Pick of the Week
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Size: pages
Price: 2.99
I haven’t kept quiet about the fact that I was skeptical, like many others, of The Umbrella Academy when it first came out. I was susceptible to same eye-rolling that everyone seemed to have when news broke that the singer of My Chemical Romance would be writing comics…
How sick are you of that exact lead-in/justification for liking The Umbrella Academy? I sure am, mainly because I’ve said it a million times. It’s this need or desire we have to justify how or why we like something because what you’re saying or thinking goes against popular opinion. Well I’m done with it. I’m done with trying to add a prologue to why I like a book like The Umbrella Academy. The only way any writer, like Gerard Way, can overcome that stigma is to put out damn good work, and that is exactly what Way has been doing with this second volume of The Umbrella Academy.
I really enjoyed the first volume of The Umbrella Academy. I though that Way’s Mignola-esque take on the X-Men (to distill it into pigeonholes) was unique and well thought out. I simply adore Gabriel Bá’s artwork and if you don’t enjoy/respect Dave Stewart’s colors, then you need to stop reading comics. While I enjoyed the first volume, it definitely was a “first” volume showing that Way could tell a compelling story, but not without its flaws. There were definitely points that could have been done better or differently and to me, the measure of the work would be in the sophomore effort.
Well, we’re almost done with volume 2 and I have to stay that I’m absolutely loving it.
I can’t think of a better way to win me over than to weave a story around the JFK Assassination involving time travel. That is until I read The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #5. The story, set mainly in Vietnam in 1963 continues this slightly off kilter world that Way has dreamed up. We follow an army unit who are recovering the mummy of a former leader of the Vietnam area, when they’re attacked by Viet Cong. But not just any Viet Cong, no, these are Viet Cong Vampires. See? It just got better. But wait, it doesn’t stop there. As I looked at the Army unit closer I see one of them is a monkey. And it was at that point where I thought “and we have a winner.”
Now it could be said that throwing together tropes such as vampires and talking monkeys and time travel into a comic book could be a bad mix of cliche and trying to be funny or weird for funny or weird’s sake. But in The Umbrella Academy, Way and Bá have taken these concepts and swirled them together in a totally believable and relatable manner, which is exactly how you engage a reader in these wacky things we call comic books. Much in the same way that Mike Mignola is successful with Hellboy, or even Erik Larsen with Savage Dragon, The Umbrella Academy is a fantastic, unbelievably believable world that I completely get lost in and love it. This series has stood out to me over the first volume mainly in its focus. It seems that Way and Bá have figured out how to work together and create a story in a tighter manner, presenting story points and characterization that flow smoothly and don’t get in the way of the greater story. Of course, like I said, I’m a sucker for a good time travel story as well as one based in American history such as this one is easy to enjoy.
I’ve been focusing on the story and the baggage that comes with it and Way, but there are visual aspects of this comic book that cannot be ignored. Simply put, Gabriel Bá has definitely become one of the artists to watch out for in comics. With each issue of his work that I’ve seen over the past few years, I’ve seen his art outshine the issue before it. There’s a simplicity to his style that is just so understated that I hope it doesn’t get looked past by potential readers. In this issue alone he combines settings such as the Viet Nam jungle and Dealy Plaza in Dallas with ease. With scenes of pure conversation between 2 people, to a squadron of death frenzied vampire Viet Cong almost effortlessly. I read a lot of comics today (over 20) and not a single issue looks like The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #5. The uniqueness of the art completely compliments and strengthens the uniqueness of the story. I can’t imagine The Umbrella Academy not drawn by Bá now.
In addition to the art, as I mentioned above, the colors of Dave Stewart are just divine. If you don’t understand why this man wins award after award, just pick up any issue of this series. But I also really appreciate the lettering by Nate Piekos and the overall design, typography and look of the comic. The use of the clean Gothic font in the title page is reminiscent of a Wes Anderson movie’s look, which is fitting as I would imagine that if Wes Anderson made comics, they’d be similar to the Way’s approach and stories.
With one more issue left in this miniseries, I’m excited to see that Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá have come into their own and have created a comic book title that I would easily recommend to anyone who is search of something different. Unlike anything else being published today, The Umbrella Academy delivers and that’s not an easy feat. Do not miss this series in trade if you haven’t been reading it in issues, it’s as simple as that.
Oh and did I mention there’s are talking monkeys? I think I did.
Ron Richards
Wacky = good when done right
ron@ifanboy.com
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The Dr. Strangelove homage/rip-off for the credits page was brilliant too. Great review!
I’m trade waiting this series. Excited for it. Probably would have beaten the pants off of everything else I read this week.
I need to get into this series, but I’m torn.
The comic reader in me is excited on the prospect of fun!
But the non-comic reader in me is suicidal when ‘My Chemical Romance’ is mentioned!
Decisions…
This was GOOD but pick of the week status? I dunno…
Anyone not reading Umbrella Academy because of the writer’s other job is robbing themselves of a really fun, really original new series. Just give it a shot, whether in single issues or when it’s collected. I missed the second issue of this arc, so I ultimately opted to wait for the trade. But I’m anxious to pick it up.
Sadly I am reading this in trades.
@Paul: Ah I’m just joking around….well…I mean I’m not a fan of My Chemical Romance (Billy Joel must be spinning in his….bed over that Desolation Row adaptation) but that shouldnt be an excuse to miss this series out
My LCS has a sale coming up for Free Comic Book Day; I think I know what to get for it…
#Edit: Bob Dylan I met….I’m not a big music guy so what do I know anyways?
