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Tag Archives: Janet Lee

I&N Scott’s Bag (8/14)

19 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Scott's Bag

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Ales Kot, Archer & Armstrong, Barry Kitson, Batman, Becky Cloonan, BOOM!, Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Michael Bendis, Carlos Magno, Dark Horse, Dave Wachter, DC Comics, Deathmatch, Fiona Staples, Fonografiks, Frazer Irving, Fred Van Lente, Gerard Way, Ghosted, Goran Sudzuka, Greg Capullo, Harbinger, IDW, Image, Janet Lee, Jeff Stokely, Jim McCann, Joshua Dysart, Joshua Williamson, Lost Vegas, Marvel, Mind the Gap, Miroslav Mrva, Paul Jenkins, Pere Perez, RIck Leonardi, Saga, Sami Basri, Scott Snyder, Simon Spurrier, Six-Gun Gorilla, Steve Niles, Suicide Squad, The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, Uncanny X-Men, Valiant

Buying comics shouldn’t be so darned complicated!  Or maybe it should be.  Maybe therein lies the worth.

  • Saga #13 (Read it!  This thirteenth impression’s a pretty damn good one, proving that, yes, even after a few months off, this baby–despite its modesty, this “sacred text”–has still got legs.)
  • Suicide Squad #23 (Read it!  Really, really not good.  Ales Kot–scribe of the magnificent mindf___ Change–clearly wasn’t suited for the book.  But that’s OK: he’s got a couple of promising books in the Image pipeline; and Matt Kindt, who’s got even more irons in the fire, is the new god of the Squad.  Can’t wait to see how that pans out.)
  • East of West #5 (Read it!  Hickman’s hitting the “Wow!” button and making it look easy!  Some writers out there should be taking notes.)
East of West #5

East of West #5

  • Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem #3 (Read it!  It was OK; I mean, it certainly is what I was hoping for from the get-go: the golem finally kicks some serious Nazi hintern.  But, in the end, I was left a bit flat–kind of like my own hintern–perhaps because the grandfather, who was the source of most of the emotional punch, is replaced by the brutish golem, whose punch is of a more physical sort.  Wait a sec.  Hmm.  Suddenly I ain’t feelin’ so flat anymore.  Clever, Mr. Niles.  Very clever.)
  • Batman #23 (Read it!  Starts off well enough–very well, in concept, anyway.  Execution-wise, it’s a bit clunky.  This is supposed to be the moment in Bruce’s life; instead, it feels like a moment–one that’s not nearly the same caliber as Red Hood’s gun.  As the story crawls its way toward Bruce’s Batpiphany, Snyder struggles with drawing out the psychological side of the journey.  In fact, he would’ve been better off letting Capullo carry it through to the end without the weight of his burdensome words.  That would’ve been something.)
Batman #23

Batman #23

  • Uncanny X-Men #10 (Read it!  Gonna be honest: I liked it.  Oh, how I’ve longed to say it!  I want to say it again: I liked it!  I especially enjoyed Frazer Irving’s work this time around; it’s the first time he’s left me feeling like he owns the characters.)
Uncanny X-Men #10

Uncanny X-Men #10

  • Deathmatch #8 (Read it!  Two monster matches!  Each fight hits the right notes, reaching the height of harmony between the physical and the psychological.  Plenty brutal, sure; but emotionally engaging, as well.)
Deathmatch #8

