X-Sender: mgerber@ao.net (Unverified) X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 2.2 (32) Date: Fri, 05 Apr 1996 03:17:49 -0500 To: superchat@awenet.com Reply-To: superchat@awenet.com Errors-To: postmaster@awenet.com Precedence: bulk From: Matthew Gerber Subject: 000REVIEWS 3/5/96-3/7/96 SPOILER WARNING: Complete spoilers for episodes posted from 3/5/96 to 3/7/96. 000REVIEWS is a review column for all Superguy Digest story subtopics. The reviewers are Chris Angelini, Matthew Gerber, Mason Kramer, Jonathan Lennox, Chris Meadows and Rick Rechowicz. Except as otherwise noted, I (Matt) write the capsule reviews. Episodes are rated on a scale of 0 to 10 as follows: 0: Abysmal (No merit whatsoever.) 1: Very Bad (Thoroughly wretched.) 2: Bad (Still wretched. May have life signs.) 3: Very Poor (May have potential, but needs work badly.) 4: Poor (Has potential, but needs work.) 5: Mediocre (Not good, but not bad.) 6: Good (Good read. Low to average for Superguy.) 7: Very Good (Average to high for Superguy.) 8: Excellent (Very high quality writing.) 9: Exceptional (VERY good. No serious flaws.) 10: Perfect (Very, very, very rare.) The "type" scale is a measure of how serious or humorous the story is; it is not an evaluation of quality. Type 1 indicates a full-tilt wacko story. Type 5 indicates a lethal serious piece with only flashes of humor. /// SFStory: Renegade Anarchists IV #16 (Gary W. Olsen) Synopsis Lark manages to repair the Plot enough to avert death, and the embedded blank is gone--but the Swede still can't Edit. Meanwhile, Bagelos and Anthony find Van Cleef and Hagen, and the chase starts.... Evaluation Weird. Very, very, very weird. Not just ordinary weird: true, high-octane, honest to goodness off the wall. But then, that characterizes SFStory itself, and Gary writes it as well as anyone, parodying everything in sight--Babylon 5, Marla Maples, Star Trek and "fighting" video games get brief to long appearances just in this episode. Characterization is consistent within the terms of the parody (there's a limit to the emotional depth you can give to Susan B. Anthony as a high-level minion of Satan) and, though confusing (this is Gary, what do you expect?), at least partly comprehensible. Renegade Anarchists IV #16: Type 2, 7.25 embedded blanks (Very Good) Matt: 7 ChrisA: 8 Mason: 7 Jon: 7 /// Superguy: Moronic Kombat #2 (Nopporn Wongrassamee) Synopsis Mary, Lou and Doug make it to the island, discover Shant's plans, and beat up a whole lot of disposable extras. Evaluation Mortal Kombat's a mile-wide target for parody, and this one hits. Nopporn seems to be basically following the general plot of the movie, skewering its elements in turn; Doug's guest appearance is particularly funny. Characterization is a bit sparse, but that's expected in a "full" parody. The prose and dialogue could use a bit of polish, but on the whole, this is a solid read. Moronic Kombat #2: Type 2, 5.50 disposable extras (Mediocre/Good) Matt: 6 Jon: 5 /// Superguy: Series With No Name #6 (Jon Robertson) Synopsis Shawn continues to try to build a body for SARA, and finally gives up when SARA admits that she simply doesn't want one. She would, however, like a brother, so Shawn completes his efforts and designs another CI--Michael. Evaluation A really, really nicely done little character study. Shawn is tragic, sympathetic and believable, a very nice rendition of the "inventor raising his creations as children" archetype--which describes this story as well. Nicely done, doesn't get into the technobabble too much, and Jon's characterization is still just getting better and better. Series With No Name #6: Type 4, 7.80 cloned cells (Excellent) Matt: 8 ChrisA: 8 Mason: 8 Jon: 8 ChrisM: 7 /// Superguy: The Switch #6 (Keiran McManus) Synopsis The Publisher muah-hah-hahs for awhile, and attempts (unsuccessfully) to interrogate Elaine. Meanwhile, Cheri comes out of the Low-Lives-R-Us night club and is accosted by the Simpletons, but is saved by Injury Man--and turns out to be a superguy herself, with powers to give alcohol odd properties. Meanwhile, Dill shows Dennis how to control his powers. Evaluation An amusing read with decent characterization and a suitably off-the-wall cast, and the reference to the ALU #100 opener is a nice touch. The only real problems are mechanical--spellchecking and a quick proofread before send would fix a vast