Hey, there was no content for a few days there, because I was out of town. I hope nobody missed me too much (but I hope I was missed a little, at least...). I got a lot of reading done though, so expect plenty of reviews and whatnot soon, although it is a holiday week, so I might delay it even more. Jeez. But let's look at what's coming out this week anyway:
But first, in case anyone missed it, I'll point to my review of Andy Hartzell's Fox Bunny Funny over at IndiePulp. It's an excellent book.
Okay, on with the show:
New comics this week (Wednesday, 11/21/07):
Spirit #11
Wow, this is just about the only mainline Marvel or DC title I'm interested in this week (unless you count the next item). It's Darwyn Cooke's penultimate issue, finishing the El Morte story that's been running in the background of most of his run. I've enjoyed his stuff on this book immensely, so I hope he goes out on a good note.
Franklin Richards Fall Football Fiasco
I usually enjoy these Franklin Richards comics, but I'm starting to think they might not be worth the money I spend on them. They're cute and all, but there's just not much there. I suppose I'll get this one if it's in my pull box, but I'll have to take it off my list. Still, they're pretty good, so don't take my rejection as a condemnation or anything.
Programme #5
More warmed-up Cold War superheroics. Will there ever be fighting in this series? We'll see!
Boys #12
And here we have Russian superheroes of a different sort. Last issue saw a nasty pizza delivery; what sort of horrors will Garth Ennis give us this time?
Drafted #3
I reviewed the first two issues of this series for Silver Bullet Comics, and while I don't really recommend it, it's got potential to get better. I probably won't buy it, but I wouldn't pass up another free review copy.
Godland #20
I switched to trades on this series, and just in time, it seems. Since I dropped the monthly series, I think only two issues have come out in something like six months. Ouch. Hopefully Joe Casey and Tom Scioli will get back on track, because I want to find out what happens!
Groo Hell on Earth #2
I didn't review the first issue of this miniseries, but it was pretty good. I hope Evanier and Aragones can keep up the good old Groo formula (Of course they can! They've been doing it for 25 years now).
Hawaiian Dick Screaming Black Thunder #1
There seems to be a lot of stuff coming out this week, so I don't know if I'll give this new monthly a try or not. I might wait for a collection, especially since past iterations have been notoriously late. Then I can also try to get caught up on those previous collections and know what the hell is going on.
Left on Mission #5
This is the last issue of Chip Mosher and Francesco Francavilla's spy book. I didn't review the last issue, but I'll try to take a look at it and this issue together. It's a good series; I recommend reading the eventual collection if you missed it (or gave up due to its lateness).
Rex Libris #9
Everybody's favorite kickass librarian is back! This book seems to come out pretty sporadically, but it's nice to see when it shows up.
Umbrella Academy Apocalypse Suite #3
More awesomeness! This issue promises a robot carnival battle, although I expect the creators will throw in a few twists. Good times.
Flink GN
The new Doug TenNapel book (only a few months after his last book, Black Cherry, which I still have yet to read, dammit), about a boy making friends with a Sasquatch, I think. It's a big week, so I don't know if I'll get it or not.
Goon Chinatown HC
Ooh, this is the big release of the week for me. Eric Powell's long-awaited graphic novel about the Goon's past, which almost surely involves monsters and violence. I can't wait.
Reptilia SC
I don't know if this is actually coming out this week, but I'm getting it if it does. It's a one-volume horror manga from Kazuo Umezu (Drifting Classroom). I've been excited to read it ever since I heard about it; I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Beyond Palomar TP
Perla La Loca TP
Two more books that might or might not be appearing this week but which I will snap up and devour as soon as possible. They're the third volumes of the Hernandez Brothers' Love and Rockets collections, and they collect most of what's left in the first volume of the series (another "miscellaneous" volume will be forthcoming, I believe). I am almost salivating for these books.
Jack Kirby’s 4th World Omnibus vol. 3 HC
Here's another one I will need to get, but I can wait, since I still have yet to acquire the second volume. I should get right on that.
Madman vol. 2
And finally, a new collection of Madman comics, containing issues #1-11 of the Dark Horse series. There are some really great comics in here, including the first appearance of the Mutant Street Beatniks (who would later become The Atomics) and Frank Miller and Geof Darrow's Big Guy. Excellent stuff; Mike Allred is awesome.
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And that looks like everything. I think solicitations also come out this week, so I'll probably look at those sometime. So, expect lots of content, unless I get too busy with the holidays. Take it easy!
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query left on mission. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query left on mission. Sort by date Show all posts
Monday, November 19, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
An expensive week, probably
Lots of new pamphlets that I'll be getting this week:
New comics this week (Wednesday, 5/23/07):
Criminal #6
The start of a new arc, finally. This book is quite good.
Iron Man Hypervelocity #5
This miniseries is awesome. I hope we can read the continuing adventures of bodyless Tony Stark 2.0. Adam Warren says he had hoped to do a sequel to Livewires, but that never happened. I'll keep my hopes up that it will get a sequel someday, along with this series.
newuniversal #6
I don't know if this is then end of an arc, or if it's just a continuing story. I suspect the former, but I would prefer the latter. Isn't Salvador Larroca doing a run on Uncanny X-Men? Does that mean this will get delayed, or will there be a new artist? I would certainly prefer he stay on this book, but whatever.
Spirit #6
Judging by the cover, I think the Spirit beats up on some punks this issue. Good times.
Cover Girl #2
This came out quick. I sort of liked the first issue, but I'm hoping the series gets better now that the girl on the cover has joined the cast. Don't let me down, Church!
Left on Mission #2
This came out even quicker. I'll pick it up and see if I want to continue through to the end of the series. Writer Chip Mosher left some comments here, and he seems pretty passionate about the book, so I would hate to disappoint him.
Godland #18
It's always good to see this come out. Let me try to remember what was going on: I think Adam and his sisters were trapped in the Infinity Tower, and he's probably going to have to fight the monster underneath the Pentagon. And maybe Neela will return to save the day or something. And the Triad is still scheming to blow up the world or something. It should be fun.
Gutsville #1
This is one I've been excited about Simon Spurrier writes and Frazier Irving draws a weird-ass story about a society living in the intestines of a giant monster. Awesomely strange.
Loaded Bible 2 Blood of Christ
I thought Loaded Bible 1 was okay, so I'll be getting this one too. Jesus fought vampires in the first one, but he found out he was actually a clone, so he'll be fighting the church in this one, maybe. Sacreligious good times.
Madman Atomic Comics #2
Ooh, this one will probably be the pick of the week. Allred will probably get into the plot now, and give us some revelations about what the hell is going on. Should be awesome; I love Madman.
Marvel Adventures Iron Man #1
I don't know if I'll get this one. It's written by Fred Van Lente, whom I generally like. But I'm not really a big Iron Man fan, and there's a lot of other stuff to spend money on this week.
Collections of good comics:
Casanova Vol. 1 Luxuria HC - $24.99
Fell Vol. 1 Feral City Ltd. Ed. HC - $24.99
Fell Vol. 1 Feral City SC - $14.99
The Other Side TPB - $12.99
Dr. Strange: The Oath TPB - $13.99
I recommend all of those, and they're all a pretty good deal for the price.
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I think that's everything for this week. I'll probably do a thing about solicitations tonight or tomorrow, and continuing through the week as the companies release the info. So watch for that.
New comics this week (Wednesday, 5/23/07):
Criminal #6
The start of a new arc, finally. This book is quite good.
Iron Man Hypervelocity #5
This miniseries is awesome. I hope we can read the continuing adventures of bodyless Tony Stark 2.0. Adam Warren says he had hoped to do a sequel to Livewires, but that never happened. I'll keep my hopes up that it will get a sequel someday, along with this series.
newuniversal #6
I don't know if this is then end of an arc, or if it's just a continuing story. I suspect the former, but I would prefer the latter. Isn't Salvador Larroca doing a run on Uncanny X-Men? Does that mean this will get delayed, or will there be a new artist? I would certainly prefer he stay on this book, but whatever.
Spirit #6
Judging by the cover, I think the Spirit beats up on some punks this issue. Good times.
Cover Girl #2
This came out quick. I sort of liked the first issue, but I'm hoping the series gets better now that the girl on the cover has joined the cast. Don't let me down, Church!
Left on Mission #2
This came out even quicker. I'll pick it up and see if I want to continue through to the end of the series. Writer Chip Mosher left some comments here, and he seems pretty passionate about the book, so I would hate to disappoint him.
Godland #18
It's always good to see this come out. Let me try to remember what was going on: I think Adam and his sisters were trapped in the Infinity Tower, and he's probably going to have to fight the monster underneath the Pentagon. And maybe Neela will return to save the day or something. And the Triad is still scheming to blow up the world or something. It should be fun.
Gutsville #1
This is one I've been excited about Simon Spurrier writes and Frazier Irving draws a weird-ass story about a society living in the intestines of a giant monster. Awesomely strange.
Loaded Bible 2 Blood of Christ
I thought Loaded Bible 1 was okay, so I'll be getting this one too. Jesus fought vampires in the first one, but he found out he was actually a clone, so he'll be fighting the church in this one, maybe. Sacreligious good times.
Madman Atomic Comics #2
Ooh, this one will probably be the pick of the week. Allred will probably get into the plot now, and give us some revelations about what the hell is going on. Should be awesome; I love Madman.
Marvel Adventures Iron Man #1
I don't know if I'll get this one. It's written by Fred Van Lente, whom I generally like. But I'm not really a big Iron Man fan, and there's a lot of other stuff to spend money on this week.
Collections of good comics:
Casanova Vol. 1 Luxuria HC - $24.99
Fell Vol. 1 Feral City Ltd. Ed. HC - $24.99
Fell Vol. 1 Feral City SC - $14.99
The Other Side TPB - $12.99
Dr. Strange: The Oath TPB - $13.99
I recommend all of those, and they're all a pretty good deal for the price.
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I think that's everything for this week. I'll probably do a thing about solicitations tonight or tomorrow, and continuing through the week as the companies release the info. So watch for that.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Here's some more in the way of new comics
But first! I've got a review of Fell #9 up on Comics Bulletin as part of the Sunday Slugfest. Good comics. Also, I want to point out that my favorite film critic, who goes by the name of Vern (you can read plenty of his writing on his site), has escaped from the print-on-demand ghetto, and now has his book Seagalogy up for sale on Amazon! It comes out on May 20, with a snazzy new cover. I was an early adopter, even though I'm not a fan of Steven Seagal (the book is an examination of each of his films, among other works), but I love Vern's writing, so if you like the reviews he has up on his site, the book has more of the same. Check it out! Okay, on with:
New comics this week (Wednesday, 1/23/08):
Afterburn #1
I reviewed an early copy of this a while back, and it's an interesting concept, but not that great a book. Too bad; I have high hopes for Red 5 as a publisher. At least I've got Atomic Robo...
Astonishing X-Men #24
Joss Whedon and John Cassaday's final issue of the series! Except for a "giant-size" finale that's coming next month (yeah, right). I still dig the series, even with the lateness, so I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Don't let me down, fellas!
Castle Waiting Vol 3 #10
Man, I really need to get that hardcover collection of the first volume of this series. I keep hearing that it's really good, but I haven't picked it up. Another one for the "to acquire someday" list...
Clockwork Girl #2
I've been interested in this series, but my shop has failed to get any issues in. Too bad, maybe I can pick it up when it's collected or something.
Dan Dare #3
Garth Ennis! I liked the first two issues well enough, and I'm enough of an Ennis fan to keep buying this. I'm sure I kind of miss out on some cultural references, but it's still a pretty good book. There's also a second print of the first issue coming out, so you can try to catch up if you missed out at first. It's like War Story in space! Or something.