Deathmatch #8

  • Lost Vegas #4 (Read it!  A satisfying conclusion.)
  • Ghosted #2 (Read it!  Not bad.  Feels a lot like Revival.  I’ll try another.)
  • Mind the Gap #12 (Read it!  A really good read.  Like the issues come before, this one peels back another layer and brings, however briefly, a feeling of satisfaction–of “almost there.”  Thing is, it’s all a tease: we’re dealing with a “one step forward, two steps back” narrative; and wouldn’t you know, as frustrating as it is, the experience is all the better for the strategy.  Kudos to Mr. McCann–for effing with our minds and making it feel oh so good!)
  • Harbinger #15 (Read it!  Sneaky, sneaky.  Dysart sets a trap early on with the title–“Perfect Day”–and a general feeling of frivolousness, and then he springs it with a crazy ending.  My only wish: that the final page followed a page turn.  That would’ve delivered a bigger punch.  And as it turns, Kitson’s art isn’t much of a drag here as it was on Bloodshot.  See, folks: I can be fair, after all.)
Harbinger #15

Harbinger #15

  • Archer & Armstrong #12 (Read it!  As solid as always.  Fred Van Lente’s got it down to a science, and Pere Perez’s art is the perfect complement.)
  • The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys #3 (Read it!  An odd experience.  Feels scattered and tidy all at the same time.  Not sure how much value there is in this story or in the storytelling, but I’m going to ride it out, nevertheless; it’s only a six issue series, for goodness sake.)
  • Six-Gun Gorilla #3 (Read it!  So good.  Spurrier adds another dimension as he builds upon Blue’s background as a librarian: in doing so, he joins Saga‘s Vaughan by plowing into the power of fiction.  Monkey bar raised yet again!)

Turning pages,

Scott

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What’s I&N Store (8/14)

14 Wednesday Aug 2013

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

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Ales Kot, Archer & Armstrong, Astro City, Barry Kitson, Batman, Becky Cloonan, BOOM!, Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Michael Bendis, Carlos Magno, Chris Bachalo, Dark Horse, Dave Wachter, DC, Deathmatch, East of West, Fiona Staples, Gerard Way, Ghosted, Greg Capullo, Harbinger, Image, Janet Lee, Jeff Stokely, Jim McCann, Jonathan Hickman, Joshua Dysart, Kurt Busiek, Lost Vegas, Marvel, Matt Kindt, Mind the Gap, Patrick Zircher, Paul Jenkins, Saga, Sami Basri, Scott Snyder, Simon Spurrier, Six-Gun Gorilla, Steve Niles, Suicide Squad, The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, Uncanny X-Men, Valiant, Vertigo, Zero Year

Back to reality: no NYC this week.  One primo pro, though: no train tickets equals more cash for comics.

  • Breath of Bones #3 (Dark Horse): The end?  Already?  Sigh.  A tender first two issues–each burning ever so slowly–have led to this: Golem Time!
Breath of Bones #3

Breath of Bones #3

  • The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys #3 (Dark Horse): Liked the last one more than I expected to.
  • Astro City #3 (DC): Here’s a city I will be returning to for a third time.  I love the fact that Busiek’s delivered two different yet equally as engaging narratives to kick off the relaunch.  As a new reader, I’m left to wonder what I’ve missed.  (Regret.)  More important, however, I’m wondering what’s next.  (Excitement!)
Astro City #3

Astro City #3

  • Batman #23 (DC): If you read my recent Scottlight On: Batman #22, you know how I’m feeling going into this one.  If you didn’t, you can read it here.
  • Suicide Squad #23 (DC): I had high hopes for Ales Kot–even after learning of his unexpected exit.  The last issue, though?  Wow.  It was a disaster.  May have also answered a pressing question.  Well, it is what it is–and what it will be soon: Matt Kindt’s book.
  • East of West #5 (Image): I’ll tell you how the East of West was won: with a couple of westerly wows in #4, that’s how.
  • Ghosted #2 (Image): Thought that #1 was fun enough to warrant a second look.  I actually liked the way the team was put together more than I liked the same in The Wake #1.
  • Lost Vegas #4 (Image): Another finale!  Sad, too, as I was just getting into it.
Lost Vegas #4

Lost Vegas #4

  • Mind the Gap #12 (Image): At least we get the marvelous Jim McCann on a monthly basis on this terrific title.
  • Saga #13 (Image): Yeah, I’m gonna read this one first.
Saga #13

