Why Should We Recognize Them? - A Closer Look at This Year's Eisner Nominees for "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition"

With the Eisner Awards soon upon us (a week from today, I believe), I thought it would be a good idea to take a closer look at the five nominees for the Eisner Award for "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition."

Going alphabetically, the first nominee is Frank Cammuso. His signature work is Max Hamm, Fairy Tale Detective.

Max Hamm is just as he is described. He is a pig who solves fairy tale related crimes, all done in a noirish style.

Here is an example of Cammuso's style on the book...



For more information about Cammusso, please feel free to check out his website here.

Next on the list is Bosch Fawstin, whose signature work is Table for One.

Table For One is a bold experiment in style, as the whole graphic novel takes place in one Manhattan restaurant over the period of one night.

Here is a preview of the comic...



If you are interesting in learning more about Fawstin, here is a nice interview he gave to Chris Davis.

In addition, here is a link to his website.

Next is Matt Kindt, who is an experienced graphic designer, just recently getting almost universal praise for his work in comics.

He has done work for Pistolwhip Comics (specifically, their franchise title, Pistolwhip) as well as a recent comic called Two Sisters.

Here is an example of his art from Pistolwhip...



This is a link to Kindt's resume (complete with art samples), which is featured on Pistolwhip's website. The Pistolwhip website has additional links to Kindt's work.

Tim Leong recently interview Kindt for Comic Foundry. That interview can be found here.

Sean McKeever really does not need me to hype him, as he has made quite a name for himself in the mainstream comic business, with his acclaimed Sentinel project for Marvel, as well as his excellent work on the two Mary Jane series.

In addition, he currently writes Marvel Adventures Spider-Man for Marvel, as well as the recent release (to acclaim as well) Gravity, starring a brand new Marvel hero.

Still, if you have not heard of him before, by all means, check out his website here. He is a fine writer.

Last, but certainly not least, is Raina Telgemeier.

Her work includes Takeout and Smile.

Raina won the 2003 Friends of Lulu Kim Yale Award for Best New Talent (by the by, Kim Yale really was awesome, wasn't she?).

That award was for her work on the mini-comic Takeout, which I will now show an example from...



Her other work, Smile, is a webcomic.

Here is her website.

I hope this will give you some reason to persue some of the projects described here, or at the very least, I hope this will be able to impress people at the Eisners or the San Diego Comic Con with how much you know about independent creators...hehe.

Read More

Pratfalls of Working With Established Characters #539

So, I'm reading Villains United #3, and there is a scene that really reminded me of how restricting it is to work on a book where even the toadies are established characters.

Spoilers ahead!

To wit, when the Secret Six escape, they have to fight their guards.

Their guards are Captain Nazi, Weather Wizard, Count Vertigo, Killer Frost, Knockout, Sledge and Hyena (I didn't even notice Hyena was there at first. I also only vaguely remember that there WAS a character named Hyena...this becomes more important later).

As an aside, another of the difficulties of writing established characters is keeping them sounding sorta consistent with past portrayals, and Gail Simone handled this quite nicely with Knockout, who really has not been seen since her time in Karl Kesel's Superboy in the early-to-mid-90s, where he made sure that she was not some grim and gritty villain. And she is not a grim and gritty villain in THIS issue either. Nice touch.

Okay, so the Secret Six escape and come across their guards.

So here's where the pratfall comes into play.

We know that none of the famous villains are going to die right here.

And that is a major shot to the drama of the scene if we know that there will be no killing of Weather Wizard or Killer Frost or Count Vertigo.

Then there's the other side of that coin.

Let's say Simone HAD Weather Wizard or Killer Frost or Count Vertigo killed, then THAT takes the reader out of the scene ALSO, because the reader is now irked that a famous villain was just killed off in a minor scene in the middle of a mini-series.

Which would be uncool

So it's a real catch-22 situation for the writer.

The next thing is, the scene also calls for MAJOR outside writing, as there is no real reason inside the story as to why the Secret Six WOULDN'T kill these characters...but because this would be a bad time to kill off a bunch of notable bad guys, they can't, which hurts the realistic flow of the story.

And then, just to address that it really did not make sense for them not to kill someone there, the Secret Six "randomly" chooses a villain and kills that villain as message to the villains' bosses.

That villain?

You guessed it - Hyena.

Hyena, she of, what - 4 previous appearances ever? In the pages of Firestorm? 20 years ago?

Note that I'm not knocking the writer here, I am just saying that it is yet another pratfall (#539) of working in a universe with established characters.

Read More

You Want Comics For Kids? Check Out the Stereos

I just read Brandon Hanvey's two Stereos graphic novel, "Battle of the Bands" and "In The Garage." So I figure I might as well share with you all what I thought of them.

First off, I really enjoy Hanvey's art, and the thing that I like best about his art is that he is still improving.

I think I mentioned somewhere here awhile back of how much I am impressed by artists who are willing to improve themselves as artists (upon further consideration, it was actually at Snark Free Waters here). Well, that is certainly what you get from Hanvey, as the first collection, "Battle of the Bands" has good looking art, but the improvements in his style from that one to "In The Garage" are extremely impressive.

Probably the most notable thing about his art, to me, is his ability to depict, in a cartoonish style, detail. That is very difficult to do, and he does it well.

I have no Stereos scans available, so I will have to demonstrate with a panel from his online comic strip, The Little Things.



Notice the distinct look he puts into each character, while still being cartoony?

I dig it.

In any event, the first book, "The Stereos: Battle of the Bands" is about a band (who appear to be college age or so) called the Steroes, who are made up of a brainy Asian girl, a slacker, a Goth and a Punk. Get it...they're all stereotypes!

The second book, In The Garage, is a prequel to the first comic, and tells the story of how the group got together.

The story in the first book was stronger than the story in the second book, as there are times in the second book that the story gets a bit too close to an After-School Special (in the sense that it is a bit too familiar of a plot).

However, what stands out about BOTH books are their accessibility.

Not just their accessibility in terms of being able to follow the story, but rather, the sheer universality of the story.

Couple that with the cool, clean, cartoony art and what you have is just the right kind of book for kids, because it is nice and innocent without pandering.

Kids do not generally want to read about other kids. That, to them, is often seen as pandering.

Ask a little kid who he likes better, Batman or Robin, who do you think he or she is going to pick?

Batman.

Because he is cooler.

Stereos is not written down for kids, and therefore, a kid can safely like it, because it is "cool."

Meanwhile, it is just the same sort of innocent fun that adults can enjoy as well.

Read More

What I bought - 7 July 2005

Maybe I was in a bad mood over the tragedy in London, or maybe I'm getting cranky in my old age, but a lot of what I bought today was not good. I'm going to judge the comics today on one (1) criterion: Does Stuff Happen? I'm sick of stuff not happening in comics. Sick. Of. It.

Batman: Dark Detective #5 by Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin
$2.99, DC

Does Stuff Happen? Well, let's look. 22 pages for your standard comic book, right? NINE (9) pages of this are the Joker talking to Silver St. Cloud. Now, it's not the worst dialogue in the world, but we've heard it all before. The Joker's insane, he needs Batman alive because they're nemeses, blah blah blah. THREE (3) pages are Evan Gregory telling Bruce Wayne that Silver has been kidnapped. WTF? THREE (3) pages are Batman trying to find out where the Joker's hideout is. He doesn't do this with, you know, actual detective work, just strongarms underworld thugs. Ooh, we've never seen that before. FOUR (4) pages are Batman confronting Two-Face (and his "bad" clone, which means he's on Batman's side - yes, the clone rears its ridiculous head again) to get Joker's address. If you didn't go to public school in the United States, you have figured out that there are only THREE (3) pages left! Well, it's actually four, because I rounded up, but on those FOUR pages, stuff happens. Batman takes out Scarecrow. I didn't say it was good stuff, but stuff happens. Six issues? Give me a break.