Faker #6
So this is the last issue of the Mike Carey/Jock miniseries. I haven't heard much about it lately; has it been any good? I'm considering picking up the trade, but I dunno if I should bother. Help me out, people!
Jack Staff #1
I believe this is the special issue that is supposed to kick of the "monthly" schedule on the book. I still haven't decided if I should pick it up or try to find the earlier trades, but it's almost here, so I guess I'll have to come down off the fence.
Johnny Hiro #3
Man, I never got the second issue of this. Too bad, the first one was pretty cool. I'll still get this if I see it though.
Mice Templar #3
Man, I'm undecided on this series. I read the first two issues, and thought they were all right, but not so great that I'm clamoring for more. I'll have to decide whether I want to keep reading or not when I'm in the store. Mike Oeming is lucky this is a light week (since I'm sure he's sweating as to whether I'll buy it or not).
Order #7
So, seven issues. That means a trade should be coming out soon, right? It better; I wanna get caught up on this book that I've heard is pretty good. Matt Fraction is a good writer; he better not let me down. Or else! (I'll frown or something. Take that!)
Snaked #2
Another second issue of a series whose first installment underwhelmed me. This one had a bit more promise than Afterburn though. But I probably still won't get it. Maybe I'll consider a collection if it turns out to be a classic.
Testament #22
I dropped this series almost a year ago, and I've heard very little about it since. If anybody out there has been reading it, has it gotten any better? I was pretty disappointed with it, since for a while it was a book I really liked. And now it's ending; I'm not sure if this is the final issue or not, but it'll be gone soon. It won't exactly be missed, I don't think, but I do wonder what might have been.
Therefore Repent TP
This one isn't on my shop's shipping list, but it's supposed to show up at Midtown Comics. It's a post-apocalyptic/post-rapture story from science fiction writer Jim Munroe and artist Salgood Sam. Here's the book's webpage, where I find another bit of interesting info: it's set in the Chicago suburbs (which I refuse to refer to as "Chicagoland"), which is where I live. Cool! I can't wait to read it.
JLA The Hypothetical Woman
This was one of the earlier stories in the JLA Classified series, written by Gail Simone, I believe. I dunno, there was a time when I would have checked it out, but superhero comics are pretty boring to me these days. So I'll skip it, but don't let that stop you from your enjoyment.
Left on Mission TPB
This was a spy series from Boom! that I liked quite a bit, so I recommend checking it out if you missed the individual issues. Here are my thoughts on various parts of the series.
Madman Vol 3 TP Image Edition
I haven't looked to see what exactly is collected in this volume, but it's Mike Allred and it's Madman, so I know it's good. If you haven't read all the various Madman comics, I highly recommend them. Go Frank Einstein!
Complete Terry & The Pirates Vol 2 HC
Man, I doubt I'll be reading this anytime soon, but I wanted to point it out. Milton Caniff is pretty cool. Maybe I'll get to it someday.
Gon vol. 3
This week's manga that I should try to acquire. Gon is so much fun, and these editions are pretty cheap. I should try to get them sometime. In the meantime, I recommend John Jakala's daughter's thoughts on the books.
Guin Saga Manga Vol 2 Seven Magi TP
This weird-looking series from Vertical continues. I doubt I'll be getting it, but it's an interesting offering. Another addition to the "to consider reading" list.
Vagabond Vol 26 TP
And here's this week's manga series that I'm (way!) behind on. I have the first three volumes, so I'm thinking I might try to get caught up when the series starts coming out in three-in-one omnibus editions. It's a pretty sweet manga, so I definitely do want to keep reading. Agh, what an age we live in, with a unattainable wealth of comics out there to consume. Life is good.
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So that's it for this week. I expect to get out of the shop with minimal expenditures. Whew! As for content, I hope to have a review of something or other up tonight, and we've got solicitations to peruse as well. I've been doing my monthly look at those for a year now, but I wonder if I should keep bothering. I doubt I'll get much response, but how about some reader consensus? Should I keep looking at the company solicitations each month? Or is that a waste of time and energy? Let me know what you think!
New comics this week (Wednesday, 1/23/08):
Afterburn #1
I reviewed an early copy of this a while back, and it's an interesting concept, but not that great a book. Too bad; I have high hopes for Red 5 as a publisher. At least I've got Atomic Robo...
Astonishing X-Men #24
Joss Whedon and John Cassaday's final issue of the series! Except for a "giant-size" finale that's coming next month (yeah, right). I still dig the series, even with the lateness, so I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Don't let me down, fellas!
Castle Waiting Vol 3 #10
Man, I really need to get that hardcover collection of the first volume of this series. I keep hearing that it's really good, but I haven't picked it up. Another one for the "to acquire someday" list...
Clockwork Girl #2
I've been interested in this series, but my shop has failed to get any issues in. Too bad, maybe I can pick it up when it's collected or something.
Dan Dare #3
Garth Ennis! I liked the first two issues well enough, and I'm enough of an Ennis fan to keep buying this. I'm sure I kind of miss out on some cultural references, but it's still a pretty good book. There's also a second print of the first issue coming out, so you can try to catch up if you missed out at first. It's like War Story in space! Or something.
Faker #6
So this is the last issue of the Mike Carey/Jock miniseries. I haven't heard much about it lately; has it been any good? I'm considering picking up the trade, but I dunno if I should bother. Help me out, people!
Jack Staff #1
I believe this is the special issue that is supposed to kick of the "monthly" schedule on the book. I still haven't decided if I should pick it up or try to find the earlier trades, but it's almost here, so I guess I'll have to come down off the fence.
Johnny Hiro #3
Man, I never got the second issue of this. Too bad, the first one was pretty cool. I'll still get this if I see it though.
Mice Templar #3
Man, I'm undecided on this series. I read the first two issues, and thought they were all right, but not so great that I'm clamoring for more. I'll have to decide whether I want to keep reading or not when I'm in the store. Mike Oeming is lucky this is a light week (since I'm sure he's sweating as to whether I'll buy it or not).
Order #7
So, seven issues. That means a trade should be coming out soon, right? It better; I wanna get caught up on this book that I've heard is pretty good. Matt Fraction is a good writer; he better not let me down. Or else! (I'll frown or something. Take that!)
Snaked #2
Another second issue of a series whose first installment underwhelmed me. This one had a bit more promise than Afterburn though. But I probably still won't get it. Maybe I'll consider a collection if it turns out to be a classic.
Testament #22
I dropped this series almost a year ago, and I've heard very little about it since. If anybody out there has been reading it, has it gotten any better? I was pretty disappointed with it, since for a while it was a book I really liked. And now it's ending; I'm not sure if this is the final issue or not, but it'll be gone soon. It won't exactly be missed, I don't think, but I do wonder what might have been.
Therefore Repent TP
This one isn't on my shop's shipping list, but it's supposed to show up at Midtown Comics. It's a post-apocalyptic/post-rapture story from science fiction writer Jim Munroe and artist Salgood Sam. Here's the book's webpage, where I find another bit of interesting info: it's set in the Chicago suburbs (which I refuse to refer to as "Chicagoland"), which is where I live. Cool! I can't wait to read it.
JLA The Hypothetical Woman
This was one of the earlier stories in the JLA Classified series, written by Gail Simone, I believe. I dunno, there was a time when I would have checked it out, but superhero comics are pretty boring to me these days. So I'll skip it, but don't let that stop you from your enjoyment.
Left on Mission TPB
This was a spy series from Boom! that I liked quite a bit, so I recommend checking it out if you missed the individual issues. Here are my thoughts on various parts of the series.
Madman Vol 3 TP Image Edition
I haven't looked to see what exactly is collected in this volume, but it's Mike Allred and it's Madman, so I know it's good. If you haven't read all the various Madman comics, I highly recommend them. Go Frank Einstein!
Complete Terry & The Pirates Vol 2 HC
Man, I doubt I'll be reading this anytime soon, but I wanted to point it out. Milton Caniff is pretty cool. Maybe I'll get to it someday.
Gon vol. 3
This week's manga that I should try to acquire. Gon is so much fun, and these editions are pretty cheap. I should try to get them sometime. In the meantime, I recommend John Jakala's daughter's thoughts on the books.
Guin Saga Manga Vol 2 Seven Magi TP
This weird-looking series from Vertical continues. I doubt I'll be getting it, but it's an interesting offering. Another addition to the "to consider reading" list.
Vagabond Vol 26 TP
And here's this week's manga series that I'm (way!) behind on. I have the first three volumes, so I'm thinking I might try to get caught up when the series starts coming out in three-in-one omnibus editions. It's a pretty sweet manga, so I definitely do want to keep reading. Agh, what an age we live in, with a unattainable wealth of comics out there to consume. Life is good.
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So that's it for this week. I expect to get out of the shop with minimal expenditures. Whew! As for content, I hope to have a review of something or other up tonight, and we've got solicitations to peruse as well. I've been doing my monthly look at those for a year now, but I wonder if I should keep bothering. I doubt I'll get much response, but how about some reader consensus? Should I keep looking at the company solicitations each month? Or is that a waste of time and energy? Let me know what you think!
Monday, September 24, 2007
I might save some money this week and I might not; I really should come up with wittier post titles
Whatever the case, here's what I think about this week's comics:
Wait! First, I should point out my review of The Programme #3 over at SBC. Okay, carry on:
New comics this week (Wednesday, 9/26/07):
Immortal Iron Fist #9
Immortal Iron Fist Annual #1
I probably shouldn't bother mentioning this book anymore, since I'm waiting for the trade, but I wanted to note that I hope the annual gets collected along with regular installments of the series. Don't screw me, Marvel!
Criminal #9
A "Marvel" book I'm actually buying on a monthly basis. It's good stuff. Please, Sean Phillips, give up the zombie nonsense and stick to this!
Franklin Richards Monster Mash
I've bought several of these specials, and they're always fun, but I don't know if they're really worth three dollars a pop. Maybe I should switch to getting those collected digest versions.
Batman #669
My last issue of Batman for the foreseeable future, but I expect I'll go out on a good note. J.H. Williams III finishes his three-issue run, so it should be pretty and awesome and pretty awesome. My guess at the murderer's identity: Squire! Hah, nobody will expect that one!
The Spirit #10
Continued from the last issue, in a deviance from the series norm. Our hero fights the bad guy, Mortez, who ties into his origin. Darwyn Cooke is cool, and this is one of his last issues on the series. Only two more to go, I think.
Superman Confidential #6
Both my local store and Midtown Comics say that this is the final issue of the Darwyn Cooke/Tim Sale "origin of Kryptonite" story, but last I heard, that got delayed and this actually starts the next storyline. If so, I won't be getting it, but if I'm incorrect, it will be a nice surprise. I've enjoyed the story, even if it hasn't exactly been a masterpiece. I hope they'll be able to wrap it up satisfactorily. If nothing else, it's been yet another lesson on waiting for the trade.
Killing Girl #2
I really dug the first issue of this book, so hopefully this one will keep up the quality (on the art front, at least; hell, maybe the story will even bootstrap itself up to a new level). There's going to be an artist switch partway through the series, so if it doesn't appeal to me, I'll drop it. But I'll always have that awesome first issue...
Left On Mission #4
This isn't on my shop's list, but hopefully I'll get it anyway. It's been a very enjoyable spy series, so I've been looking forward to reading the rest of it. Oh well, I'll get it sometime, I'm sure.
