COMICS READING FOR NOVEMBER: “Why the fuck did I buy these? (part 2)”

* 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.-6. Strange Science Fantasy #1-6 (IDW, 2010) ***¾

Writer/artist: Scott Morse
I bought this ’cos it looked funky, then didn’t bother reading the miniseries till now. However, I read the first issue in about three minutes and thought, “Holy fuck! IDW has ripped me off for another US$3.99. But as I read these arthouse, surreal takes on trashy 50s sci-fi/monster flicks, I really got into Morse’s mindset and what he was building. By the time I reached issue six – which neatly wraps up what takes place in the previous five issues – I was sold on Strange Science Fantasy. Morse is a mad genius force to be reckoned with in this industry.
7.-8. The Mighty Thor #411-412 (Marvel, 1989) **
Writers: Tom DeFalco & Ron Frenz/Artists: Frenz & Joe Sinnott
9.-14. The New Warriors #1-6 (Marvel, 1990) **
Writer: Fabian Nicieza/Artits: Mark Bagley & Al Williamson (inker, #1-2) & Larry Mahlstedt (inker, #3-6)
I bought this ’cos I read somewhere that The New Warriors (who debuted in Thor #411-412) was a forgotten gem in late 80s/early 90s mainstream comics. They lied. It’s very ordinary. And Night Thrasher may well be the worst-named, worst-conceived “dark” superhero ever vomited out of the Marvel machine.
15. The Raven And The Red Death (Dark Horse, 2013) ****
Writer/artist: Richard Corben
It’s fucking Corben!
16. NewUniversal: Conquerer (Marvel, 2008) ***¼
Writer: Simon Spurrier/Artist: Eric Nguyen
I bought this ’cos I’m a completist and I wanted every issue in the botched relaunch of Marvel’s New Universe. I didn’t mind this one though, set in 2689BC. Very Conan.
17. Star Brand #1 (Marvel/New Universe, 1986) **¾
Writer: Jim Shooter/Artists: John Romita Jr & Al Williamson
I had to get this to see what all the fuss was about (the only New Universe title I bought at the time was the very ordinary Merc). It’s OK, but I can see why the “more realistic” line of titles failed. Characters like Star Brand just doesn’t capture your imagination like Spider-Man or X-Men did.

18.-22. The Life And Times Of Savior 28 #1-5 (IDW, 2009) ***¾
Writer: JM DeMatteis/Artist: Mike Cavallaro
I bought this miniseries ’cos I’m a mark for any fresh take on the superhero mythos. In this grim tale, a gung-ho Superman-style hero with drinking and mental problems has a change of heart after 9/11 and becomes a pacifist. But being a smug, shallow prick he doesn’t really know how to do it and blunders his way into becoming Public Enemy No. 1. His erratic behaviour leads to the US Government sanctioning his assassination at the hands of his former sidekick. That’s all in the first issue. Subsequent issues go back in time to show how everything unfurled. DeMatteis is still one of the best writers in the biz. I enjoyed this quite a bit.
23. Messages In A Bottle by B. Krigstein (Fantagraphics, 2013) *****
24. Setting The Standard: Comics by Alex Toth: 1952-1954 (Fantagraphics, 2011) *****
It’s fucking Krigstein and it’s fucking Toth, OK? I discuss these tremendous books in detail on my latest podcast at http://kirbyyourenthusiasm.libsyn.com/kirby-your-enthusiasm-ep-29-unsung-masters-of-comic-book-art.

Kirby Your Enthusiasm, ep. 29: "Unsung Masters of Comic Book Art"

 IN WHICH I focus on two great comic artists of the past - Bernard Krigstein and Alex Toth - while reviewing the excellent Fantagraphics books, Messages In A Bottle: Comic Book Stories by B. Krigstein (2013) and Setting The Standard: Comics By Alex Toth 1952-1954 (2011).
Enjoy 17min & 25sec of hoarse comic book chat.

http://kirbyyourenthusiasm.libsyn.com/kirby-your-enthusiasm-ep-29-unsung-masters-of-comic-book-art

COMICS READING FOR OCTOBER: “Why the fuck did I buy these?”

