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Tag Archives: Trillium

What’s I&N Store (4/2)

02 Wednesday Apr 2014

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

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Al Ewing, Archer & Armstrong, Avatar, Batman, BOOM!, Brian Buccellato, Caliban, Charles Soule, Cullen Bunn, Damien Worm, Dark Horse, DC Comics, Dead Letters, Declan Shalvey, Detective Comics, Ed Brisson, Francis Manapul, Fred Van Lente, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Garth Ennis, Goran Parlov, Greg Rucka, IDW, Image, Inhuman, J. Michael Straczynski, James Asmus, Jeff Lemire, Jordie Bellaire, Loki: Agent of Asgard, Magneto, Mark Millar, Marvel, Monster & Madman, Moon Knight, Oni Press, Quantum and Woody, Sidekick, Simon Roy, Starlight, Steve Niles, The Field, Tom Mandrake, Trillium, Valiant, Veil, Vertigo, Warren Ellis

I’ve been dropping books and passing on new books and have been buying more books than ever.  Sure ain’t adding up, but it sure as hell is piling up.

  • Veil #2 (Dark Horse): #1 was a bit underwhelming, somewhat annoying at times, especially as the mysterious young lady got all Seuss-ian while trying on language–like a veil between who she was and who she has become.  But it’s Rucka, sucka, mother——, so I’m trying on another.
  • Detective Comics #30 (DC): Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul take up the cowl after having pushed the pace on The Flash.  I’m interested.
Detective Comics #30

Detective Comics #30

  • Trillium #8 (DC/Vertigo): Lemire’s time-twisting, sci-fi, doppelganger-driven epic comes to a close.  Has flown by, really–so much so that I don’t feel that I’ve developed any sort of connection to the characters.  But has this series really been about the characters?  No: it’s been about the far-out layouts, which have been pretty outstanding.
  • Monster & Madman #2 (IDW): A very Steve Niles initial offering–with art from a fella with an appropriately creepy name: Damien Worm–made this one a must buy.  So did the clever strategy of making us wait for the madman.
  • The Field #1 (Image): Ed Brisson’s a must try thanks to his solid showing on Sheltered.  I haven’t read Prophet, so I don’t know much about Simon Roy.  Guess I will after this one.
  • Sidekick #6 (Image): J. Michael Straczynski has certainly been prolific of late.  How does he manage it all?  Well, for one, he’s using the same storyline for two of his current books: this one and The Twilight Zone.  Not kidding: while reading Sidekick #5, I felt like I had entered the Twilight Zone.
  • Starlight #2 (Image): #1 was really, really good.  Out of this bunch of books, I’m looking forward to this one the most.  Art-wise, it’s no surprise: Goran Parlov’s art brings me back to one of our favorites of 2012 and 2013: Fury: My War Gone By.   And it’s no secret: Mark Millar generates great ideas.  Those great ideas usually translate into great first issues–and, just as usually, not-so-great series.  Here’s hoping that this one goes all the way.
Starlight #2

Starlight #2

  • Inhuman #1 (Marvel): Will give it a flip through.  It’s got Soule, but I’m not a Souledier.
  • Loki: Agent of Asgard #3 (Marvel): Not sure how I feel about this book.  I like the voice Al Ewing is affecting; in that, it’s a fun read.  I’ve never been a fan of the Thor side of the Marvel Universe, but I could see myself sticking around because it seems Ewing smartly isn’t taking the Asgardian aspect too seriously.  But what is this, really?  Considering the page-bound Lorelei lob just prior to her appearance on Agents of Shield, it’s nothing more than a companion pamphlet–right?
  • Magneto #2 (Marvel): Credit to Bunn and Walta: in #1, they delivered three terrific page turns and developed some serious tension–between Magneto and the motel maid!  A few questionable choices plot-wise leave me wondering if mine is a fleeting attraction.
Magneto #2

Magneto #2

  • Moon Knight #2 (Marvel): The first phase of the new Moon Knight didn’t have me waxing nostalgic.  But it’s Warren Ellis.  No, yeah, that’s all I’ve got.
  • Archer & Armstrong #19 (Valiant): Best moment of #18: Armstrong doin’ a beer bong–all while Archer’s in the middle of a shoot-out with Bloodshot.  Other than that, a notch below what we’ve come to expect from one of our top books of 2013.  Some people say that there’s a crossover to blame…
  • Caliban #1 (Avatar): Garth Ennis goes sci-fi horror.  Well, OK, then.  Gonna be on the lookout for that patented Avatar–the publisher, not the movie–moment.  Come on: you know what I’m talking about: you have been reading Rover Red Charlie, right?
  • Dead Letters #1 (BOOM!): Some more noir from BOOM!  It’d be a crime not to try it!  The second #1 this week that promises a premise predicated upon some dude waking up somewhere without any clue as to who he is, where he is, etc.  Yup: that’s what The Field is offering, as well.  Every new series should start that way!
Dead Letters #1

