Wednesday Roundup Week of Aug 26/09

Single Issues

Here’s a couple of new issues you might want to check out this week:

28 Days Later #1 by Michael Alan Nelson and Declan Shalvey  (A) (Boom Studios)

A new ongoing horror comic based on the “28 Days Later” films, Nelson and Shalvey create a book that shows a lot of promise. This issue just sets up the premise for the rest of the presumed arc, and it does a great job of quickly introducing us to the world and the characters. Even if you haven’t seen the movies you’ll get a feel for the characters and the world, and you’ll want to know what happens next. It’s unlikely we’ll get a lot of complexity in terms of back-story or a lot of character development, as most of that was done in the films, but for a straight up zombie comic this is about as good as you could expect. The art is dark and gritty, and the writing is to the point and engaging. Given that, I think it’s reasonable to expect more of the same from later issues, and if you’re a fan of The Walking Dead or the 28 Days Later movies this would be a solid book to add to your “buy pile.” Boom Studios has added a lot of comics to their catalog lately, hopefully most of them live up to the high standard this book sets.

Grade: A-

Spin Angels #1 by Jean-Luc Sala and Pierre-Mony Chan (A) (Marvel Comics/Soliel)

Soliel is a fairly new Marvel imprint that is publishing translated french comics. So far most of the titles have been great, which makes sense considering there are a lot of french titles for them to choose from, and they can pick only the best. Unfortunately Spin Angels doesn’t really meet expectations here. A religious mystery in a similar vein as Rex Mundi (search for the Holy Grail, lesser known biblical heresies), Spin Angels takes a very straightforward and frankly boring approach to the subject matter. The protagonists are searching for the “bad guys” and are clearly the “good guys,” the morals are unquestioned and unquestionable, and the Church is the ultimate power. Most of the characters dialogue and actions are cliched and predictable, and there is little here to get me excited about what the creators are doing. When a character was killed early in the book it elicited little emotional response, as the character seemed to be asking for it! Pierre-Mony Chan’s art is a slight saving grace – it’s very clear and quite detailed. Although it clearly takes many cues from Japanese Manga artists, that isn’t a distraction. It’s unfortunate that the book falls flat both in terms of plot and emotional involvement. If you’re a huge fan of the other Soliel books you might want to pick this up anyways as it is in a recognizably French style, but it’s quality is far lower than I’ve come to expect from the imprint.

Grade: C-

Batman: The Widening Gyre #1 by Kevin Smith and Walt Flanagan (A) (DC Comics)

A new 3 part miniseries from director Kevin Smith, the first part of the story focuses mainly on the relationship between Dick Grayson (a Robin who eventually became Nightwing) and Bruce Wayne, the hero of our story. The plot takes a back seat to the exploration of their friendship, and while it’s an unusual way to do a Batman story, it seems to work quite well. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, as Smith is well known for his focus on relationship over plot, and I can’t imagine a better person to explore Batman/Nightwing in such a way. The plot that’s here is going somewhere and that’s good, but I am a little worried that the Batman/Nightwing relationship just isn’t deep enough for even a three issue arc. That said, Smith does have a good sense of pacing and Flanagan is able to aptly create a convincing set of characters and locales. Assuming Smith can keep things going, at we’ll at least get a story that’s readable with the possibility for insights on what it means to be Batman and Nightwing.

Grade: B

And a couple ongoing stories that if you aren’t reading you should definitely consider:

Detective Comics #856 by Greg Rucka and JH Williams III (A) (DC)

JH Williams III art continues to amaze and impress, and the story just gets more and more interesting. Batwoman is freaking cool, and the villains she’s fighting are too. A grand-slam in every area.

Grade: A

Unknown Soldier #11 by Joshua Dysart and Alberto  Ponticelli (A) (DC/Vertigo)

It’s the calm before the storm, and the clouds are threatening to break like never before. We’re midway through on a multi-issue arc but the tension is palpable here. It’ll be a month until the rain starts to fall but I’ll be waiting for it with relish. Still one of the best series Vertigo is publishing.

