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Tag Archives: Mateus Santoluoco

I&N Scott’s Bag (8/7)

11 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Scott's Bag

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Alberto Ponticelli, All-New X-Men, Ben Templesmith, Brian Bolland, Brian Michael Bendis, Buck Rogers, China Mieville, Cullen Bunn, Dan Green, Daredevil: Dark Nights, David Lafuente, David Lapham, DC Comics, Dial H, Ed Brisson, Ed Brubaker, Fatale, Helheim, HiFi, Howard Chaykin, Image, J. Michael Straczynski, James Asmus, Jeff Lemire, Joelle Jones, Johnnie Christmas, Jonathan Hickman, Jordie Bellaire, Justin Jordan, Lee Loughridge, Lee Weeks, Marvel, Mateus Santoluoco, Matt Fraction, Neil Edwards, Nick Filardi, Nick Pitarra, Oni Press, Quantum and Woody, Roberto De La Torre, Satellite Sam, Sean Phillips, Sergio Cariello, Shadowman, Shari Chankhamma, Sheltered, Ten Grand, The Manhattan Projects, Tom Mandrake, Tome Fowler, Trillium, Valiant, Vertigo

Another Wednesday in NYC meant another trip to Midtown Comics–and another week of plucking top-shelf books from the middle of the Great Wall O’Comics.

  • Fatale #16 (Read it!  Solid, sure, but not as transcendent as it’s been.  No real missteps, just didn’t get the feeling I typically get during and after reading.  Hey: it’s bound to happen–especially with the titles that kill it from issue to issue.)
Fatale #16

Fatale #16

  • Dial H #15 (Read it!  A crazy, convoluted concoction–everything we’ve come to love about this misfit book!  Too bad it couldn’t really find its place in the DCU–or an audience.  We sure as heck did our best to promote it; but, alas, it wasn’t enough.  From the get-go, however, it was clear: Dial H wasn’t a terribly accessible title.  Thank you China Mieville, Alberto Ponticelli, Dan Green, Mateus Santolouco, Dave Lapham, and Brian Bolland for dialing me dizzy for fifteen fantastic issues.)
  • Buck Rogers #1 (Read it!  Howard Chaykin’s always worth a shot.  Here, though, probably just this one.  While it read well enough, it didn’t quite clear the bar, which is set pretty darned high–especially for outliers like this.  Hey: as much as I’d like to, I can’t read everything!)
  • Sheltered #2 (Read it!  A very strong follow up to a superb opening act.  Looks like Brisson might really have something here.)
Sheltered #2

Sheltered #2

  • Daredevil: Dark Nights #3 (Read it!  Some impressive twists weighed down just a bit by some inevitable schmaltz, especially related to what’s been driving DD to complete his mission of mercy.)
  • Ten Grand #4 (Read it!  Glad I’ve stuck around.  I’ve found myself drawn to Joe and to how Joe’s been drawn–and colored–by the terrific Ben Templesmith.)
Ten Grand #4

Ten Grand #4

  • All-New X-Men #15 (Read it!  Once again, an issue that accomplishes very little.  Feels like we’re just killing time leading up to the big crossover event.  Has felt that way for a while, actually.)
  • Sidekick #1 (Read it!  I liked it more than I didn’t.  What kept me from loving it?  It’s the battle that rages amongst the pages: a battle for the ages between clever and cliche.  Kudos to DerekNerd for noticing that this reads like a Mark Millar book.  If you didn’t think of it before, I bet you’re noticing it now.)
  • The Manhattan Projects #13 (Read it!  Same old, same old.  And by that, I mean super good.  Hickman, Pitarra, and Bellaire never take a month off.  Oh, and how about that JFK?)
  • Helheim #6 (Read it!  Everything you’d expect from a Cullen Bunn book.  Pretty terrific final page, no?)
  • Shadowman #9 (Read it!  Another solid issue.)
Shadowman #9

Shadowman #9

  • Quantum and Woody #2 (Read it!  Really liked the beginning.  Asmus kicks off the second installment with a clever conversation–between Woody and me!–and some intelligent humor.  In fact, I was thinking top of the pile for the week.  However, it got a bit sophomoric–and jokingly homophobic–as the issue progressed.  I get it: it’s meant to amplify Woody’s immaturity; but I think, in the end, it detracted from the development of the story.)
  • Trillium #1 (Read it!  One word–for now anyway: finally.)
Trillium #1

Trillium #1

  • Satellite Sam #2 (Read it!  Issue #1 was one of my favorites for July, and there’s no let up here.  Fantastic follow up from Fraction and Chaykin.  So fabulously different from everything else.)

What a way to kick off the month!

What did you get in your bag?  Anything worth checking out?

Turning pages,

Scott

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In Scott’s Bag (7/31)

03 Saturday Aug 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Scott's Bag

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Adventures of Superman, Animal Man, Avatar, Batman, Batman Incorporated, Bedlam, Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Wood, Caanan White, Chris Bachalo, Collider, Daredevil, David Aja, DC Comics, FF, Frazer Irving, Grant Morrison, Hawkeye, IDW, Image, Indestructible Hulk, Javier Rodriguez, Jeff Lemire, Kevin Eastman, Kieron Gillen, Laura Allred, Marguerite Bennet, Mark Waid, Marvel, Mateus Santoluoco, Matt Fraction, Matt Kindt, Matteo Scalera, Mike Allred, Nick Spencer, Olivier Coipel, Robbi Rodriguez, Ruan Browne, Scott Snyder, Sean Murphy, Simon Oliver, Stephen Segovia, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Wake, Travel Foreman, Uber, Uncanny X-Men, Wes Craig, X-Men

Picked up most of my books at the heavenly Midtown Comics.

