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Tag Archives: 2000 AD

The 2015 Innie Award Nominations!

07 Friday Aug 2015

Posted by dmainhart in Innie Awards

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2000 AD, Action Lab, Afterlife With Archie, Archie Comics, B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth, BOOM!, Brass Sun, Brian Wood, Dan Abnett, Dan Slott, Daredevil, Dark Horse, Dave Stewart, Dry Spell, Dynamite, Eric Shanower, Francesco Francavilla, Gabriel Rodriguez, Greg Rucka, Guiu Vilanova, Hellboy and the B.P.R.D., I.N.J. Culbard, Ian Edginton, IDW, Image, Innie Awards, J. Michael Straczynski, Jordie Bellaire, Ken Krekeler, Laura Allred, Lazarus, Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland, Matt Kindt, Matt Wilson, Michael Lark, Mike Allred, Mind MGMT, Moon Knight, Nelson Daniel, Roberto Aguirre Sacasa, Silver Surfer, The Massive, The Twilight Zone, The Wicked & The Divine, Wild Blue Yonder, Wild's End, zero

The Harvey Award nominations have been announced! The Eisners are in the books! And now we offer our annual corrective: THE INNIE AWARDS!

What does ‘Innies’ stand for? Well, other than an attempt at shameless self-branding, it stands for ‘independence’! Being ‘in’ the know! Part of the ‘in’ crowd! And possessing the non-freaky type of belly button.

Since we don’t have the big-time budget of the fancy-pants Eisners or Harveys, we’ve limited ourselves to five categories.  (Sorry Best Translation of Foreign Material for Tweens!)

Keep in mind that these are for comics that were published in 2014.

If the Eisners are the Oscars, and the Harveys are the Golden Globes, then the Innies are the Independent Spirits–or at least the People’s Choice Awards!

The Nominations:

Best Limited Series:

  • Brass Sun by Ian Edginton and I.N.J Culbard (2000AD)
  • Dry Spell by Ken Krekeler (Action Lab/Danger Zone)
  • Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland by Eric Shanower and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
  • The Twilight Zone by J. Michael Straczynski and Guiu Vilanova (Dynamite Entertainment)
  • Wild’s End by Dan Abnett and I.N.J Culbard (BOOM! Studios)

Best Ongoing Series:

  • Afterlife with Archie by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francavilla (Archie Horror)
  • Lazarus by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark (Image)
  • The Massive by Brian Wood and various (Dark Horse)
  • Mind MGMT by Matt Kindt (Dark Horse)
  • Silver Surfer by Dan Slott and Mike Allred (Marvel)

Best Writer:

  • Matt Kindt, Mind MGMT (Dark Horse)
  • Ken Krekeler, Dry Spell (Action Lab/Danger Zone)
  • Greg Rucka, Lazarus (Image)
  • Dan Slott, Silver Surfer (Marvel)
  • Brian Wood, The Massive (Dark Horse), Moon Knight (Marvel)

Best Artist:

  • Mike Allred, Silver Surfer (Marvel)
  • I.N.J. Culbard, Wild’s End (BOOM! Studios), Brass Sun (2000AD)
  • Francesco Francavilla, Afterlife with Archie (Archie Horror)
  • Matt Kindt, Mind MGMT (Dark Horse)
  • Gabriel Rodriguez, Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland (IDW)

Best Colorist:

  • Laura Allred, Silver Surfer (Marvel)
  • Jordie Bellaire, The Massive (Dark Horse), Moon Knight (Marvel), Zero (Image)
  • Nelson Daniel, Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland (IDW), Wild Blue Yonder (IDW)
  • Dave Stewart B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth (Dark Horse), Hellboy & the B.P.R.D.: 1952 (Dark Horse)
  • Matthew Wilson The Wicked + The Divine (Image), Daredevil (Marvel)

Now it’s your turn. Did we miss anyone or anything?

Let the internet shouting begin!

Turning pages,

Derek & Scott

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What’s I&N Store (8/27)

27 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by ScottNerd in What's I&N Store?

