Trout #2
NEW ARRIVALS (AND DEPARTURES):
This is the new stuff for
the month. It may be mostly the things that I am ordering and why I think you
should consider them too, but it will almost certainly include a few digs at
offerings that boggle the mind in some way.
Cannon God Exaxxion (Dark Horse) - I haven't read much from Kenichi Sonoda, but the pitch and
early art for this one look like fun. I'd rather buy it in trade format, so I'll
be skipping the single issues, but I'll probably give this one a try when the
trades come out. It sounds like giant robots and other self-aware manga cliches,
and should be a lot of fun.
Diablo: Tales of Sanctuary (Dark Horse) - While I'm disappointed that Francisco Ruiz Velasco, the creator of Battle Gods: Warriors of the Chaak, is following up that inventive and fun series with a licensed project, I can't really argue with his choice. Diablo is a big name project, and as a fan of the videogame myself, I must admit to some curiosity as to how Velasco and writers Phil Amara and Dave Land will tackle the material. The solicitation makes it sound very much like something that will bore fans of the videogame who are already familiar with the character archetypes, but perhaps I'll be wrong and it will capture the fun of both Battle Gods and Diablo.
Advance Graphic Novel Solicitations (Dark Horse) - Just like Marvel, Dark Horse is advance soliciting some of their trades, and this time out the selection is pretty great. Grendel: Devil's Legacy is the first in what should be a series collecting the classic Grendel stories, and there's also a new volume of absurdist humor comic Too Much Coffee Man and a new illustrated Hellboy novel by Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola.
Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth (DC) - I've had mixed reactions to the now traditional Paul
Dini/Alex Ross oversized collaborations that come around holiday time, but I'm
glad DC is still doing them. They make terrific gifts, they are gorgeous art
objects, and every now and then one of them delivers a story I really like. I'm
curious to see the take that Dini will have on Wonder Woman, and anxious to see
more truly enormous paintings from Ross.
Grip: The Strange World of Men (Vertigo) - I'm no big fan of Jaime Hernandez, having been unimpressed with the little Love & Rockets (and spinoffs) that I've read. The pitch for this one doesn't really grab me either, but I have to admit that it sounds like fun for fans of Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol or Peter Milligan's Enigma, with a lot of bizarre surroundings and plot
occurrences.
JLA/Haven: Arrival (DC) - I'm rooting for this book largely because it's a tale of a couple unknowns made good, which means new talent for the industry and reminds me of the much-beloved (and missed) Chase. Ariel Olivetti's artwork, especially done in the painted style he used for the X-Man covers, is gorgeous, and the basic idea, of an alien city landing in the middle of modern America, is one that intrigues me as well and has all kinds of potential. The JLA connection may make or break the series as folks either embrace something new because their love for the JLA drew them to it or pass it over because it's "yet another JLA spin-off." Personally, I'm hoping that the JLA
connection will draw in big enough numbers to give the creators time to tell
their stories, and hoping even more that they'll deliver on all the potential in
the concept.
Hardcovers (DC) - While I'm glad to see strides being made in the field of original graphic novels, I'm disappointed in most of the offerings we've had so far, which tend to come from talent beloved by DC editorial but not really "hot" in terms of market awareness. I'm also disappointed that DC continues to go for the hardcover treatment first, because while I love the hardcover format, it's something I love sparingly due to the cost. It's got to cut down on initial orders, as it seems folks are unlikely to risk $25 or more when they know that in a few months, they can risk about $10 less for the same material but with a softcover. At any rate, JLA: Riddle of the Beast and Green Lantern: Legacy-The Last Will and Testament of Hal Jordan both have interesting elements to them (the latter especially, for me), but I'll be one of those waiting for the softcover before trying them out. And I think that The Deadman Collection is a nifty idea, but I think the character is a little obscure, and I don't think this $75 deluxe set is going to go over as well as last year's equivalent, the reprinting of the Green Arrow/Green Lantern classics.
Trades (DC) - I have complaints about DC and Marvel as far as their trade production, but with DC, it's largely a matter of their seemingly random choices for what gets collected and how long it takes for the collections. They're getting around to some long-awaited stuff this month, though, and unlike Marvel, I know they'll be printed in sufficient quantities for every retailer who orders them and that they'll stay in print for a good long time. This month features the softcover version of the second half of Planetary (Planetary: The Fourth Man), the first Monarchy trade (The Monarchy: Bullets Over Broadway), the next 100 Bullets (finally!) and a surprise collection of Steven Grant's "Green Lantern through the ages" stories in Legends of the DC Universe with Green Lantern: Traitor. If I didn't already have all of the issues, I'd be picking up Planetary, 100 Bullets and Traitor, although I have to admit that it's too late for Monarchy to recapture my interest at this
point, and we'll see if the trade gives the series sales momentum or serves as a
nail in the coffin.
Justice League Adventures (DC) - I attended the San Diego Con panel showing previews and
character designs from the Justice League cartoon, and it's fair to say that
Bruce Timm and company are going to do something really, really cool. The
tradition for DC has been to deliver pretty good comic book versions of the
animated series, and the Justice League seems to be no exception, with a story
written by Ty Templeton, who did one of the best runs on the Batman animated
comic and who rarely lets me down.