Grade: A-

Justice Society #30 by Bill Willingham (W), Matthew Sturges (W), and Jesus Merino (A)

Things just keep heating up in the second issue of the first story arc with Willingham and Sturges at the helm of this title. Emotions are running high, there’s a body count, and although one crisis has been averted, it looks like there are bigger problems for our heroes than just what’s on the surface. I love what’s being done here, especially because I can pick up who is who even though I’m not well versed in the DC Universe. Accessible and exceptionally readable, this is what a super-team book should look like.

Grade: A+

Red Circle: The Shield #1 by J Michael Straczynski and Scott McDaniel (A) (DC)

The evil plot revealed in the Red Circle books is that there are two ongoing titles to be released every month and that the previous books are kind of a “meet the universe” kind of thing. Unfortunately the characters are based on characters that first appeared in the forties, and trying to be true to their original stories while updating them as well just isn’t working for me here. An altogether average experience.

Grade: C

Wednesday Roundup: Week of Aug. 19/09

Single Issues

Air #12 by G. Willow Wilson and M.K Pekar (A)

Air continues to be one of the best series out there.  All the characters are human and fallible, with secrets and hidden motivations, and the plot itself is imaginative and endlessly creative. This particular issue moves the story forward in a direction I wasn’t expecting, which isn’t that unusual considering I never know what’s going to happen next. It’s clear that Wilson has an overall plan for the series, but she also wants to take her time with things. Having created such a brilliant world, I think she’s totally correct in moving things at a slow pace and revealing the details in little chunks here and there. M.K Pekar’s art continues to be perfect for Wilson’s storytelling, at once clear and detailed, and capable of portraying many of the more unusual aspects of Wilson’s world. I don’t think Air is for everyone, but if you like Sandman or Fables it’s likely it will appeal to you. In all three books there are many mysteries to be solved, and many aspects of the world that are only hinted at. If you like material that explores a well-developed world, you should start reading Air.

Grade: A

Jack of Fables #37 by Bill Willingham (W), Matthew Sturges (W), Russ Braun (A) and Andrew Pepoy (A)

After a somewhat lackluster issue not written by Willingham and Sturges, Jack of Fables mostly returns to form with this installment. Jack of Fables is a comedy book, and it’s not often I read it and don’t at least giggle or snort at something that happens. This issue had two or three moments like this, and it seems like there’s also a new storyline that will reveal a little more information about the Adversary as well. With art that’s always good, a couple laughs here and there, and stories that are both strange and brilliant, I’d recommend you try out Jack of Fables if you are familiar with Fables in any small way. It’s not the same book by any stretch of the imagination (which is a good thing), but if you give yourself over to the true “Funnybook” experience, you will thoroughly enjoy Jack of Fables.

Grade: B+

Red Circle: The Web #1 by J. Michael Straczynski (W), Roger Robinson (A) and Hilary Barta (A)

The Red Circle books so far have been a little hit or miss with me. Reboots, or perhaps re-imaginings of characters from the 1940s, overall the writing hasn’t been up to what I think Straczynski is capable of. He wrote a miniseries with a similar premise for Marvel called “The Twelve” which was far more readable, but with this book it seems like Straczynski is going a very different direction. All the issues so far have been retelling their origin stories plus a little something extra, nothing complicated.  The books are written with a modern slant, but also with stylistic choices that would be more appropriate had the book been written in the 40s. Much more homage books than straight ahead superhero books, I’m not sure if it works overly well. The first issue was ok, the second issue felt very disjointed, and this issue read well but was predictable. If somehow the plot in all the books connect to create new meaning for the previous issues, then this experiment will have been very successful, but I don’t really see it happening. I can be fairly confident in saying that you should buy the Red Circle books if you’re a fan of 1940s superhero books, but avoid it otherwise.

Grade: B

Trades/Collections

Unknown Soldier 1 TP by Joshua Dysart and Alberto Ponticelli  (A)

You can read my review of issue 10 that came out on July 29/09, but I’ll say again that this is a complex and well-written series. There’s a lot going on in the series, and I suspect I’ll pick the trade up so I can re-read the start of the series again, as it’s very strong. It’s not often you find a book that’s this compelling on a both a personal, political, and moral level.

