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Back and Forth: Sex & Children’s Books

17 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by dmainhart in Back and Forth

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

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

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

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

Animal Man #18--Right?

Animal Man #18–Right?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dark Shadows #14

Dark Shadows #14

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

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

SC: Hey!  What about my–

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

SC: Oh, I see.  Clever.

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

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

DM: (tee-hee!)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adventure Time: Fiona and Cake #3

Adventure Time with Fiona & Cake #3

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

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

Turning pages,

Derek & Scott

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In Scott’s Bag (3/6)

07 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Scott's Bag

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

A formidable fascicle, indeed.  As yanked:

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

Lost Vegas #1

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

Animal Man #18 (Expectation-Free Edition!)

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

Does my list look like your list?

Turning pages,

Scott

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What’s Up?

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

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

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Alberto Ponticelli, All-New X-Men, Andrea Sorrentino, Andy Diggle, Animal Man, Bedlam, BOOM!, Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Wood, China Mieville, Colder, Cullen Bunn, Daredevil: End of Days, Dark Horse, David Mack, David Marquez, DC Comics, Dial H, Fairy Quest, Green Arrow, Helheim, Humberto Ramos, Image, Jason Latour, Jeff Lemire, Jock, Joe Casey, Juan Ferreyra, Justin Jordan, Mara, Marvel, Ming Doyle, Nick Spencer, Oni Press, Patrick Zircher, Paul Jenkins, Paul Tobin, Riley Rossmo, Scott Snyder, Sex, Shadowman, Snapshot, Steve Pugh, Swamp Thing, Winter Soldier, Yanick Paquette

I like big bags and I cannot lie.

Feeling Pullish

  • Colder #5 (Dark Horse): Glad this little Ice Age is over.
  • Animal Man #18 (DC): Almost there.  Almost over the Rot.  Looks like with #19, Lemire’s headed back to what made the book a must-read in the first place.  Just have to survive this one.
  • Dial H #10 (DC): #9 was a return to form.  Looks like a ruff ride this time around.  See for yourself.
    Dial H #10

    Dial H #10

    • Swamp Thing #18 (DC): Another Snyder superhero finale.  Expectations set to nada.
    • Bedlam #5 (Image): Last issue yanked me from the brink.
    Bedlam #5

    Bedlam #5

    • Daredevil: End of Days #6 (Marvel): This has been really good.  Probably the best Bendis going right now–and there’s a lot of Bendis going right now.
    • Shadowman #5 (Valiant): Another comic in the news?  Wouldn’t have expected Shadowman.  Lot of things I didn’t expect from Shadowman–including that I’d still be reading it through #5.

     

Feeling Plucky

  • Mara #3 (Image): Not my favorite, but I’m sticking with it–especially since it’s a mini.
  • Sex #1 (Image): Joe Casey’s new one’s had its share of hype–so much, in fact,  it’s practically been buzzed bald.  Considering, that might not be such a bad thing.
  • Snapshot #2 (Image): Might as well.
  • Green Arrow #18 (DC): Can’t bow out after one issue.  Lemire deserves at least two, maybe even a few.
  • Winter Soldier #16 (Marvel): Jason LaTour’s first issue certainly didn’t make me forget Ed Brubaker.  Surprisingly, it didn’t make me want to forget Winter Soldier.  Not yet, anyway.
Winter Soldier #16

Winter Soldier #16

  • Helheim #1 (Oni): I’m a little late to the Sixth Gun party.  Not gonna let this one slip by without a shot.
Helheim #1

Helheim #1

  • Fairy Quest #2 (BOOM!): There was something about #1 that I kinda dug.
  • All-New X-Men #8 (Marvel): Ugh.

This one’s got Bunns, hun.  So, I guess I want some.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

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What’s Up?

