* NOW WITH STAR RATINGS (ala Wrestling Observer Newsletter PPV
reports) *
HOW I RATE THE COMICS VIA THE ALAN
MOORE SCALE
***** Watchmen, Miracleman, V For Vendetta
**** From Hell, Supreme, Swamp Thing, Fashion Beast, League Of
Extraordinary Gentlemen (first two series)
*** Axel Pressbutton, Tom Strong
** Promethea
* LoEG: Century: 1969
DUD (or lower) any of his non-comics stuff
1.-5. Captain Britain (Marvel, 2002/05) ****
-originally published in X-Men Archives#2 (partial), #3-7 (Marvel, 1995). Prior to that, published in various Marvel UK weekly titles
Writer: Alan Moore/Artist: Alan Davis
6.-10. Captain Britain (Marvel, 1988) ***½
- originally published in various Marvel UK weekly titles
Writers: Alan Davis & Jamie Delano/Artist: Alan Davis
The first Captain Britain arc is uneven but has enough wonderfully weird ideas –including sneaky appearances by Young Marvelman and Marvelman – that I enjoyed it a lot. But when Davis (occasionally joined by Delano) takes over the writing helm for the second arc, things fall apart. Maybe it’s because a weekly instalment has to move the story along pretty fast, but reading the second arc in one hit is tough going. Characters change personalities and motives in the seeming blink of an eye. So...uneven and unsatisfying. Still, Davis’s art is exquisite.
And I got the first volume signed by Davis at Supanova, so I’m not complaining.
11.-16. Squadron Supreme: Death Of A Universe (Marvel, 2006) ***
-originally published in Squadron Supreme: Death Of A Universe, Thor #280, Avengers #5-6, 1998 Annual, Squadron Supreme: New World Order (Marvel, 1989-98)
Writers: Mark Gruenwald & friends/Artists: Paul Ryan, George Perez & friends
A confusing, ultimately dissatisfying collection of the key tales in the history of Marvel’s JLA rip-off following the original, underrated Squadron Supreme maxiseries. Plot holes, inconsistent characterisations, massive continuity errors...this nine-year history of an alternative Earth’s super-team is littered with beautiful art and generally woeful writing. Also, the squadron’s arrival on our Earth between Death Of A Universe and Avengers #5 – documented in several issues of the Quasar series in the early 90s – is regrettably omitted from this TPB. In its place, we’re given a nonsensical (I assume fill-in) issue of Thorthat screws with the squadron’s continuity (it’s horribly drawn by a slumming Wayne Boring from a woeful script by Don & Maggie Thompson and Roy Thomas). It’s the nadir of an ultimately underwhelming collection. Still, I got it signed by Paul Ryan at Supanova in mid-June, so I’m happy.
17.-21 Afterlife
With Archie Vol. 1: Escape from Riverdale (Archie Comics, 2014) ****½
-
originally published in Afterlife With
Archie #1-5 (Archie Comics, 2013-14)
Writer:
Roberto Aguirre Sacasa. Artist: Francesco Francavilla
Read my
blog entry about this graphic novel HERE.
22. Green
Lantern/Superman: Legend Of The Green Flame (DC, 2000) ****
Writer:
Neil Gaiman/Artists: various
The
story behind this oddball prestige-format comic would take forever for me to
document (look it up online). Ultimately, it’s a byproduct of Action Comics Weekly’s demise in the
mid-80s combined with the Crisis On
Infinite Earths upheaval that fucked up the entire DC line. This early
Gaiman script was scrapped due to discarded continuity, but was thankfully
revived 12 years later in this delightful story that features artwork from
Frank Miller, John Totleben, Mike Allred and others. A forgotten gem that I was
very happy to unearth in Elizabeth’s Bookshop.
23. Christopher
Daniels and Kazarian Wrestle AW YEAH
COMICS! #1 (Aw Yeah, 2014) ***
Writers:
Franco Aureliani, Christopher Daniels/Artists: Franco Aureliani, Art Baltazar, Denver
Brubaker, Frankie Kazarian, Scott “Scoot” McMahon
Former
TNA wrestlers Christopher Daniels and Kazarian of tag team Bad Attitude sip a
very special apple martini (actually a bottle of Super Secret Inter-Dimensional
Transit Potion) that sends them to the Aw Yeah! universe. It’s soon a tag team
war between Bad Attitude, Action Cat and Adventure Bug. This is the benefit of
digital comics. Paying $3 to read an online version was totally worthwhile.
It’s a fluffy 5-10-minute fun read. But if I’d tried to buy a hard copy direct
from the company, it would have cost me $20 (inc. Airmail p&h), and I
would’ve been extremely pissed off. So yay for digital, in this case from
Comixology (www.comixology.com).
24. Minimum
Wage #6 (Image, 2014) ****½
Writer/Artist:
Bob Fingerman
I’m
marking down this issue for TWO reasons: 1. It’s the last instalment in this
arc and Fingerman won’t be putting out another issue till 2015. Boo! 2. He’s
running a contest in this ish to find the clues he’s sprinkled throughout this
issue and ID the British sitcom they’re from. Do you think I can work it out?
Fuck, no! And neither can everyone else I've asked. Damn you, Fingerman, damn you to hell.
