GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: O.M.A.C. vol.1 OMACTIVATE!

There's nothing subtle about this re-working of the Jack Kirby character whose name stood for One Man Army Corp but is now in, DC's New 52, One-Machine Army Construct in the hands of Dan Didio (DC head honcho) who co-scripts with artist Keith Giffen. Giffen's art channels Jack Kirby to perfection while remaining clearly Giffen's own. Matching the art, the script also echoes Kirby's massive sound and thunder in a completely unsubtle assult on the reader and it's just great.

Didio and Giffen have done an excellent job of transforming elements of Kirby's work for DC in the 70's into a new form. Originally OMAC was just a tough enhanced human with a Mohawk haircut. Now he's something closer to a human monster with the Mohawk transformed into some kind of energy field. Utilising the body of Asian-American Kevin Kho, the enigmatic Brother Eye controls the monstrous OMAC into attacking the enigmatic scientific research institute Cadmus (itself secretly funded by the Checkmate organisation under the leadership of the ruthless Maxwell Lord). This brings OMAC into conflict with a variety of supervillains (at least one from Apocalips), monsters, and heroes (the latter including Frankenstein and a certain Kryptonian) and meeting a few characters who once appeared in Kamandi.

Fans of Jack Kirby will be squeeing in their seats and I couldn't blame them. This is a massive explosion of comic book energy which still manages to find space for some sly humour.

Disappointingly, the comic was cancelled after the eight issues included here so, for the time being, OMAC is de-omactivated. At least it ends in a satisfying manner and I'm sure the character will return somewhere.

GRAPHIC NOVEL: ACTION COMICS VOL 1 SUPERMAN AND THE MEN OF STEEL

The Unmissable Action Adventures of Young Superman: a slightly edited Amazon 5* review.

Of all DC's New 52 titles, this, after reading the first issue in that massive collection of all first issues, was the collected edition I'd been most looking forward to. I mean, it's written by Grant Morrison who wrote the best ever Superman series in All-Star Superman which is recommendation enough alone. This is the story of how the young (around 22 years old) Superman became SUPERMAN.

Set five years earlier than the rest of the New 52 continuity, superheroes are just beginning to emerge and we come across a Superman whose only been around a few months. He's lacks a proper costume -just ordinary workman's boots, jeans, t-shirt with logo, and a cape- and he has it in for corrupt capitalists. This a Superman for ordinary people. He's brash, confident and cocky and having a great time getting up the collective nose of authority and Lex Luthor has been hired to bring him down. When he first appeared, bullets bounced off him; now he can, just, withstand shells from a tank. He can leap tall buildings and his maximum speed is about 600mph. All this is about to change.

Meanwhile, young Clark Kent is a low-paid, sloppily-dressed crusading journalist, working for a dying small-circulation Metropolis paper, who lives in a cheap apartment, and is best friends with Lois Lane's pet photog, Jim Olsen. Perry White wants him for the Daily Planet but he won't go because he believes his integrity would be compromised. He's also getting secret information about a corrupt capitalist from an unknown source.

When Superman is captured after Lex Luthor has had him hit by a train which knocks him unconscious, he's tested in a secret government lab overseen by Lois Lane's father and where government scientist John Henry Irons is working on a super-suit. Irons gets angry when he discovers Luthor torturing the prisoner and about then everything explodes. Which is where I'll stop with the plot summary as I don't want to spoil it for you.

This is terrific stuff. Great dialogue and a nifty plot from Morrison which reinvents the character while remaining faithful to his origins. Terrific dynamic art from Rags Morales which threatens to burst out of the page; plus some inventive Krypton sequences courtesy of Gene Ha. There are four backup stories by Sholly (who?) Fisch which are okay. Toss in all the variant covers, and a nice piece in which Morrison and Morales write about the art and story to complete the package.

If you're only slightly into DC comics, this one is essential.

URBAN FANTASY AND THE DECLINE OF THE HORROR GENRE

1. Characteristics and recent examples of Urban Fantasy.

"There's a lot of it about" was the accurate title I gave to a review of  The Dirty Streets of Heaven, the first in a new series by Tad Williams. The 'it' being Urban Fantasy. It's easy to characterise or define this newly emerged genre as it has very clear characteristics.

It's set, primarily, in an urban environment (though it can include the suburbs or even visits to the country.

It contains at least one magical or supernatural element, but usually several such as vampires and their ilk, humans with magical powers -witches/magicians etc, demons and angels, ghosts, non-human humanoids such as elves, faeries,trolls, etc .

It may be set in a parallel world where these fantasy elements have been revealed to the general public to exist (the Sookie Stackhouse series to name just one of many, aka True Blood on TV) or are hidden under the surface of our world.

While generally contemporary, it may be set in the past.

