Welcome to Tranquility used to be very refreshing. It used to be nostalgic and new all at the same time. It used to be filled with unique characters that easily charmed audiences. In fact, I still maintain that the characters are the best part of this series. Lately, however, the series has been disappointing. With the introduction of new characters while ignoring the old ones combined with unoriginal, shorter stories, Gail Simone has been destroying her series. On top of this, every issue has been cut short with an unnecessary story at the back that takes roughly six pages from the actual story.
Simone has ignored the best parts of this series to allow for more characters to be introduced, Characters that don’t reappear. The cowboy character introduced last issue doesn’t appear at all here, not even in the background. Very few characters from the first arc are present at all. While some of the more interesting ones do have roles to play in this arc, mostly Emoticon, Zeke, and Maximum Man, the majority of the cast is nowhere to be found. As for the story itself, while nostalgic in some ways, the whole thing feels very familiar. Zombie stories have been done to death, and this one fails to put a new spin on this old type of plot. It feels very much like one is going through the motions: Zombie horde rises up to eat flesh, heroes are pushed back by zombie horde. Now all the audience is waiting for is some deus ex machina to come and make it all better again. Out of the blue, Simone does add a commentary about the Comic Code Authority into the mix. While her point is valid, it feels out of place. Most publishers of comics simply avoid any confrontation with the CCA by not submitting works to it. Even this comic was printed without CCA approval! In the end, this comic has lost its charm. The town of Tranquility probably has more than enough stories to tell without fountains of youth and zombie invasions, Simone should consider telling some of those with the amazing characters she’s left to stagnate.
Neil Googe’s art continues to be a perfect match for the story being told. His style is animated enough without making everything feel like a saturday morning cartoon. While the noses of most characters do look like strange, everything else is consistently well-done. Googe portrays different ages with certainty and style. There are characters of all ages in this issue, from children to very, very old, and all of them look like the age they are supposed to be without exaggeration. Panelling is chaotic, with scenes switching mid-page, or a single panel from a different scene appearing in another scene. While this does require more concentration to read, the effect works well with the hectic feel of the issue. A lot is going on, many of the characters are probably feeling disorientated, and Googe portrays this through his artwork.
As for the six-page story in the back, the whole thing feels like an incredible waste of time. It is a complete rip-off of Scooby-Doo, complete with a cowardly talking dog and a four member team solving seemingly supernatural mystery. The sole difference is that these kids have super-powers and the only thing missing is the villain saying “And I would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for you meddling kids!” to make this carbon copy complete. If I wanted to experience something like this, I would wake up early next Saturday and watch some Hanna-Barbera cartoons, for free.
4/10 Poorly contrived plot and horrible back-up story. At least the art works well.
Action Comics #883
Nighwing and Flamebird make their public debut and start the hunt for Zod’s most dangerous sleeper.
Blood and Water
Vampire stories are all the rage these days. Most are silly teenage romances, but every once in a while a vampire tale comes along that doesn’t, um…suck.
Secret Six # 15
Deadshot tries to come to terms with his homicidal impulses.
Blackest Night #4 (of 8)
Barry Allen does his best to rally the heroes, but will they be able to stand against the arrival of Nekron?
Superman: World of New Krypton #9
Jemm storms New Krypton’s High Council Chamber demanding an audience, Kal-El and Zod meet, and the first murder on New Krypton is committed.
Madame Xanadu #16
The return of series artist Amy Reeder Hadley also marks the start of a new, creepy, and great Matt Wagner story.
Superman #693
General Lane makes Mon-El an offer he has to refuse, but an unlikely ally might just save Mon-El’s life.
The Brave and the Bold # 28
The Flash travels back in time to World War II where he joins forces with the fabled Blackhawks.
Northlanders #21
A settlement along The Volga River in Russia deals with the onslaught of a plague in the start of a new story arc.
Superman: Secret Origin #2 (of 6)
Young Clark Kent experiences a bit of a super identity crisis, but manages to get by with some help from his parents and some new friends…Long Live The Legion!
Superman/Batman #65
The Scarecrow takes Superman, The Batman, The Joker, and Lex Luthor on a fear gas induced Halloween nightmare ride.
Azrael #1
The new Azrael’s ongoing series debuts with the death of a major character…
Supergirl #46
The Metropolis Three finally capture Reactron, Thara and Kara make up, and some more light is shed on Lana’s mysterious condition…
