Cosmic Odyssey

Rating:
Summary: Great art, variable story.
Review: Even though this book gets a 3, I wish it were in print for others to experience. It's much better than 99% of the crud that DC collects in trade paperbacks these days.

Written by Jim Starlin, "Cosmic Odyssey" contains his standard "cosmic" themes apparent in much of his other work (Dreadstar, Warlock). Reading a bit like a Silver Age adventure, a group of DC's more powerful heroes must team with the New Gods (yes, including Darkseid, who in turn teams with Etrigan the Demon) to defeat a threat to the universe... and of course, they split off in teams to cover more ground. There's some good drama here, including the personality clashes of Superman and Orion, and the mistake made by an over-confident Green Lantern which results in the destruction of a planet. You also get Adam Strange, Highfather, Dr. Fate, the Thanagarians, Martian Manhunter, Lightray, Starfire, and many others. The story quality varies in parts, especially concerning the segments with Batman. Even though he's Earthbound for the majority of the book, he just doesn't belong in the company of the aforementioned heroes and gods, and his closing confrontation with Orion is laughable. Assuming he didn't break his knuckles on Orion's jaw, Orion would more than likely have put Batman's head though the wall.

This was an earlier phase of artist Mike Mignola's career, where he didn't use so much shadow, concentrating more on figures and detail. It's still his trademark work, however, and it looks great as always. The art alone is worth the price of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Great art, variable story.
Review: Even though this book gets a 3, I wish it were in print for others to experience. It's much better than 99% of the crud that DC collects in trade paperbacks these days.

Written by Jim Starlin, "Cosmic Odyssey" contains his standard "cosmic" themes apparent in much of his other work (Dreadstar, Warlock). Reading a bit like a Silver Age adventure, a group of DC's more powerful heroes must team with the New Gods (yes, including Darkseid, who in turn teams with Etrigan the Demon) to defeat a threat to the universe... and of course, they split off in teams to cover more ground. There's some good drama here, including the personality clashes of Superman and Orion, and the mistake made by an over-confident Green Lantern which results in the destruction of a planet. You also get Adam Strange, Highfather, Dr. Fate, the Thanagarians, Martian Manhunter, Lightray, Starfire, and many others. The story quality varies in parts, especially concerning the segments with Batman. Even though he's Earthbound for the majority of the book, he just doesn't belong in the company of the aforementioned heroes and gods, and his closing confrontation with Orion is laughable. Assuming he didn't break his knuckles on Orion's jaw, Orion would more than likely have put Batman's head though the wall.

This was an earlier phase of artist Mike Mignola's career, where he didn't use so much shadow, concentrating more on figures and detail. It's still his trademark work, however, and it looks great as always. The art alone is worth the price of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Great art, variable story.
Review: Even though this book gets a 3, I wish it were in print for others to experience. It's much better than 99% of the crud that DC collects in trade paperbacks these days.

Written by Jim Starlin, "Cosmic Odyssey" contains his standard "cosmic" themes apparent in much of his other work (Dreadstar, Warlock). Reading a bit like a Silver Age adventure, a group of DC's more powerful heroes must team with the New Gods (yes, including Darkseid, who in turn teams with Etrigan the Demon) to defeat a threat to the universe... and of course, they split off in teams to cover more ground. There's some good drama here, including the personality clashes of Superman and Orion, and the mistake made by an over-confident Green Lantern which results in the destruction of a planet. You also get Adam Strange, Highfather, Dr. Fate, the Thanagarians, Martian Manhunter, Lightray, Starfire, and many others. The story quality varies in parts, especially concerning the segments with Batman. Even though he's Earthbound for the majority of the book, he just doesn't belong in the company of the aforementioned heroes and gods, and his closing confrontation with Orion is laughable. Assuming he didn't break his knuckles on Orion's jaw, Orion would more than likely have put Batman's head though the wall.

This was an earlier phase of artist Mike Mignola's career, where he didn't use so much shadow, concentrating more on figures and detail. It's still his trademark work, however, and it looks great as always. The art alone is worth the price of the book.

Rating:
Summary: A nice piece of work
Review: I initially bought this just because Mike Mognola did the art, which by the way is absolutely amazing and proved furthermore that he is one of the most versitile and gifted artists out there today. But then I found there was much more there, and I honestly very impressed by the story. Straight out of 1988, this "cosmic" tale is typical of the time, and today seen as cliche', but it is still very fun to read. It was great to see so many characters, mainly of the "space adventurers" such as Superman and the New Genesis people, and their colaborations with each other. The most interesting aspects of the story were amongst the characters themselves. I wasn't so much concerned with the end of the universe, but how well Batman and Forager got along, or Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter (this part of the story proved most personal as we a see a very distraught GL who goes through a devestating event). Even though I didn't know half of the characters or their backgrounds, I could still understand them and not feel left out. We know they will win, but how is so much more fun. One promising thing is that there is enough action and driving story that you can read it again and again. I can't think of the last time I read something this good and clear-written. I was also very happy that Starlin didn't focus on just Superman and Batman (the two usual big guns), but rather focused on this alliance of super beings. Buy it if not for the art alone, but a solid, fun story that won't let you down.

Rating:
Summary: Cheap paper alert!
Review: I remember this when it was a four issue prestige format mini series. It was printed on lovely heavy stock paper and looked beautiful. Now, for this reprint, DC have elected to publish it on the cheap fish wrap quality comic paper. Why? Because cutting costs and giving the consumer less is more important than quality obviously. What do you have to say for yourself DC?