STORMWATCH #21

[ A REAL SALES STUNNER ] 

What happens when two opponents collide? Will it be hectic, morose, and applied? Don't ask me, I don't know. I just like to watch the show. Or alternatively, hang around the slip and slide. Yeah. I'm first. Then I'm followed by the Writer: Jim Starlin; the Artist: Yvel Guichet; but not the Publisher: DC Comics, in May, 2013.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 4 questions about this STORY entitled 'Trust'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: Stormwatch has to track down the abnormality that is currently plaguing the entire universe. 
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: Yes. Lobo is the abnormalities name, and after a bit of a ruckus, the Kollective use Jenny to play Lobo by their game. Whatever that means.
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: I got a bit of a headache.
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With the team standing by to see what happens next.

All in all, what is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

Now I did like that scene where one of the Kollective said to Jenny...

'You may see us as unwanted meddlers. We see ourselves as saviours. Perspective.'

... because I could see where 'he' was coming from with this statement. What's one mans hero is another mans villain. Correct?

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) No matter what, the one thing I do admire about this comic book is its cast of characters. Lobo. Jenny. Apollo. The Weird. Excreta. Excreta. Excreta. Every single one of them are just smashing, and it's always a pleasure to follow their exploits.  

(+) Huzzah! The bad-guys have finally been given a name. Granted, I know that 'the Kollective' isn't the most innovative moniker I've ever heard, but it's far from being the worst either.

(+) I did enjoy reading that scene were Stormwatch went into the bar with Jenny in toe, as it's nice little creative touches like these, which give me hope for the future of this title.

(+) By in large I'd say that the art in this issue was a very mixed-bag. I thought parts of it were really grungy and really amazing. Whilst other parts of it felt very rushed in execution. Sorry, Yvel. I'm sure you can amp up your game next time round.

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) There was so much said and surmised in this adventure, my God, my brain decided to switch off whenever one of the Kollective spouted something. OK. I understand that sometimes exposition has to be relayed just to prod the story along in the right direction. But come off it, at least make it enjoyable exposition that most people can understand! Or otherwise you might as well have it all spelt out in Kryptonian, huh? 

(-) Another illogical snafu about this adventure was how certain scenes transpired because of a chance encounter. Again, I know that these things happen from time to time. But for it to happen to a team that's on a mission to stop the bad guys warping reality, well... no... it doesn't feel right to me. It feels too contrived.

Choose TWO CHARACTERS out of this comic book, and then compare them to two ANIMALS.

A PANDA AS LOBO:  All Lobo did in this issue was eat, fall over, and get used like a fool. Therefore, from my perspective, I'd say he was the fool of the animal kingdom -- the Panda.

A GERBIL AS JENNY:  Through no fault of her own, Jenny on the other hand was treated like a fool. Like a domesticated rodent for instance. Hint-hint!

What QUOTE would be appropriate to sum-up this story?

'Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them. That only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like' -- Lao Tzu

What SONG, THEME-TUNE, or MELODY, would complement this tale, as well as add and extra dimension to it by default?

'FOOL ON THE HILL' BY THE BEATLES: I feel compelled to compare this tune to this tale mainly of the way both Lobo and Jenny were treated in it.

ANYTHING Else?

Did anybody understand any of that stuff the Kollective said about how they warp reality? Fair enough, I got the basic gist of what they said -- something about putting people into certain situations to steer the future in their malleable direction. Nonetheless, all of this mumbo jumbo felt very flat to me, and I wished that they spelt it out like...

'We are the Kollective. We are unable to wear hats. Yet we are able to change the future by using the present as we see fit. Imagine a pond full of fish. We are the fishermen that dip our rods into said pond, causing a rippling effect in the water, and the fish to swim in a direction we need them to go. Got it? Good! Now where is my cravat?'.

OK. So maybe not one hundred percent like that. But I'm sure you can see where I am coming from with this example. Sometimes folks, for principles to be relayed clearly, you need something for the audience to feed off of.

The Kollective aren't feeders -- their bleeders -- bleeding useless at being the main villain. And I hope that Starlin and Guichet can step up their game next month, because this month their efforts were a bit ying / wang to say the least.

Sorry guys. I liked reading this issue of 'Stormwatch'. But it gave me a headache afterwards.

GIVE IT, IT'S DUES: If This Comic Book Was A Shark, It Would Be A Hammer Head-Shark That Kept On Smashing His Head Repetitively Against An Immovable Object. Think About It.