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2000 AD, Al Ewing, All-New X-Men, Bodies, Brass Sun, Brian Hurtt, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Wood, Cullen Bunn, Curt Pires, Dan Slott, Dark Horse, David Aja, DC Comics, Dead Boy Detectives, Elizabeth Breitweiser, Evil Empire, Fiona Staples, Garry Brown, Geoff Johns, Greg Tocchini, I.N.J. Culbard, Ian Edginton, IDW, Image, Jason Copland, Jay Shaw, Jim Zub, John Romita Jr., Jonathan Hickman, Low, Mark Buckingham, Marvel, Matt Kindt, Max Bemis, Mike Allred, Mind MGMT, Nick Pitarra, Original Sin, Outcast, Paul Azaceta, Pop, Rick Remender, Robert Kirkman, Robert Venditti, Saga, Si Spencer, Silver Surfer, Stuart Immonen, Superman, The Last Fall, The Manhattan Projects, The Massive, The Sixth Gun, The Wake, Toby Litt, Tom Waltz, Vertigo, Wayward, X-O Manowar

This week isn’t defined so much by the number of books I’m getting as it’s defined by one particular book I’m getting.  You’ll know which one when you get to it.  So much for self control!

  • The Massive #26 (Dark Horse): Winding down to the end.  (I’m still in denial about it, mind you.)  #25 was OK–tough to be the first issue after an arc that truly slakes the thirst like “Sahara”–but had that “setting up the wind down” feel to it.  Silver lining: answers are on the horizon.
  • Mind MGMT #25 (Dark Horse): Can’t type about #24 without first mentioning the gorgeous wraparound cover–which, by the way, was won at auction by some lucky fan for a smidgen over $5000: I got Lyme disease just looking at it!  Inside, a bit of a retrospective, more a Rosetta Stone–all through the lens of Henry Lyme, who’s heart is so lovingly revealed–and it’s Merutiful!.  Loved it.  OK, so, the big question about this month’s issue: how much is this cover going to go for?
Mind MGMT #25

Mind MGMT #25

  • Pop #1 (Dark Horse):This poppy premise is definitely Top 40: a prefabbed pop princess goes off the reservation!  Will she auto-tune her way out of trouble?  Or will she go full Milli Vanilli?  Don’t know the creators, but when has that ever stopped me?  Here’s hoping that Curt Pires and Jason Copland deliver a hit–and that they’re not one-hit wonders.
Pop #1

Pop #1

  • Bodies #2 (DC/Vertigo): Loved, loved, loved the quilt that Si Spencer stitched together with his coterie of co-creators.  We liked it so much that we’ve made it one of our Top 5 Books of July!  (Write-up to come.)
Bodies #2

Bodies #2

  • Dead Boy Detectives #8 (DC/Vertigo): Continues to be an engaging read a la The Books of Magic ongoing.
  • Superman #34 (DC): Finally!  A Superman book worth reading!  It’s felt like forever since Morrison left and took his massive moments with him.  Two issues into their arc, Johns and Romita, Jr. have proven that they are worthy successors–even if they are a bit more straightforward in terms of storytelling.
  • The Last Fall #2 (IDW): Wasn’t knocked out by #1, but I’m going to try another.  Why?  Since you asked: I’m giving Tom Waltz my attention because of his terrific work on TMNT.  I’m loyal like that.
  • Low #2 (Image): Not high on this but not exactly low, either.  Yes, #1 read like a Remender book; but Greg Tocchini’s art, which is pretty excellent, made me think but not mind that I was basically reading The Wake Part II #1.  I’m going to go against my better judgement and buy this one.  I don’t know–maybe this’ll be the book that finally turns me toward Remender.  Then again, the writer’s own words from #1 haunt–and taunt–me; they are essentially telling me to lay off: “Being optimistic doesn’t mean you have to ignore the realities around you.”  Preach, Reverend Rick.  Preach.
Low #2

