posted November 24, 1999 08:00 AM         

First post and it's just a little note to say how pleased I am with Volume 3. Read it through from the beginning today (what better day for it?) and once again confirmed that it's the most dense, cohesive, and nourishing distillation of the INVISIBLES as yet. Nay?

Three things:

1) I'm somewhat concerned about the multi-artist jam that's upcoming in "The Invisible Kingdom". The look of the book has been so consistent and striking throughout Volume 3 that I'd hate to see it spoiled by a sudden divergence of styles and approaches.

Even moreso I'd hate to see the quality of the artwork drop even a smidgen, given how damn perfect Volume 3 has clocked in thus far (and apologies to her fans, but I'm thinking Jill Thompson's work on "Arcadia" here, and I'm thinking I wouldn't want to see that kind of approach to the visuals this late in the game and at this critical a juncture).

Take a look at how well Bond and Philips have meshed across the first eight issues. Even with the slight shift in style between the two, the approach remains the same -- bold, strong black lines (no shading) against solid blocks of single colours. A most gorgeous and iconic representation of Grant's ideas and characters. It's a perfect look for the final chapter, thematically appropriate and visually arresting.

And that's why I'm worried the whole momentum may be spoiled by the impending smorgasbord.

Foolish?

2) Coming back round to an overall assessment of Volume 3, and this one directed at the writing...all I can say is, it's never been *this* good, *this* tight, *this* moving, *this* well-connected.

"Satanstorm" is a complete corker. Grant's in control from first panel through to last, and every time I read it I find new ways to inhabit, process, and adore it.

"Karmageddon" is absolutely beautiful, perhaps the most powerful and emotionally satisfying arc in the series as it stands.

The level of excellence Grant has established in Volume 3...I can only hope he doesn't drop the ball. Because if "The Invisible Kingdom" and the final issue are as lovely as the two preceding chapters, I mean, just imagine a TPB of Volume 3. It would be the INVISIBLES at its most incandescent.

It's like Grant has been working through the iterations, hammering it down, condensing it down, and at the end here it's reached a pinnacle, an ideal Platonic form. Read 12 thru 5 in one sitting, as fast as you can manage, and see.

3) And speaking of endings, sigh. I must admit a real sadness in knowing there are only 4 issues left of this. After that, there's just the paper and me and you and whatever we choose to do with it. But despite all that, I foresee a kind of loneliness in not having a new slice of the INVISIBLES each month or so. I think I'll miss it as I would an absent friend.

That's it for now. What say you?

posted November 24, 1999 08:12 PM            

But I won't.

I'm not saying anyone has to like the art - I'm not discussing aesthetic preference here - I'm simply pointing out that Thompson served her "function" well.

I have no problem with the "artist jam", soon to be gracing the pages of our favourite comic. Reality is being drawn into the singularity, counting down to the root of identity/universe. Everything collides in the centre. The artist jam reflects this. Poetry.

Anyway, on a simpler note, change is always good.

[This message has been edited by look!NickWaddam! (edited November 24, 1999).]

posted November 25, 1999 12:16 AM         

I should point out that nowhere in my criticism of Jill's artwork on INVISIBLES did I refer to the "She-Man" arc. I found her stuff there rather nice, and it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story, one of the best in the series.

My only bone to pick is with "Arcadia", which could have hit so much harder if it had been illustrated in a less 'scratchy' (to use someone else's term) and loose manner.

Also, I don't intend to pass judgment on Jill's entire body of work based on my dislike of the "Arcadia" artwork. The SCARY GODMOTHER stuff and FINALS are of course most delightful.

Piggybacking on PornoHolocaust now (mind if I clamber up there, guv?), what artists would everyone like to see assigned to different parts of the world, should that be Grant's intention in the upcoming arc?

Here's how I'd split it up:

Britain - Yeowell (is he even slated for "Invisible Kingdom"?)

America - Jiminez (I'm *certain* he's not slated, but that'd be my pick. In his absence, I'd go for Weston probably.)

India and Abroad - Philips

And on a related note, since Weston's take on Fanny has been cited as weak above, what are everyone's favourite depictions of the characters?

Here are some of mine:

Mob - Weston, Jiminez, Philips

Fanny - Bond

Robin - Jiminez

Boy - Edwards, Weston

Jack - Yeowell, Jiminez, Philips

Jim Crow - Weston ("Season Of Ghouls" is fantastic.)

Jolly Roger - Jiminez, Weston, Bond

Edie - Jiminez and Philips

ElFayed - Bond

Mr Six - Yeowell, Philips

Sir Miles - Jiminez, Bond

Chessbloke - Weston

Harlequinade - Jiminez

posted November 25, 1999 09:33 PM            

Fanny -- Bolland

Mr. 6 -- Buckingham

Archons -- Weston

Jack, Boy, Robin, Miles -- Jiminez

And, well, I can't really say any more until we see the last issue, quite frankly.

posted November 27, 1999 09:56 AM         

There are some specific reasons why the narrative and to a certain extent, the subject matter is ideally suited to the invisibles

Situationists have a bit of a history of using the comic form.

and lest we forget- comics are not just the funny books you all see in taughtologically (sp!) named comic shop- comics, for me at least is a combination of words and pictures to make meanings- (Scott McCloud does argue that the combinations have to be sequential in some way, and that they don't necessaryly contain words) and as such print advertising is rife with comics- on the bill boards, in magazines- Comics are everywhere!

Big fucking glossy magazines (with their graphically designed combination of text and image that will appeal to both comic read and text/image fetishist alike) are highly stylised comics!

As a denegrated medium yet massively popular medium comics is perhaps the ideal medium for ontological terrorism of the type found in the invisibles!

posted November 29, 1999 02:54 PM            

Ho Ho.

posted November 29, 1999 04:05 PM            

speaking of Mr. Jiminez, what I've read makes me think Phil isn't contributing to this arc. Somebody say it ain't so.