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Tag Archives: Jeff Stokely

I&N Store 10/3

03 Wednesday Oct 2018

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Store

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a walk through hell, Aftershock, Batman, black crown, Border Town, Chris Claremont, DC Comics, dead rabbit, DIe! Die! Die!, eric m. esquivel, euthanauts, Garth Ennis, Goran Sudzuka, house amok, IDW, Image Comics, in demand, Jeff Stokely, Jordie Bellaire, lollipop kids, Magneto, marvel comics, New York Comic Con, new york comic con 2018, Oblivi8n, Paper Girls, ramon villalobos, redlands, scout comics, Six-Gun Gorilla, The Dreaming, Tom King, tony s. daniel, Uber: Invasion, united states vs. murder inc., Vanesa Del Rey, Vertigo, x-men black: magneto

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.

redl

  • 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:

batm

  • 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, muy alto.

bt2

  • 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.

xmbm

  • 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.)

awth5

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

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What’s I&N Store (5/21)

21 Wednesday May 2014

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

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A Voice in the Dark, Adam Metcalfe, Alan Davis, Ales Kot, American Vampire: The Second Cycle, Batman and Frankenstein, BOOM!, Brian Azzarello, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Michael Bendis, CAFU, Chondra Echert, Chris Bachalo, Chris Samnee, Claudio Sanchez, Cullen Bunn, Damien Worm, Daniel Bayless, Daredevil, DC Comics, Diego Bernard, Dynamite, East of West, Ed Brubaker, Elektra, Fiona Staples, Frank Barbiere, Fred Van Lente, IDW, Image, Jason Aaron, Jeff Stokely, Jim McCann, Joe Infunari, Jonathan Hickman, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Larime Taylor, Magneto, Magnus: Robot Fighter, Mark Millar, Mark Waid, Marvel, Matt Kindt, Mike Deodato, Mind the Gap, Miracleman, Monster & Madman, MPH, Nick Dragotta, Numbercruncher, Oni Press, Ordinary, Original Sin, Patrick Gleason, Peter J. Tomasi, Rob Williams, Robert Venditti, Rodin Esquejo, Saga, Scott Snyder, Si Spurrier, Six-Gun Gorilla, Solar: Man of the Atom, Steve Epting, Steve Niles, The Bunker, Titan, Translucid, Uncanny X-Men, Unity, Valiant, Velvet, Vertigo, W. Haden Blackman, Wonder Woman, X-O Manowar, zero

Yup: I’ll be walking out of Android’s Amazing Comics with two full bags of books.  This is the longest list yet and is a testament to my insatiable appetite, my unchecked addiction for comics.

 

  • American Vampire: The Second Cycle #3 (DC/Vertigo): The standout Snyder moment of #2: the creature with an imploring Peter inside of it.  Creepy as hell.  Speaking of: I wasn’t so tempted by the devil of an ending.  But even after two issues, it’s clear that this is where Snyder does his best work.
American Vampire: The Second Cycle #3

American Vampire: The Second Cycle #3

  • Batman and Frankenstein #31 (DC): My interest is on life support. It’s the promise of Frankenstein that’s keeping it alive. For now. See: Tomasi’s not as sharp as he’s been; and Gleason, in the last issue, disappointed with his wonky Wonder Woman.  I know they’re building toward the return of Robin and that that’s going to be epic, blah, blah, blah.  But shouldn’t each issue leading up to it be just as epic–and if not, at least be as tight as an Amazon?  I’m talking temper.  What’d you think I was talking about?
  • Wonder Woman #31 (DC): Speaking of tight Amazons: #30 was excellent.  Nearly made our Top 5 Books of April.  I mean, come on: how about that last page.  Make a wish, indeed! That’s high praise for a book that’s been solid, sure, but that has rarely hit a homerun. And even when it has, they’ve been softball homeruns. This last issue, however, would’ve been out of any Big League park–well, except for maybe Citi Field.
  • Monster and Madman #3 (IDW): Has been a fun ride thus far.  Niles doesn’t just hit the right notes–he slays them; and Worm’s art provides a perfectly horrific backdrop for this grotesque get-together.
  • A Voice in the Dark #7 (Image): I’m hoping that this arc ender screams bloody murder!  Just sayin’.
  • East of West #12 (Image): Hickman’s a world builder who works at his own pace: he takes his time laying a foundation and has certainly taken his time here, that’s for sure.  Of late, however, stories are thrusting skyward with such force so as to pierce our patient expectations.  Protect your eyes, friends, because East of West is finally fulfilling promises.
East of West #12

East of West #12

  • Mind the Gap #17 (Image): Jim McCann’s masterful mystery tour returns with Act II!  Finally.  Was one of my top 20 books of 2013.  It’s one Elle of a story–and it’s definitely worth jumping on.
Mind the Gap #17

Mind the Gap #17

  • MPH #1 (Image): Another Mark Millar product arrives fast on the heels of his terrific Starlight.  Of course I’m going to buy it.  And if subsequent issues come out on time, all the better!
  • Saga #19 (Image): “A very new direction”?  Hmm.  Normally, I’d be nervous; but not here: Vaughan and Staples are the best writer/artist pair in the business.  We celebrated Saga as our #4 book of 2013, and Vaughan and Staples have been nominated for the 2014 Innies for Best Writer and Best Artist, respectively.
Saga #19

Saga #19

  • Velvet #5 (Image): Brubaker and Epting are doin’ their thing, and it’s rubbing me the right way.  Reads a lot like–but isn’t quite as good as–Rucka and Lark’s Lazarus.  The first arc ends here.  Expecting a bang or two.
  • Zero #8 (Image): #7 was a well-crafted return to form after a very disappointing, near-nonsensical #6.
  • Daredevil #3 (Marvel): #2 was Daredevil in every sense–including sight: it’s dark, it’s funny–it’s fearless.  New York, San Fran: doesn’t matter; this hero’s the heart of any city he’s in.
Daredevil #3

Daredevil #3

  • Elektra #2 (Marvel): I may have to pass.  Sai.  W. Haden Blackman’s writing was enigmatic at times (as it could be in Batwoman)–and, I mean, come on: Bloody Lips?!  A villainous vagina dentata!  Ouch!  Doesn’t help that we’re headed to Monster Island.  Because when I think of Elektra, I think of Monster Island.
  • Magneto #4 (Marvel): Fatal attraction, indeed: Cullen Bunn’s Magneto’s proving to be a real bad ass.  On a less serious note, I’ve switched to binder clips.
  • Miracleman #6 (Marvel): Haven’t gotten around to #5 yet.  Doesn’t matter: I’d pile these up to heaven.
  • Original Sin #2 (Marvel): Jason Aaron’s earned my attention with a killer kickoff to Southern Bastards, which means I’m going to give in to Sin even though I wasn’t exactly thrilled by it.
  • Uncanny X-Men #21 (Marvel): This is weird for me; yeah, I’m not used to saying this: #20 was pretty good.  I dig me some Chris Bachalo, and Bendis kept him mighty busy.
  • The Bunker #4 (Oni Press): Continues to be a revelation: Fialkov’s showing complete mastery over time with his simultaneous storylines, and Infurnari’s sketchy style complements the shifts so very well.  There’s danger lurking around the corner, however: I can see a heavy hand hovering over future pages–one ready to abuse the abuse angle.  Oh, if that happens, I’m going to say, “No!”; then I’m going to go and tell someone I trust.
The Bunker #4

The Bunker #4

  • Magnus : Robot Fighter #3 (Dynamite): Van Lente’s made Magnus work for me.
  • Ordinary #1 (Titan): Sounds fun enough.  I’ve liked Royals: Masters of War enough to give Rob Williams another shot.  Plus, Titan’s offered up some pretty solid books–including Death Sentence and Numbercruncher, which has been nominated for the 2014 Innie for Best Limited Series and has, in part, earned Si Spurrier (also considered for his work on BOOM!’s Six-Gun Gorilla) a nomination for Best Writer.
  • Solar: Man of the Atom #2 (Dynamite): Still haven’t read #1.  Not sure if I care enough, if I’m being fair.
  • Translucid #2 (BOOM!): Lots of good things going on in #1.  Lovely, lovely layers delivered by Claudio Sanchez, Chondra Echert (writers/creators), Daniel Bayliss (artist, who reminds of Jeff Stokely, who just so happens to be the cover artist!), and Adam Metcalfe (colorist).  Has got me thinking Six-Gun Gorilla, which is a good thing.
Translucid #2

Translucid #2

  • Unity #7 (Valiant): I was going to pull the plug after #5, but #6 ended up in my bag because I had forgotten to purge it from my pull list.  And then Kindt had to go all Mind MGMT with Dr. Silk’s virus.  So, yeah, seven.
  • X-O Manowar #25 (Valiant): It’s no secret: big events usually turn me off.  Preludes to big events usually piss me off.  In the case of #24, however, I was actually pleasantly surprised.  Who knew I’d be looking forward to Armor Hunters?

