Another hot week.
*Or that's what I'm trying to think of as I nurse my wind-burnt calves. Damn you, parking lot a mile away!
LAST WEEK'S REVIEWS:
Chickenhare: The House of Klaus (cute, light Dark Horse adventure from Chris Grine)
The Midnighter #1
Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor #1 (of 8), Superman Confidential #1
Seven Soldiers #1
And a comics-related computer game review of Sam & Max: Culture Shock.
Maybe if I wrap plastic bags under my pants legs...
*Easter Eggs Dept: Richard Baez pointed this out in yesterday’s comments section, and it really needs to be up here on the main page:
Recipe for Fun
1. Take one (1) copy of the recently-released Seven Soldiers #1.
2. Take one (1) copy of the recently-released Superman Confidential #1.
3. Flip to the all-important Zatanna page in Seven Soldiers (you know the one).
4. Brandish the red & blue 3D glasses from inside Superman Confidential, and stare at the Zatanna page through them.
5. Magic! (and don't say anything like 'wow, does it make sense now?' - I'm on to ya)
(obviously, this will work with any old 3D glasses, but I prefer to think of it as Richard does: an extremely elaborate crossover)
*This is one of those weeks that doesn’t seem like it’s all that big at first, but there’s actually something for everyone.
THIS WEEK IN COMICS!
Peepshow #14: No, you’re not dreaming! It’s the vainglorious return of writer/artist Joe Matt’s absent-for-nearly-half-a-decade solo series from Drawn & Quarterly, and it’s set to conclude the heart-warming ‘Joe is a hopeless porn addict’ storyline that’s been going on since issue #11 from 1998. Journey once again into the black, comical heart of self-destruction, for only $4.95!
Popeye Vol. 1 (of 6): I Yam What I Yam: Or, there’s always Popeye. This is Fantagraphics’ latest classic strip reprint project, an effort to collect all of creator E.C. Segar’s work on the character via his Thimble Theater strip, which had actually been running since 1919, but would only become legendary after the introduction of that superstar character. Hardcover, oversized (10 ¼” x 14”), b&w dailies and color Sundays, $29.95. Also out in strips: a box set of Fanta’s first two Dennis the Menace hardcovers, plus the year’s new Zippy collection, Zippy: Connect the Polka Dots.
Shadowland: But it’s not just classic newspaper strips that old Fanta loves! I got this thing at SPX; it’s a new collection of material from Kim Deitch, my personal favorite of the ‘60s underground-originating cartoonists, this time focusing entirely on the misadventures of the ill-fated Ledicker family and their carnival, and everyone connected to it. Deitch has a way of building up complex mythologies around the characters that populate his various short stories and small series, so his work is unusually friendly to modern-day collections of this sort; his skill at melding incisive human emotions and larger-than-life fantasy is formidable, and he remains as unique now as he was back in the days of Gothic Blimp Works. Only $18.95 for 176 pages.
Project: Romantic: From AdHouse, their third and final deluxe themed anthology, this time about love. Review tomorrow, though I’ll say now that the humorous pieces tend to be the strongest.
Museum of Terror Vol. 3 (of, er, 15?): I always thought this was 10 volumes, but the fellers at Same Hat! Same Hat!! know a lot more about this stuff than me, so if they say it’s 15 it’s probably 15. They also say that Dark Horse says that Vols. 1-2 didn’t sell nearly enough to make the presence of 15 books on US shelves seem all that likely, and apparently this is the last volume Dark Horse has currently committed to. Hm. Museum of Terror is the official Junji Ito anthology, collecting the career-spanning works of the author of Uzumaki and Gyo, and this particular volume is where we launch ourselves into the all-short stories format, free of any connecting fabric save for horror. Dark Horse really seems to be all about the manga short story compilations these days, so you’d best hop on this while you can. Preview.
Death Note Vol. 8 (of 13ish): On the other hand, some manga need no extra help whatsoever. The Death Note anime just started airing in Japan last month, and in the backwards world of English-language fandom where manga tends to follow anime in popularity, that should be enough to keep interest in the series good and high as it polishes off its final year of release in 2007. Never mind the second live-action movie, which just premiered in Japan last week, I believe. You are living in Death Note’s world, and just wait until some of these adaptations get licensed for English-language release.
Love Roma Vol. 4: I could have sworn this thing was supposed to come out some other week, but oh well - here it is again!
Phonogram #3 (of 6): This is an Image miniseries, and a third issue is out.