Grade: A

Midnight Nation Deluxe Hardcover by J. Michael Straczynski and Gary Frank (A)

Midnight Nation is a great miniseries written in 2000 that has now received the Deluxe Hardcover treatment. It’s definitely one of the cooler things the Straczynski has written, with a well plotted beginning, middle, and end. It also has fairly nice art by Gary Frank, although I’m not sure it really benefits from being blown up. Usually the best oversized collections are one with great art: the oversized Hellboy books are amazingly beautiful, and Kingdom Come is just that much more stunning. Overall I think that the price tag on this one is a little steep: $100 for an oversized hardcover is fine when there are 20-25 issues in the collection, but this is a 12 issue miniseries. I suppose the difference between $100 and $75 (which is how much you would pay for a DC oversized collection of 12 issues), isn’t really that much, but unless you love Gary Frank’s art, I just can’t see justifying this.

Grade: B

Wednesday Roundup: Week of Aug 12/09

The offerings this week were a little thin on the single issue front, and it doesn’t help that I’ll be gone for the weekend and won’t be able to check out a couple random books. With limited time, here are my impressions for the Aug. 12/o9 shipment:

Singles

The Marvels Project #1 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting

Following a lesser known Golden Age hero at the beginning of his career, The Marvels Project seems to chronicle the early development of the Marvel universe. Currently I’m at a bit of a loss where exactly it’s going, as Marvels (by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross) always seemed to be the definitive work on the subject. Brubaker focuses on a couple areas that have previously been unexplored, mainly the role of governments and international politics in creating heroes. The concept is solid, as the exploration of politics and particularly hidden political machinations seems well suited to Brubakers semi-noir style. I have a lot of faith in Brubaker and I suspect he has something unexpected up his sleeve, but while the first issue was readable, it didn’t seem to be pushing any boundaries. Assuming this miniseries is actually going somewhere awesome, I’d say pick this one up. It seems like a safe bet to me, as Brubaker has really been on top of his game lately.

Grade: B+

Fables #87

After the Great Fables Crossover, we return to regular Fables continuity, in which what appears to be an ultimate Big Bad is threatening all of existence.  Having just fought and defeated the Adversary there is now another much greater threat,  and the way I’m reading things, most of the important figures in the battle for the Homelands aren’t going to be a great help. Battles of powerful sorcery are going to be the deciding factor here, that and perhaps the actions of a certain monkey trapped in a place that shouldn’t exist. This issue and the issue prior are a return to the much darker side of Fables, which after the Great Fables Crossover is good, but I hope they don’t stay here too long. The writing is still great, the art is still great, and Fables is still Fables, but it’s clear that things are going to get worse for our heroes before they get better.

Grade: A

Walking Dead #64 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

Walking Dead usually seems very, very short in the single issue format, and this issue is no exception. But Kirkman still always manages to write something more for us to contemplate, reveal something important that changes our perspective on what’s been going on a little bit. There were a couple more “Aha!” moments in this issue than in the last couple, which is great. Walking Dead pretty much never disappoints, and I thought issue 64 was slightly better than the “average” Walking Dead single.

Grade: A+

Unwritten #4

I actually didn’t get around to reading this issue but I’ll hopefully be able to review it a couple days. Just so you know, the first 3 issues are awesome and I can’t see issue 4 being a let down at this point.

New Collected Editions

Fables 12 TP – The material here is pre-crossover and deals with some of the fallout from the war on the Adversary. Grade: A

Walking Dead 10 TP – The tale of survival continues. Some characters are still alive, perhaps they’ll stay that way for a while. Grade: A+

Invincible 11 TP – More violent and action-packed than previous volumes, Invincible is still one of the best superhero books out there. Grade: A

Hush Complete TP – Collecting material by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee that was previously collected in two separate volumes, Hush is one of my favorite Batman stories. This is the definitive paperback collection, and the best way to read Hush short of the absolutely beautiful (but pricey) “Absolute Hush” Grade: A-

Universal War One Part 2 HC – Another French comic translated under Marvel’s Soliel imprint, Universal War One is one of the better Science Fiction offerings on shelves right now. This one offers a dark take on humanities future, one where we’re still pretty much confined to our own solar system. While the scope is small, the world is well fleshed out and the stories are instantly classic science-fiction fare. Grade: B+

Wednesday Reviews: Week of August 6/09

Echo #14 by Terry Moore (W&A)

Echo continues to be an impressive comic. The story, while made up of elements that are familiar, is something new. Grounded in reality but with the hint of the supernatural that is pervasive in the medium, Echo just takes a little longer in its delivery. The slow pacing works great, and Terry Moore seems to know exactly how to build tension and give us just enough information to keep us interested. His art style is clear and deliberate, and his characters are complex and likable. If you haven’t been reading Echo then get on board, things are just heating up.

