| Title | : | Voodoo, Vol. 1: What Lies Beneath |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1401235611 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781401235611 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 144 |
| Publication | : | First published October 2, 2010 |
Voodoo, Vol. 1: What Lies Beneath Reviews
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"I look human . . . but I am something else. They see the shell . . . never what lies beneath. We can walk among them . . . and they never know. Even the most powerful can be fooled." -- the fleeting thoughts of Priscilla 'Voodoo' Kitaen
Voodoo, Vol. 1: What Lies Beneath unmistakably culls some inspiration from (although in a more cynical mood I might use the phrase 'rips off' instead) two late 20th century sci-fi / horror films - The Hidden (1987), which featured a criminally-minded alien who would repeatedly jump into different human bodies to disguise its appearance while hiding on Earth, and Species (1995), which involved an escaped alien camouflaged as an insanely attractive young woman who murderously dodges the government operatives pursuing her. However, aside from that minor quibble, this was one fast-moving and unapologetically violent adventure that, if not completely original, kept my attention.
Priscilla 'Voodoo' Kitaen is first introduced, in an outrageous bit of fan-service, in the midst of her routine as the most popular exotic dancer at a gentleman's club in the Big Easy. Soon she reveals her true form when a federal agent, knowing that the mysterious Voodoo is a human/alien hybrid with unspecified abilities is a potential threat, very unsuccessfully tries to take her into custody. From there Voodoo goes on the run from the agent's colleagues - along with her innate charm and good looks she is also able to temporarily take the form and read the mind of anyone she encounters, which continually vexes her pursuers - and leaves a trail of bloody carnage in her wake. Just when it seems like this book is an excuse for mindless gore a twist is revealed, and sets up another avenue to explore in the next volume. Is Voodoo here to harm us or to help us, and what's her real backstory? -
Priscilla Kitaen aka Voodoo is the hottest stripper in New Orleans but the Feds are tailing her - because she’s actually a shape-shifting alien trying to steal secrets about the Justice League to pave the way for her race’s invasion of Earth!
Maybe it’s because I wasn’t expecting anything from this, but Voodoo wasn’t bad. Being a character from the early ‘90s series “WildCATS”, she’s not exactly the most famous or the most obvious choice for their own series but Ron Marz does a decent job of crafting an intriguing cat-and-mouse story between Voodoo and Fallon, an agent of the Black Razors, as Voodoo tries to complete her alien espionage mission. The first issue might put female readers off for being so gratuitous in the T&A department - Voodoo does one striptease after the next - but the action quickly moves away from the strip club in New Orleans to less exploitative surroundings.
Green Lantern Kyle Rayner pops in for one issue which was fun if only for the imaginative constructs Marz gave Rayner for his ring (green cartoony woodland sprites!), and it was interesting to learn about Voodoo’s character - yeah, character work in a New 52 book! The Daemonites appear in this book, the alien villains from “Grifter” and “Stormwatch”, and though they look cool and menacing, they continue to be easily defeated as they were in those other books making them unsatisfactory villains.
Also, Voodoo’s story was confusing. It seems peculiar to have a character working for an alien race seemingly intent on the enslavement of humanity as the hero of the book; an alien Mata Hari working for the enemy - and we’re supposed to be on her side? It doesn’t seem that straightforward but I’m not sure what she’s really about either. She’s with them, she’s against them - I’m not clear on what’s going on exactly. And then the ending literally doubles the confusion.
It’s an enjoyable enough start to this series with a mysterious protagonist coupled with an exciting, fast paced plot, but it’s story was a bit too unfocused and the supporting cast a little too bland (Fallon in particular didn’t seem to be an interesting nemesis). It’s definitely not up there with the best in the New 52 but, for one of the little known titles in the lineup, it’s not a bad read. -
I was just 11 when Image Comics was born out of the break of Marvel's greatest talent from the company. The first book I read was WildCATS, because I was in love with Jim Lee's art. I got behind the book, for a while at least, and remember being picked up one night from a boy scout camping trip early because I'd gotten sick, to find my ma had pillaged a comic book store and got me some books and a WildCats tee-shirt. Sometimes, moms are really great.
I still have that shirt. Came across it in ma's attic. Also found the Image comics swimsuit issue. God, the 90's were a great and terrible time for the industry.
Now, 20 years later (holy fuck, 20 years) Jim Lee is the head honcho over at DC and gets to bring some of the WildCATS characters back to life. Although Priscilla isn't the same as I remember, this book is exactly as it should be. It's just a little light on content, but is soon to be going great places. -
Not bad -- but not something I'm likely to become addicted to, either.
Priscilla Kitaen is a mysterious beauty stripping under the stage name of Voodoo -- and being chased by government agents. Her origins and motivations are unknown, seemingly even to her, but we soon learn she is an alien shape-shifter and mind reader, and soon on the run from nearly everyone. -
So much unnecessary cheesecake. But I do like Priscilla.
