![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Reading meme
1. Been struggling with despair lately...so I found this quote in the middle of the comic book that I was reading tonight...to be rather comforting.
"For many years we've been trying in our own bumbling way, to illustrate that love is a far greater force ,a far greater power than hate. Now we don't mean you're expected to go around like a pirouetting Pollyanna, tossing posies at everyone who passes by, but we do want to make a point. Let's consider three men: Buddha, Christ, and Moses...men of peace, whose thoughts and deeds have influenced countless millions throughout the ages -- and whose presence still is felt in every corner of the earth. Buddha, Christ and Moses...men of good will, men of tolerance, and especially men of love. Now, consider the practioners of hate who have sullied the pages of history. Who still venerates their words? Where is homage still paid to their memory? What banners still are raised to their cause? The power of love - and the power of hate. Which is most truly enduring? When you tend to despair ...let the answer sustain you." - Stan Lee (from May 1969).
Just finished House of X - #4 -- and, dang it, I think they killed off four of my favorite characters again, including my absolute favorite. Then again, maybe not. It's not clear what they are doing here.
The story is a gripping tale of how hate and fear and violence destroys everything it touches. The fact that in the middle of the story, we have the above quote -- is interesting and sort of says, hang in there, we're not done yet.
Also in various spots throughout, the writers pretty much hint that they don't intend on killing any of these characters off permanently. Considering the four they killed are major fan favorites -- I have a feeling they aren't dead permanently.
At any rate, what struck me about the comic -- was how it highlighted the crimes of humanity against the disenfranchised mutants, and the numbers of mutants humanity had killed -- without cause. Mutants are also the evolved children of humanity in the comics -- children of the age of the atom, and science, and warfare. Children born from human parents. So there's a heavy metaphor arcing through the comics that humanity kills it's own children through its selfishness and greed and desire for power.
Wanda Maximov does not come off well in House of X #4 -- she's listed as a Pretender and responsible for the deaths of millions. (Well she depowered mutants and caused their deaths as a result of her own mindless and self-absorbed actions.) Ironic, considering Wanda is a mutant herself, and the daughter of Magneto, but also an Avenger -- and she did this while under the protection of the Avengers -- who apparently only avenge for humanity, no one else -- which has been pointed out subtly by Captain Marvel among others.
What I like about Marvel comics -- is that they question what it is to be a hero. Unlike DC who often seemed to rejoice in vigilantism, Marvel deeply questions it with humor. Although the X-men tend to be among the darker of Marvel's comics -- since they deal with the marginalized and disenfranchised. Those who are treated unfairly based solely on their differences, and out of fear.
It's a well written and interesting comic -- also well drawn. With stunning and compelling graphics. Possibly among the best that I've seen in a while. Also the narrative structure continues to be compelling.
The story seems to have Xavier and Moira as the protagonists. It's focusing on them and their actions. It's definitely something I will re-read once it's done. I'm withholding judgement until then -- but if my favorite character is gone again, I'm going to be pissed. He was just brought back for crying out loud. Come on, Marvel.
Stop killing Cyclops. (Also for that matter Angel, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Jean Grey.)
As an aside, Jay of "Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-men" stated in a recent podcast that while she liked Hickman a lot, she was disappointed that Marvel hadn't hired a marginalized writer to write about a team of marginalized super powered characters.
That once again they went with the straight white dude. Well, to be fair, most of Marvel is straight white dudes. That's the problem with the comic industry -- it's dominated by straight white dudes. Inroads have been made and things are slowly changing but it takes time. That said? Sometimes a straight white dude can surprise you and write a damn moving story about women and marginalized but empowered characters who aren't white.
2. Still reading a romance novel about a Jewel Thief and Bow Street Runner, which is interesting, but poorly executed. There are so many typos. I don't think they are intentional, these feel like word gaps, where one's brain is jumping ahead of the fingers and the fingers just skip over certain words. There are also a few grammatical errors and weird syntax -- such as the wrong pronoun. I think these are editing mistakes -- which makes me wonder about the line editors, and if she had to do it all herself. My sympathies. I made typographical errors too. Word to the wise -- it's frigging hard to publish a book without these errors -- unless you have another pair of eyes go over it a few times. Also the computer doesn't always help with it's spell-grammar checking, it will tell you to remove words that you should keep in there.
Anyhow, the errors are distracting. Also too much time is spent on back story, other relationships, etc and not enough on the romance. Which is an interesting tactic for a romance novel. In some respects, I found it refreshing that I got more scenes of Juliette and her brother, Bran, who she was raised with, than with the hero. Or more scenes with the hero and his fellow runners. Or more about what it is to be a thief.
Juliette and the hero, Grant, seem to have a strong physical attraction and a similar taste for high adrenaline activities...but outside of that they barely know each other or talk. Every time they are together -- they want to well kiss passionately. (They haven't done much else, yet. Which is surprising. We're well past the 80% mark.)
