Rating: Summary: A comic book for adults. Review: Finaly, someone who knows what graphic novels are for! Brian Wood is a true master of his medium. Channel Zero is a grity, dark, hard look at censorship in America. As it is and how it could be. Near-futurism has never looked so possible. An excellent work of art!
Rating: Summary: why is this good? Review: From the reviews here, one would think this book actually had some meaning beyond the sort of brainless drivel you hear from teenage "anarchists." Has anyone paused to think that it doesn't make sense? Jennie 2.5 is nothing more than a symbol of all those who demonize their opponents without ever once considering their own positions (Mao a genius? - I mean, come on people!!).
Rating: Summary: One of the most exciting, innovative books in a long time. Review: Having missed CZ in its floppy format, the TPB--released through AIT/Planet Lar--is an excellent way to experience Brian Wood's excellent CHANNEL ZERO. If it were just his black and white art, with hidden messages and great attention to style and detail, CZ would be great. If it were just the story of Jennie 2.5, out to save America from the not-too-far-fetched Clean Act, it would be a delight to read. But with both elements together, in an irresistable format and price, CZ puts Wood among the list of other can't-miss authors such as Warren Ellis and Grant Morrison. CZ is an excellent book for comic book buyers who want something extra out of sequential art, and perfect for those haven't touched a comic in years. Also, for a look at other works by Wood and other AIT/Planet Lar.
Rating: Summary: A wonderful and pertinent, though thin, novel. Review: Let me begin by saying that the artwork in this novel is absolutely amazing. The stark black and white (it is entirely in ink) of the art sets up the unfolding storyline beautifully. Wood coats each page with black and creates a world of pure shadow and light. The strokes are lovingly placed and carry the spontaneous precision of Chinese and Japanese caligraphy.On to the story, itself: It was good, but I wanted more. The pages are littered with social action grafitti from top to bottom and sideways. At times, the message Wood wants to send with this novel's sub-dialogue obscures and overshadows the story, and it became annoying at times. Also, it wasn't altogether different from what was being stated within the main story arc and seemed redundant. The character of Jeannie 2.5 was nicely done, however. She straddles the boundaries of social activism, counterculture pop, and dejected revolutionary with ease. Her end incarnation, especially, seems entirely plausable and human. The world Brian Wood creates is one that many people will identify with, and readers will be left wondering what role they would play in this not-to-distant future. I recommend this book first to those who love great "comic" artwork and then to those who thirst for a scary yarn about a different kind of dystopia from Orwell or Huxley.
Rating: Summary: It's an angry little book Review: On its own, just going by the basic plot, Channel Zero wouldn't be too impressive. Sure it's an interestingly told tale of an America not too far in the future where the government controls the media and a "Clean Act" keeps everyone in line while saying it's "for their own good", which the people, being apathetic sheep, timidly go along with. Like I said, nothing too revolutionary here. But it's Wood's style that brings this story to life, his stark black and white drawings, seemingly carved on the page, jagged and angular characters, buildings that are both looming and out of focus, images that come across as grainy photographs from not too distant Hell. This future America comes to life in the form of his angry drawings and it does a better job than any series of pristine photographs ever could. Wood's graphic sense and style set the book apart from just about anything else out there and it's worth reading just for that. The story itself is entertaining, like I said, as Jennie 2.5 seeks to bring revolution to the masses and stop the government's oppression of the people. But he picks easy targets (the Christian Right? the media? try to be a little original at least) and the reader has to buy the assumption that all of the bad things occur because the populace is too numb to care and too apathetic to bother to correct it, the believability of which probably depends on how cynical you are. The plot tends to float around and not all that much really seems to happen, other than Jennie herself there aren't many strong characters, though I do like how Jennie is not a total role model, she's abrasive and elitist, saying that on the one hand the US government is wrong but that a country like China can do whatever it wants to its people because it's "their business" which can come across as a little sanctimonious and self-righteous, but then a good radical needs those qualities anyway. But honestly, all the revolutionary screaming and rhetorical posturing takes a back seat to the images themselves and long after the meat of the story has faded, Wood's terrifying, angry drawings will be what remains with you. Those, better than anything else, convey what he's actually trying to say.
