COMICS READING FOR MARCH: “The British invasion continues”

* 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. Dinosaurs vs Aliens (Dynamite, 2012) ***¼

Writers: Grant Morrison & Barry Sonnenfeld/Artist: Mukesh Singh

Exquisite art, an interesting idea (aliens as cowboys, intelligent dinosaurs as Indians), but this is only part one of a bigger story. Where’s part two, Mr Morrison?

2. SVK (Berg, 2011) ***

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: D’Israeli

An adequate spy yarn gets gussied up with digital trickery via a UV light (that comes with the comic) revealing hidden speech balloons and other important messages. You can read the book twice (once without the light, once with) and the second time has more depth due to the UV. But, ultimately, it’s just another form of gimmickry, ala 3D comics. It can’t hide the fact that Ellis is slumming it in this comic (although it’s nice to see him pair up with former Lazarus Churchyard co-conspirator D’Israeli). Also, this was the most expensive comic I’ve ever bought. Disappointed just a little? Yes.

3. Simon Spector #1 (Avatar/Apparat, 2004) ***½

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: Jacen Burrows

4. Frank Ironwine #1 (Avatar/Apparat, 2004) ***¾

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: Carla Speed mcNeil

5. Quit City #1 (Avatar/Apparat, 2004) ***¼

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: Laurenn McCubbin

In 2004, Ellis wrote four one-shots that were intended as his vision of how pulp tropes might have developed into comics in the 21^st century if superheroes hadn’t got in the way. I’ve already enjoyed the sci-fi/steampunk tale Angel Stomp Future a few years back, and I finally got round to reading the other three. Quit City (aviator hero) is the weakest due to McCubbin’s awkward art heavily relying on photo references. Simon Spector (Doc Savage-style hero) has nice art by Burrows but the tale is forgettable. I most enjoyed Frank Ironwine (intelligent police detective), not for the tale as such but the realisation that this was Ellis laying the groundwork for the novel he’d write eight years later, Bone Machine. It’s interesting to see how that novel’s protagonist is basically Ironwine with less of a drinking problem and a different name. Of the four titles, I wish Ellis had kept on producing Frank Ironwine stories.

6.-9. Jack Cross #1-4 (DC, 2005-06) ***¼

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: Gary Erskine

10. Nemo: Heart Of Ice (Top Shelf, 2013) ****

Writer: Alan Moore/Artist: Kevin O’Neill
[READ MY THOUGHTS ON IT HERE]

11. Supergod (Avatar, 2009) ***¾ 

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: Garrie Gastonny

12.-14. Neil Gaiman’s Midnight Days (Vertigo, 1999) ***½

- originally published in Swamp Thing Annual #5, Hellblazer #27 & Sandman Midnight Theatre (Vertigo, 1989-99)
Writer: Neil Gaiman/Artists: various

15. Angel Fire (Carlton, 2007) ***

Writer: Chris Blythe/Artist: Steve Parkhouse

Whoever wrote Jacob’s Ladder should totally sue these guys for plagiarism

16. Kill Your Boyfriend (Vertigo, 1998. Originally published 1995) ***¼

Writer: Grant Morrison/Artists: Philip Bond & D’Israeli

17. Hell Eternal (Vertigo, 1998) ***½

Writer: Jamie Delano/Artist: Sean Phillips

 18.-32. Nemesis The Warlock Vol. 1 Books 1-4 (Rebellion, 2010) ***½

- originally published in 2000AD (IPC, 1980-83)
Writer: Pat Mills/Artists: Kevin O’Neill; Jesus Redondo; Bryan Talbot

33. Kickback (Dark Horse, 2006) ***¼

Writer/artist: David Lloyd

34.-40. Kick-Ass 2 (Icon, 2012) ***¾

- originally published in Kick-Ass 2 #1-7 (Icon, 2010-11)

41. Hit-Girl #5 (Icon, 2013) ***¾

Writer: Mark Millar/Artist: John Romita Jr

42. Tales From Beyond Science (Image, 2013) ***½

- originally published in 2000AD (IPC, 1992, 1994)
Writers: Mark Millar; John Smith; Alan McKenzie/Artist: Rian Hughes

43.-46. Yesterday’s Tomorrows (Image, 2010) ****

- originally published in various magazines
Writers: various/Artist: Rian Hughes

I love Hughes’ 1950s retro art, and these two books are chockers with it, but the absolute highlight for me comes in Yesterday’s Tomorrows with the complete Dare (written by Grant Morrison), which originally ran in Revolver, then Crisis magazines from 1990-91. A grim reimagining of the Dan Dare mythos – this is just brilliantly bleak storytelling.

