Doktor Sleepless #13

Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Ivan Rodriguez, w/ Seabra

It's been a while since we've seen an issue of this title, and Ellis makes up for the absence by giving us the most action-packed and fast-paced issue yet. As the Doktor's plans progress, Heavenside burns.

This issue takes a kaleidoscopic approach, as it jumps from character to character, and sub-plot to sub-plot, with very few long scenes. You could never start reading this series with this issue, but if you've been with it from the beginning, there's a lot of stuff taking place that you've been waiting for.

My complaint about this issue concerns the backmatter. Usually this book can be counted on for being a good read from cover to cover, and at times, the rants or articles Ellis fills the last few pages with can be more interesting than the comic itself. This issue only gives us the script for the first few pages of issue one. I know that a lot of completists go nuts for this kind of thing, but I'd rather read something more like his piece on citizen journalism of a few issues ago. I get the feeling that they needed to get the book back on schedule, and so they jettisoned the usual approach. Hopefully things will be back to normal with the next issue.

Doktor Sleepless #12

Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Ivan Rodriguez

For whatever reason, my regular comic store didn't get this at all, and my back-up comic store only appeared to have copies of this weird "Giganta dancing to the Organ of Electricity" black and white wrap-around cover, which makes me wonder a few things, primarily if having 4 or 5 covers of every comic they produce actually garners Avatar more sales. I really like this series, but I can't imagine that there are more than 3 or 4 people out there that would want to own multiple copies, or that think it's going to be some ultra-rare send your kids through college book some day.

Once I got past the cover, I quickly remembered why I like this book so much. Ellis is working on such a slow burn with this title, both in terms of plot and release dates, that it is easy to forget what is going on with the different sub-plots and various characters (I totally forgot that Sing had a boyfriend), yet each issue quickly draws me back into its web.

Heavenside continues to fall apart in this issue, as the gang war heats up and problems arise for Preston Stoker. Also, the Doktor starts a free medical care program. There is a great exchange between the homicide cop and members of the Headhunters gang.

So this book just keeps grinding along (pun intended), and getting more and more interesting with each issue.

Doktor Sleepless #11

Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Ivan Rodriguez

Warren Ellis Week continues with Doktor Sleepless! This book is turning into Ellis's personal playground for trying out interesting ideas and theories of social development.

This issues has two areas of focus: gang divisions in Heavenside, and the death of journalism. For the first topic, he introduces the LO/C - the London Chinese triad gangs that control the drugs in their neighbourhood, and bump up against the gwei lo grinders to the north of them.

As to journalism - the character of Sarah from New York meets up with one of the imminent.sea bloggers, and they talk about the state of things in town, specifically with respect to journalism, and the actions of Doktor Sleepless.

I like that the Doktor doesn't really appear in this book any more - I think the series works better when he is just an idea and an unseen hand, not guiding the action, but providing building blocks for future events, over which, he takes no control.

The backmatter in this issue is an interesting rant about the difference between journalism, citizen journalism, and blogging. I agree with much of what Ellis writes, and like that he references David Simon so much. I don't know how he wrote it without mentioning the Huffington Post though.....

Doktor Sleepless #10

Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Ivan Rodriguez

I like the way the second book of Doktor Sleepless seems to be working. Last issue focused on a reporter from New York who came to Heavenside to write about grinding (and of course, the Doktor). This issue now shifts its gaze to some Homicide cop (whose lieutenant is Amanda Waller) who is investigating the attack on the journalist that ended the last issue.

We finally get some insight into the homeless guy with the nasty teeth, and his connection to John Reinhardt. It seems that this new arc is mostly going to be about people reacting to the things that Sleepless has set in motion.

The best thing about this issue is an appearance from Preston Stoker, the commissioner of police for Heavenside. I think that Preston Stoker is one of the great comic characters of the decade (and I'm sure that Preston Stoker thinks the same thing).

In all, this is a very good issue. This series has been rather consistent in its pace and its look, even if some issues don't always show the main character or give away much about where the series is headed.