If candy were Jesus then Scott Pilgrim would be a tootsie roll. Presented in the format normally reserved for things with Japanese telepaths, samurai, schoolgirls, and pirates is a book with big eyed Canadian kids--chiefly among them, one Scott Pilgrim: Slacker-nerd extraordinary.
To say this book is funny and imaginative, is to say Superman's sperm has a kick. This stuff is fantastic. The book follows Scott Pilgrim around and builds a rather well developed world of girlfriends/ex-girlfriends/bandmates(Scott has a sucky band)/family/gay roommate(Wallace Wells: 25(as of the second book)). The panels do their darndest to build really great comic timing. It's manic in the way a Japanese manga might actually be, but also feels very grounded in it's real world angst.
Bryan Lee O'Malley has created something wonderful with this book which I can only hope will go on and on into forever, and bring him untold riches.
These are the kind of books you hurl shuriken style at the back of unsuspecting friends.
BUY SCOTT PILGRIM! (Which one? (All of them (Gotta catch 'em all, right?(righhht)))
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Wonder Woman 1, 2; The Flash 4; All-Star Superman 5
Today's DC time. Yesterday I filled up on Marvel, now it's time to dash back into DC.
I actually consider myself a DC fan moreso than a Marvel fan, so I'm admitting my biases up front. Wonder Woman is my current favorite character in DC. Batman is numero dos. I'm an avowed Superman hater. Just plain don't like him.
With that said:
Wonder Woman 1 and 2
by Alan Heinberg, Terry Dodson
Honestly it was Greg Rucka's run that made me fall in love with Wonder Woman. I read his run in trades, and absolutely loved the balance of action, politics, and just general angst. So crisis happened. Diana justifiably killed Maxwell Lord. Everyone gave her a hard time about it, and so she has disappeared, leaving the Wonder Woman mantle to Donna Troy, her sister. And these books written by Alan Heinberg start off there in the whole One Year Later relaunch shindig.
Right now this is a book with a huge identity crisis(pun not intended). And I know Heinberg realizes it because he keeps throwing in that title "Who is Wonder Woman?" This book could go in any number of directions. It could be about Donna Troy trying to fill Dianna's boots. Diana as a secret agent trying to continue to fight crime. Diana as some sort of Clark Kent dual persona thing. Or it could just devolve back into the same character we all know and love, and pretty much continue down the path it was already on, just with the minor annoyance of the whole crisis/one year later shindig.
For my money the track that is working the best and has the bulk of my interest is Donna Troy as Wonder Woman. I like to see her struggling to get out of Diana's shadow and actually live up to the ideals of Wonder Woman. I don't know. Is it wrong to like Heinberg's Donna Troy more than his Diana?
I think this is a decent relaunch title. I think it's a good starting point for someone looking to jump in to Wonder Woman, because you don't really have to know as much about the history of Diana. Heinberg does a good job of catching you up. I don't know though. It's not amazing. I've certainly read a lot of better books. But I'm such a fan of Wonder Woman that it really just has to be decent, and this book is. So it's definitely a book I plan to keep up on.
The Flash #4
by I'm doing us both a favor
Awful.
Terrible.
Burning this book would be a waste of good fire.
The artwork somehow manages to look both weird and cliched.
The writing makes the art work look like Frank Quitley.
Why oh why does this book suck so bad?
What have you bastards done to my flash?
I've got no beef with Bart Allen. I think he'll do fine as The Flash.
But this book is just stupid.
All-Star Superman 5
by Grant Morison, Frank Quitely
Clark Kent goes to visit Luthor in jail, and hilarity ensues. Kent bumbles his way through stopping a prison riot, and saving Luthor's life multiple times, while Luthor babbles on about his obsession with superman.
The book is fuggin' brilliant.
Quitely's art is so perfect to look at. And Morrison is laugh out loud funny. This book has a kind of golden age innocence to it that is just infectious. After reading this book, I love comics more.
With that said. This book has a massive tinge of saddness running through the background.
Superman is dying, and his knowledge of this fact, and the things he does in what he knows are his final days, make the character. I usually hate Superman because he feels so blank. But morrison, while staying true to the character, has embedded a working pathos for this book. We can have our fun, and still feel like something serious is happening.
