Pick of the Week
What did the
iFanboy
community think?
Pulls
Size: pages
Price: 3.50
Quite famously I am the one iFanboy who doesn’t quite “get” Strangers in Paradise.
I’ve read the first four trades and I quite enjoyed them but it didn’t fall for the story and the characters like Ron, Josh and so many others have. I plan on finishing the book someday but I don’t seem to be in much of a hurry to get moving on that. With books like SIP it’s all about the characters and how much of a connection you feel towards them and how much they move you. When the primary focus of a book isn’t somebody in a bright costume punching someone in a less bright costume, all of the dramatic weight has to be carried through character, and if those characters don’t grab you by the throat or by the heart or by the balls then you and the book are probably not going anywhere together.
As someone who loves small (often independent) stories about people and life and love, I thought that there was something wrong with me that I didn’t connect with Strangers in Paradise they way that other people whose opinions I admire did. Was it true? Was my heart really cold and dead?
No, my heart is apparently alive and well.
It was a fluke that I picked up the first issue of Echo. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to read it, it’s just that I prefer my indie comics in trade form. But when it came out, I grabbed it on a whim. I was immediately pulled into the world created in that first issue and the characters, and most especially Julie, our protagonist. And now, as we hit the six issue mark I’m in, and I’m in deep.
For those of you not reading Echo, here’s the story. A government created super suit was destroyed while on a test run, and the explosion rained little pieces of liquid metal down onto Julie Martin while she was out taking photographs. Some of the those pieces of metal formed into one big piece and that then attached itself to Julie’s chest when she touched it. Julie now has this experimental piece of government tech attached to her body that she can’t remove and that protects its host from harm (both real and perceived). Julie is now on the run from the government, both because they want the tech back but also because the metal attacked a bunch of soldiers who tried to apprehend her. Her partner on the lam is Dillon, the boyfriend of the scientist who was wearing the suit when it originally exploded. And at this point, that’s basically the story up until this point.
With this issue Julie and Dillon find a bit of quiet time to talk things over and we get a little more insight into Dillon and his (now probably dead, though possibly living on in the metal chest plate) girlfriend Annie. And while they have a nice chat over pancakes, the government’s special investigator does some snooping around Julie’s house and makes an unexpected discovery. Echo #6 was just bursting with great character stuff and some nice surprises.
Right now we are still in the discovery phase. We are still learning who these people are and we are still learning the whys and wherefores. The amazing thing about these characters is that at this point we know them well and yet they are constantly revealing new layers and hidden facets. It’s a testament to Terry Moore’s brilliant writing skills that he can craft characters so instantly knowable, who still have so much more to reveal to us.
One thing that was never in doubt when I was reading Strangers in Paradise was Terry Moore’s skill as an artist. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, for my money he is one of the best artists currently working in comics. His lines are clean, his characters are unique, and his storytelling is phenomenal. He does more to convey story and emotion with silent pages in this issue than most creators can with acres of word balloons.
Of all the books I read this week, and there were many great ones, Echo was the one that had me most looking forward to the next issue. It can’t come out soon enough.
Conor Kilpatrick
Terry Moore’s got me by the balls.
conor@ifanboy.com
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*sighs* Yet another series that my LCS doesnt carry……
Wont deny the pick, I’ve heard to many great things about this book…..But damn I hate waiting for trade when A) LCS doesnt have issues or B) LCS cant order back issues or sell out to damn quickly….Oh and C) Tight budget…
Great review as always man.
The first trade just came out.
I just read and loved this first trade, and I was torn about whether to get the issue or wait.
Ifanboy makes the decision for me! I’m definitely picking this up tomorrow.
This was also my PotW. Does that make us best friends, Conor?
…Would I like this?
im gonna start reading this. should i read it in trade or issues?
Yeah, this was good. I didn’t care for Strangers in Paradise either– didn’t get past the first trade. But this book and The Sword, which are very, very similar books– have both been good. I rated this week’s The Sword a point higher than Echo, but both were good.
Never said I didn’t care for STRANGERS, just that I didn’t love it. I quite liked it.
Ooo…interesting pick. I haven’t read it yet, but my interest is piqued. I’ve really been enjoying the series so far.
@conor: Your right it did! O_o; I know what I’ll be getting at my work tomorrow!
@Paul – If you don’t care for Strangers or Terry Moore’s writing style, then this isn’t likely to change your mind. If you do, then you’ll probably dig this as well. Like Strangers, there’s a lot of soapiness and humor mixed in with the action. Personally, I often find that Moore’s attempts at humor don’t fit in well with the overall serious tone of both series, and that’s mainly why I don’t particularly care for either Echo or Strangers.
Haven’t read all my books yet, but Guardians of the Galaxy keeps getting better, Mighty Avengers continues to have nothing to do with Avengers, and The Sword, of course, remains sharp. (Har!)