Grade: A

Irredeemable TP and Irredeemable #5 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause (A)

Irredeemable is a superhero story where the hero becomes the villain. The idea has been explored before, but there’s something a little different going on here. A seemingly incorruptible hero suddenly reveals himself to be corrupt, and now a ragtag bunch of his former friends are left to try to control the body count. It seems as though things are building towards a big reveal, and the story has definitely hooked me. The writing is classic superhero stuff, fast paced, minimal explanation, and definitely owes a lot to Golden and Silver Age writing. The style works great with the story, though it’s something that would only happen to Superman when a villain was messing with his mind.

In a smart move from Boom Studios, both a trade collecting the first 4 issues of Irredeemable and the 5th issue were released on the same day, and the 5th issue is only $1.00!

Grade: B+

Greek Street #2 by Peter Milligan and Davide Gianfelice (A)

I read the first issue of Greek Street and quite enjoyed it. A melding of modern Crime comics and material from Greek myth, it seemed as though the series had a lot of promise. I was expecting more of the same from issue two, thinking the focus would shift towards another Greek myth, maybe add some supernatural creature or character. Instead Milligan decided to go all out Crime. I can’t really find much trace of the original concept, except the naming conventions. There are drugs, a crime lord, gangs, and a few odd references to the Fates that seem out of place. It seems to me like the book really lacks a focus right now, and at this point is merely a mediocre crime book. Overall I find Peter Milligan as a writer to be incredibly inconsistant, and I’ve both loved and hated his work. But Greek Street is my first experience with his work that ilicits almost no response – it’s too bland to hate and too unfocused to love.

Grade: C-

Frankenstein’s Womb by Warren Ellis and Marek Oleksicki (A)

Frankenstein’s Womb is the latest in a loose series of short graphic novellas that Warren Ellis has been writing for Avatar. I’ve been impressed with the wide range of topics and the clarity and conciseness with which Ellis writes, and Frankenstein’s Womb is on par with it’s predecessors in that regard. Chronicling a fictional meeting with Mary Shelley and the “real” Frankenstein’s monster, Ellis acts as part biographer and part historian as we become unstuck in time and get a feel for Mary Shelley’s life. art lends an ethereal, mystical quality to the story, and it was easy to become lost in the entire experience. Frankenstein’s Monster is an unexpected but welcome addition to this weeks offerings.

Grade: A-

Final Crisis Aftermath: Run #4 by Matthew Sturges and Freddie E. Williams II (A)

Run features the most unlikeable protagonist I’ve ever encountered in a comic. A unknown villain with pathetic powers and a horrible existance is on the run from something he did in Final Crisis, and we get to see what lengths he goes to to escape. It’s a Superhero comic featuring a non-heroic character, and Sturges pulls the concept off perfectly. Personally, I want to see the crap this guy is doing backfire on him, or have him get captured, as he’s a total dick. But that also means I’m hooked – I want to know what’s going to happen next! In this issue he beat some people soundly, and it sure looks like he killed at least one of his villain bretheren. I’m assuming that next issue there’ll be some consequences to his actions, and there’s a great cliffhanger at the end of the issue that suggests they won’t be what I expect. Run continues to be a fun, unexpected and exciting miniseries, filled with twists, turns, and emotional moments.

Even if that emotion is usually hatred or incredulity.

Grade: A-

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 #27 by Jane Espenson and Georges Jeanty (A)

Lately I’ve felt like the Buffy Season 8 comics, which chronologically follow the Buffy characters about a year after the last season of the show, have been a little lackluster. The story hasn’t grabbed me, characters haven’t been talking in their particular voices, and the world itselfs seems to make very little sense. I’m happy to say that the most recent issue is a departure from all that, and at least offers a glimmer of hope for the series. Things actually seem to be moving in a cool direction again, and although the overall plot concept still seems questionable to me, I have less doubts than I did before. Buffy and company may not be speaking exactly as I expect, but things aren’t as forced as before, and it looks like they’re gearing up for a showdown that might at least offer some insights into why things have been happening. I’ll be sticking around for a couple more issues.

