CASANOVA #1

Ivan · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 6109

just read casanova #1, by matt fraction and gabriel ba.

let me say first off, in terms of construction, it really is the perfect stage for a comic serial. there's a great balance of action and comedy and just...atmosphere. not enough in comics exists just for the sake of visual splendor, the split-second thrill.

further, the premise opens the door to just about anything imagineable, the depth to the idea as set up has no bounds i can see. hell, even in the first issue, the whole thing is flipped on its ear and runs head first from there in a direction you'd never expect.

and the style of it... it's like a love song to style in all the senses of the word. this book's got so many elements of the random cultural viscera i store in my head that i can't help but smile at all the reference. fraction and ba work through the best pieces of genre and personal memory and hand you something incredibly familiar but completely new.

as a creator i'm jealous and as a fan i'm in love. casanova's one of the good ones.
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Brian Nicholson · Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 517

Yeah, I'm really anticipating this book. It seems to promise what it seems hard to find in comics these days- Not trying to just be well-executed genre comics, or something with a clever premise, but someone just dumping the contents of their head out, and having that still fitting into a genre just because of how the creator's mind works.

Brian

Frank Beaton · Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 213 Location: PDX

I got to read some of it over Laurenn's shoulder while she was doing the design work, and HOLYFUCKINGDOGSHIT it was great.

This is going to be Matt's year, I think.

-f.

Jog · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 225 Location: Over there.

I enjoyed this comic.

Ian Brill · Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 304 Location: San Francisco, CA

I was actually thinking today "damn, I want to see what happens in Casanova #2" before realizing that #1 isn't even out yet. It's got all the '60s stuff I love and the modern comic storytelling I'm into. It's everything I want from a serial comic right now.

dilutral · Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 780 Location: JC NJ

I read a preview at newsarama and it looks intersting
but it didn't convince me...
I like the idea but well I guess I'll decide when I flip through it in the shop
i also wish it would have more colors but also have to see it in the shop...
price is tempting though

thavius · Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 428

People are too caught up in colors! The colors used certainly aid the feel of the book - what I've gotten to see of it. Sure, later parts or chapters could have more color. And it's hard to judge a book by a preview - but it sold me!

Friend and comic storeowner of mine and I were talking. We saw it on the cover of Previews - which is GREAT! And both asked - what the hell is THAT about? What with the recent movie that was out.

Anyhow, I saw the preview and as a fan of the old masters, of EC comics crew, Toth and newer masters like Mignola - it sold me. Will the story? Well as I said in Matt's forum threads... we'll have to see.

And I agree with this:
"but someone just dumping the contents of their head out, and having that still fitting into a genre just because of how the creator's mind works."

More of that should be allowed. Like color, why do people feel the need to compartmentalize everything? Well, I'm sure some answers and opinions will follow in this thread. It's not really a question.

What I mean by it is that like Mignola's Hellboy - more creators should be allowed to "empty their heads" then, sort through to see if there is worthwhile stuff to be found on the printed page.

In this case, it seems SEEMS like there is. Can't wait to see if that's true.

Get me a copy!

Ivan · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 6109

thavius · Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 428

Hey Ivan,

Yeah, oh I agree totally. We discuss stuff like this in the store and with customers like myself all the time. I mean, people say it won't work, but some of the most popular stuff is stuff like that.

See, there's and amount of passion in the stuff - there should be, the creators made it.

mattfraction · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 1470 Location: kcmo

heyah NYCmechmotherfuckers,

just wanted to pop my head in and say, first off, thanks for the kind words -- I hope we continue to earn them -- and I hope the book meets and exceeds everybody's expectations.

It's an absolute labor of love for everyone involved on our end, and I hope we get to make it for a long, long time.

more as our drop date approaches, I'm sure.

Again-- thanks.

JLTorres · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 116 Location: NYC!

This book looks so good.

I can't wait.

As a huge fan of "The Story of My Life" and "Don Juan", I'm glad to see people infusing that sort of literature into comics.