  • Batman Incorporated #13 (Read it!  And just like that, it’s over.  Morrison, you quirky bastard, you will be missed.)
  • Adventures of Superman #3 (Read it!  Matt Kindt brings a little Mind MGMT to Metropolis: he crafts a complex narrative–in this case, plagued by some uneven writing–and rides it toward a recognizable Superman story.)
  • Indestructible Hulk #11 (Read it!  Hulk and robot Banner–yup, robot Banner–are unstuck in time.  So it goes.)
  • Uncanny X-Men #9 (Read it!  Enjoyed the…  I liked the, umm…  Well, there was the time when…  OK, I’m going to have to go with the hair-coloring kerfuffle.  Cuckoo, indeed.)
  • FF #10 (Read it!  F—ing Fraction!  No, really: you’ve got to read it to believe it.)
FF #10

FF #10

  • X-Men #3 (Read it!  Seemed to resolve itself far too easily.  But, hey: they “pulled together,” so…  A solid shrug.)
  • Batman Annual #2 (Read it!  Should’ve learned my lesson regarding these darned annuals a long time ago.  But seeing as I bought it and read it: I guess I liked the premise that Batman “ruined” Arkham by filling it with villainous scum.  What I didn’t care for was the stretching out of the story–which was unnecessary in the context of the story itself, clearly, but necessary in the context of filling all those extra pages.  Darned annuals.)
  • Uber #4 (Read it!  Now that’s how it’s done!  Kudos to Kieron Gillen and Caanan White for serving up a solid issue from front to back.  And to think I almost abandoned the war effort after #2!)
  • Bedlam #8 (Read it!  Fully expected it to be a pull-list casualty at this point; but, darn it, throughout the series Spencer’s shown a knack for escalating the plot over the course of an issue, and this issue is a prime example of that knack and its power.  And just like that, I’m down for more.)
Bedlam #8

Bedlam #8

  • Daredevil #29 (Read it!  On its own, a pretty good show.  Unfortunately, it’s not on its own; it both follows and is a follow-up to the near flawless #28.)
  • The Wake #3 (Read it!  OK, now you’ve got my attention, Mr. Snyder!  This is the issue I was waiting for-not just it terms of the series, but in terms of the series’ scribe, as well.  What sucks about it: now I’ve got to wait some more–for #4.)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #24 (Read it!  That’s right: I’m three issue into the TMNT ongoing series.  A more unlikely scenario I can’t imagine!  Thing is, it’s really good.  So, there: I have a good excuse.)
TMNT #24

TMNT #24

  • Animal Man Annual #2 (Read it!  Love the family stuff.  The hero stuff is on the walking side of run-of-the-mill.  That seems to be the flaw in Lemire’s game.  Well, there’s always Trillium, which is due 8/7.  Good to see travel Foreman, by the way.)
  • Collider #1 (Gonna get right to it after I post this darn thing.)
Collider #1

Collider #1

I’m happy to report that I also picked up Hawkeye Vol. 2, so it won’t be long before I’m all caught up!

What did you get in your bag this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

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What’s Up?

29 Monday Jul 2013

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

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3 Guns, Aaron Lopresti, Adventures of Superman, Animal Man, Avatar, Batman, Batman Incorporated, Bedlam, BOOM!, Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Wood, Caanan White, Chris Bachalo, Chris Burnham, Chris Samnee, Collider, Daredevil, DC Comics, Emilio Laiso, Grant Morrison, IDW, Image, Indestructible Hulk, Javier Rodriguez, Jef Lemire, Kevin Eastman, Kieron Gillen, Mark Waid, Marvel, Mateus Santoluoco, Matt Kindt, Matteo Scalera, Nick Spencer, Olivier Coipel, Robbi Rodriguez, Ryan Browne, Scott Snyder, Sean Murphy, Simon Oliver, Stephen Segovia, Steven Grant, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Wake, Travel Foreman, Uber, Uncanny X-Men, Vertigo, X-Men

Big on the big boys–and, as a result, a pretty big list reads rather small.

  • Adventures of Superman #3 (DC): Kindt on Supes?  Cool.
  • Animal Man Annual #2 (DC): Any time Lemire gets real, things get good.  A focus on the Baker family sounds pretty real–even if “massive, slavering spiders” are involved.
Animal Man Annual #2

Animal Man Annual #2

  • Batman Annual #2 (DC): Oh, yay!  A Zero Year tie-in.
  • Batman Incorporated #13 (DC): So, this is it, eh?  Can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Batman Incorporated #13

Batman Incorporated #13

  • Collider #1 (DC/Vertigo): Sounds interesting enough.  By “interesting enough,” I obviously mean that it’s a Vertigo #1.
  • The Wake #3 (DC/Vertigo): Is this where the series finally wakes up?  I sure hope so.  As you know, I’m never in favor of dropping out in the middle of a mini.
The Wake #3

The Wake #3

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #24 (IDW): I fully expected to be off after #23.  Would’ve been, too, except for the fact that I got sucked into the whole Leonardo reprogramming thing.
  • Bedlam #8 (DC): Officially on the chopping block.
  • Daredevil #29 (Marvel): #28 was just grand–dare I say a new classic.  Looks like we’re not done with Matt’s past.  Sweet.
Daredevil #29

Daredevil #29

  • FF #10 (Marvel): Recently tweeted that FF’s my third favorite Marvel book.  No, I wasn’t drinking at the time.  My glass was totally on the desk.  Fresh fact: Matt Fraction is at the top of his game and should be on everyone’s pull list–be it in the form of FF, Hawkeye, or our Book of the Week (7/3) Satellite Sam.
  • Indestructible Hulk #11 (Marvel): Pains me to say it: also on the chopping block.  Unfortunately, the House connection hasn’t played out as I had hoped.
  • Uncanny X-Men #9 (Marvel): I wonder if this issue will go somewhere.
  • X-Men #3 (Marvel): Brian Wood’s brought some X-Men back to the X-Men.
X-Men #3

X-Men #3

  • 3 Guns #1 (BOOM!): Haven’t read 2 Guns.  Wonder if that will make a difference.  Guess I’ll find out soon enough.
  • Uber #4 (Avatar): As I mentioned last month: I’m glad I didn’t give up on it.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

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What’s Up?

26 Wednesday Jun 2013

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

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Tags

Adventures of Superman, All-New X-Men, Andy Diggle, Batman/Superman, Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Wood, Bullseye, Cary Nord, Chris Samnee, Clone, Daredevil, David Aja, DC Comics, Dynamite, Ed Brubaker, Fatale, FF, Frank Quitely, Frazer Irving, Fury: My War Gone By, Garry Brown, Garth Ennis, Geoff Johns, Goran Parlov, Greg Pak, Greg Rucka, Hawkeye, IDW, Image, Jae Lee, Jupiter's Legacy, Justice League of America, Kevin Eastman, Lazarus, Mark Millar, Mark Waid, Mateus Santoluoco, Matt Fraction, Matt Kindt, Micahel Lark, Mike Allred, Mind MGMT, Robert Venditti, Scott Snyder, Sean Murphy, Sean Phillips, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Massive, The Wake, Uncanny, Uncanny X-Men, Valiant, X-Men, X-O Manowar

What a way to kick off summer break! How’s twenty books sound?

