BB Review Group week 41 - Jack Cross #1 (spoilers)

[Thudpucker]

the fine print is at the bottom of the post*

This week, we are reading / reviewing:

Jack Cross #1 (DC) by Warren Ellis and Gary Erskine, chosen by Boris the Blade

Next week we will be reading: Runaways #7 (Marvel) by Brian K. Vaughan and Takeshi Miyazawa, chosen by joey pizza



Our Reviewers are:

Thudpucker - 6
TIP - 3
TonyFleecs - 6
Kirby's Corpse - 4.5
neophyte -
rodnunley - 5
Jaypee - 7
dEnny - 8
J. R. Scherer - 4
Criden -
Nathan Patton - 8.5
Frozen Sooner - 4.5
alan - 9.25
Freeway2k -
The beggar - 5
Raydawggie - 7
Opus Croakus -
JABSEN - 7
itsdlevy - 6
Mad Monkey -
DrSettleton - 4
The Saint - 6.5
Slingy - 6
IamLegend - 5
Boris the Blade - 8
joey pizza - 6
MudshovelForYou - 7.5
PeteL - 8
Myxomatosis - 6
Jono - 5.5


Our Previous 16 weeks of reviews (scores lost during the Image Board crash)

Week 1 - 11/17/04 – Captain America #1
Week 2 - 11/24/04 – Flash #216
Week 3 - 12/01/04 – Darkness Vol. 2 #17 (av grade 3.7)
Week 4 - 12/08/04 – Demo #12
Week 5 - 12/15/04 - Plastic Man #13
Week 6 - 12/22/04 – Goon #10
Week 7 - 12/29/04 - Legion of Super Heroes #1
Week 8 - 01/05/05 – Flaming Carrot #1
Week 9 - 01/12/05 – Majestic #1
Week 10 - 01/19/05 – Human Target #18
Week 11 - 01/26/05 – Conan #12 (av grade 8.3)
Week 12 - 02/02/05 – Black Panther #1
Week 13 - 02/09/05 – Young Avengers #1
Week 14 - 02/16/05 – Ex Machina #8 (av grade 8.4)
Week 15 - 02/23/05 – X-Men #167
Week 16 - 03/02/05 – Ultimate Iron Man #1


Week 17 pick - Shining Knight #1 (Morrison & Bianchi) av grade - 7.8
Week 18 pick - Invincible #21 (Kirkman and Ottley) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=48) av grade - 6.3
Week 19 pick - Expatriate #1 (Moore and Latour) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=1314) av grade - 5.4
Week 20 pick - Temporary #2 (Hurd & Smith) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=2993) av grade - 7.4
Week 21 pick - GLA #1 (Slott and Pelletier) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=4718) av grade - 6.8
Week 22 pick - Nightwing #107 (Grayson and Hester) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=5972) av grade - 5.8
Week 23 pick - Iron Ghost #1 (Dixon and Cariello) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=7350) av grade - 4.9
Week 24 pick - City Of Tomorrow (Howard Chaykin) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=8609) av grade - 6.2
Week 25 pick - Villains United #1 (Simone and Eaglesham) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=9831) av grade - 5.7
Week 26 pick - Desolation Jones #1 (Ellis and Williams III) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=11130) av grade - 8.9
Week 27 pick - Guardian #2 (Morrison and Stewart) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=12280) av grade - 6.1
Week 28 pick - Adv. Of Superman #640 (Rucka and Kerschl) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=13393) av grade - 6.1
Week 29 pick - Son Of Vulcan #1 (Beatty and Grant) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=14435) av grade - 3.7
Week 30 pick - JLA #115 (Johns, Heinberg, Batista) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=15677) av grade - 6.9
Week 31 pick - Wildsiderz #0 (Campbell and Hartnell) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=16720) av grade - 2.9
Week 32 pick - Astro City: The Dark Age #1 (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=17822) av grade - 7.3
Week 33 pick - Albion #1 (Moore and Oakley) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=18956) av grade - 5.0
Week 34 pick - Gotham Central #33 (Rucka, Brubaker, Kano) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=20325) av grade - 8.5
Week 35 pick - Mutopia X (Hine and Medina) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=21593) av grade - 5.2
Week 36 pick - Athiest #2 (Hester and McCrea) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=22821) av grade - 6.9
Week 37 pick - JLA: Classified #10 (Ellis and Guise) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=24230) av grade - 6.9
Week 38 pick - Justice #1 (Ross, Krueger & Braithwaite) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=25471) av grade 7.9
Week 39 pick - The Winter Men #1 (Lewis and Leon) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=26722&page=1&pp=30) av grade 5.3
Week 40 pick - Batman: Journey into Knight #1 (Helfer & Huat) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?p=661904#post661904) av grade 4.4