Bone Rest #1 by Matteo Casali and Giuseppe Camuncoli
$2.95, Image

Does Stuff Happen? Well, yes, but much of it is incoherent and well, weird - and not a good weird. I suppose Satan is in the book, although who the hell knows, and there's the strange-looking dude on the cover, who enters our world in an alley through an Emergency Exit of apparently a sentient building, and he immediately does stuff. He has sex, he insults a dead girl's poetry, he beats up a guy who looks a little like him, he argues and then pees on the aforementioned sentient building. The bad guy is kind of creepy, but he dies. I'm not sure what the flying fuck is going on in this book. I wanted to like it, but I don't. Anyone care to explain why I should care about it? I have ordered issue number 2, but that, I think, will be it, unless it's freakin' Watchmen.

The Intimates #9 by Joe Casey, Scott Iwahashi, and Sandra Hope
$2.99, Image

Does Stuff Happen? Shit, even Casey succumbs to the disease this month, as Destra and Punchy hit the road to find out what is in the food at the Seminary. That's it. They don't actually find out what is in the food at the Seminary, because that would be, you know, fucking progress. Instead they find out that there is actually something weird in the food at the Seminary, but the dude who tells them this can't tell them any more. The subplots with Duke and Empty Vee are advanced, barely, and the most interesting thing about this issue is the fact that Kefong is the subject of a strange little short story in the crawls at the bottom of the page. I like the crawls at the bottom of the page (unlike a lot of people, apparently), but when it's the most interesting thing in the issue, that's a problem. Does Stuff Happen? Nothing that couldn't have been told in five pages. I like Casey's writing in general, but shit.

Matador #3 by Devin Grayson and Brian Steelfreeze
$2.99, DC/Wildstorm

Does Stuff Happen? Well, the damned curse of the six-issue built for the damned trade strikes again, as nothing much happens. Isabel gets laid - good for her. She happens to fuck the married DA, so when he shows up at her disciplinary hearing the next day, she doesn't even get suspended. That's it. She has sex, talks to her partner, goes to the hearing. There's an explosion at the end, but it's just a tease for next issue. It's pretty to look at, but 23 pages for that? Yuck.

Finally, THREE mini-series came to an end today. They are Catwoman: When In Rome; Ocean; The Twilight Experiment. Guess which one I liked best? The one where STUFF FUCKING HAPPENED!

First, Catwoman by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
$3.50, DC

Well, I told you to stop buying this when, I think, issue 3 came out, so if you bought the rest, you have only yourself to blame. I bought it because I'm stupid. I know T. hates Loeb, but his stuff with Sale is usually pretty decent, but this is crap. Just crap. Does Stuff Happen? Well, Selina kicks the crap out of the Cheetah and Scarecrow, but it's a boring fight and she's done quickly. Then she finds out that she MAY be Carmine Falcone's daughter. God forbid DC allow anything to be definite! I mean, they knew at the beginning they weren't going to allow Loeb to say anything definite about Selina's father, so why even cocktease us? No, stuff does not happen. And it's the final issue, so you would think stuff would happen. You would think incorrectly!

Ocean #6 by Warren Ellis, Chris Sprouse, and Karl Story
$3.99, DC/Wildstorm

Does Stuff Happen? Well, we get a bunch of extra pages for stuff not to happen! This took months to make? Really? It feels like Ellis could write this in a good afternoon. And as much as I like Sprouse's art, it's not like it's Todd McFarlane with billions of extra lines - that's one of the things I like about it. So Samuel L. Jackson kills all the bad guys, so stuff sort of happens. But he just shoots them, so it's not like it's the most ingenious thing ever. And it takes 21 pages to kill them all! But wait! there's more! 19 pages to kill the things in the Europan ice and return to Earth. Now, I thought those things in the Europan ice were pretty stinkin' cool, and if you have pretty stinkin' cool things show up in an earlier issue, it would help if they did pretty stinkin' nasty evil things in the final issue (I think Chekhov said that). But these stinkin' cool things? Ooh, they open their eyes before being obliterated! Wow. Ellis has bitched about people online snarking about his precious work, and I say - tough shit. When you make us wait months for your precious work and then give us these cool ideas and don't do shit with them, you deserve it. Ellis is one of the best comic book writers out there, but this ... It started off so cool, and just leaves us hanging. Maybe if Ellis spent less time showing Kane dropping a fucking coffee cup in issue #1 (if you'll recall, I mentioned it took something like four pages to show it) then we could have seen more of the nasty things under the Europan ice. Shit.

The Twilight Experiment #6 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Juan Santacruz
$2.99, DC/Wildstorm

Does Stuff Happen? Well, holy shit, more than in the other books! Sure, it has its share of useless dialogue (who cares about Rene's mother, seriously?), but it's got a nifty fight scene that includes dialogue that propels the story along (good God, what a concept) and sets up the final solution to the problem. Sure, the Righteous's death could have been handled differently, and the epilogue is too long (it's SIX (6) pages long; it could have been three), but stuff happens. It's not a perfect book, but it's a good, old-fashioned superhero yarn, and the creators don't forget that.

Sorry for the anger. "Good, old-fashioned superhero yarn" seems to be a string of dirty words around comicdom these days. I mean, come on, people - you're writing superhero stuff. It's not great literature. I love it, but it's not great literature! Sigh. Here at Comics Should Be Good, I feel like I'm letting you down because nothing I read this week is really that good. But if you haven't been to the local comics shoppe yet, let this be a warning to you.

Next week I'll be less angry. Probably.

Read More

Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #6!

This is the sixth in a series of examinations of comic book urban legends and whether they are true or false. The first one can be found here, the second can be found here, the third can be found here, the fourth can be found here and the fifth can be found here.

Let's begin!

COMIC URBAN LEGEND: After the Captain Marvel decision, DC bought Fawcett's characters.

STATUS: False

The fact remains (as pointed out here) that Fawcett's sales had gone down a lot by the mid-50s, as did most superhero titles. The Fawcett/DC suit had begun at the height of Fawcett's sales, and by the time Fawcett settled, the books just weren't selling.

So they agreed to stop publishing Captain Marvel, and they sold their remaining characters to Charlton.

Years later, in the early 70s, DC decided they would like to publish Captain Marvel themselves (Marvel, during the 60s, had decided to claim all uses of the word Marvel as a trademark, and upon rumors of DC wanting to bring Captain Marvel back, they rushed out their version to take claim to the "Captain Marvel" trademark).

Still, they were not OWNED by DC.

DC simply leased the characters.

Years later, DC eventually just bough the characters outright (this seems to be DC's modus operandi...rather than have to do complicated deals, they just use their money to buy themselves out of complicated deals...see the Wonder Woman deal from here.)

COMIC URBAN LEGEND: DC had a Superman storyline set during the Holocaust that did not mention the word "Jew" or "Jewish."

STATUS: True

In 1998, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Superman's first appearance, the Superman titles tried an interesting idea.

Each title would depict Superman in a different "era."

Action Comics depicted Superman in the 70s.

Adventures of Superman depicted Superman in the 60s.

Superman depicted Superman in the future.

And Superman: Man of Steel depicted Superman during the 30s, in a "What If..Superman got involved in the Holocaust?" story.

The only problem was, in the two-part story, there was NO mention of the word "Jew," "Jewish," "German" or "Catholic."

Editor Joey Cavalieri said he banned the words "Jew," "Catholic" and "German" from the story because he feared they might be used derisively by young readers.

"Since this could be the first time [a reader] encounters the Jews in print, I would be heartbroken if this [story] went badly," he said.

DC's president and editor-in-chief, Jenette Kahn, told the Associated Press that Cavalieri "was worried about having Nazi characters use Jewish slurs. He was concerned that young kids would repeat the slurs, and that young Jewish kids would read it and be given a negative stereotype."

Cavalieri said it was obvious by the comic characters' names and graphic devices that they were Jewish.

The head of the Jewish Defamation League accepted DC's apology on the issue, and made the point, "the intention was OK but the execution wasn't. One can get so locked in trying not to offend, you offend."

Indeed.

The quotes are from this Jewish News Weekly article.

COMIC URBAN LEGEND: Mark Bagley got his start by winning the original Marvel Try-Out Contest.

STATUS: True

In 1985, Marvel had an interesting contest.

Called the "Marvel Try-Out Contest," it was a twenty-dollar purchase (which was a lot of money in 1985). It was a standard Spider-Man story, only every once in awhile, something would drop out.

Like a page would have no colors.

Or a page wouldn't be inked.

Etc.

And then whatever your skill is, you would fill that in.