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

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The 2014 ‘Innie’ Awards!

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by dmaxwell in Uncategorized

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Tags

Abstract Studio, Afterlife With Archie, Archie, Austin Harrison, BOOM!, Brian K. Vaughan, Dark Horse, Dave Stewart, Dean Motter, Ed Brubaker, Eisner Awards, Fatale, Fiona Staples, Francesco Francavilla, Fury: My War Gone By, Garth Ennis, Goran Parlov, Greg Rucka, Harvey Awards, IDW, Image, Jeff Stokely, Jordie Bellaire, Jose Villarrubia, Laura Allred, Lazarus, Marvel, Matt Kindt, Michael Lark, Mike Raicht, Mind MGMT, Mister X, Mister X: Eviction, Nelson Daniel, Numbercruncher, PJ Holden, Rachel Rising, Roberto Aguirre Sacasa, Saga, Sean Phillips, Simon Spurrier, Six-Gun Gorilla, Terry Moore, Titan, Wild Blue Yonder, Zach Howard

The recent announcement of the 2014 Eisner Award nominees have occasioned much debate here at the I&N offices (located in a snug chateau high in the Swiss Alps). Needless to say we were filled with outrage! (And by ‘outrage’ I mean ‘mild disagreement’.) The choices for nominees did not exactly match our own! The temerity! This would not stand! And so, we here at I&N proudly present: the Innies!

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, we’ve limited ourselves to six categories (sorry Letterers of Archival Collections of Anthologies for Early Readers!)

If the Eisners are the Oscars, and the Harveys are the Golden Globes, then we’re the Independent Spirits! (or at least the Ace Awards)

Without further adieu:

Best Limited Series:

  • Fury: My War Gone By, by Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov (Marvel/Max)
  • Mister X: Eviction, by Dean Motter (Dark Horse)
  • Numbercruncher, by Simon Spurrier and PJ Holden (Titan)
  • Six-Gun Gorilla, by Simon Spurrier and Jeff Stokely (BOOM!)
  • Wild Blue Yonder, by Zach Howard, Mike Raicht, Nelson Daniel, and Austin Harrison (IDW)

Best Ongoing Series:

  • Afterlife with Archie, by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francavilla (Archie)
  • Fatale, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image)
  • Lazarus, by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark (Image)
  • Mind MGMT, by Matt Kindt (Dark Horse)
  • Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image)

Best Writer:

  • Matt Kindt, Mind MGMT (Dark Horse)
  • Dean Motter, Mister X (Dark Horse)
  • Greg Rucka, Lazarus (Image)
  • Simon Spurrier, Six-Gun Gorilla (BOOM!), Numbercruncher (Titan)
  • Brian K. Vaughan, Saga (Image)

Best Artist:

  • Francesco Francavilla, Afterlife with Archie (Archie)
  • Matt Kindt, Mind MGMT (Dark Horse)
  • Terry Moore, Rachel Rising (Abstract Studio)
  • Dean Motter, Mister X (Dark Horse)
  • Fiona Staples, Saga (Image)

Best Colorist:

  • Laura Allred
  • Jordie Bellaire
  • Francesco Francavilla
  • Dave Stewart
  • Jose Villarrubia

Best Comic Book Related Website Run By Two High-School Teachers In Their Spare Time In The Greater NY Area: 

  • Images and Nerds

Now it’s your turn. Who did we miss?

Let the internet shouting begin!

Turning pages,

Derek & Scott

 

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I&N’s Top Ten of 2013

31 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in Uncategorized

≈ 27 Comments

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Abstract Studio, Adventure Time, Adventure Time with Fionna & Cake, Afterlife With Archie, Ales Kot, Archer & Armstrong, Archie, Austin Harrison, Bad Houses, Bandette, Battlefields, BOOM!, Brian K. Vaughan, Buzzkill, Clone, Daredevil, Dark Horse, Dark Horse Presents, DC, Dean Motter, Deathmatch, Dial H, Dynamite, Fiona Staples, Fred Van Lente, Fury: My War Gone By, Garth Ennis, Goran Parlov, Greg Rucka, Harold Gray, IDW, Image, Jeff Stokely, kaboom!, Lazarus, Manifest Destiny, Marvel, Mateus Santolouco, Matt Kindt, Michael Lark, Michael Walsh, Mike Raicht, Mind MGMT, Mind the Gap, Mister X: Eviction, Mister X: Hard Candy, Morgan Jeske, Nelson Daniel, Numbercruncher, Oni, Rachel Rising, Sabretooth Swordsman, Saga, Satellite Sam, Seth, Simon Spurrier, Six-Gun Gorilla, Star Wars, Terminator, Terry Moore, the Hernandez Bros, The Massive, The Sixth Gun, The Spirit, Thumbprint, Titan, Tradd Moore, Trillium, Valiant, Vertigo, Wild Blue Yonder, Will Eisner, Winsor McCay, Zach Howard, zero

Welcome to the 46th Annual I&N’s Top Ten Comics of the Year (aka “The Innies”)! Why it seems like just yesterday that a struggling little mag named “The Amazing Spider-Man” edged out “The Adventures of Jerry Lewis” for the top spot on our hallowed list, signaling the spectacular rise of one and the slow descent into obscurity of the other.

Each title below is testament to the fact that, even as conventional wisdom holds that print is dying, comics are in the midst of some kind of Renaissance. The persistent stereotype that this vibrant, global medium is followed by sad, middle-aged men who like to see men in tights beat each other up simply doesn’t hold water anymore, nor has it for quite some time. The fact is, the problem is no longer a lack of diversity in incredible material for any and all possible demographics; it’s that there’s too much of it to keep track of! No less than seven publishers are represented in our Top Ten, each producing catalogues of more great work than we could ever hope to encompass in our tiny alloted piece of the internet. (You’ll note we even had to expand our “Honorable Mentions” section to ten books apiece – and we could’ve used ten more!) Simply put: everyone should be reading comics.

As always, we here at I&N welcome debate – hell, that’s the whole point. Just be aware that results below have already been encrypted onto floppy discs and blasted into space for the benefit of our future alien overlords. (DM)

The List!

