Jack Cross: Anyone Reading It? [Archive]

GL 1015

10-03-2005, 12:56 PM

I haven't seen much discussion on Jack Cross, so I'm just wondering who actually is reading it and what those who are think of it.

Personally, I wasn't too sure what to think after the first issue--- thought there was potential, but still wasn't sure--- but I enjoyed the second issue much more. If done right, the whole conspiracy could become very interesting in a timely sort of way.

OMAC

10-03-2005, 12:58 PM

I'm reading it. It's been good so far (although a little slow). I'm actually very surprised that this is a DC title. I would have thought that the Vertigo brand would have suited this material much better.

GL 1015

10-03-2005, 01:01 PM

Originally posted by OMAC
I'm reading it. It's been good so far (although a little slow). I'm actually very surprised that this is a DC title. I would have thought that the Vertigo brand would have suited this material much better.

I've actually wondered that myself. Does anyone know why this isn't a Vertigo book? This isn't supposed to be taking place in the DCU, is it?

thefellowship12

10-03-2005, 01:02 PM

I've actually wondered that myself. Does anyone know why this isn't a Vertigo book? This isn't supposed to be taking place in the DCU, is it?

I assume it's not set in the DCU like Caper and the upcoming Jonah Hex. It does certainly seems like a vertigo series.

ElijahSnowFan

10-03-2005, 01:10 PM

...but it's not on my pull list, so i have a question:

did #2 hit the stands last week? because it wasn't at my shop.

Paradiso

10-03-2005, 01:10 PM

Originally posted by ElijahSnowFan
...but it's not on my pull list, so i have a question:

did #2 hit the stands last week? because it wasn't at my shop.

Yep, last week I believe.

EmeraldGuy32

10-03-2005, 01:41 PM

I got the 1st issue but my shop sold out of the second. I've really been digging Ellis's latest swarm of minis.

Fazhoul

10-03-2005, 01:56 PM

I picked up #2 last week but I haven't had a chance to get to it yet. The first issue was interesting enough to bring me back .

OMAC

10-03-2005, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by GL 1015
I've actually wondered that myself. Does anyone know why this isn't a Vertigo book? This isn't supposed to be taking place in the DCU, is it? I think the story is too realistic to be set in the DCU, (e.g. real place names, real world events mentioned, etc.) which makes it stranger that the comic wears a DC badge.

Shoeface

10-03-2005, 02:08 PM

I picked up the first issue, and wasn't too impressed. Now, I'm a HUGE Warren Ellis fan, and try to buy as much of his stuff as I possibly can, but this series didn't really grab me. Might give it up to the end of the first arc, not sure yet. Was issue 2 better than the first?

Also, in the first issue, did anyone else's comic have the woman on the beach call Jack 'John' when she first approaches him, or is that just me?

OMAC

10-03-2005, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by Shoeface
I picked up the first issue, and wasn't too impressed. Now, I'm a HUGE Warren Ellis fan, and try to buy as much of his stuff as I possibly can, but this series didn't really grab me. Might give it up to the end of the first arc, not sure yet. Was issue 2 better than the first? Issue 2 is better. There is still a bit of 'setting up' to do in the arc yet.

Also, in the first issue, did anyone else's comic have the woman on the beach call Jack 'John' when she first approaches him, or is that just me? I don't recall that. I'll check it out.

Shoeface

10-03-2005, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by OMAC
Issue 2 is better. There is still a bit of 'setting up' to do in the arc yet.

Cool, I might pick it up then.

kingofcities

10-03-2005, 02:26 PM

This book kicks much ass. It goes on my list this week. The scene with the bullet in #2 is a fantastic piece of sequential art in action.

Mr Wesley

10-03-2005, 02:51 PM

I flipped through it, but because of my budget, I decided to pick this one up when it's collected. But I will be picking it up.
Originally posted by Shoeface
Also, in the first issue, did anyone else's comic have the woman on the beach call Jack 'John' when she first approaches him, or is that just me? Actually, 'Jack' is a common nickname for John. John F. Kennedy went by 'Jack' to his friends.

Considering that they're both four-letter, single syllable words, I never understood why.

Wildfire

10-03-2005, 03:10 PM

Originally posted by OMAC
I'm reading it. It's been good so far (although a little slow). I'm actually very surprised that this is a DC title. I would have thought that the Vertigo brand would have suited this material much better.

Totally Agree.. this defiantely should be a vertigo title.. I just hope its doesn't suddenly have a JLA guest appearance or something..

I've enjoyed it so far, its no Transmet, but its Ellis best work since then, IMO.