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I picked this up off the sale rack at my local comic store for fun, and was not disappointed. I might have to search for a while to find the next installment. I really want more.
The main character is sexy, as the cover would indicate, but look closer and you'll find that the claws are also hers. This came from a super interesting point of view and I want to know more. Also making an appearance is Green Lantern, so, huh.
5/5 because hell yeah. -
(Read the single issues not the trade edition shown)
I thought the story was actually pretty good, if you could get pass the first issue which was like some kind of fan service to strip clubs. The first issue was not the best but the second issue and on at least focused on the reason why these government people are after her (besides her being a murderer) and what Voodoo was really up to.
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Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Years ago, my older brother introduced me to WildC.A.Ts and all things Jim Lee. I loved Zealot and Grifter the most and through the years, I lost some knowledge of the characters such as Mail, Spartan and Voodoo.
When DC absorbed Voodoo and Grifter into the New 52, I was excited about Grifter, disappointed that there was no Zealot and ambivalent about Voodoo's solo title. My brother was looking forward to the Voodoo series and it is from him that I borrowed both volumes.
I recalled very little about Voodoo and her powers before starting on this volume but snippets of info filtered through the longer I read. I can't promise that Ron Marz's and Josh Williamson's writing did the original justice but they did well in my opinion. The story kept pace and didn't lag in the middle as some issues do, feeling like filler. The overall story arc stayed interesting and I look forward to reading volume 1, even as I hope we have seen the last of Kyle Rayner's Green Lantern.
Sami Basri's art is average. It is neither excellent nor horrible, but a safe middle of the road style. Some panels, especially those of Voodoo in full body or super close up look better, but other panels feel lazy and uninspired. The hybrid Daemonite panels were the most disappointing, looking much like you would expect of a 90s cartoon. Basri had the chance to make a lasting impression with those pieces and he didn't success. The art is far from the best that I have seen, just as it is not close to the worse I've been subjected to, but for a graphic to quote a review reading "Proving that a book can be both sexy and rife with character-IGN", I was expecting better. Hell, I was expecting a cheap knock-off of Jim Lee himself, so perhaps it is no fault of Basri, but rather my overblown expectations.
I'd read it again. Just saying. -
Wen wunderts, dass Frauen in den Comics oft sehr sexy aussehen? Denn warum sollte der Zeichner, sozusagen der liebe Gott seiner Comicwelt, auf perfekte (sozusagen göttliche) Rundungen verzichten, sozusagen als Gegenstück zu den Muskelbergen und Sixpacks, die die Herren Helden vorzuweisen haben?
Ist die Hauptperson des Comics nun auch noch ein Shapeshifter in weiblicher Gestalt und arbeitet als Tänzerin wäre es ja schon fast unrealistisch, wenn "sie" schlecht aussähe; also: Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the most sexy Priscilla Kitaen aka Voodoo!
Die zweite gute Nachricht ist die, dass die Handlung mich ein wenig an Akte X denken ließ, ist Pricilla doch ein Alien-Hybrid und die Handlung zunächst schwer durchschaubar. Was genau ihr Auftrag, ihre Bestimmung ist, wird in diesem ersten Band von VOODOO leider nicht ganz klar, unter anderem soll sie Informationen über die Superhelden sammeln, die im Falle einer Alien Invasion hinderlich werden könnten.
Und hier setzt schon meine Enttäuschung ein, denn in den ersten beiden Heften deutete für mich noch nichts drauf hin, dass VOODOO fest ins DCU eingebunden ist (ich kannte die Wildstorm-Serie aus den 90ern nicht) und es schien eine sehr ansprechende Story mit einer faszinierenden Heldin zu werden, bis plötzlich Green Lantern in die Handlung brach (ich entschuldige mich hier bei allen Fans, aber neben Superman ist Green Lantern für mich eine der größten Blimsen des Superhelden-Biz) und die Stimmung verhunzte.
Von diesem Punkt an war die großartige Stimmung der ersten beiden Hefte verflogen und stellte sich bis zum Ende des Bandes nicht mehr ein. -
Priscilla Kitaen aka Voodoo is an alien agent sent to retrieve information on Earth's superhoeroes for her alien overlords. She's tracked by agents Fallon and Blackjack of the Black Razors. Voodoo begins to question her choices when her telekinetic powers begin to give her human feelings. So she heads to her bosses to find out.