10. Archer & Armstrong (Valiant): When Valiant, earlier this year, began hyping up their new title Quantum and Woody as their foray into buddy-action slapstick comedy, I wanted to yell “Wait! They’ve already GOT one of those!” But Archer & Armstrong is much more than that. Fred Van Lente and Co. have taken the best of Lethal Weapon, The X-Files, ancient Sumerian mythology, Dan Brown-type conspiracy novels, Dr. Strangelove, and god knows what else, and concocted a world-spanning epic that despite its breakneck pace and impeccable comic timing, manages an intellectual underpinning that questions the very nature and origins of faith. Even at its most gleefully satirical, however, the sheer exuberance of the writing embraces an expansive view of humanity, in all its wonders and frailties. Fun in a bottle, folks. (DM)

Archer & Armstrong

9. Fury: My War Gone By (Marvel): Garth Ennis proves he’s one of the most incisive writers around (not just in comics) on the subject of war. His deconstruction of the Marvel soldier/spy icon (lately supercool due to Samuel Jackson’s sleek big screen portrayal) is the least of this title’s attributes (which is on our Top Ten for the second year running). Ennis’ story (rendered with appropriate, unblinking grit by Goran Parlov) also serves as an insider’s account through the anguished  litany of armed conflict of the second half of the 20th century. Most devastatingly, it portrays the effects of war, not on the nameless many whose lives are needlessly cut short, but on the wretched perpetrators who survive. Merciless and shattering. (DM)

Fury: My War Gone By

8. Zero (Image): Ales Kot, the enigmatic engineer behind the challenging Change (Image), a mostly on-time bullet train of thought fueled by a combustible blend of poetry and pictures, has heroically hit the brakes on the overplayed and over-parodied secret agent genre, expertly taking it from 007 to Zero in no time flat. He’s applied the same amount of poetic pressure here, but to a more successful–and coherent–end storytelling-wise: the danger is palpable, the emotion undeniable–thanks, in part, to the rather complex collaborative effort that has called for four different artists on the first four issues of the series–a move that has transcended gimmick and, instead, has proven invaluable, if only because the first four artists have been Michael Walsh (Comeback), Tradd Moore (The Strange Talent of Luther Strode), Mateus Santolouco (Dial H, TMNT), and Morgan Jeske (Change). My experience thus far: #1 hooked me with its perfect timing and left me lying in the gutter; #2 knocked me upside-down; #3 disarmed me; and #4 made me love it–made me punch-drunk love it, damn it! What makes the book even more exciting? It defies expectations. I expect that it’ll continue defying expectations as we move into 2014. And, in that, I expect Zero to be just as good as it’s been–if not infinitely better because we’re getting the best of Kot, who’s clearly giving us everything he’s got. (SC)

Zero #4

Zero

7. Lazarus (Image): Greg Rucka’s vision of a near-future oligarchic dystopia gets under your skin because, in the tradition of Huxley and Orwell, it seems an all-too-plausible extrapolation of our current reality. The story is made even more unsettlingly concrete by Michael Lark’s stark, photorealistic visuals. Contrast the plight of the teeming masses with the power-hungry family dynamic of the ultra-privileged few, and you have a potent, volatile mix. A comic for our times. (DM)

Lazarus #2

Lazarus

6. Wild Blue Yonder (IDW): Sure, it’s only three issues in, but what a three-issue ride it’s been!  We’ve celebrated this action-packed series from its radar-arousing takeoff, with each high-speed pass earning enviable I&N accolades along the way.  (Check out the love here, here, and here.)  Top Gunners Mike Raicht, Zach Howard, Nelson Daniel, and Austin Harrison have come together in classic diamond formation to deliver one superior salvo after another, each on its own–and as a whole–a blockbuster that would humble Hollywood’s own best of 2013. (SC)

Wild Blue Yonder

Wild Blue Yonder

5. Rachel Rising (Abstract Studio): Terry Moore presents a truly American horror story: witches, serial killers, and a resurrected figure of biblical origins seeking vengeance for the sins of our nation’s past. Oh yeah, and the Devil. Moore draws you in with the quiet beauty of his artwork; his snow-covered renditions of the sleepy town of Manson enveloping you like a down blanket in front of a fireplace, before the sharp spasms of bloodletting shock you right back into his nightmare. However terrible the events depicted though, Moore seems to suggest they pale against the cruelties of history. Speaking of cruelties, let’s hope a purported television adaptation staves off recent talk of this book’s imminent demise. Because the real horror story would be a world without Rachel Rising. (DM)

Rachel Rising

4. Saga (Image): Saga is a lot of things: a superlative satire, a side-splitting sci-fi romp, a heart-wrenching romance, a critique of fiction, a controversy magnet; but most of all, it’s extraordinarily consistent; and it’s that consistency that fosters a critical expectation: to expect the unexpected.  On a monthly basis, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples serve up sublime slices of a greater story–slices that showcase razor sharp dialogue, that pitch perfect pathos, that sell sure shocks; they wisely fool with the elements of fiction and, like confident alchemists, have come up with issue after issue of 22-page gold–and we’re all the richer for it. (SC)

Saga

Saga

3. Six-Gun Gorilla (BOOM!): In the biggest surprise of the year, Si Spurrier conducts a multi-layered masterclass in metaficiton and at the same time delivers a eulogy on the dying art of escapism.  From the existential exposition of this weird, weird western to its necessarily hopeful final act, Spurrier’s imaginative muse–the Six-Gun Gorilla, himself–becomes Blue’s, and then naturally becomes ours as we consent to the writer’s every insistence; as we gladly lose ourselves in this genre-bending–and never-ending–battle between reality and fiction, good and evil, and fate and freewill, which is brought to life by rising star Jeff Stokely, whose artwork crucially complements the conflicts at the core of the story.  At the same time a celebration of a culture’s vital literary legacy and a criticism of the current collective unconscious, Six-Gun Gorilla has earned its spot in the Western Canon of Comics–and our Top Ten–with a simple but oft-neglected gesture: by making and keeping a primal promise. (SC)

Six-Gun Gorilla #2

Six-Gun Gorilla

2. Mind MGMT (Dark Horse): Matt Kindt’s magical mystery tour de force Mind MGMT—our #3 book of 2012–continues to astound, especially as its crafty creator meticulously molds the medium to suit his carefully constructed conspiratorial agenda.  As the story of the eponymous enigmatic entity has evolved, so too has Kindt’s strategy for telling it: his precise, patient prose; his layouts, enlivened by some otherworldly calculus; and his innovative brushstrokes of genius merge miraculously and challenge us to think and to feel, to be active participants in the world in which we’ve been immersed: to put beautifully painted pieces together in order to experience–along with the impressive cast of characters–confusion and loss, the conflation of time, and a higher power drawing us somewhere unprecedented in breadth and scope–drawing us in to the mind of the medium’s finest manager. (SC)

Mind MGMT #13

Mind MGMT

1. Mister X (Dark Horse): There are many approaches to creating great comics. One of them is largely collaborative, in which the creative duties are are separated and clearly defined (writer, artist, colorist, letterer, etc). Through an amalgam of traditional, action-based American comics and the more leisurely paced, lushly visual influence of manga, this approach has evolved over the last twenty years or so into what could be called a “cinematic” style; a treatment of the comic book form that seems based in the ethos of filmmaking (Lazarus, above, is an excellent example of this). Then there is another approach (let us call it the “auteur’s” approach) in which the cartoonist (let us rescue this title from the cultural dung-heap) assumes all of the above creative responsibilities to produce narratives that are singular and personal in a way that no other visual medium, not even movies, can replicate. Since they control all aspects of the work – not just writing and drawing, but page design, panel lay-out, font style and placement and all sorts of graphic elements; in short the whole package – they can, at their best, perfectly marry content and form in a manner that is unique to the comics medium. It is an approach with a history that extends at least back to Will Eisner and The Spirit. Perhaps because it takes such a concerted effort by a single individual, this type of formal, experimental approach is most often seen in the realm of the “graphic novel”. Rarely is it employed in our beloved, stapled floppies (though glimmers of hope have begun to appear on the comic racks: see Matt Kindt, above and below). And then there is Mister X. Created by Dean Motter in the early 1980’s, (when “graphic novels” barely existed as an idea) the title has long been a touchstone among independent-minded cartoonists (early contributors include the Hernandez Bros and Seth). In its latest iterations, Hard Candy and Eviction, Motter continues to seamlessly wed both approaches: there is the clear stylistic influence of German Expressionism and film noir for which the comic is known, but there are also the aforementioned design choices that reflect the themes of the narrative itself. The story involves the mysterious architect of a city in which the very buildings (in all their art deco glory) seem to respond to, and adversely influence, the psyches of its very inhabitants. This theme, played out in yarns that are at once hard-boiled, surreal and whimsical, acts as a fitting metaphor for the experience of the reader, as they interact with the “architecture” of Motter’s intricate design. Further, Motter includes delightful homages to the likes of Harold Gray (“Little Urchin Andy”), Winsor McCay (“Dream of the Robot Friend”) and the aforementioned Eisner (see cover below) which pay tribute to the comics history of which Mister X is a part, while, again, also making sense within the story itself. The overall effect is immersive and beguiling. Some comics tell great stories. Some comics celebrate their history. Some comics continue to push at the boundaries of the medium. And then there is Mister X. Book Of the Year. (DM)

Mister X:Eviction

Derek’s Honorable Mentions: 20. Dial H (DC) 19.  Afterlife with Archie (Archie) 18. Manifest Destiny (Image) 17. Thumbprint (IDW) 16. The Massive (Dark Horse) 15. Battlefields (Dynamite) 14. Adventure Time (kaboom!) 13. Numbercruncher (Titan) 12. Trillium (DC/Vertigo) 11. Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake (kaboom!)

