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maxturner's reviews
95 reviews
Earth 2, Vol. 1: The Gathering by James Robinson
5.0
I only picked up Earth 2 as I wanted to start reading World’s Finest (which spins off from this title) and thought I’d have a read for a bit of background. I am so glad that I did as Earth 2 is definitely my favourite of the New52 titles I have read!
I know people feel that the cover is misleading, but it should be remembered that this is a Trade Paperback compilation of six comic issues, as such the cover is also the cover of Issue 1, in which Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman heavily star. For me, I actually liked that they were on the cover and then do not appear in the whole story, it added to the shock value of the story itself.
I really loved these new characters, in fact, Earth 2 itself felt like a fresh take on everything. New 52 in general missed or ignored many opportunities to modernise their characters and costumes whilst rebooting (I seriously have big issues with Supergirl’s costume!), but so far on Earth 2 we have a gay Green Lantern (in what is possibly one of the most heart breaking stories of the New 52 that I’ve read) and Hawkgirl’s costume looks almost as functional as her male co-stars rather than just flesh flashing! I am hoping that it continues along this path, all we need now is a little more racial diversity and some more women and DC might actually drag itself into the 21st Century!!
I’m looking forward to picking up the next one and seeing where it goes in both story and development.
I know people feel that the cover is misleading, but it should be remembered that this is a Trade Paperback compilation of six comic issues, as such the cover is also the cover of Issue 1, in which Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman heavily star. For me, I actually liked that they were on the cover and then do not appear in the whole story, it added to the shock value of the story itself.
I really loved these new characters, in fact, Earth 2 itself felt like a fresh take on everything. New 52 in general missed or ignored many opportunities to modernise their characters and costumes whilst rebooting (I seriously have big issues with Supergirl’s costume!), but so far on Earth 2 we have a gay Green Lantern (in what is possibly one of the most heart breaking stories of the New 52 that I’ve read) and Hawkgirl’s costume looks almost as functional as her male co-stars rather than just flesh flashing! I am hoping that it continues along this path, all we need now is a little more racial diversity and some more women and DC might actually drag itself into the 21st Century!!
I’m looking forward to picking up the next one and seeing where it goes in both story and development.
Minotaur: Sir Arthur Evans and the Archaeology of the Minoan Myth by Joseph Alexander MacGillivray
5.0
MacGillivray expertly uses the life of Arthur Evans - a prominent figure in early archaeology - to bring to life the wider context of the development of the profession of archaeology.
Hard to put down, this compelling book would be enjoyable to anyone with even a passing interest in archaeology, Knossos and/or the life of Evans. Taking the reader through both the ancient and (relatively) modern history of Crete, it is very accessible to the layperson and not at all dry or overly academic.
MacGillivray doesn't shy away from washing off the sugar coating of others who have looked at Evans' life, but without ever crossing over into being disrespectful. In fact the book comes across as an unbiased and informed account that allows the reader to make up their own minds on a man who both advanced and held back the profession of archaeology through the force of his personality.
I would thoroughly recommend this to students of archaeology and ancient history, but also readers with a passing interest in the development of archaeology or the modern history and politics of Crete and its neighbours.
Hard to put down, this compelling book would be enjoyable to anyone with even a passing interest in archaeology, Knossos and/or the life of Evans. Taking the reader through both the ancient and (relatively) modern history of Crete, it is very accessible to the layperson and not at all dry or overly academic.
MacGillivray doesn't shy away from washing off the sugar coating of others who have looked at Evans' life, but without ever crossing over into being disrespectful. In fact the book comes across as an unbiased and informed account that allows the reader to make up their own minds on a man who both advanced and held back the profession of archaeology through the force of his personality.
I would thoroughly recommend this to students of archaeology and ancient history, but also readers with a passing interest in the development of archaeology or the modern history and politics of Crete and its neighbours.
The Greek Body by Ian Jenkins, Victoria Turner
4.0
This is an enjoyable, if basic, photo-log overview of Greek sculpture through the lens of the British Museum's collection. It's a lovely light read and ideal coffee table book for those interested in Greek art.
