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.
-----
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, January 21, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Yotsuba&!: She is cute
More manga (and I've got more waiting in the wings). Sorry, fans of American comics, I'll try to please you sometime!
Yotsuba&!, volume 2
By Kiyohiko Azuma
I must be turning into a softie in my old, old age (29), because I, like the rest of the internet, have fallen head over heels for this cute little girl and her gang of followers. Whodathunkit? This volume sees her work on her drawing skills:
Go on a yakuza-movie-inspired water-gun killing spree:
Ruin her dad's social life:
Attempt to teach people how to swim:
Get involved in a fight involving frogs and giant eyeballs (it makes sense in the context of the story. Sort of):
And plenty of other hijinx. It's utterly charming, and it would be easy to just post a myriad of panels and say, "How cuuuuuute!", but I strive for something more here. So how about some half-assed analysis of why Azuma is so effective at delivering the comedy of this series?
Well, first off, his style is really clean, but also quite simplistic. There aren't a ton of details cluttering up the panels; we're free to focus on the simply-rendered character of Yotsuba. Maybe it's just the lack of a nose, but she seems to get less detail (at least in her face) than the other characters, so that makes the big eyes and mouth stand out even more. Her emotions seem so pure and deeply felt, which is something we associate with children. And Azuma wrings a deceptive amount of subtlety out of the small changes in her expressions. I could (and someday might) take up a whole post just pointing out all the different ways her eyes are depicted, from simple black circles, to sparkly black circles, to downward-angled half-circles. Azuma knows exactly which variation to use to get across her emotional state, and I fall for it every time.
The other thing he does so well is the depiction of the physicality of the characters. The way they hold their bodies and the seemingly easy grasp of motion are incredible. I love this bit where Yotsuba wants to join in when everybody is getting pushed into the pool:
Jumbo, being so large, can easily pick her up and heave her through the air, and Azuma really makes you feel it. The amount of space between her and the bottom of the panel (along with the clouds in the background) emphasizes and exaggerates how high she is, and she seems especially small, making it look like she's really flying. Her upside-down position and the graceful curve of her body really make her look like she's moving really fast. It's just beautifully done, and the whole book is full of this sort of thing.
On the (non-art-based) storytelling front, Azuma also really gets you into the comic with the way he defines the characters. It's another seemingly simple thing, but he pulls it off with panache. Each character has their own personality, and it comes out in the way they interact with each other. Most of the time we see it from how they react to Yotsuba and her steamroller-like way of taking over every moment, but sometimes it comes out in other ways too. One of my favorite aspects is Yotsuba and her dad Koiwai's relationship; they have these little games they play that they don't need to explain to anybody else, including the reader. We just get to see them start goofing around, and it's utterly charming. In the first volume, Koiwai put a pair of boxers on his head and started attacking Yotsuba; here, he gets her to join in the "daddy dance":
Come on, how can you resist that sort of cuteness?
So, yeah, it's super-fun stuff. I could probably try to go into more detail, but I don't want to overthink things; sometimes it's just best to enjoy the fun, right? I know I've been digging it; I already bought the third volume, and I'm sure I'll soon devour the others that are available. Go Yotsuba!
Yotsuba&!, volume 2
By Kiyohiko Azuma
I must be turning into a softie in my old, old age (29), because I, like the rest of the internet, have fallen head over heels for this cute little girl and her gang of followers. Whodathunkit? This volume sees her work on her drawing skills:
Go on a yakuza-movie-inspired water-gun killing spree:
Ruin her dad's social life:
Attempt to teach people how to swim:
Get involved in a fight involving frogs and giant eyeballs (it makes sense in the context of the story. Sort of):
And plenty of other hijinx. It's utterly charming, and it would be easy to just post a myriad of panels and say, "How cuuuuuute!", but I strive for something more here. So how about some half-assed analysis of why Azuma is so effective at delivering the comedy of this series?
Well, first off, his style is really clean, but also quite simplistic. There aren't a ton of details cluttering up the panels; we're free to focus on the simply-rendered character of Yotsuba. Maybe it's just the lack of a nose, but she seems to get less detail (at least in her face) than the other characters, so that makes the big eyes and mouth stand out even more. Her emotions seem so pure and deeply felt, which is something we associate with children. And Azuma wrings a deceptive amount of subtlety out of the small changes in her expressions. I could (and someday might) take up a whole post just pointing out all the different ways her eyes are depicted, from simple black circles, to sparkly black circles, to downward-angled half-circles. Azuma knows exactly which variation to use to get across her emotional state, and I fall for it every time.
The other thing he does so well is the depiction of the physicality of the characters. The way they hold their bodies and the seemingly easy grasp of motion are incredible. I love this bit where Yotsuba wants to join in when everybody is getting pushed into the pool:
Jumbo, being so large, can easily pick her up and heave her through the air, and Azuma really makes you feel it. The amount of space between her and the bottom of the panel (along with the clouds in the background) emphasizes and exaggerates how high she is, and she seems especially small, making it look like she's really flying. Her upside-down position and the graceful curve of her body really make her look like she's moving really fast. It's just beautifully done, and the whole book is full of this sort of thing.
On the (non-art-based) storytelling front, Azuma also really gets you into the comic with the way he defines the characters. It's another seemingly simple thing, but he pulls it off with panache. Each character has their own personality, and it comes out in the way they interact with each other. Most of the time we see it from how they react to Yotsuba and her steamroller-like way of taking over every moment, but sometimes it comes out in other ways too. One of my favorite aspects is Yotsuba and her dad Koiwai's relationship; they have these little games they play that they don't need to explain to anybody else, including the reader. We just get to see them start goofing around, and it's utterly charming. In the first volume, Koiwai put a pair of boxers on his head and started attacking Yotsuba; here, he gets her to join in the "daddy dance":
Come on, how can you resist that sort of cuteness?
So, yeah, it's super-fun stuff. I could probably try to go into more detail, but I don't want to overthink things; sometimes it's just best to enjoy the fun, right? I know I've been digging it; I already bought the third volume, and I'm sure I'll soon devour the others that are available. Go Yotsuba!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Nana: Ah, the itch has been soothed. Also: Holy crap!
I mean, really! Dirk Deppy wasn't kidding! Wait, let me start this for real:
Nana, volume 8
By Ai Yazawa
In Dirk Deppey's "best of 2007" list at the other end of the link above, he mentions that the entirety of Nana up until this volume was essentially prologue, and a single event in this volume changes everything. And, man was he right. I won't spoil it, but the big twist here is a fucking amazing one, yet one that fits the series incredibly well. It's really just raising the stakes for the characters, and Ai Yazawa does a masterful job of pushing her characters through these compelling stories.
But let me back up; Nana is probably my favorite manga series at the moment. I've been following it faithfully since the first issue of Shojo Beat, and I was horribly upset when the magazine stopped serializing the series (yes, I'm a dork). However, after reading this volume, I understand the decision; not only does the sex get more explicit:
But the entire dramatic underpinnings of the series shift to a more adult sensibility, one that doesn't fit the intended teenage audience of the magazine as well. And now that the big twist has happened (I'm trying very hard not to spoil it here, but I might slip), I can see how the themes have been subtly shifting to more mature subject matter over time. Rather than the teenage worries about finding a boyfriend or an apartment, Yazawa has slowly introduced ideas like keeping a steady job in order to be responsible and pay the bills, or how to manage a long-term relationship. It's fascinating to look back and see the steady growth of the characters as they become adults, and I'm sure we'll get to keep watching it over many future volumes.
But even avoiding the spoiler (rrrrrgh!!), the series is great fun to read. The characters are just so well-realized, and whatever happens, it's impossible not to enjoy watching them bounce off each other. One highlight of this volume is watching Nana (that's Nana Osaki, the rock star, as opposed to Nana Komatsu, otherwise known as "Hachi") try to take care of Hachi or boss her bandmates around. She's got a hard-edged punk attitude, but we get to peek under her shell somewhat here. But the outer image is fun too:
There's plenty of other characters and scenes I could talk about, but I'm really trying not to spoil things. All I'll say is that it gets incredibly dramatic, and I was turning pages with rapt attention, wanting to know what was going to happen next. Yazawa has a great sense of pacing, springing events and revelations and confrontations on readers in such a way as to create maximum drama. Her expressive artwork doesn't hurt either, and I love some of the tricks she uses, like this panel of Hachi's rock-star (ex?)boyfriend Takumi eating some "plebian curry":
That's actually a scene transition from higher up on the page, but it's structured to look like Hachi is standing on his plate; he kind of considers her to be "beneath" him, little more than a fling. And when you read that in context, it's pretty devastating and sad.
