Customer Reviews

Absolute DC: The New Frontier

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Darwyn Cooke is a great talent, and that talent is displayed powerfully in this, the "Absolute" version of New Frontier. If you are an Alex Toth, Jack Kirby, Joe Kubert (etc.) fan, I suspect you will love this book. And while I think the other reviewer on this book goes a bit over the top in his review, I can't blame him entirely because the book is just plain beautiful to look at and a pretty good read to boot. The story did not grip me as much as it might a more hard core DC fan, but it was still very readable, albeit a little choppy at times. And while a firm grasp of the DC Universe might be a plus, I don't think it is required. I bought this book as someone who loves Darwyn Cooke's art, and the book is well worth the price of admission just for that.

So well done Darwyn, here's to many more years of great art and story telling in the tradition of the masters you have dedicated this work to. The world of graphic story telling is a much brighter place because of your efforts!

Darwyn Cooke has a unique style of art that evokes a nostalgic feeling of the mid 20th century. His characters look like they walked out of 1945 and are a joy to look at.

Beyond that he has taken a novel take the Justice League of America (JLA) in a story that you'll probably want to settle into an arm chair with a glass of wine and a completely free afternoon.

I bought the story in its original comic book form but had to buy it again in this oversized edition with art closer to the actual drawn size.

I admit when I first saw the ads for "the New Frontier", I thought the art looked juvenile. However, the storyline intrigued me since I first started reading comics at the dawn of the Silver Age. After reading reviews, I knew I had to see how the second major age of comics (sorry, I don't count Platinum, Tin, Aluminum, and whatever) emerged from the Golden Age. I waited until this beautiful Absolute version appeared and I was not disappointed. Darwyn Cooke's art grows on you quickly; he certainly knows how to capture action and his art is appropriate for the period. The depiction of each major character morphs as the sixties approach. While Green Lantern/Hal Jordan is definitely the central figure in this tale, I thoroughly enjoyed the side stories of the Martian Manhunter, Batman, Superman, and especially Wonder Woman. The Challengers of the Unknown (never one of my favorites) proved to be far more interesting than I remembered them. The early scenes featuring The Flash were very exciting. I especially enjoyed how the author intertwined the lives of so many characters. The Absolute edition's notes were an added treat; after reading each chapter, I read the corresponding notes and always picked up more detail. I highly recommend this book to fans of 50's and 60's comics, and for that matter, all comic fans who want to gain an appreciation of the Silver Age.

(from a more extensive feature, copyright 2006 Michael F. Hopkins)

Storyteller Darwyn Cooke can bowl you over with his heart-touching
artistry. One telling moment can break you down to tears, boil you
into an indignant rage, or fill you with pride for the hope of a
culture at a precarious crossroads. This author experienced all
the above while reading Cooke's examination of a racial lynching,
how a righteous Black man is undone by a White child's innocence
corrupted, and how one intrepid reporter's equally righteous
commentary of the dual tragedy can spur a generation to think
and act upon what's right for all people.

This is the stuff of THE NEW FRONTIER, Cooke's towering magnum
opus of the transition from the paranoia of McCarthyism to the
dogged optimism wrought by civil rights struggle, space age
wonder, and the poetic projections of a Pulitzer-prize winner
who would become President. THE NEW FRONTIER is a gripping
Sequential novel which captures that dynamic period where
American hearts stood between intimidation and inspiration,
where one moment could decide the ideology of ages to come.

That Cooke embraces the sociocultural conflict of the
times, while deftly weaving the DC canon of heroes into
its narrative fabric, is the stuff of conceptual genius
and aesthetic passion. To be certain, THE NEW FRONTIER
stands with the great works of Alan Moore, Mark Waid,
and Kurt Busiek in the sweeping manner which Cooke is most
pertinent in addressing how heroic intent can either undo
or uplift the Here and Now.

Cooke, however, brandishes a step all his own. Moore's
WATCHMEN, even V FOR VENDETTA has to unveil all new
characters upon which to work his literary spells. Same
with Busiek in his precedent-breaking ASTRO CITY, while
Waid's superb KINGDOM COME jumps into a not-so-distant
future to portray familiar characters in a very
unfamiliar tableau. NEW FRONTIER portrays the most
familiar of DC's finest in a grimly historical
tale where heroism is suspect, and sides are drawn
by normal and paranormal alike.

For Silver Age enthusiasts, the sight of characters
conceived -or redefined- in those years behaving as
they would have in "real life" is quite a stunner.
DC's more covert-oriented figures, such as King
Faraday, are far more ambiguous here, while
Wonder Woman's fiery courage poses a definitive
statement on the perils of American imperialism,
then and now.

Those who love the Challengers Of The Unknown
will find a wary devil-may-care depiction of
the adventurers which more than complements the
original conception of legendary creator Jack
Kirby. Audiences who have enjoyed the restoration
of Hal Jordan to the active DC pantheon should take
special heed of the Green Lantern's depiction in
these pages; as much a tribute to the John Broome/
Gil Kane mid-1950s creation as it is a complement
to the fine work accomplished by Steve Englehart
and Joe Staton in the 1980s, and the Geoff Johns
miracle currently in gear. Maverick with a
conscience, here is a champion who's always
had the right stuff.

