Down The Line - Previews review for October 2003 - Part Two by Randy Lander & Dave Farabee Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has turned off the seatbelt sign, so you should feel free to move about part two of the October 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 December, letting your retailer know before the end of October is the best way to make sure you get it. INDY PICKS OF THE MONTH: Halo & Sprocket Volume 1: Welcome to Humanity TP (Amaze Ink/Slave Labor) - RANDY: There's this girl, and she lives with an angel and a robot. They don't have wacky adventures per se, they just go through life, each experiencing the world through their own viewpoint, which includes a mixture of grounded reality, omniscience-by-proxy and almost newborn naivete. The results, in addition to often having a rather perceptive view of the world, are fall-down funny. Halo & Sprocket is one of my absolute favorite books, and though I have all the issues, I'll still be ponying up the cash for the trade. Especially since there's new material and older strips included as well as reprints of the first four issues. DAVE: Okay, see, now I'm getting pissed, because you've stolen my pick again! And while there are some cool books coming from the rest of Indie-dom this month, there's really nothing else I'm quite so enthused for as Halo and Sprocket. Therefore I second your pick, buttmunch. This is one of those rare comics that's so much fun, and so self-contained, that I'm actually looking forward to buying it for non-comics-reading friends. Superfolks Novel (About Comics) - DAVE: I've long heard about this landmark 1977 novel, but have never been able to put my hands on a copy. It's a dark satire about a middle-aged crimefighter who comes out of retirement, and was hugely influential on books like Astro City and Watchmen. I have to say, in poking around for more online info on it, I became very intrigued. Grant Morrison called the book "visionary,"and Kurt Busiek, who writes the intro, says there wouldn't have been an Astro City without it. RANDY: About Comics has produced some fine work, such as the unusual super-hero mini-series The Factor and a couple books on comics scriptwriting, and this is a perfect match for their quirky but impressive line-up. I'd actually never heard of this novel before now, but it sounds intriguing, and the amount of praise from respected creators certainly makes me curious. Giant Robot Warriors TP (AIT/Planet Lar) - RANDY: Giant robots... as political satire? It's just crazy enough to work, especially when the guys at the helm are Stuart (Zendra, Lone and original editor of a lot of the really good Vertigo stuff) Moore and artist Ryan (Lucifer) Kelly. With Tokyo Storm Warning, Ultraman Tiga and a little book called Transformers, it seems like maybe these giant robots are making a comeback. Next up: Radioactive giant lizards and leisure suits. Maybe not together. DAVE: I love the solicit for the book: "Meet the U.S. Department of Giant Robot Warriors - an under-funded, over-burdened team that has to jump into action when a tiny Middle Eastern country suddenly achieves Giant Robot technology." The satirical arms race angle sounds a lot more interesting to me than most of the giant robot manga that no doubt inspired it. Scurvy Dogs #3 (AIT/Planet Lar) - DAVE: This comic is funny as frickin' hell, as the Tupac parody cover should attest. The quick 'n' dirty premise is "pirates in the modern world," but it's all in the execution, baby, and this thing had my rolling on the floor. Laughing, that is. Not just rolling. RANDY: Oh, that's what that was. I thought you were having another of your "attacks." At any rate, Scurvy Dogs is indeed a blast, one of the funniest comics on the stands and one of the best comics series to come out this year. Truthfully, I half expected we'd never see another issue after the brilliantly funny issue one, so I'm thrilled to be seeing three issues in the space of the year. For those of you who missed the first two issues, this month also brings reprints of issues one and two. Alan Moore's The Courtyard TP (Avatar) - DAVE: Fans of H.P. Lovecraft will want to check out this collection of Moore's mind-bending, crustacean-laden tribute. It's based on a prose story of Moore's and couched in a hardboiled mystery set loosely in the future. Just two issues of material, but good stuff. RANDY: I read the first issue of this, but never caught up with the second. However, based on that first issue, I'll