Low #2

  • The Manhattan Projects #23 (Image): In #22, Hickman refers to a “line between the mundane and the divine.”  Usually, TMP is firmly planted on the divine side; it’s as consistent a book as you’re going to find.  However, much of #22 toes that ironically referenced line; in fact, it does a much-too-talky tip-toe dance for a goodly part of the book.  But, in typical Hickman fashion, it ends elegantly on pointe.  And blade.  And spike.
  • Outcast #3 (Image): The story is compelling enough, with its layers and all.  Robert Kirkman and Paul Azaceta–whose art, as colored by Elizabeth Breitweiser, reminds of David Aja’s–have done a fine job of developing a sense of dread–you know, the seventh sense–and authentic sympathy for Kyle.
  • Saga #22 (Image): Honesty: #19 and #20 left me a bit wanting; yeah, hadn’t been feeling so gaga about Saga–until #21, that is.  Oof, what a comeback.  (Not so much for Mama Sun, though, eh?)  Five big splashes from Fiona Staples help hammer home the love, the hate, the hurt–the brilliance—of Saga.
Saga #22

Saga #22

  • Wayward #1 (Image): Marketed as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a new generation,” but gonna give it a try anyway.  God knows I love a me a good “supernatural spectacle,” you know, like the supernaturally terrific Thomas Alsop (BOOM!).
  • All-New X-Men #31 (Marvel): Still haven’t gotten a hold of #30.  Figures that just as I came around to what Bendis is doing I can’t find the damn book on the shelf.  My fault, I guess.  I should’ve put it on my pull list as soon as things turned toward the positive for me.
  • Original Sin #5.4 (Marvel): Once again, a crossover has come along and murdered momentum–in the case of Loki: Agent of Asgard, magical momentum.  It’s been nice to look at; otherwise, I can’t wait for this nonsense to fall away so we can get back on the alluringly loqucious Lokimotive.
  • Silver Surfer #5 (Marvel): We’ve celebrated each of the first three issues as a top book of the month.  (See: March, April, and June.)  #4 was great, too; but, because of all of the greater books that dropped in July, it missed being a Top 5 book.  It was easily a Top 10 title, though.  Despite a dignified drop in the I&N rankings, one thing’s been a constant: SS has been a perfect marriage of writer and artist: Slott’s writing the new adventures of Norrin Radd like it was his professional destiny, and Allred’s, well, Allred: he is the power cosmic complement who makes the book pop–for as long as they both shall live.  Or at least until their hang-tenure is over.
Silver Surfer #5

Silver Surfer #5

  • Brass Sun #4 (2000 A.D.): I’m digging Brass Sun.  I like the possibilities offered up by the universe that Ian Edginton’s created, and I’ve really taken to artist I.N.J. Culbard’s approach and how carries the story without ever distracting from it.  #3, with its twists and spurns, has kicked things up a notch.  On to the next!
  • Evil Empire #4 (BOOM!): Speaking of a #3 that delivered some twists!  Glad I didn’t ditch after #2!  Can’t look past the great covers by Jay Shaw, either.  Then again, you have to, you know, if you want to read the book.  Rest assured: it’s OK if you want to judge Evil Empire by this cover:
Evil Empire #4

Evil Empire #4

  • The Sixth Gun #42 (Oni Press): Still a bit behind.  This’ll sit on a short stack, which I will–i must–read before I go back to work.
  • X-O Manowar #28 (Valiant): Generally, I don’t care for crossovers, but the Armor Hunters diversion works well here, for obvious reasons.  Sure, Archer & Armstrong and Quantum and Woody deserve the accolades they’ve received.  (Harvey noms are nothing to sneeze at.)  Robert Venditti, however, deserves a lot of credit for playing a one-note character into a symphony of sympathy, which has lasted, now, for twenty-eight issues.

Avery’s Pick of the Week:

  • Bee and Puppycat #3 (BOOM!): Avery just thinks that Bee and Puppycat is the dog’s meow.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

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What’s I&N Store (7/30)

29 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by ScottNerd in What's I&N Store?

