SPIRIT #15

Review by: Neb

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Size: pages
Price: 2.99

Ok, I really, really, really want to like this book.  When Darwyn Cooke started his seminal run, he introduced me to this amazing character known as The Spirit.  As I’ve mentioned before, I didn’t know much about him, and anyone who frequents the forums knows that I’ve read through the old Will Eisner strips and loved them.  This is one character that has grown on me, and I began to appreciate him more and more as Cooke’s run went on.  And then, he left the book, and Sergio Argones took over with Mike Ploog, and the fans held their breaths.  Last issue, didn’t stop people from holding their breaths, and honestly, for some, it meant an exhale of disgust.  I was one that held my breath, and well, I’m still waiting to exhale (like Angela Basset).

Bad jokes aside, this issue was merely a “meh” on the scale of awesome.  I was hoping that Argones would try to recapture the tones that Eisner put forth in his work, and when I read this issue I can see some of it flashing through.  The Spirit’s buffoonery with women, his little jokes and quips, and the interesting side characters that develop.  But amid all of that, I’m left with some empty dialogue, a lobotimized Dolan, and criminals that are so dumb and witless that a monkey could stop them.  So, what we see here are flashes.  Flashes of what this comic could be.  Flashes of what would make it good again.

You see, I don’t really mind if the comic becomes more “Eisner-ish.”  The old Eisner comics are great fun, and this book could become something that’s great fun.  But it’s missing some pow, some pizzaz to really set it apart.  And what’s really a shame about it all is that most likely, people are leaving this book in droves, which means we may never see it even become “Eisner-ish.”

This got me thinking about what I would like in a Spirit comic.  If I was Argones, I would be working to capture the fun of the Spirit of old and meld it with the sensibilities of today.  Criminals with shotguns should seem threatening.  The stories should be more in depth or dastardly.  And for the love of God, Dolan should be smart.  He’s the Jim Gordon of the story.  As commisioner of police, he is a man that should be respected, and as he continues to remind us, know how to solve a crime.  Also, if the story is set in modern times, people should talk like it.  Women shouldnt’ need to be “escorted” around.  It’s just plain silly.

In regards to the art, there’s not much to say.  It’s well drawn and servicible, but there’s nothing that really stands out about it, which is fine so long as the story is fun.  And this one was only kinda of fun.  I will say that I really enjoyed the bright, vibrant colors used in this book.  They are excellent.

Part of me says that I should drop this book, but another part of me thinks there may be potential here.  I’m thinking I’m around for one more issue, just to see if Argones continues to improve, or if the tone changes at all.  It could be him just settling in, and maybe we’ll see something fantastic.  All I know is, he better do it soon because I’m getting blue with all this breath holding.

Story: 2 - Average
Art: 3 - Good

Comments

  1. too many words.

  2. I dropped this book like it was yesterday’s bad news.  I commend you for staying on for an extra issue.  One of my biggest reasons for dropping it is what you mentioned here: Dolan being lobatimized.  I loved that character and I feel that in the span of an issue he got into some glue and sniffed a little to long.

    Also there is no way to compare the art in my mind.  Darwyn Cooke is one of the greats, at least in my book, and it’s really hard to replace him with anyone.

    To me it’s just sad what this book became in the span of a month.

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