For my money this is the best thing DC is putting out right now. Every issue gets better.
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely are beautiful for making this book.
This is a book that you will pick up when it comes out as a trade. But it also works great as a monthly. This is the kind of book that if you plan to have children, you owe it to them to read. Because after you read it, your genetics and breeding stock will be improved. It's just that good. So think of the children, read All-Star Superman....shave a whale.
I actually consider myself a DC fan moreso than a Marvel fan, so I'm admitting my biases up front. Wonder Woman is my current favorite character in DC. Batman is numero dos. I'm an avowed Superman hater. Just plain don't like him.
With that said:
Wonder Woman 1 and 2
by Alan Heinberg, Terry Dodson
Honestly it was Greg Rucka's run that made me fall in love with Wonder Woman. I read his run in trades, and absolutely loved the balance of action, politics, and just general angst. So crisis happened. Diana justifiably killed Maxwell Lord. Everyone gave her a hard time about it, and so she has disappeared, leaving the Wonder Woman mantle to Donna Troy, her sister. And these books written by Alan Heinberg start off there in the whole One Year Later relaunch shindig.
Right now this is a book with a huge identity crisis(pun not intended). And I know Heinberg realizes it because he keeps throwing in that title "Who is Wonder Woman?" This book could go in any number of directions. It could be about Donna Troy trying to fill Dianna's boots. Diana as a secret agent trying to continue to fight crime. Diana as some sort of Clark Kent dual persona thing. Or it could just devolve back into the same character we all know and love, and pretty much continue down the path it was already on, just with the minor annoyance of the whole crisis/one year later shindig.
For my money the track that is working the best and has the bulk of my interest is Donna Troy as Wonder Woman. I like to see her struggling to get out of Diana's shadow and actually live up to the ideals of Wonder Woman. I don't know. Is it wrong to like Heinberg's Donna Troy more than his Diana?
I think this is a decent relaunch title. I think it's a good starting point for someone looking to jump in to Wonder Woman, because you don't really have to know as much about the history of Diana. Heinberg does a good job of catching you up. I don't know though. It's not amazing. I've certainly read a lot of better books. But I'm such a fan of Wonder Woman that it really just has to be decent, and this book is. So it's definitely a book I plan to keep up on.
The Flash #4
by I'm doing us both a favor
Awful.
Terrible.
Burning this book would be a waste of good fire.
The artwork somehow manages to look both weird and cliched.
The writing makes the art work look like Frank Quitley.
Why oh why does this book suck so bad?
What have you bastards done to my flash?
I've got no beef with Bart Allen. I think he'll do fine as The Flash.
But this book is just stupid.
All-Star Superman 5
by Grant Morison, Frank Quitely
Clark Kent goes to visit Luthor in jail, and hilarity ensues. Kent bumbles his way through stopping a prison riot, and saving Luthor's life multiple times, while Luthor babbles on about his obsession with superman.
The book is fuggin' brilliant.
Quitely's art is so perfect to look at. And Morrison is laugh out loud funny. This book has a kind of golden age innocence to it that is just infectious. After reading this book, I love comics more.
With that said. This book has a massive tinge of saddness running through the background.
Superman is dying, and his knowledge of this fact, and the things he does in what he knows are his final days, make the character. I usually hate Superman because he feels so blank. But morrison, while staying true to the character, has embedded a working pathos for this book. We can have our fun, and still feel like something serious is happening.
For my money this is the best thing DC is putting out right now. Every issue gets better.
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely are beautiful for making this book.
This is a book that you will pick up when it comes out as a trade. But it also works great as a monthly. This is the kind of book that if you plan to have children, you owe it to them to read. Because after you read it, your genetics and breeding stock will be improved. It's just that good. So think of the children, read All-Star Superman....shave a whale.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Civil War Shenannigans
Civil War # 4
I believe this is my first word on Marvel's uber-event, Civil War, to this point. So some quick summarization if you have in fact been living with a small family of badgers under a rock. Civil War starts off with a 9/11-like catastrophe, where hundreds of people, mostly children are killed in an accident involving the New Warriors(who have their own reality TV show ala Mike Allred's X-Factor) and there's a big outcry against superheros(this catastrophe coming on the heals of several other major disasters which have caused people to distrust heroes). As usual, politicans come in to save the day with laws, laws, and more laws. Working in conjunction with Tony Starks(Iron Man) the government has drawn up a superhero registration act, wherein all superpowered folk who intend to use their powers to fight crime, must register and recieve training like any police person might. This way there is accountability and oversight, and hopefully less a chance for a disaster. This is a very idealistic plan built out of a desire for security.
