Another big box of comics from DCBS today. Let's open it up and see what's inside:
Samurai Executioner, vol. 2
ElfQuest; the Grand Quest, vol. 6
Remote, vol. 4
Peach Fuzz, vol. 1
DearS, vol. 1
Strangers in Paradise Pocket Book 2
Little Lulu, vol. 1: Lulu Goes Shopping
Global Frequency, vol. 2: Detonation Radio
The Courageous Princess
Transgenesis 2029 #1: Fides
The White Lama, book 2: Road to Redemption
Astonishing X-Men, vol. 1: Gifted
New X-Men - Academy X, vol. 1: Choosing Sides
Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne, vol. 3
Manga Mover #1
Warren Ellis' Quit City
Batman / Danger Girl
The Hardy Boys #2
Temporary #1
Hunter-Killer #0
All of last week's What If... one-shots.
Comics Buyer's Guide #1601
Lots more reading to be done. Where will I find the time???
Tuesday, 4 January 2005
New This Week: January 5, 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:The Pick of the Week is Larry Young's Proof of Concept from AiT/PlanetLAR, in which Larry 'pitches' a bunch of high concept comics concepts at you, the reader, with the aid of artists Kieron Dwyer, Damian Coucerio, Steven Sanders, Jeff Johns, Paul Tucker, John Flynn & John Heebink.
In other comics:
Abstract and Terry Moore's Strangers in Paradise #70, hits the stores, just in time for its special Christmas-themed cover.
Antarctic's Gold Digger #59 starts a new storyline.
DC has the second issue of Davad Lapham's Detective Comics arc (#802); the first issue of Breach (in today's current comics climate, I give it ten issues, max); the first issue of Scott McLoud's Superman: Strength (I'll be waiting for the trade); and new issues of Firestorm (#9), The Intimates (#3), and The Question (#3).
Image has the return of Flaming Carrot (#1), a new Noble Causes (#6), and a second Liberty Meadows trade collection.
Marvel has the first issue of Peter David's return to the Incredible Hulk (#77), and Ed Brubaker's second issue of Captain America (#2). They also have the second issue of New Avengers, but if you're interested in this you know that they're going to release it in a trade, where you'll be able to read a more-or-less complete story at once, with no ads, for less money.
It's a very light week (as the first week of the month typically is). So if you've got a little extra money in your pocket, why not try something by Will Eisner? There's no finer tribute to a creator than enjoying that person's work, and your local comic shop should have plenty of Eisner on their GN shelves to choose from. (And if your LCS doesn't carry any Eisner, you need to find a better comic shop.)
Quick Political GN Reviews
Warning: The following post contains half-assed political analysis and rhetoric which may not agree with your own views, may or may not agree with those of the writer of this blog, or even be particularly accurate.
The Walking Dead, vol. 2: Miles Behind Us
by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn
Wouldn't it be great if there were no rules, if people could do what they wanted without the interference of government? After all, people are basically good, and it's hierarchy and imposed authority that are responsible for society's ills. In this anarchist dystopa, Kirkman explores this notion, ultimately rejecting it. The characters in The Walking Dead, finding themselves in a world without rules and where it's every man for his or herself, yearn for the reimposition of governmental authority. With no social structre to rely on they are at the whims of the malignant other, both ignorant and evil. Is it because they were raised in an authoritative state and are thus unable to cope with authority is removed, or does mankind need hierarchy and authority to function as a society? Oh yeah, there are zombies eating people and getting blown away too. The zombies represent the ultimate threat to an anarchist society, creatures motivated solely by their own id, the thoughtless mass that threatens the rational man. But it's the so-called rational man that is the true enemy, as human desires and petty jealousies can cause even the best intensioned to act out in manner contrary to the group, and even a temporary lapse in judgment can have devastating results. The art by Adlard & Rathburn ably illustrates the quiet, talky scenes along with the zombie brain-eating scenes. It's all subtext, baby.
Rating: 3.5 (of 5)
Everyman, vol. 1: Be the People
by The Brothers Goldman & Joe Bucco
In this political thriller, a group of politically-minded gen-x'ers form an Internet site, One Love, which seeks to galvanize people into political action in the run-up to the 2004 election. When a White House staffer uncovers a plot by the 'Birch' administration to steal the election by rigging electronic voting machines across the country, the group moves into action and exposes the treachery after the election. It is at this point that the story veers off into a progressive political fantasy, as the people of the United States rise up and demand a re-vote. Alas, as the real election just showed us, most people in this country are content to believe whatever spills out of their television set and cannot be moved to political action, or even worse be moved to support a candidate whose election would be counter to their own best interests as long as that candidate says that they share your 'values' are agrees with you on one key issue. Reading Everyman, you may come to believe that it's possible for truth to win out in the end and for The People to take back this country from the corporations and their political lackys, but it's a hollow, empty fantasy. In the real world, the forces of ignorance and apathy will always win out over a handful of idealists. Still, The Goldmans tell an exciting political thriller, and Bucco's layouts are storytelling are pretty good, even if his figure-drawing needs some work to be effective.