Our higest average grade so far was for Desolation Jones #1 with 8.9
Our lowest average grade so for is Wildsiderz #0 with 2.9


Our Sponsors:

Isotope Comics (SF Bay area)

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Orbit Comics (Hillsboro, OR)

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(If any other retailers would like to sponsor our reviewers in your area, I'd be happy to promote your store in the thread too )

You may select any comic for review.

A list for what books are shipping can be found here:

http://www.diamondcomics.com/shipping.asp (http://www.diamondcomics.com/shipping.asp).

What we do is take turns picking and talking about a new book every week. We work our way down the list, so that everyone gets a turn chosing a title and then we all buy and read that choice. After we read it, we review it and grade it (the grading is optional, you can just talk about the book if you'd rather)

Everyone is welcome, all we ask is that you participate in some way every week. If you need to drop out for awhile, cool. You are always welcome back. If you would like to join, just PM Thudpucker or Denny and we'll get you on the list.

I will never pester people about participation, I don't like doing that. Instead I will simply put a * next to your name when you skip a week. And I take those back off again after a few weeks. If you had a reason to skip, PM me and I'll take them off.

It's just a simple reminder to please participate.

* means you skipped a week, ** means you skipped 2 weeks. at the third one, I drop your name from the list until you ask to join back up again. And anyone dropped from the list really is welcome to return when they want, please come back if you want to participate again.

[Ray G.]

This issue feels like an episode of 24. Very exciting, suspenseful, and violent. Jack Cross is an interesting protagonist and the art is great, but overall there's a been there, done that feel to the issue. I'm intrigued, and I'll definitely be back, but due to some derivative scenes that make me think Ellis has been watching too much TV, I can't give this any higher than a 7/10

[Thudpucker]

I was underwhelmed with this book.

It's too early to really see where this book is going, but this set-up issue didn't grab my attention. Nothing new here. The part where the agent breaks down and crys after torturing the suspect was a good touch though, that I liked.

I don't know. I'll pick up the trade when it comes out, but I doubt I'm going to buy any more monthlies. Grade-wise, this was a 6 for me. Above average but nothing special.

[joespam]

I've read better Ellis. This seems like standard stuff for/from him. Single loner willing to do whatever it takes, and it usually takes a lot of violence. It reads well, but lacks oomph. However, I'm interested to see where it goes, and I liked the concept - pretty much the whole issue takes place in two locations, yet it never seems dull. The intensity in the interrogation is what the whole story hangs on, and it's pretty well-done.

I found the art lacking a bit - most notably in gunshots. I needed a blam! panel desperately and found its double absence notable and distracting. Something in the style doesn't work for me - the 'housewife' on the first page seems REALLY mannish.

I'm intrigued, and will definitely be getting the trade as I'm not a monthlies guy. 6.

[Adam Witt]

Jack Cross #1

I agree with the sentiment that this kind of spilled out like a TV show more than a comic. Typically, I enjoy Ellis' stuff, and this is no exception, but there is certainly better out there [case in point: Desolation Jones, JLA Classified, his Ultimate minis]. The art left a lot to be desired, and there was really no *punch* to it like there should be. Good Ellis one liners, but really, not that great. I'll probably end up getting the trade. I'll stick with a 5/10

[Dennis K]

DC's spin of The Punisher.

[dEnny!]

JACK CROSS #1 by Warren Ellis & Gary Erskine - I like that this Ellis character doesn't yammer on about how tough he is and what he's going to do and force this whole edgy and extreme behavior, sometimes it felt like it was a way to cover up their shortcomings. I like that Jack Cross is quiet and competent and capable, but reflective and the end was great, that was a great ending by Ellis. I like the premise of the story, I look forward to seeing Ellis illuminate this story as it progresses.

The art by Erskine was good, it's what I've come to expect from an Ellis comic.