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

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

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Action Comics, Alberto Ponticelli, All-New X-Men, Andy Diggle, Animal Man, Bill Sienkiewicz, BOOM!, Brian Michael Bendis, China Mieville, Colder, Craig Cermak, Daredevil: End of Days, Dark Horse, David Mack, David Marquez, DC Comics, Dia De Los Muertos, Dial H, Dynamite, Fairy Quest, Garth Ennis, Grant Morrison, Green Arrow, Harbinger, Humberto Ramos, Image, Jason Latour, Jeff Lemire, Jock, Joshua Dysart, Juan Ferreyra, Justin Jordan, Klaus Janson, Marvel, Mico Suayan, Nic Klein, Patrick Zircher, Paul Jenkins, Paul Tobin, Rags Morales, Red Team, Riley Rossmo, Sara Pichelli, Scott Snyder, Shadowman, Snapshot, Steve Pugh, Swamp Thing, Ultimate Spider-Man, Valiant, Winter Soldier, Yanick Paquette

“What’s up?” you ask?  Yeah.  It’s more like what isn’t up.  Keeeeey-riced!  Check it:

Crisis of Definite Comics

  • Action Comics #17 (DC): Promises to be epic.  Either way, Morrison’s last will be mine as well.
  • Animal Man #17 (DC): Wondering where this is going to go after Rotworld.
  • Dial H #9 (DC): Didn’t kick off 2013 the way it stomped through 2012.  Expectations are still dialed up pretty high–and maybe that’s the problem.
  • Green Arrow #17 (DC): Lemire’s run begins.  Will it be a bull’s eye or another quivering misfire?
  • Swamp Thing #17 (DC): Not caring where this is going to go after Rotworld.  As with Morrison’s Action, Snyder’s last will be mine as well.
  • Daredevil: End of Days #5 (Marvel): #4 was really good.  In fact, halfway through, this mini has been surprisingly effective.
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #20 (Marvel): Venom?  Gag–unless he’s going to be used in an unexpected manner, which is totally possible.  Bendis has earned a long leash– even with a poisonous character like the toxic tongue wagger himself.
  • Harbinger #0 (Valiant): Great stuff.  So great, in fact, that I’m not worried about a zero diversion.  Not in the least.
  • Shadowman #4 (Valiant): Didn’t expect to get this far with it.
  • Snapshot #1 (Image): Looks interesting enough.  Don’t have much experience with Diggle.  I’m jumping on because of Jock, who has been doing some transcendent work on the Batman back-ups, or extensions, or whatever they are.
Snapshot #1

Snapshot #1

  • Garth Ennis’ Red Team #1 (Dynamite): Ennis is so hot right now he’s impossible to pass up.
Garth Ennis Red Team #1

Garth Ennis Red Team #1

  • Colder #4 (Dark Horse): Started off so well.  Unfortunately, has fallen faster than Declan’s body temperature.
  • Fairy Quest #1 (BOOM!): Jenkins and Ramos?  Come on: definitely worth a shot.
Fairy Quest #1

Fairy Quest #1

Is This a Comic Which I See Before Me?

  • All-New X-Men #7 (Marvel): Mainly because of Marquez.  Also because I’m an idiot.
  • Winter Soldier #15 (Marvel): Brubaker’s take is THE take, no doubt.  But why not try someone else’s take for at least an issue or two?  Can’t be worse than Remender’s Captain America for goodness sake.
  • Dia De Los Muertos #1 (Image): I’ll give it a quick flip.  Rossmo’s certainly worth a maybe.

I wonder if I’ll be able to buy some time, too; I’m gonna need it.  Yow-to-the-za!

What are you looking forward to?  Anything else I should keep an eye out for?

Turning pages,

Scott

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Back and Forth: The More Things Change…

18 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by ScottNerd in Back and Forth

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A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Ales Kot, Amazing Spider-Man, Animal Man, Archer & Armstrong, beat poetry, Bloodshot, Change, Chris Eliopoulos, Cormac McCarthy, Dan Slott, DC Comics, Essex County, H.P. Lovecraft, Harbinger, I Am Legend, Image, Jeff Lemire, Jose Villarrubia, Justin Jordan, Lily Tomlin, Marvel NOW!, Morgan Jeske, New 52, On the Road, Patrick Zircher, Rotworld, Ryan Stegman, Scott Snyder, Shadowman, Steve Martin, Superior Spider-Man, Swamp Thing, Sweet Tooth, The Road, The Underwater Welder, The Walking Dead, Valiant, Vertigo, Watchmen, X-O Manowar, Y: The Last Man, Yanick Paquette

(From On the Road to The Road in one comic review? Read on…)

