Monday Linkage

Johanna has the skinny on the 2004 Squiddy Awards.

The folks at Comic Monsters are having drawings for horror comic stuff each Saturday in April to those who register (free) at their Website.

And the much-smarter-than-I Neil Cohn has a new comic-related theory paper up on his Website: "Initial Refiner Projection: Movement and Binding in Visual Language". From the abstract:

"Refiners" are a type of modifier in visual language that hones the information found in another panel. While these "zooms" are fairly straightforward when found next to their modifying panels, interesting phenomena arise when separated from them. This paper looks at the constraints placed on these conditions to show that similar processes occur in visual language as in the sequential structure of other forms of language.

Review: Shonen Jump GNs

The Prince of Tennis, vol. 2
by Takeshi Konomi
Viz $7.95

Hikaru-no Go, vol. 2
by yumi Hotta & Takeshi Obata
Viz $7.95


There's a certain dynamic to a martial arts comic: mad skils, ritualized combat, secret moves, rivalries, etc. Of course, reading only about martial arts in comics would be boring in the long run (something akin, say, to only reading super-hero comics).

In boys' manga, it seems that everything is a martial art, even tennis and Go!

Having already introduced the main characters and situations in their respoective first volumes, these second volumes of two popular Shonen Jump titles continue on their paths.

Both of these titles make use of what is a very standard plot: a youngster, talented beyind his years in a certain competitive endeavor, must constantly prove his worth to those who are older and dismissive of his perceived abilities.

The bulk of the second volume of The Prince of Tennis involves Ryoma's attempt to earn a place on his school's tennis team, even though he os only a first year student. He dispatches one opponent after the other, making use of advanced moves and skills that are supposedly beyond the ability of one so young. Konomi choreographs the tennis matches like martial arts battles.

Hikaru-no-Go is a bit more subtle and nuanced than Tennis. The main character from the first volume, the titular Hikaru, is still 'haunted' by the spirit of Sai, the ancient Go master. In one sense this is a bit of a cheat, as the mad skills that Hikaru seems to possess aren't really his, but Sai's. But to both Hikaru and the story's credit, Hikaru now wants to be able to play Go on his own, and succeed on his own merits. The story thus appears to be moving towards the more intellectually honest pursuit of Hikaru learning from a Go master.

Hikaru-no Go provides another narrative twist: halfway through this volume the focus splits into two, with one thread of the story following Akira, Hikaru's competitive nemesis. Like Ryoma in The Prince of Tennis, Akira is the son of a champion in his chosen pursuit. His story seems to be mirroring almost exactly that of Ryoma's, but in Hikaru-no Go it serves as a counter to Hikaru's story, wherein Hikaru is trying to help start a Go club at his school from the ground up.

The art in both titles is strong; there are few if any of the annoying manga shortcuts in evidence, and it is apprent that care has been taken to represent both the charcaters and their environments. Obata has the more difficult task, in that he has to make the playing of a board game visually exciting, and he pulls it off well.

The Prince of Tennis is not a bad manga by any stretch, but it suffers slightly from telling an overly familiar story (albiet in a new mileau). While the story in Hikaru-no Go is familiar as well, it mixes up those conventions and brings a potential for greater character growth.

Ratings: The Prince of Tennis, vol. 2: 2.5 (of 5); Hikaru-no-Go, vol. 2: 3.5 (of 5)

Monkey Covers

Sunday is Monkey Covers day here at YACB. Because there's nothing better than a comic with a monkey on the cover.

From 1962, Jack Kirby & Dick Ayers give us "I Am the Gorilla-Man" on the cover of Tales to Astonish #28.

(standard disclaimer about gorillas not really being monkeys applies)

Image is courtesy of the GCD. Click on the image for a larger version.

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)