8/10

[RebootedCorpse]

Gosh, a torturer with a heart of gold. He's a hippy by day and a government goon by night. He gets misty in the men's room as he blows the fingers off a guy to exact a confession. He looks like James Bond and acts like the BTK murderer.
For a medium crowded with costumed male power fantasies, this is one of the least beleivable.
My score 4.5.

[Frozen Sooner]

A miss from Ellis. I love his work normally, but this was play-it-by-the-numbers shock value. I also found the political message in the book rather disturbing. The only war going on since 9/11 has been a turf war in US intelligence? C'mon. The dialogue was good, but this was just a clunker of an idea. Writing: 2/5. And that's for the dialogue only.

Art: meh again. Just average. Didn't stand out particularly, except that people's postures looked really odd in certain scenes. 2.5/5.

4.5/10

[Thudpucker]

EVERYONE PLEASE READ

OK guys, we're thinking about changing the group starting next week. I wanted to ask what you thought about it.

Because the Small Press group is on hiatus, Denny and I would like to open the group back up to cover all comics again, not just Mainstream books. At least until Auron figures out a what he wants to do with the Small Press Group.

This would mean that you could pick any book you want. Most of us will probably still pick the mainstream books, because that is what alot of us like to read, but the option would be open again to choose anything.

One condition - you MUST give us at least a weeks notice if you are going to pick an indie book, because some people need time to order. Alot of you like to wait until the last minute to make a pick, you can't do that with Small Press books.

What do you guys think? I like the idea, it's just going back to the old way is all. Unless people don't want to do this, we are going to start it next week.

[Boris the Blade]

Some of the more subtle dialogue Ellis has had in a while. The characters all don't yell and scream as though they're trying to prove who's the most insane (even Clark and Lois suffer this in JLA Classified). I definitely found the story intriguing, though the character dichotomy was a bit obvious. Hard-assed lefty government agent, who's smart and tough as nails, but doesn't deal that well with what he does. Whew. His deduction during the first phase of the interrogation was smooth, and the torture that followed was beautifully mechanically executed. Just thought everything worked on some level. It was an interesting, smooth and well-rendered read. Maybe not mind-blowing, but entertaining as hell.

8/10

[J. R. Scherer]

Jack Cross #1

I really don't get this book. What's the point? I get a total 'been-there-done-that' vibe from it. It's slow, boring, meanspirited, and a complete retread of just about everything else Ellis has done. At least Desolation Jones has some funky weirdness going for it. This one has turned me off completely. Decent artwork, though. Hopefully future issues will prove me wrong about it.

Story: F+
Art: B

I give it a 4 out of 10.

[alan]

Fuck yeah, man.

This read like the pilot of a TV show, as others have said. But I loved it.

STORY: 9.5/10
ART: 9/10
OVERALL: 9.25/10

--Alan

[JayPee]

like usual, reviewing before reading everyone else's.

i like 90% of the stuff Warren Ellis does, but when i heard this book was about some guy who fights terrorists i was bummed. fighting terrorists in comics is getting to be like having a guest appearance by Wolverine, hackneyed. but i love Warren Ellis, and it was picked for the review book for this week so i figured what the hell.

it was better than i expected, but not fantastic. i've heard this song before, there's this one special agent who's above the rest and we need to pull him in for this special operation, even though he's retired/missing/hates us/something something. Ellis added his usual flare and shock tidbits which usual make some fans groan 'cause they're corny but i've always eaten them up like candy.

i found myself getting lost keeping track of all the talk about the different branches of government. this branch is fighting that branch and this one hates that one, but there's another one no one talks about. i lost interest in most government crazy stuff when X-Files ended.

it was a fun read, but not exciting enough to make me want to buy the next issue. i give it a 7.

[alan]

What do you guys think? I like the idea, it's just going back to the old way is all. Unless people don't want to do this, we are going to start it next week.

I don't know. It's very difficult for me to get really indie books. Even when I order them. The shop I go to is horrible with stuff like that.

As long as it's not every week, it might not be a problem. I can always bow out when there's a book I can't get picked. It's just more annoying than anything else when I can't get a book.

--Alan

[Thudpucker]

I don't know. It's very difficult for me to get really indie books. Even when I order them. The shop I go to is horrible with stuff like that.

As long as it's not every week, it might not be a problem. I can always bow out when there's a book I can't get picked. It's just more annoying than anything else when I can't get a book.