It is in no way comprehensive, and has no intention of being so, but the information in the initial chapters is a reasonable and interesting overview of the development of Greek sculpture and the cultural context behind the portrayal of the male and female forms, as well as other sub genres (beasts, etc). It also has a great bibliography at the back with some good suggested reads for those interested in delving more deeply into the subject.
The photos are superb, with some really jumping off the page and begging to be touched. If anything it will really inspire you to go to the BM the next chance you get, and challenge you not to get too tactile with the collections!
My only criticism is that a small number of the photos are close ups, that although very beautiful in their own right, left me wanting to see a fuller shot of the object in order to really appreciate what the text was telling me.
It is in no way comprehensive, and has no intention of being so, but the information in the initial chapters is a reasonable and interesting overview of the development of Greek sculpture and the cultural context behind the portrayal of the male and female forms, as well as other sub genres (beasts, etc). It also has a great bibliography at the back with some good suggested reads for those interested in delving more deeply into the subject.
The photos are superb, with some really jumping off the page and begging to be touched. If anything it will really inspire you to go to the BM the next chance you get, and challenge you not to get too tactile with the collections!
My only criticism is that a small number of the photos are close ups, that although very beautiful in their own right, left me wanting to see a fuller shot of the object in order to really appreciate what the text was telling me.
Batman: Year One by Frank Miller
5.0
Considering we've had two massive Batman screen incarnations in the form of Michael Keaton and Christina Bale since this was first issued, Batman Year One stands the test of time as an excellent telling of aspects of the origin of Batman.
It has the added dimension of paralleling Wayne's journey with Jim Gordon's arrival in Gotham, which is just as interesting and revealing a story as Batman's and lays the tracks of their future working relationship.
I found an even more enjoyable story in this volume is that of Selina Kyle and her birth as Catwoman as reaction to the appearance of Batman, which is always something intriguing to touch on in Batman lore - whether his very existence is responsible for the creation of many in his vogue's gallery.
This is a great read, with beautiful art, and is definitely a great gift for those looking for an accessible volume into Batman comics.
It has the added dimension of paralleling Wayne's journey with Jim Gordon's arrival in Gotham, which is just as interesting and revealing a story as Batman's and lays the tracks of their future working relationship.
I found an even more enjoyable story in this volume is that of Selina Kyle and her birth as Catwoman as reaction to the appearance of Batman, which is always something intriguing to touch on in Batman lore - whether his very existence is responsible for the creation of many in his vogue's gallery.
This is a great read, with beautiful art, and is definitely a great gift for those looking for an accessible volume into Batman comics.
The Ancient Guide to Modern Life by Natalie Haynes
2.0
I have to admit that I struggled to finish this book, in part because it was not what I was expecting. From the cover and blurb I had been expecting an interesting (if basic) overview of parallels between the ancient and modern worlds. Had I picked this book up in the humour section, I may have been a little disappointed with some of the wit, but it would have been ok.
What this actually is, is a basic overview of ancient history (from the view of a Classicist – i.e. reliant on written sources and very little archaeology), full of sweeping generalisations and the occasional paragraph thrown in to say whether this is or isn't how things are in modern times. The further through the book you go, the more the references to the modern day become a soap box for the author to disseminate her point of view. Which, in all honesty most (but not all) I agreed with, this just wasn't the place I wanted to be reading someone’s views on the recession.
The writing itself is ok, but very much not what I was expecting – the witter banter begins to grate after the first chapter.
I think overall, my disappointment stems from the fact that I had been expecting something more academic, which is not the fault of the writer. This would make an nice read for someone with little or no knowledge of the ancient world, wanting to know more – as the comparisons could help a novice better understand. However, there is a chance this book will date very quickly – I considered giving it to my teenage cousin who has an inquisitive mind and might like to know more about the ancient world, but some of the references (Spitting Image, Darling Buds of May, etc) would be a little lost on the future generations and they might find some of the modern aspects tiresome and preachy.