  • The Massive #13 (Dark Horse): Garry Brown–the artist on the “Black Pacific” arc–is back, thank goodness. One of my favorite titles. So gloriously understated in the classic Wood style.
The Massive #13

The Massive #13

  • Mind MGMT #12 (Dark Horse): Another one of my favorite titles for all the right reasons.
  • Adventures of Superman #2 (DC): We loved the first issue. The first two stories–from Parker, Samnee, and Lemire–are more Superman than anything we’ve seen in the New 52 this side of a few magical Morrison moments.
  • Batman/Superman #1 (DC): You got your Batman in my Superman. You got your Superman in my Batman. Yet another opportunity for DC to get these heroes right. First indication it may work: Scott Snyder’s not involved. Second: Jae Lee is.
Batman/Superman #1

Batman/Superman #1

  • Justice League of America #5 (DC): At this point, it’s one issue at a time. The Catwoman cliffhanger caught me. Go figure.
  • The Wake #2 (DC/Vertigo): Not excited about this in the least. I’d like to think that this issue will change that.
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 (IDW): A comic-day decision. Only bought the last one to support an I&N favorite Mateus Santoluoco. The art was great, but the book as a whole didn’t grab me.
  • Clone #8 (Image): Still doing its thing–it’s oft outlandish thing.
  • Fatale #15 (Image): Another top title. After a terrific series of one-shots, It’s time for a new arc. Expecting nothing but brilliance from Brubaker and Phillips.
Fatale #15

Fatale #15

  • Lazarus #1 (Image): Lots of hype leading up to this one from Greg Rucka and Michael Lark. You’d have to be dead to have missed it. Don’t worry: odds are good this book’ll bring you back to life. I am stoked!
Lazarus #1

Lazarus #1

  • Jupiter’s Legacy #2 (Image): Derek’ll let me have it for even considering it. Sure, we hated the first one; but sometimes it takes two, you know? I’ll definitely flip through it.
  • All-New X-Men #13 (Marvel): I’ve liked some things Bendis has done. I’ve hated others. Still waiting to love it, though–and gosh do I want to. Maybe the crossover that’s comin’…
  • FF #8 (Marvel): I really enjoyed last issue. And to think I almost called it quits after a pretty terrible #6. Just missed being in our Top 5 for May!
  • Fury: My War Gone By #13 (Marvel): A great week of books gets even better with the finale of Ennis and Parlov’s hard-edged history lesson. Gonna be very sad to see it go, though–especially because its passing means a little less Ennis.
  • Daredevil #27 (Marvel): I think we can all agree that the return of Bullseye was a given from the get-go. The nature of his return, however? Not as expected. Yeah, I think Waid really nailed it. Can’t wait to see how it plays out.
Daredevil #27

Daredevil #27

  • Uncanny X-Men #7 (Marvel): As disappointing a diversion as I could imagine. Dormammu? No thank you. And still I buy.
  • X-Men #2 (Marvel): More Wood! #1 worked itself out well enough. Certainly earned another go-round.
  • Hawkeye #11 (Marvel): Yup: I’m jumpin’ on the monthly bandwagon. Sure, I can’t crack it open until after I get and read Vol. 2; but it’s all–not just a fraction–good. Hey, Derek! Quit being such a hater! Try Vol. 1 already!
  • Uncanny #1 (Dynamite): Haven’t necessarily cared for what I’ve seen from Diggle of late. (Snapshot was only OK, and his only full issue on Action wasn’t very good.). But I’m willing to give this a try.
Uncanny #1

Uncanny #1

  • X-O Manowar #14 (Valiant): Last issue was definitely a step up.

What are you looking forward to this week?

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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What’s Up?

18 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in Uncategorized

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Tags

Action Comics, All-New X-Men, Ape Entertainment, Batwoman, Brian Azzarello, Brian K. Vaughn, Brian Michael Bendis, Cary Nord, Chris Samnee, Comeback, Daredevil, Dark Horse, David Finch, David Marquez, DC Comics, Drew Hayes, Erik Burnham, Fiona Staples, Fred Van Lente, G.I. Joe, Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Harbinger, IDW, Image, Indestructible Hulk, J.H. Williams III, Joshua Dysart, Justice League of America, Leinil Francis Yu, Lucifier, Mark Waid, Mateus Santoluoco, Matt Kindt, Matthew Clark, Mike Norton, Mind MGMT, Osvaldo Pestana Montpeller, Poison Elves, Revival, Robb Horan, Robert Venditti, Saga, Sara Pichelli, Steve Kurth, Tim Seeley, TMNT: The Secret History of the Foot Clan, Tony Akins, Trevor McCarthy, Ultimate Spider-Man, Valiant, Wonder Woman, X-O Manowar

Turns out, Brian Wood’s The Massive is about this week’s haul.  Man, I could’ve sworn that I was trimming my typical take-home.  Silly me.  Sure, I’ll be closer to broke after Wednesday, but there are some top-notch books in this bunch, which makes it so worth it.

Right There Waiting for Me

  • Mind MGMT #9 (Dark Horse): Hoping for a little more after a slightly off month.  (By “off,” I mean “really, really good,” which, for the average book, would be, clearly, a compliment.  Matt Kindt, however, has been working at a much higher level on this title; so anything shy of mind-blowing is remarkably obvious.)
Mind MGMT #9

Mind MGMT #9

  • Action Comics #18 (DC): Finally, Morrison’s finale.  Could very well be my jumping off point, which will leave me Superman-free.  Big-time sigh–especially considering Big Blue was a big reason why I got back into buying comics.  We’ll see what Diggle digs up next month–and what Snyder and Pak bring to the rack in the months to come.
  • Batwoman #18 (DC): Another one I may jump off of.  J.H. Williams’ art has been the draw, and that chore has now been delegated to another–in this case, Trevor McCarthy, who’s a fine artist, sure; but will he do enough–as Williams did–to overcome the story’s shortcomings?
  • Wonder Woman #18 (DC): Still solid.  A book you can count on every month–whether it’s Chiang or Akins on art.
  • TMNT: The Secret of the Foot Clan #4 (IDW): Mateus Santolouco conjured up a little magic in this mini.  It’s a shame it’s only four!  Let’s hope he gives us some more down the road.
  • Comeback #5 (Image): Ran the same route as Dark Horse’s Colder.  Started off a house afire and cooled off quickly–to the point where I couldn’t wait for it to end.  The waiting’s over.
  • Revival #8 (Image): Still have some mixed feeling about this one.  #7 was definitely an step in the right direction.  But there’s too much evidence that inconsistency is the true plague at play here.
  • Daredevil #24 (Marvel): #23 was great on many levels.  The Power Pair of Waid and Samnee are killing it–and Foggy?  Say it ain’t so!
Daredevil #24

Daredevil #24

  • Indestructible Hulk #5 (Marvel): I hope we’re not all monster this time around.  Not after the House half of last issue.
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #21 (Marvel): Not going to use Venom as a epithet this time around.  Amazing, I know!  I’m keeping an open mind because of how Bendis ended #20.
  • Harbinger #10 (Valiant): Dysart’s kicking all sorts of ass.  A must read.
Harbinger #10

Harbinger #10

  • X-O Manowar #11 (Valiant): Planet Death!  That about says it all, doesn’t it?

