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February 26th, 2011
For part five on my ongoing blog homage to Image I’m going to discuss a series that, combined with the discovery of Chew, made me give Image a second chance. To make a horrible pun, it’s Proof that Image has more to offer than beefed-up superheroes.
Proof, written by Alex Grecian and illustrated by Riley Rossmo, is a series that was first described to me as a combination of Men in Black and X-Files, with the part of Mulder being played by a sasquatch named John “Proof” Prufrock. An odd fusion of ideas, true, but nonetheless an apt description. The longer version is a story of a giant nature preserve, called the Lodge, reserved exclusively for creatures that for one reason or another need to be sealed off from humanity. Some of these creatures, like the jackalope, are put in the preserve for their protection. Other creatures, such a particularly vicious breed of carnivorous fairy, are placed there so that they would cease to be a danger to others. These creatures, collectively called cryptids, are the world’s best kept secret.
Now, unlike most of the comic series I’ve described, which have been a mix of genres, Proof keeps to one category. It’s solid science fiction, and, like all good science fiction, it takes things that are seen as impossible and makes them probable. This is accomplished in part by compelling storytelling. The way Grecian develops his characters and the events of the book helps broaden the already far-reaching powers of suspension of disbelief. Another part of it is something that Grecian calls “cryptoids,” or little bits of information that are littered throughout the issues. It’s kind of like Pop-Up Video except for in a comic series. Some are funny, some are informative, some are just random, but all of them are interesting and add a new dimension to the events unfolding in the story.
Another big selling point is the title character himself. While the bulk of the story is centered on the happenings of the Lodge, most of the real conflict comes from Proof and his search for identity. With the appearance of a missing link and a level of sophistication that hasn’t been seen since the time of Thomas Jefferson, Proof is a war of opposites. He continually straddles the line between man and monster and feels at home with neither. Adding to the effect is Rossmo’s art work and colors which seems to perfectly suit the story, a rare quality in comics these days.
The first Proof series “concluded” some time ago and spanned twenty-eight issues before ending on a huge cliff hanger, so it came as a relief when last December the series was re-launched in what could be Proof’s final run. This new series, Proof: Endangered, looks to be just as amazing as its predecessor.
In conclusion, Proof is an awesome read. It takes the essence of every urban legend and makes it a little less legendary and a little more real. How many stories can you say that about?
-Brent
Posted in Comic Industry News, Comic Reviews | Comments Off
February 25th, 2011
[YEAH, WE HEARD, DUDE]
No time for a snappy prologue, we have serious issues to discuss concerning this week’s issues.
[GLORY DAYS, IN THE BLINK OF A YOUNG MAN’S EYE]
Fantastic Four 588: In which the life of Johnny Storm is commemorated through 18-somelthing pages of silence. When you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all, eh, Mr. Hickman? All right, I’m kidding, but only partially. This is an oddly unsatisfying issue. We get a mute wake starring a bunch of superheroes, we get Reed wordlessly confronting Annihilus (who’s kept a souvenir of the late Mr. Storm), we get Val assembling the future foundation for the purpose of planning the murder of Annihilus, we get Sue collapsing in grief and then snubbing Reed (the one time he attempts to be compassionate and she freezes him out), and we get Ben holding a pity party/punch-out party with Hulk and Thor. I get that this is supposed to be more meaningful because it all happens in silence, but this Quiet Storm for Johnny is upended by the tacked-on scene — WITH DIALOGUE — between Peter Parker and Franklin. Pete and Franklin share a hot dog atop a very tall building while Pete discusses the death of Uncle Ben and relates to Franklin on a very human level. This shared experience and Pete’s words of hard-won wisdom concerning the death of loved ones and how to deal with it work so much more effectively and are more satisfying than anything that precedes it that I have to wonder why an editor didn’t just advise Hickman to, you know, write some more pages like this. Hickman has shown an ability to write powerfully about the human lives of these characters, so I’m let down that this issue of mourning is 80% gimmick and 20% story. You’re telling me Reed Richards isn’t gonna have something profound to say about life going on and the great cosmic wheel and how science doesn’t provide answers to problems like this — that’s what I came here to see, Hickman. This was also a golden opportunity for Reed to attempt to undo some of his absentee fathering by helping his son through this rough time, and instead — once again — Reed has no contact with Franklin. He didn’t even have to succeed, just be a father and make the effort; that would have been something between these two strangers who happen to be related.
Anyway, this little scene between Pete and Franklin does make me feel better about Pete joining the team, if only because Reed’s review of current threats against his family includes Franklin’s “power set.” I can see Reed wanting the humanizing influence of genuine nice guy Peter Parker around his son. Especially since Reed’s own absentee father returns at the end of the issue. Last time we saw him, Franklin was kicking him in the face through time and space.
In short: Should have had more dialogue that illuminated the unique relationships of the all-family team mourning the loss of their brother/brother-in-law/uncle/compadre, especially with a boss like Hickman at the typewriter.
