Solicitationary blatherings: DC, February 2008

It's solicitation week, so let's look at comics that will be appearing three months from now. Huh, looks like DC and Marvel actually had enough stuff for them each to have their own post. So here's DC, followed soon by Marvel.

DC:



Batman #674 - I decided to quit reading this book because it just wasn't doing it for me, but the description of this issue does pique my interest, with a story about Batman facing another Bat-impostor and his past participation in some sort of isolation experiment. I suppose I could consider picking it up again after the "Resurrection of R'as Al Ghul" crossover is over. Or I could wait for a collection. Or I could just try to ignore it.



Detective Comics #841 - I'm not interested in actually buying this, but I really like the cover by Dustin Nguyen. That is all.



The Spirit #15 - Speaking of nice covers, Paul Smith does a good Eisner impression here. I'll probably be getting this one, unless Aragones, Evanier, and Ploog somehow greatly offend my sensibilities with their first issue.



Green Arrow: Year One HC - I was slightly interested in this miniseries, since it's from the creators of The Losers, but judging by reviews, it doesn't sound like it was super-awesome or anything. I suppose might eventually get it when it comes out in a softcover version, but I'm definitely not spending $25 on this edition.



Countdown Special: OMAC - I already have the first issue of Jack Kirby's OMAC, and I'm not really interested in the other issues reprinted here, so I won't be getting this, but I do want to point out Ryan Sook's awesome cover. Is that an homage of the famous Hulk image? You know, the one that gets referenced all the time?

Wildstorm:



The Programme #8 - This is the same cover that was solicited for the seventh issue last month. I don't know what the deal is. Anyway, the fifth issue comes out tomorrow, so we'll see how well the series is progressing.

Vertigo:



Northlanders #3 - Wow, what a cool cover. I can't be certain I'll get this issue, but I'm going to try the first issue at least. The preview that ran in the most recent issue of Y: The Last Man was interesting, but it didn't really suck me in. Of course, I recall a similar preview of DMZ, and that book became one of my favorites. So we'll see what happens with this. I generally trust Brian Wood though, so I'm looking forward to seeing what he has planned.



Army@Love #12 - I'm not sure what's going on on this cover, but I still like it, and it still makes me laugh. Good show, Veitch! Since this is the twelfth issue, the second volume should be appearing soon after it, right? I sure hope so.



Fables #70 - Each month, this space is reserved for a mention of James Jean's awesome cover, and this month is no exception. I especially like the animals here. The art in this issue is by Pride of Baghdad's Niko Henrichon, so it will probably be exquisite. Also, I should mention that a softcover version of Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall is coming out this month (February), so check that out if you haven't already. It's got some great stories and beautiful art; the Frog Prince story alone is heartbreaking, and probably important to the current "Good Prince" storyline (although I'm sure it has been recapped).



Jack of Fables #20 - Oh snap, Jack looks like he's in pain here! Brian Bolland is awesome. Is this the story when Jack finally gets it on with the Page sisters? Sweet!



Faker TPB - I waited on this miniseries to see if it would be worth getting the trade, and the reviews seemed generally positive. It's only $10, so I'll probably pick it up.



Scalped #14 - I never read this story because it just didn't seem like something that would interest me, but lately I've been hearing that it's gotten pretty good. I might just have to take Jason Aaron up on his offer and try out the first trade.



Un-Men #7 - I probably won't get this (even though Mike Hawthorne tells me I should; sorry, Mike!), but I wanted to say that this cover by Tomer Hanuka creeps me right the hell out. I really need to check out his other stuff, like The Placebo Man.
-----

Okay, that's it for DC and it's various offshoots (wait, what about Minx?). I'll get to Marvel soon. Watch this space!

This week, I'm thankful for comics. Just like every week.

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.
-----

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!

