Selina's Big Score finds Catwoman out of costume and broke. The story here is a straight forward read, cut from the same cloth as a million train robberies. I had no previous knowledge of Darwin Cooke's run on Catwoman, reading his interpretation of the character for the first time.
Cooke's art is fantastic, and to be considered the major selling point of this book. A Batman Animated style merged with Paul Pope, it's made distinctive with a particular storytelling flow. There seems to be great emphasis on the design and pacing, but the story itself lacks the expected punch. The colors are extravagant and fitting, and I was noticeably impressed by them.
After enjoying Neil Gaiman's weblog for a few months, I decided to give the Sandman series another shot. The first time round, I found it to be ill-suited for the comics medium, lending itself more to a novel setting.
This first graphic novel seems unaware of its future, and seems rather ordinary. Particularly amusing is Gaiman's attempt to integrate into the DC universe, including visits to John Constantine and JLA's Mister Miracle. This is funny because of how I had always considered Sandman's greatest strength to be how far away it seemed from all of DC's other comics, the exploration of a previously unseen world.
The story itself is sharp, well thought out and still very modern. I… Read more
Spirited Away is a dream, something wonderful and hazy, beyond reality.
The story seems so haphazard, yet fully realized. The maturing and progression of Chihiro is tangible and real as she learns that action speaks louder than words. Struggling to free her parents, Chihiro stands out like a beacon amongst characters more concerned with their own wellbeing.
Spirited Away is a truly special because it makes the impossible seem impossibly real. Experiencing childlike wonder as an adult is a rare experience, seemingly limited to this movie and little else.
Animation, storytelling and Miyazaki at their very finest.