GL 1015

10-03-2005, 03:36 PM

kingofcities

10-03-2005, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by OMAC
I think the story is too realistic to be set in the DCU, (e.g. real place names, real world events mentioned, etc.) which makes it stranger that the comic wears a DC badge.

I might be completely wrong, but it's possible they put this under the regular DC bullet because Vertigo books don't typically sell as well as regular DC titles. Just a little marketing sleight of hand.

GL 1015

10-03-2005, 03:41 PM

The more I think about this series, the more shocked I am it's by DC at all--- Vertigo or otherwise, perhaps...

[possible SPOILERS]

I mean, it's basically setting up the Dept. Of Homeland Security as the villains of the book. At least, that's what it seems like at this point. And that seems like a rather bold move considering DC is part of a major conglomerate and you don't see conglomerates skating that line of criticizing government too often these days.

kingofcities

10-03-2005, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by GL 1015
The more I think about this series, the more shocked I am it's by DC at all--- Vertigo or otherwise, perhaps...

[possible SPOILERS]

I mean, it's basically setting up the Dept. Of Homeland Security as the villains of the book. At least, that's what it seems like at this point. And that seems like a rather bold move considering DC is part of a major conglomerate and you don't see conglomerates skating that line of criticizing government too often these days.

The President was arch-villain Lex Luthor recently. Granted, JC takes place in a more realistic setting, but I don't see that there's much difference. Both books are works of fiction.

GL 1015

10-03-2005, 03:53 PM

Originally posted by kingofcities
The President was arch-villain Lex Luthor recently. Granted, JC takes place in a more realistic setting, but I don't see that there's much difference. Both books are works of fiction.

Right, but, while you could possibly argue that Lex Luthor as Pres. was used by some writers as a way to criticize our current government, the government in Jack Cross seems to actually BE our governemtn, which to me is vastly different.

In other words:
Whether you agree with the statements or not, saying "Bush is a lot like Luthor" is a lot different than saying "The Dept. Of Homeland Security is essentially a terrorist organization out to scare it's own citizens."

kingofcities

10-03-2005, 03:55 PM

Originally posted by GL 1015
Right, but, while you could possibly argue that Lex Luthor as Pres. was used by some writers as a way to criticize our current government, the government in Jack Cross seems to actually BE our governemtn, which to me is vastly different.

In other words:
Whether you agree with the statements or not, saying "Bush is a lot like Luthor" is a lot different than saying "The Dept. Of Homeland Security is essentially a terrorist organization out to scare it's own citizens."

Good points. Like I said though, at the end of the day, it's all fiction. :)

Punchy

10-03-2005, 04:25 PM

I like it, not as good as Desolation Jones or Fell, but still great, I liked how Ellis managed to do bullet time in #3, that's decompression for ya!

Jack Cross Vs Mister Zsasz, who is the best self-harming killer?

Marxist 64

10-03-2005, 04:43 PM

Jack Cross isn;t in the DCU. It's just from a DCU editor office, so it comes under DC. DC have done this before with stuff like Caper

GL 1015

10-03-2005, 04:46 PM

Originally posted by kingofcities
Like I said though, at the end of the day, it's all fiction. :)

Very true. :)

GL 1015

10-03-2005, 04:48 PM

Originally posted by Punchy
I like it, not as good as Desolation Jones or Fell, but still great, I liked how Ellis managed to do bullet time in #3, that's decompression for ya!

Jack Cross Vs Mister Zsasz, who is the best self-harming killer?

I may have to check out those series now. Fell just started recently, right? What about Desolation Jones?

Somehow, I missed the Warren Ellis bandwagon. I read the first short volume of Transmetropolitan, but not much else of his work.

GL 1015

10-03-2005, 04:48 PM

Originally posted by Marxist 64
Jack Cross isn;t in the DCU. It's just from a DCU editor office, so it comes under DC. DC have done this before with stuff like Caper

Thanks for that info.

kingofcities

10-03-2005, 04:54 PM

Originally posted by GL 1015
I may have to check out those series now. Fell just started recently, right? What about Desolation Jones?

Somehow, I missed the Warren Ellis bandwagon. I read the first short volume of Transmetropolitan, but not much else of his work.

DJ is up to issue 3 I believe. FELL just came out a few weeks back, and it is fantastic. It's an interesting experiment that Ellis and Templesmith have put together and I think if the first issue is any indication, it will be very successful.

Transmet is a must own. :cool:

thefellowship12

10-03-2005, 05:55 PM

DJ is up to issue 3 I believe. FELL just came out a few weeks back, and it is fantastic. It's an interesting experiment that Ellis and Templesmith have put together and I think if the first issue is any indication, it will be very successful.

Fell issue 2 is out this week you can check out the preview at Buzzscope