Playing catchup...

Reviews of recent comics (recently read by me, at least):

Zombies vs. Robots #2 (of 2)
Written by Chris Ryall
Art by Ashley Wood


And so ends the short tale of post-human combat between humanity's dregs and its rotting remnants. It's pretty fun. See, doesn't this image live up to the title?:



A new "character" is introduced, named Bertie. Or Skull Face; I'm not sure. He's a badass combat robot, unaffected by the zombie virus that's destroying the other robots (that's a pretty novel twist, I think). He has some great lines, and ends the whole battle in a pretty satisfying way. Here, check him out:



And then the authors set us up for an unexpected sequel, introducing a third party into the proceedings. I think they're trying to add a new category to the endless internet debates that spawned this book; you know, stuff like pirates, ninjas, zombies, vampires, robots, etc. Their new category is a pretty good one (I won't spoil it here, but you can bug me about it in the comments if you have to know), so the forthcoming sequel should be lots of fun. I especially dig Ashley Wood's art style, as I mentioned when I reviewed the first issue. He does a great job conveying the decaying world, with his scratchy lines that look kind of messy until you realize all the details that they convey so well. Keep it up, Ash!
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Maintenance #1
Written by Jim Massey
Art by Robbi Rodriguez



I picked this up on a whim the other day; I liked the look of the art when I flipped through it. I'm not sure exactly when it came out; I think it was in December. Whatever the case, I'm glad I got it. It's a lot of fun. The story concerns two guys, Doug and Manny, who work as janitors (or maintenance men, as the title suggests) for Terromax, a facility that does scientific research for supervillains. In the first few pages, they have to clean up the mess left by the apparent decomposition of a "marauding gigomorph":



After that, they spend half the issue covered in goop. Then later they talk to an alien that's been mooching off scientists since he crashed his flying saucer in Roswell in 1947. Finally, they end up taking a "manshark" out to a bar so he can get some experience of something outside his tank. It's all very funny stuff, rendered in an expressive cartoony style, with a lot of pop culture references sprinkled into the dialogue (for instance, the manshark(who, in an apparent bid to get Chris Sims' attention, names himself Cobra McPunch)'s only knowledge of the outside world comes from the movie Porky's 2: The Next Day, which scientists taped off TV for him to watch). So Doug and Manny decide to sneak him out for a drink:



See, check out that goofy style. The book is lots of fun; I have no idea if it's a miniseries or ongoing, but I'll definitely be picking up any future issues.
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The Damned #1-2 (of 5)
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Brian Hurtt



Now this is a series that I thought about getting when the first issue came out, but didn't for some reason (perhaps the $3.50 price tag). I got the first two issues in a recent sale at my comic shop, and I'm sorry I missed out on them; it's really good! The high-concept pitch would be "Miller's Crossing, but the gangsters are demons." It's an old-school gangster story, but the leading man, Eddie, has been cursed to always come back from the dead, so he doesn't have to worry about the threats the gangsters give him. At least, not too much; he can survive death, but it's not a pleasant experience. The plot has to do with him trying to make sure two rival "families" of demon gangsters can broker a truce; the negotiator has gone missing, and only Eddie can find him. The story takes the familiar gangster tropes and gives them an interesting supernatural twist. And the art fits the tone very well. I'm only familiar with Brian Hurtt from his work on DC's Hard Time; he does a great job here, with lots of moody shadows, atmospheric details, and nasty ghouls. Here, check out a sampling:





So far, I only have the first two issues. A third has come out, and the fourth comes out this week. I'll have to track them down; I hope the rest of the series lives up to the promise of this beginning.
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That's all my reviews for right now. I hope to have some more up soon!

Retroactive continuity comes to WPSTB!