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2000 AD, Armor Hunters: Harbinger, Avatar, Bodies, BOOM!, Brass Sun, Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Stelfreeze, Brian Wood, Caliban, Chris Bachalo, Chris Roberson, Dark Horse, David Aja, Day Men, DC, Dean Ormston, Doc Savage, Dynamite Entertainment, East of West, Ed Brubaker, Evil Empire, Facundo Percio, Fatale, Garry Brown, Garth Ennis, Greg Rucka, Hawkeye, Ian Edginton, Image, J.H. Williams III, Jonathan Hickman, Low, Marvel, Matt Fraction, Matt Gagnon, Matt Kindt, Max Bemis, Meghan Hetrick, Mind MGMT, Neil Gaiman, Nick Dragotta, Nick Pitarra, Outcast, Phil Winslade, Rick Remender, Robert Kirkman, Robert Venditti, Sandman: Overture, Scott Snyder, Sean Murphy, Sean Phillips, Si Spencer, Snowpiercer, Star Wars: Rebel Heist, The Manhattan Projects, The Massive, The Wake, Titan, Toni Fejzula, Tula Lotay, Uncanny X-Men, Valiant, Veil, Vertigo, X-O Manowar

A big week, top-heavy with top books.

Also, lots of lasts.  Some creeping ever closer.

  • The Massive #25 (Dark Horse): Since February, The Massive has been an I&N monthly Top 5 Book.  That’s a record five months in a row!  On the strength of that, I think it’s safe to say that Brian Wood’s book is headed for the Top Ten of 2014.  For the most part, “Sahara” delivered its powerful feminist message in the understated manner–Women! Water!  Life!–we’ve come to expect from Wood.  (If I’m being fair, Part Three felt a bit preachy at times, but not to the detriment of the issue or of the arc.)  The final arc–with its promise of Massive answers–begins here.
The Massive #25

The Massive #25

  • Mind MGMT #24 (Dark Horse): The 2014 Innie Award-winning Mind MGMT has also had quite a run through the first half of the year and has probably reserved its spot in our Top Ten of 2014.  (Proof: Mind MGMT has already been a Top 5 Book four times and, in April, earned a Biggest Dis(appointment) for Kindt’s being too clever for his own good.)  Here, we get a look at “The Life and Times of Henry Lyme”–with a twist!  Sounds juicy.  And there’s also this cover:
Mind MGMT #24

Mind MGMT #24

  • Star Wars: Rebel Heist #4 (Dark Horse): The series has been fun and feels plenty authentic.  Now, it’s Luke’s turn!
  • Veil #4 (Dark Horse): Has been somewhat disappointing–the last issue, in particular.  I’m not caring too much about the femme ratale.  There’s something all too familiar about her.  Fejzula’s art’s been good, though.  I’m riding it out because it’s a fiver.
  • Bodies #1 (DC/Vertigo): Seems super ambitious: Writer Si Spencer employs four artists (Dean Ormston, Phil Winslade, Meghan Hetrick, and Tula Lotay) as he ties together four time-spanning storylines–in each issue!  I’m definitely going to try it out.
  • Sandman: Overture #3 (DC/Vertigo): Going to have to pull #2 to get reacclimated.  (I bet you’re going to do the same.)  Have missed me some J.H. Williams.
Sandman: Overture #3

Sandman: Overture #3

  • The Wake #10 (DC/Vertigo): Inexplicably, The Wake was nominated for and, yes, won the 2014 Eisner Award for Best Limited Series.  (Check out the 2014 Innie noms for Best Limited Series and the big winner to see where we’re coming from.)  It ends here.
  • East of West #14 (Image): Has been North of Excellent.  Hickman and Dragotta certainly took their time building a big world–which is Hickman’s bag, ain’t it?; oh, but they’ve been hitting big–no, really big notes of late.  (#12, in particular, was ridiculously good.)  A dark robot horse for my personal pick for the Top Ten of 2014.
  • Fatale #24 (Image): Lots of love for the poetic penultimate issue.  I thought it was spectacular, really–visually (different for Phillips on Fatale that’s for sure) and in terms of revelations.  Brubaker went Big Bang, man.  As I’m remembering, I’m still kinda affected by the whole thing with Josephine’s son.  Creepy as hell, but, in the end, necessary, no?  Speaking of the end: this is the femme finale–and I have no doubt: “It’s going to hurt.”  Yeah, it’s going to be tough to say goodbye to one of our favorite books.
Fatale #24