Dead Letters #1

  • Quantum and Woody #9 (Valiant): Last issue got my goat.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages,

Scott

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What’s I&N Store (3/5)

05 Wednesday Mar 2014

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

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Afterlife With Archie, Al Ewing, Archer & Armstrong, Archie, Austin Harrison, Avatar, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Bachalo, Clone, Cullen Bunn, Dark Horse, David Schulner, Day Men, Declan Shalvey, Dynamite Entertainment, Ed Brubaker, Evil Empire, Francesco Francavilla, Frank Quitely, Fred Van Lente, Garth Ennis, Greg Rucka, IDW, Image, J. Michael Straczynski, James Asmus, Jeff Lemire, Jordie Bellaire, Juan Jose Ryp, Jupiter's Legacy, Lee Garbett, Loki: Agent of Asgard, Magneto, Mark Millar, Marvel, Max Bemis, Michael DiPascale, Mike Raicht, Moon Knight, Nelson Daniel, Oni Press, Quantum and Woody, Ransom Getty, Roberto Aguirre Sacasa, Rover Red Charlie, Starlight, Steve Epting, The Auteur, The Twilight Zone, Tom Fowler, Trillium, Uncanny X-Men, Valiant, Veil, Velvet, Vertigo, Warren Ellis, Wild Blue Yonder, Zach Howard

Huge week.  And, yes, this counts as narrowing it down.

  • Veil #1 (Dark Horse): Greg Rucka’s killing it with Lazarus and has Cyclops in his sights.  On the strength of the former and in anticipation of the latter, I’m thinking that this one’s a no-brainer.
  • Trillium #7 (DC/Vertigo): Through six issues, Jeff Lemire has insisted that we turn the page on our own expectations.  As excited as I am sad, knowing that–including this one–only two issues of Lemire’s head-spinning layouts are left!
Trillium #7

Trillium #7

  • Wild Blue Yonder #4 (IDW): One of our favorite books of 2013 is back–finally!–to bust some more blocks!  Super excited for this high-flying action adventure from the fine folks at Noble Transmission.
Wild Blue Yonder #4

Wild Blue Yonder #4

  • Clone #15 (Image): Clonetopia?  Yeah, probably not.  David Schulner and Co. have made it clear: happy endings end rather quickly in Clone–often after a single page turn.  And what terrific page turns they are: artist Juan Jose Ryp’s attention to detail is astounding–not unlike the great Geof Darrow, no?
  • Jupiter’s Legacy #4 (Image): If I’m remembering correctly, I thought #3 was all right–certainly enough for me to ignore my oath to pass over any Millar material no matter how shiny.  We all know by now that Mark Millar’s not concerned with our experiences as readers of his fine material; he’s too busy generating new ideas like…
  • Starlight #1 (Image): Of course I’m going to give Mr. Millar another opportunity to frustrate the hell out of me.
  • Velvet #4 (Image): Brubaker and Epting are taking their time, doing their thing, which is near-perfect cinematic slow-burn espionage.
Velvet #4

Velvet #4

  • Loki: Agent of Asgard #2 (Marvel): I’ve never been a fan of Thor’s corner of the Marvel Universe.  Al Ewing, however, has convinced me to extend my visit to a tidy right angle.
  • Magneto #1 (Marvel): Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun) writing one of my favorite characters?  Yes, please.
  • Moon Knight #1 (Marvel): I was crushed after the most recent–and mostly crazy–run of Moon Knight–by Bendis and Maleev–came to a close.  Now, Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey are in charge of the lunatic in white.  Can’t wait.
Moon Knight #1

