Scan barcode
jayisthebird's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Despite compelling artwork, this is a disappointing volume which fails at its goals of illustrating the necessity of basing our culture and politics in stories worth telling.
Lautor and Brandon's comic was originally published in the early days of the Trump administration and it seeks to answer the question of how he got elected. The set-up is superficially interesting; they primarily use contrast as an engine of critique suggesting that hucksterism is the base of all dreams. The main character is a homeless black woman who grifts people by selling her ruined homeworld as modern opiates: VR type headsets or drugs. She transports the marks from the colorful dystopia of contemporary New York to a land of nostalgia inhabited by fury's in ganster-chic dinner suits. At the same time, the mayor of the city hocks Trumpian red hats which blares "Dream Huge" and he and his family call out to Nancy Reagan in times of need. The red hats use their fists to spread his increasingly authoritarian rule. So far so good, seemingly this would be a pretty clear dispossessed versus crypto-fascist critique.
The politics and history of the dreamworld makes the stories real world theme collapse into incoherence. In contrast to a member of the precariat, Zelda is also a Bolshevik-that got cold feet. A failed leader of a revolution who refused to take power and solve the problem of "the meritocracy of ideals." This in itself could be an interesting critique of the anarchist-left's attempts to create change without taking power as seen in events like occupy. However, this is also muddled in a jarring confusion of panels in which the void left in that vacuum--a giant trust fund-fratty wanders the dream world doing mischief-- is contrasted against her former lieutenant's monologue. He informs her that they won the war and took power, "But nothing changed. We took the system and the rules and when it was gone all we had left was the anger. It's not a world of fighters. They just Bicker. They run in circles for these tiny personal victories til they're out of Breath. We pointed out all the cracks in the story, but no one knew how to fix them." Two things seem to be implied, they took control of the system and overthrew it, but changing the material conditions did not create change because their ideas were bad. Infighting among the left is a perennial critique worth discussing, but the analog of true structural change failing while holding power makes no sense as the Lautor's audience likely hasn't seen a radical governing coalition in their lifetime. Even worse, this is the inversion of what centrist rule actually looks like in the Nato alliance. Social democrats run on changing the material conditions, never do, but trumpet strong positions that they lament they cannot implement. This is further developed as her personal failing because her leadership was needed. This is either justified through her divine oln blood's unique creative potential (Bring Back the Bourbons 2024?) or in do-better, get therapy type conflicts with old allies. One refuses to help her then chides, "I don't blame you for wanting to take the shortcut. But do you see a theme, here? Your whole life's a cheatcode. So I can't help you." In other words, do-better as a theory of change.
In spite of the nonsense characterization and themes, the the fantasy aspects of the dreamworld are interesting as individual images. For instance, the chameleon man club owner is an excellent creepy little guy with a mobster's furrowed brow and a pencil mustaches. Trump-bro as Kaiju is a fully-formed, metaphor for the trump years. He bleats and sulks, pissed that there's nothing better to do then knock down the place while he's bored. The main character donning her knight outfit also strikes a mythic note. The page layouts themselves are often not as interesting or dynamic. The psycho-realism pushed in the square boxes often undermines narrative clarity and the surreal art.
It's commendable to have ambition and reflection in heroic fantasy. However, this comic reeks of the worst impulses of liberal repurposing of left-critiques and art styles. The comic reminds me of the impotent self-reflection in 2016. About the same level of self-reflection of Katy Perry's Bubbles that wraps itself in surrealistic aesthetics while bemoaning the loss of Obama and Clinton's dreams instead of Bretons. An absurd distillation of the liberal commitment to idealism as the driver of history. If only the world of pure meritocracy could of offered better ideas, the book seems to ask instead of asking how to end problems of homelessness, fascism, and oligarchy the book superficially invokes.
Lautor and Brandon's comic was originally published in the early days of the Trump administration and it seeks to answer the question of how he got elected. The set-up is superficially interesting; they primarily use contrast as an engine of critique suggesting that hucksterism is the base of all dreams. The main character is a homeless black woman who grifts people by selling her ruined homeworld as modern opiates: VR type headsets or drugs. She transports the marks from the colorful dystopia of contemporary New York to a land of nostalgia inhabited by fury's in ganster-chic dinner suits. At the same time, the mayor of the city hocks Trumpian red hats which blares "Dream Huge" and he and his family call out to Nancy Reagan in times of need. The red hats use their fists to spread his increasingly authoritarian rule. So far so good, seemingly this would be a pretty clear dispossessed versus crypto-fascist critique.
The politics and history of the dreamworld makes the stories real world theme collapse into incoherence. In contrast to a member of the precariat, Zelda is also a Bolshevik-that got cold feet. A failed leader of a revolution who refused to take power and solve the problem of "the meritocracy of ideals." This in itself could be an interesting critique of the anarchist-left's attempts to create change without taking power as seen in events like occupy. However, this is also muddled in a jarring confusion of panels in which the void left in that vacuum--a giant trust fund-fratty wanders the dream world doing mischief-- is contrasted against her former lieutenant's monologue. He informs her that they won the war and took power, "But nothing changed. We took the system and the rules and when it was gone all we had left was the anger. It's not a world of fighters. They just Bicker. They run in circles for these tiny personal victories til they're out of Breath. We pointed out all the cracks in the story, but no one knew how to fix them." Two things seem to be implied, they took control of the system and overthrew it, but changing the material conditions did not create change because their ideas were bad. Infighting among the left is a perennial critique worth discussing, but the analog of true structural change failing while holding power makes no sense as the Lautor's audience likely hasn't seen a radical governing coalition in their lifetime. Even worse, this is the inversion of what centrist rule actually looks like in the Nato alliance. Social democrats run on changing the material conditions, never do, but trumpet strong positions that they lament they cannot implement. This is further developed as her personal failing because her leadership was needed. This is either justified through her divine oln blood's unique creative potential (Bring Back the Bourbons 2024?) or in do-better, get therapy type conflicts with old allies. One refuses to help her then chides, "I don't blame you for wanting to take the shortcut. But do you see a theme, here? Your whole life's a cheatcode. So I can't help you." In other words, do-better as a theory of change.
In spite of the nonsense characterization and themes, the the fantasy aspects of the dreamworld are interesting as individual images. For instance, the chameleon man club owner is an excellent creepy little guy with a mobster's furrowed brow and a pencil mustaches. Trump-bro as Kaiju is a fully-formed, metaphor for the trump years. He bleats and sulks, pissed that there's nothing better to do then knock down the place while he's bored. The main character donning her knight outfit also strikes a mythic note. The page layouts themselves are often not as interesting or dynamic. The psycho-realism pushed in the square boxes often undermines narrative clarity and the surreal art.
It's commendable to have ambition and reflection in heroic fantasy. However, this comic reeks of the worst impulses of liberal repurposing of left-critiques and art styles. The comic reminds me of the impotent self-reflection in 2016. About the same level of self-reflection of Katy Perry's Bubbles that wraps itself in surrealistic aesthetics while bemoaning the loss of Obama and Clinton's dreams instead of Bretons. An absurd distillation of the liberal commitment to idealism as the driver of history. If only the world of pure meritocracy could of offered better ideas, the book seems to ask instead of asking how to end problems of homelessness, fascism, and oligarchy the book superficially invokes.
theburninglibrary's review
5.0
Oh. My. Lord. That was fabulous. I’m in actual shook right now. The beginning of this was mildly confusing, but around issue 3 it got SO GOOD! This is definitely a series I plan on following for a long time to come. JOB WELL DONE you guys!!
lashette's review
2.0
I was confused for most of this. This is a drop you in and you figure it out as you go type of story. But then it's also about characters going in and put of alternate realities? I'm not sure exactly because everyone speaks like we the reader already knows. I did like the characters and the art style though.
srishtidear's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
nobodyatall's review
2.0
This is a confusing mess.
I’m sure there is some narrative going on, but the author hasn’t communicated it very well. Perhaps it’s meant to gradually appear over several more volumes? maybe it would make sense if I re read it? I can be bothered to do that though.
Art is nice but nothing special.
I’m sure there is some narrative going on, but the author hasn’t communicated it very well. Perhaps it’s meant to gradually appear over several more volumes? maybe it would make sense if I re read it? I can be bothered to do that though.
Art is nice but nothing special.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review
3.0
3 1/2 Stars.
Black Cloud is the brain child of Jason Latour (Wolverine, Winter Soldier, Southern Bastards, Spider-Gwen), Ivan Brandon (DC’s Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape, Kobra, Marvel’s Secret Invasion, Viking), Greg Hinkle (the Rattler, Airboy), and Matt Wilson (Suburban Glamour, Wonder Woman, Secret Avengers, The Wicked + The Devine); together they’ve created a unique world, or rather, one unique world connected to a mundane world.