Scott’s Honorable Mentions:

20. Battlefields (Dynamite) 19. Daredevil (Marvel) 18. The Sixth Gun (Oni) 17. Deathmatch (BOOM!) 16. Satellite Sam (Image) 15. Clone (Image) 14. Numbercruncher (Titan) 13. Mind the Gap (Image) 12. The Massive (Dark Horse) 11. Trillium (DC/Vertigo)

Best Single Issue of the Year: Mind MGMT #17 (Dark Horse)

With #17, Kindt reaches new heights, goes to greater lengths–particularly in page-busting panels of crisply-crafted and concurrent continuous narratives–to exploit the power of the medium.   As promised by the clever cover–one awash in paranoia and paronomasia–the story moves at a breakneck pace: from a locked and loaded unhappy Home Maker to a veritable orgy of violent rivers running toward a simultaneous orgasm of double-page splashes–there goes the neighborhood, indeed!–to a crack shot Meru, who, with a twist of Lyme, is ready to take the reins and restore reason to the world one agent at a time.  The whole damn thing’s a miracle, really.  Hell, at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kindt could turn his watercolors to wine; his work is that divine. (SC)

Mind MGMT #17

Mind MGMT #17

Publisher of the Year: Most comics-related outfits have finally caught onto Image Comics‘ trend-setting ways and already bestowed this honor upon them (no doubt, in no small part, due to our ahead-of-the-curve naming them Publisher of the Year in 2012 😉 And with stellar debuts like Lazarus and Zero (not to mention books like Manifest Destiny and Rat Queens) the accolades are hard to dispute. But let us do just that (contrary bastards that we are). Because 2013 was the year that a bevy of other publishers took a page from Image’s playbook and produced work, much of it creator-owned, that was just as innovative, idiosyncratic, and invigorating as Image’s output. BOOM!, IDW, Oni, Dyanmite – all produced titles of creativity, breadth and distinction. But there was one publisher that rose unexpectedly, like its namesake, above the rest: Dark Horse. While never taking their eye off their bread-and-butter licensed properties (like Star Wars and Terminator) Dark Horse branched out into new territory with exciting minis from largely unknown creators (Buzzkill), original graphic novels (Bad Houses), and printed versions of high quality digital comics (Bandette, Sabretooth Swordsman). And let’s face it, Dark Horse has been doing the creator-owned, independent thing for over twenty years, as evidenced by the revival of the premiere comics anthology, Dark Horse Presents. So while Image is the current industry darling (and deservedly so), we can’t ignore the evidence of our comic-lovin’ eyes: the best overall books of 2013 (including our Top Two titles) were published by Dark Horse Comics. (DM)

Looking forward to 2014,

Scott & Derek

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What’s I&N Store (12/4)

02 Monday Dec 2013

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

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Avatar, BOOM!, DC Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Ed Brubaker, Fred Van Lente, Garth Ennis, God Is Dead, Image, Inhumanity, James Asmus, Jeff Lemire, Jeff Stokely, Jonathan Hickman, Marvel, Matt Fraction, Peter Milligan, Quantum and Woody, Roberto De La Torre, Rover Red Charlie, Shadowman, Simon Spurrier, Six-Gun Gorilla, Steve Epting, The Mocking Dead, Trillium, Valiant, Velvet, Vertigo

A light week highlighted by a highly anticipated lights-out finale.

  • Trillium # 5 (DC/Vertigo): No doubt about it: Jeff Lemire is at his best when he’s in charge of it all.  So far, this series has lived up to–or, in terms of inventiveness in the first two issues, exceeded defied–expectations.   In #4, he weaves worlds together, creating a flower-like fragility, only to seemingly wipe the slate–more specifically, the final panel on the final page–clean.  Looking forward to another issue of haunting, wide-eyed gazes, which, in every instance, fill me to my eyeballs with well-deserved pity.  I swear, Lemire’s characters can see into my soul.  Come to think of it, perhaps what I see in their stares is pity–for me.
Trillium #5

Trillium #5

  • Velvet #2 (Image): If you like Brubaker’s storytelling style, why wouldn’t you like this?  His is a strong voice–one I happen to love–and it’s all over Velvet, which is a celebration of l’ esprit d’espionnage.  Throw in Epting’s photo-realistic artwork and, as a final note, toss a tricky Templeton out a window, and you’ve got a cinematic experience worth every Moneypenny.  Every bad-ass Moneypenny.
  • Inhumanity #1 (Marvel): I’ve always enjoyed the Inhumans, so I’ll give it a whirl.  Doesn’t hurt that Fraction’s in charge.  He’s been inhuman, himself, on Hawkeye and Satellite Sam.  He’s fallen from “must buy” to “must try,” however, because of a questionable–though unquestionably self-gratifying–turn on Sex Criminals.
Inhumanity #1

Inhumanity #1

  • God Is Dead #4 (Avatar): Not required reading–not by any stretch.  Yeah, there’s no need “to prepare for either ascension or damnation” with this Hickman side project; see, it is what it is: Deathmatch with supernaturals.  Who’ll come out on top?  God only knows.  But…he’s…dead…  Uh oh.
  • The Mocking Dead #4 (Dynamite): After the mid-season finale of The Walking Dead, we all could use a little lighthearted zombie action.  Trust Fred Van Lente to aim for the head as he kills off his biting satire.  That’s right: a cure is just an issue away.
  • Quantum and Woody #6 (Valiant): Each hilarious issue serves to send your BAC (Blood Asmus Content) well past the legal limit!  Have another!
  • Rover Red Charlie #1 (Avatar): Garth Ennis, the end of days, and three dogs.  What’s not to love?  Speaking of love: anyone looking at this and thinking Morrison and Quitely’s We3?
Rover Red Charlie #1

Rover Red Charlie #1

  • Shadowman #13 (Valiant): Peter Milligan brings a new direction to Shadowman, which was pretty good in the first place.  Looks like it’s gonna be a bit darker, which is perfectly fine with me.
  • Six-Gun Gorilla #6 (BOOM!): One issue away from immortality!  Oh, yeah: we’ve loved this series from its blistering get-go—so much so that I don’t want it to end!  OK, sure, I know it has to; every story has to.  Unfortunately, not every story does so well.  Simon Spurrier–who proves in #5 that he understands that “[a]ll good things must come to an end” and the “[o]nly thing a story needs […] is an end”–certainly hasn’t let me down yet; though, if I’m being fair, I did find the foray into Blue’s fictional reality a bit frantic–during a head-spinning first read, anyway.  Subsequent reads–yes, plural–spoke to me more clearly, and I’m damn glad they did; otherwise, I would’ve been riddled with doubt and undoubtedly inconsolable.  Ah, but with #6, I get to escape one final time into Spurrier and Jeff Stokely’s brilliant assault on escapism; and, you know what, I’m going to bet that they’re going to deliver the finale that this book deserves.  In fact, “I’m all-in!”
Six_gun Gorilla #6

Six-Gun Gorilla #6

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

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Top 5 Books of September

22 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by dmaxwell in 5 Comics You Should Be Reading

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Abstract Studio, BOOM!, Brian K. Vaughan, Daniel Quinn, DC, Dredd, Fiona Staples, Glen Brunswick, Image, Ishmael, Jeff Lemire, Jeff Stokely, Jordie Bellaire, Numbercruncher, P.J. Holden, Rachel Rising, Reality Check, Saga, Simon Spurrier, Six-Gun Gorilla, Terry Moore, Titan, Trillium, Vertigo, Victor Bogdanovic

