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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Great art. Great story in classic Neil Gaiman fashion a little bit whimsical, a little bit weird but also a great sort of shift in classic comic storytelling. Also look out of the cameos of classic DC characters!
[This was written originally for an 'article' I submitted to rookiemag.com, but it was not used.]
Black Orchid is one of those comics that make you wonder, can it really be called a comic if it is illustrated so beautifully? And the answer is yes. Illustrated by Dave McKean, Black Orchid is an important example of the re-imagining and re-creation of comics by British authors in the eighties. Combining mythology, pagan concepts and the romanticism of tribal life, this is really one you do not want to ignore. After Susan was brutally murdered, she is reborn and fully grown as the Black Orchid, a half human-half plant creation. She wants to avenge her death but must patch up what she remembers from her human days and figure out why and how she died. It’s not your typical super hero story and is more a journey of self-discovery. There are some fun cameos of other DC heroes and villains that will make comic fans smile. It can be read as a ‘one-shot’ so do not be afraid of continuity. And if you enjoy this mash up of talents, be sure to check out The Sandman [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sandman-Preludes-Nocturnes-Neil-Gaiman/dp/1848565631/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325988242&sr=8-1] comics by the same men.
Black Orchid is one of those comics that make you wonder, can it really be called a comic if it is illustrated so beautifully? And the answer is yes. Illustrated by Dave McKean, Black Orchid is an important example of the re-imagining and re-creation of comics by British authors in the eighties. Combining mythology, pagan concepts and the romanticism of tribal life, this is really one you do not want to ignore. After Susan was brutally murdered, she is reborn and fully grown as the Black Orchid, a half human-half plant creation. She wants to avenge her death but must patch up what she remembers from her human days and figure out why and how she died. It’s not your typical super hero story and is more a journey of self-discovery. There are some fun cameos of other DC heroes and villains that will make comic fans smile. It can be read as a ‘one-shot’ so do not be afraid of continuity. And if you enjoy this mash up of talents, be sure to check out The Sandman [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sandman-Preludes-Nocturnes-Neil-Gaiman/dp/1848565631/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325988242&sr=8-1] comics by the same men.
The idea of Black Orchid was interesting, I just didn't love her in this novel.
It's kind of adorable to read this because I didn't think it was that great. If I'd started out with this book instead of Sandman, I would've taken some convincing to continue with Gaiman's oeuvre. It's not that I didn't like the story; in fact, I really like how he weaves Batman & Lex Luthor & Swamp Thing & all of that together. It was just a little too vague, a little too much moping by Black Orchid. Too much f-a-all-ll-ing - seriously, once would've been enough for that page layout. But on the other hand, if I'd started with this I would've become even more of a Dave McKean fangirl than I already am, because holy heck, his artwork here is totally breathtaking & it knocked my socks right off.
The art in this graphic novel is amazing. A lot of greyscale with pops of vibrant colours. Beautiful. However, the story I cannot appreciate as much as I would like to. I am unfamiliar with the DC comic characters. I did recognize some of the more infamous ones, but most went unrecognizable to me. I do have to say it was well written and had a nice flow to the story, but I couldn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to due to my confusion.
I'm really uncertain how I feel about this book. On one hand the art is phenomenal - Dave McKean has created a beautiful book. Every page is full of color, emotion, and a softness which blankets even the grimmest details. Even the layout of the panels is excellent. It truly is stunning. On the other hand I don't think I'm the target audience for this particular volume. It ties into the DC universe more than I expected, and while I recognize such figures as Poison Ivy, Swamp Thing, and of course Batman and Lex Luthor, I don't know much about them nor do I have any investment in them. I could tell the book was drawing on a rich backstory, and was filled with Easter Eggs, but it was lost on me since I've always been a Marvel girl. I did appreciate how the story turns traditional comic book tropes on their head, and follows a more gentle and I dare say feminine storyline. I feel like modern comics in general likely owe this book a great debt. Still, when it comes down to it I'm not sure I can enthusiastically say I enjoyed it as much as I feel like I should have. If you are a fan of the DC universe, and want to try something unusual and contemplative, I'd say give this one a read. If you don't generally follow comics and are looking for a solid stand-alone story you might want to give this one a pass - your milage may vary.
An okay read...I'm glad it kinda connected all of the other plant people in the DCU. Never woulda figured that.
The illustrations in this book were stunning & the reworking of the mythologies was interesting...I wasn't all that grabbed by the combination in the end - but I still appreciated the effort.
Definitely a 4 star comic if I was being completely objective, something about it just never pulled me in so three stars it is.
An even less traditional comic then Sandman. Black Orchid is not for a lot of Vertigo fans. The art while none traditional is beautiful, and used very expressively. The choice to separate the gritty world of Carl from the magical world of Black Orchid through the use of color and style is dramatic, and each frame is beautifully rendered. I would have liked some more dynamic page layouts, but that could have easily taken the artsy factor too far so I guess it's for the best.
It was very interesting to read this book while reading through the new 52 of Batgirl. Because in that comic, despite the fact that the main character is clothed head to foot the art style encourages objectification. In this comic, despite the fact that the main female characters run around naked the entire time sex and objectification never entered into my mind. And while some men might get off to her, the artist is not using her sexuality (against her will) to sell comics. And why does our society think this comic should be rated mature and batgirl should be rated teen?
The story ended up being the lacking thing for me. Again, objectively it was fine and I can see why people enjoy it, but I just wanted more Black Orchid and less everything else. While I was amused by Lex Luther's appearance, I thought he and his henchmen got too much attention. Although I guess it helped to build a coherent plot line. It would be rather scattered if we just followed black orchid the entire time. I was really tickled by the guest appearance of Alec and Abigail Holland.
An even less traditional comic then Sandman. Black Orchid is not for a lot of Vertigo fans. The art while none traditional is beautiful, and used very expressively. The choice to separate the gritty world of Carl from the magical world of Black Orchid through the use of color and style is dramatic, and each frame is beautifully rendered. I would have liked some more dynamic page layouts, but that could have easily taken the artsy factor too far so I guess it's for the best.
It was very interesting to read this book while reading through the new 52 of Batgirl. Because in that comic, despite the fact that the main character is clothed head to foot the art style encourages objectification. In this comic, despite the fact that the main female characters run around naked the entire time sex and objectification never entered into my mind. And while some men might get off to her, the artist is not using her sexuality (against her will) to sell comics. And why does our society think this comic should be rated mature and batgirl should be rated teen?
The story ended up being the lacking thing for me. Again, objectively it was fine and I can see why people enjoy it, but I just wanted more Black Orchid and less everything else. While I was amused by Lex Luther's appearance, I thought he and his henchmen got too much attention. Although I guess it helped to build a coherent plot line. It would be rather scattered if we just followed black orchid the entire time. I was really tickled by the guest appearance of Alec and Abigail Holland.