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Post by C_Miller on Mar 28, 2013 17:46:27 GMT -5
Okay all, the first issue is up. It's not really a full story, but a couple scenes here and there that I thought would be important for the larger story at hand.
Hope everyone enjoys.
Ex Astris Scientia translates to "From Stars, Knowledge" which I thought fit our hero Starman.
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Post by Question on Mar 28, 2013 19:02:34 GMT -5
<3 Star Trek
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Post by C_Miller on Mar 28, 2013 21:35:00 GMT -5
I'm actually a huge Star Trek buff, but I didn't want to use such a blatant reference, but it was way too perfect to pass up.
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Post by The Wonderful Wachter on Mar 28, 2013 22:49:27 GMT -5
Definitely an issue 0 and probably not the best choice for you to start with but I'll reserve judgement on that for when I see issue 1. A lot of problems with it are taste and preference issues and I only found the dialogue incredibly stupid at one point, for the rest it had a snap to it even if it didn't feel like I was reading about guys in the 40s.
But you did have a major problem in setting and appearance... There's none of it, or so little that I barely notice. For an origin/backstory issue... that's a pretty poor choice. You tell the entire story through dialogue which is boring to me in the long run since this is the written word. I could have taken all of it and given people to read and it would have came across more interesting because I'd at least know who was talking and see the actions instead of just reading people saying stuff. I get relatively little insight into Ted's MO for a stand alone like this which allows you more room for character thought given you only have one character to focus on instead of a team. Got no idea what's going on with him outside the letter. I don't know what any room ever looks like. Correction, would have been better for nearly every scene to be like the 1949 one. Perfect balance between action, description, and dialogue.
As for preference... In waiting two months for this, it was kinda lame and a let down. You give us a start that is boring and just backstory. Would have been better to start in the present then go back or intersperse the present with the past. With it, you give the appearance of a Starman title instead of "Infinity Inc." For a first impression, it doesn't leave an impact or give any idea what this might be about outside of a potential origin for an antagonist. I read it and that's just it. Nothing stood out to me. Nothing made me want to keep reading it. Nothing made me go "Oooh, I wonder..." or "How bout that?" Just words on a page.
But like I said, that's just preference. Nothing wrong with it. Just not the road I'd go with a first posted issue that took two months to get posted.
All in all, it was a solid and strong issue mechanically for the most part outside of the lack of description and I'll wait for more before a final judgement on if this was the right choice for a start. Sooooo... Three stars out of five.
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Post by Drake on Mar 29, 2013 13:26:59 GMT -5
I enjoyed this much more than Wachter did. It certainly felt like a Starman issue 0, not an Infinity Inc. issue 0, and now that I think about it, it would have been less interesting if I didn't know the characters. On over all what happened, yes, it was boring, but the character interactions were intriguing.
Ivo is by far your most interesting character. Ted came off as moderately heroic, and definitely human, but not very interesting. Maybe that's only because you didn't explain much of Ted's personal life outside of his fiance (we don't even know what happened to her) and his college. Although you really didn't even explain much of that.
7.25/10. 7 as too low and 7.5 too high.
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Post by DiscipleofBob on Mar 29, 2013 14:56:13 GMT -5
I enjoyed the issue.
I disagree with Wachter with the idea that there's nothing that leaves me wanting more. The dynamic between Ted Knight and Ivo is great, and giving personality to something like the Oppenheimer Project serves to give some good flavor. I look forward to more.
One thing I want to say, and this is less about the chapter and more about your claims list, listing the Teen Titans as villains? While part of me is pouting in a corner that they aren't available for a Titans title later, the other part of me is very intrigued as to how that'll play out.
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Post by C_Miller on Mar 29, 2013 15:07:10 GMT -5
It certainly felt like a Starman issue 0, not an Infinity Inc. issue 0 In fairness, no one (besides me) knows what Infinity Inc. is. This was very much Infinity Inc. issue 0, even though Starman was the focus.
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Post by Drake on Mar 29, 2013 18:55:34 GMT -5
It certainly felt like a Starman issue 0, not an Infinity Inc. issue 0 In fairness, no one (besides me) knows what Infinity Inc. is. This was very much Infinity Inc. issue 0, even though Starman was the focus. True.
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Post by Stardrifter on Mar 29, 2013 20:15:08 GMT -5
I'm rather indifferent. It wasn't bad, but it didn't grip me either. I will agree with Wachter that for how long it's taken this to come out, it was a let down. Looking forward to the series proper. Keep em coming.
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Post by jackalope on Apr 1, 2013 0:21:11 GMT -5
I liked it. Only just reading Starman for the first time now I have some appreciation for ol' Ted Knight. I'll be curious to see what you do with Ivo (whether any ideas from my nearly Infinity Inc. storyline filter though). Looking at the MLC you have an awesome cast, hope your series has the chance to let them all shine.
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Post by liquidsword34 on Apr 2, 2013 20:45:24 GMT -5
I enjoyed it. I have no idea about Infinity Inc so I'm not sure how this all ties in, but I liked the interaction between the characters, and I think that for this type of issue a lot of dialogue little description can work, although maybe a bit more description would've helped.
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Post by C_Miller on Apr 5, 2013 15:14:18 GMT -5
First issue proper issue up.
This probably gives a better feel for what I'm trying to do. I also hope this and subsequent issues shed light on my decision to include the 0 issue.
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Post by DiscipleofBob on Apr 5, 2013 15:34:23 GMT -5
Like this even more.
Still plenty of mysteries to go around, but it's issue 1 so that's pretty much required.
You have succeeded very much in capturing my interest with this series and I look forward to reading more.
I only caught a comma or two out of place, nothing otherwise noticeable grammar-wise though.
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Post by Stardrifter on Apr 5, 2013 17:19:50 GMT -5
This was much better. The wording in the first section was very awkward, but otherwise I found nothing to complain about. The characters were interesting. The mystery is well set up. Keep em coming.
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Post by buck on Apr 10, 2013 14:16:02 GMT -5
Alright my 1000th post is my review of Infinity Inc. #0 and #1.
So quick grammar thing when Ted's talking Dr. should be spelled out.
The zero issue was a very interesting read. I love the concept of merging the DC Universe with actual history and with all of the geniuses running around it only makes sense they'd have ties to the Manhattan Project. My only complaint is the fact we didn't see anything modern day which would have been nice.
Onward to Issue One
Felt like the scene with informant ended abruptly. You built Lyta up as someone who is always in control and is thinking three moves ahead. And then you end the scene with her getting a list of names she has no clue about and the talented, driven FBI Agent just goes to sleep. Just goes against the character you've developed.
Other then that I can't wait to see the rest of the cast appear.
Keep up the good work.
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Post by liquidsword34 on Apr 10, 2013 20:39:16 GMT -5
I liked it, but I kind of found the exposition in the first scene awkward. I get why you did it that way, but it was just exposoting so much information in the prose at once. Other than that, great issue.
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Post by jackalope on Apr 16, 2013 5:26:24 GMT -5
Cool, I like the crime/thriller-genre feel you've got going on. I like both Lyta and Hector so far, but feel maybe some of the exposition might have been better worked into the dinner conversation, but that's totally a choice thing. It didn't feel that there was a huge amount of pressure on them for such a high profile case, but maybe they weren't the only team working on it. There's a nice set of mysteries you've introduced and I'm looking forward to seeing how they play out. Great work on this issue.
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