5. Trillium #2 (DC/Vertigo): Jeff Lemire trades one flippin’ great gimmick for another in this, the sophomore effort of his so-far fantastic fledgling sci-fi series.  Our star-crossed something-or-others, Nika and William, come together after meeting face to face for seemingly the first time at the end of issue #1; but, not surprisingly, they suffer from intercursus interruptus, which is played up perfectly through Lemire’s clever choice of cutting out one side of the conversation, and then swapping sides and back again, until they find common ground–well, until they find something growing on common ground: trillium, of course!  This device, as vital as it is to the story and the pair’s burgeoning relationship, is merely an accessory–a necklace around the neck of a beautiful woman; and the beautiful woman, in this case, is Lemire’s own stunning artwork, which celebrates both the frustration and the humor present in the situation and the magical connection that’s present even when the right words aren’t.  I’m happy to say: I’ve found my thrill-ium, on Kuka Mama’s temple-ium–and in Lemire’s petal-to-the-metal original vision. (SC)

Trillium #2

Trillium #2

4. Six-Gun Gorilla #4 (BOOM!): “The story…the story we’re told, folks” is layers thick in this issue-laden chapter of the Gospel According to Simon Spurrier.  The visionary and his visualizer, hot-shot artist Jeff Stokely, continue Blue’s blistering journey from zero to hero, even as Jiminy Gorilla ties to convince him to say au revior to his savior complex.  The fourth episode of the genre-bending series kicks off with some sidewalk rabble-rousing before a cheeky sense of Dredd muscles its way into the mix, one that hovers over the whole of the book, especially as Spurrier continues his satiric assault on our infatuation with reality entertainment.  He ironically reviles the voyeur in us and assails our suicidal self-importance–the latter played up in the Mittyesque Blue, whose conversation with the “pseudo-mystical” gorilla about his place in this wild-west world is not unlike the Socratic dialogue in Daniel Quinn’s Ishmael (1992), which, by the way, is between the novel’s narrator and, if you didn’t already know, a talking gorilla.  That heady tète-à-tète is balanced brilliantly by plenty of high-velocity action drawn at a breakneck pace by the supersonic Stokely, who rides horses, stagecoaches, and speed lines all the way to a “classic scene”–a showdown between “the griller” and the well-armed Auchenbran–and a hairy final splash.  Where most minis of late have fallen short of the high expectations established by first issues built upon clever concepts, two-thirds of the way through, this gorilla of a book has evolved into something even more fascinating, with no sign of slowing down. (SC)

Six-Gun Gorilla #4

Six-Gun Gorilla #4

3. Numbercruncher #3 (Titan): Simon Spurrier is on a serious roll with his second book in this month’s Top 5 (the first time that’s happened!) This one’s a fast-paced, perfectly structured tale of a love that will not die, no matter how many times a mercenary angel of death tries to kill it. That said angel is a thuggish, bowler hat-wearing accountant in the ecclesiastical bureaucracy of the afterlife, is the clever underlying conceit.  The literally undying love provides, at first, a through line of hope. But in this issue, Spurrier seems to suggest that the romantic concept of ‘eternal love’ is not only unrealistic, but obsessive: that way lies madness.  Colorist Jordie Bellaire deserves special mention here as she alternates between gray tone and color palettes, visually separating life from afterlife (often in the same panel) over PJ Holden’s manic art. One hopes that Spurrier’s vision of the unforgiving machinery of the universe is mere fancy; but, in presenting such themes against unrelenting race(s) against death(s), the creators have fashioned 22 pages of story that hum like clockwork. (DM)

Numbercruncher #3

Numbercruncher #3

2. Saga #14 (Image): Another issue of Saga, another spot in our Top 5. It’s getting almost pedestrian, really. And that’s the kicker; often our top choices offer some formal aspect, some innovation, perhaps in the concept or structure of the writing, or the design or lay-out of the art, that really sets it apart. But Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples just make it look so damn effortless, month after month. The latest chapter of our favorite sci-fi family dramedy features such earth-shaking events as budding romances, stopping for gas, and the most quietly touching scene between a young girl and her cat that you’re ever likely to read. And the only fireworks on display is the laid-back naturalism with which Vaughan and Staples are able to balance the fantastic with the all-too-real inner lives of their characters. Seamless. (DM)

Saga #14

Saga #14

1. Rachel Rising #19 (Abstract Studio): Terry Moore’s monthly dose of well-honed supernatural horror has risen to the top spot for the month on the strength of this issue’s blast to the all-important past–to this better-than-good book’s Genesis.  Moore sends us back to the black and white world of 17th century Manson and sets an ominous tone as he tempts us with ages-old character and thematic archetypes embodied in the gorgeous forms of the raven-haired Lilith and the innocent “little fawn,” Bryn Erin; he juxtaposes his avatars of death and life, respectively, with a chilling result, particularly as Bryn Erin’s parents, ironic Christian zealots, prove impotent–especially her pitchfork-slash-tri-pronged-phallus-wielding father–against the confident and bewitching power of a different, and certainly more feminine, perspective.  Speaking of perspective: Moore plays with negative space to a positive effect as Rachel–who in 2013 has been poisoned by her friend Carol– opens her eyes to shades of gray, a device that speaks, as we learn upon Rachel’s waking at the end, to Bryn Erin’s inner conflict and the relativism that marks the modern, more enlightened world.  As Rachel’s eyes close once more, we’re thrust back to early Manson and a heartbreaking scene between Bryn Erin and her young love, James.  Yes, there is danger here–nothing more dangerous, however, than the potential for ruinous, story-crushing sap, which Moore avoids with a magical mix of urgent dialogue, intense artwork, and more high-caliber irony.  At that point, a freckled expectation is certainly set, and the page turn doesn’t disappoint.  Perfection rarely does. (SC)

Rachel Rising #19

Rachel Rising #19

The Biggest Dis(appointment): Reality Check #1 (Image) – The concept: A lovelorn schlub with a heroic alter ego. Sound familiar? Ah, but here’s the meta twist – the schlub is actually a comic book creator and the hero is his costumed creation who’s mysteriously come to life! So what we have here are actual comic book creators (Glen Brunswick and Viktor Bogdanovic) creating a comic book about a comic creator creating a comic book about a generic superhero. What it amounts to is a comic book that gazes so intently into its own navel that it threatens to disappear. This might have been forgivable if the characters themselves weren’t so insufferable. I suppose the socially-awkward misfit paradigm is meant to make the lead character relatable to “the average comic book fan”. But playing to that stereotype only serves to reinforce it. Really, comic book fans need to get over the whole “loser” mentality, and books like this don’t help. Even sadder, the supposedly sexycool superhero displays an attitude toward women that is middle-school at best. But wait, maybe Brunswick is using the “writing” of his main character to expose his shortcomings and set him and his caped companion on a path out of arrested development! Yeah, and maybe bad writing is just bad writing. (DM)

Turning pages,

Scott & Derek

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Impressions: New York Comic Con

21 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by dmaxwell in Uncategorized

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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Babymouse, Bluffton, CBLDF, Colleen AF Venable, cosplay, Eric Wight, Frankie Pickle, Greg Rucka, Guinea Pig, Hit, Jacob Javitz Center, Jeff Stokely, Jennifer Holm, Larry Marder, Lazarus, Matt Kindt, Matt Phelan, Matthew Holm, Mel Brooks, Meryl Jaffe, Michael Lark, New York Comic Con, Peter Tomasi, Six-Gun Gorilla, Tales of the Beanworld, Vanesa Del Rey

It’s been just over a week since the New York Comic Con descended on our fair city in a whirlwind of, if not glitz and glamour, then body paint and wishful thinking. And while seven days seems hardly sufficient to digest this pop cultural smorgasbord, I nonetheless humbly offer the following  highly personal, utterly non-comprehensive account of the weekend’s festivities.

scott

Scott, my partner in crime, about to go down the rabbit hole

First of all the size. I went to one of the earlier incarnations when NYCC was still sharing space with three or so other events. In the few scant intervening years it has metastasized to fill all eighteen miles of the Jacob Javits Center. It took us twenty minutes just to get our bearings.

