Venus: Ready Freddie?
Miss Teen USSR: Um, yup! Also, I say that ALL THE TIME to Nuv. Classic response: “My name’s not Freddie.” OK, let’s do this sistah friend. (White people cannot do slang well.)
Venus: Werd?
USSR: So, iZombie. Tell me about your Allred knowledge before this series started. I know that you & Ian met them at ECCC. Refresh my tattered memory, please.
Venus: Well, I had limited knowledge of them other than what Ian had told me. (”Wha? The Allreds are one of the bigger names in comics? Mmkay!”) I knew they drew (Mike) and coloured (Laura) a couple of Fables issues that involved two of my favorite characters (Bigby and Snow), which was the reason for my meeting them at ECCC. Basically the Allreds are two of the loveliest people I have ever met at Comic-Con.
They were champs. As we waited in line, we watched the couple (they’re married!) greet each person, and actively engage them in a meaningful conversation. They made eye contact, asked questions and were happy to sign a few comics and promote their newest endeavor, iZombie. Ian and I both gushed about how much we were looking forward to the series and they gushed back in return. They seemed to have taken the project on with mucho gusto and were possibly more excited than we were to hear that we were excited about it!
USSR: How refreshing. I knew the Allreds from Madman Gargantua, a Christmas gift from Nuv. Now, this feels super ingrate-y and s*&$%y, but I must say I liked the art 1,000 times more than the characters and plot lines. What I adored about their art was 1) the colours – they zap you right in the face (iZombie being no exception – the cover of Issue 2’s neon pink + B & W = f*%$ yes!) and 2) their technique of occasionally using Ben-Day dots – it gives dimension and a truly unique look. The writing however…something just didn’t…click for me, and truth be told, I never finished reading it. But it sure looks great on the shelf!
So, iZombie, we knew your tremendous artist/colourer, but what about your writer, Chris Roberson. I’d never heard of him. Et tu Venus?
Venus: Chris Roberson! I met him at ECCC as well! He also signed one of my Fables! (The spin-off Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love.) I hadn’t heard of Roberson before that title, but seeing as how that series was total glass-slipper-elite-super-spy-espionage, I had a feeling he’d do alright with iZombie. For him being able to say, “Yeah, I worked on that Fables comic and now I’m working with the Allreds, no big,” must feel Pretty. Dang. Good.
USSR: No s*%$. Aaaaaaaand now I’m going to be a jerk and be mean to him. The very first issue I thought was extremely heavy-handed, and in desperate need of an editor to step in and be all, “There is no need to introduce every character in 12 pages, Chris!” I even told Nuv to not bother buying the next one.
See, I loved Gwen, the horrifying description of what brains taste like, and the conceit of how the brain’s owner’s memories would then haunt her, but I didn’t also need to be introduced to: vampires, a ghost friend, zombies, and a were-terrier. The second issue, given to us by Ian, the sharing softie, changed my mind, but then the third issue has got me wavering again. Godamnit.
What’s your overall impression of the first three? Am I being harsh? Are there just too gosh darn many story lines happening (and still more to come revolving around that chimp show, I just know it..)?
Venus: Well, lately Ian and I have been re-watching ‘Buffy,’ so as far as the vamps, ghostie girlfriend, were-terrier and vampire hunters in iZombie go, throwing them in with the headlining zombie is something I’ve been able to absorb pretty readily. (But then again, I can jump head-first into epic story lines with the dreaded “Multiverse” and keep up…..) But yes, I can get behind the feeling of too much, too soon.
Is it possible Roberson was trying to avoid the, “Well, who the frack is THAT and why are they being introduced into the story line NOW?!” feeling (which is what I tend to think), so he decided to let them all out of the bag first, and then space them out? What I’m hoping is, since no additional characters have been introduced, maybe we’ve got all the players lined up, and we can now get down to business.
USSR: Therein lies the differences between us as readers, I guess. I prefer more straight forward, singular idea stuff in my comics, while you’re able to handle multiple universes at a time. But, I guess I thought Gwen and her story alone were more than enough to base a comic on. It’s a great (great!) idea, and I think it gets diluted what with everything else happening.
I was even super down for the ghost friend (both her & Gwen are drawn so prettily – the Allreds must have crushes on both) and her sweet dialogue and the fact she can’t go anywhere she doesn’t remember going in life – that is touching as hell. Sigh. Maybe I’m just too accustomed to reading collected graphic novels where I can read and read, and an occasional spotty issue can be swallowed more readily because it’s sandwiched by better ones.
I feel like I’m hacking this thing apart. To be clear, the art is ridiculously good – the vertical panels, the lovingly drawn females and the angles of the “shots.” Plot-wise I’m just having a problem with the overabundance of details that I think bog down and dilute a great idea. What’s your best/worst?
Venus: Let’s see. Best part is definitely the art and the ladies. I like a good mystery as well, and I’m itching to find out more about dead Fred. The way it’s set up I know it’s all connected, but I’ve got my fingers crossed that iZombie doesn’t go all ‘Heroes‘ on us – that could end up being the worst part. I’m waiting it out a few more issues before I make up my mind…
I should point out, with my extensive knowledge of the subject, that as far as zombies go, the only thing in iZombie that is traditional is the undead eating brains. It’s an extremely interesting concept with Gwen having to eat brains to keep from going “all mindless and shambling,” but I think I prefer my zombies raging and killable by the hundreds.
USSR: Yeah, here’s a cute zombie I’d totally swap clothes with. Who knew? So, we’re pretty much in agreement that we kind of like this title. Hooray for carefully straddling the fence! The 4th issue comes out today. Let’s see whether we get razzle dazzled or give up on iZombie. Thanks Venus. I’m sure if I had to eat your brains they would taste like awesome (and strawberries and cream.)
Venus: I believe your brains would taste like crème brulee.
USSR: Amazing and delicious! Until next time friend!
Put four in the air…
– The Big Four
