It can be interesting tracing the arcs of creators’ careers, watching them take their first trepidatious steps into storytelling, finding their initial footing, beginning to develop the themes that will guide then, ultimately honing a voice to match their ambition. And then there are those annoying folks who arrive, seemingly, fully formed.
To wit, Deniz Camp.
With a scant comics resume, Camp has two of the more interesting books on the stands right now. Anyone who’s had the pleasure of reading the first issue of Agent of W.O.R.L.D.E. (published by Scout Comics) by Camp and artist Filya Bratukhin was treated to a maelstrom of wild sci-fi concepts rendered in hyper-detailed art. Melancholic teddy-bear poets, biomorphic pocket universes, robot orgies; in lesser hands, all of the ideas on display could have easily spiraled into incoherence. But, out of the gate, the creative team is fully in control of their potentially unwieldy material.
If Grant Morrison and Geof Darrow got together to make a super spy comic, tinged with chaos theory, it might look something like this.
The second title, 20th Century Men (from Image Comics) is even more ambitious, as it weaves the geopolitics of the Cold War, with the myth-making of nationalist superheroes, among multiple timelines. In fact, with its fractured structure, political themes and surreal sensibility, it recalls the work of Ales Kot, a comics wunderkind from a few years back (whatever happened to that guy?). The artist, S. Morian, varies his style, depending on the needs of the story; at times recalling Frank Quitely, at others Richard Corben. The kaleidoscopic effect beautifully enhances the wide ranging narrative. The ideological battle of the century never looked better.
In any case, both titles are two of the more audacious debuts of the year. This Deniz Camp guy is all over my radar.
There’s something thrilling about serialized storytelling. Sure, a work of art that arrives fully realized, complete, of a piece, can provide an immersive envelopment; a meal satisfying in its soup to nuts wholeness. But there’s a special excitement about the delayed gratification, the suspense of awaiting the next installment, of dissecting and discussing the latest episode/installment/issue of an ongoing narrative that pulls a continuous tug on the soul. It’s how Dickens captivated his audiences. How movie theatres of old ensured repeat business. It’s why we watch TV the way we do now. And it’s something comics have always had.
So this is not a list of graphic novels. Those auteur-driven pieces of art undoubtedly deserve praise and parsing. Elsewhere. Here you will find the best of the installments, the cliffhangers, the roguish improvisations whose most sacred credo is “To be continued…”
1. The Many Deaths of Laila Starr (BOOM! Studios):
Death takes a forced holiday, as some upstart mortal has discovered the secret to immortality. When unleashed, this will render the (not so) grim reaper obsolescent. Here, Death takes the form of the titular character, and meets her would-be adversary at various points in his life. Each of these meetings ends in her demise, though not at his hands. What could have been a game of cat and mouse, with death trying to thwart her nemesis at every turn, becomes, in Ram V’s hands, something far more lyrical; a meditation on choices made, the nature of purpose, and the beauty of being present in the moment. This is aided immeasurably by Filipe Andrade’s style (with notes of Gabriel Ba’s visual poetry, mixed with Marc Hempel’s cartoony expressionism, perhaps). The joy comes less from the plot than from the audacity of the storytelling, as profound observations can come from such unlikely sources as an abandoned temple, or a discarded cigarette.
2. 6 Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton (Image Comics):
A kick to the jaw. A slap to the face. A withering put-down. All of these grab your attention, as delivered by one of the most low-down, irredeemably caustic S.O.B.’s in recent memory, Trigger Keaton. A peripatetic star of the small screen, he abuses all around him like a Chuck Norris written by Charles Bukowski. Good thing he’s fucking dead. And lo, it’s up to his hapless assortment of onscreen sidekicks (each an object of his abuse) to find out who killed him. Kyle Starks takes this bonkers concept and careens it through a pop cultural landscape dotted with the B-list detritus of yesteryear. And it is flat-out hilarious. Chris Schweizer’s kinetic, madcap art seamlessly mixes the comedy and the action, with the sequencing chops of a Chris Samnee, flowing through the loopy inventiveness of a Sergio Aragones. He has, among other things, playfully advanced the sequential depiction of martial arts (no small distinction), as well as accomplished the herculean feat of depicting a breathtaking car chase in comics. This is sublime bad-assery in a bottle and your life is incomplete without it.
