Closing the week... the hated FAMILY GUY. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate! Feel it! Love it! Feed off of it at the main site!

/Mason

Whoooooooooops.

Didn't mean to take yesterday off, especially since I had read material and was ready to review it. But life got in the way, and we all know how that goes...

Anyway, back today with looks at two recent efforts from Viper Comics, VILLAINS and A DUMMY'S GUIDE TO DANGER. Click on over to the main site and check it out!

/Mason

History... back in 1992, I took a job as a movie and television critic. I got away from entertainment journalism for a while, but when I was writing for Comic Book Galaxy back in 01-02, I got back into it with a column called "The Aisle Seat" (which is where I prefer to sit, whether in a theatre or on a plane). Now, after four years, The Aisle Seat is returning!

Today's spotlight falls on EUREKA, which airs Tuesdays on the Sci-Fi Channel. Go to the main site and give the piece a read, won't you?

/Mason

It's Monday, and that means... well, I don't know what that means. But I do have two new reviews posted at the main site: PHONOGRAM and DEATH JR 2. Check 'em out, if ya please...

/Mason

CWR WEEKEND BLOG EXTRA

I don’t know what it says about me, but doing these has become one of the things I most look forward to at the site. I may need professional help.

This weekend, a look at four recent efforts from Arcana Studio, those wacky Canadians who thought they could, and have…

First up is 100 GIRLS: THE FIRST GIRL VOL.2, written by Adam Gallardo and Drawn by Todd Demong. GIRLS is the story of Sylvia Mark, an ordinary 13-year old girl who feels the traditional teenage alienation. However, hers turns out to have a bit more substance, as she not only turns out to have super-strength, but to also have 99 other super-powered versions of her running around somewhere in the world. Complicating the matter is that she tends to absorb her sisters and gain their memories and powers when she’s nearby, and there are a metric ton of bad guys out to kill her and her sisters. From the very beginning, this has been a terrific series, one which put a young girl into the lead without sexualizing her or sacrificing her character for “kewl”, and the conclusion to the first part of her tale changes nothing. The seeds are sown here for a greater story to be told down the road, and if it’s as good as this series has been, the creators will be in good shape.

Next, we turn to EZRA #1 (written by Sean O’Reilly and drawn by Alfonso Ruiz), the newest series featuring Arcana’s she-warrior with an attitude. The original EZRA series was entertaining enough for me to get past my distaste for its genre, and the character, who is basically a sexy member of the walking dead, is interesting. But O’Reilly is sabotaged here by the art, which is too cartoony in places to give the story the dramatic heft it needs. It also forces O’Reilly to lay on the exposition in at an almost Shooter/Marvel-era level, slowing the pace of the story down. Sometimes, this just happens, but no question, it’s fixable, and EZRA can get back on the right path easily enough.

Following along is GRUNTS #1 (written by Shannon Denton and Keith Giffen and drawn by Matt Jacobs), the story of some American soldiers who had a nasty close encounter with the Germans’ enjoyment for using weird science and the occult (though which of those it is isn’t made clear, a blip by the artist). GRUNTS is actually pretty hard-boiled in its approach to its cast of characters, though Denton and Giffen do an almost comical nod at including every central-casting stereotype, right down to the chubby guy being nicknamed “Fatty.” Denton handles the scripting, so the “bwa-ha-ha” is at a minimum, but the action quotient is pretty high, and Jacobs handles it well. I’d have liked for the Nazi’s “super-warriors” to be better defined, either through the art or a caption, especially with LOST SQUAD working in a similar vein, so this ranks as a high “okay”.

Closing it out, we arrive at DRAGON’S LAIR #1 (written by Andy Mangels and drawn by Fabio Laguna), based upon the classic video game and TV cartoon. This is a triple-sized debut, reprinting the issues that MVC produced a few years ago under one cover, making it an exceptional value for your five yanqui dollars. Mangels and Laguna do a pitch-perfect job of introducing the universe, the characters, and the plot with ease, which is excellent, considering I had never played the game or watched the cartoon. Dirk the Daring (who’s kinda dumb) protects Princess Daphne (who’s kinda smart), but their roles overlap here and there. In this story, she is kidnapped by Singe, the kahuna of all the dragons, because Singe is a little pissed about all of his children Dirk has killed. Rousing adventure follows. As someone who tends to yawn his way through sword-and-sorcery stories, I found this kind of fun, likely because the book has an art style that mimics the cartoon, and because Mangels keeps the pace moving very quickly. Fun for all ages.

That’s it for this week. See you during the week for site updates, and next weekend for a new CWR Weekend Blog Extra!

/Mason

Finishing the week at the main site: new commentary! Are you thoroughly bored by the comics "news" that was announced at the big cons this summer? You aren't alone...

/Mason

Love and Brazil... two things that sound great together, and two things that read well together. Get the scoop on DeTALES: Stories of Urban Brazil today at the main site!

/Mason

Is a 22-year old computer-generated comic worth your time? Read up on SHATTER today at the main site!

/Mason

It's fun for all ages today, as BUMPERBOY AND THE LOUD, LOUD MOUNTAIN gets a look at the main site!

/Mason

It's Manga Monday today at the main site, with reviews of KAGETORA and SUGAR SUGAR RUNE! Plus, read below for this week's CWR Weekend Blog Extra!

/Mason

CWR WEEKEND BLOG EXTRA

Archaia Studios Press was set up near “indy island” in San Diego, and I must have walked by their booth an average of five times a day. I had intended to stop and make an introduction at some point during the show, but every single time I passed by, the place was surrounded by people. Wall-to-wall fans talking to creators and buying books. So I’m guessing they had a good con.

Let’s take a look at four of their most recent releases. First up is MOUSE GUARD #3, written and drawn by David Petersen. I (and many others) have offered high praise for the two previous issues of this book, and nothing about issue three makes me regret it. While I thought issue two was a bit slow as far as moving the plot forward, this effort does a good job of picking up the pace. The traitor stands unrevealed, but the three mice guards from issue one find themselves in a lawless town where the clues begin to pile up. Petersen creates some wonderfully imaginative art, and his ability to portray action sequences shows real improvement. Halfway home, I remain entranced by MOUSE GUARD.

ROBOTIKA #3-4 conclude the first miniseries by writer/artist Alex Sheikman, and while the book was inconsistent, it still has many virtues to offer. Mixing samurais and cyberpunk, ROBOTIKA is in many ways a throwback, reminding you of Frank Miller’s late 80s-early 90s work like RONIN and HARD BOILED. Our hero, Niko, has given up the life of the sword and turned his back on his queen, becoming a true yojimbo, but that doesn’t stop him from taking on a quest to help see some pilgrims across a harsh wasteland and into the arms of their god. Fortunately, it turns out Niko doesn’t need steel to be an effective warrior, nor does he need the ability to feel… which will turn the last part of the series upside-down. While the first two issues were a struggle for me, I think Sheikman does a decent job of driving the series home. It feels to me like he’s capable of stronger work, and I’ll be interested to see how the next ROBOTIKA series plays out.

Closing out my reading was ARTESIA BESIEGED #1 from writer/artist Mark Smylie. This being the latest in a long series of Artesia books, I was worried that I would be completely lost the minute I opened the cover, especially because the book lives mostly in the “fantasy” genre. However, Smylie does so many things right that I was totally sucked in from page one. First, he provides a thorough recap. Second, he dives in and defines Artesia as a character through her actions and narration, eliminating any chance for confusion. And third, Smylie is so ridiculously talented an artist that you slow down to take in all the nuance of detail and color that he puts on the page. This is a gorgeous book with a heroine like few others in comics; strong, intelligent, powerful, in full command of her sexuality… she’s riveting to watch. I may have to go back and get some of the previous trades on this one.

See you here through the week for main site updates, and next Sunday for your Weekend Blog Extra!

/Mason

INVINCIBLE... a true sales success rarity. But why does it read so much better in collected form than in floppies? Today at the main site, a look at INVINCIBLE: ULTIMATE COLLECTION VOL.2!

/Mason

It's the return of "Should It Be A Movie?" at the main site! Today, a look at THE EXPENDABLE ONE, the story of a man who cannot die who decides to use his power to be a hero... with some disastrous and hilarious results!

/Mason

Why does a good book miss greatness? Today, Marc checks out WAR-FIX at the main site and addresses that very phenomenon...

/Mason

Alt-comix powerhouse Jordan Crane returns to the printed page with his new series UPTIGHT. Learn all about it today at the main site...

/Mason

Two new indies, ADRENALINE and ALICE IN NEW YORK, today at the main site...

/Mason

CWR WEEKEND BLOG EXTRA

I’ll tell you all a little secret: I kinda miss doing a regular column. With the format I’ve set up for the new site, I’m keeping things pretty separated. Reviews go up individually on the appropriate publisher page, and that’s it. Plus, I feel obligated to write longer pieces. Quick and dirty don’t rule the day. But that changes today, because they’re at least going to rule this weekend.

Today’s topic: a full suite of books from Ross Richie’s Boom Studios. Boom has become quite the overnight success story, going from fledgling indy to mover/shaker in less than a year. By publishing work by top-notch creators with high-quality production values, they’ve become hard to ignore. I have five new Boom efforts sitting here in my hands; let’s take a look and see how they’re doing.

JEREMIAH HARM #4 (written by Keith Giffen and Alan Grant, drawn by Rafael Albuquerque) is the penultimate chapter to this “space bounty hunters on steroids” saga. When last we left Harm, he had defeated one of the three baddies intent on destroying the universe itself, and had the other two in his sights. Giffen and Grant waste no time getting to the next ridiculous, over-the-top fight as the book opens, throwing as much action at the reader as possible. If you stopped to think about the logistics of the plot or the motivations of the villains, HARM would be in danger of collapsing on itself, but for pure shut off your brain entertainment, it’s hard to beat this book.