majority of them. Hopefully, Keiran's going to be around awhile. The Switch #6: Type 2, 6.80, well, Dennises (Very Good) Matt: 6 ChrisA: 7 Mason: 7 Jon: 7 ChrisM: 7 /// Superguy [Winner Take All]: The Tribe Of Behn #35 (Chris Angelini) Synopsis Task Force Aurora scientists make a discovery about the plague--it's completely harmless. Just as Aphra and Milton are ready to be relieved, they find out there's another emergency--a Task Force member has planted nuclear bombs in cities all over. Meanwhile, at Omnus headquarters, the Lupine gets away--only to be one-punched by the Paisley Lapin. At Task Force Aurora, they finish rounding up the bombs--only to find out that there were more than they got due to a mistake and calculation. Saskatoon and New Montreal are annihilated.... ....with huge numbers of survivors. The plague was a carrier for a virus that gave its victim powers, and the trigger was for that person to receive an impact that would kill them. And Maladroit's army of infected, now superguys, begin to move to infect as many others as they can.... Evaluation A _terrific_ beginning to Winner Take All. Characterization is magnificent (particularly the Aphra/Milton scenes and the dynamics between Doyle and Colleen) and the sudden impending doom right after the relief of the plague being harmless is suitably disconcerting. Looking forward anxiously to the rest of this crossover. The Tribe Of Behn #35 (WTA): Type 4, 8.00 very, very large booms (Excellent) Matt: 8 Mason: 8 Jon: 8 ChrisM: 8 /// Superguy [Winner Take All]: Commodore Amiga #6 (Brendan LeFebvre) Synopsis Amiga testifies to the review board about Cerulean's death. Meanwhile, the D'Obliques, a plague-infected family, go to dinner in Saskatoon.... just in time for the explosion. Martin and Stoner discuss their own questioning by the review board, and Admiral Stanson confronts Amiga in the restroom with the knowledge that it was no mere malfunction.... then congratulates him for killing Cerulean, still not realizing how he did it. Amiga and the two ensigns meet and discuss leave.... just in time to see the reports of the explosion themselves. Evaluation An excellent transitional issue, particularly the prelude, which hits like a sledgehammer. Characterization is very well done, particularly of Amiga himself--the character is a bit more complex than average, and this is handled well. Stoner and Martin are amusing, and Stanson manages to be just slightly disturbing. Looking forward to Brendan's next arc; he's started very nicely. Commodore Amiga #6 (WTA): 7.50 rabbit shaped ink blots (Very Good/Excellent) Matt: 8 Jon: 7 Mason: 7 ChrisM: 8 /// Superguy: ALU Acadely #1 (Eric Alfred Burns) Synopsis The primary element here is the review board (i.e., the ALU) that's considering throwing out Memorex, one of the Academy students, and the other students' reaction to it. Wrapped around this thread are several character sequences with the Academy students, Memorex's (of course) getting the spotlight. Evaluation A straight characterization issue. Sabre's good at those, and this one--although a bit heavier than it strictly needs to be at times--is no exception, with Transit and Memorex particularly likeable. The structure is chaotic, but that works well for this plot and these characters. A terrific episode marred only by an ending that simply does not have a conclusion. ALU Acadely #1: Type 4, 7.60 mispelled signs (Excellent) Matt: 7 ChrisA: 7 Jon: 8 Mason: 8 ChrisM: 8 /// Superguy: Legendary Dynamotron #1 (John Aedo) /// Capsule by Chris Angelini [Note: This review is semiofficial, as most of the reviewers saw the episode before it was sent to the List.] Synopsis The stage for Legendary Dynamotron #1 is set by a conflict that has touched _all_ of our hearts: Ken - the protagonist - loves Japanses animation (anime) and Jenny - his girlfriend - doesn't get it. Just as Ken is about to take Jenny out for the evening, two of his anime-loving friends stop by with a nearly mythical collection of anime to watch. The next morning - unable to resist the temptation - Ken watches four hours of a program that might just make his brain go bye-bye. His friends stumble upon him in this state, get scared, and call 911. Is Ken dead? Is this a new origin? Will Ken step out of the shower good as new the next day, this all having been a dream? Evaluation Legendary Dynamotron #1 is an