Down The Line - Previews review for November 2003 - Part Two by Randy Lander & Dave Farabee One is the loneliest number... so we're back with part two of the September edition of Down The Line, with Randy and co-host Dave Farabee. This time out, we're covering the back half of the Previews catalog, which is where a lot of the really interesting (and often very weird) stuff happens. The high concept of these Previews reviews and part one can all be found HERE. As with the first part, my comments will be the normal type, and Dave's will be in yellow. Pre-ordering is your friend. If there's stuff you want in November, letting your retailer know before the end of September is the best way to make sure you get it. INDY PICKS OF THE MONTH: The Matrix Comics Volume 1 TP (Redpill Studios) - RANDY: Though I was a little disappointed in The Matrix Reloaded like many people (though not crushingly disappointed like most people), I'm thrilled to see The Matrix comics from the website finally getting a print edition. The names on these comics were terrific, a great spread of mainstream and indy talent, and most of the comics I really loved. I'm looking forward to a multi-volume set that includes all of the comics from the website and more, and volume one kicks things off in November. There's an excellent article about the production of this comic located HERE. Really can't wait to have these in printed format... I may write for the web, but I still want printed copies of my comics. DAVE: I'd actually like to see some long-form Matrix comics released one of these days, but there's no denying the talent on these one-shots, and I'm especially fond of the Paul Chadwick story that circulated to promote this collection. Hats off to the Wachowski brothers for their success at maintaining quality while branching off their high concept into other media (cheap plug: buy The Animatrix!). Phoenix Volume 3: Yamato Space TP (Viz) - DAVE: For those that don't know about 'em, the Phoenix stories are a series of interrelated past and future epics from Japan's one-man answer to Jack Kirby and Walt Disney, the genius Osamu Tezuka. These are stories of war, religion, love, courage, loyalty, and death. There's surprising depth to them, despite their adventure trappings, made all the wilder as a result of being drawn in Tezuka's signature cartoony style (he's the creator of Astro Boy, y'know!). They're bizarre and amazing, and I count the previous two volumes among the best graphic novels I've read in recent years. This is manga for people who don't usually read manga. RANDY: The first Phoenix volume is what really opened my eyes to Tezuka, and even though I've been a little disappointed in some of his earlier stuff (Lost World, Metropolis), his work on Phoenix remains very impressive. This is the kind of thing that defines the medium, and as Dave says, should go in your collection even if it's the only manga to sit on your shelf. (Well, OK... the only manga besides Uzumaki, which everyone should also own.) Codeflesh TP (AIT/Planet Lar) - RANDY: Codeflesh is the tale of a super-powered bounty hunter which had two publishers and shared a split book with Larry Young's The Bod. I wasn't terribly taken with it in serial format, but the more violent, gritty style reminds me of my favorite Casey work like Wildcats, and the artwork by Charlie Adlard was sweeeet. Demo #1 (AIT/Planet Lar) - RANDY: Demo is a comic by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan. That alone has piqued my interest, but the fact that it's both monthly comics and super-heroes, two things AIT/Planet Lar generally won't touch, says to me that this must be a special project for the creators and the publisher. Very curious to see how the sensibilities of Wood, Cloonan and the Planet Lar crowd mesh with super-heroes... aside from a brief and very solid stint on Generation X, Wood's stuff has mostly been in the more "indy" vein. Peanutbutter & Jeremy's Best Book Ever TP (Alternative Comics) - DAVE: I got a sample of James Kochalka's hilarious, childlike Peanutbutter & Jeremy stories in one of the indie sampler comics from Free Comic Book Day, and it was probably my favorite discovery of that event. The short version: these are the cartoony adventures of a cat and a crow, and their antics will take you back to the strange days of childhood when a string of cut-downs could be wittily deflected with the simple comeback: "No. You are." It's laugh-out-loud weirdness. RANDY: I've read the Free Comic Book Day Peanutbutter & Jeremy story, as well as the Nest and Window Exchange comic, and I can't wait to buy this collection. Kochalka is always fun, but this one sits up there