3. Eat the Rich (BOOM! Studios):
Jesus. So, it’s like Get Out, except focusing on issues of class instead of race. Plus with cannibalism. It answers the question: What’s the reward for a lifetime of service to the one-percent? No surprise, it’s brutal desecration. Grindhouse exploitation you say? Well there’s enough of that, via Pius Bak’s evocative art (shades of Phil Hester), to satisfy the promise of the title (special shout-out to letterer Cardinal Rae, whose design wittily adds to the shock value). But mostly it’s couched in Sarah Gailey’s trenchant, bleakly reasonable explanation as to why this horrific world works the way it does. And we realize it’s unsettlingly close to our reality. A Modest Proposal for the 21st century.
But wait, you should also read these:
The Me You Love in the Dark (slow burn Gothic horror)
The Good Asian (classic noir with something to say)
Dark Blood (for fans of HBO’s Watchmen)
Maw (uncompromising feminist horror)
Two Moons (western / horror mash-up with an Indigenous American antihero)
Ginseng Roots (a fascinating exploration of the intersection of autobiography, local history, agriculture and cultural diffusion)
Sandman / Locke & Key (a rarified treat for the sophisticated comics nerd)
Gideon Falls #7 (Image): I&N Demand Re: #6: Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino have opened the dark doorway to phantasmal madness! The latter’s layouts are mind-bending, sending the narrative deep into the id of a fractured Father Fred, into the bowels of the still abstruse Black Barn. I love the insistence at the very end: Norton insists, “The Black Barn…we’re going to build it. And you’re going to help me…” See: “we,” “you”–that’s me: a boy with a farming pedigree. Let’s do it! Let’s build it! I’m ready.
The New World #4 (Image): I&N Demand I’ve loved the way Aleš Kot has manipulated time ever since Zero #1; so you know I loved #3. But there was plenty more love to go around–mostly for the Moores: the he’s Tradd-ass lines and layouts and the she’s face-melting colors; and kinda for the kitty–specifically the sneaky “SSSNNNIKT” and the cat-fu that follows. It’s a new world, indeed–full of politics and impulsivity, violence and–wait. OK, well, it’s a world. It’s the world. It’s our world. It sure as fuck is.
Skyward #7 (Image): I&N Demand Re: #6: See, now: it’s the look–that look: Willa’s face in the last panel of the second-to-last page. Her face shows everything she’s learned, everything she knows to be true about herself and the Low-G world. She’s not going to let a little girl–a lot like a little Willa–lose her dad; so, despite the big-ass bugs, she’s going out the train door, into a forest full of freakishly large dragonflies, like a goddamned superhero. Cue page turn. Beautiful work from Lee Garbett with striking colors from Antonio Fabela. Well played, Mr. Henderson. Well played.
Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #39 (Image): I&N Demand Re: #38: What a fucking trip! It hit me so hard that I had to write a 22 I&N 22 like right away–and here it is: Stray, stray, gang’s all here–in sub-space! Ay mi! Mother of a race to the top, learning: to get ahead, let (e)go. God, I soooo wanted to shout Love Yourself! to the fucking moon, but, ugh, I didn’t want to spoil it for all of my fellow Love Yourself fans; I wanted them–and they’re out there, man–to experience the euphoria I felt when that dredlocked son-of-a-bitch was there on the last page turn, standing next to hospital bed-bound Beth. That’s a good dude right there; and I can’t wait to see him kill some more bad folks.
Black Hammer: Age of Doom #6 (Dark Horse): I&N Demand Re: #5: Well, spit in my eye and call me Spit Eye Guy! Everything is revealed and it all adds up to nothing. Say what? Oh, but never before has nothing been so Anti-Goddamned satisfying. Isn’t that something? Certainly expecting Rich Tommaso to do his thing–be it any, some, every, no? Oh, yes: Jeff Lemire–I&N Double Demand this week–has detonated a nostalgia bomb, leaving our displaced heroes–wallowing in the weird fallout of fate–in some super-secret, heart-crushing crisis. And I’m Spit Eye Guy! Collaterally damaged–and loving it!