So I'm definitely still a fan, and I can't wait for the next volume. Where can Yazawa go with this? What's going to happen next for our heroines? How will they cope with these events? Damn, this is some effective soap-operatic storytelling, making readers feel like they have to keep reading! I'm hooked; don't be surprised if you see me strung out on the floor of Borders' manga section.
-----
So that's Nana. I managed to get through the thing without revealing anyth....All right! I can't stop myself! SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS!!!! Holy shit! Hachi's pregnant! Holy shit! I thought shojo manga was all lighthearted and fun, full of drama, but nothing that can't be worked out by the end of the chapter. It'll all be roses, and the heroine will be able to run away with the prince, right? Well, suddenly we're hit with a very adult situation: Hachi is pregnant by the guy she wanted to break up with, Takumi. He's a playboy, and he's not going to want to get tied down with a kid. Plus, she was falling in love with Nobu, and she wanted to start a relationship with him; what the hell is she supposed to do now? Yazawa spent seven volumes working her characters into the perfect positions for this revelation to have maximally devastating consequences, and (as far as I can tell) she's refusing to take it lightly and treat it as a frivolous obstacle. The book suddenly got a lot more grown-up, and a hell of a lot more compelling (no mean feat; it was already pretty un-put-down-able). I'm fascinated by this choice, and what this means for the future of the series. Damn. Damn. Yazawa just made a fan for life. I am seriously on the edge of my chair waiting for the next volume.
-----
Okay, that's the real ending. Sorry if things got a bit incoherent there. Anyway, join me tomorrow for a sophisticated discussion of something less emotionally reactionary and more intellectual, like Chris Ware's Acme Novelty Library. Or maybe I'll just post gory panels from MPD Psycho. Whatever.
Nana, volume 8
By Ai Yazawa
In Dirk Deppey's "best of 2007" list at the other end of the link above, he mentions that the entirety of Nana up until this volume was essentially prologue, and a single event in this volume changes everything. And, man was he right. I won't spoil it, but the big twist here is a fucking amazing one, yet one that fits the series incredibly well. It's really just raising the stakes for the characters, and Ai Yazawa does a masterful job of pushing her characters through these compelling stories.
But let me back up; Nana is probably my favorite manga series at the moment. I've been following it faithfully since the first issue of Shojo Beat, and I was horribly upset when the magazine stopped serializing the series (yes, I'm a dork). However, after reading this volume, I understand the decision; not only does the sex get more explicit:
But the entire dramatic underpinnings of the series shift to a more adult sensibility, one that doesn't fit the intended teenage audience of the magazine as well. And now that the big twist has happened (I'm trying very hard not to spoil it here, but I might slip), I can see how the themes have been subtly shifting to more mature subject matter over time. Rather than the teenage worries about finding a boyfriend or an apartment, Yazawa has slowly introduced ideas like keeping a steady job in order to be responsible and pay the bills, or how to manage a long-term relationship. It's fascinating to look back and see the steady growth of the characters as they become adults, and I'm sure we'll get to keep watching it over many future volumes.
But even avoiding the spoiler (rrrrrgh!!), the series is great fun to read. The characters are just so well-realized, and whatever happens, it's impossible not to enjoy watching them bounce off each other. One highlight of this volume is watching Nana (that's Nana Osaki, the rock star, as opposed to Nana Komatsu, otherwise known as "Hachi") try to take care of Hachi or boss her bandmates around. She's got a hard-edged punk attitude, but we get to peek under her shell somewhat here. But the outer image is fun too:
There's plenty of other characters and scenes I could talk about, but I'm really trying not to spoil things. All I'll say is that it gets incredibly dramatic, and I was turning pages with rapt attention, wanting to know what was going to happen next. Yazawa has a great sense of pacing, springing events and revelations and confrontations on readers in such a way as to create maximum drama. Her expressive artwork doesn't hurt either, and I love some of the tricks she uses, like this panel of Hachi's rock-star (ex?)boyfriend Takumi eating some "plebian curry":
That's actually a scene transition from higher up on the page, but it's structured to look like Hachi is standing on his plate; he kind of considers her to be "beneath" him, little more than a fling. And when you read that in context, it's pretty devastating and sad.
So I'm definitely still a fan, and I can't wait for the next volume. Where can Yazawa go with this? What's going to happen next for our heroines? How will they cope with these events? Damn, this is some effective soap-operatic storytelling, making readers feel like they have to keep reading! I'm hooked; don't be surprised if you see me strung out on the floor of Borders' manga section.
-----
So that's Nana. I managed to get through the thing without revealing anyth....All right! I can't stop myself! SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS!!!! Holy shit! Hachi's pregnant! Holy shit! I thought shojo manga was all lighthearted and fun, full of drama, but nothing that can't be worked out by the end of the chapter. It'll all be roses, and the heroine will be able to run away with the prince, right? Well, suddenly we're hit with a very adult situation: Hachi is pregnant by the guy she wanted to break up with, Takumi. He's a playboy, and he's not going to want to get tied down with a kid. Plus, she was falling in love with Nobu, and she wanted to start a relationship with him; what the hell is she supposed to do now? Yazawa spent seven volumes working her characters into the perfect positions for this revelation to have maximally devastating consequences, and (as far as I can tell) she's refusing to take it lightly and treat it as a frivolous obstacle. The book suddenly got a lot more grown-up, and a hell of a lot more compelling (no mean feat; it was already pretty un-put-down-able). I'm fascinated by this choice, and what this means for the future of the series. Damn. Damn. Yazawa just made a fan for life. I am seriously on the edge of my chair waiting for the next volume.
-----
Okay, that's the real ending. Sorry if things got a bit incoherent there. Anyway, join me tomorrow for a sophisticated discussion of something less emotionally reactionary and more intellectual, like Chris Ware's Acme Novelty Library. Or maybe I'll just post gory panels from MPD Psycho. Whatever.
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Goon: Powell's back, baby!
Not that he ever left. Along with the thing below (still stalling until I can get to longer stuff, and don't expect anything tomorrow either), I've got a bunch of stuff up at Comics Bulletin: Bat Lash #2, Maintenance #7, and Cory Doctorow's Futuristic Tales of the Here and Now #4. Have fun readin'. And then there's this:
The Goon #20
By Eric Powell
Well, this was nice to see. Eric Powell went for a more serious take on the Goon and his world in the recent Chinatown graphic novel, and while that was quite good, it was also great to see him back in hilarious form on a new issue of the (now monthly!) ongoing series. And sure enough, I started laughing out loud on the first page, with it's description of one of the series typical hillbilly morons, who blamed a sickness on "the dead Mongolian fish monger he believed lived in his bowels." I guess that's funnier in context, but trust me, it's pretty laugh-inducing. And that's just the first page. Later on, we also get a crazy, one-armed, ham-obsessed homeless guy:
Or the Goon and Franky having a discussion about women and their various merits:
Yup, Powell's back in his regular form. The plot this issue involves some harpy bird-women terrorizing the customers of a burlesque house. Apparently, our heroes have fought them before, but I forget when. In any case, they end up fighting them, and (more) hilarity predictably ensues. Good times as always, and luckily we won't need to wait too long until the next chapter.
Powell's art is still looking mighty fine; he's joined for the foreseeable future by Dave Stewart on colors, but you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. That Mr. Stewart is a talented fellow. And for added value, Powell contributes an extra-long letter column, cheekily answering questions from readers (including spammers) and interviewing/harassing burlesque performers for art reference. Ah, comedy.
So it's not like you need me to tell you this, but check out this book. It's damn funny, and very well drawn. And don't discount stuff like gorilla-punching, whining undead magicians, and illegitimate cat-babies. There's something for everyone!
