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30 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I wish I 'd read this a lot sooner..., 28 Aug 2005
By A Customer
This has to be one of the most awesome collections of comics I've read in recent months (possibly years). As the other reviews state it is a little rough around the edges due to being the very early work of two great talents- for me this was one of the great points as it was fantastic to see the skills and construction of Alan Moore and Alan Davis as the strip develops. They start well and by the end have delivered not only a storyline that is gloriously over the top, but remains believable and relevant!The story was apparently one of Marvel UK's creations and published in eight page installments (much like the strips in 2000AD)- this doesn't show in any way, the book as a whole does cling together as a graphic novel, not just appearing as the collection it is. The artwork is entusiastic and full of talent- Alan Davis delivers clean lines, strong angles and great definition, particularly in the later sections of the book. Earlier on his art, whilst great, is a little hit and miss on figures- heads are occasionally a little large for the bodies and so on. But still the dynamism is well and truly there- a favourite image (almost iconic) is Captain B. swooping into London, past Big Ben naturally- a truly fantastic image. By the middle and latter stages of the book the imbalances have vanished and the reader is left with superb visual progressions of action and ideas. Alan Moore's script is predictably good- it does change noticably during the story, though it is difficult to tell where other than it is apparent its once his own storyline is fully under way. Characterisation, depiction and narrative flow are outstanding- the sheer power of imagination in the horrific plotline is staggering. The story and plot are very powerful, possibly one of the best I've read- I actually favour it over Watchmen now, even though this work is nowhere near the same scale in world creation. This is a tale that Superhero comics could only have produced and made fully believable- at its most basic its Terminator with superhumans. But add to that multidimensional travel, numerous psionic and reality-shifting supers and other b-i-g elements and you get a tale that is staggering in it's sheer `bigness'! The story also, as stated in other reviews, originates some ideas that are now long-accepted, but at the time were brand new- and they work very, very well. The Fury is without a doubt the most terrifying `villain' I've read in a comic book- relentless, adaptable and nigh on indestructable. It looks horrible too! This one would even give the Hulk a run for his money! Younger readers may find the '80s art style (line plus four colours-ish) a little off putting, but the pure energy of Alan Davis' illustrations will quite probably compensate, but this isn't a book that should be missed. This will never get a movie made from it as it would be 18-rated, dark, brutal, brooding and grim (with occasional let-ups for some fun humour- adding pathos to the characters) and it is incredibly over the top. Which is shame as it's a tale that deserves to be filmed because it really is truly different. Wholeheartedly recommended to crusty comic-book fans like me who missed it first time round and new-comers looking for something truly different- also recommended to anyone interested in seeing the development of two powerhouse talents. A fantastic book that is absolutely reommended!
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by Gary et al. Friedrich
by Chris Claremont
by Paul Cornell
by Paul Cornell