Cross Bronx #3 (of 4): Same here. There are pages.
Action Philosophers #7 (of 9): It’s All Greek to You!: This issue - everyone goes Greek. As usual, a full story is available online for perusal, concerning the Pre-Socratics.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes II #1 (of 8): Writer Joe Casey has become something of a go-to guy for Marvel miniseries showcasing the early days of assorted popular characters; this is his latest effort, a direct sequel to a prior Avengers project, though this time with penciller William Rosado and inker Tom Palmer and featuring a new team (Goliath, Hawkeye, Wasp, Black Panther, Vision) finding their way.
Eternals #5 (of 6): Though do note that Diamond’s list appears to be under the impression that this is now a seven-issue miniseries; Marvel’s solicitation dutifully deems this the penultimate issue, and assures us that “[a]ll the mysteries are answered” inside. Maybe Diamond got confused over the double-sized issue #6?
Warren Ellis’ Blackgas 2 #1 (of 3): I’m sure that barbarian thing Ellis was doing with Juan Jose Ryp will be back someday, but for now here’s another of those lil’ Avatar miniseries, a sequel to the Euro-flavored zombie thing with artist Max Fiumara returning.
Wisdom #1 (of 6): But it’s not just Ellis starting a new miniseries this week; one of his characters is also angling for a comeback. Pete Wisdom got inserted into Ellis’s ‘90s run on Excalibur as an archetypically rough secret agent type, and has shown up in a few places since then. This is his first solo miniseries (since I’m not counting the Ellis-written Pryde and Wisdom thingy from 1996), written by Paul Cornell of Dr. Who with art from Trevor Hairsane of Ellis’ Ultimate Nightmare. It’s a MAX book, so do expect naughty language and perhaps a stray nipple as Wisdom attempts to save the world from horrid hordes of Fairies.
The Punisher MAX #40: I like how Gen. Zakharov’s blonde henchman in this storyline is essentially the lead character from writer Garth Ennis’s 303 series from Avatar, only playing a different role. Anyway: shootings.
52 #27 (of 52): Featuring Adam Hughes on the origin of Power Girl, and a bunch of other stuff no doubt happening or threatening to happen.
Batman #658: Last issue before writer Grant Morrison and penciller Andy Kubert take a little break for four issues, until February.
LAST WEEK'S REVIEWS:
Chickenhare: The House of Klaus (cute, light Dark Horse adventure from Chris Grine)
The Midnighter #1
Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor #1 (of 8), Superman Confidential #1
Seven Soldiers #1
And a comics-related computer game review of Sam & Max: Culture Shock.
Maybe if I wrap plastic bags under my pants legs...
*Easter Eggs Dept: Richard Baez pointed this out in yesterday’s comments section, and it really needs to be up here on the main page:
Recipe for Fun
1. Take one (1) copy of the recently-released Seven Soldiers #1.
2. Take one (1) copy of the recently-released Superman Confidential #1.
3. Flip to the all-important Zatanna page in Seven Soldiers (you know the one).
4. Brandish the red & blue 3D glasses from inside Superman Confidential, and stare at the Zatanna page through them.
5. Magic! (and don't say anything like 'wow, does it make sense now?' - I'm on to ya)
(obviously, this will work with any old 3D glasses, but I prefer to think of it as Richard does: an extremely elaborate crossover)
*This is one of those weeks that doesn’t seem like it’s all that big at first, but there’s actually something for everyone.
THIS WEEK IN COMICS!
Peepshow #14: No, you’re not dreaming! It’s the vainglorious return of writer/artist Joe Matt’s absent-for-nearly-half-a-decade solo series from Drawn & Quarterly, and it’s set to conclude the heart-warming ‘Joe is a hopeless porn addict’ storyline that’s been going on since issue #11 from 1998. Journey once again into the black, comical heart of self-destruction, for only $4.95!
Popeye Vol. 1 (of 6): I Yam What I Yam: Or, there’s always Popeye. This is Fantagraphics’ latest classic strip reprint project, an effort to collect all of creator E.C. Segar’s work on the character via his Thimble Theater strip, which had actually been running since 1919, but would only become legendary after the introduction of that superstar character. Hardcover, oversized (10 ¼” x 14”), b&w dailies and color Sundays, $29.95. Also out in strips: a box set of Fanta’s first two Dennis the Menace hardcovers, plus the year’s new Zippy collection, Zippy: Connect the Polka Dots.
