DESOLATION JONES #1 REVIEW

[Ryan Day]

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0505/DesolationJonesCv1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0505/DesolationJonesCv1T.jpg" align=left alt="Desolation Jones #1" hspace="10"></a>Reviewer: Ryan Day Dreamhunter00@hotmail.com
Story Title: Made In England Pt. 1

Suggested for Mature Readers

<i>I am incapable of caring whether any one in this room lives or dies.</i>

Writer: Warren Ellis
Art: J.H. Williams III
Lettering: Todd Klein
Colorist: Jose Villarrubia
Assistant Editor: Kristy Quinn
Edited by: Scott Dunbier
Publisher: Wildstorm, DC Comics

So apparently <b><i>Iron Man</i></b> is late.

This is a subject of no little consternation for some and may, according to certain internet sources, signal the coming of the Apocalypse. There's also something called <b><i>Ultimate Secret</i></b> that's supposedly late as well, though with a title like that I suspect it's just something somebody made up.

But really, who cares about any of that? Warren Ellis writing mainstream superheroes is like Charlie Kaufman writing James Bond movies: It's all perfectly decent, but you can't help feeling like he should be doing more with himself.

Thankfully, Ellis has also brought us <b><i>Desolation Jones</i></b>, a book that stays safely away from that bizarrely popular mainstream. It's bizarrely and beautifully Ellis, and it's a wonderful reminder of why he got all those dreary gigs writing <b><i>Ultimate Whatsit</i></b> in the first place.

<b><i>Desolation Jones</i></b> is what you'd get if you crossed Magnum P.I. with Grant Morrison's The Filth. Michael Jones bombed out of MI5 after a drinking problem landed him in something called the Desolation Test. He now lives in Los Angeles, where he spends most of his time avoiding sunlight and working as a private detective. His latest case, at the behest of a lecherous but quite filthy rich old man, sends him searching the not-so-nice corners of town for a particularly rare and sought-after home movie.

Jones is a wonderfully eccentric character. Trenchcoated and be-goggled, he seems to be perpetually on the outside of society. He really doesn't fit in anywhere, which helps him to fit in just about everywhere; he's out of place so often that he's perfectly at home there. Nothing he sees really phases him, be it the fraudulent butler, bizarre mission, or decadent porn empress. Whether this is all the result of the Desolation Test or just his regular personality remains to be seen.

Ellis has created an entertaining supporting cast as well: His incredulous sidekick Robina Shiva, business associate and very hungry former CIA agent Jeronimus Corneliszoon, and aforementioned porn empress Filthy Sanchez. Los Angeles has become haven and prison for former intelligence operatives like Jones, somewhere to put the freaks and spooks out to pasture once they outlive their usefulness. <b><i>Desolation Jones</i></b> has a very David Lynch-like vibe, as Ellis introduces characters and suggests extensive histories in just a few panels.

Ellis sets the mood, and J.H. Williams III presents it almost perfectly. Williams continues to show why he's one of the best artists in the business. As good as his work on <b><i>Seven Soldiers</i></b> was, <b><i>Desolation Jones</i></b> may be even better. Jones' world is dark and creepy, and Jones himself is a nearly wraithlike, post-apocalyptic zombie hero. The decrepit billionaire is the only person in the book who looks worse than the hero, and Williams gives him an appropriate mixture of lecher and leper. There are several drop-dead gorgeous pages to be found within <b><i>Desolation Jones</i></b>: An opening black-and-white flashback details Jones' last days with MI5; two pages of brutal, slo-mo ultra-nasty violence; and a final bit of the world Jones sees when nobody else is around.

<b><i>Desolation Jones</i></b> shows yet again that most artists are at their best when playing with their own toys. Ellis gets to do stuff with Jones that Marvel wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole, and by golly it's good. This is top-notch Ellis with yet another spectacular artist, and it's a party-sized mix of fun, freaky, and ****ed.

And Desolation Jones could totally kick Iron Man's ass. Iron Man's got those nice little eyeholes.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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Buy Desolation Jones at X-World (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=15619)

[Anand Khatri]

I still have to wait to get my copy, but I don't mind 'cuz this sounds amazing.

btw...Great Review! :D

[tormented_spawn]

Fantastic review there, Ryan.

I too wonder why Ellis bother to do Ultimates titles, when he does his best work for Vertigo & WS, monthly bills to pay I suppose...

Oh, get it as soon as you can, Anand.

If I heard correctly, it's bi-monthly (maybe more with Ellis) so don't bother waiting for the trade, people, buy it in individual issues.

And Desolation Jones could totally kick Iron Man's ass. Iron Man's got those nice little eyeholes.
:LOL: WHAM!!! You ain't pretty anymore, Tony.

[Dylan McKay]

I read alot of issue #1's and it is very rare that I read one and think, I will see this through to the end. The last time this happened with an ongoing was almost a year ago. (Small Gods.) And just in time for summer, Desolation Jones delivers, simply put, I'm not just convinced to read the next issue, I'm convinced that I'm on board for the long run.

And it truely is a shame that Ellis can't just rely on his own material, because more so than most, it is a night and day difference. I find his Marvel work unreadable, and his creator owned work some of the best in the industry.

