She-Hulk Vol. 1: Single Green Female TPB (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Bar none, the best, funnest book Marvel has going at the moment. I love this book – LOVE THIS BOOK - as will anyone who ever loved the Marvel Universe as a shared playground with unlimited possibilities. Basic premise has She-Hulk returning to legal work for a firm representing superpowered beings exclusively, but with great art, a wild cast of Marvel Universe characters, some surprisingly touching interactions, and tongue planted firmly in cheek...it becomes something much greater than the sum of its parts. Recommended with unchecked enthusiasm. (page M79)
RANDY: The runner-up for pick of the month for me. She-Hulk is one of my absolute favorite books right now, a terrific mix of humor and superhero action. Quite possibly the best book Marvel is publishing right now. Just as I gave props to DC for recognizing a good thing with Secret Identity, I have to give it up for the guys at Marvel backing this book with a trade when the buzz isn't completely reflected in sales... yet. I remain hopeful that it's just a matter of time.
A1 Sketchbook (Atomeka) - RANDY: I have a copy of this in my hands already, got it in San Diego, and believe me when I say it's worth the ten bucks if you're an art lover. Gorgeous work from a variety of creators, including Garry Leach, Dave Johnson, Bob Burden, Ted McKeever, Alex Horley, Brian Bolland and many, many others. Also previews some upcoming Atomeka stuff, including drop-dead gorgeous design/model sheets by Dave Dorman for Wasted Lands and Burden's hilariously weird Pirate Girl. Oh, and it contains a fair amount of nudity, if you're into that kind of thing. And really, who isn't? (page 236)
DAVE: Ooh, I'm gonna *buy* this.
American Flagg! TPBs and HC (Image Comics) - DAVE: I've never much taken to Howard Chaykin's style of comic booking, but there's no doubt he was at the vanguard of hip in the '80s with his overtly political adventure series, American Flagg!. I was probably reading X-Men and Ninja Turtles at the time, so I'm gonna at least check out the first volume and see if he can impress me with this seminal work. Look for two trades – the first with a Michael Chabon intro, the second from Jim Lee – and a hardcover for you guys who already worship The Chaykin. (page 132-133)
RANDY: I've tried several times, but I just cannot get into Chaykin's work. Which means I can't convince myself to drop $20 on a trade paperback of American Flagg!, since I'm pretty sure that it's just a matter of the guy's sensibilities not matching up with mine in so many ways that his work doesn't click with me. That said, I'm still on the fence on this one, and might see if I can use the old retail job to borrow a copy and read it to see what all the fuss is about. At the very least, I have to commend Image and Dynamic Forces for reprinting this little bit of '80s comics history.
American Splendor: Our Movie Year GN (Random House) -
DAVE: You guys seen the film derived from Harvey Pekar's long-running autobiographical comic yet? If yes, then you know this account of the film being made is sure to be all kinds of surly goodness. If not, go catch the movie! It'll make you a believer. (page 329)
RANDY: It did for me, although I still haven't picked up any American Splendor comics. Maybe this one will be the first.
DAVE: Sounds to me like *someone* just hates indies...
RANDY: I do not. I just hate black and white comics. Man, why can't they colorize those things, like they did Casablanca?
Note to the sarcasm-impaired: I'm kidding. I love black and white comics, and feel as all rightly-thinking Americans do that whoever decided to colorize Casablanca should be horse-whipped.
Angeltown #1 (DC Comics/Vertigo) -
DAVE: New Vertigo series about an African-American P.I. working the mean streets of L.A. The plot sounds pretty standard, so it'll be up to writer Gary Phillips and artist Shawn Martinbrough to uphold the Vertigo name with some fancy storytelling. (page 108)
Apparat (Avatar Comics) - RANDY: I've just never been a huge fan of Avatar's offerings, even when they're got pretty solid talent backing them, but Warren Ellis, damn him, is making me want to give the company another look with his Apparat line. The central conceit is the very Ellis-ian "Modern day comic books that evolved from the 1930s pulps without the influence of super-heroes." It includes science-fiction, crime, an aviator/science heroine and a pulp adventurer in the tradition of Doc Savage and The Shadow. It's got Warren Ellis on writing (not just creating and handing off, a common Avatar practice with their big names). And it's got pretty solid art talent in Juan Jose Ryp, Jacen Burrows, Carla Speed McNeil and Laurenn McCubbin. There's too much cool potential here to pass up without a look. (page 241)
DAVE: Modern day pulps, eh? Haven't really seen that idea delivered with verve since Andy Helfer and Kyle Baker's decidedly Tarantino-esque Shadow comic of the late '80s, but I loved that book. Now Warren Ellis... not a particular favorite of mine, and at least two of the artists on this are Avatar regulars I'm not particularly fond of... but I'll give these books a chance. Possibilities, at the very least.
