crookedtreehouse's review against another edition
3.0
Having read the three volume 90's version of Quantum & Woody by [a:Christopher Priest|23419|Christopher Priest|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1299874167p2/23419.jpg], I was worried that I was going to hate this book. Especially with how reminiscent of the original story the first few pages were.
Priest loves to do "Now we're in this part of the story" "Three days earlier" "Back to now" "Fifteen years ago" "back to now" "maybe this is the future?" narrative fuckery, and I have yet to see it enhance any of his books. So when that trope peeked out at the beginning of this book, I sighed. Luckily, it's barely used, and the story does significantly differentiate itself from the material it's rebooted from. And the changes vastly improve it.
Still, I don't really connect with either of these characters. The humor is at the precisely wrong level for me, as I don't find it funny (it's not offensive or super trite, it just doesn't make me laugh), and it waters down any potentially interesting plot developments.
The goat in this book makes no sense. But it doesn't register as a particuarly fun Makes No Sense. It ain't no Poyo.
I'm not super excited to keep reading this.
Priest loves to do "Now we're in this part of the story" "Three days earlier" "Back to now" "Fifteen years ago" "back to now" "maybe this is the future?" narrative fuckery, and I have yet to see it enhance any of his books. So when that trope peeked out at the beginning of this book, I sighed. Luckily, it's barely used, and the story does significantly differentiate itself from the material it's rebooted from. And the changes vastly improve it.
Still, I don't really connect with either of these characters. The humor is at the precisely wrong level for me, as I don't find it funny (it's not offensive or super trite, it just doesn't make me laugh), and it waters down any potentially interesting plot developments.
The goat in this book makes no sense. But it doesn't register as a particuarly fun Makes No Sense. It ain't no Poyo.
I'm not super excited to keep reading this.
mojostdennis's review against another edition
2.0
popsugar challenge 2020: read a book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club
ohnoflora's review against another edition
4.0
Read for the Stan Lee Excelsior Award 2014 - http://www.excelsioraward.co.uk
ferencb's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
trike's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a lot of fun. It's silly but it works.
I missed the whole Valiant Comics thing back in the 90s due to being old and not reading comics. Therefore I didn't realize this was a reboot of the original book. I looked it up on the Grand Comic Database and, based on those covers, it looks like Q&W was always a goofy superhero mag.
Humor is hard to do and origin stories are a dime a dozen these days, but Asmus pulls off both of these feats handily. I was never once ahead of the story because I was content to simply let it flow and follow along. That's the sign of good writing.
The art by Tom Fowler is likewise clear and concise. I've ranted often enough about artists who try to get too fancy with the panels, thus rendering the story difficult to follow, but Fowler keeps everything tidy so that even when there are multiple characters on the page and things are literally exploding around them, you can still readily follow everything that's happening.
I'm in for the follow-up books. It's always nice to discover something new (and fun!) to read, and Quantum & Woody fills the bill.
Also, there's a super-goat. What's not to like?
I missed the whole Valiant Comics thing back in the 90s due to being old and not reading comics. Therefore I didn't realize this was a reboot of the original book. I looked it up on the Grand Comic Database and, based on those covers, it looks like Q&W was always a goofy superhero mag.
Humor is hard to do and origin stories are a dime a dozen these days, but Asmus pulls off both of these feats handily. I was never once ahead of the story because I was content to simply let it flow and follow along. That's the sign of good writing.
The art by Tom Fowler is likewise clear and concise. I've ranted often enough about artists who try to get too fancy with the panels, thus rendering the story difficult to follow, but Fowler keeps everything tidy so that even when there are multiple characters on the page and things are literally exploding around them, you can still readily follow everything that's happening.
I'm in for the follow-up books. It's always nice to discover something new (and fun!) to read, and Quantum & Woody fills the bill.
Also, there's a super-goat. What's not to like?
carroq's review against another edition
5.0
Quantum and Woody is pure, irreverent fun. These guys are something else, although they resemble a couple of guys from a buddy cop movie. The comic format is perfect for capturing their antics, which begin almost immediately after they meet. These guys are adopted brothers that are constantly vying for their father's attention until he dies under mysterious circumstances.
I like their relationship a lot. They were inseparable until Woody pulled a stunt that forced him to leave. Combined with their daddy issues it creates a good amount of tension between the two men. And Woody's crass nature and general disregard for the rules doesn't help things any. The way they gain their powers, and ultimately how they decide to use them, ties things together really well. Then there is the goat.
Tom Fowler's art is great. It creates a cinematic feel that meshes well with the story and character personalities. Bring on more Quantum and Woody!
I like their relationship a lot. They were inseparable until Woody pulled a stunt that forced him to leave. Combined with their daddy issues it creates a good amount of tension between the two men. And Woody's crass nature and general disregard for the rules doesn't help things any. The way they gain their powers, and ultimately how they decide to use them, ties things together really well. Then there is the goat.
Tom Fowler's art is great. It creates a cinematic feel that meshes well with the story and character personalities. Bring on more Quantum and Woody!
margaretann84's review against another edition
5.0
Very funny poke at the traditional superhero comic! I enjoyed this a LOT. I love the personalities, the interactions between characters, and especially the flashbacks. Well done!
leia3771's review against another edition
1.0
Stupid, I couldn't even make myself finish the comic (actually I couldn't even remember if I read it or not at first). The story seemed really REALLY forced, especially the dialogue between the brothers (and the "fighting" between the two, let me not even start on how pointless that was).
Overall, don't read it. It's sad I really, I wanted to like it, since I loved the Archer and Armstrong series. Welp that's the way it goes I guess.
Overall, don't read it. It's sad I really, I wanted to like it, since I loved the Archer and Armstrong series. Welp that's the way it goes I guess.