* 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. Sin Titulo (Dark Horse, 2013) ****¾  

Writer/artist: Cameron Stewart
The nice people at Dark Horse send me PDFs and links to where I can download their wonderful graphic novels and comics. In return, I shall plug them on my blog at http://jackkingkirby.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/review-sin-titulo-by-cameron-stewart.html.
2. America’s Got Powers #7 (Image, 2013) *½
Writer: Jonathan Ross/Artists: Bryan Hitch & Paul Neary
Arguably the most disappointing miniseries I’ve read in years. So much promise, so much blah. Thank fuck it’s finished, so I can sell off the series on eBay and get some of my hard-earned coin back. Ross is a terrible writer. Hitch’s art is nice but passe - cinematic comics are dead, motherfucker.
4.-5. Giant-Size Sidekick #5-6 (Comic Heroes, 2013) ***¼
Writers/Artists: various
An always great sampling of new graphic novels and collections. The highlight comes in #6 with a complete reprint of Gorgo #1 (Charlton) from 1961, with art by Steve Ditko. Plus John Byrne’s Star Trek and more. I usually find something in each issue of this free mag worth buying after I’ve read the preview.

WHY THE FUCK DID I BUY THESE?

6.-8. Robert Bloch’s Yours Truly, Jack The Ripper (IDW, 2010) **½
Writers: Joe & John Lansdale/Artist: Kevin Colden
I remember reading Bloch’s short story when I was a kid and it was both creepy and stupid at the same time. So I bought this adaptation, then didn’t read it for three years. The Lansdales’ story alters Bloch’s original version enough to stretch a one-shot to three overpriced issues. It’s passable But the bigger letdown is the scratchy, underground art by Colden. Where did they find this clown? He’s terrible.
9. Batman/Doc Savage Special #1 (DC, 2010) ***
Writer: Brian Azzarello/Artist: Phil Noto
The “First Wave” pulp noir universe, incorporating the likes of Doc Savage and Batman, should’ve been fun, which is why I really got into buying this series. But DC blew it by weirdly setting it in the present-day (although in this alternate universe, mankind still hasn’t flown to the moon, etc). It’s a 1940s world but with mobile phones and CDs. Weird. That aside, this one-shot/prologue team-up is kinda fun and Noto’s art is exquisite. But you could tell that this new line was doomed from the start. Making Doc Savage a substitute Superman, Batman a rookie and Jim Gordon crooked were bad moves.
10.-15. First Wave #1-6 (DC, 2010-11) **
Writer: Brian Azzarello/Artists: Rags Morales & friends (interior), JG Jones (covers)
Azzarello clearly had major plans for this universe, but he failed to properly explain what it was all about. Clearly, it’s set in the modern-day, but people act and dress like it’s the late 1940s. Government and police corruption is rife, yet masked adventurers are allowed to operate with near impunity. It’s an alternate world crying out for an explanatory article at the back of the comic, but it never comes. Instead, we’re given an over-the-top, convoluted pulpish yarn that doesn’t make sense, featuring villains with bizarre, unfathomable motives. The characters are all underwritten or done “wrong” – The Spirit is reduced to an amoral clown who gets hit a lot, the Blackhawks are villains (or are they heroes?), and other characters bought by DC are given a short shrift. The Spirit’s assistant Ebony (now a female) is last seen digging her own grave at the hands of the Blackhawks for no discernible reason, Commissioner Dolan is corrupt and evil for no apparent reason, Batman doesn’t even make an appearance till issue two and he’s depicted as a fairly unimpressive fighter, Doc Savage’s father dies – or does he? There’s a lot here not to like. In the end, it’s all terribly pointless and boring.
16.-27. Doc Savage #1-12 (DC, 200-11) ½*
Writers/artists: various
If there was ever an example of everything that could go wrong with a licensed comic, then this is it. I bought the first 12 issues of this awful series (it limped on to #17 before being mercifully axed), but I’ve only finally got around to reading it. Clearly, my sixth sense was telling me something three years ago. This updating of the Doc Savage mythology fails on every level. The first four issues is poorly written by supposed modern pulp writer Paul Malmont, positioning Savage and his crew as victims fleeing the US after being framed by a sinister cabal for crimes they didn’t commit. Malmont is a terrible writer, but he’s not helped by Howard Porter, one of the most inept artists ever to be given a major title to work on. Porter’s so shit he can’t even draw hats properly. Seriously, a five-year-old could draw a hat better than this dipstick. Issue five is a standalone yarn set in Greece. Writer B. Clay Moore is better than Malmont, but that’s faint praise. Porter’s art actually gets WORSE in this issue. Doc Savage was floundering by this stage, which is why “First Wave” creator Brian Azzarello came aboard with #6. Co-writing with Ivan Brandon, they craft a promising yarn where Savage and his team (who remain woefully underwritten for the entire 12 issues) are given the opportunity by