Batman #57 (DC): I&N Demand Re: #56: Like most guys, I’m a sucker for father-son stories, particularly those that recount dysfunctional relationships that remind of my own effed-up relationship with my father–a really interesting fella who’s lived an enviable life, if I’m being fair–and a total shit as a dad. Yup: I’m a “Cat’s in the Cradle” kid, tears and all. But KGBeast and his dad? Why would I give a dump about that? Why did I? Why do I still? Characterization? Motivation? Juxtaposition? Sure, there’s that. (C’mon: one father who’ll do anything (take on ninjas and the cooky Kanto, the craziest baddy I ever saw), go anywhere (Volgograd–go Dad!) vs. a father who sits–yeah: a total sit as a dad!) But it’s more: it’s how Tom King tells a story–any story, really. But this one: It’s his honesty. His humanity. His fearlessness. His taking shots. A father and son taking shots. Shots to forget. Shots to remember. Add Tony S. Daniel’s best Bat-work to date, and ta da!–I&N Demand.
Cover #2 (DC/Jinxworld): I&N Demand Cover 2–my favorite defense, particularly because my team’s got two solid safeties. Throw in some top-notch corners and a hungry d-line and what’s it all mean? I’ll tell you what it means: don’t pass on Cover 2. No, really: the concept is terrific, the execution makes it matter. Bendis! is at his clever best; and David Mack is back making magic. A Con artist with a cover: artist? Fun, fun! In fact, when I met Mr. Mack at NYCC, I fancied myself in the comic as I handed him a blank sketch cover of Cover #1 and asked for a sketch to complete the cover and I got lost in the layers and loved every minute of it. I tried to explain the fantasy to my wife–about my being a part of some secret spy scheme that’ll change the course of the world–and she was like, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Well played, honey. Well played.
Pearl #3 (DC/Jinxworld)
Daredevil #609 (Marvel)
Black Badge #3 (BOOM!): I&N Demand Re: #2: Matt Kindt, Tyler Jenkins, and Hilary Jenkins’ Black Badge is the perfect escape. It’s engaging; it’s gorgeous. It simmers and explodes, simmers and explodes–yeah, it’s quite a ride; you know, like being on a train with your fellow Black Badges and then Young Canadian Mounties show up and you’re not sure what’s going to happen and then the plans go KABOOMY! and then Bond-ing over snow mobiles and a tiger, some storytelling inside the story, and an end that’s a right riot, right? That’s one Badge-ass comic, y’all.
New York Comic Con is coming–and I’m going! I’ve picked panels; I’ve artist alley-ooh-ed and ah-ed–and I’ve mapped it all out like a cross-eyed pirate. I’ve emptied out the ol’ backpack and have filled it back up again with enough Pro Bars to fuel a contingent of hardcore cosplayers. I am convinced that this’ll be the best Con ever!
My optimism is not unfounded: I’ve conspired with some art reps for some pre-Con commissions from a few talented fellas: Ian Bertram (Allen Ginsberg circa the acid-fueled “Wales Visitation”), Leandro Fernandez (Adrian Chase/Vigilante), and Martin Morazzo (The Ice Cream Man serving up ice cream cones to my Goosebumps-loving daughters). Can’t wait to see what they come up with!
Before the Con, however, we’ve got a notable NCBD. So here’s my weekly FYI:
Dead Rabbit #1 (Image)
Die! Die! Die! #3 (Image)
Paper Girls #25 (Image)
Redlands #7 (Image): I&N Demand NYCC memory: Back in 2013, I had the pleasure of meeting Vanesa Del Rey, mostly by accident. See: I was on the hunt for some Six-Gun Gorilla OA from Jeff Stokely–which I scored, by the way–and VDR just so happened to be seated at an adjacent table. At the time, I knew her only from Hit, which was, at the time, a hit in its own right, and I told her as much. VDR was very friendly; in fact, she asked about my I&N shirt–even asked for a card, which I, regrettably, did not have. (I’ll be cardless this time around, too. ScottNerd–where lessons go to die.) She was kind enough to allow me to take a picture, which we featured in our NYCC 2013 follow-up. And, wouldn’t you know, I’ve been a fan ever since! I enjoyed the hell out of the first arc of Redlands–featuring strong women born of strong writing (a real breath of [Jordie] Bellaire, the otherwise ubiquitous colorist) and beautiful, lush, exceedingly sexy art from VDR–and am very much looking forward to this one.
Euthanauts #3 (IDW/Black Crown)
House Amok #2 (IDW/Black Crown)
Batman #56 (DC): I&N Demand Re: #55: It’s all fun and games until [fill in the blank]. It’s Tom King’s formula–and it’s spectacular. And, of course, the chemistry with Tony S. Daniel, who absolutely killed him it. Re: 56: The perfect foil:
Border Town #2 (DC/Vertigo): I&N Demand Well, I had no idea I’d like #1 as much as I did. Had to shout it out in a 22 I&N 22, which I’ll share here because it says a lot: Bloody moving—a monster of racial relevance; tears down walls, cranks up the stereotypes to once upon a helluva good time. Arriba! You know what that means: expectations for #2 are muy alto–muy, muyalto.
The Dreaming #2 (DC/Vertigo)
United States vs. Murder Inc. #2 (DC/Jinxworld)
X-Men Black: Magneto #1 (Marvel): I&N Demand Chris Mother-effing Claremont writing Magneto. I can feel the tug, the iron in my blood nudging me westward toward my LCS.
Lollipop Kids #1 (AfterShock)
Oblivi8n #2 (Scout)
Uber: Invasion #16 (Avatar)
A Walk Through Hell #5 (AfterShock): I&N Demand Re: the cover: An Hello to Arms–obviously a Prequel to Hemingway’s classic to-hell-and-back wartime love novel. Or maybe it’s just a disarming cover for another horrifying stretch of Ennis and Sudzuka’s A Walk Through Hell. I’m going with the latter ladder–of fucking arms. (Apologies available on a first-come, first-served basis.)
This week, I&Nmates, is all about initial offerings. In that, I’m buying and trying a slew of new books; and I’m hoping to hit on each one.
Cold Spots #2 (Image)
Maneaters #1 (Image): I&N Demand Holy shit! I lovelovelove the premise. Period. Add to that my enduring love for Chelsea Cain’s super-fun and femmly-friendly Mockingbird, and whattaya got? Love enough to fill a litter box twice over! Ask me about my parasitic infection, haterrrrrrrrrs!
Redneck #15 (Image)
Action Comics #1003 (DC)
Detective Comics #989 (DC)
Doomsday Clock #7 (DC)
Heroes in Crisis #1 (DC): I&N Demand Tom King. Clay Mann. More heroes than a deli-catered funeral reception for a friend! And the word “Crisis.” That adds up to a must buy in my book bag.
The Amazing Spider-Man #6 (Marvel)
The Sentry #4 (Marvel)
Bone Parish #3 (BOOM!)
Fearscape #1 (Vault): I&N Demand Sounds good. Will probably look good, too, considering Andrea Mutti (Rebels) is on art duty.
Friendo #1 (Vault): I&N Demand “What business is it of yours” why I’m interested in this book, Friendo? Playin’, B. Yet another fun idea from Vault Comics! I’ve got my good eye on the artist, Martin Simmonds. (He happens to be working with main-man Monty Nero on Death Sentence: Liberty, which I’ve happily backed on Kickstarter–and which should be out soon! Yay! Until then-o, of course, I’ll try-o Friendo.) Let’s see what kind of magic he’s got goin’ on with Alex Paknadel, who, for me, is an unknown quantity. But the prospect of a VR BFF goin’ all 5150’s got me giggling back a few decades to the glorious sigh-fi flick Electric Dreams, which sparked my teen-aged imagination in many ways–one of those ways leading to the beautiful topography of a newly-discovered Virginia. Giggles.
High Heaven #1 (AHOY): I&N Demand AHOY Comics rocked the world a couple of weeks ago with TheWrong Earth; and here’s Tom Peyer, this time teaming up with Greg Scott, ready to hit loftier heights with High Heaven. Hell, yeah!