Wide Pickens

  • Saga #11 (Image): Lying Cat?  Nooooooooooooooooooo!  So damn good.
Saga #11

Saga #11

  • Justice League of America #2 (DC): #1 wasn’t terrible.  Still anticipating that #2 will be.  Gotta buy it to find out.
  • G.I. Joe #2 (IDW): Van Lente hit the ground running.  I’m willing to follow–at least for a while.
  • All-New X-Men #9: Ugh.
  • Poison Elves #1(Ape Entertainment): Lucifer returns!  One of my faves–created by the late Drew Hayes–is brought back to life by Robb Horan and Osvaldo Pestana Montpeller.  Could be good, could suck.  Either way, worth a try.
Poison Elves #1

Poison Elves #1

Wasn’t kidding.

So.  What are you looking forward to on Wednesday?

Turning pages,

Scott

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Top 5 Comics of Feb 2013 – Wtf Certifiable!

11 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in 5 Comics You Should Be Reading

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Alberto Ponticelli, Batman, Batman Incorporated, Brian K. Vaughan, China Mieville, Chris Burnham, Chris Samnee, Dan Green, Daredevil, DC Comics, Death of the Family, Dial H, Ed Brubaker, Fatale, Fiona Staples, Grant Morrison, Image, Jason Masters, MacGuffin, Mark Waid, Marvel, Mateus Santoluoco, New 52, Pop Art, Requiem, Saga, Sean Phillips, Wtf Certified

So DC Comics has reconsidered its rather, um, innovative marketing strategy of appealing to the youth demographic by adorning the covers of its iconic heroes with a texting-based expletive acronym. Well BS I say! Stick to your ill-conceived guns! However, despite backing away from the edgy, DC did provide us with a true Wtf moment this month (here meaning “Why the fuss,” of course). To wit:

5. Batman Incorporated #8 (DC): In one brilliant stroke, Grant Morrison delivers on the promise that was left utterly unfulfilled by the much ballyhooed Death of the Family event (see below). With little fanfare (initially), Morrsion provides a satisfying climax to his long run on Batman. The death of a major character like Robin (um, spoiler alert?) is usually an overblown, portentous affair (as the follow-up story, Requiem, promises to be). But the irrepressible Mr. Morrison refuses to be such a downer (he may, to his credit, be genetically incapable of it). This issue is nearly non-stop, thrillingly orchestrated action. (Artist Chris Burnham – with an assist by Jason Masters – really outdoes himself here.) And yet, in typical Morrsion fashion, despite the breakneck speed, the story is packed, packed, with references, riffs and homages to Batman’s illustrious history. From the title (“The Boy Wonder Returns”), to the not-so-throwaway background details, even down to the goofy Pop Art sound effects, we are treated to an expansive embrace of the Batman mythos that has been the hallmark of Morrison’s run (one that, by its very nature, was undercut by the ill-timed exigencies of the New 52 relaunch). His approach is perfectly encapsulated on page 19, the climax of the issue, and perhaps, the series – the battle between Robin and his Adversary (in the truest sense of the word). A sequence that could have taken up the entire book is instead presented in a stunning, 20-panel kaleidoscope (again kudos to Mr. Burnham) of action, tribute and, finally, pathos. When the moment of truth does arrive, Morrison and Co. don’t skimp on the emotion of the event as the book closes with a poignant image that recalls the birth of Batman himself. (DM)

Batman Incorporated #8

Batman Incorporated #8

4. Daredevil #23 (Marvel): An opening sequence for the ages–one that twists the title character’s origin story (often a cliche issue-starter) into something radioactively sinister–would’ve been enough on its own to land this book in our esteemed Top Five for the month.  This comic is so much more, however: Mark Waid–with stunning assistance from Chris Samnee–brings a certain clarity to Matt and Foggy’s relationship that becomes even more profound and pitiable with the painful revelation at issue’s end.  Remarkable work from Marvel’s best. (SC)

Daredevil #23

Daredevil #23

3. Dial H #9 (DC): After a down month, our #1 book of 2012 is back with a glimpse of what makes this book great: China Mieville’s seemingly boundless imagination–especially as it relates to his effortlessly sussing out superhero after glorious superhero.  Also worth celebrating is the fact that Alberto Ponticelli (with inks by Dan Green) has without a doubt found his groove; he’s taken ownership of Nelson and Roxie and the rest with his signature style–one reminiscent enough of Mateus Santolouco to make the series feel whole again. (SC)

Dial H #9

Dial H #9

2. Fatale #12 (Image): Our only carryover from last month, January’s best book takes a tiny step back on the list despite taking a giant step forward while taking its own giant leap back in time.  This second Fatale one-shot is yet another taut tale, one  that plays with our expectations–expectations expertly manufactured for us by a clever Ed Brubaker (with evocative art by Sean Phillips) during our torrid affair with Josephine Baker.  As consistent as this book is, it never fails to surprise–and that is the mark of a creative team at the very top of its game. (SC)

Fatale #12

Fatale #12

1. Saga #10 (Image): Claiming the top spot for the month is our #2 book of 2012.  Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples continue to intoxicate with their heady brew of space opera, screwball comedy and  familial intrigue. The sheer verve of the storytelling, filled to the brim with imagination and heart, makes this issue such a joy to read that (as with the aforementioned Batman Inc.) when tragedy does occur (and it does), the effect is not depressing. No, the effect of reading this wonder of a book is exultant. (DM)


