Miscellaneous Comments:    6 December, 1999

    I'm a huge fan of the William Moessner-Loebs Doctor Fate series. A huge fan. But I had never read the J.M. DeMatteis run that preceded it.

    Until now.

    For years I've been a fan of J.M. DeMatteis, so I came to his Doctor Fate series with high expectations.

    Silly me.

    What a load of twaddle.

    Type of Series: Fantasy;

    Similar Comics: Doctor Strange; and a much better run of Doctor Fate, written by somebody else!!

    Typical Issue: The action in these issues is divided between the bad-guy being led on a route that will cause the end of creation, and the mis-matched heroes getting their act together in an effort to go and stop him.

    It's a very disjointed mix.

    The story of Andrew Bennett and his quest for oblivion (even it means the end of everything) is rather interesting and compelling.

    The rest of any issue you pick is a waste of space. It's written with sledgehammer subtlety. But you have the feeling that even if it worked, even if it was funny, it still wouldn't gel correctly with the other stuff happening.

    A pity. Played straight, this would have been a worthwhile ride.

    Strengths: The arc involving Andrew Bennett is worthwhile. In fact, it's typical of the story-telling I associate with J.M. DeMatteis.

    Bennett is a vampire.

    He cannot die.

    Yet, he desperately wants to. He wants to end. To cease. To be nothing.

    And he can't.

    DeMatteis writes these scenes so well that you cannot help but be affected and involved.

    Weaknesses: Everything that is not connected with Andrew Bennett.

    In other words: Eric, Linda, Kent (Nabu), Petey and Jack (Typhon). All five regulars are irritating and pointless.

    The most pointless are Eric and Linda: two bland non-entities.

    The most irritating is Petey, the demon dog.

    Plotting: Pretty good. The story points come together at a satisfying pace. As each issue concludes Bennett is much closer to his goals, and (idiots thought the most certainly be) the good guys are likewise closer to being able to field some sort of defence.

    Logic: Dodgy. All these fantasy series tend to work on the make-it-up-as-you-go-along philosophy. Which is fine by me.

    Originality: Hmmm. Very original actually. So, while I must declare that the whole enterprise is fairly awful, I must also say that there's nothing else quite like it.

    Ending: Much more satisfying than it had any right to be, considering that what went before it was (mostly) infantile.

    The fact is: DeMatteis is a great writer. And when he's not trying his hand at so-called comedy, his writing has the power to mesmerise. Most of the sixth issue is serious. And therefore, because of that, the story finale has a lot going for it.

    Re-Readability: None. I would not wish to read this again, under any circumstances.

    Impressive Characters: The villain.

    Impressive Artists: Shawn McManus and Mark McKenna are the guys responsible. And a fine job they do, too.

    Less-Than-Impressive Characters: Every character except the villain.

    Less-Than-Impressive Writers: J. M. DeMatteis. This, to me, is dreadful mis-step in an otherwise glorious career.

    Less-Than-Impressive Scenes: Any scenes where the regulars bicker. This run of six issues has far too many scenes of "hilarious" banter. Plus there's a running "gag" where Nabu wants everybody to call him "Kent", but they keep saying "Nabu" instead.

    So he reminds them.

    But they do it again.

    So he reminds them.

    But they do it again.

    !!!

    And it goes on and on and on.

    And you - you just know - that it's meant to be funny.

    In some obscure way that totally eludes me.

    Less-Than-Impressive Dialogue: "Kent!" See above.

    Continuity: Strong. Issue One functions as a prequel to the upcoming story, focusing on the introduction of one of the regulars, and tantalising us with a cameo by the baddie of the piece. Issues Two to Six comprise one long story called "The Night of Brahma."

    Guide:

    Reviews:

    Other Info:

GRADE: C+

Review by Michael Leddy

Comments are welcome: rikerdonegal@hotmail.com

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