Iron Man Hypervelocity TPB
I highly recommend this Adam Warren-penned miniseries. It's full of awesome techno-sci-fi ideas and crazy action, with Warren's signature cheeky mile-a-minute dialogue and weird sexual fixations. Not the usual sort of thing you see from Marvel, which makes it all the better. Check it out if you missed it the first time.
Empowered vol. 2 TPB
Hey, even more Adam Warren! Is this actually coming out this week? I hope so. I already received a review PDF of the book, but I haven't been able to bring myself to do more than scan through some of it; I would rather read a physical copy. I really liked the first volume, so I hope this one has more of the same. In fact, it should probably be better, since it won't have the early "learning curve" of that volume. If Warren can keep up the crazy, sexy comedy and wacky concepts while continuing the character development, I'll be happy.
Presents vol. 1
Variante vol. 1
I'm interested in both of these DC/CMX manga, which are about a creepy little girl who gives evil gifts and a girl with an evil arm grafted onto her body, respectively, but who knows if I'll ever find them anywhere. Eh, I'll wait and see if there are any positive reviews anyway.
Killer vol. 1 HC
I think Greg Burgas at Comics Should Be Good gave this a recommendation, so I might check it out at some point, if I ever see it. It's a European comic about, well, a killer. Surprise, surprise.
Loki TPB
This is the miniseries from a few years ago in which Loki defeated Thor and became ruler of Asgard, or something like that. It certainly looked nice, but I never really heard anything especially good about it. I dunno, I might take a look, but I doubt I'll buy it.
Punisher Presents Barracuda TPB
I enjoyed this miniseries, although I probably should have waited for the trade/caught up on the regular series first. It works pretty good on its own, with the titular character (Barracuda, not the Punisher) wreaking havoc in a small South American nation, but it would probably be better if you've been reading the main Punisher MAX series (which also sees the release of an annual this week).
Madman Vol 1 TP Image Edition
Hey, you can finally start to get caught up on the series (of series) without having to spring for the giant Gargantua edition! Check it out, if you want some fun Mike Allred comics (and if you don't, I probably can't help you).
Alan Moores Yuggoth Cultures TP
Weird Alan Moore stuff from Avatar. Did he actually write these, or were they just based on his short stories or something? I think I have an issue or two that I got in a discount bin; it had a lot of demon-fucking and stuff like that. I love Alan Moore, but I don't know if I would bother getting this.
I Killed Adolf Hitler TP
Another one that's not on my shop's list, but I think I preordered it, so maybe it will show up. I've been catching up on Jason's comics, and this one looks pretty good. Time travel and Hitler assassination are usually pretty fun.
Ronald Reagan A Graphic Biography HC
And then there's this. I'm not sure what to say about it, other than that I probably won't read it. But it amuses me, for some reason.
Best American Comics 2007 HC
While I probably won't buy this, I would like to see what is included. I liked the 2006 edition, for the most part, so this will certainly be worth a look. I hope my library gets a copy.
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And I think that may actually be everything. Like I said, it could be light, with only a few pamphlets, but if all the various trades or whatever show up, it could be more expensive. We'll see. Anyway, I should have more reviews in the next few days, so watch for those.
Wait! First, I should point out my review of The Programme #3 over at SBC. Okay, carry on:
New comics this week (Wednesday, 9/26/07):
Immortal Iron Fist #9
Immortal Iron Fist Annual #1
I probably shouldn't bother mentioning this book anymore, since I'm waiting for the trade, but I wanted to note that I hope the annual gets collected along with regular installments of the series. Don't screw me, Marvel!
Criminal #9
A "Marvel" book I'm actually buying on a monthly basis. It's good stuff. Please, Sean Phillips, give up the zombie nonsense and stick to this!
Franklin Richards Monster Mash
I've bought several of these specials, and they're always fun, but I don't know if they're really worth three dollars a pop. Maybe I should switch to getting those collected digest versions.
Batman #669
My last issue of Batman for the foreseeable future, but I expect I'll go out on a good note. J.H. Williams III finishes his three-issue run, so it should be pretty and awesome and pretty awesome. My guess at the murderer's identity: Squire! Hah, nobody will expect that one!
The Spirit #10
Continued from the last issue, in a deviance from the series norm. Our hero fights the bad guy, Mortez, who ties into his origin. Darwyn Cooke is cool, and this is one of his last issues on the series. Only two more to go, I think.
Superman Confidential #6
Both my local store and Midtown Comics say that this is the final issue of the Darwyn Cooke/Tim Sale "origin of Kryptonite" story, but last I heard, that got delayed and this actually starts the next storyline. If so, I won't be getting it, but if I'm incorrect, it will be a nice surprise. I've enjoyed the story, even if it hasn't exactly been a masterpiece. I hope they'll be able to wrap it up satisfactorily. If nothing else, it's been yet another lesson on waiting for the trade.
Killing Girl #2
I really dug the first issue of this book, so hopefully this one will keep up the quality (on the art front, at least; hell, maybe the story will even bootstrap itself up to a new level). There's going to be an artist switch partway through the series, so if it doesn't appeal to me, I'll drop it. But I'll always have that awesome first issue...
Left On Mission #4
This isn't on my shop's list, but hopefully I'll get it anyway. It's been a very enjoyable spy series, so I've been looking forward to reading the rest of it. Oh well, I'll get it sometime, I'm sure.
Iron Man Hypervelocity TPB
I highly recommend this Adam Warren-penned miniseries. It's full of awesome techno-sci-fi ideas and crazy action, with Warren's signature cheeky mile-a-minute dialogue and weird sexual fixations. Not the usual sort of thing you see from Marvel, which makes it all the better. Check it out if you missed it the first time.
Empowered vol. 2 TPB
Hey, even more Adam Warren! Is this actually coming out this week? I hope so. I already received a review PDF of the book, but I haven't been able to bring myself to do more than scan through some of it; I would rather read a physical copy. I really liked the first volume, so I hope this one has more of the same. In fact, it should probably be better, since it won't have the early "learning curve" of that volume. If Warren can keep up the crazy, sexy comedy and wacky concepts while continuing the character development, I'll be happy.
Presents vol. 1
Variante vol. 1
I'm interested in both of these DC/CMX manga, which are about a creepy little girl who gives evil gifts and a girl with an evil arm grafted onto her body, respectively, but who knows if I'll ever find them anywhere. Eh, I'll wait and see if there are any positive reviews anyway.
Killer vol. 1 HC
I think Greg Burgas at Comics Should Be Good gave this a recommendation, so I might check it out at some point, if I ever see it. It's a European comic about, well, a killer. Surprise, surprise.
Loki TPB
This is the miniseries from a few years ago in which Loki defeated Thor and became ruler of Asgard, or something like that. It certainly looked nice, but I never really heard anything especially good about it. I dunno, I might take a look, but I doubt I'll buy it.
Punisher Presents Barracuda TPB
I enjoyed this miniseries, although I probably should have waited for the trade/caught up on the regular series first. It works pretty good on its own, with the titular character (Barracuda, not the Punisher) wreaking havoc in a small South American nation, but it would probably be better if you've been reading the main Punisher MAX series (which also sees the release of an annual this week).
Madman Vol 1 TP Image Edition
Hey, you can finally start to get caught up on the series (of series) without having to spring for the giant Gargantua edition! Check it out, if you want some fun Mike Allred comics (and if you don't, I probably can't help you).
Alan Moores Yuggoth Cultures TP
Weird Alan Moore stuff from Avatar. Did he actually write these, or were they just based on his short stories or something? I think I have an issue or two that I got in a discount bin; it had a lot of demon-fucking and stuff like that. I love Alan Moore, but I don't know if I would bother getting this.
I Killed Adolf Hitler TP
Another one that's not on my shop's list, but I think I preordered it, so maybe it will show up. I've been catching up on Jason's comics, and this one looks pretty good. Time travel and Hitler assassination are usually pretty fun.
Ronald Reagan A Graphic Biography HC
And then there's this. I'm not sure what to say about it, other than that I probably won't read it. But it amuses me, for some reason.
Best American Comics 2007 HC
While I probably won't buy this, I would like to see what is included. I liked the 2006 edition, for the most part, so this will certainly be worth a look. I hope my library gets a copy.
-----
And I think that may actually be everything. Like I said, it could be light, with only a few pamphlets, but if all the various trades or whatever show up, it could be more expensive. We'll see. Anyway, I should have more reviews in the next few days, so watch for those.
Monday, November 26, 2007
After last week, I might not have enough money for this week's stuff
I won't let that stop me though. Really, I spent a lot, especially since my store was having a sale that allowed me to pick up some stuff I had been wanting for a while. So this week might cause more thinness of the wallet. But before I talk about my upcoming expenditures, here are some reviews I did for Silver Bullet Comics: Groo: Hell on Earth #2, Left on Mission #5, and Rex Libris #9. Woo hoo! Okay, back to my outgoing cash flow issues (note: comics come out on Thursday this week, because of the holiday last week, I guess, which seems kinda dumb):
New comics this week (Thursday, 11/29/07):
Casanova #11
Hey, this seems to be coming out at a nice clip. Awesome. I really dug the last issue, with the Secret Cinema and the sexiness. Here's hoping Fraction and Moon can keep it going.
Doc Frankenstein #6
Holy cow, it's been a while since the last issue of this one. What is it, and annual now? I usually enjoy it, even though it's ridiculous, over the top, and kind of overly serious about religious persecution, but there's really nothing else like it being published, so I'll take it. Now if we get a new Shaolin Cowboy before March, it'll be a real miracle...
Jack of Fables #17
Last issue was kind of a standalone deal, so this one will probably get back to the main story, with Jack putting Humpty Dumpty back together. Have I mentioned that I really enjoy this book?
Madman Atomic Comics #5
Ooh, and another book that is sometimes late but always welcome. More of Madman's cosmic adventures in space. I can't wait.
Dan Dare #1
I'm not sure if I want to get this one, but I'm interested in most stuff Garth Ennis writes. I'll have to check it out and decide if I want it.
Archibald Saves Christmas #1
Some sort of gothic-cartoony funny animal violent Santa special. It could be fun, or it could be lame. Here's a group review that makes it sound kind of interesting.
Dock Walloper #1
I don't really know much about this one, but it's "written" by filmmaker Ed Burns (with Jimmy Palmiotti), and it's some sort of crime/gangster story in Prohibition-era New York. Heidi MacDonald has the press release here. I might take a look at it.
Popgun Vol 1 GN
This is a cool-looking anthology from Image, with contributions from the likes of Mike Allred, Erik Larsen, Joseph Michael Lisner, Jim Mahfood, and plenty others. I'll probably pick it up; it looks like it will contain some pretty good stuff. Here's a preview.
Jack Kirbys Galactic Bounty Hunters HC
I bought the first issue of this Kirby-sploitation miniseries, but wasn't all that impressed. Apparently, it's based on sketches and characters that Kirby created but never used, but I didn't see much of Kirby's energy or creativity in that issue. I suppose I could check out a collection of the series if I'm looking for something to read, but I'm not going to spend $25 on a fancy hardcover version.
Cut GN
A horror graphic novel from Dark Horse, written by publisher Mike Richardson. It's got a nice cover by Mike Mignola, if nothing else. I probably won't get it this week (did I mention the money shortage?), but if I hear good things I could see myself buying it.
Talent Vol 1 TP
I never did read this horror(?) miniseries from Boom! Studios, but I heard it was pretty good. Yet another one I might possibly check out someday.
Testament Vol 3 Babel TP
I believe this was the arc after which I dropped this book, but now that it's getting canceled, I might try to read the final issues and see if it ever got better. It was too bad; I really like the book for a while, but it just got too incoherent, and the art started really turning me off. We'll see what ends up happening.