the US military to be pardoned for their crimes if they go into the Middle East to track down some WMDs and an old friend, long thought dead. As Azzarello has never explained the “First Wave” world to readers, we have to work out for ourselves that much of the Middle East is a fiery atomic wasteland after “the last war”. Anyway, Nic Klein’s art is a vast improvement on Porter’s retarded scribbles (he can draw hats on men’s heads for starters). But the story soon falls apart again and makes little sense by the end of the arc. Savage has also morphed under Azzarello’s writing from a guy who is stronger and smarter than the average person due to decades of rigorous training to a substitute Superman whose capabilities border on the ludicrous. In the end, Savage shows that even death is only a minor inconvenience. Klein’s art becomes more disjointed as the issues progress – action scenes are hard to follow and at other times it’s left to the reader to fill in the gaps on what really happened in a scene. I felt like my head was gonna explode by #12 and it was a blessed relief when I realised I didn’t have to read another fucking issue. This series is definitely not a keeper, even if JG Jones’ covers are beautiful. The first nine issues also have a back-up feature, Justice Inc. (writer: Jason Starr/artist: Scott Hampton). It’s kinda brutal in a Steve Ditko-kinda way, and far more entertaining than the main feature.
28. Area 10 (Vertigo, 2010) ***
Writer: Christos N. Gage/Artist: Chris Samnee
I bought this graphic novel ’cos I was going through a crime noir-buying phase and there were a lot about at this time. Also, I enjoyed Gage’s work on Avengers Academy and I rate Samnee’s art very highly. But this B&W effort falls just short of the mark for me purely ’cos basing a quasi-supernatural yarn on trepanation – the dangerous “science” of drilling of holes in one’s head to receive enlightenment – is stupid. And the ending is very silly.
29.-31. Punx #1-3 (Valiant, 1995-96) **
Writer: Keith Giffen/Artists: Keith Giffen & Claude St Aubin
I got this ’cos it got praised by someone – possibly Comic Heroes mag – as an unheralded work of genius from the mid-90s. Wrong! It’s Keith Giffen doing Ambush Bug for a non-DC company. It’s sarcastic, it spits in the eye of the comic book genre, it’s irreverent, it’s...oh, spare me. I think the only person who believes Giffen is witty is Giffen. As a writer, he’s shit. Punx makes no sense – apparently there was supposed to be a fourth-and-final issue, but the series got axed. But that didn’t stop...
32. Manga Punx (Valiant, 1996) *
Writer: Keith Giffen/Artist: Kevin Lau
You have to read the comic backwards – like real manga. GEDDIT? Oh, for fuck’s sake...
33.-36. Planet Of The Apes: Urchak’s Folly #1-4 (Adventure/Malibu, 1991) **
Writer: Gary Chaloner/Artists: Gary Chaloner, Greg Gates & Dillon Naylor
I got this ’cos it’s drawn by Chaloner, a favourite Australian artist of mine. Sadly, Gary’s no writer and this series is pretty bad. Plus the artwork suffers in the final issue when he heavily relies on Gates to finish the art. Gates is no Chaloner.
37.-48. The Mighty #1-12 (DC, 2009-10) ***¼
Writers: Peter J. Tomasi & Keith Champagne/Artists: Peter Snejbjerg (interior #1-4), Chris Samnee (interior #5-12), Dave Johnson (covers)
It sounded like a cool concept – a faux Superman, Alpha One, with serious delusions of grandeur and a desire to reshape Earth in his image, with himself as dictator – but something got lost along the way. The ending is a giant slugfest that makes no sense except to give Alpha One a weakness that leads to his final defeat. Lovely art by one of my fave artists, Samnee, but I’ll chalk this maxiseries up as a noble failure.
49.-55. Conan The Cimmerian #1-7 (Dark Horse, 2008-09) ****
Writer: Timothy Truman/Artists: Tomás Giorello (main story), Richard Corben (flashbacks), Frank Cho (covers), Joe Kubert (alternate cover #1)
I got this for Corben’s art, obviously. Came for the art, enjoyed the yarn anyway.
56.-58. It! The Terror From Beyond Space #1-3 (IDW, 2010) ***
Writer: Dara Narachi/Artists: Mark Dos Santos (interior), Steve Mannion (cover)
Mannion’s cover art sold me on this miniseries. And I was in a horror comic-buying frame of mind at the time.
59.-62. CBGB #1-4 (BOOM!, 2010) **½
Writers/artists: various
Helen and I only visited CBGB once – when we visited New York in 2005, a few months before it closed. To be honest, I never went in, I told Helen to check it out. When she did, she said there were some scary people sitting inside, so she turned around and went out again. That was our CBGB experience. Boring, huh?
Anyway, when I saw this comic, it sounded fun, so I bought the miniseries.
Reading it now, I find the comic disjointed and very patchy (as all anthologies are). The only story that I particularly liked was the abbreviated-but-passionate bio of CBGB covered in “A NYC Punk Carol” (writer: Kieron Gillen/artist: Marc Ellerby). It’s a shame none of the other short pieces in the four issues approached this first strip for its intensity and explicit love for CBGB and everything it stood for. Another noble failed effort.

