Flashback Friday: Velocity #1 (1995)

Yes, I am getting a Flashback Friday posted.  I am in a very blah mood, but just needed to do something to break this feeling of tiredness I have battled all week.  I received the 25 pounds of comics this week and was a bit disappointed in one way.  I really question that the kid friendly and teen friendly tags they used and the guarantee of majority Marvel and DC was met.  I mean I had an issue of Violator #1 in the kid friendly pack.  Anyway a problem I figured did happen.  I had a few issues I wanted to pull out and keep for me.  Velocity #1 is such an issue.

I have no real connection with the character.  I know enough to tell a person on the street that she is a speedster and on a team called Cyber-Force.  That pretty much is my know ledge of her.  I have always liked the character design for her.  The colors work for me.  I like the red hair.  She of all the Image characters from that period seems to be someone I would like.  Otherwise I have little in terms of collecting to do with Cyber-Force.

In this opening book of her 1995 series we get a glimpse of her as a team player.  Things stand out real quick about her.  Carin is a very sympathetic woman.  She cares and that can be enough to sense a reason she is using her abilities for good.  She wants to help.  It becomes real clear that she feels less than able to help.  From her own thoughts we see her as the weakest of her team.  She has doubts and fears.  We are shown a memory image of her sister Ballistic, whom Image readers would know, but I don't.  Carin tells in her narration that her sister is the tough and courageous one.

Now the plot.  A serial killer of super humans.  Through the turns and twists of the story he separates Carin and we get a look at his powers.  They are impressive.  He has Velocity's genetic marker and plans to hunt her.  We know that this is now a cat and mouse hunt where she will have to become the hero she doubts she is to survive.  It really is a good start to a story.  Not knowing about this world I still can become invested in seeing the adventure take place.  I get enough info to pull for Carin and want to see her prevail.  Maybe one day I will find the rest of the story and know how it ends.

BDS

Greg Rucka's LAZARUS ONE and TWO

 MATURE READER TITLE

One of the best times I had at HeroesCon was listening to Greg Rucka discuss WHITEOUT at a panel.  I sensed some seed of hurt from him in terms of how the mainstream work of the business had dealt with him.  What did show clear was his love of words and crafting a story.  I saw this comic listed after the Con in the back of one of my Witchblade issues.  I failed to remember to have it added to my list and thought I might have missed Issue One.  Luckily both Issues One and Two were available at the shop.

This is really the first time I have gotten into the start of one of Rucka's "Girls" as Forever will now be termed.  I love Queen & Country, especially the novels.  From Batwoman to Perfect Dark Mr. Rucka has a knack for writing strong female leads in his stories.  Forever lives up to that in just two issues of the series.  She also appears to be more than just a human.

The opening to Issue One is very graphic and according to Mr. Rucka the basis for the entire series.  He has a great commentary in the back detailing the journey to this point in the life of this comicbook.  It is all about what our country and the world has and is experiencing.  The future here is one where an even smaller 1% has subjugated the rest of the 99%.  Families own portions of the world and each has their own fiefdoms that provides for a few who do the work while the rest of humanity is known as the "Waste."  Some will say that it could never happen.  To those I say pick up a newspaper and just read every day and see how close this future really is right now.

Advantages to not being able to go to the shop every week has me reading Issue Two right after I finish the first issue.  The foul language increases so I warn all parents out there to know that straight on.  The intrigue also increases.  I found it a more compelling issue.  There are hints as to Forever and her standing in the Family Carlye.  All members are shown.  There appears to be a twin incest thing happening.  Think of Dallas and Game of Thrones being put in a blender and you can start to see the way this world is forming.  Our girl Forever has a sword.  I am a sucker for a gal with a sword.

This is good grown up drama in comicbook form.  Makes me want a LAZARUS novel from Mr. Rucka.  He is outstanding as a writer in whatever form he chooses.  This is a great read and two strong issues to start out a book.

BDS 

I've Got Issues

These pics are from my organizing the other week.  I thought since I had them all spread out they would be a nice picture.  I am working to get more stuff posted, but I also have to deal with work and life and all that stuff as well.  I did decide to put down 52 dollars for all the first issues of the DCnU books.  My local shop had this deal that ends Wednesday, August 3rd at 5:52 PM.  You get each book for $1.  Big savings if you look at the fact that they would be $156 dollars otherwise for all the books.  Now I have to decide if I will try to do a review of every book as they come into my hands.  

If you want to check out my shop go to http://www.ssalefish.com/ 


BDS

Proof Book 1: Goatsucker

Proof Book 1:  Goatsucker

By Alexander Grecian & Riley Rossmo

            I had heard a bit about PROOF when it came out.  The long lost G4 podcast mentioned it and I had seen it mentioned on some sites.  I just couldn't add another book at the time.  So I passed by and hoped to one day check it out.  The other day I found the Trade at my used bookstore for $5.00.  Not bad and the book looked almost unread.  Great condition for a five buck trade.  So I have sat down and read it twice and really liked it.

            It is a twist on the “mythical and legendary creatures live among us” theme of so much sci-fi books and TV.  Agent John Prufrock, or “Proof,” is the Sasquatch in the room.  He is our main character, yet we do not get too much of him at first.  His new partner, FBI Agent Ginger Brown, and a Sheriff that is the victim of a Cryptid's murderous ways.  It is a very great weaving of the various stories that lead us to even more mystery.

            The way Ginger gets recommended for the “Lodge” is funny to me.  A golem named Joseph helps foil a hostage situation and ends up using his clout to move Ginger along.  She is put in the deep end of the pool from the start as her and Proof head to find a Chupacara.  The creature is written very differently from what my concept of the monster would be.  That is a strength.  The creatures are taken and given some old school definitions and some twists and changes that help make them more ominous.

            One can read this and be satisfied with an ending, yet the tease for more is there as well.  I will buy a Book 2 if I run across it.  This is a well written title, but it does run for those with more mature minds.

BDS