by Eli Katz » Tue Oct 05, 2010 6:14 pm
Franken-Castle #21
Because I selected this book for the art, let me discuss the art first. The illustrations for this issue are amazing. They are fun, exciting, wildly colored, and beautifully retro. Flipping through this book, I felt as though I was transported back to the '70s and reading an old comics mag, like the Rampaging Hulk. (Yes, I know that was a black-and-white book, but it had these gorgeous painted covers.) If more superhero books made an effort to look and feel pulpy, I would likely read more of them.
As for the story, well, it's hard for to give a competent review because I have not read any other Franken-Castle issues and therefore have no sense where this narrative traveled. I will say this, though: it sure is fun to see Marvel's monsters being used in an appropriately off-the-wall way. And for that, this book --and perhaps the whole Franken-Castle storyline -- gets my highest praise. But I will say there is one flaw in the writing, namely the dialogue. Remender is a great concepts guy, but he can't write dialogue to save his life.
Even so, this is a pretty good book.
STORY: 5.5
ART: 9.5
OVERALL: 7.5