Awesome Pick of the Week, I look forward to the podcast!
I like this book more and more with each issue. Sort of a surprise pick tho…I didn’t even know any of the ifanboys besides Ron was reading this. I should listen more closely…
Well played. My pick was a toss up between this and The Sword… with the Sword coming up short by slight edge. The depth of the characterization won out… not to mention Terry Moore’s amazing art (although to nitpick: he cross hatches a little too much for my taste). But, The Sword had an amazing fight with a nice little cliffhanger ending… and well, um… All Star Superman was pretty bad, even the art, which I find normally pretty damn good was bad to my eyes.
Darn, another book I have to pick up.
Well if I may say my POTW was Incredible Hercules. A great mix of action, humor, and teriffic art. Now I notice out of the 9 members of Ifanboy (or at least who is mentioned for the site) only Jimski pulled Herc for this week. I guess I missed the memo on why none of you pick it up but….Why dont you pick it up? Oh and what did you think of it Jim?
Sorry for off-topic, but I guess this series will be good for me cause I never read Strangers in the first place. Doesnt sound like my cup of tea, maybe this will be better.
Yay! I’ve been waiting on this book to get a POW. I missed out on SIP when it came out and was looking forward to this because I had heard so many great things about Terry Moore. I definitely think issues are the way to go with this, I believe it has been on time for the most part and I look forward to this book every month. The only other thing that came close this week was All Star Superman, but Echo was the clear POW for me this week.
Can’t wait to read this. Thanks for recommending this book. I was able to get the back issues a few months ago at my LCS, and it is a lot of fun.
Yes Yes Yes. I love this book and am glad it finnaly made pick.
My POTW was All-Star Superman, to be sure.
Yep, was my pick too. Good choice, Conor!
@Hank – Get the first trade which just came out (issues #1-5) then you can grab this issue straight away. It’s really good comics!
My LCS doesn’t carry this either!! Jeeze!!! I’ve been ordering it issue by issue online. SO annoying, and way more expensive. Is it really not available for him to order, or am I getting the run-around??
@Dez – It is available through Diamond like any other comic book.
While this was a good book, it definitely didn’t knock my socks off. Incredible Herc is definitely my pick with Atomic Robo close behind.
I’ve gotta go with Scalped, I thought it was one of the best issues yet
I was *sure* The Walking Dead or Scalped was gonna make POW. Hooray! Echo is easily one of my favourite current comic books.
If anyone hasn’t picked this up (or Strangers In Paradise especially) just because it doesn’t sound like your thing I *beg* you to check out the 1st trade of each. I never thought I’d like SiP from the description.. ever! But now I’m the girl going around saying stuff like "Terry Moore is a genius".
Anyway, excellent pick Conor Sir.
jumped on with the first trade when it came out. im loving this series and i love Terry Moore
Loved this issue, glad I picked it up. Moore does indeed have a way with characters.
This was a week when I honestly enjoyed everything I read. I thought ‘Secret Invasion Iron Man,’ or War Machine or whatever was exactly what an even tie-in should be. Uncanny Xmen continues to impress, but my sentimental pick was ‘X-men: First Class’, which featured an Iceman-Human Torch teamup and a cameo by Spider-Man. This is the last issue of the current volume, and it’s set to relaunch with another mini series. This is fun, high-quality storytelling and totally worth picking up as a standalone.
@Neb: ‘Incredible Herc is definitely my pick’
I LOVE YOU! lol
Sound interesting, may pick it up.
My POTW was easily All-Star Superman, though Incredible Hulk ran a tight second. And that says a lot. (I love Fred Van Lente. Nicest guy I ever met at a con.)
@ohcaroline And, I have to say while Rhodey is one of my all time faves, I thought War Machine: Weapon of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a little weak, but you’re right. Exactly what all tie-ins should be like.
I have to say, the tie-ins are making the SI event more than the main series. SI: Thor has been great.
@PraxJarvin I liked Thor, too, though it seemed a little thin compared to the first issue, which was my POW when it came out. The problem with these tie-ins (maybe the Rhodey one too) is that I’m not sure there are really 3 issues of story there for all of them. Why not wrap it up in 1 or 2 issues and put several together in a trade? (I mean, I know why not — $$ — but in storytelling terms it might be an improvement).
I’m bummed ’cause my LCS did not get Echo in this week. I have to wait to next Wednesday (or later – sigh) to enjoy this issue.
My store didn’t get this in this week, either, but said they would before the next Wednesday. I was just going to wait, but now that it’s the pick, I need to read it before listening to the POW podcast… 🙂
Did anyone read Air#2, hmmm, I’ll say sometime positive about the book…. It was very nicely staple-bound
@edward I’m puzzled by ‘Air’ but I’m not ready to give up on it yet.
@ohcaroline agreed, Air is sort of not that great, but for some reason I’m sticking with it.