47.-48. Fashion Beast #6-7 (Avatar, 2013) ****

Writers: Alan Moore, Malcolm McLaren & Antony Johnston/Artist: Facundo Percio

49. Happy! (Image, 2013) ***¼

Writer: Grant Morrison/Artist: Darick Robertson

A kinda flat ending. Not one of Morrison’s best efforts. Leave the nasty stuff to Mark Millar and Garth Ennis, eh?

50. America’s Got Powers #5 (Image, 2013) **¾

Writer: Jonathan Ross/Artist: Bryan Hitch

Is it me or has this series gone completely to hell? I may need to re-read the bloody thing next month from start to finish, but right now I’m struggling to follow the story and I’ve lost interest in all the characters. Also, it feels like the storyline has changed mid-track and I don’t like where it’s going now. Disappointing fifth issue, but I’ll see how the damn thing concludes.

51.-53. Fury: My War Gone By (MarvelMAX, 2013) ****¼

Writer: Garth Ennis/Artist: Goran Parlov

Quite possibly the best ongoing series Marvel is putting out right now. A war comic masquerading as a retelling of Nick Fury’s lost years before he joined S.H.I.E.L.D. This latest arc features a pre-Punisher Frank Castle, but he’s still just as scary. I just love this series to death – who knew Marvel could publish genuinely entertaining non-cape stuff? J

ONCE MOORE, WITH HEART

 
REVIEWS:

Nemo: Heart Of Ice (Alan Moore & Kevin O’Neill) – published by Top Shelf

Unearthing (Alan Moore & Mitch Jenkins) – published by Top Shelf

I HAVE to be up-front at the beginning of this review and confess that I don’t particularly like Alan Moore. Oh sure, I know he’s a visionary, a revolutionary, a magician, a man who tore up the rules of comic books and forever changed the way we perceive these funny four-colour boxes filled with pictures and words. Yeah, yeah, whatever.

The Alan Moore of the mid-1980s – the genius who gave us Marvelman/Miracleman, V For Vendetta, a reinvigorated Swamp Thing and his magnum opus Watchmen – is not the Alan Moore of 2013. These days, you’re more likely to see the grumpy old man bitching about the many (admittedly varied in quality) film adaptations of his finer works. Or hypocritically bemoaning people exploiting his artistic creativity for their own ends (even though he’s exploited other people’s artistic creations numerous times during his career). Or whinging about a billion-dollar corporation doing what billion-dollar corporations do: exploit the worker and make money (in this case, DC’s Before Watchmen line of comics – a relatively successful if redundant expansion of the Watchmen universe). Seriously, Alan, what next? Complaining that lions roar? That ants attack picnics? That dogs sniff each other’s bums? It’s the nature of the beast. Deal with it, son.

The truth is, I’m more peeved by Alan Moore’s general decline in talent (somewhat expected in artists when they get older) than his curmudgeonly rants (also expected in older folk).

Frankly, a lot of his work in the past 25 years has been entertaining at best (From Hell, his reimagining of Supreme) and self-indulgent crap at worst (most of his other work-for-hire dross of the 1990s, much of his non-comics writing, his hideously banal Dodgem Logic zine). His best years are long behind him.

 

This decline is best typified by League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which was first published in 1999.

The first two volumes of this ongoing series of graphic novels (beautifully illustrated by Kevin O’Neill) - about a world where all fictional heroes are real and connected - were magnificent. What a fascinating concept: a literary super-team containing the likes of Mr Hyde and the Invisible Man battled Fu Manchu, the Martian invasion and each other.

But subsequent entries were pretentious, unpleasant (what is it with Moore’s 30+ year obsession with rape and sexual abuse, anyway?) and, quite frankly, dull. Moore’s decision to focus on the three least interesting characters – vampire attack survivor Mina Harker, debauched adventurer Allan Quartermaine and androgynous immortal Orlando – dragged the series down through increasingly tedious instalments: The Black Dossier, Century: 1910 & 1969. While he redeemed himself with the a rousing final episode of Century: 2009, by the conclusion I was thoroughly fed up with his bisexual, boring threesome. But I wasn’t tired of the LoEG world they lived in.

So it’s nice to see Moore exploring the LoEG world through a fresh pair of eyes in the newly released hardback graphic novel Nemo: Heart Of Ice. And the end result from the great hairy English author is one of his better works of recent years.

Nemo: Heart Of Ice focuses on uber-pirate Janni Dakkar, daughter of the original Captain Nemo. Following in her dad’s footsteps, she takes her crew on an expedition to the South Pole, but encounters something monstrous in the ice: creatures straight from the imagination of horror writer HP Lovecraft.