Monster: If I don't get more caught up on this series, I'll feel like there's one in my closet

Right off the bat, I should mention that today marks the one-year anniversary of my blog. I started the thing on November 13, 2006 with a lame "Here I am!" post, but I quickly followed up with some actual content. It took me a while to find my voice, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of this sort of thing. It's been a good year, and I'm really enjoying blogging. It's nice to feel like people are interested in what I have to say. For a while there, I had a daily schedule going, if not even more frequent, but I've eased off a bit now (although I've been doing writing for other sites, so it's not like I'm just slacking off). I'm not as interested in doing a "weekly roundup" of books or whatever, and my tastes have shifted away from monthly superhero comics in the direction of indie-type graphic novels and manga, so I mostly just post whenever I finish a book and want to write about it. That seems to work pretty well for me. I have been continuing to do a look at weekly releases and monthly solicitations, so that helps me keep up with the posting. So anyway, I think I'm still developing my voice and writing style, and I hope to keep it up for years to come. Thanks for tuning in, everyone, and I hope you continue to stop by!

Anyway, I've got an actual review below, but first I wanted to point out a a couple other reviews that are up at Silver Bullet Comics: Maintenance #6 and Hellboy: Darkness Calls #6.

Also, I finally got around to scanning the sketch Rutu Modan did in my copy of Exit Wounds, so you can see that in my post about her appearance in Chicago, if you're interested.

On with the show:

Monster, volume 3
By Naoki Urasawa



I reviewed the first volume of this series back when I read it, but I never really looked at the second because I couldn't really think of much to say that I didn't mention in that review. And really, I could say the same for this third volume, but it's worth talking about, if only to point out how the mystery behind the series deepens and becomes more compelling.

In volume two, Dr. Tenma did some investigating of Johan, the killer whom he accidentally enabled, and managed to get accused of the killings for his efforts. So now he's on the run, but still trying to find out what he can about Johan's background. It seems Johan and his sister were adopted by the East German political figure and his wife after spending some time in orphanages, but before that they came from Czechoslovakia (I imagine their origins will be explored further as Tenma continues to dig up dirt). Later, they bounced from one set of adoptive parents to another (or Johan did, at least), with Johan building up political influence and honing his killing skills. At least, I think that's the story, up through what we've found out so far. It's only the third volume (out of eighteen), and things are already getting complicated (I hope I don't have to draw a map for this one like I did for 100 Bullets).

It makes for exciting reading, trying to figure out what happened while Tenma faces current threats, mainly the danger of discovery; a Japanese man is probably easy to spot wandering around Germany and asking questions. But he's still got that noble doctor's spirit, helping out with any medical emergencies he encounters, like David Carradine or David Banner, if they had M.D.s instead of kung fu skills or gamma-irradiated blood. He's pretty awesome with his doctor skills too, performing brain surgery on an old lady in a small village's meager doctor office.

In this volume, we also see an example of Johan's brainwashing, and learn about a harrowing experience that he caused as a boy when he was in an orphanage called 511 Kinderheim. It's a freaky scene, with Tenma confronting somebody from Johan's past and trying to save a young boy. In fact, it's one of several examples in this volume of Urasawa's skill at building tension. He has a nice, detailed art style, but a pretty restrained use of panel layouts (compared to some manga), sticking mostly to rectangular panels, but varying their arrangement. A lot of scenes are simply people confronting each other, but Urasawa varies the viewpoints and focuses on characters' expressions and reactions, really playing up the emotion of the scene:



This is especially impressive in a confrontation during the aforementioned surgery; with characters' faces covered by surgical masks, they have to express emotion solely with their eyes, but what they are feeling is never in doubt:



There's plenty more that I could talk about here (I love the sneering criminals, honorable terrorists, and grim brainwashees, just to name a few of the undiscussed aspects), but I guess I'll save it for later installments. Urasawa is a master at crafting suspense and drama, and I can't wait to see what he has in store.