I’m also trade waiting on this. Just read the first trade and loved the hell out of it. I used the same excuse Ron used, which I know refuse to repeat as well, for not trying it out. I’m glad I gave it a shot. This Way guy, he’s going places I tell you.
5th week in a row where I haven’t picked up the potw book, yeesh. I thought the first arc of this series was just average and don’t have to much of an interest in picking this up.
I missed issue 4 last month (Now, sure, I was trying to find it LAST WEEK, but still…) then today I saw 5 and rummaged through the stack once more… and found a single copy of issue 4! So I read both today, absolutely in love here. IN LOVE. And Cha-Cha and Hazel? Best comic charcters ever. Everyone should read thisssss
Long Live Viet Cong Vampires!
Number Five never ceases to make me laugh. You can’t beat a tiny sociopath in a suit.
I’m getting this trade as soon as it comes out. Great review! I feel kind of fortunate I had no idea who Gerard Way was when I first picked this up. It’s just a fun, original story and it sounds like the second volume improves on the first.
I had a lot of good books this week — was pleasantly surprised by how strong the ‘Messiah War’ intro was, as I’ve never much cared for X-Force (aside from Mike Choi’s art, which was first-rate on this issue). If this first issue is any indication, this story is going to be great and, though it’s annoying how long the Messiah Complex plot threads have been hanging, I’m hopeful that at least some of them will get wrapped up. In other books, ‘New Avengers’ literally made me fist pump 2 or 3 times (how did this book get so good again?), but ‘Immortal Iron Fist’ was actually my pick of the week. I love these IIF one-shots; they always manage to be unique stories that use some superhero conventions but make them feel new and original.
The fight scenes in Vietnam were amazing. I wish he wrote the whole book in that setting.
Also the sun glasses part was lolz
I didn’t expect to see a Vietnam War scene in this story. And the vietcong were vampires, awesome. Kraken with two knives in action was kick ass. I’m really looking forward to the older .005 vs. the current .005 in Dealey Plaza. "Red team, on me, you know the drill-run in and get killed-"
The first Pick of the week for my favorite comic in the last year and its the one i haven’t bought yet, can’t wait to read it and to hear the podcast.
Anyone remeber the Umbrella Academy FCB preview a few years back?!
I know that someone has gotten, or will get a copy of that in their membership pack.
AlexG, I read the Free Comic Book Day issue of the book when it came out. It had the exact opposite of its intended effect: I put it down, said "noooo, thank you," and mailed it to a MCR fan I knew. I found it very self-conscious; it tried too hard; it seemed to be flailing its arms at me with every panel.
Since then, of course, I have continued to read things like the above, insisting that either I was all wrong or the tone and style of the freebie were very different than what’s been done since. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time I misjudged something.
Fun Fact: Jimski was on the jury during the OJ murder trials.
He couldn’t even get the gloves over his palms!
I don’t know what to tell you. It reads like a story being told to you by a 10-year-old boy who had his ritalin replaced with pixie stix. "And then he went to Mars and then he had to live in a monkey body and now he lives on the moon and the Eiffel Tower flew away! pant pant pant" Yes, yes. We all enjoyed Doom Patrol too.
I didn’t like the FCBD issue either for the same reason. But I think I was being presumptuous.
It’s pretty certain I was being presumptuous. There’s judging an entire story by one chapter, and there’s not giving a book a second issue to prove itself, but technically I didn’t even give this a first issue.
Actually it sounds like the FCBD book would be worth going back to after having read the first trade. Will have to see if I can find that floating around somewhere.
I, too, was being presumptuous with that FCBD issue. I checked it after reading the first trade, mostly because it was included in said trade, and it was actually quite enjoyable.
@drakedangerz Oh, so if I’ve read the first trade, I already read the FCBD issue? I was confused about that.
No.5 making the comment about his beloved puppy just before taking out no. 5 was priceless I LOL’ed and that never/ rarely happens
it was an awesome comic. for me, the majority of the credit has to go to Ba. I’m sure the book wouldn’t be considered as highly off the writing alone.
And I want to second the love for the Dr Strangelove homage… brilliant
I have loved both UA series so far, but this issue felt unnecessary to the rest of the story. Maybe it’s because #4 may have been the best issue of any comic this year, but this issue seemed to miss a beat.
Pogo and Viet Cong vampires are cool, but I don’t think they needed some of what they showed in this issue. We’ll find out next issue. But this is a book that comic book fans should be reading.
@ohcaroline. The FCBD issue was the shorter back up story in the first trade that was about the Rumor and the discovery of her dead body (first couple pages so that is def not a spoiler for anyone who hasn’t read it.)
I’m really glad to see this series getting some love. I haven’t had this much fun with a book in quite some time.
I actually bought the FCBD issue for about 4 dollars after I read the first 6 issues trying to fill the void and liked it for what it was just a taste…About a week ago I was cleanning out my old bags of stuff from the SDCC, and I felt like the biggest Douchebag, I had 4 copies of the FCBD issue among the things I was about to throw away so I gave away 2 of the issues who haven’t read any of them, guess I fetl guilty for buying them and just trying to get some karma back.
Don’t ever, ever buy or sell an issues from the free comic book day I learned my lesson, also at least read or try to read the stuff they give away.