The Goon #20
By Eric Powell
Well, this was nice to see. Eric Powell went for a more serious take on the Goon and his world in the recent Chinatown graphic novel, and while that was quite good, it was also great to see him back in hilarious form on a new issue of the (now monthly!) ongoing series. And sure enough, I started laughing out loud on the first page, with it's description of one of the series typical hillbilly morons, who blamed a sickness on "the dead Mongolian fish monger he believed lived in his bowels." I guess that's funnier in context, but trust me, it's pretty laugh-inducing. And that's just the first page. Later on, we also get a crazy, one-armed, ham-obsessed homeless guy:
Or the Goon and Franky having a discussion about women and their various merits:
Yup, Powell's back in his regular form. The plot this issue involves some harpy bird-women terrorizing the customers of a burlesque house. Apparently, our heroes have fought them before, but I forget when. In any case, they end up fighting them, and (more) hilarity predictably ensues. Good times as always, and luckily we won't need to wait too long until the next chapter.
Powell's art is still looking mighty fine; he's joined for the foreseeable future by Dave Stewart on colors, but you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. That Mr. Stewart is a talented fellow. And for added value, Powell contributes an extra-long letter column, cheekily answering questions from readers (including spammers) and interviewing/harassing burlesque performers for art reference. Ah, comedy.
So it's not like you need me to tell you this, but check out this book. It's damn funny, and very well drawn. And don't discount stuff like gorilla-punching, whining undead magicians, and illegitimate cat-babies. There's something for everyone!
Plenty of new stuff this week, there is
Looks like my contribution to that Sunday Slugfest of Atomic Robo #4 is up, so you can check that out now. Maybe I'll get to something or other tonight, but for now, here's:
New comics this week (Wednesday, 1/16/08):
76 #1
A crime-type series from writer B. Clay Moore and some other fellas. It actually looks pretty cool, so I plan to get it. Here, have an article/preview.
Atomic Robo #4
I already read and reviewed this (see above), but I'll still shell out the dollahs for it. It's that good. This issue: Robo's secret mission to Mars!
Cemetery Blues #1
Another new series from image, about a couple bumbling monster-fighters, I think. Looks cool (here's an article with some preview pages), so I plan to give it at least an issue.
Countdown Special New Gods
Reprints of Jack Kirby comics are usually worthwhile, so you can check this out if you haven't already read them. I would recommend the Omnibuses instead though.
Fell #9
Hey, Ben Templesmith wasn't lying! I'm always excited to get a new issue of this series, and here it is. What depravity do he and Ellis have in store? I can't wait to find out.
Groo Hell on Earth #3
Environmental disaster made funny! What havoc will Groo and company wreak this month? And will it involve cheese dip?
Programme #7
Action? Maybe? We seemed to be getting close last issue. Maybe we'll finally get to see some devastating superheroic throwdowns. Or possibly more philosophy. Hopefully I'll enjoy it either way.
Resurrection #2
I did kind of like the first issue of this, so I'm curious about this second one. Dunno if I'll buy it though.
Shojo Beat Vol 4 #2 Feb 08
Hey, this hasn't shown up in my mailbox yet. What's the holdup, Viz? Sure, I've been keeping my girliness in check with the latest volume of Nana, but I don't like to wait for my monthly installment of femininity!
Stranded #1
This is some sort of Virgin Comics/Sci-Fi Channel co-production of an alien invasion story or something. It's written by Mike Carey, who I don't always like but is generally a pretty solid writer. I'll probably skip it though, if only because I expect the Marc Silvestri and Greg Horn covers will turn me off.
Strange Detective Tales Dead Love #3
I thought this had come out a while ago (I reviewed it in December, after the writer sent me the first three issues), but it's on Midtown Comics shipping list, so maybe it's being re-offered. Whatever the case, I recommend it, so check the series out if you haven't already. You probably don't want to start with the third issue though...
Umbrella Academy Apocalypse Suite #5
We'll probably see some violin-based mayhem, if the last issue is any judge. Dysfunctional family world-saving, go!
Zombies vs. Robots vs. Amazons #2
Uh, I don't know if this is worth it unless you're an Ashley Wood fan, but if you are, here's more of his...stuff. Last issue saw lesbian orgies and other strange stuff; who knows what's coming next.
The Last Musketeer
A new Jason book! This one involves the immortal Musketeer Athos fighting an alien invasion. I'm sure it will also involve problems with interpersonal communication or unrequited love or something like that, but I bet it will be really good.
Lifelike HC
From IDW, it's a collection of stories written by Dara Naraghi. I might check it out, depending on whether I end up spending too much on other books this week. Here's a page with a bunch of excerpts, if you want a sample.
Doom Patrol vol. 6 Planet Love
Another collection of Grant Morrison's super-crazy run on the series. I have the entire run in single issues, but I haven't read them all yet. I really need to get to that sometime. Judging by what I've read already, they're some awesome comics, and I've read that it just keeps getting better.
Fight for Tomorrow
A collection of a Vertigo martial arts miniseries by Brian Wood and Denys Cowan. I haven't read it; does anybody know if it's any good?
Hulk The End HC
I have read this one, and it's pretty decent. It collects one of those "The End" specials that Marvel used to do, along with the "Future Imperfect" story that saw the Hulk travel to the future to fight an evil dictator version of himself. Both written by Peter David, with Dale Keown illustrating the former and George Perez the latter. Pretty good comics, if that's your sort of thing.
Pin Up Art of Dan DeCarlo vol. 2
And if highbrow perviness is your thing, here's this week's book for you! Tim O'Neil should be happy.
Thunderbolts by Ellis vol. 1 SC
I only read the first couple issues of this post-Civil War villain book, but I suppose I could check out a collection. Eh, whatever.
Gyo Vol 2 GN
This week's manga that I'm behind on. I don't even have the first volume, but I do fully intend to buy the series. Someday.
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And I think that's everything? I guess I'll see on Wednesday. As for tonight, I should probably have something or other up. But my track record on promised content is pretty weak, so take that with as many grains of salt as you wish.
New comics this week (Wednesday, 1/16/08):
76 #1
A crime-type series from writer B. Clay Moore and some other fellas. It actually looks pretty cool, so I plan to get it. Here, have an article/preview.
Atomic Robo #4
I already read and reviewed this (see above), but I'll still shell out the dollahs for it. It's that good. This issue: Robo's secret mission to Mars!
Cemetery Blues #1
Another new series from image, about a couple bumbling monster-fighters, I think. Looks cool (here's an article with some preview pages), so I plan to give it at least an issue.
Countdown Special New Gods
Reprints of Jack Kirby comics are usually worthwhile, so you can check this out if you haven't already read them. I would recommend the Omnibuses instead though.
Fell #9
Hey, Ben Templesmith wasn't lying! I'm always excited to get a new issue of this series, and here it is. What depravity do he and Ellis have in store? I can't wait to find out.
Groo Hell on Earth #3
Environmental disaster made funny! What havoc will Groo and company wreak this month? And will it involve cheese dip?
Programme #7
Action? Maybe? We seemed to be getting close last issue. Maybe we'll finally get to see some devastating superheroic throwdowns. Or possibly more philosophy. Hopefully I'll enjoy it either way.
Resurrection #2
I did kind of like the first issue of this, so I'm curious about this second one. Dunno if I'll buy it though.
Shojo Beat Vol 4 #2 Feb 08
Hey, this hasn't shown up in my mailbox yet. What's the holdup, Viz? Sure, I've been keeping my girliness in check with the latest volume of Nana, but I don't like to wait for my monthly installment of femininity!
Stranded #1
This is some sort of Virgin Comics/Sci-Fi Channel co-production of an alien invasion story or something. It's written by Mike Carey, who I don't always like but is generally a pretty solid writer. I'll probably skip it though, if only because I expect the Marc Silvestri and Greg Horn covers will turn me off.
Strange Detective Tales Dead Love #3
I thought this had come out a while ago (I reviewed it in December, after the writer sent me the first three issues), but it's on Midtown Comics shipping list, so maybe it's being re-offered. Whatever the case, I recommend it, so check the series out if you haven't already. You probably don't want to start with the third issue though...
Umbrella Academy Apocalypse Suite #5
We'll probably see some violin-based mayhem, if the last issue is any judge. Dysfunctional family world-saving, go!
Zombies vs. Robots vs. Amazons #2
Uh, I don't know if this is worth it unless you're an Ashley Wood fan, but if you are, here's more of his...stuff. Last issue saw lesbian orgies and other strange stuff; who knows what's coming next.
