for Superman's extraordinary abilities.

• For the Man Who Has Nothing / Michael W. Conrad, writer; Cully Hamner, artist
~ 2 stars ~
Oh, no, another bad Bizarro story.

• #SavedBySuperman / Rich Douek, writer; Joe Quinones, art
~ 2 stars ~
A cool concept wherein social media idiots start throwing themselves off things as part of a viral challenge to have Superman save them. But it goes for a preachy ending instead of something realistic or clever.

• Fetch / Judd Winick, writer; Ibrahim Moustafa, artist
~ 2 stars ~
Krypto arrives on Earth and makes Clark Kent happy. Ho-hum.

• Deescalation / G. Willow Wilson, writer; Valentine De Landro, artist
~ 3 stars ~
A crime is committed, and Clark Kent gets to save the day for once. Nice.

• Your Favorite / Josh Williamson, writer; Chris Sprouse, pencils; Karl Story, inks
~ 2 stars ~
Jimmy Olsen is a screw-up, and a pretty boring one at that.

• Red Sun . . . Blue Dot / Mark Buckingham, story & art
~ 2 stars ~
Baby Supes flies in a rocket while his Kryptonian parents have a morose voice-over dialogue.

• [Untitled - "Matthew 3:17"] / Daniel Warren Johnson, writer & artist
~ 2 stars ~
Jonathan Kent's a good dad. Yup.

• Streaky the Supercat in: Hissy Fit / Sophie Campbell, story & art
~ 3 stars ~
Cats, amiright? Hee.

• Scoop / Matt Wagner, story & art
~ 3 stars ~
Clark Kent's a damn good reporter.

• The Special / Tom King, writer; Paolo Rivera, artist
~ 3 stars ~
Clark Kent's a good man too. Yup.

• Son of Farmers / Darcie Little Badger, writer; Steve Pugh, art
~ 2 stars ~
I was a son of a maize farmer too. Didn't find any of these lessons shaping my life.

• "Ally" / Rex Ogle, writer; Mike Norton, artist
~ 2 stars ~
Nice, but really?

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents:
• Superman Red & Blue #1 Cover / Gary Frank, illustrator
• [Untitled - "My palms sweat."] / John Ridley, writer; Clayton Henry, artist
• The Measure of Hope / Brandon Easton, writer; Steve Lieber, artist
• The Boy Who Saved Superman / Wes Craig, story & art
• Human Colors / Dan Watters, script; Dani, art
• The School of Hard Knock-Knock Jokes / Marguerite Bennett, writer; Jill Thompson, artist
• Superman Red & Blue #2 Cover / Nicola Scott, illustrator
• Own / Steven T. Seagle, writer; Duncan Rouleau, art
• Into the Ghost Zone / Chuck Brown, writer; Denys Cowan, pencils; John Stanisci, inks
• Patience / Dan Panosian, story & art
• My Best Friend, Superman / Stephanie Phillips, script; Marley Zarcone, art
• S Is for Cyborg / Jason Howard, art & story;
• Superman Red & Blue #3 Cover / Paul Pope, illustrator
• Deadline / Jesse J. Holland, writer; Laura Braga, artist
• Kilg%re City / Michel Fiffe, writer & artist
• A Man Most Saved / Brandon Thomas, writer; Berat Pekmezci, art
• Something to Hold on to / Nick Spencer, writer; Christian Ward, art
• Little Star / James Stokoe, story & art
• Superman Red & Blue #4 Cover /John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson, illustrators
• Namrepus / Mark Waid, writer; Audrey Mok, artist
• Prospect of Tomorrow / Francis Manapul, writer & artist
• A Little Is a Lot / Robert Venditti, writer; Alitha Martinez, artist
• For the Man Who Has Nothing / Michael W. Conrad, writer; Cully Hamner, artist
• #SavedBySuperman / Rich Douek, writer; Joe Quinones, art
• Superman Red & Blue #5 Cover / Amanda Conner, illustrator
• Fetch / Judd Winick, writer; Ibrahim Moustafa, artist
• Deescalation / G. Willow Wilson, writer; Valentine De Landro, artist
• Your Favorite / Josh Williamson, writer; Chris Sprouse, pencils; Karl Story, inks
• Red Sun . . . Blue Dot / Mark Buckingham, story & art
• [Untitled - "Matthew 3:17"] / Daniel Warren Johnson, writer & artist
• Superman Red & Blue #6 Cover / Evan "Doc" Shaner, illustrator
• Streaky the Supercat in: Hissy Fit / Sophie Campbell, story & art
• Scoop / Matt Wagner, story & art
• The Special / Tom King, writer; Paolo Rivera, artist
• Son of Farmers / Darcie Little Badger, writer; Steve Pugh, art
• "Ally" / Rex Ogle, writer; Mike Norton, artist
• Variant Cover Gallery / Lee Bermejo (#1), Yoshitaka Amano(#1), David Choe (#2), Brian Bolland (#2), Derrick Chew (#3), John Paul Leon (#3), Alexander Lozano (#4), Walter Simonson (#4), Arthur Adams (#5), Miguel Mercado (#5), Gabriele Dell'Otto (#6), and Kevin Eastman (#6), illustrators
• Cover Process / Gary Frank, Nicola Scott, Amanda Conner, Evan "Doc" Shaner, and John Paul Leon, illustrators

This is packed with so much nostalgia from my childhood, but it's been updated. The 80's punk aesthetic is still there in the costumes but there's also the internet and twitter and cellphones. This was super fun, and fans of the old TV show should love this. It feels like Jem but modernized.

