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stiricide's review
3.0
More like 2.5. If this were anyone else, I think I'd be all MIND BLOWN, but because it's Gail Simone, I can just see it as early-ish Gail Simone. Which is actually good. I love that we're finally at a place where people like Gail Simone can even HAVE early work, and that we can read it and be all "oh, ok, so here's where she started, this is cool, OH LOOK AT HOW SHE GROWS, THAT IS AWESOME."
lberestecki's review
2.0
This definitely got better as it went, but I just didn't really enjoy it that much. In general I love Gail Simone, but this was kind of all the parts of her writing that I don't love together in one comic.
tita_noir's review
4.0
A town that features retired super-heroes. It also has a big secret worth killing for. The mystery is interesting as are all the different personalities. Reminds me a bit of [b:Astro City Vol. 1: Life in the Big City|72111|Astro City Vol. 1 Life in the Big City|Kurt Busiek|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1246140727s/72111.jpg|97133], but only a bit. Love the main female character, Sheriff Thomasina Lindo. Always nice to run across a graphic novel that features an Af-Am female character. A rarity, but very welcome.
brantelg's review
5.0
I love comics with good characterization and this has it in spades. It is like a Watchmen-lite mixed with an old-fashioned whodunnit. An excellent read, indeed.
captwinghead's review
3.0
This was enjoyable. A pretty unique premise seeing as the characters are older than the characters in Astro City - which had a bit of a similar vibe, in my opinion.
This is sort of a murder mystery in a town with retired superheroes. I like that Simone took the opportunity to show the characters' pasts through their comic strips - in the style of classic comics. I kind of wish (if she'd been so inclined) she'd been able to do it with existing comic book characters. Kingdom Come is really the only example I can think of where we get to see what the Justice League was like as older people. It would've been cool to see Clark and Bruce bickering in a retirement home while Barry and Diana play chess or something in the background.
Anyway, the characters are pretty distinct. I saw the ending coming but it was still a pretty fun ride.
This is sort of a murder mystery in a town with retired superheroes. I like that Simone took the opportunity to show the characters' pasts through their comic strips - in the style of classic comics. I kind of wish (if she'd been so inclined) she'd been able to do it with existing comic book characters. Kingdom Come is really the only example I can think of where we get to see what the Justice League was like as older people. It would've been cool to see Clark and Bruce bickering in a retirement home while Barry and Diana play chess or something in the background.
Anyway, the characters are pretty distinct. I saw the ending coming but it was still a pretty fun ride.
jlwalk905's review
5.0
I don't know why I feel so fast and hard for these books but I love them. The art style is great, the characters are lovable, the world is interesting. I love this series. I just want more!!!
edunbar87's review
5.0
Fantastically well written, great characters and you have to love the meta nature of the whole thing. Gail Simone is amazing!
jujuwiz's review
5.0
I'm a Marvel girl, so I've always been bummed that Ms. Simone's books (mostly) took place in the wrong world. Not this one! A great premise, in an easy world to jump in to, with fabulous characters and tidy writing. Much fun!
londonmabel's review
3.0
Hm, gosh, I wanted to love it. I lurv Top 10 and the premise is similar so it was like a chance to revisit that fun concept. Unfortunately, Top 10 sort of goes much more wild and crazy with the idea of an untamed city full of super beings, so Tranquility seemed merely quaint in comparison.
However I loved the method of interspersing the story with excerpts from the character's comic books (of their youth) -- that was fantastic. They were either relevant to building character, or to the mystery storyline. However she could have used these to much better effect to drop clues for the mystery story.
Because the mystery story was poorly constructed. The comic seemed to have been built not so much for a great revelation at the end that makes sense in terms of what it reveals about the baddies, but it was just a lead up for the roles that all the other characters would play at the end to overcome them. Which means I guessed the killer, but for a stupid reason. The actual motivation was never properly hinted at or foreshadowed, and was totally random when revealed. But then the battle was completely foreshadowed and therefore satisfying.
So... weak mystery... great final battle/character denouement.
However I loved the method of interspersing the story with excerpts from the character's comic books (of their youth) -- that was fantastic. They were either relevant to building character, or to the mystery storyline. However she could have used these to much better effect to drop clues for the mystery story.
Because the mystery story was poorly constructed. The comic seemed to have been built not so much for a great revelation at the end that makes sense in terms of what it reveals about the baddies, but it was just a lead up for the roles that all the other characters would play at the end to overcome them. Which means I guessed the killer, but for a stupid reason. The actual motivation was never properly hinted at or foreshadowed, and was totally random when revealed. But then the battle was completely foreshadowed and therefore satisfying.
So... weak mystery... great final battle/character denouement.