Moon Knight #1

  • Uncanny X-Men #18 (Marvel): Maybe–just maybe–#17 was a hint; maybe it was the nudge I need.  See: at the end of the issue, Cyclops kicks David Bond off the team because the new mutant fails to live up to expectations.  Maybe–just maybe–I should finally cast this book aside because it hasn’t lived up to my expectations.  Then again, Marco Rudy’s art looks ridiculously good.  So, another possibility: Fate has kept me around long enough for this!
  • Afterlife With Archie #4 (Archie): The series has been so good for so many reasons.  In fact, #3 was our #5 book of January–and deservedly so: Roberto Aguirre Sacasa’s storytelling–a brilliant balance of Archie and Afterlife–is top-notch, and Francesco Francavilla’s art is a perfect fit.
Afterlife With Archie #4

Afterlife With Archie #4

  • Archer & Armstrong #18 (Valiant): #17 was a rare sideways step for Fred Van Lente.  It certainly wasn’t what we were hoping for from one of our favorite books of 2013.  Wouldn’t you know: I liked #0.2014 a lot; in fact, it turned out to be one of my favorite origin issues, like, ever.
  • The Auteur #1 (Oni): Game-time decision.  Yeah, not too sure I need another “deranged” book.
  • Day Men #3 (BOOM!): A Millaresque release schedule without–so far, anyway–the Millaresque payoff that, generally, makes it worth the wait.  I’m going to have to pull #2 to bring myself up to speed.  Yeah, that’s always a bummer.
  • Evil Empire #1 (BOOM!): Another game-time decision.  I’m not familiar with Max Bemis or Ransom Getty, so I’ll give it an earnest flip and see what happens.
  • Quantum and Woody: Goat #0 (Valiant): Maa.
Quantum and Woody: Goat #0

Quantum and Woody: Goat #0

  • Rover Red Charlie #4 (Avatar): #3 was…  Oh, I’m going to save it for a future post.
  • The Twilight Zone #3 (Dynamite): Has been surprisingly good.  Certainly Straczynski’s best work–of the current batch, anyway.  The shine, however, was taken off a bit after I read Sidekick #5.  Seems Straczynski’s borrowing from himself–and he sure as heck isn’t being subtle about it!  Sure, I’ve seen creators who have borrowed from themselves, usually from past work, but this is just silly: Sidekick and Twilight Zone are concurrent titles, for goodness sake!  OK.  OK.  Wait a sec.  Is this the Twilight Zone?  Oh, well.  Still want to see how this plays out.
Twilight Zone #3

The Twilight Zone #3

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

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What’s I&N Store (2/5)

04 Tuesday Feb 2014

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

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All-New Invaders, Archer & Armstrong, Avatar, Brian Wood, Fred Van Lente, Garth Ennis, Greg Rucka, Image, J. Michael Straczynski, James Robinson, Jeff Lemire, Lazarus, Marvel, Michael DiPascale, Michael Lark, Pere Perez, Peter Milligan, Roberto De La Torre, Rover Red Charlie, Shadowman, Sidekick, Trillium, Twilight Zone, Valiant, Vertigo, X-Men

My clever introduction has been postponed indefinitely due to snow.

  • Trillium #6 (DC/Vertigo): #5 was flippin’ fantastic.  The balance between the two realities was rendered in a ridiculously meticulous manner.  In many ways, even more impressive than #1 in execution.  Can’t wait to get into this one.
Trillium #6

Trillium #6

  • Lazarus #6 (Image): #5 ended on a naturally disastrous note, one that echoes still, boding a symphony of construction–of resurrection.  Lucky for us, reigning master builders Rucka and Lark are a pair of heavies who always deliver as promised.
  • Sidekick #5 (Image): Engaging enough, though not J. Michael Straczynski’s best monthly.  That distinction goes to…
  • Twilight Zone #2 (Dynamite): #1 was a bit of a revelation, wasn’t it?  Terrific tone–totally Twilight Zone!
Twilight Zone #2

Twilight Zone #2

  • All-New Invaders #2 (Marvel): I’m sure that you’re a lot like me in thinking that it’s got to get better–that James Robinson is a lot better than his cliched riddled initial offering.  Sure, I’m going to try this one; but I’m not going to suffer through growing pains just because I know in my heart it should be good; so, if it doesn’t do it for me here, I’m out.
  • X-Men #10.NOW (Marvel): Another one I’m down on.  The series started off really well.  Brian Wood affected a strong, recognizable voice; in fact, it actually sounded like an X-book, with hints of Claremont, especially in the high notes.  Unfortunately, the “Battle of the Atom” smashed the title’s early momentum, leaving us with scattered neutrons, electrons, and promises.
  • Archer & Armstrong #0.2014 (Valiant): I’m guessing the story of Wee Obie Archer is going to buck the trend of zero-issues having zero value–if only because I expect nothing less from Fred Van Lente and Pere Perez.  Yeah: no throwaway here.
Archer & Armstrong #0.2014

