James’ Book
Tron #6
Written by Landry Walker & Eric Jones
Art by Michael Shoyket
Slave Labor Graphics, 2008
Of recent trends in comics, one of my favorites is the revival of cult franchises. It’s a great way for fans to get new stories set in their favorite universes without worrying about actors being too old, or studios not wanting to shell out millions for something that isn’t a sure hit. The biggest example right now of this is Buffy: Season Eight, but Slave Labor Graphics has been doing fairly well for itself in this market thanks to an agreement with Disney.
The only problem I have with this trend is that these are obviously cult properties. So as much as I’m glad they’re coming out, they are pretty much fan-only. This is where Tron suffers. I remember renting the movie as a kid, but I couldn’t tell you anything that happens in it. I know it was one of the first films to mix live action and computer-generated imagery, but that doesn’t make it an interesting movie to watch. And it especially doesn’t make it an interesting comic. People have been visually innovative in comics ever since the medium was created; it’s going to take a lot more than neon colours on a black background to wow me. And the fact that the all characters look like this guy doesn’t help matters.
You know how everything that is cyber-influenced eventually gets around to asking the tough questions about what reality and identity really are? Well, good news! Tron does it again! And does so in a way that you’ll probably only understand if you’ve seen the movie and played the videogame that a vast majority of people didn’t know existed! If that sounds like you, then you’re just the person this book was made for. For everyone else, go read… not this.
Also, the cover is merely a page of interior art with the title and company logo slapped on. That’s just lazy.
To be fair, there was no way I was going to like this book. But if you can tell me who designed the light cycles in the original flick, I’m sure you’ll dig it. In fact, I’m sure you already have it.