COMICS READING FOR SEPTEMBER: “The horror...the horror...”

I read a lot of horror comics in September.

 

* 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. The Sixth Gun Book 2: Crossroads (Oni Press, 2011) ****

- originally published in The Sixth Gun #7-11 (Oni Press, 2011)

Writer: Cullen Bunn /Artist: Brian Hurtt

6.-11. The Sixth Gun Book 3: Bound (Oni Press, 2012) ****

- originally published in The Sixth Gun #12-17 (Oni Press, 2012)

Writer: Cullen Bunn /Artist: Brian Hurtt, Tyler Crook (#14)

12.-17. The Sixth Gun Book 4: A Town Called Penance (Oni Press, 2012) ****

- originally published in The Sixth Gun #18-23 (Oni Press, 2012)

Writer: Cullen Bunn /Artist: Brian Hurtt, Tyler Crook (#23)

18.-23. The Sixth Gun Book 5: Winter Wolves (Oni Press, 2013) ***¾

- originally published in The Sixth Gun #24-29 (Oni Press, 2013)

Writer: Cullen Bunn /Artist: Brian Hurtt

24. Vampire Vixens of the Wehrmacht: If You Want Blood (Bump And Grind Comics, 2013) ***½

Writers: The Emperor & Alex Ronald/Artist: Alex Ronald

Hyper-realistic art,WW2 vampire-and-occult-filled action, sexy babes and castration. What more can a man want? Check it out at www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Vampire-Vixens-of-the-Wehrmacht/179230265443902.

25.-30. Locke & Key Vol. 2: Head Games (IDW, 2010) ****¾

- originally published in Locke & Key: Head Games #1-6 (IDW, 2009)

Writer: Joe Hill/Artist Gabriel Rodriguez

31.-36. Locke & Key Vol. 3: Crown Of Shadows (IDW, 2011) ****¾

- originally published in Locke & Key: Crown Of Shadows #1-6 (IDW, 2009-10)

Writer: Joe Hill/Artist Gabriel Rodriguez

37.-42. Locke & Key Vol. 4: Keys To The Kingdom (IDW, 2012) *****

- originally published in Locke & Key: Keys To The Kingdom #1-6 (IDW, 2010-11)

Writer: Joe Hill/Artist Gabriel Rodriguez

43.-48. Locke & Key Vol. 4: Clockworks (IDW, 2013) *****

- originally published in Locke & Key: Clockworks #1-6 (IDW, 2013)

Writer: Joe Hill/Artist Gabriel Rodriguez

49. Courtney Crumrin Tales: The League Of Ordinary Gentlemen (Oni Press, 2011) ***½

Writer/artist: Ted Naifeh

50.-79. The Exterminators #1-30 (Vertigo, 2006-08) ** (****½ for first 12 issues, *½ for final 18 issues)