This week: Alan Moore rocks minds, Scott Pilgrim just plain rocks

I don't think I ever pointed this out, but I have a review of Afterburn #1 up at Silver Bullet. It comes out in January from Red 5 Comics, and it's not especially good. Which is too bad; I had kind of high hopes for their comics. Of course, I still have yet to read anything else they've done, so maybe this one is just the bad egg. Anyway...

New comics this week (Wednesday, 11/14/07):

All Star Superman #9

Alan Moore gets the attention this week, but it's always good to get a new installment of what might be the best ongoing comic currently being made. I have no idea what this issue is supposed to be about, but the smart money says it'll be awesome.

Atomic Robo #2

I had my shop order me the first issue of this, but I still haven't received it. So who knows when I'll get around to reading this one.

Mice Templar #2

I thought the first issue of this series was pretty decent, if not shit-my-pants good (what the hell does that mean? I guess I don't think too well on Mondays). I'll probably give it one more issue to decide whether I want to keep getting it.

My Inner Bimbo #2

Ah, Sam Kieth. I dunno, his stuff is hit or miss for me. His art is really nice though. I didn't read the first issue of this, and this second one is at least a year late, I think. I'm intrigued by the presence of Joshua Hagler (of The Boy Who Made Silence) though. Maybe I'll check it out when it gets collected, in six years or so.

Kimmie66

The newest Minx book, by Aaron Alexovich, who also illustrated the last one, Confessions of a Blabbermouth. He writes this one as well as doing the art, and it's about a girl in the future looking for another girl in cyberspace, or something like that. I might check it out, but I'll probably wait until I read reviews.

Scott Pilgrim vol. 4

Actually, this is a pretty big release too, but I've already read it, so I'm not as excited. I guess it's also Scott Pilgrim Week, not just Alan Moore. So yes, check this out, it's awesome. You can read my review here (or just scroll down to the next post).

League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen The Black Dossier HC

And here's the big one. I don't know if I'll get it right away; I'll probably use a coupon or something to save some money; $30 is a lot to spend on a comic book. But it should be awesome, and maybe this will mean more League of Extraordinary Gentlemen books will be coming out soon. Top Shelf did have them listed in their recent sampler (and on their website), after all...

Shooting War HC

I've been hearing about this one quite a bit; it's about war a few years in the future, I think. It will probably be one to check out. Here's the official site (which lists the US release date as November 19, so maybe it's not actually coming out this week).

Ex Machina vol. 6

The "Power Down" story gets collected. This is the point where I decided to wait for the trade on the series, but that doesn't mean it's not good. Mitch faces a blackout and a visitor from either the future or an alternate universe. Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris make good comics, as always. I can't wait for the next volume.

Garth Ennis Chronicles Of Wormwood HC

This was a pretty good series, but I don't know if I would recommend shelling out $27.99 for a hardcover collection. Probably better to wait for a softcover version.

Wanted SC New Printing

I read this a while back, but I don't actually own it. It's entertaining, but probably not as good as the hype (or as bad as the hype, if you listen to some people). I imagine this is coming out in conjunction with the upcoming movie; it's probably not worth the $20 price tag though.

Palestine HC

I thought this was supposed to come out last week, but it's on my shop's list for this week. I doubt they'll actually get it though; I'll probably have to pick it up from a bookstore. I do really want to read it; Joe Sacco is incredible.

How To Read Superhero Comics And Why TP

And finally, I saw this on Midtown Comics' shipping list and had to point it out, since it's written by my blog buddy Geoff Klock. I have to buy a copy someday and read it.
-----

And that's everything for the week. I don't know if I'll get the LOEG book right away, but I'll want it eventually. Anyway, I'll probably have something or other up today or tomorrow or whenever. Sorry, I'm getting lazy with the blogging. I'll try to do better.

Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together: 9999 experience goes a long way

That's right, I'm lucky enough to have read the new Scott Pilgrim book before it hits the stands. You may all bask in my glory. And if you want, you can read my review of The Expendable One volume 2: The Boob Versus the Boobs over at Silver Bullet Comics (quick summary: it's not good). Okay, on with the main event:

UPDATE: I've removed some images (due to spoilers) at the request of Oni Press and Bryan Lee O'Malley, but hopefully the review still makes sense. Sorry if it impairs readability for anybody.

Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together
By Bryan Lee O'Malley



I haven't reviewed any of the previous Scott Pilgrim volumes, because the most recent one came out before I started blogging. But I'm a big fan of the series, and I love the way Bryan Lee O'Malley combines goofy humor, video game references, over-the-top action, and genuine characters and relationships into a satisfying, enjoyable whole. This volume is no exception; it sees Scott facing relationship problems with his girlfriend Ramona, the possible loss of the apartment he shares with his friend Wallace, the prospect of getting a job, shakeups in his band (the wonderfully-named Sex Bob-Omb), and two people trying to kill him. One of those is a strange Asian man who keeps attacking him with a samurai sword, and the other is the next of Ramona's evil ex-boyfriends, who, in a major twist, [SPOILER here! Highlight to read inviso-text] is a girl! The way O'Malley depicts Scott processing this information is laugh-out-loud hilarious [end SPOILER].

So it's an excellent volume of a consistently good series, but since I tend to overanalyze stuff, I'm trying to figure out what it is that's so damn great about it. Part of it is O'Malley's skillful cartooning; the characters are so expressive with their big eyes that it's easy to get caught up in what they're feeling:



Of course, expressive eyes are nothing without good writing, and O'Malley has a great affinity for dialogue and characterization. Scott is funny and relatable because he's kind of naive, often surprised by the stuff going on around him (the character-related stuff, that is; he takes the fantastical fights and video game paraphernalia like save points in stride). I love the way he is amazed that one guy his friends know has a car. All the other characters bounce off Scott in fun ways; Stephen Stills and Kim Pine (his bandmates) kind of put up with him, acting aloof and overly cool. His roommate Wallace seems kind of protective, like an older brother. And Ramona is kind of withdrawn, but she really seems to care for Scott and enjoy being around him. They make a good couple, and it's fun to hang out with the gang:



O'Malley is also great with timing, especially the comic variety. Whether it's Scott going to work:



Or reacting to some good news:



It's all paced perfectly, and it reads really smoothly, adding to the enjoyable experience. And the dynamic comics "effects" he uses add a lot of punch to scenes like the one where Scott sees [SPOILER again! Highlight to read inviso-text, and click here for the image] Ramona talking to the girl who is trying to kill him [end spoiler], or when he runs to reunite with a special someone:



And don't forget the action! This volume is a bit lighter on the fights than the previous ones, but the ones that make the cut are awesome. Really, I could just open the book to a random page and find stuff worthy of pointing out; the entire thing is nonstop fun, just as Pilgrim fans expect. If you haven't read the series before, well, this isn't the place to start, but you should run out and get the first volume. You'll soon be hooked. If you're a longtime fan like me, this will not disappoint. Now if only O'Malley could get these things out more often than once a year...

The book comes out next week, on November 14, and it's supposedly slightly longer than previous volumes (216 pages) at the same price of $11.95. Get it!

Thanks to Oni Press for the review copy.

The Arrival: Much better than the Charlie Sheen movie

I got nothing to point to today on other sites, but here's a review of a damn good book:

The Arrival
By Shaun Tan



This wordless graphic novel is a breathtakingly beautiful metaphorical look at immigration, with artwork that is just incredible. It's a fairly simple story, but the details are what stand out; Shaun Tan uses a style reminiscent of Brian Selznick (The Invention of Hugo Cabret) or maybe Renee French to depict a man's journey into a strange and baffling land of wonders. This new land is mindboggling in its detail, with crazy architecture, bizarre creatures, flying airships and incomprehensible symbols everywhere you look:



Tan often fills up double-page spreads (in a book that's already oversized) with stuff to look at and plenty of surreal touches. I'm at a loss for words to describe how overwhelming it all is, and that's kind of the point.