Astro City: Local Heroes HC (DC Comics/Wildstorm) - DAVE: You fancified big spenders with the monocles and top hats better buy this! Collects Astro City Vol. 2 #21-22, Astro City: Local Heroes #1-5, the Astro City Special, and the Astro City short story from DC's 9-11 tribute book. You dare not resist a book with the first cool hillbilly hero ever! (page 101)
RANDY: Like Dave, I'll be waiting on the trade paperback edition, but for those who have Astro City in hardcover, this is great news. Not only is it a collection of some really great stories, but it's considerably cheaper than the previous limited hardcover collections. If I wasn't all traded up on the rest of Astro City already, I might take the plunge and go for this hardcover myself.
Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes #1-2 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: The "year one" concept has gotten a little stale, and it usually involves modernizing '60s era stories in a way that just highlights how goofy they were and what a bad fit modern storytelling can be for them. There are exceptions, though, notably the work done by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, and I have reason to believe Earth's Mightiest Heroes might be one of those exceptions. Why? Well, for one thing, the artwork by Scott Kolins that I've seen looks terrific, and for another, Joe Casey wrote a pretty solid little "year one" style tale for the X-Men in Children of the Atom a few years back. If the plans for the New Avengers don't sound like your cup of tea, you might look to this miniseries for a touch of old school with a pair of thoroughly modern storytellers. (page M12)
DAVE: I thought Children of the Atom was a little morose, myself, having entirely too much angst at the expense of any of the joy that Stan and Jack brought to mutant superheroing. Loved Steve Rude's art, though. Based on the preview of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, I'm afraid I'm expecting a similar reaction to Casey's take on the Avengers. Love Kolins' art though.
Awakening GN (Oni Press) - RANDY: This sounds like a nifty little horror tale, and Neal Shaffer has shown that he can do these kind of slow-paced, atmospheric stories in One Plus One and Last Exit Before Toll. The story sounds like it mixes the serial killer hunting in a boarding school with the creepy psychological horror and "something's going on" of The Shining, and while I haven't seen much of the artist's work in previews, the small sample in the Previews looks pretty damn good. (page 326)
Batman: Gotham Knights #59 (DC Comics) - RANDY: I'm kind of off Batman right now, and the sprawling "War Games" crossover is doing nothing to bring me back, but it's worth noting that this story is by Robbie Morrison and Charlie Adlard, who created the nifty little World War I graphic novel White Death for AIT/Planet Lar. Nice cover by Jae Lee, and it features Mr. Freeze, one of the really cool bad guys of the Gotham setting. I just hope this is a one-off, and that it was done a while ago, and not an indication that Adlard is off The Walking Dead, a book that really doesn't need another artistic change. (page 57)
Bluesman #1 (Absence of Ink Comics Press) -
DAVE: I was much impressed with the evocative, Depression-era Castaways from the creative team of Rob Vollmar and Pablo Callejo, so I have every reason to expect another winning outing from them in this tale of two '30s-era blues musicions wandering the backroads of Arkansas. Though the characters are more blues than bluegrass, I suspect this would go over well with those who enjoyed the vibe they got from O Brother Where Art Thou? (page 198)
RANDY: I was also really happy with Castaways, and Bluesman sounds like another story in the same vein. Well worth a look.
Bone: One Volume Edition Limited Signed HC (Cartoon Books) - RANDY: There is just no way on Earth that I could afford this book at $125. If there was, though, you can bet your ass I'd be buying it, because I saw these at San Diego and they are one of the most beautiful hardcovers ever produced in the entire comics industry. Like a stack of two Bibles bound together, this is a gorgeous representation of the Bone saga, and, to quote Ferris Bueller, "If you have the means... I highly recommend it." (page 252)
DAVE: "Oh, he's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him."
B.P.R.D.: The Dead #1 (Dark Horse Comics) - DAVE: Man, I've just got to say the Mike Mignola and artist Guy Davis kicked some hellacious ass with their previous collaboration, B.P.R.D.: A Plague of Frogs. This time they're specifically spotlighting Abe Sapiens' origin and I'll be on this book like hellfire on brimstone. Even if that metaphor doesn't make sense, it's true. (page 26)
RANDY: Yeah, it might be heresy to say it, but I think I actually like Mignola and Davis together better than I like Mignola on writing and art, at least for the B.P.R.D. sans Hellboy. Not sure what new co-writer John Arcudi will bring to the mix, but if I had to guess, his weird sensibilities on books like Gen 13, Major Bummer and Doom Patrol will match up with B.P.R.D. just fine.
