Reviews
Comics Buyers' Guide #1445 (July 27, 2001)
"Publisher Picks and Retailer Reviews"
Titans of Finance, Alternative, 24 pages, b/w, $3.50
Josh Neufeld and R. Walker present real-life stories of financiers and
investors who made a big splash on Wall Street only to crash and burn
later. Included are profiles of Ron Perelman, "Chainsaw" Al" Dunlap, Mike
"The V-Man" Vranos, and "Jaybird" Goldinger.
Biggers: A delightful book, fascinating reading, and an amazing
accomplishment. Neufeld and Walker have, in effect, focused the Big
Book approach on some of the financial bigwigs of the present and
recent past. The book is edgy, irreverent, sometimes caustic, but always
fascinating. The most fun for comics fans, of course, is the inside glimpse
of Ron Perelman's ham-handed destruction of the Marvel Comics Empire,
but every story is informative and fascinating, regardless of the subject.
Let's hope that Neufeld and Walker team up again to turn their talents
on other contemporary subjects — howsabout a computer-geek look at
the insiders of the computer industry, or a political volume looking at
the presidential candidates of 2000?
Grade: A+
Bennett: Though there's a lot of potential for bitter, black humor,
not to mention social commentary or even a searing indictment of American
high finance, both writing and art here just aren't quite up to the job.
Better luck next time.
Grade: C
Inwood: The ups and downs of the financial world are shown in
the comic book, with the first story about Marvel's Ron Perelman. If you
work in the world of high finance, this one is for you.
Grade: B
Mateer: Much like the excellent Two-Fisted Science, this
expands the comics field by using it to examine a completely different
corner of the world — here, the realm of high-stakes corporate finance.
If that seems like a strange combination, notice that the first story
looks at Ron Perelman and then notice how many of the other tycoons profiled
see themselves in comic-book terms. In fact, the tension between their
self-images as fantasy heroes and Neufeld and Walker's more realistic
views of their careers, is what gives this title its cynical kick. The
only criticism is so many stories follow the same real-life plot: There
aren't many good guys here, just type-A egotists who eventually get their
comeuppance. (Of course, that's a story most of us never get tired of
reading.)
Grade: B+
Scott: A book that would have been enjoyable even without the
Marvel section featuring the Icahn-Perelman debacle that was the shot
heard around the comic world. Take a look behind the scenes at the making
— and sometimes breaking -- of those heady fools with more money
than brains. Funny stuff.
Grade: B
Panel's Grade: B
Images, characters and likenesses © and TM R. Walker & Josh Neufeld
