War of Fannies and Grannies
Written by: Tom King
Art by: Mitch Gerads and Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 13, 2017
I liked the first issue of Mister Miracle because of the whole mystery surrounding the story. Were we seeing reality or a messed up dream world? Was Mister Miracle in control of his life or was he actually a prisoner in it all? I'm sure there was even more things that went over my head because it was a pretty deep opener and I'm a big dummy. So, is this second issue even better than the first and does it shed some light on what the heck is going on? Let's find out...
The issue opens with the now familiar nine panel grid and it's a parademon feasting and then being killed in a very drawn out page that does set the tone and pace for the issue. Whether you like it or not will depend on how much you want out of this issue. If you want answers, you will be disapointed. If you are just looking for an overall vibe to take your time with, you will enjoy it a bit more. I am more of the former, so you can guess where I stand here.
The parademon is killed by Scott Free and we continue with him fighting, and fighting, and fighting and you guessed it...fighting. It's all for Highfather (which is Orion now) and the glory of New Genesis.
After the fighting, we go back with Scott and Barda to their apartment on New Genesis where Scott tries to figure out how to use the shower and Barda says she is too tall. I wish I could say more about it, but there isn't much here. Oh yea, you get to see Barda's naked butt cheeks...I call them Juanita and Jan.
We then head off with the couple as they bow before Orion and the new Highfather and Mister Miracle play "who has the most stern look". I think Orion wins, but that's just me. After hearing about the great loses that New Genesis has suffered (it's Tom King so we will probably never see it), Orion decides to send Barda and Scott to kill Granny Goodness in hopes of ending all this nonsense.
Before going, though, Scott gets a message from Metron in the form of a nightmare and then it's off to visit Granny's house. After a drawn out page, Granny greets the two and they eat Jell-o. I am not making this up. The scene does show a bit of the horror that is Granny Goodness before we move on.
We continue with Barda and Scott sneaking around the enemy camp, taking out guards on the way to Granny's tent. The art here is cool and it leads to Granny turning the tables on Barda and trying to help Scott...maybe.
We see that Granny is trying to help Scott and in fact, was the one who helped Highfather when Darkseid got the Anti-Life Equation...all in the name of making Scott Highfather instead of Orion. Oh yea, it's also all about the prophecy of who will kill Darkseid. We are left wondering if she is telling the truth as Barda kills her (maybe) and her and Scott head back to New Genesis.
My excitement over the intrigue I got from the first issue has dimmed a bit after this one. This issue felt story thin with whole pages coming off more like filler than anything else. It still isn't straight forward, but it seemed way less smart than last issue. In other words, this issue was a big disappointment.
The disappointment carries over to the art that is still very stylistic, but is more confusing than it needs to be. It didn't help the story out and even hindered it at points.
Bits and Pieces:
After a very intriguing start, Mister Miracle #2 has little answers and more padding than I ever expected from a series still getting started. Tom King continues his "tell not show" storytelling when it comes to the war going on and because of that, the whole story has no weight to it. The art, while very stylistic, is more confusing than satisfying and I am already bored with the whole thing.
5.0/10
oh boy, what a crybaby!
ReplyDeleteCare to explain
DeleteI'm a crybaby because I don't like this issue as much as the first one?
DeleteI agree boo on you Quakertown Comic. This issue was a great read, granny got some goodness.
DeleteI thought it was a great issue but I respect your opinion.
ReplyDeletecool...i respect yours as well. I am hoping that it all ties together by the end - it already feels like this is a story better suited to wait and read in trade
DeleteI haven't read any of these issues but some very bad reviews for DC going on here . I think maybe you should now review some Marvel comics , lol .
ReplyDeleteBut you love Metal which I thought #1 was total crap . Did not get it at all , art or story . I will give it another try though .
DeleteSo, if you don't like something, you should stop reviewing It? I wouldn't want to be a fair weather reviewer. Weird to only review what you like when you like.
DeleteAnd, Eric gave metal #1 a bad score on the site
Actually wasn't criticiting you ... you are probably close to the truth on these titles .
DeleteJust Metal is a bit of an anomaly .
Sorry...im in a bad mood today. I really did enjoy metal #2, but realize others dont
DeleteCan I applaud you for being the only critic who agrees with my assessment of this issue? I really don't get all the raves. I bored, too. I found the whole thing dreary and too in love with itself. Never mind that a Kirby Komic should be at least a little fun (see under: Bug).
ReplyDeleteyes you can
DeleteI agree as far as the padding. I have felt since Omeg Men that's King's stuff should be read in Trade. At the moment I'm still enjoying this but I most likely stop picking up issues if we get something similar in the next one.