We watch a man as he leaves his wife and daughter to travel to this new country from his oppressive homeland (which seems to be haunted by dragons), endures a long naturalization process, and then struggles to find work and just take in everything that is going on around him in this crazy place. As he adapts to life there, he meets several other immigrants and hears their stories, and they're all rather affecting: a young woman escaped sweatshops and hid on a train; a family fled from a land full of cubist buildings and giants who sucked people up into huge vacuum cleaners; an old man went off to a glorious war, only to be wounded and see his homeland devastated. It's an evocative look at stories of immigration, and while it's removed from reality, it still has real emotional impact.

Really, the emotion and feeling are central to the book, and Tan does an incredible job of conveying this feeling almost solely through facial expressions:



His technique is so effective, I almost cried when the main character finally reunited with his family. Atmosphere also helps; the new land is bright and airy, while the oppressive countries the immigrants fled from are dark and scary:



I can't recommend the book enough; it's really an amazing work of art. While it's not strictly allegorical (I don't think the "familiar" creatures that follow people around are supposed to represent anything in particular, to name one example), it still communicates the confusion and wonder of the immigrant experience, as well as the sadness of leaving one's family, the welcoming nature of friendly people, and the joy of being with your loved ones. Read it if you get the chance.

Tekkon Kinkreet: I don't know what that means

Really, I would have preferred just Black & White, although I guess the official title is Tekkon Kinkreet (or Tekkonkinkreet): Black & White: All In One. Whatever. I've been trying to think of a way to come at this for a few days, but I've been either sick or writer-blocked, so I haven't written anything. But I'm going to get it done, dammit! So this is my disclaimer, in case the review sucks. Enjoy!

Also: I reviewed Special Forces #1 over at IndiePulp. Enjoy that too!

Tekkon Kinkreet
By Taiyo Matsumoto



Taiyo Matsumoto has one hell of a unique style, not really fitting into the standard manga aesthetic (or the view of manga that we have in the West, anyway) but seeming weird enough that it doesn't look like any Western comics either. He throws the stylistic aspects usually (stereotypically?) associated with manga (big eyes, speed lines, etc.) out the window, retaining only stuff like crazy character designs (which still don't seem too manga-ish) or Tezuka-style slanted panel layouts. Really, the characters seem more like something seen in independent American or European comics, but there are tons of crazy details that you would never seen in Western comics, like the smiley-face sun and moon that hang in the sky or the garishly decorated buildings that seem like Tokyo turned up to eleven (judging by pictures and movies I've seen, anyway). He clutters up the backgrounds with tons of details, and gives the cityscapes a surreal, almost cubist touch, making buildings curve and bend at unnatural angles:



It's rather offputting, but it makes for an arresting reading experience. He also defines a strange, somewhat futuristic city full of bizarrely-dressed gangsters and thugs and ruled over by a couple of wild kids who seem to have superhuman acrobatic and fighting abilities. This could be compared to Western artists like Brandon Graham, Corey Lewis, or Bryan Lee O'Malley, but while they use these tropes with a knowing eye or make sure to point out the weirdness of their setting, Matsumoto plays it almost completely straight, with characters acting like their world is completely normal. I'm actually guessing there's some cultural connotations lost in translation here, with ruminations on the changing landscape of Japan, but even if that goes over my head, it still works very well as a story.

Oh yeah, I guess I should mention what the deal is with said story. It's about those two rogue kids, Black and White, who defend the futuristic Treasure Town against the incursion of violent gangsters and freaky assassins. They're an interesting duo; Black is older and "wiser", taking care of the younger, more naive White as they get in fights with troublemakers around the city. Matsumoto defines them pretty well, with Black often asserting that this is his town and he won't let anybody take it over. White, on the other hand, is imaginative and free-spirited, wearing goofy, outlandish clothes and making regular phone calls to space, reporting on conditions down on Earth. Their relationship and characters are very believable (outside of the ass-kicking and building-jumping).