Saga #13

  • Uncanny X-Men #10 (Marvel): I guess I’m all-in through the Battle of the Atom.  If the Bendis side of the X-Verse doesn’t explode its way through at that point, then I’m out of this one and All-New.  That’s right, Derek: O.U.T.
  • Archer & Armstrong #12 (Valiant): Maybe I don’t really hate dinosaurs as much as I thought I did.
Archer & Armstrong #12

Archer & Armstrong #12

  • Deathmatch #8 (BOOM!): Things are heating up!  No one is safe–and that includes us!
  • Harbinger #15 (Valiant): Out from under the Harbinger Wars only to be shackled by the underwhelming Barry Kitson, who didn’t do Bloodshot any favors.
  • Red Sonja #2 (Dynamite): Why not?
  • Six-Gun Gorilla #3 (BOOM!): Mega!  Monkey!  Wednesday!  A surprise no longer: Spurrier and Stokely are putting together something special here.  Check out our takes on bullets #1 and #2.  Heck, I’m already writing up my Book of the Month entry for #3–and I haven’t even read it yet!
Six-Gun Gorilla #3

Six-Gun Gorilla #3

Sure, Midtown Comics is as good as it gets; but there’s something charming about the haphazardly plunked down piles of new books at my local comic shop.  Hope they didn’t miss me–and my money–too much.

What books are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

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In Scott’s Bag (5/29)

02 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Scott's Bag, Microviews

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Abel Garcia, Adventures of Superman, Amigo Comics, Brett Booth, Brian Wood, Captain Marvel, Carlos Magno, Chris Samnee, Clone, David Schulner, DC Comics, Deathmatch, Dynamite, El Torres, Fury: My War Gone By, Garth Ennis, Geoff Johns, Goran Parlov, IDW, Image, Indestructible Hulk, Janet Lee, Jeff Lemire, Jim McCann, Juan Jose Ryp, Justice League of America, Kevin Eastman, Lost Vegas, Mark Waid, Mateus Santoluoco, Matt Wagner, Olivier Coipel, Paul Jenkins, Scott Snyder, Sean Murphy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Shadow: Year One, The Wake, The Westwood Witches, Walt Simonson, X-Men

As I had hoped: things are working themselves out.  Well, first, they worked themselves in–to my bag; and then I had to pull them out–you know, to read them and whatnot.  Now, after having read the lot of ’em, I’ve gained a bit of clarity, thanks, of course, to the creators themselves, who have helped me make my decisions–both for the better and for the worse.

Hey Mr. Shop Guy put comics in my bag/I want to read till I’m unconscious

  • Justice League of America #4 (Read it!  Brett Booth?  Already?  Yup: I judged this one by a name on the cover.  And through just about the entire book, I was content–no, ecstatic in knowing that I’d be casting it off with all of the other Geoff Johns titles I didn’t care for.  [That’s, umm, all the other Geoff Johns titles, by the way.]  Then came the end, which, for all intents and purposes, should have been the end of my JLA experiment; but it didn’t play out that way.  Not that it blew my mind.  Well, it blew somebody’s mind.  Ain’t willing to say whose ’cause that’d be a spoiler, now wouldn’t it?  As it stands, however, looks like I’m on for #5.  Cats!  No: Bats!  Ack!  I mean: Rats!  Aw, heck, whom am I fooling?  I mean all of ’em.)
JLA #4

JLA #4

  • Lost Vegas #3 (Read it!  As of this issue, Lost Vegas is officially off probation.  The story has finally caught up with the art.  I’m doubling down going forward–especially since I’m loving McCann’s Mind the Gap after having knocked out the first trade.)
  • Adventures of Superman #1 (Read it!  Loved it.)
  • The Shadow: Year One #3 (Read it!  Got to the end, asked myself: “Do I really care?”  The answer?  If the Shadow didn’t know before, he knows now: I’m done with this one.  It’s a rarity, you know: usually, if I make it past the second issue of a mini, I’m down with the entire series.  Not this time.)
  • Clone #7 (Read it!  A bit of a backslide, sure, but it’s still engaging enough.)
Clone #7