Captain America #1 (Marvel Comics) -
DAVE: Sorry to be crass, but...looks like Brubaker's getting his superhero cherry popped! Yeah, I know he's done Batman and Catwoman stories, but that's hardly the same as this Cap story featuring the Red Skull and the Cosmic frickin' Cube! Supposedly there's some big honkin' twist in this first issue of the relaunch – Bucky returning? Cap learns to swear? Who knows! – and I approach it with both trepidation and interest. Trepidation because I'd rather see Brubaker on anything BUT superheroes, interest because the guy's good at just about anything he puts his mind to and Steve "Kicks the ass of all 'hot'artists" Epting draws. (page M4)
RANDY: This is a kickass creative team that I'd rather see on something else, and I love the character of Captain America. I'm actually looking forward to this and expecting to enjoy it, but I'd be so much more excited if this were Brubaker and Epting on a crime or action story without the superhero elements. I really wish that Marvel would go a bit more down the DC route and expand beyond just the superheroes, especially with the caliber of talent in their house right now.
The Changers Progress Diary Bundle (Dream Chocolate Confections) - RANDY: Changers is a fascinating little two graphic novel story about time travel and sociological change that is very thoughtful, strange and compelling. I've previously reviewed book one and book two, and have just recently listened to the CD that comes with this bundle. The CD is a collection of creator Ezra Claytan Daniels reading diary entries that make for a fascinating insight into the creative mind. If you haven't checked out Changers yet, but you like indy comics and science-fiction, this might be worth an order. (page 286)
Creased GN (Image Comics) - RANDY: As with so many new Image books, finding any information is damned near impossible, but it appears that Creased was a webcomic about life and love. The picture with the solicitation piques my interest, and hopefully as the release date gets closer more information will be available online from the usual news sources and from the Image website. This is just to put the name in your (and my) head to check out in the future. And another gentle poke at the Image guys to get their solicitation/preview stuff up when the Previews goes out, rather than after the order deadlines have passed for the month. (page 137)
The Detonator #1 (Image Comics) - RANDY: Honestly, I've never been a huge Mike Baron fan, but this concept, which sounds like an '80s revenge movie with a '90s evil corporation, could be kind of fun. The hero has been set up for death by the corporation he worked for, and now he seeks revenge with his ability to explode things by touch. Kind of an odd concept, but the mention of "escaping via paraglider" in the solicit leads me to believe it might have a touch of action/espionage style. (page 138)
Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom Volume 1 HC (Dark Horse Comics) - RANDY: I'll admit, I don't have a great deal of personal interest in reading the original adventures of Doctor Solar, but I have to give Dark Horse the nod for their continuing commitment to diversity and to putting out older material in swanky hardcover editions. (page 22)
DAVE: Sooo...does this mean Dark Horse has the license to the modern Valiant take on the Solar and the rest of the Valiant books? I missed the boat on most of Valiant, and even though I know it wasn't exactly a peak of creativity, I'm enough of a genre geek to be interested in trades of the core material. I enjoyed what I read of X-O Manowar, Archer & Armstrong, and Magnus. Uh-oh...was that '90s nostalgia rearing its ugly head?
RANDY: Dude, I have most of the Valiant stuff, and while it's worth reading on some levels, I don't know that anybody needs to be bringing it back in trade paperback format. At any rate, nah, I don't think Dark Horse has the license for the Valiant stuff... probably just the license for the Gold Key comics that Valiant bought for their first go at a shared universe, like Solar, Turok, etc.
DAVE: Sadness.
Firebirds #1 (Image Comics) - RANDY: It's true that I don't have any real desire to write comics, but I do occasionally dabble in thought experiments about what I might write if I were a comic-book writer. Firebirds is similar to one of the ideas I had in broad strokes, that being a mother and daughter superhero-ing team, and I think Faerber's take on it has potential. I'm imagining sort of a Gilmore Girls with super-powers, and given that Faerber has tackled the soap opera mixed with superhero genre in Noble Causes, I'm curious to see him try another genre blend here. (page 139)
DAVE: Worth a look-see, yeppers. I just hope that Faerber sticks to his premise, having seen Robert Kirkman's Invincible lose steam as it's veered away from its familial hook.
Firebreather: The Iron Saint (Image Comics) - RANDY: I recently reread this book when the trade came out and loved it all over again, so I'm glad to see a follow-up one-shot. If you're one of those who is loving the buzz book Invincible, give Firebreather a try, because it's a different book, but the similarities in tone and amount of fun are unmistakable, and the creative team of Hester and Kuhn is tremendously talented. (page 140)
DAVE: Hester has blown me away with his serious work on Deep Sleeper, so I'm definitely interested to backtrack and check out his lighter work on Firebreather.