The main plot conflict (which doesn't really show up until halfway through the book; the first 250 pages or so are spent establishing the setting and characters) involves some gangsters trying to take over the city. They end up sending some freaky assassins after the "stray cats" (as Black and White are often referred to), causing the police to separate Black and White after the latter is wounded. This causes Black to seemingly lose touch with humanity; he becomes increasingly brutal and feral, eventually manifesting his negative emotions in an evil avatar known as The Minotaur, who has a psychic battle with White for Black's soul. It sounds strange, but it makes sense (sort of).

Even if this sounds ridiculous and pointless, it's a great read, mostly because of Matsumoto's expressive artwork. He does some incredible stuff, packing panels with details that might or might not be "real". When the very buildings seem malleable and people walk around wearing black bodysuits or sport mohawks and tribal body paint, a vision of fish floating around the characters doesn't even seem out of place. But even the regular action is breathtaking, putting the reader right in the middle of the action:



One of my favorite of his visual tricks involves what I call "implied speed lines". He doesn't go overboard with the use of speed lines to demonstrate movement, but he sometimes actually angles the backgrounds to imply motion:



That just blew me away. And then there's the beautiful chapter title illustrations, in which he often collages a bunch of images together in an amazing manner:



Wow. And I haven't even discussed the sharp dialogue (props to the translators) or myriad distinctive supporting characters. It's a rich book that you can pore over looking at all the content; totally worth the $29.95 price tag. I really can't recommend it enough.

This week is back to breaking the bank

Hey, sorry I haven't been posting too much lately, but I've been sick. I did write a few things for SBC though, so you can go over there and read my take on Jack of Fables #16 and Silver Surfer: In Thy Name #1. The latter is part of the "Sunday Slugfest", a group review, or really a collection of reviews. It's the first time I've participated in one of those. I should have another review up over there in the next couple days, I expect. Okay, anyway, here's this week:

New comics this week (Wednesday, 11/7/07):

Astonishing X-Men #23

I believe this is the second-to-last regular issue of the Whedon/Cassaday run (it will end in an annual/special issue), which has been coming out painfully slowly. We'll finally get to find out if Cyclops actually dies! I'm not exactly holding my breath. But still, it's a super-fun book, and I can't wait to read this new issue.

Criminal #10

Here's another awesome series, which sees the second storyline wrap up here. I don't even remember what is going on, other than a heist of some sort, but luckily the recaps are excellently-written, so I'll be back up to speed in no time. Seriously, Sean Phillips, stick to this book and give up the zombie stupidity.

Silver Surfer In thy Name #1

As I mentioned earlier, I've already read this. I'll be interested to look at the printed version though, since the preview PDF I received had some graphical distortion that kind of hurt the artwork. It's a decent enough Silver Surfer story, I guess. I probably won't actually spend money on it though.

Countdown Special Jimmy Olsen 80-Page Giant

I believe this reprints a few of the old Jack Kirby issues from back when he was introducing the Fourth World. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't read any of that stuff. Me, I'm getting the Omnibuses, so I'll skip this.

Vinyl underground #2

I missed the first issue of this series, but it wasn't very well-received in any online reviews I read, so I think I'm going to wait until it comes out in trade and decide whether to buy it then, depending on what people say about subsequent issues. I'm lazy that way.

Y The Last Man #59

Ooh! Ooh! Penultimate issue! I was heartbroken by the ending of the last issue, so we'll see what happens here. Doesn't look like it's heading toward a happy ending, that's for sure.

Cory Doctorow's Futuristic Tales Of The Here And Now #2

This issue adapts "When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth", and I might get it, depending on whether I like the artwork on a flip-through. Here's my thoughts on the first issue, which I didn't buy.

