Keep it simple.
*No problem.
LAST WEEK'S REVIEWS:
L: Change the WorLd and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (two motion pictures, two superhuman leads, two approaches to fan-service)
At comiXology, of course.
*Keeping on, forward -
THIS WEEK IN COMICS!
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century #1 (of 3): 1910: Hey, that wasn't so late at all. Yes, it's Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill, back in high comics style as the lamentable Edwardian incarnation of the literary super-team proves itself prone to misdirection and futility in the face of the violence of the new 20th century. Featuring Jack the Ripper, unexpected issue(s), mayhem, Iain Sinclair and Peter O'Toole references, an Aleister Crowley stand-in threatening to blast someone with his wand, precisely 1,254,559 allusions to The Threepenny Opera (including four delightful new songs), and so very much more. Published by Top Shelf & Knockabout Comics; only $7.95 for 80 big color pages. Preview here; my review here.
Monologues for Calculating the Density of Black Holes: The second in Anders Nilsen's Monologues series with Fantagraphics, "[a] creatively experimental laboratory, comprising a collection of free flowing stream-of-consciousness gags, strips, and drawings that slowly coalesce into an unexpectedly compelling and complex narrative." That means 400 pages of color doodling and philosophical picture-work in a 5" x 8" package. No more adventurous a way to spend $22.99 in comics monies this week. Slideshow preview at the link.
The Eternal Smile: Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese was one of the early books that brought publisher First Second a bunch of popular attention, so I'm sure everyone was anticipating this follow-up, a collection of three new stories created with artist Derek Kirk Kim. Your $16.95 will get you 176 color pages. Preview.
Underground Classics: The Transformation of Comics into Comix: Being essentially an exhibition catalog for a show of the same title at the Chazen Museum of Art; it just started up last weekend, and runs through July 12. There's a broad selection of samples on display, and most of this $29.95 hardcover's 144 pages are handed over to presenting plates, accompanied by little biographical details. The package also includes essays by Jay Lynch, curators James Danky & Denis Kitchen, Patrick Rosenkranz, Trina Robbins and Paul Buhle, mostly for the purposes of broad, somewhat scattered overviews, which I suppose is an occupational hazard of an exhibition so wide in scope. From Abrams ComicArts.
Tank Girl Remastered Vols. 1 + 2 (of 3): We'll start off a long list of odd reprints this week with some easy interest - a pair of 128-page Titan Books collections of vintage Alan Martin & Jamie Hewlett shorts, printed in glorious black & white or color and arranged in a proper chronology, with rare drawings and bonus comments. They're $14.95 each.
Cerebus Archive #1: But some artists like to handle the reprints themselves. Case in point: this new bi-monthly Dave Sim project (to alternate months with glamourpuss), scooping up all sorts of odds 'n ends into pamphlet-format presentations. Expect early comics, drawings, rejection notices, letters and probably just about anything. It's $3.00.
Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery Archives Vol. 1: Yeah, I suppose they'll all be back. This is a Gold Key series I think started out as a 1962-63 continuation of a television series, Boris Karloff Thriller, which shifted after two issues into the more comics-original Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery, which ran until 1980. This Dark Horse Archives edition -- 256 pages for $49.95 -- collects the two extant Thriller issues and the first two Tales of Mystery, featuring art by Jerry Robinson, Mike Sekowski, Dan Spiegle and Don Heck, among others. Preview. And if you've got another $49.95 handy, this week also brings Creepy Archives Vol. 3, featuring Johnny Craig, Steve Ditko, Gray Morrow, Angelo Torres, John Severin, Reed Crandall, Joe Orlando, Gene Colan, Neal Adams, Gil Kane and Frank Frazetta, but no Boris Karloff to my knowledge.
Wally Wood: Edge of Genius: Dramatic as it sounds, Edge of Genius is actually a brand utilized by Pure Imagination to denote their 'early works' softcovers for various artists, which "will not be their best work in all of its glory," as the hype resounds. Still, it's 160 b&w pages of rarely-seen horror, sci-fi, western and romance stuff, 1950-54. It's $25.00.
Pherone: Huh, this is a new $24.99, 104-page Image collection of a story that ran in Heavy Metal in 2007, a b&w and color thing about a spy undergoing a possible psychological breakdown. From writer/artist Viktor Kalvachev, with co-writers Patrick Baggatta & Jim Sink. Preview, concept art and much more here.
Alias Ultimate Collection Vol. 1: I haven't read any of this well-regarded 2001-04 Brian Michael Bendis/Michael Gaydos superhero-crime MAX series -- just kinda slipped through the cracks while I was just starting to read comics regularly again -- but interested parties that didn't want to shell out for the hardcover omnibus can now get half of the material (issues #1-15) in a fat trade paperback. If the presumedly concluding second volume also costs $34.99, the whole thing will pan out to exactly one cent less than the hardcover, and you will literally thank the heavens you waited.