Ghosthunters #1 (Brian Boru Productions) - RANDY: Untested new projects have a tendency to disappoint, so this is a guarded recommendation, but there's potential in this concept, which sends a well-armed team into the afterlife to rescue a scientist and friend who has accidentally trapped himself in Hell. The creators come out of Hollywood (the writer has been involved with genre shows Black Sash, Time Tunnel and the fun if cheesy UC: Undercover, and the artist is a storyboard artist) which has me wondering if this is a comic or an illustrated pitch for a TV/movie option, but in the interests of fairness, I'll say that it's a neat idea and might turn out to be kind of fun. (page 250)
Gravedigger: The Scavengers #1 (Rorschach Entertainment) - RANDY: I have not read anything by Christopher Mills that I'm aware of (although the name sounds really familiar for some reason), but I do know the name Rick Burchett, and his art gives me an interest in this book. The stylish, '60s crime look of the art got my attention, and the story, about five crooks getting together for the perfect score, sounds right up my alley as well. (page 331)
DAVE: Burchett's involvement insures I'll at least give this one a look. Very nice preview art.
Hardy Boys #1 (NBM) - DAVE: Former X-Men scribe Scott Lobdell brings the Hardy Boys to comics, Lea Hernandez gives them a pseudo-manga makeover to make them palatable to a modern audience. Sounds like potential fun, though I wonder if it'll be as fun as the authentic manga mysteries in The Kindaichi Case Files (read 'em!). (page 324)
Helios #1 (Dakuwaka Productions) - RANDY: For many, what will get attention for Helios is the two-page full color ad, the promise of a full-color comic and a story that centers around a U.S. military unit policing rogue superhumans. That was all intriguing to me, but what got my attention is that the writer is Jason Rand, whose psionic/cop book Small Gods has impressed me with its two issues so far. Helios could be another promising series from Rand, and on the off chance that it isn't, Small Gods #5 starts new story arc this month as well. (page 266)
Hero Squared X-Tra Sized Special #1 (Atomeka) - RANDY: Even if I hadn't already been impressed by Atomeka's initial offerings, I'd be pointing up this one as one of the most promising offerings of this month's Previews. The writing team (Giffen & DeMatteis) of the beloved Justice League International/Formerly Known as the Justice League brings their brand of wacky superhero comedy to creator-owned characters, in this case a guy who meets his superhero variant from another universe, who promptly moves in and starts hitting on his girlfriend. Sounds like fun, and Joe Abraham, the artist, did some very beautiful work on the Image book Hellhounds. (page 236)
DAVE: Justice League International humor hasn't aged well for me, but I've still got a soft spot for the series, so I'm curious to see where Giffen and DeMatteis will take that tone with their own characters. I hope G'nort's in it.
How Loathsome TPB (NBM) - RANDY: Though the hardcover was a thing of beauty, I just didn't have the spare shekels to pick it up. Thankfully, NBM has rather quickly produced the softcover of Tristan Crane and Ted Naifeh's gender-bending tale of love, sex and drugs. I sampled only one issue before deciding I wanted to read the whole thing at once, and finally my patience will be rewarded. (page 324)
DAVE: Probably not for me, but I gave this book a gander too and was definitely impressed with the quality of the writing.
Human Target: Living in Amerika TPB (DC Comics/Vertigo) - RANDY: I enjoyed the first trade of the Human Target ongoing, but this is really what I've been waiting for: a collection of the work that Cliff Chiang did on the book. The stories here are also some of my favorites in the series, including the tale of a '60s underground group being stalked by one of its members and a great little one-off about Chance impersonating an escaped crook for one last thrill ride before he has to go inside. (page 113)
DAVE: I've really come around on this book. Gimmick premise? Yeah, but Milligan's found all kinds of wiggle-room for great stories within it, and the series has been home to some great art ta boot. Folks who like the action/crime mixture of movies like The Usual Suspects should really look into this series.