The Last Musketeer
A new Jason book! This one involves the immortal Musketeer Athos fighting an alien invasion. I'm sure it will also involve problems with interpersonal communication or unrequited love or something like that, but I bet it will be really good.
Lifelike HC
From IDW, it's a collection of stories written by Dara Naraghi. I might check it out, depending on whether I end up spending too much on other books this week. Here's a page with a bunch of excerpts, if you want a sample.
Doom Patrol vol. 6 Planet Love
Another collection of Grant Morrison's super-crazy run on the series. I have the entire run in single issues, but I haven't read them all yet. I really need to get to that sometime. Judging by what I've read already, they're some awesome comics, and I've read that it just keeps getting better.
Fight for Tomorrow
A collection of a Vertigo martial arts miniseries by Brian Wood and Denys Cowan. I haven't read it; does anybody know if it's any good?
Hulk The End HC
I have read this one, and it's pretty decent. It collects one of those "The End" specials that Marvel used to do, along with the "Future Imperfect" story that saw the Hulk travel to the future to fight an evil dictator version of himself. Both written by Peter David, with Dale Keown illustrating the former and George Perez the latter. Pretty good comics, if that's your sort of thing.
Pin Up Art of Dan DeCarlo vol. 2
And if highbrow perviness is your thing, here's this week's book for you! Tim O'Neil should be happy.
Thunderbolts by Ellis vol. 1 SC
I only read the first couple issues of this post-Civil War villain book, but I suppose I could check out a collection. Eh, whatever.
Gyo Vol 2 GN
This week's manga that I'm behind on. I don't even have the first volume, but I do fully intend to buy the series. Someday.
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And I think that's everything? I guess I'll see on Wednesday. As for tonight, I should probably have something or other up. But my track record on promised content is pretty weak, so take that with as many grains of salt as you wish.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The Spirit: Oh, now it gets good
Man, I've got plenty of books to talk about, but I'm going to go ahead and waste a post looking at a single issue of a series. But first, I'll link to my review of The Evil Dead #1 over at Comics Bulletin (formerly Silver Bullet Comics). I also contributed to a "Sunday Slugfest" of Atomic Robo #4, but that doesn't appear to be up yet. I'll link to it when it goes up; I wrote some other stuff for them today, so I should have some other stuff to point out in the next few days. Anyway, here's my latest diversion:
The Spirit #12 By Darwyn Cooke
I gotta say, while I've enjoyed Darwyn Cooke's run on The Spirit, it hasn't blown me away to the point where I went into mourning when it was announced that he was leaving the title. Sure, the stories have been fun, and the art was very nice, but there was nothing that made me want to enshrine Cooke as Will Eisner's heir apparent. Until now, that is. This final issue of Cooke's run has been everything I hoped for, paying tribute to Eisner's stories and style while working on its own as a moving and exciting tale. It figures that Cooke is leaving now that he's finally shown what he can really do (not that I ever doubted him or anything).
But it's a hell of a send-off. This issue is an adaptation of the original two-part story that introduced the Spirit's lost love, Sand Saref, and it's a beautiful story, especially in the flashback sequences where Cooke emulates Eisner's sepia-toned art style of A Contract With God:
The cityscapes and rain-soaked imagery are pure Eisner, and in some places, Cooke even manages to replicate Eisner's character art:
As you can see, the page layouts are possibly a little more "modern" (or maybe just more Cooke-style) than Eisner usually used (not that Eisner was any slouch at ambitious layouts), but Cooke still managed to capture Eisner's unique style to the point that my breath caught in my throat as I was reading it. Damn. And hey, he even managed to draw water like Eisner did:
So overall, the issue is a good reworking of the story, using some of Cooke's characters (which may have been established before he got his hands on the character, but I wasn't familiar with them) in an organic way and really emphasizing the "lost love" aspect of the Spirit and Sand's relationship. One thing I have enjoyed about Cooke's run is the adult sensibility he brings to the stories; previous issues have seen regular violence and plenty of casual profanity, and this issue includes a fairly explicit sex scene (for a non-Vertigo DC comic, anyway):
But none of these things are gratuitous; Cooke takes the age and maturity of his intended readers for granted, and I like that. So now that his run is over with, I'm finally sad to see him go. We'll see if Sergio Aragones, Mark Evanier, and Mike Ploog can live up to what he started. I'm sure their run will be funny, but I'm hoping they'll put as much heart into it as Cooke did.
The Spirit #12 By Darwyn Cooke
I gotta say, while I've enjoyed Darwyn Cooke's run on The Spirit, it hasn't blown me away to the point where I went into mourning when it was announced that he was leaving the title. Sure, the stories have been fun, and the art was very nice, but there was nothing that made me want to enshrine Cooke as Will Eisner's heir apparent. Until now, that is. This final issue of Cooke's run has been everything I hoped for, paying tribute to Eisner's stories and style while working on its own as a moving and exciting tale. It figures that Cooke is leaving now that he's finally shown what he can really do (not that I ever doubted him or anything).
But it's a hell of a send-off. This issue is an adaptation of the original two-part story that introduced the Spirit's lost love, Sand Saref, and it's a beautiful story, especially in the flashback sequences where Cooke emulates Eisner's sepia-toned art style of A Contract With God:
The cityscapes and rain-soaked imagery are pure Eisner, and in some places, Cooke even manages to replicate Eisner's character art:
As you can see, the page layouts are possibly a little more "modern" (or maybe just more Cooke-style) than Eisner usually used (not that Eisner was any slouch at ambitious layouts), but Cooke still managed to capture Eisner's unique style to the point that my breath caught in my throat as I was reading it. Damn. And hey, he even managed to draw water like Eisner did:
So overall, the issue is a good reworking of the story, using some of Cooke's characters (which may have been established before he got his hands on the character, but I wasn't familiar with them) in an organic way and really emphasizing the "lost love" aspect of the Spirit and Sand's relationship. One thing I have enjoyed about Cooke's run is the adult sensibility he brings to the stories; previous issues have seen regular violence and plenty of casual profanity, and this issue includes a fairly explicit sex scene (for a non-Vertigo DC comic, anyway):
But none of these things are gratuitous; Cooke takes the age and maturity of his intended readers for granted, and I like that. So now that his run is over with, I'm finally sad to see him go. We'll see if Sergio Aragones, Mark Evanier, and Mike Ploog can live up to what he started. I'm sure their run will be funny, but I'm hoping they'll put as much heart into it as Cooke did.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Miscellaneous stuff, or, an effort to keep the page fresh
I've been busy this week, but I wanted to write something on here, dammit. So here's a few short something-or-others:
I don't usually regurgitate press releases, but I got an interesting one from Viz the other day about some upcoming titles. Along with a couple that I've been trumpeting (Sand Chronicles and Honey and Clover), there's a new series from Takeshi Obata (the artist of Death Note and Hikaru No Go) called Ral Ω Grad. It sounds enjoyably insane:
Looks nice; I'll be on the lookout for both these series.
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On a completely unrelated note, I've been reading Beyond Palomar, the third collection of Gilbert Hernandez's work from Love and Rockets, and it's really good, of course. Normally I would wait until I finish reading before talking about it, but I noticed one bit that I thought was really cool, and I wanted to get my thoughts down before I forgot.
In the graphic novel Poison River, Gilbert details the pre-Palomar years of his character Luba's life, and at this point (about 20 pages into the story), she's still a little girl being cared for by her out-of-work father, a poor manual laborer. A two-page sequence begins with the following image:
It's a striking cityscape, bright and exciting and full of possibility. We get a few panels of bustling activity before we spot Luba and her father, Eduardo; unlike seemingly everybody else around them, Eduardo is poor and beaten, begging for money or laying passed out on the sidewalk (Luba, being too little to know any better, is oblivious to their plight). It's a striking contrast to the promise of the opening image, and Hernandez seals this in our minds with a closing cityscape:
Unlike the previous one, which is full of crisp, straight lines and bright lights, these buildings (and sky) look grungy and decayed. The promising possibilities have given way to harsh reality; it's an effective way to show how far Eduardo has fallen (even if he wasn't especially high in the first place).
So, only 20 pages in, and I'm already moved to enthuse about Gilbert's artwork and storytelling. I could probably go on and on (hell, that first image makes me want to talk about the way he suggests the shape of the buildings without actually detailing them; damn, that's incredible), but I should probably try to actually finish the book, and then try to filter my thoughts into something more succinct and focused. But nevertheless, the more of his work I read, the more I'm convinced he's a true master.