The comic was then to be published (which never actually happened).

The pencilling winner of the contest was future comic book superstar, Mark Bagley.

Here is Bagley on the topic (courtesy of Comic Book Resources)...

I thought it was a gimmick…something Jim Shooter came up with, and I didn't buy it. Luckily, Cliff Biggers, the guy who publishes Comic Shop News, was a friend of mine. He owned the comic book store that I went to at the time. He told me, "If you don't do this, you'll hate yourself." So, he gave it to me. And, I won first place. That got me a trip to New York and a chance to meet all the editors. I went, and they threw me out of their offices. The last editor I saw on the last day I was there said, "Hey, I bet you'd like something to draw, wouldn't you." I said, "Yeah!" That was, I think, Mike Higgins who was editing the New Universe which was kind of winding down. He was desperate for people to work on it, and I was desperate for work. I did 4 or 5 jobs for him. After about a year and a half of doing it, I was able to quit my regular job and do comics full time. And, I've never looked back.

Other interesting trivia from the contest.

The inking winner was Doug Hazlewood (currently John Byrne's inker on Doom Patrol).

The lettering winner was Robin Riggs, who is currently a professional inker as well.

The second-place winner among the pencillers was Mike Worley.

That's it for this week!

Feel free to tell me some urban legends you have heard, and I will try to confirm or deny them!

Read More

Current Comics Report for 7/7

This is a report about what I think about the comics of this week, based upon Diamond's Shipping This Week list, as reprinted below, with my (sometimes quite snarky, so be forewarned) comments.

Certain sections of the Current Report on the 7/7 Comic Book Week contain forward-looking statements that are based on my expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which include but are not limited to projections of books being good, writing performance, character flaws, artistic coolness and continued title stability.

Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Prognasticators Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:

• A book being better than I thought it would be;

• A different creative team on a book;

• A different type of story than I thought it was;

• Differences in anticipated and actual performance by the writer and/or artist

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or, in the case of any document incorporated by reference, the date of that document.All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to me are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section...

Shipping This Week: July 7, 2005

DARK HORSE

FEB050074 FREAKS OF THE HEARTLAND TP $17.95

This was a fun story, and I would like to see the trade paperback format open the story up to more readers.

MAR050087 MIRROR MASK REALLY USEFUL JOURNAL $19.99
APR050093 POKEMON B0BBLE HEADS SER 2 GACHA CAPSULE PI

Dark Horse picked the perfect time to cash in on the Pokemon craze....of 1999.

APR050095 SIMPSONS BOBBLE HEADS SER 3 GACHA CAPSULE TOY (O/ PI

I must say - bobble heads are better than cardboard cutouts.

MAY050073 STAR WARS CLONE WARS VOL 5 THE BEST BLADES TP (O/ $17.95
FEB050185 STAR WARS CRIMSON EMPIRE TP (STAR08611) $17.95

Seems a little odd to release this NOW.

Still, it's a good product.

FEB050053 STAR WARS EMPIRE #32 $2.99

Whether you are a Ron Marz fan or not, it is amazing how a pro like Marz just brings books like Star Wars Empire to a whole new level when he is writing the title.

APR050035 USAGI YOJIMBO #85 $2.99

DC COMICS

MAY050220 AQUAMAN #32 $2.50

Have they announced a replacement for Gleason yet?

Or is he still theoretically returning after the Green Lantern Corps mini-series?

And will Arcudi make Aquaman less of a jerk anytime soon?

I predict he will not.

Therefore, I will predict that this comic will continue being not that good.

MAY050273 AUTHORITY HUMAN ON THE INSIDE SC (MR) $17.99

Seriously, who thought that Authority was still hot enough to justify a graphic novel?

MAY050196 BATMAN DARK DETECTIVE #5 (OF 6) $2.99

I believe that Marshall Rogers' art has gone down in quality since he first Batman run with Englehart.

MAY050203 BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #193 $2.50

I estimate that we will see some more really good Seth Fisher art in this issue.

MAY050222 BLOOD OF THE DEMON #5 $2.50

I believe that this team-up of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman will be better than whatever team-ups the three will have in Infinite Crisis.

DEC040346 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 INNER CASE PI
DEC040345 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 MASTER CASE PI
DEC040348 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 MONITOR AF PI

Things you will never hear:

(sound of wrapping paper being torn)

"WOW! A Monitor action figure! Just what I wanted! Thanks, Mom and Dad!"

"I am glad you like it. Happy Birthday, Son!"

DEC040350 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 PSYCHO PIRATE AF PI

Slightly more likely scenario:

"I am sorry, son, but this Psycho Pirtate was the only one left at the store."

DEC040347 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 ROBIN AF PI

Was Robin even IN Crisis?

I mean, for more than a few pages?

DEC040349 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS SER 1 SUPERGIRL AF PI
MAY050225 DC SPECIAL THE RETURN OF DONNA TROY #2 (OF 4) $2.99

I predict more of the same from #1.

In that people who follow the story without a problem will be awarded a special prize from DC Comics.

MAY050292 DEAD BOY DETECTIVES DIGEST (MR) $9.99

Jill Thompson is good.

Dead Boy Detectives are good.

Therefore, I estimate that this comic will be good.

APR050371 ELFQUEST THE GRAND QUEST VOL 9 TP $9.99
MAY050227 FIRESTORM #15 $2.50

I enjoyed his first issue well enough, so I hope this issue will be good as well.

MAY050205 GOTHAM CENTRAL #33 $2.50

Gotta give it up..."What would happen if someone dressed as Robin showed up dead?" is an intriguing as all hell story idea.

MAY050277 INTIMATES #9 $2.99

I really enjoyed last issue, so I hope this issue is good as well. Someone else recently made the excellent point that this is already as far as Automatic Kafka got.

So congrats, Joe!

MAY050256 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #11 $2.25

This series is sooo much better than JLA.

JAN050385 KINGDOM COME SUPERMAN HAWKMAN RED ROBIN STATUE $89.99

Can you really market something to just three people?!

MAY050264 LOONEY TUNES #128 $2.25
MAY050269 MADARA VOL 4 (MR) $9.99
MAY050279 MATADOR #3 (OF 6) $2.99

I predict a big improvement with this issue. Let us see if Greg agrees.

FEB050339 OCEAN #6 (OF 6) $3.99

You just can't make us wait this long for a story like this.

Just wait and release it as an OGN.

APR050384 ROGUE TROOPER VOL 2 FORT NEURO TP $17.99
MAY050248 SON OF VULCAN #2 (OF 6) $2.99

As I said to Johanna recently, while Son of Vulcan #1 was a competent story...I do not think "competent" is enough.

MAY050247 SPACE GHOST TP $14.99
MAY050211 SUPERMAN THAT HEALING TOUCH TP $14.99

What a weeeeird title for the issues it is collecting (Rucka's Adventures of Superman).

MAY050303 SWAMP THING #17 (MR) $2.99

Really, this comic needs to be put out of its misery.

JAN050386 THE BATMAN BATMAN MAQUETTE $89.99

Could someone please explain what a maquette is?

APR050387 TRANSGENESIS 2025 VOL 1 ANCESTOR PROGRAM TP (MR) $17.99

Not a fan.

MAY050280 TWILIGHT EXPERIMENT #6 (OF 6) $2.99
DEC040353 VERTIGO DESTRUCTION MINI BUST $45.00

I think this is just the kind of niche-y product that will succeed.

APR058327 VILLAINS UNITED #2 SECOND PTG $2.50
MAY050305 Y THE LAST MAN #35 (MR) $2.99

Someone made a REALLY good critique of Y recently that I really was struck by.

Y is basically written like a box office blockbuster action movie.

And that is not meant as a compliment.


IMAGE

APR051665 AMAZING JOY BUZZARDS VOL 1 TP $11.95

Finally, the conclusion to the series...all in PRINT!

APR051657 BATTLE POPE COLOR #1 $2.99

I predict that this will be very cool.

MAY051529 BONEREST #1 (MR) $2.95

Is this a reprint title?

APR051721 DARKNESS #21 $2.99

Brian Buccellato?!?

I prefferd Tieri.

MAR051727 HUNTER KILLER #3 $2.99

Don't worry, Mark Waid, Silvestri's art also made Morrison's stories look stupid, so it's not your fault!