Writer: Simon Oliver/Artists: Tony Moore + friends

I was going to do a podcast on why this was “the best comic you never read” – the story of an ex-crim finding redemption as a pest exterminator in the inner city while fighting intelligent cockroaches and evil South American bug cults intent on ruling the world. Extremely black, funny and with great art by Tony Moore. That was until I hit the second half of the series, which left a bitter taste in my mouth. I’ve read that Oliver’s story was meant to run for 50+ issues, but poor sales led to its premature demise. It’s pretty obvious – Moore drops in and out of the comic (issues with him doing the art are significantly better than non-Moore issues), subplots are dropped without warning, major characters are written out or quickly killed or simply forgotten about. There are plot holes and minor glitches in the artwork (and writing) that gives me the feeling that the last 10 issues were rushed and were originally meant to play out over a 30-issue spread. And the ending comes too soon. It’s extremely unsatisfying.

REVIEW: Sin Titulo by Cameron Stewart (Dark Horse)

 

EVERY week, the nice people at Dark Horse send me links to where I can download their wonderful graphic novels and comics. In return, I plug their products. But only if the product is good. Sin Titulo is really, really good.
Young Alex goes to collect his dead grandfather's possessions from a nursing home and finds among them a recent photo of Granddad grinning like a Cheshire cat in the company of a sexy young lady. Who is the mystery woman? Our hero's quest to find out her identity takes him on a strange, savage, at-times ultra-violent journey around the city and into a dreamlike other world that may or may not be real. And what is this other world's connection with a strange painting titled 'Sin Titulo'? And why does an orderly at the nursing home keep punching Alex in the face?
I found Sin Titulo a fast-paced read and more than a little disturbing, like going on a joyride with a mate who's had one too many bourbons. It's kinda fun at first, but you soon have that scared feeling in the pit of your stomach.
Cameron Stewart - best known for his mainstream artwork for DC Comics and so on - proves that he can tell a good yarn as well as he can illustrate one.
All in all, I give this book 9.5 out of 10 on the "Holy shit! That was a great comic!" meter.
Sin Titulo is available on Amazon and at all good bookstores and comic shops.

COMICS READING FOR AUGUST: “Catching up (part 2)”

 

* 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. Sex #5 (Image, 2013) ***½

Writer: Joe Casey /Artist: Piotr Kowalski

The least something-happening issue so far. Where the fuck is Casey leading us in this superhero-that’s-not-a-superhero comic?

2. Absalom: Ghosts Of London (Rebellion, 2012) ***½

- originally published in 2000 AD #1732-39, 1765-71, 2012 (Rebellion, 2011-12)

Writer: Gordon Rennie/Artist: Tiernen Trevallion

What if John Constantine was a London cop? Or better yet, what if Det. Jack Regan dealt only with demons and other dread supernatural beings? Then you’d pretty much have Absalom, a collection of yarns from England’s 2000 AD magazine that reads very much like Hellblazer meets The Sweeney (the classic TV series, not the shitty recent movie). It’s kinda fun but evaporates like slightly old candy floss as you read it. Fun though.

3. Museum Of Terror Vol. 3 by Junji Ito (Dark Horse, 2006) *****

Freaked the fuck out by Junji Ito. Find out why at jackkingkirby.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/review-museum-of-terror-vol-3-by-junji.html

4. Superboy’s Legion #1 (DC, 2001) ***½

Writer: Mark Farmer/Artists: Alan Davis & Mark Farmer

An interesting Elseworlds yarn where Superboy wakes up n the year 3000 and starts his own Legion of Super-Heroes. The concept’s fun, the art is cool, but the dialogue kinda sucks. As a writer, Farmer makes a great inker. Still, I’ll have to track down part two now to see how it ends.

5. 2001: A Space Odyssey #1 (Marvel, 1976) **½

Writer: Jack Kirby/Artists: Jack Kirby & Mike Royer

Hey, it’s Kirby and the art is sensational. But what the hell is this yarn about? Only six years after Kubrick baffled viewers with the film, Kirby proves to be as confusing as the great director. A curiosity piece this comic.

6.-11. Sparta U.S.A. #1-6 (Wildstorm, 2010) **

Writer: David Lapham/Artist Johnny Timmons

Lapham is one of the most overrated writers in comics today. This wacky fantasy/horror yarn about a gridiron-obsessed small town that also believes in killing your neighbours to get ahead in life blows its wad early and rapidly goes downhill. The Yetis are bad enough, as are the WW2 Nazis who invade the town...but the arch-villain in the piece is...The Pied Piper of Hamlyn? Give me a fucking break. Oh...and Timmons’ art actually deteriorates the further into the series he gets. Maybe he was mentally throwing his hands up and thinking, “I can’t illustrate this tosh. It’s rubbish!”