--Alan

There are Pros and Cons to doing the Small Press books, the biggest negative being that alot of people will have to special order and that can be a big problem. I hate the idea of people being left out on weeks thier shops fail them.

The biggest positive is that alot of the Small Press creators will drop by the thread and participate with us, answer questions and take our feedback. That is beyond awsome. Also spotlighting good books that could use a boost in sales and some extra attention is always a great thing.

And this is only while the Small Press Group is down, to fill the viod it left. When it starts back up we will shift back to mainstream books only.

It's up to you guys. Give me some feedback, either yes or no.

[RebootedCorpse]

I'm all for opening this up to indy books, but I know from the indy board that getting most people here to move out of their comfort zone is next to impossible.
I think the methodology Thud has proposed is the best way for making it as accessable as possible.

[Freeway]

Stream of Consciousness Review!:

-Cool logo. Cool cover.
-Really, really cool opener.
-Interrogation scene's pretty cool.
-I have no idea what the hell this is leading towards...but I liked the first issue.

Art was good, story was a neat mix of politics & action. HOWEVER, first issues are supposed to get me in on the ground floor...and I felt like I'd missed something already.

6.5 outta 10

[joespam]

I'm okay with the small press addition; I'm lucky enough to have multiple shops to choose from. And you're all safe for next week - I won't be picking a small press book.

[PeteL]

I'm fine with an indie pick every now and again. My shop doesn't get all the small press stuff, but I'm sure with some notice I'd be able to special order an indie pick.

As for my review of Jack Cross, it'll be up later on tonight. I haven't had time to sit down and read it yet.

[JayPee]

i'm leary about adding small press to this group. i love and read lots of indie books, but it's often difficult to locate specific issues, especially with a one week time limit (which is tough when i work and go to school).

i think it's a great idea and i'd support it, however, i think we should adjust the "miss two weeks and you're out" rule. at least when it's an indie book week.

[Thudpucker]

i'm leary about adding small press to this group. i love and read lots of indie books, but it's often difficult to locate specific issues, especially with a one week time limit (which is tough when i work and go to school).

i think it's a great idea and i'd support it, however, i think we should adjust the "miss two weeks and you're out" rule. at least when it's an indie book week.

The Miss 3 and you're out only applys if you don't post anything at all for 3 weeks.

If you drop by and say "sorry, I'm out this week" it doesn't count against you at all. If you can't get a book, just drop by and say "I can't get it" and all will be good.

[JayPee]

The Miss 3 and you're out only applys if you don't post anything at all for 3 weeks.

If you drop by and say "sorry, I'm out this week" it doesn't count against you at all. If you can't get a book, just drop by and say "I can't get it" and all will be good.

oh. well then, you have my full support!

[Ray G.]

Okay, if that's the rule, then I'm down with the change. I might not be able to get some indie books, but i'll just let everyone know when that happens.

[PeteL]

I thought this was a solid first issue. I liked how the book was broken down into three obvious acts. Terrorists in action. Putting Jack Cross back into action. Jack Cross in action. Ellis writes solid dialogue and Erskine's art is fitting for the book. I'll pick up the next issue. 8/10

[ItsDLEVY]

This is not the kind of book I would ever pick up for myself. By and large, I don't care for Ellis's work, and I'm not so into spy stuff either.

That said, it's a fairly intriguing set-up for a story, but it's still not a story I want to read. I found the characters all unlikable, and the ending borderline nauseating. Erskine's faces all look plastic and static to me, which is a shame because there's so much conversation in this book that would have benefitted from better facial expession.

I can see why others might like this book a lot, but for me it's a 6/10 (and I think I'm being generous).

[acapra]

This issue feels like an episode of 24. Very exciting, suspenseful, and violent. Jack Cross is an interesting protagonist and the art is great, but overall there's a been there, done that feel to the issue. I'm intrigued, and I'll definitely be back, but due to some derivative scenes that make me think Ellis has been watching too much TV, I can't give this any higher than a 7/10
overall, If a person (say me for instance) has never watched an episode of 24 or anything like it would it be a good read.... why, why not??

[Thudpucker]

overall, If a person (say me for instance) has never watched an episode of 24 or anything like it would it be a good read.... why, why not??

