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NATHANIEL: Good evening, and welcome to the other dueling siblings review column! Different siblings, different reviews, same minty aftertaste.
MATHEW: You will have to forgive him, he likes the word minty.
NATHANIEL: That takes care of the witty banter. What's on tap for review this month?
MATHEW: I believe that this month is comics. Both are offerings from companies that this sibling would rather not admit to reading. One is Deadpool from Marvel Comics; the other is Sam and Twitch from Image Comics. First up is Deadpool. It is a book about a mercenary with a quick wit and a heart of_ well a heart anyhow.
NATHANIEL: With his wacky, non-linear style, it's difficult to judge a Priest-written book after just two issues. And believe me, Christopher Priest's writing is the only reason I am reading Deadpool. He's so good that I put aside my neurotic desire to only start reading comics at issue number one for Deadpool. It won't be a trend, but just this once, I don't regret starting with issue number 34.
MATHEW: I started reading Deadpool because Nathaniel had gotten some issues of the limited series from a few years ago, and I read them and liked them. A few months ago he decided to get the new series and I don't know why, but I kind of got sucked back in to reading it. I kind of liked the Deadpool character and these issues give some background on him. I unlike my sibling do not really pay attention to names; I just like a good story.
NATHANIEL: How can you NOT pay attention to names?!?!
MATHEW: Bah, names. They are just used to entice readers to read a book.
NATHANIEL: The pain! Oh well. Anyhow, on to the art. I'm no judge of art, but I know what looks strange, and this art has some strange moments. Not that it is bad enough to detract from the story. Much.
MATHEW: The art is kind of cartoonie, but I think with a character that has some funny moments it is sort of fitting. The beginning of issue 34 is a good example of the cartoon aspect of the art.
NATHANIEL: One last thing: Franklin Richards with a gun? Give me a break. That's so wrong, it hurts.
MATHEW: It was bound to happen at some point Nate. Anyway this is not your typical Marvel comic. It actually has a self-contained story that is not spread out over 18 different books and six months like some of Marvel's books.
NATHANIEL: Next (and finally) we have SAM AND TWITCH. Published by Image Comics, this book is about two absolutely power-free, normal human cops, and the weird stuff going on in the world around them.
MATHEW: I initially resisted reading this book, but I got bored and actually started reading it, and you know what? I liked it.
NATHANIEL: I didn't even think about buying this book until after the reviews of the third issue had hit the Internet. I blame Usenet for all these extra titles I've started picking up these days. Still, it isn't a bad book. I don't read a single book that doesn't involve super heroes, except for this one.
MATHEW: Super heroes are overrated anyway, why do you think I liked GI Joe, the spiffy artwork? The artwork on the comic is vary dark and seems to set the mood for the book. The layout is creative on each page and can be hard to keep track of from time to time.
NATHANIEL: It's set in what I guess we have to call the Spawnverse, but doesn't seem to overlap too heavily, so far.
MATHEW: There has only been one cameo appearance by Spawn and that was in the latest issue. It was only one page and seemed to make no sense.
NATHANIEL: Spring forward, fall back doesn't make sense to you. Fair warning, this book is full of gratuitous language. Moreso than the average Junior High School match, even. Also, this first storyline is slated to run no less than eight issues.
MATHEW: It is a mystery, suspense and action book. A genre that comics do not touch on all that often. It should be done more often.
NATHANIEL: Deadpool 36 is out this very week, and is the last issue of the first storyline. $1.99 an issue, and 34 and 35 are still readily, cheaply available around here. Sam and Twitch is on issue 4, costs $2.50, and is also easy to track down. Any final words for the masses?
MATHEW: Go to your local bookstore and purchase the Autobiography of Mick Foley: Have a Nice Day, A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks. Well worth the money.
NATHANIEL: Stop that. You're embarrassing me.
MATHEW: No I'm not. I'm just supporting a wrassler that I like. Now go away before I shove a sweaty sock down your throat.
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