I think I liked this a little more than I should've. She starts off as a stripper. Classy. Voodoo uses her feminine wiles a lot, perhaps too much to complete her missions. Aside from the large amount of cheesecake (Similar levels to
Catwoman, Volume 1: The Game and
Red Lanterns, Vol. 1: Blood and Rage), I liked most of the ideas about acquiring empathy after taking something's shape. There are also references to The Thing and Alien films that serve as nice small touches, but don't distract from the main story. This series is only two volumes long, but sadly the next volume doesn't provide a decent ending, more of a tacked on story and a to be continued. Shame. -
As an action-adventure, this book is actually quite successful. It reads quickly and enjoyably and is supported by strong art. However, when you take a closer look, the flaws start to add up.
First, we have the extreme sexualization, put in solely as a marketing ploy as far as I can tell. Voodoo crawls around as the splash for both issues 1 & 4. She acts as a stripper, she has pseudo-lesbian sex.
Second, a lot of the plot just doesn’t make sense. Why is Voodoo acting as a stripper? No particular reason and she quickly leaves it behind. Why does she keep insisting her name is Voodoo, even though that was just the name of the head stripper at her strip club? No reason. Why is she suddenly able to easily fulfill her mission now, when she apparently couldn’t before? No reason. Why is she so powerful that she can take out daemonites by the dozen? Who knows.
Third, it’s darned hard to like a book about a serial killer when she doesn’t really have redeeming qualities. -
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this story line, it was part of a book haul from about a year ago. It has been sitting on my shelf waiting for judgment day ever since.
The overall artwork isn't bad at all, but nothing I was really particularly impressed by either. The story line itself is, well, rough. The origin story is interesting enough and the character, Voodoo, herself is pretty damn awesome. Parts of the story seemed forced. Most of the sexual content, it just didn't fit. It was there for sexy sake more so than the story. I would argue that it downgraded the character in a way. Especially what she did to agent Fallon, it just didn't do anything for the character.
I felt Voodoo has much more potential than this edition gave her. She is a completely bad ass character and this book didn't give her justice. -
This is a new origin story for Voodoo whom I'd never heard of before. I really enjoyed it! There are ties with the groups The Black Razors and The Blackhawks. Green Lantern Kyle Raynor appears in one issue too. So I liked those familiar faces showing up with this otherwise new-to-me character. Voodoo starts off seeming like a bad guy at first but by the end of this volume we like her and see her not as badly as first shown. Lots of action, with a fast-paced plot and an ending that leaves you ready for the next volume.
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Considering that DC made a hash of most of the Wildstorm characters they imported in the New 52, this one was actually pretty decent. I should have known I could trust Ron Marz. The art is gorgeous and it was just interesting enough to make me both relieved it wasn't as bad as the New 52 Grifter, and to want to see where the next volume goes.
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Did you see the 90's movie Species? This is better than that. And it would have been perfect if they didn't shoehorn in the ridiculous daemonite (did you say demon knight hahaha) storyline that they are desperately trying to make work.
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How this book even got created is an absolute miracle as far as I'm concerned.
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Slightly entertaining. Marginally good. It's DC. Shoulda known I'd be underwhelmed.
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Of all the books that came out at the start of the "New 52" era, this is one that I think slipped through the cracks and never really went anywhere. Which is a shame, because there's definitely a lot of potential here -- a story about an alien spy, a shape-shifting hybrid sent to Earth to uncover it's secrets but hated by her own kind for being "impure." The character of Voodoo is interesting, someone who is committed to her mission but is curious and develops a sense of "humanity" despite herself, and Agent Fallon is a decent foil for her. They're definitely not unique or something you've never seen before in stories like this, but they are still well executed.
I thought the writer change would feel a lot more abrupt but it surprisingly worked fairly well. Ron Marz starts the story more subdued and tense, and while Josh Williamson's issues are probably way different than what Marz originally intended, it manages to feel like a logical ramp-up in this world of aliens and espionage.
If I can think of any flaws, it's that there are events mentioned, especially at the end, that seem to reference other books (specifically Grifter and Stormwatch) but not enough to understand what is happening and why someone just reading this book should care.
I think the best thing about the book is the art -- Sami Basri does some incredible work. The art is clean and concise, and manages to pull of sexy, horrific, and action-heavy when needed. I really wish Basri was doing more consistent work, because he's definitely a strong artist. -
The artwork is quite attractive in this volume and the story isn't too bad either. A shapeshifting alien called Pris is a Daemonite posing as an exotic dancer so she can hide among the humans and gather information on their heroes. This information would be used for a Daemonite invasion of Earth. She is determined to succeed in her mission whatever the obstacles, mainly by killing them in grusome fashion.
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Voodoo enters the DC Universe in the New 52 but unfortunately all the things that made her interesting, except her looks, are missing. Ron Marz, who has a long history in comics panders to some of the lower elements undermining Voodoo as a character. She is more than her looks and that isn't evident here. Her background here is mysterious but readers aren't really given a chance to like her. The same goes for the cliched supporting cast. The inclusion of Kyle Rayner (in a few panels) is superfluous. The art, mostly by Sami Basri is very good except the visuals of the Daemonites. Their design was strange. Overall, not a very good read.
