Nick Landime Versus the World Crime League #1 - Summing Up Simply
Eric Burnham is very nice to us folk who like to tell people about comics, because he makes Nick Landime versus the World Crime League such an easy book to sum up. It is essentially a "wacky slacker North by Northwest." See, that's easy, isn't? Five words, but I think everyone would get what the book is about, and whether they would like to pick it up. I for one, thought it was a lot of fun. Here, I'll tell you why.
First of all, while the art of the comic is not the strongest suit, Burnham's art manages to get the job done. There is never any point in the comic where the story is unclear or anything like that. So yeah, the art could be better, but it gets the job done. Sorta like how the Braves won the World Series in 1995 with Mark Wohlers as their closer. Could they have done better? Sure, but he got the job done (that year, at least).
By the way, in case you somehow did not get the awful pun that makes up Nick's name, just say the name real quick. Har de har. However, it is at least an accurate description of Nick's personality. He is the kind of guy who gets by on charm and good luck, as he stumbles through life having a bunch of wacky misadventures. Really, he's pretty darn close to Archie Andrews in a lot of respects. Remember how Archie would always seem to get caught up in amazing stuff all the time? That's the case with Nick, as he goes to the cable company to demand a refund and instead finds himself caught up in a crime caper versus the World Crime League.
Burnham takes the opportunity to make a LOT of spy jokes, but they are all generally funny, so it works. In addition, the sheer joviality of the book allows it to sell jokes that it really has no business pulling over. He also has George Lucas guest-star, in a funny cameo (making fun of George Lucas seems to be a staple of comedic writers, doesn't it? Almost like playing the "get out of jail free" card, it is considered to be geek comedic gold. Go to the well as often as you like, but hell, it works here, okay, consarnit!).
After the fun lead adventure, Burnham also has a funny interview with "Nick" that was funny and helps to fill people in on the characters (you really do not need to know anyone but Nick, although the supporting cast seems interesting enough).
So there, I thought it was well done. And it was basically a "wacky slacker North by Northwest."
You now make the call - is that something that would appeal to you?
First of all, while the art of the comic is not the strongest suit, Burnham's art manages to get the job done. There is never any point in the comic where the story is unclear or anything like that. So yeah, the art could be better, but it gets the job done. Sorta like how the Braves won the World Series in 1995 with Mark Wohlers as their closer. Could they have done better? Sure, but he got the job done (that year, at least).
By the way, in case you somehow did not get the awful pun that makes up Nick's name, just say the name real quick. Har de har. However, it is at least an accurate description of Nick's personality. He is the kind of guy who gets by on charm and good luck, as he stumbles through life having a bunch of wacky misadventures. Really, he's pretty darn close to Archie Andrews in a lot of respects. Remember how Archie would always seem to get caught up in amazing stuff all the time? That's the case with Nick, as he goes to the cable company to demand a refund and instead finds himself caught up in a crime caper versus the World Crime League.
Burnham takes the opportunity to make a LOT of spy jokes, but they are all generally funny, so it works. In addition, the sheer joviality of the book allows it to sell jokes that it really has no business pulling over. He also has George Lucas guest-star, in a funny cameo (making fun of George Lucas seems to be a staple of comedic writers, doesn't it? Almost like playing the "get out of jail free" card, it is considered to be geek comedic gold. Go to the well as often as you like, but hell, it works here, okay, consarnit!).
After the fun lead adventure, Burnham also has a funny interview with "Nick" that was funny and helps to fill people in on the characters (you really do not need to know anyone but Nick, although the supporting cast seems interesting enough).
So there, I thought it was well done. And it was basically a "wacky slacker North by Northwest."
You now make the call - is that something that would appeal to you?
posted by Brian Cronin at 11/06/2005 11:57:00 PM
4 Comments:
I believe that you are correct.
That's a nice little pop culture nod by Burnham.
Wacky slacker North by Northwest makes me curious, definitely.
It was also supposed to be the second Doc Savage flick.
Thanks for readin' (and liking!) the book.
Nice contant good work,i realy like it
Post a Comment
<< Home