Tag Archives: mike Dowling

What’s I&N Store (3/12)

11 Tuesday Mar 2014

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My work here is done.  Time to get to work.

  • Astro City #10 (DC/Vertigo): Busiek’s Winged Victory tour has been a revelation!  Hope it soars right to the end.
  • Royals: Masters of War #2 (DC/Vertigo): #1 was a jolly good show!  Rob Williams’ characters were instantly engaging; and Simon Coleby’s art was terrific, like Jae Lee with more detail and without the reliance on silhouettes.  Together, they’ve delivered a well-rounded opening salvo filled with “awe,” “exhilaration,” “excitement,” and “fear.”  Has a depth that separates it from the very similar Uber, which just so happens to be on tap this week, as well.
  • Monster & Madman #1 (IDW): Frankenstein’s monster and Jack the Ripper together in the same book?  Oh, and Steve Niles as the facilitator?  Yes, please!
Monster & Madman #1

Monster & Madman #1

  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #32 (IDW): Ross Campbell’s surprisingly strong run on the post-“City Fall” arc comes to an end.  Good news, though: one of our favorites, the terrific Mateus Santolouco, is back with #33!
  • East of West #10 (Image): A compelling read that has really started to take off.  It’s a solid showcase for Hickman’s serious side, which is a nice counterpoint to his maniacal The Manhattan Projects.
  • Manifest Destiny #5 (Image): I’m just about done.  It’s a shame, really: #1 promised so much–maybe too much.
  • Stray Bullets: Killers #1 (Image): Gonna have to stick this on the ol’ Catch Up pile because…
  • Stray Bullets Uber Alles Edition (Image): I recently read the first four issues of Stray Bullets on Dave Lapham’s website.  Have been waiting for this bad boy ever since.  Thanks to my man Derek for pointing me in this direction.
Stray Bullets

Stray Bullets

  • All-New X-Men #24 (Marvel): I’m a sucker for the Shi’ar Imperial guard, so…
  • Fantastic Four #2 (Marvel): I’m a fair fella. I put The All-New Invaders out of my mind–only after a bit of a purple purge–and jumped into James Robinson’s reboot of The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine with the optimism of an innocent.  As it turned out, it wasn’t bad.  It wasn’t fantastic, but it wasn’t bad.  Robinson–one of our favorite writers of 2012–set the terms of his take on the cosmic quartet–with fine art from Leonard Kirk–and did so well enough for me to follow along.  4 Now! anyway.
  • Hawkeye #17 (Marvel): Sure, we’re bee-bopping around a bit, but it doesn’t matter much: wherever Fraction fires his arrows on Hawkeye, they hit the mark emphatically.  This departure from the deafening events of #15 promises to be “a raucously adorable and hilarious animated adventure.”  Sock it to me!
  • Secret Avengers #1 (Marvel): The secret’s out: Ales Kot and Michael Walsh are teaming up again (see Zero #1 or the recently released Zero TP) for an Avengers title that I’m really looking forward to.  No, really.
Secret Avengers #1

Secret Avengers #1

  • X-Force #2 (Marvel): I didn’t really love #1.  Heck, I barely liked it.  But I’m going to give it another issue because Si Spurrier has earned my not-so-easily-earned loyalty.  (Yes, I’m still riding the high of the meticulously meta Six-Gun Gorilla, one of our favorite books of 2013.)
  • Death Sentence #6 (Titan): No hyperbole here: this is one issue away from cementing itself as the mini to beat for 2014.  Writer Montynero’s made himself a must-read–the result of his brilliant storytelling, his unforgettable characters and his insightful back matter.  Mike Dowling’s art–which calls to mind the fabulous Sean Phillips–is the perfect complement to Montynero’s wild, wild words.  If you foolishly missed out on this rocking good time, fret not: there’s always the trade.
Death Sentence #6

