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Underground > Comic Books >

The Metal Men!

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17:30 / 07.09.07

Panel in question, Jamie, was Mercury realizing what a bad thing that would be if he punctured the Balloonatic, so he got rid of points of harmlessly WHOOMPED against the giant nano-cloud-swarm balloon's head.

Ah, okay. I think some artists need to take some intro to film courses and learn about things like the 180 rule and matching on action.

Or maybe I'm just dim.

20:02 / 07.09.07

Maybe, it seemed pretty obvious to me. But I am, as they say, very special. Very very special.

I forgot this entirely and just dl'd it, expecting to just go 'oh well, fuck it then, DC have really put out pretty much ten years of solidly not very good at all superhero comics and here's another' but actually... it was really rather good. Confusing, in a breakneck pace way, but not darque/rapey/sadfaced and beautifully illustrated. So I will go back and buy.

Haus of Mystery

08:59 / 08.09.07

I can forgive it's slightly baffling plot for it's enthusiasm and energy. Ang giant teddy bears with guns.

My Mom Thinks I'm Cool

16:08 / 11.09.07

you know, without threads like this I would have totally missed this sweet comic and probably a few others too. so, I just wanted to say, thanks Barbelith.

anyway, ditto the last post - I couldn't tell you what is going on or who the bad guy(s) even is/are - atlantean alchemist? dr. morrow? evil future dr. magnus? anyway, but I'm having too much fun to care.

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

16:04 / 12.09.07

It's interesting, honestly, how absent the Metal Men themselves are from this issue--they show up early in the flashback and then they're just in captivity. Meanwhile, Magnus is running around with the latest knockoff robots, trying to save *them*.

All the time-jumping actually works for me, it's like this big soupy series of vignettes.

And, you know, Death-Metal Men!

Shiny: Well Over Thirty

18:22 / 12.09.07

Yeah, I'd agreed about the plot being a bit difficult to follow at the moment, but I'd agree even more so about not really caring. Either it'll make more sense read in one sitting once it's finished or it won't, but assuming the rest of the series is a great as the first two issues, it still won't have failed in my book. It's just too much fun to fail, even if the plot never makes a jot of sense.

It's interesting, DC has been putting a fair few of these George inspired titles out, and this is the first one that actually reads like something that might have come directly from his brayne (I love the Atom more than almost anything - but that's on it's own terms, and I think the things that appear to have come from Gail Simone's mind are almost uniformly more entertaining than those ideas that might be George's on that book). Rouleau's one to watch in the future I reckon - he's doing well on this book, and I'd really like to see him getting to play with a book that comes entirely from his own ideas as soon as possible.

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

20:40 / 06.10.07

Issue Number Three out this past week! What did people think of it? The Astonishing Secret of the Death-Metal Men! Who is the Future Magnus? Is he really who Will thinks he is? Events of past and future come rip-roaring inward to the present (how very Zero Hour)!

I was write about the original source of Gold's metal, it seems, but I'm still not sure about the "talking to elements" thing. Still! Gold into Lead and vice versa. Elemental transformation to at least hark back to that weird Action Comics team-up with the Man of Steel that Byrne did that one time, where the Metal Men bodies were all non-specific metallic polymer transformed based on the programming into the responsometers.

It's getting a bit more difficult to follow, Rouleau's art hit a few snags (couple panels just didn't make sense) -- but we have time-travelling 'bots and an old favourite from the Metal Men rogue's gallery!

I should try to use fewer exclamation points next time.

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

22:58 / 04.01.08

Fifth issue's out, babies! And it's big, stupid, ridiculous, and fun. Further explanation for the Latest Metal Men Origin Retcon, but I don't mind too much. I wish there was more room for wacky entertaining adventures, but eight issues is okay. Does anyone know how well this is selling? Because an extension would be keen.

Spyder Todd 2008

00:28 / 05.01.08

I want this book to never end. 4 REALZ.

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

01:36 / 05.01.08

It was also nice to (briefly) see them in last week's The Brave and the Bold, wherein Tin gets the H-dial and discovers a new, ah, side of himself.