Despite what may appear fairly narrow proscriptions, UF is actually a fairly adaptable sub-genre of Fantasy which, I'd argue, includes another popular sub-genre which narrowly preceded it -Paranormal Romance. It lends itself well to police procedural such as Justin Gustainis's Occult Crimes Unit series or, on TV, Grimm. But the potential scope is enormous. The form is also very popular among teenagers to just from the number of UF teen series published.

The reason I mention this is because just recently (i.e. in the last few months specifically, but intermittently for a number of years preceding that)  I appear to read and enjoyed a lot of UF. Kate Griffin's series (four so far) about Matthew Swift, a young sorcerer brought back from the dead with something extra, is a love-letter to London with evocative highly detailed descriptions and prose and an imaginative take on magic in the modern world. (Aside: Ms Griffin is actually also known as Catherine Webb who has written several well received teenage novels starting when she was only 14. She has now reached the venerable age of 26 and writes with the confidence and ability of someone twice her age.) Ben Aaronvitch similarly writes about London but from the viewpoint of a young mixed race copper with slight magical abilities working for a mysterious boss who is a senior police officer. The excellent Rivers of London is the first (of three) in the series and there's a new one coming along any minute now. In Benedict Jacka's Fated, our hero is a Camden-based magician with a gift for seeing the future -all possible futures. He avoids other magic users because they're all treacherous bastards. The third in the series is out soon. 

And these are only the series I've read in the last few months and which, obviously, I recommend as thoroughly entertaining.

2. The decline of horror.

I really should qualify that because, as it stands, it isn't completely true. Horror as a genre still thrives in the short story form and as movies in the cinema, or, more likely thanks to the endless appetite for low budget zombie movies, in direct to video form. The Sy-Fy channel also churns dozens of forgettable monster movies usually about mutant/prehistoric sharks, snakes, spiders, and crocodiles.

Horror is decline in terms of novels because the tropes of horror have been appropriated and adapted by what has become Urban Fantasy. The traditional monsters of horror -vampires, werewolves, etc- have now been transformed into part of modern society. They may  still be a threat, or misunderstood, or romanticised, but they are no longer the great unknown, the unknown demon in the shadows as they were traditionally portrayed. They no longer represent the visceral threat from which Horror draws its power. The number of classical mode horror novels (cf Joe Lansdale) published declines every year as more and more UF novels appear.

As this is only a short piece (I'm too lazy or have too many other things to do to write and research anything longer), I'll briefly outline its recently origins. You can really blame Laurell K. Hamilton  whose parallel world UF series about Anita Blake Vampire Hunter hit the best seller lists. The first seven or so novels are really very good but descended into solipsistic crap which took itself way too seriously rather like her Merry Gentry faerie stories which started off that way.  However, just as Frankenstein was acclaimed as the first modern Science Fiction novel, I'd like to suggest Bram Stoker's equally legendary Dracula as the first modern UF novel and you can toss in Dennis Wheatley's supernatural thrillers (like The Devil Rides Out) as later examples. And, no, I'm not going anywhere near Stephen King.

So there you go, a few thoughts from me to maybe start a discussion among those who're interested.

Post Script

Since writing the above a couple of minutes ago, I've discovered the following book which I'm now going to order. I found it by typing Urban Fantasy into Google Images which came up with thousands of book covers.

(And how could I have forgotten to mention Jim Butcher's series, or Simon Green's Nightside series?)

SPORT: LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC CLOSING CEREMONY

Chatting briefly about this to three swimming acquaintances in the pool at the Raich Carter Sports Centre this morning, I realised there would be a more divergent view of it than that for the Opening Ceremony. Of the three (all older than me), one went to bed halfway through, the other two liked it.

Me, I thought it was a mess.

Just about every decision they made was the wrong one. I should note that I'm trying not to let the fact that I was unfamiliar with many of the artists and their songs affect my impressions.

I didn't think much of the general design which I found very unappealing. I don't think that having many of the artists riding around on buses, in cars, or on trucks worked. There had to be a much better way of presenting them; even a better way of presenting them on buses, etc.

Even apart from the fact that most, if not all, of it was mimed to pre-recorded tracks, I'm sure the sound was 'off', at least in the beginning, and I was wearing my hearing aids. The arrangement to Waterloo Sunset was overblown and would have been far better accompanied by just an acoustic guitar. It didn't help that Ray Davies looked like a lecherous geriatric and didn't sound much better. The appearance of the Spice Girls confirmed what I always thought about them -overrated (or: just crap). George Michael sang one song too many (or two too many, for my taste). Russell Brand, excruciatingly embarrassing as he sang I Am The Walrus. And, much as I love The Who, they were just as bad a choice to end the show as was Paul McCartney two weeks and two days ago. And much more of which memory currently fails me. The musical montage of songs from the opening ceremony was far far better.

