Magnus, Robot Fighter by iBooks Review *SPOILERS*

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:45 pm

Since someone has requested a review, I'm giving my own take here. WARNING: SPOILERS ABOUND.

Story:

One would think Louise Simonson would be the perfect person to re-invigorate Magnus. She has great experience in the SF/Space genre, having written the great "Galactus: The Devourer" mini for Marvel, along with working on Starjammers and similar work in her career. She's good at developing characters, as evidenced by her runs on Power Pack and New Mutants. She can even handle iconic characters, as shown by her experience with Superman.

That being said, she really needed an editor to step in on this book. The pacing was rushed, and felt like it wasn't fully developed. Certain parts failed to make ANY sort of sense (the villains are a race of people who have become cyborgs - yet they want to harvest limbs from humans? Why? Internal organs I could understand, but hands and the like are just, well, non-logical). Certain plot hooks that could have had a HUGE dramatic impact just came off as lame (Leeja's "He has my father's eyes!" was just silly, particularly in the timeframe involved it would have been damn near impossible for the cyborg to have harvested Clane's eyes between Clane's drop off of the building and the attack on Leeja). M'Ree and some of the other characters just seemed there as window dressing, with no true depth or meaning. And most importantly - where the hell was 1-A? For being on the cover, you'd think he'd at LEAST get a cameo appearance.

Needless to say, this was not Louise's best work. If this had been expanded to a 3 issue mini-series, it could have been phenomenal - as it stands, it felt really bland and a pale imitation of previous storylines from both the Valiant and Gold Key eras. Even the twist with the weather towers was done before, and better, by Russ Manning.

Grade: D

Art:

Damion Hendrick's art is palatable on some levels. It was not so atrocious that I wanted to rip my eyeballs out, but his storytelling and placement need a LOT of work. In some panels, it was more than difficult to figure out what was going on, and if not for the verbal cues you would have been clueless. In some cases, it seemed like the art had NOTHING AT ALL to do with the text. There was very little emotive content, either - some of the characters had the same look whether they were fighting enemies or finding out that their father had just died.

Grade: D

Coloring:

Normally not something I would mention, but in this case - the coloring was god-awful. Too many like-colored shades on the same page, and when the hell did Magnus become blonde? The coloring actually DETRACTED from the art, which took effort. Again, where were the editors?

Grade: F

Recap:

If this had been allowed the breathing room to expand into a mini-series, it could have been a good reinvigoration of the character. As it was, the rushed pacing made the drama have less and less impact until you no longer really cared for the story, and the constant logic and timing flaws made an intriguing concept almost unbearable. The artist has the potential to do great work, but didn't show it on this foray, and the editorial team really needs to step up their game to prevent future volumes from having the same pitfalls. It has a great deal of potential, and if iBooks takes the time to learn from their mistakes, they could re-launch a very successful series. Overall, I would recommend you buy this ONLY if you are a Magnus completist. This book easily makes even the worst issue by Valiant seem like a masterstroke in comparison.

Overall Grade: D-

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:10 pm

I didn't get this comic (too expensive for my blood

), but I'm confused. Wasn't it supposed to be a three issue miniseries? Am I mistaken or did the plans change?

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:16 pm

Todd Luck wrote:I didn't get this comic (too expensive for my blood ), but I'm confused. Wasn't it supposed to be a three issue miniseries? Am I mistaken or did the plans change?

It's a 48 page Tpb.

mrwoogieman · Post by **mrwoogieman** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:29 pm

Thanks for the review Ric!

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:02 pm

Daniel Jackson wrote:
Todd Luck wrote:I didn't get this comic (too expensive for my blood ), but I'm confused. Wasn't it supposed to be a three issue miniseries? Am I mistaken or did the plans change?
It's a 48 page Tpb.

I knew that, but I thought there was supposed to be two more of them...

tcolli · Post by **tcolli** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:23 pm

I personally think you review nailed this book squarely on the head. The story was choppy and in some parts downright stupid, the art was adaquate but not horrific. What even made it worse was all the cancellations and hype to not deliver.

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:56 pm

Todd Luck wrote:I didn't get this comic (too expensive for my blood ), but I'm confused. Wasn't it supposed to be a three issue miniseries? Am I mistaken or did the plans change?

Now, there will be two more books - but they are all self contained stories.

Of course, after this book, I would put the future of sequels in a tenuos state at best. I know that I won't pre-order it, and the only reason my LCS bought ONE copy was because I had asked them to...

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:56 pm

mrwoogieman wrote:Thanks for the review Ric!

You're welcome - I just wish I had better news to report.

Virgule · Post by **Virgule** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 5:53 am

I concur.

i just read it, though there might be good ideas but it seems all rushed up (the traitor thing is almost insulting i might say)
since i'm a agnus completist i'll buy it but hell... sure it would have been better, you don't need to buy it... or cheap.

art is nice but lacks background most of the time.

seems ti me rushed job...let's hope it is that...

you can skip it guys...

hillmanthe2nd · Post by **hillmanthe2nd** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 6:23 am

Here is a link for those of you who would like to buy it (from ebay)

http://cgi.ebay.com/MAGNUS-ROBOT-FIGHTE ... dZViewItem

Read it and agree that it is baaadddd. Kind of suprised that L. Simonson was involved in this as it was just not good at all.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 9:47 am

Thanks for the thoughtful review Ric.