Clone #7

  • Fury: My War Gone By #12 (Read it!  Some seriously powerful moments.)
  • The Westwood Witches #1 (Read it!  The premise is really smart; the execution, not so much.  Not too sure if there was enough to warrant another issue.)
  • X-Men #1 (Read it!  A better first issue than any of the other X-Now! books.  And I’m not just saying that because I’m hooked on The Massive.  OK, maybe I am.)
X-Men #1

X-Men #1

  • The Wake #1 (Read it!  Speaking of The Massive.)
  • TMNT #22 (Read it!  Not bad.  Santolouco’s art is terrific.  Gorgeous cover.  Not sure if I was grabbed enough by the story to try another.)
TMNT #22

TMNT #22

  • Indestructible Hulk #8 (Read it!  Thank goodness we’re done with the Thor bore.  Plus, it’s worth noting that Mark Waid seems to have an all-of-a-sudden not-so-subtle addiction to fatal afflictions.  If I weren’t aware before, I’m certainly aware now!)
  • Deathmatch #6 (Read it!  Familiarity hasn’t bred contempt till now.  The Anti-Meridian?  Uh oh.)

What did you get in your bag this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

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In Scott’s Bag (4/24)

28 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Scott's Bag

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Batman Incorporated, BOOM!, Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Wood, Chris Burnham, Chris Sotomayor, Clone, Cullen Bunn, Dark Horse, DC Comics, Deathmatch, Dennis Hopeless, East of West, FF, Frank Quitely, Frazer Irving, Fury: My War Gone By, Garth Ennis, Goran Parlov, Grant Morrison, Helheim, Image Comics, Janet Lee, Jim McCann, Joe Quinones, Joelle Jones, Jonathan Hickman, Juan Jose Ryp, Jupiter's Legacy, Lost Vegas, Mark Millar, Marvel, Matt Fraction, Matt Kindt, Mike Norton, Mind MGMT, Nick Patarra, Oni Press, Paul Jenkins, Sara Pichelli, The Answer, The Manhattan Projects, The Massive, Ultimate Spider-Man, Uncanny X-Men

Planned on picking up a ton of books.  Ended up with a ton minus one.  Left me with blood pressure rising.

Big Ol’ Bags Under My Eyes

  • Helheim #2 (Score!)
Helheim #2

Helheim #2

  • Deathmatch #5 (As much as I’d like to let this one fall by the wayside, I can’t.  I just can’t!  It’s all Paul Jenkins, who is doing a fine job of combining familiar flavors with fresh ingredients.)
  • Mind MGMT #10 (My prediction: back to form.  Looks beautiful.  Kindt’s artwork has such an amazing flow to it: it’s uncannily kinetic.)
Mind MGMT #10

Mind MGMT #10

  • Lost Vegas #2 (Read it.  Once again, the art’s the star here.  Lee’s work, amplified by Sotomayor’s stunning colors, still trumps McCann’s story, which, if I’m being fair, has laid more cards–better cards–on the table.)
Lost Vegas #2

Lost Vegas #2

  • East of West #2 (Read it.  Big plans and baby steps: Hickman’s M.O.  I’m willing to stick around, though I suspect that this might read better as a trade.)
  • FF #6 (Read it already: not Allred-y at all, now is it?  Joe Quinones?  Say it ain’t so!  It is so–and isn’t even a fraction as effective.  So, no.)
  • Uncanny X-Men #5 (Two minuses from the get-go: no Bachalo and a trip to Limbo.  Just when I was getting caught up in…)
  • Fury: My War Gone By #11 (Read it.  So, so good.  The spectre of the looming finale has me feeling melancholic.)
  • Clone #6 (Read it.  Not going to complain about it anymore.  Whatever the title’s weaknesses–and there are some glaring weaknesses–Clone has earned its place as a guilty pleasure.  Gotta see what’s next!)
Clone #6