The Biggest Dis(appointment): Batman #17 (DC) – We’ve already expressed our dismay of the story itself – this Joker tale to end all Joker tales was instead all sound and fury, signifying nothing. But given the events and the excellence of the aforementioned Batman Inc. #8, the existence of the whole “Death of the Family” story line is even more baffling.  Someone up the chain of command at DC must have known that this “epic” would conclude just before the publication of Morrison’s completely unrelated masterstroke (y’know, the one where someone actually dies.) Was “Death of the Family” then, spanning as many titles as it did, one giant MacGuffin (and a rather expensive one at that)? Was the relevance of Batman Inc. #8 toned down so as not to overshadow the Big Event (and possibly hurt sales)? Then, when Batman Inc. did come out, accompanied by a flurry of news coverage (‘natch!) who got left holding the bag? Sorry retailers who didn’t order nearly enough copies to satisfy the sudden demand! Sorry regular readers who couldn’t get their hands on the immediately-sold-out issue (unless they wanted to pony up $20 for a brand new comic). This whole farce had the neat effect of rendering Batman #17 even more irrelevant than it already was. It seems that, in the end (as Scott so eloquently put it in his initial review), the joke of “Death of the Family” was not on Batman, but on us. (DM)

Turning pages,

Scott & Derek

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What’s Up?

26 Tuesday Feb 2013

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

BOOM!, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Bachalo, Comeback, comics, Dark Horse, DC Comics, Deathmatch, Dennis Hopeless, Ed Brisson, Erik Burnham, Five Weapons, IDW, Image, Jeff Lemire, Jimmie Robinson, Justice League Dark, Mateus Santoluoco, Michael Walsh, Mike Norton, Mikel Janin, Paul Jenkins, Ray Fawkes, The Answer, TMNT: Secret History of the Foot Clan, Uncanny X-Men, Wednesday, What's I&N Store?

Not a shy week, no; but not nearly as obnoxious as the last, or the last, or the–

Reading Rainbow

  • Justice League Dark #17 (DC): A little less Lemire is like a little less tread on the tire.  Not so thrilled by this one anymore; don’t really care where it’s headed.
  • Comeback #4 (Image): Started off really well but has gotten a bit muddled here in the middle–a fault of many a mini of late.   Can’t quit now, though.  Damn the lure of the mini!
  • TMNT: Secret History of the Foot Clan #3 (IDW): Here’s one I never expected to like.  But I do!  Mateus Santolouco–along with help from Erik Burnham–has done a heck of a job putting this mini together and making it relevant to a reader like me–an admitted relative stranger to TMNT lore.
TMNT: Secret of the Foot Clan #3

TMNT: Secret of the Foot Clan #3

  • Deathmatch #3 (BOOM!): Certainly enough intrigue strewn in to warrant another round.
  • The Answer #2 (Dark Horse): Solid Derekommnedation.  No question: I’m grabbing this one from Mike Norton and Dennis Hopeless.
The Answer #2

The Answer #2

  • FF #4 (Marvel): Its quirkiness is keeping it around–for now.

Call Them Maybe

  • Five Weapons #1 (Image): Another Image miniseries?  Oh, why not?  Worth a flip through, for sure.
Five Weapons #1

Five Weapons #1

  • Uncanny X-Men #2 (Marvel): Only if I’m feeling particularly masochistic.

A modest mix, no?  Oughta give me a chance to catch my breath–maybe even knock out a Back and Forth in a timely fashion!  (A nerd can dream.)

What are you looking  forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

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Back and Forth: Conspiracy Series

02 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by dmainhart in Back and Forth

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters, Dark Horse, Dennis Hopeless, Dial H, Erik Burnham, Geriatric Gangrene Jujitsu Gerbils, IDW, Liz Lemon, Madman, Mateus Santoluoco, Matt Kindt, Meru, Mike Norton, Mind MGMT, Shredder, Steve Ditko, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Answer, The Mask, The Question, TMNT: The Secret History of the Foot Clan

“I’ll take Superheroes for $100 Alex.”

“This 2013 Dark Horse comic by Mike Norton and Dennis Hopeless featured a lead character with an exclamation point on his face.”

“What is The Answer?”

Derek Mainhart: What indeed? This romp of a first issue involves conspiracy theories, pseudo-philosophies, and other trivial pursuits dressed up in whizbang! superhero tropes. The action revolves around everywoman Devin MacKenzie, as she unwittingly gets embroiled in deadly intrigue replete with brain-teasers and begoggled, gun-toting assassins. Well, ‘unwitting‘ is perhaps the wrong word; Devin is a garden-variety genius whose propensity for puzzle-solving is what gets her into this fine mess. Bursting in to save her is the eponymous hero, his earnestly goofy mask the perfect expression of good ol’-fashioned costumed action. And ‘bursting’ is the right word, as Norton’s art evokes the bombast of the Silver Age greats, like the artist whose work partly inspired this book, the legendary Steve Ditko. Indeed it is difficult (damn near impossible for this reader) not to relate this comic to Ditko’s own quirky anti-hero, The Question. That singular man of mystery had an unflinchingly black and white view of morality, and served as a vehicle for its creators idiosyncratic brand of Ayn Rand-inspired philosophy. This book, by contrast, casts the villain as a soul patch-sporting motivational speaker selling ersatz-Randian jargon to the desperate masses. So, though the admiration of Ditko’s work is clearly evident, there also seems to be a touch of gentle parody at play. (There is also something of the anarchic spirit of Madman and The Mask in these pages, though not quite so over the top. But here’s hoping.) A comic book parody of a semi-obscure series from a famous recluse? Sound a little too comic-book in-jokey for you? Well luckily, Norton and Hopeless have crafted a book that can be enjoyed in a straightforward manner as well. The action is propulsive, the mystery, intriguing, the hero, just the right side of preposterous. And in Devin, they’ve created an engaging, brainy, and downright funny lead character (Liz Lemon comes to mind) who is sharp enough to quip at her ever-increasing peril, and sensible enough to be terrified.

Is this comic a conspiracy-driven plot with metaphysical undertones? Or is it a lighthearted satire of one? The Answer: is fun.

TMNT: The Secret History of the Foot Clan #2 (IDW): Now here’s a book that snuck in under the radar. I’ve never been a big fan of the Turtles. I was a tad too old for them when the craze hit in the late ’80s. Honestly, what little I know of them is from their sheer pop cultural ubiquity. The only reason I picked up this book is because of how much I dug Mateus Santolouco’s art on Dial H. I fully expected to be one-and-done on this. Yet here we are, two issues in and I’m fascinated!