In many ways Black Cloud reminded me of a psychedelic blend of Alice in Wonderland and Narnia. Zelda (yes that really is her name) has the ability to pass from our world, to another, more compelling world. How does she do this you ask? Her method varies, but it mostly seems to involve submerging herself in a large (human sized or bigger) body of water. Add in some talking animals, and a war or two, and you can see why it reminded me so much of those novels.
I honestly think my favorite thing about Black Cloud was the artwork. It’s the first thing I saw about it, and it’s what I remember most distinctly. The colors are so vibrant, yet the artwork itself is almost coarse, with jagged edges and a more organic feel to it (some would call it psychedelic, with all the colors being used). I’ve seen Greg Hinkle and Matt Wilson’s previous works, but clearly they work well as a team, because this is just outstanding.
As for the plot itself; it can be confusing at times. While I’m never uncertain about which world Zelda is in (they’re both incredibly distinct), at times I was uncertain about the timeline or other basic points, such as which world Zelda originates from (I think she’s from the other world, but I’m not completely certain of that). If you can overlook these concerns, you’ll find it to be an interesting (and beautiful) read.
I’m sure that the first volume has some of that “new series clumsiness” and that future volumes will be more streamlined. Or at least that’s what I’m hoping for. Black Cloud has so much potential; I’d hate to see that wasted. I’m planning on continuing the series, and am very much looking forward to the release of the next volume.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Black Cloud is the brain child of Jason Latour (Wolverine, Winter Soldier, Southern Bastards, Spider-Gwen), Ivan Brandon (DC’s Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape, Kobra, Marvel’s Secret Invasion, Viking), Greg Hinkle (the Rattler, Airboy), and Matt Wilson (Suburban Glamour, Wonder Woman, Secret Avengers, The Wicked + The Devine); together they’ve created a unique world, or rather, one unique world connected to a mundane world.
In many ways Black Cloud reminded me of a psychedelic blend of Alice in Wonderland and Narnia. Zelda (yes that really is her name) has the ability to pass from our world, to another, more compelling world. How does she do this you ask? Her method varies, but it mostly seems to involve submerging herself in a large (human sized or bigger) body of water. Add in some talking animals, and a war or two, and you can see why it reminded me so much of those novels.
I honestly think my favorite thing about Black Cloud was the artwork. It’s the first thing I saw about it, and it’s what I remember most distinctly. The colors are so vibrant, yet the artwork itself is almost coarse, with jagged edges and a more organic feel to it (some would call it psychedelic, with all the colors being used). I’ve seen Greg Hinkle and Matt Wilson’s previous works, but clearly they work well as a team, because this is just outstanding.
As for the plot itself; it can be confusing at times. While I’m never uncertain about which world Zelda is in (they’re both incredibly distinct), at times I was uncertain about the timeline or other basic points, such as which world Zelda originates from (I think she’s from the other world, but I’m not completely certain of that). If you can overlook these concerns, you’ll find it to be an interesting (and beautiful) read.
I’m sure that the first volume has some of that “new series clumsiness” and that future volumes will be more streamlined. Or at least that’s what I’m hoping for. Black Cloud has so much potential; I’d hate to see that wasted. I’m planning on continuing the series, and am very much looking forward to the release of the next volume.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
jakekilroy's review
3.0
This almost felt like a Saturday morning cartoon that takes on the blurring details of reality and summoned unrealities via a kooky yet consequential dreamworld.
indigo_han's review
5.0
“So, like, where do you get your story ideas from?”
“Okay, you know that alternate dream realm where the old ones live”
“Uh huh.....what?”
“You know, the storytellers? The ones with the power to create, to bend and shape and warp dreams and realities and stuff?”
“Uh.....”
“Where they had that civil war between the generations of godlike beings, most of whom have disappeared or are hiding in our world?
“Uh...................”
“There”.
“...................oh.”
“Okay, you know that alternate dream realm where the old ones live”
“Uh huh.....what?”
“You know, the storytellers? The ones with the power to create, to bend and shape and warp dreams and realities and stuff?”
“Uh.....”
“Where they had that civil war between the generations of godlike beings, most of whom have disappeared or are hiding in our world?
“Uh...................”
“There”.
“...................oh.”
legs_mcgee's review
3.0
Absolutely gorgeous art, but fairly hard to track larger plot. Each time I thought I understood what was going on, I realized I just had more and more questions -- granted, the kind of questions that make you want to keep reading to answer them, but this is not a read for a half-distracted mind.