[UNCLE BEN’S GETTING A LOT OF FACE TIME FOR A DEAD GUY]
Amazing Spider-Man 655: See, this is how you deal with death. Marla Jameson is dead (fine, comic book “dead”) and J. Jonah is the silent one this time around. It’s more effective here, because the silence is used sparingly. Jonah is so stone-faced, so solitary throughout the funeral that you feel his pain. He’s lost the spark that animates him, and so he’s emotionless and silent. Pete, wracked with self-inflicted guilt because he believes he should have saved Marla, takes a wild journey into his psyche and confronts all the dead people he’s known, from Uncle Ben to Marla. Dan Slott covers the entirety of Spider-Man continuity in this one (I did not know he killed a woman, for instance), while poking fun at the impermanence of death in a superhero’s life, and addressing the casual attitude towards killing some superheroes now have.
In short: It’s a thought provoking and nuanced examination of who Peter Parker is, who he thinks he is, and who he fears becoming. And it’s a good story well told.
Having said all that, how excited are you that Marvel’s going to kill a superhero every 20 minutes financial quarter in 2011? Just think about all the mourning issues we’re going to wade through in the next nine months. Some of ‘em are even gonna have dialogue. Awesome.
[KING CONAN ASKED YOU A QUESTION, MARVEL!]
All right, settle down, Conesy. We’ll get to you in a minute.
[SINCE THIS NEW PM CAN CHANNEL HIS CHI THROUGHOUT HIS BODY, COULDN’T THEY HAVE CALLED HIM IRON FOOT?]
Also of interest this week is Power Man and Iron Fist 2, which continues Iron Fist’s mentorship of young Power Man and their pursuit of proof that will absolve former Heroes for Hire secretary Jennie Royce of murder. This is actually less interesting than the developments in Danny Rand’s personal life, as his current girl Friday, Joy Meachum, calls him out for being an insensitive lout in the name of Misty Knight. I will see Misty and Danny not just reunited, but also starring in their own team book (called Heroes for Hire, natch) if I get my way. Writer Fred van Lente may be leaning a bit too heavily on the theatrical symbolism in his story, but at least it’s different from all the “ggrrrr, dark/depressed/maniac” stuff that passes for secondary plot in a lot of other books.
In short: I’m enjoying this one much more than I feared I would.
[AHH, THAT’S THE STUFF]
Now, you know what book I expected to love and then had it exceed even my high expectations? King Conan 1. Admittedly, Tim Truman and Tomas Giorello are adapting another Robert E. Howard story, The Scarlet Citadel, and not giving us a completely new tale, but it is one we haven’t seen adapted multiple times already since it comes so late in Conan’s life. I would still prefer original stories from Tim Truman, but compared to the weak art of Conan’s monthly title, this feels like a huge stride forward in terms of originality and readability. King Conan relates to a scribe the time he had to lead Aquilonia in battle against King Strabonus of Koth and a wizard (the evile Tsotha-Lanti) and ends up a prisoner of the wizard in a creepy dungeon. Giorello draws an absolutely fantastic old King Conan, and this grizzled and self-aware Conan Truman has crafted is a delight.
[CONSIDER MY CUP GRABBED, MY LIEGE]
I missed these guys. I know this is slated for a mere four issues, and I know exactly how this story ends, but I’m still excited about the return of King Conan. I harbor a not-so-secret hope that sales justify a monthly title, or at least regular miniseries detailing the adventures of an older Conan and his son, Conn. See, Reed Richards, even the barbarian spends time with his kid.
In short: King Conan is totally the best thing I read this week.
-Paul
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February 23rd, 2011
After I got back from the ComicsPRO summit, I scheduled a few days off work to be home with my mom while she recovered from minor surgery. While I was at my mom’s apartment, I went through my old closet and stumbled across a box of childhood letters. One particular letter was from Marvel comics! In second or third grade my friend Robby and I made Spider-Man gliders i.e. paper planes with crudely inked Spidey illustrations. Apparently, we thought it was such a great idea we wrote Marvel comics with a business plan to market our Spider-Man gliders. Marvel was kind enough to write back to us nine-year-old businessmen. Here is what they said:
At the age of nine, getting a letter from Marvel comics was the coolest thing imaginable. I couldn’t actually find the glider, though I do remember that it had Magneto on it.
As I rummaged through the box of letters I also found correspondence with my childhood friend Ezra who moved to California in the sixth grade. We kept in contact via mail for about two years and some of his letters to me are pretty telling that one day I would end up managing a comic shop. Here are some choice lines, each from a separate letter:
“When you write back tell me everything about Gambit you know.”
“Thank you for the info on Gambit.”
“I’ve got a ton of awesome collectors pogs and slammers. I’ve even got X-Men pogs and slammers!”
“Have you been to the Fantasy Shop lately? Do they have any Japanese animation?”