So, what did I like? Anything at all? Well, not a lot. Emeli Sande, Take That (a huge surprise there to people who know me, but compared to a lot of what was on offer their talent and presence just stood out), Jessie J (particularly with the remnants of Queen -I could have done without Brian May's preceding guitar solo and I love guitar solos) who has a powerful voice and enormous stage presence, the choreography to Kate Bush's  beautiful song Running Up The Hill, the visual tribute to John Lennon (an arsehole -cf. I Am The Walrus- as far as I'm concerned) and the playing of Imagine, his finest song with lyrics absolutely appropriate to the occasion and which are completely in tune (ho ho) with my own views.

Ultimately all I can say is that I'm so glad this wasn't the opening ceremony which was as inspirational as this was uninspired.

Thoughts on London Olympics 2012.

Like the opening ceremony, inspirational. It started with bang, stuttered a little for a couple of days, then exploded as everything started going well and medals began rolling in for Team GB. We got the best of British from the athletes, not just in their sporting efforts, but the way they conducted themselves -gracious, humble, proud, acknowledging the parts others played in their achievements (including in one poignant moment, her late mother). And the best of British came from the thousands of volunteers, in public and behind the scenes, unfailing helpful and cheerful, wonderful ambassadors for our country. We got the best of British too from the spectators -in Beijing four years earlier, audiences disappeared when the Chinese weren't on the field- who cheered every nationality and cheered every athlete from first to the last, every winner and every loser.

This is modern Britain and we showed the world why we still deserve to be called Great.

Favourite Heroes.

All the athletes are heroes for their dedication and perseverance but here are some of mine from the games.

Jessica Ennis

Mo Farah

Nicola Adams

Joanna Rowsell (right)

GRAPHIC NOVELS: TWO MORE FROM DC's NEW 52

THESE REVIEWS WERE PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED ON AMAZON, BOTH RATED 4/5.

Suicide Squad vol.1.

I was really disappointed when Gail Simone's brilliant team of super-villains Secret Six wasn't to be part of DC's New 52 but I have to state that the new Suicide Squad has gone a long way to easing those feelings.

For newbies, the Squad is basically a team of super-villains doing dirty jobs for the government in return for time off their prison sentences -if they survive. The core team (for this first volume) consists of Deadshot (assassin for hire and team leader), King Shark (a sort of humanoid hammerhead shark with an appetite that's not for fish), Harley Quinn (the Joker's squeeze), El Diablo (old name, new character), and several others, some old, some new.

For those who've been around for a while, you'll be surprised to find that Amanda Waller (the government agent in overall charge) no longer resembles a short weightlifter but has been transformed into Halle Berry (no complaints there) who has a significant other in her life (husband, wife, child, other, we don't find out this time around). Deadshot is pretty much the same bar a new mask. El Diablo, while still Mexican-American, is a villain seeking redemption. And Harley Quinn (whose new secret origin is revealed) is just plain scary. There's even an appearance by mostly long-forgotten non-powered vigilante Mad Dog. And King Shark may be more than just an appetite on legs. You'll have to find out about the others for yourselves. Trust me, it's worth it.

Writer Adam Glass does a very good job of keeping up the action/extreme violence while piling on the twists and surprises while managing to give the characters room to breathe. Several artists are involved but if it was up to me I'd give the job full time to Clayton Henry who channels Brian Bolland extremely-lite.

Yet another success for DC's New 52 line. I'm really enjoying this revamp. 

 Batgirl vol.1.

Caution, major spoiler specially included.

Of all DC's New 52, this was going to be the hardest to get right. Ever since Moore and Bolland's The Killing Joke when The Joker shot Barbara Gordon in the spine, Gordon (formerly Batgirl) had become an iconic character -a wheelchair-bound young woman who refused to let her disability prevent her from becoming Oracle, the super-hero information service and computer expert, who led her own superteam (Birds of Prey which was never bettered as when written by Gail Simone now writer of the new Batgirl). Now,to the horror of many fans (particularly of the previous and well-liked incarnation of Batgirl, Stephanie Brown) Gordon was back as Batgirl. It was going to take some clever writing to get this one right.

But if anyone was going to do it it would be Gail Simone and she's just about pulled it off. In this new continuity Barbara was still shot and crippled by the Joker but now, over three years and pioneering surgery later, she can walk again and has just begun to take up the Batgirl mantle. But it isn't easy and she could, apparently, still undo all the good work. She's also still psychologically scarred by the shooting. It also seems that she was never Oracle (who isn't mentioned). There's a new character in the form of Alysia Yeo whose apartment Barbara is sharing. Alysia has a secret which is as yet unrevealed but as she was willing to quickly share it with her new roomie it can't be too dark. There's also the startling appearance of a character who is both old and brand new whose identity I won't spoil. (Well, I wouldn't when reviewing it for Amazon, but I have no qualms about doing so here. It's her mother who ran off years ago and looks like an older and taller version of Barbara herself.)