Fatale #24

  • Low #1 (Image): I couldn’t be any lower on a creator than I am on Remender.  Why would I do this to myself??
  • The Manhattan Projects #22 (Image): Re: #21: Space Dog ain’t no Pizza Dog–the Eisner-winning Pizza Dog, mind you; but Laika’s adventure nevertheless exceeded expectations.  Doggonit!  I always look forward to TMP.
  • Outcast #2 (Image): “Demons are the new zombies,” eh?  The first issue was a decent set up.  It’s no Thomas Alsop, that’s for sure; but I’ll give it a few, you know, to see where it goes.  (If you’re not reading Thomas Alsop from BOOM! yet, get on that.  You won’t be disappointed.)
  • Hawkeye #19 (Marvel): Listen up!  Apparently, it’s taken Aja a long time to master the art of sign language for this issue.  That’s right: try to remember–or I’ll remind: Clint’s gone deaf.  So…
Hawkeye #19

Hawkeye #19

  • Uncanny X-Men #24 (Marvel): I missed the last issue.  As a result, I have no idea what secrets Xavier’s will revealed.  Now that’s a sin!
  • Armor Hunters: Harbinger #1 (Valiant): Harbinger is dead.  Short live Armor Hunters: Harbinger!  Don’t you just love crossovers?
  • Brass Sun #3 (2000 AD): I have the first two.  Haven’t read ’em yet.
  • Caliban #5 (Avatar): Ennis is delivering dread at a measured pace that’s perfectly sci-fine.  Never before has an apology been so terrifying.
Caliban #5

Caliban #5

  • Day Men #4 (BOOM!): Hmm.  I’m pretty sure I told myself that #3 wasn’t worth the wait and that I should just let it go.  But that was so long ago.  Maybe I’m misremembering.  We’ll see.
  • Doc Savage #8 (Dynamite): Another final issue.  Kinda glad, if I’m being honest.
  • Evil Empire #3 (BOOM!): Another book that’s been a long time coming.  I vaguely remember that I liked #2 enough to continue.  No doubt about this, however: another great cover from Jay Shaw:
Evil Empire #3

Evil Empire #3

  • X-O Manowar #27 (Valiant): More with the Armor Hunters.  I’m diggin’ ’em, so that’s good news.
  • Snowpiercer GN (Titan): Watched the movie two weeks back.  Good stuff.  If I see it, I’ll definitely flip through it.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

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What’s I&N Store (5/28)

27 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by ScottNerd in What's I&N Store?

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2000 AD, Adrian Alphona, Ales Kot, BOOM!, Brass Sun, Brian Wood, C. Willow Wilson, C.O.W.L., Chris Roberson, Danijel Zezelj, Dark Horse, DC Comics, Dead Boy Detect, Doc Savage, Doctor Spektor, Dynamite, Ed Brisson, Garry Brown, Garth Ennis, Gary Erskine, Guiu Vilanova, Harbinger, I.N.J. Culbard, Ian Edginton, Image, Iron Patriot, J. Michael Straczynski, Jason Aaron, Jason Howard, Jason Latour, John Christmas, Joshua Dysart, Kyle Higgins, Mark Buckingham, Mark Waid, Marvel, Matt Kindt, Michael DiPascale, Mind MGMT, Ms. Marvel, Neil Edwards, Peter Milligan, Prince Valiant, Rod Reis, Rover Red Charlie, Ryan North, Shadowman: End Times, Sheltered, Southern Bastards, Star Wars: Rebel Heist, The Massive, The Midas Fesh, The Twilight Zone, Toby Litt, Trees, Vertigo, Warren Ellis

Back to business–big business:

  • The Massive #23 (Dark Horse): Man, Brian Wood is at the top of his game.  Proof: The Massive has earned Top 5 honors three months running, with #22 claiming the top spot for April.
  • Mind MGMT #22 (Dark Horse): My love affair with Mind MGMT continues–despite the fact that #21 earned the most ignominious monthly distinction we have to offer: The Biggest Dis(appointment) of April.  Say it ain’t so, Scott!  Oh, I’ve said it and written it–right here.
Mind MGMT #22

