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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This graphic novel is what would happen if Watchmen was about hero sidekicks and also was a ham fisted, nuance averse, edgelords wet dream. I think I would have agreed with the overarching purpose of Brat Pack, but it comes too full circle with its thematic material in the attempts to make its points to make it feel necessary. Just gross, mean spirited and tactless.
the term 'deconstruction' used to get thrown around a lot. rarely do i ever see anything to justify that except grimdark twisting of the original construction. however, i think this comic really does a little more than put an edgy twist on things.
brat pack is many things but its really about how little respect the western comics industry has for its characters and storylines. how many times has superman been killed off and brought back? how many girlfriends had to be crushed into fridges to make our protagonists' suffering worth the audience's time? how many universes had to be reset, brought back, made alternate, made main, made alternate again, in order to keep sales up? and who could forget the infamous 'a death in the family' storyline in batman comics where readers could call in to decide whether robin lived or died?
the reader is invited to take part in this orgy of ignorance and they oblige, feeling as if theyre doing something productive rather than destructive. this isnt an audience providing feedback to a work. its a multibillion dollar corporation pandering in the worst way imaginable while also moulding the minds of its readers each time they release a new issue, with the message either way being: buy our shitty, poorly thought out bullshit.
brat pack is the opposite of a love letter. its a five issue long middle finger to the fascist western comics industry that shows zero respect to its subject or reader.
brat pack is many things but its really about how little respect the western comics industry has for its characters and storylines. how many times has superman been killed off and brought back? how many girlfriends had to be crushed into fridges to make our protagonists' suffering worth the audience's time? how many universes had to be reset, brought back, made alternate, made main, made alternate again, in order to keep sales up? and who could forget the infamous 'a death in the family' storyline in batman comics where readers could call in to decide whether robin lived or died?
the reader is invited to take part in this orgy of ignorance and they oblige, feeling as if theyre doing something productive rather than destructive. this isnt an audience providing feedback to a work. its a multibillion dollar corporation pandering in the worst way imaginable while also moulding the minds of its readers each time they release a new issue, with the message either way being: buy our shitty, poorly thought out bullshit.
brat pack is the opposite of a love letter. its a five issue long middle finger to the fascist western comics industry that shows zero respect to its subject or reader.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
A vicious satire of the exploitation of superheroes and their disposable kid sidekicks - very good, although like most of Veitch's work, its reach sometimes exceeds its grasp. But I'm glad he keeps reaching.
I could not slash cannot get this book out of my head. It was just really grimey in every sense. The collection is good, as Rick re-did a few pages, and added a few pages to make the story flow a little better. But it's a wild time.
When Doctor Blasphemy kills the Brat Pack, the kid sidekicks of the heroes of Slumburg, Moon Mistress, the Midnight Mink, King Rad, and Judge Jury have to find some new recruits. Will the new Brat Pack even find their footing before joining the old Brat Pack in their fate?
I've been aware of this book for years, thanks to the iconic cover of Chippy, the Robin analogue, shaving his legs. When I saw it was being brought back into print, I decided it was time to finally read the thing.
Brat Pack reminds me of Garth Ennis' The Boys in that it shows the dark side of living in a world of super heroes. It also asks the question "What kind of sociopath would bring a kid into a life of fighting crime?" The answer is these kinds of sociopaths!
The book is basically Robin, Wonder Girl, Speedy, and Bucky trying to fill the shoes of their disposable predecessors while finding out what kind of people their mentors are. Chippy, Luna, Wild Boy, and Kid Vicious have their work cut out for them. The heroes of Slumburg are pretty terrible, more focused on merchandising than fighting crime. And what the hell do they want sidekicks for anyway?
This is one of those books that I recognize as high quality but I wouldn't say I actually liked it. Rick Veitch's art is spectacular, especially the backgrounds of Slumburg, and he does a great job portraying what pieces of shit the heroes of Slumburg are. There's just not a likable character in the entire book by the end and the ending felt kind of rushed.
Brat Pack is an interesting, if brutal and depressing, piece of comics history. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
I've been aware of this book for years, thanks to the iconic cover of Chippy, the Robin analogue, shaving his legs. When I saw it was being brought back into print, I decided it was time to finally read the thing.
Brat Pack reminds me of Garth Ennis' The Boys in that it shows the dark side of living in a world of super heroes. It also asks the question "What kind of sociopath would bring a kid into a life of fighting crime?" The answer is these kinds of sociopaths!
The book is basically Robin, Wonder Girl, Speedy, and Bucky trying to fill the shoes of their disposable predecessors while finding out what kind of people their mentors are. Chippy, Luna, Wild Boy, and Kid Vicious have their work cut out for them. The heroes of Slumburg are pretty terrible, more focused on merchandising than fighting crime. And what the hell do they want sidekicks for anyway?
This is one of those books that I recognize as high quality but I wouldn't say I actually liked it. Rick Veitch's art is spectacular, especially the backgrounds of Slumburg, and he does a great job portraying what pieces of shit the heroes of Slumburg are. There's just not a likable character in the entire book by the end and the ending felt kind of rushed.
Brat Pack is an interesting, if brutal and depressing, piece of comics history. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A lot of very good writing and art here. It's rather misanthropic and lacking in fun, though.