TMNT: The Secret History of the Foot Clan #2

TMNT: The Secret History of the Foot Clan #2

Scott Carney: And I’m pretty fascinated, too.  I had no idea that I’d like this as much as I do.  Like you, I don’t have an investment in the Turtles; I mean, I haven’t purchased a TMNT book since #2 way back in the day.  Hmm.  Maybe I should go find where that is.  Memories.  Flooding.  Back.  Mini-regret: I abandoned the Turtles after one book but bought a few of the many rip-offs: silly parodies that featured gerbils and hamsters, if I’m recalling them correctly.  Annnnnd a quick Google search reveals that I am.  Check ’em out:

So, thanks to Santolouco and co-scripter Erik Burnham , I’ve scored more Turtle books in the last month than I have in the past twenty-eight years or so.  What works so well here?  It’s the secret history that‘s doing the bulk of the work for me; I was drawn into a fresh story that unapologetically pulls, in part, from the spectacular period pieces of the Beijing New Picture Film Co., renowned for their epic stories, lush settings, and unparalleled action sequences.  As it turned, I didn’t have to worry about the Turtles and their cartoonish rep too much: they’re used more so to keep Dr. Miller’s compelling history lesson in some sort of context–not that it needed it to be effective, mind you.  Heck: toss out the Testudines–leave ’em spinning on their shells!–and you’ve got something more effective than most of what I’ve read from Marvel of late.

DM: I agree. What’s most intriguing about this book is the way Sanatlouco and Burnham are presenting the history as being discovered in an almost archeological sense. Combined with the interweaving elements of folklore, this gives the story a real sense of breadth.

SC: As is, that first issue was certainly good enough to warrant my picking up number two; and wouldn’t you know, the  second issue does a fine job tying together the Turtles and their conflict with the modern-day Foot Clan–established energetically in the initial knock-around–with the still-unfolding background of Shredder’s band of bad guys.  In the final panel, Saki, with book in hand, turns pages intently to learn of his mysterious legacy.  That’s how I’m gonna look when #3 comes out: I can’t wait to see where Sanotloucco goes with this!  And, having said that, I still can’t believe I’m buying a TMNT book!

One book I believe in more than any other being published right now is Dark Horse’s Mind MGMT.  After a bit of a break, it’s back with issue #7; and Matt Kindt clearly hasn’t skipped a beat.  In fact, he’s added an extra beat just to jazz things up a bit: Meru resignedly compares herself to Kerouac and Lyme to Dean Moriarty as the two hit the road, as she tries to make sense of what she’s heard and seen–what’s she’s learned about Mind Management. 

Mind MGMT #7 Cover

The artwork is just as terrific as ever, with Kindt’s trademark watercolors splashed across every page, amplifying and tempering tones enough to stir up an undertow that sucks the reader in and refuses to let go.  And while Meru’s interrogation of Brinks–during which he spills his brains–is gripping enough on its own, Kindt doesn’t stop there: he once again plays up the extras–including, quite literally, a side story served up with Verve; an illustrated and informative footer, which tracks the evolution of a killer tool: the assassination letter; and an incredibly smashing case file–to add even more value to the already complex narrative, which insists upon the reader’s complete attention.  It also demands to be named Book of the Week.  To be honest, I can’t think of another book that deserves it more.  Wait.  I, umm–I can’t even think of another book.  Geez, I could’ve sworn I read something else this week.  Hmm.  Guess not.  So, yeah: Mind MGMT #7 is our Book of the Week.  If you haven’t jumped on board yet, what are you waiting for?  A letter?  Gosh, I hope not.

Turning pages,

Derek & Scott

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The Top Ten Comics of 2012

29 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by dmainhart in 5 Comics You Should Be Reading

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

Adventure Time, Al Ewing, Alberto Ponticelli, Animal Man, Archer & Armstrong, Battlefields: The Green Fields Beyond, Bloodshot, Braden Lamb, Brendan McCarthy, Brian K. Vaughn, China Mieville, Chris Samnee, Daredevil, Dark Horse, DC Comics, Dial H, Ed Brubaker, Fantagraphics, Fatale, Fiona Staples, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E., Fury Max, Fury: My War Gone By, Garth Ennis, Goran Parlov, Harbinger, IDW, Image Comics, James Robinson, Jeff Lemire, kaboom!, Marco Rudy, Mark Waid, Marvel, Mateus Santoluoco, Matt Kindt, Mind MGMT, Nick Fury, Oni, Popeye, Rachel Rising, Ryan North, Saga, Scott Snyder, Sean Phillips, Severed, Shelli Paroline, Snarked, Steve Pugh, Stumptown: The Case of the Baby in the Velvet Case, Swamp Thing, Tales Designed to Thrizzle, Terry Moore, The Shade, The Zaucer of Zilk, Travel Foreman, Valiant, Winter Soldier, Wonder Woman, Yanick Paquette

Welcome to the 27th Annual Edition of the Top Ten Comics of the Year! What began as two educators blogging in obscurity about their love affair with comics, has grown to become the most highly-anticipated event of the year amongst trend-setters, industry-watchers and that most idolized of velvet rope celebrities, the comic book creator. Why it seems like just yesterday that a little book called Sandman made the list (No. 7, 1991) giving birth to a worldwide phenomenon (we just received our yearly gift of one dozen black roses and homemade crumpets from Neil in eternal gratitude).

A note to the naysayers who complain about end-of-year lists: comics and numbers go hand-in-hand like old movies and cigarettes. If you say the number 27, what serious comics fan wouldn’t think Detective? Or 252, Spidey’s black costume? Why do round-numbered “anniversary” issues always sell higher? From what dark recesses of the mind  doth spring the obsession for a new Number 1 (as this past year surely demonstrates)? Fighting it is like the Kingpin fighting his urge for a donut: counter-intuitive and pointless. So to the list-cynics I say: go make a Top Ten List of your Least Favorite Top Ten Lists and be done with it. You’ll feel better.