derek-terrordomeAnd yet (like many of the costumes there) it was still bursting at the seams. Untold masses of pilgrims winding their way from one temporary chapel of plastic tubing and garish banners to the next. Caught in a sea of spandex and fishnets amidst a cacophony of miked-up segment hosts and video game sound effects. An iridescent fusion of Arab market and downtown Tokyo. Wonderland and TerrorDome at once.

dclegocar

The show was split into six major areas that I could discern. First, something called ‘The Block’. The name, suggestive of the title of HBO’s latest foray into the penal system, is perhaps not apt for anyone whose sensibilities have a volume setting under ’11’. Truly one’s senses were assaulted by an endless array of toys, gadgetry, accessories, statues, t-shirts and miscellanea, mostly of the mash/up or ironic kind (sidenote: if irony has spawned an entire industry, does it cease to be ironic?). In other words this was the place for high-octane (in your best Mel Brooks/Yogurt voice): ‘Merchandising! Merchandising! Merchandising!’ In keeping with my general skepticism, and appreciation for comics history, I referred to this place as ‘The Blech‘.

derek-southparkNot to be outdone, we next had the main exhibition space. This is where the publishers (and some major retailers) set up shop. This was nominally more interesting; at least this had something to do with comics, what with with editors, assistants and the occasional creator manning the booths. But what really seemed to be emphasized were the corporate bona-fides (‘synergy’ if you so choose) and the big events needed to prop them up (Look! It’s that car from “S.H.I.E.L.D”!) So, again the Aesthetic of the Exclamation Point reigned: bigger,better,faster,shinier. Sure there were islands of interest; an unknown publisher, a hard-to-find book.  But ultimately we were fleas in a thousand-ring circus.

derek-shieldcar

Am I being sarcastic? Or does some part of me think it’s kinda….cool?

There was the autograph section, with all the personality of an airplane hanger, housing long undulating queues of people clutching Hulk Hogan dolls.

The Food Court offered a range of selections from grease-bomb heart attack to actually edible. Its central location made logistical sense I suppose. But it did throw into high relief the outlying relegation of what were, after all, the two most interesting areas: the Panels and Artist’s Alley.

Perhaps it was too much to expect of a four day event that the panels would be ensconced in more attractive surroundings. But given the hyperventilating visuals of the Main Floor, the Spartan look of the panel rooms and attendant waiting area stood in stark contrast. Imagine an unused hockey rink with giant, unfinished cubicles, and you start to get the idea. But no matter; this was where you could hear creative minds wax creatively, expounding on craft, influence, the politics of the day, etc. (OK, maybe the Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man panel don’t quite fit this bill)

Some personal highlights:

-Greg Rucka’s political rant during the Lazarus panel, in which he got visibly angry at, among other things, the surveillance state, the highjacking of Washington DC, the ever-increasing power of the oligarchy, and mass manipulation by the media. He seemed to be aware of the danger of putting too much of this stuff in the comic, thereby risking alienating his audience; but I say caution be damned! I wanna see more of that! Michael Lark, on the other hand, perfectly played the comic foil to Rucka’s histrionics with well-timed barbs puncturing any impending pomposity. Best moment: Rucka, bemoaning current security practices, explaining to his audience just how easy it would have been for him to kill everyone in the room. Lark, not missing a beat, slowly backed away.

rucka/lark

The comedy stylings of Rucka and Lark

–CBLDF: Raising a Reader – A panel on the educational value of reading comics that managed to be informative and entertaining, featuring current rising stars of comic kid-lit Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm (Babymouse), Colleen AF Venable (Guinea Pig), Matt Phelan (Bluffton), child literacy expert Meryl Jaffe, and indie comics icon Larry Marder (Tales of the Beanworld). The roundtable discussion covered the current boom in childrens’ comics (after a long dearth of such material), advocated for comics in the classroom to promote literacy, and defended against the charge that comics “dumb down” readers. Particularly insightful was Eric Wight (Frankie Pickle) recounting his experiences in using comics not just to get kids reading, but to help them write, focusing the type of visual storytelling skills that are becoming increasingly important in this day and age. The panel wrapped with some of the featured creators demonstrating a useful idea-generating exercise, while taking direction from a child in the audience.

Finally, there was Artist’s Alley, with all the ghettoization the name implies. Far off the main exhibition space, and sharing a floor with the coat check, this was nonetheless the place to be. Here, after all, were the very creators upon whose talents Comic Con, and much of the entertainment industry, is built upon. Those, in other words, who put the Comic in Comic Con. (Without them it’s just one Big Con.) And quite a who’s who of artists, writers and editors it was; everyone from Adam Hughes to Yanick Paquette available to converse, debate, and of course, promote. Our man Scott chatted up Peter Tomasi on the current state of the Bat-universe. We drooled over Matt Kindt’s original art. And we spent some time with table-mates Jeff Stokely (Six-Gun Gorilla) and Vanesa Del Rey (Hit). (Really enjoyed talking process with Stokely. Nice to see a relatively young artist who still gets ink under his fingernails. I’ve got nothing against digital art – how could I in the age of Fiona Staples? – but there’s something so beautifully tactile about pages with nib scratches and ink splatter.)

stokely

Mr. Stokely

del rey

Ms. Del Rey

Of course, I can’t end an essay about Comic Con without mentioning what, for many, is its raison d’etre: the costumes. The make-up, the wigs, the giant wings, the giant-er artillery, the latex, the leotards – body type be damned! I viewed these hodge-podge concoctions with a mixture of admiration for the inventiveness (and in some cases, even artistry) that went into their creation, and a tugging sadness at the willful obliviousness involved in transforming oneself into a walking advertisement for something one doesn’t even own. The elaborate artifice employed to faithfully mimic a favorite characters held just a whiff of desperation. And yet, there was a disarming innocence about these folks. And they seemed, by and large, to be having fun; posing, taking pictures with fellow cos-players; in short, being seen. In fact, they’ve adopted the ethos of Comic Con so thoroughly – big, brash, ridiculous, corporate, with an undercurrent of genuine creativity – that they’ve become the perfect metaphor for it.

-exodus

Exodus

And so, New York Comic Con, you three-hundred pound gal in a Catwoman costume, I bid you adieu. You bewilder me, you repulse me, you intrigue me.

See you next year.

Probably.

Yours in Comics,

Derek

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What’s I&N Store (10/16)

15 Tuesday Oct 2013

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

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Alberto Alburquerque, Ales Kot, Animal Man, Avatar, Batman and Two-Face, Batman/Superman, Batwoman, Bloodshot, BOOM!, Brain Boy, Brian Azzarello, Brian Hurtt, Brian Michael Bendis, Buzzkill, Charles Dickens, Chris Bachalo, Christos Gage, Cullen Bunn, Dark Horse, David Aja, DC Comics, Dynamite, Ed Brisson, Eric Stephenson, Extinction Parade, Fred Van Lente, Greg Pak, Hawkeye, Image, J.H. Williams III, Jae Lee, Jeff Lemire, Jeff Stokely, Johnnie Christmas, Joshua Dysart, Letter 44, Marvel, Matt Fraction, Max Brooks, Nate Bellegarde, Nowhere Men, Oni Press, Patrick Gleason, Peter J. Tomasi, R.B. Silva, Rafael Albuquerque, Robert Venditti, Sheltered, Simon Spurrier, Six-Gun Gorilla, The Sixth Gun, Trevor McCarthy, Uncanny X-Men, Valiant, W. Haden Blackman, Wonder Woman, X-O Manowar, zero

Still riding a post-Comic Con high.  You know what that means: I’ll be looking to buy, buy, buy!

