Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: N/A
Written by: Keith Giffen
Penciled by: Colleen Doran
Inked by: Bob Wiacek
Colored by: Lovern Kindzierski
Lettered by: John E. Workman
Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Joan Hilty
Publisher: DC Comics
The toughest kind
I absolutely hate to write a review like this, but what kind of reviewer would I be if I wasn’t honest. After only two issues, I can’t bring myself to read Reign of the Zodiac any longer. The first issue, which I also reviewed, was a look at the vast history that serves as backstory. While beautifully illustrated, it was nearly impenetrable. I choose to give Keith Giffen one more chance to grab my attention with this second issue, as it promised to tell a story, not a history. Sadly, boredom set in almost immediately, and my patience has worn out very quickly.
Dune has nothing on this
While that’s a little bit of an overstatement, this comic is similar to Frank Herbert’s masterwork Dune. Both are complex works of science fiction that are dense and take patience to move through. While Herbert’s work was a superb novel that could take its time to tell the story and lead to a tremendous payoff for your attention, Mr. Giffen is not afforded the same chance with the comic format. Perhaps as a graphic novel of considerable length, the story would make more sense, but in a monthly format these stories just don’t work.
The world of Eidolon is split into twelve houses that coincide with what we know as the signs of the Zodiac. The Virgan and Arian houses are about to seal the breach between them with a wedding that will insure an important alliance. Reminiscent of many great works of the past, the dragging pace is the downfall here. Alas, the short bursts don’t allow the story to move past these deficiencies. We have no time to get to know the players in this drama. After two issues, the characters are not even cardboard cutouts. The attention to detail is amazing, but unfortunately, the story just doesn’t have time to breath and pull me in.
The Market and why CrossGen can succeed with such work
Everything that I read about “Reign†prior to its launch made me think CrossGen. DC appeared to be moving in a different direction, with a fantasy / sci-fi comic, no superheroes, and a brand new world. While there can be many comparisons brought to CrossGen works like Scion or Sojourn, this book doesn’t have the heart that those books illustrated from the very first issue.
Finances are, also, a factor. Simply put: this title for some reason cost $2.75 a month, and it’s not worth it. Since this is an ongoing series, the story may never come together before it reaches cancellation. With the comic market at a point where many books just don’t last, I fear putting a great deal of time and money into a title that may never bear any satisfaction.
In the end, it pains me greatly to write this review. I respect Keith Giffen’s work greatly, and Colleen Doran’s artwork is breathtaking. If the title endures, and especially if it gets a trade paperback at a later date, I’ll be more than glad to check in once again and read a large chunk. For now though, there is just nothing that can get me to buy issue # 3.