But like all security based ideas, the question of how much liberty should be given up comes into play. The other side of the coin, led suprisingly by Captain America, is that the registration act is a bad idea, and could lead to a terrible orwellian police state.
A deadline is set for all heroes to register, anyone who doesn't register is considered a criminal and sent to a secret prison built by Reed Richards(secret prisons, where have we heard that before? I'm sure nothing bad will ever happen there). Captain America takes a small group of heroes underground with him to continue to fight crime and fight against Tony Stars pro-registration group, which includes a now-unmasked Spiderman/Peter Parker.
That's the gist of the setup. It's a brilliant idea, which brings in many of the key debtates going on in this country right now over security vs. liberty, and just how much you can trust the government with your lives. I love that Millar is taking this book and making it politically relevant. I think comics, especially Marvel comics, since they are situated in the real world, owe us as the reader to engage the realities of the day. I'm not saying we need polemics from Peter Parker on every political issue, but I think it's wrong to ignore in art, what's going on in the world. The trick is to engage the ideas more than per se the specifics, so that you have something that is kind of timeless. And Millar is doing this brilliantly.
Civil War is an excellent book to read and then take with your friends and discuss and debate about. I don't know how it will work as a trade(probably still be good) but it has a wonderful power as a monthly. There's an audience aspect to the monthly comic that really enriches the experience when everyone is literally on the same page. You can kind of get the same thing with television. But I like that we've got something literary to discuss like this going around.
As far as Millar's execution of the event, he has a lot to cover. It's a huge undertaking, and I just wonder if in the end it won't end up feeling rushed. I just wish the main book could slow down in a few more places and kind of ruminate on things. Where Civil War is at it's most powerful is when Cap or Tony are engaged in the debate of the ideas. There's a part in issue four, that I don't want to spoil, but issue four is the first time I've ever started to question what Cap is doing. Cap right now is slipping dangerously into a kind of Osama-like mindset...It makes me cringe, because I want to support Cap, and I want to think Tony is evil...but I'm having questions. And that's the work of a great artist.
The artwork by Mcniven is great, I think he's doing a good job of showing doubt in some of the main players. Their words may say one thing, but their faces say another. And that's really using the medium to it's fullest. I feel like Millar and Mcniven are working in concert on this book wonderfully.
To call this a must-buy would be a huge understatement. This may end up being Marvel's Watchmen. This could be one of those books that ushers in a new era for the funny pages. Don't wait for the trade to come out. Pick up the monthly and then go find a friend and make them pick up the monthly, then start talking about the book.
Cable/Deadpool #31 (Civil War Tie-In)
This is Fabian Nicienza's book. It's been awhile since I've checked in on everyone's favorite merc with a mouth, and mutant with a messiah complex, and honestly not a lot has changed. Deadpool is still a goofball who is constantly attacking the fourth wall. Cable is still annoying. the art doesn't seem as bombastic as I remember in the first trade.
But yeah. It's a decent book. I always enjoy a little deadpool. It also has a confrontation between Bush and Cable/Deadpool that should be seen.
What's weird is that Fabian's Deadpool is really the kind of character that Warren Ellis wants for his Nextwave book. I don't think there's anyone in Nextwave who is as bonkers as Deadpool...blah blah blah. I should get off Nextwave's butt. But it's such a popular book, that it boggles my mind. Deadpool is a hundred times funnier than anything in Nextwave--and it's the same type of humor. I don't know. Deadpool's humor has that extra kick because he talks to the reader more and since he's also in the book, maybe I connect more with what he says, than anything in Nextwave.
Cable/Deadpool is kind of a middle of the road book though. I'd pick it up for a laugh every now and again. Everyone needs their Deadpool fix. Which by the way, a Ryan Reynolds led Deadpool movie....is a FANTASTIC IDEA. Make it happen marvel.