Hillbilly: Red-Eyed Witchery From Beyond #2 (Albatross)
Big week of books, boys and girls! I had trouble not wielding the I&N Demand designation this time around. I ain’t complaining; but I am cutting this intro short so I can get to the good stuff. To it.
Days of Hate #8 (Image): I&N Demand #7 was brooding, heavy for the wait of it all, and, in that, emotionally affecting enough–the result of the dramatic ménage à trois of Aleš Kot, Danijel Žeželj, and Jordie Bellaire–to demand immediately a 22 I&N 22 from me, awash in a sympathetic afterglow. I want to feel that again. And again.
Evolution #10 (Image)
Ice Cream Man #7 (Image)
Eleven to Eternity #11 (Image)
Skyward #6 (Image): I&N Demand So thrown by the sacrifice, I 22 I&N 22’d #5, another high-flying, peril-full issue from Joe Henderson, Lee Garbett, Antonio Fabela, and Simon Bowland. Now, it’s time to see if Willa–her father’s journal in her hands and a heavy, heavy mandate in her heart–will follow through, if she will do what she needs to do–which is to, you know, fix.the.world. #staygrounded
Black Hammer: Age of Doom #5 (Dark Horse): I&N Demand Re: #4: Jeff Lemire, Dean Ormston, and Dave Stewart serve up some seriously strong women with a lop-sided sack of ineffectual men as garnish. Yeah, the bros are silly sideshows, supplementing the driving feminaction with neutered passivity. But, in the end, the fantasy world in which they’ve been living is a meticulously-plotted perversion of reality, molded by one of their own: it’s, ironically, a phallic safe space hurtling through the heavens. But now that the heroes are woke, that safe space is going to fill up mighty fast–if not with fists, certainly with equally as menacing questions that could blow the ship out of the fucking sky. Man, I can’t wait for answers!
Ether: The Copper Golems #5 (Dark Horse): I&N Demand I knew the end was coming, but that knowledge hasn’t made any softer the blow of the prospect of turning the final page of this inspired, imaginative, and innovative arc of the magical Ether mythos. David Rubín’s ever-moving map of Matt Kindt’s one-of-a-kind mind has led to this; and I, for one, will eagerly yet apprehensively turn every page, and with the last, reflecting, will find satisfaction in knowing that, in having read Ether, I’ve stood atop the comic book equivalent of Everest.
Batman #55 (DC): I&N Demand Breaking News Alert: President Trump has ordered the release of FISA documents, text messages, notes, and other goodies related to the prostate-tickling probe into Russian collusion. And, wouldn’t you know, on the heels of that order, here comes Batman #55, featuring the undeniably Russian KGBeast. Coincidence? I think so. Still, Tom King and Tony S. Daniel better be ready for a tweetstorm–one from a rapidly moving front of loyal readers celebrating what’ll probably be another undeniably brilliant issue of Batman.
Batman: Damned #1 (DC)
Mister Miracle #11 (DC): I&N Demand Mister Miracle is an emotional inter-dimensional teleportation device, and, boy, am I enjoying the ride–in spite of/especially because of the hitting so close to home with the thoughtfully-wrought family dynamic, fraught with effectually infinite frustration and nod-off-and-you’ll-miss-’em microscopic moments of joy. Toss in the, you know, high stakes of the Highfather’s suicidal stratagem, and, well, it is what it is, mister: another goddamned miracle from Tom King and Mitch Gerads. Re: #11: This cover offers up a uneasy inevitability. I’m already feeling it weighing down my arms, my legs–and I’m not even holding the damn thing. Ugh. That menacing sentence: “Darkseid is.” I mean, I know what he can be, and that’s freaking me the fuck out. But, you know–you know what? I am. I am, too. And I know what I am: I am scared. Yeah. I’m not sure I want to read this.
Pearl #2 (DC/Jinxworld)
The Wild Storm #17 (DC)
The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (Marvel)
The Immortal Hulk #6 (Marvel)
Venom #6 (Marvel)
Black Badge #2 (BOOM!): I&N Demand [Due to a quirk in my reading/writing schedule, I wrote a review for BB #1 back in my I&N Store post for books out on 8/8. I’m reprinting it here because it reflects well my initial and my enduring reaction to the superlative first issue.]