Clone #6

  • Ultimate Spider-Man #22 (Quick flip through: Oops, probably shouldn’t have flipped through.  Some gorgeous work from Pichelli.)
  • Jupiter’s Legacy #1 (Promise officially broken.  We’ll see if it’s “Shame on me” soon enough.)
  • The Massive #11 (Saving.  Gotta catch up.)
  • The Manhattan Projects #11 (Saving this one, too, for the same reason.)
  • The Answer #4 (Read it.  Now I know the question: WTF?  No, really.  Would’ve fit right in with DC’s offerings for the month.)
  • Batman Incorporated #10 (Read it.  Really good.  The source of the gravity in the Batverse.  Speaking of gravity: how ’bout a little lead rain?  Kudos Mr. Burnham.)

Missed out on Rachel Rising #16.  Yeah, can’t let that happen again.

Turning pages,

Scott

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Back and Forth: Sex & Children’s Books

17 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by dmainhart in Back and Forth

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Adventure Time, Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake, Animal Man, Aubrey Beardsley, Barnabas Collins, Batman, Batwoman, Bravest Warriors, Catwoman, Dark Shadows, DC Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Ex Machina, Green Arrow, Hayao Miyazaki, Image, Jae Lee, Janet Lee, Jeff Lemire, Jim McCann, Joe Casey, kaboom!, Lost Vegas, Mike Raight, Nacho Tenorio, Natasha Allegri, New 52, Ocean's Eleven, Pendleton Ward, Piotr Kowalski, Return of the Dapper Men, Richard Corben, Rotworld, Scott Snyder, Sex, Swamp Thing, Watchmen, Winsor McCay, Yanick Paquette

Derek Mainhart: Provocative title, eh? Well, we’ll get to that in a minute. First to some (finally) finished business.

Scott Carney: Finished, indeed–at least as far as Animal Man #18 (DC) finishes anything.  And thank the good Lord, too.  The Rot was wearing on me, man.  It’s no secret: we didn’t care for the big two-part Rotworld finale for an unholy host of reasons.  Lucky for us, the finale was only the finale of the storyline as it takes place in the actual Rotworld; and by actual, I mean possible because, in the end, Baker and Holland were presented with the opportunity to keep it all from happening in the first place–and, boy, did they take it!  I can’t get into the nitty-gritty of the real finale, however, without first commenting on the ill-conceived cover.  Jae Lee’s anguished Animal Man is stunning; and the cover would’ve been, too, had it not been sullied by a tragically-placed assertion that spits vomits in the eye of subtlety:

I mean, come on!  Check out this art-only cover; it’s so much more effective:

Animal Man #18--Right?

Animal Man #18–Right?

Add the requisite logo and bar code and we’re still talking about an absolutely killer cover.

DM: Have to agree about the cover. Without the text, completely effective. With the text, it’s like that oft-parodied film cliche of the tragic hero falling to is knees while yelling “NNOOOOOOO!!!!” up at the sky. In other words: laughable. The early front-runner for worst cover of the year.

SC: Once inside, we’re treated to a quick little recap of the end of Swamp Thing #17 and then sucked into what Buddy refers to as “the most unsettling sensation,” while describing his return to the pre-Rotworld present.  I found the narration unsettling, as well; it seems to creep toward the edge of profundity, never quite making it there, and, as a result, festers in ineffectuality and leaves behind unintentionally laughable lines–and a hero for whom I had trouble hoping the very best.

(I don’t do this very often: spoiler alert!!!)