excellent first issue for a new writer, and neatly avoids most first-timers' mistakes, such as introducing too many characters too quickly or slamming an origin in the readers' faces before they can blink. Best of all, the anime flavour of this piece seems carefully designed not to turn off those who could care less about Japanese animation - although this might be put to the test in later issues, once the hero is introduced (at least I presume a hero will be introduced...you never know. ;->). Legendary Dynamotron #1: Type 4, 7.00 four-hour anime marathons (Very Good) ChrisA: 7 Mason: 6 Jon: 7 ChrisM: 8 /// Superguy: Bob City Chronicles #17 (Ben Brown) Synopsis Lampshade Man finds Maxine Destruction, and the two start discussing her abortive plan to blow the roof off a mall (that fell apart when she ended up rescuing a group of hostages from the Sniffler). Pinky and company try to find out what happened in the incident from Sam and Bert, and, incredibly, actually succeed (though not without getting very, very wet first). Meanwhile, Destruction and Carnage muah-hah-hah about their latest plan. Evaluation Ben is one of the funniest authors on Superguy, and this being a transitional episode doesn't change that any. Maxine is a wonderful addition to the daughters-of-mad-scientists-as-sympathetic-characters club, and the interaction between the Extreme Team and the Maverick Cops(tm) is priceless. A hilarious read. Bob City Chronicles #17: Type 2, 7.80 car windows (Excellent) Matt: 7 ChrisA: 7 Mason: 8 Jon: 8 ChrisM: 9 /// Superguy [Winner Take All]: Synapse/WTA Special #1 (Louise Freeman) Synopsis Judy returns from Japan, and meets the Guardians of Rectitude back in the comic shop.... just in time for Astatine to visit, immediately recognizing her as Windjammer. Meanwhile, the Maple Leaf Marauder attacks Dillweed City--carrying the plague. Spoonman is as much help as usual, so it's up to the Guardians to stop him.... which they do, but not before Mary Agnes, Tony, probably Judy and possibly Ludge and Cory are infected. Evaluation It's hard to write kids. It's even harder to write believable kids. It's even harder than _that_ to write believable kids within the context of a believable superhero story, and make it all work.... but Thelma somehow manages to do it. Combine that with terrific characterization and one of her extremely detailed action scenes, and you have not only a great tie-in to WTA, but a great episode all around. Synapse/WTA Crossover Special (WTA): Type 3, 8.00 codename changes (Excellent) Matt: 8 Mason: 8 Jon: 8 ChrisM: 8 /// Superguy: The Mind's Construction #3 (Rob Furr) Synopsis The crew gets knocked all over inside the Long Haul. Jack apparently dies, Wally tries to get control of the vehicle and fails, and they crash. Evaluation Synopses of Rob's episodes never come out right. The above is--and this is the only problem--honestly all that actually happens in this story, but Rob's way with the English language expands it into hundreds of lines and grabs you and holds you through all of them. Characterization, particularly of Wally, is subtle but there. Hopefully, we won't have to wait as long for the next episode of The Mind's Construction as we had to for this one. The Mind's Construction #3: Type 5, 7.60 parabola arcs (Excellent) Matt: 8 Chris: 8 Mason: 7 Jon: 8 ChrisM: 7 /// Superguy: [Winner Take All] Series With No Name #7 (Jon Robertson) Synopsis Grant and Brian have a successful discussion with Barry Van Rice's financiers. Afterward, they themselves have a chilling discussion, Brian revealing that he fully intends to betray Van Rice--and that the latter already knows it. Later, in his hotel room, Brian sees the news of the destruction in Canada.... destruction that Van Rice had stated would happen.... and races to talk to him. Evaluation A rather disturbing episode. This is basically a study of two characters--both villains--and is very, very effective as such. Grant actually comes across as sympathetic here, and Brian comes across as truly insane but frighteningly effective. Jon's episodes are _still_ a little short, but that doesn't cause much of a problem here. Series With No Name #7: Type 4, 7.20 voice-distorted figures (Very Good) Matt: 8 Mason: 7 Jon: 7 ChrisM: 7 -- Matthew Gerber mgerber@ao.net (preferred) mgerber@eyrie.org mbg84022@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu