Chronicles of Wormwood: The Last Battle (Avatar)- written by Garth Ennis - I didn't pick up the original miniseries, and I am regretting it. Ennis doesn't always do it for me, but this one draws you in. It is the story of the Antichrist (a cable tv) exec, his talking rabbit, and a barfly who happens to be Jesus Christ. Like Ennis' best stuff, it's profane, obscene, and also laugh out loud funny. This is more The Boys than Preacher though. More wild fun ride and less grand statement. Still, Ennis fans, you'll want to pick this up. Me? I need to go back and get the original series.
Powers (Icon/Marvel)- written by Brian Michael Bendis - Nothing new to point out, except Powers gets relaunched with a new issue #1. Issue 1 isn't anything extra-special, but Powers has been a pretty consistent read, so if you haven't read it or used to read it, here's a jumping-on point. Bendis (for my money) writes dialogue better than anyone in comics. Powers is a detective story where the crimes are superhero-related. CSI:Metropolis if you will. It sounds like it will eventually hit the small screen, too, so get in on it now. Not to mention, the best letter page in comics.
Stumptown (Oni) - written by Greg Rucka - I've read some of Rucka's novels as well as following his comic work. He's someone you can count on for a good story. A detective is hired to track down a casino owner's granddaughter, but someone doesn't want her to. Rucka says it's inspired by American crime novels and the detective shows of the 70s and 80s he grew up with. It's off to a good start. At four bucks, it's a dollar more than your superhero comics, but there's a lot of material packed inside and no ads. Matthew Southworth's art works well, too.
Supergod (Avatar)- written by Warren Ellis - Ellis is so prolific that it's hard to decide which comics of his to pick up. Short answer: all of it. Still, if that doesn't work for you, I think Supergod makes the list. It is the arms race/space race with superheroes as the weapons. It does as the title suggests, explore the superhero as messiah idea, not unlike Watchmen or Rick Veitch's work. It's Ellis' name on the cover, so I probably don't need to tell you, but this one's pretty promising.
- Music:Death In June- But, What Ends When the Symbols Shatter?
Looking back now, I want to say that I really don't know if there are any less indie comics on the shelves. Even at their height, even the best comic stores only carried maybe two shelves of them (and only a handful of publishers seemed to make any money at it). The truth is even when the cool indie comic was being name-dropped by the big actor or musician, they were always a (distant) second place to the "guys in spandex" titles.
Anyway, my two recent reviews are a nod back to that favorite time of mine- the golden age of indie comics.
Beasts of Burden (Dark Horse) written by Evan Dorkin - I was a big fan of Dorkin's mid-90's work. It is some of my all time favorite indie comic work. It is the basis of one of my online account names. Oh, and if that isn't reason enough, I about forgot- Dorkin's got a Livejournal. How cool is that?
Beasts is not a humor comic, though it certainly has funny moments. It is a supernatural horro story, with the emphasis on the supernatural. It is for those who like silly comparisons, The Incredible Journey meets Lovecraft. Personally, I prefer Dorkin's insanely twisted funny comics, but Beasts is an interesting read. I am in for the ride. Not to mention, Jill Thompson doing art, which is a major bonus.
You can preview the first pages of the comic here.
Strange Tales (Marvel) -written by various - i make no secret that for the megapublishers, I generally Make Mine Marvel. Strange Tales is a three-issue miniseries, which is "Indie comic writers do Marvel". For me, I dig the idea more than DC's Wednesday Comics.
It is an anthology book, and unlike Wednesday, the focus is all on humor.
Dr Strange in a cafe. Namor ordering carrypout. Galactus with a booger in his nose. Yeah, if this sounds like fun to you, you should buy these books.
Paul Pope and Pete Bagge are the big names, but the rest of the writers come from Fantagraphics, Dark Horse, and elsewhere. I'm not the biggest fan of anthology comics, but hey, this is plain fun.
- - -
One last indie comic shoutout- Bob Fingerman's From the Ashes is the best thing on your local comic shelves. There's only two issues remaining, so you need to dig for some back issues (or hope for a graphic novel)
- Music:The Cure- Pornography
Unfortunately, the best thing about Cacophony was we finally got Smith writing the Joker. Unfortunately, the Joker appears only on one page of issue 1 of Gyre. I don't know that Smith really brings much to Batman, and I don't know if he will bring anything to the character of Harley Quinn.
Smith cohort Walt Flanagan's art is again excellent, but there's not much here to recommend this book.
Red Circle oneshots - (DC)- written by J. Michael Straczynski- Speaking of TV/movie guys, I generally pick up anything with JMS's name on it.
This week saw the release of The Shield, the last of four one shots introducing characters from the Red Circle- superhero characters from the Archie Comics line now licensed to DC.
I really liked these books. There's not many better writers out there than JMS, and he gives readers a lot of great moments in a short space.
These one-shots are frustrating though, because I don't know where they are heading. Each issue is just long enough to draw you into the character's story (JMS is excellent at this), but the comic ends by the time you have become invested. The four stories are supposed to intertwine, but there isn't much of that.
I suppose we will these characters again soon, but there don't seem to be any immediate plans, and so the story seems to stop before we get started. We will have to see what DC plans to do.
- Music:Soft Cell - The Art of Falling Apart
Like Warren Ellis, I have to credit DC for doing something different.
Wednesday Comics is going to be a weekly comic that is supposed to be a twist on the Sunday comic serials. In fact, it's not a comic book at all. It looks like a Sunday comics section or maybe more accurately, a college newspaper.
It's a great idea in theory. 14 stories across the DC spectrum (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Katmandi, Sgt, Rock, Strange Adventures), and an impressive lineup (Gaiman and Allred, Palmiotti and Connor, Adam and Joe Kubert, Kyle Baker, Dave Gibbons, Azzarello, Busiek, Paul Pope).
So far, so good, and set up like the Sunday comics in that a story can standalone or continue from week to week.
Baker, Busiek, and Gaiman sold it for me, but I just don't know if I will make it to issue two.
I appreciate the thought behind it, but it doesn't give me enough.
Despite not being a .. you know...actual comic book, it is $3.99 an issue. I could probably justify that (there are no ads except on the back page and there are 14 writer/artist teams involved).
Each comic (except 2) gets a full page. Of course, this means you generally get 6-9 panels per comic. I know that is the theme of the comic, but it's not enough to suck me in.
Wednesday Comics will require patience on the reader's part and a bit of a financial commitment, and the first issue didn't give me enough reason to give either one.
Great idea. I would have liked to seen half the stories, and half the price, and you could have thrown in ads, and I would have been sold.
- Music:Aerosmith - Greatest Hits
Army@Love: The Hot Zone Club- written by Rick Veitch (DC/Vertigo) - This is the trade paperback collecting the first five issues of this comic at a reasonable $9.99.
Thanks to
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
garbagecanmusic for bringing this to my attention. I usually at least check out Veitch's work, but somehow had managed to skip over this.Veitch is real hit or miss with me, but is occasionally brilliant. He usually writes and draws, and I'm not crazy about his Kubert style of art. (Here he draws, while Gary Erskine inks).
A@L does provide a unique, over-the-top, very adult war satire. I would be tempted to compare him to other Vertigo writers (Garth Ennis' more profane stuff and Warren Ellis's satirical work, are two comparisons that come to mind) but Veitch has been doing this longer than that most of the Vertigo crowd.
I would probably offer it up as hit or miss. If you're a Vertigo fan, you should at least thumb through it. It's not going to be for everyone, but it's just different enough, that I will probably keep with it.
Don't go here if you want "True War Experience". Go here if you get a kick out of the idea that one day the Army may be so needy for troops, that they'll be advertising the Armed Forces as a great way to get laid.
Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder (In the Service of Angels)- Written by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse) Five issue miniseries with issue one coming out last week. I'm sorry, Mike, it seems like you are just too prolific for me. I am not sure if that is the actual case, but it sure seems like there is a new BPRD or Hellboy miniseries coming out every other week.
Witchfinder seems to offer something slightly different from the usual demons and nazis that we usually get from Mr. Mignola.
We get a beautifully drawn story from the Hellboy-verse, set in Victorian days. The story brings to my mind the story of Howard Carter and the curse of King Tut..
This really is Mignola at his best. It is one of those comics that would probably move people who otherwise wouldn't read comics. I'm intrigued and will finish this one out.
Soul Kiss- written by Steven T. Seagle (Image/Man of Action) - Five issue miniseries that has just wrapped up.
I know that I go on and on about Seagle, but I think he is about the most talented (relatively) unknown writer in comics.
Kudos to Image for starting up the Man of Action imprint. They've brought in Joe Kelly, Joe Casey, Seagle and others to do comics that aren't superhero comics but look and read like those great indie comics of the 90s.
Soul Kiss definitely has that look. It's hip. It's stylish.It also has a great little story that almost seemed to end too soon.
I don't want to give anything away, but the plot reads something like this: "Young girl has ability to steal souls with a kiss".
Again, this is a comic for the non-superhero comic fan. It reminds me a lot of those great late 80s, early 90s comics that were put out by independent publishers, and really pushed boundaries and imagination.
I can't imagine these titles selling as many as a Spawn or a Savage Dragon spin-off would, but really hope Image sticks with it.
- Music:Peter Doherty - Grace/Wastelands
He is the Star Spangled Superhero, fighting for the red, white and blue. He is America's defender and our ambassador across the world. Right now, he is the hottest thing in comics. The media probably isn't talking about any character more this summer than him.
Captain America?
Nope.
The hottest character in comics right now is Barack Obama. I covered this a few months back, but the hits keep rolling.
Why not? Obama is still as hot as ever. Even more people claim to have voted for him now than.. y'know.. people who actually voted for him.
I think of IDW as doing the definitive Obama biographic comic first. It would go to reason that they will continue to document Obama's career as long as it moves issues. You thought following the adventures of the X-Men and Batman was fun. Follow Barry as he runs in the general election, with the next issue The First 100 Days already planned out.
Of course, if one company has success, others will follow. Bluewater Productions has the obligatory Obama bio comic, and has branched out it's Political Power and Female Force series of bio comics to feature Ronald Reagan, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, Princess Diana, and the biggest news of all - Oprah Winfrey.
Bluewater is also introducing America to the biggest superhero dog since Krypto. Yep, you can now buy the Bo Obama comic.
Still, while IDW and Bluewater got some attention, they didn't receive half the notice of the Barack Obama - the comic book character- who appeared with Spiderman and made cameos in a handful of Image comics titles.
While you can't borrow Batman or Superman without permission, no comic company owns Barack Obama, and while these issues sell, we will continue to see him show up in the 48 page color format.
Not that I'm complaining, because that means we get a Barack Obama/Ash crossover.
Finally!
Where was this idea for this team-up this time last year? Ash Williams couldn't have been more of a drag on the ticket than Joe Biden, right? Gun rights voters would like the Boomstick, and Middle America would like the S-Mart pedigree.
If you think that's as weird as it gets, you're wrong. Devil's Due Publishing gives us Barack the Barbarian.
Conan meets Yes We Can. The Audacity of Hope meets What is Best in Life.
Barack takes on Boosh the Dim (sound it out) and Red Sarah (from the icy north, naturally).
DDP also will bring us Drafted which appears to combine the best parts of Obama's inaugural speech and I Am Legend. It is a recount of Barack's first 100 days with less John Boehner and more Alien invaders.
- Music:Lee Rocker- Black Cat Bone
Back to Brooklyn (Image) - Written by Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti - I generally use this space to review first issues that grab me, but I skipped over this one (on accident, issue one really grabbed me). All five issues are out now, and the series is completed. It seems like I have been featuring Ennis a lot here, but for fans, this one might be worth seeking out. Kudos to Image for pushing a non-superhero comic like this.
This comic has a bit of the realistic feel of an HBO series like The Sopranos, combined with the over the top violence of Ennis's work on The Punisher. Make no mistake- this series is very violent and very dark, but it's hard to put down. Mihalio Vukelic's artwork really takes this to the next level. It is the type of artwork for peple who have a problem with superhero comics. On the negative side, the charactes do tend to look similiar.
I imagine this will be in trade paperback in the next year or so. Recommended to Ennis fans for sure.
Batman and Robin (DC)- Written by Grant Morrison - DC reboots the Batman franchise with the new Batman and new Robin, or whatever the %$#@ they are doing. Morrison calls it "David Lynch doing the Batman tv show". Ok. Maybe?
It does seem like an interesting take, and though it may not work for everybody, I am signing on for the ride. Brightly colored, some laugh out loud moments, and a bit of that Morrison oddness- all drawn by Frank Quietly- which I consider a bonus (though I know others may think differently).
Batman in Barcelona: The Dragon's Knight (DC) written by Mark Waid- This is a one shot that features a pretty traditional Batman (Considering the last few years of dark Batman takes, like Grant Morrison's DC run, Christian Bale/Christopher Nolan's onscreen superhero and Frank Miller's Sin City: Gotham, it's been awhile since we seen old school Batman).
This comic picks up on the pulp detective aspects of the character, and Waid uses the story of St. George and the Dragon as background for the tale.
Nothing essential, though a couple of moments really blew me away. Batman fans will probably will want to search this out.
Herogasm (Dynamite) written by Garth Ennis- This spinoff miniseries of The Boys probably qualfies as the most 'mature' of the titles you'll find on a mainstream comics rack. The cover of a superhero obviously enjoying some err... fellatio would probably tip you off to that fact.
I am a big fan of The Boys- which is wonderfully lewd, obscene, and profane. Besides The Boys 31 just came out and that would be a great jumping-on point. I would point you over there first, and if you like it, then think about picking up the miniseries.
Then again, this miniseries starts out with the notion that the World's biggest superheroes go off and tell everyone that they're fighting to save the Earth from off-world villians, instead they are having an anything-goes sex orgy. If that idea appeals to you (wh am I to judge?), then you might want to look this one up.
The Literals (DC/Vertigo) written by Bill Willingham and Matt Sturges - DC comics does that annoying thing here combining stories over different titles. You are not going to be able to pick up the first two issues of Literals (now in stores) and know what the hell is going on. You will need to pick up all of The Great Fables Crossover which takes place in the Vertigo titles of Fables, Jack of Fables, and this title.
The Crossover is a good place to start with this series (your comic book shop can help you), but I would recommend going back and collecting all the trade paperbacks.
Fables has (hard to believe) 7 years of story at this point. It is probably my favorite comic of this decade, and it is the first comic I mention when anyone who even has a cursory liking of comics.
Okay my job here is done.
- Music:Lou Reed - Transformer
A lot of good titles came out last week.
From the Ashes (IDW) - written by Bob Fingerman - Fingerman returns with his most high-profile project in years. I am so excited. I tried to explain to the 20-something Comics clerk (who is otherwise pretty cool) that there was a time when non-superhero comics were actually a going proposition. Books like Eightball, Love and Rockets, Hate, and Cerebus had an audience. Books like Reid fleming, World's Toughest Milkmen, Flaming Carrot and Too Much Coffee Man shared shelf space with the Incredible Hulk and Daredevil.
It seems indie comics lost a lot of ground in the last ten years (not that there isn't quality work still there). Dark Horse still has a presence (and has some great titles), though arguably Hellboy is what is saving it. There are a few indie souls like Kevin Smith and Harvey Pekar who get paychecks from the big boys DC and Marvel. IDW (for my money) is probably the best indie company in comics. They have a good group of comics that predate their existence (Tank Girl, Desperadoes), some stuff that is original (30 Days of Night), a bunch of licensed properties (CSI, GI Joe, Transformers) and good relationships with mainstream auteurs (Joss Whedon, Clive Barker, George Romero).
Getting back to Fingerman, he is best known for Minimum Wage, a comic he wrapped up about six years ago. It was like Pete Bagge's Hate, a semi-autographical sarcastic take on alternative culture. Don't get me wrong- I liked the much better known Hate, but I always thought the similarly themed Minimum Wage was better. It was funnier and just a bit sharper.
From the Ashes is a six-issue take on the Apocalypse. However, it is very much in the vein of Minimum Wage, and it is very recommended.
If I can't sell you a copy, maybe the testimonial from Trey Parker on the front will. Get this.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 1910 (Top Shelf) - written by Alan Moore - You will find Moore's third installment not on a DC imprint, but on indie Top Shelf. Horrible movie aside, Moore's League is about as good as modern literature gets.
If you haven't read League, or missed the second series, you will pick up on things easily enough (I think). This series will be told over three graphic novels- a bit pricey at $8 maybe, but the content is meaty enough (70 pages, no ads) and beautifully drawn by Kevin O'Neill- so the cost is more than justified.
This is going to end up being the League in the 20th century. If you want to see where this is headed, you can go here (spoilers included)
Moore is amazing again. You don't need to know the references to get the story, but when you do catch the references it simply blows your mind. It also will likely will send you to the original sources (League: Volume 1 sent me off to read HG Wells' Invisible Man and Stevenson's Dr Jekell and Mr Hyde, which I am glad I sought out).
1910 has a healthy dose of Kurt Weill and Bertold Brecht which is for lack of a better word, awesome.
For those with tendencies to seek out graphic novels, I think you should at least consider looking up the League books. I think they are unbelievably good. For those who caught the first series (am I the only one who read volume 2? possibly), this is starting out to be just as good.
The Unknown (Boom!) written by Mark Waid - I've mentioned my thoughts on Waid before, but more than anything, I like him. I still think he is best when he is making the grand comic statements like Kingdom Come and Empire. Still, even given his reputation as a workhorse, I like his traditional comic stuff as well, for example his run on The Flash.
Waid also has a soft spot for detective stories that are steeped in pulp. Take for example, Ruse. I ended up passing on Ruse, as something that seemed good in theory, but didn't really punch any buttons for me.
The same rings through years later with The Unknown. I want to give it a shot. I like Waid. Still, I am a bit underwhelmed. was sucked in by Waid's superhero take Irredeemable, but this book only makes me think of people like Mike Mignola who do the 'supernatural detective' thing better.
I think I will give Waid a free pass on this though (unlike Ruse) and see it through for at least a few issues, to see where it is headed and how it develops. If nothing else, Boom comics (of which Waid is editor in chief) has the best fine print in the business (The characters and events depicted herein are fictional. Any similarities to actual persons, demons, anti-Christs, aliens, vampires, face-suckers or political figures, whether living, dead or undead.. is coincidental and unintentional)
- Music:Slaughter & The Dogs - Do it Dog Style
Here's the latest round up of #1 issues that struck my fancy in recent weeks.
The Amazon (Dark Horse) written by Steven T. Seagle- Dark Horse republishes a late 80's early effort from Seagle. I like Seagle a lot and feel (although he works for the major comic companies) that he is very under-rated.
The book is about the Amazon (the river, not Wonder Woman), and is a throwback to a time around Maus where it seemed comics could break away from tales about superheroes, and make grand political statements.
Seagle reveals a story that is riveting as he can tell. The art looks a bit outdated (done by the excellent Tim Sale), but you quickly get over it.
The first two issues of the the three issue miniseries are out, and I would imagine they will be collected. Worth a look.
Ignition City (Avatar) written by Warren Ellis - I don't know how he does it (I suspect it's the Red Bull) but Warren Ellis effortlessly throws out all these great ideas. This one is off to a start start- with a strong vision of an alternate universe. I have heard comparisons to Deadwood and Firefly, and I suppose that is where you start to describe it, but it's a pretty original story. You might as well get in on this title now, while it's new. Art by Gianluca Pagliarani is great, too.
Irredeemable (Boom!) written by Mark Waid - Waid is the Editor in Chief at Boom! Studios, a more promising than most indie publisher. He also is (as recounted by Grant Morrison in issue #1's afterword) a bit of a comic workhorse and traditionalist- something which has labelled him unfairly. It's true, but Waid has had some great moments. Empire is still one of my favorite titles of the last ten years.
Waid claims this is the third title (building off Kingom Come and Empire) to explore heroism and villany. I always thought (maybe unfairly) that when Waid is engaged in his work (as he seems here), he is among the best writers going.
This title explores what happens when a Superman-type hero goes back. Issue 1 offers a lot of potential to where Waid is going with this.
Seaguy: Slaves of Mickey Eye (DC/Vertigo) written by Grant Morrison - I will be forgiving of Morrison's recent DC superhero work (which I will stop short of saying I hated), if he continues to do those weird, eccentric stories that made him famous.
The orignal miniseries was pretty good, and issue #1 of the return is pretty decent, too. The cartoon/amusement park icon (think Mickey Mouse) is Mickey Eye, a giant eye which will remind you of the Residents, but that's the tone. There's talking fish, bearded women, the character of Death who is always playing chess, and the title character is a superhero, who has never been on an adventure in a world where superheroes aren't needed.
This won't be for everyone (this might not even be for most people), but there's enough great moments here to keep me going. Fans of the science vs. religion debate (and are on the side of science) will especially get a kick out of issue 1.
- Music:Nitzer Ebb- Body of Work
I had to make the obvious joke last week when I saw the cover of Wizard: "What does Alan Moore think of the Watchmen movie?"
I don't need to bother reading that. He hates it.
To be fair, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was awful and missed the point. You could probably make the same argument about From Hell, though I thought it was an okay movie.
I'm not a big Watchmen fan actually. Yes, i got to it ten years after the fact, and the Vertigo crowd had already picked up the torch. I just thought Moore had better work- V For Vendetta is a better novel in my opinion, but Watchmen is the one graphic novel that the mainstream media always mentions.
I want to see it (even with the glowing blue penis), though I don't hold out much hope for it. For starters, I haven't seen or heard any mention of the Cold War in the previews/reviews, and that to me is an integral part of the plotline.
You could make an argument that Moore shouldn't complain, because he is making money off his works. That's what Don Murphy is doing.
Around the ol' apartment complex, the pond is fially unfrozen, and the ducks have made their first appearnace of the year.
I have posted this before, but since both the ducks and Watchmen both came out this week, and there's no such thing as coincidence, here is this again:
- Music:Marc Almond- Tenement Symphony
GCM mentioned it in a previous post, but there's nothing hotter right now than the Amazing Spiderman #583 with Obama on the cover. I got a copy of #583 but it was the standard non-Obama cover. GCM got a copy of the comic with the desired cover, but it's a fourth printing.
My friend Rod made a point once that the best part of living in a big (but not that big) of a city is getting desired comics. Rod made a lot of money by buying up comics that could be found easily here and put them up on e-bay to those living in areas of the country that didn't have them.
It's nice, for sure. The Obama AS583 flew off the shelves even here though.
Now let me go off in another direction for a second.
I've been reading and collecting comics in earnest for close to twenty years now. I have always collected them because I love the stories. As with any hobby, this is why you should collect.
I survived the 90's speculator market which was a great and horrible time. A dark side of American life is that we want the Dream for nothing.
People realized that Action Comics #1 was worth a million dollars (and other older comics were worth a lot too). This didn't mean anything, except that these comics were rare and that made them valuable. It didn't mean that all comics were going to be valuable.
As non-comic readers put their eyes on the prize, the comic industry did all they could to get their greed on. Now, given time, if you sit back and look at it objectively, if everyone and their mother owns five copies of Amazing Abs Man, then it's not going to be worth anything.
The industry did everything they could to cash in. We'll give you an #1 issue and well give it five different covers, so you end up buying the same issue five times over. We'll give you holographic covers. We'll do special printings that are limited runs. We'll bag the comic, so you have to buy one to read and one to collect.
This was an awful time that hurt comics. The comic industry still suffers because of the unrealistic expectations of the 90s. If you're not selling 50,000 copies (and of course you're not unless you have X in your title, bub), the comic companies just aren't willing to hang with you. My gripe that comic companies won't take chances is fueled by this.
There weren't three times as many comic book readers in the 90s, there were the same amount of readers, just they were buying three issues apiece.
Image Comics was probably the worst offender of the 'gimmick cover'. Known for creators with the egos of rock stars like Rob Liefeld, Jim Lee, and Todd McFarlane drew comics that were more style than substance. Men who looked like American Gladiators. Women whose proportions made Barbie look postiviely flat-chested.
I'm going to bring this all full circle now.
Today, I was in the comic book store and sure enough, there it was:
Obama on the cover of Youngblood #8.
I have to admit I was a bit tempted. It actually will probably be worth something (at least short term).
Moreover though, I have to say that I was a bit curious about the combination of Obama and Liefeld. That can only mean one thing.
Barry Hussein with moobs.
Well, I can't say I wasn't tempted, but I just couldn't do it. Liefeld's not getting my money this week.
- Music:Fischerspooner - Odyssey
Batman RIP (Batman issues 678-681 written by Grant Morrison) - A couple of you here may care, so I figure I should say at least something.
I am fan of Morrison in general, but I am hit or miss on Morrison's traditional superhero stuff. I really enjoyed his run on New X-Men, I generally like All-Star Superman, but I could have skipped his JLA and been fine.
I liked bits and pieces of this storyline, but overall, I don't think it was worth the hype. A storyline that advertises Batman dying (or at the very least retiring) gets a lot of press, and this storyline just didn't have an epic feel to me.
To me, this is what is wrong with the DC Universe. These storylines just seem so convoluted. DC is taking a good step in getting rid of the smaller Batman-related titles, but DC made sure this storyline was spread out all over the place. Although generally, Morrison did his best in bringing in new characters, I can't imagine this plotline being very appealing to new readers.
That to me is the crux of DC's problems- they just scored a huge success with Dark Knight at the cinemas, but they don't or won't use that to create new readers.
All of this and Bruce Wayne's dad is the villain (or the possiblity exists)- yeah, sometimes you do just pick up a comic just to see where it's headed, whether you probably should or not.
Marvels: Eye of the Camera (written by Kurt Busiek, Marvel comics)- This is the sequel to the Marvels series. While the comic companies get it wrong a lot, Marvels was everything that a comic could be.
Incredible artwork by Alex Ross and a great story from a great writer, if you want to argue comic books are a valid art form, this is one of the books you pull out.
So it is scary that 15 years later, they are going the sequel route.
DC followed a popular mini-series 15 years after the fact, and we got the not-very-good DK2.
M:EotC looks at least like it will be worthy of the franchise title. It's not Alex Ross doing the artwork this time, but it is still great.
The criticism I've read is that this won't push any boundaries, but really it has been an enjoyable read so far, and I would give it a big thumb's up.
Selling point: What would life be like in a world with the Fantastic Four, Spiderman, etc. and how would that affect things- told from a man-on-the-street (in this case a freelance photographer) point of view
Punisher War Zone (written by Garth Ennis, Marvel comics 6-issue minseries)
As a child of the 80s and early 90s, it blows my mind they can't make a good Punisher movie (at least, on the third try). Okay, they can't make a good Daredevil or Ghost Rider movie either, but a good Punisher movie should be simple enough, right?
Then again, it seems like only certain people can write a decent Punisher story, and one of those people is Garth Ennis.
I probably buy too many comics, and this is hardly what you would call essential reading; still, it's hard to beat Ennis writing a Frank Castle character (in this case, it's actually Frank Castle) for "light reading".
Two issues in, there's enough here to keep me picking up.
- Music:U2- Live in Cork '79
Before I begin, comics just got a lot cooler.
Even more cool than when all the hipsters who don't know thjeir Namor from their Aquaman, unwittingly were talking up a movie based on a Mark Millar comic book or bragging to their friends about a tv show that was hemled by Jeph Loeb.
There's one of us in the White House.
and now on with the countdown...
Batman: Cacophony (DC) Written by Kevin Smith
Okay, I should know better, but it is Kevin Smith doing Joker.
I know, I know, I know.
Don't get excited about comics by Kevin Smith. You will have to wait three years for the next issue, or it just won't come out at all.
Besides, his non Clerks comic work has just not been too remarkable. I won't say it has been bad (as some will say), but I can't say it has been spectacular either.
Still, this is Joker written by Kevin Smith. I am in.
I have to say I like it. Why didn't anyone think of giving Smith the Joker before?
It's outrageous (okay maybe not Smith outrageous), it's funny, and the artwork by Walt Flanagan (yes, that one) works well.
The plot - someone is selling the Joker's poison, and kids are taking it in small doses to get high- is promising.
The only weakness is that Batman is a bit too on the mopey side (or maybe I have been just reading too much Frank Miller)
Smith smartly knows we want the Joker though, and focuses most of the story around him.
Recommended (though you run the risk that you might see a follow-up to Loveless before you see issue 2)
- Music:Peter Bjorn & John - Writers' Block
As much work as Ellis has been putting out, it would be okay if "No Hero" was just a throwaway story.
However (to me), No Hero looks to be the best of Ellis's recent work. I have read issues 1 and 2 now, so it looks like it is going to deliver on the promise of the prologue issue #0.
On paper, there's not much here that is new- a Superhero comic based on a team that is put together as protectors, and given a mysterious special compound that turns them into superheroes. It reminds me of a half-dozen comics tha have come out in the last few years- Wanted certainly; however, it manages to stay original.
So that the background isn't anything you haven't heard of, Ellis is taking it in different directions with intriguing characters (as he does).
Anyway, I am totally sold. If you have been on the wall with Ellis's Avatar work (and you're okay with some violent imagery) , pick this one up.
- Music:Ivy - Apartment Life
Final Crisis:Superman Beyond 3-D written by Grant Morrison (DC) - DC pulls out the 3-d gimmick for this Final Crisis two-issue tie- something I could do without. Decent enough plot- Superman and his versions from alternate universes team up to fight a threat that will destroy all 52 universes. You also have Limbo where superheroes go and are forgotten. It's Morrison so you have some good ideas here. On the other hand, it gets bogged down with its own seriousness, cramped panels, and the deja-vu that Morrison has done this before. I'll probably stick around to see what happens next, but I am glad to see Grant moving on, and have had my fill of Final Crisis.
DC Universe: Decisions written by Bill Willingham and Judd Winick (DC) - This was not what I expected. I expected something light, what with the Green Arrow picture on the front, having Willingham involved, and admittedly not really reading Winnick since Barry Ween. So when DC promised a plot where superheroes meet politics, this wasn't what I thought it would be. Instead, it's a straight read where heroes are used as Secret Servicemen and women.
Even more than impressed, this is one of the best first issues I remember in some time. While it is still a traditional comic, there are some great lines- and maybe the scene with Superman and Lois Lane discussing who they will vote for is the best.
I have all but given up on most of DC's titles, because they are too unbelieveable (yeah, I know), but this comic is grounded in the same way that makes mine (generally) Marvel. What a great concept? Seriously, how much would a superhero endorsement mean? You can't tell me that a candidate wouldn't win based solely on whether Superman would vote for him or not.
This is going to be four issues only, but I am really looking forward to see how this turns out.
Crossed written by Garth Ennis (Avatar) - I picked up the issue #0 which starts this story. I had admittedly given up on Ennis. He obviously made his statement with Preacher, but his stuff never hit those heights afterwards. I enjoyed his World war 2 stories, but it wasn't essential reading. Then, he did The Boys, and he was back - profane, obscene, absurd, and absolutely hillarious. Crossed looks to be either horror or sci-fi, with an apocalyptic theme.
He came out the gate with one of the most ultraviolent comics I have seen in awhile. There does seem to be hints of a great story behind it, though, so I am willing to stick with it.
- Music:INXS - Shabooh Shoobah
This real life, we're talking about, though, and there are some simple facts.
One of those simple facts is that you need insurance.
In short, who's going to insure Batman?
- Music:Morrissey - Who Put the M in Manchester?
I remember when they first announced they were making a movie of Wanted. Seriously, Batman, Iron Man, the Hulk - I understand, but are you serious?
I loved Wanted, so it's not that, just a bit of surprise.
It is - if you haven't seen it- probably going to be one of a lot of people's top movis this year. It is a great action film that will appeal to alot of people.
It isn't quite Wanted, to be honest. Certainly, the first half is (and as in the comic) and it's a great set-up for the story. The obvious touchpoints are Fight Club and The Matrix, but it always seems original.
However, it sort of goes off into it's own area. They're assassins, not supervillians. It also misses the ribbing Millar gives superheroes, which was brilliant.
On the other hand, I can't fault the movie for that. For while I loved the comic book in all of its vulgar, sticking-its-nose-at-comic-conventions fun, I am not convinced that would have made the movie work.
What they do with the movie (taking it out of that context) works and works well. The hype they're selling this movie on is that it's the most original movie since The Matrix. I would debate it, saying Sin City did a pretty damn good job of changing sci-fi/supernatural films.
It is justifiable of the hype. There will be people who won't like the film, but those will be the people who don't like this type of film.
If you liked Sin City. If you liked Fight Club. If you like your action over the top, you will like it.
Great cast. James McEvoy is perfectly cast for his role. Angelina Jolie is the perfect person for her role. You have Morgan Freeman, Common, and Terrence Stamp.