As per usual with this series, Moore fills the book with rich literary characters, including Orson Welles’ amoral media tycoon Charles Foster Kane and Ayesha, HR Haggard's savage lead character in She. As usual, Moore reinvents some well-known fictional heroes as odious villains. This time round it’s teen scientist/adventurer Tom Swift, who's reimagined as a woman-hating, sadistic racist. He and his colleagues are sent to Antarctica by Kane on a mission to hunt down Janni.

In the end, everyone gets their comeuppance at the hands of elder gods. Or do they?

What I like most about Nemo: Heart Of Ice is that it’s a short, self-contained GN that tells a cracking adventure/horror yarn that will entertain both old fans and new readers sampling the series for the first time. I hope Moore and O’Neill explore the LoEG world further in the future – there are some great stories waiting to be told. Who knows? Perhaps they can rekindle that spark of genius currently lying dormant within Moore’s heart.

 

Unearthing – written by Moore and featuring exquisite photography by Mitch Jenkins – is a biography of sorts: partly of ultra-nerdy comic book writer/occultist/possible nutcase Steve Moore and partly of his suburb in London. It starts slowly – and slightly pretentiously – but turns into a fascinating story about a creative, sensitive man on the verge of a nervous breakdown. That’s until the author pulls the rug from under the reader’s feet and challenges all our preconceived notions on who Steve Moore really is. It’s a fantastical, lyrically beautiful, poetic biography that genuinely surprised me. This sumptuous 2013 coffee table-sized paperback is a revised version of a story Moore first published in 2006. For those who persevere through the somewhat inpenetrable opening few pages, they will find a book that challenges and fascinates in equal parts.

Is Alan Moore making a resurgence? Who knows? If these two new releases are any indication, it’s perhaps possible.  

* Nemo: Heart Of Ice and Unearthing are available from all good bookshops and comic stores, as well as direct from Top Shelf (www.topshelfcomix.com).

 

COMICS READING FOR FEBRUARY: “Warren Ellis time...like a swift kick to the nuts!”

* 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. Marvel NOW! #3 (Marvel, 2013) ***½

Writers/Artists: various
Well, I swore after I decided to cut back on my comics purchases that I would not pick up any new titles, especially from the Big Two. But after reading this preview anthology, I may have to change my decision...at least for one issue. Guardians Of The Galaxy, Nova, the new Wolverine and the new Secret Avengers all have great creative teams and the teaser pages have me intrigued. Damn! Don’t tell my wife, but I’ll have to check them out......

2. No More Heroes #4 (self-published, 2012) ***½

Writer: Gordon McLean/Artist: Caio Oliveira
This self-published four-part series from England was excellent value (only $1.60 per PDF download) and I really enjoyed the first three chapters, especially Caio’s Gary Chaloner/Kevin Maguire-style art. Basically, a random guy called Sid receives a mobile phone message asking if the caller should kill himself. Thinking it a joke – and urged on by his drunken mates – Sid texts back, “Yes.” When he later finds out the call came from superhero Dark Justice , who’s just been found dead, he’s filled with remorse. Especially when Dark Justice’s sidekick Black Fury turns up seeking answers. Meanwhile, deranged mass murderer Jack Slaughter is killing a bunch of people. This is the case that sent Dark Justice into deep depression in the first place. At the end of part three, Black Fury had finally captured Jack Slaughter and we were waiting for the big reveal of his secret identity. Well, the last chapter was, frankly, a bit of a letdown. I know Gordon wanted to have a swerve in that Jack Slaughter turns out to be some nobody not connected with any of the main characters. The gender swerve is good, but the fact that she’s just some random really deflates the storyline. While there are some good tense moments during the issue – including a flashback to Dark Justice’s final moments – I felt a little empty at the end of it. Still, I suspect this isn’t the last we see of Black Fury and Jim, who’s now wearing the hood of Dark Justice. Will there be another series of No More Heroes? I hope so. I think Gordon and Caio show a lot of promise – despite my misgivings about the conclusion, I really did enjoy the miniseries. I urge superhero fans to seek it out at nomoreheroescomic.wordpress.com or “No More Heroes Comic” on Facebook.

DOWN THE RABBIT WARREN

AFTER reading Warren Ellis’s highly entertaining new novel, Gun Machine – published by Mulholland Books, check it out – I got a hankering to check out as the unread Ellis comics in my collection. See how the guy’s evolved over the years. So let’s get started.

3.-6. Wolverine #119-122 (Marvel, 1997-98) ***¼

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: Leinil Francis Yu
This short tale takes place during the period Wolverine was stripped of his adamantium and had bone claws. A silly time, but we’ll ignore that for now. Featuring some of Yu’s earliest art, it’s an okay yarn that suffers from a bit too much overwrought writing and Image-style flashy art. Perhaps Warren felt inhibited by being in a mainstream superhero comic, perhaps a little hamstrung. Either way, it has a few nasty moments, but not enough to make this run a roaring success. Jumping back and forth in time, the four-parter reveals the relationship between Logan and drunken Scottish assassin Roddy McLeish in Hong Kong some years in the past. Even though McLeish is an evil killer, Wolvie has no problems drinking with him. Logan is also dating a hot Hong Kong chick, whose movie producer father is later murdered by McLeish, under orders from the Triad. Wolverine kills McLeish (or so he thinks). Years later, McLeish returns (or does he) to exact his revenge. He murders Logan’s now-ex-girlfriend and a bunch of villagers, to lure Wolverine to a small town to kill him. Naturally, he fails. This tale is entertaining in a stand-alone fashion, but aspects of McLeish’s personality (and Wolvie’s character) don’t ring true. I’m not sure why Logan – an essentially good man, if a little psycho – is happy to pal around with a clearly evil man in McLeish. It makes no sense. All the usual tired Wolverine philosophising – I’m-a-man-not-a-wild-animal crap – that has dogged his character for decades is in full flow here. I hope this sorta stuff will be eliminated in the upcoming Wolverine series, written by Paul Cornell and drawn by Alan Davis. I’m kinda over that boring shit now. All in all, this isn’t one of Ellis’s better efforts, but he was younger and hampered by writing in the old Marvel house style. Better things were to come...and in the very near future.

7.-12. Planetary Vol. 1: All Over The World And Other Stories (Wildstorm, 2001) ****½

- originally published in Planetary #1-6 & Planetary Preview (Wildstorm, 1998-99)
Writer: Warren Ellis/Art: John Cassaday
I done given this first volume a grave injustice. Two years ago, when I first read it, I gave this TPB a rating of ***¾ . Having reread it, I’ve given it a hefty raise in the ratings. It’s a brilliant start to a series that re-examines and reinvents all the classic movie/pulp novel/comic/TV tropes of the past 100 years and weaves them into a fascinating secret history of the 20^th Century, as explored by self-styled “mystery archaeologists” Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner and The Drummer. The JLA, Doc Savage, Tsui Hark cop flicks, Godzilla, the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk and more are reinterpreted by Ellis at his finest, with glorious cinematic art by Cassaday. A gorgeous kicking off point to this series. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into volume two.

13.-18. Planetary Vol. 2: The Fourth Man (Wildstorm, 2001) ****½

- originally published in Planetary #7-12 (Wildstorm, 2000-01)
Writer: Warren Ellis/Art: John Cassaday
19.-24. Planetary Vol. 3: Leaving The 20^th Century (Wildstorm, 2004) ****½
- originally published in Planetary #13-18 (Wildstorm, 2001-04)
Writer: Warren Ellis/Art: John Cassaday
25.-27. Planetary: Crossing Worlds (Wildstorm, 2004) ****½
- originally published in Planetary/The Authority: Ruling The World, Planetary/JLA: Terra Occulta & Planetary/Batman: Night On Earth (Wildstorm, 2000-03)
Writer: Warren Ellis/Art: various
28.-36. Planetary Vol. 4: Spacetime Archaelogy (Wildstorm, 2010) ****½
- originally published in Planetary #19-27 (Wildstorm, 2004-09)
Writer: Warren Ellis/Art: John Cassaday

37.-42. Transmetropolitan Vol. 1: Back On The Street (Vertigo, 2009) *****

43.-48. Transmetropolitan Vol. 2: Lust For Life (Vertigo, 2009) *****
49.-54. Transmetropolitan Vol. 3: Year Of The Bastard (Vertigo, 2009) *****
55.-60. Transmetropolitan Vol. 4: The New Scum (Vertigo, 2009) *****
61.-66. Transmetropolitan Vol. 5: Lonely City (Vertigo, 2009) *****
67.-72. Transmetropolitan Vol. 6: Gouge Away (Vertigo, 2010) *****
73.-78. Transmetropolitan Vol. 7: Spider’s Thrash (Vertigo, 2010) *****
79.-84. Transmetropolitan Vol. 8: Dirge (Vertigo, 2010) *****
85.-90. Transmetropolitan Vol. 9: The Cure (Vertigo, 2011) *****
91.-98. Transmetropolitan Vol. 10: One More Time (Vertigo, 2011) *****
- originally published in Transmetropolitan #1-60, Transmetropolitan: I Hate It Here, Transmetropolitan: Filth Of The City & various short stories (Vertigo, 1997-2002)
Writer: Warren Ellis/Artists: Darick Robertson & friends

