Comic Strip April Foolery

At least three syndicated comics strips, Foxtrot, Pearls Before Swine, and Get Fuzzy, are engaging in a little April Foolery today by running what is essentially the same joke (involving a Ouija board). Has anyone stumbled across any others?

Best of March

In this post I'm reprinting reviews of items for which I gave a rating of 4 or better in the month of March:

Concrete: The Human Dilema #2
by Paul Chadwick
While the first issue of this new Concrete was a welcome return to the series, this second issue is a welcome move forward. Chadwick crafts an emotional look at life, death, sex and desire in compelling and thought-provoking ways. While Larry and Astra discuss find that they may not be on the same page when it comes to a future life together, a traumatic event provokes Maurene and Concrete to attempt to move their relationship forward. The real kicker comes near the end, as Concrete's sublimation of the pleasures of the flesh find him tempted by the pleasures of the mind. Chadwick's art matches his story perfectly, full of detail, emotion and desire. This, kids, is how you do comics.
Rating: 4 (of 5)


Street Angel #5
by Jim Rugg & Brian Maruca
In this final (for now) issue of Street Angel, Jesse finds herself teamed up with one-time superhero Afrodisiac, under siege from an army of gun-toting thugs intent on killing them. As our hero's situation grows grim, we learn Afrodisiac's backstory in grey-toned comic panels made to appear as though they are from the 70s and 80s. This issue brims with innovating storytelling, including a dense, frenetic two-page spread near the end where Jesse brutally takes out the thug army. Every issue of Street Angel was different from the others, but it maintained a unique vision throughout and each issue wa a treat. Though the series is done for now, I hope that Street Angel is able to return soon.
Rating: 4 (of 5)


Gotham Central #29
by Greg Rucka, Stefano Gaudiano & Kano
With Promethea officially over, Gotham Central now stands alone as my favorite ongoing title from DC. After the devastating events of last issue resulted in a cop falling prey to an old trap set by Flash foe Dr. Alchemy, Detectives Montoya and Allen travel to Keystone City to see if they can bargain with the incarcerated Alchemy to save the officer's life. Supporting characters from The Flash make an appearance, allowing a compare-and-contrast between the police departments of two cities plagued by very different types of costumed villains. There's genuine drama in Rucka's story: will the detectives be able to save the officer, and in so doing will Montoya regain the respect of the cops in the GCPD? Kano steps in to provide inks over Gaudiano's pencils, smoothing out some of the rougher edges and making for a very attractive book. I still miss Michael Lark, but with Kano tapped to become the new regular artist I think this book will continue to be an excellent marriage of story and art. Now if only sales were better...
Rating: 4 (of 5)

Contest Linkage

Over on Spatula Forum, Nik Dirga, winner of our Spider-Girl contest from earlier this month, is paying it forward with a contest of his own. Nik is running a Jay's Days contest, giving away three prize packages of Jason Marcy's comix. All you have to do is relate your most embarassing moment; that's worth it for free comics, right?

(There's still a couple of days left in Trade Whore's 100% Mix Contest too...)

(Edit: Guy LeCharles Gonzalez chimes in down in the comments to let us know that he is running a contest to give away copies of Elk's Run #1.)

Quick Super-Hero Reviews

Flash #220
by Geoff Johns, Howard Porter & Livesay
It may be fair to accuse Johns of 'darkening' super-hero comics, but it cannot be argued that he doesn't know how to construct a story. The first chapter of "Rogue War" sets up the explosion of the long-brewing conflict between the Flashes' reformed enemies and those who are still criminals. Johns jams in action, exposition and plot into 22-pages of comics, and although it's the first chapter of a longer story, it never once feels decompressed (although the digression about a recent visit from detectives from Gotham Central, while a nice nod to continuity, was unnecessary). Porter's art is clear and attractive, a real improvement over his JLA days, and James Sinclair's colors pop off the page, making this look like a real super-hero comic. This is a good solid super-hero affair with an epic and so-far old school feel, in a good way.
Rating: 3 (of 5)


Legion of Super-Heroes #4
by Mark Waid & Barry Kitson, Leonard Kirk & Mick Gray, Dave Gibbons & Drew Geraci
I had a feeling that Kitson wouldn't be able to keep up a monthly pace on an oversized book, and it turns out I was right, as this issue breaks into a lead story/back-up story mode and brings in two sets of fill-in artists. Still, when one of those fill-ins is Dave Gibbons, it's hard to complain too much! Kitson provides co-plot on the lead story, one that focuses on Lyle Norg, the Invisible Kid. We learn that Lyle is a shy genius (not exactly an original characterization for someone with that power), Cosmic Boy is a bit of an ass (not a characterization I'm fond of at this point), and that Sun Boy's parents are wannabe teens. We also get some time with Colossal Boy (aka Micro Lad), one of my favorite of the new Legion, and a big fight scene in which we get to see how the Legionaires use their powers. Kirk & Gray's art is decent, but at times it seems like they're trying too hard to look like Kitson rather than their own style. In the back-up, Waid provides an interesting twist to Phantom Girl, but it's one that falls apart logically if you stop to think about it at all. We also learn about the Karate Kid's background, and get to gaze on some fine Dave Gibbons art. This is probably the weakest issue of LoSH so far, but that just means that it's good, rather than very good.
Rating: 3 (of 5)