agree with your recommendation, and it seems worth noting that this month also brings the Courtyard Companion (a 72 page volume that features the script, annotations of the Lovecraftian references, Moore's story and new art) and a tempting little hardcover that contains the contents of the companion and the trade. It's printed as being 72 pages as well, but is more likely 128. Still a little pricey at $34.95, but not horrendously so for a limited hardcover. Mark Millar's The Unfunnies #1 (Avatar) - RANDY: Millar is tempting fate with that name. There are so many things that could go wrong with this, including the notion of combining "traditional animation with photo-strip storytelling," and it's my experience that the freedom to be offensive that Avatar offers often results in pure vulgarity rather than cutting-edge humor (Exhibit A: Dicks), and yet... every so often when creators take this kind of chance, we get something daring and funny and totally unlike what we expect. Expectations low for me, but I'm hoping for the best. Spark Generators Vol. 2 TP (C.A.M. Press) - RANDY: I was honestly a little disappointed in the first volume of Spark Generators, which featured some relatively big small press names writing and/or drawing stories about their influences. However, I'm drawn to volume two by some of the names involved, particularly Tom (True Story Swear to God) Beland, Rick (Blanche Goes to Paris) Geary, Rachel (Amy Unbounded) Hartman, Keith ("K" Chronicles) Knight and Chynna (Blue Monday, Scooter Girl) Clugston-Major. DAVE: Hunh. Dunno how I missed volume one of this, but the premise sounds pretty interesting for those interested in the creative process behind comics. Bone #55 (Cartoon Books) - DAVE: This is it - the final issue of one of the most groundbreaking self-published comics EVER. It looks like Jeff Smith's been burning the midnight oil in order to release the last four issues of the series on a monthly schedule, and in December, it all wraps. Wow. This was absolutely my favorite comic in the early 90's. In recent years, it's drifted a little too far into Lord of the Rings grimness, and yet I think I can only applaud Smith's beautifully crafted achievement. RANDY: I'm in a sort of "I'll believe it when I see it" place on the idea of monthly Bone issues, but whatever happens, I'm looking forward to picking up the final hardcover of Bone and reading the whole thing as one story. As you note, the story changed tone and lost some of its humorous style as a result, but this is still a pretty impressive accomplishment, and will likely become another classic of collected comics along with Sandman and Preacher (but with less swearing and boobs). Abadazad #1 (CG Entertainment/Code 6) - DAVE: I'm looking forward to this. It's an all-ages fantasy story in the tradition of the Oz and Narnia books, written by J.M. DeMatteis and featuring astonishing art by Mike Ploog. Factor in Butch (Ruse) Guice drawing the scenes set on Earth and I'll absolutely be checking this first issue out. RANDY: I'm not what you call a J.M. DeMatteis fan, but I have liked a couple of his projects (usually the ones co-written by someone). Mostly, what intrigues me about Abadazad (beyond the fun of getting to say that name over and over) is the artwork. Ploog's initial design drawings are drop-dead gorgeous, and the premise, a Narnia/Oz-like coming-of-age fantasy story, sounds really interesting. Warrior Women & Mythic Men HC (CG Entertainment) - RANDY: An oversized hardcover featuring covers, clear of logos and text? Sounds like a dream, in fact it's one Dave and I have discussed many times. The only problem is, we tend to favor the artist-centric idea, such as an Adam Hughes or Brian Bolland collection, and this is a company-centric one, featuring the covers from Crossgen. Honestly, Crossgen's covers are a hit-and-miss affair for me, because the interiors are usually far more breathtaking, but some of their covers have been gorgeous, and I like the project just in principle. I'll definitely have to give this one a look when it comes out, and I wouldn't be surprised if I see a lot more in these covers untouched by marketing copy than I do when they're on the shelves next to their comic-book brethren. DAVE: I do think this is gonna be a nice one, and since I'm drawn to fantasy/sci-fi art in the tradition of the yearly Spectrum volumes, this might be up my alley. The Path #22/Way of the Rat #20 (CG Entertainment) - RANDY: Normally I'm against crossovers, especially