99. Aetheric Mechanics: A Graphic Novella (Apparat/Avatar, 2008) ***

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: Gianluca Pagliarani & Chris Dreier
Overpriced tale of an imaginary steampunk England dreamed up by a time traveller, featuring weird alternate universe versions of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. OK, I guess, but not one of Ellis’s better efforts. Glad I got this cheap, too.
100. Lazarus Churchyard: The Final Cut (Image, 2001) ***
Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: D’Israeli
101.-106. John Constantine, Hellblazer: Haunted (Vertigo, 2003) ***¾
- originally published in Hellblazer #134-139 (Vertigo, 1999)
Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: John Higgins
107.-110. John Constantine, Hellblazer: Setting Sun (Vertigo, 2004) ***½
- originally published in Hellblazer #140-143 (Vertigo, 1999)
Writer: Warren Ellis/Artists: various
111.-118. The Authority, Book 1: Relentless (WildStorm/DC, 2000) ****
- originally published in The Authority #1-8 (WildStorm, 1999)
Writer: Warren Ellis/Artists: Bryan Hitch & Paul Neary

I will discuss all these titles in a future podcast.....probably. 

Kirby Your Enthusiasm, ep. 26: "Best & Worst of 2012"

I READ 885 comics or graphic novels in 2012. Some were good, some were awesome...and some were DUDS.

This post lists all the very best (and worst) of the year, along with original comments by me (if any).

Along with this post, comes a 25-minute podcast with a few of my thoughts. It can be found HERE.

 

BEST of 2012:

THIS WAS A TOUGH YEAR. I read a lot of truly great comics that aren’t on this list: 4 to 4½ books that didn’t quite make the list. But here are the creme de la creme.

My Friend Dahmer (Abrams Comicsart, 2012) *****

Writer/artist: Derf Backderf
One of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read. Period.

Punk Rock And Trailer Parks (SLG, 2008) *****

Writer/artist: Derf
Fuck me, this is fantastic!  

 

Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score (IDW, 2012) *****
Writer/artist: Darwyn Cooke

FCBD: Mouse Guard, Labyrinth And Other Stories (Archaia Entertainment, 2012) *****

Writers/artists: various

Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman (Penguin Books, 1986) *****

Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began (Pantheon, 1991) *****

Uzumaki Vol. 1 (Viz, 2001) ****¼

Uzumaki Vol. 2 (Viz Media, 1998, 2002, 2012) *****
Writer/artist: Junji Ito
I hate manga but this creepy, spiral-obsessed horror comic is superb, and better than the unsettling movie that followed it.
One of the creepiest, dream-like horror books I’ve ever read. Genuinely unnerving stuff. So glad to see it get a reprint.

Peepholes (Blank Slate Books, 2011) *****

Writer/artist: Laurie J. Proud
Dark, warped, perverse, confusing in parts and altogether brilliant. And the artwork is just mind-blowing. Seek this collection of sinister short stories out now. NOW, I tells ya!

Miracleman #1-24 (Eclipse, 1985-93) *****

Writers: Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman/Artists: various
V For Vendetta #1-10 (DC, 1988-89) *****
Writer: Alan Moore/Artist: David Lloyd (with some assistance from Tony Weare)

WORST:

I was blessed in 2012 by the fact that I read very few UTTERLY SHITE books. No negative star horrors. But there were some genuine DUDS along the way, so here they are:

 

Enormous #1 (Image, 2012) DUD
Writer: Tim Daniel/Artist: Mehdi Cheggour
An enormous-sized dud. Way too much photo-referenced art and confusing to boot. Half the photo-referenced characters look like other characters. The storyline of nature gone wild and growing to Godzilla-like dimension had potential but the art really let it down. The only positives for Enormous was the oversized gimmick and the fact that my copy was damaged in transit to Kings Comics so I scored it for a paltry five bux. I passed it onto a mate afterwards. He probably won’t thank me for it after he reads it.