12.-15. Batman Year 100 #1-4 (DC, 2006) ***½

Writer/artist: Paul Pope

Why is Batman still alive 100 years in the future? Who cares...Paul Pope is drawing Batman.

How has Batman become a forgotten, untraceable bogeyman in the space of 30-odd years? Who cares...Paul Pope is drawing Batman.

Why has a Communist dictatorship taken over Gotham City so utterly and completely? Who cares...Paul Pope is drawing Batman.

Why is Batman investigating one particular murder that brings him to the attention of the government after being in hiding for no discernible reason? Who cares...Paul Pope is drawing Batman.

Thankfully, Pope does a beautiful job, even if the story is full of holes.

16.-18. Nowhere Men #3-5 (Image, 2013) ***¾

Writer: Eric Stephenson/Artist: Nate Bellegarde

A world where science is sexy and scientists are feted like rock gods? I kinda dig that concept.

19.-24. The Hypernaturals #6-12 (BOOM!, 2012-13) ****

Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning/Artists: Tom Derenick & Andrews Guinaldo

The Legion of Super-Heroes done right! And while I’m sad it was a finite maxiseries, I really hope these guys return for another series. Just a joy to read.

25.26. Star-Lord: The Hollow Crown (Marvel, 2013) **½

- originally published in Marvel Preview #4 (1976), Marvel Preview #11 (1977) & Star-Lord: The Special Edition (1982)

Writers/artists: various

Starlord might mean something now he’s the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, but he really was a forgettable Marvel sci-fi character in the 70s. This reprint only emphasises the character’s lame origin and makes you wonder WHY he was picked for revival 30 years later.

 27.-31. Rocket Racoon: Guardian Of The Keystone Quadrant (Marvel, 2011)

- originally published in Marvel Preview #7 (1976), Incredible Hulk #271 (1982), Rocket Raccoon #1-4 (1985)

Writer: Bill Mantlo/Artists: various

Another old comic reprinted to cash in on RR’s forthcoming big-screen fame in the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie. The miniseries is okay, but Mantlo’s writing style was old-fashioned even in the mid-80s.

32.-37. Guardians Of The Galaxy #0.1, 1-5 (Marvel, 2013) ***½

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis/Artist: Steve McNiven & John Dell, Sara Pichelli

A rollicking fun relaunch. Better than 95% of the other shit Marvel produces (much of which is also written by Bendis, oddly enough)

 38. Guardians Of The Galaxy: Tomorrow’s Avengers #1 (Marvel, 2013) ***¼

 Writer: Brian Michael Bendis/Artists: Michael Avon Oeming, Ming Doyle, Michael Del Mundo (interior); Ming Doyle (cover)

39.-44. Morning Glories Vol. 1 (Image, 2011) ****¼

- originally published in Morning Glories #1-6 (Image, 2010-11)

Writer: Nick Spencer/Artists: Joe Eisma (interior), Rodin Esquejo (cover)

A review to appear in a forthcoming podcast at jackkingkirby.blogspot.com.au.

45.-49. Run! #2-6 (DC, 2009) **¾

Writer: Matthew Sturges/Artists: Freddie Williams II (interior), Kako (cover)

A really promising idea – a third-string supervillain on the run after his involvement in the murder of the Martian Manhunter – degenerates pretty quickly into just another big ol’ punch-up between him (after gaining more bad-ass powers from ex-Doom Patrol nemesis General Immortus) and the JLA. A flawed miniseries that could’ve been so much better after a really solid first issue.

50. Tom Strong And The Planet Of Peril #1 (Vertigo, 2013) ***½

Writer: Peter Hogan/Artists: Chris Sprouse & Karl Story

 51. Captain Midnight #1 (Dark Horse, 2013) **½

Writer: Joshua Williamson/Artist: Fernando Dagnino

Yawn.

