Let's see...
*How can I do this?
LAST WEEK'S REVIEWS:
The Blot (very cool book from Tom Neely, worth checking out)
Notes for a War Story (Gipi, upcoming from First Second)
Plus!
Column #1: Rogan Gosh
short reviews (Justice League of America #11, Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil #4, The Brave and the Bold #5, The Order #1)
at The Savage Critics!
That looks like it works.
*Quite a lot of opportunities to spend the money -
THIS WEEK IN COMICS!
PulpHope: The Art of Paul Pope: Finally! From AdHouse comes the book that no Pope fan will want to be without, a fat 224-page softcover collection of art and essays, somewhat reminiscent of the artist’s old magazine releases but much more retrospective. Theory! Manga! Sex! So much more, and well worth the $29.95, judging from my flippings at MoCCA. Good.
24seven Vol. 2: Don’t ask me how it’s only $19.99, but this lavish, full-color, 200-page Ivan Brandon-edited Image anthology, a sibling project to the on-hiatus NYC Mech (which Brandon co-created), is back for another round. Plenty of robots in gritty settings, and a whole lot of polished, energetic visuals. Ashley Wood, Gene Ha, Frazier Irving, Adam Hughes, Ben Templesmith, Michael Avon Oeming, Fábio Moon, Gabriel Bá, and many more.
Gon Vol. 1: Many will fondly recall Masashi Tanaka's wordless, gorgeous prehistoric slapstick stories from the old days of Paradox Press, and now DC's reprinting it for the 21st century manga market under its CMX label, right-to-left, at a scant $5.99 per 148-page volume. Probably a great way to get to know the stuff, if you haven't.
Little Nemo in Slumberland Vol. 1 (of 2): Speaking of reprints, the stuff collected in this particular volume has been reprinted in a number of formats from a variety of sources, but folks without access to those (and $49.95 to spend) will want a look at Checker’s 288-page, 9” x 12.5” hardcover project. More interestingly, the second volume promises to compile creator Winsor McCay’s 1924-26 revival of the strip, which has not been so well-covered by reprints, so keep an eye on that.
Speak of the Devil #1 (of 6): Easy to overlook in a big week like this, but don’t do it, because you’ll miss the new b&w Dark Horse miniseries from Gilbert Hernandez, concerning a peeping tom and the discoveries she makes. And that would be catastrophic. More Beto to be found this week in Love and Rockets Vol. 2 #20, from Fantagraphics, which is also prepping the imminent release of his new graphic novel, Chance in Hell. The man is busy.
Multiple Warhedz #1: A 48-page Oni-published comic from Brandon Graham, whose Tokyopop book King City is one of those hugely-acclaimed things I’ve never physically seen a copy of, but I trust it’s probably good. Admirers of that will be interested in this, though it’ll be my first dip.
The Black Diamond #3 (of 6): More action(?) from Larry Young’s and Jon Proctor’s highway that’s way up high.
Angry Youth Comix #13: Good-natured rib-ticklers from Johnny Ryan, no synopsis necessary.
Hellboy: Darkness Calls #4 (of 6): Maybe this isn’t entirely appropriate for this entry, but god the last B.P.R.D. miniseries (Garden of Souls) was really neat. A fine little twist on the old ‘secret origin’ story, with a nice little message tucked away - maybe it’s better for people to change so drastically that they’re not ‘themselves’ anymore, because maybe the original was awful shit. A nice companion theme indeed to the prior miniseries’ declaration that in a world of marvels and wonders, maybe dying and staying that way is a preferable luxury. And that final issue swordfight was… basically what I desire from a Hellboy-related comic. Just saying. Anyhow, here’s the new issue of the parent series, which is also good.
Batman #666: Special Satanic Future issue! Damian (possibly named as such specifically for this issue) leaps into battle to save to Gotham of 2022 or so. Last Andy Kubert issue for a while.
The Immortal Iron Fist #7: Ah, it’s one of those ‘get the whole story!’ weeks where the first collected edition (The Immortal Iron Fist Vol. 1: The Last Iron Fist Story, $19.95 hardcover) pops up at the same time as the first uncollected issue, which is going to be a standalone tale of that female pirate Iron Fist from one of the flashbacks. Sequence artists Travel Foreman & Derek Fridolfs handle all the visuals this time. We’re moving next into that trusty shōnen manga standby, the fighting tournament, and it should be fertile ground for writers Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction.
Tank Girl: The Gifting #2 (of 4): I was kind of wowed, kind of distressed by the vivid combination of writer Alan Martin and artist Ashley Wood on the first issue of this - I wonder how I’ll feel for the rest of the series, since Wood is now doing only colors and finishes to 2000 AD veteran Rufus Dayglo’s breakdowns. Another interesting permutation, maybe.