“Guess what. THE COMIC BOOK STORES IN CALIFORNIA DON’T HAVE MAGIC CARDS!”
“Do you still play magic? Do you know the least amount of cards you can have in a deck because I can’t find it out?”
“So do you guys do anything else besides Nintendo and magic?”
Oh, how little has changed.
-Jon
Posted in Comic Philosophy | 2 Comments »
February 21st, 2011
It’s hard not to think the recent mini-crossover Age of X is directly ripping off the legendary Age of Apocalypse. It’s a story of an alternate timeline where the X-Men never existed, but a group of surviving mutants have banded together under the leadership of Magneto. They might not be fighting Apocalypse, but the similarities are undeniable right down to the inclusion of Alpha in the title of the launch issue. Before I read Age of X, I’ve been rereading Age of Apocalypse to see if it lives up to my strong memory.
First, if you choose to reread Age of Apocalypse I suggest starting at Volume 2. The first volume actually collects supplemental material that was published after the actual event. If you read volume 1 and it is your first time reading AoA I think the series will easily not live up to the hype. However, starting at volume 2, you launch into the true starting point of AoA, X-Men Alpha. Here the time wandering Bishop encounters Magneto and his group of renegade X-Men and tells of a time where Apocalypse has not taken over the world.
The story kicks into full gear from that point, as Magneto assigns each team of X-Men a specific mission to verify if what Bishop is saying is true. Of all the crossover issues my favorite is Generation Next. Chris Bachalo’s art holds up better than any other contribution in AoA. The story of Colossus leading a group of untrained mutants into a heavily guarded power plant to rescue his sister Illyana is dire. It has a dark noir feel that still actually leaves me unsettled over 15 years after I originally read it.
Overall, I still think AoA is essential X-Men reading. Of all the events that came out in the 90s this one still remains relevant, even inspiring Age of X. If you’re going to read an “Age of” anything make sure you read Age of Apocalypse first.
-Jon
Posted in Comic Reviews, Events | 1 Comment »
February 18th, 2011
If you shopped at Star Clipper last week you might have noticed some old faces behind the counter. No, Jim Mosley and Nick Main aren’t back full-time, but they were kind enough to fill in around the shop while Ben and I were at the 2011 ComicsPRO summit in Dallas, Texas. At the summit it was joked that this meeting was the equivalent of spring break for comic retailers, which was only perpetuated by the Boom Studios party RV stocked to the brim with good ole’ Texas Beer. Though at least one shop owner was guilty of hurling in the RV’s miniature restroom, overall the summit was very productive and educational. Here are a few of my personal highlights:
1.) The first night was mainly social networking. Ben and I went out to a Tex-Mex restaurant with some of the other retailers and I was given the daunting task of driving a giant commercial van full of drunken comic dorks on the icy roads of a city I’d never been to before. Of course, Ben was driving a separate car and we got separated on the highway, which made getting to the restaurant an adventure in and of itself. Top that off with Ben buying everyone shots before the return journey and all I can say is that I’m glad I survived the first night!
2.) The first morning was DC day and I had breakfast with Jim Lee! It’s almost guaranteed if you were born between 1980 and 1985 and were into superhero comics you worshipped Jim Lee in the early 90s. I was born in 1983 and by the time I was 7 or 8 my friends and I spent our summer days trying to replicate Lee’s signature style. At breakfast, Lee even reminisced a little about growing up in St. Louis, though he did confuse Forest park with Central Park. The other Jim Lee highlight was another retailer calling Lee and Frank Miller out on being absurdly late on “All Star Batman and Robin” and suggesting big name creators get fired for tardiness. Wow! Though I wouldn’t have the audacity to call out the co-publisher of DC comics (who I believe is actually doing a pretty darn good job), it was invigorating to see all these small businesses have such frank discussions with the publishers.
The other big news on DC day was Flashpoint. This will be a Flash-centered crossover event with 16 tie-in series. There are six ongoing series that will be cancelled to make room for the mega-event, as well as a cool button promotion similar to the Blackest Night ring promotion in 2009. But still, 16 tie-ins?! That sure is a lot for a Flash themed event.
3.) On the second day, Marvel announced they would be killing one major character during each business quarter this year. At first, people thought this was a joke. Nope. They also hope to get national news coverage similar to the media blitzkrieg on Johnny Storm’s death for each subsequent death. At a roundtable discuss with Marvel’s VP of sales David Gabriel I even asked if there was a long term strategy with these character deaths or if it was only for short term profit. He replied, “If the stories are good that’s all we care about.” I bit my tongue.
4.) Arguably, the biggest highlight of the trip was when Todd McFarlane spoke at lunch. He was funny, engaging, and genuinely wanted to unite the industry in 2011. I was never the biggest fan of McFarlane but meeting him in person changed my opinion. He suggested a system to track actual consumer sales from the direct market, which ultimately ended up being a key discussion point at the summit, making Ben a very happy comic shop owner since he’s been pushing that initiative for years.
