Monday, September 8, 2008

This week, I might actually buy some comics

Of course, most of them will be from the last three weeks or so...

New comics this week (Wednesday, 9/10/08):

Big Hero 6 #1

I'm not sure if these are brand new characters or if they had been established earlier, but it's a new Marvel miniseries about Japanese superheroes, written by Chris Claremont.  It might be all right (I'm sure Jason Powell will jump right on it), but the manga-influenced art by David Nakayama certainly looks nice.

Criminal 2 #5

Here's more of the counterfeiting adventures of the guy who draws the "Frank Kafka, P.I." comic strip.  I don't think this series is going to be getting any worse.

Damned Prodigal Sons #3

It's about time the final issue of this miniseries showed up.  I've been in suspense as to what's going to happen to our temporarily dead hero for months now.  Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt have been delivering a worthy follow-up to their original miniseries, and I can't wait to see what happens in the conclusion.

Dark Tower Treachery #1

It's the latest miniseries in Marvel's continuing Stephen King assault.  I didn't read the one before this, but I might try to get the collection at the library.  The story seems decent enough (although I imagine the books are the real way to go), but the real draw is Jae Lee and Richard Isanove's art.  It's pretty.

The Goon #28

I tried to drop this series, but I couldn't.  Eric Powell has his hooks in me too deep.  This issue, the Goon recruits the zombie priest to his side, or something like that.  I'm sure it will be entertaining, and probably a good story to boot.  Don't let me down, Powell!

I Kill Giants #2

The first issue of this Joe Kelly/JM Ken Niimura series was okay, but it didn't grab me and make me need to keep reading.  The story seemed interesting, but not enough really happened, and the central mystery of whether the girl protagonist is actually a magical giant killer or not didn't really seem that compelling.  Niimura's art was all right, if a bit rough.  And why did she have bunny ears?  I dunno; I won't recommend against it, but I don't feel the need to read any more.

Interiorae #3

One of this week's Ignatz books (Fantagraphics has been dropping a lot of them lately), this continues Gabriella Giandelli's "surreal tale".  Slideshow preview here.

Kick Drum Comix #1

Jim Mahfood!  This will be a two-issue miniseries of short stories (in color!).  Sounds like fun.  Mahfood has awesome style, so I bet it will be quite enjoyable.

Montana Briggs #1

I don't know why this caught my eye, but it's apparently a western about a bounty hunter.  I do like the western genre, so if I ever saw it, I would probably look at it.  There's some glowing praise.

Patsy Walker: Hellcat, Agent of Initiative #3

I didn't get to read this one ahead of time, but based on the first two issues, I bet it will be enjoyable.  A bubbly model heroine going on mystical Alaskan adventures.  Dig it.

Pax Romana Bumper Editon

Since this series is so late, it looks like Jonathan Hickman/Image are trying to encourage people to catch up with this book, which smooshes the first two issues together.  I've enjoyed the series so far (although not as much as Hickman's previous work, The Nightly News), mostly because I like the way he pushes the boundaries of the medium.  I hope he keeps it up.

Sammy The Mouse #2

The other Ignatz book for the week.  I've heard that this Zack Sally riff on Mickey Mouse (I think that's what it is) is really good, but I haven't had the chance to read it.  Someday.  Here's one of them slideshow previews.

Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #3

I can't really recommend this crossover tie-in series, even for fans of either team, but it sure looks nice, with art by Takeshi Miyazawa and colors by Christina Strain.  Not that great a story though, 

The Stand: Captain Trips #1

Part two of Marvel's Stephen King explosion.  I've never read this book either, but it's supposed to be good, a post-apocalyptic thrill-fest.  This adaptation is written by Roberto Aguierre-Sacasa, with art by Mike Perkins.  Eh, it might be all right.

Welcome To Hoxford #2

More of Ben Templesmith's nastiness.  I'm not buying this series, but I would sure like to.

Wolverine: Saudade

It's yet another Wolverine comic, since he had failed to meet his contractual obligation for 75 appearances this month.  This one is interesting though, since it's by "two of Europe's top creators", Jean-David Morvan and Phillipe Bouchet.  Wolvie goes on vacation in Brazil and gets into trouble, of the unsurprisingly stabby variety.  I should have a review up at Comics Bulletin tomorrow.

Bad Boy 10th Anniversary HC Limited Edition

Frank Miller and Simon Bisley present a nihilistic tale of violence, or something.  Also, there are probably whores involved.  I've never read it, but it's probably worth checking out.