ReplyDeleteI think you've done a surface reading, and that's why you're dissatisfied. The plot involves the war, but the story is really about Scott's depression. He's angry his father's dead, he's angry Orion is the new Highfather, he's stuck in this horrific job, and his marriage is subtly falling apart (most of this issue is actually showing how he and Barda react differently to almost everything). The Granny interplay is so important, because Scott's so lost he's unable to determine what his feelings for Granny truly are, which plays into both his depression, and the abuser/victim dynamic.
ReplyDeleteBUT...the first issue pretty much showed it isn't the real Barda (she had the wrong eye color that was then fixed near the end of the story). Plus...Darkseid is a baby in the current continuity, Metron is dead in the current continuity and he talked to Oberon who was dead months before. This is my point...what happens when your idea of the story is null and void because it's a dream?
DeleteWhat I've discovered from the "little" I know of Tom King is that things often tie up at a later stage in the story. Also his good books (imo) - Vision, Sheriff of B and this - often require multiple reads. Guess that puts reviewers in a difficult situation as you guys review each issue independently and need to get the review out as early as possible.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that (what I think is) the main question we all asked from last issue i.e. "what is real?" has not been answered, still thought this was a strong chapter in the overall mystery/story of this book.
Still...respect the review Jim.
the only thing that really worries me is that he's left so much on the table with Batman...so many things have happened that were left unanswered
Deleteyeah true. you'll notice i didn't include Batman as part of his "good" books...
DeleteI did notice! I think it will will be good by the end, but it's hard to go issue to issue rating it that way. I think it will be one of those books that will read so much better in trade rather than individual issues
DeleteImagine being the douche that gave this book a 5.0 because it went over his air head.
ReplyDeleteClever! Or, the guy who isn't blindly giving it a 10/10. Explain it to me right now and we will see if you are right at the end. Oh, I guess you won't since you are a coward who won't even list your name. Nice!
DeletePlus, read the comment above yours...i think it will be good by the end and read better in trade. At this point, everything is going over everbodys head, which is why I can't rate it high...yet! So, I should come up with one of a 100 theories I've seen and base this one issue on the hope that's what is happening?
DeleteAnd one more thing...if it did go over my head, how should I review it? By pretending to understand it? So, if you think I am a douche and an idiot, what are you expecting here? Should I hide my misunderstanding behind big words and phrases like "there is more than meets the eye here"? I'll write a new review that matches a lot of what I see online, just for you since you seem so special...
DeleteMister Miracle shows the juxtaposition of life and death, of hope and fear, all wrapped up in a story that is clearly a translucent device that will surely show the evil that exists in men's hearts. Tom King isn't ready to lift the veil quite yet, but the mystery, while confusing, is setting up a series that is one for the ages!" 1000/10
This book is getting 10/10's across the board mainly due to people's expectations. People are seeing this as some masterful overall story that will eventually be looked back on as a masterpiece. This individual issue was pretty damn meh with not a lot happening. People can review it on their expectations all they want but you can't really say this was some amazing stand alone issue. Even expecting this to be relevant later I can't look at this issue and say I was that wowed.
DeleteSo much of the book was wasted on Orion and Miracle staring at each other and Miracle fighting parademons that the joke bit with the shower felt more like a relief to have something going on rather than a fun read. Then the end with Granny Goodness and Barda beating the hell out of her just reminded me so much of The Vision that I couldn't really think of much more.
This issue was meh as hell. There's nothing about going over people's heads, Shit hasn't happened yet.
I can honestly say that I dislike this issue more than the first and I gave that a four out of 10 this is some of the ugliest art I've ever read and Tom King cannot be trusted to wrap up a story after the bullshit he's written in Batman I was hoping that I was wrong about the first issue but this Mister Miracle is 100% not for me
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the first issue and the second issue continues to hold my interest. I've never had much of an interest in Kirby's New Gods, but I have a basic knowledge of the characters. While Granny Goodness usually causes eye rolls with me, here she comes off as actually threatening.
ReplyDeleteTom King is hit and miss with me, but he's really starting to win me over. Maybe it's just because he called Jim a nerd. Boosh! Seriously though, I'm beginning to look forward to his books and find his writing style somewhat poetic.
As far as where the story is heading, I prefer to not speculate and just try to enjoy the ride. I learned this from watching Lost. The moment I begin to try and guess the ending I'm sure to be disappointed that it doesn't meet my expectations. I'm just taking the story at face value right now as a man at war with demons both figurative and literal. The art is so ugly in the best possible way. It' a 7.5/10 for me, and I look forward to the next issue.