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Was not expecting that plot twist at the end. The plot was really captivating and I enjoyed seeing the dynamic between Voodoo and Priscilla. I had never actually read the Wildcats series so I had no idea who or what I was getting myself into other than I thought the synopsis was interesting. I'm glad I went with reading this and want to continue reading this series.
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I picked this volume up on sale somewhere and I have to say I quite enjoyed it. I thought Voodoo was well developed as a character, layered and not static. I enjoyed the twists and turns the plot took, and, of course, the comment the nerdy guys makes about Superman and his inconsistent powers.
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Beautiful art, forgettable story. Voodoo is another character appearing in DC's "New 52" initiative. Mysterious shape shifter, pursued by government agents while she tries to understand her own truth.
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If I had a nickel for everytime a biracial Black character was a half something half "insert evil creature here" I'd have two nickels. But its weird that it happened twice right? I mean Voodoo was great to look at...ion really know about some of this writing though 😒
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Pretty good! Kind of reminds me of "Species" with a DC/comic book take on it.
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I thought this was going to be a graphic novel about VooDoo, but it was really more about aliens and strippers. Wait I think I mean superheroes. The artwork is nice, but I probably won't read more.
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it's a start to a good story that ends well in book 2 but the real star of the series is art work of Sami Basri. i bumped it up a star for Sami's art work to open up the series. yowza.
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Voodoo has all the markings of a committee collection. It feels and reads as if it was just something DC decided to create just to fill the 52 collections number and give some of those to Wildstorm characters as they were absorbing the Wildstorm universe withing the Main DC one. It also seems they didn’t care about the quality of the pitch or the writing. Maybe it was the boobs factor of Voodoo (she was an exotic dancer originally) what sold them on it, but seeing the bad writing and the dull character I think there were a lot other better Wildstorm pitches to take to collection. And it showed as the collection was closed in number 12. This kind of stupid move on DC’s behalf eventually killed Wildstorm off.
This is a collection so badly thought out that even DC realized that 4 numbers into it and swapped writers looking for a new direction. 4 numbers! DC must have had the scripts for those before number 1 hit the shelf. Why did they give the green light to start with? Did no one read those? What are DC editors for? Ron Marz decided to change the character entirely and just keep the name and the boobalicious bits and ignore the heroic nature of the character and made her a half breed alien/human killer without remorse and any glimpse of any redeeming quality in the eyes of the readers. She came off as the bad girl and remains like that.
I assume Marz was going for the anti-hero type, but the truth is that her killing spree and actions are totally unwarranted on our eyes and she even has dialogue like “I could have not killed them, but what’s the difference?”. If they were attempting to make her unsympathetic they managed to do it, so the readers will side with the “bad guys” who are actually the shady government type with zero charisma, to the point that they’re copycats of other better characters: Jenny Sparks > Jessica Fallon and Captain Atom > Black Jack. Not only visually but in their behavior and dialogue as well.
Voodoo escapes the government agents, kills-a-lot for not much of a reason, gets into the worst guarded government facility in the world, escapes again, and in the end she’s a clone!
You read correctly, to make things worse the change of direction with the new writer means he made the protagonist of the first 4 issues a clone and have the comic filled with inconsistencies between one issue and the next one. Maybe they went for trying to have a more approachable Voodoo instead of the crappy one we got in the first numbers. Hence rendering the first part of the tome as irrelevant. No, that wasn’t a good decision either. But it could be worse, it could have been Peter Parker.
So in 6 issues we get two Voodoos and many bland characters, even with DC characters crass guest spots (Green Lantern comes and goes being a bit of a useless twat) and a bad coupling between the DC universe and the Wildstorm one (so there is a huge Daemonite shit behind the moon and no one noticed? riiiight). And to make things worse the tome ends in number 6, which is the equivalent of 2 numbers of the new writer, hence everything is left hanging on. It’s an unnatural cut and DC will have done better reissuing some old Voodoo numbers with the first 4 for one TPB and the from 4 onwards for the next, but oh well…there is no real salvation for this comic. Zero character development, not a lot of logic, bad awkward dialogues and the art that kind of complies by drawing a sexy Voodoo but not much else with the action scenes sorely lacking and the art relying too much on the colorist to give depth and shape to the drawings. It’s not a style I favor but it’s still the best part of the comic, so in case there were something in need to be highlighted it should be the art.
This is a comic that was heading for cancellation due to being bad from the beginning and as we know because of hindsight, it got what it deserved. Waste of a female-led collection and one of the few chances DC gave to Wildstorm characters on their new paradigm but being honest is quite in line with the kind of comics Image gave us in the 90s.
