Re: Compare your foreign editions of JLA/Avengers!
« Reply #2 on: 05/13/04 at 5:42pm »
JLA/DIE RÄCHER #3 (Germany)
(May 2004)
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JLA/DIE RÄCHER #3 (Online Variant) (Germany)
(May 2004)
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Issue 3. :)
Wait, wait, you will ask... isn't issue 3 supposed not to come out before next Wednesday?
Well... In Germany, it's anything but unusual for some comic shops to get new books up to two weeks (!) before the official relase date. And unlike in the USA, they're actually allowed to sell those issues (which leads to the occasional message board question "why do you guys already have the issue? It's just due out next week!"). So actually, the "official release date" simply refers to the date when every shop is supposed to have the respective issue in stock.
Anyways, on to the issue. :)
Once again, I'm quite satisfied with the German version. By now I'm absolutely convinced that the non-reflective covers are a whole lot better than the glossy American ones. You can still enjoy the bright colors without any lights reflecting on the surface. Still, someone sure could have told Panini's graphic department that the US version's barcode had been placed over Plastic Man's miscolored leg for a reason (instead of placing it over, say, a major portion of Vixen's body)...
Concerning the translation by Christian Heiß, I've again got only some minor points to criticize: The German substitute for "hunk o'man" makes it look like Black Canary and Hawkeye are married at the beginning of the issue (which is not implied by the original text), addditionally I have no idea why the "particle accelerator" has been replaced by a "particle generator", the "Masters of Evil" have been translated slightly different as compared to using the established, 100% literal German translation, and the explanation for Captain America's and Superman's odd behavior that started in issue 3 is slightly lost in the translation. On the other hand, for some reason I really like the literal, somehow "classical" translation of "Grim Reaper" (his name was left untranslated in previous German releases), and Thor once again kicks major (verbal) butt. Even the established German word for "Big Bang" (which I missed in the previous issue) is used this time.
While Panini still insists on erroneously listing colorist Tom Smith as "inker", the printing quality is again on the same level as in the American edition - better yet, the "ACTOR" artwork on page 7 is actually sharper than the obviously downsized pic in the original relase. Oh, one more thing: While I do understand the huge captions on page 4 (for the "Marvel and DC present..." intro) were necessary (so the original text isn't visible underneath the German version), more decent colors (i.e. no purple) wouldn't have been that much of a bad idea, right?
The editorial pages feature, as usually, a short introduction that summarizes the events from the previous issues (just like in the American version) and short bios on the various Green Lanterns and Iron Man.
To sum it up: A good, easily readable translation, a great printing quailty and all in all a cheap alternative to the original edition.
Note: There is also a variant cover edition that's available exclusively via Panini's online shop and which costs 6.50 Euros. The cover art is taken from the last page of this issue.
