I didn’t realize how decent–moderately good even–this issue of The Spirit was until the end. I spent the entire issue pissed off about the Mike Ploog art. I’ve been anxiously waiting for the Mike Ploog on The Spirit–at first I thought he was the new artist, then it turned out it’d just be the one issue and here it finally is… and it’s a severe disappointment. Ploog opens with a beautiful page and a lot of the supporting cast looks great, but his Spirit is dull. Looks like Superman in a blue suit. I’m guessing a lot of the problems come from the Mark Farmer inks. So, major disappointment in that respect.
However–even with all the problems with modernizing the Spirit (I mean, Ebony’s nickname I get, but Ebony lecturing the Spirit on Wi-Fi? Or the pizza thing? Painful.)–it’s a solid issue. The mystery is inventive, a lot of the dialogue is good. Aragonés and Evanier do make some significant mistakes with Dolan though. He comes off as a stubborn idiot and, even though the final joke is funny, their Dolan certainly is ready for retirement.
My problem with the new DC Spirit is the same as it’s been. There’s nothing essential about it, it’s absolutely unnecessary, an exercise in quality comic book storytelling, but it’s somehow mundane. It’s missing some (unknown to me) vital element. It might just be Eisner, but I don’t think so. I think it’s about the mix of commercial sensibilities (in an age where commercial sensibilities ruin art, instead of just hinder it) and a homage to something great. Aragonés and Evanier craft a decent story, but it all feels a lot like “Trapper John, M.D.”
B
Recommend on Mahalo
1 response so far ↓
1 north shore comics dealer // Mar 14, 2008 at 1:49 am
Yeah, it’s hard to enjoy The Spirit as much as I’d of liked, but for me it came down to inspiration. While Cooke’s homages ran up and down over his run, there was always an underlining feeling of genuine love for the work of Eisner, which is a premise that was eventually runs out of gas, no matter how devoted it was. Continuing the flawed premise after Cooke’s departure seems a tepid at best idea, but sometimes that’s what you get in comics.
I know you’re a big Ploog fan (as am I), but I’m not sure if it’s Ploog’s aged ability or whether it’s the pretty non-sympathetic inks that Farmer lays down, overwhelming any type of visual mood Ploog is known for that gives it a weird, inappropriate cartoony look.
I can only shudder to think of the over the top wham sensibility possessed by Frank Miller in his future attempt to bring the Spirit to film will be. His last several years as a comics creator certainly don’t lend themselves to the subtlety required to successfully bring the Sprit to the big screen. As a big Spirit fan, I can only hope my pessimism is misplaced when I go to see it.
With a character as deeply rooted in the romantic illusion of America’s past as the Spirit was, I believe it lends credence to the idea that you just can’t go home again. By using “homage” as a starting point with a level of creator far inferior to the original you are doomed to defeat before you even start, as the the last two issues of the comic easily demonstrate.
Cooke’s talent is certainly good enough to give
such a premise(as his recent DC New Frontier special easily demonstrates) worthy attention. It was a bad idea to continue this series past it’s sell by date, however.
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