Point Blank: Ah, and speaking of superhero-crime series for mature readers I haven't read - this is writer Ed Brubaker's 2002-03 WildC.A.T.s spin-off, almost entirely known today as a prelude of sorts to his Sleeper project with Sean Phillips, which (if only in terms of steady collaboration) led into the likes of Criminal and Incognito. However, while Phillips does provide a new cover for this edition, be aware that the interior artist is actually Colin Wilson. It's 128 pages for $14.99; samples here.
Young Liars #15: You'll be happy to know, however, that I'm not a man of the past; there's plenty of comics I fail to read today too, like this increasingly beloved Vertigo series from writer/artist David Lapham, recently slated for cancellation as of issue #18. I greatly enjoyed the Mindless Ones' interview with Lapham last week, though, which goes into some good detail about the series' particulars.
Fin Fang Four Return!: Woah, a second Roger Langridge comic in as many weeks? Just the potential for this is reason enough for the pamphlet to endure! This one's a $3.99 Marvel special, co-written by Scott Gray, concerning the exciting and serious teaming of various classic monsters (Fin Fang Foom, Googam, etc.) all shrunk down to human size and made to live among us. Shenanigans and/or hi-jinx expected. Look and see.
Power Girl #1: New ongoing, noteworthy for the presence of the always-fun Amanda Connor on art. Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray. Visions.
The Boys #30: Apparently a take-a-break issue in which the not inconsiderable mayhem of the prior storyline is surveyed. Also: children thrown out of an airplane. There's also supposed to be an all-star pin-up backmatter gala of some sort, which might suggest an abridged frontmatter, but I don't know for sure. Still only $2.99.
The Zombies That Ate the World #3 (of 8): DDP/Humanoids, Guy Davis & Jerry Frissen. Comedic consumption.
Seaguy: The Slaves of Mickey Eye #2 (of 3): I didn't comment on the first issue of this, basically because I didn't think I had anything substantive to say; it was a nice, smooth return to Grant Morrison's & Cameron Stewart's amused-to-tears superhero world, albeit one came off a bit as reiterating the themes from the first series veeeeeeeery sloooooooooly, so as to get everyone on the same page. Here's where it should get complicated (again), and I'm looking forward to it.
LAST WEEK'S REVIEWS:
L: Change the WorLd and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (two motion pictures, two superhuman leads, two approaches to fan-service)
At comiXology, of course.
*Keeping on, forward -
THIS WEEK IN COMICS!
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century #1 (of 3): 1910: Hey, that wasn't so late at all. Yes, it's Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill, back in high comics style as the lamentable Edwardian incarnation of the literary super-team proves itself prone to misdirection and futility in the face of the violence of the new 20th century. Featuring Jack the Ripper, unexpected issue(s), mayhem, Iain Sinclair and Peter O'Toole references, an Aleister Crowley stand-in threatening to blast someone with his wand, precisely 1,254,559 allusions to The Threepenny Opera (including four delightful new songs), and so very much more. Published by Top Shelf & Knockabout Comics; only $7.95 for 80 big color pages. Preview here; my review here.
Monologues for Calculating the Density of Black Holes: The second in Anders Nilsen's Monologues series with Fantagraphics, "[a] creatively experimental laboratory, comprising a collection of free flowing stream-of-consciousness gags, strips, and drawings that slowly coalesce into an unexpectedly compelling and complex narrative." That means 400 pages of color doodling and philosophical picture-work in a 5" x 8" package. No more adventurous a way to spend $22.99 in comics monies this week. Slideshow preview at the link.
The Eternal Smile: Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese was one of the early books that brought publisher First Second a bunch of popular attention, so I'm sure everyone was anticipating this follow-up, a collection of three new stories created with artist Derek Kirk Kim. Your $16.95 will get you 176 color pages. Preview.
Underground Classics: The Transformation of Comics into Comix: Being essentially an exhibition catalog for a show of the same title at the Chazen Museum of Art; it just started up last weekend, and runs through July 12. There's a broad selection of samples on display, and most of this $29.95 hardcover's 144 pages are handed over to presenting plates, accompanied by little biographical details. The package also includes essays by Jay Lynch, curators James Danky & Denis Kitchen, Patrick Rosenkranz, Trina Robbins and Paul Buhle, mostly for the purposes of broad, somewhat scattered overviews, which I suppose is an occupational hazard of an exhibition so wide in scope. From Abrams ComicArts.
Tank Girl Remastered Vols. 1 + 2 (of 3): We'll start off a long list of odd reprints this week with some easy interest - a pair of 128-page Titan Books collections of vintage Alan Martin & Jamie Hewlett shorts, printed in glorious black & white or color and arranged in a proper chronology, with rare drawings and bonus comments. They're $14.95 each.