Scott Carney: Two pages in, I knew that Change #2 (Image) would be my favorite book of the week. This trippy little thing is big on bouncing to the beat of an earlier generation. Oh, we’re on a road, all right; I’m just not entirely sure where that road–or where writer Ales Kot–is taking us, and I’m pretty sure that Google Maps isn’t going to help me.  And, you know what? That aspect, which could easily be a deal breaker, is actually one of the endearing qualities of this enigmatic issue–along with the poetry that pulses like poisoned blood through the veins of the sharply shifting vignettes, which all lead back, apparently, to the newly-revealed lungs of the book: New Atlantis. Another draw comes in the form of the fresh characters, whom I still hardly know two issues into the series, but about whom I care more than the hopeless heroes of of the Avengers Arena and more than the trite assemblage of assassins in the frivolous Thunderbolts.  (Each of those NOW! titles is now a THEN!  That’s right: El Droppo.  Would you say I’ve dropped a plethora of books?)  Sure, yeah, I felt lost; but isn’t that what I’m supposed to feel?  (Isn’t that what the characters feel?)  Damn it!  Isn’t that what I want?  Isn’t that what I’m paying for?  For an escape from the grind?  For a change of pace?  Appropriately, “YESSSSssss.”

Derek Mainhart: I agree that this is one idiosyncratic little book. The analogy you make to beat poetry is good one; this book has an evocative, rambling cadence that seems as much the point as the actual events that take place (whatever they are). The experience of reading an experimental, seemingly stream-of-conscious work like this can be an engaging, highly personal one. Like beat poetry, I appreciate the unorthodox immediacy of it (not to mention Morgan Jeske’s Paul Pope-inflected artwork). But it is simply not my groove. (Or maybe between this, Fatale and Locke and Key, I’ve just reached my quotient of Lovecraft-inspired comics.)

The Superior Spider-Man #1 (Marvel)

Speaking of change, this was billed as a BIG one. As regular readers are aware, I’m among those who are appalled by Spidey’s recent history. So when the rumors started flying about this book’s premise, I started picking up Amazing Spider-Man again for the first time in years. And I have to say, I was intrigued by Dan Slott’s story: having ol’ Doc Ock mind-swap with Peter Parker, then letting Parker die in Ock’s enfeebled body did, in fact, feel like a shake-up of the status quo. Letting a megalomaniac muck about in the life of an icon seemed to have potential (It says volumes about the mess Marvel’s made of Peter Parker that killing him could actually improve the book). So I was on board. And for the first twenty-one pages I was not disappointed (SPOILERS!): Doctor Spider-Pus fighting the new Sinister Six, not so much out of moral obligation but because he’s indignant that they’re sullying his legacy. Then, in true supervillain fashion, he defeats them by leading them into a meticulously prepared, elaborate deathtrap. With great ego, it would seem, comes great responsibility. That ego is again on display in a scene in which the brilliant Doctor starts fraying at the edges with the knowledge that all of his future accomplishments will be credited to Peter. And finally, in the best sequence in the book, Otto Parktavius goes on a date with Petey’s beloved Mary Jane. In a hilarious tour de lettering, Otto’s self-absorbed narration is “pasted” over MJ’s dialogue while he blithely ogles her (I assume this was Slott’s decision, but kudos to letterer Chris Eliopoulos anyway for an effect I’ve never quite seen before).  Ryan Stegman’s aggressive artwork, all sharp angles, blocky shadows and speed-lines, perfectly matched the irreverent tone of a story that held the promise of deconstructing super-hero tropes by turning them on their head (not that this is Watchmen or anything, but there is a gleeful audacity in doing this sort of thing to Spider-Man).

