Undiscovered Gems Day 4

I only received one recommendation/entry today for the 100 Comics Giveaway Contest; an undiscovered gem of which you may not have been aware:

From Stephen Frug:

My pick is Paul Auster's City of Glass, adapted (from Auster's novel) by Paul Karasik and David Mazzucchielli, and superbly drawn by Mazzucchielli. It's an old graphic novel, but it's been reprinted, and I don't think it gets anything like the attention it deserves. It's neo-noir, but I think the best term for it would be "postmodern mystery". It's a bizarre, gripping story, with mysteries that lead into mysteries. The art is superb, not only in execution but conceptually, with all sorts of interesting and marvelous choices. I just gave a copy to my non-comics-reading father, and he loved it, but obviously current comics readers would like it too. It's a simply wonderful book; check it out.

Hey, wouldn't you like a chance to win 100 Comics? Then send me your pick for an undiscovered gem no later than Tuesday; details here.

And while I'm at it, let me thank the following blogs for their linkage to this contest: Precocious Curmudgeon; Redhead Fangirl; Crocodile Caucus; Comics Worth Reading; TangognaT. (Were there more? The link referer in Blogger seems to be spotty...)

Undiscovered Gems Day 3

Here is the next batch of recommendations/entries for the 100 Comics Giveaway Contest; undiscovered gems of which you may not have been aware:

From Christopher Coffey:

I nominate Corto Maltese in Siberia. This comic by the late European Comics great Hugo Pratt follows the adventures of his seafaring protagonist Corto Maltese as he searches for treasure and ends up getting involved in some of the conflicts shaking up Russia and China following World War I. Pratt exhaustively researched his historical facts and it shows as there is a mixture of real life and fictional characters that feels entirely plausible. It highlights a part of history that we ignore here in a America all to often choosing instead to focus on World War II. This was a very important time in history when the old colonial powers were breaking down and the new players on the world stage were coming into being. Smack dab in the middle is Corto Maltese, Everyone needs to read some more Hugo Pratt.

From Andrew Wales:

Gødland by Joe Casey and Tom Scioli (Image). Remember the days when a lot happened in a single comic issue? In this day of "decompressed" story telling one may marvel at the stunning artwork while waiting for something substantial to happend for several issues. You don't find that in Gødland. In this Kirbyesque tribute to the cosmic tales of the 70's, characters are introduced one right after another. World shaking events occur like wildfire. While nostalgic, it is more than pastiche. One finds humor and social commentary while enjoying an old-school comic style. If you haven't read it, what are you waiting for? 'Nuff said!

And from Daniel Taylor:

Girls, by The Luna Brothers. Because, jaded as I am from decades of reading comics, this one takes my breath away at least once in every issue. They're fifteen issues into the series (if it's limited, I haven't heard how many issues it's expected to run) and I still have no idea where this story's going. But it's full of characters I can't help but care about.

Thanks to Christopher, Andrew, and Daniel for their recommendations; all three have been entered into the drawing for the 100 Comics Grand Prize. For those of you keeping track, that makes 10 entires, which means there will be at least one runner-up prize as well. There's still time for you to enter!

Undiscovered Gems Day 2

Here are the latest recommendations/entries for the 100 Comics Giveaway Contest; undiscovered gems of which you may not have been aware:

From José Filipe:

The Push Man and Other Stories, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi. Set in post-war Japan, this book contains sixteen short-stories that deal with sex, death and loneliness in the private lifes of everyday people. Their anxieties, fears and dreams are analised through Tatsumi's careful eye. These characters are simple, common people who just can't seem to fit in. Alternative manga at its best.