Rating: 3 (of 5)
The Walking Dead, vol. 2: Miles Behind Usby Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn
Wouldn't it be great if there were no rules, if people could do what they wanted without the interference of government? After all, people are basically good, and it's hierarchy and imposed authority that are responsible for society's ills. In this anarchist dystopa, Kirkman explores this notion, ultimately rejecting it. The characters in The Walking Dead, finding themselves in a world without rules and where it's every man for his or herself, yearn for the reimposition of governmental authority. With no social structre to rely on they are at the whims of the malignant other, both ignorant and evil. Is it because they were raised in an authoritative state and are thus unable to cope with authority is removed, or does mankind need hierarchy and authority to function as a society? Oh yeah, there are zombies eating people and getting blown away too. The zombies represent the ultimate threat to an anarchist society, creatures motivated solely by their own id, the thoughtless mass that threatens the rational man. But it's the so-called rational man that is the true enemy, as human desires and petty jealousies can cause even the best intensioned to act out in manner contrary to the group, and even a temporary lapse in judgment can have devastating results. The art by Adlard & Rathburn ably illustrates the quiet, talky scenes along with the zombie brain-eating scenes. It's all subtext, baby.
Rating: 3.5 (of 5)
Everyman, vol. 1: Be the Peopleby The Brothers Goldman & Joe Bucco
In this political thriller, a group of politically-minded gen-x'ers form an Internet site, One Love, which seeks to galvanize people into political action in the run-up to the 2004 election. When a White House staffer uncovers a plot by the 'Birch' administration to steal the election by rigging electronic voting machines across the country, the group moves into action and exposes the treachery after the election. It is at this point that the story veers off into a progressive political fantasy, as the people of the United States rise up and demand a re-vote. Alas, as the real election just showed us, most people in this country are content to believe whatever spills out of their television set and cannot be moved to political action, or even worse be moved to support a candidate whose election would be counter to their own best interests as long as that candidate says that they share your 'values' are agrees with you on one key issue. Reading Everyman, you may come to believe that it's possible for truth to win out in the end and for The People to take back this country from the corporations and their political lackys, but it's a hollow, empty fantasy. In the real world, the forces of ignorance and apathy will always win out over a handful of idealists. Still, The Goldmans tell an exciting political thriller, and Bucco's layouts are storytelling are pretty good, even if his figure-drawing needs some work to be effective.
Rating: 3 (of 5)
Monday, 3 January 2005
No Matter Where You Go, There You Are
One of the greatest movies of all time is coming to a comic book store near you.Johanna at Cognitave Dissonance has the news that Moonstone Books will be doing a comic based on Buckaroo Bonzai, the copiously quotable 1984 film. The all-new stories will be written by the film's writer Earl Mac Rauch and the film's director will be involved as well. Moonstone published the very good Cyclone Bill & The Tall Tales so in all it looks like this should be a very enjoyable comic.
I've been waiting 20 years for Buckaroo Banzai vs The World Crime League!
Quick Manga Reviews
Negima! vol. 2by Ken Akamatsu
How can you not like a comic in which the first half is devoted to a saga called "The Baka Rangers and the Secret Library Island"? Negi and several of his students infiltrate the school's huge library (which, as the title suggests, takes up an entire small island in the bay) in order to access a magic book that will help the students ace the year-end exams and thus prevent the class from being split up and Negi from losing his job. But the library turns out to be riddled with traps, and with Negi's magic powers blocked they all must survive Indiana Jones style until they reach the tropical island study room deep in the bowels of the library (which of course provides plenty of opportunity for the girls to lose their clothes...) With the premise of the series established, Akamatsu starts to flesh out the large cast. His art is leps and bounds ahead of his work on Love Hina, with strong, consistant characters, excelent action and storytelling, and some lush, detailed backgrounds. Yes, there is a copious amount of fan service, but with the protagonist being a ten-year-old boy it all comes off as mostly playful and teasing, rather than creepy and perverted. The translation by Peter & Kathleen David remains one of the best manga translating jobs being done today.
Rating: 3 (of 5)
Crayon Shichan, vol. 1by Yoshito Usui
This collection of three-page strips feature Shichan, a five-year-old with a penchant for getting into trouble and annoying the adults around him. If you've spent any time around kids this age, you know that they have (in Freudian terms) massively developed egos and not much in the way of superegos. Shichan is no exception, and while he's not a bad kid, he can be humorously exasperating. As with most collections of this type, it is best enjoyed in small doses, as a certain amount of sameness can creep in if read all at once.
Rating: 3 (of 5)
Sunday, 2 January 2005
Monkey Covers
The first Monkey Cover of 2005 is 1962's Adventure Comics #295. John Forte's cover illustrates Jerry Siegel's "Tales of the Bizarro World" story: "The Kookie Super-Ape." That's right, a Bizarro version of Titano, with Blue Kryptonite vision. I tell ya, they just don't make comics like this any more (but we're holding out hope for Morrison & Quitely's upcoming All-Star Superman...)
(Standard disclaimer about apes not really being monkeys applies.)
Image is courtesy of the GCD. Click on the image for a larger version.
Friday, 31 December 2004
2005!
Happy New Year!
(Cover of Action Comics #810 by David Bullock. Courtesy of GCD. Click for larger-size image.)
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