Moon Knight #5
This is a book I really like. Or want to like. The artwork is gritty. The characters are all drug-maniacs in deep deep mental traumas. It's sort of got that Dark Knight Returns vibe to it. And Huston does this really cool trick constantly where similar to the Pirate Boat comic chapter in Watchmen, he'll have the dialouge bleeding over captions, and other dialouge from diffrent times and places in the story, and he'll have other characters dialouge fit for--well the example in this book is the Taskmaster is beating the crap out of Marc Spector(Moon Knight), giving a lengthy speech complaining about his problems while doing so. Meanwhile over the top of this is this group that's been watching Spector for the last 5 issues, talking about Spector and what they're going to do to him and his family. And the whole thing for the most part fits. You can read the Taskmaster's speech as responses to the committee video tape that is playing in the background, and those responses seem to fit what Spector would say, or you can read it as two diffrent things going on at the same time--it's just this very cool comic book trick playing with context. And Huston does it every book. I don't know when I'll get tired of the trick, maybe never. But it gives every page a denseness that it wouldn't otherwise have. It's like getting twice the book.
That said, Huston needs to hustle it up. It's issue 5 and Marc Spector is still in full wallow. I'm questioning whether Huston has enough plot lined up once the inevitable happens and Moon Knight is back and kicking.
Also as a side note...when Moon Knight says "Vegengence" in full page splash...so so so corny. Don't do that again. A book like this that is written by such a talented guy, should come up with better things to say. This is not that kind of book.
Right now Moon Knight is in that top bracket of books I look for every month. But if Huston doesn't pick it up, I could quickly get tired of the whole thing. Right now this book is being carried by the strength of Huston's writing and the artwork. But the plot is about as interesting a wake for that relative you only sort of know, with a family you would rather not. PICK UP THE PACE WRITER GUY!
I believe this is my first word on Marvel's uber-event, Civil War, to this point. So some quick summarization if you have in fact been living with a small family of badgers under a rock. Civil War starts off with a 9/11-like catastrophe, where hundreds of people, mostly children are killed in an accident involving the New Warriors(who have their own reality TV show ala Mike Allred's X-Factor) and there's a big outcry against superheros(this catastrophe coming on the heals of several other major disasters which have caused people to distrust heroes). As usual, politicans come in to save the day with laws, laws, and more laws. Working in conjunction with Tony Starks(Iron Man) the government has drawn up a superhero registration act, wherein all superpowered folk who intend to use their powers to fight crime, must register and recieve training like any police person might. This way there is accountability and oversight, and hopefully less a chance for a disaster. This is a very idealistic plan built out of a desire for security.
But like all security based ideas, the question of how much liberty should be given up comes into play. The other side of the coin, led suprisingly by Captain America, is that the registration act is a bad idea, and could lead to a terrible orwellian police state.
A deadline is set for all heroes to register, anyone who doesn't register is considered a criminal and sent to a secret prison built by Reed Richards(secret prisons, where have we heard that before? I'm sure nothing bad will ever happen there). Captain America takes a small group of heroes underground with him to continue to fight crime and fight against Tony Stars pro-registration group, which includes a now-unmasked Spiderman/Peter Parker.
That's the gist of the setup. It's a brilliant idea, which brings in many of the key debtates going on in this country right now over security vs. liberty, and just how much you can trust the government with your lives. I love that Millar is taking this book and making it politically relevant. I think comics, especially Marvel comics, since they are situated in the real world, owe us as the reader to engage the realities of the day. I'm not saying we need polemics from Peter Parker on every political issue, but I think it's wrong to ignore in art, what's going on in the world. The trick is to engage the ideas more than per se the specifics, so that you have something that is kind of timeless. And Millar is doing this brilliantly.
Civil War is an excellent book to read and then take with your friends and discuss and debate about. I don't know how it will work as a trade(probably still be good) but it has a wonderful power as a monthly. There's an audience aspect to the monthly comic that really enriches the experience when everyone is literally on the same page. You can kind of get the same thing with television. But I like that we've got something literary to discuss like this going around.