I did find a truly touching moment in Buddy’s remembering Cliff’s finger painting different animals when the latter was “a little boy.”  I’d have trouble, though, if you were to ask me to “flip the pages and point to another” such moment.  Couldn’t do it.  See: after that singular scene–in retrospect, the necessary father-and-son set-up for the end–the story dies as quickly and as unceremoniously as Cliff–who passes proudly as a “hero–just like [his father],” which, on a side note, is an interesting counterpoint to something Jeff Lemire’s developing in another one of his books, Green Arrow #18: Komodo, the Bullseye to Green Arrow’s Daredevil, has a daughter who–speaking of unsettling–plays the role of an evil apprentice, who also has a connection, story-wise to fingers, oddly enough; in this case, the little girl is used as a pointed threat against one of her father’s prisoners: “[…], or my daughter starts cutting off your fingers.”  (By the way, I’m still not too sure how I feel about it.  Kudos to Lemire for that!)

Back to Animal Man and the devolution of the story: with my own fingers dutifully turning pages, I found the dialogue disappointingly reminiscent of #17 (“So just die already!”).  And how strange was the splash on page 18, with the guys in the yellow suits shedding their rot?  At last!  Something interesting!  But, despite their presence on the page, neither Buddy nor Maxine react to the seemingly important revelation; and when Buddy finally does seem to notice them–several panels later–he doesn’t seem all that concerned!  It was all so very awkward and forced–well, Lemire did have to live up to the promise of the textually explicit cover, after all; couldn’t bring myself to care, though, even with the final splash–and just not what I’ve come to expect from the aforementioned esteemed writer, who is an absolute master at developing sympathetic characters and complex yet relatable relationships.  My expectations are still high for him and Animal Man, so I’ll be sticking around for more–especially since we’re headed in a new direction.

DM: Scott Snyder, on the other hand, in Swamp Thing #18 (DC), ties a bow on this story, and his run, in a manner that is satisfying and organic (pun intended–every time!). Amidst Yanick Paquette’s gorgeous leafmotif visuals is a story where the damsel becomes the hero, the demon is rent asunder, and our lovers have their stars well and truly crossed. But not before the creators generously allow them one last (first?) kiss, in which their passion literally burns. A fitting finale to a mostly excellent run.

But Swamp Thing and Animal Man aren’t the only hero-inhabiting-a-new-body-travels-to-a-dystopian-future-to-defeat-unearthly-evil-then-returns-to-the-present-in-order-to-prevent-it-in-the-first-place stories this week. That’s right! The same exact plot is featured in Dynamite’s Dark Shadows #14!

Dark Shadows #14

Dark Shadows #14

Ah well, no new ideas and all that; it’s how well you handle them. Writer Mike Raight’s vampiric version involves Gothic plot twists, backstabbing (with wooden stakes, natch!) and enough Grand Guignol action to satiate any horror fan. Artist Nacho Tenorio does a nice job orchestrating the gore, alternating between excess and restraint, the way any 1960’s-influenced horror should. This isn’t all superficial bloodletting however. (SPOILERS!) Raight infuses some depth and existential quandary as the evil that the hero, Barnabas Collins, must destroy in order to save his family, is himself. There’s also a well-wrought, even delicate twist, as Barnabas’ mysterious ally reveals that aiding him and taking revenge upon him are, in this case, one and the same. Solid and compelling, this book is one of the most reliable sources of monthly macabre that you’re likely to find.

So, having been hooked by our attention-grabbing title, you’ve made it this far through our post, and yet you find yourself disappointed by the lack of any content that could be considered truly eye-opening.

SC: Hey!  What about my–

DM: Well then, you’ve got an idea of the experience of reading Sex #1 by Joe Casey and Piotr Kowalski (Image).

SC: Oh, I see.  Clever.

