Comic Book Marathon
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
My Comics Can Beat Up Your Comics - 06/08/05
Oh sure, I make light of Deperado Publishing's sporadic publishing schedule on Monday, so what do they do? They release two books this week. So I'll start with them.
At the time of its publication, Caliber Comics' Negative Burn was the finest ongoing comic anthology available. Almost every break-out indy creator in the 90's was featured in Negative Burn; in addition, after the B&W comic implosion it became the only place to find works by more marginal creators like Jeff Nicholson, Jay Geldhof, and Phil Hester. So with former Caliber editor Joe Pruett at the helm, this should be great, right? I guess, but this first issue looks like a different animal. I was expecting something a bit more "Flight" and a lot less "Four Letter Worlds". Kurt Busiek? Fabian Nicezia? Erik Larsen? I want to see new creators putting their best foot forward, not veteran creators submitting their cast-off ideas. I'm hoping to see Negative Burn capture that lightning in a bottle again, but that's not the impression I'm getting so far.
A comic produced by veterans J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Ploog deserves all the attention it can get, I'm almost certain it will be quality. I'm just not certain that it will be for me, as I am not much of a fantasy fan. Additionally, their Abadazad was clearly geared towards kids and fans of Wizard of Oz-like fantasy, and I was neither. So I'm expecting something I can appreciate, but not enjoy. [Five page preview]
Nearly five years ago, I read Bart Beaty's glowing review of this British graphic novel in The Comics Journal #227 (see a quote here, along with other positive reviews). Even better, unlike most of the Euro-Comics that Beaty raves about, this one was in English! Soon I would be able to read this great new graphic novel, right? Sadly, it didn't work out that way and the book remained unimported to the U.S. for years. Finally, in the wake of the graphic novel explosion in bookstores, Pantheon brings us an American edition of this critically-acclaimed story of a restless woman trapped in a boring suburban life. Looks like a great character piece. (Actually released in February. Apparently Diamond is having trouble distributing books from Pantheon?)
Well, this looks really interesting. Editor Craig Yoe has assembled a series of works that display the crossover between sequential art and modern gallery art, including cubism by Jack Kirby and surrealism by Patrick McDonnell. Salvador Dali's impact on the funny pages is shown. Early 20th Century strips from Antonio Rubio, Hy Mayer, and Jimmy Halto demonstrate that Winsor McKay wasn't the only cartoonist pushing the boundaries of delerious surrealism in comics. Also featured: a bizarre gallery of images featuring the gap-toothed boy that would eventually inspire Mad's Alfred E. Neumann and a set of strips by all-star creators where modern art is a major player in the gag. Just a ton of gorgeous whacked-out art. I don't know if Mr. Yoe can maintain this intensity over multiple volumes, but this first one looks outstanding.
A collection of new alternative comix work from around the globe, this looks to be a bit too impenetrable to be easily digested. This will either be very rewarding or very frustrating; I can't tell on flip-through which is a more accurate assessment.
You know, there just aren't enough Ayn Rand comics! Nothing's funnier than Ayn Rand comics! Actually this looks pretty good and mostly serious, with a little bit of tongue-in-cheek to keep it light. Definitely reminiscent of Larry Gonick's Cartoon History of the Universe or the less serious entries in DC/Paradox's Big Books. Worth a look. [Seven page preview]
A positively-reviewed dark comedy? You say it's weird and twisted? Possibly even disturbingly hilarious? I'm so there! Wait, no Ayn Rand? Damn. Someone quick, I need a comic about Ayn Rand stuck in a dragon suit! Comedy gold, I tell you, comedy gold!
Damon Hurd continues to carve out a niche of quirky tales of very "real" people. This series features a cast of characters that each have one foot in reality and one foot in, well, somewhere else we're not sure about yet. I can't decide whether Rick Smith's awkward art is spot-on perfect for this series or merely amateurish. Either way, the art has worked so far. Hurd's story has been quite good when things get weird, but weirdness for weirdness sake can only go so far, and it remains to be seen whether the overarcing plot will have any meat on it. [Preview pages]
This two-year old magazine had two features that interested me: An interview with Frank Cho and an overview of Mike Friedrich's Star*Reach. It's a good thing that those features look good, because the rest strikes me as the kind of amateur commentary that is abundant and free on the internet these days. Maybe that's more a statement of how far internet publishing has come, but regardless this is not a magazine I can see plunking $7.50 down for monthly. (Published in 2003)
Stray Bullets #38 - I've collected this title, one of the finest comics ever published, via the fancy oversized hardcovers. However, the fourth HC is way past due, anyone know whether I can expect it eventually?
Marvel 1602 TPB - I own the HC, it was acceptable. If you enjoy seeing alternate twisted versions of the Marvel super-heroes, this will work for you.
Birthday Riots HC, Lost Girl, Confessions Of A Cereal Eater GN, Confessions Of A Cereal Eater Vol 2 GN - I get the impression that these little-known graphic novels are being dumped on the market by NBM Publishing because they are going out of print, and that would be a shame. The first two are by Nabiel Kanan, I recommend those for fans of drama that includes some hard moral choices. The COACE volumes are Rob Maisch's real-life anecdotes drawn by a variety of up-and-coming artists, recommended for fans of slice-of-life drama. [Preview pages of these four books are available when you click the links above].
Ice Haven - Pantheon reconfigures what is perhaps the best comic of the decade, Eightball #22, into a hardcover book format with a few extra pages. If you haven't read Eightball #22, this is ESSENTIAL.
Because when things change in an instant, it's almost fast enough for me.