As far as Millar's execution of the event, he has a lot to cover. It's a huge undertaking, and I just wonder if in the end it won't end up feeling rushed. I just wish the main book could slow down in a few more places and kind of ruminate on things. Where Civil War is at it's most powerful is when Cap or Tony are engaged in the debate of the ideas. There's a part in issue four, that I don't want to spoil, but issue four is the first time I've ever started to question what Cap is doing. Cap right now is slipping dangerously into a kind of Osama-like mindset...It makes me cringe, because I want to support Cap, and I want to think Tony is evil...but I'm having questions. And that's the work of a great artist.
The artwork by Mcniven is great, I think he's doing a good job of showing doubt in some of the main players. Their words may say one thing, but their faces say another. And that's really using the medium to it's fullest. I feel like Millar and Mcniven are working in concert on this book wonderfully.
To call this a must-buy would be a huge understatement. This may end up being Marvel's Watchmen. This could be one of those books that ushers in a new era for the funny pages. Don't wait for the trade to come out. Pick up the monthly and then go find a friend and make them pick up the monthly, then start talking about the book.
Cable/Deadpool #31 (Civil War Tie-In)
This is Fabian Nicienza's book. It's been awhile since I've checked in on everyone's favorite merc with a mouth, and mutant with a messiah complex, and honestly not a lot has changed. Deadpool is still a goofball who is constantly attacking the fourth wall. Cable is still annoying. the art doesn't seem as bombastic as I remember in the first trade.
But yeah. It's a decent book. I always enjoy a little deadpool. It also has a confrontation between Bush and Cable/Deadpool that should be seen.
What's weird is that Fabian's Deadpool is really the kind of character that Warren Ellis wants for his Nextwave book. I don't think there's anyone in Nextwave who is as bonkers as Deadpool...blah blah blah. I should get off Nextwave's butt. But it's such a popular book, that it boggles my mind. Deadpool is a hundred times funnier than anything in Nextwave--and it's the same type of humor. I don't know. Deadpool's humor has that extra kick because he talks to the reader more and since he's also in the book, maybe I connect more with what he says, than anything in Nextwave.
Cable/Deadpool is kind of a middle of the road book though. I'd pick it up for a laugh every now and again. Everyone needs their Deadpool fix. Which by the way, a Ryan Reynolds led Deadpool movie....is a FANTASTIC IDEA. Make it happen marvel.
Moon Knight #5
This is a book I really like. Or want to like. The artwork is gritty. The characters are all drug-maniacs in deep deep mental traumas. It's sort of got that Dark Knight Returns vibe to it. And Huston does this really cool trick constantly where similar to the Pirate Boat comic chapter in Watchmen, he'll have the dialouge bleeding over captions, and other dialouge from diffrent times and places in the story, and he'll have other characters dialouge fit for--well the example in this book is the Taskmaster is beating the crap out of Marc Spector(Moon Knight), giving a lengthy speech complaining about his problems while doing so. Meanwhile over the top of this is this group that's been watching Spector for the last 5 issues, talking about Spector and what they're going to do to him and his family. And the whole thing for the most part fits. You can read the Taskmaster's speech as responses to the committee video tape that is playing in the background, and those responses seem to fit what Spector would say, or you can read it as two diffrent things going on at the same time--it's just this very cool comic book trick playing with context. And Huston does it every book. I don't know when I'll get tired of the trick, maybe never. But it gives every page a denseness that it wouldn't otherwise have. It's like getting twice the book.
That said, Huston needs to hustle it up. It's issue 5 and Marc Spector is still in full wallow. I'm questioning whether Huston has enough plot lined up once the inevitable happens and Moon Knight is back and kicking.
Also as a side note...when Moon Knight says "Vegengence" in full page splash...so so so corny. Don't do that again. A book like this that is written by such a talented guy, should come up with better things to say. This is not that kind of book.
Right now Moon Knight is in that top bracket of books I look for every month. But if Huston doesn't pick it up, I could quickly get tired of the whole thing. Right now this book is being carried by the strength of Huston's writing and the artwork. But the plot is about as interesting a wake for that relative you only sort of know, with a family you would rather not. PICK UP THE PACE WRITER GUY!