What this actually is, is a basic overview of ancient history (from the view of a Classicist – i.e. reliant on written sources and very little archaeology), full of sweeping generalisations and the occasional paragraph thrown in to say whether this is or isn't how things are in modern times. The further through the book you go, the more the references to the modern day become a soap box for the author to disseminate her point of view. Which, in all honesty most (but not all) I agreed with, this just wasn't the place I wanted to be reading someone’s views on the recession.
The writing itself is ok, but very much not what I was expecting – the witter banter begins to grate after the first chapter.
I think overall, my disappointment stems from the fact that I had been expecting something more academic, which is not the fault of the writer. This would make an nice read for someone with little or no knowledge of the ancient world, wanting to know more – as the comparisons could help a novice better understand. However, there is a chance this book will date very quickly – I considered giving it to my teenage cousin who has an inquisitive mind and might like to know more about the ancient world, but some of the references (Spitting Image, Darling Buds of May, etc) would be a little lost on the future generations and they might find some of the modern aspects tiresome and preachy.
Worlds' Finest, Volume 1: The Lost Daughters of Earth 2 by Paul Levitz
3.0
The story is an interesting and intriguing concept – Supergirl and Robin from Earth 2 being stranded on Earth Prime and creating their new alter egos, Powergirl and The Huntress. The story lines this could open up, especially with Earth Prime versions of their friends and family, is quite tantalising.
The friendship between them is nicely done, and their two personalities are well developed. They are both very different people reacting very differently to their joint situation, in part because of the level of power and skill each possesses. This, for me at least, does have the effect of making Huntress feel like a better rounded and much nicer person, who you really do feel for. On the other hand, Powergirl comes across more as a nympho than a femme fetale, which is disappointing. Juxtaposing Powergirl/Karen’s flirting in her story against Huntress/Helena’s march in Take Back The Night highlights this all the more (whether intentional or not?).
That said, I did enjoy this volume, but I can’t help feel that I might start to dislike it, or certainly the portrayal of Powergirl. Perhaps the writers/illustrators were trying to point out their differences, but they have done so by leaving Powergirl stranded in a teenage boys wet dream. Huntress has as practical a costume as any female superhero can hope for, she has an inner need to protect those who can’t protect themselves. On the flip side, Powergirl, although goal-focused, is overly sexualised and ends far too many scenes in destroyed clothing. Although I am not super struck on her new costume (no woman with big breasts would wear their logo in such a way as to draw the eye directly to it), I thought it was an improvement on the cleavage flasher of yesteryear. So it was disappointing to find that her clothes were torn several times, each time revealing her cleavage, perhaps in a “homage” to her previous costume?
I will read the next one and see where it goes, but I feel that there is a chance for me to really dislike this title because of Powergirl (or the treatment of her), which is a shame as Huntress is such an awesome character and the premise of this title is quite good.
The friendship between them is nicely done, and their two personalities are well developed. They are both very different people reacting very differently to their joint situation, in part because of the level of power and skill each possesses. This, for me at least, does have the effect of making Huntress feel like a better rounded and much nicer person, who you really do feel for. On the other hand, Powergirl comes across more as a nympho than a femme fetale, which is disappointing. Juxtaposing Powergirl/Karen’s flirting in her story against Huntress/Helena’s march in Take Back The Night highlights this all the more (whether intentional or not?).
That said, I did enjoy this volume, but I can’t help feel that I might start to dislike it, or certainly the portrayal of Powergirl. Perhaps the writers/illustrators were trying to point out their differences, but they have done so by leaving Powergirl stranded in a teenage boys wet dream. Huntress has as practical a costume as any female superhero can hope for, she has an inner need to protect those who can’t protect themselves. On the flip side, Powergirl, although goal-focused, is overly sexualised and ends far too many scenes in destroyed clothing. Although I am not super struck on her new costume (no woman with big breasts would wear their logo in such a way as to draw the eye directly to it), I thought it was an improvement on the cleavage flasher of yesteryear. So it was disappointing to find that her clothes were torn several times, each time revealing her cleavage, perhaps in a “homage” to her previous costume?
I will read the next one and see where it goes, but I feel that there is a chance for me to really dislike this title because of Powergirl (or the treatment of her), which is a shame as Huntress is such an awesome character and the premise of this title is quite good.