Anthony Zisa
Jun 18, 2002, 02:29 am
Reviewer: Anthony Zisa, PopinFrsh@aol.com
Quick Rating: Great!
Story Title: Metal Music Machine
Wildstorm's "Eye of the Storm" line of mature readers titles launches with sex, drugs, and synthetic life as Automatic Kafka takes a metaphoric and literal trip inside his own mind!
Written by: Joe Casey
Art by: Ashley Woods
Lettered by: Richard Starkings & Comicraft's Saida Temofonte
Assistant Editor: Kristy Quinn
Editor: Scott Dunbier
I hear the question already. "What is Automatic Kafka, and why should we care? This is an X-Men web site!" Well, Automatic Kafka is the latest project from one of the most controversial X-Men teams in recent history, Joe Casey and Ashley Wood. Their work on Uncanny X-Men #398 and the 2001 Annual was controversial, with a sharp divide of people who either loved the duo's work together or loathed it.
Automatic Kafka also marks the debut of the "Eye of the Storm" mature readers line of comics from Wildstorm, the DC imprint run by X-Men fan-favorite penciller Jim Lee. And if Automatic Kafka is any indication of the shape of things to come from "Eye of the Storm," the imprint will not be lacking for books that stand out in the glutted, homogeneous genre of superhero stories.
I'm an orphan of technology – Joe Casey's Kafka
The book derives its name from the protagonist, Kafka, an android superhero in the twilight of his relevancy, searching for self in nanotecheroin, a new breed of drugs designed for synthetic life. His chemical experimentation goes sour, however, and he finds himself on the wrong end of an overdose, saddled with a naked, female grim reaper with as sharp a tongue as scythe. Death brings Kafka on a journey inside his own mind, forcing him to face his inner demons, his past, and his present – all while blurring the lines between the three.
And, at the outset, Kafka has many demons to face. A former member of a team of superheroes known as The $trangers, put together and bankrolled by a wealthy industrialist, Kafka had a good life – seven years ago. Righteous, heroic, and a ladies' man, Kafka was ironic envied by the very same humans he would give anything to become. At some point, however, the good life evaporated, leaving Kafka where he is when the reader meets him – searching for self, for that elusive trace of humanity his synthetic life denies him. In interviews, Casey has stated that Automatic Kafka comes from a very personal, very dark place in himself, and that shines through in the writing. It is pure Casey, with sharp dialogue and plenty of dark themes and ideas permeating the story.
Okay, enough existentialism... a little mayhem, anyone...? – Death
Delightfully mad concepts masquerade as mundane in Kafka's world, with off-the-wall segues such as tiny devils shilling nanotecheroin on television, and Death critiquing Kafka's mid-nineties fashion sense. There are tantalizing glimpses of Kafka's world, which Casey intelligently keeps brief – a mere whetting of the palette, intended to intrigue, rather than explicate. They are a small sense of the world, while focusing on the inception of Kafka's mission.
Once again, Casey smartly ties the mission into Kafka's identity. A lot of information about Kafka is delivered in this issue, but at the same time, the method of delivery never jars the reader. Kafka's quest inside his own head sets tone of the book – a weird, wholly unique journey to discover what lies beneath our self-perceived past.
Adding to the uniqueness of Automatic Kafka is artist Ashley Wood, channeling Bill Sienkewicz and Dave McKean, while at the same time creating his own dark visual style. His visuals are oftentimes brilliant, and always perfectly suited to the ideas Casey sets forth. On the third page, Wood brings a television advertisement for nanotecheroin to life, creating the punch line through his artwork. Similarly, on page five, he creates a gorgeous representation of Kafka's mind, with plenty of hints at future revelations. For each mad idea, or stark mental picture, Casey set forth, Wood matched with equally intense artwork. From Kafka's journey over his own prone body to the techno graveyard to a wonderfully Animal Man-esque insertion of artist into art, Wood ups the ante of Casey's story, daring the audience to ignore the energy of Automatic Kafka.
Yet, it is in his character design, however, that some of Wood's most brilliant work shines through. The characters, as realized by Casey and Wood, find their own voices and personalities immediately. Particularly Death, whose razor wit and flippant demeanor shines through in both Casey's dialogue and Wood's artwork. She is dangerous, sexy, and unpredictable, the full embodiment of all that scary about the end of life – a living embodiment of the human Death Wish. Kafka, too, becomes well realized. He is deeply conflicted, and apparently deeply jaded to the world. For all his fame and fortune garnered during his time as a professional superhero, he is still unhappy, seeking something more... and afraid of his place in "the techno graveyard, home of the obsolete."
Yet, for all the good, Automatic Kafka #1 is not perfect. Disguised as it is by the visuals and trippy, dreamlike story, there is a lot of exposition. It is a difference of opinions about aesthetics, to be sure, but still a minor problem. However, in consideration that this is an introductory issue, this quibble is easily overlooked, as future issues are sure to be less exposition heavy and more action oriented.
Finally, be forewarned – this title is a mature readers title for a reason. Casey, controlled by the limitations of mainstream work in the past, fully cuts loose, touching on everything that makes watchdog groups smell blood. Nudity, numerous drug references, and sexual themes are the norm throughout the book. Fair warning has been given.
In this intense first issue, as the lines between reality and fiction, life and death, the past and present all begin to blur, Kafka is reborn with a new mission – to find himself. And by the time that rebirth occurs, the reader is all too eager to join him on his odd quest of self-discovery.
Automatic Kafka #1 ships July 17th. Check it out for some guaranteed weirdness.