Locas vol. 3 Perla La Loca
Palomar vol. 3 Beyond Palomar
I believe these actually came out last week in most places, but my shop has them on their list for this week, so that means I'll probably be getting them soon. I can't wait to read them.
MPD-PSYCHO Vol 3 TP
I can tell this is another series that I'm going to be perpetually behind on. I'll try to get caught up though.
Pumpkin Scissors Vol 1 GN
David Welsh reviewed this one a week or two ago, and it sounds pretty good, despite the awful title. I might check it out eventually.
Ice Wanderer GN
I've never read any Jiro Taniguchi books, but I always hear they are really good. I'm hoping to get caught up someday, but here's another one to add to the pile. Chris Butcher has more information.
-----
And that's it for the week. Really, it's not that big of a week, but I just spent too much last week, so I'm short on dough. But it's not like I don't have enough stuff to read already...
Anyway, I've got another post coming up, and it's one people should read, so check back later! And I might even do some sort of reviews, which is kind of the point of this whole blog, isn't it?
New comics this week (Thursday, 11/29/07):
Casanova #11
Hey, this seems to be coming out at a nice clip. Awesome. I really dug the last issue, with the Secret Cinema and the sexiness. Here's hoping Fraction and Moon can keep it going.
Doc Frankenstein #6
Holy cow, it's been a while since the last issue of this one. What is it, and annual now? I usually enjoy it, even though it's ridiculous, over the top, and kind of overly serious about religious persecution, but there's really nothing else like it being published, so I'll take it. Now if we get a new Shaolin Cowboy before March, it'll be a real miracle...
Jack of Fables #17
Last issue was kind of a standalone deal, so this one will probably get back to the main story, with Jack putting Humpty Dumpty back together. Have I mentioned that I really enjoy this book?
Madman Atomic Comics #5
Ooh, and another book that is sometimes late but always welcome. More of Madman's cosmic adventures in space. I can't wait.
Dan Dare #1
I'm not sure if I want to get this one, but I'm interested in most stuff Garth Ennis writes. I'll have to check it out and decide if I want it.
Archibald Saves Christmas #1
Some sort of gothic-cartoony funny animal violent Santa special. It could be fun, or it could be lame. Here's a group review that makes it sound kind of interesting.
Dock Walloper #1
I don't really know much about this one, but it's "written" by filmmaker Ed Burns (with Jimmy Palmiotti), and it's some sort of crime/gangster story in Prohibition-era New York. Heidi MacDonald has the press release here. I might take a look at it.
Popgun Vol 1 GN
This is a cool-looking anthology from Image, with contributions from the likes of Mike Allred, Erik Larsen, Joseph Michael Lisner, Jim Mahfood, and plenty others. I'll probably pick it up; it looks like it will contain some pretty good stuff. Here's a preview.
Jack Kirbys Galactic Bounty Hunters HC
I bought the first issue of this Kirby-sploitation miniseries, but wasn't all that impressed. Apparently, it's based on sketches and characters that Kirby created but never used, but I didn't see much of Kirby's energy or creativity in that issue. I suppose I could check out a collection of the series if I'm looking for something to read, but I'm not going to spend $25 on a fancy hardcover version.
Cut GN
A horror graphic novel from Dark Horse, written by publisher Mike Richardson. It's got a nice cover by Mike Mignola, if nothing else. I probably won't get it this week (did I mention the money shortage?), but if I hear good things I could see myself buying it.
Talent Vol 1 TP
I never did read this horror(?) miniseries from Boom! Studios, but I heard it was pretty good. Yet another one I might possibly check out someday.
Testament Vol 3 Babel TP
I believe this was the arc after which I dropped this book, but now that it's getting canceled, I might try to read the final issues and see if it ever got better. It was too bad; I really like the book for a while, but it just got too incoherent, and the art started really turning me off. We'll see what ends up happening.
Locas vol. 3 Perla La Loca
Palomar vol. 3 Beyond Palomar
I believe these actually came out last week in most places, but my shop has them on their list for this week, so that means I'll probably be getting them soon. I can't wait to read them.
MPD-PSYCHO Vol 3 TP
I can tell this is another series that I'm going to be perpetually behind on. I'll try to get caught up though.
Pumpkin Scissors Vol 1 GN
David Welsh reviewed this one a week or two ago, and it sounds pretty good, despite the awful title. I might check it out eventually.
Ice Wanderer GN
I've never read any Jiro Taniguchi books, but I always hear they are really good. I'm hoping to get caught up someday, but here's another one to add to the pile. Chris Butcher has more information.
-----
And that's it for the week. Really, it's not that big of a week, but I just spent too much last week, so I'm short on dough. But it's not like I don't have enough stuff to read already...
Anyway, I've got another post coming up, and it's one people should read, so check back later! And I might even do some sort of reviews, which is kind of the point of this whole blog, isn't it?
Friday, May 18, 2007
Not too much to talk about with this week's comics
Maybe I'll mention a few others in more depth tomorrow or whenever, but for now, here's some (probably) short thoughts on comics that came out this week:
Left On Mission #1 (of 5)
Written by Chip Mosher
Art by Francesco Francavilla
I wasn't sure if I was going to get this one, but the 99-cent price for the first issue made it hard to pass up. And it was definitely worth it; it's quite possible that I'll buy the rest of the series. It's a spy story about a couple of agents out to take down a former agent in Cuba. They get ambushed by a couple goons and have a chase/firefight through the streets of Havana. It's nicely-done action movie stuff. The art works, but it's nothing to write home about. At the end of the issue, the rogue agent is still at large, and one of the other agents is going after her on his own; the two of them used to be an item. Will he bring her in or join her and make a run for it? I just might follow the miniseries and find out.
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Satan's Sodomy Baby
By Eric Powell
That's the jokey cover, by the way; here's the "real" cover, which is inside the first one:
I love Eric Powell's art, and his writing is quite hilarious, but this is certainly not his best work. His jokes work best when centered around a plot, and really, all the plot of this book is right there in the title. From what I've heard, this whole thing came about because Powell was going to use the title for a regular Goon story, or at least as text on the cover of an issue. But Dark Horse wouldn't let him use the word "sodomy" on the cover, so he turned it into a joke in the issue, saying that a religious woman named Margaret Snodgrass had caught wind of the comic and campaigned to Dark Horse against it. He exhorted readers to write in and demand that the book be published. I guess lots of readers took the whole thing seriously, judging by the letters printed in the back of the book. Some of them even quote legal precedents and go on long screeds against censorship. It's quite odd to see this much energy expended over butt-sex jokes. And to tell the truth, I think Powell's playing the whole thing for laughs, but like I said, his stuff is funnier when it has more of a "point" (if zombie-killin' counts as one). The plot is simple: a hillbilly gets raped by Satan, then delivers a buck-tooth, red, horned baby that has a disproportionately large, fire-spewing penis. The Goon and Franky want to get rid of the baby, so a priest decides that abortion is the answer, and you can probably figure out where it goes from there. The whole thing is almost calculatedly offensive (Bestiality? Check. Pedophelia? Check. Abortion? Check. Obligatory Exorcist reference? Check.). It's enjoyable enough if you like that sort of thing, but I for one will be glad when Powell gets back to doing regular issues of the series. But what the hell, here's a sample image, from a scene in which Franky goes to try to find religion:
That does make me laugh.
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Blackgas 2 #2 (of 3)
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Max Fiumara
Actually, I'm not going to do a full review of this one. It's Warren Ellis, zombies, action, violence, etc., etc. If that sounds like something you like, go for it. I just wanted to share this image:
One more issue to go in the series. It's all right, but it probably won't knock your socks off.
-----
Okay, that's all. More tomorrow.
Left On Mission #1 (of 5)
Written by Chip Mosher
Art by Francesco Francavilla
I wasn't sure if I was going to get this one, but the 99-cent price for the first issue made it hard to pass up. And it was definitely worth it; it's quite possible that I'll buy the rest of the series. It's a spy story about a couple of agents out to take down a former agent in Cuba. They get ambushed by a couple goons and have a chase/firefight through the streets of Havana. It's nicely-done action movie stuff. The art works, but it's nothing to write home about. At the end of the issue, the rogue agent is still at large, and one of the other agents is going after her on his own; the two of them used to be an item. Will he bring her in or join her and make a run for it? I just might follow the miniseries and find out.
-----
Satan's Sodomy Baby
By Eric Powell
That's the jokey cover, by the way; here's the "real" cover, which is inside the first one:
I love Eric Powell's art, and his writing is quite hilarious, but this is certainly not his best work. His jokes work best when centered around a plot, and really, all the plot of this book is right there in the title. From what I've heard, this whole thing came about because Powell was going to use the title for a regular Goon story, or at least as text on the cover of an issue. But Dark Horse wouldn't let him use the word "sodomy" on the cover, so he turned it into a joke in the issue, saying that a religious woman named Margaret Snodgrass had caught wind of the comic and campaigned to Dark Horse against it. He exhorted readers to write in and demand that the book be published. I guess lots of readers took the whole thing seriously, judging by the letters printed in the back of the book. Some of them even quote legal precedents and go on long screeds against censorship. It's quite odd to see this much energy expended over butt-sex jokes. And to tell the truth, I think Powell's playing the whole thing for laughs, but like I said, his stuff is funnier when it has more of a "point" (if zombie-killin' counts as one). The plot is simple: a hillbilly gets raped by Satan, then delivers a buck-tooth, red, horned baby that has a disproportionately large, fire-spewing penis. The Goon and Franky want to get rid of the baby, so a priest decides that abortion is the answer, and you can probably figure out where it goes from there. The whole thing is almost calculatedly offensive (Bestiality? Check. Pedophelia? Check. Abortion? Check. Obligatory Exorcist reference? Check.). It's enjoyable enough if you like that sort of thing, but I for one will be glad when Powell gets back to doing regular issues of the series. But what the hell, here's a sample image, from a scene in which Franky goes to try to find religion:
That does make me laugh.
-----
Blackgas 2 #2 (of 3)
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Max Fiumara
Actually, I'm not going to do a full review of this one. It's Warren Ellis, zombies, action, violence, etc., etc. If that sounds like something you like, go for it. I just wanted to share this image:
One more issue to go in the series. It's all right, but it probably won't knock your socks off.
-----
Okay, that's all. More tomorrow.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Warren Ellis writes comics (and so do some other people)
So now that I have a working scanner, I can finally get around to reviews of last week's comics. I hope somebody still cares.
Batman #666
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Andy Kubert
Well, I liked the idea of this comic, and certain parts of it, but as a whole it left me pretty cold. Morrison throws some interesting ideas into his tale of Batman's semi-evil son taking over the role in the future and fighting a fake Batman who might also be the anti-Christ, but it ends up being a barely-comprehensible, violent slugfest that certainly isn't helped by Kubert's early-Image-style art. There are some decent lines, and a few plot points that I suspect will eventually work their way into future stories in Morrison's run (especially the bit about Damian killing Batman), but I think I've lost interest in reading more of this stuff. I'll read the next three issues which J.H. Williams III is illustrating, but after that I'm dropping the book.
I will note that I liked this panel of Damian agonizing over his murder of Batman:
It's a nice evocation of the oft-used "young Bruce Wayne weeping over his parents' bodies". Also, I can always appreciate a gorilla villain. And there was some other clever stuff, but not enough to keep me interested. Good riddance.