Death Sentence #6

  • Red Team #7 (Dynamite): Wow.  Forgot this was a thing.
  • Magnus: Robot Fighter #1 (Dynamite): Fred Van Lente’s bringing Magnus back, and, I’m like a groupie, so, yeah, I’m going to pick this up.  Don’t have any experience with the character, so, yeah: groupie.  Oh, c’mon: you know you’re down with FVL.
  • Uber #10 (Avatar): Still solid.  Wondering how long Gillen’s going to go with it.  Wonder how long he can go on with it.  Fair or not: I’m going to be holding it to Royals: Masters of War.  It’s the nature of the business, ain’t it?  Yeah, comics are hell.
  • Unity #5 (Valiant): Looking forward to the new arc, which has not been billed as Kindt, CAFU, and you.  Man, it should’ve been.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

What’s I&N Store (10/23)

22 Tuesday Oct 2013

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A list notable for what’s not on it as much as for what is on it.

  • Kiss Me Satan #2 (Dark Horse): Highlight of #1: Juan Ferreyra’s gorgeous art.  Made me not care so much that I was reading a werewolf book.
  • The Massive #16 (Dark Horse): A new arc for Brian Wood’s understated masterpiece.  Now is as good a time as any to jump on board.
  • Mind MGMT #16 (Dark Horse): Met Matt Kindt at NYCC.  I didn’t bring much to my side of the conversation; I was too starstruck.  Acted pretty much the same way I did when I met Bret Easton Ellis.  Stupid me!  Not very different from the poetic voice from Lawrence’s “Snake”: “I missed my chance with one of the lords of [comics].”  I ain’t missing this, though: Mind MGMT is a top-of-the-pile book.  These self-contained issues have been really, really good.
Mind MGMT #16

Mind MGMT #16

  • Clone #11 (Image): All right, let’s get on with it!  A frivolous book, sure, but satisfying on the most basic of levels.
  • Pretty Deadly #1 (Image): Girls!  Girls!  Girls!  Love the punny title; but, come on: another western?  You’re killin’ me, ladies!  The others–including The Sixth Gun, Six-Gun Gorilla, East of West–are darned good; so there’s no reason to think that this one won’t be, as well–is there?
Pretty Deadly #1

Pretty Deadly #1

  • Rat Queens #2 (Image): I was pleasantly surprised by #1.  What does that mean for #2?  Expectations.
  • Satellite Sam #4 (Image): Fraction and Chaykin are hella heavenly over here.  If I’m being nit-picky, in #3, the former climbed the latter a little too high at times.  There’s power in implication, fellas!  Even still, I’m high on this.
  • Sex Criminals #2 (Image): More Fraction!  He promised quite a bit in the first issue, including a certain literary lineage.  Question: How Lo can he go?
  • Velvet #1 (Image): Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting are back in one of the industry’s most highly anticipated new titles.  I know I’m excited about it!  Interesting note: I’m going to have a book in mind before jumping in, but it’s not Brubaker’s own Fatale; it’s not even this team’s work on Captain America; it’s Rucka and Lark’s Lazarus.
Velvet #1

Velvet #1

  • Daredevil #32 (Marvel): #31 was a serious wipeout–especially after a gnarly #30.  Went from ripping in the green room with the Silver Surfer to getting caught in a political rip current.  Gosh, I hope I don’t get accused of a hate crime.
  • Death Sentence #2 (Titan): Montynero’s got a snarky, rock ‘n roll style that reminds of Californication.  Like Mike Dowling’s art a lot, too.
  • Numbercruncher #4 (Titan): Doesn’t matter what kind of math you use: this mini’s been a monster!  Loving every aspect of it.  In fact, we loved #3 so much that it made our Top 5 for September!  Sad to see it go–and not just because the series has been so good.  We’re losing part of our monthly communion with Simon Spurrier.  Oh my!  What are we going to do after Six-Gun Gorilla fires its last shot?
Numbercruncher #4

Numbercruncher #4

  • Harbinger #17 (Valiant): The last one ended well enough.  I suppose I’m looking forward to seeing how things turn out.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott