World Famous Comics: Spirit Vol. 1 (Spirit (DC Comics))
Spirit Vol. 1 (Spirit (DC Comics))
By: Darwyn Cooke Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 192 Publication Date: December 09, 2008 Release Date: December 09, 2008 Studio: DC Comics
Darwyn Cooke is brilliant... what a shame he's moved on ^ "Will Eisner's The Spirit, Vol. 2" by Darwyn Cooke, et al (DC Comics) ----------------------------------------------- Writer/illustrator Darwyn Cooke's run on the revitalized "Spirit" series was nothing short of amazing: the first volume in this graphic novel series showed Cooke, amazingly, completely in sync with creator Will Eisner's original vision of the Spirit character. He really, truly "got" the character and the feel of the Spirit's world, and his stories felt, improbably, like legitimate continuations of Eisner's artistic vision. In this volume, Cooke wraps up his work on the book, and each of his stories are as engaging as the earlier ones. Unfortunately, several episodes are also scripted and illustrated by other modern artists, and while these include many talented people whose work I respect, none of them are right for this book. The Spirit "brand" feels cheapened by the move towards making it an anthology title; in Volume Three, with Cooke nowhere in sight, this feeling is intensified. Sergio Aragones and others try their best, but they play the comedy too broadly, and make the book too wacky and too obvious. Alas, after this book -- Volume 2 -- the magic is gone. The good news is that you can get the first two books and be really, really happy. Check it out! (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain book reviews)
So Happy I could cry ^ I've always been a fan of the spirit comics and the old EC comics. Written by Darwyn Cooke and Jeph Loeb; Art by Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone; Cover by Darwyn Cooke - the visionary creator of the acclaimed DC: THE NEW FRONTIER -- turns his attention to the classic Will Eisner creation The Spirit in this amazing hardcover collecting the first six issues of the new series from DC Comics plus the BATMAN/THE SPIRIT special! In these thrilling tales. Cooke maintains the "spirit" of Eisner's creation but brings his own original sensibilities to the character. The Spirit, a.k.a. Denny Colt, Commissioner Dolan, and his Daughter Ellen are reintroduced in this go-for-broke, shoot-the-lights-out collection of crime stories filled with action, adventure, humor and sexy girls! The first volume of the award-winning series is collected in trade paperback, featuring BATMAN/THE SPIRIT and THE SPIRIT #1-6!
Don't miss Darwyn Cooke's run of Will Eisner's classic character, The Spirit! ^ I've often said that if anyone got Eisner's classic character, The Spirit, right when they tried to take it on, it was Darwyn Cooke. His 10 issue run on The Spirit (2 issues were holiday issues done by artists and writers other than Cooke) completely overshadows any previous non-Eisner attempt on the character. The only exception to this statement would have been issues #7 and 12, which, sadly, are not featured in this collection. This particular collection collects the stories "Almost Blue" through "Sand." Harrowing issues, great Eisner-esque artwork, and FANTASTIC writing (god, issue #10 just kills me every time I read it...Cooke must have been channeling Eisner...it's fantastic) make this collection a must have if you don't own the original issues. Don't miss it.
Cooke's The Spirit run is brief but a classic ^ Darwyn Cooke only worked on 11 issues of DC's re-launch of The Spirit, it seems that's as long as he could stomach working for them, but these 11 issues stand as perhaps the best Spirit stories ever; even some of the best comic book stories of all time. What he realizes is the Spirit is a vehicle to explore whatever topic the writer is interested in. The Spirit is the ultimate everyman superhero and is truly the first "middle class" comic book character.
Cooke explores issues from the modern media to targeting children with advertising, and he throws in a lot of two fisted action and even horror. If only the Frank Miller movie were as good as any one of the comics in this all too brief run. These comics are fast paced, relevant, and funny. Highly recommended!
Un-Super, All Natural! ^ Talk about evolution! This delight, reconsituted by Darwyn, is even better than volume one! It's bloodier, sexier, more satirical (Jane Austen would be so proud), and there are plenty more hot, strong, smart women involved, on top and taking the lead.
You could jump straight into this and pretty much get it without having read the first book, but I say go for the first one first, because it lays the foundation for this, reprising a handful of characters from before and suprisingly dispatching a lot of the original nasties to make way for new bad blood in volume three. Bring IT. Anyway, to recap; the Spirit, real name Denny Colt, is dead to the world (lab accident), only he isn't, he's running vigilante, super-powerless but still the guardian of Central City, in cahoots with father figure Police Commisioner Dolan and loosely dating the commish's daughter, Ellen: I say 'loosely' because , let's face it, he's a hot, gritty, endearing guy and he gets around-kinda like James Bond. Also in his inner circle is cool kid Ebony White, who's one heck of a hack driver.
Best left to the over 15 set, this is another teasingly slim morsel. Here's a quick road map to save you the confusion I felt on first reading: volume 1 had six stories all by Darwyn Cooke, then a bonus featuring Batman as worked by Jeph Loeb and Cooke in tandem. This time around, we open with a Summer Special consisting of 2 shorts by guest big name hitters in the comic book world; these are followed by 6 unmistakable Darwyn's, topped off by a Holiday Special of 3 more shorts. Personally speaking, I prefer Cooke's mod-retro tales, both in terms of artwork and storylines, especially since we get to delve further into Denny Colt's history to gradually see how he became the man he is today. The shorts are okay though; they don't feel intrusive and it's interesting to see how others depict this character and his world, but I would've prefered another Loeb/Cooke bonus co-starring another DC hero or villain.
I've yet to read Will Eisner's original Spirit comics from the 40s so I don't know how it compares, but in this, the 21st Century, it's fantastic to see more understatedly sexy, pro-active females, even those who are ambivalent regarding the law. I still don't get how he's able to live comfortably in a crypt-but who cares? The good guys are lovable, the villains are dastardly and often slippery and it's a colorful feast for the eyes!
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