  • Brain Boy #2 (Dark Horse): Underwhelming initial effort on Fred Van Lente’s part.  Hard to live up to the standard he’s set for himself with the Grade A Archer & Armstrong and the hilarious The Mocking Dead.  R.B. Silva’s art, however, is stunning.
  • Buzzkill #2 (Dark Horse): Liked #1 more than I expected to.  Surprised me not unlike the way BOOM!’s Six-Gun Gorilla #1 did.  No, I’m not saying I expect it to be as good on as many levels as SGG; it’s clearly not that kind of book.  But expectations have been raised.  Let’s hope it doesn’t fizzle out like Dark Horse’s Colder and Dream Thief.
Buzzkill #2

Buzzkill #2

  • Animal Man #24 (DC): OK, now they’re getting serious: American Vampire‘s Rafael Albuquerque has taken over art duties.  Let’s see if this is the change Jeff Lemire needed to set this ship aright.
  • Batman and Two-Face #24 (DC): Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason deserve far more credit than they’ve received for the work they’ve been doing over here.  Anyone not under a spell should be able to tell: this is the best Batman book going.  Don’t take my word for it; pick it up and find out for yourself.  This issue kicks off a new arc, so jump on board now and find out what all of the buzz should be about.
Batman and Two-Face #24

Batman and Two-Face #24

  • Batman/Superman #4 (DC): So far, so good.  Greg Pak’s making sense despite treading in Morrison-like territory, and Jae Lee’s work is beautiful, as always.
  • Batwoman #24 (DC): Battle of the Bat-Sexes.  Sad to know we’re coming up on the end of what’s been a tremendous run with this character.
  • Wonder Woman #24 (DC): “Strange new era of Wonder Woman“?  OK.  Why not?
  • Nowhere Men #6 (Image): From out of nowhere comes the sixth issue of one of our favorite series.  I may have to break into the box and ground myself before taking off with this.
Nowhere Men #6

Nowhere Men #6

  • Sheltered #4 (Image): #3 showed some cracks.  I’m concerned that Brisson’s going to break down like he did during his Comeback.
  • Zero #2 (Image): Ales Kot proved he’s still got it with his opening salvo.  Easily wiped the terrible stain of his awkward run on Suicide Squad from my brain.
Zero #2

Zero #2

  • Hawkeye #13 (Marvel): Fraction’s back on his home turf.  He’s shown, however, that he’s comfortable just about anywhere nowadays, as evidenced by the sensational Satellite Sam and the arresting Sex Criminals.
  • Uncanny X-Men #13 (Marvel): Battle of the Atom will undoubtedly end with a considerable amount of collateral damage–including all of the X-books that have been tied to the debacle that has been Battle of the Atom.  Yes, this may very well be the push I need to get off of the X-[insert conveyance here].
  • Bloodshot #15 (Valiant): Definitely on the chopping block. See: I haven’t cared too much for Bloodshot since we said goodbye to Gamma.  I’ll give it this one to grab me good.  If it doesn’t, then it’s goodbye.
  • X-O Manowar #18 (Valiant): Not long ago, I almost quit on X-O.  Glad I didn’t.
  • Extinction Parade #3 (Avatar): My wife likes it more than I do.
  • Letter 44 #1 (Oni Press): If you haven’t read the ubiquitous raves for Charles Soule’s latest offering, then you haven’t…well…read the…ubiquitous…raves for Charles Soule’s latest offering.
Letter 44 #1

Letter 44 #1

  • The Sixth Gun #35 (Oni Press): As fun an ongoing as your bound to find.
  • Six-Gun Gorilla #5 (BOOM!): Ah, the best for last.  So far, we’re talking contender for Book of the Year.  Met Jeff Stokely at the NYCC, and–I don’t think he’d mind my saying–he promised that this one’s a wild ride.  I believe him.
Six-Gun Gorilla #5

Six-Gun Gorilla #5

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

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I&N Scott’s Bag (9/18)

29 Sunday Sep 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Scott's Bag

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Tags

Alberto Ponticelli, Ales Kot, Barry Kitson, Battle of the Atom, Bloodshot, Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps, BOOM!, Brian Michael Bendis, Buzzkill, China Mieville, Chris Bachalo, Chris Samnee, Christos Gage, comic books, comics, Daniel Quinn, Daredevil, Dark Horse, DC Comics, Donny Cates, Dream Thief, Emanuela Lupacchino, Frazer Irving, Geoff Shaw, Greg Smallwood, Harbinger, Image, Ishmael, Jai Nitz, James Thurber, Javier Rodriguez, Jeff Lemire, Jeff Stokely, Jim McCann, Jordie Bellaire, Joshua Dysart, Juan Ferreyra, Justice League, Justice League: Dial E, Kiss Me Satan, Lee Garbett, Mark Reznicek, Mark Waid, Marvel, Mateus Santolouco, Michael Walsh, Mind the Gap, Moose Baumann, Numbercruncher, P.J. Holden, Robert Venditti, Simon Spurrier, Six-Gun Gorilla, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Titan, Uncanny X-Men, Valiant, Victor Gischler, zero

  • Mind the Gap #14 (The penultimate issue of Act I follows the same formula as #13: it’s another harmonious dual narrative visualized to perfection by artists Rodin Esquejo and Dan McDaid. The flashback is particularly fantastic: McDaid’s art is beautiful and emotionally effective–especially the wordless nine-panel page, which transitions terrifically on the turn from three cross-marked graves in the past to three cups of coffee in the present. No matter the time period, Jim McCann’s in complete control of the complex storyline; in fact, he’s given birth to the equivalent of a classy lady, this gorgeous Mind the Gap: it’s sexy, sure, enough to lure you in; but it doesn’t give away all its secrets; it knows it’s the mystery that brings ’em back for more.)
Mind the Gap #14

Mind the Gap #14

  • Six-Gun Gorilla #4 (We’re almost to the point where words are no longer enough to describe this soon-to-be classic from Simon Spurrier and Jeff Stokely. These guys are putting on an absolute clinic! Consider: we’ve swung from Thurber’s “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” in #3 to Quinn’s Ishmael here in #4, all while wearing a classic Western motif with an “unconventional twist”–and it’s all done so damn effortlessly.)
  • Numbercruncher #3 (Suddenly, Simon Spurrier’s vaulted to the top of the Must Read list. As good as Six-Gun Gorilla has been for four issues, this is as good a single issue as you’re gonna find; and Bastard Zane is as unique a voice as you’ll ever hear. Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. The artwork, too, is worth celebrating; it’s no accident: P.J. Holden and Jordie Bellaire amplify the conflict between the variables of life and the accounting for them in the after through the perfect balance of black & white and color. If you’ve missed this series, do yourself a favor: plan on picking up the trade.)
Numbercruncher #3

Numbercruncher #3

  • Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps #14 (Better than I expected it to be.)
  • Harbinger #16 (Harbinger meets The Matrix. Dysart’s playing mind games with the Renegades–and with us!)
  • Kiss Me Satan #1 (I’m not a big werewolf guy, but I liked this. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and Colder‘s Juan Ferreyra elevates Victor Gischler’s story enough to warrant a second issue.)
  • Uncanny X-Men #12 (The best issue of Battle of the Atom thus far. I know: that’s not saying much. A lot of the credit has to go to Chris Bachalo, who’s done his best work on the series here.)
Uncanny X-Men #12

Uncanny X-Men #12

  • Buzzkill #1 (Biggest surprise of the week. The promise of the premise is fulfilled over twenty-two intoxicating pages. Expectations have been raised like an upside-down college kid over a keg.)
  • Justice League: Dial E #23.3 (A brilliant way to say goodbye to a brilliant book: China Mieville dances with the dial and some seriously talented artists–including Mateus Santolouco, Jeff Lemire, Frazer Irving, and Alberto Ponticelli–for the last time? If so, what a dance, indeed.)
Justice League #23.3

Justice League #23.3

  • Zero #1 (This is the Ales Kot who drew me to Change, the one I was counting on to make something of Suicide Squad. Well, that certainly didn’t happen. Here, however, Kot shows some courage while going Gaza over the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and he makes great use of time and space. All told–or story-wise, some told , anyway–this book is good therapy: took just this one issue of Zero to get me to stop thinking about Suicide.)
  • Daredevil #31 (Ripped straight from the headlines and brought straight down upon our heads. Makes me long for the days of the Omega Drive.)
  • Dream Thief #5 (The series started off really well.  It was innovative in its design and was full of energy.  And then it just got, well, stupid.  Thank goodness it’s over.)
  • The Sixth Gun #34 (To the pile with ye!)
  • X-O Manowar #17 (Solid, as always. Aric, one of my favorite current comic characters, channels his father as he does his all-important king thing. But despite his super-powered armor, which he wears arrogantly and aggressively, he may prove powerless against Volo, the uppity upstart, who wields the power of–get this–a super market.)
X_O Manowar #17