-----
Black Summer #1 (of 7/8)
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Juan Jose Ryp
So we get to the nominal first issue of the series, and the political angle is pretty much dropped in favor of fighting and flashbacks. Both of those are quite good though, with highly-detailed viscera in the former, and lots of enjoyable Ellis technojargon in the latter. I always like when he gives detailed scientific explanations for superpowers (or other science-fiction concepts), and while this story isn't too original (in Ellis terms, at least; expect lots of stuff like "bias fields", quantum mechanics, and wireless communication), it's still very cool. Also of interest is that superheroes in this world are simply referred to as "guns", which is an easy way of reducing them to their simplest aspect. Didn't any of those people watch The Iron Giant?
I'm also enjoying Ryp's ultra-detailed art. He reminds me of Geof Darrow, although with a sexed-up sensibility, and perhaps less facility with facial expressions. But he draws rubble with the best of them:
And blood. Lots of blood. I'm sure there will be plenty more in future issues. I for one can't wait.
-----
Crécy
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Raulo Caceres
This week's second Warren Ellis book is a bit of a departure for him (although not too much; you can still hear his authorial voice loud and clear): a historical story about the titular battle, one of the most important conflicts of the Hundred Years' War. The main character and narrator is named William of Stonham, and he's a soldier in the English army as it goes on a raid through France, committing acts of terror and ultimately facing the nobility-led French army. However, William is really a stand-in for Ellis, speaking directly to the reader with full knowledge of everything that has happened between 1346 and the present. He gives us a lot of details about the battle, including historical and geographical background (maps included) as well as technical details pertaining to weapons and armor. But rather than being a dry recitation of facts, it's pretty entertaining, mostly due to the humorous voice Ellis gives his character, and his many digressions (we learn about the use of the word "cunt", which we may find offensive, but to the English is "punctuation").
The art is also quite good, effectively conveying the dirty, wet landscape and the mass of soldiers that were present. I've read some reviews criticizing it as cluttered, but I had no trouble following it. In fact, I loved the details and thought they conveyed the chaos of war very well:
I thought it was a really good book, and I hope Ellis does some more stuff like it rather than staying within the science fiction/crime/superhero genres. He certainly makes the story seem relevant, noting how the battle marked the end of chivalry and drawing parallels to current events (or past ones that came long after the battle). It's a good read, and I highly recommend it.
-----
Doktor Sleepless #1 Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Ivan Rodriguez
For Warren Ellis's third book this week, he returns to the science fiction genre he does so well, with a story about a social reformer/mad scientist seeking to open the eyes of the denizens of the near-future city of Heavenside, showing them that they are already living in an awesome future even if they don't have jetpacks or flying cars. It's kind of being marketed as a follow-up to Transmetropolitan, but I don't know if that's strictly true; this protagonist seems a bit more idealistic than Spider Jerusalem (hell, the cover calls him a "future science Jesus"). It's an interesting start, but some of it seems to be a bit of a retread of previous Ellis works, focusing on wireless communication and body modification (I did like the use of the term "grinder", likening body mods to "leveling" in an RPG). I'm hoping Ellis throws a curveball in future issues and adds something new to his formula. Even if he doesn't, I'm sure it will still be enjoyable, but I would love to see him come up with new ideas rather than doing endless variations on his old ones.
Part of what drags this book down slightly is the art. Ivan Rodriguez isn't bad, but his pictures look a bit rough and smudgy at times, where clean, crisp details would help. I might just need to get used to it, but I often found details hard to make out, like in this panel:
Is that supposed to be a smokestack coming out of that guy's cheek? It's hard to tell. So I think the art has room to improve as well. I'm hoping this book can turn into something pretty good, but as of this issue, it's only a bit above average.
-----
Left on Mission #3 (of 5)
Written by Chip Mosher
Art by Francesco Francavilla
Greg Burgas called this a "padding issue", saying that it feels insubstantial. I happen to disagree, since I really liked the flashback scenes that take up the issue, filling us in on the background of Eric and Emma's history together. There are some really nice scenes, and they're richly colored, making them stand out from the sepia-toned "present". Very nice artwork by Francavilla, who has really grown on me over the past two issues. In this issue, I especially like the layouts, which remind me of Sean Phillips' work on Sleeper:
It all leads to a genuinely sad "breakup" scene, which will probably inform the events of the next few issues. I can't wait to read them.
-----
And I think that's everything worth noting from last week. I thought about reviewing the latest issue of Hellboy: Darkness Calls, but the review would have just said something like "Hellboy fights a guy, and it's awesome". So I'll get to that one in the next issue or two. Suffice to say it's good. More reviews coming tomorrow!
Batman #666
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Andy Kubert
Well, I liked the idea of this comic, and certain parts of it, but as a whole it left me pretty cold. Morrison throws some interesting ideas into his tale of Batman's semi-evil son taking over the role in the future and fighting a fake Batman who might also be the anti-Christ, but it ends up being a barely-comprehensible, violent slugfest that certainly isn't helped by Kubert's early-Image-style art. There are some decent lines, and a few plot points that I suspect will eventually work their way into future stories in Morrison's run (especially the bit about Damian killing Batman), but I think I've lost interest in reading more of this stuff. I'll read the next three issues which J.H. Williams III is illustrating, but after that I'm dropping the book.
I will note that I liked this panel of Damian agonizing over his murder of Batman:
It's a nice evocation of the oft-used "young Bruce Wayne weeping over his parents' bodies". Also, I can always appreciate a gorilla villain. And there was some other clever stuff, but not enough to keep me interested. Good riddance.
-----
Black Summer #1 (of 7/8)
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Juan Jose Ryp
So we get to the nominal first issue of the series, and the political angle is pretty much dropped in favor of fighting and flashbacks. Both of those are quite good though, with highly-detailed viscera in the former, and lots of enjoyable Ellis technojargon in the latter. I always like when he gives detailed scientific explanations for superpowers (or other science-fiction concepts), and while this story isn't too original (in Ellis terms, at least; expect lots of stuff like "bias fields", quantum mechanics, and wireless communication), it's still very cool. Also of interest is that superheroes in this world are simply referred to as "guns", which is an easy way of reducing them to their simplest aspect. Didn't any of those people watch The Iron Giant?
I'm also enjoying Ryp's ultra-detailed art. He reminds me of Geof Darrow, although with a sexed-up sensibility, and perhaps less facility with facial expressions. But he draws rubble with the best of them:
And blood. Lots of blood. I'm sure there will be plenty more in future issues. I for one can't wait.
-----
Crécy
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Raulo Caceres
This week's second Warren Ellis book is a bit of a departure for him (although not too much; you can still hear his authorial voice loud and clear): a historical story about the titular battle, one of the most important conflicts of the Hundred Years' War. The main character and narrator is named William of Stonham, and he's a soldier in the English army as it goes on a raid through France, committing acts of terror and ultimately facing the nobility-led French army. However, William is really a stand-in for Ellis, speaking directly to the reader with full knowledge of everything that has happened between 1346 and the present. He gives us a lot of details about the battle, including historical and geographical background (maps included) as well as technical details pertaining to weapons and armor. But rather than being a dry recitation of facts, it's pretty entertaining, mostly due to the humorous voice Ellis gives his character, and his many digressions (we learn about the use of the word "cunt", which we may find offensive, but to the English is "punctuation").
The art is also quite good, effectively conveying the dirty, wet landscape and the mass of soldiers that were present. I've read some reviews criticizing it as cluttered, but I had no trouble following it. In fact, I loved the details and thought they conveyed the chaos of war very well:
I thought it was a really good book, and I hope Ellis does some more stuff like it rather than staying within the science fiction/crime/superhero genres. He certainly makes the story seem relevant, noting how the battle marked the end of chivalry and drawing parallels to current events (or past ones that came long after the battle). It's a good read, and I highly recommend it.
-----
Doktor Sleepless #1 Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Ivan Rodriguez
For Warren Ellis's third book this week, he returns to the science fiction genre he does so well, with a story about a social reformer/mad scientist seeking to open the eyes of the denizens of the near-future city of Heavenside, showing them that they are already living in an awesome future even if they don't have jetpacks or flying cars. It's kind of being marketed as a follow-up to Transmetropolitan, but I don't know if that's strictly true; this protagonist seems a bit more idealistic than Spider Jerusalem (hell, the cover calls him a "future science Jesus"). It's an interesting start, but some of it seems to be a bit of a retread of previous Ellis works, focusing on wireless communication and body modification (I did like the use of the term "grinder", likening body mods to "leveling" in an RPG). I'm hoping Ellis throws a curveball in future issues and adds something new to his formula. Even if he doesn't, I'm sure it will still be enjoyable, but I would love to see him come up with new ideas rather than doing endless variations on his old ones.
Part of what drags this book down slightly is the art. Ivan Rodriguez isn't bad, but his pictures look a bit rough and smudgy at times, where clean, crisp details would help. I might just need to get used to it, but I often found details hard to make out, like in this panel:
Is that supposed to be a smokestack coming out of that guy's cheek? It's hard to tell. So I think the art has room to improve as well. I'm hoping this book can turn into something pretty good, but as of this issue, it's only a bit above average.
-----
Left on Mission #3 (of 5)
Written by Chip Mosher
Art by Francesco Francavilla
Greg Burgas called this a "padding issue", saying that it feels insubstantial. I happen to disagree, since I really liked the flashback scenes that take up the issue, filling us in on the background of Eric and Emma's history together. There are some really nice scenes, and they're richly colored, making them stand out from the sepia-toned "present". Very nice artwork by Francavilla, who has really grown on me over the past two issues. In this issue, I especially like the layouts, which remind me of Sean Phillips' work on Sleeper:
It all leads to a genuinely sad "breakup" scene, which will probably inform the events of the next few issues. I can't wait to read them.
-----
And I think that's everything worth noting from last week. I thought about reviewing the latest issue of Hellboy: Darkness Calls, but the review would have just said something like "Hellboy fights a guy, and it's awesome". So I'll get to that one in the next issue or two. Suffice to say it's good. More reviews coming tomorrow!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
This week's surprising comics theme: politics!
Yeah, I didn't expect so many political books this week. Strange bit of coincidence there. Let's see what we have:
Black Summer #0 (of 7, meaning #7 will be the last issue)
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Juan Jose Ryp
Actually, I'm not surprised about the political content of this one; I've known this was about a superhero killing the President ever since the book was first announced. However, the President in question is obviously George W. Bush, since the reason John Horus, the superhero in question, gives for the "execution" is the illegality of the war in Iraq, the stealing of elections, and the widespread use of torture. It's a bit of wish-fulfillment (since that's what superheroes are for, right?) for those who dislike Bush, but I think (and hope) Ellis is using this fictional act to raise some serious questions. Horus informs the public that he's bringing democracy back and will personally ensure a fair process, but how soon before he is corrupted? And we immediately see the crackdown that begins as the government starts to go after Horus's former superhero allies. Ellis raises a lot of interesting questions and ideas in a short eight pages, and I hope he doesn't drop the ball in the rest of the series. It's a good beginning to what's sure to be a talked-about comic, and I for one can't wait to read the rest of it.
-----
Left On Mission #2 (of 5)
Written by Chip Mosher
Art by Francesco Francavilla
Here's the first surprisingly political book, as I was expecting a fairly standard spy story. In this issue, we find that the information our protagonist was trying to recover from the rogue agent is actually incriminating evidence that the (so far unnamed) President supported torture. Actually, now that I reread the page, it actually seems like a plot point that could have appeared in any spy story from the last 30 years; it just seems especially relevant now because the current administration has taken that same stance. It's not intrusive to the story, but I found it interesting.
Anyway, it's another chapter of spy action, and I think I've been won over by Francesco Francavilla's art. Chip Mosher left a comment on my review of the last issue, saying that he thought Francavilla's art was awesome, and I'm starting to see what he means. There's a sequence in this issue in which Eric, our hero, confronts Emma, the rogue spy, in a nightclub, and he's disoriented by the dance floor strobe lights:
It's a beautifully timed sequence, with nearly-black panels alternating with views lit in different colors; it perfectly captures the situation. Very well done. Another scene sees a character savagely beating somebody, and blood splatters all over the page, even getting in the "gutters" between panels. That was a neat effect, and it really emphasized the brutality of the scene.
So, I'm enjoying it quite a bit, and I'll be on board for the rest of the series. Good work, guys, and don't let me down!
-----
Drafted preview
Written by Mark Powers
Art by Chris Lie and Joseph Baker
And this is the other political book that I wasn't expecting. Unfortunately, it's not especially incisive, presenting a thinly veiled George W. Bush (the character's name is Preston Walker) who says "Sometimes ... I wish I could just nuke 'em all," when talking about the Israel/Palestine conflict. The idea of this miniseries is that aliens come to earth and "draft" everyone into a war against some other, more conquest-minded aliens. I'm sure the story will eventually have everybody putting aside their differences to fight the threat. Yawn. We don't actually get much story here, just some strange happenings across the globe and a double-page spread of alien ships approaching the earth. There are some sketches in the back which feature some nice-looking designs for aliens, ships, battle-suits, characters, etc., but the excerpt of the story given here is enough to turn me off the series. Too bad.
-----
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #5 (of 7)
Written by Robin Furth and Peter David
Art by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove
This issue: Sex!
(Partial) Nudity!
A mutant kittycat!
And other freaky stuff! It's kind of a middle chapter of the story, leading up to the conclusion of the miniseries, and I don't really have much to say, other than that it's chugging along enjoyably. If you've read the previous four issues, there's no reason to quit at this point, and if you haven't read any of them, you'll probably wait for the trade if you read it at all. And I think that's all I have to say for right now.
-----
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #19
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by David Hahn and Christina Strain
This is yet another nice issue of the wonderful series (which I still have no idea if it's going to keep coming out after Sean McKeever leaves), with a very sweet plot about Mary Jane and friends banding together to help out a buddy. I won't spoil anything, but I did want to point out some of the nice art, like this shot of Flash Thompson:
I love the "star" in the background. I'm not sure if that's solely the work of colorist Christina Strain, but it's really nice. I think she brings a lot to the art on this series. Here's another couple of panels I liked:
I especially like the difference we see due to the MJ's lack of makeup and styled hair when she has been in gym class. Nicely done.
So, the future of the series is up in the air (as far as I know), but I'm sure at least the next couple of issues will be good. If you haven't read this series (and are interested in teen drama with the occasional Marvel superhero cameo), check out the various digest collections. It's good stuff!
-----
Bonus! There's a four-page Mini-Marvels backup strip by Chris Giarrusso in the book in which Hulk goes on a date with Betty Ross. Really cute, fun stuff; here are my favorite jokes:
-----
Jack of Fables #11
Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges
Art by Steve Leialoha
Here, we finally get the second part of the "Jack Frost" story, which was interrupted for four issues before concluding here. It's a funny little tale about Jack taking over the powers of Luni the ice queen and abusing them horribly while he chases some tail. Interestingly, I thought it was going to be a throwaway story, but it sets up a plot point which will surely come up in the future, and it gives us the reason the Ice Queen became a villain over in the pages of Fables. Not bad. Decent fill-in art by Leialoha, but I'll be glad to have Tony Akins and Andrew Pepoy back (next issue?). Good times.
-----
And that's all that I'll discuss at length. I also read Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears, and while it's okay, I'm starting to regret the decision to buy the series. Ghost Rider just doesn't appeal to me. So, maybe another review tomorrow.
Black Summer #0 (of 7, meaning #7 will be the last issue)
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Juan Jose Ryp
Actually, I'm not surprised about the political content of this one; I've known this was about a superhero killing the President ever since the book was first announced. However, the President in question is obviously George W. Bush, since the reason John Horus, the superhero in question, gives for the "execution" is the illegality of the war in Iraq, the stealing of elections, and the widespread use of torture. It's a bit of wish-fulfillment (since that's what superheroes are for, right?) for those who dislike Bush, but I think (and hope) Ellis is using this fictional act to raise some serious questions. Horus informs the public that he's bringing democracy back and will personally ensure a fair process, but how soon before he is corrupted? And we immediately see the crackdown that begins as the government starts to go after Horus's former superhero allies. Ellis raises a lot of interesting questions and ideas in a short eight pages, and I hope he doesn't drop the ball in the rest of the series. It's a good beginning to what's sure to be a talked-about comic, and I for one can't wait to read the rest of it.
-----
Left On Mission #2 (of 5)
Written by Chip Mosher
Art by Francesco Francavilla
Here's the first surprisingly political book, as I was expecting a fairly standard spy story. In this issue, we find that the information our protagonist was trying to recover from the rogue agent is actually incriminating evidence that the (so far unnamed) President supported torture. Actually, now that I reread the page, it actually seems like a plot point that could have appeared in any spy story from the last 30 years; it just seems especially relevant now because the current administration has taken that same stance. It's not intrusive to the story, but I found it interesting.
Anyway, it's another chapter of spy action, and I think I've been won over by Francesco Francavilla's art. Chip Mosher left a comment on my review of the last issue, saying that he thought Francavilla's art was awesome, and I'm starting to see what he means. There's a sequence in this issue in which Eric, our hero, confronts Emma, the rogue spy, in a nightclub, and he's disoriented by the dance floor strobe lights:
It's a beautifully timed sequence, with nearly-black panels alternating with views lit in different colors; it perfectly captures the situation. Very well done. Another scene sees a character savagely beating somebody, and blood splatters all over the page, even getting in the "gutters" between panels. That was a neat effect, and it really emphasized the brutality of the scene.
So, I'm enjoying it quite a bit, and I'll be on board for the rest of the series. Good work, guys, and don't let me down!
-----
Drafted preview
Written by Mark Powers
Art by Chris Lie and Joseph Baker
And this is the other political book that I wasn't expecting. Unfortunately, it's not especially incisive, presenting a thinly veiled George W. Bush (the character's name is Preston Walker) who says "Sometimes ... I wish I could just nuke 'em all," when talking about the Israel/Palestine conflict. The idea of this miniseries is that aliens come to earth and "draft" everyone into a war against some other, more conquest-minded aliens. I'm sure the story will eventually have everybody putting aside their differences to fight the threat. Yawn. We don't actually get much story here, just some strange happenings across the globe and a double-page spread of alien ships approaching the earth. There are some sketches in the back which feature some nice-looking designs for aliens, ships, battle-suits, characters, etc., but the excerpt of the story given here is enough to turn me off the series. Too bad.
-----
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #5 (of 7)
Written by Robin Furth and Peter David
Art by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove
This issue: Sex!
(Partial) Nudity!
A mutant kittycat!
And other freaky stuff! It's kind of a middle chapter of the story, leading up to the conclusion of the miniseries, and I don't really have much to say, other than that it's chugging along enjoyably. If you've read the previous four issues, there's no reason to quit at this point, and if you haven't read any of them, you'll probably wait for the trade if you read it at all. And I think that's all I have to say for right now.
-----
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #19
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by David Hahn and Christina Strain
This is yet another nice issue of the wonderful series (which I still have no idea if it's going to keep coming out after Sean McKeever leaves), with a very sweet plot about Mary Jane and friends banding together to help out a buddy. I won't spoil anything, but I did want to point out some of the nice art, like this shot of Flash Thompson:
I love the "star" in the background. I'm not sure if that's solely the work of colorist Christina Strain, but it's really nice. I think she brings a lot to the art on this series. Here's another couple of panels I liked:
I especially like the difference we see due to the MJ's lack of makeup and styled hair when she has been in gym class. Nicely done.
So, the future of the series is up in the air (as far as I know), but I'm sure at least the next couple of issues will be good. If you haven't read this series (and are interested in teen drama with the occasional Marvel superhero cameo), check out the various digest collections. It's good stuff!
-----
Bonus! There's a four-page Mini-Marvels backup strip by Chris Giarrusso in the book in which Hulk goes on a date with Betty Ross. Really cute, fun stuff; here are my favorite jokes:
-----
Jack of Fables #11
Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges
Art by Steve Leialoha
Here, we finally get the second part of the "Jack Frost" story, which was interrupted for four issues before concluding here. It's a funny little tale about Jack taking over the powers of Luni the ice queen and abusing them horribly while he chases some tail. Interestingly, I thought it was going to be a throwaway story, but it sets up a plot point which will surely come up in the future, and it gives us the reason the Ice Queen became a villain over in the pages of Fables. Not bad. Decent fill-in art by Leialoha, but I'll be glad to have Tony Akins and Andrew Pepoy back (next issue?). Good times.
-----
And that's all that I'll discuss at length. I also read Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears, and while it's okay, I'm starting to regret the decision to buy the series. Ghost Rider just doesn't appeal to me. So, maybe another review tomorrow.
Monday, May 14, 2007
UPDATED: This week, I will purchase some comics
UPDATE: Somehow I forgot this one:
X-Men: First Class Special
I love me these Jeff Parker Marvel stories, and this one features art by Kevin Nowlan and Nick Dragotta and Mike Allred, among others. I hope it's awesome.
-----
Back to the original post:
New comics this week (Wednesday, 5/16/07):
ARMY @ LOVE #3 (MR) 2.99
This seems to be coming out nice and regular, which is good. I enjoy a monthly dose of satirical wierdness. Go Rick Veitch!
BATMAN #665 2.99
Grant Morrison's Batman! Actually, I was kind of disappointed by the last issue, but hopefully this one will be better. Next month we get issue #666, which should be fun, and then comes the "Batmen of all nations" arc, with art by J.H. Williams! So, at worst, this issue will be filler. But I hope it's good, nonetheless.
BATTLER BRITTON TP 19.99
This was a good miniseries, which is usually the case when Garth Ennis writes war comics. I don't know if it's worth 20 bucks though. It would probably be better to hunt down the single issues.
EX MACHINA #28 (MR) 2.99
Ooh, this seems to be coming out more regularly, which is good. It's one of my favorite comics, so I'm always glad to read a new issue. More revelations about Mitch's powers, I expect, along with some time-travel shenanigans. Go Brian K. Vaughan!
LEFT ON MISSION #1 (OF 5) 3.99
This is a spy-type book from Boom! Studios. Might be interesting, but I'll probably wait to see if there are any positive reviews before buying it. I gotta say, I do buy some $3.99 books from publishers like Avatar, IDW, and Boom!, but I don't like it. They generally have to make me feel like it's worth it to shell out the extra buck. So that means I'm more hesitant to try new stuff. Just saying.
LOCAL #9 (OF 12) (MR) 2.99
Here's another one I'm glad to see whenever it shows up. We're getting closer to the end of the series, so we'll see what happens with our girl Megan. I forget where this one is supposed to take place (I'm still anticipating the Austin, TX chapter, which I think will be in #10). Go Brian Wood!
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #13 2.99
I've been enjoying this book quite a bit lately, so I'll be getting it as long as Jeff Parker is writing it. I forget what is supposed to happen this issue, but I'm sure it will be fun. Go Parker!
MISERY LOVES COMEDY HC (MR) 24.95
Ivan Brunetti. To tell the truth, my limited exposure to his comics hasn't exactly wowed me. Not that it's bad or anything, but I didn't feel like I had to rush out and read his stuff. Maybe I'll get this from the library someday or something.