And then page twenty-two. Who should show up to ruin the fun? Why, Peter Parker of course! (or his ghost, or whatevyawn…) Now, I’m not naive; we’re talking about a super-hero comic. Of course Peter’s coming back. Nobody stays dead, silly! But so soon? The first issue of the much hoopla-ed big change? Maybe it was Slott’s plan all along, but this reeks of corporate hand-wringing: God forbid Peter Parker doesn’t appear in a Spider-Man comic for even one issue. (Slott even goes to the extent of having Petey verbalize the Game Plan: “I am Peter Parker. And I swear I will find a way BACK!“) Never mind that this retroactively robs AMS #700 of even the illusion of poignancy less than a month after its publication; in one fell swoop, an edgy, promising, even satirical premise has been rendered safe, predictable and pedestrian – the very opposite of a change in status quo. I, for one, am not looking forward to watching Peter play Lily Tomlin to Otto’s Steve Martin. (Name That Reference! Win a prize!) I haven’t been this deflated by an ending since A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

SC:  Yeah.  Me, too!  No, really: you took the web right out of my shooter.  But I–may I vent?  Come on!  They couldn’t’ve given us three issues–just three issues!–to savor this stroke of genius.  No, sir!  Gosh, I wish I were a spider on the wall during the pitches and the planning and any of the other processes that led to–to–this!  I mean, seriously: was this Slott’s plan all along?  Was there some directive from on high to not let this linger too long?  I’ll tell you what I wasn’t thinking after reading the page that shall remain numberless: Oh boy, I can’t wait to see how Peter comes back!  So, yeah, it’s quite possible that as quickly as they won me over, they’ve lost me.  I’m not too sure how far I’ll follow this not-so-superior turn.

OK, then, well, really speaking of change (you’d think it’s a theme or something): a big change is coming for one of our favorite titles.  And, it’s a bag-shattering change, too.  That’s right: Scott Snyder’s almost done with his run on Swamp Thing (DC); so I guess that means I’m almost done with my run, too.  Aye, and it was a good one.

DM: Yeah, talk about change you can’t believe in. It really is a shame; with issue 16, Snyder has recaptured some of the aura of the first year of the book. The extended build-up to the current Rotworld storyline distinguished itself with a steady baseline of unease, intermittently punctuated by surreal spasms of horror (especially when rendered with skin-crawling effectiveness by sometimes-series artist, Yanick Paquette). The series began to lose a little mojo with the introduction of Anton Arcane as the villain of the piece. The terror went from chillingly existential to almost cartoonish super-villainy (Anton would twirl his mustache if he had a face.) When Rotworld kicked into high gear a few months ago, the book seemed to further strain under the expectations of “epic” storytelling. But here Snyder once again hits his stride with a tale split between the struggle of the past to prevent the nightmarish present. The two strands also serve as emotional counterpoint, traversing the oh-so-short distance between hope and despair. In the (alternate?) present, Swamp Thing valiantly struggles to save, not the world, nor reality itself, but the only thing that matters to him in the end; his love, Abigail. More’s the pity then that Abigail’s quest in the past seemingly renders Swampy’s  heroics utterly futile. This is the stuff of tragedy–and of terror: without giving too much away, let’s just say that when Snyder promises a shock (unlike Superior Spider-Man), he doesn’t back down.

Only two more issues of Snyder and Paquette? Now that’s tragic.

SC: Hell yeah it is!  But, come on: do you really think Abigail’s gone for good?  I have a sneaky suspicion that Mr. Thing is going to use some of his bio-restorative formula to bring her back to life–to some form of life, maybe even as a Swamp Thingess.  That’d be a fitting finale, wouldn’t it: another out-of-step ending for the otherwise superior Scott Snyder.  (See the end of his Batman: Court of Owls arc if you don’t believe me.)

Moving on, I’m willing to admit it: I’ve changed my mind about Shadowman (Valiant) with #3.  A little background: I don’t have any background with Shadowman as a book or as a character.  I figured I’d give it a whirl since Valiant’s revamp was 4-for-4 with two home runs (Archer & Armstrong and Harbinger) and two triples (X-O Manowar and Bloodshot).  The first issue really didn’t do it for me, and I pretty much called it quits there.  Then, during a trip to a more well-stocked shop than my home base, I saw #2 and decided to pick it up because I had a few bucks left over.  (Yeah, I’m still working on the whole willpower thing.  Getting better, though!)  I still wasn’t too taken by it.  Flash forward to another trip to my shop on the side: the proprietor offered up #3 as one of his favorite covers of the week.  Yup.  That was enough for me.  And wouldn’t you know: I really liked it: I finally bought Mr. Twist as a terrifying villain.  I dug the descent into the Deadside; more specifically I was taken–along with Jack–by Jaunty, the talking monkey with the sweet hat and the sweeter Cajun ‘tude.  I appreciated the obvious allusion to King Arthur: Jack, in this case recognizing his responsibility, his destiny, draws the scythe from the shadow and becomes the new Shadowman.  And with that, Justin Jordan and Patrick Zircher have earned a new Shadowfan.  Bring on the big baddie: bring on Master Darque!