Shadowland: But it’s not just classic newspaper strips that old Fanta loves! I got this thing at SPX; it’s a new collection of material from Kim Deitch, my personal favorite of the ‘60s underground-originating cartoonists, this time focusing entirely on the misadventures of the ill-fated Ledicker family and their carnival, and everyone connected to it. Deitch has a way of building up complex mythologies around the characters that populate his various short stories and small series, so his work is unusually friendly to modern-day collections of this sort; his skill at melding incisive human emotions and larger-than-life fantasy is formidable, and he remains as unique now as he was back in the days of Gothic Blimp Works. Only $18.95 for 176 pages.
Project: Romantic: From AdHouse, their third and final deluxe themed anthology, this time about love. Review tomorrow, though I’ll say now that the humorous pieces tend to be the strongest.
Museum of Terror Vol. 3 (of, er, 15?): I always thought this was 10 volumes, but the fellers at Same Hat! Same Hat!! know a lot more about this stuff than me, so if they say it’s 15 it’s probably 15. They also say that Dark Horse says that Vols. 1-2 didn’t sell nearly enough to make the presence of 15 books on US shelves seem all that likely, and apparently this is the last volume Dark Horse has currently committed to. Hm. Museum of Terror is the official Junji Ito anthology, collecting the career-spanning works of the author of Uzumaki and Gyo, and this particular volume is where we launch ourselves into the all-short stories format, free of any connecting fabric save for horror. Dark Horse really seems to be all about the manga short story compilations these days, so you’d best hop on this while you can. Preview.
Death Note Vol. 8 (of 13ish): On the other hand, some manga need no extra help whatsoever. The Death Note anime just started airing in Japan last month, and in the backwards world of English-language fandom where manga tends to follow anime in popularity, that should be enough to keep interest in the series good and high as it polishes off its final year of release in 2007. Never mind the second live-action movie, which just premiered in Japan last week, I believe. You are living in Death Note’s world, and just wait until some of these adaptations get licensed for English-language release.
Love Roma Vol. 4: I could have sworn this thing was supposed to come out some other week, but oh well - here it is again!
Phonogram #3 (of 6): This is an Image miniseries, and a third issue is out.
Cross Bronx #3 (of 4): Same here. There are pages.
Action Philosophers #7 (of 9): It’s All Greek to You!: This issue - everyone goes Greek. As usual, a full story is available online for perusal, concerning the Pre-Socratics.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes II #1 (of 8): Writer Joe Casey has become something of a go-to guy for Marvel miniseries showcasing the early days of assorted popular characters; this is his latest effort, a direct sequel to a prior Avengers project, though this time with penciller William Rosado and inker Tom Palmer and featuring a new team (Goliath, Hawkeye, Wasp, Black Panther, Vision) finding their way.
Eternals #5 (of 6): Though do note that Diamond’s list appears to be under the impression that this is now a seven-issue miniseries; Marvel’s solicitation dutifully deems this the penultimate issue, and assures us that “[a]ll the mysteries are answered” inside. Maybe Diamond got confused over the double-sized issue #6?
Warren Ellis’ Blackgas 2 #1 (of 3): I’m sure that barbarian thing Ellis was doing with Juan Jose Ryp will be back someday, but for now here’s another of those lil’ Avatar miniseries, a sequel to the Euro-flavored zombie thing with artist Max Fiumara returning.
Wisdom #1 (of 6): But it’s not just Ellis starting a new miniseries this week; one of his characters is also angling for a comeback. Pete Wisdom got inserted into Ellis’s ‘90s run on Excalibur as an archetypically rough secret agent type, and has shown up in a few places since then. This is his first solo miniseries (since I’m not counting the Ellis-written Pryde and Wisdom thingy from 1996), written by Paul Cornell of Dr. Who with art from Trevor Hairsane of Ellis’ Ultimate Nightmare. It’s a MAX book, so do expect naughty language and perhaps a stray nipple as Wisdom attempts to save the world from horrid hordes of Fairies.
The Punisher MAX #40: I like how Gen. Zakharov’s blonde henchman in this storyline is essentially the lead character from writer Garth Ennis’s 303 series from Avatar, only playing a different role. Anyway: shootings.
52 #27 (of 52): Featuring Adam Hughes on the origin of Power Girl, and a bunch of other stuff no doubt happening or threatening to happen.
Batman #658: Last issue before writer Grant Morrison and penciller Andy Kubert take a little break for four issues, until February.
posted by Jog at 11:59 PM
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