National Comics: Eternity Review

Today's review is going to be National Comics: Eternity by Jeff Lemire.

Before I review the actual issue, we need to talk about two things; National Comics and Kid Eternity. National Comics used to be an anthology series back in the forties, and DC's current approach at reviving this old title is to do a series of One Shot stories to showcase some older or more obscure characters. This is the first in the series and it re-introduces the character Kid Eternity to the new DC Universe.

Last time anybody really saw Kid Eternity in the spotlight was in Grant Morrison's mini-series titled Kid Eternity, and later his own ongoing with the same name as well. Well written and a little loony and wonderfully dark, definitely worth a look. Previously Kid Eternity's powers used to be that he could call upon dead spirits to get help. His name was unknown and he would go by the name of Kid Eternity until he later found out his real name of Christopher Freeman, brother of Freddy Freeman (Captain Marvel Jr. and later actually Captain Marvel). Boom! That's what he was, and I could go into more detail, but you can do that yourself. let's get to the actual book at hand.

This issue does a great job at starting on square one. We're introduced to Christopher Freeman, a coroner for the police department, he's a bit of slacker and only gets to keep his job due to his deceased father's reputation. His powers are different this time around, rather than calling on the spirits of the deceased by speaking their name he has to make physical contact and pull their spirit out of limbo, at that point the spirit walks around on our plane visible only to Kid Eternity (A.K.A. Christopher Freeman). He then talks to them to figure out how they were killed... and that's the basics of the story.

The writing is fantastic, Lemire does a great job as normal with some great dialogue between the dead and Chris. His introduction of the character is also well done, we get a good feel to his personality while also getting a great understanding as to why he is the way he is. The rest of the cast is also well written, we get a good feel to everyone and I feel like they all get some sort of character development rather than getting some stock personalities.

The art is good too. Solid artwork by Cully Hammer and Derec Donovan. The art really sets the tone, realistic allowing for the bit of fantasy of having ghosts around. Fantastic use of shadows in my opinion (in other words, they didn't go overboard on having too many shadows and darks around), but more than anything, I was really pleased with the faces on the characters, no two characters felt similar.

Definitely worth a look. If this is what DC wants to do with National Comics and Kid Eternity, then I have no problems with it. A great read, I felt like I got more out of this issue than I get out of most television shows.

I give this issue a 4 out 5.

A great introduction to a old character with a new twist. The writing and art work well together, and I really enjoyed it, even if it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat.

Two Questions though: Why didn't he (or anyone else for this matter) call himself Kid Eternity? I couldn't have made the connection of the name and characted if I didn't already know enough about him. ALSO! Why did he wear red glasses, what purpose did they serve? 

National Comics: Eternity is published by DC Comics in Single Issue format at 3.99.
All Images used in this review are property of DC Comics. In other words, I don't own these images.

P.S. I get the feeling that DC wants to do a sort of Pilot Season (a la Top Cow) where they decided who gets to keep a title depending on the reception and sales of the issue.

Drinking Game Alert! Take a shot everytime I mention "Kid Eternity" take a double shot whenever I use "Eternity" or "Kid" separately.

Marvel Reviews: Captain Marvel & X-Treme X-Men

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to reviewing comics. Life has kept me a little busy and it feels great to be writing this up.

I'm going to be starting by reviewing a great bunch of comics, a lot of number one's worth checking out, the first two are Marvel titles that have just barely started.

The first of the two is X-Treme X-Men by Greg Pak and Stephen Segovia.

This series actually spins off from Astonishing X-Men's Exalted storyline. For those of you that missed that story line Cyclops get kidnapped into an alternate dimension where mutant powers are used to power a machine that keeps the earth from falling apart. In this dimension Cyclops meets some more mutants in the same scenario, with them being other versions of Emma Frost, Wolverine and Nightcrawler. Cyclops escapes leaving his new buds to find a way out. That's where X-Treme X-Men picks up.

You follow the group of inter-dimensional travelers as they fight some new baddies and recruit our universe's Dazzler.

Not just content with visiting other dimensions, these X-Men actually have a goal in mind, they're hunting down different, and dangerous, versions of Xavier's head from other realities. The first incarnation is a squid monster. Just to let you get a taste.

I'm actually quite fond of this formula and I like having a small team of X-Men, with most of them being new to me due to their new renditions, as opposed to the much-too-similar-to-be-coincidence Exiles comic from years back.

Apart from the formula, the action is great and pacing is fantastic with not too much getting thrown at you all at once. Character introductions are brief, but they let you get the basic gist of whose who, specially if you didn't read the Exalted story.

Art and writing is solid, but not groundbreaking or revolutionary. Very average, but it's really not a complaint.

The second review is Captain Marvel by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Dexter Soy.

This is a new chapter in Carol Danver's super hero career with her deciding whether or not to take up the mantle as the next Captain Marvel after the last one's death. (I think his name was spelled Mar-Vell?)

The writing feels solid, I'm not too familiar with DeConnick's writing style but it feels good.

The element that stood out for me was Soy's art; beautiful and stylized, it kept me hooked from the very beginning, so don't let the (very, very horrible) McGuiness cover fool you.

A very good starting point for readers who want to jump into a new hero, everything you need to know is told to you in the story line without feeling too much like exposition.

Definitely worth checking out.

After two brief descriptions and vague opinions, here's what I really think.

Both titles have solid writing, I had no complaints on either one.

Art is also solid for both, but Captain Marvel stood out with Soy's painted art.

I'm definitely going to keep reading X-Treme X-Men, but not Captain Marvel, I feel more invested in the X-Men characters than I do with Carol Danvers.

Obligated

I always feel obligated to do stuff. I hate this feeling.
Whenever I take on a project such as doing reviews or writing a story I always do a little trial period to get the feel for it.
After the trial I set up a schedule and then the drive is gone. I start feeling obligated and forced to continue my projects.
I've had some comics that need to be reviewed and I haven't done it. I'm trying to review them right now and instead I'm writing a blog post about not liking doing stuff.
I really should.
I going to.
As soon as I hit the publish button.
Wish me luck.


UPDATE: I made the post. I'm a writer.