I’m kind of a Kindt junkie, and, logically, following with more figurative language, Black Badge is my next fix–oh, and how satisfying #1 was. Exploiting the same chemical formula that worked so well in the intoxicatingly agitative Grass Kings–Kindt+Jenkins^2=masterfully mature storytelling and a well-deserved Eisner nom–Black Badge bursts onto the scene like a nostalgia bomb with a perfectly-paced adventure that calls to mind the ubiquitous kidventure movies of the ’80s (Stand by Me and The Explorers were two of my faves) and mirrors those games my friends and I used to play on the farm, as we’d battle imaginary Nazis or Russians a la Where Eagles Dare or Red Dawn. These kids, however, aren’t playing a game–and neither is the creative team: this is some dark stuff; and like good little scouts, we best be prepared for more. See: “Nobody can do what [they] can do. No one can go where [they] can go.” (Hey! you say? “They”? Doubled for your pleasure, fair reader! OK, you got me: mostly for mine.) For the week [of 8/8], Black Badge #1 is #1 with a bullet drone strike.
Re: anticipating #2, recalling the last page of #1: I’m all-in on the mission. I’m the Fifth Badger headed for the bus. Well, the pre-teen I–drawn out so brilliantly by Kindt and the Jenkinses–am, anyway.
Scott. Escape reader.* Comic book in back pocket, crinkled cover hanging on by a staple. A penchant for mud pies.
Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome #3 (Valiant)
Strangers in Paradise XXV #6 (Abstract Studio)
*That’s Scott me, not Scott Free. Just worked out that way.
Sorry if I don’t hit all of the notes you’ve come to expect.
Bachelor in Paradise–final two episodes of the season–
And I just can’t.
I mean, come on: Kendall and fucking Grocery Store Joe! I was like Nooooooooooo
And Kevin and Astrid. Goddamn it, Kevin, ya big, dumb dope! 80% this plus 20% that equals 100% stupid.
Am I right?
Cemetery Beach #1 (Image): I&N Demand Warren Ellis and another out-of-this-world premise–a sci-fi twist on Papillon, perhaps?–that’s good enough for me. Plus: any time I see a title that’s Fill-in-the-blank Beach, I’m taken back to Matthew Arnold’s “Dover Beach,” and I’m filled with a kind of curdled joy, which is burdensome, sure, but is satisfying, too. The “generations of lunatics,” a phrase borrowed from the Cemetery Beach preview on PreviewsWorld.com reminds–loosely yet lovingly–of the “ignorant armies clash[ing] by night” in Arnold’s lovely yet melancholy lyric poem–an invitation, a commentary, a warning–from 1867. So, yeah: looking forward to this one–even if “Warren Ellis” is, ultimately, the only legit reason for my forward looking.
Mage: The Hero Denied #12 (Image): I&N Demand Well, look at that: I referenced in my write-up for Batman #54 the glorious green bubbles that caught my eye thirty or so years ago–that drew me to Mage: The Hero Discovered and the adventures of Kevin Matchstick–without having seen the cover to this issue. Now that’s magic.
