My comics reading for August, 2011

COMICS READING FOR AUGUST: “Fuck Alan Moore”

* NOW WITH STAR RATINGS (ala Wrestling Observer Newsletter PPV reports) *

HOW I RATE THE COMICS VIA THE ALAN MOORE SCALE

*****    Watchmen, Marvelman, V For Vendetta

****       From Hell, Supreme, Swamp Thing, Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?

***         League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen (the first two series), Axel Pressbutton, Tom Strong

**           Promethea

*              LoEG: Century: 1969

DUD  (or lower)     anything he’s written for Avatar or any of the non-comics drivel he shits out on a regular basis

1. League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century: 1969 (Top Shelf, 2011) *

Writer: Alan Moore/Artist: Kevin O’Neill

Listen to Kirby Your Enthusiasm (http://kirbyyourenthusiasm.libsyn.com/kirby-your-enthusiasm-episode-14-comics-creating-controversy) for my thoughts on this latest turd shat out by Mr Moore.

2.-11. Final Crisis TPB (DC,2009) ***

- originally published in Final Crisis #1-7, Final Crisis: Superman Beyond #1-2, Final Crisis: Submit #1 (2008-09)

Writer: Grant Morrison/Artists: JG Jones and many others

12. Just Imagine Stan Lee’s Catwoman (DC, 2002) * (all for Darwyn Cooke)

Writer: Stan Lee/Artists: Chris Bachalo & Richard Friend/Back cover art: Adam Hughes

Just imagine...Catwoman would look like Black Widow and have a personal life that’s part Millie The Model and part Peter Parker. In other words...lame. At least the back-up (writer: Michael Uslan/artists: Darwyn Cooke & Mike Allred) is passable.

13.-20. Marvel: 1602 (Marvel, 2005) ***½

- originally published in Marvel: 1602 #1-8 (Marvel, 2005)

Writer: Neil Gaiman/Artists: Andy Kubert & Richard Isanove/Cover art: Scott McKowen

A really interesting idea, even if it features the bloody X-Men. But at least there’s no Wolverine stinking up the yarn.

21. Batman: Arkham Asylum (DC, 1989) ***½

Writer: Grant Morrison/Artist: Dave McKean

Weird.

22.-26. Fables: Legends In Exile (Vertigo, 2002) ****

Writer: Bill Willingham/Artists: Lan Medina, Steve Leialoha & Craig Hamilton/Cover art: James Jean, Alex Maleev

- originally published in Fables #1-5 (Vertigo, 2002)

Only just got into this series, but I really dug the idea of the characters from fables – the Big Bad Wolf, Snow White, Little Boy Blue, Old King Cole, etc – living in exile in New York City. The plot in this first arc was a bit convoluted, but didn’t detract from the overall story. I dug this very much and will track down more trades soon.

27. Fables #75 (Vertigo, 2008) ****

Writer: Bill Willingham/Artist: Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Andrew Pepoy & more

28. Fables #100 (Vertigo, 2011) ****¼

Writer: Bill Willingham/Artist: Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Andrew Pepoy & more

I picked up all the Fables titles at Elizabeth’s Books for about $12 in total. So it was nice to read the series’ beginnings plus two later pivotal episodes in the series. I just dug the hell out of Fables.

29. Blandman (Eclipse, 1992) DUD

Writer: Fred Schiller/Artists: Bill Maus & Bob Hanon

How the mighty had fallen – in the mid-80s, Eclipse produced groundbreaking titles like Miracleman. By 1992, they were vomiting out shitty Vertigo parodies like this. Godawful in-jokes (and not funny ones either). Horrible in every way.

30.-34. Anna Mercury (Avatar, 2008) ***¼

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: Facundo Pecio

Rollicking sci-fi adventure yarn featuring a beautiful heroine. Your usual entertaining stuff from Mr Ellis.

35. Anna Mercury Artbook (Avatar, 2009) ***

Artists: various

Good-girl art done good.

36. Comeback Kings #1 (Ardden, 2011) ***

Writers: Mat Sullivn & Gabe Guarente/Artist: Ethan Young

This idea is pretty dumb – “dead” icons Tupac Shakur, Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison, Andy Kaufman and Bruce Lee are actually an elite team of super-spies – but it’s written with such joie de vivre, and the art is more than competent, so I actually got a buzz reading it. I really hope there’s a second ish.

37. Lady Mechanika #2 (Aspen, 2011) ***¼

Writer/artist: Joe Benitez

I love steampunk.