MOUSE GUARD VOL 1 FALL 1152 HC 24.95
I have all the issues of this, so I won't be buying the hardcover, but I'll give it a high recommendation to anybody that is interested. It's good stuff. Badass mice fighting snakes, crabs, and other badass mice! Awesome!
PLAIN JANES 9.99
The debut title in DC's teen-girl-targeting Minx line. I'm interested, but the reviews I've seen so far have been middling. We'll see how it is.
RUNAWAYS VOL 3 HC 24.99
This collects the last of the Vaughan/Alphona issues of the series, and I think it's great stuff. That's all I have to say.
WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS 2 #2 3.99
This series has sure taken its time coming out. I might have to pull out the first issue and get caught up. It's a zombie comic, and I enjoyed the first 3-issue miniseries. We'll see if Ellis can keep it up. I hope his other upcoming Avatar books don't come out as lackadaisically as this one.
-----
I think that's everything. Satan's Sodomy Baby didn't show up last week, but Midtown Comics shows it on the list this week, so maybe we'll see it. Who knows? Anyway, maybe a review tonight? I dunno, I'll see about it. How's that for suspense?
X-Men: First Class Special
I love me these Jeff Parker Marvel stories, and this one features art by Kevin Nowlan and Nick Dragotta and Mike Allred, among others. I hope it's awesome.
-----
Back to the original post:
New comics this week (Wednesday, 5/16/07):
ARMY @ LOVE #3 (MR) 2.99
This seems to be coming out nice and regular, which is good. I enjoy a monthly dose of satirical wierdness. Go Rick Veitch!
BATMAN #665 2.99
Grant Morrison's Batman! Actually, I was kind of disappointed by the last issue, but hopefully this one will be better. Next month we get issue #666, which should be fun, and then comes the "Batmen of all nations" arc, with art by J.H. Williams! So, at worst, this issue will be filler. But I hope it's good, nonetheless.
BATTLER BRITTON TP 19.99
This was a good miniseries, which is usually the case when Garth Ennis writes war comics. I don't know if it's worth 20 bucks though. It would probably be better to hunt down the single issues.
EX MACHINA #28 (MR) 2.99
Ooh, this seems to be coming out more regularly, which is good. It's one of my favorite comics, so I'm always glad to read a new issue. More revelations about Mitch's powers, I expect, along with some time-travel shenanigans. Go Brian K. Vaughan!
LEFT ON MISSION #1 (OF 5) 3.99
This is a spy-type book from Boom! Studios. Might be interesting, but I'll probably wait to see if there are any positive reviews before buying it. I gotta say, I do buy some $3.99 books from publishers like Avatar, IDW, and Boom!, but I don't like it. They generally have to make me feel like it's worth it to shell out the extra buck. So that means I'm more hesitant to try new stuff. Just saying.
LOCAL #9 (OF 12) (MR) 2.99
Here's another one I'm glad to see whenever it shows up. We're getting closer to the end of the series, so we'll see what happens with our girl Megan. I forget where this one is supposed to take place (I'm still anticipating the Austin, TX chapter, which I think will be in #10). Go Brian Wood!
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #13 2.99
I've been enjoying this book quite a bit lately, so I'll be getting it as long as Jeff Parker is writing it. I forget what is supposed to happen this issue, but I'm sure it will be fun. Go Parker!
MISERY LOVES COMEDY HC (MR) 24.95
Ivan Brunetti. To tell the truth, my limited exposure to his comics hasn't exactly wowed me. Not that it's bad or anything, but I didn't feel like I had to rush out and read his stuff. Maybe I'll get this from the library someday or something.
MOUSE GUARD VOL 1 FALL 1152 HC 24.95
I have all the issues of this, so I won't be buying the hardcover, but I'll give it a high recommendation to anybody that is interested. It's good stuff. Badass mice fighting snakes, crabs, and other badass mice! Awesome!
PLAIN JANES 9.99
The debut title in DC's teen-girl-targeting Minx line. I'm interested, but the reviews I've seen so far have been middling. We'll see how it is.
RUNAWAYS VOL 3 HC 24.99
This collects the last of the Vaughan/Alphona issues of the series, and I think it's great stuff. That's all I have to say.
WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS 2 #2 3.99
This series has sure taken its time coming out. I might have to pull out the first issue and get caught up. It's a zombie comic, and I enjoyed the first 3-issue miniseries. We'll see if Ellis can keep it up. I hope his other upcoming Avatar books don't come out as lackadaisically as this one.
-----
I think that's everything. Satan's Sodomy Baby didn't show up last week, but Midtown Comics shows it on the list this week, so maybe we'll see it. Who knows? Anyway, maybe a review tonight? I dunno, I'll see about it. How's that for suspense?
Thursday, March 7, 2013
God Hates Astronauts: An intimate conversation with Ryan Browne
I've been a fan of Ryan Browne ever since I discovered his hilariously insane superhero comedy webcomic God Hates Astronauts, and I'm excited to see his star continue to rise as he develops his unique sensibility of absurdist comedy, mockery of superheroes and other comics tropes, and unsettlingly detailed artwork. After the success of the Kickstarter campaign for Blast Furnace, his other webcomic, he recently launched another Kickstarter campaign for a hardcover collection of God Hates Astronauts, and it was funded within 24 hours, which allowed for the addition of a number of stretch goals and reward levels that reflected his strange comic sensibilities. It's great to see him receive some recognition for the years of work it took to bring this project to completion, and as the campaign marches toward completion (with 12 days remaining, as of this writing), I contacted Ryan with some interview questions:
I love your take on superheroes, which pushes them into full-on absurdity and pointless violence. Is this at all meant to be a comment on or reaction to the current state of the "mainstream" comics industry, or is it just your own take on the genre?
I think it's just a natural avenue for comedy. The ridiculous costumes, the celebration of violence and the male power trip are all hilarious subjects to me. I almost couldn't do anything serious with a spandex clad he-man... almost.
According to the Kickstarter description of the series, the backstory involves NASA hiring the characters to stop farmers who launch rockets into space, but I don't think this is ever explicitly mentioned in the comic itself. What happened there? Was this something from an early script or the "development" stages of the comic, when you were creating the characters, and it ended up getting pushed into the background?
No, it's an attempt to describe the actual "plot" of the book. There are a couple of scenes in the book that mention this mission objective, but honestly as the series was going on, it became the joke that no one was doing their job. You will see the team doctor, Dr. Professor, complain from time to time that people aren't addressing the issue at hand.
How much of this series is you cramming all of your personal obsessions (or just stuff that you like to draw) into the story, like old-timey wrestlers, owls, animal-people, or mustaches?
100%. I'm super happy that people like my jokes and drawings, but honestly I'm just doing it all to make myself laugh.
How much of the comic is improvised? Did you have the plot structure laid out beforehand and inserted jokes and funny scenes as you thought of them? Did you have certain moments in mind and tried to fit the story to accomodate them? Or did you have the whole thing scripted out in your head exactly as it ended up on the page?
It's largely just certain moments and ideas that pop into my head. I then work to figure out how they are all intertwined, Seinfeld-style. Some things just fall into my lap—like one character losing his head, and another character who is just a head which then equals them combining forces. My best skill as a writer is making things connect story wise. I always hesitate to say that I am a writer because me can't not talk English no good. I think of myself as more of a storyteller.
I don't really try to gross people out. I don't want people to be uncomfortable when they read my stuff, I try and write things that are more ridiculous in nature than disgusting. Mainly I want people to laugh at how stupid and nonsensical everything is in the GHA world and yet how deadly serious everyone is about it.
I usually do research an animal the first time I draw it but after that I just kind of wing it and make it my own. That's why Blue Grass at first looks like a cow, and then a horse, and then a donkey, and then a donkey-cow-horse. Obviously, I love drawing animals, but usually they are the Ninja Turtle style of animals.
Geof Darrow and Rob Schrab are both pretty influential to me. I think Big Guy [and Rusty, the Boy Robot] and Scud damaged my brain in some way at some point and I've never recovered. A lot of the other inspiration comes from film and television. I think The Simpsons is my biggest inspiration, as well as Spaced, Upright Citzens Brigade, and the Coen Brothers' films.
How did you manage to round up such an array of talented guest artists for the hardcover collection? Are they all friends of yours, or did you have to bribe/threaten/blackmail some of them to get them to participate?
Everyone in the book is either a friend or a fan of GHA. It did take a lot of favor trading to get people involved and a ton of work managing and making sure everybody stayed on task. The end product is something that I'm very, VERY proud of.
Oh man, Green Lantern Corps would be awesome!!! Currently, I am drawing a second issue of Manhattan Projects and after that I will be taking over for Riley Rossmo full-time on Bedlam. It's exciting to see that things are finally starting to work out, and I hope people will be patient while I work on other stuff than GHA and Blast Furnace for a little while.
Now that I think about it, Green Lantern Corps, or some other book featuring a bunch of weird aliens, could be a neat project for you, especially if you were allowed to add some humor and as long as you didn't have to just draw a bunch of monochromatic guys shooting lasers at each other. Would you be interested in doing something like that, illustrating a well-known character or franchise? Do you have any characters that you would love to get your hands on? Or would you prefer to stick to your own creations or other creator-owned comics?
HAH! I don't think anyone would let me touch their characters! I'd love to at some point get a chance to play in the superhero world like Seth Fisher did, but I need to get a lot better first to allow that to happen. Also I'm pretty sure I'd have to tone down the offensiveness a great deal.
You've got a theme song for the comic as part of the Kickstarter, but have you ever considered doing an audiobook version, considering the "suggested voice talent" that you list for all the characters? Would you want to try to record an audio track of yourself or others doing imitations of the various voices, or is that something better left up to the imagination?
I'm pretty sure I couldn't do it justice. Maybe if the Kickstarter breaks the ten-million dollar mark I can spend it to hire all the actual actors to read their rolls. Wouldn't that be something? Come on people! PLEDGE!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Too Cool to Be Forgotten: Well, I don't think I'll forget about it
Well, this merits some examination, since people I respect didn't like it so much. But I did (spoiler alert!). Okay, to business:
To Cool to Be Forgotten
By Alex Robinson
For some reason, I've never read too much of Alex Robinson's work. It might be lingering mainstream prejudices; I did try out Box Office Poison several years ago, and the cartoony artwork didn't sit right with my superhero-fed brain. But after reading his new book, I feel like I should pay him more attention, because I found it to be engaging and enjoyable.
The story goes: Andy is a middle-aged, married guy with a wife and daughter who has, after trying every other method, resorted to hypnotism to stop smoking. But when he goes under, he wakes up in the body of his sixteen-year-old self, still in the midst of high school. After some initial confusion, he realizes that he's about to attend the party where he tried his first cigarette, so he figures his "mission" is to avoid doing so, and thus never set himself on the path to blackened lungs. But while he's there, why not try out some of the things he never got a chance to do the first time around, like ask out the cute girl he always had his eye on?
It's a pretty enjoyable romp, and Robinson plays with the situation in fun ways. As a middle-aged man in a teenager's body, Andy is constantly thinking, remembering what it was like to struggle his way through useless-seeming classes, hang out with nerdy friends, and be constantly distracted by members of the opposite sex. At first, it's like a reunion, as he looks around and wondered what became of all his fellow students after they left school and went on their separate ways:
But Robinson also does some interesting exploration of the nature of memory. I found this bit fascinating:
Andy also takes the opportunity to play around with history a little bit (even though he recalls from Star Trek that when time-traveling, you shouldn't mess up the timeline), and it's funny to see what he comes up with:
He's got some of the mentality of an adult, but the impulses of a teen, and it ends up being pretty amusing. Especially when he finds that he can't control his rampant horniness (for any female types in the audience, yes, it's true, teenage boys get aroused at the slightest sensory provocation or imagining thereof, with results that can be physically difficult to hide at times. Sorry to give away secrets, guys). There's a scene at the party in which Andy ends up making out with the girl he brought, and when he suddenly realizes how young she is, he freaks out. I don't know if Robinson intended for it to be disturbing, but I found it hilarious.