The Authority: Widescreen (Wildstorm) - Much like the Wildstorm Summer Special, this has some draw for the diehard Authority fans (instead of creator Warren Ellis coming
back, this time it's Bryan Hitch) and a generally good pedigree, but it just
doesn't spark much interest in me. I'm sure it'll be a solid effort, but my
interest in the Authority has begun to wane with the scheduling difficulties and
creative team switches, and though I may love Hitch's artwork, I don't know
anything at all about his writing.
Inferno: Hellbound (Image/Top Cow) - This has a really nice teaser and great concept, but neither Silvestri or Wohl are what I would call exceptional writers, and I'm far more interested in the writing than I am in the art or even the concept. It may be a decent read, and with Dwayne Turner's art it'll certainly be pretty, but I don't hold out hope for it to be great, so I probably will give it a pass. Also, Top Cow really needs to start figuring out when they solicit whether a book is ongoing or limited, and telling retailers. There's no indication for this or No Honor: Makyo #1, and Felon is listed as a 4-issue mini when my understanding
was that it was an ongoing.
Tomb Raider/Witchblade and other stories TP (Image/Top Cow) - In addition to two Tomb Raider/Witchblade crossovers, this includes some of the most forgettable comics Top Cow has done, the weak video-game tie-ins for Legacy of Kain and Fear Effect. Other than having a certain mass market appeal since they're all video game tie-ins, I don't see much of a thematic similarity between Tomb Raider, Kain and Fear Effect, and I think it's a bit disingenuous to title this "Tomb Raider/Witchblade" rather than a
better title that indicates it's essentially a collection of licensed videogame
material.
U.S. War Machine TP (Marvel) - Y'all know that I'm a Marvel booster, and I'll be the first to
admit that they get a lot of unfair heat from retailers and fans with grudges.
But the way this was handled was horrendous, first asking retailers and fans to
take a huge risk with an untested format and writer/artist and then cutting the
knees out from under sales by soliciting the trade before the series has even
shipped a single one of its weekly issues but after retailers have ordered four
(and possibly eight) of them. That said, I'll be ordering this, at nearly 300
pages for $15, but I'll also be canceling my orders for the weekly issues if it
doesn't mean forcing my retailer to eat the costs. I'm all for quick
collections, but I'm also for warning the retailers that this is going to happen
so they can order accordingly.
Elektra & Wolverine: The Redeemer #1 (Marvel) - This one should have been an original graphic novel, and what's
odd is that the solicitation text refers to it as such a few times, making me
wonder if the switch to a limited series was a last-minute thing. Because while
Rucka's prose is terrific, these illustrated prose projects really don't work in
a serial medium, and Yoshitaka Amano is one of those rare artists whose ability
to sell original graphic novels has been proven. However, complaints about the
format aside, this is espionage/adventure story sounds right up Rucka's alley,
and I'm sure Amano's illustrations will be beautiful. I'm there for the
inevitable collection, maybe even a hardcover if we're lucky.
Trades (Marvel) - Of course, I can't complain too much about Marvel's trade program, because they're providing me with all the stories I want in the format I prefer. This month alone, there's the collection of Banner, Straczynski's Amazing Spider-Man and Ultimate Spider-Man volume 2. The latter two are actually due in December, as Marvel is giving retailers an extra month of warning by advance soliciting their trades. And though I'm not buying all of them, I have to admit that Marvel's bulking-up of the trade line continues, with a collection of early Thunderbolts, an Essential Dr. Strange by Steve Ditko, the Crossover Classics and several others.
Just A Pilgrim TP (Black Bull) - It's not Ennis or Ezquerra at their finest, but what I have
read and what I've heard make me curious enough to pick up a trade paperback,
especially at a reasonable $12.99 for 128 full-color pages.
Sky Ape: Waiting for Crime TP (AiT/Planet Lar) - Also in Features today, you'll find the
Two-in-One review that Don and I have done for the first volume of Sky Ape. After you've read that, you'll understand why
I'm enthusiastic to see this new volume come out. Bizarre, imaginative,
well-drawn and outrageously funny, I'm glad to see these creators serving up
another dose of Sky Ape.
Accounts Deceivable CD (Comics Conspiracy) - I had no idea that the comics like Taxman or The Exec were in
the same shared universe. It sounds more interesting when these concepts are
tied together, and I have to admit to some curiosity about all of the books
previously solicited. This is an intriguing idea, putting all three issues of
the comics as well as a soundtrack and background material, but $19.95 seems a
tad pricey. If this were under the $10 mark or better yet, around $6.95 or so,
I'd probably pick it up.
Classwar (Com.X) - This is the first book Com.X has printed which interests me at all. It sounds like the equivalent of the revolutionary Channel Zero mixed with super-heroes and intrigue, and
though the creators are unfamiliar names, I have to admit to some curiosity
based on the premise. I do wish that with the full page ad that Com.X took out
(two pages, actually) that they could have provided something more in the way of
sample art, but they did get the feel of the book and the premise across pretty
well with what they used.