Ill Conceived #1 (Summ Publications) - RANDY: If nothing else, you've got to give these folks credit for having the guts to name a book "Ill Conceived," which is kind of like naming your book "What the hell were we thinking?" But the title actually refers to conception as in childbirth, and the book is a self-contained tale in 28 black and white pages. Horror fans, take note! (page 334)
The Intimates #1 (DC Comics/Wildstorm) - RANDY: In my opinion, Joe Casey has done his best work at Wildstorm, which is a big part of what gives me any interest in The Intimates. I also quite liked Giuseppe Camuncoli's artwork on Hellblazer, and his preview work here looks very Frank Quitely-esque, which is never a bad thing. Most, however, will be more interested because there are "comic within a comic" pages by beloved comic artist Jim Lee. At any rate, superheroes in school isn't the newest idea, and those costume designs are not terribly impressive, but the creative talent has my curiosity piqued at least. (page 97)
Iron Man #1 (Marvel Comics) -
DAVE: Marvel's latest relaunch has Warren Ellis as writer – could be good, could be boring – and computer artist Adi Granov as artist (probably boring). (page M6)
RANDY: Granov's stuff is gorgeous, aesthetically speaking, but yeah, it seems ill-suited to sequential storytelling, especially if you notice how few backgrounds there are in the preview pages. Iron Man is one of those characters who seems damn near impossible to make interesting for most writers, but Ellis's love of technology and cyberpunk sociology makes him an interesting choice for the book.
It's Only A Game Vol. 1 TPB (About Comics) - RANDY: Turns out Charles Schulz created another strip besides Peanuts, a strip that centered around the games people play, from sports to bridge. I read some of these in San Diego, and it was kind of a fun, lightweight, strip... it's not Peanuts, but it's worth a look anyway. (page 197)
JLA: Classified #1 (DC Comics) -
DAVE: A second ongoing JLA comic reeks of market oversaturation, but how can I stay mad when Grant Morrison's the writer and Ed "Superman/Batman" McGuinness is illustrating the first arc? I just can't. Morrison's winning quote regarding the series: "...it's pretty much set in some kind of current continuity but I'm afraid it's not the gloomy 'adult' world of Sue Dibny's shredded lycra pants so keep well away if it's attempted rape you crave. Cannibalism, yes, rape, no. My DCU is a day-glo, non-stop funhouse, where the world is threatened every five minutes and godlike beings clash in the skies like fireworks." (page 66)
RANDY: I have to admit, Morrison earned major points from me as well for acknowledging the silliness of including rape in a Justice League comic, but I was excited to see him coming back to the team before that. Although I had very mixed reactions to his JLA, I thought he did some really great stuff. In addition, since he's also mixing creator-owned stuff like Seaguy and We3 into the mix, I don't have my usual complaint about a super-talented creator wasting all his time in the superhero genre... this is Morrison having fun, and that fun will probably be infectious.
JSA #67 (DC Comics) - RANDY: Correct me if I'm wrong, Dave, but does this solicitation, tying JSA into Identity Crisis, indicate that Sue Dibny's corpse is guest-starring in this issue? I mean, having the JSA's smart guys and doctors play CSI sounds like an intriguing idea and all, but doesn't this seem a bit crass? (page 74)
DAVE: No, raping and killing Sue Dibny was crass. Defiling her body is just good-time fun.
RANDY: Man, are we gonna get hate mail.
Judge Dredd: Judgment Day TPB (DC Comics/2000 AD) -
DAVE: I'm sure it speaks to my lowbrow, action/adventure leanings that the first collaboration from DC/Humanoids or DC/2000 AD that I'm most interested in is this first Judge Dredd collection as opposed to all the more artsy ventures. Oh well. Suck it Moebius! Incidentally, Garth Ennis writes. (page 92)
Killer Princesses TPB (Oni Press) - RANDY: In Hollywood speak, this was a "troubled production" that took forever to finally reach completion. But when viewed as one package, it's a fun and surprisingly lurid look at airheaded sorority girls who are secretly killing machines, with acid wit by creators Gail Simone and Lea Hernandez. (page 328)
Kinetic TPB (DC Comics/Focus imprint) -
DAVE: I've got mixed feelings on this series now, but when it began it was the only book in DC's Focus line that really grabbed me. It's the heartfelt story of a teenager wracked with debilitating ailments who finds himself suddenly possessed of superhuman invulnerability. The art, by new name (at least to me) Warren Pleece is phenomenal, reminding me of Cameron Stewart's work. Buuuuut...the series is painfully slow, too. It'll almost certainly read better in trade, but I'm wavering as to whether I'll pick it up. (page 75)
RANDY: I thought Kinetic was the strongest book in the Focus imprint, but it still lost all my interest after about four issues. From a long-term point of view, I'm glad that DC is giving books that seem so clearly D.O.A. a chance at trades, because it bodes well for future "buzz" books, but my actual interest in Kinetic at this point is pretty much gone. However, I will say that if anyone out there wants a superhero comic more like the movie Unbreakable, you might give this $10 trade a shot. And I do concur on how great Pleece's art looks.