DM: Mr. Casey means well. In a heartfelt (and rather breathless) afterword, he holds forth on the state of today’s comics; mainly the continued dominance of the Big Two despite the wild variety and quality of other work out there. Well hear, hear! And yet, what does he offer us? A wealthy scion reluctantly returns to run his vaguely defined corporate empire. A seedy underworld controlled by a grotesque mob boss. Words of wisdom from a trusted Man (or in this case, Gal) Friday. And, oh yeah, said wealthy scion is a former superhero. This set up bears any number of resemblances to Batman, the newfangled Green Arrow, Ex Machina (a much better melange of superhero/real world tropes from eight years ago), etc. But wait, this has superheroes and sex. Well Watchmen broke that seal long ago. It’s simply no longer a shocking conceit (I mean even Catwoman’s done it for chrissakes). Now, to Casey’s credit, when the naughty section does occur, despite its fairly graphic nature, it’s contrasted in such a way that it is robbed of nearly all prurient titillation. The participants even call out the reader’s presumed lasciviousness, in a clever use of breaking the fourth wall. Kudos to Casey for subverting the expectations set up by his conspicuous title.  But in the end, this is just another superhero comic. And what’s so sexy about that?

SC: I hear ya.  Image did have another release this week that I enjoyed more than Sex—

DM: (tee-hee!)

SC: Uh-huh. Anyway, it’s Jim McCann and Janet Lee’s Lost Vegas #1.  It came with a little less hype than Casey’s book did, but it was loads better.  Though engaging from the get-go, McCann’s writing does prove a bit hard to swallow at times, especially as the Ocean’s Eleven-esque scheme is laid out; but Lee’s artwork is enviably voluptuous, a stunning exercise in sensuality.

DM: Yes, Lee’s work is certainly the star for me thus far. She blew me away on Return of the Dapper Men a few years ago (also written by McCann). There she dazzled with an unorthodox process that combined vibrant expressionistic backgrounds with the sublime precision of Winsor McCay (if you don’t know who that is, look him up. Look him up now.) Here the chameleon-like Ms. Lee seems to be offering something of the sensual loucheness of Aubrey Beardsley, combined with the sci-fi sensibilities of Richard Corben, and even a dash of Hayao Miyazaki for fun.

SC: That’s some company she’s keeping.

DM: Indeed. Like Batwoman, this could become a book that I buy for the art alone.

SC: Well worth the price of admission.  I’m certainly up for round two.

DM: Now, returning to our theme, for a nuanced, astute, refreshing exploration of sex, one need look no further than Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake #3 (kaboom!):

Adventure Time: Fiona and Cake #3

Adventure Time with Fiona & Cake #3

Sex, in this case, denoting gender. ‘A childrens’ book?’ you say, eyebrow ever so arched? Well in its brief existence, Pendleton Ward’s magical juggernaut has tackled such concepts as abandonment, existential loneliness, first loves, the bonds of honor and friendship, pride, sacrifice, betrayal, the origins of myth, the nature of evil, the afterlife, determinism, fate, and nuclear annihilation to name a few. It never addresses these issues head-on however (it’s much too smart for that), but from rather more of a sideways angle, (and perhaps, blindfolded). Y’know, Stuff Happens. Each candy-colored episode is wide open to (and the subject of) much interpretation. It’s the type of show that dissertations will be written about someday(if that hasn’t already happened). I ask you, what better place to consider gender and identity issues than the sociological phenomenon that is Adventure Time?

