tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139630864504778401.post3538721948001084025..comments2023-11-06T01:11:14.282-05:00Comments on Junk Food For Thought: Review- TRINITY OF SIN- THE PHANTOM STRANGER VOL. 2: BREACH OF FAITH TPUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139630864504778401.post-88121032249318753152014-05-24T09:33:44.842-04:002014-05-24T09:33:44.842-04:00I totally agree that DC's endless crossovers m... I totally agree that DC's endless crossovers make some of their collections VERY hard to read. It's also a nightmare trying to coordinate which issue from this trade needs to be read before/after/concurrently with what issue from that trade. I can only imagine how confused the mythical "New reader" would be. Like you said, a text recap page would do wonders to mitigate this problem.<br />Great review, Kris. As usual.The Crabby Reviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902708680954049015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139630864504778401.post-3469032657602247542014-05-24T07:55:59.556-04:002014-05-24T07:55:59.556-04:00The worst of it is that the theme of PS could have...The worst of it is that the theme of PS could have been maintained if the set-up had been different than in issue 0. PS is not the Judas in the Bible. He may have been acting under orders from God so that Jesus could rise, he may not have been involved at all and just thought he was, or perhaps, something else. I'm positive about this (it comes from a close reading and some questions to DeMatteis on his blog). If readers knew it was the character who was being worked over, and were in on the trick, I think it would have promoted readership.<br /><br />What could have been done from the beginning was a series of flashbacks and other character (or narrator) comments to the effect PS is on a learning path. That would have clued the readers in to the fact that this version of PS was really a sort of prequel to the earlier Series 2.<br /><br />By the way, the reason Dr. Thirteen is in the series is because it lets the reader better relate to the character of PS. It's a literary device, like the way a "kid sidekick" or a Jimmy Olsen helps a reader better relate to a Batman or Superman. Since Dr. Thirteen was known to long time readers, as you noted, and his background in the occult had a history, it made sense to refashion him rather than create someone new. <br /><br />PS deserved better than cancellation. Great character, some wonderful stories, but an absolutely horrible launch which effectively killed it in the cradle. Shit. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139630864504778401.post-52174479531553783732014-05-24T07:35:05.593-04:002014-05-24T07:35:05.593-04:00[continuing]. In my view, DeMatteis' work was ...[continuing]. In my view, DeMatteis' work was generally brilliant. His three part story in which PS goes to search for his family in Hell and Heaven is worthy of award status. I've been reading since the early Silver Age, so I think I know dam'n good when I see it (that's right, I'm old, but I still like a great story). They took readers into realms of spirituality, religious morality and philosophy which I don't think I have seen before (at least on a sustained basis). Unfortunately, that probably turned some readers off, too.<br /><br />I agree with you about too many cross-overs. So much time was spent in which PS shared space with others that it was hard to move the character along. By my count, well over half his stories were part of cross-overs, team-ups, or guests of some sort (a fake Demon, Lady Luck from Will Eisner's estate, pre-Raven in the first issue). They also stretched out a long term arc in the story which was finally getting resolved just before cancellation: PS was being deliberately made to act like a dick by God so that he would follow his conscience instead of the word of God (issue 18). Where do you find that in other comics? [continued]<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139630864504778401.post-53748850987969250842014-05-24T07:15:29.909-04:002014-05-24T07:15:29.909-04:00I agree and disagree. First, the disagreement. PS ...I agree and disagree. First, the disagreement. PS actually has a very dedicated following, which includes me, although, it is not large. When he has shown up as a guest, the appearances have also been well received.<br /><br />No, the fundamental problem is that DC seemingly turned PS from a cool, enigmatic hero into Judas. That took away the mystery, while making him an arch- villain, and tied him really closely into a specific religion (religious motiffs also turn off most readers). Then, early stories all read like the "betrayer of the month" issues, culminating in the ghastly betrayal of what should have been the Creeper. By the time DeMatteis took over, I think the only reason PS lasted was because of his seeming central role in Trinity of Sin. That was "readership betrayal", because he wasn't that central at all. [continued]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com