If you like Crime Drama, or stories about Agents trying to stop terrorism you might like this. It's over the top, the main character is one of those 'cross any line to get the job done types' so you would have to like that type of character to enjoy the book.

If you've never seen 24, you will like the comic more since you won't be overexposed to this type of story yet.

If you want a really solid, more realistic series try Queen and Country though.

[TonyFleecs]

...i've heard this song before, there's this one special agent who's above the rest and we need to pull him in for this special operation, even though he's retired/missing/hates us/something something....
He's even on a beach like William Peterson in Manhunter.

I liked the writing here. It was heavily covered ground but I think ellis put enough spin on it to make it his own... I liked the guy constantly telling everybody else that they were not to say a word. Liked the bathroom scene at the end (even though the stalls were smaller than airplane stalls).

The art, I wasn't crazy about at all. Somebody else said plastic, when I was reading it I was convinced he was using manequins as refrence... Nobody's facial expressions matched the dialouge until the last 4 pages or so. It was Valliant style (if you overlook Bart sears & Quesada & BWS). I really didn't like it.

And he said it was the only war INSIDE the US since 9/11... I don't think he was ignoring Afghanistan or Iraq.... He was however ignoring the ongoing war on drugs, Spielberg's War of the worlds, Bendis' Secret war and of course Star wars episode 3.

I'll give the book a 6.

And I'm cool with indy pics. I don'[t mind wiorking to get my hands on something every few weeks... Only reason I didn't do the Indy club is because I didn't have time to do it every week.

[Slingy]

First of all, whoever was talking last week about ridiculous DC cover type is right on the money once again. "Now TERROR has something to FEAR!" Are you fucking kidding me? That slogan made me want ot steer miles clear of the book, and I thought the cover image itself was pretty uninspired too - dude shooting a gun off-panel, things exploding behind him. Woooo. Not even a crazy angle or really anything interesting at all, stylistically. Ugh.

Thankfully the comic itself was better. more of a reigned-in story for Ellis, with fewer insane characters and high concepts. Cross is in fact probably Ellis's most well-rounded protagonist to date, which I appreciate. The idea of somebody doing a job he's morally opposed to is not necessarily a new one, but works well in this case. As is the case with most Ellis stuff, this one moved pretty quickly and I felt like it ended too soon. I'm not going to scream "decompressed!" though because honestly I don't think there was any real wasted space.

Erskine's work is dependable as ever, though I've never been really bowled over by his stuff. It also doesn't help that he didn't have much to draw in this issue besides office buildings and plain-looking men. Hopefully things will get more interesting real soon - I notice this is a 4-parter instead of the ususal 6. Overall not the most engaging of first issues, but Ellis rarely disappoints and I'll stick around to see where this goes. 6/10.

[Slingy]

also, Thud, I'm fine with your indie suggestion.

[Olivier E.]

I didn't like this, why?
I think I'm becoming fed-up of Ellis megacool characters, who think they are the best in the world. Secondly portraying the CIA as something bad and being active in the States :roll: . The violence Jack uses, he's a pure sadist, he shoots the guy in the finger, goes out, lights his cigarette, takes 2 glimps on it and goes back in to hurt him more. Fourth the paramedics doing nothing, they have their codex(the one from that greek guy) that they are forced to help him. Fifth, the characters have no feelings, they are acting like robots, this is the bad point of Erskine art, he can't draw facial expressions.

5 points

[The Saint]

This wasn't extraordinarily great. Both the writing and art left something to be desired. It did leave me wanting to see what happens next, but just barely.

6.5/10

[Patton]

I enjoyed it very much.

8.5

longer review to follow.

[Jono]

First impressions, I really liked the logo, but I was very turned off by the "now terror has something to fear" tagline. It just rings hollow to me.

I'm a big Warren Ellis fan, but I am really, really tired of his leading men. The strong silent "capable man" archetype is getting old. And I found I had zero interest in or sympathy for Cross, even after the crying at the end. He's an hippie activist and an NSA strongman? I don't get the payoff. A couple mil and a couple years of non-existance, and he'll pretty much do anything? Nice principles.
And I guess thats probably all on purpose, but if I don't care about the main character at all, the plot, art, and dialogue better be PHENOMENAL (Which they were not)to keep me coming back for more

Art-5. Okay, nothing great. Erskine didn't wow me, his characters seemed very stiff, and the facial expressions were pretty much all the same unless someone was getting maimed in an interrogation room. And Cross looks like he's about to cry on the cover based on his expression.