From Michael Denton:

Strugglers (Poison Press) by Tim Fish, or any of Tim Fish's works (Cavalcade of Boys or the recently released Something Fishy This Way Comes). Strugglers is about people trying to make it after graduating from College - trying to find something meaningful in life and discovering themselves as people. It all takes place in the indie music scene in St. Louis, Missouri, where two women roommates are actively involved in bands. They take on a guy, out trying to find his place in the world and slowly discovering his sexual identity, as their roommate. I actually like Cavalcade better, but I think Strugglers will have broader appeal (Tighe actually continues on into Cavalcade). Fish has a fun, pleasing art style a little on the cartoony side (to put it in context of a realistic-to-symbolic/iconic continuum), reminiscent of Walt Simonson

From Robert Loy:

After much thought my choice for undiscovered gem goes to Supernatural Law. This may seem like an odd choice, because as a comic book it's been around since 1994, and actually as a comic strip in The National Law Journal it's been around since the early 80's. But it constantly amazes me how many fans have never heard of this book. And they are missing out on a lot of fun. Alana Wolff and Jeff Byrd are "counselors of the macabre" i.e. lawyers who specialize in defending witches, werewolves, vampires and other beasts that go bump in the night. Writer-artist Batton Lash draws maximum humor from having creatures in the courtroom, but he somehow manages to make it thought-provoking at the same time. He is a master satirist, poking fun at many elements of pop culture, and there is nobody who can pun better than he can. Check it out at http://www.exhibitapress.com/

And from Bill Burns:

Super Hero Happy Hour/Hero Happy Hour, Dan Taylor and Chris Faison. A "realistic" take on super-heroes that isn't grim and gritty. This black-and-white story of a bar where super-types hang out features some of the best dialogue around as well as appealing characters and conflicts (and occasional punching.)

Thanks to José, Michael, Robert and Bill for their recommendations. Michael, Robert & Bill have been entered into the Grand Prize drawing (José is from Portugal and thus is not elligible, but I thank him for sending his recoomendation to be shared). There's still time for you to enter!

Undiscovered Gems Day 1

Here are the recommendations I received as entries for the 100 Comics Giveaway Contest; undiscovered gems of which you may not have been aware:

Iris sends the following:

A comic that I would reccomend is a manga (Japanese styled comic, written in english) comic called Crimson Hero its about a 15 year year old girl named Nobara Sumiyoshi who is passionate about volleyball yet her family wants her to inheirt the role of "young mistess" serving rich patrons at her familys old- fashioned Japanese restaurant, instead she tranfers to Crimson Feild High School known for its top notch volley ball team..but her mother is willing to stoop to dirty tricks to keep her off court. Why I reccomend this book among others( which I will email you about) that they are mangas, its a very good book full of struggles, conflicts, and family drama.

Chris Laffoon's choice is:

My choice for a relative unknown but great comic would be, Adventure Comics' Rust #1. True, the comic follows a few cliches. The guy falls into a solution that covers him in metal and he can now control metal. What makes this one different is the fact that he tries to peel the metal off and it HURTS. The metal isn't all shiny and pretty, it's rusted and bent and turns him into more of a monster than say... Colossus or even the Thing made of rock. Also, it's not set in a city like New York or L.A. or Chicago or even some faux city like Gotham (which is just New York with a different name). Rust is set in Kansas City...who in the world would think to set a comic in KC. With all the rail yards and steel mills and pharmaceutical companies it really made sense. I could also be partial because I live in KC... but it's still a great comic.

From Kelly B. we get:

My favorite, underappreciated comic is Finder by Carla Speed McNeil. It's a beautiful piece of work on so many levels. Ms. McNeil has created an amazing, lush environment for her characters to live in and have their stories interlace. She is truly talented in her ability to draw, ink, write and self-publish such an epic series of books. Finder is an examination of modern life mingled with science-fiction and fantasy. I highly recommend it.

And from John Judge:

My pick is out of print, but I checked on eBay and there are stores listing individual issues and the collections of Wandering Star by Teri S. Wood. A black-and-white, self-published sci-fi series with memorable characters and lovely art, Teri completed her series where lesser talents gave up. She also offered excellent retailer support, but she seems to have gotten pushed out in the declining market before her second series, Darklight, really got on a roll. Definitely, she's a talented writer/artist whose work should have received a larger audience.

