Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1 (DC Comics, $3.99)
Len Wein (w), Jae Lee (a)
I'm beginning to think Jae Lee is some kind of genius. If nothing else, he is a unique artist of astonishing skill.
I'm not sure I have much to say about the story in Ozymandias #1. It's written by Len Wein, who was one of the best of the Bronze Age writers, and -- unlike some of his peers -- has moved with the times to remain good. This book is narrated by Adrian Veidt, and Wein finds a good voice for him -- spare, self-absorbed, ascetic.
But there are no real surprises here; we know Veidt's story already and Wein fleshes it out to 20 or so pages. I admit to some curiosity about what comes next, because Wein has covered about 90 percent of what we know about Veidt prior to Watchmen #1, and he's got five issues to go. So I'll be there for issue #2.
But the real star here is Lee. His work here is elegant and ornate, with wispy-thin but meticulously placed ink lines that gather together to form images. Despite, that he can be quite powerful where he needs to be. There's an odd duality to his style: he demonstrates a Raphaelesque quality that reminds one of P. Craig Russell, but with an underlying ugliness, a brutality, I can't quite put my finger on. For example, his 1950s America is like a Norman Rockwell scene with all the joy sucked out of it. I don't know how you do that with an ink brush, and yet there it is.
Lee genuflects to the Watchmen style without adopting it whole hog, in that he has recurring clock-shaped images, both objects and panel shapes. But no one would ever mistake this for a Dave Gibbons comic book -- or anybody else, for that matter. It's so unique that I have trouble finding comparisons for it.
But it's good, I have no doubt of that. This book invites one to return again and again and let one's eyes linger. It's beautiful on the surface, with a disturbing ugliness lurking inside. And maybe that's a comment on Adrian Veidt as well.
Replies
I agree, Jason. I've read enough to consider dropping the periodical issues and tradewaiting.
I deleted my previous post, too, because it didn't all print. I had agreed with everything Cap said except I meant to list two "surprises" in the issue: Adrian's girlfriend and the way he dealt with the bully. I also said that Wein and Lee, good to begin with, have really stepped up their game for this one.
My review:
http://www.rpsteeves.com/2012/07/wrapped-up-like-comic-review-befor...