Batman The Black Glove HC

This was the best part of Grant Morrison's run on Batman so far, if only because of J.H. Williams III's amazing artwork.  This book also collects #372-375, which I believe is a sort of prequel to the current "R.I.P." storyline.  That's a weird combination.  It's probably not worth the price for the hardcover, but I bet the eventual paperback will be a decent value.

Bomb TP

This collects a four-issue miniseries by Steve Mannion that is described as Raiders of the Lost Ark meets Mad Magazine.  Sort of a goofy adventure comic, I guess.  I do like the art; here's a couple preview pages.

Daredevil Prem HC Guardian Devil 10th Anniversery ED

Here's a new collection of Kevin Smith's run on ol' hornhead.  It's really not that great a story, but it began the current volume of the series.  I guess it's worth a read if you really want to find out how Karen Page died (spoiler: tiresomely).  Art by Joe Quesada.  Stupid conspiracy by Mysterio.

Enigma Cipher TP

From Boom! Studios, this series is a murder mystery centered around the infamous Nazi codes from WWII.  Probably pretty interesting.  Andrew Cosby and Michael Alan Nelson write, Greg Scott draws.

Eternals by Jack Kirby Book 2 TPB

More Jack Kirby awesomeness.  I think this one features the appearance of a robotic Hulk.

Freak Brothers Omnibus TP

Gilbert Shelton's hippy comic is one of those underground classics, but I've never read it.  I guess this is my chance, with a 224 page, $35 edition.  I don't know if I have to get high to enjoy it, but is probably won't hurt.

Gotham Central Vol. 1 In the Line of Fire HC

I never did read this Greg Rucka/Ed Brubaker series about the cops that work around Batman, but it's supposed to be really good.  As is becoming my mantra, I guess now is my chance.  This collects the first ten issues for $30.  Crime-tastic!

Look Out!! Monsters

Geoff Grogan's Xeric Award-winning book uses monster imagery to examine the post-9/11 American psychological landscape, or something.  Whatever the case, it looks quite good.  Here's the official site, which has a few preview pages.

Omega the Unknown Prem HC

Oh, man, I waited to read this until it was collected, and now I can't afford it.  Crap.  I've read good and not-so-good reviews, but it looks like an amazing book, like nothing else that you're going to see from Marvel.  I should probably go straight to the library for it, because I don't want to miss it.  Jonathan Lethem wrote, Farel Dalrymple drew (with Gary Panter on one issue, and Paul Hornschemeier providing colors), and now it costs $30.  Buy it, if you're more flush with the funds than I am.

Wolverine Origins Vol 5 deadpool Premiere HC

While Wolverine: Origins is generally a poorly-regarded series, known mostly as the thing Steve Dillon is wasting his time on instead of doing something worthwhile, this story was supposed to actually be quite entertaining, going all-out with the Loony Tunes-style comic violence.  Eh, I don't care about either Wolverine or Deadpool, so I'll still skip it, but if it's your thing, go for it.

Afro Samurai Vol 1 TPB

I thought this anime series was pretty enjoyable, if not great, so I wouldn't be averse to checking out a manga version.  It's by Takashi Okazaki, published by Seven Seas, $10.99.  That's all.

Burst Angel Manga Vol 1 GN

Now here's an anime I haven't seen, but I've thought it might be worth checking out, if only because I like the character designs.  I guess scantily-clad chicks are all it takes to interest me.  And they fight monsters!  Eh, it's probably stupid, but like everything else, I suppose I could take a look.

Goth GN

I thought I read a little of this manga in scanlation, but I don't know.  It looks like a horror series about two teens exploring "humanity's dark side".  It probably lives up to its title.

Nui Vol 1 GN

Kind of small manga pickings this week.  See, I'm mentioning this series, about a girl whose stuffed animals come to life, with some being good and some evil.  Fighting ensues, probably.
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And that is all.  I would promise more content tomorrow, but it probably won't happen.  So, whenever.

4 comments:

  1. Big Hero 6 happy Claremont fun time for me good.

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  2. (My last post was translated from the Japanese. Get it?)

    Anyway, update: I bought Big Hero Six #1, and it is AWESOME!!! Best thing I've seen from Claremont in at least five years.

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  3. Yeah, I saw your review. Looks cool. Here's his take, if anybody else reads this and is interested.

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  4. Don't know how quick your library turn-around is, but the Gotham Central stuff is even better then I remembered, and it was one of my favorites when I first checked it out. I can't remember when the original team splits up, and lark and brubaker leave, but this first volume is all of them, and it's great! Hope you can find the time.

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