New This Week: February 23, 2005

Based on the NCRL list for this week's comics shipping from Diamond, here are a few things to look for at the local comic shop tomorrow:

It should come as no surprise to regular readers of this blog that my Pick of the Week is Greant Morrison and J. H. Williams III's Seven Soldiers #0. Forget all that Crisis 2 hype--Seven Soldiers will be the big multi-title event from 2005 that people will be talking about ten or twenty years from now.

In other comics:

A-V & Winn-Mill have the third issue of Following Cerebus. I don't know how much longer they'll be able to keep this interesting, but heck, they've done over 70 issues of Wrapped in Plastic, their Twin Peaks magazine of fandom & criticism, so Following Cerebus ought to be good for at least a few more issues.

Abstract has a new issue of Strangers in Paradise (#71)

Antarctic has an affordable Pocket Manga edition of Ben Dunn's Heaven Sent.

Beckett has the eigth (and final?) issue of the second Ruule series, Kiss & Tell.

Dark Horse has the fourth issue of BPRD: The Dead and, just in time for Christmas, Jingle Belle #3.

DC has the third issue of the new Legion of Super-Heroes, Paul Pope in Solo #3, a new JSA collection (vol. 7: Prince of Darkness), a new Y: The Last Man (#31), Sleeper Season Two #9, and the debut of their next CMX manga title, Gals.

I Books has a collection of Don Simpson's Megaton Man.

IDW has the second issue of Grimjack: Killer Instinct.

Lost in the Dark has the final issue of Video (#5).

Marvel has the final issue of the Black Widow mini (#6), a new issue of Powers (#9), and the rather late final issue of Ultimate Nightmare (#5).

And lastly, Oni is re-releasing the second Courtney Crumrin volume, Courtney Crumrin and the Coven of Mystics; if you haven't read this yet, don't let the opportunity pass you by again!

Review: Geraniums and Bacon

Geraniums and Bacon #1-2
by Catherine Leamy
$2.00 ea. Bella Razor Press

Geraniums and Bacon is a mini comic from Cathy Leamy; issue #1 was published in 2002, and #2 was published in 2004. Each issue contains several unrelated short stories, ranging from one-page gags to pieces that last for several pages.

Issue #1 opens strong, with "Little Kid Dreams," a series of captioned single panels; and "Self-esteem," a talking-head bit. She closes the issue with "Faith Crisis," a several-page long retelling of her struggles with religion. It's the weakest part of the issue; while Leamy's religion issues are something that nearly everyone goes through (typically in one's early twenties), it's a process that is of interest to the person going through it but not really to anyone else, and she is unable to provide any new insights. To her credit, she closes the piece by relating a phone conversation with her mother that takes the piss out of the whole self-indulgent struggling.

Issue #2 is stronger than #1, providing some excellent laughs. Especially strong are the opening "Writer's Embelishment" episode, and the two-page pseudo ad for "Lysol Gay-Away". "The Dream," wherein Cathy transforms into the 'Goddess of Sex and Math,' had me laughing out loud. It's a generally stronger offering than issue #1, showing Leamy's growth as a cartoonist and storyteller.

Art-wise Leamy has an open, cartoony style that shifts around slightly depending on the mood and requirements of the story. There are very few sharp edges, except where required, giving her art a free-form look.

Leamy reminds me of a young Pam Bliss, which is high praise indeed. I expect to see continued growth from her as she refines her style and outlook and look forward to reading more.

In addition to these collections, Leamy also has a continuing mini comic series, Between the Lines, which I hope to read at some point.

Mini comics can be hard to find, but copies of Geraniums and Bacon can be purchsed online via Small Press Swapmeet.

(review copies of these materials were furnished by the creator)

Rating: 3.5 (of 5)