5.) My favorite part of the trip was talking with Chris Staros from Top Shelf. Besides talking about small press comics, we talked about his time playing with his 80s heavy metal band. He had some outrageous stories that I’m sure he wouldn’t want me to share here, but wow! I guess the main point of our conversation was whether you’re making indie comics or playing in a small band you can still be a star on manageable scale.
I learned a lot from my first trip to ComicsPRO. I learned I could drive a giant commercial van. I learned Jim Lee and Todd McFarlane are very good guys and deserve their success in the industry. Finally, I learned that the big publishers may not always listen to suggestions from small retailers, but ComicsPRO at least gives us the opportunity to have a direct dialogue. In this day and age, that has to be worth something.
-Jon
Posted in Comic Industry News | 1 Comment »
February 17th, 2011
[DEEP THOUGHTS FROM A DINOSAUR]
Holy Kirby, the weather finally breaks and so does the comic drought. In an effort to say something about everything I purchased this week, I’m making a concerted effort to be concise yet incisive. Although I reserve the right to babble at length if necessary. I think 3,000 words is attainable this week, I really do.
See You Next Wednesday Comics features the return of Fat Guy on Couch, this time starring in a COPS-type recreation of an attempted crime at Jim Mosley’s new job. I really hate to see Fat Guy turn to a life of crime, but I’m glad justice was served. I also really like Mike Harvey’s all-out action pages and their manga-style action lines, and Mike’s announcement that he’ll illustrate stories from readers in future installments is an interesting turn of events. He’s willing to turn his minicomic into our minicomic — how can you not love that?
[THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT IN A SILVER SURFER COMIC]
At long last, Silver Surfer has another monthly book — at least for five issues. Because of his demigod-like power Surfer is a tough character to maintain in an ongoing title, especially because he has no alter ego to carry a subplot. Greg Pak and Stephen Segovia do a nice job of attempting to change all that by bringing in the High Evolutionary to work some genetic wickedness on the Surfer, causing him to revert back to Norrin Radd at a most inopportune moment. I like everything Pak did in his first year with Planet Hulk, so I have high hopes for his work on Silver Surfer — I’d like to see this be more than a five issue limited series — and nothing in this issue makes me believe Pak can’t pull that off. Although, if super smart yet slightly naive Suzie Endo is here to serve a role similar to that served by super smart yet naive Amadeus Cho in Incredible Hulk, I may be a touch disappointed by Pak’s reliance on a stock character. Just sayin’.
Amazing Spider-Man 654.1 is — wait, that can’t be right. It’s called Amazing Spider-Man, but it’s all about the new Venom, the marine formerly known as Flash Thompson? Oh, right. Marvel’s “Point One” marketing initiative is supposed to provide a jumping on point for new readers, but rather than being a ground-floor filler issue of Spider-Man, this issue is actually a commercial for the new Venom series. I hate Venom. There, I said it. I liked him when he was just a black costume Spidey found on the Beyonder’s world (Secret Wars flashback!), but the whole “He’s an alien symbiote! He’s a murderer! He’s got a big tongue! Look at that crazy McFarlane anatomy/webbing/ever-expanding-mandible” stuff from the 90s became tiring quickly. I just can’t get that excited about a sentient unitard. I realize that makes me old and uncool, but there it is. This issue is unnecessary and I regret spending money on it.
[CHANGE SHAPE ALREADY, CHAMELEON BOY]
Now, Legion of Super-Heroes 10, this is a comic book. Paul Levitz and Yildiray Cinar’s vision of the Legion gets stronger and more compelling every month. Some of that may be because my feverish reading of Legion back issues is making me more invested in the characters and their world, but I think a lot of my fondness for this book stems from Levitz’s masterful handling of the form. Characterization sparkles, the dialogue is crisp, the plot feels like a continuous line rather than an array of points connected in haphazard fashion — it’s a great read. In this issue we discover who’s behind the recent attacks (physical and financial) on the Legion and the United Planets delegates, we get more action to go with the exposition and we’re treated to a couple of witheringly dry exchanges between new deputy team leader Brainiac 5 and Cosmic Boy. It takes me three times as long to read a Legion comic as almost any other title, because the story is so dense. That’s fantastic as far as I’m concerned.
[MAGNUS IS THE IVAN DRAGO IN THIS FIGHT]
I say “almost any other title” because Magnus Robot Fighter 3 is finally out (long time no see), and Jim Shooter is also a throwback to the era when it wasn’t a crime to have more than 25 words on a page. This month’s story requires Magnus to infiltrate an underground fight circuit in which augmented humans and killer robots battle hand to hand — if you’re suspecting Magnus is required to enter the ring, you’re very astute. Shooter’s big script also features a lot of character development and a further fine-tuning/updating of the Magnus mythology. This includes an adult relationship between Magnus and Cinnette — I know, not Leeja?! — and Leeja confessing her feelings of jealousy about said relationship to her friend Cinnette. Imagine that, adults in a comic talking out their problems with one another. Weird, right? By the time this issue is done, everything in the story has moved forward one full step. I tell you, old guys like Shooter and Levitz are a breath of fresh air if you like a lot of story in your comics — and I do.
