Saturday, July 16, 2005
Friday, July 15, 2005
Thursday, July 14, 2005
MIDDAY REPORT: THURSDAY
News and notes: have had a good time so far. Thank God.
Ross Richie of Boom Studios has some cautiously ambitious plans, and I’m intrigued to see where they’ll lead.
Bumped into old pal Tom Spurgeon last night, and he’s growing facial hair. It’s somewhat disturbing.
A man larger than me is walking around the con wearing a Harry Potter costume. This is surely a sign of the apocalypse.
Not enough anime girls so far. Dunno what’s up with that.
Brett Warnock of Top Shelf has sent me back to my room to unload my bag, as he is a pro at getting you to look at their books, Glad to see Alex Robinson’s follow-up to BOX OFFICE POISON is finally ready and out. TRICKED is huge, by the way.
One thing I left out of the previous audio post: at 4:30 this morning, my hotel room phone rang, and a whispering caller claiming to be a comics pro of my acquaintance was on the other end of the line offering me oral sex. I politely declined, as the caller was not a woman.
Everyone has their deal breakers, after all.
/Mason
News and notes: have had a good time so far. Thank God.
Ross Richie of Boom Studios has some cautiously ambitious plans, and I’m intrigued to see where they’ll lead.
Bumped into old pal Tom Spurgeon last night, and he’s growing facial hair. It’s somewhat disturbing.
A man larger than me is walking around the con wearing a Harry Potter costume. This is surely a sign of the apocalypse.
Not enough anime girls so far. Dunno what’s up with that.
Brett Warnock of Top Shelf has sent me back to my room to unload my bag, as he is a pro at getting you to look at their books, Glad to see Alex Robinson’s follow-up to BOX OFFICE POISON is finally ready and out. TRICKED is huge, by the way.
One thing I left out of the previous audio post: at 4:30 this morning, my hotel room phone rang, and a whispering caller claiming to be a comics pro of my acquaintance was on the other end of the line offering me oral sex. I politely declined, as the caller was not a woman.
Everyone has their deal breakers, after all.
/Mason
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
FEELING GOOD
God, I love being in San Diego.
Sure, Nerd Prom can be insane, but what can’t you know? All I know is that I’m sitting in my hotel room right now with the window wide open, enjoying the weather. It will be four months before I can open a window back home.
Four long fucking months.
I got up this morning, worked out, cleaned up, and then headed out for breakfast and a nice walk. One thing I see in SD guides is recommending that people shop at the downtown Ralph’s grocery store, but as coda, I’d go further and recommend getting a Ralph’s shopper’s card. I acquired one about five years ago, and I’ve done well with saving money since then. If you come to the show every year, it just makes good sense. It was certainly helpful today as I bought Gatorade, Propel water and Power Bars. It knocked $7 off of my bill.
The show kicks off at 5:30pm this evening, and I’m thinking I’ll head down there sometime around 4:45. By the time I finish the walk, and get through the press badge line, I figure I’ll get inside around 6pm, hopefully missing some of the madness of the initial geek rush. The nice thing about going as press is that I’ll avoid being in the attendee line, period; what a scary place that can be. Last year it was particularly bad, as the con was slow to get the hall open on Preview Night, and there was a near riot.
My goal for this year is to come home with less stuff. Last year I returned to Arizona with 85 items in my bag for review. My suitcase could have held a dead body and been lighter. It took me until November to get through the pile. Part of it was my intent on getting the MPS column a little bit more out in front of people (which was very successful), and part of it was my sorority girl-like inability to say no. But this year, I’m gonna be a rock. A rock, dammit!
Anyway… audioblogging will probably start tomorrow. I’ll drop in with impressions of Preview Night, etc. Until then, adieu!
/Mason
God, I love being in San Diego.
Sure, Nerd Prom can be insane, but what can’t you know? All I know is that I’m sitting in my hotel room right now with the window wide open, enjoying the weather. It will be four months before I can open a window back home.
Four long fucking months.
I got up this morning, worked out, cleaned up, and then headed out for breakfast and a nice walk. One thing I see in SD guides is recommending that people shop at the downtown Ralph’s grocery store, but as coda, I’d go further and recommend getting a Ralph’s shopper’s card. I acquired one about five years ago, and I’ve done well with saving money since then. If you come to the show every year, it just makes good sense. It was certainly helpful today as I bought Gatorade, Propel water and Power Bars. It knocked $7 off of my bill.
The show kicks off at 5:30pm this evening, and I’m thinking I’ll head down there sometime around 4:45. By the time I finish the walk, and get through the press badge line, I figure I’ll get inside around 6pm, hopefully missing some of the madness of the initial geek rush. The nice thing about going as press is that I’ll avoid being in the attendee line, period; what a scary place that can be. Last year it was particularly bad, as the con was slow to get the hall open on Preview Night, and there was a near riot.
My goal for this year is to come home with less stuff. Last year I returned to Arizona with 85 items in my bag for review. My suitcase could have held a dead body and been lighter. It took me until November to get through the pile. Part of it was my intent on getting the MPS column a little bit more out in front of people (which was very successful), and part of it was my sorority girl-like inability to say no. But this year, I’m gonna be a rock. A rock, dammit!
Anyway… audioblogging will probably start tomorrow. I’ll drop in with impressions of Preview Night, etc. Until then, adieu!
/Mason
Saturday, July 09, 2005
SOLID ADVICE
More brilliance from the Comics Foundry gang: a guide to doing San Diego. My fave advice, from Marvel editor Andy Schmidt:
"Please don’t get drunk and harass the female editors in particular. Cons are often sort of seen as a boys’ club, but, man, that’s a mistake you don’t want to make."
Go read and enjoy!
/Mason
More brilliance from the Comics Foundry gang: a guide to doing San Diego. My fave advice, from Marvel editor Andy Schmidt:
"Please don’t get drunk and harass the female editors in particular. Cons are often sort of seen as a boys’ club, but, man, that’s a mistake you don’t want to make."
Go read and enjoy!
/Mason
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
HEY KIDS! COMICS!
Speakeasy Comics
ATOMIKA #3
Written by Andrew Dabb and Drawn by Sal Abbinanti
I wasn’t particularly sold on the first two issues of this series. I felt like they didn’t do a good job of explaining the alternate timeline, and the stories suffered from confusion because of it. However, this is a much better effort. The story is stripped down to essential components, the setup is quick and effective, and there’s a sense of completeness to the proceedings. If ATOMIKA could continue to improve in this manner, I think it’d have a good chance of becoming Speakeasy’s “flagship” title.
THE HUNGER #1
Written by Jose L. Torres and Drawn by Chris DiBari
Instead, this book immediately leaps to the top of the Speakeasy reading pile. Zombie books are all the rage these days, but this one does a fine job of standing out as something different. A poor bastard makes a wrong turn during Mardi Gras and winds up as a zombie in the control of a very bad group of men. But when a torture session goes bad, and his controller dies, suddenly the undead fellow finds himself possessing a small bit of his life’s memories… and an unquenchable thirst for brains. Now he’s on the run with blood on his hands and a bag full of drug money. Believe me, it sounds cool, and it reads even cooler. More books like this, please.
THE GRIMOIRE #3
Written by Sebastien Caisse and Drawn by Djief
This tale of a young witch on the run from her mother and the raccoon who protects her hasn’t gotten much love from the critics, but I’m continuing to enjoy it well enough. It’s beginning to suffer from plot overload; I’d like to see Caisse pull back and put some focus on the main character and her mother rather than continue to throw new mystical threats at her every other page. That’d go a long way towards keeping this book accessible to new readers. That, and a front cover recap of what’s happened previously. I cannot emphasize enough how important that is for a new book in this crowded market.
BEOWULF #2
Written by Brian Augustyn and Drawn by Dub
The first issue of BEOWULF was a nice setup for the series, though it could have been a little tighter in the plotting. Decompression is the last thing a new book from a new publisher needs. This second issue is a far stronger effort, as the title character meets a potential love interest and invades a prison for super-freaks and kicks a lot of ass. Really, when your lead character is an immortal warrior of legend, that’s where the focus needs to be. Give the reader some top-notch action, and you’ll satisfy every month. I hope Augustyn stays on this path.
Viper Comics
RANDOM ENCOUNTER #3
Written and Drawn by Nicc Balce
This issue is sort of a rarity: too many mini-series these days have a poor sense of pacing, and don’t have good structure as far as the acts play out, but RANDOM executes itself perfectly. We’re heading for a climax in this story of strange invading monsters and the teen heroes battling them in their small town, and the battle reaches a nice crescendo in these pages. I still don’t have a great idea of what exactly is happening here, but that’s what issue four should provide: the solution to the mystery. I wasn’t fond of this book out of the gate, but each issue has improved steadily. I’m definitely curious how it will end.
ODDLY NORMAL #3
Written and Drawn by Otis Frampton
On the flip side, as much as I’ve enjoyed this series, ODDLY has suffered from some really odd pacing. We have one issue left, and the uber-plot of the book (Oddly’s home and parents vanishing) seems to have completely faded from the book. Now, maybe I’ll be surprised, and next issue will be very tidy; I don’t know. Maybe this is just the first of many planned minis, and that plot has taken a backseat on purpose. But you’d sort of expect some sort of indication. Still, what’s here is really enjoyable. Oddly is a terrific protagonist, and this is a perfect book to give to a younger girl who might be interested in trying comics.
Dark Horse Comics
HELLBOY: THE ISLAND #1
Written and Drawn by Mike Mignola
It’s Mignola. He’s written and drawn a new HELLBOY story for the first time since before the film came out. It’s really fucking good. If you need me to tell you that, you need help. Or you ride a very short bus to work every day. Yummy, yummy, yummy.
Image Comics
GIRLS #2
Written and Drawn by The Luna Brothers
I dug ULTRA. Issue one of the Lunas’ follow-up series was, on the other hand, damned near a complete disaster. The protagonist was obnoxious, the dialogue was clumsy, and the pace was horridly languid. Issue two is so much better, that you wish they’d scrapped issue one and started the story in media res. In fact, after I thought about it, I went back and read the book again, and there was really nothing stopping them from doing so. I found myself wishing for firmer editorial guidance. However, as I said, this issue really works well, and the ending was a doozy. Now the book has my complete attention. Good job, boys.
IRON GHOST #2
Written by Chuck Dixon and Drawn by Sergio Cariello
The first issue of this series felt like Dixon was basically transplanting Alan Moore’s V FOR VENDETTA into a Nazi Germany milieu. That problem lingers, but Dixon does a better job in creating more interesting characters for the Ghost to kill. In fact, the radio man spotlighted in this issue was so compelling, I actually forgot about the title character/serial killer and was genuinely surprised when he reappeared in the book. Full credit to Dixon there. Cariello’s art is pretty sweet as well. IRON GHOST gets a little more rope from me.
NOBLE CAUSES #11
Written by Jay Faerber and Drawn by Fran Bueno
I’ve talked at length about my enjoyment of Faerber’s superhero soap opera, and of my enjoyment of it, so I’m not going to in this review. Instead, I’d like to take special note of the end of the back-up feature OPPOSITES ATTACK. I’m a longtime fan of Brian “Hollywood” Joines, the writer, and I’ve enjoyed his witty and entertaining work on this strip. He and his artist, Chad Thomas, got the most out of their four-to-six pages every issue, and I hope to see their work collected in a square-bound one-shot of some sort. Barring that, I’d like to see Joines’ promised return to THE 7 GUYS OF JUSTICE happen. It was due a couple of years ago, but has been in a holding pattern since. Image? Speakeasy? Somebody help the dude out.
/Mason
Speakeasy Comics
ATOMIKA #3
Written by Andrew Dabb and Drawn by Sal Abbinanti
I wasn’t particularly sold on the first two issues of this series. I felt like they didn’t do a good job of explaining the alternate timeline, and the stories suffered from confusion because of it. However, this is a much better effort. The story is stripped down to essential components, the setup is quick and effective, and there’s a sense of completeness to the proceedings. If ATOMIKA could continue to improve in this manner, I think it’d have a good chance of becoming Speakeasy’s “flagship” title.
THE HUNGER #1
Written by Jose L. Torres and Drawn by Chris DiBari
Instead, this book immediately leaps to the top of the Speakeasy reading pile. Zombie books are all the rage these days, but this one does a fine job of standing out as something different. A poor bastard makes a wrong turn during Mardi Gras and winds up as a zombie in the control of a very bad group of men. But when a torture session goes bad, and his controller dies, suddenly the undead fellow finds himself possessing a small bit of his life’s memories… and an unquenchable thirst for brains. Now he’s on the run with blood on his hands and a bag full of drug money. Believe me, it sounds cool, and it reads even cooler. More books like this, please.
THE GRIMOIRE #3
Written by Sebastien Caisse and Drawn by Djief
This tale of a young witch on the run from her mother and the raccoon who protects her hasn’t gotten much love from the critics, but I’m continuing to enjoy it well enough. It’s beginning to suffer from plot overload; I’d like to see Caisse pull back and put some focus on the main character and her mother rather than continue to throw new mystical threats at her every other page. That’d go a long way towards keeping this book accessible to new readers. That, and a front cover recap of what’s happened previously. I cannot emphasize enough how important that is for a new book in this crowded market.
BEOWULF #2
Written by Brian Augustyn and Drawn by Dub
The first issue of BEOWULF was a nice setup for the series, though it could have been a little tighter in the plotting. Decompression is the last thing a new book from a new publisher needs. This second issue is a far stronger effort, as the title character meets a potential love interest and invades a prison for super-freaks and kicks a lot of ass. Really, when your lead character is an immortal warrior of legend, that’s where the focus needs to be. Give the reader some top-notch action, and you’ll satisfy every month. I hope Augustyn stays on this path.
Viper Comics
RANDOM ENCOUNTER #3
Written and Drawn by Nicc Balce
This issue is sort of a rarity: too many mini-series these days have a poor sense of pacing, and don’t have good structure as far as the acts play out, but RANDOM executes itself perfectly. We’re heading for a climax in this story of strange invading monsters and the teen heroes battling them in their small town, and the battle reaches a nice crescendo in these pages. I still don’t have a great idea of what exactly is happening here, but that’s what issue four should provide: the solution to the mystery. I wasn’t fond of this book out of the gate, but each issue has improved steadily. I’m definitely curious how it will end.
ODDLY NORMAL #3
Written and Drawn by Otis Frampton
On the flip side, as much as I’ve enjoyed this series, ODDLY has suffered from some really odd pacing. We have one issue left, and the uber-plot of the book (Oddly’s home and parents vanishing) seems to have completely faded from the book. Now, maybe I’ll be surprised, and next issue will be very tidy; I don’t know. Maybe this is just the first of many planned minis, and that plot has taken a backseat on purpose. But you’d sort of expect some sort of indication. Still, what’s here is really enjoyable. Oddly is a terrific protagonist, and this is a perfect book to give to a younger girl who might be interested in trying comics.
Dark Horse Comics
HELLBOY: THE ISLAND #1
Written and Drawn by Mike Mignola
It’s Mignola. He’s written and drawn a new HELLBOY story for the first time since before the film came out. It’s really fucking good. If you need me to tell you that, you need help. Or you ride a very short bus to work every day. Yummy, yummy, yummy.
Image Comics
GIRLS #2
Written and Drawn by The Luna Brothers
I dug ULTRA. Issue one of the Lunas’ follow-up series was, on the other hand, damned near a complete disaster. The protagonist was obnoxious, the dialogue was clumsy, and the pace was horridly languid. Issue two is so much better, that you wish they’d scrapped issue one and started the story in media res. In fact, after I thought about it, I went back and read the book again, and there was really nothing stopping them from doing so. I found myself wishing for firmer editorial guidance. However, as I said, this issue really works well, and the ending was a doozy. Now the book has my complete attention. Good job, boys.
IRON GHOST #2
Written by Chuck Dixon and Drawn by Sergio Cariello
The first issue of this series felt like Dixon was basically transplanting Alan Moore’s V FOR VENDETTA into a Nazi Germany milieu. That problem lingers, but Dixon does a better job in creating more interesting characters for the Ghost to kill. In fact, the radio man spotlighted in this issue was so compelling, I actually forgot about the title character/serial killer and was genuinely surprised when he reappeared in the book. Full credit to Dixon there. Cariello’s art is pretty sweet as well. IRON GHOST gets a little more rope from me.
NOBLE CAUSES #11
Written by Jay Faerber and Drawn by Fran Bueno
I’ve talked at length about my enjoyment of Faerber’s superhero soap opera, and of my enjoyment of it, so I’m not going to in this review. Instead, I’d like to take special note of the end of the back-up feature OPPOSITES ATTACK. I’m a longtime fan of Brian “Hollywood” Joines, the writer, and I’ve enjoyed his witty and entertaining work on this strip. He and his artist, Chad Thomas, got the most out of their four-to-six pages every issue, and I hope to see their work collected in a square-bound one-shot of some sort. Barring that, I’d like to see Joines’ promised return to THE 7 GUYS OF JUSTICE happen. It was due a couple of years ago, but has been in a holding pattern since. Image? Speakeasy? Somebody help the dude out.
/Mason
Why I Love Neil Kleid
"It isn’t a bad thing. Stephen King makes a very good living being sinister and creepy, as does Rich Johnston."
Go check out this beauty.
/Mason
"It isn’t a bad thing. Stephen King makes a very good living being sinister and creepy, as does Rich Johnston."
Go check out this beauty.
/Mason
Plasm-Boy
I love David Lapham's work, and I love even more that he's perfectly willing to discuss his early work without equivocating. STRAY BULLETS is a timeless masterpiece, and MURDER ME DEAD is well worth your time to check out.
More good stuff from the Foundry crew.
/Mason
I love David Lapham's work, and I love even more that he's perfectly willing to discuss his early work without equivocating. STRAY BULLETS is a timeless masterpiece, and MURDER ME DEAD is well worth your time to check out.
More good stuff from the Foundry crew.
/Mason
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
The Surrogates
I reviewed this book over at The Shoot a couple of weeks ago. It's good. Read it.
This is another terrific interview from the Foundry gang. It's good. Read it.
That is all.
/Mason
I reviewed this book over at The Shoot a couple of weeks ago. It's good. Read it.
This is another terrific interview from the Foundry gang. It's good. Read it.
That is all.
/Mason
Monday, June 20, 2005
QUICK HITS
FAILURE, INCOMPETENCE
Written and Drawn by Tom Pappalardo
Published by Standard Design
Creator Pappalardo refers to this book as a retrospective of the last ten wasted years of his artistic life. While he’s being a bit facetious, I do wish he’d have been a bit more judicious about presenting the best of his material, rather than seemingly all of it. The inconsistency here is enough to drive you insane, and it exposes his weakest ability, which is finding a solid ending to a story or gag. It’s like watching an episode of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE made up solely of material presented in the last 30 minutes of the show. There’s talent here; they key is for the artist to mine through his stuff and find 20-22 pages to put out a really solid comic.
IMAGE BOOKS
STRANGE GIRL #1
Written by Rick Remender and Drawn by Eric Nguyen
I was sort of looking forward to this one, and I didn’t feel let down. What starts as an amusing look at the adventures of a misfit little girl takes one of the great left turns in recent memory: the true biblical rapture occurs, leaving the girl behind on Earth with demons and assorted other baddies. The character is appealing, the scenario wide open for just about anything, and Nguyen’s art looks nifty to boot. Good stuff.
FLAMING CARROT #3
Written and Drawn by Bob Burden
More ingenious madness from the mind of Bob Burden. I don’t know if I could easily persuade a newbie to dive into the Carrot’s world, but anyone out there with a warped sense of humor is missing out on comedy genius. Telling you about what happens in the issue misses the point; but if you really must know, an evil giant chicken wing is on the loose, and the Carrot and his buxom former lover Dynamite Girl are on its trail. If that doesn’t make you giggle, don’t buy the book. If it does, welcome to the club.
SEA OF RED #3
Written by Rick Remender and Kieron Dwyer and Drawn by Salgood Sam
Issue one of this series was damned near brilliant. Issue two killed just about every last bit of goodwill that issue one built up. Issue three gets the book somewhere back close to the middle. There’s still another twist in the middle of the book that’s enough to make you want to throw the book across the room, but the last half of the story begins to work again. I wish I knew what this really was: either there’s something really amazing brewing here, or the book is using the reader as a bukkake target. Your guess is better than mine.
HERO CAMP #2
Written by Greg Thompson and Drawn by Robbi Rodriguez
The second issue of this title is even more quaintly amusing than the first. A young boy, the child of two superheroes, has been sent off to a camp for super-powered teens. Unfortunately, no one believes that he doesn’t have powers. This time out, one of the girls in his class uses her personal elves (formed when she spits them out) to keep an eye on our young hero. Hilarity ensues. Good stuff that reminds you of comics’ simpler and more fun days.
NYC MECH: BETA LOVE #2
Written by Miles Gunter and Ivan Brandon and Drawn by Andy Macdonald
This is developing into one of the more interesting love stories I’ve seen in a while. Set in the creators’ world, which is populated by nothing by sentient machines, there are philosophical opportunities here, but they never overwhelm the basics of the story. Plus, Macdonald’s art is a gorgeous revelation with each passing page. I’m gonna have to hunt down the first series in San Diego.
BATTLE HYMN #3
Written by B. Clay Moore and Drawn by Jeremy Haun
This book seems to really be finding itself. I didn’t find myself thrilled with issue one, but last issue and this one have really begun taking the story and characters in directions I wasn’t anticipating. What started out looking like a darkened take on THE INVADERS has found it’s own unique hold on the iconic characters it’s examining. I’m officially hooked.
INVINCIBLE #23
Written by Robert Kirkman and Drawn by Ryan Ottley
Last issue was the “0” one which recapped the character’s origin and set him on the path to losing his virginity. This issue takes the focus away from the character completely, focusing on the background plots that have been brewing for almost a year now. It’s a risky move, having just given new readers a perfect jumping on point, but it works. The key is in making the character Kirkman focuses on, Allen The Alien, fleshed out well and interesting in his own right. Big things are promised for issue #25, and at this point, I’m not exactly sure what they’ll be. That’s a good feeling when it comes to comics.
WALKING DEAD #19
Written by Robert Kirkman and Drawn by Charlie Adlard
Kirkman’s other creator-owned series picks up from last issue’s cliffhanger and resolves it nicely. We also get the introduction of a new cast member, a great battle against the zombie hoards, and even more secrets to be buried. Good stuff. And congrats to Kirkman on his kudos from ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. He deserves it.
NOBLE CAUSES #10
Written by Jay Faerber and Drawn by Fran Bueno
Faerber’s super-soap opera continues plugging along nicely with this issue. I think what he’s done is rather wise in this day and age: every issue, Faerber provides the reader with a number of solid twists and turns, shifting directions on the fly, and keeping the readership guessing. I’ve seen some critics say that NOBLE CAUSES is nothing but a “b” level comic that never seems to aspire to make a statement or aim for greatness. My response? That’s exactly why the book succeeds. Sometimes, people want to know exactly what they’ll get and Faerber doesn’t disappoint them.
FLAK RIOT #1
Written by Robert Napton and Michael O’Hare and Drawn by O’Hare
I was pleasantly surprised out how this book came out of nowhere to capture my attention. Set in the near future, we meet the klutzy and put-upon Zoe, getting ready to face another shitty day at a job she hates. That’s about to change however, because she decides to answer a strange ad in that day’s paper. Zoe, you see, has decided to become an inter-dimensional bounty hunter. Equal parts comedy, science fiction, and adventure, it’s easy to get behind the protagonist and cheer her on. Plus, O’Hare’s art is absolutely gorgeous.
CASE FILES: SAM AND TWICH #17
Written by Marc Andreyko and Drawn by E.J. Su
Our dynamic police duo continue their investigation into a string of crimes seemingly committed by vampires as the tale begins a downhill race towards what looks to be a violent and bloody conclusion. This continues to be a strong, well-written title, and E.J. Su’s art is perfectly suited for this kind of material.
SMALL GODS #9
Written by Jason Rand and Drawn by Juan Ferreyra
The current storyline draws to a close in this book, and it feels long overdue. The second time around just didn’t have the joy and zest that the first story did, and none of the characters clicked for me. Too much here just doesn’t work, although the morally ambiguous climax holds promise that the creative team will have this book back on target soon. They’re too good not to.
COMMON FOE #1
Written by Keith Giffen and Shannon Denton and Drawn by Jean-Jacques Dzialowski
1944. Germans vs. Allies. Standard World War II setup. Then the writers throw the curve: an ancient demonic evil rises on the battlefield, and suddenly killing one another must be put by the wayside: there are more human concerns to be dealt with. There’s a metric ton of kick-ass potential in these pages, and Giffen is a guy I have always trusted to come through for me. I’m looking forward to seeing how this one plays out. It looks lovely, too.
GIRLS #1
Written and Drawn by the Luna Brothers
Notable out of the gate for introducing its lead character while he’s masturbating, that still doesn’t stop the disappointment from creeping in as you get through the story. I’m all for having an unlikable lead character, but Ethan is such a waste of space that the Lunas are going to have to cover some ground to make him redeemable. On the bright side, their work continues to grow, artistically. Worth watching.
EXPATRIATE #2
Written by B. Clay Moore and Drawn by Jason Latour
Unlike BATTLE HYMN, I really liked the first issue of this Moore production. Happily, nothing changes my mind this time around. This is a unique looking book, with a warm (yet noir) texture to the proceedings, and there’s an unpredictability at play that makes it a real joy to read. Jason Latour is a true find, and I’m excited about the idea of watching him grow and develop.
DEATH JR. #2
Written by Gary Whitta and Drawn by Ted Naifeh
This charming little series continues as Junior’s innocence has let loose an unspeakable evil that may cost him his father forever. There’s a surprising level of pathos and sadness in this second outing, but it never feels icky or inappropriate. Instead, the book takes on the feel of a classic Brothers Grimm tale or other pre-Disneyfied fable. The dialogue has charm to spare, and Naifeh’s art is sweet perfection. I can’t wait for the next one.
DEVIL’S DUE BOOKS
G.I. JOE: RELOADED #14
Written by Chuck Dixon and Drawn by Grafiksismik
This alt-universe story of the Joes draws to a tidy close as the company begins clearing the decks for the Joes’ re-launch next month. The inevitable problem with this book was never its quality; it was always reasonably well produced. Instead, the problem was market saturation; there’s really only room for one G.I. JOE, and fans wanted the original. They knew it, and they knew the characters. Re-imaginings should be done after long periods of gestation (see: GALACTICA, BATTLESTAR). That makes them go down easier with the fanbase.
G.I. JOE #42Written by Brandon Jerwa and Drawn by Tim Seeley and Drawn by Emiliano Santalucia
This is the penultimate issue of the regular title, and it looks to be going out on a high note. Rather than having to close everything down, Jerwa looks to be setting the table for Joe Casey’s new version by wrapping up some outstanding plot points and putting some pieces onto the board for Casey’s pleasure. While there’s plenty of action in this issue, Jerwa does a nice job of reminding the reader that the Joes are addictive reading because you like the characters.
BLADE OF KUMORI #5
Written by Ron Marz and Drawn by Grafiksismik
This has been the best of the Aftermath titles, and the one that I’ll definitely miss reading. Marz’ modern samurai tale has mixed action, drama, and romance in matching amounts, and remains the book with the most long-term potential (depending on how the series ends in issue six). Marz did a lot to damage his reputation in the 90s, but over the last five years, with his Crossgen work and this book, he’s been through comic-writer rehab. Keep it up, Ron.
DEFEX #6
Written by Marv Wolfman and Drawn by Giancarlo Caracuzzo
On the flip side, this was the weakest of the Aftermath launch, and this final issue does nothing to change my mind about that. Even the art falls down this time around. Marv Wolfman is a legend in the field, and has produced some of the best comics ever. But I suspect that this book will slide quietly off his resume, never to be seen or mentioned again. I’m okay with that.
BREAKDOWN #6
Written by Chuck Dixon and Drawn by Dave Ross
This ran a clear second in my list of how I felt the Aftermath titles ranked in quality. Dixon and Ross created a solid action saga/family drama that held my attention and didn’t let go. Dixon sends the series off with a bang, delivering a climax straight out of a Bruckheimer movie, and Ross doesn’t let him down with the visuals. Dixon and I may never agree on political philosophy, but I’ll always agree that he’s one of the great action writers in comics. Good job, gents.
/Mason
FAILURE, INCOMPETENCE
Written and Drawn by Tom Pappalardo
Published by Standard Design
Creator Pappalardo refers to this book as a retrospective of the last ten wasted years of his artistic life. While he’s being a bit facetious, I do wish he’d have been a bit more judicious about presenting the best of his material, rather than seemingly all of it. The inconsistency here is enough to drive you insane, and it exposes his weakest ability, which is finding a solid ending to a story or gag. It’s like watching an episode of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE made up solely of material presented in the last 30 minutes of the show. There’s talent here; they key is for the artist to mine through his stuff and find 20-22 pages to put out a really solid comic.
IMAGE BOOKS
STRANGE GIRL #1
Written by Rick Remender and Drawn by Eric Nguyen
I was sort of looking forward to this one, and I didn’t feel let down. What starts as an amusing look at the adventures of a misfit little girl takes one of the great left turns in recent memory: the true biblical rapture occurs, leaving the girl behind on Earth with demons and assorted other baddies. The character is appealing, the scenario wide open for just about anything, and Nguyen’s art looks nifty to boot. Good stuff.
FLAMING CARROT #3
Written and Drawn by Bob Burden
More ingenious madness from the mind of Bob Burden. I don’t know if I could easily persuade a newbie to dive into the Carrot’s world, but anyone out there with a warped sense of humor is missing out on comedy genius. Telling you about what happens in the issue misses the point; but if you really must know, an evil giant chicken wing is on the loose, and the Carrot and his buxom former lover Dynamite Girl are on its trail. If that doesn’t make you giggle, don’t buy the book. If it does, welcome to the club.
SEA OF RED #3
Written by Rick Remender and Kieron Dwyer and Drawn by Salgood Sam
Issue one of this series was damned near brilliant. Issue two killed just about every last bit of goodwill that issue one built up. Issue three gets the book somewhere back close to the middle. There’s still another twist in the middle of the book that’s enough to make you want to throw the book across the room, but the last half of the story begins to work again. I wish I knew what this really was: either there’s something really amazing brewing here, or the book is using the reader as a bukkake target. Your guess is better than mine.
HERO CAMP #2
Written by Greg Thompson and Drawn by Robbi Rodriguez
The second issue of this title is even more quaintly amusing than the first. A young boy, the child of two superheroes, has been sent off to a camp for super-powered teens. Unfortunately, no one believes that he doesn’t have powers. This time out, one of the girls in his class uses her personal elves (formed when she spits them out) to keep an eye on our young hero. Hilarity ensues. Good stuff that reminds you of comics’ simpler and more fun days.
NYC MECH: BETA LOVE #2
Written by Miles Gunter and Ivan Brandon and Drawn by Andy Macdonald
This is developing into one of the more interesting love stories I’ve seen in a while. Set in the creators’ world, which is populated by nothing by sentient machines, there are philosophical opportunities here, but they never overwhelm the basics of the story. Plus, Macdonald’s art is a gorgeous revelation with each passing page. I’m gonna have to hunt down the first series in San Diego.
BATTLE HYMN #3
Written by B. Clay Moore and Drawn by Jeremy Haun
This book seems to really be finding itself. I didn’t find myself thrilled with issue one, but last issue and this one have really begun taking the story and characters in directions I wasn’t anticipating. What started out looking like a darkened take on THE INVADERS has found it’s own unique hold on the iconic characters it’s examining. I’m officially hooked.