[Rictor]

I think youre being a bit harsh on the Ultimate titles there. Admittedly, Ultimate Nightmare got a-off to a slow start, but it turned into something quite moody and utterly compelling. Ultimate Secret actually got off to a great start before it was de-railed.
In saying that, im glad we have Desolation Jones in the Ultimate interim! :halo:

[James Groves]

Best read of the week this was, just beating Fables imo. Evocative artwork and a central character who i really like. Excellent stuff!! Wildstorm's banging out some great stuff at the moment! :D

Great review, Ryan!

[tormented_spawn]

I think youre being a bit harsh on the Ultimate titles there.
You got a point... but compared to Ellis' Planetary, Authority and Transmet, those Ultimates titles just doesn't do it for me and it's just blows chunks, if you ask me...

I'm also thinking about getting Ministry of Space (Image), since I know it isn't a Ultimate title, so think I'll be good, anyone agree?

[Dylan McKay]

I think youre being a bit harsh on the Ultimate titles there. Admittedly, Ultimate Nightmare got a-off to a slow start, but it turned into something quite moody and utterly compelling. Ultimate Secret actually got off to a great start before it was de-railed.
In saying that, im glad we have Desolation Jones in the Ultimate interim! :halo:

Nah dude, his Ultimate work is some of the few comics where I've felt like I wasted my money.

[Rictor]

When funds permit, ill be giving Authority a heads-up alright. I think with the Ultimate titles though, most folk think that, "ahhh, its just a Marvel 616 rehash". and while that could be true of many Ultimate elements, there is room for some cracking stories to be told, should you be able to look-past the initial trepidation.
personally, I wasnt around for the advent of Galactus first time around, so im eagerly anticipating his arrival here. Its being built-up beautifully methinks!

[Dylan McKay]

When funds permit, ill be giving Authority a heads-up alright. I think with the Ultimate titles though, most folk think that, "ahhh, its just a Marvel 616 rehash". and while that could be true of many Ultimate elements, there is room for some cracking stories to be told, should you be able to look-past the initial trepidation.
personally, I wasnt around for the advent of Galactus first time around, so im eagerly anticipating his arrival here. Its being built-up beautifully methinks!

It's not the re-hashing that's the problem. It's that Ellis is significantly better when he's given the freedom to do his thing. The pacing, plotting, and dialogue are all way better with Desolation Jones or Transmetropolitan or Orbital etc... They are just flat out better comic books.

[Rictor]

I thought the idea behind the Ultimate titles was to clean the slate and let the writers HAVE the freedom to "do their own thing"? The characters that Warren has chosen to use so far in his Ultimate titles have a significantly less amount of baggage than their 616 counterparts, so he actually does have quite a bit of freedom at his disposal, even though he's utilizing some of Marvel's old stalwarts.
In saying that, Ive yet to read Authority or Planetary, so I cant really say which is better. All i can do is echo my belief that his Ultimate work has been pretty nifty.

Im just thinking, one of the few nods to continuity had been Jean offering to power-up (a la Phoenix) in order to break down a big door. peter and Wolverine subsequently exchange worried glances. It was a nice, simple touch.

[Dylan McKay]

I thought the idea behind the Ultimate titles was to clean the slate and let the writers HAVE the freedom to "do their own thing"? The characters that Warren has chosen to use so far in his Ultimate titles have a significantly less amount of baggage than their 616 counterparts, so he actually does have quite a bit of freedom at his disposal, even though he's utilizing some of Marvel's old stalwarts.
In saying that, Ive yet to read Authority or Planetary, so I cant really say which is better. All i can do is echo my belief that his Ultimate work has been pretty nifty.

Im just thinking, one of the few nods to continuity had been Jean offering to power-up (a la Phoenix) in order to break down a big door. peter and Wolverine subsequently exchange worried glances. It was a nice, simple touch.

Ultimate writers are still confined by 1) not being mature rated. 2) Still having to be the same character, just a different spin. So they aren't created from the ground up. And nothing can replace that.

[tormented_spawn]

When funds permit, ill be giving Authority a heads-up alright. I think with the Ultimate titles though, most folk think that, "ahhh, its just a Marvel 616 rehash". and while that could be true of many Ultimate elements, there is room for some cracking stories to be told, should you be able to look-past the initial trepidation.
When I heard, Ellis was writing Ultimate FF and Ultimate Nightmare mini, I was as excited as the next person, but after reading his first arc of FF (though, I had read that his 2nd arc is an improvement) and Ultimate Nightmare, I just didn't like it (no one near the excitement the of titles I mentioned, if you ask me) and didn't even bother with Ultimate Secret (unless it's a complete turnaround). I made a statement about comparing his Ultimate titles to his WS & Vertigo, cause that's what I think, if I didn't read any of his Ultimate stuff than I wouldn't say such thing. I know you are not saying it directly at me, though just saying my piece.

When those Ultimate titles first arrived, I was reading Ultimate X-Men, Spidey and Ultimates afterwards Ultimate FF. Now, it's just Ultimates. For me, in long terms, I think this Ultimate thing is a mistake.

In saying that, Ive yet to read Authority or Planetary
So, are you going to read any of them, come on, chop, chop, go read... I'm kidding, you don't have to...