[TANK GIRL, AS DEMENTED AS IT EVER WAS]
A lot of story, swearing, violence and nudity are crammed into each and every issue of Tank Girl, and Tank Girl: Bad Wind Rising 2 is no exception. If you had told me fifteen years ago that Alan Martin would be making a Tank Girl book without Jamie Martin, I would have assured you I would not buy such a thing. But Rufus Dayglo has his own demented charm, and his bizarrely-detailed panels yield up numerous hilarious moments. The only thing you need to know about this storyline is that Martin included a text box explaining that each and every issue of this series is guaranteed to feature someone getting shot in the bollocks — for quality reasons, of course. That’s why you should read Tank Girl. And also for the florid profanity; Martin is a poet when it comes to cursing.
Young Justice 1 — I have no opinion either way about this one. I bought this because Art Baltazar and Franco are involved, and because the DC Kids line seems to be uniformly high quality. There’s nothing wrong with this one, it’s just a first issue that presupposes some familiarity with doings in the related TV series. I have no idea about that, so I was a bit lost. I’ll try a couple more issues.
[BATMAN IN A LOINCLOTH IS CATCHING ON]
Superman/Batman 81 starts a new storyline called Sorcerer Kings. This takes place in an alternate, fantasy/magic heavy world where Supes is a sword-wielding knight fighting demons and Batman is his usual ultra-competent detective, with a bit of alchemical wizardry thrown in. Cullen Bunn and artist ChrissCross spend maybe a little too much time with supernatural superhero team Shadowpact and not enough with our actual heroes, but I liked this. For the record, I’m not buying any of the Batman or Superman mainline continuity books, but I buy this title and the kids books — take that into consideration when I say I like something.
Stan Lee’s Soldier Zero 5 is a comic I haven’t mentioned since November, but that’s not because I haven’t been reading it. I have been, but my initial enthusiasm for it has cooled. We’ve entered the second story arc, which features a mysterious shape-changing alien fighting Soldier Zero through the technological magic of a smart phone well-stocked with apps. The phone even announces each app as it deploys them. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are a writing team I like, and this is a goofy enough hook to warrant a mention, but nothing that’s happened in the past four issues feels as feverish or new as it did in the first issue. It’s like the book is moving at half-speed. I keep hoping it recaptures some of that breathless Stan Lee freneticism that was so present in the first issue, but I may have to give up hope of that soon. We’ll see.
[THIS IS THE GYGAX-APPROVED METHOD FOR KILLING SHADAR-KAI]
Now, on the topic of freneticism, John Rogers and Andrea Di Vito’s Dungeons and Dragons 4 continues to deliver. Our intrepid adventurers press forward in search of the force ultimately behind the evil that imperils their world, which takes them into an abandoned dwarf hold where an underwater battle breaks out against some Shadar-Kai, and then they encounter a very chatty flaming skull. This comic reads very well as a story if you have no familiarity with the world’s greatest RPG, but if you do know your ten-sided dice from your twelve, you’re going to see this as an excellent seminar on role-playing NPCs in your campaign. There’s action a-plenty, but there is also instances of well-placed and -timed character development. I’m not yet convinced Varis the Elven archer is anything other than a stock character, but everybody else in the party is blossoming nicely.
Evil is what’s blossoming in Loki 3 of 4. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s script calls for a real viking funeral for Balder, who’s been killed by Loki in what is essentially a re-telling of the traditional Norse myth, the Death of Balder. I say “essentially” because Aguirre-Sacasa’s not so much re-telling it as he is interpreting the actions from Loki’s point of view rather than that of a third party narrator. Every slight committed by Thor and Odin is underlined, and every one of Loki’s manipulations are seen in a new light. Less noticeable are those things Loki is blind to but nonetheless exist; Odin calls him son even though Loki believes Odin never acknowledges him as such, Thor carefully treads around the issue of how much responsibility Loki bears for Balder’s death and the selfless humbling of the gods by their own tears demonstrate how far Loki is divorced from reality. This is proving to be a book that rewards careful, skeptical reading. And Sebastian Fiumara illustrates the hell out of a viking funeral.
[I AM POWERLESS BEFORE TAWKY TAWNY]
Tiny Titans 37 features extended jokes about the Shazam! Family, particularly Tawky Tawny and his general awesomeness. I’ve only recently dipped my toes into the Captain Marvel corner of DC’s universe, so I have limited experience with the characters and the history. But believe me — I would pay $6 a month for a Shazam! book written and illustrated by Art Baltazar and Franco. Everything about this book is a hoot, from the one page Pet Club gags to the over-arching storyline about Psimon wanting a shirt like the one Freddy and Mary Marvel wear to the frequent appearances of my beloved Tawky Tawny. This comic book is pure bliss. I’ve been waiting for this particular issue for months, and it exceeded my high expectations.