I don't usually regurgitate press releases, but I got an interesting one from Viz the other day about some upcoming titles. Along with a couple that I've been trumpeting (Sand Chronicles and Honey and Clover), there's a new series from Takeshi Obata (the artist of Death Note and Hikaru No Go) called Ral Ω Grad. It sounds enjoyably insane:
In the midst of a meaningless war, a child named Ral is born during a bloody battle at the cost of his mother's life. From this baby’s shadow comes forth a huge and powerful dragon named Grad, which lays waste to the landscape within minutes. A quick-thinking knight locks the baby in a cage of darkness, where he grows to be a young man, knowing only the kindness of his young female tutor named Mio, but never seeing her face. One day an army attacks and the people of Sphaein are put under siege by horrendous monsters knows as Shadows. With the castle walls collapsing and their doom within sight, the people are persuaded to set Ral free knowing he also has a Shadow within him—the large blue dragon. Released from his black cell, Ral finally meets his beloved teacher face-to-face and discovers there are differences between men and women…differences he deems worth fighting for!I don't know what most of that means, but it sounds like an enjoyable read, and Obata's artwork is really good, so I'll probably be watching for it. Also of note is a series called Switch, which is some sort of drug-related crime drama from a Japanese duo that call themselves Naked Ape. Here's the cover of the first volume:
Looks nice; I'll be on the lookout for both these series.
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On a completely unrelated note, I've been reading Beyond Palomar, the third collection of Gilbert Hernandez's work from Love and Rockets, and it's really good, of course. Normally I would wait until I finish reading before talking about it, but I noticed one bit that I thought was really cool, and I wanted to get my thoughts down before I forgot.
In the graphic novel Poison River, Gilbert details the pre-Palomar years of his character Luba's life, and at this point (about 20 pages into the story), she's still a little girl being cared for by her out-of-work father, a poor manual laborer. A two-page sequence begins with the following image:
It's a striking cityscape, bright and exciting and full of possibility. We get a few panels of bustling activity before we spot Luba and her father, Eduardo; unlike seemingly everybody else around them, Eduardo is poor and beaten, begging for money or laying passed out on the sidewalk (Luba, being too little to know any better, is oblivious to their plight). It's a striking contrast to the promise of the opening image, and Hernandez seals this in our minds with a closing cityscape:
Unlike the previous one, which is full of crisp, straight lines and bright lights, these buildings (and sky) look grungy and decayed. The promising possibilities have given way to harsh reality; it's an effective way to show how far Eduardo has fallen (even if he wasn't especially high in the first place).
So, only 20 pages in, and I'm already moved to enthuse about Gilbert's artwork and storytelling. I could probably go on and on (hell, that first image makes me want to talk about the way he suggests the shape of the buildings without actually detailing them; damn, that's incredible), but I should probably try to actually finish the book, and then try to filter my thoughts into something more succinct and focused. But nevertheless, the more of his work I read, the more I'm convinced he's a true master.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
2007: The Year of Comics Goodness
All right, looks like it's time to air out my picks for my favorite stuff among last year's sequential art offerings. It probably goes without saying, but I feel weird if I don't offer the caveat that this is all my opinion and not some assertion of objective fact as to the actual, indisputable best comics. Rather, these are my favorites. And, in an effort to try to game Dick Hyacinth's mathematical aggregates, I'm splitting the list into several parts. Actually, I'm doing that because I increasingly approach full "graphic novels" separate from ongoing comics series or miniseries. Maybe I'll have to rethink that philosophy in the future, but that can wait a year, right? Anyway, on with the show:
The Best Comics of 2007!
Graphic novels:
I tried to limit this to ten or so, but I was apparently unable. Instead, I'll go with the odd number of seventeen, and give "honorable mention" status to the following: Shortcomings, Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil, The Professor's Daughter, Dr. Thirteen: Architecture and Morality, Re-Gifters, PX!, Templar, Arizona, and Crécy (Those links lead to posts containing my reviews of the books in question, although you have to scroll a bit to get to the Shazam one; the same goes for any links below, unless indicated otherwise).
17. The Homeless Channel
Matt Silady is a talent to watch, judging by this biting satire of modern entertainment. But while that element of the book is quite notable, the study of Darcy, the main character, is the real heart of the story. It's a nice look at the pull between art, commerce, and personal responsibility that people in her position must experience. At least hopefully they do, but I suspect commerce usually wins out...
16. The Plain Janes
I went back and forth about whether to include this book or Re-Gifters as the Minx offering on the list, but while the latter is really good, I ultimately think I like this one better. There's something about the characters (especially "Main Jane") that really fascinated me, and while the ending was abrupt, it was still a really nice story, with wonderful artwork by Jim Rugg. I can't wait for the sequel.
15. Empowered
I love Adam Warren's combination of hyperactive, frenetic artwork and crazy, nonstop sci-fi ideas. He delivered that in spades with his new "sexy superhero comedy", and managed to tweak gender issues, comment on exploitative artwork (while indulging in his and his readers' desire for the same), and craft a fascinating character study and a smart, well-realized relationship. I think I liked the first volume (see link above) a bit better than the second, but the fact that he managed to pump out two volumes of the series in one year (with more soon to come) is pretty incredible.
14. Chance In Hell
Gilbert Hernandez. He blows minds, he amazes eyeballs, he can't seem to produce a bad comic. This one was bizarre and hard to interpret, but that's what made it such a unique experience. More, please.
13. The Black Diamond Detective Agency
Eddie Campbell is an old comics pro, and this was one hell of an entertaining story, with some beautiful artwork and a crazy energy that couldn't be replicated by anybody else. I can't wait for his next book, The Amazing Remarkable Mr. Leotard (I think that's the title).
12. Fox Bunny Funny
Andy Hartzell's fascinating exploration of gender and social bigotry was beautiful and thought-provoking. Good comics (but not good enough to get into the top ten, I guess).
11. I Killed Adolf Hitler
This was the year I discovered Jason, and the two books he put out this year (The Living and the Dead was the other one) were a good place to start (actually, I think I read You Can't Get There From Here and Why Are You Doing This? in between them). Ultimately, I went with I Killed Adolf Hitler over the silent-film zombie shenanigans of the other one, but they're both very good. I really like his minimalistic, deadpan style, and he manages to tell some affecting and hilarious stories while remaining quite subtle. I can't wait to check out more of his stuff.
10. Alice in Sunderland
What?! This should be higher than number ten, shouldn't it? Well, I've come too far to change things now. Whatever the case, it's an amazing book, a tour through the history and geography northern England, with emphasis on Lewis Carroll's career and whatever the hell else Bryan Talbot feels like talking about. It's a dizzying barrage of information, but it's never boring, thanks to Talbot's entertaining presentation. When I finished reading it, I would never have expected to have nine other books I liked better, but them's the breaks.
9. The Arrival
A wordless story about immigration that's notable just for the incredible, beautiful artwork. Shaun Tan's work is fucking breathtaking here, but the story is also really well done, with moving anecdotes about leaving one's homeland with dreams of making it in a better place. It's a wonderful book; I can't recommend it enough.
8. Tekkon Kinkreet
This is the only manga to make my graphic novel list, but that's just because I didn't read the most recent volume of Phoenix. I've got a separate list for other manga I liked below, I dug this one enough to include it on here. A stylish story about juvenile thugs, gentrification, and battling the psychic monster within (or something like that), it was like nothing else I read this year. How the hell is it all the way down at number 8? It's been that kind of a year, I guess.
7. Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together
For the last several years, the most recent volume of this book has been unavoidable when talking about the best comics of the year. This year's installment is no exception, seeing Bryan Lee O'Malley at the top of his game, telling fun, action packed stories in his unique, fun style. As with every year, I can't wait for next year's volume.
6. King City
This was Brandon Graham's breakout year, with this book and Multiple Warheads. I didn't know much about him before, but he jumped right onto my list of creators to watch out for. Cute, expressive art and wild sci-fi ideas are right up my alley, so I expect to keep reading his comics for quite a while.
5. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier
This one seemed to get panned by most "respectable" critics (i.e., not me), but I loved it. So screw all you guys. Alan Moore is a genius, and he created one hell of an amazing read, full of nifty references and clever wordplay that managed to make me feel dumb and smart at the same time.