Burt Ward: Boy Wonder/Wrath Of The Titans Classic (Bluewater Comics, 2012) DUD

Writers: Darren Garnick & Burt Ward (Burt Ward); CW Cooke (Titans)/Artist: Ramon Salas
Voltron: Shelter From The Storm (Viedia, 2012) DUD
Writer: Brian Smith/Artist: Jacob Chabot
Utter shit.
FCBD: Mega Man (Archie, 2012) DUD
Writer: Ian Flynn/Artist: Patrick Spaziante (interior), Chard Thomas, Fabio Redivo and Evan Stanley (cover)
FCBD: The Intrinsic (Arcana, 2012) DUD
Writers: Sean Patrick O’Reilly, Casey Jones & Erik Hendrix/Artist: Allan Otero
My Name Is Mud #1 (Incognito Comics, 1994) DUD
Writer/artist: Brian Denham
Before it got picked up by Maximum Press, MNIM got one self-published issue. I wonder if the Maximum dudes read it before offering Denham a deal. Confusing art – at times quite good, at other times very amateurish – dumb storyline, unlikable characters with confused motives, and appalling dialogue. This is utter shit. Of course, Maximum never did anything with MNIM either and it disappeared (thank goodness). Denham, however, went on to become a pretty good artist and does a lot of steampunk cheesecake pin-ups for Antarctic Press these days.
Judo Girl #1 (Alias Enterprises, 2005) DUD
Writer: Terrence Gripe/Artists: Nador Balan, Nick Schley & Sven Dyson (interior), Jimmy Taylor, Mark Brooks and Nadir Balan (covers)
Gara Galaxy #1 (Dead Dog Comics, 2004?) DUD
Writers: Chazz DeMoss & Joel Moen/Artists: Clint Hilinski (interior); Rudy Garza, Mojo & 12:21 (cover)
The Nazz #1 (DC, 1990) DUD
Writer: Tom Veitch/Artist: Bryan Talbot
Nice artwork by Talbot, but Veitch’s pretentious, at-times confused writing totally ruins this tale of how having godlike powers can corrupt a man’s soul. Or something like that.
Gun Nut Funnies (self-published, 2011) DUD
Writer/artist: Karno
A truly disturbing, paranoia-filled, pro-gun rant masquerading as a self-help manual. Yep, if you spend your life walking round a’feared that you may have to shoot someone dead one day, then deal with “the corrupt system” afterwards…well, this comic’s for you. Befriending lawyers on gun ranges, carrying a video camera pen on your person, life’s just a bed of roses for this idiot. I don’t know what happened to “Karno” in the past, but it’s totally fucked up his outlook on life – I would NOT want to live inside his head. For contact details, email author Kjartan Arnorsson at kjartana@comcast.net.
Kill The Face #3 (ACE Comics, 1987) DUD
Writer: Joe Gill/Art: Steve Ditko & Rick Altergott
The nice Alex Toth cover saves this from negative stars, but this terrible comic single-handedly destroyed any interest I have in Ditko’s post-Spidey work. I gather he had a heavy hand in these scripts and it shows: ineptly written, heavy-handed and nonsensical in parts. This by-the-numbers superhero vs drug dealers shite was clearly written by dudes who’ve never touched the stuff. Cocaine users are depicted as the worst kind of heroin junkies. And clearly Gill and Ditko don’t know how police procedure works either. Godawful on every level. Even Ditko’s pencils are rudimentary and inker Altergott sucks arse. The back-up strip Who Dunnit (anonymous writer/art by Fred Guardineer) is nicely rendered, even if the murder mystery storyline is boring. Not sure if it’s a reprint or not. ACE Comics was clearly an ambitious line that promised way more than it could deliver. The Face (a public domain superhero from the 1940s) now resides in the Dynamite universe.

REVIEW: No More Heroes #4

No More Heroes #4 (self-published, 2012) ***½

Writer: Gordon McLean/Artist: Caio Oliveira

This self-published four-part series from England was excellent value (only $1.60 per PDF download) and I really enjoyed the first three chapters, especially Caio’s Gary Chaloner/Kevin Maguire-style art. Basically, a random guy called Sid receives a mobile phone message asking if the caller should kill himself. Thinking it a joke – and urged on by his drunken mates – Sid texts back, “Yes.” When he later finds out the call came from superhero Dark Justice , who’s just been found dead, he’s filled with remorse. Especially when Dark Justice’s sidekick Black Fury turns up seeking answers. Meanwhile, deranged mass murderer Jack Slaughter is killing a bunch of people. This is the case that sent Dark Justice into deep depression in the first place. At the end of part three, Black Fury had finally captured Jack Slaughter and we were waiting for the big reveal of his secret identity. Well, the last chapter was, frankly, a bit of a letdown. I know Gordon wanted to have a swerve in that Jack Slaughter turns out to be some nobody not connected with any of the main characters. The gender swerve is good, but the fact that she’s just some random really deflates the storyline. While there are some good tense moments during the issue – including a flashback to Dark Justice’s final moments – I felt a little empty at the end of it. Still, I suspect this isn’t the last we see of Black Fury and Jim, who’s now wearing the hood of Dark Justice. Will there be another series of No More Heroes? I hope so. I think Gordon and Caio show a lot of promise – despite my misgivings about the conclusion, I really did enjoy the miniseries. I urge superhero fans to seek it out at nomoreheroescomic.wordpress.com or “No More Heroes Comic” on Facebook.