Thanks to Iris, Chris, Kelly and John for their recommendations; all four have them have been entered into the drawing for the 100 Comics Giveaway, which will be announced next Tuesday. There's still time for you to enter!

New This Week: August 8, 2006

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 later today:


The Pick of the Week is Phil & Kaja Foglio's Girl Genius vol. 5. Sure you could read it all online, but wouldn't you rather have it in nice paper in your hands, and also support quality adventure comics? Yes you would!


In other comics:

Alias have a collection of the second Lullaby series, Power Grabber.

Antarctic have a new issue of Ninja High School (#140).

Dark Horse have the second issue of The Escapists.

DC have new issues of 52 (week 14), Fables (#52), Firestorm (#28), A Man Called Kev (#2), The Next (#2), Secret Six (#3), and Superman (#655).

Drawn & Quarterly have a collection of Chester Brown's Louis Riel biography, plus the fourth Drawn & Quarterly Showcase.

IDW have the fifth Legend of Grimjack collection, and the final showdown of Spike vs. Dracula (#5).

Image have a new issue of Negative Burn (#3).

Lost in the Dark collect the Fragile Prophet mini.

Marvel collect the rather good X-Statix Presents Dead Girl mini (which was really also a Dr. Strange mini...); and have new issues of She-Hulk 2 (#10) & Squadron Supreme (#6); plus the second Ultimate Spider-Man Annual.

TokyoPop may have the Star Trek manga (it's not in the NCRL, but is on my DCBS shipping list...)

Viz have new volumes of Banana Fish (vol. 15) and Ranma 1/2 (vol. 35).


Plenty of good trades/GNs this week, plus some good comics too. Enjoy your new comics!

100 Comics Giveaway Contest

It's here! In honor of my 2nd blogiversary next Tuesday (August 15), I'm having the biggest comic giveaway contest in the history of the comics blog-o-sphere! (I believe it is anyway...)

The Grand Prize, as you might expect from the name of the contest, is a selection of 100 Comics. No, I won't tell you what those 100 comics are--that's part of the fun--but trust me when I say that there will be some good stuff in there.

In addition, I'll have additional runners-up prizes of five comics each; for every ten entries I receive, I'll add one runner-up prize package (e.g. if I receive 70 entries, there will be seven runners-up prizes).

So how do you enter? I'm glad you asked!

Simply email me your recommendation of a comic that you think is worthwhile, but that you don't think that very many people have read. What I'd like to do through this contest is give you all the opportunity to share an undiscovered gem with the rest of the comics Intraweb. Thoughout the next week until the end of the contest on the 15th I'll be posting here on YACB the picks that you send me.

Your entry should include:

• Your name (tell me if you wish your name to be used when I post your pick)
  
• Your address (I won't share your address or your email with anyone!)
  
• Your pick, with a sentence or brief paragraph describing why you recommend it.
  
• The phrase '100 Comics' in the subject line
  

On the evening of August 15th the winners of the Grand Prize of 100 Comics plus the runners-up prizes will be selected at random, and announced here on this blog.

The fine print:

• You must be 18 or older and reside in the United States to enter. (If you are outside the U.S. you can still send your recommendation pick, but you will not be elligible to win a prize.)
  
• Only one entry per person
  
• Deadline for entry is 6pm EDT on Tuesday, August 15, 2006.
  

So go ahead and enter today! (Or tomorrow, or anytime before next Tuesday.)

(You may receive an auto-reply saying that I am out of the office. Be assured that I have received your entry; there is no need to send it again to any other email.)

Monkey Covers

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

Greg LaRocque draws the cover to 1992's Flash #70, with Hal, Wally and Rex the Wonder Dog facing off against an army of attacking apes.

(Standard disclaimer about an army of apes not really being monkeys applies.)

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