BRUCE JONES' VIGILANTE JUSTICE

[MattBrady]

<img border="0" src="http://www.newsarama.com/images/interviews/2005/jones/v2.jpg" width="180" height="270" align="right"><i>by Rik Offenberger</i>

The Vigilante is one of those classic Golden Age DC heroes that keeps being reinvented for each generation. He's gone from kerchief-wearing cowboy to battle-ready quasi urban commando in his years in the DC Universe, and now, Bruce Jones and Ben Oliver are bringing a new Vigilante to the DCU, and this time he’s more killer then hero.

<b>Newsarama</b>: Let's start with the obvious, why is this character the Vigilante, when there is already another Vigilante running around the DCU?

<b>Bruce Jones</b>: I think that will be answered early on in the series. Our Vigilante is cut from a wholly different cloth than the other(s) with an agenda and vibe that sets him apart from the traditional superhero of the DCU-or any U for that matter.

Click here (http://www.newsarama.com/images/interviews/2005/jones/Jones_Vigilante.htm) for the interview.

[Erikcrusade]

I loved the way this first issue was set up and introduced the character. It would be very interesting to see someone of this nature sharing turf with Superman. The implications for future stories would be great.

[BlueThunderArmy]

I've always thought the world could use more vigilantes. :)

[Rich Johnston]

To see how Micah Wright's Vigilante would have gone, click here (http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=litg&article=1964)

[Mr Wesley]

This is the oddest cover to a comic I believe I've ever seen. :D
http://www.newsarama.com/images/interviews/2005/jones/portrait.jpg

[NewRisingSun]

I enjoyed the first issue and am looking forward to the rest of the series.

[.:lemmiwinks]

i was hoping this would be about the OTHER jones: KELLEY jones (best jones in the comic biz)

i wish that guy would draw a monthly...

[Kolimar]

Nice interview. :)

Originally posted by Mr Wesley
This is the oddest cover to a comic I believe I've ever seen. :D
http://www.newsarama.com/images/interviews/2005/jones/portrait.jpg

You haven't seen enough covers. :p :D ;)

[siskods9]

Boy this man can padd a book. I dont understand why he still gets comic book work after the previous crap hes produced over the years.

[Erikcrusade]

Originally posted by siskods9
Boy this man can padd a book. I dont understand why he still gets comic book work after the previous crap hes produced over the years.

Meaning?

[Spaz_Monkey]

I loved the 80's Vigilante, and I'm just happy to see anyone taking the franchise over.

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by siskods9
Boy this man can padd a book. I dont understand why he still gets comic book work after the previous crap hes produced over the years. what did you think abuot Vigilante #1 in regards to your complaint, though?

Or was that just a drive by trolling? Please go back to your bridge if it was. There are goats coming you can annoy.

MattB

[cncoyle]

Originally posted by Mr Wesley
This is the oddest cover to a comic I believe I've ever seen. :D
http://www.newsarama.com/images/interviews/2005/jones/portrait.jpg Maybe it's the cover to "What If... Harry Hamlin and Brooke Shields reproduced?"

[Spider-Bob]

I read and enjoyed Jone's first issue. Hopefully it will be a more condensed story than his run on Hulk, which sorely tested my patience. In all fairness though I would have liked to have seen the blue-collar Vigilante that Micah Wright conceived. Unfortunately the mood of politics at the moment doesn't make much room for populist heroes. Perhaps comics have gone too corporate for that form of subversive story telling? What can I say, I'm turning into an old liberal that pines for the good old days of the 1980's Epic Comics that published books that don't seem to have much of a place in the new comics market.

[tralfaz]

i liked the first issue

[Punchy]

#1 was fun, I'm intrigued.

I think Vigilante is Earth-2 Wonder Woman :p

[matchesmalone]

You'd think a talented writer such as Bruce Jones could describe a book in some terms other than "a wild ride". I stopped reading the interview, did he use the rest of the Wizard-article cliches? e.g.,

I wanted a chance to play with (that company's) toys.

(The artist) is producing the best work of his career.

and my favorite

At the end of the day...

[Paladin]

Been reading Bruce's comic book work since Wade, Bruce's friend that I used to work with, told me that he was getting back into comics.

Good stuff. Like the dark aspect, a refreshing departure from the norm. Everyone has their pacing preference, but I think Bruce's work should be judged on all aspects. Let's hope DC sends more projects his way. :)

[BlueThunderArmy]

Originally posted by matchesmalone
You'd think a talented writer such as Bruce Jones could describe a book in some terms other than "a wild ride". I stopped reading the interview, did he use the rest of the Wizard-article cliches? e.g.,

I wanted a chance to play with (that company's) toys.

(The artist) is producing the best work of his career.

and my favorite

At the end of the day...