DM: And finally (and finally), Sweet Tooth #40 (DC/Vertigo), a book that’s all about change. Throughout it’s run this book has always seemed an odd, at times ill-fitting addition to the post-apocalyptic literary landscape. Jeff Lemire’s take on the end of man seemed to lack the visceral drive of The Walking Dead, the gravitas of I Am Legend, or the pointed political commentary of Y: The Last Man (to name but a few well-known exemplars of the genre). The story seemed to have a narrow focus: the young hybrid boy/deer, Gus and his grizzled protector, Jepperd fight to survive against malevolent pursuers, endlessly chasing them through the woods, determined to discover the mystery of Gus’ creation and, they hope, the key to mankind’s survival. And though the cast expanded, the scope of the narrative was never itself expansive in the way stories like this generally are. The same, however, cannot be said of the art. Nobody does desolate landscapes like Lemire (praise must also be heaped upon series colorist par excellence, Jose Villarrubia, he of the muted earth tones and washed out firmament). The setting and spare nature of much of the writing created a lyrical tone of atmosphere and ache. This restrained aesthetic, which is Lemire at his best (see Essex County) is ultimately what separates this book from the rest of the genre. In fact, with its devotion to craft, the work it most resembles is perhaps Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Both are about fathers and sons (a recurring theme in Lemire’s work, from The Underwater Welder to Animal Man). And both find hope in the passing of the torch to the next generation. But whereas McCarthy’s hope is a flickering candle in unremittant darkness, Lemire’s is a bonfire of celebration. Though the territory covered by the series may not have broad, this generous, and alas, final issue is expansive in perhaps its most important measure: its heart. Book of the Week. Good Night, Sweet Tooth.

Sweet Tooth #40 Cover

Sweet Tooth #40 Cover

Turning pages,

Scott and Derek

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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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In Scott’s Bag (11/7)

10 Saturday Nov 2012

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Scott's Bag

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Action Comics, Batwoman, Bedlam, Bill Sienkiewicz, Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Posehn, Butch Juice, China Mieville, Chris Samnee, Colder, Cully Hamner, Daredevil: End of Days, Darick Robertson, Dark Horse, Dave Lapham, David Mack, David Marquez, DC Comics, Deadpool, Dial H, Ed Brubaker, Fatale, Frazer Irving, Gerry Duggan, Grant Morrison, Happy, IDW, Image, J.H. Williams III, Jason Aaron, Jeff Lemire, Juan Ferreyra, Justice League Dark, Justin Jordan, Klaus Janson, Mark Waid, Marvel, Marvel NOW!, Mikel Janin, Nick Bradshaw, Nick Spencer, Patrick Zircher, Paul Tobin, Rags Morales, Riley Rossmo, Scott Snyder, Scott Tuft, Sean Phillips, Shadowman, Sholly Fisch, Steve Pugh, Swamp Thing, The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom, Tony Moore, Ultimate Spider-Man, W. Haden Blackman, Winter Soldier, Wolverine and the X-Men, Yanick Paquette

Two of the biggest weeks in a while collided–as a result of Super Storm Sandy–and blew up into a Super Bag, which I call Candy, ’cause this haul is pretty sweet.

I’m going to keep it simple so I can get to reading.  I pray you’ll understand.