Archer & Armstrong #0.2014

  • Rover Red Charlie #3 (Avatar): #2–like #1–had some really affective moments and some really awful moments.  Not expecting anything different; it’s the nature of the beast, innit?
  • Shadowman #15 (Valiant): Of all the books I get on a monthly basis, this one confounds me the most.  I don’t care a lick about the characters, but for some reason I really like the series.  Doesn’t hurt that Milligan and De La Torre have come together like peanut butter and chocolate.  Dark, dark chocolate.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

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I&N’s Top Ten of 2013

31 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in Uncategorized

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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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What’s I&N Store (10/2)

01 Tuesday Oct 2013

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

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All-New X-Men, Andy Diggle, Ari Granov, Avatar, Bedlam, BOOM!, Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Wood, Bryce Carlson, Caanan White, Captain America: Living Legend, Codename Action, Dark Horse, Di Amorim, Dynamite Entertainment, Francesco Trifogli, Fred Van Lente, God Is Dead, Greg Rucka, Hinterland, Hit, Ian Edginton, Image, James Asmus, Jeff Lemire, Jim McCann, Jim Zub, Jonathan Hickman, Jonathan Lau, Katsuhiro Otomo, Kieron Gillen, Lazarus, Mara, Marco Rudy, Marvel Knights: Spider-Man, Matt Kindt, Max Dunbar, Michael Lark, Miguel Angel Sepulveda, Mike Norton, Mind the Gap, Ming Doyle, Nick Spencer, Occultist, Quantum and Woody, Rodin Esquejo, Ryan Browne, Shadowman, Stuart Immonen, The Mocking Dead, Tim Seeley, Trillium, Uber, Valiant, Vertigo

Kickin’ off Comictober commodiously:

  • Occultist #1 (Dark Horse): Even though I’m off Revival as of #14, I don’t see why I shouldn’t give Seeley and Norton another shot.
  • Hinterland #1 (DC/Vertigo): Now this has the hook and the look of a Vertigo book.
Hinterland #1

Hinterland #1

  • Trillium #3 (DC/Vertigo): Lemire set a high bar for himself with a remarkable #1; and wouldn’t you know it took the slacker a whole month to clear it!  That’s right: I thought #2 was even better than the now-famous flip book!  So, if I’m doing the math correctly, this one’s going to blow my mind!  And earn a bunch more exclamation points, too!
  • Bedlam #9 (Image): Unless this one leaves me feeling the way I feel after reading a top-tier book, I’m done.  No sense in hanging on anymore.
  • Lazarus #4 (Image): #3 was our #1 book for August, so you know I’m looking forward to this.  As engaging a series as you’re going to find.
Lazarus #4

Lazarus #4

  • Mara #6 (Image): Been waiting for this one for what feels like forever.  Here’s what I thought of the brilliant #5.
  • Mind the Gap #15 (Image): For the last two issues, McCann, Esquejo, and McDaid have been the comic book equivalent of Crosby, Stills, and Nash.  Masterfully layered with a twist of sublime.
  • All-New X-Men #17 (Marvel): The real battle is between my OCD and my better judgment.
  • Captain America: Living Legend #1 (Marvel): Andy Diggle hasn’t impressed me very much, but I’m going to buy this darned thing anyway.  Aaaaargh!  I’m absolutely desperate for a good Cap story.  Give it to me, man!
Captain America: Living Legend #1

Captain America: Living Legend #1

  • Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #1 (Marvel): Yet another panel of the counterpane Matt Kindt has tossed over top the industry.  Maybe–just maybe–we’ll get a good Spidey story out of the deal.
  • Codename Action #2 (Dynamite): Oh, why not?  Guess that makes me Codename Sucker.
  • The Mocking Dead #2 (Dynamite): Flesh-eating fun!  Look out, folks: no one is safe from Fred Van Lente and his biting writing!  He’s more dangerous than the undead!
The Mocking Dead #2