The rules: As always, 80% (or 8) of our choices are books that Scott and Derek both read. We each get one alternate to round out the list (see if you can guess which ones these are! Correct answers will get a prize!). For limited series, the lion’s share of the story had to have seen print this year to be eligible (for instance, although Severed finished in 2012, most of the story was published in 2011. Similarly, Garth Ennis’ latest run on Battlefields, which tend to run in nine-issue installments, is only two issues in – and is already a strong contender for next year’s list). There are also no graphic novels on the list. There is no shortage of exciting work being done in a longer format, but this list, like the website itself, is dedicated to those wonderful monthly, folded-and-stapled periodicals which compel us to make our weekly Wednesday trek to the local comic book store for fear of missing something. (Having said that, congrats to Chris Ware on the inclusion of Building Stories on the NY Times own list of Top Ten Books of the Year. Check it out. It is a piece of work.)

What unites most of the books on the list I think, is an expansive approach to storytelling; a willful cherry-picking of literary devices from various genres, gleefully mashing them up against each other and seeing what happens. The playfulness in the examples below is infectious but not inchoate; they are produced by masters of their craft. Each creator involved has hit some kind of stride in the past year. Each comic is a breath of fresh air in our four-colored medium. We are the lucky recipients.

We here at Images and Nerds, of course, welcome debate (as long as you realize the futility of it, as all results are final, having been engraved in a cave wall for posterity.)

Without further eloquence, here’s our Top Ten:

ST_Cv0_ds10. Animal Man/Swamp Thing (DC) – OK, so this is our sneaky way of cramming eleven titles into our top ten list, but these two books really need to be considered as one. The amount of planning and coordination done by respective writers Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder could serve as a template for the proper way to do that most fraught of endeavors: the crossover. These two clearly share a vision and it’s been thrilling to watch two creators at the top of their game working in such organic concert. Though the story has bogged down somewhat now that we’re in the middle of the epic proper, it’s been one of the surprising delights of the past year to watch their little corner of the DCU grow into its most compelling destination. (DM)

9. Fury: Myfury max War Gone By (Marvel) – I hope you didn’t let your year go by without your grabbing Garth Ennis’s take on Marvel’s eternal warrior, Nick Fury, the only cyclops worth a good Goddamn in the Marvel Universe, anymore, be it NOW! or MAX or whatever.  Fury’s certainly the star here as he boozily–and honestly–reflects upon some of the secret missions he undertook after WW II to ostensibly make a difference in a dangerous world.  But this title is more so everything we love about Ennis: perfectly composed conversations amongst expertly crafted characters (like the deliciously deep Shirley Defabio and the larger-than-life–and classic Ennis creation–Sergent Chef Steinhoff), all before a backdrop of war, with stops in Indochina, Cuba, and Vietnam, where the book will continue–at a punishing pace–in 2013.  But if Fury’s too hero for you, check out Ennis’s latest Battlefields saga, Battlefields: The Green Fields Beyond; it’s through two–a Top Ten worthy two–of six.  Either way, you can’t go wrong; in this guy’s hands, war is heaven. (SC)

shade8. The Shade (DC) – Once upon a time their was a writer of enormous range and nuance; one who easily blended genres and had an uncanny ability to capture the untidy, individual voices of each of his many characters in service of stories both grand and intimate. His name was James Robinson and the exemplar of his craft was a series called Starman. Now in the years since the end of that remarkable book, there has been a writer named James Robinson working on various super-hero books, but the quality of them has been so wildly inconsistent and lacking in authorial voice that it can scarcely seem possible that it is the same writer. Interesting then, that it took a return to the Starman universe to bring about a return to form. In The Shade, Robinson returns to his most compelling creation; a character both physically and morally in the shadows, one whose dandyish affectations and droll, Oscar Wilde-inflected narration serve as perfect counterpoint to the pulpy theatrics of a host of skillfully handled genres and subgenres. Welcome back Mr. Robinson. Stay awhile, please do. (DM)

dd127. Daredevil (Marvel) – Even a blind person who hasn’t had his other senses enhanced by exposure to radioactive material could see that this title has been Marvel’s best for over a year now.  Aside from the seemingly endless Omega Drive arc, which was a series of wrong turns–including a pointless crossover with Spider-Man and The Punisher–with a few delectable diversions dribbled in, specifically issue #12, Daredevil has been the model book in terms of how to marry mirth and mystery.  Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, and Javier Rodriguez had Daredevil dance with Doom for a couple of sensational issues and then created something strange and beautiful with the Coyote storyline, one that had me, at times, wondering if it were headed anywhere–and, in the end, boy, was it!  Damn my dubiousness!  There are a few creators worth our blind trust and our limitless patience, and Waid is without a doubt one of them.  (Speaking of, have you noticed the tone Waid’s establishing over on Indestructible Hulk?)  Similarly, there are many heroes whom we hold dear, but none as dearly as The Man Without Fear. (SC)

FRSH_Cv06. Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. (DC)  – What could easily have been a Hellboy rip-off instead turns out to be an exuberant melange of Universal Monsters from the 1930s and James Bond tropes turned on their head. Jeff Lemire (see #10) got the ball rolling (along with Alberto Ponticelli, whose pitch-perfect art will be missed when he leaves shortly – see #1) with a commitment to unrelenting, over-the-top action. The extraordinary Matt Kindt (see #3) continued the run by focusing on Frankenstein’s tragic history, without sacrificing a whit absurdity or epic carnage. If anything the hint of pathos serves to ground the general giant-monster frenzy, making the book even stronger.  Another oddball (and alas, soon to be late and lamented) winner from DC. (DM)

Fatale-Cover-Image-Comics5. Fatale (Image) – Sure, Ed Brubaker seemed to give up on Captain America in an uninspired final run; and he ran a minimalist route as he turned Winter Soldier into a must-read–and, unexpectedly, a top Marvel book for 2012.  It’s clear, however, where he was focusing his energies: Fatale is Mr. Brubaker at his brutal best.  If you have enjoyed his iconic work with the spectacular Sean Phillips on such titles as Criminal and Incognito, then you’ve most assuredly found Fatale to die for.  A dangerous dame, herself in danger; a fistful of dupes, their freewill twisted as if by magic; some crooked cops and crazy cultists; buckets of blood and nightmarish monsters: all of it comes together to set a terrifying tone and to mold and unfold a complex and compelling mystery–one that insists upon your complete attention.  And how about Phillips’ covers?  Stunning.  Yes, indeed, this is a book that stands out from the rest–in more ways than one. (SC)