No more heroes? Say it ain't so!

This four-issue miniseries is worth your support and a PDF download only costs one pound (approx. AUD$1.60) per ish. Great art and an intriguing storyline.


http://www.nomoreheroescomic.wordpress.com/

COMICS READING FOR JANUARY: “Back to school”

* 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. It Girl! #5 (Image, 2012) ***

Writer: Jamie S. Rich/Artists: Mike Norton (interior), Michael & Laura Allred (cover)
2.-3. Extermination #7-8 (BOOM!, 2012) ***½
Writer: Simon Spurrier/Artists: V. Ken Marion (interior), Tom Derenick (cover)
A surprisingly powerful and poignant end to an interesting maxi-series. And the bad guy turned out to not be such a bad guy after all.
4. Colder #1 (Dark Horse, 2012) ***¾
Writer: Paul Tobin/Artist: Juan Ferreyra
Nasty.
5. The Victories #5 (Dark Horse, 2012) ***
Writer/Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
A better ending than this series deserved, if you ask me.
6. Marvel NOW! Previews #2 (Marvel, 2013) **½
Writers/Artists: various
I have no desire to start buying any of these series, despite the nice art, good writing and possibly intriguing storylines. Why? Because none of it means nothing. In a year’s time, all the plot developments will be superceded by another giant crossover “event” – one that is sure to “rock the Marvel Universe to its core”. And, frankly, I just don’t give a shit anymore. 
7.-8. The Amazing Spider-Man #661-662 (Marvel, 2011) ***½
Main story writer: Christos Gage/Artists: Reilly Brown & Victor Olazaba (interior), Ed McGuinness & Morry Hollowell (cover)
9. Avengers Academy Giant-Size #1  (Marvel, 2011) ***¾
Writer: Paul Tobin/Artists: David Baldeon & Jordi Tarragona (interior), Ed McGuinness (cover)
10. The Secret Service #5 (Icon, 2013) ****¼
Writer: Mark Millar/Artist: Dave Gibbons
11. The Whistling Skull #1 (DC, 2013) ***¼
Writer: B. Clay Moore/Artist: Tony Harris
A continuation of the Elseworlds first explored in the JSA Liberty Files a few years back. Gorgeous art, quirky story. Just not sure what to make of it as yet. I’ll give the six-issue series another shot, but there are too many questions so far, and not enough satisfactory answers.
12. The Black Beetle #0 (Dark Horse, 2013) ***
Writer/artist: Francesco Francavilla
Intriguing enough to make me check out the upcoming miniseries. I’m a sucker for pulp heroes. Nothing earth-shattering or groundbreaking though.

13.-40. Avengers Academy #13-14, 14.1, 15-39 (Marvel, 2011-12) ****

Writer: Christos Gage
Interior artists: Sean Chen & Scott Hanna (#13-14.1, 21); Tom Raney, Scott Hanna and/or Andrew Hennessy (#15-16, 19-20, 23); Chen & Hennessy (#17); Andrea Di Vito (#18); Tom Grummett & Cory Hamscher (#24-26, 29-31, 34, 37-39, with Rick Ketchum on #38); Karl Moline & Jim Fern (#27-28); Timothy Green II & Jeff Huet (#32-33); Andrea Di Vito (#35-36).
Cover artists: Billy Tan & Leonardo Olea (#13-20); Rodin Esquejo (#21-25); David Yardin (#26); David LaFuente & Christina Strain (#27-28); Giuseppe Camuncoli & Jim Charalampidis (#29-39).
41.-43. Avengers Arena #1-3 (Marvel, 2013) ***¼
Writer: Dennis Hopeless/Artist: Kev Walker (interior); Dave Johnson (cover #1), Chris Bachalo & Tim Townsend (cover #2), Greg Horn (cover #3).
Listen to my podcast HERE to get my thoughts on these two series.