Kingdom of the Wicked (Dark Horse Comics) - RANDY: Edginton and D'Israeli put together the fantastic post-War of the Worlds science-fiction tale Scarlet Traces, also republished by Dark Horse, and I'm glad to see another collaboration from them. This one looks like a weird premise, as a popular children's author starts visiting (in his mind) his fantasy creation, which seems to be engaged in some sort of world war, and can't escape it by waking up. Sound bizarre and intriguing, and looks beautiful. (page 28)
The Losers: Double Down TPB (DC Comics/Vertigo) -
DAVE: Cool! I got behind on my Losers reading, but this book is a kick-and-a-half when it comes to R-rated action in the Die Hard tradition. Looking forward to playing catch-up! (page 114)
RANDY: That makes two "must have" trades from Vertigo for me this month.
Marvel Must-Haves: Astonishing X-Men #1-3 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: Perhaps the first "Must Have" that isn't empty hype but is in fact a much-needed reprint, as the first three issues of Astonishing X-Men have indeed sold massive numbers at a rapid pace and it's good to keep an entry point for the new readers in place as word of the comic leaks out to Whedon's fanbase. Kudos, Marvel. I'd still rather have larger print runs so that we could do reorders, like we can with almost every other company, but y'know, baby steps. (page M22)
DAVE: Now, now, Randy. Why get reprints to the fans when they're clamoring for them when you can sit on them for a few months, let the heat die down, and *then* do the reprints? Geez, man!
NOTE: The preceding sarcasm is no reflection on the actual contents of Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men, which is, in fact, ass-kickingly good.
Marvel Team-Up #1-2 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: Robert Kirkman, the hot up and comer from the Image league, moves over to Marvel for his first regular gig, and that's resurrecting Marvel Team-Up, with artist Scott Kolins. Good creative team, and the cover image, not to mention what I know of Kirkman's sensibilities, leads me to believe he'll be exploring the vast and unexplored list of Marvel's under-used characters. So who's he starting out with? Wolverine and Spider-Man, two characters you can't find anywhere else. Except, of course, in the four monthly Spider-Man titles, the Wolverine title, three X-Men titles and one X-Men miniseries, this month's X-Force... oh, and Avengers. Oy. (page M19)
DAVE: You know who would've made a cooler opener?
Anyone.
Still...good creative team. Lemme know when we start seeing the really weird, really cool mixes - Devil-Slayer and Lockjaw, She-Hulk and The Warriors Three, Sasquatch and The Collective Man...
RANDY: I think you're going to be waiting by the phone a while on those particular team-ups, Dave. Me, I'll be happy with B-listers who can't support their own series like Cloak and Dagger and Moon Knight. (Sorry, Moon Knight fans... it's true.)
Ministry of Space TPB (Image Comics) -
DAVE: Lost all interest in this Warren Ellis project during the interminable gap between issues two and three, but the trade will at least be considered based on Chris Weston's phenomenal art. Story is an alternate history scenerio with an imperialistic Britain as the ruling power of the space race. Wot. (page 147)
New Avengers #1 (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: Asks the marketing copy, clearly written this month by someone who thinks he's channeling Stan Lee: "How does Cap, Iron Man, Spider-Man & Wolverine sound?" Well, it sounds remarkably fucking awful to me, since you asked. Good luck to Bendis and Finch in creating this all-new, all-different Avengers and all, but good God, they've dug themselves a deep ditch from which to recover with that line-up. Killing off some long-running and beloved Avengers to set the stage for this Mad Lib by way of focus group version of an Avengers team doesn't give me a lot of hope either. (page M1)
DAVE: I'm more of the *shrug* reaction on this one. The line-up sure seems crassly commercial, but I half-wonder if these guys are really going to remain Avengers for more than a few months, and I have confidence that soooomewhere down the line Marvel can press the reset button if it goes poorly. The deaths, on the other hand, are just plain stupid.
New Thunderbolts #1-2 (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: I've never read a single issue of Thunderbolts, but I picked up some interest in the team after the recent Avengers/Thunderbolts miniseries from Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza. That had some good stuff, including Tom Grummett's art, so with Busiek and Grummett on the new series, I'm pretty certain to give it a try. (page M11)
One Step After Another One Shot (AdHouse Books) - RANDY: AdHouse hasn't let me down yet, and previews of this one remind me pleasantly of Andi Watson's style. Certainly worth a look. (page 203)
Or Else #1 (Drawn & Quarterly) - RANDY: I haven't read Kevin Huizenga's minicomics, but I have looked at his website, and his artwork is really exceptional, especially the lovingly-rendered nature backgrounds on his pages. (page 286)
Passenger GN (Cyberosia Publishing) - RANDY: Marc Bryant and Mal Jones's last project together was the intriguing science-fiction graphic novel about over-population, Overtime. This time out, they're tackling ghosts and Hollywood stardom. (page 262)
Powers: Forever TPB (Marvel Comics/Icon) - RANDY: This was one of my favorite arcs of Powers, as it explored the backstory of the superheroes in that universe and let Bendis and Oeming just go wild with different time periods within the superhero genre. I'm glad to see it reprinted. (page M61)
DAVE: C'mon, Randy, we all know what the arc was really famous for: masturbating monkeys.