25.-28. White
Like She TPB (Fantagraphic Books, 1998) **¾
-
originally published in White Like She
#1-4 (Dark Horse, 1994)
Writer/Artist:
Bob Fingerman
One of
Bob’s less successful efforts, this sci-fi tale of a middle-aged black man
having his brain transplanted into a teenage white gal’s body is too try-hard
and preachy when it comes to tackling gender and racial politics in America in
the 90s. The art is a little too stiff, hyper-realistic yet unreal for my
tastes as well. Bob got more into a more cartoony-yet-natural-feeling groove
with Minimum Wage a few years later. Let’s chalk this down to “noble
experiment” and move on.
29. Epic
#1 (Comix Tribe, 2014) ***½
Writer:
Tyler James/Artist: Fico Ossio
Cartoony
art aside, this is a fun superhero yarn about a high school kid who attains
superpowers. His Kryptonite? Pretty women!
Good stuff from Mr James.
30. The
Astonishing Lloyd Llewellyn #3 (Fantagraphic Books, 1986) **¾
Writer/Artist:
Daniel Clowes
Early,
uneven sci-fi/hard-boiled detective mash-up by a pre-Eightball Daniel Clowes. Not entirely good, to be honest. I’m so
glad I scored this rare-as-hen’s teeth comic for a mere $3 from Elizabeth’s in
Pitt Street, Sydney rather than chase down the even-rarer trades online and
waste my money.
40.-55. Burger
Force #1-16 (self-published, 2009-14) ****
Writer/Artist/”Director”:
Jackie Ryan
I
interviewed Aussie creator Jackie about her remarkable, off-kilter photo-comic
two years back at OzComicon in Melbourne and a lot has happened for her since
then. Multiple awards, a successful 16-issue run and one of her “lead
models/characters”, Remi Hii, is now a noted, award-winning TV actor in his own
right. This surreal/60s spy pastiche/black comedy is wonderful and easily the
best comic being produced in Australia today. Pick up all 16 issues to date NOW
at www.burgerforce.com.
56. EAP’s
Morella and the Murders In The Rue Morgue (Dark Horse, 2014) ***
Writer/artist:
Richard Corben
57.-60. It
Came! #1-4 (Titan Comics, 2013) ***½
Writer/artist:
Dan Boultwood
61. Death
Sentence #1 (Titan Comics, 2013) ***½
Writer:
Montynero/Artists: Mike Dowling (interior), Montynero (cover)
62. Ordinary
#1 (Titan Comics, 2014) ***½
Writer:
Rob Williams/Artist: D’Israeli
63. That’s
Because You’re A Robot (Image, 2014) ***¼
Writer:
David Quantick/Artist: Shaky Kane
64. Real
Heroes #3 (Image, 2014) ***¼
Writer:
Bryan Hitch/Artists: Bryan Hitch & Paul Neary w/- Andrew Currie
65. The
Many Harold Holts Of Space And Time (self-published, 2014) ***½
Writer:
Ryan K. Lindsay/Artist: Louie Joyce
66.-68. Kranburn
#1-3 (FEC Comics, 2011-12) ***
Writer/artist:
Ben Michael Byrne
69. Retro Sci-Fi Tales #1 (DarkOz, 2014)
***½
Writers/artists :
various
Beautiful
quality, full-colour comic featuring an eclectic
line-up of writers and artists. Very inconsistent in quality, but some real
highlights in this mag including Michal Dutkiewicz’s gorgeous cheesecake cover,
plus solid interior work from Douglas Holgate, Alister Lockhart and Greg Holfeld.
70. Starlight
#4 (Image, 2014) ***¾
Writer:
Mark Millar/Artist: Goran Parlov
71. MPH
#2 (Image, 2014) ***¾
Writer:
Mark Millar/Artist: Duncan Fegredo
72.-74. Future’s
End #5-7 (DC, 2014) ***¾
Writers/artists:
various
75. Spacehawk
#4 (Dark Horse, 1992) ***
Writer/artist:
Basil Wolverton
Classic
artwork from the Golden Age.
76. She-Hulk
#5 (Marvel, 2014) ****
Writer:
Charles Soule/Artist: Ron Wimberly
77. Justice
League 3000 #7 (DC, 2014) ***¾
Writers:
Keith Giffen & JM DeMatteis/Artists: Keith Giffen & Howard Porter
78. The
Returning #4 (BOOM!, 2014) ***¼
Writer:
Jason Starr/Artist: Andrea Mutti
79. Moon
Knight #4 (Marvel, 2014) ****
Writer:
Warren Ellis/Artist: Declan Shalvey
80. The
United States of Murder Inc. #2 (Icon, 2014) ***¾
Writer:
Brian Michael Bendis/Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
81. The
Royals: Masters Of War #5 (Vertigo, 2014) ***½
Writer:
Rob Williams/Artists: Simon Coleby & Gary Erskine
82.-83. Original
Sin #3-4 (Marvel, 2014) ****
Writer:
Jason Aaron/Artists: Mike Deodato (interior), Julian Totino Tedesco (cover)
84. Original
Sins #1 (Marvel, 2014) ***¾
Writers/artists:
various
85. Silver
Surfer #3 (Marvel, 2014) ***½
Writer:
Dan Slott/Artist: Michael Allred
86.-87. Dream
Police #2-3 (Image, 2014) ***½
Writer:
J. Michael Straczynski/Artists: Sid Kotian (interior), Sid Kotian & Bill
Farmer (cover)
88.-93. Graphic
Ink: The DC Comics Art of Frank Quitely (DC, 2014) *****
- some
pieces originally published as Batman:
Scottish Connection (writer: Alan Grant, 1998) and The Kingdom: Offspring #1 (writer: Mark Waid, 1999)
I
started reading this at the end of the month and I got up to page 190 of this
awesome book. To be continued...