I hope after this ends that Rouleau gets another series. Maybe tackling Johns's post-OYL Doom Patrol or something. But yeah, I NEVER WANT THIS TO END.

05:09 / 05.01.08

I've been buying this b/c it is a joy to look at, but have fallen off reading since isssue 2. Must catch back up ASAP as what I did read was f*cking awesomely fun.

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

18:53 / 05.01.08

Mark -- it's worth it. The story's simultaneously light on plot and very twisty in its plot; it is the plot equivalent of a shapeshifting robot, honestly, but all the little bits like Lead/Gold are swell. And I'm pretty sure the Missile Men will be in Number Six next month.

01:42 / 06.01.08

I'm feeling pretty ill this weekend. May read MM in between repeat views of New Dr Who (Season One). Maybe a tinge of fever might spice things up. We'll see how that develops,

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

01:50 / 08.02.08

Gazzump! Sixth issue of Metal Men came out this week and has given up, strangely, on captions that indicate shifts between time periods, but on the whole I enjoyed it. I think. I need to reread the entire series pretty much every time an issue comes out so I can, you know, keep up with the energy and flow, but the plot's there, even if you have no idea what the hell is going on.

I like the idea that while all the other original Metal Men versions achieved sentience right away, Tin was a little bit slow on the development, and is only "now" (then) showing signs of true personality -- he even cracks a stilted joke or two. It's cute, because it's incidental to the action and none of the characters really -say- anything about it, but the scene plays out with the development happening. It's actually quite subtle, which seems -- unexpected -- from a comic like this.

I could, though, really do without the time travel stuff, mostly because it's a bit difficult to really trace. I'm doubtful of its significance, as integral to the "plot" as it is. But this is really just a robotic metal action manga, so who cares about plot?

Some wicked "science facts and fancies" this episode, as well, including explosive tin hands...

00:30 / 09.02.08

The time skipping structure is smoothest when the issues are all read together like a book. I never did get that fever read, but did so later under what passes for normal head space and was delighted by the series thus far (1-5, at that point).

I cannot wait to see what Rouleau's next project is...

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

00:40 / 09.02.08

I love the Magnatech memo, and the reveal attached to it. But we already kind of knew who he was, anyway...

Haus of Mystery

15:38 / 09.02.08

If ever a comic needed a recap page, it's this one.

It's a great book for a number of reasons (and definitely repays rereading) but I do feel it's needlessly confusing, and often muddled.
Extremely noble failure I think.

02:01 / 11.02.08

Again, the book is not in the leat but muddled or confusing when read in sequence (ie, with no four week gaps in between installments). It's sleek and fun and, IMO rather clever in the ways it portrays the Metal Men.

Haus of Mystery

20:28 / 11.02.08

Again I think that if you pick up an issue of this cold, it's going to leave you totally confused and proabably somewhat put-off. Which, seeing as it's an individual issue of a sequential series, and not a graphic novel, means it's sort of failing. Now this is a shame, as it's generally a very good series with tonnes of imagination and creativity at work. But nonetheless without a recap page, and with it's needlessly complicated storytelling (for example the decision not to render the flashbacks in a different hue from the present day events) it is a rather frustrating read.

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

21:21 / 11.02.08

As a whole, the series really sees like a testament to the OGN format as a wave of the future -- why could we not have seen this in a complete package all in one go? It would -- and does -- flow a lot better as a single unit. But that would require some adjustments to the way we look at things like cliff-hangers (The Magna-tech reveals seem to depend upon that month-gap between readings, even if everything else is interrupted by them).

But how does the market -- nay, the industry -- manage to see that trend and change itself? All steps in that direction seem so tentative, so measured, so unsure...

Haus of Mystery

21:35 / 11.02.08

Basically there needs to be less 'writing for trade' and more concentration on making individual issues better value for money. Otherwise the pamphlet is a pretty pointless format.

