Comments on: American Virgin Vol. 1: Head (TPB)

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:23:36 +0000

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article American Virgin Vol. 1: Head (TPB), but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.

By: Matt Hoffman

Matt Hoffman — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:16:43 +0000

The thing about Exterminators is that the real story has just begun — the first year seems to have just been the prelude. I agree it’s been weird but I’m very curious to see where things go from here. Loveless was the only series from the latest batch which I gave up on after a few issues. It just felt gratuitous.

By: Joseph Johnson

Joseph Johnson — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 05:15:40 +0000

I’ve kind of lost my intrest in this series. One issue is great and the next is average and the next is just good. Kind of inconsistent for me. I’m sure it does read better in tp.

By: seba

seba — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 03:20:10 +0000

it’s a whole other discussion, isn’t it? which one is the best new series. i like american virgin, i’ve quit testament (too obscure for me) and dmz (i found it rather unbelievable character-wise). now, i think exterminators is by far the most entertaining one of the one you were talking about. plus, i dig the subject.
but to me the best vertigo new series is loveless.
and the best vertigo current title has to be either 100 bullets or fables, depending on the month.

By: Randy Lander

Randy Lander — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 21:31:38 +0000

I found both Exterminators and Testament to be exceptionally weird. And I’m all for weird, I’m a Grant Morrison fan after all, but I need some grounding in characters and plot and both of these stories were just too out there. On Exterminators, the characters were too extremely jokey, and on Testament, the story was so jumbled that I couldn’t actually follow it.

As for American Virgin’s validity in terms of length… it’s a fair point. I’d forgotten Crusades, but I remember being really onboard for the first couple issues and then totally losing interest. American Virgin has at least sustained more interest for me, and while at first I wondered how long the premise could sustain, I see a number of potential story arcs, including the story of Adam’s cousin Cindy and her legal issues, the story of Adam’s brother, following up on his stepdad’s ministry, what happens when Adam returns to the U.S., and we still don’t know the full story behind what happened with Cassie. I think that with just what we know so far, Seagle could easily sustain a good three-year run (equal to the Losers), if not more.

By: skiski

skiski — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 10:19:19 +0000

I don’t read Testament but I like Exterminators. Not as good as Y or Fables, but quite interesting.

By: Matt Hoffman

Matt Hoffman — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 04:37:48 +0000

Though I’ve enjoyed this series (esp Becky Cloonan’s art), I haven’t been able to shake the question of whether or not the hook is enough to sustain the story for long. Seagle’s last Vertigo ongoing (Crusades, which lasted 20 issues) basically centered on one mystery and fizzled fast, even before the mystery was solved. Even the initial solicitations of American Virgin made me think: Ok, and then what?

Also, is there no love for Exterminators or Testament round here?

By: Marc

Marc — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:53:19 +0000

Well Nick, that makes me even more curious about the second TPB.

And for the art, I personally liked Becky’s art better with Jim’s inks, it was a bit smoother and refined. I hope Street Angel will continue soon …

By: Jofo

Jofo — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 11:05:54 +0000

Well, I already said that the art really wasn’t my thing but I get the feeling that I’m on my own on that subject

As for the characters, most of them are indeed interesting. I only didn’t get the part of the private detective. Where did he get from all of a sudden.

Maybe I also expected something else from this serie. I know that it’s called American Virgin but why has every girl to throw herself at Adam’s feet It’s not that I really disliked the serie but it wasn’t good enough for me to continue. Ironically enough I found the last issue I read, about the gay bar/club, the best of the entire run so far. I only had already decided that I should stop with this serie, you can’t read everything

By: Nick Budd

Nick Budd — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 09:33:37 +0000

Well, Marc and Jofo, I will say that you do indeed get to know Adam better as time goes on. But it’s not really in the ways you’d expect, it’s more through his actions rather than words that you come to find out what really makes him tick. And that’s something about American Virgin that I really like. It does the unexpected and really captures you with it, and even though I still don’t exactly know where the story is going, I’m hooked by it.

The reason for that?

The characters. They are all that interesting and fun to read about, and as a bonus you get Becky Cloonan’s fantastic art. All in all, not a bad combination.

By: Marc

Marc — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 08:58:16 +0000

I just read the TPB and I was surprised about how great this book was. I can follow Jofo though, I also wonder why we had to go to Africa this fast. I hope we’ll get to know Adam a bit better in the following stories.

By: skiski

skiski — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:12:59 +0000

Previous works of Seagle have been hit-and-miss for me, but I think I will try this one. It’s one of the only vertigo ongoing I’m not reading and it could be a mistake. Thanks for your review.

By: Jofo

Jofo — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:03:32 +0000

I didn’t really digg American Virgin I’ve to say. Why couldn’t we get to know Adam a little bit more before he got pulled out of his normal environment and was thrown in to Africa?

Also the artwork wasn’t really my thing. Found it to sketchy I think. So after reading 8 issues I’ve quit this serie. I’ll continue reading DMZ, for me the best new comic of Vertigo