MAY051577 STRANGE GIRL #2 $2.95

Rich Remender is a good writer, so I have faith in the quality of this title.

MAY051539 WILDGUARD FOOLS GOLD #1 (OF 2) $3.50

This should be a lot of fun.

MARVEL

MAY051786 AMAZING FANTASY #10 $2.99

How WEIRD is it that these characters are going to be appearing in PAD's Hulk HoM crossover?!?

FEB058414 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE DOLLAR DIGEST PI

This isn't going to be reprinting Avengers #1-3, is it?

Because that would be a dumb idea.

MAY051769 DAREDEVIL VS PUNISHER #1 (OF 6) $2.99

I bet this will be awesomely cool.

APR051973 ESSENTIAL DAREDEVIL VOL 1 TP NEW PRINTING $16.99
APR051972 ESSENTIAL IRON MAN VOL 1 TP NEW PRINTING $16.99

I enjoy the Essentials.

MAY051806 EXILES #66 $2.99
FEB058413 FANTASTIC FOUR FIRST FAMILY DOLLAR DIGEST PI

FF #1-3 is better than Avengers #1-3, so I wouldn't mind that here.

MAY051739 FANTASTIC FOUR HOUSE OF M #1 (OF 3) $2.99

I love the idea of writing a Fantastic Four tie-in when the FF does not exist in the House of M universe.

Talk about putting a writer into a tough spot!

Bad enough that the guy had to write Gambit!

MAY051736 HOUSE OF M #3 (OF 8) $2.99

Here it is!

And knowing the ending?

All I can say is...yawn.

JAN058162 HOUSE OF M CASSADAY VARIANT COVER #3 (OF 8) $2.99
FEB058416 HULK HULK SMASH DOLLAR DIGEST PI
MAY051744 INCREDIBLE HULK #83 $2.99
MAY051738 IRON MAN HOUSE OF M #1 (OF 3) $2.99

I like Greg Pak, so I predict that this issue will be good.

MAY051792 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #5 $2.50
MAY051783 MARVEL TEAM-UP #10 $2.99

I think this issue will be the best one yet.

MAY051766 SHANNA THE SHE DEVIL #6 (OF 7) (MR) $3.50

This isn't over yet?

MAY051760 SPIDER-GIRL #88 $2.99
FEB058412 SPIDER-MAN AMAZING FANTASY DOLLAR DIGEST PI
FEB058415 SPIDER-MAN DOCTOR OCTOPUS DOLLAR DIGEST PI
MAY051761 SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED #10 $2.99

Some good talent in this issue.

MAY051828 THING FREAKSHOW TP $17.99

Way to cash in Johns' popularity!

Only a couple of years too late. Hehe.

MAY051752 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #79 $2.50
MAY051742 UNCANNY X-MEN #462 $2.50

Any chance this issue WON'T be convoluted?

Not to say it won't be FUN.

FEB058417 X-MEN CHILDREN OF THE ATOM DOLLAR DIGEST PI
MAY051820 X-MEN NEW AGE OF APOCALYPSE TP $20.99

WIZARD

MAY052340 ASTONISHING X-MEN COLOSSUS WW LA EX BUST PI
MAY052341 EMERALD SHIELD GREEN LANTERN TOYFARE EX FIGURE PI
MAY052338 INQUEST GAMER HITCH HULK CVR #124 $4.99
MAY052344 YOUNG AVENGERS WW LA SKETCH CVR SGN CGC 9.8 PI

I love all the Please Inquires.

I foresee a lot of negotiations!

COMICS

APR052545 10TH MUSE ODYSSEY GN $9.99
APR052544 10TH MUSE VOL 2 #3 $2.99
MAY052478 A FEW DOLLARS MORE OZ THE MANGA #2 PI
APR053221 ALL NEW TENCHI MUYO VOL 6 TP $8.95
APR052950 ANGEL THE CURSE #1 BRADSTREET SIGNED ED $19.99
MAR052714 ARCHANGELS THE FALL #1 $4.50
JAN052630 ARMY OF DARKNESS SHOP TIL YOU DROP DEAD #4 $2.99

This book has really disappointed me.

DEC042525 ARMY OF DARKNESS SHOP TIL YOU DROP DEAD GLOW #3 PI

What?!?

They are printing this gem THEMSELVES?!?

Poor DFE!!

MAR052591 ATOMIC AGE TREASURY OF PULP ACTION VOL 1 TP (O/A) $12.95
APR053227 BASTARD VOL 8 TP (MR) $9.99
DEC043019 BECKETTS RACING CARD PLUS SPR SUM 05 #4 $9.99

I like when Becketts sneak into the comic section.

Then I can imagine a comic book about Racing cards.

That would be awesome.

APR052640 BETTY & VERONICA #210 $2.25
APR053057 BLACKPOOL #1 $2.95
MAR053056 BONEYARD VOL 1 COLOR ED TP $10.95
MAY052383 BUMPERBOY LOSES HIS MARBLES GN $7.95

This actually sounds interesting.

The story is just what the title says.

Think it will be one of those rare kids stories that is good, and not just "good...if you're a kid"?

APR053234 CASE CLOSED VOL 6 GN $9.95

I don't get it.

He's a teen detective turned into a boy detective?

Seems like a lot of effort for not much of a time change.

MAR052894 CINEMA PANOPTICUM HC (MR) $18.95
MAY052426 COEXISTING ONE SHOT $2.99

Andrew Drozd seems to be an interesting fellow. I think this project will bear that out.

FEB052898 CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON VOL 11 GN $13.95
APR052550 DAVID SHEPHERDS SONG #1 (OF 3) $2.99
MAY052435 DEAD EYES OPEN #1 $2.95
APR052540 DEAL WITH THE DEVIL #3 (OF 5) $2.99
MAR052815 DESIRE VOL 1 GN (O/A) (MR) $12.95
APR052861 DF BATMAN BEGINS MOVIE ADAPTATION SGN $29.99
FEB052788 DF BATMAN JEKYLL & HYDE #1 DOUBLE SGN $49.99
FEB052789 DF BATMAN JEKYLL & HYDE #1 REMARKED $69.99

Really?

70 bucks?

For a "remarked" book.

That's bold.

I like it!

Take them rubes!!

MAR052850 DF BATMAN VILLAINS SECRET FILES 2005 #1 SGN $39.99
JAN052728 DF GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH #5 SGN $49.99
FEB052809 DF HERCULES #1 SGN $19.99
MAR052882 DF TEEN TITANS #20 SGN $19.99

This is interesting...I do not know what to make of this. They do not say whether the books are doubly signed or not, but you HAVE to figure that's the only way that Batman Villains Secret Files is going for DOUBLE a Teen Titans issue, right?

JAN052708 DFE ARMY OF DARKNESS SHOP TIL YOU DROP DEAD FOIL CVR #3 $14.99

I like the guts to call your company "Dynamic Forces ENTERTAINMENT" when your books generally consist of just making alternate covers to previous titles.

I don't think this is what that movie (or the Jam) had in mind when it said, "That's Entertainment!"

APR053260 DOUBT VOL 3 GN $9.99
APR053207 DR SLUMP VOL 2 TP $7.99
APR052762 ELVIRA #146 $2.50
MAY052515 FATHOM #2 $2.99

I would like to hear the story of how J.T. Krull became the writer on Fathom. Who IS Krull?

Sounds like a post-apocalyptic character.

Maybe Krull is from the future!!

Sent to the past to write for a crappy comic book!

Also, why is this #2?

I thought Fathom only released #1s.

What gives?!?

Can't this be "1A"?!?!

APR053009 FINDER #37 (MR) $2.95

This book is cool.

APR053034 FSC SKETCH PAD JOURNAL $4.00
APR053257 FULL MOON VOL 1 TP $8.99

This sounds interesting.

A girl is given a reprieve from her illness to try to become a major pop singer by two magical beings.

Beats Jem!