Warren Ellis’ Crécy
(and)
Black Summer #1 (of 7)
(and)
Doktor Sleepless #1: Hey, remember back when Avatar had the license to all those New Line horror properties, and they’d occasionally wind up dumping all their new issues on the market in the same week? Well, we’re all in for a blast from the past tomorrow as just about all of Ellis’ gestating Avatar projects either debut or quasi-debut on the very same day. Warren Ellis’ Crécy is a 48-page b&w one-shot, hailing from an apparently stalled attempt to create a second wave of Ellis’ Apparat books. It details the famed 14th century battle in which grossly outnumbered English forces defeated the looming French by throwing down chivalry and relying upon the mighty blood potential of weaponry. So, perfect Ellis subject matter, with lush-looking art by Raulo Caceres. Black Summer #1 is the ‘official’ first issue of Ellis’ new color superhero thing, with Juan Jose Ryp on art, although issue #0 was actually the start of the story so I hope you bought that. And the color, ongoing Doktor Sleepless is… something Avatar is trying very, very hard to sell as Transmetropolitan 2, with a mad scientist conducting pirate radio broadcasts while planning to revolutionize the world, I think. Art by Ivan Rodriguez. Collect them all! I do believe the prose novel, Crooked Little Vein, is also in bookstores this week.
Alan Moore’s Hypothetical Lizard: Oh, Avatar also has a $14.99 trade ready for one of its Moore prose adaptations, this time his 1988 novella A Hypothetical Lizard, which was nominated for a World Fantasy Award. As always, Antony Johnston handles the sequential adaptation. I bought this in pamphlet form across the typically epic Avatar serialization process - initial artist Lorenzo Lorente was replaced after one chapter by Sebastian Fiumara, which I’m sure didn’t help things speed-wise, and will not benefit the work as a single unit. Still, Moore’s tale of jealous emotional transformation/destruction in a mystic brothel does have a sickly eye for sad detail, and it rolls along at a brisk pace with some sturdy visuals. Plus, the original prose will also be included, for comparison junkies.
Alan Moore: Wild Worlds: But if it’s the Moore of superheroes you want, Wildstorm’s got a 320-page color brick of stuff for you, at the low price of $19.99. I caution you, you’ll most certainly be getting what you pay for: the dire 1996 Spawn/WildC.A.T.s, which is in all likelihood the very worst extended-length comic Moore has ever written, the nondescript 1997-98 magic-related Voodoo: Dancing in the Dark, and the somewhat fun 1999-2000 Jim Baikie teaming Deathblow Byblows, created right before the blessed birth of America’s Best Comics. Maybe you should save up for Alan Moore: The Complete WildC.A.T.s, a somewhat sturdier compilation of work (Travis Charest!) that’s due in two weeks.
All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder #6: Holy shit, this was speed. Also, from DC’s solicitation: “Plus, Black Canary isn't the only one of Gotham's fairer sex to be aroused into action by the Dark Knight's war on crime!” Oh DC-chan…
LAST WEEK'S REVIEWS:
The Blot (very cool book from Tom Neely, worth checking out)
Notes for a War Story (Gipi, upcoming from First Second)
Plus!
Column #1: Rogan Gosh
short reviews (Justice League of America #11, Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil #4, The Brave and the Bold #5, The Order #1)
at The Savage Critics!
That looks like it works.
*Quite a lot of opportunities to spend the money -
THIS WEEK IN COMICS!
PulpHope: The Art of Paul Pope: Finally! From AdHouse comes the book that no Pope fan will want to be without, a fat 224-page softcover collection of art and essays, somewhat reminiscent of the artist’s old magazine releases but much more retrospective. Theory! Manga! Sex! So much more, and well worth the $29.95, judging from my flippings at MoCCA. Good.
24seven Vol. 2: Don’t ask me how it’s only $19.99, but this lavish, full-color, 200-page Ivan Brandon-edited Image anthology, a sibling project to the on-hiatus NYC Mech (which Brandon co-created), is back for another round. Plenty of robots in gritty settings, and a whole lot of polished, energetic visuals. Ashley Wood, Gene Ha, Frazier Irving, Adam Hughes, Ben Templesmith, Michael Avon Oeming, Fábio Moon, Gabriel Bá, and many more.
Gon Vol. 1: Many will fondly recall Masashi Tanaka's wordless, gorgeous prehistoric slapstick stories from the old days of Paradox Press, and now DC's reprinting it for the 21st century manga market under its CMX label, right-to-left, at a scant $5.99 per 148-page volume. Probably a great way to get to know the stuff, if you haven't.
Little Nemo in Slumberland Vol. 1 (of 2): Speaking of reprints, the stuff collected in this particular volume has been reprinted in a number of formats from a variety of sources, but folks without access to those (and $49.95 to spend) will want a look at Checker’s 288-page, 9” x 12.5” hardcover project. More interestingly, the second volume promises to compile creator Winsor McCay’s 1924-26 revival of the strip, which has not been so well-covered by reprints, so keep an eye on that.
Speak of the Devil #1 (of 6): Easy to overlook in a big week like this, but don’t do it, because you’ll miss the new b&w Dark Horse miniseries from Gilbert Hernandez, concerning a peeping tom and the discoveries she makes. And that would be catastrophic. More Beto to be found this week in Love and Rockets Vol. 2 #20, from Fantagraphics, which is also prepping the imminent release of his new graphic novel, Chance in Hell. The man is busy.