Grade: B

Spotlight: The Post Apocalypse

The apocalypse, or more importantly what happens after the apocalypse, is a pretty popular topic in comics. Many of the books that deal with what comes after a mass human culling are among the best books currently being printed, and some are easily among the best comics ever printed. In no particular order, here are a few that deserve a spot on your bookshelf:

“The Walking Dead” – By Robert Kirkman (W), Tony Moore (A), and Charlie Adlard (A)

The Walking Dead is the continuing story of a group of people who survived the zombie apocalypse. Their adventures aren’t exotic, they’re pretty much just struggling to find shelter and food, and in their travels they encounter a truly twisted cast of other survivors. The zombies may be a constant threat, but they take a back seat to the threat of other survivors and the psychological trauma of the protagonists themselves. Kirkman isn’t afraid to kill his characters, and he isn’t afraid to confront the hard realities of simply surviving. The back of the book says it all: “In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally start living.”

“Y the Last Man” by Brian K. Vaughn and Pia Guerra (A)

When a mysterious event kills every man on earth but one, it’s up to the women to try to rebuild and find a way to continue civilization. Vaughn focuses mostly on the only man left but also uses a lot of space to explore his unique scenario. Y is a unique and clever twist on the whole idea of an apocalypse, and the writing is just as great as the concept. Memorable characters and situations, coupled with clear concise art and an easy to follow story, make this book a must read.

“Age of Apocalypse” by a Whole Bunch of People (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_apocalypse)

Combine the concept of an apocalypse with the X-men, and you get Age of Apocalypse. This being Marvel, the  name also refers to the main villain, who has taken over the earth and rules with an iron fist. There’s a large and difficult to keep track of cast of characters, and a complicated and sometimes hard to follow plot, but the concept holds up incredibly well. Even with 10 or so writers and over 10 years since it was released, Age of Apocalypse stands tall as one of the best crossover books I’ve read. Everything is self-contained, and due to the many differences between the regular Marvel universe and this one things are well explained and explored. There’s a huge amount of material to go through here and some of it is a bit of a slog, but this particular vision of a dark apocalyptic world is worth it.

“Girls” by the Luna Brothers

Not strictly speaking a post-apocalyptic book, and not as world spanning as most of the books on this list, Girls nevertheless is a great example of the genre. Focusing on a small town that is cut off from the outside world and then attacked by mysterious beings, it’s a microcosm of the whole apocalypse idea. Panic, mobs, and psychological stress are explored by looking at the people living in a small town. There are also plenty of action, horror, and thriller elements, although the art style sometimes makes it difficult to tell exactly who’s who. That’s a small criticism, considering Girls is non-stop pitch-perfect pacing from start to finish.

Freakangels by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield (A)

Something happened to make the vast majority of people in the world disappear, and the Freakangels are responsible. Which is kind of confusing, considering they run their own town and seem willing to take in refugees – at least on a by case basis. It’s a solid concept: what happens when the people who caused the apocalypse have to stick around and deal with the consequences of their actions? There are superhero elements too, but overall things are pretty understated. This is a quiet apocalypse, one in which the mystery of who got to leave and who stayed behind (and why) is the main focus.

Crossed by Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows (A)

A 9 part miniseries currently on it’s 6th issue, Crossed is a truly brutal and disturbed vision of what the apocalypse looks like. Told through a mixture of flashbacks and “this is now” sequences, a disease hits the human population that turns them into amoral killing machines, but they retain their intelligence. This creates some absolutely horrific situations, and Burrows isn’t afraid to portray Ennis’s twisted vision to it’s fullest. Crossed is a What If book in the worst kind of way – what if the Apocalypse was worse than just a whole bunch of people dying, or turning into mindless zombies. Somehow through all the horror Ennis creates a cast of strong and likeable characters. Which only makes the knowledge that they’re probably all going to die that much worse.