4. The Salon
Even though I felt woefully dumb when reading it (my knowledge of art and art history is sadly limited), I was blown away by Nick Bertozzi's fantastic story about mystical murder during the birth of Cubism.
3. Acme Novelty Library #18
I haven't reviewed this one yet, since it just came out, but I absolutely loved it. Chris Ware's realistic, affecting portrait of a depressed, lonely woman is just beautiful. There seems to be a bit of a backlash against Ware lately, but he's still one of my favorite creators, and this installment of his ongoing story only cements him in that place further.
2. Exit Wounds
This high up on the list, it's kind of a wash; any of the top four or five entries could probably change places; this is just my current preference at this particular point in time. But I will say that Exit Wounds is an wonderful, excellent book, mixing current events with the exploration of family and interpersonal relationships. I can't recommend it enough.
1. Super Spy
But I think I've got to choose Matt Kindt's sprawling, ambitious look at the human cost of the constant deceit that is the spy trade. He weaves an affecting, exciting story through a bunch of smaller stories, and it makes for a fascinating look at World War II and the moral and personal sacrifices his characters make. It's an incredible book, and I hope more people check it out.
Ongoing series and miniseries:
I think the previous list is my main one for the year, but I wanted to also point out some of my favorite books that I read in the serialized monthly format. I think I've conditioned myself to think of these issue-by-issue reads separately from the book-length graphic novels, so they get a separate list, at least until I decide to do things differently. I guess this also includes ongoing series I read in trade paperback format, since I know I'm getting a chapter of a longer work when I read them. I don't know if I'll have as much to say about these, but here's my take:
14. Army@Love
Rick Veitch came up with a hell of a satire here, lampooning consumer culture, technology, politics, corporate mentality, and whatever else he could think of. I probably would have ranked it higher, but I haven't read it since the end of the first storyline. I'm sure it will rise (in my mind) after I read the next collection.
13. 100 Bullets
Like several other entries here, this one suffers from only being read in yearly (or so) installments, but it's still awesome every time I read it. I'm obsessed with all the interconnections between characters (see my character chart for evidence), and Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso tell some compelling, horrific stories that don't pull any punches. I'm sure it'll be my favorite book again when the next volume shows up.
12. Madman Atomic Comics
I probably would have ranked this higher, but while I love Mike Allred's artwork, the storyline has been kind of meandering in this latest iteration of the series, getting bogged down in weird cosmic philosophy. Not that it hasn't been good (and the third issue, in which Allred aped the styles of what seemed like a few hundred great comics artists, was mindblowing from an artistic standpoint), but I just haven't enjoyed it as much as the entries higher up the list.
11. DMZ
This is another one that I've dropped in order to read in trade paperback form, so its lack of immediacy probably punished it. But it's really one of the best comics being published, with an important, relevant message and some harrowing stories. There needs to be a new collection really soon.
10. The Immortal Iron Fist
I stopped reading this one in monthly pamphlets after the first storyline, and now I'm eagerly awaiting a collection of the second storyline. Awesome kung fu comics by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction, lavishly and grittily illustrated by David Aja (and others). Doesn't get much better than this for your "pop" entertainment.
9. Glister
Cute, smart, beautifully-illustrated kiddie comics by Andi Watson. Not much else to say, except read them if you haven't been.
8. Fables
This is a series that I read in trades, and right now it's been several months since the most recent one, so my memory of the series' greatness has faded. If I was writing this right after reading the new volume (which better be coming out soon, dammit), I would probably rank it higher. But it's a great read every time, with an incredible sense of scope; Bill Willingham has mapped out quite an epic world here, and he could potentially keep building it for years to come. In fact, he's already expanded into a second title, Jack of Fables (along with co-writer Matthew Sturges), and I almost included it in the list as well. But I figure I'll keep it to just the core book, which is good enough for two entries.
7. Atomic Robo
Another surprising new entry, from the upstart publisher Red 5 Comics. It's along the same lines as some of the other entries here (Umbrella Academy, Iron Fist, Casanova), but it's unique enough to stand on its own, I think. Only three issues have come out so far, but they've all been incredibly enjoyable. I can't wait to read more.
6. The Umbrella Academy
This seems like the breakout hit of the year. Gabriel Ba again, accompanied by surprisingly good writing by Gerard Way (not to mention Dave Stewart's bright, pretty colors). Fun, wacky ideas and a sense of scale, along with some real emotional resonance make for some good comics. I can't wait to see what the team has in store.
5. Y: The Last Man
I'm probably ranking this higher than I should because I'm sad that it will be ending soon. But even so, this year saw some great stories, wrapping up plotlines, giving the characters (and the readers) closure, and shocking us with Brian K. Vaughan's trademark twists. I still haven't forgiven him for the ending of issue #58. Barring a disastrous ending (which I find doubtful), this will probably go down in history as one of my favorite comics of all time.
4. The Nightly News
Fight Club meets Network, illustrated in a completely unique style by a formidable new talent. Keep the comics coming, Jonathan Hickman!
3. Criminal
Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips deliver a regular dose of crime goodness, and I wish they had the resources to do it twice as often. Don't stop anytime soon, guys!
2. Casanova
Matt Fraction and his trade-off art team of Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon deliver some of my very favorite regular comics reading. Awesome stories dense with neat ideas and cool action, prettied up with incredible artwork (the frequent nudity is a plus), and finished off with Fractions revealing backmatter make for a great read whenever it comes out. I'm dreading the upcoming hiatus between the second and third storylines...
1. All Star Superman
I don't think there's a series I anticipate more whenever it comes out. Grant Morrison's awesome, sweeping ideas and moving, funny stories, coupled with Frank Quitely's beautiful, unparalleled artwork make for some really great comics.
I probably could have mentioned a few others (Multiple Warheads, Brawl, The Spirit), but I think that's enough. Let's move on:
Manga:
It seems odd to shuffle Japanese comics off into their own category, but I don't know what else to do at the moment. Plus, I read several of these entries in Shojo Beat each month, which gives them a different feel from both the graphic novels and the monthly comics. That's my excuse, at least. So, anyway, here's my picks:
11. Yotsuba
10. Monster
These would have ranked higher, but I don't think any of the volumes I've read actually came out this year. But I plan to keep reading both of them, so if I get caught up, they'll probably move up higher on next year's list.
9. Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
I'm behind on this one too, but it's a really fun series, about a group on differently-powered investigators who solve mysteries from the recently-deceased. Good art and fun, weird stories. I gotta read more.
8. King of Thorn
Plague survivors (for now) struggle to outwit and outfight freakish monsters after being unfrozen in a post-apocalyptic world. Lots of action, pretty illustrations. I dig it.
7. Dragon Head
I'm behind on this series, but it's a good one, and I can't wait to catch up. Teens struggle to survive in a disaster-struck Japan, with freaky characters and strange situations. What happened? I must find out!
6. Apollo's Song/MW
I love everything I've read by Osamu Tezuka, and these two novel-length works, while not his best, make for pretty damn great reads. I want more of his stuff. Anything!
5. Parasyte
Surprisingly good drama about a boy with an alien hand. Kinda dodgy artwork at times, but compelling, exciting stories, and interesting exploration of the concept. Where's volume three?
4. Drifting Classroom
The pure, violent, chaotic, loud insanity of this series makes it an un-put-down-able read. I gotta get caught up...
3. Nana
I haven't read this series for a few months (I still need to pick up the just-released eighth volume), but it's still high on my list of really good manga. Sure, it's pure soap opera, all about two girls and their love lives, but it's the kind of thing that you just can't put down, and you have to know what's going to happen next. It's probably the memorable characters that Ai Yazawa details, but her unique artwork certainly doesn't hurt.
2. Sand Chronicles
A moving, intelligent series about growing up and stuff. Viz just put out the first collection, so get it while it's hot!
1. Honey and Clover
I unreservedly love this funny, heartwarming story about students in art college. Please, anybody else who hasn't read this, check it out when Viz publishes the first volume this spring.
Collections:
These are books that came out this year which collect older stuff into editions that I can actually read. Not really eligible for any "best comics of the year" lists, but I wanted to point them out anyway.
5. Popeye: I Yam What I Yam
I'm not done with this one yet (it's slow going for me when I've got a hundred other books to read), but it's awesome. I really need to try to expand my experience with old comic strips; some of them are surprisingly great.