APR053236 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST VOL 2 TP $9.99
MAR053088 FURRLOUGH #148 $3.50
APR053262 FUSHIGI YUGI GENBU KAIDEN VOL 1 TP $8.99
APR053263 FUSHIGI YUGI VOL 15 GN $9.95
FEB052640 HEAVY METAL LIVE VOL 7 PHOTO OF JULIE STRAIN NUDE SC (MR) $8.95
MAR052680 HEAVY METAL LIVE VOL 7 PHOTO OF JULIE STRAIN NUDE TOUR SC (M $8.95
FEB052639 HEAVY METAL LIVE VOL 7 PHOTO OF JULIE STRAIN SC (MR) $8.95
MAR052679 HEAVY METAL LIVE VOL 7 PHOTO OF JULIE STRAIN TOUR SC (MR) $8.95
MAY052375 HIP FLASK LADRONN SKETCHBOOK #2 ELEPHANTMEN (O/A) $10.00
MAY052374 HIP FLASK LADRONN SKETCHBOOK (O/A) $10.00

I was not a Hip Flask fan, but I DO like Ladronn. 10 bucks is actually pretty reasonable.

APR053271 HOT GIMMICK VOL 9 TP $9.99
MAY052763 HOUSEWIVES AT PLAY #14 (A) $4.95

Those Housewives...they are so naughty.

I would love to see Gerry Conway write a Housewives at Play comic.

That dude could write anything.

None of it would be particularly GOOD, but he could write anything.

APR053219 HUNTER X HUNTER VOL 3 TP $7.99
APR053237 INU YASHA VOL 22 TP $8.95
APR053272 IS VOL 2 GN $7.99
MAY052788 JANES WORLD #20 $4.95

I really enjoy Jane's World.

APR052546 JUDO GIRL #3 (OF 4) $2.99

This series has been intriguing.

APR052643 JUGHEAD AND FRIENDS DIGEST #3 $2.39
MAY052615 KITCHEN SINK & FRIENDS 6 GN SET (O/A) (A) PI
APR052740 KITCHEN SINK 6 ADULT GN SET (O/A) (A) PI
APR053208 KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC VOL 10 TP $7.95
MAY052819 LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOL 2 HC $39.99
APR052620 LEXIAN CHRONICLES FULL CIRCLE #2 $3.50
MAY052467 LUFTWAFFE 1946 SOURCEBOOK VOL 1 TP $5.95

This is intriguing.

This sounds like something that could be marketed BEYOND just comic shops.

MAR052988 MASTERS OF FANTASY JUST BETTIE PAGE S/N 500 ED (MR) $9.95
MAR053043 MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE VOL 3 #1 QUADRUPLE GATEFOLD CVR $9.95

When will the quintuple gatefold barrier be breached?!?!? WHEN?!?!

MAR053089 MILK #47 (A) $3.50

The solicitation copy for this issue includes the line "More hot girl-on-girl exploratory action."

How can it not be quality?

MAY052488 MYRIAD #3 (OF 6) $2.99
APR053209 ONE PIECE VOL 7 GN $7.95

This is a really fun comic book.

APR053273 OURAN HIGHT SCHOOL HOST CLUB VOL 1 TP $8.99
APR052646 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #95 $3.59
APR053274 PLEASE SAVE MY EARTH VOL 11 TP $9.99
APR053215 PRINCE OF TENNIS VOL 8 GN $7.95
APR053251 PROJECT ARMS VOL 9 TP $9.99
APR053275 RED RIVER VOL 7 GN $9.95
MAR053048 ROB ZOMBIE SPOOK SHOW INTL #9 HORRORFIND ED (MR) $9.95
MAR053049 ROB ZOMBIE SPOOK SHOW INTL #9 HORRORFIND SIGNED ED (MR) $19.95
MAR053046 ROB ZOMBIE SPOOK SHOW INTL #9 SDCC ED (MR) $9.95
MAR053047 ROB ZOMBIE SPOOK SHOW INTL #9 SDCC SIGNED ED (MR) $19.95

A slap in the face to SDCC that their edition is the same price as Horrorfind!!

They will never live this down!

APR053025 ROOM MATES VOL 1 GN (A) $10.95
MAR052886 RUMBLE PAK #4 (RES) $4.95
APR053216 RUROUNI KENSHIN VOL 16 TP $7.95
MAR052888 SAKURA PAKK VOL 1 TP $9.99
MAY052613 SCHOOL BITES VOL 1 GN DLX ED (O/A) $19.99
APR053130 SGT FROG VOL 9 GN (OF 10) $9.99
APR052774 SHI JU NEN #3 SIGNED GRAPHITE ED $19.99
APR053205 SHONEN JUMP AUG 05 #32 $4.99

Is anyone else freaked out by the fact that this comic sells more for the cards it contains than the stories themselves?

Should DC or Marvel try that as well?

DEC042763 STEVE DITKO READER VOL 3 TP $25.00

I enjoy the fact that products like these have a market.

APR052580 SWAMPFOX BIRTH OF A LEGEND GN $14.95
APR052733 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE VOL 3 PX LTD ED TP (MR) $34.99

PX?

Does that mean picture?

If so, I am impressed that they found pictures of the REALY Tarot Witch!!

She's hard to see in public!

MAR053233 TEZUKAS BUDDHA VOL 6 ANANDA HC (RES) $24.95
APR053087 THE NORM #9 $4.95

This is an online comic strip, right?

APR053258 TOKYO BOYS & GIRLS VOL 1 TP $8.99
APR053255 TOUGH VOL 3 GN (MR) $9.99
MAR052990 TRAILER PARK TERROR COLOR SPECIAL NELSON CVR #3 (MR) $3.99
MAR052989 TRAILER PARK TERROR COLOR SPECIAL TUCCI CVR #3 (MR) $3.99
APR053220 ULTIMATE MUSCLE VOL 7 GN $7.95

Wow.

This sounds like such a stupid comic book.

It makes that Mighty Ducks cartoon look like a genius idea.

APR053276 ULTRA MANIAC VOL 1 TP $8.99
APR053252 VIDEO GIRL AI VOL 12 TP $9.99
MAY052877 WANNABE #1 (MR) $2.95

This sounds intriguing.

But really, no better impetus than killing off the dude's pregnant wife?!!?

APR053217 WHISTLE VOL 6 TP $7.99
APR053035 WILDFLOWER TRIBAL SCREAMS DARK ONE CVR TP $12.99
APR053036 WILDFLOWER TRIBAL SCREAMS MARTINEZ CVR TP $12.99
MAR053322 WJHC ON THE AIR VOL 1 TP (O/A) $11.95
APR053042 WW2 ROMMEL #1 $3.95
APR053218 YU GI OH DUELIST VOL 6 TP $7.95

Well, that's it for me!

Feel free to share your thoughts, or just check back to see how wrong I was about everything!!

Read More

Why Lost Squad #1 Will Be Good

As I mentioned here, I am looking to give you all more info on the books that might be overshadowed in the mountain of materials that make up the Previews catalog.

Lost Squad #1 is solicited in the July Previews by Devil's Due Publishing.

It is written by Chris Kirby and drawn by Alan Robinson.

Here is writer Chris Kirby himself speaking about the Lost Squad...

I like to say that the Lost Squad is the Dirty Dozen as written by Rod Serling. It's part BAND OF BROTHERS and part X-FILES.

The Lost Squad is an adventure series about a group of soldiers each blessed (or cursed, depending on how you look at it) with special abilities and traits who are recruited to fight a secret war against the Germany's elite occult troops. Toss in a little retro 50's sci-fi weaponry and technology -- soldiers with jet packs, mechanical spider-tanks, a high speed "ghost" train, a "crystal ball" device that can tell the future -- to go along with all of the ghosts, magic, and monsters and you get the alternate reality WWII of the Lost Squad.

The series has a little something for everyone -- sci-fi, horror, a little fantasy, and of course, a war story. I've tried to give the characters some depth and backstory and then let them loose on the battlefield that Alan Robinson and myself created. They're an interesting bunch, every one of them a lost soul in some way really, who find themselves encountering strange and bizarre battle conditions.
The first story arc opens with a short prologue story about an ambush on a German convoy to recover the Second Seal as described in the book of Revelations. That leads the team into a search for the Nazi "ghost" train and the ISABEL device -- an invention that the Allies believe can tell the future.

We've got a good two or three years worth of stories to tell and I hope people will join us on the ride.

If that sounds like it floats your boat, be sure to tell your retailer!

The code is JUL052799. #1 is three bucks.

Read More

Three 6/29 Books That I Read So That You Did Not Have To

Same as always...I tell you about three comics that I did not hear a lot about this week, and then I ask you all to fill me in on comics that I did not read this week.

Spoilers ahead!!

Batgirl #65

This is an interesting book to judge.

On the one hand, it was a very fun story.

On the other hand, I do not know how fun of a story it would be if you were not familiar with current Batgirl and Batman continuity.

So that's definitely a drawback.

However, I have to give Anderson Gabrych a ton of credit for his ability to work WITH the continuity of the other Bat-titles without it dragging his story down.

In any event, it is Father's Day, and Batgirl's thoughts turn to who is her mother?

The leading suspect is Lady Shiva, and there is a funny scene between Batgirl and Onyx discussing Shiva, with Onyx giving a funny "before she was a star" look at Shiva.

The centerpiece of the story is Batgirl visiting her father, assassin David Cain, in prison.

She wants to know who her mother is.

He will not say.

So she beats him up severely...which would be uncharacteristic of a superhero, except that Batgirl KNOWS that this is what her father would LIKE.

He WANTS to spar with his daughter, even if he knows she can kick his ass.

And the last scene, with her Father's Day present to him...very nice.

Pop Mhan's art was good, but Ale Garza's art was good BEFORE Mhan, so I don't see why they made a change.

So, while I liked the book, I think it was PROBABLY too tied into Bat-continuity to be as enjoyable to others, sooo...

Not Recommended!

Batman #641

Winick and Mahnke reunite (after the fill-in last issue by Paul Lee) to "finish" the initial storyline (it is annoying that they are taking a break from the book for a couple of months...just when the book was getting good).

It is Batman versus Jason Todd, the Red Hood.

It was a good issue, except I think it spent far too much time on the "is it really Jason?"

Who really cares?

In fact, I think being Jason HURTS the character of the Red Hood. Without being Jason, he is an interesting character who just looks at Gotham differently than Batman.

With it BEING Jason, it is just a dude harboring a grudge. In addition, if the Red Hood did not kill the Joker a few issues ago, then that is just poor writing. Which is why I would not have included the Joker scene at all. If Jason's ENTIRE POINT is that Gotham needs someone willing to kill the bad guys, then how could he possibly have let Joker live? So just for the sake of a "cute" scene (Jason pounding Joker with a baseball bat like Joker pounded Jason), Winick throws a wrench in the motivations of his character. Not a good job.

The bulk of this issue, though, is handled well. Mahnke is great on the art, as he has been throughout this storyline, and the story is fun.

Another complaint about Winick in this issue, though, is that he has Batman say this cool line early on.

Red Hood tells Onyx, "This is the part where you try to stop me and I beat the hell out of you."

Then Batman is suddenly write behind them and says, "No." and then turn to the next page, which is a full page shot of Batman saying, "It's NOT that part."

Great scene, making Batman out to look totally cool.

But then what does Winick do?

He REPEATS THAT DIALOGUE THREE MORE TIMES!

Like, "It sounds like hell itself is dropping out of the sky." "Yes, it sounds just like that."

"It's not possible." "No, it really is."

"I'll be the one who finally brings peace." "No. You won't."

How silly is that?!

Still, the overall issue had enough fun action and great art that I feel safe in saying...

Recommended!

Flash #223

Man, I did not like this issue.

First of all, Zoom is featured a lot in this issue, and I really do not like Zoom. The whole "I am trying to make you a better hero" thing is a decent enough motivation ...the FIRST TIME.

But when you bring him back as a recurring villain, it just doesn't follow.

Even a crazy person can't honestly think everything he is doing is designed to "make Wally a better hero by testing him."

In any event, I also dislike Howard Porter's art in this issue. I am not a fan of his art in general, but this issue in particular seemed weak to me.

In addition, Johns is just waaay too obsessed with "out of nowhere shock endings."

So much so that he has literally THREE of them in the issue!

BAM! Out of nowhere, KID FLASH shows up!!

BAM! Out of nowhere, GORILLA GRODD shows up!!

BAM! Out of nowhere, FLASH (Jay Garrick) IS TIED TO THE FRONT OF THE COSMIC TREADMILL!

And each one of the "surprises" was lame.

Grodd shows up for a couple of pages (making sure, of course, to reference his role in Villains United).

So many characters, NONE of which are given any real attention.

I did like the scene where Heatwave joined back up with the Rogues.

He is the one "Rogue gone good" that I do not mind going back, as no writer ever REALLY did a lot of work developing his "good" persona, unlike Loebs and Waid with Piper and Waid with Trickster.

In any event, this issue was a collection of full page "shockers" that failed to "shock," and really, failed to entertain either.

Not Recommended!

Now on to the books that I did not read, so I was hoping you might have read them and could tell me what I missed out on -

Blacklight #1

Lullaby Wisdom Seeker #3

Pact #3

Genie #1

Thanks in advance!

Read More

WE SURRENDER

If you are at all smart or good-looking, you may have noticed that the fellows of Listen to Us, We're Right recently declared war (WAR!) against our meager little blog.

It’s no secret that ‘Comics Should Be Good’ has suffered quite a bit since I quit actively posting. I do feel shame in this. When Cronin tried to fill the gap I left by hiring two homosexuals, an age-ed person, and a monkey, I knew he was doing what he felt was right and I harbored no ill will towards him.

But it was obvious that things would never be the same.

And they haven't, let's face it. My worthless commentary, non-reviews, and bad pee jokes were one of the bright spots here back in the day. Those two short posts I wrote were surely the equivalent of dozens, maybe hundreds, of posts from this "Greg" character. Does anybody even know what he writes about? I'm not sure he really speaks English.

So, yes, this blog has possibly been the worst blog in all the blog-ovoid the past several months.

In light of this, I feel like we have no choice but to offer our unconditional surrender to Listen to Us, We're Right. We would only be overwhelmed by their superior nature, possibly costing lives...maybe even that of Pol Rua. Hmmmm, on second thought, maybe we shoul--No, we definitely surrender to them. Listen to Us, We're Right is just a plum better blog than ours. Better than this one, I mean. Comics Should Be Good. The blog that I'm on right now.

In wholly unrelated news, I will be moving my non-posting self over to a site called Listen to Us, We're Right. I have a few ideas I may write up if I feel like it, or I may just sit quietly and wait for the day to come where I quit over there, too. You just never can tell with me, can you?

Hoo, boy, I bet those of you that faintly recognize my name will sure be sorry to see me go! But, remember, you can still not-read many/any words written by me at Listen to Us, We're Right. All the best to my old blogmates here, and also "Greg," who I hope finally beats that language barrier one day.

Read More

A Look At O-P-P Comics

Omaha Perez was good enough to send me a sampling of the offerings from his company, O-P-P Comics, so I will be good enough to share my thoughts about the three books - Periphery #1, Holmes #1/Periphery #2 and Cenozoic #1.

Of the three books, Periphery #1, I would say, was the strongest comic. A 48-page anthology for $3.50, in and of itself, is a strong selling point of the book. However, the other selling point would be the diversity and general high level of quality for the stories.

Steve Niles and Brian Horton open the collection off with a strong little tale about two robbers who go back to their hometown and have an awkward reunion with their old coach - while they are robbing him.

This is Niles here, so there is a twist.

Horton's art was quite good.

Mark Fearing follows with "Jerry: Caveman Inventor." It is a fun tale about a caveman who invents shoes - and sees his fellow cavemen not really care.

Funny stuff.

The art is just the right brand of sketchiness (as it befits the caveman lifestyle).

Eli S. Stone and Omaha Perez handle the creepy "The Handsomest Man in the World."

Perez' art befits the strange story...and his depiction of the guy staring at people (as they realize how handsome he is and are willing to do anything for him) is super creepy.

Good story.

Closed Case is a short story written and drawn by Brian Horton that is built around a twist that, well, didn't really deserve two pages.

Steve Niles and Omaha Perez combine to tell the tale of "In Deep," probably my favorite story of the issue, which details what happens when two punks end up biting off more than they could chew when they steal a rocket car.

Funny stuff.

The Story of Ganesha, by Richard Releigh and Omaha Perez is my second favorite story of the collection, and it is by far Perez' best art of the anthology.

