Pitiful Human Lizard #2
By Jason Loo
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By the second issue of a comic you should be getting a definite feel for what the writer is going for in terms of tone.
With Pitiful Human Lizard #2 I’m still not 100 per cent sure.
As I noted when #1 hit, the title was certainly not on my radar in terms of a comic book, but when I was emailed an early look I was intrigued.
The initial interest came from the title being Canadian.
And that holds true. It’s neat seeing references to the Royal Ontario Museum as an example.
But PHL writer/artist Jason Loo’s approach to the superhero genre is a bit different, which is generally good as it sets a title apart.
The art reflects cartoon roots, and reminds me a lot of old Archie Comic hero books, and that extends to the writing which is more cartoonish than many contemporary ‘Capes & Tights’ books.
The problem with lighter hero fare is achieving that line of balance. At times with PHL it’s hard to decide if this is supposed to be the birth of a serious hero story, like the early days of Spiderman, or is this more whimsy, or outright farcical?
Issue #2 doesn’t clear up that question at all.
It does intro a gal interest for the Lizard who is a woeful man in tights, but more woeful out of them. The guy is a nerd in all the connotations of a bad Hollywood comedy.
What I can say though is that while where Loo sees PHL going is unclear, I’m happy enough to read along to see, at least for the next issue or two.
Lara Croft and the Frozen Omen #2
Written by Corinna Bechko
Pencils by Randy Green
Inks by Andy Owens
Colours by Michael Atiyeh
Dark Horse Comics
As you might expect with a Lara Croft story, at least if it’s done right, and so far writer Corinna Bechko is doing just fine, the action is ratcheted up in Issue #2.
That the pace quickens in this issue is important. In a six-issue series you have to get into the meat of things more quickly.
While Croft is off and running, literally at times, in this one, what really made it work for me is the greater focus on what at least at this point looks like magic. I’m a big fan of a little mystical energy being at work in a story like this. It pushes the heroine to grasp some not so normal possibilities.
As I noted in my review of Issue #1, Lara Croft has never been a big favourite of mine, although Angelina Jolie’s movie was good, or at least she looked good (OK better than good). This series, two issues in is changing that. It’s a solid storyline with the promise of some twists and action to carry things forward.
Bring on Issue #3 please.