It's an enjoyable quick read, but nothing to rave over. I'd rec the comic books I'm reading over it at the moment.
"For many years we've been trying in our own bumbling way, to illustrate that love is a far greater force ,a far greater power than hate. Now we don't mean you're expected to go around like a pirouetting Pollyanna, tossing posies at everyone who passes by, but we do want to make a point. Let's consider three men: Buddha, Christ, and Moses...men of peace, whose thoughts and deeds have influenced countless millions throughout the ages -- and whose presence still is felt in every corner of the earth. Buddha, Christ and Moses...men of good will, men of tolerance, and especially men of love. Now, consider the practioners of hate who have sullied the pages of history. Who still venerates their words? Where is homage still paid to their memory? What banners still are raised to their cause? The power of love - and the power of hate. Which is most truly enduring? When you tend to despair ...let the answer sustain you." - Stan Lee (from May 1969).
Just finished House of X - #4 -- and, dang it, I think they killed off four of my favorite characters again, including my absolute favorite. Then again, maybe not. It's not clear what they are doing here.
The story is a gripping tale of how hate and fear and violence destroys everything it touches. The fact that in the middle of the story, we have the above quote -- is interesting and sort of says, hang in there, we're not done yet.
Also in various spots throughout, the writers pretty much hint that they don't intend on killing any of these characters off permanently. Considering the four they killed are major fan favorites -- I have a feeling they aren't dead permanently.
At any rate, what struck me about the comic -- was how it highlighted the crimes of humanity against the disenfranchised mutants, and the numbers of mutants humanity had killed -- without cause. Mutants are also the evolved children of humanity in the comics -- children of the age of the atom, and science, and warfare. Children born from human parents. So there's a heavy metaphor arcing through the comics that humanity kills it's own children through its selfishness and greed and desire for power.
Wanda Maximov does not come off well in House of X #4 -- she's listed as a Pretender and responsible for the deaths of millions. (Well she depowered mutants and caused their deaths as a result of her own mindless and self-absorbed actions.) Ironic, considering Wanda is a mutant herself, and the daughter of Magneto, but also an Avenger -- and she did this while under the protection of the Avengers -- who apparently only avenge for humanity, no one else -- which has been pointed out subtly by Captain Marvel among others.
What I like about Marvel comics -- is that they question what it is to be a hero. Unlike DC who often seemed to rejoice in vigilantism, Marvel deeply questions it with humor. Although the X-men tend to be among the darker of Marvel's comics -- since they deal with the marginalized and disenfranchised. Those who are treated unfairly based solely on their differences, and out of fear.
It's a well written and interesting comic -- also well drawn. With stunning and compelling graphics. Possibly among the best that I've seen in a while. Also the narrative structure continues to be compelling.
The story seems to have Xavier and Moira as the protagonists. It's focusing on them and their actions. It's definitely something I will re-read once it's done. I'm withholding judgement until then -- but if my favorite character is gone again, I'm going to be pissed. He was just brought back for crying out loud. Come on, Marvel.
Stop killing Cyclops. (Also for that matter Angel, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Jean Grey.)
As an aside, Jay of "Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-men" stated in a recent podcast that while she liked Hickman a lot, she was disappointed that Marvel hadn't hired a marginalized writer to write about a team of marginalized super powered characters.
That once again they went with the straight white dude. Well, to be fair, most of Marvel is straight white dudes. That's the problem with the comic industry -- it's dominated by straight white dudes. Inroads have been made and things are slowly changing but it takes time. That said? Sometimes a straight white dude can surprise you and write a damn moving story about women and marginalized but empowered characters who aren't white.
2. Still reading a romance novel about a Jewel Thief and Bow Street Runner, which is interesting, but poorly executed. There are so many typos. I don't think they are intentional, these feel like word gaps, where one's brain is jumping ahead of the fingers and the fingers just skip over certain words. There are also a few grammatical errors and weird syntax -- such as the wrong pronoun. I think these are editing mistakes -- which makes me wonder about the line editors, and if she had to do it all herself. My sympathies. I made typographical errors too. Word to the wise -- it's frigging hard to publish a book without these errors -- unless you have another pair of eyes go over it a few times. Also the computer doesn't always help with it's spell-grammar checking, it will tell you to remove words that you should keep in there.
Anyhow, the errors are distracting. Also too much time is spent on back story, other relationships, etc and not enough on the romance. Which is an interesting tactic for a romance novel. In some respects, I found it refreshing that I got more scenes of Juliette and her brother, Bran, who she was raised with, than with the hero. Or more scenes with the hero and his fellow runners. Or more about what it is to be a thief.
Juliette and the hero, Grant, seem to have a strong physical attraction and a similar taste for high adrenaline activities...but outside of that they barely know each other or talk. Every time they are together -- they want to well kiss passionately. (They haven't done much else, yet. Which is surprising. We're well past the 80% mark.)
It's an enjoyable quick read, but nothing to rave over. I'd rec the comic books I'm reading over it at the moment.