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Walking Dead, Next Wave
Walking Dead HC Vol 1
Well so I finally sat down and slogged through the remaining half of Robert Kirkman's zombie epic Walking Dead. And while I was encouraged enough to probably want to check out the next chunk of story, it's really been kind of disappointing. I like the artistic style. I like the plot. I love Kirkman's overall vision for the book being a zombie movie that never ends, I think it's a wonderful concept for the book, and it will be interesting to see it develop. For those wondering just what I'm talking about, Kirkman's Walking Dead is a book about people post-zombegedon trying to survive. You've got the typical multi-cultural swath of people you normally see in these sorts of things(intentionally so), black guy, cop, Asian guy, old guy, teenage girls, some kids--yada yada. Kirkman's idea for it is a "zombie movie that never ends". Which is a really good idea for which the monthly setup of comics is perfect.
HOWEVER. The dialogue sucks. Plain and simple. It doesn't characterize. All of the characters talk the same, say the same things--and the bulk of all of the dialogue is expository in nature, which is bad in and of itself, but even worse when you are talking about panels completely taken up with expository talk bubbles that could be edited down to a well written piece of dialogue, rather than chunk. The strength of this book is in it's long term build. Getting to sit and stew with the characters in these different environments letting the claustrophobia build. And though Kirkman has laid some interesting threads in the first twelve issues presented here, I just hope they don't happen in the very clichéd annoying way that they could very well happen. I also think there have been more than a few missed opportunities to throw in some really shocking, disturbing stuff. The time they spent at the farm...it was sort of shocking what they had done with the barn...but if say this was an Ennis book, we could have had something special at that farm. I just feel like the characters are too muted, too sterile. I have to hand it to Kirkman though, he's got me through twelve issues of a story where there's not a single character I’m really interested in.
I don't know. Like I said, I will probably try and read the next chunk. But this isn't something I'd rush out to read every month though. But it is a book since it's such a large large idea in scope that I'd like to give a chance. Like I'd like to see where this book is at by issue one hundred.
So it's not a book I'd tell people to rush out and buy unless you are bored for something to read. But you could do a lot worse. Now I need to read Invincible by Kirkman, before I can fully decide on him. He might be another writer in comics that is really popular that I just don't enjoy (like Bendis).
Next Wave: Agents of H.A.T.E. # 1-6
As for Next Wave. It's staggering to me that this pile of crap is written by the same genius that is currently doing Fell, and who wrote Transmetropolitan and the Authority. Because god does this book suck. It's about this organization called H.A.T.E, which stands for something anti-terroristy, but is actually backed by a group called The Beyond, which used to be a terrorist group called S.I.L.E.N.T. Anyways. There's a super group working for H.A.T.E(run by a Nick Fury gone crazy guy named Dirk Anger) who find out about this, defect, and the book is basically about crude jokes, smashing things, blowing things up--and every arc is two issues long. Blegh. Problem is I'm supposed to be laughing throughout the entire book. I'm reading this book, remembering the reviews I read about it, saying it was the funniest book out there, and I'm sitting here telling myself "I'm supposed to be laughing". I almost chuckled once in the entire first 6 issues. The jokes are formulaic, almost madlib-like. The characters are all boring. I hate them all. I almost like Dirk Anger. Almost.
Honestly this book would probably make a better cartoon than comic book. I think the book is supposed to be manic-paced. But it seems to flow about as much as pool of piss in sand. The artwork is sort of cool. But on the whole, this is a book I will never be picking up again for any reason at all. I hate myself for giving it 6 issues. This is the exact reason why I stopped reading Warren Ellis. Which sucks, because for every steaming pile like this, he writes something brilliant like Fell. You just don't know what Warren Ellis is going to show up in each book.My review for Next Wave: Instead of buying one copy of Next Wave, buy two copies of Fell.
Fell Issue 6, The Runaways Hard Cover
Fell# 6
Did I mention that Fell was a must read book? Because it's a must read book. I just finished up to book six(though I'm still waiting to get issue three, and it burns me that I am missing it--anywho. Fantastic stuff. Issue six revolves around this really sick child abuse case, with Detective Fell on a date with Myako as the side plot. Even though each issue is single shot, we're definitely growing with the characters. I thought Warren Ellis was dead on at the back of the book when he was talking about I think the art, how you pick up this book, and though it is only 16 pages, you are IN snowtown. It's completely absorbing, and what's more satisfying. We talk a lot right now in american comics about the "satisfying" chunk. How much do we need to give a reader to validate cost. Warren Ellis' 16 pages of Fell is a satisfying chunk.
