Sure, we like to read comics, or, in my case, graphic novels. But it’s usually months (often several) after they’ve already been released. I like to think it’s that I have other things to do…but really I’m just kind of lazy.

LEGENDS OF THE DARK CRYSTAL: Volume 1
By Barbara Randall Kesel, Heidi Arnhold, and Max Kim

In a moment of nostalgia/weakness, I decided to pick this up, the first volume of a manga series that ties in to a film that blew my little kid mind 26 years ago. Although very nicely drawn, disappointingly (but perhaps not surprisingly), Legends of the Dark Crystal is basically a workmanlike retelling of the same plot as the film. When the village of a male Gelfling (the humanoid inhabitants of The Dark Crystal’s world) is razed by Garthim (evil giant beetles), he sets off to search for survivors and runs into a female Gelfling who suffered the same fate. Together, they’ll try to unite other Gelflings against the Garthim and scheming, bird-like Skeksis.

Sound familiar? For such a rich sandbox to play in, Legends of the Dark Crystal is sadly bland and routine.

Grade: C

THE GOON: CHINATOWN AND THE MYSTERY OF MR. WICKER
By Eric Powell

Powell interweaves a noirish tale concerning a femme fatale with the Goon’s strange and tragic origin in this original hardcover graphic novel.

Although a strong final third thankfully saves the book from being entirely inconsequential, Chinatown isn’t exactly the extraordinarily talented Powell’s strongest work. Serious to a fault, Chinatown plays everything straight and loses the melancholic depth Powell usually accomplishes by effortlessly mixing anarchic pulp action and strong characterization with black humor. Here, the misery is forced. We get a weak supporting cast with muddled motivations, and two separate, predictable plots that feel rushed. Still, Powell is probably the best artist in comics today, and the book looks stunning.

Grade: B-

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