Recommended
- Music:Morrissey - Who Put the M in Manchester?
In one of those weird cultural moments, Hellboy has went from cult comic to being one of the biggest Summer movie characters.
Deservedly so, as I thought the first movie was just about as good as comic book movies get.
Obviously, that meant sequel, but interestingly (to me), it seems like Hellboy 2: The Golden Army got a big marketing push. It seems unavoidable.
I still am surprised though that it is as big of a hit as it is. On top of that, it got a really good critical reception. To me, I would guess it's not everybody's cup of tea.
I can't complain. Perlman as Hellboy would make it worthwhile by himself, and he does. I still prefer the first movie, but this is defintiely worth your time.
On the negative side, I think the story could have been a bit beefier. However, I think that's my only complaint. The action keeps moving and the movie really never drags. Visually, it is great, of course.
Perlman, of course is perfect. The self-deprecating, lacking-in-manners, tough-guy-with-a-heart hero. He manages again to send the audience home with a lot of great one-liners.
The price of admission alone is to see that scene with Abe and Hellboy (you'll know the one).
I think everyone on my friends' list would like it. I certainly recommend seeing it if you get the chance.
- Music:Falco - Hoch wie nie
I really dug issue one though. I think Millar can tell a story. Tommy Lee edwards' impressive art doesn't hurt either. I guess we'll see where it goes, but I am certianly along for the ride.
I have one criticism of Millar, and I said it about Kick-ass- Millar's character teen angst reads like 'teen angst written by a 30 year old".
House of Mystery - written by Bill Willingham (Vertigo) - I am a huge Willingham fan. I think Fables is one of the best books on the market. As cliche as it may sound, it really is a comic book everyone should read even if they don't like comic books.
I am not sure what to think of HoM. Not quite an anthology. Just horror/fantasy stories as told by five people in a house. Not quite an anthology, the stories interconnnect.
Maybe, this will be my loss, but I can't say it really connected with me. I am probably going to skip this one.
American Splendor: Another Day -written by Harvey Pekar (Vertigo) I really loved the movie about Pekar, hadn't really read Pekar, and thought I should.
I give DC (Pekar? somebody?) credit for putting autographical comics on the shelves. There are plenty of those titles, but DC and Marvel aren't likely to do it.
Autobiographical comics can get tedious. To a certain extent, I think I've got my fill of Pekar right here. He lacks the charm (such as it is) of Crumb.
On the other hand, I don't regret this purchase, either. Pekar has a pretty unique vision, and even if th action is mundane, he is still worth discovering.
- Music:Joe Strummer- Streetcore
It's the latest round-up of first issues that I have been reading.
Final Crisis written by Grant Morrison (DC)
Ok, I have spent the last two years (out of routine more than anything) reading 52 and Countdown to Final Crisis. I may get pissed off at Quesada now and then, but I more than ever make mine Marvel.
Those series are what's wrong with DC Comics. You read those series, and you feel you need to know the last 30 years of DC continuity. You also feel that you need to buy every DC title on the shelf to get the whole story.
Marvel doesn't do that. You can pick up Straczinski's Thor, for example, and have never picked up a comic book before, and you could follow along. You could also, for example pick up Amazing Spider-Man or Iron Man, and they would be tied into the Civil War series, but you didn't need to pick up Civil War to enjoy them or know what was going on.
The main thing though is the DC Universe is too fantastic. Although some people like that, it is hard to picture the DC Universe (parallel universes, monitors) in real life. You can do that with Marvel. The success of the Iron Man movie attests to that.
So, 52 and Countdown didn't do much for me. However, Morrison has got an interesting going on with Final Crisis. I have the feeling it could be a very memorable moment in DC History. So, I'll be picking it up.
I am kind of disappointed that they're playing the 'kill off a semi-major character' card. I think that like any great soap opera, the character will be back, but between this and teasing 'Batman RIP', I would have preferred that they went a different direction.
Killing a character makes an 'event', but doing it, cheapens the effect.
Deepak Chopra's Beyond written by Ron Marz (Virgin) - I picked this up because I like Marz alot. I also want to see Virgin Comics to succeed.
Virgin's current strategy is to take a disaparte group of celebrities (Nicholas Cage, Guy Ritchie, Jenna Jameson, Dave Stewart of the Eurythimics) and match them up with comic writers. There also seems to be a heavy Indian and Bhuddist influence (Deepak Chopra's son is the Creative Chief Officer).
Unfortunatley, at this point, the only title I have found worth picking up has been John Woo's Seven Brothers.
Beyond is Marz writing a Chopra story. It's beautifully drawn and captures the streets of India. However, the story seems kind of generic.
While you could probably do alot with the storyline, I wasn't sufficiently impressed to think I should continue to pick it up.
- Music:The Smiths - Live, Oxford 1985
Profile
- bedsitter23
- Viva Hate!
Syndicate