The New World #3 (Image): I&N Demand #2 was fun, fun, fun! Aleš Kot kicked the conflict into high gear; he pushed the peril to the metal: struck by something undefinable while in the midst of a televised takedown, Stella decides to take a risk, trading a seemingly cushy future for, well, a seemingly mushy fugitive. Isn’t that how all great love stories begin? Shifting: Now, I’m not an artist, still I find Tradd Moore’s art humbling. (Heather Moore’s colors are there to rub it in, ain’t they though? They force the eyes wider, and, along with the mister’s living, breathing lines, create an immersive experience that is absolutely exhilarating!) See: each page turn is bigger than the next; and there I am, bearing the weight of the lines and the colors, which support gloriously Kot’s big ideas, and I’m just like Wow. That’s some spinning-in-your-bed while spinning-some-Floyd-vinyl shit going on. “Legendary,” indeed. You know what I need? I need to see this as a cartoon. A big-screen motherfucking cartoon movie. Please make this into a cartoon movie. Thank you. Next up: a little surgery. Goin’ to the scalpel of love…
Oblivion Song #7 (Image)
The Wicked + The Divine #39 (Image)
the seeds #2 (Dark Horse/Berger Books): I&N Demand Loyal readers might remember: I celebrated #1 with a 22 I&N 22; and looking back at the post–proud of that one, for sure!–and at the issue, I’m reminded of the perfection–as seen in the hive, in the perfect-every-time hexagon of the humble honeybee–of the initial offering. Ann Nocenti’s writing is stinger sharp, piercing the part of us that reads and feels and thinks and looks to connect with another afflicted soul–one driven deeper into the comforting yet conflicting chasm of conspiracy, colored, unfailingly by David Aja, a loud khaki green. Fuck. I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.
She Could Fly #3 (Dark Horse/Berger Books): I&N Demand She Could Fly #2 moves– it flies at a pace that reflects well Luna’s undeterred descent into madness, her succumbing to the stressors that surround her, including family, mystery, and–ceiling the deal–gravity. But she’s not the only one falling: oh no: see, everyone around her–and a significant one who was above her–has fallen or is falling in some way, be it morally, mentally, physically, interpersonally. Yup: lots of falling. Any surprise that the issue wraps up in a basement? Christopher Cantwell’s driving home the point–and is driving it down, down, which will make the rise–there’ll be a rise eventually, right?–that much more satisfying, I’m sure. Add to the mix the discomfort drawn into the narrative by Martin Morazzo’s hectic panel work, and the result is a trap that, even in the freedom of chaos, feels increasingly claustrophobic. Bill and Luna might “need to talk,” but, damn it, I need to read. Gimme #3!
Catwoman #3 (DC)
Detective Comics #988 (DC)
Superman #3 (DC)
The Amazing Spider-Man #5 (Marvel)
Daredevil #608 (Marvel)
Fantastic Four #2 (Marvel)
Crossed +100: Mimic #5 (Avatar)
Hot Lunch Special #2 (AfterShock): I&N Demand Well, wasn’t Hot Lunch Special #1 just the biggest surprise? Hell yeah, it was! I ate that shit up and loved every crumb. I was moved to write an inspired 22 I&N 22, and I hopepray expect that Eliot Rahal and Jorge Fornés will move me in much the same manner with this second helping of sandwiches and sumbitches, trucks and ho-lee fucks!
Moth & Whisper #1 (AfterShock)
Volition #2 (AfterShock)
What are you looking forward to this week?
If you were looking forward to Kendall and Grocery Store Joe getting back together–and, why not, while you’re at it, to Astrid and Kevin getting back together–well, then, fellow citizen of Bachelor Nation, you got your wish.
I&N Store–The Back to Work edition. You know what that means: the list may be long, but time is short. To it.
Dead Hand #6 (Image): I&N Demand In #5, Kyle Higgins, Stephen Mooney, Jordie Bellaire, and Clayton Cowles ratchet up the tension by framing a highly-anticipated and well-crafted backstory with, despite the fanciful stakes, uncomfortably real family conflict. See: the stubbornly curious Harriet has been hooked up with the sitch regarding Roger, which seems reasonable–right?–especially as Renae and Carter sense the increasingly-urgent need for a contingency plan, which goes to shit–should’ve seen it coming–with a semi-automatic surprise ending. Reflection: Should. Expect. Surprises. Bookkeeping: there have been some shocking moments so far in Dead Hand. But those moments–they’re far from dead hands themselves; if anything, they’re living feet kicking me to the comic store to get my eager hands on the next issue.
Leviathan #2 (Image)
Paper Girls #24 (Image)
Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Roses #38 (Image): I&N Demand What. A. Trip! In #37, David Lapham revs-up a racing narrative that reflects Beth and Orson’s sex-drugs-and rock-n-roll road trip stumble like a shattered rear-view mirror. “This is fucking gold,” indeed. But as we all know from Frost–and as evidenced by the final splash crash page–“Nothing gold can stay.” Oh, I’m on pins and cactus needles waiting to crack open this one!
