April 21st, 2010 Black Orchid
- ISBN13: 9780930289553
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Product Description
From one of the most highly recognised and award winning comic writers on the scene today, Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Death, Violent Cases), and his sometime collaborator, innovative artist Dave McKean (Arkham Asylum, Cages, Violent Cases) comes a haunting and stylish exploration of birth, death and renewal. Both human and flower the heroine, Black Orchid, undertakes a hazardous journey to uncover her true origins, providing a moving ecological parable for our times. This work by Gaiman and Mckean is an early showcase for the talent we know today.
April 21st, 2010 at 11:35 pm
Originally a three issue mini series it rocks the cazb
Rating: 5 / 5
April 22nd, 2010 at 1:03 am
Love the artwork, but every time I read this, I just end up scratching my head. It wanders, and just doesn’t get anythig interesting done. None of the sweep and scope that you expect from Gaiman.
The world itself is not terribly cohesive either. It seems part Daredevil, but it isn’t really. It’s certainly not Sandman, or anything like that.
It’s just a story. Worth buying, perhaps, for completeness sake.
Hardly worth reading.
Rating: 3 / 5
April 22nd, 2010 at 2:05 am
This book, published originally in three installments, is regarded as a turning point in graphic fiction, like DARK KNIGHT and WATCHMEN, but I just don’t see it. Generally speaking, I like Gaiman’s story lines, but this time it’s all just confusing. The title character, a crime fighter superhero trying to infiltrate a mob, is killed in the first few pages — but there’s more of her back in the greenhouse so all is not lost. Or something. A newly hatched flower-woman, who seems to share some of the dead one’s memories, sets out to uncover her identity. I think. The mob is run by Lex Luthor (why?), who wants to capture her and/or her little sister (or whatever) for dissection. But Carl, just out of prison, who used to work for Luthor and who previously murdered his wife, upon whom the orchids were based, can’t get his job back and wants to get even with everyone. This guy is a loser and screw-up — but suddenly, in the last installment, the action having relocated to the Amazon Basin, he becomes a very talented and successful jungle killer. (How?) Other people from the back-story weave in and out of the plot, including one who became the Swamp Thing, but none of what they say or do makes much sense. And why does Batman get a cameo? (Not to mentioned assorted bad guys from Gotham?) McKean’s artwork is interesting for its own sake, owing more to oil painting than the usual sort of airbrush work, but all in all, I have to give this a shrug.
Rating: 2 / 5
April 22nd, 2010 at 2:57 am
This TPB was very strong. I love the art, the dialogue, nearly everything about it. Sure, there are “distracting” cameos by Swamp Thing and Batman, but when you realize the context in which this is made (McKean wanted to draw rainforests and Swamp Thing, and DC didn’t want to stray too far from the mainstream), then you can thoroughly enjoy this, in my opinion.
It’s not the most intellectually stimulating work, but it’s enjoyable, and I find it to be a great book to pick up when you don’t want to analyze too much.
In addition, I find McKean’s depictions of Luthor and the Mad Hatter to be classic.
Rating: 5 / 5
April 22nd, 2010 at 4:50 am
First, the good news. McKean’s art is a real asset. It’s varied, skilled, and very expressive.
The story just didn’t work for me, though. It was a little too close to the super-hero-in-spandex genre, with character crossovers from Superman, Batman, and I don’t know what all else. There’s a market for SHIS stories, but I’m not in it.
Gaiman’s done some incredible work. He’s set a standard for thoughtful, unusual characters and settings. The problem is, he set the standard so high that not even he can reach that mark every time. I really expected something more mature from Gaiman and McKean – maybe next time.
Rating: 3 / 5