Writing-6. Again, nothing great, new, interesting, or compelling. The dialogue was solid, but thats about it. As several people have mentioned, there's a "been there, done that" feel to this book that kind of colors the whole experience.

Overall -5.5 Depending on how much money I've got in my pocket at the time, I may or may not give #2 a shot.

[Rod Nunley]

I hate to say this...but I was bored. This is probably the first Warren Ellis comic that didn't floor me. I am a big fan of his work. And I can't say that this was a bad issue. But I was bored. Seemed just a bit to straight forward for Ellis.

Am I the only one who thought it was odd that this was a DC comic? Not Wildstorm or Vertigo or any of that. This is straight up DC universe. I can't figure out why that would be.

The art was good, but seemed just a little stiff. Maybe this is something that will work itself out. But not bad by any means.

Again, I was shocked at how...vanilla...this story seemed. Unless I hear that something cool has happened I may skip this alltogether from now on.

5 out of 10

[Olivier E.]

Am I the only one who thought it was odd that this was a DC comic? Not Wildstorm or Vertigo or any of that. This is straight up DC universe. I can't figure out why that would be.



you get better sales and better paid, with a Dc title, than a Vertigo or Wildstorm, maybe that was the reason

[Thudpucker]

you get better sales and better paid, with a Dc title, than a Vertigo or Wildstorm, maybe that was the reason

I wonder if he's going to keep the Chararacters seperate though, or if he is going to let superheroes filter into the plot.

[DrSettleton]

JACK CROSS #1:

I was wondering, just now, eating a cookie. I was thinking, "Ellis writes a lot of comics." Then I thought, "Does Ellis currently write any ongoing comics though? Cause he writes a million first issues it seems." Then I think I thought, "Oh yeah, he writes Planetary." (which is only about 25 issues in after six years of being out) What's up with that? Does this guy have a million good ideas that don't extend beyond a single arc? Hmmm, maybe?
I didn't particularly care for this issue. (bored...more of the same...crummy art...etc, etc.) What was up with the scene where we watched the Homeland Security guy off his buddies on the palm pilot (Or whatever- I'm technologically incompetent)? The dead bodies VANISHED. Did anybody else notice that? Was that supposed to happen? Will this be referenced later? The only reason I would pick up this book again would be to find out, because I would hate to believe the artist FORGOT to draw the bodies on the ground.
Side note. Are the names Jack and John interchangeable? If so, I never realized that. Why is that? I'm genuinely curious. (Jack is called John and Jack by Karen in this issue)
In my copy of Jack Cross, he wasn't crying at the end. In mine he looked sort of sad/contemplative. Or maybe he ate some bad taco's. I couldn't tell because the artist wasn't very good at facial expressions.
AYE. I just didn't dig it. I still like Ellis though.

4/10.

[J. R. Scherer]

Jack is to Johnathan as Hank is to Henry.

[Olivier E.]

JACK CROSS #1:

I was wondering, just now, eating a cookie. I was thinking, "Ellis writes a lot of comics." Then I thought, "Does Ellis currently write any ongoing comics though? Cause he writes a million first issues it seems." Then I think I thought, "Oh yeah, he writes Planetary." (which is only about 25 issues in after six years of being out) What's up with that? Does this guy have a million good ideas that don't extend beyond a single arc? Hmmm, maybe?
I didn't particularly care for this issue. (bored...more of the same...crummy art...etc, etc.) What was up with the scene where we watched the Homeland Security guy off his buddies on the palm pilot (Or whatever- I'm technologically incompetent)? The dead bodies VANISHED. Did anybody else notice that? Was that supposed to happen? Will this be referenced later? The only reason I would pick up this book again would be to find out, because I would hate to believe the artist FORGOT to draw the bodies on the ground.
Side note. Are the names Jack and John interchangeable? If so, I never realized that. Why is that? I'm genuinely curious. (Jack is called John and Jack by Karen in this issue)
In my copy of Jack Cross, he wasn't crying at the end. In mine he looked sort of sad/contemplative. Or maybe he ate some bad taco's. I couldn't tell because the artist wasn't very good at facial expressions.
AYE. I just didn't dig it. I still like Ellis though.

4/10.