with Monkey vs. Robot and Sketchbook Diaries as some of his best (and funniest) work, and it also happens to be something that's safe for the kiddies as well as amusing for the adults. Bombaby: The Screen Goddess #1 (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor Graphics) - DAVE: The solicatation for this caught my attention with really sharp color art that reminded me of the animation-style art of Kyle Baker. The premise involves a woman named Sangeeta who may be a reincarnation of India's ancient protector, which is quirky, but no more so than most comics. Could be interesting. RANDY: Yep, that piece of art does get the attention, and there's a preview up HERE that is just as impressive. Slave Labor seems to have picked another winner with Bombaby. Seamonsters & Superheroes #1 (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor Graphics) - RANDY: I'm a big fan of Scott Mills's stuff, from his mini-comics to his graphic novels (although I still haven't picked up The Masterplan yet, mostly because someone, whose name I won't mention but who is co-writing this column with me, keeps forgetting to order it for me), so it's neat to see him branching out to another publisher and getting his work in front of another segment of the small press audience. The solicitations name-check Dork and Eightball, two single creator anthologies I like, and if you need more convincing, there's a preview to be found HERE. DAVE: Oh, you whiny old woman. I ordered your little Masterplan comic last Monday, even though the title made it sound like some kind of Nazi comic. What would Captain America think, Randy? RANDY: These days? He'd probably sit around whining about it for about four issues before finally giving some kind of stupid speech about how we're letting the terrorists win. Then he'd mope for the cover. Oh, how I hate the current Captain America series. Wow, that was a bit of a tangent, huh? OK, to sum up: No. You are. Mighty Crusaders Volume 1: Origin of a Super Team TP (Archie Comics) - DAVE: I've got a strong fondness for the campy superhero comics of the 60's, and I've been curious about these Archie superheroes ever since I completely ignored DC's failed attempt to revive 'em in the 90's! Their names: The Shield, The Black Hood, The Coment, The Fly, and...heh...Fly Girl. This may be the only comic from the Archie line that I've ever been interested in. Ruule: Ganglords of Chinatown #1 (Beckett Entertainment) - RANDY: While in San Diego, I looked at some of the artwork for this post-apocalyptic tale of Mongol bikers, and it's just drop-dead gorgeous. Mike Hawthorne has outdone himself on this one, and Ivan Brandon's writing on the Terminator comics was solid, so I expect good things from Ruule. After you're done being impressed by Hawthorne's work on Queen & Country, why not pick up Ruule as well? Parts Unknown Volume 1 TP (Blue Line Production) - RANDY: I remember hearing a little buzz about this B-movie in comics form, and the name Beau Smith certainly catches my eye. He's the head honcho of IDW, one of the cool cutting-edge publishers in the industry, and though I've read far too little of his work, whenever his name comes up in conversation, people tell me how good his work was on earlier stuff like this and Guy Gardner. I might have to check this one out and see what I think. Radioactive Man: The Movie Adaptation (Bongo Comics) - DAVE: Remember the classic Simpsons episode that featured the filming of the Radioactive Man movie? "Up and Atom!" That's the one. Well this special from Bongo comics will reveal the finished product of that filming - the origin of Radioactive Man and sidekick, Fallout Boy! Okay, these comics just can't match the early years of the cartoon for wit, but they're usually pretty fun, and almost certainly superior to the show as it currently stands. RANDY: Wow, is that damning with faint praise: "It's better than the current sucky incarnation of The Simpsons." I'll go a step further and note that Batton Lash, the talent behind Supernatural Law and a pretty funny guy, is writing this one, and that there's just all kinds of gag potential in seeing the movie that finally turned up from the disastrous filming we saw on The Simpsons. Here's hoping it's played less like a straight-on movie adaptation with jabs at comic-book sensibilities and more with a little bit of Hollywood insider gags as well. Chimera Vol. 1 TP (CG Entertainment) - DAVE: I haven't read this sci-fi miniseries from CrossGen yet, so nothing to say about the story, but what catches my eye is that the trade has over 30 pages of bonus material. CrossGen did a similarly jam-packed trade of the first DemonWars series, and