Mind MGMT #22

  • Star Wars: Rebel Heist #2 (Dark Horse): I’m not a big Star Wars guy.  I was when I was a kid, though: had all the toys, put on plays based on Empire.  I was always Luke; my cousin, Han.  So, Star Wars-wise, this wasn’t a gimme; but it was–because of Kindt.  He certainly brought his writing style to the cause, relying heavily on first person narration to sell Solo.  I wasn’t particularly sold–again, ain’t my bag–until something struck me like a speeding yellow Rolls Royce!  Once I saw Nick Carraway in Jan and Gatsby in Han, the story took a different shape for me.  Turns out, this is the Star Wars series I’ve been looking for.
Star Wars: Rebel Heist #2

Star Wars: Rebel Heist #2

  • Dead Boy Detectives #6 (DC/Vertigo): #5 took us through a looking glass, now didn’t it?  I just keep falling for this series!
Dead Boy Detectives #6

Dead Boy Detectives #6

  • C.O.W.L. #1 (Image): Gates of Gotham was my first experience with Kyle Higgins.  I’m willing to try another–even if the Previews description does sound a bit like Watchmen.
  • Sheltered #9 (Image): Hasn’t been hitting the same notes that really drew me to the book initially.  And still I buy–because, I guess, I haven’t read Lord of the Flies in a while.
  • Southern Bastards #2 (Image): #1 was easily one of our Top Books of April.  Gosh!  There was so much I liked about it, and I wrote it all down just for you right here.
Southern Bastards #2

Southern Bastards #2

  • Trees #1 (Image): Warren Ellis is branching out all of a sudden, isn’t he?  Moon Knight‘s been very good through three issues, which has served to grow expectations for this very different story, with its roots in…  OK.  I’ll stop; don’t want to get too sappy.
Trees #1

Trees #1

  • Iron Patriot #3 (Image): Ales Kot hasn’t caught me yet, but Garry Brown’s been a sure bet.  Says a lot if I’m buying a book for the art.
  • Ms. Marvel #4 (Marvel): #3 was really, really good.  C. Willow Wilson shines when she highlights Kamala Khan and her family, much in the same way Bendis made–and may still be making–magic with Miles Morales.  If I had to guess, I’d say she’s following the Bendis formula, which is a pretty smart move.  Biggest fear: the Inhuman connection will suck the life out of this book; it’s been a concern ever since the mist came a-rollin’ in.
  • Brass Sun #1 (2000 AD): I lost interest in Hinterkind pretty quickly, so Ian Edginton isn’t a must buy or a must try; but the Previews description left me trying to picture “a clockwork solar system where planets whirl on vast metal arms and the sun of cogs is worshipped as a god”–and now I want to see what it looks like!  We’ll see if I.N.J. Culbard can live up to the images in my nerdy mind.
Brass Sun #1

Brass Sun #1

  • Doc Savage Anuual 2014 (Dynamite): Annuals rarely work out well–especially when a different creative team is in charge.  Speaking of charge: $5.99?  Really?  I can’t imagine that that much value will be added to the book to warrant a two buck bump.
  • Doctor Spektor #1 (Dynamite): I don’t know from Doctor Spektor; but, with faith as my friend, I’ll optimistically Waid into this one.
  • Harbinger #23 (Valiant): Getting closer to the end.  Sad, ain’t it?
  • The Midas Flesh #6 (BOOM!): Has gotten heavy fingered–and seriously so.  The damn heavy finger has flicked away all the fun!  Don’t get me wrong: I’ve enjoyed the ethical dilemma at the heart of the book; the situation surrounding it is pure gold, after all.  But the dialogue’s become a real drag, its being weighed down by wheel spinning and redundancies and all.  I mean, what is this?  The Republic?  No: The Republic actually goes somewhere.  Sad to say, Ryan North’s gone a bit south.  But there are only two issues left, so…
  • Rover Red Charlie #6 (Avatar): What a weird series, right?  So many affective moments offset by the inevitable Avatar moments.  You know the moments of which I speak.  Which will win the day here in the finale?  Hoping it’s the former.  Please let it be the former.
Rover Red Charlie #6