38. Desolation Jones #1 (Wildstorm, 2005) ****

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: JH Williams III

An unexpected treat. This short-lived indie series reminds me of Hellblazer, but it’s got its own style as well. Jones is kinda like a private detective for the ex-spy community exiled to LA. We meet him as he’s trying to recover some missing porn films starring Adolph Hitler. If this series maintains the quality of the first issue, I can’t wait to read the other seven.

39. City Of Silence #3 (Image, 2000) *

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: Gary Erskine

You can’t hit home runs every time. This final ish in a three-part series is just really lame cyber-punk. Pffft.

40. Baltimore: The Plague Ships (Dark Horse, 2010) ***¼

Writer: Mike Mignola & Christopher Golden/Artist:  Ben Stenbeck

41. Art & Story #1 (James D. Denney, 1976) **

High-quality fanzine that I picked up for a buck at Elizabeth’s in Sydney. Columns by CC Beck and Nicola Cuti (on E-Man years before he revived the title for First Comic)

42. Pacific Presents #1 (Pacific, 1982) ***½

Writer/artist: Dave Stevens (The Rocketeer)

Writer/artist: Steve Ditko (The Missing Man)

Dave Stevens AND Steve Ditko lunacy? That’s frigging awesome!

43. Calvario Hills #1 (Fantagraphics, 2007) **¾

Writer/artist: Marti

Very high quality weirdness. The racism was unsettling. As was the surrealism. A little bit Hernandez Bros. in nature. Just weird.

44.-46. The Rampaging Hulk #5, #6, #8 (Marvel, 1977-78) ***

Writers: various/Artists: various

My fave Hulk series ever. Fuck Marvel for retconning it out of existence. And each mag only cost me a buck from Elizabeth’s. Bargain!

47. Marvel Vault: The Defenders (Marvel, 2011) **½

Writers: Kurt Busiek & Fabaian Nicieza/Artists Marg Bagley & Andrew Hennessy

48. The Tattered Man (Image, 2011) **¾

Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray/Artist: Norberto Fernandez

Fuck – ANOTHER Holocaust revenge yarn? When was WW2 again? Isn’t it time we moved on? Sheeeesh.

49. Marvel Vault: The Incredible Hulk And The Human Torch (Marvel, 2011) **

Writers: Jack C. Harris & Karl Kesel/Artists: Steve Ditko & Karl Kesel

50. The Red Wing #2 (Image, 2011) ***¾

Story: Jonathan Hickman/Artist: Nick Pitarra

Aha! The plot thickens...

51. DC Comics Presents: The Metal Men 100-Page Spectacular (DC, 2011) ****

Writers: Keith Giffen & JM DeMatteis/Artists: Kevin Maguire & Mark Farmer

I’m loving these DC reprints – and this one has been my fave so far.

 52. Teen Titans Lost Annual #1 (DC, 2008) ***½

Writer: Bob Haney/Artists: Jay Stephens & Mike Allred

Just a fun, dumb, 60s-tribute comic. Beatle-esque aliens, John F. Kennedy being kidnapped to another world, classic Teen Titans action. This one’s a lotta fun.

53. RetroActive 1970s: Wonder Woman (DC, 2011) **½

Writer: Dennis O’Neil/Artist: J. Bone

54. Batman: Gotham Adventures #33 (DC, 2001) **¾

Writer: Ed Brubaker/Artists: Brad Rader & John Lowe   

55. Tides Of Hope (Supanova Publication, 2011) ***

Writers/artists: various

Some nice contributions for a good cause.

56. 50 Girls 50 #1 (Image, 2011) *

Writers: Doug Murray & Frank Cho/Artist: Axel Medellin

If I’m gonna fork out dough for a good-girl comic, I want Frank Cho doing the ART, not the friggin’ WRITING. Lame.

57. Lorna: Relic Wrangler #1 (Image, 2011) **

Writer: Micah S. Harris/Artists: various

A Lara Croft/Raiders Of The Lost Ark/Buffy mash-up that could’ve been so much better. The Darwyn Cooke cover is the best thing about this one-shot.

58. Hero Comcis 2011 (IDW, 2011) ***

Writers/artists: various

It’s for a good cause. The creepy tale by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg is the clear highlight of the issue.

59. Moon Girl #1 (Red 5 Comics, 2011) ***

Writers: Tony Trov & Johnny Zito/Artist: The Rahzzah

Everyone working on this 50s-retro superhero comic have names like they’re extras on The Sopranos.