Last issue, SECOND WAVE took a bad tumble, losing some of the goodwill the book had built up from the beginning. Issue five (written by Michael Alan Nelson and drawn by Chee) spends the first two-thirds of the story mired in the trouble spot where it left off. Nelson is trying to demonstrate how quickly society has fallen apart because of the Martian attack, but it all feels too familiar. However, the final third of this issue sees the book begin to regain its composure. One good thing: the return of the Martians to the scene; their absence being part of the book’s stumble. Extra points for the creative murder of a crooked sheriff’s deputy.

Milo and Captain Valor head to therapy in HERO SQUARED #2 (written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis and drawn by Joe Abraham), and it’s easily my favorite issue of the series to date. The writers have become somewhat known for being experts and producing “talking heads” comics, and this book cements that rep. However, unlike the excesses that have marked some writers’ efforts over the past couple of years (*cough* Bendis), this never stops being a terrific, riveting piece of entertainment. By the end you realize the true theme of this book: the nature of self-loathing. Milo and Valor are the same guy, genetically, but each other’s version does nothing but remind them of what they hate most about themselves. Great work.

Never a fan of writer Joe Casey’s work, I was hesitant about THE BLACK PLAGUE #1 (drawn by Julia Bax). However, this was pretty decent. We open with a retired superhero and his retired former arch-nemesis playing a lovely game of chess in the park, but soon enough, we discover that there’s a lot more going on in this town that anyone would suspect. And that perhaps the old villain has a lot more up his sleeve than anyone could guess. BLACK PLAGUE’S strongest moments come from Bax’s art; it’s very clean and has a simple look, but conveys action and body language very well. There’s a BLACK PLAGUE mini-series coming down the road to clear up these mysteries, and despite my feelings about Casey, I think that’s a good thing.

Finally, we have THE 2006 DAVE JOHNSON FULL-COLOR SKETCHBOOK, a bookshelf-format edition presenting a wide variety of the artist’s work. Containing everything from odd doodles to designs for 100 BULLETS and CAPTAIN AMERICA, this potpourri of work is a must if you’re a fan of Johnson’s. There’s still worth to be found here if you aren’t, and even with the $10 price tag, that’s still better than laying out a ten-spot for a convention sketchbook that was printed by an artist at Kinko’s the night before the show. If Vertigo ever produces a coffee-table book of his 100 BULLETS covers, this has convinced me I’d have to buy it.

That’s it for the CWR Weekend Blog Extra. Tune in to the main site through the week for new stuff!

/Mason

Heading into the weekend... a big, tasty slice of cheesecake, as SHE-DRAGON finally arrives from Image! Check it out over at the main site!

Plus: check back here this weekend for a CWR Weekend Blog Extra featuring the latest releases from Boom Studios!

/Mason

Back in business... back from San Diego! Today at the main site, you'll find reviews of Joe Lansdale and Tim Truman's CONAN AND THE SONGS OF THE DEAD, and first-time novelist Evam Kuhlman's WOLF BOY, which incorporates some intriguing graphic novel elements...

/Mason

THE ESCALATOR-BATOR, or WHO SUBSCRIBES TO ‘HORSEFISTING ILLUSTRATED?’

This is kind of a Saturday/Sunday combo post. I woke up late this morning and decided to go finish the con instead of writing first. Turned out to be the right idea, as I was three hours and out at the show today.

Yesterday was a monster. First, at some point midday, they stopped selling new badges. To my knowledge, that’s a first. Attendance records have been obliterated, I’d think. Every day was packed beyond belief. I did only two panels, surprisingly; the “Adapting comics to the screen” screenwriters panel, and the “Hack/Slash” becoming a movie panel. My favorite con moment of the day, though, came after those, however. John Ridley was signing free copies of his novel THOSE WHO WALK IN DARKNESS. I’m a huge fan, so this was going to be a treat.

Then he ran late.

So late, in fact, that I decided to wander off and come back later. So I get a few aisles over and what do I see? Ridley at a different publisher’s booth, asking if they know where Warner Books is located. So I stepped in and played tour guide, delivering him to a grateful Warner’s staff. Fun.

The evening was again spent with friends, all but one of who was leaving today. I made some new friends this year that made this an amazing show, and I’m very grateful. Brandon, Jess, Lee… safe travels. Along with old friends Joe and Chris, we made Saturday one for the books. Not going to over-detail, but Joe helped get a guy arrested; Chris broke a waiter’s fragile heart; we marveled at a young boy who was riding the Hyatt escalators barefoot and in the wrong direction (running up the ‘down’, etc.) while playing with himself through his pockets; decisions were made about what horses drawn by Rob Liefeld would look like (no visible hooves, star-shaped tattoos over their eyes, and twenty-eight hands tall if you include their shoulder-mounted guns); and we created a trade magazine for people who artificially inseminate mares.

It went downhill from there. :-)

Today is my traditional shopping day. I focused heavily on minis, though the number of interesting efforts was way down this year. Still, I picked up new efforts from Paul Horn, Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman, and Marion Vitus among others, so I left as a happy consumer.

As usual, with the show over, I’m wishing I were flying out tonight. I miss my house and bed. But thinking about it, I know I’ll miss my friends (those named above, plus Matt, Kevin, Steven and everyone else even more. See you next time gang…

/Mason