X-O Manowar #17

Turning pages,

Scott

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Top 5 Books of August

22 Sunday Sep 2013

Posted by dmaxwell in 5 Comics You Should Be Reading

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Adventure Time, American Flagg!, Armageddon 2419 A.D., BOOM!, Braden Lamb, Buck Rogers, Greg Rucka, Hermes Press, Howard Chaykin, Image, Jeff Lemire, Jeff Stokely, kaboom!, Lazarus, Matt Fraction, Michael Lark, Numbercruncher, Philip Francis Nowlan, Ryan North, Satellite Sam, Shelli Paroline, Simon Spurrier, Six-Gun Gorilla, Titan, Trillium, Vertigo

5. Adventure Time #19 (kaboom!): Ryan North puts aside the usual formal fireworks this month, instead a offering a complex mingling of alternate realities, terrible rap skills and honest-to-goodness heartbreak. Artists Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb keep track of all the goings-on with their usual aplomb. As is often the case with AT, the tone and pacing can turn on a dime: the initial silliness turns bittersweet when the usually villainous Ice King has his heart’s desire destroyed, almost cruelly, by the usually heroic Finn and Jake. Expectations already defied, North then gives the poor Ice King a small measure of redemption, allowing us a peak into his misunderstood, heroic heart. I tell you, if you’re able to get through this tale with completely dry eyes, your heart must be cold as ice. (DM)

Adventure Time #19

Adventure Time #19

4. Trillium #1 (DC/Vertigo): Jeff Lemire, who it seems hasn’t had an appropriate outlet for his true voice since the elegaic Sweet Tooth came to an end last year, returns to captivating form with the premiere issue of his latest series. And by “form” I mean “format”: he tells the stories of his two main characters separately at first by cleverly employing a flip-book configuration. Moreover, the page layout for both stories mirror each other precisely throughout until they finally meet in the middle; quite the disciplined feat (not to take away from this but, in an interesting coincidence, Andy Hirsch utilizes the same exact strategy for his back-up feature in the aforementioned issue of Adventure Time – another reason to pick it up!). This isn’t merely technical wizardry however; the format perfectly complements Lemire’s tale of two literally star-crossed lovers, separated by unimaginable distance and thousands of years. It was this type of artistic adventurousness that garnered Lemire his indy cred to begin with. Here’s hoping enough people buy this book that he can stop working on the likes of Green Arrow. (DM)

3. Satellite Sam #2 (Image): Here’s the truth: Matt Fraction and Howard Chaykin certainly didn’t blow their collective wad with a well-received #1, which, somewhat surprisingly, was wildly entertaining for a book about a troubled television program back in the black and white days of the medium.  The second installment brings much of the same to the page: Fraction’s showy dialogue is all business yet feels breezy and unbuttoned; and Chaykin delivers, yet again, earning exclamation points for nailing the period and for ostentatiously trading on subtlety as he slides from one panel to the next.  Overall, this issue traipses along like a stylish transition; but, unlike Mike, who’s a little too handful of himself at the bathroom sink while focused on a lineup of father’s floozies, it delivers the goods–the very, very goods. (SC)

2. Six-Gun Gorilla #3 (BOOM!): Simon Spurrier and Jeff Stokely hit the mark again with the further adventures of Blue and his partner, the eponymous gun-toting primate.  Spurrier, whose Numbercruncher (Titan) is by all accounts another engaging escape from reality gracing today’s increasingly crowded shelves, plays up the personal and cultural relevance of fiction, especially as he conjures Thurber’s Walter Mitty while crafting Blue into an increasingly compelling Christ figure–one persecuted from every angle imaginable: from the ridiculously voluminous General Vertid to the remotely sadistic Auchenbran.  Without a doubt: three issues in, this creative team has proven it’s getting its inspiration from a higher power; that’s right, folks: this is the Newer Testament.  Read.  Rejoice. (SC) 

1. Lazarus #3 (Image): Greg Rucka and Michael Lark are a perfect pair, like a flavor-forward cabernet sauvignon and a medium-rare porterhouse.  Each is known for his firm grasp of reality and his uncanny ability to reflect it on the page.  Together, they’ve brought an unbridled energy to the first three issues of this female-fronted fantasy: Rucka is a master storyteller, who is as good as it gets when it comes to delivering naturalistic dialogue; and Lark brings it all to life with a style that screams screen–small or big.  This month’s offering sports an opening sequence that relies extensively on Eve’s intense eyes and ultimately focuses on her blade, which becomes a slicing symbol for her sexuality; see: even in this fabricated future, it’s clear: no means no.  After some revelatory intercourse between the two Lazaruses–the Lazari?–another moment worth noting takes place poolside: Jonah and Johanna, status-driven siblings from the Carlyle family, plan a hit on their sister with the ease of planning a party; and, startlingly, just as easily, Johanna callously calls for Charles’s execution–because the simple servant may have “heard enough of [Jonah’s] tantrums to guess what’s going on.”  That’s one cold broad!  But this is hot stuff–thanks, in part, to the explosive cliffhanger–and is about as good as it gets.   Forever and ever.  Amen. (SC)

The Biggest Dis(apponitment): Buck Rogers #1 (Hermes Press)-  A classic pulp hero re-imagined by a comics legend; this title had a lot to recommend it. Howard Chaykin after all revolutionized the design of comic books with such seminal works as American Flagg! and has done stellar work reviving bygone characters on titles like The Shadow and Blackhawk. This seemed then, a match made in heaven. Chaykin does takes Buck back to his origins, drawing much inspiration from his very first appearance in Armageddon 2419 A.D., a novella by Buck’s creator, Philip Francis Nowlan, (published in Amazing Stories in 1928). This is not the breezier futuristic adventure of the well-known, subsequent comic strip (the world’s first, and most influential, sci-fi comic) or the beloved low-budget Buster Crabbe film serial. This version is decidedly more political, detailing a violent guerrilla insurgency between surviving tribes of Americans against their overlords. For starters, here Buck is portrayed as a card-carrying communist firebrand, railing against the capitalist system. No, this is not your father’s Buck Rogers (though I suppose it may be your grandfather’s).

Now I readily admit, I’ve never read the Nowlan novel (I claim the dilettante’s credo, “I know of it”). Given the era, it’s entirely possible that it included communist concerns. In our own era of increasing economic disparity and global recession, perhaps this is Chaykin’s way of reintroducing such class-conscious ideas into the conversation. One might even commend him for doing so. But using your lead character (and a beloved icon, at that) as a mouthpiece to go on and on about the tyranny of the “plutocrats” is wearying, even dispiriting. Further, while decrying the evils of the capitalist war machine, it irritatingly ignores communism’s own history of atrocity.

Have your eyes glossed over yet? It gets worse. The threat that the future Americans are fighting? The Han (read Chinese). Again, this stays true to the original novella. But, so what? Whatever its merits, Armageddon 2419 A.D., reflects the paranoid racism of its time. Does Chaykin really want to revive the notion of the “Yellow Peril”? An example: at one point, Chaykin has an (admittedly unscrupulous) character, Black Barney, whom Buck begrudgingly admires, refer to the Han as “those cheap yellow bastards.”  Now, the current, real-world China is an ascendant world power run by a government that is lousy with human rights abuses. Its increasing influence and deplorable treatment of its own people is a legitimate concern. But is this this really the lens through which we want to address such issues? By invoking a mindset that was abhorrent one-hundred years ago?

(An aside: isn’t it ironic that Comrade Buck is hellbent against China, of all things?)

Chaykin’s mastery of the medium is unassailable and ongoing. A large part of our enjoyment of Satellite Sam (see above) derives from his stunning period visuals. I eagerly anticipate his upcoming Century West from Image. But Buck Rogers is retro in the worst ways possible. (DM)

Turning pages,

Scott & Derek

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