Man, the name of my blog doesn't really work as an acronym (or abbreviation, if you want to get picky). And I'm sure to turn some people off with the use of comics terminology. And this self-criticism probably gets old too! Oh well; let's get down to business. I give you:

My Top Ten Films of the Year (revised!):

I got around to seeing a few of the movies I wanted to see, and, sure enough, some of them were good enough to supplant my early favorites. I figured I would go ahead and finalize the list, since I'm sending a top five into The Onion AV Club's annual film poll. Any bumped off off my previous list automatically get an honorable mention (like it matters to anybody but me). And luckily for you (mythical) readers, I'll only offer comments on the new entries. Here we go:

10. Babel
9. Shortbus
8. The Departed

7. Pan's Labyrinth

Guillermo del Toro really makes incredible movies, both of the personal (Cronos, The Devil's Backbone) and commercial (Blade 2, Hellboy) varieties. This one definitely falls into the "personal" category; it's a sort of fairy tale set just after the end of the Spanish Civil War. I took it to be a look at the tendency/ability of children to escape into their imaginations when confronted with traumatic experiences (and the experiences in this movie are about as traumatic as you can get, with an emphasis on the effect war has on everybody), but I'm sure others might discover different symbolism. Great performances, with beautiful imagery and incredible effects. It's a scary movie, but I'm not sure which is scarier, the fantastic elements or the all-too-realistic human violence.

6. Marie Antoinette
5. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
4. The Fountain
3. A Prairie Home Companion

2. Children of Men

I had to angst about where on the list to put this one (although it doesn't matter that much, as all ten of these movies are pretty much equal in quality), but I eventually decided this movie was good enough to go higher than even Robert Altman's swan song. I did a brief post about it right after I saw the movie, and that sums up my feelings very well. Alfonso Cuaron's harrowingly realistic vision of a world gone to hell will stick with me for quite a while. I can't recommend it enough.

1. The Science of Sleep
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So I'm calling that my final list. I should also add that I watched The Curse of the Golden Flower, which didn't make my top ten, but I liked enough to retroactively make it an honorable mention. It's a beautiful movie, with some amazing sets and costumes, and at least one scene that is awe-inspiring in the effort it must have taken to film. I've got a longer review in the works, but until then I'll just say "check it out!"

Ah, looks like more stuff this week. New comics are coming out this year after all!

New comics this week (Wednesday, 1/24/07):

CRIMINAL #4 (MR) 2.99

This has been a good series so far, so I'm hoping it stays that way. More action this issue? We'll see.

CROSSING MIDNIGHT #3 (MR) 2.99

The first two issues of this were intriguing (I'm not sure if I'll go so far as to say "good"), so I'll be getting this one. I think it's the end of the first storyline, so it will probably be the deciding factor as to whether I'll keep getting the series.

DAMNED #4 (MR) 3.50

I picked up the first two issues of this series recently, and I liked it quite a bit (watch for a review soon!). I still need to find #3 before I read #4, but I'm defininitely on board for the series (it's only 5 issues, by the way). I would describe it as "like Miller's Crossing, but with demons as the gangsters." Fun stuff!

DMZ #15 (MR) 2.99

Ooh, I'm always excited when a new issue of this series comes out. Go, Matty! Don't get killed!

DOCTOR STRANGE OATH #4 (OF 5) 2.99

This one is also always lots of fun. I wish it would go on for longer. Marvel, get Vaughan to write a Dr. Strange ongoing series. Or Night Nurse, what the hell.

DWIGHT T ALBATROSS THE GOON NOIR #3 (OF 3) 2.99

This has been a fun little series, if a bit slightly less enjoyable than the regular series. More series should do something like this if they have to go on hiatus.

ETERNALS #6 (OF 7) 3.99

This series comes closer to wrapping up, with what was supposed to be the final issue, before Marvel decided to add another one (which will be double-sized, I think). I hope that doesn't mean the book is going off the rails, because I've been enjoying it so far. Neil Gaiman writing Jack Kirby characters? Sweet! The only "weak" part has been John Romita, Jr.'s art, which is not at all bad, just kind of mediocre. Don't drop the ball on us, Gaiman!

FABLES #57 (MR) 2.99

As I mention often, I get this book in trade form, but I wanted to point out that this issue features art by Mike Allred. Man, I can't wait until the collection comes out!