01:47 / 12.02.08

That's my point (or was supposed to be): reading an issue cold four weeks after the last is not ideal in the least. It is an eight part story/novel, not a series of stand alone adventures. Expecting old school content/formats seems a wee bit outdated, no? Does everything have to be paced, formatted in the same fashion? Try reading all the issues back to back (not necc. all at once, mind you), then see if you still find it confusing and muddled.

Depending on the lit novel, I can loose my mojo within days if I don't keep plugging away (Pynchon comes to mind, curse the man!). But even a straightforward storyteller like King can loose me if I stay away for more than three days, as is the case with DUMA KEY: easy to follow, but there are details King is referring to that escape my memory.

01:52 / 12.02.08

Love and...

As long as DC can amortize the cost of a stand alone OGN tale via serialization, the motivation for putting out a METAL MEN (etc) HC or tpb right off the bat will be low. I think there will always be a market for floppies. Even if MM sold 10K per issue, it's still bringing in revenue to make tpb worthwhile.

As most of DC and Marvel's output gets collected these days, its a safe bet to wait for the trade, especially on minis that tell a single story.

Haus of Mystery

18:07 / 12.02.08

Mark I have read them back to back, and yes it does of course make it more comprehensible. I still maintain a comic can stand alone and be part of a larger narrative.

Expecting old school content/formats seems a wee bit outdated, no? Does everything have to be paced, formatted in the same fashion?
What do you mean old school? 24 pages. 24 pages of story. That's the format most mainstream publishers have chosen to use. I simply think that a comic should be satisfying in itself rather than being a chunk of a big story. And I think Metal Men is a very enjoyable comic.
But fundamentally I find it needlessly confusing and at the end of the day that's a problem with storytelling.
Scalped, Criminal, Casanova...they're all comics that in my opinion succeed at telling complex and involved stories, yet still manage issue by issue to remain clear and concise.
Admittedly they don't have Robot teddies, Chemo and the Death Metal Men, so y'know you can't win 'em all...

14:57 / 13.02.08

Sorry IM, I had not picked up on your having read the books back to back. We'll just have to disagree on the subject. I don't find the book needlessly confusing: in fact, it find its busyness to be part of its slightly lunatic appeal.

On terms of "old school," by that I mean buy one issue, get one story, more or less. There is room for books that can be picked up and enjoyed on a single issue basis (even if they feature running arcs, such as in the excellent IRON FIST) and IMO, there is room for books that take advantage of the "new" practice of putting out almost everything in trade format. INVISIBLES, SSoV and PROMETHEA come to mind as examples of comics that may read better in trades. I don't think all comics should be held to the same standard or being a "clear read" that can be enjoyed instantaneously.

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

15:07 / 13.02.08

I suppose I'm merely bemoaning the fact that books which would stand together better as a single trade still need to be released as singles first, even if that might potentially lead to lower sales due to people (a) being turned off by the stopping/starting effect on the story or (b) waiting for the trade.

And, obviously, I could have waited for the trade, sure, but it's the Metal Men! C'mon!

I'm still rather surprised that I like Duncan Rouleau now, as I seem to recall a distant time when his art was a lot flatter and less interesting. He's brought his game up on layouts and made his character design heaps more interesting.

Haus of Mystery

15:33 / 13.02.08

Agreed - the stunning and very modern art of 'Metal Men' is a definite plus for the series. Colour is aces too. It's easily one of the best looking books on the market, and a million miles from the relatively dull in-house photo-realist style Marvel so favours at the moment.

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

18:49 / 07.05.08

DUDE. Final issue's out today.

I have to reread the thing in one go, sure, and try to parse out the time shifting, but wow!

Without any spoilers -- the last page! A piece of swept-under-the-rug continuity is remixed and reintroduced. Considering they were avoiding it with the revamp, I'm a little shocked they brought it back.

16:58 / 13.05.08

What is the past continuity info RE "last page" character? Spoil me!

Anybody heard what DR is planning next? I hope he writes/pencils whatever "it" may be. He and Jason Aaron are my fave "finds" of the past year or so.

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