NEGATIVE BURN WINTER 2005
At the time of its publication, Caliber Comics' Negative Burn was the finest ongoing comic anthology available. Almost every break-out indy creator in the 90's was featured in Negative Burn; in addition, after the B&W comic implosion it became the only place to find works by more marginal creators like Jeff Nicholson, Jay Geldhof, and Phil Hester. So with former Caliber editor Joe Pruett at the helm, this should be great, right? I guess, but this first issue looks like a different animal. I was expecting something a bit more "Flight" and a lot less "Four Letter Worlds". Kurt Busiek? Fabian Nicezia? Erik Larsen? I want to see new creators putting their best foot forward, not veteran creators submitting their cast-off ideas. I'm hoping to see Negative Burn capture that lightning in a bottle again, but that's not the impression I'm getting so far.
THE STARDUST KID #1
A comic produced by veterans J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Ploog deserves all the attention it can get, I'm almost certain it will be quality. I'm just not certain that it will be for me, as I am not much of a fantasy fan. Additionally, their Abadazad was clearly geared towards kids and fans of Wizard of Oz-like fantasy, and I was neither. So I'm expecting something I can appreciate, but not enjoy. [Five page preview]
GEMMA BOVERY
Nearly five years ago, I read Bart Beaty's glowing review of this British graphic novel in The Comics Journal #227 (see a quote here, along with other positive reviews). Even better, unlike most of the Euro-Comics that Beaty raves about, this one was in English! Soon I would be able to read this great new graphic novel, right? Sadly, it didn't work out that way and the book remained unimported to the U.S. for years. Finally, in the wake of the graphic novel explosion in bookstores, Pantheon brings us an American edition of this critically-acclaimed story of a restless woman trapped in a boring suburban life. Looks like a great character piece. (Actually released in February. Apparently Diamond is having trouble distributing books from Pantheon?)
MODERN ARF #1
Well, this looks really interesting. Editor Craig Yoe has assembled a series of works that display the crossover between sequential art and modern gallery art, including cubism by Jack Kirby and surrealism by Patrick McDonnell. Salvador Dali's impact on the funny pages is shown. Early 20th Century strips from Antonio Rubio, Hy Mayer, and Jimmy Halto demonstrate that Winsor McKay wasn't the only cartoonist pushing the boundaries of delerious surrealism in comics. Also featured: a bizarre gallery of images featuring the gap-toothed boy that would eventually inspire Mad's Alfred E. Neumann and a set of strips by all-star creators where modern art is a major player in the gag. Just a ton of gorgeous whacked-out art. I don't know if Mr. Yoe can maintain this intensity over multiple volumes, but this first one looks outstanding.
BETE NOIRE #1
A collection of new alternative comix work from around the globe, this looks to be a bit too impenetrable to be easily digested. This will either be very rewarding or very frustrating; I can't tell on flip-through which is a more accurate assessment.
ACTION PHILOSOPHERS: ALL-SEX SPECIAL #1
You know, there just aren't enough Ayn Rand comics! Nothing's funnier than Ayn Rand comics! Actually this looks pretty good and mostly serious, with a little bit of tongue-in-cheek to keep it light. Definitely reminiscent of Larry Gonick's Cartoon History of the Universe or the less serious entries in DC/Paradox's Big Books. Worth a look. [Seven page preview]
PUFFED: THE UNAUTHORIZED MOVIE ADAPTATION
A positively-reviewed dark comedy? You say it's weird and twisted? Possibly even disturbingly hilarious? I'm so there! Wait, no Ayn Rand? Damn. Someone quick, I need a comic about Ayn Rand stuck in a dragon suit! Comedy gold, I tell you, comedy gold!
TEMPORARY #3: THE REAL ME PART 2
Damon Hurd continues to carve out a niche of quirky tales of very "real" people. This series features a cast of characters that each have one foot in reality and one foot in, well, somewhere else we're not sure about yet. I can't decide whether Rick Smith's awkward art is spot-on perfect for this series or merely amateurish. Either way, the art has worked so far. Hurd's story has been quite good when things get weird, but weirdness for weirdness sake can only go so far, and it remains to be seen whether the overarcing plot will have any meat on it. [Preview pages]
COMIC BOOK ARTIST Vol 2 #2
This two-year old magazine had two features that interested me: An interview with Frank Cho and an overview of Mike Friedrich's Star*Reach. It's a good thing that those features look good, because the rest strikes me as the kind of amateur commentary that is abundant and free on the internet these days. Maybe that's more a statement of how far internet publishing has come, but regardless this is not a magazine I can see plunking $7.50 down for monthly. (Published in 2003)
Other items of interest
Stray Bullets #38 - I've collected this title, one of the finest comics ever published, via the fancy oversized hardcovers. However, the fourth HC is way past due, anyone know whether I can expect it eventually?
Marvel 1602 TPB - I own the HC, it was acceptable. If you enjoy seeing alternate twisted versions of the Marvel super-heroes, this will work for you.
Birthday Riots HC, Lost Girl, Confessions Of A Cereal Eater GN, Confessions Of A Cereal Eater Vol 2 GN - I get the impression that these little-known graphic novels are being dumped on the market by NBM Publishing because they are going out of print, and that would be a shame. The first two are by Nabiel Kanan, I recommend those for fans of drama that includes some hard moral choices. The COACE volumes are Rob Maisch's real-life anecdotes drawn by a variety of up-and-coming artists, recommended for fans of slice-of-life drama. [Preview pages of these four books are available when you click the links above].
Ice Haven - Pantheon reconfigures what is perhaps the best comic of the decade, Eightball #22, into a hardcover book format with a few extra pages. If you haven't read Eightball #22, this is ESSENTIAL.
Because when things change in an instant, it's almost fast enough for me.
posted by chasdom, 12:49 PM