Murder Me Dead HC (El Capitan Books) - I've already bought the series, so I won't be investing in the hardcover, but if you haven't read this tale of murder and mystery, you owe it to yourself to pick this up. Lapham's story has been incredible, and his other collections of Stray Bullets have all been really nicely done, so I
think you can expect a great story and a great package out of this graphic
novel.
The Vampire Brat, and Other Tales of Supernatural Law TP (Exhibit A Press) - It's good to see another collection of this series on the way as well. Collecting a classic run of stories that included parodies of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ally McBeal, Batton Lash continues to mix pop-cultural references, EC-style story and art and the occasional pun into a consistently entertaining book. If you haven't read Supernatural Law before, this is as good a starting
point as any, because while Lash does tell a story with continuing characters
and subplots, the main plots are always accessible.
Quimby the Mouse HC (Fantagraphics) - I'll be honest, I wasn't all that enamored of Jimmy Corrigan, but everyone else on the planet seems to think it's genius, including a lot of the mainstream press. So whether it's to my particular taste or not, I'd be remiss in not pointing out Chris Ware's newest collection of stories from his Acme Novelty Library series. I'm certain that the book will be enjoyable to all those who enjoyed Jimmy Corrigan, and will bring a little more
respectability and attention to comics, and I have to respect that.
Hate Annual #2 (Fantagraphics) - I'm also a latecomer to Peter Bagge's work, but I read the
Hate! annual from last year and found it absolutely hysterical and generally
enjoyable. The mixtures of Bagge's outrageous characters and the use of comic
book storytelling for music journalism from the Suck.com site made for a
terrific read and an example of the potential of comics, and I look forward to
another dose of Bagge's talent.
Double Take #6 (Funk-O-Tron) - If this was the all Matt Fraction/Andy Kuhn show, I'd be picking this up strictly for Rex Mantooth, Kung-Fu Gorilla. As is, even knowing that I wasn't wild about Codeflesh, the other half of the book, I'm still tempted. Fraction's unique sense of humor and writing style will no doubt come through in this strange and hilarious concept, and Kuhn did some really nice (if little seen) work on Spider-Man Unlimited, among other things. In addition, the Funk-O-Tron guys produce Battle Pope, a comic I really enjoyed, so I hope that
this does well for all involved.
McCandless & Company: Dead Razor GN (Mandalay Books) - I don't know much about this one, except that it's an original graphic novel with a crime/detective story from the publishers of Tales of the Cherokee, which I am enjoying so far. Given the price point, $7.95 for 64 pages, I'm a little leery, but the concept of a dead rock-n-roll star and the investigation into the death is a really intriguing premise, and I'm inclined to give the graphic novel a shot based on the strength of Tales of the Cherokee
and my innate interest in the genre.
Queen & Country #5 (Oni Press) - For those who skipped Queen & Country because the artwork of Steve Rolston didn't work for you, this issue
provides another jumping-on point. If you haven't seen previews of Rebecca
Woods's art, just trust me that it's fantastic stuff, and you all know by now
that Rucka is a great writer and that this is some of his best work.
Jingle Belle Jubilee One-Shot (Oni Press) - To be honest, Jingle didn't really do much for me at first, but she's been growing on me with every special, and The Mighty Elves hooked me for sure. This one sounds
like a lot of fun, with some really unusual supporting characters and artwork by
Steve Rolston, Bill Morrison, J. Bone and comics veteran Dan DeCarlo.
Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius Monkey Tales Vol. 3 TP (Oni Press) - If you've been reading my reviews for any length of time, you know that Barry Ween has always been a favorite, and this latest series is really one of the
best. Though this collects only the first half of the story, each issue
collected is a standalone tale and they are all hilariously funny, even as they
move forward the story of Barry, Jeremy, Sarah and Roxy, the newest member of
the cast.
Two Over Ten #1 (Second To Some Studios) - What I've read of Maxim, I haven't liked. But I think it's interesting that a mainstream magazine writer is launching his own comic, and I like that the stories sound like non-super-hero stuff. It may be juvenile pandering along the lines of what I usually expect from Maxim, but
it may also be fun, and whatever else, maybe it'll bring a few more people into
a comics shop so we can seduce them with 100 Bullets or other books.
Transformers Vol. 2: End of the Road GN (Titan) - Though I was never as big of a fan of Transformers as I was of G.I. Joe, I did enjoy the characters and stories. So I'm giving in to nostalgia
and picking this up in softcover, hoping that all the good things I heard about
Furman's writing on the book is true. So far, Titan hasn't let me down with the
reprints they've been producing lately.
PICK OF THE MONTH:
If
I were only going to order one thing for this month, this would be it.
Catwoman (DC) - I can't believe I'm looking forward to an ongoing Catwoman series as much as this, but the Brubaker/Cooke backups in Detective have been incredible, and the teaser art for the series in the Previews is also fantastic. Rather than simply a pandering T & A book (you can go to former artist Jim Balent's self-published Tarot for that now), the creative
team is cooking up an atmospheric noir tale of the underworld and gray morality,
and I think it's going to be one of the best new series of the year.
Email Randy Lander comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
