What I’ve Been Reading: Red Rocket 7
11 Comments | Posted: October 23rd, 2008 | Filed under: What I've Been Reading | Tags: mike allred, red rocket 7
Despite being a fan of “music” and “comics,” I’d not picked up Mike Allred’s Red Rocket 7 over the years because it looked like an ill-conceived mishmash of Forest Gump and the crappier end of new-age “science fiction” like The Phoenix, but a 10th anniversary edition with a competitive price point made it a “what the hell” purchase.
Annoyingly, my initial instincts were correct. While it’s hard to find an artist whose work I enjoy more than Mike Allred, this comic about an alien clone and his place in rock and roll is ill-conceived, trite (the Allrods?), and comes very close to out-and-out whitewashing a significant chunk of music history despite lip service being paid in a few places to Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Jimi Hendrix. There’s nothing here that couldn’t be better learned by watching the 10-hour History of Rock And Roll series, as it lacks a dopey Mormon metaphor disguised as Science Fiction. Disappointing, if very easy on the eyes.
I remember being disappointed when this came out. The art was great but the story is mind-numbing. I saw Allred’s movie about the same time and can’t say much about it either. Which is too bad because I like Allred a lot.
It was such a great looking series with the big square books and lp-inspired covers – I kept *wanting* to like it, but there just wasn’t much there.
Outside of the art there really wasn’t much there… and it doesn’t even fit well on my shelf. Curses.
Thanks for catching this bullet for me. I was way tempted, but although I like his art, Allred’s writing has always left me flat. It’s always very close to good without ever quite getting there.
I dunno, I liked it okay. I have the older square paperback version.
I probably liked it at least as much as the first trade paperback of the new Image Madman series, but maybe that’s not saying much.
Oh no! As another music/comics guy, I too was lured in by the steep discount at DCBS despite my skepticism. Haven’t read my copy yet though. I’ll have to get to it soon and see for myself.
I . . . I bought the Son of Red Rocket 7 CD. Of music.
Prof. Fury — is it worth buying?
Y’know, it’s a touch call. I bought it in a period of rabid Mike Allred completism, and from that perspective it’s of course essential, but the glammish genre that most of it works in isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, so I don’t listen to it much. The thing I do remember is that the last several songs on the album — the ones that are ostensibly songs by the fictional band Red Rocket 7 — are the best songs on the album. I should give it another spin one of these days and see how it holds up . . .
pretty much the same – I read it in original format and while I liked the unique square shape and loved the art, the story was pretty flat and uninspired. Still, framing the books in those LP frames that Urban Outfitters/Newbury sell would make a pretty nice display.
It read like someone that knew nothing about the history of rock ‘n’ roll trying to write the definitive story of rock ‘n’ roll. I mean, really, there’s a bit more to the story than just Elvis -> The Beatles -> David Bowie, you know?
Plus all the photos of famous people looked traced from photos.
that would be all the PICTURES of famous people. yes.