Cerebus Archive #1: But some artists like to handle the reprints themselves. Case in point: this new bi-monthly Dave Sim project (to alternate months with glamourpuss), scooping up all sorts of odds 'n ends into pamphlet-format presentations. Expect early comics, drawings, rejection notices, letters and probably just about anything. It's $3.00.
Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery Archives Vol. 1: Yeah, I suppose they'll all be back. This is a Gold Key series I think started out as a 1962-63 continuation of a television series, Boris Karloff Thriller, which shifted after two issues into the more comics-original Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery, which ran until 1980. This Dark Horse Archives edition -- 256 pages for $49.95 -- collects the two extant Thriller issues and the first two Tales of Mystery, featuring art by Jerry Robinson, Mike Sekowski, Dan Spiegle and Don Heck, among others. Preview. And if you've got another $49.95 handy, this week also brings Creepy Archives Vol. 3, featuring Johnny Craig, Steve Ditko, Gray Morrow, Angelo Torres, John Severin, Reed Crandall, Joe Orlando, Gene Colan, Neal Adams, Gil Kane and Frank Frazetta, but no Boris Karloff to my knowledge.
Wally Wood: Edge of Genius: Dramatic as it sounds, Edge of Genius is actually a brand utilized by Pure Imagination to denote their 'early works' softcovers for various artists, which "will not be their best work in all of its glory," as the hype resounds. Still, it's 160 b&w pages of rarely-seen horror, sci-fi, western and romance stuff, 1950-54. It's $25.00.
Pherone: Huh, this is a new $24.99, 104-page Image collection of a story that ran in Heavy Metal in 2007, a b&w and color thing about a spy undergoing a possible psychological breakdown. From writer/artist Viktor Kalvachev, with co-writers Patrick Baggatta & Jim Sink. Preview, concept art and much more here.
Alias Ultimate Collection Vol. 1: I haven't read any of this well-regarded 2001-04 Brian Michael Bendis/Michael Gaydos superhero-crime MAX series -- just kinda slipped through the cracks while I was just starting to read comics regularly again -- but interested parties that didn't want to shell out for the hardcover omnibus can now get half of the material (issues #1-15) in a fat trade paperback. If the presumedly concluding second volume also costs $34.99, the whole thing will pan out to exactly one cent less than the hardcover, and you will literally thank the heavens you waited.
Point Blank: Ah, and speaking of superhero-crime series for mature readers I haven't read - this is writer Ed Brubaker's 2002-03 WildC.A.T.s spin-off, almost entirely known today as a prelude of sorts to his Sleeper project with Sean Phillips, which (if only in terms of steady collaboration) led into the likes of Criminal and Incognito. However, while Phillips does provide a new cover for this edition, be aware that the interior artist is actually Colin Wilson. It's 128 pages for $14.99; samples here.
Young Liars #15: You'll be happy to know, however, that I'm not a man of the past; there's plenty of comics I fail to read today too, like this increasingly beloved Vertigo series from writer/artist David Lapham, recently slated for cancellation as of issue #18. I greatly enjoyed the Mindless Ones' interview with Lapham last week, though, which goes into some good detail about the series' particulars.
Fin Fang Four Return!: Woah, a second Roger Langridge comic in as many weeks? Just the potential for this is reason enough for the pamphlet to endure! This one's a $3.99 Marvel special, co-written by Scott Gray, concerning the exciting and serious teaming of various classic monsters (Fin Fang Foom, Googam, etc.) all shrunk down to human size and made to live among us. Shenanigans and/or hi-jinx expected. Look and see.
Power Girl #1: New ongoing, noteworthy for the presence of the always-fun Amanda Connor on art. Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray. Visions.
The Boys #30: Apparently a take-a-break issue in which the not inconsiderable mayhem of the prior storyline is surveyed. Also: children thrown out of an airplane. There's also supposed to be an all-star pin-up backmatter gala of some sort, which might suggest an abridged frontmatter, but I don't know for sure. Still only $2.99.
The Zombies That Ate the World #3 (of 8): DDP/Humanoids, Guy Davis & Jerry Frissen. Comedic consumption.
Seaguy: The Slaves of Mickey Eye #2 (of 3): I didn't comment on the first issue of this, basically because I didn't think I had anything substantive to say; it was a nice, smooth return to Grant Morrison's & Cameron Stewart's amused-to-tears superhero world, albeit one came off a bit as reiterating the themes from the first series veeeeeeeery sloooooooooly, so as to get everyone on the same page. Here's where it should get complicated (again), and I'm looking forward to it.
Labels: this week in comics
posted by Jog at 11:59 PM
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