Groo Hell on Earth #1

Sweet! I love Groo. Here, he causes global warming or something. I can't wait to read it.

Hellboy Darkness Calls #6

The final issue of the excellent miniseries. Duncan Fegredo has been a great Hellboy artist, and the story has been pretty cool, with lots of punching and supernatural stuff. I'll probably wait for the trade on any future Hellboy series, but this one was definitely worth the read.

Lucha Libre #2

I kind of liked the first issue of this series, so I might or might not get this. It's certainly different from most of the stuff out there.

Maintenance #6

This is a pretty good humor book, although it has yet to return to the giddy heights of the first two issues. Here's hoping it gets back there with this issue. Uh, how about reviews of various issues or books? Here you go.

COMIC STRIP MASTERPIECES

This is a free comic from Fantagraphics, Drawn and Quarterly, IDW, and Checker advertising their various reprints of old-timey comics. Looks cool. If your shop doesn't get it, you can download a PDF of the book from Fanta's blog.

Omega Chase vol. 1 #1

This looks like a zombie western of some sort, and I probably would usually ignore it, but one of the creators is Keith Dallas, who writes/edits Silver Bullet Comics, so I figure I should give him some love and point this out. I hope it doesn't suck...

Middleman Vol 3 TP

Oh, man, I love the first two volumes of this series, so I hope this one continues to be good. The creators (Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine) decided to bypass the miniseries serialization and go straight to a collection, which I hope works out for them. I got a review copy of the book, so I should have a review up soon (at SBC). Kick ass!

Cairo HC

The latest Vertigo graphic novel, about magical stuff going on in Egypt, I guess. I believe it's black and white, and the creators are unknown, so it's a bit of a gamble. I'll probably wait to read reviews, unless I flip through a copy and decide it's impossible to pass up.

Dark Tower Gunslinger Born HC

Ah, the Stephen King series gets collected, in a pricey format (it's $24.99). I thought the series was all right, but nothing too astonishingly good or anything. The art (by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove) is pretty damn good, at least. It's worth a read, I suppose, although it might be better to wait for a cheaper softcover version. Here's my review of the final issue, if you're interested.

Lower Regions GN

This might be fun. It's a wordless fantasy story by Alex Robinson, creator of Box Office Poison and Tricked. Only $6.95 from Top Shelf, and seemingly inspired by Dungeons and Dragons or other such generic fantasy stuff. I'll certainly take a look if I see it.

Tank Girl the Gifting

Ashley Wood is the main draw of this book, at least for me, although he only did the art on the first issue, I think. I really need to try to read some of the earlier Tank Girl stuff sometime. Anyway, this is a bit expensive at $17.99. It's only four issues, and even at $3.99 each, the collection is more expensive. What's up with that, IDW?

Acme Novelty Library vol. 18.5 Portfolio

Ooh, I would love to get this, but it's too much for my budget. It's a set of poster-size prints of covers Chris Ware did for The New Yorker, in a nice-looking package. But it's $32.00. Yikes. Maybe I can look around online and see if I can find a discounted version or something.

Palestine HC Special Edition

I really like Joe Sacco's comics, but I've never read Palestine. I guess this is my chance to check it out, now that a nice new version is out. It's also pricey ($29.95), but definitely worth it, especially if I use an Amazon discount or a coupon at Borders or something. I can't wait to read it.

American Born Chinese HC New Printing

This is an excellent book (here's my review), so if you missed it the first time around, here's your chance to spend more for it!

Azumanga Daioh Omnibus Vol 1 GN

I hear this is a good, funny series, so a big, thick version is probably a good way to get into it. I should probably read Yotsuba instead though.
-----

And that looks like everything. I might end up emptying my pockets to get comics this week. Wow. Anyway, I should have at least one review up tonight. Really!