For those who don’t follow the show (losers!) Fionna and Cake was a fan-favorite episode which featured alternate, gender-swapped versions of series’ stars, Finn and Jake. Now Natasha Allegri, who had a hand in that episode, gives the ladies a chance to shine in their own title. Issue 3 is the best one yet. The first two issues established the characters as well the epic, yet tongue-in-cheek tone that AT does so well. The third issue really delves into the gender stuff and shows why this is not your father’s (um, older brother’s?) AT. The story begins with Marshall Lee (the male version of the vampire Marceline from AT) suddenly appearing in the lead characters’ home in a state of distress. But unlike his female counterpart, who is decidedly bad-ass, this vampire is positively sparkly. Needless to say, Fionna has a crush (-and Cake does not approve!) It seems they need to rescue Prince Gumball, who is caught in a ridiculous trap, which I won’t ruin for you. Nor shall I spoil all the loaded symbols, pregnant pauses and hysterical double entendres peppered throughout the tale. These never come across as forced or excessive; they are, indeed the story’s raison d’etre. I will say that they culminate in a visual gag so audacious that I couldn’t believe it was in a children’s comic, even as I barked with laughter. And yet it perfectly encapsulates the major theme of this series. Sound dirty? Well, again, it’s not because all of the above is not so much dealing with sex, as it is gender and identity. I am not suggesting (as I have with AT’s sister book Bravest Warriors) that this title is inappropriate for children. Part of Allegri’s brilliance (in addition to the beautiful art) is that this book is, on the literal level that children tend to read, an exuberant, imaginative adventure/fantasy. It certainly can (and should, to some degree) be enjoyed that way. The storytelling is deft enough that whatever other meaning children take away from it is entirely up to them. And you. Book of the Week.

Turning pages,

Derek & Scott

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In Scott’s Bag (3/6)

07 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Scott's Bag

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Tags

Alberto Ponticelli, Alex Maleev, All-New X-Men, Andrea Sorrentino, Andy Diggle, Animal Man, Bedlam, Bill Sienkiewicz, BOOM!, Brian Michael Bendis, China Mieville, Colder, Daredevil: End of Days, Dark Horse, David Mack, David Marquez, DC Comics, Dial H, Fairy Quest, Green Arrow, Humberto Ramos, Image, Janet Lee, Jason Latour, Jeff Lemire, Jim McCann, Jock, Joe Casey, Juan Ferreyra, Justin Jordan, Klaus Janson, Lost Vegas, Nic Klein, Nick Spencer, Patrick Zircher, Paul Jenkins, Paul Tobin, Piotr Kowalski, Riley Rossmo, Scott Snyder, Sex, Shadowman, Snapshot, Steve Pugh, Swamp Thing, Winter Soldier, Yanick Paquette

A formidable fascicle, indeed.  As yanked:

  • Fairy Quest #2 (I want Humberto Ramos tested for PEDs.  A simple flip through is all the evidence I need: this dude’s on fairy dust!  Pretty, pretty.)
  • Snapshot #2 (Cool cover and sweet b/w interior work by Jock.)
  • Lost Vegas #1 (Recommended by the shop guy.  Pass up an Image #1?  Never!)
Lost Vegas #1

Lost Vegas #1

  • All-New X-Men #8 (Ugh.  This may be the last nail I was hoping for.)
  • Green Arrow #18 (I see what’s happening here: Daredevil and Bullseye.  Works for me.)
  • Sex #1 (If you were expecting something else, you didn’t get it.  A more honest title you’re not likely to find.)
  • Swamp Thing #18 (Going in with an open mind–opened further by Paquette’s capable hands.)
  • Winter Soldier #16 (Love the cover.  That aside: this is the make-or-break issue.  Actually hoping for make.)
  • Daredevil: End of Days #6 (Will be one of the best books of the week.  At this point, it can’t help it.)
  • Shadowman #5 (It’s not every day that a comic makes the mainstream news.  No, wait.)
  • Bedlam #5 (I described it to my wife as “an ultra-violent book about the psychology of a serial killer.”  She seemed OK with it.  Full disclosure: she was pretty well locked into the final Wheel puzzle, so…)
  • Animal Man #18 (Well, speaking of expectations: this one comes with–right on the cover!  That, or a tragic how-to: how to effectively undermine a an otherwise suburb Jae Lee cover.)
Animal Man #18--Before

Animal Man #18 (Expectation-Free Edition!)

  • Colder #5 (This is it!)
  • Dial H #10 (I’m totally ready.)

Does my list look like your list?

Turning pages,

Scott

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