it was one of the nicest collections I've seen all year. Definitely a trend I like, and since I do remember Chimera having amazing computer-assisted art, I'm sure the bonus stuff will look very sharp. RANDY: I never did get around to reading the last issue of this one, but I did really enjoy the story of the first three issues, and the artwork is simply beautiful to look at. Which I guess explains the decision to put this one out at full (and more expensive) size as opposed to the Traveler size, although I'll admit that I'd rather have just had it direct to the shrinky (and cheaper) format. Way of the Rat Traveler Vol. 1 (CG Entertainment) - RANDY: I love the Traveler format. Love it. And Way of the Rat remains my favorite of the Crossgen books, at least until El Cazador comes out and I can see if it lives up to all the hype. So I'm very pleased to see a Traveler edition of Way of the Rat solicited. I'm also very interested in The Path volume 2 Traveler solicited this month, since I enjoyed the first one quite a bit, although the solicitation of Meridian volume 4 in Traveler reminds me that I still need to review the first two. DAVE: Way of the Rat's my fave CrossGen book, too, so I'm happy to see a compilation to bring more folks onboard this lighthearted kung fu epic. Chuck Dixon's stories have their wacky, "Jackie Chan" moments, but they're nicely balanced by a gravity and sense of danger to the action. And the art? Let's just say that Jeff Johnson's one of the breakout talents of the last few years. Supreme: Judgment Day TP (Checker Book Publishing) - RANDY: Alan Moore. Gil Kane. Rob Liefeld? Moore's reinvention of Liefeld's Extreme universe, done in part with his work on Supreme, bursts wide open with Judgment Day, a massive crossover epic in the style of Crisis on Infinite Earths or Secret Wars, with art by Gil Kane and Rob Liefeld. As I remember it, this was a thoroughly uneven epic, not helped by Liefeld's artwork, but it was chock-full of neat ideas. And despite being pretty much irrelevant today, since all of these characters and books are long since buried, it's a good thing to have alongside the Supreme collections that Checker is doing. I'll be in heaven, however, if they can reprint the Moore/Steve Skroce Youngblood, especially if there are issues that were done but didn't see print, because I loved that book for its all-too-short run. DAVE: No love, here. Even Alan Moore's work isn't worth tiptoeing through the Liefeld Minefield. The Fixer HC (Drawn & Quarterly) - DAVE: Comicdom's resident war journalist, Joe Sacco, reveals the secrets of the "fixer," an opportunistic man who's helped him with scoops in the past and has looked for profit in reconstructionist Bosnia. I'm interested in the personal, even mercenery nature of this "fixer," as well as his role in exposing warlords and gangsters to Sacco. Gonna pick this one up. RANDY: Wait... you mean this isn't Joe Sacco's outrageous revamp of The Fixer, the dirty criminal who blasted Matt Murdock's pappy and set him down the path to becoming Daredevil? Whatta gyp!!! DAVE: Don't give Jemas and Quesada any ideas... RANDY: More seriously, I've enjoyed some of Sacco's work, especially the much-beloved Safe Area Gorazde, but when I saw the title, I had hoped he was expanding his talents into an arena other than more war journalism, like maybe boxing promotion or something else that most comics aren't written about. Still, it's not like there's a huge glut of war journalism in comics, and Sacco's work is always fantastic. Duel Masters #1 (Dreamwave) - DAVE: I'm actually scared of this book. It represents a marketing juggernaut, the comic book aspect of a Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh style multimedia blitz courtesy of Dreamwave, Hasbro, and Wizards of the Coast. Like Yu-Gi-Oh, it involves a convoluted, mystical story of a kid who's tops at playing a card game - a game that will doubtless be available at a store near you within a few months. I could guess that Duel Masters is going to be nothing more than a vacuous advertisement to "buy more stuff," but don't expect that to keep it from being a phenomenon with the kiddie set. RANDY: I'm pretty sure that by the time my daughter is old enough to get caught up in this stuff, the new gimmick will be that the action figures point weapons at you and march you to the store at gunpoint to buy the cards, comics and videos. Which is pretty much the only way you'll see me buying anything like Yu-Gi-Oh or Duel Masters. The Bloody Streets of Paris TP (I-Books) - DAVE: European comics are an aspect of the industry I don't know much about, but books like this one make me inclined to correct