Wanted
by J.G. Jones, Mark Millar
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Book Reviews of Wanted
Book Review: Nothing like the movie, but still a fun ride... a little talky,
Summary: 4 Stars
NO SPOILERS:
Lets get some things out of the way: this is an adult comic. These are /bad men doing bad things/. He becomes what any normal person would call a sociopath, but this comic is really about the 'big picture'.
NO BULLET CURVING! I knew this wouldn't be exactly like the movie, but.. I really thought that the bullet curving was something thought up by a comic book writer. That was the reason I bought this, along with the scene where they shoot each other's fired bullets. But nope, none of that.
They are NOT ASSASSINS. They're slayers.
NO LOOM OF FATE. I mean, really? Even that was thought up just for the movie?
Fox is disgusting ghetto talking trash. Not the sly assassin from the movie.
Wesley... kinda looks like Eminem. Just a note.
I don't mean to sound shallow, but there were relatively few action scenes. It felt talky and slow paced more than a few times.
Once you accept these things, it is a fun ride, and if you enjoyed the movie, you will enjoy the comic. I dont know that it was worth 13 dollars to me, but it was a good read.
And lastly, as a product of a single mother, I really enjoyed this book's message. That's all I'm going to say. You'll have to read it to understand. :)
Book Review: Keeps your interest - (spoiler alert)
Summary: 4 Stars
I was unsure of this book after reading such mixed reviews on here, but ultimately I decided to see what all the fuss was about. Wanted was an intruging read, and I almost couldn't let myself put it down til I was finished. It is refreshing in that its not your typical superheroes book, and unlike the other "offended" reviewers I couldn't find much that was all that grotesque or out-right blasphemous; it pales in comparison for shock-value to series such as 100 Bullets, Preacher, Punisher, etc. I was put-off by the main characters very distinct resemblence to that of rapper Eminem, it almost took away from the story in that it was very distracting. The story itself moves along swiftly and unlike most people I didn't really guess the big twist towards the end, though once I saw it seemed pretty obvious. I had a lot of questions when I finished, it seems the author didn't quite tidy up and left a few plotholes that could have used better explanation (i.e. how did mister rictus never notice wesley's dad, even though certain villians possessed powers that would easily have allowed them to do so?) and a few other points that slip my mind at the moment. I would recommend to anyone who is open minded and not easily turned off by a little senseless violence and a few derogatory remarks.Book Review: Terrible
Summary: 2 Stars
I have no idea how to describe this comic. Its in the same vein of most Vertigo books. Coming from the comic book school of Preacher. Some people like these comics and describe them as being edgy and others find them to be trash. I am obviously in the second category. First of all I can't stand Mark Miller and Garth Ennis with there cynical attitudes, and making everyone talk in the same way. But the biggest problem I have with this book is the fact that there are no likable characters. Everybody in this book is rude, sick, or twisted. I wouldn't even mind the fact that the main character was a antihero or anything if the other people around him were but they aren't.
There are so many instances of poor writing and things that make you want to suspend disbelief (and yes I am aware that I am reading a book about superheroes) that I could probably spend a year ranting and raving like a disillusion madman why this book makes me want to hurt others.
Even at the end when the main character joked about redeeming himself I just thought that it was too late for him. Even if there were a few attempts at him feeling bad about what he did, they were so poorly done and handled that Miller might as well have not even had putted them in.
Book Review: Astounding, but...
Summary: 4 Stars
First off - brilliant concept & execution on every front - the art, the story, the arc of the main characters, no complaints.
The choice to model three of the lead characters however, at least visually, to Eminem, Halle Barry and Tommy Lee Jones was incredibly distracting, especially when I despise Eminem. But perhaps it also aided in not liking these amoral psychos too much, lol.
There was quite a nod to "Fight Club" as well, that I was easy to forgive, but still, and again, distracting.
However, I digress - the strengths of this highly bold and daring project are so intense and raw, not many a publisher in the U.S. would even think for a second about attempting to back it - this would be like a Hollywood distributer breaking "Battle Royale" wide in a national U.S. re-release. The backlash would be ten-fold that of the "Natural Born Killers" fallout.
Top Cow definitely has the cajones of Paul Bunyon - kudos.
I just hope the movie adaptation coming out in 2008 isn't another "Punisher"/"Daredevil" farce.
Stick to the original material, make it a hard "R" rated affair (like "Sin City" and "300"), and enjoy the success that will follow.
Book Review: WANTED = worst graphic novel of all time
Summary: 5 Stars
this is a terrible book.
it's written for teenage boys with rape and murder fantasies. plus, it's not even clever. even the dialog is lame. so much of WANTED just makes no sense. parallel dimensions? villains who rule the world but only wear their costumes underground? lame. boring. forced.
after watching the movie (which sucked too), i really give credit to the screen writers for cleaning up the mess of bad plot lines and rape/murder fantasies in the graphic novel.
i understand what Mark Millar was going for with this book, but he didnt pull it off like alan moore did with Batman: Killing Joke. after reading a book as bad as WANTED, i love alan moore and frank miller even more.
if you want to read a book about the difficult struggle between good vs evil and the areas of gray in between, do yourself a favor and read Watchmen, Batman: Killing Joke, Next Men, and V for Vendetta to name a few.
WANTED sucks.
but i will say one good thing... J.G. Jones did great artwork for the graphic book.