He really shined in this story.

The story is, well, about how Ganesha came to be. It is a really interesting story involving stuff like him taking on and beating up a god because he was just recently created, and did not realize how scared he should have been.

Interesting stuff.

My one real complaint about this story is with the art on the last page. Nice twist, but the thought balloons of the characters are almost totally indecipherable!!

The Holmes #1/Periphery #2 flipbook is not as strong as Periphery #1, but is still an enjoyable enough comic.

The main conceit is that Sherlock Holmes is a total drug addict and Watson keeps him supplied.

Imagine, if you were, what would happen if Inspector Gadget was on drugs, and there were no little niece or helpful dog to solve the case for real?

That's what Holmes #1 is like.

Perez' art is a bit inconsistent, which was a bit annoying. Early in the story, his art is spot on...very reminscient of when Bendis used to draw, perhaps even better. Then in the middle, his pencils seem looser and his inking not as strong. He basically recovers by the end of the story, though.

Overall, the art is good...but when you tease me with the hint of being REALLY good, I want that throughout!

The story is funny...just like any story that would be like Inspector Gadget on drugs would be like...hehe.

The Periphery part of the book is two stories. One written by Matthew Smith and Brian Horton that, while looking quite nice, really did nothing for me.

The second was another Mark Fearing caveman story. This one was about figuring out why the era that they are living in is called "The Stone Age." More funny stuff.

Cenozoic #1 is a full issue of Mark Fearing's cavemen characters (plus Cave Bear and Duck).

The first story, focusing on Jerry - Caveman Inventor, was fun. Not as strong as his previous Jerry stories (which is kinda disappointing, seeing this is the first issue DEVOTED to these characters!), but still fun.

However, I did not get into Cave Bear and Duck at ALL, so I was really disappointed to see a NINETEEN PAGE Cave Bear and Duck story.

The extended story pages did not do anything for Jerry, and the REALLY extended amount of pages did even LESS for Cave Bear and Duck, as less really is more with these characters (to wit, the one page Cave Bear and Duck story that closes out the comic is a good deal better, in EIGHTEEN LESS pages!!).

So I really enjoyed Periphery #1, I basically enjoyed Periphery #2/Holmes #1, and I really did not care for Cenozoic #1.

Read More

Why AIT/Planet Lar Comics Will Be Good...And Cure Cancer

Recently, I wrote about how much harder it is to market "back of Previews" comic books.

Well, in an interview with Tom Spurgeon, Larry Young achieved two things that tie in to this theme...

1. He helps to plug a good deal of upcoming AIT/Planet Lar comic books

and

2. He makes some interesting points regarding the overall marketing of comic books.

It is a good read.

You can check it out here.

Read More

You Decide 2005 (July)

Already halfway through the year!

Time again for the latest edition of You Decide 2005.

The offer, as always, is as follows:

You folks out there all pick a comic title that you think is good (let's try to keep it recent, unless it is an older story available in trade format), and I'll try to hunt down a couple of issues or a trade (no guarantees I'll find them, but I think I'll be able to do okay), read them, and put up an entry about it.

It may not be instanteous, but I eventually get around to every title!

So a whole entry just on one comic that you think is cool...hopefully it will bring the attention of our two blog readers (plus the 9 other blog writers, so hey, that's ELEVEN possible new readers!!!).

Sound cool?

If so, then you decide!!

Read More

Battle For Comic Book Independence

In honor of the Fourth of July, I figured it would be interesting to have a USA/Britain rematch - COMIC BOOK STYLE!

I will match up an American tradepaperback against a British tradepaperback. Whichever is better, wins. Best two out of three!

FIRST MATCHUP: Jack Staff: Everything Used To Be Black and White vs. The Shield

This is a tough matchup for Jack Staff, as The Shield was the FIRST American patriotic hero, debuting in late 1939!!!

Written by Henry Shorter, with art by later DC mainstay, Irv Novick, the Shield tells a lot of strong Golden Age stories.

The concept behind the Shield is that FBI agent Joe Higgins has created a special suit that is both impervious to damage and also gives the wearer super strength. Working under J.E. Hoover, Joe defends America from the "Nordic" bad guys who keep trying to kill us in America or sabotage our ships.

The Shield's uniform has four stars on them, which stand for: Truth, Justice, Patriotism and Courage.

The Shield hands out little shields with that written on it to the bad guys after he beats them up - just to rub it in.

The package from Archie is an attractive one, and it reprints the first five Shield stories from Pep Comics #1-5, plus the three Shield stories from the Summer 1940 Shield-Wizard Special.

A particularly interesting story is the one where we see the Shield's origin, and we learn that Joe's father first came up with the formula to create the armor, but died before making it. The key to the formula, which his father whispered to him before he died was "SHIELD," which one day Joe realized stood for Sacrum, Heart, Innervation, Eyes, Lungs and Derma.

This was all he needed to create the armor.

The stories are all strong, and Novick's art is strong (and also, his storytelling is very modern-looking).

In addition, there is a real sweet last page, as the comic reprints the 1948 message from the Shield when he was cancelled, informing all his friends that he was going to be busy on some missions for the FBI, so he would have to stop appearing in the comic, but that Archie Andrews would now be appearing in the comic, and all their fan club memberships would be transferred to the Archie Club. This is followed by a message from Archie himself! It is so sweet, as Archie is choking up over Shield leaving, but braving on to help the club members.

Good stuff.

So it is strong competition for Paul Grist's Jack Staff.

Luckily for him, Paul Grist is a freakin' comic book genius.

I have gone on in the past about how amazing I think Grist's art is, and this collection of Jack Staff #1-12 from Image is no different.

However, in comparison to his Kane, the best part of this comic ISN'T the art, but rather, Grist's writing.

This is particularly fitting with Albion just being released, as Jack Staff was ALL about Grist reclaiming the British heroes of his youth. In Jack Staff, he brings back all the characters featured in Albion, but also introduces new characters.

The way he does so is so filled with fun, joy and a love of the medium that it simply beautiful to watch.

Never taking himself seriously, Grist spins a veritable cornucopia of new, interesting characters. He never spends too much time on any one character, and the effect is to give SUCH a layered story that the 12 issues reprinted feel like twice as many.

And twice as much fun.

So even though the Shield was highly influential for other patriotically garbed heroes such as Captain America and Wonder Woman, Grist's Jack Staff is just a better comic book.

Round one goes to Britain!

America is on its heels!

SECOND MATCHUP: Captain America: Operation Rebirth vs. Union Jack

Marvel's costumed representatives of America and England go head to head!

If Ben Raab ever had to pick one single project to be remembered for, I think he would be well advised to pick the Union Jack 3-book series collected here by Marvel. It is a very strong, straightforward story.

On the art side, let me toss out two names that worked on this project - John Cassaday and Dave Stewart.

So yeah, this series looked a lot better than anyone would have expected for a Union Jack mini-series.

Still, Cassaday is not yet at his Planetary level of art, so he still has some of the tics that were common in his Desperadoes and X-Men/Alpha Flight work. Still, it is quite good looking.

The story is about vampires, and ties in to two old Byrne stories - the one, the Baron Blood story from Stern and Byrne's Captain America (where this Union Jack debuted) and the Namor story where Spitfire was rejuvenated.

The characterizations are interesting, and the action is handled well. This was a good series.

However, Mark Waid and Ron Garney just did a better job with their Captain America.

In addition, compared to the relatively untouched Union Jack, Waid had to take over Captain America from a very convoluted storyline by Mark Gruenwald.

Yet Waid manages to keep the story fresh, while still following the continuity laid out for him by the previous writer (granted, Gruenwald was a good deal more accomodating than other writers, as he wrote in an out for whichever writer followed him on the title and even helped set up a Waid plot).

Waid's big addition to the Captain America cast was the return of Sharon Carter, Agent 13, only now with a harder edge.

The chemistry between the bitter Carter and the optimistic Cap is really fun to see, and it is a theme Waid was to revisit a lot over his far too short run.

Garney's art also was never quite as good as it was as during this run, but one thing that is notable is how the four-part story had THREE inkers, and the only one to do two issues, Denis Rodier, was also the worst of the three (the other two were Scott Koblish, who did a bang-up job on Part 1 and Mike Manley on Part 3).

