"We Can Be Heroes...Just For One Day"
Dec 03 '01
The Bottom Line n/a
Author note: I have had this product in my hands for about 2 weeks now. The sheer beauty of it has all but made me determined to write a review...this is the only category I could find that would even be CLOSE to it since Epinions does not have a product listing for it...in no way do I think of this as a "series" or do I think that the events of 9-11 are "fictional." However, given the Comic Book characters, I figured maybe I could get away with putting it here. For those of you who have a problem with me reviewing this here, I'll just say I'm reviewing it so everyone can get their hands on it...it's THAT good.
The events of September 11, 2001 are etched in all our minds forever. The letters NYPD and FDNY mean something very different to us now. The World Trade Center is nothing more than rubble. Immediately, it seemed, things were being organized to help the victims and their families. One of the more odd things that happened to come to fruition was the creation of a comic book, collecting new images from some of the greatest comic book legends of all time, from Stan Lee to Todd McFarlane.
It's title is perhaps it's greatest trait: "HEROES: The World's Greatest Super Hero Creators Honor the World's Greatest Heroes 9-11-2001."
This book not only collects incredible works of art that depict not only fictional characters like Captain America, but the true heroes like the police and firefighters. And in one particularly poignant drawing, a picture of men on an airplane rushing a pair of hijackers.
My review will consist of what I feel are the 5 most incredible drawings in the book. Believe me when I tell you picking just 5 was not easy, as all the artwork and words in this thing are incredible.
5)Captain America Weeping Over the New York City Skyline
This photo is beyond powerful. The New York City skyline is shown, the Twin Towers missing, just a huge cloud of smoke in their wake. In the background, Captain America covers his face, weeping. I'm not a big comic book fan, I've never seen why some people are into them so much. But there is something about these depictions that get to me. This is an amazing image.
4)"Let's Roll"
That was supposedly what was said by the four men who organized the takeover of the jet downed in western Pennsylvania. This is the photo described above of them rushing the hijackers. I'm so happy this got depicted. To me, those 4 men are 4 of our nation's greatest heroes of all time. In our worst time, they showed the very best of America.
3)The Cover Shot
This shot is of a fireman carrying out a victim. It's eerily reminiscent of the infamous Oklahoma City photograph. This is the cover artwork, and it appears again in the middle of the magazine/book. The collapsed tower in the background is as haunting as it gets.
2)"Ashes to Ashes Dust to Dust Brother to Brother"
Those are the words that appear over this picture, a firman on one knee in the midst of the rubble, obviously overcome by what has happened to over 300 of his brothers. As he kneels, his right hand touches a helmet that once was worn by one of those 300. If this doesn't bring tears to your eyes, number one will.
1)Tattered and Torn, Our Flag Was Still There
On top of the rubble of what once was the greatest symbol of American capitalism stands Captain America holding a flag pole with a torn, tattered, and beaten American flag that is still flying strong. Above it, Stan Lee writes a short poem that concludes with "A day there was when Liberty lost her heart-and found the strength within her soul." Yet another amazing image.
All in all there are 65 pages of remarkable artwork. Good luck finding a first printing. They are already going for a whole lot of money on Ebay. My copy is a second printing. I'm not in it for collector value. I bought it because it is beautiful artwork that shows the resiliency of a nation that suffered the most atrocious terrorist attack ever. All the proceeds are being donated to the Twin Towers fund. It may be the best $3.50 you spend all year.
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Epinions.com ID:
MattA75
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Member: Matt Aucoin
Location: South Berwick, ME
Reviews written: 1162
Trusted by: 465 members
About Me:
Gonna be a daddy, April 2010!
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