Unnatural #4 (Image)
Batman #54 (DC): I&N Demand After the spectacularly-presented spiritual crisis of the finale of “Cold Days,” Tom King and guest artist Matt Wagner–of the magical Mage (God, those beautiful green bubbles drew a bubbly boy to his LCS–the original Amazing Comics–and to the rack in the back way back in the day to discover the hero, who’s still swinging, there’s no denying!)–give us something to believe in.
Border Town #1 (DC/Vertigo)
Cover #1 (DC/Jinxworld): I&N Demand David Mack interiors–sold! Bendis ain’t so bad, either; though, then, this: he’s better when he’s Mackin’, yo! And can’t cover Cover completely without this Cover cover; so here it is, you soon-to-be Cover lover, you:
The Dreaming #1 (DC/Vertigo)
The United States vs. Murder Inc. #1 (DC/Jinxworld)
Things are heating up around these parts! The unbearably hot and humid end of August means that work’s a week away. However, before I buckle under the oppressive temps of routine and responsibility, I’ve got to give this week’s I&N Demand books their requisite once over. So, here we go:
The New World #2 (Image): I&N Demand The New World is built upon a familiar foundation–it’s “a whole new world,” with “a new fantastic point of view”–with Aleš Kot’s singular perspective, itself an eclectic amalgam of vibrant and vital voices from across ages, genres and mediums. He’s the real deal; and I, for one, am, as always, excited to have the opportunity to turn the pages of his inimitable imagination–in this case, as brought to the page by Tradd and Heather Moore. The former’s lines are truly miracles of the medium: they flow and flow and flow, creating a sense of motion, which pushes the narrative pace; the latter’s colors complement perfectly the lines, adding significant depth to Tradd’s artwork and creating a new world worthy of exploration on each page, in each panel. Very much looking forward to learning how Kot’s kick-ass Stella–a Juliet by another name–deals with the way-chill Kirby, her “only love sprung by her only” having to hunt him the fuck down. Reality star-crossed lovers, indeed!
Scarlet #1 (DC)
Web of Venom: Ve’Nam #1 (Marvel)
Bone Parish #2 (BOOM!): I&N Demand Finally: the follow-up to the #1 hit from Bone Drugs-N-Harmony! (Hmm. Sounded better in my head. I mean, I 22 I&N 22-ed the thing to death and was waiting to drop this one-liner and– Know what? I blame those guys. Bunn and Scharf and Guimarães. Fuckers. Coming together to create this…this…addictive nightmare! Been fiending for this for, what, like a month. Feels like forever. Twisting. Haven’t been right in the head since. Turning. Gotta get to my dealer. Gotta go. Gotta get there. But. But what if he’s out? Fuck. What if he runs out? Goddamn it. I gotta run. I gotta
Hillbilly: Red-Eyed Witchery from Beyond #1 (Albatross): I&N Demand I loved Hillbilly #12! Loved. It. The final episode in Rondel’s epic journey was huge in scope, but Eric Powell crafted it in such a perfectly compact manner–delivering Hurrah!-worthy Homerian moments (“the last of [his] kind,” indeed!) and taking a wrench to Rondel’s heart–and to mine!–and twisting oh-so-cruelly. As much as it hurt in the end, we–Rondel and I–have got to cleave that all behind and move on–to more haggish mayhem!
A Walk Through Hell #4 (AfterShock): I&N Demand Garth Ennis is building something truly frightening here–and–in #3, in particular–he’s doing so through dialogue–the masterfully-crafted dialogue for which he is known. Few comic book writers can keep the tension up while ratcheting up the word count; but Ennis does it effortlessly. Goran Sudzuka’s subdued art–with taciturn gray and brown tones from colorist Ive Svorcina–allows the aforementioned tension to build; and by laying out every page differently, Sudzuka subtly emphasizes the complex nature of the plot as it continues to develop. I’m very much looking forward to getting to the bottom of this mystery–though I don’t mind the walk one bit–and can’t wait to get wrapped up in more of Ennis’s demonically-deliberate diealogue.
Images and Nerds 