Fantastic Four #524
by Mark Waid, Mike Wieringo & Karl Kesel
This is Waid & Wieringo's last issue, and it's probably just the right time for them to leave. The FF scour Manhattan to reclaim their lost powers which are hopping around from civilian to civilian, and run into that same Reed's-guilt-about-Ben issue that frankly has been done to death. It ends ona high note though, affirming the FF's status as family, heroes and adventurers. Instead of belaboring their run on the title (e.g. JMS on ASM), W&W are leaving at a good point, having said and done what they needed to. In a few months they'll be taking on a Spider-Man title, and I'll be following them over there to see how they approach that other Marvel icon.
Rating: 3 (of 5)

ALA/CBLDF/NCAC survey

This came via a post on the GNLIB email list. If you're a librarian whose library has a graphic novel collection, you may wish to consider responding (at the email address given); if you're a patron whose library has a GN collection, you may wish to bring this to the attention of your friendly librarian:

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Dear all,

The American Library Association, National Coalition Against Censorship, and Comic Book Legal Defense Fund are developing a librarian's guide to graphic novels and would like your input. The guide will focus on graphic novels for adults, but we welcome information on any experience you've had with graphic novels for any audience. Please take a few minutes to share your experience with us. Please respond to bbecker (at) ala.org by Monday, April 11. Thank you!

1) What type of library do you work in?

2) Do you include graphic novels in your collection?

3) If so, how are they catalogued and shelved? For example, are all graphic novels together, or are they organized by content/age group? If your graphic novels are not shelved together, in which categories are they shelved?

4) Have you experienced any problems with or challenges to the graphic novels in your collection?

5) Do you have any success stories to share?

6) Do you have any tips you think we should include, or is there any specific information you would like included in our guide to graphic novels?
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New This Week: March 30, 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 the third paperback collection of Warren Ellis & John Cassaday's Planetary: Leaving the 20th Century. It includes issue #16, in which Cassaday impressively succeeded in representing a martial-arts movie combat scene in static, sequential form.


In other comics:

Aeon has the fourth issue of Matt Howarth's Bugtown.

Dark Horse has the final issue of BPRD: The Dead (#5), along with new issues of Concrete: Human Dilema (#4) and The Goon (#11).

DC has a little-noticed book called DC Countdown to Infinite Crisis, but given that there's been almost no press coverage on this I doubt that any retailers bothered to order any copies, so you might want to make sure to get to your LCS early to get a copy befor ethey sell out of the one or two shelf copies they ordered. They also have the first issue of Phil Jimenez's Otherworld, and new issues of Legion of Super-Heroes (#4) and Ocean (#5).

Del Rey has new volumes of Negima (vol. 5), Othello (vol. 3), and Wallflower (vol. 3).

Drawn & Quarterly has the second issue of Kevin Huizenga's Or Else.

Fantagraphics has a re-issue of Roegr Langridge's Zoot Suite.

IDW has the third issue of the very enjoyable Grimjack: Killer Instinct.

Marvel has the delayed Astonishing X-Men #9, a third Spider-Girl digest, and Waid & Wieringo's final issue of Fantastic Four (#524).

NBM has their first Nancy Drew OGN.

Origin Comics has the second issue of Temporary: The Real Me.


And finally, Dark Horse has the trade collection of the Star Wars - Episode III movie adaptation, just in case you'd rather experience the movie on a flat comics page rather than on a big screen with all of the special effects (which, let's face it, is really the main reason why people go to the Star Wars movies).

Be a Military Contractor!

Are you a comic creator? Have you always wanted to be a military contractor? Well now you can be both!

The U.S. Special Operations Command out of Fort Bragg is looking for a comic book series (to be published in Arabic) "based on the security forces, military and police, in the near future in the Middle East in cooperation with the Ministries of Interior of some of those countries."

The solicitation continues: "In order to achieve long-term peace and stability in the Middle East, the youth need to be reached. One effective means of influencing youth is through the use of comic books. A series of comic books provides the opportunity for youth to learn lessons, develop role models and improve their education."

If you don't know Arabic, the military will happily provide a translator for you.

See Solicitation Number H92239-05-T-0026 for all of the details.

(this was brought to my attention by a posting on the Comix Scholars list)