Looking back, I can fondly remember a time when writing negative reviews made me feel terrible. I would feel bad and cringe at the thought of a beginning writer reading some of the horrible things I feel the need to say sometimes. And then I read something like Astra. Something that is touted on its front cover to be an amazing new comic book, in the manga style, that I will just LOVE-and suddenly, I relish it. The opportunity to pull the rug out from under some self-important hack who thinks his comic is way better than it is-it's like living the American Dream, which of course involves the right to point out a load of CRAP whenever I see fit!
It is an important right, it is my right, and I reserve the right to use it-even when in this particular case, the talentless hack I feel the need to destroy happens to be Jerry Robinson, the man who created the most infamous villain in comic book history-The Joker.
Okay, I'll concede that he isn't talentless. The art in this book is actually quite visually stunning, and would be even if his reputation did not proceed itself. No, what actually bothers me here is the fact that his name is plastered all over this book when he is simply the artist-a big contribution mind you, but (and this is a question I find myself asking most times when I read a comic book) did everyone forget that you need a writer for a comic book? Granted, the story is absolutely terrible in this case, but it should be credited to one Kenichi Oi-ishi, and not then to the man who's name is written approximately 5 times throughout the book, while Mr. Oi-ishi's is written but once. So, Mr. Robinson, if you want your name all over the book, then I blame you for the books existence-and thus for the flaws within it.
What flaws am I discussing? Well, let's first discuss the plotline. Astra is the story of a young girl by the same name who is sent from her home planet of Eros, on which men have all passed on centuries ago, to the planet Earth in search of a sperm donor. You see, there was a great war on Eros centuries ago, and somehow, while a steady supply of sperm survived (presumably through sperm banks, though it is never explained), the males of the species did not. And while they have been using this supply of sperm for, and I repeat, CENTURIES, they have not been able to bear a single male child, again for no reason I could not understand. Now, this alone, sounds like the plot of a porn movie, and not even a very good one at that! And the biggest trouble with that is the large stamp on the back indicating the comic to be for readers of all ages-even as the front cover clearly shows Astra's prominent nipples!
Well, I think I've made my feelings completely clear about this story, but in case you weren't sure, here's the recap: I HATED IT, DON'T BUY IT, ITS A WASTE OF TIME!!! And that's a crap, folks!
Send your comments and or questions about this article to jmanzano@ybfree.com.