MOUSE GUARD #6 (OF 6) 3.50

Final issue! This has been a great little series. That's all I have to say.

OUTER ORBIT #2 (OF 4) 2.99

I never even saw the first issue of this series on shelves. Did anybody else get it? Was it any good? Anybody? (cue cricket sounds)

PAPER RAD BJ & DA DOGS GN (MR) 29.95

People like Jog have said this is good. It's a tad expensive, but I'll keep an eye out for it.

PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #3 CW 2.99

Is this book finally done with the Civil War silliness so I can try it out? The "CW" in the listing leads me to think that it is not. Hmmph. At this rate I'll never try it. Whatever.

SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #14 2.99

Sweet! I think this is Miyazawa's last issue (I know I've said that the last two or three months, but I think it's for real this time). I predict that it will be great, as always.

TANPENSHU VOL 1 TP (MR) (C: 1-1-2) 12.95

Chris Butcher gives a really hearty recommendation to this manga, so I'll have to check it out if I see it anywhere. The comic shop I frequent doesn't carry much manga, so I usually look for it at Borders or some other bookstore. I'll keep an eye out.

WORLD BELOW TP (C: 0-1-2) 12.95

Ooh, Paul Chadwick! I've read this before, but I don't own it, so I'll probably get around to getting it after I complete my Concrete collection (I still need to get volumes 4 and 6). It's a really goofy sci-fi/monster story about a group of explorers that go on an expedition to an underground cavern full of weird monsters and seemingly alien technology. It's really weird, full of dreamlike imagery. Very enjoyable. My favorite story is the one where members of the group get these big creatures stuck on their heads, and take the others captive to force them to do the same. I took some very interesting symbolism from it that maybe I'll discuss in a review someday after I buy this book. It's good; I recommend it!
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I guess that's everything that I find significant. Thanks again to Chris Butcher for this week's shipping list!

MADMAN!!!! And other stuff.

More solicitations for April, this time from Image Comics:



Madman Atomic Comics #1 - HELL YEAH! If this was the only comic that came out at all this month, I would be happy. I've been really fucking excited ever since I heard about this, so I'm all over it. Mike Allred rules!



The Nightly News #6 (of 6) - And this awesome miniseries comes to a close. It's been great so far; I hope it doesn't take a fall or anything.




Pirates of Coney Island #7 (of 8) - This series comes close to finishing. It's been enjoyable so far, and I hope it continues to get better. In an interesting note, I'm not sure which artist belongs to which cover here. I think the first one is Becky Cloonan. Go Becky!



Alien Pig Farm #1 (of 4) - I'm not sure about this one. I like the cover, and aliens vs. dinosaurs is always a good concept, but it sounds like lots lame redneck "humor". That stuff got annoying 15 years ago with Jeff Foxworthy. We'll see.



Texas Strangers #2 - Unless the first issue is just terrible, I'll be buying this one. It looks like fun. Don't let me down, Antony!



Sam Noir: Samurai Detective Special Edition - This is the collection of the first miniseries that I've been waiting for. I'll finally be able to read this. I hope it's good; it looks like lots of fun.



Sam Noir: Ronin Holiday #3 (of 3) - I'll probably pick up this miniseries if I like the collected version of the first mini. Like I said, I hope it's good.



Rocketo: Journey to the Hidden Sea volume 2 - I loved the first collection of this series, so I'm stoked to read volume 2. The art is an amazing impressionistic version of the "animated" style of cartooning. Like Darwyn Cooke crossed with Monet. Check out that cover! And the story is fun too. Apparently Journey to the Hidden Sea is part one of a huge epic, with part two, Journey to the New World, soon to come. Awesome.



Bastard Samurai volume 1 TPB - Is this any good? I like Mike Oeming, so this could be a good series, but I haven't really heard anything about it. If anybody has read it, please let me know if it is worth reading.



Ferro City volume 1 TPB - And the same goes for this. It looks kind of cool, but I haven't heard anything about it. Is it worth getting? Anyone? (Note: I avoided the gratuitous Ferris Bueller reference here. Someone give me props.)



Fell volume 1 TPB - I love this series. I read the "monthly" issues, so I won't be getting the collection, but I will heartily recommend it to anybody that is interested. The solicitation says this collects issues 1-8, but I don't think #7 or #8 have come out yet. Are they coming out in the next couple months? They better.



Godland Volume 3: Proto-plastic Party TPB - And here's another series that I read monthly, but highly recommend to anyone who is interested. It'll take you up through issue 18. Yee-hah! (sorry, I just felt like expressing some enthusiasm.)
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Wow, more stuff than I'm usually interested in from Image. Cool, I won't complain about good comics!

Thatsalottacomics

Looks like a bunch of stuff coming out in April. So here we go with solicitations:

DC:

As usual, not much of interest (to me) in the main DC stuff, but lots of good Vertigo/Wildstorm content. (As always, click on pictures to enlarge. I should come up with an acronym or codeword for that sentence...)



52 - I'm not actually reading 52, and I won't buy this, but I wanted to use this opportunity to point out J.G. Jones's blog for Wizard, in which he details the process he used to create each cover. I found it to be fascinating reading. Jones is a really good artist; I hope he does some interior work on something soon.



Batman #665 - I'll be reading this though. That's a fairly gory cover. I skimmed the solicitation, and it looks like Morrison is doing some flashback stories. Interesting. The writing on this book hasn't been his best work, but it's been fun. Hope it stays that way.



Superman Confidential #5 - Apparently this book isn't coming out in March; #3 is solicited for February, then here's #5 in April. Huh. I've enjoyed it so far, so hopefully it'll stay good.



Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil #3 - More of the sure-to-be-awesome Jeff Smith Captain Marvel book. I can't wait to read it.



The Spirit #5 - That's a pretty goofy cover. I don't think I have anything else to say.



JLA Classified #37 - This story arc is written by Peter Milligan, so I might be interested. Probably not though; I don't read most of his mainstream superhero stuff, like X-Men or whatever, so I might not want to read this. I'll probably wait and see how well it is received.



Ah, the first offering from DC's Minx line. I'll probably get this, both out of interest in the concept of the line (comics aimed at teenage girls) and because I like Jim Rugg's art (he was the artist on the awesome Street Angel). Plus, it's something to foist on my wife in my continued attempts to get her to read comics.



Army@Love #2 - Wow, this book looks weird. I can't wait to read it. Rick Veitch is awesome.



Testament #17 - This is also a weird, good series. A new story arc starts in this issue; I think it might deal with Jacob and Esau (and a modern equivalent, of course).



Y: The Last Man #56 - From the cover, looks like this issue deals with Hero, Other Beth, and the Russian girl, hanging out in Paris. As much as anybody "hangs out" in this book. Will Yorick and crew be meeting up with them? We'll see!



Fables #60 - I just read the Wolves collection that came out recently, and it was really good. I keep wondering if I should start picking this series up in monthly issues, but the collections just look so cool, I think I'll stick with them. From the cover of this issue, it looks like it deals with Flycatcher. Cool, he's a good character. And it's a beautiful James Jean cover, as always.



Jack of Fables #10 - This, however, is almost certainly NOT the cover of Jack. That's not James Jean! Looks like more of Jack in Vegas. I skimmed the solicitation (I don't like to read them too closely due to possible spoilers), and it mentioned something about Jack having a wife! Did he get drunk and hit a wedding chapel? We'll see! (That seems to be developing into my catchphrase, and boy is it a lame one.)



The Other Side TPB - Unless this series completely blows it in the final issue, I will heartily recommend the collection. I'll keep my fingers crossed.



Crossing Midnight #6 - That's a freaky cover, once you start looking at the details. I'm trying to figure out what is going on with that werewolf's head; has it been cut off and strapped to the front of his body? Weird. I don't know if I'll still be reading this series in April, but this is a cool cover.



DMZ #18 - Cool cover. I love this book. That's all I have to say.



