Simon Oliver (1)

Finally, after how many years reading the John Constantine, Hellblazer series I’ve finally reached the final graphic novel. Sure, it’s technically not part of the main story arc, but it proved to be the hardest to track down - I had to stoop to asking the library (three library systems through the ages) if they could special order it for me (internet purchasing is cheating, obviously)! Thankfully, the RPL is more willing to go the extra mile than the HRL or TNRD, so after a few months show more waiting it finally arrived!

Taking the form of a typical Constantine supernatural adventure, we finally get to see Chas Chandler (driver, muscle, and surprisingly useful compatriot) front and centre as he goes head to head with a demon bent on wreaking revenge on the City of London through the magic contained in the original taxi-cab routes. Now, I don’t know London well enough to really get the importance of the mini-cabs in the ancient city, but I can definitely see this little branch of urban magic being particularly potent in a city where transportation has always been a key feature. I’ve seen it done particularly well in relation to the underground tube station and the night buses (in Hellblazer and elsewhere), but giving the mini-cab drivers (and therefore Chas) their moment in the spotlight is quite a nice touch that speaks to the age and evolution of London transport systems. show less

FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics, the new series from Vertigo Comics, takes a look at the world around us and what would happen if the laws of physics suddenly didn't work properly anymore. A world where gravity just stops working in localized areas, time speeds up in buildings, quantum tornadoes run rampant in the desert. These are all things that are occurring in the world of FBP. Now, when a 911 call is made, physics is an appropriate emergency, and the Federal Bureau of Physics is sent in show more to clean up the aftermath of these disasters.

The FBP isn't necessarily a glamorous job. Those that work in the Bureau are often under appreciated
in their work, with a push on many levels to privatize the industry, so not only are the agents risking their lives on occasion to fix a physics disaster, they also have to worry about whether there will be a job for them to come back to tomorrow.

The whys and hows of the collapse of the laws of physics really aren't touched on at all in this collection. I'm curious to know if we'll ever find out the whys and hows, or we'll be forced to just accept that this is how it is in this universe, much like the people that inhabit it themselves. What is presented here is a conspiracy story that utilizes the broken laws of physics to its advantage; an arc that deals with some background of the main character, Adam Hardy; and finally a kidnapping plot that introduces us to the new agent on the block, Rosa Reyes, who has her own mystery surrounding her.

The story is good. I don't know that I've read much of Simon Oliver before, but he handles the story well enough. Robbi Rodriguez's art works well for the series, as it's a little broken and warped already on its own, matching the feel of the world that he is illustrating, but at times I had a hard time distinguishing one character from another. It's not bad, but it may be pushing the limits of being almost too messy. The coloring used in the series is really hyper-stylized by Rico Renzi, to go along with the wild nature of the world and Rodriguez's complicated panels. The entire package does become something more or less that I haven't encountered in comics before, but in my opinion, the art could stand to be cleaned up a little.

I'll probably check out subsequent volumes. I'd be interested more than anything to see if they explain why physics is broken, and what the characters are going to do to fix it. show less

I thought the first volume was good but holy shitballs, this one is on another level. Everyone should read this series, like, yesterday.

Did I mention there's a badass trans-PoC quantum physicist who is introduced in issue 8? Cause there is and she's freaking amazing.

I can't explain why I liked this. The plot is absurd. Half of the characters are unlikeable and the rest are ambiguous (including the main character who is barely explained at all). Most of the scenes made me feel a little queasy. But nonetheless I liked it and I think the rest of the series has a lot of promise.