that. It's a World War II-era tale of a P.I. working in German-occupied France. Artist Jacques Tardi has a style that will likely appeal to fans of Eduardo Risso, and the introduction by Pulitzer Prize winner Art Spiegelman should tell you it ain't crap. RANDY: Also, I-Books has had a pretty good strike rate, from adaptations of work by Harlan Ellison and Ray Bradbury to out-of-print treasures like Guy Davis's Baker Street, all presented with fantastic production values and good pricing. Certainly this one piques my curiosity. Richard Matheson's I Am Legend (IDW) - RANDY: OK, prepare to revoke my geek credibility: I've never read I Am Legend or seen a film adaptation of it. However, the high concept, of the last man living in a world of vampires, certainly intrigues. This is, as I understand it, a reprint of long-out-of-print early Steve Niles work, adapting Richard Matheson's books into comics with art by Elman Brown. I'm curious as to whether it will be all comics or comics and prose, similar to the Vic and Blood compilation that I-Books just published. Either way, I'm not sure I'm $35 curious, but we'll see when it comes out. Certainly it's a great project to have out there, and should do gangbusters business in the bookstores. DAVE: This one's gonna depend entirely on the quality of the art for me. Grumpy Old Monsters #1 (IDW) - RANDY: Another of the books that I got to see previewed at San Diego, Grumpy Old Monsters is a comic for younger readers by novelists Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta (they've written a fair number of Star Wars-related books, but are also notable for being young readers' authors) about retired Universal-style monsters who take on land developers who want to raze Castle Frankenstein and put up condos in its place. Sounds like a lot of fun, and the artwork that I saw looked great. DAVE: I like this premise. Parents, please buy this for your kids instead of Duel Masters! Adventures of Mia #1 (Monkeysuit Press) - DAVE: Kind of odd, this one. The preview has friendly, cartoony art and a premise involving a young girl with enough passion for flying that she's able to go up against the best of the best. And yet...I see a "mature readers" label on it. Not sure what to make of that, since it looks kid-friendly otherwise, but I'd say it's worth checking out. The art reminds me of Hayao Miyazaki's style. RANDY: I recently got the chance to watch Porco Rosso, Miyazaki's story set in this same World War I era and Italian setting, with seaplanes and anthropomorphic animals, and I loved it. Mia is definitely inspired by this tale, and though I haven't had a chance to read the whole thing yet, I have looked through it and found it utterly charming and beautifully drawn. The artist's credits are impressive, he's an animator at Pixar who also worked on Ice Age, and this book is clearly a labor of love. Also, I see no indications of anything requiring a "mature readers" label, which makes me think it's a mistake on someone's end. This is kid-friendly and adult-friendly fare, and definitely one of the potential high points of November. Phantom #1 (Moonstone) - RANDY: I have a fondness for the character of The Phantom, inspired in no small part by the movie with Billy Zane that almost everyone I know hated. So while the Moonstone mini graphic novels featuring the character haven't done much for me, I'm hoping that opening up the stories with an ongoing comics format, along with solid creative talent in Ben Raab and Pat Quinn, will yield stronger stories that I'm more interested in. DAVE: I only liked Billy Zane when he was tryin' to bust a cap in Leonardo DiCaprio's ass in Titanic. Like you, though, I want to like the Phantom, so here's hoping... Last Exit Before Toll GN (Oni Press) - RANDY: Given Neal Shaffer's work on One Plus One, and the general vibe of this one, I'm expecting Last Exit Before Toll to be something of a David Lynch-ian story. It was odd to learn that there was a different artist, Chris Mitten, on this one, given that Shaffer and Krall are so entwined in my mind that I at times have mixed up which one is the writer and which one is the artist. But the early reviews have been positive, and Oni hasn't steered me wrong with any of their original graphic novels yet. DAVE: The premise - a man living a dead-end life trying to start over when an accident strands him during an out-of-state business trip - definitely has an appeal. The creative team's unknown to me, but I'll give this one a look. Jingle Belle Volume 3: Dash Away All TP (Oni Press) - RANDY: More Jingle Belle, this time in the form of an original graphic novel. The character has always been hit or miss with