Runaways HC (“Season One”)
Speaking of satisfying chunk, the hardcover collection of "season 1" of Runaways, is oh so satisfying. I sat down with it the last two nights and plowed right through it. Brian K. Vaughn knows how to make characters I'm interested in and root for, and the book is just really fun. The surprise twist at the end was...well...surprising. I was sitting there in the back of my mind going over scenarios for all the different characters trying to decide who the mole was, but I never thought, it was who it was. It was literally the only person I didn't suspect. Right to the very end of the characters life I kept expecting the character to turn everything back around. I'm not entirely sure what makes that work for BKV and not work for others. Because like M. Night Shamamamamaamlandocalrissian--he can't write a surprise ending to save his life(or career apparently). But here BKV(oh yeah in case you didn't notice, cool short hand for Mr. Brian K Vaughn) makes the surprise twists work consistently and believably. I guess you just get so wrapped up in the characters that you don't have time to fully analyze the plot, and just, you develop feelings and biases for the characters that cloud your judgment. Something that is kind of analogous and on the same level to this would be a show like Veronica Mars, which similarly manages to keep you on your toes. I think it's something about the slight of hand which I thinnnk I read David Mamet explain, or maybe it was Ebert talking about Mamet--it's very much "hey look over here". A lot of people think that's just tied to plot, but I think in the case of Runaways and Veronica, it's more tied to characters.
The Boys, All-Star Superman, Fell
The Boys # 1
The coolest new thing I'm reading is Garth Ennis: The Boys # 1(number 2 comes out this week, I'm sure it will be the shit(ho ho ho--I just wouldn't be an english major person without some lame poo puns)). If you don't know, which is your own damned fault-- but we're not passing blame, but if you don't know, Garth Ennis is the guy who wrote this awesome amazing epic Irish-fuck you to God-tale-about-friendship- vampires- the old west and john wayne called The Preacher. It's like 8 or 9 trade paper backs long, and it's the best thing from the 90's, on par with stuff like Dark Knight and Watchmen--Ennis has done a bunch of other cool stuff(all the good bits from the movie Hellblazer were from his run on Hellblazer which is a great read, it's a shame Keanu was cast to play a bastard Irish-men, kind of ruined the book for me), right now he's doing a supposedly great run on the Punisher, which I haven't read, but supposedly there's a great story on the human sex/slave trade in eastern Europe called the Slavers--been meaning to check it out. ANNNNNYWAYS...The Boys is the book that is supposed to in his own words "out Preacher Preacher" which is lofty enough praise that I'm like "hey, I'll see what's what". So it's only one issue in, so I can't say a ton, but the premise is a group of bastardly sickos going around and taking the piss out of superheroes, I'm sure it will end up being a lot more than that but as of right now the book is basically the amusement of watching some very foul slightly deranged ferrets with switchblades sitting around a table planning a little bit of the ol' carnage and mayhem. I really dug the hell out of the first issue, can't wait for more. The gleam in The Butcher's eye just makes me excited for the future of this book. He's one twisted s.o.b. He's got what they call...bad intentions. I'm interested to see what other lines this book takes, because what made Preacher great was that at the end of the day it was a romantic piece on friendship, and really at the end of the day, that's what I consider Ennis. A dirty dirty dark humored romantic.
The art of the book is by Darrick Robertson, who did Transmetropolitan, a book I loved, and the art...enh...I liked some of it. And Punisher Born, a book I thought was overrated by Ennis, and the art was...kinda boring. So we'll see how this goes. One of the characters does look like Spider Jerusalem(the Frenchman) and that's a bonus in my book.
Definitely a book to keep an eye on.