Kirby Your Enthusiasm, episode 14: Comics creating controversy

IN WHICH I talk at length about the controversy surrounding Robert Crumb's late withdrawal from the Graphic Festival in Sydney, Australia. Who's really to blame here?
Also I review League Of Extraordinary Gentlement: Century: 1969 and suggest that Alan Moore should visit a shrink rather than subject readers to his expensive psycho-sexual problems.
Running time: 29min30sec.
http://kirbyyourenthusiasm.libsyn.com/kirby-your-enthusiasm-episode-14-comics-creating-controversy

COMICS READING FOR JULY: “It’s oh so random...and I didn't make 50!"

* NOW WITH STAR RATINGS (ala Wrestling Observer Newsletter PPV reports) *
HOW I RATE THE COMICS VIA THE ALAN MOORE SCALE
*****   Watchmen, Marvelman, V For Vendetta
****     From Hell, Supreme, Swamp Thing, Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?
***        League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Axel Pressbutton, Tom Strong
**           Promethea
*             WildC.A.T.S.
DUD  (or lower)     anything he’s written for Avatar or any of the non-comics drivel he shits out on a regular basis

1. Weird Western Tales #24 (DC, 1974) **

Writers: Michael Fleischer & Russell Carley/Artist: Noly Panaligan
THIS is your typical Jonah Hex yarn, neither good nor bad. Just kinda there. A blind Hex and a Shakespeare-spouting actor ride through the desert while keeping one step ahead of a murderous pair of brothers intent on avenging their other brother’s death at Hex’s hand. Filipino Noly is quite the revelation – never seen his stuff before and it’s not too shabby.

2.-7. Transmetropolitan: Lust For Life (Vertigo, 2009) ****

- originally published in Transmetropolitan #7-12 (Vertigo, 1998)
Writer: Warren Ellis/Penciller: Darick Robertson/Inker: Rodney Ramos
I don’t understand a third of what Ellis is banging on about in this gonzo cyber-punk thriller, but this second volume fucking rocks! Spider Jerusalem is the Hunter S. Thompson of the 21st century!

8. Salt Water Taffy: The Legend Of Old Salty (Oni Press, 2008) ***½

Writer/Artist: Matthew Loux
Good all-ages fun. Beautiful art and deliriously surreal.

9. Astronauts In Trouble: One Shot, One Beer (AIT/Planet LAR, 2000) **

Writer: Larry Young/Art: Charlie Adlard
Picked this up cheap ‘cos I thought it’d be a funny one-shot about a pub that’s on the moon. Turns out it was part of an ongoing series of books with some big-arsed convoluted storyline that I couldn’t follow for shit. Adlard’s art may be bad now, but at least he’s consistent – he was equally bad 11 years ago. All his characters look the same, even the chicks.  Young’s writing showed promise – whatever became of the guy, I wonder?

10. Godzilla: Kingdom Of Monsers #2  (IDW, 2011) **½

Writers: Eric Powell & Tracy Marsh/Pencils: Phil Hester/Inks: Bruce McCorkindale
I love Hester’s art but I’ve never been a fan of the Japanese monsters. That said, Powell’s yarn is fine for what is.

11. Fear Itself: Prologue: Book Of The Skull (Marvel, 2011) ***

Writer: Ed Brubaker/Penciller: Scot Eaton/Inker: Mark Morales
12.-13. Fear Itself #1, #3 (Marvel, 2011) ***
Writer: Matt Fraction/Artist: Stuart Immonen
14. Fear Itself: The Deep #1 (Marvel, 2011) ***¼
Writer: Cullen Bunn/Pencils: Lee Garbett/Inks: David Meikis
15. Fear Itself: Deadpool #1 (Marvel, 2011) ***½  
Writer: Christopher Hastings/Pencils: Bong Dazo/Inks: Joe Pimentel
The Fear Itself “Marvel event” is actually quite promising from what I’ve read so far (thanks for the lend, Dubbs). Sure, I’ll never PAY for any of these comics, but I’ll happily read them for free. Of what I’ve seen, the main storyline is suitably epic and destructive. The Deep is cool ‘cos it’s reuniting The Defenders (sorta) and Deadpool treats the whole storyline with the disrespect it deserves and, hence, is the best series of the lot. And what's not to love about an artist who calls himself "Bong Dazo"?

16. Image Firsts: Dynamo 5 #1 (Image, 2011) **

- originally published in 2007
Story: Jay Faerber/Artist: Mahmud A. Asrar
Kinda dull.