INVINCIBLE #23
Written by Robert Kirkman and Drawn by Ryan Ottley
Last issue was the “0” one which recapped the character’s origin and set him on the path to losing his virginity. This issue takes the focus away from the character completely, focusing on the background plots that have been brewing for almost a year now. It’s a risky move, having just given new readers a perfect jumping on point, but it works. The key is in making the character Kirkman focuses on, Allen The Alien, fleshed out well and interesting in his own right. Big things are promised for issue #25, and at this point, I’m not exactly sure what they’ll be. That’s a good feeling when it comes to comics.
WALKING DEAD #19
Written by Robert Kirkman and Drawn by Charlie Adlard
Kirkman’s other creator-owned series picks up from last issue’s cliffhanger and resolves it nicely. We also get the introduction of a new cast member, a great battle against the zombie hoards, and even more secrets to be buried. Good stuff. And congrats to Kirkman on his kudos from ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. He deserves it.
NOBLE CAUSES #10
Written by Jay Faerber and Drawn by Fran Bueno
Faerber’s super-soap opera continues plugging along nicely with this issue. I think what he’s done is rather wise in this day and age: every issue, Faerber provides the reader with a number of solid twists and turns, shifting directions on the fly, and keeping the readership guessing. I’ve seen some critics say that NOBLE CAUSES is nothing but a “b” level comic that never seems to aspire to make a statement or aim for greatness. My response? That’s exactly why the book succeeds. Sometimes, people want to know exactly what they’ll get and Faerber doesn’t disappoint them.
FLAK RIOT #1
Written by Robert Napton and Michael O’Hare and Drawn by O’Hare
I was pleasantly surprised out how this book came out of nowhere to capture my attention. Set in the near future, we meet the klutzy and put-upon Zoe, getting ready to face another shitty day at a job she hates. That’s about to change however, because she decides to answer a strange ad in that day’s paper. Zoe, you see, has decided to become an inter-dimensional bounty hunter. Equal parts comedy, science fiction, and adventure, it’s easy to get behind the protagonist and cheer her on. Plus, O’Hare’s art is absolutely gorgeous.
CASE FILES: SAM AND TWICH #17
Written by Marc Andreyko and Drawn by E.J. Su
Our dynamic police duo continue their investigation into a string of crimes seemingly committed by vampires as the tale begins a downhill race towards what looks to be a violent and bloody conclusion. This continues to be a strong, well-written title, and E.J. Su’s art is perfectly suited for this kind of material.
SMALL GODS #9
Written by Jason Rand and Drawn by Juan Ferreyra
The current storyline draws to a close in this book, and it feels long overdue. The second time around just didn’t have the joy and zest that the first story did, and none of the characters clicked for me. Too much here just doesn’t work, although the morally ambiguous climax holds promise that the creative team will have this book back on target soon. They’re too good not to.
COMMON FOE #1
Written by Keith Giffen and Shannon Denton and Drawn by Jean-Jacques Dzialowski
1944. Germans vs. Allies. Standard World War II setup. Then the writers throw the curve: an ancient demonic evil rises on the battlefield, and suddenly killing one another must be put by the wayside: there are more human concerns to be dealt with. There’s a metric ton of kick-ass potential in these pages, and Giffen is a guy I have always trusted to come through for me. I’m looking forward to seeing how this one plays out. It looks lovely, too.
GIRLS #1
Written and Drawn by the Luna Brothers
Notable out of the gate for introducing its lead character while he’s masturbating, that still doesn’t stop the disappointment from creeping in as you get through the story. I’m all for having an unlikable lead character, but Ethan is such a waste of space that the Lunas are going to have to cover some ground to make him redeemable. On the bright side, their work continues to grow, artistically. Worth watching.
EXPATRIATE #2
Written by B. Clay Moore and Drawn by Jason Latour
Unlike BATTLE HYMN, I really liked the first issue of this Moore production. Happily, nothing changes my mind this time around. This is a unique looking book, with a warm (yet noir) texture to the proceedings, and there’s an unpredictability at play that makes it a real joy to read. Jason Latour is a true find, and I’m excited about the idea of watching him grow and develop.
DEATH JR. #2
Written by Gary Whitta and Drawn by Ted Naifeh
This charming little series continues as Junior’s innocence has let loose an unspeakable evil that may cost him his father forever. There’s a surprising level of pathos and sadness in this second outing, but it never feels icky or inappropriate. Instead, the book takes on the feel of a classic Brothers Grimm tale or other pre-Disneyfied fable. The dialogue has charm to spare, and Naifeh’s art is sweet perfection. I can’t wait for the next one.
DEVIL’S DUE BOOKS
G.I. JOE: RELOADED #14
Written by Chuck Dixon and Drawn by Grafiksismik
This alt-universe story of the Joes draws to a tidy close as the company begins clearing the decks for the Joes’ re-launch next month. The inevitable problem with this book was never its quality; it was always reasonably well produced. Instead, the problem was market saturation; there’s really only room for one G.I. JOE, and fans wanted the original. They knew it, and they knew the characters. Re-imaginings should be done after long periods of gestation (see: GALACTICA, BATTLESTAR). That makes them go down easier with the fanbase.
G.I. JOE #42Written by Brandon Jerwa and Drawn by Tim Seeley and Drawn by Emiliano Santalucia
This is the penultimate issue of the regular title, and it looks to be going out on a high note. Rather than having to close everything down, Jerwa looks to be setting the table for Joe Casey’s new version by wrapping up some outstanding plot points and putting some pieces onto the board for Casey’s pleasure. While there’s plenty of action in this issue, Jerwa does a nice job of reminding the reader that the Joes are addictive reading because you like the characters.
BLADE OF KUMORI #5
Written by Ron Marz and Drawn by Grafiksismik
This has been the best of the Aftermath titles, and the one that I’ll definitely miss reading. Marz’ modern samurai tale has mixed action, drama, and romance in matching amounts, and remains the book with the most long-term potential (depending on how the series ends in issue six). Marz did a lot to damage his reputation in the 90s, but over the last five years, with his Crossgen work and this book, he’s been through comic-writer rehab. Keep it up, Ron.
DEFEX #6
Written by Marv Wolfman and Drawn by Giancarlo Caracuzzo
On the flip side, this was the weakest of the Aftermath launch, and this final issue does nothing to change my mind about that. Even the art falls down this time around. Marv Wolfman is a legend in the field, and has produced some of the best comics ever. But I suspect that this book will slide quietly off his resume, never to be seen or mentioned again. I’m okay with that.
BREAKDOWN #6
Written by Chuck Dixon and Drawn by Dave Ross
This ran a clear second in my list of how I felt the Aftermath titles ranked in quality. Dixon and Ross created a solid action saga/family drama that held my attention and didn’t let go. Dixon sends the series off with a bang, delivering a climax straight out of a Bruckheimer movie, and Ross doesn’t let him down with the visuals. Dixon and I may never agree on political philosophy, but I’ll always agree that he’s one of the great action writers in comics. Good job, gents.
/Mason
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Enter And Be Worthy
Like R. Crumb's work? Old friend Alan David Doane is running a spiffy new contest. Go forth and place your name upon it.
/Mason
Like R. Crumb's work? Old friend Alan David Doane is running a spiffy new contest. Go forth and place your name upon it.
/Mason
Monday, May 16, 2005
Now Back On His Meds: Neal Adams
Almost.
Neal makes a lovely attempt at humility, and it comes very close to taking hold, but he narrowly escapes it in the end. Good stuff by the Foundry crew.
/Mason
Almost.
Neal makes a lovely attempt at humility, and it comes very close to taking hold, but he narrowly escapes it in the end. Good stuff by the Foundry crew.
/Mason
Thursday, May 12, 2005
From The Man Who Brought Us SKATEMAN And MR. T AND THE T FORCE
It looks like Neal Adams is the latest comics legend to come out of the crazy closet. Fun!
The Comic Foundry is doing some terrific work. Go check this one out. It's a hoot.