FELL # 1-3; 5
Another book I've been reading and completely fell in love with is Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan, Authority) book Fell. The premise behind fell is every issue is self contained (so you don't need to go buy the first issue of this one, just pick it up at random and read it) only 16 pages long, and cheaper than most comics. The art is by the guy who did this vampire book 30 Days 30 nights, I think, I dunno, didn't read it, I was really only into vampires for about a year and a half in middle school. But anyways, the book is excellent. The town the book takes place in is this city version of hell. Everyone but our detective is completely evil and morally bankrupt. Very Marlow. Every panel is densely packed with information so even though it's 16 pages, it's a very satisfying read. I would definitely recommend tracking this one down if you want something new to read. The writing is consistently strong, the art really works, it's a good example of how the medium should work. I like it a lot, and can't recommend it enough.
ALL STAR SUPERMAN #1-4
The other main book to say something about is Grant Morrison's All Star Superman with Frank Quietley. Grant Morrison is a weirdo. That's first off. But this book is a surprisingly straightforward and honest book. Really enjoy it. The premise behind it is Superman finds out he is going to die, and then it's like "what does superman do with his time before he goes?" It's a very sweet book. The art is so so so good. Really great storytelling. And I'll be the first to tell you, I don't like Superman. I'm a Batman girl. But this is damn good story telling, and if you can get over the fact it's a superman book, it's probably the best mainstream book DC is putting out right now.
So yeah. Nerd it up you nerds.
The Mercurialblonde Comic Review Page
How this is going to work:
1. Um...Every month, I'll buy a glut of comics, probably the last two weeks of every month. And then I'll review those comics over the course of the next month. Yeah, I know it sucks, you'll be a month behind, but maybe you are like me and just like reading reviews, or like to buy back issues(also like me) or just like to know what's going on, what's good, and what trades to wait for(also occasionaly like me)
2. I'll be reviewing both Graphic Novels, Trade Collections, and the little pamphlets. Maybe some Manga too? I dunno.
3. Obviously with me reviewing monthlies, it might get a little repetitive to say something on each month, but it also may not. After I read a really awesome monthly, I love going out, finding reaction on that book, and posting my own thoughts on it as well. So while I know it's a bit like reviewing singles...well...that's the blogosphere for you.
4. Initially the reviews aren't going to be that organized because I'm just porting over what I had going on my Myspace page. I'll try to organize those a little better down the road. But I think eventually what I will do is create a seperate blog for each blurb of a review, that way it keeps everything seperate. Then I'm thinking maybe have big reviews of entire arcs when they are done, and put links to those somewhere...hmmm.
5. I will try, despite the first couple posts, to proofread what I write, and make this a pretty presentable page. But since I'll probably be posting a lot of the reviews at Four a.m. from work, the initial posts, might be a little raw, but I promise to go back and polish things up.
6. I forget.
7. Feel free to disagree. I love talking comics. I hope you don't agree with everything I say.
Blegh.
1. Um...Every month, I'll buy a glut of comics, probably the last two weeks of every month. And then I'll review those comics over the course of the next month. Yeah, I know it sucks, you'll be a month behind, but maybe you are like me and just like reading reviews, or like to buy back issues(also like me) or just like to know what's going on, what's good, and what trades to wait for(also occasionaly like me)
2. I'll be reviewing both Graphic Novels, Trade Collections, and the little pamphlets. Maybe some Manga too? I dunno.
3. Obviously with me reviewing monthlies, it might get a little repetitive to say something on each month, but it also may not. After I read a really awesome monthly, I love going out, finding reaction on that book, and posting my own thoughts on it as well. So while I know it's a bit like reviewing singles...well...that's the blogosphere for you.
4. Initially the reviews aren't going to be that organized because I'm just porting over what I had going on my Myspace page. I'll try to organize those a little better down the road. But I think eventually what I will do is create a seperate blog for each blurb of a review, that way it keeps everything seperate. Then I'm thinking maybe have big reviews of entire arcs when they are done, and put links to those somewhere...hmmm.
5. I will try, despite the first couple posts, to proofread what I write, and make this a pretty presentable page. But since I'll probably be posting a lot of the reviews at Four a.m. from work, the initial posts, might be a little raw, but I promise to go back and polish things up.
6. I forget.
7. Feel free to disagree. I love talking comics. I hope you don't agree with everything I say.
Blegh.
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