The art by Ardian Syaf is slick and very good.

But what stops me giving this a 5* rating are the two villains who, while effective at what they do, are rather poor characters. You'll have to take my word for this as to say too much would be to spoil it. Or you can buy the book and find out for yourself.

That one quibble aside, this has to be regarded as another success for DC's New 52 which is having a very high hit to miss ratio particularly with its super-heroines. Overall (and I'm sorry for putting it this way) Batgirl is back on her feet again.

MORRISSEY: MAN OR ARSEHOLE?

Here is Morrissey, the Pope of Pop, with his view of the Olympics:

I am unable to watch the Olympics due to the blustering jingoism that drenches the event. Has England ever been quite so foul with patriotism? The "dazzling royals" have, quite naturally, hi-jacked the Olympics for their own empirical needs, and no oppositional voice is allowed in the free press. It is lethal to witness. As London is suddenly promoted as a super-wealth brand, the England outside London shivers beneath cutbacks, tight circumstances and economic disasters. Meanwhile the British media present 24-hour coverage of the "dazzling royals", laughing as they lavishly spend, as if such coverage is certain to make British society feel fully whole. In 2012, the British public is evidently assumed to be undersized pigmies, scarcely able to formulate thought.

 As I recently drove through Greece I noticed repeated graffiti seemingly everywhere on every available wall. In large blue letters it said WAKE UP WAKE UP. It could almost have been written with the British public in mind, because although the spirit of 1939 Germany now pervades throughout media-brand Britain, the 2013 grotesque inevitability of Lord and Lady Beckham (with Sir Jamie Horrible close at heel) is, believe me, a fate worse than life. WAKE UP WAKE UP.

I think it's safe to say that Morrissey has united the British public even more than the Olympics themselves with his jaded, jaundiced, complete misreading of the national mood and of the Olympics itself. So the answer to the question is-

Yes Morrissey, everyone* in the country thinks you are an arsehole.

*(Except those fans of his who, like the Pope of the Catholics, believe the Pope of Pop is infallible.)

Post Script.

Of course if the spirit of 1939 Germany did pervade this country, his records would be being taken out and publicly smashed. Hundred of his effigies would be strung up and burned. Shortly after that, a member of Her Majesty's Secret Service would go pop pop -two in the head.

But it doesn't. Instead we'll do what we British do best. Hold the idiot up for ridicule and laugh at the pompous git.

And then we'd invade Poland.

PPS

Just a later thought: you'd think that someone in the music business like Morrissey would know the difference between jingoism and celebration.

SPORT: LONDON OLYMPICS 2012 & ME

I'm ill. I have to be. I'm not sure if it's a form of mental illness or physical, but I've come down with it. I can't think of any other reason for my behaviour to have changed so radically.

I, who have virtually no interest in watching sport, have come down with Olympic Fever.

It's Jessica! 

I caught her live last night, powering home to win the 800 metres and simultaneously the gold medal for the heptathlon.

It's 17.00 on Sunday 5th of August and the first thing I did after waking from an afternoon nap was to log on to BBC News Online to look up the latest results which included two more golds, one for sailing, and the other for Andy Murray hammering Federer in the Men's Singles Finals (pity he didn't do that at Wimbledon this year, but let's not carp). It's too early for a full match report but I'll be checking up as soon as I finish writing this post.

I'm still not watching BBC1 for the full live coverage but I am watching BBC News 24 Channel very frequently as it's transformed itself into the London Olympics Highlights channel (emphasis on team GB) for the duration. Occasionally there is also still some real news.

I also surf the net for other sources of information about the Games, particularly other countries views which I find interesting.

Print media not so much as I only buy two papers a week -The Saturday Times and The Times on Sunday. Normally I ignore the Saturday sports reports and only open Sunday's sport supplement if Sunderland have been playing (football in the Premiership, in case you were wondering). This weekend I've read just about every word.

I love reading how friendly not just the volunteers have been to overseas visitors but the audience themselves who cheer on sports persons of other nations and gallant losers like the rower who had never been in a boat until six months ago. One young woman who wore the Dutch flag painted on per face was English and confessed to "feeling a bit Australian yesterday".  Danny Boyle brilliantly portrayed our nation character in the Opening Ceremony (which must be capitalised) and now the general public attending the Games (it too) are doing it just as well. Proud to be British (but English in particular).

The Royal Mail are doing commemorative stamps for all gold medal winners which is a pretty great idea. Above is 29 year old Mo Farah who arrived from Somalia aged 8, could have been a trouble maker but was taken under the wing of a teacher who became a second father to him. Mo is married with a step-daughter and one of his own on the way. That's Britain for you.

Go Team GB!

1948: SELECTED IMAGES

It's my birthday today and I'm 64. Here are a few pictures taken from Google images of the year I was born.