A Little Heavy Reading

  • Colder #1 (This book looks hot!  No, really: it starts off with a fire, for goodness sake.)
  • Winter Soldier #12
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #16.1 (What’s the point, Mr. Bendis?  I mean, really.)
  • Swamp Thing #14 (Flipped through.  Some far-out layouts.)
  • Swamp Thing Annual #1 (Bogged down by Swampy, but in a good way–I think.)
  • Animal Man #14
  • Dial H #6 (Very different look on the book thanks to Dave Lapham.  I wonder if I’ll be so free with my thanks after reading it.)
  • Deadpool #1 (Shh.  Don’t tell DerekNerd.)
  • Batwoman #13 (A reorder.  A beautiful reorder.)
  • Fatale #9
  • Bedlam #1 (Not high on Nick Spencer, but figured why not?  I’ve come to learn from some why they did not, from others why they shouldn’t’ve.  I’ve also read a Tweet or two celebrating it.  We’ll see.)
  • Happy #2 (There’s potential here: potential for really good or for really awful.  I’m not sure Grant Morrison’s allowed this book any middle ground.)
  • The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #3 (I don’t care what you’re holding.  This pair–Waid and Samnee–beats it.)
  • Wolverine and the X-Men #19 (The mutant of all the mutant books: it’s actually good.)
  • Action Comics #14 (Hoping for another perfect moment.  Not expecting.  Just hoping.)
  • Shadowman #1 (Are you down with the Zirch?  I am.)

Valiant Entertainment’s Shadowman #1

  • Daredevil: End of Days #2 (We’re still at the beginning of the End, so I guess it’s OK that I’m not too sure what’s going on.)
  • Justice League Dark Annual #1 (Oooh, Frankenstein!  Back in Jeff Lemire’s hands!  Now I really want to see how this war plays itself out!)
  • Action Comics Annual #1 (Oooh, Sholly Fisch.  Not Grant Morrison.  Yeah, looks like I used up all my exclamation points on the last entry.)

What did you get in your bag?

You know what?  You probably didn’t get anything in your bag.  Why?  Because I got it all.  By God, I got it all.

Turning pages–lots and lots of pages,

Scott

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What’s Up?

04 Sunday Nov 2012

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

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Tags

Action Comics, Animal Man, Brian Michael Bendis, China Mieville, Colder, Daredevil: End of Days, Dark Horse, Dave Gibbons, David Lapham, David Mack, DC Comics, Deadpool, Dial H, Gerry Duggan, Grant Morrison, Greg Land, Iron Man, Jeff Lemire, Juan Ferreyra, Kieron Gillen, Klaus Janson, Mark Millar, Marvel, Marvel NOW!, Patrick Zircher, Paul Tobin, Rags Morales, Rot World, Scott Snyder, Secret Service, Shadowman, Steve Pugh, Swamp Thing, Tony Moore, Valiant, Yanick Paquette

Looking forward to this Wednesday, a couple of puns come to mind:

  • I’ll be double-bagging it.
  • I’m double booked.

That’s right: because of the storm, my shop didn’t get its books on Wednesday past.  So, I’ll be getting the books on last week’s list plus this bunch.  What’s up, indeed!

DC’s Most Wanted

  • Action Comics #14: Soaring pretty high right now.  Figures Grant Morrison’d be hitting all the right notes on his way out.  Bastard.
  • Animal Man #14: Rot.
  • Dial H #6: Gotta hand it to China Mieville: ain’t nothin’ like it.

Dial H #6 Cover

  • Swamp Thing #14: World.

Marvel SOON!

  • Daredevil: End of Days #2: Hope I get the David Mack variant.
  • Secret Service #5: Here’s a secret: I can’t wait till this is over.
  • Ultimate Spider-Man #17: #16 was awful.  I’m worried about this one, too.  United We Stand?  More like United We Suck.

Yes or NOW!

  • Deadpool #1: What are the odds that this will be any good?
  • Iron Man #1: I hated–hated–what Kieron Gillen did on the most recent incarnation of Uncanny X-Men.  A big “We’ll see.”

Dark Horse

  • Colder #1: Preview pages (on Comixology’s Pull List) look pretty good.  I hope my guy gets it in.

Colder #1 Cover

Darker Horse

  • Shadowman #1: Worth a try, I suppose.  After all, Valiant’s been doing a darned good job, and Patrick Zircher’s a swell Tweeter.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Turning pages–soon,

Scott

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Back and Forth: Dialed In

10 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by ScottNerd in Back and Forth, Microviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Action Comics, Animal Man, AvX, Bill Sienkiewicz, Brad Anderson, Brian Michael Bendis, Bullseye, China Mieville, comics, Daredevil: End of Days, David Mack, Dial H, Grant Morrison, Jeff Lemire, Kingpin, Klaus Janson, Mateus Santoluoco, Matt Murdock, New 52, Rorschach, Scott Snyder, Spider-Men, Steve Pugh, Swamp Thing, Travel Foreman, Yanick Paquette

Scott Carney: Where to start, where to start?  I know where I’m not going to start; I know where I’m not going to go period: to AvX #12 or Rorschach #2.  Each reads like a refund.