given that the whole "shared universe" aspect of the Crossgen "Sigil-verse" is part of what put me off the whole thing in the first place. But there's just something neat about crossing over kung-fu action Way of the Rat and serious samurai quest The Path. Though they're set in the same world, they have completely different tones, and I'm very curious to see how the creative teams handle this brief excursion by two of the Rat crew over to the pages of The Path. DAVE: Boon is going to kick the ASS of The Path. What, there's no character named "The Path" in The Path? And it's not a "versus" crossover? Aw, who am I kidding? I dig Way of the Rat and have seen promise in The Path. I'm onboard for this one. Go Po Po! Hurl your monkey poop at the samurai! Jar of Fools - New Printing TP (Drawn & Quarterly) - DAVE: I first read this when Scott McCloud was hyping it up in the early 90's, and found it to be a pretty amazing book. It's the haunting story of Ernie, and alcoholic stage magician, his senile mentor, and a father and daughter con artist team they meet up with. Sound unlikely? Trust me, the characters will win you over, as will Lutes' detailed black-and-white art. RANDY: I have this book, in its non-trade paperback form, and I have yet to actually sit down and read it. So I can't comment on its merits, but I will say that I've heard nothing but good, and Lutes's work is always impressive. Sentinels Book 1: Footsteps TP (Drumfish Productions) - RANDY: A black-and-white original graphic novel by unknown creators featuring super-heroes is going to have a rough go in this market, but there's something about Sentinels that intrigues me. At $15 for 200+ pages, the price is right, and the premise (super-hero team disappears, their children take their place) sounds sort of like the flipside to the "our parents are evil" concept of Runaways. At any rate, I don't know much about this, but it's 1 of 4 graphic novels, which means the creators have an 800+ page story in mind, and they've managed to get this far, which speaks to their dedication at the very least. Super Hero Happy Hour TP (Geek Punk) - RANDY: So what do the super-heroes do when they're not saving the world? They do what the rest of us do... they drink. OK, maybe not all of us, but the idea of super-heroes cozying up to a neighborhood bar is a winner, and Dan Tyalor, Chris Fason & Cal Slayton have turned a good idea into a winning series. This trade collects the first four issues, and if you're looking for a funny and interesting look at the super-hero world, you could do worse than to pick it up. Blacksad TP (IBooks) - DAVE: Easy there - it's not a "furry" comic! According the Will Eisner, it's "anthropomorphic realism," and with kudos from he and Neal Adams, and an intro by Steranko, I'm inclined to take a look. Long story short: it's the English adaptation of what I presume is a Spanish graphic novel, and it appears to be a gorgeously illustrated noir story that happens to have anthropomorphic characters. Anyone who's read Usagi Yojimbo or even Maus knows that anthropomorphic aren't confined only to fetish comics, and this is one I'll probaby check out. RANDY: Wait... so let me get this straight... it's not a fetish comic? Then I want no part of it. More seriously, I'll take my noir with or without cat ears, and the art on the cover, not to mention the high praise and the fact that iBooks is publishing it piques my interest. The Quest for Aberzen Book 1: To The Death! TP (IBooks) - DAVE: I'm a fantasy dork, no bones about it, so when the solicit opens, "For lovers of Myst, Dungeons & Dragons, Cerebus, and The Hobbit...", I was pretty much already there. This one's another anthropomorphic project from ibooks, another English translation, and as with Blacksad, the art looks gorgeous. Here's hoping the story lives up to the visuals. RANDY: Meanwhile, I am much harder on fantasy than you, but I still have a certain fondness for the fantasy genre, and iBooks hasn't let me down so far. Terminator: The Burning Earth (IBooks) - DAVE: Alex Ross fans take note! This collection reprints one of his earliest comic projects, a painted Terminator miniseries produced three years before Marvels. I actually bought these comics when they were produced (back when he signed himself as "Alexander" Ross, heh heh). They reveal the last stand of the rebels in the post-apocalyptic future of the Terminator films, had solid writing, and of course, slick artwork. Well worth the time of Terminator and/or Ross fans, I'd