CV Rick's Reviews

Repent, Harlequin said the Ticktockman

In a world where time is the most essential resource and tardiness is penalized by law.  More, it's penalized by shortening one's life by the amount of time "wasted" according to the ruling authority, the Ticktockman.  In this dystopia no dissent is tolerated.  Then there's the Harlequin, a man who dresses up like the fabled trickster and taunts the authorities, encouraging people to take their time, smell the flowers and whatnot.  Harlequin knows that mass revolt is the only way to enact a change against a totalitarian regime.  But is Harlequin the man to trigger a revolt?

Harlan Ellison has written so many great stories, but this one in particular resonates with me and with our time obsessed society.  It's the small voice of defiance that I wish more people had.  This edition of the storyu is good, if a little overpriced.  The artwork is good, but I think the story is better suited as a short, not an illustrated graphic.  As a short in the 60's, this story won the Hugo and the Nebula.

In whatever form or edition, I think this is a great story for people to read.  It's a wonderful introduction to the imaginative world of Harlan Ellison.

- CV Rick, March 2008

Iron Man

The Ultimate Iron Man ought to have been a coup by Marvel.  They began by signing on a superstar writer, Orson Scott Card, great artist, Andy Kubert, and placing it in the Marvel Ultimates line.  Everything started so well.

Maybe it's that Card didn't do his homework, or maybe he felt he was good enough to reverse Iron Man's creation story.  In this tale he's a mutant with genetic abilities and an enhanced IQ.  Why?  There wasn't any need. 

Tony Stark has always been the everyman hero.  Someone smart enough to invent the enhancements necessary to take on villains of any power, and brave enough to enter the elite pinnacle of superheroes.

Frankly, Card's story is weak.  He forces the character building in order to mold the reactions he must get, and he switches from scene to scene so quickly that no continuity is possible.  For example, pages are devoted to the machinations required to steal Stark's company from his wealthy father, but only a couple panels are necessary to frame him for murder and send him to prison.  Bleh! 

On the other hand, the artwork is stunning, almost beautiful enough to make one forget the trite storyline and weak personalities.

- CV Rick