The Mocking Dead #2

  • Quantum and Woody #4 (Valiant): Just when I thought I was going to drop my first Valiant title, Jason Asmus and Tom Fowler hit a high note with the E.R.A.  That’s right: stupid just got clever–and just in time!  It’s got my vote!
  • Shadowman #11 (Valiant): I’m always a bit wary of a holiday special–especially a Halloween special; screams “filler issue,” dunniit?  Now that‘s scary!
  • God Is Dead #2 (Avatar): Certainly can’t say this one’s on par with The Manhattan Projects or East of West–not after one issue, anyway; that wouldn’t be fair, would it?  Well, if I can’t say it after #2, then this book, I swear to God, is dead to me.
  • Uber #6 (Avatar): Kieron Gillen is killin’ it–and everything else!  Hey, it’s OK: it’s an Avatar book.  Seriously, though: this has been very good–much better than I expected it to be.
Uber #6

Uber #6

  • Hit #2 (BOOM!): Expected baseball analogy: after one at-bat, Bryce Carlson and crew are batting 1.000.  Recalling the end of #1: this time around, let’s see how they handle the curve ball.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

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

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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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What’s I&N Store (9/4)

03 Tuesday Sep 2013

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

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All-New X-Men, Avatar, Battle Royale, BOOM!, Brian Michael Bendis, Bryce Carlson, Caanan White, Carlos Magno, Codename Action, Comeback, Daredevil: Dark Nights, David Lapham, DC, Deathmatch, Di Amorim, Dynamite, Ed Brisson, God Is Dead, Hit, Howard Chaykin, Image, James Asmus, Jeff Lemire, Johnnie Christmas, Jonathan Hickman, Justin Jordan, Kieron Gillen, Lord of the Flies, Marvel, Matt Fraction, Paul Jenkins, Quantum and Woody, Satellite Sam, Shadowman, Sheltered, Stuart Immonen, Tom Fowler, Trillium, Uber, Valiant, Vanesa Del, Vertigo, X-Men: Battle of the Atom

An odd week: I’ll be picking up more books from BOOM! and Avatar–two each–than I will be from DC–a lonely one.  If you’re keeping score: I’m avoiding the onslaught of villain books–because nothing good can come of that!

  • Trillium #2 (DC/Vertigo): Like a sweet bouquet bought and bestowed just because, #1 surprised and satisfied.  Felt like a labor of love and read that way, too.  Looking forward to this.
Trillium #2

Trillium #2

  • Satellite Sam #3 (Image): Easily one of my favorite new titles.  The team of Fraction and Chaykin is shakin’ and bakin’ a sinful delight in stunning black and white.  That’s the truth!
  • Sheltered #3 (Image): All the uneasiness of Lord of the Flies, Battle Royale, and similar adolescent survivalist fiction.  Sadly, smacks of reality, too.  How scary is that?  Seems Brisson’s making up for the disappointing collapse of Comeback.
  • All-New X-Men #16 (Marvel): Getting into the Battle of the Atom.  Gosh, I hope that’s good news.  In the Battle of the Bendis X-Books, however, this title’s taken a backseat–especially after the last issue of Uncanny X-Men.
  • Daredevil: Dark Nights #4 (Marvel): I liked Lee Weeks’ arc a lot, but this is going to be a Comic Day decision.
  • X-Men: Battle of the Atom #1 (Marvel): I really, really hope this is good.  Maybe if enough of us hope together we can make it so.  Of late, however, Marvel crossovers, unfortunately, have been impervious to hope.
X-Men: Battle of the Atom #1

X-Men: Battle of the Atom #1

  • Codename Action #1 (Dynamite): Why not?
  • Uber #5 (Avatar): I never expected to be this far in, mainly because I didn’t expect much from Gillen; God, I hated his Uncanny X-Men.  But it’s undeniable: Uber‘s been very good.  If you haven’t been following along, keep an eye out for the upcoming trade.
Uber #5

Uber #5

  • Hit #1 (BOOM!): It just so happens I am a fan of Criminal.  So, if the pitch is to be believed, “Hit is the series for [me]!”  Hmm.  Seems like it may also be a Left Coast version of Red Team.
  • Quantum and Woody #3 (Valiant): If this one doesn’t do it for me, I’m off.  All the other Valiant books were must-buys after two issues; this one hasn’t followed suit.
  • Shadowman #10 (Valiant): One of those Valiant must-buys.
  • Deathmatch #9 (BOOM!): Jenkins is killing it–and plenty of heroes–on a monthly basis.  Another one of those books that you should be reading if you aren’t already.
  • God Is Dead #1 (Avatar): The name at the top–above God, even–is all the reason I need.
God Is Dead #1

God Is Dead #1

  • American Vampire Vol. 4 TPB (DC/Vertigo): Finally!!!!!!!!!!

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

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I&N Scott’s Bag (8/7)

11 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Scott's Bag

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Tags

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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