Sample page from Isom #1
Sorry, folks. Today took another shot at me and won. I’m hoping tomorrow will be different but I have two topics plus the continuing Ninja Turtles intro series to fit into two days. Something’s going to lose. So here’s more filler. Again, sorry.
Isom #1, the first graphic novel from Eric July and his Rippaverse Comics, has taken a lot of heat for critics not because of the story but because of July’s political beliefs, going around the usual system to use the internet to his advantage, and even some of his choices in creators who have been “canceled” by the usual suspects who believe you should drop dead rather than disagree with them. That’s the problem with extremist movements. They not only hurt their own cause by giving their opponents something to use against them, but also ruin everything in the process. At every step, July has been forthcoming, honest, and apologetic when it comes to delays, early website issues, and the things going right that is making him quite successful…at least out of the gate. This is still a new company and despite his business history, his media history, and his desires we’ll have to see if things pan out. I mentioned after the announcement that this will not be an easy journey, but July’s doing his best and his second volume has at least done as well as his first.
The only real question is whether or not the first volume is actually any good. Since my lack of funds makes it hard to find out I’ll go to someone I trust to give a fair assessment. The Literature Devil just released his review of the first volume to coincide with the beginning distribution of the second. Here are his thoughts, and note that spoilers are incoming.
I know someone is going to call me out for going by Literature Devil’s review since I am currently unable to obtain my own copy, but his thoroughness is something I’m going to trust here. Also, a reason is not an excuse, so note that whatever I’m about to say isn’t a defense, because July is vocal enough he doesn’t need my defense. However, some of the problems may be coming from his approach to the comic.
For one thing, Isom #1 isn’t just the first volume of this series. It’s the opener for the entire Rippaverse, and that may be one of the story’s biggest missteps. That’s why the Yaira and Alphacore stuff are there, to set up the expanded universe. Perhaps July didn’t need Isom actually confronting them but they could have been mentioned on the news or something similar, something to show that other “Excepts” (his version of the metahuman or mutant, possibly standing for “exceptional” or as July referred to them, “special people” like the Ultras of Malibu’s Ultraverse) exist without actually showing Avery dealing with them when he has his own concerns. It might have been better to do some kind of “preview” story prior to this, something cheaper if he doesn’t want to go with free, showing the early concepts of the Excepts. Perhaps frame it as reports the Alphacore has on Isom and Yaira as well as their own team and hints of the strange robed character from the oversized trading cards we only know as Dokumaan without any idea who or what he is.
This is also the first part of the “Ill-Advised” story arc, which means he’s treating the first three comics as one story. I’ve said before that the traditional floppy or periodical is akin to a TV show and a graphic novel more like a movie. While currently mainstream and even some indie publishers treat the periodical as just part of the full movie (aka the trade) broken down into “episodes” it sounds here like July did it the other wrong way, treating the graphic novel as episode one rather than movie one. Look at trilogies like Back To The Future where you have an overall narrative but each movie is its own story that leads into the next one. If this is being treated more like part one of three rather than a proper movie trilogy that would also explain some of the missteps Lit Dev corrected.
I still totally want to read this thing and I don’t know how much course correction July had in his second book. Fontaino seems like the Lex Luthor (post Crisis version) to Avery’s Clark Kent, not wanting to believe someone would give up power and prestige for the simple life based on their separate life paths and histories. When you learn that “Isom” translates to “homestead” you do get an idea that Avery may have never wanted to be a superhero and gave it up to become a rancher. He’s being forced back into service to protect those he loves, but considering he lacks a mask I’m guessing that Isom was more of a codename than an alternate identity unless he’s making the same mistake as Robert Townsend’s Meteor Man and doing nothing to disguise either identity but still operating as two seperate personas, Jefferson Davis the teacher, and superhero Meteor Man. I’m really curious to see how all that plays out and maybe someday I’ll get the chance before the first volume goes out of print. We’ll have to wait and see.
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