Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dragons Vs. Video Gamers!, March 7, 2006
From Michael Turner, whose work on Superman/Batman brought it to godlike popularity, comes this new series he collaborated with writer Jeph Loeb. Soulfire takes place in the early 23rd Century. Even though it doesn't seem as advanced as a future you'd imagine would be two hundred years from now, they still cling to outdated concepts like virtual reality arcades.
Its here that young Mal and his mates were enjoying a nice afternoon engaged in electronic fantasy worlds. They are soon brought back to the real world when a mysterious bikini-clad woman approaches them, and grabs Mal and hurls them both out of a skyscraper. What seems like a botched suicide attempt turns into something different as the woman reveals to have a pair of large wings on her back. Mal manages to knock himself free from her, only to plummet to almost certain doom. Luckily he hits a few streamers on the way down to break his fall. After landing, another strange woman on a motorcycle rides up and offers to save him. The winged woman chases after them. The biker chick also has a pair of wings, and she flies up after the other one where they engage in mortal combat. After the evil winged-chick leaves, the other one reveals herself as Grace, and that she must take Mal to Hawaii on a matter that involves saving the entire world. At the same time, reports start coming from all over the planet about dragons showing up and causing devastation to numerous major cities.
Soulfire has a very crisp and colorful look to it. The dragons featured in it look like they're something that the makers of Evangelion would quake at. The story itself has a great "Blade Runner meets Lord Of The Rings" appeal to it. It appears to have a bright future, provided the creators can avoid the pitfalls of other hyped-up fantasy comics like Battle Chasers and keep their mind on track with their artistic vision.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Light the Fire Within, February 10, 2006
Finally, finally, FINALLY we get the Trade of the Greatest thing in comics since Batman: Hush and Superman: Godfall!
The original hardbound/trade paperback of the first volume of Fathom is one of the those books that absolutely everyone should read. It's the story of a person awakening to their past, their present, and their future, discovering that there is far more to the world than they ever imagined. It is a story of mer-people who live beneath the waves and the young woman who is the key to their future. While the dialog may not have been the slickest every made (Turner wrote the story too), the characters he crafted were good enough to have their own series spin-offs (Cannon Hawke is one of my all-time favorite characters). What all this means is....
Soulfire is a series that is completely original. It's not based off of some Marvel/DC universe or story. It's a completely different world with completely different characters. It is a return to the imagination of Fathom under the direct control of it's creator. Only this time, Michael Turner is truly at the zenith of his creative and artistic abilities, and he's got Jeph Loeb writing the dialog.
If I have ever had reason to complain about anything that Turner does, it stems from two things. First, the series that he draws are notorious for being delayed and delayed and delayed and delayed and delayed like you wouldn't believe. I think at one point it was either getting close to or feeling close to a year between issues of Soulfire (I think I finished a quarter of college, moved to another state and got a new job between issues). Secondly, when Turner does grace us with a few pages of his masterful work, it is just that. A few pages. He's fond of doing two page spreads for character introductions, action sequences, and just plain cool moments (and I wouldn't have it any other way, it's like Widescreen for your book-reading pleasure!), and that makes it feel even shorter. You barely even start to understand what's happening before the issue is over.
As I was buying the issues of this series when it was coming out, I was dying for three things. First, the next issue, second, a trade paper-back so I wouldn't have to buy all the alternates just for the awesome covers (but in the end I bought almost all of the alternates anyway), and third for the main (or is it secondary main?) character to become "the one", awaken his powers, and start fighting dragons! What I got instead was not quite what I wanted (I already told you how long it took for the issues to come out, and let's not even start on how long the trade was delayed, oh and I'm still waiting on the hardcore battles to begin...) but the journey has still been very much worth it.
I said it before and I'll say it again, Turner is at his absolute best right now. And he really pours his heart and soul into his personal projects. The characters created are fully fleshed out (and very likable AND cool). The plot is to die for (Death of Magic? Winged Beautiful Women? Dragons?!). The pacing and excellent and the art is... I can't stop saying it. Turner's art is the best you can find. Teamed up with his dream team of inkist and colorist it absolutely boggles the mind The only other art that can really compare to it would be Jim Lee, Alex Ross, J Scott Campbell, and maybe a few of the other greats. It's worth reading for the eye-candy alone.
And here it is. The complete first story arc with all of the awesome dialog by Loeb and the awesome art by Turner. All the alternates, the issue 0 and the preview issue. No longer do you need to refrain from reading the story because of fear of tarnishing your sacred individuals of the rare issues. At long last you can read and re-read the entire first chapter of this story over and over. If you're a Turner fan, or just a fan of great art (or even just a fan of good sci-fi fantasy) you will buy this right now. I do so hope I'll be able to see the end of this awesome series. But if not, I could be happy just with this, the awesome introduction. My personal thanks to Michael Turner for helping to keep the the truly creative independent comics alive.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning Masterpiece, November 22, 2008
Michael Turner continues to amaze and wow readers with his brilliant artistic ability. Soulfire is absolutely gorgeous. The story's incredibly interesting, the characters are fantastic, and the art is just out of this world.
The plotline takes us to a few centuries ahead where magic is beginning to make a comeback with Malaki, a young boy who's supposed to bring back magic to the world - only he doesn't know it yet. Helping him are Grace, the mysterious winged heroine who's protecting him, the powerful Benoni, and his two best friends just along for the ride.
Soulfire is fun, beautiful, and awesome. A great addition for any comic book lover.
Michael, we'll all miss you.
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