44 . FF #2 (Marvel, 2013) ***½

Writer: Matt Fraction/Artist: Michael Allred
I’m officially hooked and I love this series so far. Pity it’s only gonna last a few issues ‘cos modern readers can’t handle Allred’s quirky retro style. Still, I’ll ride this donkey till it falls over.
45.-62. I, Zombie #1-18 (Vertigo, 2010-11) ***¼
Writer: Chris Roberson/Artist: Michael Allred (except Gilbert Hernandez, #12; Jay Stephens, #18)
A nice zombie, a were-terrier, a 1960s ghost. Vampires, mummies and the Bride of Frankenstein. Plus Dead Presidents. It’s all soooooooo hip and cool. Yawn. Fuck you, Roberson. I won’t be wasting my money on buying the trades for the rest of this series. Great retro art by Allred as usual, though.
63.-66. The Secret History Of D.B. Cooper #2-5 (Oni Press, 2012) ***¼
Writer/artist: Brian Churilla
I went back and grabbed the rest of this series after reading the first ish as part of my “20 First Issues Project”. Nice Ba/Moon-style art by Churilla, but the story of a notorious kidnapper actually being a sword-wielding CIA assassin just didn’t grab me.
67-68. Pulp Fantastic #2-3 (Vertigo, 2000) ***½
Writers: Howard Chaykin & David Tischman/Artists: Rick Burchett (interior), Chaykin & Burchett (cover)
Film noir, pulp noir...it’s never the ending that you care about (’cos it rarely makes sense due to all the red herrings and vast cast of suspicious characters) – it’s the journey we enjoy. The action, the violence, the witty one-liners...that’s what I love. I guess sci-fi noir is no different. This Maltese Falcon pisstake has its moments, but I couldn’t fathom the ending at all. However, I loved the journey. This was another “20 First Issues Project” title that I followed up on. Glad I did.
69.-70. Fashion Beast #4-5 (Avatar, 2012) ****¼
Writers: Alan Moore, Malcolm McLaren & Antony Johnston/Artist: Fercundo Percio
This just keeps getting better and better.
71. Happy #3 (Image, 2013) ***½
Writer: Grant Morrison/Artist: Darick Robertson
72. Nowhere Men #2 (Image, 2013) ***¾
Writer: Eric Stephenson/Artist: Nate Bellegarde
73. America’s Got Powers #4 (Image, 2013) ***½
Writer: Jonathan Ross/Artist: Bryan Hitch
74. Idolized #4 (Aspen, 2013) ***¼
Writer: David Schwartz/Artist: Pasquale Qualano   
75.-76. Fatale #10-11 (Image, 2012) ***¾
Writer: Ed Brubaker/Artist: Sean Phillips
77. Punk Rock Jesus #6 (Vertigo, 2013) ***½
Writer/Artist: Sean Murphy
A flat, less-than-satisfactory ending to what was overall a pretty damn good series.
78. Comic Heroes Presents #2 (with Comic Heroes #15, 2012) *
Writers/Artists: various
Samples from a bunch of DC titles including Fables, Superman and Sword Of Sorcery. None of them interested me, not even Fables.
79. Giant-Size Sidekick #2 (with Comic Heroes #15, 2012) ***
Writers/Artists: various
This is the first time I’ve read this anthology and gone, “Ah, there’s nothing I want to buy from this issue.”

MY GOOD mate AW handed me several old comics the other day. He said he’d got a bunch of them from a friend who bought them cheap from somewhere else. AW grabbed what he wanted and passed the rest onto me. Here’s what I thought of the stuff worth checking out (a few went  unread onto my giveaway pile).

80. Satan’s Six #1 (Topps, 1993) *** (for Kirby’s art), DUD for everything else
Writers: Jack Kirby, Tony Isabella/Artists: Jack Kirby & friends
This hodge-podge mess is basically a shitty story by Isabella shaped around eight pages of loosely scripted art by the King just before he died. Five losers in Limbo are given the chance to redeem themselves and enter Hell by stealing souls for Satan. And they’re supposed to be good guys..? Anyway, Kirby’s pencils are nice, especially on the page guest-inked by Frank Miller (what a combination!), but the other art by Image-wannabe John Cleary and Armando Gil is beyond hideous.
81. the Bionic Woman #2 (Charlton, 1978) -*
Writer/artist: unknown
A horrible TV tie-in series that makes me want to smash my head repeatedly on a teevee set. Perfunctory plotting, dull art and a nasty edge of misogyny winding its way through the entire odious issue. I can’t even bring myself to keep this comic for camp purposes.
82. Craftsman Bolt-on System Saves The Justice League #1 (DC, 2012) **½
Writer:  Joshua Williamson/Artist: Christian Duce
A shameless freebie comic that was probably handed out in hardware stores while promoting Craftsman’s new gadget, but Duce’s artwork is really nice. I hope to see more of his etchings.
83. Warlock And The Infinity Watch #1 (Marvel, 1992) *½
Writer: Jim Starlin/Artists: Angel Medina & Terry Austin
Starlin is a better artist than a writer. I suspect Medina would probably make a better writer than an artist (Angel fears background detail and even reliable Austin can’t save his scratchings). Overall, this comic is mostly harmless.
84. Wonder Woman #1 (DC, 1986) ***
Writers: Greg Potter & George Pérez/Artists: George Pérez & Bruce Patterson
A passable-if-overwrought relaunch of Wonder Woman with a heavy reliance on Greek mythology and implied rape. George’s art is very nice, though.