That sure sounds like I wanna call Tiny Titans the Best Thing I Read This Week, doesn’t it? But I’m also very excited to share Dungeons and Dragons with my oldest nephew, and I’ve been waiting since October 14 for this issue of Magnus Robot Fighter, and Legion of Super-Heroes has effectively commandeered all my spare time and spare cash. And then there’s my general excitement about a new Silver Surfer book. It’s a close race, but I’m gonna have to say that Legion of Super-Heroes is the best thing I read this week.
[BRAINIAC 5 DOIN’ THE DAMN THING]
I was genuinely excited to see the book on the rack, and I’m looking forward to sitting down with the preceding issues and reading the whole arc over again to further appreciate how Paul Levitz has fit everything together. It’s after 2 a.m., and I’m seriously considering staying up for the rest of the night to re-read Legion comics despite work starting in less than six hours. That’s the power of a well-written book.
-Paul
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February 16th, 2011
In this bold new world of Image, there is a whole host of stories that are designed to purely entertain. However, every once in a while there is a story that also makes you think. This week I’m reviewing a book that’s one part real-world psychological drama and one part far-flung fantasy. I’m talking about Joe Kelly’s and JM Ken Niimura’s epic story, I Kill Giants.
I Kill Giants belongs to a special sub-genre of fantasy. Much like Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes, much of the fantastic events of this story seem to take place within the imagination of the main character, a young girl named Barbara Thorson. On the outside Barbara seems like a normal girl. She goes to school, lives at home with her siblings, and enjoys playing role-playing games in her spare time. She’s also quick-witted, sharp-tongued, and virtually fearless. The only thing that stands out about her is what she does with her spare time, which according to her is killing giants.
Now as you can imagine, it’s easy for most adults and children to dismiss Barbara’s “profession” as a childhood fantasy, but as the story goes on the reader sees that to Barbara the giants are quite real, as well as the dangers they represent.
Unlike Calvin and Hobbes, I Kill Giants isn’t something where you find yourself laughing out loud as you read, but it will be a story you’re unlikely to forget. Through Barbara Thorson’s eyes you get to see these nightmarish creatures larger than life and twice as ugly.
JM Ken Niimura, who is responsible for the books astonishing artwork, renders these creatures in a way that makes it seem like they’ve emerged from your deepest nightmares. When you see these massive beings with bodies that look like they were made out of flesh, shadow and jagged rocks, odds are you’ll forget that it all came from the head of one little girl. If I Kill Giants proves anything, it’s that reality is what you make of it.
Aside from the fantastic art, remarkable characters, and thrilling action scenes, I Kill Giants also has its profound moments. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that there are a few reasons a child designs fantasies on this scale, and most of them aren’t pleasant.
Sadly, there isn’t much more I can say about this book without giving out some serious spoilers, so I will leave you with these final words. It’s rare that you come across a story that feels real and at the same time impossible, and also makes you question the way you see the world. For me, I Kill Giants was one of those stories, and I thank Image for helping to bring it to the comic book community.
Until next time.
-Brent
Posted in Comic Industry News, Comic Reviews | 1 Comment »
February 15th, 2011
[I’M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS]
If you need any further confirmation that the death of Johnny Storm is but a temporary inconvenience for everyone involved, Marvel’s announcement that Spider-Man is taking his place on the team should convince even the most devoted/benighted fans that Johnny will be back in time for issue 600.
Look, I like Spider-Man. I love what Dan Slott (and Fred Van Lente) have been doing with Pete over in Amazing Spider-Man, but COME ON. Spidey needs to be in another book like Deadpool needs another book. I admit that there’s a little part of me that is excited by the possible conversations Jonathan Hickman can craft for Reed, Pete and the all-kids Future Foundations — there’s great possibility for enthusiastic optimism, which I’d genuinely like to see more of in my comics. I also have a soft-spot for the venerable Spider-Man/Thing team-up.
Enough is enough, however. Spidey’s already in three (or more) of his own books, the Avengers, an Ultimate title and now FF. We get it: There’s a musical that needs all the publicity it can garner and a film re-boot not too far off that also needs some extra ink, but this is too much Spidey by far. The only ones being well-served by this decision are Marvel’s editors, who will have no trouble shuffling this “new, permanent” member of the soon-to-be-renamed Future Foundation out of the book when Johnny makes his triumphant return from the Negative Zone. (Incidentally, I suspect he’ll do so by using a double negative in a sentence, thereby creating a positive that will throw him back through the barrier. Ta da!)
