Eric Battle

English text follows:

Τούτ' είν' η πρώτη ιστορία απ' το σύμπαν των "Άγριων Καρτών" που διάβασα κι ομολογώ ότι την βρήκα αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσα, ώστε να προσπαθήσω στο μέλλον να διαβάσω τόσο τα σχετικά βιβλία του Μάρτιν, όσο και τα υπόλοιπα γκράφικ νόβελ.

Η ιδέα ενός ιού που μεταλλάσσει show more τους ανθρώπους, δίνοντάς τους ιδιότητες που τους ταξινομούν σε ομάδες ονοματισμένες απ' τα φύλλα της τράπουλας (οι "Άσοι" με υπερδυνάμεις, αλλά "φυσιολογικοί" σε εμφάνισι, οι "Τζόκερ" παραμορφωμένοι, για παράδειγμα), είναι ιδιαίτερα εμπνευσμένη!

Είναι αλήθεια πως σε κάποια σημεία η συγκεκριμένη ιστορία είναι λίγο τετριμμένη και προβλέψιμη, αλλά το σχέδιο είναι εξαιρετικό κι η όλη αίσθησι πολύ θετική. Πιστεύω, μ' άλλα λόγια, πως είναι μια καλή εισαγωγή στον κόσμο των "Άγριων Καρτών"!

This is the first story from the "Wild Cards" universe that I've ever read, and I admit that I've found it a very interesting one, so as to try in the future to read both the relevant books by Martin and the rest of the graphic novels.

The concept of a virus that transmutes humans, giving them characteristics which classify them in groups named by the faces of the (traditional) playing cards (for instance, "Aces" have superpowers, but remain "normal" in appearance, "Jokers" have deformities), is a particularly inspired one!

It's true that some points of this specific story are somehow trite and predictable, but the design is excellent, and the whole feeling very positive; in other words, I believe it's a good introduction to the world of the "Wild Cards"! show less

Forewarning to others that got this in the Dynamite ebook bundle, the pdf and cbz formats have the pages all in the wrong order. The other two formats seem ok. It makes a lot more sense if you don't have the end and the beginning all shuffled together.

I like the concept of the disease that turns people into mutants or super heroes, though I guess G.R.R. Martin gets the credit there, not the comic book writer. I liked the overall plot arc, too, the antagonist's goal was interesting and he show more could have been a deep and complex character if the storytelling hadn't suffered from the cheesiness and lack of depth that is common in comic books.

Not fond of the art style, I guess it's trying to be noir but the enormous shadows make it harder to see things. show less

Godzilla: Awakening
Author: Borenstein, Borenstein, Battle, Guichet, Quah
Publisher: Legendary Comics / Warner Brothers / DC Entertainment
Published In: Burbank, CA, USA
Date: 2014
Pgs: 80

REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Summary:
The bombs of the atomic age have awakened creatures beyond imagining. Monumental forces of nature walk forth. Godzilla lives.

Genre:
Comics and graphic novels
Fiction
Mythology
Science fiction

Why this book:
It’s Godzilla...c’mon...it’s show more Godzilla.

______________________________________________________________________________

Favorite Character:
Godzilla. If my favorite character in a Godzilla story isn’t Godzilla, then, there is something wrong with the story.

Least Favorite Character:
Serizawa when he’s doing the “but Godzilla is good” dance.

MacArthur and his believing that the bomb will make it all go away. Rings very true to some of the attitudes of that generation.

The Feel:
Supposed to be a prequel to the movie and feels like it.

Favorite Scene:
The ship that they come to rescue being up on top of the mountain, crushed, like it was tossed there, is an awesome scene.

Pacing:
Very good.
______________________________________________________________________________

Last Page Sound:
Cool. [makes Godzilla sound}

Knee Jerk Reaction:
glad I read it

Disposition of Book:
Irving Public Library
Irving, Tx

Would recommend to:
friends, family, kids, colleagues, everyone, genre fans show less

"Godzilla - Das Erwachen" hat mit all den typischen Problemen zu kämpfen, die ein Prequel zu einem Kinofilm nunmal so hat. Alles muss auf ein bestimmtes Ziel hinauslaufen ohne zu viel über den eigentlichen Film zu verraten. Und irgendwie muss es auch noch als rundes, eigenständiges Werk funktionieren können, dass man aber nicht gelesen haben muss, um den Film zu verstehen. Trotzdem bietet "Das Erwachen" viele interessante Ansätze.

Immerhin ist der Autor Max Borenstein auch der Verfasser show more des Filmdrehbuches, sodass man davon ausgehen kann, dass einiges aus dem Comic auch im Film wiederzufinden sein sollte.

Die Erzählweise der Geschichte ist stellenweise zu sprunghaft. Außerdem gibt es soetwas wie einen unausgewogenen Rhythmus. Teilweise gibt es ganzseitige Actionbilder, die mehr an Pin-ups erinnern, ohne die Geschichte wirklich voranzubringen. Die verschiedenen Zeichner machen ein reibungsloses Verständnis vielleicht ebenfalls etwas schwierig. show less