Possible replacements for Wizard clichés:

"wild ride" = "shitstorm"

"I wanted a chance to play with (that company's) toys." = "I was bored to tears of (rival company's) characters."

"(The artist) is producing the best work of his career." = "His art is so good you won't mind the five-month delay between issues!"

"At the end of the day..." = "I'm making this up as I go along."

[Jeremy Williams]

I like Bruce Jones`style as a writer. He reminds me of Greg Rucka in that they`re the type of guys that take longer to appreciate when you read a story by them but ultimately it`s more rewarding than any other writers that`s all shock and bing bang from the first issue on.

[Regulator]

Originally posted by BlueThunderArmy
Possible replacements for Wizard clichés:

"wild ride" = "shitstorm"

Hmm, what new book have people been calling a wild ride? :D

[tomburgos]

Where is the interview?
The link takes me back to this page...after trying to click on it 6 times and always coming back here, I thought I had reached a Twilight Zone...

[Regulator]

Aww, did my post about Micah get deleted? haha

[siskods9]

Originally posted by MattBrady
what did you think abuot Vigilante #1 in regards to your complaint, though?

Or was that just a drive by trolling? Please go back to your bridge if it was. There are goats coming you can annoy.

MattB I think the first issue was really slow paced and It felt like it was dragging. I crawled from the bridge Matt:D

[EmeraldGuy32]

Originally posted by siskods9
I think the first issue was really slow paced and It felt like it was dragging. I crawled from the bridge Matt:D slow paced?? the guys already killed like four people and we've been introduced to two more major players. but whatever...:rolleyes:

[jedifish]

I thought the first issue was pretty good. Interested to see what happens next.

[anjelbasca]

Originally posted by siskods9
I think the first issue was really slow paced and It felt like it was dragging. I crawled from the bridge Matt:D

VIGILANTE was deliberately paced by a writer who knows something about writing. Bruce Jones is not only one of the most prolific and talented writer in comics, he's also a published novelist (IN DEEP, MAXIMUM VELOCITY, GAME RUNNING, SPRINTER, etc.) as well as a television and movie scriptwriter and one of the few writers around anymore who has actually published short stories--wonderful ones, I might add!

Knowing Jones, VIGILANTE will just get better and better, and it's already pretty terrific! He's the Hitchcock of the comic world and I'm looking forward to his future with DC.

[siskods9]

Originally posted by EmeraldGuy32
slow paced?? the guys already killed like four people and we've been introduced to two more major players. but whatever...:rolleyes: When did the actual title character show up exactly?

[Erikcrusade]

Originally posted by siskods9
When did the actual title character show up exactly?

My guess is your not a fan of suspense huh?

[Agent69]

Personally, I have always loved Jones's work, since when I was exposed to it when Alien Worlds and Twisted Tales debuted in the early eighties. Other good Jones titles was Silverheels, Somerset Holmes, and Freakshow (serialized in Heavy Metal). I like Twisted Tales and Alien Worlds enough that I even created a story listing for them here (http://www.metawire.org/~agent69/bjones.html).

As for Vigilante, I liked the first issue and I am looking forward to the second.

[siskods9]

Originally posted by Erikcrusade
My guess is your not a fan of suspense huh? Yes when done well.

[Erikcrusade]

Originally posted by siskods9
Yes when done well.

Well that's entirely subjective then isn't it? ;)

I thought, as many did in this thread, that he did a great job with building the suspense in this issue. I especially like how our focus is drawn initially in each seen to the "villians" of the piece especially. He gives each victim it's own character before being assaulted by the "Vigilante". I'm not quite sure I understand why you believe the suspense in this issue wasn't built well? I also think far too often books focus too much on the main protagonist. I like that he gave us all this insight into the secondary characters, but also into the inds of his victims. I think this ultimately gives us a way better read into the character, and gives him so much more depth than if we got the requisite "full body shot on every page" that you generally get in an issue #1. I also believe it brethes some suspense and mystery into the character he's trying to reveal. The whole mystery of this issue, and maybe of the whole mini-series will be "Who is THIS Vigilante?" And even if it isn't answered completley through the course of this mini-series, it provides an intersting palette for Jones to paint from with future stories.

[siskods9]

Bruce Jones does a great job at padding his stories.

[Erikcrusade]

You keep saying that but your not explaining how. I don't see any padding.

[anjelbasca]

Originally posted by siskods9
Bruce Jones does a great job at padding his stories.


That's called storytelling, not padding...read often?

[gcoleman99]

Just outta curiousity, did Adrian Chase get mentioned in issue #1?

[Jeremy Williams]

Originally posted by siskods9
Bruce Jones does a great job at padding his stories.

...and you`re a little kid with short attention span.

Bruce Jones > PAD