So while Union Jack was good, Captain America was the breath of fresh air that superhero comic readers really needed in 1995, and the story still holds up well.

So America has survived their Valley Forge, and has come back to tie Britain!

FINAL MATCHUP: Hellblazer: Rake At the Gates of Hell vs. Preacher: Alamo

Just like how ultimately another European country (France) resolved the original American/British conflict, so too, will a writer from another European country (Ireland) decide this match.

To be as even as possible, I decided to pick the SAME writer and the SAME artist doing two books - one starring a British character and the other starring an American character, and seeing who comes out the winner in the end.

Also, as this is the FINAL matchup, I chose the FINAL stories by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon on each respective title.

In both instances, the final storyline ties into early plots by Ennis, but of the two, Alamo just does a better job of resolution...which makes sense, as Alamo allows Ennis to ACTUALLY resolve the story, while in Hellblazer, Ennis has to set up the plot for the next writer.

Both stories featured "layovers" in the overarching story, but the layovers felt much more natural in Preacher than in Hellblazer.

For instance, Rake at the Gates of Hell is about Satan (one of the three separate but equal demons that Constantine tricked by promising his soul to each one of them) realizing that he can get at John in the MATERIAL world. Which is fine, but in the midst of it, we see a reunion of John and his old girlfriend, Kit.

Kit was a very important part of Ennis' run, but really, it could have been worked in better.

In addition - I liked Heartland a lot, but it really is out of place here as an "extra." It should have been in one of the other collections, like Damnation's Flame or Tainted Love (as an aside, why hasn't Ennis ever revisited Kit's story?).

Dillon's art is strong in both collections, but you can tell he is putting a little more into his Preacher effort (or perhaps he just matured and improved as an artist).

Preacher is Ennis exploring all sorts of American cultural archetypes (even the Alamo itself), and the classic conclusion to Jesse Custer and Tulip is an homage to John Ford's masterful dedication to the American Western in general, and Monument Valley in particular.

Seeing Dillon draw Jesse and Tulip ride off into the sunset is so beautiful...and so American.

The beauty of the conclusion, along with the smoother storytelling, is why Alamo is a better comic than Rake at the Gates of Hell.

And that is why in this competition, America defeats Britain, 2-1!

Happy Fourth of July, folks!

Read More

This Comic Is Good - The Adventures of Superman Annual #4

So long as I am praising Robert Loren Fleming's work (as I was just recently doing right here), I would be remiss if I did not point out what I thought was one of the more impressive pieces of superhero comic book writing I have seen in the past ten years or so, which is namely, this Annual.

What makes it so impressive is that the comic was part of the big Eclipso the Darkness Within Annual Crossover by DC. And, let's be honest, annuals that make up part of company-wide Annual crossovers tend to be pretty lame.

Does anyone remember a standout issue of Atlantis Attacks?

And even when they occasionally ARE good, like the Demon Annual during Bloodlines (which introduced Hitman to the DCU), it is when the comic is able to separate itself from the continuity-soaked morass of the overall crossover.

Adventures of Superman Annual #4 is deeply entrenched in the overall crossover, yet still managed to pull off a new reader friendly GOOD fun story.

Which impressed the heck out of me THEN, and still impresses me NOW.

The Eclipso event was the brianchild of writers Robert Loren Fleming and Keith Giffen, and it basically involved the villain Eclipso possessing a whole pile of superheroes during each of their respective Annuals, all in a plot to take over the world...or something like that.

Not the deepest of plots.

Specifically, Adventures of Superman Annual #4 had to serve as a funnel for both the plot of the Superman Annuals that year as well as all the plots of all the other Annuals, to set up the finale in the bookend piece Eclipso: The Darknesss Within #2 (#1 began the whole shebang...and it featured a plastic black diamond on the cover. Ahhh...early 90s special cover brilliance, eh?).

The Superman plot was that Eclipso uses Lois Lane to possess Superman, and then Captain Marvel has to fight Superman to stop him.

Sound familar?

It should, as Judd Winick just did the exact same plot in his recent setup for Days of Vengeance in the Superman titles.

Anyhow, Dan Vado supplied the story for the previous issue, Action Comics Annual #4, and it was a decent enough Superman/Captain Marvel fight that ended with Superman escaping.

In this issue, Superman is still possessed by Eclipso, and a ragtag group of heroes has to free him from Eclipso's control. Meanwhile, various scientist characters have been vanishing in bursts of light in different Annuals, including Bruce Gordon, the man who once shared a body with Eclipso.

The heroes Fleming had to work with in this issue are as follows:

L.E.G.I.O.N. (Vril Dox, Lobo, Phase, Strata, Stealth, Garv and Telepath)
Hawkman (the Thanagar police version)
Nightwing
Black Canary
Elongated Man
Fire
Ice
Booster Gold
Crimson Fox
Metamorpho
Bloodwynd
Wildebeest
and eventually, Guy Gardner.

Not exactly a Murderer's Row of character, eh?

I don't think any writer is saying, "I have GOT to have Metamorpho and Booster Gold in my story, or else I'm out of here!"

Yet Fleming manages to do a great job using each character, and not only USING them, but using them to their fullest.

How many writers doing a crossover like this would actually take the time to say, "Hey, I wonder how Hawkman and Vril Dox would interact if they tried to run a team together?' It would be so easy to play "cookie-cutter" here, but Fleming does not. Instead, he stays true to the characters, and gives us interactions that are both interesting and in keeping with the characterizations of all the heroes (I remember being particularly pleased at this as, at the time, Dan Jurgens was writing JLA, and he was NOT keeping the characters in keeping with their characterizations, and he was mainly writing every non-Superman character in the JLA as an absolute moron).

The spotlight characterization, though, has to belong to how Fleming handles Guy Gardner.

Remember how I told you he had to coordinate the Superman plot from the other two Superman Annuals and also coordinate with all the OTHER Annuals (as each Annual generally ended with one or two members of the book being possessed by Eclipso. At this point, a lot of major heroes were under Eclipso's control, including Hal Jordan, Flash, Wonder Woman, the New Titans, Lady Quark, Hawkwoman and Power Girl)?

Well, he ALSO had to tie-in the changes made in Guy Gardner:Reborn, which brought Guy Gardner back as a non-Green Lantern affiliated, with Sinestro's old yellow ring. Fleming did not have anything to do with that project, but still managed to work it in beautifully.

Fleming was not afraid to actually make Guy sympathetic, which was rare for DC Comics of the time (when Guy's own writer, Gerry Jones, did not even seem to care for him all that much).

The action scenes in the book are handled well, as the heroes all team-up to try to bring Superman out of a hiding place in a Volcano before the sun sets. All the powers of the heroes are under full display (although Fleming probably makes an unintentional error with his handling of Bloodwynd, who was secretly Martian Manhunter).

There are little heroic moments for almost every hero, from Aquaman to Lobo.

The best, though, is saved for last, when the heroes FAIL to get Superman out before sunset, and the Eclipsed Superman is tearing through their ranks like they are gnats (including one terrific scene where he literally blows Metamorpho into a bunch of little pieces).

He is about to kill Ice when Guy Gardner returns, having travelled to the sun itself to bring solar matter to wipe Eclipso out of Superman's system.

Very cool scene.

Especially as Guy wrestles him into the volcano while reciting the Green Lantern oath (which he had earlier stated did not matter to him anymore).

Great scene.

The rest of the issue is tie-in to the conclusion of the crossover, and is pretty uneventful, except for the cool acknowledgement by Superman that, if Batman is not available, then Nightwing is his next choice (this was during the time when Nightwing really did not get much respect in the DC Universe).

The art for the issue was handled by Bob McLeod, and he did a really good job with each character, keeping everyone in line with how they are supposed to look, while drawing some cool scenes (particularly Lobo and Superman's fights in the issue) and Guy Gardner's scenes. McLeod's facial expressions reached almost Maguire-like levels in this issue, to good effect.

He managed to convey Vril Dox's intensity, Guy's pomposity and Ice's caring.

Under ordinary circumstances, this was a good comic.

Under the weight of continuity and tie-ins to other books?

This was a REALLY good comic.

Read More