I guess I’ll start with a couple of books that were rotten as a rule: Swamp Thing #13 and Animal Man #13.  Mirror images of one another, these two books build the foundation for Rotworld–the former focused on the Green, and the latter, its locus, the Red.  Even though the stories follow almost identical arcs, in round one (as if this is a boxing match between flora and fauna), I’ve got to give the edge to the walking compost heap.  Scott Snyder’s story grows a bit more organically; and Yanick Paquette’s art–especially the layouts–is at its series best.  In terms of where each ends–a decided difference, indeed–it’s an absolute fact: I’m more interested in Abigail’s fate than I am in Ellen’s.  I’m pretty sure Abby’s not dead, despite what the Parliament professes; but I’d still like to see how the situation plays out.

Derek Mainhart: I had a mirrored reaction to yours: I liked Animal Man better. The endangerment of Buddy’s family seemed to raise the stakes higher than in Swamp Thing (though I could have done without the return of Shepherd, the Red’s answer to Jar Jar Binks). But then it almost seems odd to contrast the two books, since they really are different chapters of the same story. I admire the level of craft going into the writing, as the books are nearly symmetrical; a level of synergy rarely seen in crossovers. “Organic” applies in every sense of the word.

SC: Thanks to the last two pages of Daredevil: End of Days #1, I’m pretty sure I don’t know if Daredevil’s a dead devil or not.  I mean, the dude should be dead: Murdock’s murdered in full view of a mob of indecent flashers; and it’s the mob of Awful Samaritans’ impotent images that bring the bloody end game to life, providing the proof of Bullseye’s coring of ol’ Hornhead.  So who the hell is that at the end?  Does the Hand have a hand in this?  (I deserve a high-five for that one!)  The big four hands involved with putting this tale together have crafted something graphic and gritty: Klaus Janson and Bill Sienkiewicz deliver on the viscerals–I mean, visuals; and Brian Michael Bendis bends DD backward–essentially turning a blind eye to what Waid’s doing right now on Marvel’s best book, hands down–toward the the darker tone of his own successful run on Daredevil (Vol. 2).  Where’s David Mack’s hand in all of this?  It’s not where I was hoping it would be, that’s for sure.  I guess this storyline isn’t exactly where I was hoping it would be, either: it seems to rest outside of continuity.

DM: Yeah this seems superfluous. It read like “What If…..Brian Michael Bendis continued writing Daredevil????” It’s a shame because the ending that Benids did supply to his run was just perfect. I was also expecting some David Mack art. As it was, the art seemed as muddled as the story. Klaus Janson is a wonderful artist, but generally stronger as an inker in my view. Bullseye? The Kingpin? In light of Waid’s current, excellent work, this reads like a re-run.

SC: Even still, I’m prepared to give it another issue or two.  I mean, I was down on the idea of Spider-Men, and, boy, did I end up with web on my face with that one!  Time to dial up the expectations!

Dial H #5 certainly lived up to expectations–expectations that were sky high after a dialed in #0.  China Mieville continues to untangle the wires, allowing us to learn along with Nelson about his dial–one without a phone, without a booth; one he dials while calling on “a Superman.”  Even Superman, however, couldn’t have seen this one coming: Cock-a-Hoop?  I was cock-a-hoop myself as I witnessed this next round of wackiness, this epic battle–drawn up epically by Mateus Santolouco–that leaves some victims in its wake and presents a new challenge for our hero and his elderly sidekick Manteau.

DM: I still can’t believe this freak show of a comic is a DC book. The New 52 can be marked a success if for nothing else than this book’s existence. Mieville’s writing, though occasionally hard to follow, is never less than inspired. To wit: “When nothing eats nothing? It leaves anti-nothing behind. Somethingness.” Brilliant? Claptrap? Whatever man, I’m lovin’ the ride.