RANDY: Wasn't that Elongated Man's catchphrase in the '60s? "Masturbatin' Monkeys!" It was his version of "Holy __________, Batman!"
DAVE: ...
The Pulse Vol. 1: Thin Air TPB (Marvel Comics) - RANDY: I've had severely mixed feelings on this book, but I'll probably wind up ordering it, unless Bendis does something I absolutely hate like having Jessica miscarry the baby. It has its weak points, but I love Jessica Jones and Luke Cage so much, especially the way Bendis writes them, that I'm willing to forgive a lot, and the addition of Brent Anderson to the art chores for the next story arc is great news as well. (page M72)
DAVE: That's so much how I feel too that I'm going to copy your answer.
RANDY: You, sir, are a dirty cheater.
The Question #1 (DC Comics) -
DAVE: Nothing really to say about this other than, "New Question series gearing up." I'd be more interested in reprints of Denny O'Neil's '80s work on the character, of which I hear many a good thing, but Rick Veitch fans will want to give this new entry a look. (page 77)
Ring of Roses TPB (Image Comics) - DAVE: Another alternate history Brit story in this original graphic novel, with 21st century England governed by a theocracy. A murder mystery brings together a barrister and a hardened criminal, but it's artist John Watkiss that'll have me considering this book. Watkiss produced some exceptionally great art for the soon-to-be-reprinted Sandman Mystery Theatre. Put me in the mind of EC legend Bernie Krigstein. (page 149)
Road to Perdition 2: On the Road TP (DC Comics) - DAVE: When Max Allan Collins penned the first Road to Perdition (now a major motion picture with half the cool violence of the comic!), he deliberately left some time period gaps to tell "untold adventures" if the opportunity presented itself. These are the resulting stories, a series of three blood and honor splashed short stories illustrated by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and Steve Lieber. Not groundbreaking, but for pre-wuss John Woo style action, well worth your time. (page 94)
Sgt. Rock: Between Hell and a Hard Place SC (DC Comics/Vertigo) - DAVE: Brian Azzarello's justly lauded collaboration with the legendary Joe Kubert finally makes it to softcover. You oughtta buy it. (page 115)
Shaolin Cowboy #1 (Burlyman Entertainment) - DAVE: "It's a buddy picture with a body count," reads the solicit for this latest venture from Geof Darrow and those trilogy-wrecking Wachowski Brothers. The Wachowski Brothers thing...not such a draw...but that Geof Darrow (Hardboiled, Big Guy & Rusty the Boy Robot) does know how to draw him some body counts. Potential for genre fun, potential for genre boredom. (page 252)
Space Ghost #1 (DC Comics) - DAVE: A grim 'n' gritty Space Ghost? No. Effin'. Way! Yet there it is. Actually, this has a touch of potential, being the story of Space Ghost's origins as a young, honest cop working in a corrupt space force. The fully painted preview art looks excellent, and with Joe Kelly writing there's at least a chance for success. (page 85)
Spider-Man: India #1 (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: If you're online savvy enough to be here, chances are you already know about the pending Indian incarnation of Spider-Man. If not, you gotta see this. Could be horrible, but at the very least the exotic premise intrigues. I wish it luck. (page M43)
RANDY: It says something about Marvel (maybe) or me (probably) that this is the most exciting new project Marvel has to offer for me this month. This could be just dreadful, a case of cultural clash that is embarrassingly hokey, and in fact, part of me expects that. But at the same time, the simple redesign of Indian Spider-Man kind of strikes a chord with me, and I'm curious to see the character transplanted into another culture. Glad Marvel is getting this one translated and published on this side of the Atlantic so quickly.
Tales from Fish Camp GN (AIT/Planet Lar) - RANDY: Now this is the kind of thing I'd like to see more of in comic. OK, not in specific, because really, how many stories of a girl from New York working in a fishing village in Alaska can there be, but in general. Because this is the kind of story we just don't see a lot of, it's new territory, and while I don't know creator Danielle Henderson's name, I know that Larry Young thought she was worth publishing, and that's good enough for me. (page 218)
DAVE: Must admit...cool, offbeat premise.