[MY DREAM FF MEMBER]
You know who I’d rather see as a (temporary) member of FF? About a dozen of Marvel’s criminally-underused cast of thousands. Dr. Strange would make a great addition — at last, someone could counter Dr. Doom’s magic! — and it might help him gain some much-needed fan traction for his own monthly title. Plus, Reed and Stephen could argue science vs. magic late into the night. It’d be like a Dr. Venture/Dr. Orpheus team up. Polaris would be a welcome change to the “three men, one woman” formula, and it’d be nice to see how her character develops outside of the X-Ghetto. I’m not sure what the current status of Nova (Frankie Raye version) is, but even she would be a more satisfactory fit — she’s got the whole fire deal, and she has a history with the team. Or Gargoyle (the one from the Defenders); at last, Ben Grimm wouldn’t be the ugliest member of the team.
[NOBODY EVER EXPECTS JACK OF HEARTS]
Ohh, what about Jack of Hearts? That guy would make an excellent temporary FF member — what’s he been doing lately? Nobody would possibly believe he’d be there for the long run, but at least we’d get somebody new for a little while.
-Paul
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February 14th, 2011
You know what’s cool? A Green Lantern story that involves Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, and Kyle Rayner as they approach the same doomsday situation during their separate tenures as the only Green Lantern for their generation. Originally released back in 1999, Green Lantern: Fear Itself was released as a premium 100 page comic as a part of the new DC Comics Presents line of comics. One could view this story as means to suggest that there is/was an unofficial right-of-passage between Earth Green Lanterns that truly tested the will and limits of that generation’s emerald warrior. So let’s get right to it and find out if this is something that needs to be in your possession.
Starting in the 1940s (more precisely around 1944 or 1945) a set of Nazis uncovered the missing capstone of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which was said to contain the Eye of Osiris, in the basement of the Smithsonian in Washington DC. Using some sort of Nazi Amulet, Swastika Pentagram, and what appears to be the Necronomicon, the Nazis plot to release an ancient horror from the stars that was trapped in the capstone to be used as an ultimate weapon for dominance. Naturally, something goes wrong and the creature is summoned but it does not bend to their will. A large eyeball with tentacles (Not all that different looking than Shuma-Gorath as depicted by Marvel Comics) manifests and kills the Nazis before heading out to the streets of Washington. Meanwhile, FDR is having a photoshoot with the Justice Society of America. He explains that America must also win the propaganda war as well as the physical war, with photos of America’s heroes in support of the US effort, nothing would be able to keep our troops from winning. As this is discussed between the President and Alan Scott, word makes it to the group that there is a creature terrorizing the city. The JSA leaps to action only to be overcome with dominating fear. Each member is incapacitated with a single glare of the creature’s eye. Alan’s fear is that of a world ruled by the Third Reich, he is even attacked by his JSA allies that are now adorned in Nazi themed costumes. But in the end, Alan’s willpower is too much for the illusion and he overcomes the creature, turning it to stone.
It wouldn’t be until about 25 years later during the cold war, that the creature would appear again. This time, Green Lantern Hal Jordan is testing a new plane for Ferris Aircraft when he is suddenly shot down by a Russian submarine hanging out in the waters that border Coast City. Hal interrogates the Russians in his Green Lantern persona and learns that they were looking for and found the stone eye that Alan Scott had previously dealt with. Hal’s ring accidentally awakens the creature and it feeds on the rings power until it destroys the submarine and now stands as a giant (Godzilla-sized) mass of Lovecraft horror. As it reaches Coast City, Hal alerts the new-ish Justice League only to have a few members able to respond. The Flash, Black Canary, Aquaman, and the Martian Manhunter arrive to the scene to help Jordan out with his problem. In similar fashion, the group is crippled with their greatest fears, sadly, Jordan’s fear is the destruction of Coast City. Using similar methods as Alan Scott, the creature is once again turned the stone, and abandoned in the ocean.
Finally, we are brought to the modern age, a few years or so after the death of Parallax/Hal Jordan. Kyle Rayner stands as the only active (Space Ring) Green Lantern in the universe, and he finds himself face to face with the recently uncovered stone eye in a museum. Once again, the creature is awakened by the power of a Green Lantern ring, and all Hell breaks loose as the creature’s size becomes incomprehensible and sets up shop in the Earths Atmosphere. It begins the sap the energy of the world and even the Justice League satellite, stranding most of it’s members in space. At this juncture, we learn what Kyle’s greatest fears are, and we also see that Kyle has still yet to earn the respect of majority of the Justice League. In the end we see Kyle take a different approach to solving the problem and we also get a great no-faith line from Superman that sums up the severity of Kyle’s actions. I’ll not spoil the ending for you, but it’s safe to say that this was one of the coolest Green Lantern stories that I’ve ever read.
Written by Ron Marz (who also wrote the Emerald Twilight storyline that sees Hal Jordan become a mass murderer after the actual destruction of Coast City), Fear Itself does what I once thought was impossible. It legitimizes the character of Kyle Rayner… At least, for my stance on the character. Usually, when I thought of Kyle Rayner, all I could think of was pity and how much I hated his 90s costume. But even on a non-cynical scale, I really do feel that this is the story that will decide your opinion on Kyle Rayner as a character. I know that I’m in the minority of my age group when I say that I favor Hal Jordan over most other Lanterns, but now I have a better respect for those who would previously chose Kyle over Hal. Now if only someone could do the same thing for Guy Gardner. But I’m off focus. Marz’s story is a solid one-shot which does a great job of infusing the DC Universe with Lovecraft without it being too out of place or hokey. Plus, it never hurts when a little bit of mystery-history is used in a story. But the writing is only half the battle as the combined effort of Brad Parker’s pencils and the painted colors of The Hories do the rest of the job. When I first saw the creature, it was clear that this was the only way to go in terms of artwork. As you’ve seen by the examples in this blog, if this were done in the more traditional comic styles, it just wouldn’t have been the same. So kudos to them.
Anyway, the out of print graphic novel used to retail for $14.95, but you can get this sweet reprint for $7.99 while supplies last in the store. If you missed this the first time… or second time around, this might be your last chance in a long while. And I know that there are whole lot more GL fans now, than there were in 1999, so if you’re one of the new passengers on the GL train, definitely check this one out before its gone again. So yes, this is a comic that belongs in your possession.
-Fleet
Posted in Comic Industry News, Comic Philosophy | Comments Off
February 11th, 2011
What’s up readers? Remember a little while back when I was talking aboutHack/Slash moving from Devil’s Due to Image? Well, that happened, and we got a nice little mini series and a couple of one-shots, but now the real deal is finally here. Hopefully with the superpowers story arc done with, we can get back to business with what really matters. The murdering of supernatural killers. So in case you’ve missed out on what’s happened since the last time I wrote about the book, here’s the lowdown.
Starting with Hack/Slash: My First Maniac, We were given a glimpse into the life of Cassie Hack between the moment she was forced to re-kill her reanimated mother and before she met her future partner in vengeance, Vlad. We learned that Cassie toyed with the idea of living a normal life with her new foster parents before heading off to start a fresh life. She decided to look into the phenomenon of the resurrections that would make killers. This leads her to find friends (something that had eluded her growing up) and through these friends, she learns a legend. A legend that leads her on her first real adventure as a “Slasher Killer”. There’s some joy and heartache that goes into this adventure, but it puts her on her path and acts as motivation for her cause.
The next book was an annual entitled, Hack/Slash Annual 2010: Murder Messiah. This is the story that links the Devil’s Due storyline with the Image goodness that is set to be released upon us this week. That takes place in the present as well as 14 years in the future. In the present, Cassie and Vlad look to stop a killer who happens to be Cassie’s biggest fan. Meanwhile, in the future, America and modern society has fallen apart. It’s sorta like Mad Max, minus the dust. The Black Lamp Society (mostly responsible for the Slashers) is running the country, and there are generic End-of-Times Slashers all over the place. It’s up to minor character, Libby Lochs (She’s like a half-ass witch) who accidentally ended up in that future, to figure out a way to get back to the present and warn Cassie about the Murder Messiah madness. And let me tell you, the reveals were shocking. I was completely caught off-guard about what the future held for Cassie and Vlad.
Finally, there was the release of last month’s Hack/Slash: Me Without You, which featured the origin of Cassie’s hulking partner, Vlad. This book gives a ton of insight about who Vlad is, and why he wore the gas mask so much (Which to be honest, is way cooler than what the artists have decided his face should look like). We also get to hear more about the “Meat Man” legend that surrounded him and led to Cassie hunting him. And to make it nice, the final panel of the book is the only appearance of Cassie, because after that panel, it’s all history we know.
And with that, we are brought up to speed. A new Slasher awaits Cassie and Vlad, this one haunts a small town’s Make Out Point and this also marks a return of the “Not Evil All The Time” Slasher, Samhain. So that should be fun as well. So come on Tim Seeley (Writer), let’s get the book on track and aim for the stars. Also, for all you fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hack/Slash is kinda like the equivalent of the 90s extreme makeover for comics, but for Buffy. The humor is similar, and there are shared concepts between the both of them. So while Buffy takes a break between Season 8 and Season 9, how about giving Hack/Slash a shot? It’s not the same, but that’s a good thing. And for the fans of Bomb Queen? There’s something for you as well. The Bomb Queen Hack/Slash Valentine’s Day Special… Which unfortunately doesn’t look like it’s going to come out on time, but this is also the sort of thing that we can expect from Hack/Slash, now that they are at Image. Depending on your perspective, that may or may not be a good thing. Myself? I’m ok with it. Maybe she’ll get to crossover with Proof (Think X-Files and Men in Black, staring Bigfoot). That would be sweet.
-Fleet
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