The aforementioned cartoony artwork has a surprising amount of depth as well, particularly excelling at the depiction of teenage awkwardness. The range of emotion and expression that Robinson is able to convey is impressive, and he gives a real sense of place to the story as well, with nice background scenery and plenty of detail in the scenes in the school, Andy's house, and the party. And he also pulls off some really cool tricks, like the page in which adult Andy is undergoing hypnosis, and we see a rough depiction of his face consisting only of his thoughts:
And a later scene in which a page of panels showing a series of childhood memories comes together to form an image of teenage Andy's face (I've blanked out the captions to remove spoilers):
That one in particular blows me away, and it's only one example of Robinson's general artistic excellence.
But as enjoyable as all this is, there's an emotional component to things as well. For much of the first half of the book, there seems to be something going on in the background that's not being mentioned, and when Andy successfully completes his "mission" but doesn't return to the present, it all comes rushing back to him in a flood, leading to a wonderful, poignant scene that is the real reason for his trip to the past. It's incredibly well done; Robinson totally nails all the feelings and pain that come with the situation (I'm trying to be vague here to avoid spoiling anything), and the whole story comes together in a matter of a few pages. It's excellent stuff; I might have even squeezed out a few tears.
So it's definitely a worthwhile read, telling an entertaining story and really tugging at the heartstrings with some earned emotional weight. I would recommend it to those who aren't too cynical to get into that sort of thing, and I expect it'll be a contender for the best comics of the year. Well done, Mr. Robinson.
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So that's my take on things, but I'm curious as to what others might not have liked about it. To be specific, both Tucker Stone and Chris Mautner indicated disappointment with the book in this post and its comments (Tucker's verdict seems to be "too sentimental", which I can understand, but I didn't find that aspect bothersome). So if anybody wants to discuss what they thought did and didn't work in the book, please use the comments here to do so.
To Cool to Be Forgotten
By Alex Robinson
For some reason, I've never read too much of Alex Robinson's work. It might be lingering mainstream prejudices; I did try out Box Office Poison several years ago, and the cartoony artwork didn't sit right with my superhero-fed brain. But after reading his new book, I feel like I should pay him more attention, because I found it to be engaging and enjoyable.
The story goes: Andy is a middle-aged, married guy with a wife and daughter who has, after trying every other method, resorted to hypnotism to stop smoking. But when he goes under, he wakes up in the body of his sixteen-year-old self, still in the midst of high school. After some initial confusion, he realizes that he's about to attend the party where he tried his first cigarette, so he figures his "mission" is to avoid doing so, and thus never set himself on the path to blackened lungs. But while he's there, why not try out some of the things he never got a chance to do the first time around, like ask out the cute girl he always had his eye on?
It's a pretty enjoyable romp, and Robinson plays with the situation in fun ways. As a middle-aged man in a teenager's body, Andy is constantly thinking, remembering what it was like to struggle his way through useless-seeming classes, hang out with nerdy friends, and be constantly distracted by members of the opposite sex. At first, it's like a reunion, as he looks around and wondered what became of all his fellow students after they left school and went on their separate ways:
But Robinson also does some interesting exploration of the nature of memory. I found this bit fascinating:
Andy also takes the opportunity to play around with history a little bit (even though he recalls from Star Trek that when time-traveling, you shouldn't mess up the timeline), and it's funny to see what he comes up with:
He's got some of the mentality of an adult, but the impulses of a teen, and it ends up being pretty amusing. Especially when he finds that he can't control his rampant horniness (for any female types in the audience, yes, it's true, teenage boys get aroused at the slightest sensory provocation or imagining thereof, with results that can be physically difficult to hide at times. Sorry to give away secrets, guys). There's a scene at the party in which Andy ends up making out with the girl he brought, and when he suddenly realizes how young she is, he freaks out. I don't know if Robinson intended for it to be disturbing, but I found it hilarious.
The aforementioned cartoony artwork has a surprising amount of depth as well, particularly excelling at the depiction of teenage awkwardness. The range of emotion and expression that Robinson is able to convey is impressive, and he gives a real sense of place to the story as well, with nice background scenery and plenty of detail in the scenes in the school, Andy's house, and the party. And he also pulls off some really cool tricks, like the page in which adult Andy is undergoing hypnosis, and we see a rough depiction of his face consisting only of his thoughts:
And a later scene in which a page of panels showing a series of childhood memories comes together to form an image of teenage Andy's face (I've blanked out the captions to remove spoilers):
That one in particular blows me away, and it's only one example of Robinson's general artistic excellence.
But as enjoyable as all this is, there's an emotional component to things as well. For much of the first half of the book, there seems to be something going on in the background that's not being mentioned, and when Andy successfully completes his "mission" but doesn't return to the present, it all comes rushing back to him in a flood, leading to a wonderful, poignant scene that is the real reason for his trip to the past. It's incredibly well done; Robinson totally nails all the feelings and pain that come with the situation (I'm trying to be vague here to avoid spoiling anything), and the whole story comes together in a matter of a few pages. It's excellent stuff; I might have even squeezed out a few tears.
So it's definitely a worthwhile read, telling an entertaining story and really tugging at the heartstrings with some earned emotional weight. I would recommend it to those who aren't too cynical to get into that sort of thing, and I expect it'll be a contender for the best comics of the year. Well done, Mr. Robinson.
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So that's my take on things, but I'm curious as to what others might not have liked about it. To be specific, both Tucker Stone and Chris Mautner indicated disappointment with the book in this post and its comments (Tucker's verdict seems to be "too sentimental", which I can understand, but I didn't find that aspect bothersome). So if anybody wants to discuss what they thought did and didn't work in the book, please use the comments here to do so.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Swallow Me Whole: Don't do that
Elsewhere: I talked about last week's Dollhouse at TFO. I think that show's finally growing on me.
Swallow Me Whole
By Nate Powell
Mental illness is a difficult subject to cover, in any medium. For example, in film, obsessive compulsive disorder can come off as eccentricity (As Good As It Gets), and schizophrenia can be pat and simplistic (A Beautiful Mind). Prose probably works a bit better, with a good writer able to place the reader inside the head of somebody suffering from a disease like Tourette's Syndrome (Motherless Brooklyn). But what about comics? Well, as is often said, comics can do anything, so in the hands of the right creator, all it takes is a willingness to approach the subject seriously, treating the mentally ill as real people and chronicling their struggles (and some artistic chops certainly help). Luckily, Nate Powell fits that description to a T, and this graphic novel functions as a harrowing look into the lives of those dealing with the toll that diseases like schizophrenia take on a person, especially during the adolescent period where nothing seems certain or concrete at the best of times.
Powell is definitely willing to approach the subject with clear eyes, neither romancing the concept or making the characters into raving lunatics. Rather, he presents his cast as a dysfunctional family, except rather than existing in their interpersonal relationships, the dysfunction is internal, messing up their perception of reality. The main focus of the book is on teenage brother and sister Ruth and Perry, who both deal with their own issues. Perry has been battling the perception that a miniature pencil-topper wizard is talking to him, giving him instructions about some nebulous "mission". Luckily, he's able to channel this into drawing, an acknowledgment that artists often follow a different path than the rest of us, to say the least. Ruth, on the other hand, has a harder time of things; she has an obsession with insects and small creatures like frogs and lizards, believing that they are communicating with her and amassing an extensive collection of them in jars that she keeps lined on the shelves in her bedroom. The perceptions seem to come and go, sometimes seeming as though they are all around her, even to a debilitating extent that leaves her rooted in place, afraid that she will inadvertently destroy some of them through movement.
The siblings' family and school life doesn't seem to help too much with their problems; at home, their ailing grandmother ("Memaw") takes up most of the family's attention, and the teachers at school are eager to hammer down any nail that sticks up. They do have each other, and Powell ably shows their relationship, in which they care about each other and try to offer encouragement and understanding as they deal with issues that they don't even understand. But that's not enough, and it can be difficult to watch as Powell puts them through their paces, especially since he does such a good job developing them into likeable, realistic people that we want to be happy.
But when it comes to the effects of the disease, he doesn't pull any punches, really selling the horror of not being able to trust your own senses. When Ruth feels that she can see and hear a mass of buzzing insects closing in around her, it's presented as an overwhelming oppression of sight and sound:
And the way she describes it is compellingly alluring, saying of her collection, "Sometimes I feel like I can open some magical gateway, if I discover the precise order for my shelf." These obsessive tendencies seem awful, but they're calming and reassuring for her. Likewise, she loves the beauty of these creatures, rather than being hounded and oppressed by them. But it's obviously not healthy, and even though she does get some medical attention and ends up on medication, the problems never go away.
In fact, the ending that Powell reaches is almost unrelentingly bleak, at least in my interpretation [SPOILERS ahead]. As Ruth's condition worsens, it eventually brings her whole life crashing down around her, causing her to be kicked out of school and lose the museum job she loves. Her parents, not knowing what else to do, decide to remove what they see as the source of her problems, and go about packing up her bug collection. When she discovers this, she totally breaks down, and the rest of the book plays out in a near-wordless series of scenes that see her float out of the house and allow herself to be consumed by insects. It's hard to see it as anything other than suicidal hallucinations, including imaginings of how others (especially Perry) will react [end spoilers]. It's horribly depressing, even in its beauty. Is it a call to action by Powell, wanting people to educate themselves on the subject of mental illness and ensure that this won't happen to people in real life? Perhaps, but whatever the case, it's powerful stuff.
The interesting thing is, a lot of the imagery is left open to interpretation, especially in the way the illness affects people. One repeated image is that of a sort of anthropomorphic representation of a pill, which we first see escaping from Memaw's sleeping lips. This could show that, since Memaw is shown to have her own problems with perception and reality, the illness is being passed down from generation to generation, although it's never clear who is seeing it this way. We also see the "pill" growing huge and devouring swarms of bugs, a possible depiction of how the medication is helping with Ruth's hallucinations, but in doing so, is taking away something she cares about.
It's all a lot to think about, and the gorgeous art gives plenty to marvel over as well, with pages full of wonderfully expressive characters and beautifully realized settings. Powell really captures the rhythms of teenage life, including excellent depictions of music:
And the interactions between characters seem so real, whether in simple conversations or ones that use somewhat fantastical techniques, such as this heartbreaking conversation between Ruth and Memaw that sees the latter transform into a younger version of herself:
The storytelling is also impeccable, with actions and scenes never confusing, but clearly delivering all the necessary information. And some scenes are lent a page-turning intensity that comes from what we know of the characters' emotional states, like this page from a scene near the end of the book:
It's masterful work throughout, giving readers plenty to mull over through the course of the story and beyond. Powell knows and cares about his subject, as he reveals in this interview, and it shows. He's an astonishing talent, and one can only imagine the greatness that lays in store.
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By the way, the book has been nominated for three Eisner Awards (Best Graphic Album-New, Best Writer/Artist, and Best Lettering) and is a strong contender to win any or all of them. I didn't read it before I completed my Best of 2008 list, but at the moment, I would probably rank it in the top five; it's that good.
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