/Mason
It looks like Neal Adams is the latest comics legend to come out of the crazy closet. Fun!
The Comic Foundry is doing some terrific work. Go check this one out. It's a hoot.
/Mason
Saturday, May 07, 2005
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY REPORT
There are two comics shops in Tempe. I decided to check both of them out and see how they were handling the big day.
Shop one: fuck all happening. 12:30pm.
Shop two: fuck all happening. 12:45pm.
Did pick up some of the free comics that I didn't get from publishers. Some amazing stuff, really. A new OWLY story. COMIC FESTIVAL, the Canadian artist showcase. RONIN HOOD. SUPERIOR SHOWCASE. THE ADVENTURES OF PAUL. Even the BETTY AND VERONICA book was lots of fun. But local turnout sucked ass, so no one is going to see these great books.
This was your Free Comic Book day report.
/Mason
There are two comics shops in Tempe. I decided to check both of them out and see how they were handling the big day.
Shop one: fuck all happening. 12:30pm.
Shop two: fuck all happening. 12:45pm.
Did pick up some of the free comics that I didn't get from publishers. Some amazing stuff, really. A new OWLY story. COMIC FESTIVAL, the Canadian artist showcase. RONIN HOOD. SUPERIOR SHOWCASE. THE ADVENTURES OF PAUL. Even the BETTY AND VERONICA book was lots of fun. But local turnout sucked ass, so no one is going to see these great books.
This was your Free Comic Book day report.
/Mason
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
The Luna Brothers
Shouldn't they be film stars with that name?
Anyway, the increasingly fine Comic Foundry has an interview with the Lunas running right now. It's worth it just for the preview art for GIRLS that accompanies the piece. Interesting that they chose the pages of their male lead having a wank and cleaning up after himself, hmm?
/Mason
Shouldn't they be film stars with that name?
Anyway, the increasingly fine Comic Foundry has an interview with the Lunas running right now. It's worth it just for the preview art for GIRLS that accompanies the piece. Interesting that they chose the pages of their male lead having a wank and cleaning up after himself, hmm?
/Mason
Sunday, May 01, 2005
THE TRUTH ABOUT ROBERT KIRKMAN
It’s simple, really. Kirkman is a terrific writer, a guy who makes some truly gonzo entertainment.
As long as he owns it, that is.
Kirkman came to some prominence with his first creator-owned comic, the wonderfully blasphemous BATTLE POPE. That led him to Image Comics, where he’s currently writing two titles: INVINCIBLE and THE WALKING DEAD. That led him to Marvel, where he’s written titles such as CAPTAIN AMERICA, JUBILEE, FANTASTIC FOUR: FOES, and MARVEL TEAM-UP.
Stop yourself from yawning through that last sentence. I dare you.
Kirkman’s a young writer, and I certainly don’t begrudge him going out and increasing his fame and the amount of dollars in his pocket, but the gap in the quality level between his personal stuff and his work-for-hire stuff is staggering. His Marvel work suggests a deeply cynical response to it on a reader’s level; reading the titles brings a near revulsion. The inability to get excited about those books could, quite frankly, induce a pandemic of apathy in any fan of quality comics. And believe me: I read JUBILEE (at first).
On the flip side, INVINCIBLE and WALKING DEAD remain two of the most genuinely exciting books on the market, and two of the best creator-owned works currently being published. They’re books wherein anything can happen, there’s a constant sense of change and exploration, and they consistently engage me with every issue.
INVINCIBLE 21, 22 and the 0 issue have arrived over the last six weeks or so, and they’re really terrific. Kirkman has worked hard and managed to create a really interested hybrid of a superhero comic: take one part Lee/Ditko SPIDER-MAN and mix it with one part SAVAGE DRAGON, and you have INVINCIBLE. Essentially, the strong emotional core of teenage angst and romance is intertwined with Erik Larsen’s freakshow mélange of monsters and assorted odd characters. These three issues have plenty of action and plot movement, but their heart is the relationship between Mark (Invincible) and his girlfriend Amber, who has come to believe that his perpetual absences and excuses mean that he’s a drug dealer. Their confrontation, and his revealing of his secret identity, is the basis of the zero issue. In this $.50 priced book, Kirkman has his lead recap the book to date, which has the dual effect of letting Amber in on Mark’s secret life, but also makes the book much more new-reader friendly. It also leads to a momentous and mature choice for where Mark is headed next with his life.
Balancing the wonderful, brightly colored world of INVINCIBLE is THE WALKING DEAD. DEAD is a dark, bleak look at a world in the throes of a different Armageddon: an unknown plague has raised the dead, and zombies are walking the Earth in search of fresh, live food. The book follows a small band of survivors, led by a cop who missed the first month of the plague because he was recovering from being shot in the line of duty. The book isn’t so much about the zombies, though they are a brutal background presence. Instead, WALKING DEAD works as a different horror story: the creation of a new society, a new rule of civilization in the face of the collapse of the old one.
Issues 17 and 18 complete the latest arc, and they’re a stark example of this type of tale. When one of the survivors turns out to be a serial killer, Rick is forced to go against popular opinion and makes the unilateral decision to hang the perpetrator. Of course, nothing is ever quite that simple, and the resulting story is sad and gut wrenching. There’s so much depth of character, and such unpredictability to the plot, that you can never be even the slightest bit sure where the book is going.
This summer sees BATTLE POPE re-released, this time in color, and I’m hoping it finds the sick, twisted, depraved audience it deserves. It’s Kirkman in his rawest form, but I suspect that those brave enough to sample it and have a sense of humor about it will really enjoy it. And maybe, just maybe, some of those Marvel readers will trickle over and help Kirkman’s sales on the books that represent his best work
/Mason
It’s simple, really. Kirkman is a terrific writer, a guy who makes some truly gonzo entertainment.
As long as he owns it, that is.
Kirkman came to some prominence with his first creator-owned comic, the wonderfully blasphemous BATTLE POPE. That led him to Image Comics, where he’s currently writing two titles: INVINCIBLE and THE WALKING DEAD. That led him to Marvel, where he’s written titles such as CAPTAIN AMERICA, JUBILEE, FANTASTIC FOUR: FOES, and MARVEL TEAM-UP.
Stop yourself from yawning through that last sentence. I dare you.
Kirkman’s a young writer, and I certainly don’t begrudge him going out and increasing his fame and the amount of dollars in his pocket, but the gap in the quality level between his personal stuff and his work-for-hire stuff is staggering. His Marvel work suggests a deeply cynical response to it on a reader’s level; reading the titles brings a near revulsion. The inability to get excited about those books could, quite frankly, induce a pandemic of apathy in any fan of quality comics. And believe me: I read JUBILEE (at first).
On the flip side, INVINCIBLE and WALKING DEAD remain two of the most genuinely exciting books on the market, and two of the best creator-owned works currently being published. They’re books wherein anything can happen, there’s a constant sense of change and exploration, and they consistently engage me with every issue.
INVINCIBLE 21, 22 and the 0 issue have arrived over the last six weeks or so, and they’re really terrific. Kirkman has worked hard and managed to create a really interested hybrid of a superhero comic: take one part Lee/Ditko SPIDER-MAN and mix it with one part SAVAGE DRAGON, and you have INVINCIBLE. Essentially, the strong emotional core of teenage angst and romance is intertwined with Erik Larsen’s freakshow mélange of monsters and assorted odd characters. These three issues have plenty of action and plot movement, but their heart is the relationship between Mark (Invincible) and his girlfriend Amber, who has come to believe that his perpetual absences and excuses mean that he’s a drug dealer. Their confrontation, and his revealing of his secret identity, is the basis of the zero issue. In this $.50 priced book, Kirkman has his lead recap the book to date, which has the dual effect of letting Amber in on Mark’s secret life, but also makes the book much more new-reader friendly. It also leads to a momentous and mature choice for where Mark is headed next with his life.
Balancing the wonderful, brightly colored world of INVINCIBLE is THE WALKING DEAD. DEAD is a dark, bleak look at a world in the throes of a different Armageddon: an unknown plague has raised the dead, and zombies are walking the Earth in search of fresh, live food. The book follows a small band of survivors, led by a cop who missed the first month of the plague because he was recovering from being shot in the line of duty. The book isn’t so much about the zombies, though they are a brutal background presence. Instead, WALKING DEAD works as a different horror story: the creation of a new society, a new rule of civilization in the face of the collapse of the old one.
Issues 17 and 18 complete the latest arc, and they’re a stark example of this type of tale. When one of the survivors turns out to be a serial killer, Rick is forced to go against popular opinion and makes the unilateral decision to hang the perpetrator. Of course, nothing is ever quite that simple, and the resulting story is sad and gut wrenching. There’s so much depth of character, and such unpredictability to the plot, that you can never be even the slightest bit sure where the book is going.
This summer sees BATTLE POPE re-released, this time in color, and I’m hoping it finds the sick, twisted, depraved audience it deserves. It’s Kirkman in his rawest form, but I suspect that those brave enough to sample it and have a sense of humor about it will really enjoy it. And maybe, just maybe, some of those Marvel readers will trickle over and help Kirkman’s sales on the books that represent his best work
/Mason
Sunday, April 24, 2005
SOME REVIEWS
All books courtesy Image Comics.
BEYOND AVALON #2
Written by Joe Pruett and Drawn by Goran Sudzuka
Issue one of this title showed a lot of promise, with its entertaining plot and strong appeal to young female readers. When we left Princess Megan at the end of that tale, she had left her mystic island home to go off into the bigger world in search of adventure (and her missing father).
Her second issue finds her on a new island and in the company of something of a local flim-flam man. He takes her under his wing and decides to use her for his personal quest: slaying a dragon and stealing its gold. Megan’s charming combination of naiveté and thirst for adventure make her something of an easy mark, even though she knows that Jerome (the ne’er do well in question) is seedy and somewhat full of shit.
This is really a delightful little book, and the second issue reinforces its perfect appeal to young girl readers. There are so few books on the stands (that aren’t manga) aimed at that demographic, that you can’t help but hope when a new one hits the stands it will succeed (and not suck). BEYOND AVALON doesn’t suck. I hope it succeeds. Grade: B+
MORA #2
Written and Drawn by Paul Harmon
Issue one of this title, on the other hand, left me sort of ambivalent. I thought it was an alright start, and Harmon’s artistic talent is really terrific. But story wise, it was a little thick, and it felt like Harmon was trying to shoehorn too much stuff in without enough explanation.
That’s a strange criticism on the surface, and I know that. No one is sicker of decompressed comics than I am. But I also understand the need to let your story breathe.
Issue two actually does do a better job of letting the story breathe a bit, but it still ran into problems right out of the gate. And the biggest problem was the fact that I needed to go read my review of issue one to remember anything about the book.
For all of Jim Shooter’s faults, his motto that “every comic is someone’s first” is more applicable (and important) today than it ever has been. With so many comics fighting and clawing for retail shelf space, you have to give readers a reason to buy your book, especially if they never have before. And one way to make sure they never do buy it… is to not tell them a single thing about what’s happened previously and leave the new reader clueless and not caring. Anyone picking up MORA #2 would have absolutely zero clue who the characters are, or why there’s a tortoise and hare narrating the book or anything else. Not having a recap page is just a huge error on Harmon’s part, and it made enjoying the book difficult. He’s a dynamic talent, and the book is very, very beautiful, but better planning is required here. Grade: C+
THE ATHEIST #1
Written by Phil Hester and Drawn by John McCrea
This is an immediate contender for the year’s best new series.
Antoine Sharpe is an unusual professional. His specialty? Debunking the supernatural. However, his rigid sense of logic is about to undergo a huge test, as there’s an epidemic striking random people all over the world: they’re suddenly speaking with different voices, the voices of people long dead and who claim to be possessing the living.
From its stirring opening sequence where a phony John Edward-type psychic suddenly really starts communicating with the dead to the exhilarating sequence where Sharpe destroys a doomsday cult by talking the leader into committing suicide, this book fires on every cylinder. To make matters even more exciting, the risen dead and their possessed bodies are congregating en masse in Winnipeg, Canada for an unknown (but likely sinister) purpose.
ATHEIST is a fantastic piece of entertainment, and it solidifies a personal feeling for me: as much as I can appreciate Hester’s artistic talents, I find him far more interesting behind the keyboard. Solidifying this book’s look on the artistic end, McCrea tones down some of the more gonzo aspects of his art and delivers dark, brooding pages that enhance the drama of Hester’s plot. I could go on about this book, but what it boils down to is that, when I was finished reading it, I wanted the next issue Right. Fucking. Now. Grade: A
FLAMING CARROT COMICS #2
Written and Drawn by Bob Burden
Only Bob Burden can do what Bob Burden does.
More than most creators in the business, Burden creates such a unique product that it’s damned near impossible to homage it, mock it, or duplicate it. And partially, it’s because FLAMING CARROT is already full of self-mockery and strange homages.
The Carrot himself is such a strange creature that you must move well beyond suspending disbelief to read the book. This issue finds pygmies building a giant ear on the outskirts of town, Carrot’s personal zombie following him everywhere and causing chaos, Carrot sleeping with a hottie reporter writing an expose of his insane life, a two-headed female pop star, and a baloney-shooting gun. And in Bob Burden’s world, it all makes perfect nonsense.
I’ve been reading CARROT since its earliest days, and while I understand that the book is a serious acquired taste, I still love it immensely and get a smile on my face whenever I sit down to read a new adventure featuring the character. If you read that previous paragraph and held your nose, I have no problem with that. But if that even remotely appealed to you, I encourage you to seek out an issue and give the book a try. Grade: A-
/Mason
All books courtesy Image Comics.
BEYOND AVALON #2
Written by Joe Pruett and Drawn by Goran Sudzuka
Issue one of this title showed a lot of promise, with its entertaining plot and strong appeal to young female readers. When we left Princess Megan at the end of that tale, she had left her mystic island home to go off into the bigger world in search of adventure (and her missing father).
Her second issue finds her on a new island and in the company of something of a local flim-flam man. He takes her under his wing and decides to use her for his personal quest: slaying a dragon and stealing its gold. Megan’s charming combination of naiveté and thirst for adventure make her something of an easy mark, even though she knows that Jerome (the ne’er do well in question) is seedy and somewhat full of shit.
This is really a delightful little book, and the second issue reinforces its perfect appeal to young girl readers. There are so few books on the stands (that aren’t manga) aimed at that demographic, that you can’t help but hope when a new one hits the stands it will succeed (and not suck). BEYOND AVALON doesn’t suck. I hope it succeeds. Grade: B+
MORA #2
Written and Drawn by Paul Harmon
Issue one of this title, on the other hand, left me sort of ambivalent. I thought it was an alright start, and Harmon’s artistic talent is really terrific. But story wise, it was a little thick, and it felt like Harmon was trying to shoehorn too much stuff in without enough explanation.
That’s a strange criticism on the surface, and I know that. No one is sicker of decompressed comics than I am. But I also understand the need to let your story breathe.
Issue two actually does do a better job of letting the story breathe a bit, but it still ran into problems right out of the gate. And the biggest problem was the fact that I needed to go read my review of issue one to remember anything about the book.
For all of Jim Shooter’s faults, his motto that “every comic is someone’s first” is more applicable (and important) today than it ever has been. With so many comics fighting and clawing for retail shelf space, you have to give readers a reason to buy your book, especially if they never have before. And one way to make sure they never do buy it… is to not tell them a single thing about what’s happened previously and leave the new reader clueless and not caring. Anyone picking up MORA #2 would have absolutely zero clue who the characters are, or why there’s a tortoise and hare narrating the book or anything else. Not having a recap page is just a huge error on Harmon’s part, and it made enjoying the book difficult. He’s a dynamic talent, and the book is very, very beautiful, but better planning is required here. Grade: C+
THE ATHEIST #1
Written by Phil Hester and Drawn by John McCrea
This is an immediate contender for the year’s best new series.
Antoine Sharpe is an unusual professional. His specialty? Debunking the supernatural. However, his rigid sense of logic is about to undergo a huge test, as there’s an epidemic striking random people all over the world: they’re suddenly speaking with different voices, the voices of people long dead and who claim to be possessing the living.
From its stirring opening sequence where a phony John Edward-type psychic suddenly really starts communicating with the dead to the exhilarating sequence where Sharpe destroys a doomsday cult by talking the leader into committing suicide, this book fires on every cylinder. To make matters even more exciting, the risen dead and their possessed bodies are congregating en masse in Winnipeg, Canada for an unknown (but likely sinister) purpose.
ATHEIST is a fantastic piece of entertainment, and it solidifies a personal feeling for me: as much as I can appreciate Hester’s artistic talents, I find him far more interesting behind the keyboard. Solidifying this book’s look on the artistic end, McCrea tones down some of the more gonzo aspects of his art and delivers dark, brooding pages that enhance the drama of Hester’s plot. I could go on about this book, but what it boils down to is that, when I was finished reading it, I wanted the next issue Right. Fucking. Now. Grade: A
FLAMING CARROT COMICS #2
Written and Drawn by Bob Burden
Only Bob Burden can do what Bob Burden does.
More than most creators in the business, Burden creates such a unique product that it’s damned near impossible to homage it, mock it, or duplicate it. And partially, it’s because FLAMING CARROT is already full of self-mockery and strange homages.
The Carrot himself is such a strange creature that you must move well beyond suspending disbelief to read the book. This issue finds pygmies building a giant ear on the outskirts of town, Carrot’s personal zombie following him everywhere and causing chaos, Carrot sleeping with a hottie reporter writing an expose of his insane life, a two-headed female pop star, and a baloney-shooting gun. And in Bob Burden’s world, it all makes perfect nonsense.
I’ve been reading CARROT since its earliest days, and while I understand that the book is a serious acquired taste, I still love it immensely and get a smile on my face whenever I sit down to read a new adventure featuring the character. If you read that previous paragraph and held your nose, I have no problem with that. But if that even remotely appealed to you, I encourage you to seek out an issue and give the book a try. Grade: A-
/Mason
Saturday, April 16, 2005
COLOSSAL COMICS COLUMN CROSSOVER 2: THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS
Click here to go to Part One of this column
This time around, I’m digging through a ton of issues from Devil’s Due Publishing. 35 of them, actually. This portion focuses on some of their licensed material.
MU #1-2
Written by Andrew Dabb and Manson Khan and Drawn by Mark Lee
MU is apparently based on an online role playing game. Now, let me open and honest right now, because this applies to the next two books I’m going to review as well. I don’t play video games. Not at home, not at work, not at the mall. I’ve never so much as owned a Nintendo, let alone a Playstation, X-Box, or whatever else. So I know fuck-all about the games these books are based upon. Got it? So that has no bearing on how I feel about the comics.
This book has what feels like a pretty standard fantasy scenario: long ago, an evil god came to the land and conquered most of the world. He was stopped by two warring wizards who united as one to bring him down. Unfortunately, a thousand years have passed, the kingdom is weakening, and the evil god looks to be returning in some form or another. Only a wizard considered to be mad seems to realize it, however, and he engages the services of a young warrior on a quest to aid him in preventing the god from returning and destroying everything.
Like I said, nothing very fresh there.
What makes MU readable, though, is that it does its best to stand on the gas pedal and plow through its lack of originality. There’s an effort here to simply ignore the familiar trappings and just try and entertain the reader. It isn’t always fully successful, but I can appreciate the effort. The one truly terrific element to the book is the art by Mark Lee. I’d call what he does “compu-manga,” and he’s kind enough to provide a primer on how to do it at the end of the story. Grade: B-
DARKSTALKERS #1-4
Written by Ken Siu-Chong and Drawn by Alvin Lee
This book, however, is much stronger. The premise is at least interesting: a powerful entity that consumes planets and their inhabitants decides to start seeding worlds so that they will grow “tastier” over time, and he can return to them for a better meal. That includes Earth. Of course, rather than superheroes, the seeds have sprouted catwomen, demonic creatures, succubae, and other oddities.
Wisely, Siu-Chong quickly puts the world eater in the background, and puts his focus on the lives (and deaths) of the strange creatures populating the Earth. One story spotlights a girl brought back from the dead and her Frankenstein monster of a brother; another follows a catwoman who only wants to get a good role on Broadway, but her feet are holding her back. There’s a certain charm to the way the scenario for this “universe” is thought out, and I appreciated that some of the less-familiar paths were traveled.
The weakest aspect of the book is the art. The layouts range from the uninspired to the confusing, and the coloring simply overwhelms some portions of the book in the early issues. There is improvement as you get through issue four, but Lee and the Udon crew are capable of better. Grade: B+
STREET FIGHTER #11-13
Written by Ken Siu-Chong and Drawn by Arnold Tsang
I didn’t mention this problem with DARKSTALKERS, though it was present. I had all published issues to work with. But the Udon crew demonstrates quite well how to make new-reader unfriendly comics with this book.
Dear Gentlemen: I don’t play the video game. I haven’t read the first ten issues of your comic. That shouldn’t prevent me from enjoying your work. But if you don’t bother to welcome new readers with a RECAP page I can’t. Not the way I should be able to. If a new reader isn’t made comfortable, your sales are in for some nasty surprises.
All I can tell you, really, is there there’s a conspiracy being run by some bad guys, and a crew of good guys out to stop them. They mostly seem to be made up of characters from the game. One woman apparently used to work for the bad guys (she was brainwashed, I think), and when she joins the good guys, one of the goodies is suspicious because brainwashed girl killed her father.
The intrigue and unpredictability that Siu-Chong brings to DARKSTALKERS is lacking in this title, though (amusingly) the art here is considerably better. Tsang brings a rather loopy and over-the-top element to his manga stylings, and it looks really good. The colors are more in control here as well. Grade: C
G.I. JOE #37-40
Written by Brandon Jerwa and Drawn by Tim Seeley
There’s a single key element to successfully writing the main (continuity heavy) JOE title: remembering that the book, at its core, is a military soap opera drama. The fights are never what really matter; instead, it’s all about the characters, the interplay, the double crosses, and the obstacles facing the cast that don’t involve bullets.
Jerwa understands this quite well.
Reading this much of the book in one sitting, you get a good grasp of Jerwa’s gift for soapy plotting. Sure Cobra is out there, and they’re a big threat with their new weapon. Sure, the Joes are going to have to face down the snakes and stop them, in the process blowing up a lot of stuff. But the hook is the intrigue behind the Joes being in trouble with the government and getting a new military leader. The hook is in The Baroness being pregnant with Destro’s baby and facing assassination from a vengeance-seeking Cobra Commander.
I have always had a soft spot for the Joes, from the time their first issue came out from Marvel when I was a kid. I never expect literary brilliance from the title; I expect to be solidly entertained by fun characters and solid action. That’s all I ask. And Jerwa delivers. Grade: B+
G.I. JOE: RELOADED #9-13
Written by John Rey Nieber and Chuck Dixon and Drawn by Various
RELOADED is sort of the comics equivalent to the new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA television series. The JOE concept was re-imagined from the ground up, continuity free. I guess you could also equate it to Marvel’s ULTIMATE titles.
What this does is provide an opportunity for new readers to sample the title and characters. However, this is sort of hit-and-miss as far as how it’s executed.
The cast is shrunk and tightened up, which is a wise move. That allows you to invest in characters that are drawn more fully, and spend more time in the spotlight. But beyond that, there doesn’t feel like there’s an enormous amount of difference between this and the main title. There’s one character whose allegiance has changed, but aside from that… not much in the way of changes.
I’m torn about this. If you’re going to go this route, why not make deeper and more fundamental changes? The point is somewhat moot now; the title will be vanishing as the company re-launches and refurbishes the entire JOE franchise, but I can’t help but think that maybe RELOADED as it appeared was misconceived. The comics were perfectly entertaining and Chuck Dixon really brought some intensity to the book when he came on board, but I don’t think it will be mourned. Grade: B-
Thanks for reading.
/Mason
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