Likewise for Cooke's depiction of one Barry Allen.
The nexus point of the Silver Age, the sounding
point by which editor Julius Schwartz sparked the
savaltion of the Comics field in 1956, The Flash
has rarely been presented better. Brains and courage
are balanced by naivete, fueled by ingenuity and a
faith of the purest innocence. A high point of this
tale is what happens when that faith is dealt a
capricious low blow. Measure a hero by how he rises
from the meanest fall.

Those who admire the more recent refinings of J'onn
J'onzz by the likes of John Ostrander, Grant Morrison,
and A. J. Lieberman will take special delight in Cooke's
cunning depiction of the Martian's bewilderment towards
his newly-adopted homeworld. Mark the Manhunter's
dawning perception of television, or his wry take on
the cheesier sides of Grade B SF film, and discern why
this character is such a favorite among diversified
audiences everywhere.

So many thrills, chills, and trials await all fortunate
enough to read THE NEW FRONTIER, that I could not
begin to cover them all. Suffice it to say that what I've
covered in this piece is but the tip of a great literary
journey; particularly this slipcased, hardbound coffee-table
edition which gathers Cooke's complete saga (including
previously unreleased pages), and all manner of preparatory
material.

In appreciating the magnificent scope of Cooke's writing
and illustration, be sure to note the equally-beguiling
expertise of colorist Dave Stewart. In Stewart's sure handling
of the saga's imagery and visual textures, he enhances the
tale's emotional levels with a supple dexterity and telling
eye which is every bit as brilliant as Cooke's descriptive
hand. Between them, the ability of a still-underestimated
literary field to charm and arouse, infer and incite,
pronounce and prepare is critically showcased beyond
any doubt.

Today's Society faces a choice ominously akin to that faced
by the participants of THE NEW FRONTIER; whether to be swept
into a mindless, self-centered passion which divides us while
things falls apart, or take heart in our ability to surmount
our frailties, come together and hold firm as we focus upon
the true center of things.

Read this book. Have a little fun as you gain a grasp upon
wisdom.

It's always a pleasure to read something like this that lives up to your expectations. New Frontier not only did that but exceeded them as well. From the heavily researched story to the beautiful artwork, this book succeeds on all levels.

The basic premise takes place during the 1950's and makes the transition from the Golden Age of DC Comics to the Silver Age. Here Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman have already been established, but we are now introduced to a handful of new characters such as The Flash (Barry Allen), Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz), and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), who takes center stage in this retelling. I thoroughly enjoyed watching as J'onn passes himself off as human John Jones, a detective in Gotham City, because this is how he sees Earth's heroes and he wants to be a force for good.

There are several other long forgotten DC characters that were popular during war time such as The Losers, The Suicide Squad, and The Black Hawks who make an appearance here. Jack Kirby's Challengers of the Unknown also play a role. Not only is the story exciting and epic in scale, the artwork is consistantly cinematic quality. Dave Stewart is now officialy my favorite colorist of all time. His work is just so eye popping, I don't know how he does it but this is some of the best coloring in a book you'll ever see.

If the oversized pages don't do it for you, the additional features in the back make this edition worth it. Cooke provides a list of page numbers that give you tidbits of information ranging from character backstories, to artistic inspiration, to what pages were left out of the original trades, as well as inside jokes. It's the closest thing you'll ever get to a director's commentary for something like this. It also explained the mysterious inclusion of the character John Henry and why I had never heard of him before. Of course, there's also the obligatory sketchbook as well as a behind the scenes look at how each page is put together step by step. There's even a couple deleted scenes.

One of my favorite books I've read so far this year, I really can't recommend it enough. After the DC animated movie adaptation of this comes out next year, a lot more attention will surely be poured on this edition and deservedly so.

Darwyin Cook does what few artist/writers even attempt: Relish in the good old days of not only comic books, but sci-fi as well. Besides All-Star Superman, i find it hard to find retro-themed dc books, but this one doesn't disappoint. Cooke's style is clean and classic, but his characters are interesting and profound. The oversized edition is a must!

Not that Cooke's artwork copies Toth's, but it has the same feeling. Understated clean art, with great style mixed in! Story is told in a classic tone and delivers a sense of the promise of the 1960's new frontier, even with mankinds failures mixed in. Well done!

Are you nostalgic for the DC Heroes from the 60's, This book has it all! I am a huge comic book and Graphic Novel fan especially the DC universe. This story looks at how the DC Universe would have reacted the the change from between the second world war up until Kennedy took office in 1960. This is an exciting and inspiring read. This book is also written by comic book writer and artist Darwyn Cooke arguably one of todays greatest creative minds. If you are nostalgic for the 50's and 60's and love the DC universe this book is for you. In addition to what I have mentioned about the story this edition is well worth the money it is in DC "Absolute Edition" which is the best way you can get a book you really like. It has oversized pages and is in a hardbound edition with a slipcase included. After I bought this book it has quickly become my favorite storyline of all-time!

Every thing about this book is great! The art is amazing Darwyn Cooke comes from an animation background and it shines through in his comic work.
The three panel layout is brilliant makes it look much more cinematic and less cluttered. The story is really good as well, every character is well thought out and evolves nicely through the course of the book.
Even if you're not a DC fan or even a comic book fan it's worth the money,
The absolute version has a lot of break downs of pages and loads of sketch book work.
Any way stop reading this and go buy it!

I don't think I can say anything new about this book (nor do I have to).
It's a great comic book with great art.
An amazing book to own.