Tex #1 (Atomic Basement Entertainment) - RANDY: Just in time for the elections, a parody of George W. Bush and his cabinet that positions him as a pulp-esque superhero. Written by Joshua Dysart with art by Brad Rader and published by Atomic Basement (who also boast the white trash vampire book Gone South and the blaxploitation/ science-fiction/comedy Mac Afro), you probably already know whether or not this book is for you based on that description. I've read it, and think it's pretty damn funny, but I also really enjoyed that there's a well-researched backup of the parody assertions in the back of the book. (page 236)
Tezuka's Buddha Volumes 5-6 (Vertical Inc.) -
DAVE: Nothing special about these volumes, but it's always worthy of note when another English volume of Osamu Tezuka's Buddha hits (the series wraps with volume 8). Even non-manga fans should check this series out. It's a stunning mixture of spiritual biography and down-to-earth approachability. And Tezuka's cartooning is it's own draw. He's absolutely on par with the best comic artists from around the world, from Kirby to Moebius. (page 361)
RANDY: Not much to offer here but a hearty hell, yeah. Tezuka's work is fantastic, and these Chip Kidd-designed volumes are beautifully done.
Thieves & Kings Volume 5: The Winter Book TPB (I-Box Publishing) -
DAVE: Again, nothing intrinsically remarkable here, but since Thieves & Kings is the best fantasy comic the market has produced this side of Elfquest and Bone, yer damn right I'm talking it up! (page 311)
Western Tales of Terror #1 (Hoarse & Buggy Productions) - RANDY: I've a bit of a fondness for the western horror genre, and this first issue of a new western horror anthology sounded interesting, even before I got a chance to read the first issue. Having read it, I can say that those with similar genre leanings to my own will probalby dig this book, which includes several short stories by up-and-coming talent like Benito Cerreno (Tales From the Bully Pulpit), Chuck BB (Secret Skull) and several others, including the omnipresent Steve Niles. (page 310)
Wild Girl #1 (DC Comics/Wildstorm) -
DAVE: I have to admit, I'm intrigued. Wild Girl is a six-part mini about a girl who finds she can talk to animals, the simple premise made notable by the fact that it's written by Alan Moore's daughter. No idea as to her qualifications, but she's penned a few tales for Tomorrow Stories with no apparent instances of unicorns, rainbows, or boys named Corey, so that's a good start. The art from Shawn McManus looks quite nice - reminiscent of Mike Wieringo's Tellos.
RANDY: No real interest in Wild Girl for me, as I've kind of lost interest in the America's Best Comics line as a whole. But when is that unicorn/rainbow/Corey thing coming out? That sounds wicked cool.
Y: The Last Man - Safeword TPB (DC Comics/Vertigo) -
DAVE: This is the volume where Y gets fuh-reaky! Bondage, S&M, gross stuff with maggots...highly recommended! (page 116)
RANDY: And that makes three must-buy trades from Vertigo this month.
Zombie Highway GN (Digital Webbing) - RANDY: I believe I've mentioned (probably to the point of annoyance) that I've got zombie fever these days. I haven't read this entire story, but what I read of Zombie Highway, I quite liked. Glad to see it getting a trade collection. (page 285)
Email Randy Lander and Dave Farabee comments about this review.
While my Snap Judgments reviews cover books as they are released, I'm as avid a follower of "what's next" as anyone else. Thus these Previews reviews, covering the Diamond Previews that allow fans to preorder comics from their local retailer. This installment covers the September Previews for comics due to ship out in November.
Superman: Secret Identity TPB (DC Comics) - RANDY: Maybe I'm just exceptionally hard to please, but I haven't been happy with the Superman comics DC has been producing in... well, ever, really. Then along comes Kurt Busiek and takes what sounded like a gimmick premise (normal boy coincidentally named Clark Kent finds out he has Superman's powers) and turns it not only into an examination of what might happen if Superman lived in the real world and there were no other superheroes, but turns in a story that captures the power that lies at the heart of the Superman concept better than any Superman story I have read in many, many years. Stuart Immonen provides gorgeous artwork in a new style that is perfect for the piece, and given that rumblings had this limited series maybe not collected, I'm delighted to see it collected at an affordable price and so quickly. Kudos to Busiek and Immonen for creating this story, and kudos also to DC for knowing that they've got a good thing here and putting it out in a permanent edition. (page 63)
She-Hulk Vol. 1: Single Green Female TPB (Marvel Comics) - DAVE: Bar none, the best, funnest book Marvel has going at the moment. I love this book – LOVE THIS BOOK - as will anyone who ever loved the Marvel Universe as a shared playground with unlimited possibilities. Basic premise has She-Hulk returning to legal work for a firm representing superpowered beings exclusively, but with great art, a wild cast of Marvel Universe characters, some surprisingly touching interactions, and tongue planted firmly in cheek...it becomes something much greater than the sum of its parts. Recommended with unchecked enthusiasm. (page M79)