Midnighter #6 - I don't know if this is a fill-in issue or what. It looks like Midnighter is in samurai armor there, so maybe he's still in the middle of time-travel shenanigans (hey, wouldn't it be cool if that was the whole series; like, he kept doing time travel stuff for 50 issues or so? I dunno, I would like it), but the art is by Glenn Fabry rather than regular artist Chris Sprouse. Not that I'm complaining; I like Fabry. I know the next issue is a fill-in by Brian K. Vaughan and Darick Robertson. Whatever, should be fun.



The Boys #10 - More violence and such from Ennis and Robertson. Should be fun. That's all.



Ex Machina #27 - Part 2 of a new story arc. Nice cover, with the twin towers. I love this book too. Keep up the good work, Vaughan!



Battler Britton TPB - This was a very fun series, written by Garth Ennis. He's really good at writing war stories, and this one is quite enjoyable, about British and American pilots in the battle of North Africa during WWII. Recommended.



Alan Moore: Wild Worlds - I've heard some of Alan Moore's Image stuff is okay, but man, I almost couldn't be less interested in 90's comics about Spawn and Wildcats. Ugh. So I probably won't be getting it, but it is interesting to see some of Moore's lesser-regarded work getting reprinted.
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Marvel:


Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born #3 (of 7) - I haven't decided if I'm getting this series yet. If I do, it'll be mostly because of Jae Lee's art. We'll see. If I get it, I'll probably need this:



Dark Tower: Gunslinger's Handbook - One of those "explain stuff to the newbies" books.



Thunderbolts #113 - I don't know if I'll still be reading this book in April. I give it one or two more issues to sell me.



Punisher War Journal #6 - If I decide to eventually start following this book, this might be the issue to start with. It's supposed to start a new story arc. That might be the point to start, after it's done with all the Civil War nonsense. I'm wavering, and I'll probably start reading it sooner or later.




Immortal Iron Fist #5 - I'm not wavering on this one though. I dug the first issue, so now I need to get the second issue and sign up to keep getting it. I hope it stays awesome.



Iron Man: Hypervelocity #4 (of 6) - The first issue of this series was lots of fun, although I would have preferred an artist closer to writer Adam Warren's art style. The art's definitely not bad though, and I'm sure the series will continue to be very enjoyable.



Newuniversal #5 - Nice cover there. I'm enjoying this so far. Hope it stays good, or gets better. That is all.



Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #12 - Hey, it's Ego the Living Planet! Jeff Parker keeps the wackiness going after the all-MODOK issue! I might have to start reading this...



Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #17 - Is McKeever introducing Felicia Hardy to this series? Crazy! Man, this is a good comic. I hope David Hahn is good as the new artist.



Runaways #25 - It's the first issue of the Whedon regime! Man, I hope it's good. I love this book. That's not the cover, by the way; it's the cover to the third hardcover, and it sucks. Hopefully they'll replace it with a new Alphona cover to match the first two.



The Loners #1 (of 6) - A new miniseries spinning out of Runaways. It's about the ex-superhero support group from the first arc of the second volume. I guess they stopped calling themselves Excelsior. It could be interesting, except it's written by C.B. Cebulski, who is not a good writer. So I won't be getting it.




Spider-Man/Fantastic Four #1 (of 4) - Wow, a Jeff Parker-written, Mike Wieringo-drawn, non-continuity Spider-Man/Fantastic Four series?! Sweet! I'm all over this! See Marvel, this is what I want, not that Civil War silliness. So that's one person against a hundred thousand. I'm sure they'll listen to me.



Marvel Illustrated: Jungle Book - This looks interesting. Apparently Marvel is starting some sort of illustrated classic literature line. This one has excerpts from The Jungle Book, illustrated by P. Craig Russell and Gil Kane. Sounds cool.

Astonishing X-Men #22 - No cover shown for this one. It should be awesome. That's all I got.
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And it looks like that's it for DC and Marvel. Lots of stuff, especially from Vertigo. Comics are cool!