He was sad not rying, looked like he had a breakdown remembering possibly about something bad which happened in his past.
I noted that too that the bodies disappeared, but it seemed to me like the whole tape was made up to blame the CIA guy and in fact the bad ones are those who are asking Jackfor help

[DrSettleton]

He was sad not rying, looked like he had a breakdown remembering possibly about something bad which happened in his past.
I noted that too that the bodies disappeared, but it seemed to me like the whole tape was made up to blame the CIA guy and in fact the bad ones are those who are asking Jackfor help

That's an interesting theory, I hope that this is the case, because otherwise it is a very lazy mistake. But the more I look at the panels the more I think it has got to be deliberate that the bodies are missing- everything else is so highly detailed...

And thanks J. R. for the FYI. Although I still don't understand why it works that way.

[J. R. Scherer]

And thanks J. R. for the FYI. Although I still don't understand why it works that way.

It doesn't make sense. It just is.

I mean, how does Charles become Chuck?

[JamesV]

Jack Cross is like the Rolling Stones releasing a new greatest hits CD, only it's them playing all of the Beatles greatest hits on it. Ellis is playing all the greatest hits of this genre of story and I thought he pulled it off rather well. I don't particularly like Jack, but I'm intriguied enough by him to want to see what's going on in the next issue.

My one big complaint about the story was it did (like others said) seem a little too vanilla for Ellis. I'm hoping that's just because it's the calm set up issue before the Wild-World-of-Warren kicks in.

Art wise, I liked Reber's colors and Erskine's pencil's went from solid to a little awkward/ugly at tims, but nothing unreadable or distracting.

The cover, however, is horrible. It's a stiff, unoriginal cover that could be forgiven if it didn't have a movie tagline from the 80's plastered across it. Just horrible.

I give the issue 7.5 out of 10. It left me intrigued for the next issue.

THUD:

I'm fine with the indie idea as you presented it.

[Doug]

To start off I will say that I am a huge Warren Ellis fan. I've loved most of his output over the past 5 years or so. So it pains me to say that this was not one of his stronger efforts.

The tough guy character is one that we've seen from Ellis countless times. The twist this time is that he's a Liberal who works in a Conservative job.

The art was nice and clean, but not quite as spectacular as Desolation Jones, but it is very hard to compete with Williams III. It told the story very clearly and I liked the CSI like x-ray shot of the finger before it gets shot off.

I liked the interigation scene the best out of everything in the book, but I think that is the scene we were suppoesed to like the best. I was amused by Ellis'es dark twisted humor in the scene. When Cross told the CIA Agent that he would have to paw his new wife with his flippers, both horrified me and made me laugh at the same time.

It reminded me of 24 quite a bit. Cross and Bauer seem like two Jacks that were seperated at birth. They both are very good at the jobs they do even though the jobs aren't very nice.

If this was any other writer I'd give this book a higher score, but I expect too much out Ellis, and he usualy lives up to or blows my expectations away. So I will give Cross a 6 out of 10.

[Doug]

Thud, I posted my review before reading through the thread so as not to be influenced by other opinions.

I'd be down with your Indy books suggestion, my LCS is pretty good about getting Indy books, but there may be times I can't review.

[TIP]

Preface: I'm generally a fan of Ellis' (Planetary especially).

But this Jack Cross #1 left me a wee bit bored, actually.

I kept waiting for something to jump out at me and grab my attention but the closest the tale came to doing so was the bit about the dude's stumps (if, in fact, JC got around to shooting off all of his fingers).

The art was a bit off in parts...but was fitting for the tale, I suppose.

Sadly, not enough in this first issue to get me to come back for more.

3 out of 10

T

[DrSettleton]

Hey Thud, I'm down with the new plan, with the same response as most everybody else, if I can't get the book that week I'll let ya know.

[JABSEN]

I wasn't bored but It did feel like I'd seen all this before.I thought some of the dialouge was good.(I liked his Agency breakdown)But everything else felt cliche,even down to the whole "having to be talked into it" routine on the beach


A generous 7/10

[JABSEN]

Hey Thud, I'm down with the new plan, with the same response as most everybody else, if I can't get the book that week I'll let ya know.Oh and what he said,Thud:D

[Jono]

Oh and what he said,Thud:D

me too, but my LCS is the shit, so I can always get the indies....