ART:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg
STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg
OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/x/bstore/newbooksmain.html) and save!
Quick Rating: Great!
Story Title: Metal Music Machine
Wildstorm's "Eye of the Storm" line of mature readers titles launches with sex, drugs, and synthetic life as Automatic Kafka takes a metaphoric and literal trip inside his own mind!
Written by: Joe Casey
Art by: Ashley Woods
Lettered by: Richard Starkings & Comicraft's Saida Temofonte
Assistant Editor: Kristy Quinn
Editor: Scott Dunbier
I hear the question already. "What is Automatic Kafka, and why should we care? This is an X-Men web site!" Well, Automatic Kafka is the latest project from one of the most controversial X-Men teams in recent history, Joe Casey and Ashley Wood. Their work on Uncanny X-Men #398 and the 2001 Annual was controversial, with a sharp divide of people who either loved the duo's work together or loathed it.
Automatic Kafka also marks the debut of the "Eye of the Storm" mature readers line of comics from Wildstorm, the DC imprint run by X-Men fan-favorite penciller Jim Lee. And if Automatic Kafka is any indication of the shape of things to come from "Eye of the Storm," the imprint will not be lacking for books that stand out in the glutted, homogeneous genre of superhero stories.
I'm an orphan of technology – Joe Casey's Kafka
The book derives its name from the protagonist, Kafka, an android superhero in the twilight of his relevancy, searching for self in nanotecheroin, a new breed of drugs designed for synthetic life. His chemical experimentation goes sour, however, and he finds himself on the wrong end of an overdose, saddled with a naked, female grim reaper with as sharp a tongue as scythe. Death brings Kafka on a journey inside his own mind, forcing him to face his inner demons, his past, and his present – all while blurring the lines between the three.
And, at the outset, Kafka has many demons to face. A former member of a team of superheroes known as The $trangers, put together and bankrolled by a wealthy industrialist, Kafka had a good life – seven years ago. Righteous, heroic, and a ladies' man, Kafka was ironic envied by the very same humans he would give anything to become. At some point, however, the good life evaporated, leaving Kafka where he is when the reader meets him – searching for self, for that elusive trace of humanity his synthetic life denies him. In interviews, Casey has stated that Automatic Kafka comes from a very personal, very dark place in himself, and that shines through in the writing. It is pure Casey, with sharp dialogue and plenty of dark themes and ideas permeating the story.
Okay, enough existentialism... a little mayhem, anyone...? – Death
Delightfully mad concepts masquerade as mundane in Kafka's world, with off-the-wall segues such as tiny devils shilling nanotecheroin on television, and Death critiquing Kafka's mid-nineties fashion sense. There are tantalizing glimpses of Kafka's world, which Casey intelligently keeps brief – a mere whetting of the palette, intended to intrigue, rather than explicate. They are a small sense of the world, while focusing on the inception of Kafka's mission.
Once again, Casey smartly ties the mission into Kafka's identity. A lot of information about Kafka is delivered in this issue, but at the same time, the method of delivery never jars the reader. Kafka's quest inside his own head sets tone of the book – a weird, wholly unique journey to discover what lies beneath our self-perceived past.
Adding to the uniqueness of Automatic Kafka is artist Ashley Wood, channeling Bill Sienkewicz and Dave McKean, while at the same time creating his own dark visual style. His visuals are oftentimes brilliant, and always perfectly suited to the ideas Casey sets forth. On the third page, Wood brings a television advertisement for nanotecheroin to life, creating the punch line through his artwork. Similarly, on page five, he creates a gorgeous representation of Kafka's mind, with plenty of hints at future revelations. For each mad idea, or stark mental picture, Casey set forth, Wood matched with equally intense artwork. From Kafka's journey over his own prone body to the techno graveyard to a wonderfully Animal Man-esque insertion of artist into art, Wood ups the ante of Casey's story, daring the audience to ignore the energy of Automatic Kafka.
Yet, it is in his character design, however, that some of Wood's most brilliant work shines through. The characters, as realized by Casey and Wood, find their own voices and personalities immediately. Particularly Death, whose razor wit and flippant demeanor shines through in both Casey's dialogue and Wood's artwork. She is dangerous, sexy, and unpredictable, the full embodiment of all that scary about the end of life – a living embodiment of the human Death Wish. Kafka, too, becomes well realized. He is deeply conflicted, and apparently deeply jaded to the world. For all his fame and fortune garnered during his time as a professional superhero, he is still unhappy, seeking something more... and afraid of his place in "the techno graveyard, home of the obsolete."
Yet, for all the good, Automatic Kafka #1 is not perfect. Disguised as it is by the visuals and trippy, dreamlike story, there is a lot of exposition. It is a difference of opinions about aesthetics, to be sure, but still a minor problem. However, in consideration that this is an introductory issue, this quibble is easily overlooked, as future issues are sure to be less exposition heavy and more action oriented.
Finally, be forewarned – this title is a mature readers title for a reason. Casey, controlled by the limitations of mainstream work in the past, fully cuts loose, touching on everything that makes watchdog groups smell blood. Nudity, numerous drug references, and sexual themes are the norm throughout the book. Fair warning has been given.
In this intense first issue, as the lines between reality and fiction, life and death, the past and present all begin to blur, Kafka is reborn with a new mission – to find himself. And by the time that rebirth occurs, the reader is all too eager to join him on his odd quest of self-discovery.
Automatic Kafka #1 ships July 17th. Check it out for some guaranteed weirdness.
ART:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg
STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg
OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/x/bstore/newbooksmain.html) and save!