Multiple Warhedz #1: A 48-page Oni-published comic from Brandon Graham, whose Tokyopop book King City is one of those hugely-acclaimed things I’ve never physically seen a copy of, but I trust it’s probably good. Admirers of that will be interested in this, though it’ll be my first dip.
The Black Diamond #3 (of 6): More action(?) from Larry Young’s and Jon Proctor’s highway that’s way up high.
Angry Youth Comix #13: Good-natured rib-ticklers from Johnny Ryan, no synopsis necessary.
Hellboy: Darkness Calls #4 (of 6): Maybe this isn’t entirely appropriate for this entry, but god the last B.P.R.D. miniseries (Garden of Souls) was really neat. A fine little twist on the old ‘secret origin’ story, with a nice little message tucked away - maybe it’s better for people to change so drastically that they’re not ‘themselves’ anymore, because maybe the original was awful shit. A nice companion theme indeed to the prior miniseries’ declaration that in a world of marvels and wonders, maybe dying and staying that way is a preferable luxury. And that final issue swordfight was… basically what I desire from a Hellboy-related comic. Just saying. Anyhow, here’s the new issue of the parent series, which is also good.
Batman #666: Special Satanic Future issue! Damian (possibly named as such specifically for this issue) leaps into battle to save to Gotham of 2022 or so. Last Andy Kubert issue for a while.
The Immortal Iron Fist #7: Ah, it’s one of those ‘get the whole story!’ weeks where the first collected edition (The Immortal Iron Fist Vol. 1: The Last Iron Fist Story, $19.95 hardcover) pops up at the same time as the first uncollected issue, which is going to be a standalone tale of that female pirate Iron Fist from one of the flashbacks. Sequence artists Travel Foreman & Derek Fridolfs handle all the visuals this time. We’re moving next into that trusty shōnen manga standby, the fighting tournament, and it should be fertile ground for writers Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction.
Tank Girl: The Gifting #2 (of 4): I was kind of wowed, kind of distressed by the vivid combination of writer Alan Martin and artist Ashley Wood on the first issue of this - I wonder how I’ll feel for the rest of the series, since Wood is now doing only colors and finishes to 2000 AD veteran Rufus Dayglo’s breakdowns. Another interesting permutation, maybe.
Warren Ellis’ Crécy
(and)
Black Summer #1 (of 7)
(and)
Doktor Sleepless #1: Hey, remember back when Avatar had the license to all those New Line horror properties, and they’d occasionally wind up dumping all their new issues on the market in the same week? Well, we’re all in for a blast from the past tomorrow as just about all of Ellis’ gestating Avatar projects either debut or quasi-debut on the very same day. Warren Ellis’ Crécy is a 48-page b&w one-shot, hailing from an apparently stalled attempt to create a second wave of Ellis’ Apparat books. It details the famed 14th century battle in which grossly outnumbered English forces defeated the looming French by throwing down chivalry and relying upon the mighty blood potential of weaponry. So, perfect Ellis subject matter, with lush-looking art by Raulo Caceres. Black Summer #1 is the ‘official’ first issue of Ellis’ new color superhero thing, with Juan Jose Ryp on art, although issue #0 was actually the start of the story so I hope you bought that. And the color, ongoing Doktor Sleepless is… something Avatar is trying very, very hard to sell as Transmetropolitan 2, with a mad scientist conducting pirate radio broadcasts while planning to revolutionize the world, I think. Art by Ivan Rodriguez. Collect them all! I do believe the prose novel, Crooked Little Vein, is also in bookstores this week.
Alan Moore’s Hypothetical Lizard: Oh, Avatar also has a $14.99 trade ready for one of its Moore prose adaptations, this time his 1988 novella A Hypothetical Lizard, which was nominated for a World Fantasy Award. As always, Antony Johnston handles the sequential adaptation. I bought this in pamphlet form across the typically epic Avatar serialization process - initial artist Lorenzo Lorente was replaced after one chapter by Sebastian Fiumara, which I’m sure didn’t help things speed-wise, and will not benefit the work as a single unit. Still, Moore’s tale of jealous emotional transformation/destruction in a mystic brothel does have a sickly eye for sad detail, and it rolls along at a brisk pace with some sturdy visuals. Plus, the original prose will also be included, for comparison junkies.
Alan Moore: Wild Worlds: But if it’s the Moore of superheroes you want, Wildstorm’s got a 320-page color brick of stuff for you, at the low price of $19.99. I caution you, you’ll most certainly be getting what you pay for: the dire 1996 Spawn/WildC.A.T.s, which is in all likelihood the very worst extended-length comic Moore has ever written, the nondescript 1997-98 magic-related Voodoo: Dancing in the Dark, and the somewhat fun 1999-2000 Jim Baikie teaming Deathblow Byblows, created right before the blessed birth of America’s Best Comics. Maybe you should save up for Alan Moore: The Complete WildC.A.T.s, a somewhat sturdier compilation of work (Travis Charest!) that’s due in two weeks.
All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder #6: Holy shit, this was speed. Also, from DC’s solicitation: “Plus, Black Canary isn't the only one of Gotham's fairer sex to be aroused into action by the Dark Knight's war on crime!” Oh DC-chan…
posted by Jog at 9:37 PM
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