Rover Red Charlie #6

  • Shadowman: End Times #2 (Valiant): OK, so I’ve erased five blurbs.  Thing is, I still don’t know why I’ve followed Shadowman this far.  Yeah, that might explain why we’re in the End Times.
  • The Twilight Zone #5 (Dynamite): The first arc was pretty sharp.  Definitely Straczynski at his best.  Hoping to get more of the same going forward.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

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Back and Forth: The Art of Turning Pages

27 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by ScottNerd in Back and Forth

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2000 AD, Adventure Time, Al Ewing, Al Jaffee, Alice in Wonderland, Batwoman, Blue Meanies, Brendan McCarthy, Brian Azzarello, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Michael Bendis, China Mieville, Chris Samnee, Daredevil, Dave Stewart, DC, Dial H, Frank Quitely, Grant Morrison, Happy, Harbinger, IDW, J.H. Williams III, Javier Rodriguez, Len O'Grady, Mad Magazine, Mark Waid, Marvel, Marvel NOW!, Ryan North, Saga, Swamp Thing, Tex Avery, The Zaucer of Zilk, TMZ, Todd Klein, Tony Akins, Ultimate Spider-Man, Valiant, Wonder Woman, X-O Manowar, Yellow Submarine

Scott Carney: I finished reading through my stack Friday night.  Here I am on Monday night, kicking it with Mitt and Barack, still struggling to feel something for these books.  To try to kick-start a feeling, I peeled back a few pages of Daredevil #19.  Here’s a book that has taken on an odd tone of late.  Gone is the good time, and squatting in its place is one serious second after another–save for a pair of panels that find Daredevil, well, squatting in a warehouse with a clothespin on his nose in order to save his suped-up sense of smell from the stench of the garage in which he’s staked out.  I heaped a hefty “HA!” in that spot, one heralding the arrival of vicious version of The Spot: Coyote–who’s at least one step ahead of DD.  Is there something silly about Matt’s cellphone conversation with Foggy?  Sure.  It culminates in a fantastic fall and a calm “Call you back,” whipped up wittily by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, and Javier Rodriguez.  That dance, however, is dampened by the danger–by the descent into madness that rules the book as a whole.  I did dig the dialogue between Foggy and Kirstin despite its doubling down on the seriousness of the storyline.  I think it’s worth noting that Samnee and Rodriguez do a fearless job of bringing Waid’s complex interdimensional fight scene to the page.  It took me a few reads to really appreciate it, but appreciate it I do.  Spot on, boys!  Can’t wait to see what’s ne–

Derek Mainhart: Sounds like you ended up enjoying it more than you initially thought! After the dark terrain of the last couple of issues, I definitely felt this was a return to form. The culprit behind DD’s recent woes was revealed, and if the answer was a bit underwhelming (a throwaway villain from the first issue), Waid’s creative exploration of his Tex Avery superpower was alternately farcical and chilling. I’d also like to commend Waid’s command of pacing here. He’s one of a very few writers (Grant Morrison comes to mind) who understands how the physical structure of a comic book can enhance the experience of reading it. The cell phone scene you mention is a perfect example. The danger is set up perfectly on page 2. Then you have to turn the page for the unexpected, laugh-out-loud punchline.

Since we’re discussing arcane comic book points, a similar thing happens in Batwoman #13. The plot is negligible; Wonder Woman and Batwoman have teamed up to find Medusa for some reason. Whatever; in this book the story exists for J.H. Williams III to hang his art on. I feel like every time we review Batwoman, I just go on about how gorgeous the art is. Well this review is no exception. The visuals are unbelievable (colorist extraordinaire Dave Stewart deserves mentioning here as well). The beat I’m referring to begins on pages 11-12, as Wonder Woman, unseen, is bound and trapped in pitch blackness (also featured is some bravura lettering by Todd Klein – everyone gets their due in this review!). The layout of this two-page spread is absolutely claustrophobic. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. And then the page turn and the abrupt transition from suffocating dark to blinding light  – I swear you’ll need sunglasses. Another favorite: the two-page spread on pages 4-5 (only Williams can justify a book full of ’em!) as our heroines traverse an underground labyrinth. The bird’s eye view, revealing the complexity of the thing, is a stunner. I literally tried to fold it like an Al Jaffee fold-in from Mad Magazine, sure there was some hidden image (even after several unsuccessful attempts, I still kinda think there’s one). Buy it and gawk.

