Bad World

    (Avatar, 2002)
™ and ©2002 Avatar Press

Bad World is not a story per se, but, rather, a loosely related collection of illustrated ideas and concepts. What Warren Ellis seems to have done for this series is not unlike what he has done for any other: He first dreams up radically twisted characters. From the minds of these characters, he then puts their thoughts on paper, and artist Jacen Burrows brings them to life.

From the very first page, the result is a series of often disturbing and downright demented images and themes. The series is a worthy showcase of Ellis’ dark but brilliant imagination, but the reader has to wonder about the purpose and appeal of such a series. Without a cohesive framework, Ellis’ biggest talent of all is ignored: his ability to tell a suspenseful, chilling story. And without this, reading the title book has the same kind of appeal as, say, police photos from a homicide scene. There’s morbid curiosity and shock value, but not much else.

While any Warren Ellis project is a treat, a fully developed storyline inspired by any of the bizarre images from this comic book would have been a lot more satisfying. Ideas from a mind like Ellis’ are meant to soar with a life of their own, not captured and put on exhibit. This is like any compilation of outtakes: recommended for die-hard fans only.

—Jim Johnson
Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist
#1 (Regular Cover)

May, 2001
Cover Price: $3.95
1 copy available for $7.50 		Warren EllisJacen Burrows
#1 Variation A (Cover A)

May, 2001
Cover Price: $3.50
2 copies available from $9.95 		Warren EllisJacen Burrows
#2 Variation A (Cover A)

July, 2001
Cover Price: $3.50
2 copies available from $2.95 		Warren EllisJacen Burrows
#3 Variation A (Cover A)

October, 2001
Cover Price: $3.50
2 copies available from $2.95 		Warren EllisJacen Burrows