Of Zim and Waid

Recently, I picked up three shiny new #1s from three "independent" publishers. Mark Waid was creator involved in two of the titles, Archie and Strange Fruit. The third title was the return of Invader Zim written by his creator Jhonen Vasquez. All in all, I enjoyed all three of them.


Archie #1
Creators: Mark Waid and Fiona Staples
After seventy-some years, Archie comics has decided to revamp its flagship titles and characters. While I am not an avid Archie reader, I do have a nostalgic fondness for the character and the house style that has defined the character for decades. So when I found out that they were revamping the character and radically changing the design, it raised my fanboy hackles. That said, I decided to give the revamp a try. As an all-ages teenage humor comic, Archie has always had a cartoonish look. Staples's work is a more modern, realistic approach. At first, the art was far radical but as I read the issue the stylistic changes stopped distracting. In fact, its quite good and captures "modern" teenagers fairly well. As for the writing Waid does a stellar job. These are the same familiar Archie characters maintaining the all-ages nature of the material but modernized. Archie, himself, is the issue's narrator as frequently breaks the fourth wall to inform the reader as to what-is-what. The story concerns the school gossiping about the break-up of Archie and Betty, while some conspire to bring the two back together. As an added bonus, the 6-page story that introduced Archie in Pep Comics #22 is included along with introduction to that story from Mark Waid. If there's one major quibble that I have the main story is that I read it almost as fast as I read Archie's first appearance.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. The revamp starts out strong. I may very well sample the second issue. However, I have not decided if I am onboard it yet.


Strange Fruit #1 (of 4)
Creators: J.G. Jones (story/art) and Mark Waid (story)
Warning: due to the nature of the comic book industry this story probably was completed well before the Confederate battle flag controversy erupted. This story takes a strong stance for one side.


The second Waid collaboration is a much more literary story compared Archie. Strange Fruit #1 is the beginning of a period piece set in the Deep South during 1927 in the time segregation and which that entails. Jones provides fully-painted art that's both beautiful and realistic. Likewise, the writing is evocative and captures the time period faithfully. The first issue concerns the racial tension of the time along environmental threat of the levees threatening to burst from the flooding of the Mississippi River. The issue ends with African-American being chased a posse only to rescued by the surprise appearance of a visitor from an another world... who just happens to look African-American. The last page is sure to cause quite the controversy and kick the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund into overdrive within the Deep South.


Rating: 4/5 stars (0/5 stars if one holds the Confederate battle flag in reverence) - easily the most literary comic I have read all year. Probably one of the more controversial comics too in light of recent events. I'll probably pick up the next issue.


Invader Zim #1
Creators: Jhonen Vasquez and Aaron Alexovich


I am Zim! Finally, finally, Invader Zim has returned... to comics? That's right, an old(?) Nick favorite, Invader Zim, has come back except instead of animation to comics. Ushering Zim into his first foray into comics with his shiny first issue is his creator Jhonen Vasquez. Joining him is Aaron Alexovich, whom despite a lack of involvement in the original animated series, provides art that captures the animated look perfectly and does an excellent job telling the story. Only had one quibble with one sole panel. Fortunately, I was able decipher said panel utilizing what fragments of Invader Zim lore that I retained. What's that? You are unfamiliar with Invader Zim or your memory is hazy? Fear not. The first issue opens with a two-page primer of Zim and his world. Invader Zim #1 easily makes the transition from a twenty minute episode to a twenty page comic. Jhonen Vasquez retains his superhuman grasp of all-ages wit and bizarre creativity. We learn what happened to Zim. We learn what happened to Dib. Eww! We learn what cunningly, evil Zim has planned. Well, sort of. The issue ends with Zim and Gir heading out into space with Dib ready to pursue.


Rating 4.5/5 stars - only because I reserve the right to give a future issue/story a 5/5. Invader Zim is off to superb start. I look forward to the next issue.