That really is too bad, I had high hopes for this project originally. It's odd that everyone mentions how rushed it seems when they've had a lot of time to work on it. I wonder what the status of the planned prose novels and future GNs is after this. I will probably still pick it up at some point just to have it in my collection.

dave · Post by **dave** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 8:58 pm

so...you're saying that you didn't like it?

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 9:03 pm

dave wrote:so...you're saying that you didn't like it?

Yes.

And it really, really hurts me to say it. It's like when you have to break up with someone not because the relationship is bad or that you don't like them, but because you know that there are some aspects of the person that you'll never be able to get past.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 9:11 pm

Byrneout wrote:
dave wrote:so...you're saying that you didn't like it?

Yes.

And it really, really hurts me to say it. It's like when you have to break up with someone not because the relationship is bad or that you don't like them, but because you know that there are some aspects of the person that you'll never be able to get past.

Good analogy, I feel the same way. I'm a big Magnus fan and I tried to find something in this book to like, but it simply couldn't be done. A very sad day for the legacy of Magnus.

Hopefully, these people will give it up and let the rights go back to where they belong.... with Valiant.

Virgule · Post by **Virgule** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:11 am

ditto.

BrianT · Post by **BrianT** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 1:46 am

I had been planning to pick this up, but discussions with "ManoftheAtom" and a flipthrough at my LCS convinced me to pass. I think this thread has solidified that decision. Maybe sometime down the road, but I'm now in no rush to pick it up. Too much other good stuff out there.

Here's hoping the prose novel does better. Is Simonson writing that as well? Any word if the same creative team will be on the next two OGNs (I didn't even know there were definitive plans to do three)?

I will say this: That John Watson cover is sweet.

Unblessed · Post by **Unblessed** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 7:48 am

~Unblessed

ManofTheAtom · Post by **ManofTheAtom** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:34 am

Like many of you I didn't like this gn, but there was one part of it I enjoyed from beginning to end; seeing the original Magnus characters (Magnus, Leeja, the President, etc).

There was no Russ Magnus , Leeja acting like a Paris Hilton-wanna be, 1A eating humans, or any of that other VH 2 crap.

The designs may have changed a little (Magnus is NOT blonde), but at least this version was somewhat closer to the original VALIANT/Gold Key versions.

xoken · Post by **xoken** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:05 pm

It sucked beyond words. I wonder if I can get my money back from iBooks. Oh wait I got this for free at San Diego...so why do I still feel cheated

justin · Post by **justin** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:17 pm

I was talking with a gentleman today who is high up on the ladder today at Classic Media. They will not be renewing the Magnus property with IBooks and will be holding off on doing the same with Solar and Turok.

I spoke with him for about an hour today and is waiting to hear from someone else first for using all 3 properties. I guess time will tell if they universe is brought back together or not.

-j

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:18 pm

Sounds like a possible step in the right direction to me.

justin · Post by **justin** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:22 pm

400yrs wrote:Sounds like a possible step in the right direction to me.

It really depends on who steps up to Classic Media. He and I have been talking for over a year! I believe it could be "UNITED" again with the correct game plan!

-j

BrianT · Post by **BrianT** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 10:33 pm

architect wrote:I was talking with a gentleman today who is high up on the ladder today at Classic Media. They will not be renewing the Magnus property with IBooks and will be holding off on doing the same with Solar and Turok.

I spoke with him for about an hour today and is waiting to hear from someone else first for using all 3 properties. I guess time will tell if they universe is brought back together or not.

-j

Did he say anything in regards to any more Magnus publications from iBooks, whether as OGNs or novels? And did he say how long the license with iBooks is to last?

justin · Post by **justin** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:18 pm

Brian Thomer wrote:
architect wrote:I was talking with a gentleman today who is high up on the ladder today at Classic Media. They will not be renewing the Magnus property with IBooks and will be holding off on doing the same with Solar and Turok.

I spoke with him for about an hour today and is waiting to hear from someone else first for using all 3 properties. I guess time will tell if they universe is brought back together or not.

-j
Did he say anything in regards to any more Magnus publications from iBooks, whether as OGNs or novels? And did he say how long the license with iBooks is to last?

2 more were in the works, but more than likely will not happen. As to how long, I didn't ask, but I can!

-j

hondobrode · Post by **hondobrode** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 1:47 am

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought this sucked balls.

This is one of the worst comics I have ever read. I was hoping it would at least be passably acceptable.

The Magnus costume redesign was ok but not great. John Watson's cover was really the best part of the whole book.

I can't believe Louise Simonson did this ! By far the worst I have ever read of anything she has ever done. Ireally liked her Superman tenure.

The Valiant characters are so great, I guess I can own this but wouldn't buy anymore without really scrutinizing them before purchasing.

I *** SO *** want the Valiant characters back again.

My overall grade for this : an F despite a nice cover. All the rest of it was horrid and pretty much unreadable.

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Magnus, Robot Fighter by iBooks Review SPOILERS

Magnus, Robot Fighter by iBooks Review SPOILERS