ZaucerofZilk_Image4. The Zaucer of Zilk (IDW)  – Brendan McCarthy and Al Ewing’s mini-masterpiece is also perhaps the hardest book on the list to define. Carrollian fantasy, 1960’s psychedelia, and high-flying adventure crash together in a two-issue candy-colored phantasmagoria of a tale. The all-too-brief narrative packs in a lot of story but never feels weighed down by its creators everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach. Indeed the sheer scope of imagination on display – conceptually, thematically, incidentally even –  breathes such voluminous life into the thing that it threatens to take flight right out of your hands and soar into the ether. It would take most comics years to build a universe as enthralling as this. I, for one, am hoping for a return trip. (DM)

190133. Mind MGMT (Dark Horse) – This is one sexy book.  Matt Kindt–a creator on the cusp of greatness–is doing what he’s so very good at here: telling a taut tale at a brisk pace, one supported by humble yet gorgeous artwork, with colors you just want to drown in.  Go ahead: open any issue to any page; I guarantee you’ll gasp for air–and it’ll feel exhilarating.  I love the concept: Mind MGMT is like the Bush-era Office of Strategic Influence on steroids.  The execution is flawless: the story starts with a startling scene of murderous rage, which, teasingly lacks motive and context, and then segues into a cloudy memory of Amnesia Flight 815, which, in turn, sets the stage for Meru, who sees her next bestseller in the mid-air mystery.  But it’s all just foreplay, friends.  Once Meru meets Henry Lyme, the narrative explodes with the latter’s back story, which is awe-inspiring in its inventiveness and hellishly heart-wrenching, especially as we learn how the rogue operative had a hand–or, more accurately, a mind–in the opening sequence of ultraviolence.  Simply masterful.  The extras are fun, too, especially the bonus stories, which help to build this brilliantly intricate new mythology of men and women who are dangerously and desperately more than their fellow man.  Through seven issues of Mind MGMT and with his fantastic work on Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E., Kindt’s proving that he’s more, too–that he’s undoubtedly fit to comfortably sit in the pantheon of present day comic book gods. (SC)

saga-12. Saga (Image) – Combine Star Wars with Romeo and Juliet. Douglas Adams with Meet the Parents. Heavy Metal with The Wonder Years. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples are pushing against all kinds of boundaries here in a comic that truly has the air of limitless possibility about it. They are also unafraid of testing the preconceptions of their own readership (not to mention their intestinal fortitude – I personally can’t wait for Fard the Ogre’s 2012 Pin-Up Calendar, in all its scrotal glory). But for all this, in the end their story is about one family’s struggle to survive. In this day and age, what could be more resonant? (DM)

DIALH_Cv41. Dial H (DC) – Who knew that it’d take a “Second Wave” to shore up our faith in The New 52?  Well, it did: and said wave, which rolled in during low tide–with even lower expectations–deposited this unexpected treasure from novelist China Mieville and artist extraordinaire Mateus Santolouco at our feet; but once in hand, it was clear: this weird and wonderful story of a regular schmoe who dials up heroes from different worlds is a tsunami of creative vision.  Sure, the first few issues are tough to follow, but it’s in a manner reminiscent of the best of Grant Morrison, where perplexity percolates into something akin to pleasure.  And there’s plenty of pleasure to be had here, especially in the surprises born of Nelson’s turning the dial: there’s the unforgettable first, Boy Chimney, conjured in a stunning sequence of soot and smoke by Santolouco; and there’s the brilliantly satirical Chief Mighty Arrow, depicted bravely by guest artist David Lapham in an issue that just missed being named our Best Single Issue of the Year.  No hero, however, was as inspirational as Rescue Jack: with the dial down, Nelson finds the hero within and saves the day–if only for a moment.  Looking forward, 2013 promises an exciting turn: former Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. artist Alberto Ponticelli has been tapped to take on the challenge of bringing the magic of Mieville’s mind to the page.  We know he’s up for it.  Let’s hope that the readership is, too.  While Dial H has survived the Fourth Wave–sadly, the same can’t be said of Frankenstein–who knows which books the inevitable Fifth and Sixth Waves will wrest from our hands.  So, we say, with the volume dial cranked to 11: buy this book! (SC)

Derek’s Honorable Mentions:

5. Wonder Woman (DC) 4. Snarked! (kaboom!) 3. Stumptown: The Case of the Baby in the Velvet Case (Oni) 2. Popeye (IDW) 1. Tales Designed to Thrizzle (Fantagraphics)

Scott’s Honorable Mentions:

5. Winter Soldier (Marvel) 4. Wonder Woman (DC) 3. Harbinger (Valiant) 2. Archer & Armstrong (Valiant) 1. Rachel Rising (Abstract Studio)

Best Single Issue of the Year: Adventure Time #10 (kaboom!) – “Choose Your Own Adventure Time!” by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb. This 15 page story is: An entertaining juggling act of any number playful narratives. A nostalgic, tongue-in-cheek callback for Gen Xer’s and one of their quaint, decidedly analog forms of interactive experience. A meditation on the control we have over our lives (or lack thereof) invoking the Free-Will vs. Determinism debate. A formalistic tour de force where story and design combine seamlessly in an innovative fashion that seems to expand the very  possibilities of the comic book medium. A children’s book with fart jokes. You choose.

Publisher of the Year: This is easy. With four out of the top ten spots (including No.1) it’s gotta be DC right? Wrong. If the first full year of the New 52 relaunch was able to till some fertile ground where the above books were allowed to grow, we are grateful. But each of these books are outliers in the DCU (or in the case of Animal Man/Swamp Thing, at least started as such). Much of their appeal lies in how they’re straining against and redefining the very super-hero mold that they are a part of. Because that of course was the focus of the New 52: superheroes. Retrenching, dusting off the icons and giving them a makeover for the 21st century. In 2012 however, that seems a backward-looking editorial mandate. Artistically, comics as a medium have long since proved capable of encompassing any genre or subject under the sun (or behind it. or beyond it.)  But what our medium still suffers from (and this is why the general public remains unconvinced about the viability of comics as a legitimate entertainment source) is a lack of the sheer amount and variety of product that you see in other formats (TV, movies, books, etc). Like it or not, when most people think comic books, they still think superheroes. Well the company doing the most change that, to fill the void on a week-by-week basis is: Image Comics (knew I’d get there eventually, right?) Go ahead, check out their catalog on any given week: crime, sci-fi, espionage, historical fiction, horror, comedy (and yes, some capes too). And all creator-owned. Are they all hits? Of course not. But Image is doing more than any publisher to create a culture that cultivates young talent while also attracting established creators, united by this one overarching philosophy: create any damn comic you can think of. Smells like the future–or at least 2013.

Turning pages,

Derek & Scott

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