The story telling is also more nuanced than in the old TV show. There's a Romeo/Juliet type relationship between Kimber and Stormer, and Rio is now a music industry journalist instead of the Hologram's roadie. Both bring in added complications.

Will be continuing on. I'm glad this is here, because I did try rewatching the cartoon and it, unfortunately, does not hold up with time.

***Who sucked me in***

The Book Pusher on YouTube in her 'a hot mess AUGUST WRAP UP' video. Published on 8 september 2017

Weer eens een ongelezen exemplaar uit de LGBTQ-humble bundle geplukt. Het is alweer vijf jaar geleden dat ik deze e-boeken kocht en op een of andere manier kwam ik er nooit zo aan toe. Ik merk dat ik aan e-boeken sowieso toch minder makkelijk begin. En al helemaal als het strips zijn want die kan ik alleen maar achter mijn bureau lezen en daar zit ik voor mijn werk al zoveel uren dat ik in mijn vrije tijd liever op de bank spring met een boek.

Maar toch aan dit exemplaar begonnen en ik was snel verrast door de wereld van het plaatsje Wet Moon waarin tieners opgroeien en met de gebruikelijke onderwerpen te dealen hebben zoals erbij horen, verliefd worden, eigen identiteit vinden enzovoort. Nu heb ik over deze onderwerpen inmiddels wel voldoende gelezen maar toch was het de manier waarop de personages getekend zijn die mijn aandacht vasthielden. De gothic uitstralingen van veel van de personages vind ik boeiend om naar te kijken en het worstelen met het lichaam dat te dik bevonden wordt is schitterend in beeld gebracht.

Wel jammer dat dit een deel 1 blijkt te zijn van een reeks die tot op heden doorloopt en ondertussen al bij, geloof ik, deel 7 is. In dit eerste deel is een aanloop genomen met verwijzingen naar geheimen die bij allerlei personages spelen. Helaas prikkelen deze geheimen niet voldoende om een deel 2 aan te gaan schaffen. Ik vind het leuk om kennis gemaakt te hebben met deze tekenstijl maar het onderwerp kan mij net niet genoeg grijpen.

Fun read! Ok -art

Excellent. reat art, good writing, fun story.

That was just as satisfying as I could have hoped for. Those sugary colors are the best, and Pizzazz is written like all the best 80s cartoon girl villains. I am definitely reading more!

I really liked the dream sequences, but the story fell fairly flat for me. I agree, too, with other reviewers here about the troubling hypersexualization.

So well done! Thompson and Campbell take the spirit of the original tv show and update it just enough to not seem inauthentic or forced. One of the first comics were we see character design that is inclusive, feminist and features different types of body shapes. Love the queer elements they've infused here. And the artwork is outstanding - unique layouts, bold colors that pop off the page and fantastic character moments. It's unfortunate the recent movie reboot got it so wrong, because this comic book series gets it so right.

This is a fitting revival of Jem - sweet, a little corny, more-or-less predictable, and definitely unrooted in reality. Nice updating of characters and relationships, although this first book seems to have skipped some backstory which left me confused at times.

I loved the art style of this book. The gist of the story was good but too often the characters didn't ring true to me. I wanted to enjoy the story as much as I loved the art, but it just wasn't there for me. Hate to say it, but it read just too much like a guy's fantasy for me.

3.25. I liked it. I appreciated the added elements of diversity in the characters, especially in how some of the characters were drawn. Many different body types were represented (though I couldn't help but notice the front women were still drawn in the ideal). The comics storylines were upgraded to meet the times (and represent diversity), but it still held true to the old-school corny Jem and the Holograms elements. You get crappy lyrics, insta-love, almost too perfect Jerrica and they even through in the Misfits guitar bikes. The artwork itself is amazing. Loved the color palette and style. I am definitely continuing on. How could I not? I'm an 80's kid and this was definitely one of my favorite shows of the time. This hit all my nostalgia buttons. Now I kinda want to go dig up my old Jem dolls and tapes. Lol

aaaah!! okay, first of all: the art style? legendary. everyone is so cute and beautiful and colourful, and everyone has differently coloured hair, and it's just so PRETTY!

there is also a main F/F couple with some rivalry-complications, lots of music and lyrics and stage outfits, and siblings sticking together.

that being said, I'm not really into the plot yet. competition rivalry is one thing, but I don't like girls sabotaging each other to the point of injuring, and honestly I'm not even sure who Clash is? it doesn't seem like she's /in/ the band so like??

otherwise, this was a typical first volume: just enough to get me interested, but not much more on its own.

as for genre, it mostly has a contemporary-feel, but it also has a sci-fi twist with the holograms, so there's that

I was kind of bored by this installment. There's a mad slasher going round, but other than that nothing really happens, and I'm getting tired of hearing these kids go on about their mundane lives and mixed-up romances. It might be more palatable if Campbell was still using the more realistic art style he drew the first two books with, but I can barely stand to look at that any more either. This volume ends on a cliffhanger, so I guess I'm going to have to pick up the next one when it comes out to find out what happens to my favorite character.

I adore these books to no end. I was completely captivated by the end of this first book. After this, i will read anything with Camobell's work.

I love Campbell's work, even this, but this is probably the poorest of her work. It just felt like an excuse to draw zombies and mutilation. Which can be fine, but isnt what i wanted. Still always fun to read.