say. Heh. "Alexander." RANDY: Wow, big month (with a fair amount of diversity) for iBooks. Fantasy, Noir, a reprint of a long-out-of-print science-fiction story by Alex Ross... I've never seen these, actually, but I have all the Dark Horse Terminator material (hey, don't judge me! Most of that stuff was pretty good!) and wouldn't mind adding this one to my collection. Should also be noted that iBooks has one other book this month, the translated manga Icaro which tells the story of a man with the ability to fly who must escape from the confines of a laboratory with the help of a young woman. Sounds weird, but interesting. Lore #1 (IDW) - RANDY: As always, I must put forth the caveat that while I love Ashley Woods's style, his comic-book storytelling has never quite worked for me. Still, I know he's got a fair amount of fans out there and I can certainly see why. No doubt they'll be happy with the latest IDW-Ashley Wood collaboration, a story in which mythical creatures start returning to the world when the secret society that had been holding them at bay breaks down. Wynonna Earp: Home on the Strange #1 (IDW) - RANDY: Maybe it's just my enthusiasm for Karen Sisco, tough gal U.S. Marshal, but the notion of Wynonna Earp, U.S. Marshal who takes on the paranormal, hits me right where it should right now. I haven't read a lot of Beau Smith's work, but what I've read I've liked. Combining western, law-enforcement and the paranormal sounds like an interesting mix. Kyle Baker Cartoonist TP (Kyle Baker) - RANDY: I picked up The New Baker in San Diego, and it was a tantalizing taste of the talent of Kyle Baker. While all eyes will be on his Plastic Man series from DC in December, I'm just as interested if not moreso in this trade paperback, which contains all-new stories and 40 pages of The Bakers, a domestic comedy about marriage and fatherhood that was previewed in The New Baker and was absolutely hysterical and at times quite poignant. DAVE: I really liked what I read in The New Baker, so I'm behind this one too. Big year for Baker, eh? Courtney Crumrin In The Twilight Kingdom #1 (Oni Press) - RANDY: More Courtney Crumrin is always reason to celebrate. I remember seeing this advertised a few years back and thinking "Huh. Goth comic. Not really my thing." I couldn't have been more wrong, because Courtney is one of my favorite Oni Press publications. Rumble Royale #1 (Royal Academy of Illustration & Design) - RANDY: Picked this up in San Diego, and as I said to many people there, R.A.I.D. is a pretty amazing conglomeration of talent. I would have picked up this anthology just for Cameron Stewart's contribution, but the work by the other creators, all of whom work on indy buzz books, is also exceptional. For $10, you get a glimpse at some of the best artists working in comics today, and that's hard to beat. DAVE: As a fellow Cameron Stewart geek, I'm sure to be all over this one. I only know one other name among the artists list, but if Stewart's in their company, I'm betting they're good. And that other name is Kagan McCleod of the gorgeously kinetic Infinite Kung Fu. Dude's stuff rocks. Marshall Law: Day of the Dead TP (Titan) - RANDY: I've always been a Marshall Law fan, so I'm tempted by this book. It's new stuff, but it's illustrated prose, which is a little disappointing. I'd rather have had new comics material featuring the sadistic super-hero hunter, but anything new is encouraging, and this will probably inspire me at least to pick up the collected volumes of Marshall Law that Titan has put out previously. The Mirror of Love (Top Shelf Productions) - DAVE: I've not heard of this before, but apparently it's an epic poem written by none other than Alan Moore as reaction to a controversial anti-gay law in Britain. The solicit reads: "This epic poem recounts the history of same-sex love, revealing a hidden side of Western culture through the lives of its greatest artists." It's been a comic, it's been a play, but it seems this was the intended format: a 128-page epic book with 40 full-color plates from Jose Villarrubia. Looks like heartfelt work in service to a good cause. Neal Adams' Monsters HC (Vanguard Productions) - DAVE: This bad boy's a 72-page hardcover graphic novel from one of the industry's greats - Neal Adams - as he weaves together a story featuring the Frankenstein Monster, Dracula, and the Werewolf! Cool! Would've been more ideal had it been released in October, but still - cool! Email Randy Lander comments about this review.