And yet for all of that, this was not the most eye-grabbing art in my pile this week. That honor goes to The Zaucer of Zilk #1 (IDW / 2000AD). Check out this cover:

Doesn’t do it justice. I’m telling you, as I perused the usual fare on the shelves, this thing was pulsing. When I snapped out of its ocular enchantment, I found that a copy had jumped into my hands. And a good thing too. Where to begin? It starts with your basic Alice in Wonderland escape from reality, then promptly turns this conceit on its head. From there we follow the Zaucer (the titular hero, sort of) through realms dripping with surreality; candy-colored fantasy lands teeming with psychedelic absurdity,

SC: I believe the word is “trippy.”

DM: Yeah, I guess, but I have to say I’ve never been one for the hippy-dippy aesthetic. I hold that the late sixties through the early seventies is the ugliest era on record. All garish colors and no discipline. But here, the art by Brendan McCarthy, gives a refined form to the hallucinatory proceedings. There is both tension and balance between his fine-lined drawings and the Day-Glo colors an tie-dyed backgrounds (supplied by Mr. McCarthy and Len O’Grady – again the colorists are vital to the book). It’s like Yellow Submarine as drawn by Frank Quitely (indeed the villain owes more than a little to the Blue Meanies). The script by Al Ewing (from a story by he and Mr. McCarthy) shares a similar quality. All of the introductory story beats are hit; introduction of characters, conflict and quest. But the florid language disguises the traditional narrative workings with a fanciful, anarchic tone that is distinctly British in its cultivated nonsense. Here’s a sample as the not-quite-helpless damsel finds herself in the gloomy realm of Dankendreer:

“Rain dribbles into grey plastic buckets. Paper-mache people slump over cobwebbed continental breakfasts. Poor Tutu. She should have stayed in the Guest Room.”

(The spasmodic contrast between the dark and light realms is exactly what was missing from the first issue of Happy!) As the title itself suggests Ewing deals in wordplay, which runs the gamut from groaning puns to sublime silliness (my personal favorite – his take on “fancy pants” –  I want a pair!) He even manages to break the fourth wall in a way that is relatively understated and actually makes sense within the framework of the story, which shines a fun-house mirror on our TMZ / OCD culture. Now all of this does run the risk of becoming wearying in the long run. But this first issue, with its wild invention, expansive scope and off-kilter storytelling takes its place alongside Brian K. Vaughan’s Saga, China Mieville’s Dial H and (yes, I’ll say it) Ryan North’s Adventure Time, as invigorating examples of craft and imagination. Truly a breath of fresh air in the comic book world. Book of the Week. Book of the Week. Book of the Week.

SC: But how did you really feel about it? Now, let’s see, what else moved me?  Well, if you’ve read my Scottlight on: Swamp Thing #0 post, you know how much I love a good head chompin’.  And there, in Wonder Woman #13, two pages in, there it is, in the final panel: a little noggin noshin’.  For one reason or another, that’s where my joy–and my enjoyment of the book–was chewed up and swallowed away.  I’m not sure it’s tied to anything Brian Azzarello has done; he’s certainly pushing his story along well enough.  I think I felt let down by Tony Akins’ inconsistent artwork.  I mean, did you notice the last panel on page 21?  Gotta wonder about that woman.

Neither Harbinger #5 nor X-O Manowar #6 did it for me this go-round.  Ink and color me a bit nervous about the Valiant books, especially with the new titles on the horizon.

In Ultimate Spider-Man #16, Brian Michael Bendis makes a clear-cut case for a costume-free Miles Morales–for an Ultimate Miles Morales on-going, which would undoubtedly be superior to anything Marvel’s putting out NOW!

DM: Regarding this issue’s focus on blah super hero shenanigans, I must point to my review of the previous issue of USM – I told you so! Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I pulled something whilst patting myself on the back. Where’s that ointment?….

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