SC: Indeed. Mieville’s got it goin’ on–and he knows it: as Nelson remarks on how the shadow “used its dial…like it’s supposed to be used,” Mielville slyly whispers that he’s writing comics like they’re supposed to be written–that he’s writing them like Grant Morrison on Action Comics.

Action Comics #13 Cover

Action Comics #13 certainly doesn’t–it couldn’t possibly–meet the otherworldly standard set by #0.  It does, however, have an exciting–if not slightly confusing–reimagining of the Phantom Zone, with phantastic art from Travel Foreman, who set a phreakin’ high bar over on The New 52’s Animal Man–one not yet met, despite some good work from Steve Pugh et al.

DM: It was good to see Foreman’s work again. He does a nice job. But given the sparsity of the interdimensional setting, I think the colorist, Brad Anderson, deserves a lot of the credit for the overall look of the book.

SC: Noted.  But what really struck me–what drew a tear of joy from me–was the page turn from page 23 to 24: there’s Krypto, who “waited and waited for what felt like a thousand years–for Kal-El, his Kal-El, [I’m tearing up just typing this] had promised he would return”; and–turn the page–wouldn’t you know, “Kal-El never broke a promise.”  No, he doesn’t break promises.  That’s what makes him Superman.  That’s what makes us love him–whether we’re 9 or 90.

DM: Don’t hold back man! It’s ok! I’m right there with you. Morrison, more than any writer in recent memory, knows what a Superman story is supposed to be. Month-to-month continuity concerns, cosmetic changes, new villains, etc.; all of that is secondary. Superman exists for the big, goose-bump inducing, awe-inspiring moments. And that’s what we get here.

SC: Morrison is making magic–and is conjuring up a showdown with Mr. Mxyzptlk to prove it–which makes his impending exit all the more difficult to deal with.  Maybe if we get him to say his name backwards…

Turning pages,

Scott & Derek

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In Scott’s Bag (10/3)

05 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by ScottNerd in I&N Scott's Bag

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Tags

Action Comics, Adam Kubert, Animal Man, AvX, Brian Azzarello, Brian Michael Bendis, China Mieville, Daredevil: End of Days, David Mack, David Mazzucchelli, Dial H, Ed Brubaker, Fatale, Grant Morrison, Jason Aaron, Jeff Lemire, Klaus Janson, Lee Bermejo, Mateus Santoluoco, Rorschach, Scott Snyder, Sean Phillips, Steve Pugh, Swamp Thing, Travel Foreman, Yanick Paquette

This may be the first week where I left the store with everything I expected to leave with.  That’s right: if you’ve been keeping up, you know that means my bones and my skin were overridden.

Big Star

  • Action Comics #13 (I hope this isn’t just a mini-vacation for Travel Foreman.  Looks gorgeous.)
  • Animal Man #13 (What the heck happened to Hawkman?  Holy crap!  Does this mean Rob Liefeld is the avatar of the Rot?)

Animal Man #13 Cover

  • Swamp Thing #13 (The layouts look lovely.)

Twelve Inch

  • Dial H #5 (Cock-a-Hoop?  I gotta get me some of whatever Mieville’s taking.)

By the way: Hate–absolutely HATE!–the Arrow banner that cuts across the covers.

Limited Serious

  • Daredevil: End of Days #1 (I can’t imagine a reality in which I won’t like this.)

On a Short Leash

  • Fatale #8 (Needs to pick it up a bit–with a new twist or something; otherwise, it might get pulled off the pull-list.)

Shruggin’ So Hard I Pulled a Trap

  • Rorschach #2 (Might be an improvement over #1.  Might.)
  • AvX #12 (The Architects might’ve saved the best for la—  Sorry.  I can’t keep a straight face.  And that always prevents me from typing the word la—  Darn it.  Still soooo not straight.)

I’d say I can’t wait to get into ’em, but I am waiting–against my will, sure; but I’m waiting, nevertheless.  Hmm.  Maybe by using all this wait, maybe I’m losing wait.  I wonder what’ll happen when I lose it all.  No: I know: I’ll be terribly intolerable, which means I won’t have to go and buy new pants–’cause the old ones’ll fit just fine.

What did you get in your bag?

Turning pages,

Scott

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