17. The Guild: Bladezz (Dark Horse, 2011) ***¼

Story: Felicia Day & Sean Becker/Artist: Andrew Currie
Fun little read with great art by Currie. Probably the best of The Guild one-shots so far.

18.-23. Villains United TPB (DC, 2005) ***½ 

- originally published in Villains United #1-6 (2005)
Writer: Gail Simone/Pencillers: Dale Eaglesham & Val Semeiks/Inkers: Wade Von Grawbadger & Prentis Rollins
24.-29.  Secret Six TPB (DC, 2007) ***¾
- originally published in Secret Six #1-6 (2006-07)
Writer: Gail Simone/Penciller: Brad Walker/Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti
30.-36.  Secret Six TPB (DC, 2009) ***½ 
- originally published in Secret Six (regular series) #1-7 (2008-09)
Writer: Gail Simone/Penciller: Nicola Scott/Inker: Doug Hazlewood/extra inks: Rodney Ramos/extra art: Pete Woods, Javi Pina
Listen to episode 13 of Kirby Your Enthusiasm podcast to hear my thoughts on these three trades.

37. The Red Wing #1 (Image, 2011) ***½

Writer: Jonathan Hickman/Artist: Nick Pitarra

38. The Abnormals Special #1 (self-published, 2010?) ***½
Writer/artist: Grant Springford

39. Rodd Racer (Image, 2011) ***¾

Writer/artist: Toby Cypress
At the end of this one-shot, Toby thanks a bunch of people, but there’s one glaring omission: Ashley Wood. Cypress owes a lot of his artistic style to the Aussie artist, so I think Mr Cypress owes Mr Wood an apology for the oversight. Anyways, this comic’s about Rodd Racer, a down-on-his-luck racing car driver in some kinda alternative 1936 Earth who’s trying to win one last road race so he can pay back the money he owes to a Yakuza scumbag. Trouble is, the villain wants Rodd to lose the race (and preferably not finish it in a terminal fashion).  I really don’t know what to make of this book: a part of me loves the living fuck out of it. And a part of me found the spelling typos and “Look at me, I’m so fucking hip” attitude of this book extremely annoying. In the end, the former overpowered the latter. This is a great “arty” graphic novel. There. I’ve said it.

REVIEW: The Abnormals Special #1

THEY'RE a team of superheroes, but they’re not nice guys...they’re the Abnormals. The first issue sees a creepy assortment of robots, demons and even scarier critters overcome some malevolent ghosts in London’s underground. It’s a portent of evil things to come. Nice artwork and some interesting characterisations by writer/artist: Grant Springford (the man behind another great independent comic I liked, Pest Control).

Anyways, this is a nice start to a promising new series. Check out Grant’s work at www.theabnormals.co.uk.

Bad timing

I enjoyed the first issue of The Red Wing (Image) - written by Jonathan Hickman and illustrated by Nick Pitarra - about fighter pilots waging a war in time.

It's an interesting concept - pity I read the comic AFTER I read this article that says scientists have proven that time travel is impossible.

Dammit.

Kirby Your Enthusiasm, episode 13: "The Dirty Writer"

A RAMBLING discourse this time round. Firstly, I plug the shit out of a bunch of podcasts and websites:
* Mike Pindell's Comic Book Attic (http://comicbookattic.libsyn.com/)
* Derek Coward's Comic Book Noise (http://www.comicbooknoise.com/), AND
* Harry Cee's The Next Issue (http://thenextissue.podomatic.com/)

Also, The Next Issue has its own Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/167476376654249/?ap=1. So does this blog at http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/251545944859184/?ap=1.

And a final few plugs to:
* Lone Star Comics (http://www.mycomicshop.com/), AND
* Amazon.co.uk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/).

I think that's the lot. :)

Next, I rave about sci-fi authors, including Philip Jose Farmer and his intriguing Riverworld and Wold Newton family concepts. Finally, I review the first three TPBs of Gail Simone's Secret Six. Flawed but fun reading.

Running time: 46 minutes

http://kirbyyourenthusiasm.libsyn.com/kirby-your-enthusiasm-episode-13-the-dirty-writer-

Please email me with your thoughts at Dann.Lennard@gmail.com or contact me on the KYE Facebook group page.

I love Adrienne Curry

THE story of the Queen of Twitter getting booted out of a comics convention due to her too-revealing Aeon Flux outfit is here.