Post by Crom-Cruach on Apr 1, 2012 19:55:05 GMT -5
Alright it has been sometime since I've posted anything other then chatter so I figure I'd post a review of some of the stuff
So without further ado:
Artifacts Volumes 0-3
Publisher: Top Cow
Writer: Ron Marz
Artists: Micheal Broussard. Whilce Portacio, Joe Wheems V, Jeremy Haun, Sunny Cho, Stjepan Sejic
Synopsis: Continuing the saga of the Thirteen artifacts and the events following broken Trinity.This series starts up after the events of Pandora's box and marks the last chapter of a long running portion of the Top Cow Universe. Sara Pezzini's daughter get's kidnapped by Aphrodite V, as a mysterious man begins to gather artifact bearers to his side to finally accomplish what the artifacts were always capable of doing: remaking the universe to his desires. Tom Judge, bearer of the Rapture attempts to organize the forces to stop the conspirators. Internal discensions tear the group apart, and at the end the universe is remade and there is something very wrong left, and a man will do his best to keep it that way.
Thoughts on the story: Overall, it was enjoyable. It kept me reading and I liked the reveal, well planned and set up. I was good to see more of Tom Judge and Necromancer. The story itself is interesting and did a good job to show how human the protagonists are. It wasn't a perfect story however, for something supposed to be an epic finish to a long running arc there were so much wasted potential and wasted space. We see more panel time dedicated to Jackie and Sarah screwing then actually seeing some of the artifact bearers with the coolest powers (Sabine is only seen in about 4 panels and has about 5 lines of dialogue. Alina get's punked. despite both displaying powers capable of laying waste to entire cities). The last fight is a big brawl that doesn't do any justice to any of the characters present (except Necromancer who I loved how she killed Mali). There were some great bits however, Ian Nothingham's final farewell to Sarah was so spot on to what I wanted to read the character say. As well the fact that at the end the heroes basically lose despite their efforts and the world is remade is refreshing. All in all, a good idea and story that wasted too many opportunities and focused on things that shouldn't have been focused on. I liked reading it and would not call it bad, it's definitively a must for Top Cow fans but Ron Marz dropped the ball in too many places to rank it amongst the best top cow stories.
Thoughts on art: This is the weakest aspect of this comic. Broussard's art ranges from good to uninspired. At after seeing the glorious art of issue of Sejic in Witchblade for so long. Seeing Broussard take over after issue 0 and then the others mentioned above pissed me off. Portacio and Wheems just don't cut it. Some of their drawings lacked consistence and were oddly drawn. Portacio especially is just not good enough and does not have the style I'd ever let near a top cow book ever again. Haun was definitively the strongest artist after Sejic (who mournfully only drew issue 0). I seriously hope Top Cow never gives Portacio and Wheems work ever again,
Final Thoughts This was a story that had so much promise, and because it is such an important stage in the top cow universe then it should have been the best Top Cow story published so far. It didn't deliver. Instead we got an o.k story with uneven quality and full of problems in the focus and narration with art that just isn't of an acceptable quality for Top Cow in it's vast majority. I can't say I disliked this story. What good parts were good and the story itself is worth the read. But it doesn't stand up to the quality that Top Cow should always be delivering. Especially jarring since Ron Marz wrote this and his previous Top Cow work has been much better
Final Verdict:
Story: 3/5, Should have been much better, but not bad
Art: 2/5, unacceptable for Top Cow
So without further ado:
Artifacts Volumes 0-3
Publisher: Top Cow
Writer: Ron Marz
Artists: Micheal Broussard. Whilce Portacio, Joe Wheems V, Jeremy Haun, Sunny Cho, Stjepan Sejic
Synopsis: Continuing the saga of the Thirteen artifacts and the events following broken Trinity.This series starts up after the events of Pandora's box and marks the last chapter of a long running portion of the Top Cow Universe. Sara Pezzini's daughter get's kidnapped by Aphrodite V, as a mysterious man begins to gather artifact bearers to his side to finally accomplish what the artifacts were always capable of doing: remaking the universe to his desires. Tom Judge, bearer of the Rapture attempts to organize the forces to stop the conspirators. Internal discensions tear the group apart, and at the end the universe is remade and there is something very wrong left, and a man will do his best to keep it that way.
Thoughts on the story: Overall, it was enjoyable. It kept me reading and I liked the reveal, well planned and set up. I was good to see more of Tom Judge and Necromancer. The story itself is interesting and did a good job to show how human the protagonists are. It wasn't a perfect story however, for something supposed to be an epic finish to a long running arc there were so much wasted potential and wasted space. We see more panel time dedicated to Jackie and Sarah screwing then actually seeing some of the artifact bearers with the coolest powers (Sabine is only seen in about 4 panels and has about 5 lines of dialogue. Alina get's punked. despite both displaying powers capable of laying waste to entire cities). The last fight is a big brawl that doesn't do any justice to any of the characters present (except Necromancer who I loved how she killed Mali). There were some great bits however, Ian Nothingham's final farewell to Sarah was so spot on to what I wanted to read the character say. As well the fact that at the end the heroes basically lose despite their efforts and the world is remade is refreshing. All in all, a good idea and story that wasted too many opportunities and focused on things that shouldn't have been focused on. I liked reading it and would not call it bad, it's definitively a must for Top Cow fans but Ron Marz dropped the ball in too many places to rank it amongst the best top cow stories.
Thoughts on art: This is the weakest aspect of this comic. Broussard's art ranges from good to uninspired. At after seeing the glorious art of issue of Sejic in Witchblade for so long. Seeing Broussard take over after issue 0 and then the others mentioned above pissed me off. Portacio and Wheems just don't cut it. Some of their drawings lacked consistence and were oddly drawn. Portacio especially is just not good enough and does not have the style I'd ever let near a top cow book ever again. Haun was definitively the strongest artist after Sejic (who mournfully only drew issue 0). I seriously hope Top Cow never gives Portacio and Wheems work ever again,
Final Thoughts This was a story that had so much promise, and because it is such an important stage in the top cow universe then it should have been the best Top Cow story published so far. It didn't deliver. Instead we got an o.k story with uneven quality and full of problems in the focus and narration with art that just isn't of an acceptable quality for Top Cow in it's vast majority. I can't say I disliked this story. What good parts were good and the story itself is worth the read. But it doesn't stand up to the quality that Top Cow should always be delivering. Especially jarring since Ron Marz wrote this and his previous Top Cow work has been much better
Final Verdict:
Story: 3/5, Should have been much better, but not bad
Art: 2/5, unacceptable for Top Cow