 52. The Blackest Terror #1 (Moonstone, 2011) DUD

Writer: Eric M. Esquivel/Artist: Ander Sarabia

A reimagining of public domain superhero Black Terror sees him turned into an Afro-American urban vigilante. A promising idea, but Esquivel is too busy ranting and raving about black politics to make anyone – particularly your average comic book reader – care about the character. Weirdly, he focuses much of his contempt and hatred towards “Uncle Tom” weatherman Al Roker. Sarabia’s art shows cartoony promise, but this angry tale is way too preachy for my tastes. Take a chill pill, Eric.

53.-56. Sharky #1-4 (Image, 1998) **

Writer; Dave Elliott/Artist: Alex Horley & Alberto Ponticelli

Beautiful, Simon Bisley-like artwork from Horley, but this violent, incomprehensible yarn left me cold.

57. Revival #13 (Image, 2013) ****

Writer: Tim Seeley/Artist: Mike Norton

58. Optic Nerve #13 (Drawn & Quarterly, 2013) *****

Writer/artist: Adrian Tomine

Overpriced and published far too rarely, but this is easily the most beautiful, haunting comic I’ve read this year.

59.-62. The Cape #1-4 (IDW, 2011) *****

Writer: Jason Ciaramella/Artist: Zach Howard

Based on the short story by Joe Hill, this yarn about a slacker son turned psychotic killer supervillain by a childhood “blankie” is suitably disturbing, violent and creepy. A perfect horror tale.

63.-66. The Cape: 1969 #1-4 (IDW, 2012) **½

Writer: Jason Ciaramella/Artists: Nelson Daniel; Zach Howard

“Inspired” by Joe Hill’s short story, eh? Not sure how as Ciaramella fucks up big-time here. To be fair, if the writer was just doing a terrifying, Vietnam War-based miniseries I wouldn’t mind so much. But he’s grounded it in The Cape’s mythology and the biggest problem I have is the fact that the prequel is set in 1969. That means The Cape must be set roughly 20 years later...in 1989. However, the original series is obviously set in 2013 (everyone has tiny fucking mobile phones). At a pinch, I’ll be lenient and say it COULD be set in the late 90s (even if the phones ARE too small, but there’s a Nine Inch Nails poster on somebody’s wall). However, it’s definitely not set in the 80s. Why Ciaramella set The Cape: 1969 in an era that undermines the original series is beyond me.

67. Trillium #1 (Vertigo, 2013) ***¼

Writer/artist: Jeff Lemire

68. Sidekick #1 (Image, 2013) ***¾

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski/Artist: Tom Mandrake

69.-70. Satellite Sam #1-2 (Image, 2013) ***¼

Writer: Matt Fraction/Artist: Howard Chaykin

71. Kick-Ass 3 #2 (Icon, 2013) ***½

Writer: Mark Millar/Artist: John Romita Jr

72.-77. Bedlam #3-8 (Image, 2013) ***½

Writer: Nick Spencer/Artist: Riley Rossmo (interior)/Fraser Irving (cover)

78. Ballistic #1 (Black Mask, 2013) ***½

Writer: Adam Egypt Mortimer/Artist: Darick Robertson

Videodrome for the 21st century? All hail the new flesh.

79. Absolution: Rubicon #2 (Avatar, 2013) ***¾

Writer: Christos Gage/Artist: Daniel Gete

80.-84. Ignition City #1-5 (Avatar, 2009) ***¾

Writer: Warren Ellis/Artist: Gianluca Pagliarani

I ummed and erred over buying this miniseries for years, but I’m glad I did. Ellis deconstructs the 1930s aviator/space adventure pulp sub-genre and gives us something very grim and post-modern in this alternate future yarn. I wish he’d do a sequel.

85.-87. Fashion Beast #8-10 (Avatar, 2013) ****

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

88.-92. Spontaneous #1-5 (Oni Press, 2011) ***

Writer: Joe Harris/Artist: Brett Weldele

 

Kirby Your Enthusiasm, ep 28: "Saga, The Sixth Gun, Bucko and Basement Books..."

IT'S 45 minutes of trade paperback reviews (Saga, The Sixth Gun and Bucko), a rave about my favourite discount bookshop, Basement Books, in Sydney. Plus a potted review of KICK-ASS 2.
Enjoy! :D

http://kirbyyourenthusiasm.libsyn.com/kirby-your-enthusiasm-ep-28-saga-the-sixth-gun-bucko-and-basement-books