Rating: Summary: It's an angry little book Review: On its own, just going by the basic plot, Channel Zero wouldn't be too impressive. Sure it's an interestingly told tale of an America not too far in the future where the government controls the media and a "Clean Act" keeps everyone in line while saying it's "for their own good", which the people, being apathetic sheep, timidly go along with. Like I said, nothing too revolutionary here. But it's Wood's style that brings this story to life, his stark black and white drawings, seemingly carved on the page, jagged and angular characters, buildings that are both looming and out of focus, images that come across as grainy photographs from not too distant Hell. This future America comes to life in the form of his angry drawings and it does a better job than any series of pristine photographs ever could. Wood's graphic sense and style set the book apart from just about anything else out there and it's worth reading just for that. The story itself is entertaining, like I said, as Jennie 2.5 seeks to bring revolution to the masses and stop the government's oppression of the people. But he picks easy targets (the Christian Right? the media? try to be a little original at least) and the reader has to buy the assumption that all of the bad things occur because the populace is too numb to care and too apathetic to bother to correct it, the believability of which probably depends on how cynical you are. The plot tends to float around and not all that much really seems to happen, other than Jennie herself there aren't many strong characters, though I do like how Jennie is not a total role model, she's abrasive and elitist, saying that on the one hand the US government is wrong but that a country like China can do whatever it wants to its people because it's "their business" which can come across as a little sanctimonious and self-righteous, but then a good radical needs those qualities anyway. But honestly, all the revolutionary screaming and rhetorical posturing takes a back seat to the images themselves and long after the meat of the story has faded, Wood's terrifying, angry drawings will be what remains with you. Those, better than anything else, convey what he's actually trying to say.
Rating: Summary: A fantastic book! Wood is a REVOLUTION for graphic novels! Review: This book is great. I picked it up and was very impressed. Brian Wood is a fantastic artist. His light versus darks creates stunning art. He is also a great writer as well. i liked the way he used the modern day technology and sprinkled it into his story. CHANNEL ZERO is a great tale about what could happen to America and the world if we do not protect our free speech rights! Brian shows us a dreary dysitopian world that could realistically come to pass! i found the story very entertaining and the price was right! if you like story's that deal with real ideas then this one is for you! Even if you don't you should try it too!
Rating: Summary: Channel zero Review: this is possibly the best graphic novel to come out of the comics medium to date. Wood takes on NY and Rudy in Channel Zero and sends a strong message about defending yoiu right to express yourself, standing up for what you belive in, and taking on the sytem. This graphic novel fights censorship, defends your first amendment, reaveals the dangers of apathy and selling out, and has some of the best black and white sequential art ive seen from any artist. Congrats to brian for putting together such a strong and controversial book. A guide to revolution,a step towards freedom...Defend yourself!
Rating: Summary: Complete Channel Zero Saga Review: This is the complete Channel Zero saga. It completes the five issue series published by Image Comics. A must read for anyone interested in finding out what happens to Jennie 2.5.
Rating: Summary: The only CHANNEL you'll need! Review: Well if Springsteen had read Channel Zero, I doubt he'd have been able to pen 200 channels and nothing on, because Brian Woods, <b>Channel Zero</b> has it all going on and it's all good! Channel Zero is a funhouse mirror's reflection of the present day U.S./World. Perhaps the U.S. we might have had the moral majority of the Reagan days had truly been a majority, a U.S. that has been firmly ensconsed in the emabrace of the "right". The "1984" for GenX'ers. It accurately reflects the apathy of our culture (very timely as as we "gear up" for the primary election voter apathyfest) as the individuals in Wood's saga are too stupid or lazy to stand up and be counted as a morality bill (the Clean Act) is forced through Congress. All of them, except Jennie 2.5, whose "performance art" is now banned by the Clean Act and begins a series of pirate broadcasts breaking into the now "Clean" homogenized media programming and challenging/taunting the masses with staements like, "your mind is a weapon, use it". The ensuing hunt to silence Jenni is fast paced and edgy, almost cinematic in it's presentation. Wood delivers big time!
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