me, but what gets my attention here isn't the character or even the talents of her creator Paul Dini, it's artist Jose Garibaldi, whose work on Maria's Wedding just blew me away. Queen & Country #21 (Oni Press) - DAVE: A new story arc, a new artist, and one more chance for you folks out there to get on board the most criminally overlooked comic on the market. What can I say? Queen & Country remains one of the top ten books on the market, providing superior espionage thrills to most anything Hollywood will throw at you. RANDY: I'll back up everything Dave said, and also note that Mike Hawthorne's artwork was good from the start but it keeps improving with everything he does. Three Days in Europe, the romantic comedy he drew and Antony Johnston wrote, is also solicited as a trade paperback from Oni Press this month. The Complete Soulwind TP (Oni Press) - RANDY: Droooool. I already have Soulwind, in the five-volume digest format that I love so, but given how much I love Morse's work and this story as well, I'm really excited by the possibility of a big fat graphic novel that contains all of Soulwind in one place. Like Box Office Poison, Sparks and Blankets, I think this is going to be one of those huge graphic novels that everyone should own. DAVE: Nothing better than a graphic novel you can use as a bludgeoning weapon, and since I'm a fan of Morse but have never read Soulwind, it's one I'll be wielding soon. Malinky Robot #1 (Red Robot Productions) - DAVE: This comic's a winner of the Xeric Grant, which immediately draws my attention. I also like the cover art in the preview and the first issue's premise: a fishing trip in rundown city of the near future. RANDY: The name alone got my attention, but the Xeric Grant approval and the interesting cover art preview sealed the deal. This one looks like fun. Shuck Unmasked TP (Top Shelf Production) - RANDY: I got a copy of this in San Diego, and it is, as you would expect from Top Shelf, a gorgeous volume. It contains the strange tale of Shuck, a demon who has moved into a small town to get away from his previous life and who has rather unusual adventures. With a distinctive dialogue style, beautiful artwork and a strange and haunting tone, this is fantastic reading, and sure to go on my list of favorite graphic novels this year. Don and I have reviewed Shuck before, and you can find our Two in One review HERE. DAVE: Been meaning to check this one out. Tezuka's Buddha (Vertical Inc.) - DAVE: Another noteworthy Tezuka book! The ambitious premise behind this one? Nothing less than chronicling the life story of Buddha! A welcome opportunity to take in some Eastern culture that doesn't involve kung fu fightin'. RANDY: I dunno... I hear Buddha used to kick some ass in his younger days. OK, not really. But the notion of The God of Manga telling tales of Buddha is akin to Frank Miller writing about Jesus. Translation: I'm interested. And what the hell ever happened to Miller's Jesus! anyway? DAVE: I heard that Marv from Sin City crucified him, but that's not confirmed. Chip Kidd TP (Yale University Press) - RANDY: Chip Kidd is the guy who designed that kickass Batman Animated book a while back, and he's designed a whole mess of other stuff as well. This book, however, isn't just designed by him (hell, it might not even be designed by him), it's about him. Specifically, it's Chip Kidd's artwork, and it's published by Yale University Press... swanky. DAVE: Kidd's book design work is nothing short of astounding. I mean, how often do you notice a book's design work? I mean really notice it? With Kidd, I always notice, and always with great admiration. I've got the Batman book you mention as well as his collaboration with Art Spiegelman, Jack Cole and Plastic Man, and I've decided that he should design everything. This is sure to be worth a look. Sandman: King of Dreams HC (Watson-Guptill) - RANDY: Though there's already been an official Sandman Companion by Hy Bender, this hardcover book is worth noting because it's written by editor Alisa Kwitney and contains "behind-the-scenes stories, handwritten notes and interviews with Neil Gaiman." The Sandman completists will definitely want to keep an eye out for this one. Star Hawks: The Complete Series TP (Books) - DAVE: A few months ago, this volume reprinting the entirety of Gil Kane's classic space opera comic strip was issued in hardcover. If you're like me, though, you're wretchedly impoverished and may have held out for the softcover. Well it's here! RANDY: Wretchedly impoverished, Dave? Let's face facts: You blew all your money on strippers and pixie sticks. DAVE: Ah, good times. Email Randy Lander comments about this review.