4. Whiteout
I didn't read this when it came out, so I was glad to get my hands on it now. This is good comics.
3. The Annotated Northwest Passage
As is this. I hope Scott Chantler gets around to doing a sequel soon.
2. Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus
I dig Kirby, and the first volume of this series (I still need to get the subsequent ones, dammit) really made me realize his greatness. That link actually leads to my month-long appreciation of his artwork and storytelling; I hope to do something similar whenever I get the next volumes. Go Kirby! Death cannot stop you!
1. Love and Rockets "digest" collections
Some of the best comics I read this year were the books gathering the incredible works of Los Bros Hernandez. I'm still working on the third volumes in each series, and I feel like I could just keep writing stuff about them indefinitely. From the amazingly-realized characters, to the unique settings, to the beautiful artwork, these are some of the best comics ever made. I'm a fan for life after reading these books.
Comics I Didn't Read:
And here's the stuff I missed. From reviews I've read, many of these would probably end up on my list(s), but I never managed to get my hands on any of them. Hopefully I'll read them someday.
Alias the Cat
Aya
The Blot
Bookhunter
Chiaroscuro
House
I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets
James Sturm's America: God, Gold, and Golems
Mail
The Mourning Star
New Engineering
Notes for a War Story
Percy Gloom
Phoenix: Sun
Powr Mastrs
Red Eye, Black Eye
Runoff
Richard Sala books (The Grave Robber's Daughter, Delphine)
Sammy the Mouse
Shooting War
Town Boy
Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms
-----
And that's pretty much everything. As always, any comments, recommendations, arguments, or complaints can be offered in the comments. If you think I'm wrong, let me know! Or commend my excellent taste, if that's your preference. I should hopefully be back tomorrow with more content, of some kind or another. See you then!
The Best Comics of 2007!
Graphic novels:
I tried to limit this to ten or so, but I was apparently unable. Instead, I'll go with the odd number of seventeen, and give "honorable mention" status to the following: Shortcomings, Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil, The Professor's Daughter, Dr. Thirteen: Architecture and Morality, Re-Gifters, PX!, Templar, Arizona, and Crécy (Those links lead to posts containing my reviews of the books in question, although you have to scroll a bit to get to the Shazam one; the same goes for any links below, unless indicated otherwise).
17. The Homeless Channel
Matt Silady is a talent to watch, judging by this biting satire of modern entertainment. But while that element of the book is quite notable, the study of Darcy, the main character, is the real heart of the story. It's a nice look at the pull between art, commerce, and personal responsibility that people in her position must experience. At least hopefully they do, but I suspect commerce usually wins out...
16. The Plain Janes
I went back and forth about whether to include this book or Re-Gifters as the Minx offering on the list, but while the latter is really good, I ultimately think I like this one better. There's something about the characters (especially "Main Jane") that really fascinated me, and while the ending was abrupt, it was still a really nice story, with wonderful artwork by Jim Rugg. I can't wait for the sequel.
15. Empowered
I love Adam Warren's combination of hyperactive, frenetic artwork and crazy, nonstop sci-fi ideas. He delivered that in spades with his new "sexy superhero comedy", and managed to tweak gender issues, comment on exploitative artwork (while indulging in his and his readers' desire for the same), and craft a fascinating character study and a smart, well-realized relationship. I think I liked the first volume (see link above) a bit better than the second, but the fact that he managed to pump out two volumes of the series in one year (with more soon to come) is pretty incredible.
14. Chance In Hell
Gilbert Hernandez. He blows minds, he amazes eyeballs, he can't seem to produce a bad comic. This one was bizarre and hard to interpret, but that's what made it such a unique experience. More, please.
13. The Black Diamond Detective Agency
Eddie Campbell is an old comics pro, and this was one hell of an entertaining story, with some beautiful artwork and a crazy energy that couldn't be replicated by anybody else. I can't wait for his next book, The Amazing Remarkable Mr. Leotard (I think that's the title).
12. Fox Bunny Funny
Andy Hartzell's fascinating exploration of gender and social bigotry was beautiful and thought-provoking. Good comics (but not good enough to get into the top ten, I guess).
11. I Killed Adolf Hitler
This was the year I discovered Jason, and the two books he put out this year (The Living and the Dead was the other one) were a good place to start (actually, I think I read You Can't Get There From Here and Why Are You Doing This? in between them). Ultimately, I went with I Killed Adolf Hitler over the silent-film zombie shenanigans of the other one, but they're both very good. I really like his minimalistic, deadpan style, and he manages to tell some affecting and hilarious stories while remaining quite subtle. I can't wait to check out more of his stuff.
10. Alice in Sunderland
What?! This should be higher than number ten, shouldn't it? Well, I've come too far to change things now. Whatever the case, it's an amazing book, a tour through the history and geography northern England, with emphasis on Lewis Carroll's career and whatever the hell else Bryan Talbot feels like talking about. It's a dizzying barrage of information, but it's never boring, thanks to Talbot's entertaining presentation. When I finished reading it, I would never have expected to have nine other books I liked better, but them's the breaks.
9. The Arrival
A wordless story about immigration that's notable just for the incredible, beautiful artwork. Shaun Tan's work is fucking breathtaking here, but the story is also really well done, with moving anecdotes about leaving one's homeland with dreams of making it in a better place. It's a wonderful book; I can't recommend it enough.
8. Tekkon Kinkreet
This is the only manga to make my graphic novel list, but that's just because I didn't read the most recent volume of Phoenix. I've got a separate list for other manga I liked below, I dug this one enough to include it on here. A stylish story about juvenile thugs, gentrification, and battling the psychic monster within (or something like that), it was like nothing else I read this year. How the hell is it all the way down at number 8? It's been that kind of a year, I guess.
7. Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together
For the last several years, the most recent volume of this book has been unavoidable when talking about the best comics of the year. This year's installment is no exception, seeing Bryan Lee O'Malley at the top of his game, telling fun, action packed stories in his unique, fun style. As with every year, I can't wait for next year's volume.
6. King City
This was Brandon Graham's breakout year, with this book and Multiple Warheads. I didn't know much about him before, but he jumped right onto my list of creators to watch out for. Cute, expressive art and wild sci-fi ideas are right up my alley, so I expect to keep reading his comics for quite a while.
5. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier
This one seemed to get panned by most "respectable" critics (i.e., not me), but I loved it. So screw all you guys. Alan Moore is a genius, and he created one hell of an amazing read, full of nifty references and clever wordplay that managed to make me feel dumb and smart at the same time.
4. The Salon
Even though I felt woefully dumb when reading it (my knowledge of art and art history is sadly limited), I was blown away by Nick Bertozzi's fantastic story about mystical murder during the birth of Cubism.
3. Acme Novelty Library #18
I haven't reviewed this one yet, since it just came out, but I absolutely loved it. Chris Ware's realistic, affecting portrait of a depressed, lonely woman is just beautiful. There seems to be a bit of a backlash against Ware lately, but he's still one of my favorite creators, and this installment of his ongoing story only cements him in that place further.
2. Exit Wounds
This high up on the list, it's kind of a wash; any of the top four or five entries could probably change places; this is just my current preference at this particular point in time. But I will say that Exit Wounds is an wonderful, excellent book, mixing current events with the exploration of family and interpersonal relationships. I can't recommend it enough.
1. Super Spy
But I think I've got to choose Matt Kindt's sprawling, ambitious look at the human cost of the constant deceit that is the spy trade. He weaves an affecting, exciting story through a bunch of smaller stories, and it makes for a fascinating look at World War II and the moral and personal sacrifices his characters make. It's an incredible book, and I hope more people check it out.
Ongoing series and miniseries:
I think the previous list is my main one for the year, but I wanted to also point out some of my favorite books that I read in the serialized monthly format. I think I've conditioned myself to think of these issue-by-issue reads separately from the book-length graphic novels, so they get a separate list, at least until I decide to do things differently. I guess this also includes ongoing series I read in trade paperback format, since I know I'm getting a chapter of a longer work when I read them. I don't know if I'll have as much to say about these, but here's my take:
14. Army@Love
Rick Veitch came up with a hell of a satire here, lampooning consumer culture, technology, politics, corporate mentality, and whatever else he could think of. I probably would have ranked it higher, but I haven't read it since the end of the first storyline. I'm sure it will rise (in my mind) after I read the next collection.
13. 100 Bullets
Like several other entries here, this one suffers from only being read in yearly (or so) installments, but it's still awesome every time I read it. I'm obsessed with all the interconnections between characters (see my character chart for evidence), and Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso tell some compelling, horrific stories that don't pull any punches. I'm sure it'll be my favorite book again when the next volume shows up.
12. Madman Atomic Comics
I probably would have ranked this higher, but while I love Mike Allred's artwork, the storyline has been kind of meandering in this latest iteration of the series, getting bogged down in weird cosmic philosophy. Not that it hasn't been good (and the third issue, in which Allred aped the styles of what seemed like a few hundred great comics artists, was mindblowing from an artistic standpoint), but I just haven't enjoyed it as much as the entries higher up the list.
11. DMZ
This is another one that I've dropped in order to read in trade paperback form, so its lack of immediacy probably punished it. But it's really one of the best comics being published, with an important, relevant message and some harrowing stories. There needs to be a new collection really soon.
10. The Immortal Iron Fist
I stopped reading this one in monthly pamphlets after the first storyline, and now I'm eagerly awaiting a collection of the second storyline. Awesome kung fu comics by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction, lavishly and grittily illustrated by David Aja (and others). Doesn't get much better than this for your "pop" entertainment.
9. Glister
Cute, smart, beautifully-illustrated kiddie comics by Andi Watson. Not much else to say, except read them if you haven't been.
8. Fables
This is a series that I read in trades, and right now it's been several months since the most recent one, so my memory of the series' greatness has faded. If I was writing this right after reading the new volume (which better be coming out soon, dammit), I would probably rank it higher. But it's a great read every time, with an incredible sense of scope; Bill Willingham has mapped out quite an epic world here, and he could potentially keep building it for years to come. In fact, he's already expanded into a second title, Jack of Fables (along with co-writer Matthew Sturges), and I almost included it in the list as well. But I figure I'll keep it to just the core book, which is good enough for two entries.
7. Atomic Robo
Another surprising new entry, from the upstart publisher Red 5 Comics. It's along the same lines as some of the other entries here (Umbrella Academy, Iron Fist, Casanova), but it's unique enough to stand on its own, I think. Only three issues have come out so far, but they've all been incredibly enjoyable. I can't wait to read more.
6. The Umbrella Academy
This seems like the breakout hit of the year. Gabriel Ba again, accompanied by surprisingly good writing by Gerard Way (not to mention Dave Stewart's bright, pretty colors). Fun, wacky ideas and a sense of scale, along with some real emotional resonance make for some good comics. I can't wait to see what the team has in store.
5. Y: The Last Man
I'm probably ranking this higher than I should because I'm sad that it will be ending soon. But even so, this year saw some great stories, wrapping up plotlines, giving the characters (and the readers) closure, and shocking us with Brian K. Vaughan's trademark twists. I still haven't forgiven him for the ending of issue #58. Barring a disastrous ending (which I find doubtful), this will probably go down in history as one of my favorite comics of all time.
4. The Nightly News
Fight Club meets Network, illustrated in a completely unique style by a formidable new talent. Keep the comics coming, Jonathan Hickman!
3. Criminal
Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips deliver a regular dose of crime goodness, and I wish they had the resources to do it twice as often. Don't stop anytime soon, guys!
2. Casanova
Matt Fraction and his trade-off art team of Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon deliver some of my very favorite regular comics reading. Awesome stories dense with neat ideas and cool action, prettied up with incredible artwork (the frequent nudity is a plus), and finished off with Fractions revealing backmatter make for a great read whenever it comes out. I'm dreading the upcoming hiatus between the second and third storylines...
1. All Star Superman
I don't think there's a series I anticipate more whenever it comes out. Grant Morrison's awesome, sweeping ideas and moving, funny stories, coupled with Frank Quitely's beautiful, unparalleled artwork make for some really great comics.
I probably could have mentioned a few others (Multiple Warheads, Brawl, The Spirit), but I think that's enough. Let's move on:
Manga:
It seems odd to shuffle Japanese comics off into their own category, but I don't know what else to do at the moment. Plus, I read several of these entries in Shojo Beat each month, which gives them a different feel from both the graphic novels and the monthly comics. That's my excuse, at least. So, anyway, here's my picks:
11. Yotsuba
10. Monster
These would have ranked higher, but I don't think any of the volumes I've read actually came out this year. But I plan to keep reading both of them, so if I get caught up, they'll probably move up higher on next year's list.
9. Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
I'm behind on this one too, but it's a really fun series, about a group on differently-powered investigators who solve mysteries from the recently-deceased. Good art and fun, weird stories. I gotta read more.
8. King of Thorn
Plague survivors (for now) struggle to outwit and outfight freakish monsters after being unfrozen in a post-apocalyptic world. Lots of action, pretty illustrations. I dig it.
7. Dragon Head
I'm behind on this series, but it's a good one, and I can't wait to catch up. Teens struggle to survive in a disaster-struck Japan, with freaky characters and strange situations. What happened? I must find out!
6. Apollo's Song/MW
I love everything I've read by Osamu Tezuka, and these two novel-length works, while not his best, make for pretty damn great reads. I want more of his stuff. Anything!
5. Parasyte
Surprisingly good drama about a boy with an alien hand. Kinda dodgy artwork at times, but compelling, exciting stories, and interesting exploration of the concept. Where's volume three?
4. Drifting Classroom
The pure, violent, chaotic, loud insanity of this series makes it an un-put-down-able read. I gotta get caught up...
3. Nana
I haven't read this series for a few months (I still need to pick up the just-released eighth volume), but it's still high on my list of really good manga. Sure, it's pure soap opera, all about two girls and their love lives, but it's the kind of thing that you just can't put down, and you have to know what's going to happen next. It's probably the memorable characters that Ai Yazawa details, but her unique artwork certainly doesn't hurt.
2. Sand Chronicles
A moving, intelligent series about growing up and stuff. Viz just put out the first collection, so get it while it's hot!
1. Honey and Clover
I unreservedly love this funny, heartwarming story about students in art college. Please, anybody else who hasn't read this, check it out when Viz publishes the first volume this spring.
Collections:
These are books that came out this year which collect older stuff into editions that I can actually read. Not really eligible for any "best comics of the year" lists, but I wanted to point them out anyway.
5. Popeye: I Yam What I Yam
I'm not done with this one yet (it's slow going for me when I've got a hundred other books to read), but it's awesome. I really need to try to expand my experience with old comic strips; some of them are surprisingly great.
4. Whiteout
I didn't read this when it came out, so I was glad to get my hands on it now. This is good comics.
3. The Annotated Northwest Passage
As is this. I hope Scott Chantler gets around to doing a sequel soon.
2. Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus
I dig Kirby, and the first volume of this series (I still need to get the subsequent ones, dammit) really made me realize his greatness. That link actually leads to my month-long appreciation of his artwork and storytelling; I hope to do something similar whenever I get the next volumes. Go Kirby! Death cannot stop you!
1. Love and Rockets "digest" collections
Some of the best comics I read this year were the books gathering the incredible works of Los Bros Hernandez. I'm still working on the third volumes in each series, and I feel like I could just keep writing stuff about them indefinitely. From the amazingly-realized characters, to the unique settings, to the beautiful artwork, these are some of the best comics ever made. I'm a fan for life after reading these books.
Comics I Didn't Read:
And here's the stuff I missed. From reviews I've read, many of these would probably end up on my list(s), but I never managed to get my hands on any of them. Hopefully I'll read them someday.
Alias the Cat
Aya
The Blot
Bookhunter
Chiaroscuro
House
I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets
James Sturm's America: God, Gold, and Golems
The Mourning Star
New Engineering
Notes for a War Story
Percy Gloom
Phoenix: Sun
Powr Mastrs
Red Eye, Black Eye
Runoff
Richard Sala books (The Grave Robber's Daughter, Delphine)
Sammy the Mouse
Shooting War
Town Boy
Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms
-----
And that's pretty much everything. As always, any comments, recommendations, arguments, or complaints can be offered in the comments. If you think I'm wrong, let me know! Or commend my excellent taste, if that's your preference. I should hopefully be back tomorrow with more content, of some kind or another. See you then!
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