jkcarrier | Whatcha Readin'? 1/6/05

Catching up on several weeks' worth here...

JLA CLASSIFIED #2: Doesn't quite run at the same breakneck pace as the first issue -- this is where we get the big infodump as to what the heck is actually going on. Still lots of fun bits, though. Love the over-the-top treatment of Gorilla Grodd. I would totally buy a Squire solo comic.
"I've always wanted to eat Batman."

FOLLOWING CEREBUS #2: Sim's "About Last Issue" piece, where he reacts to the articles in #1, has some great insights. I also enjoyed the editors' analysis of the paradigm shift that occured when Sim inserted himself as a character in the book. The art reproduction is much, much better this issue, thankfully.
"And they call ME a schizophrenic."

ADAM STRANGE #4: Jesus, even *I* barely remember the Omega Men. And they aren't really given much to do here. Diggle's thinking seems to be, "I need some incidental players to move the plot along, why not use these obscure losers from the '80s?" Why not, indeed? I'm wondering if the big bad guy is also someone we've seen before; if so, I don't recognize him right off.
"Ya talk a lot of sense for a guy with a fin on his head."

FRANK IRONWINE #1: This works out just about perfect as a one-shot. We're introduced to this aggressively eccentric detective, see him in action, and he's off the stage before his schtick can get boring. Any more of him and you'd just want to repeatedly pummel him in the face, but this is just right. McNeil's art is terrific as always -- expressions and gestures are broad when they need to be, and subtle where it counts.
"No disrespect, detective, but you're not getting in my car unless I saran wrap your entire body."

ASTONISHING X-MEN #7: A transitional issue, dealing with the fallout from the first arc. Poor wing, I kinda liked him. The monster fight, with the Fantastic Four cameo, is a blast. Whedon nails their peronalities in just a few panels... I wonder if he's angling for a shot at an FF book? That'd be fine with me (hate the way Cassaday draws the Thing, though).
"Then you'll get a much more interesting bunch of groupies, kid."

MISPLACED @ 17 #1: I've never read "Dead @ 17", but from what I gather, the heroine is nearly identical to the one in "Misplaced", which unfortunately makes for a pretty boring team-up. There's no particular chemistry or tension between the two of them, so this amounts to a lot of running around and repeating plot points from their respective series. Gotta love that jail-bait-a-licious cover, though.
"You'd think rising from the dead would entitle me to not having to do laundry anymore."

KABUKI #3: With Cerebus done and Promethea nearly so, there's really no one else doing this kind of rich, multi-layered writing in comics. Words, art, poetry, and collage, all working together seamlessly. The "Shy Creatures" book-within-a-book is just brilliant.
"'HAHAHA!'
The children would have laughed.
If the shy girl said
What she would have said
If she wasn't so shy instead."

THE QUESTION #3: This one felt a bit padded. The sequence with Lois just reiterates all the feng shui hoo-hah we heard about last issue, and the rest of the issue is basically the same scene (The Question busting up Subterranean operations) over and over again. but I wish they'd pick up the pace a bit.
"Damn! I forgot to wear my love beads."

FLAMING CARROT #1: Jeez, I didn't even know this was coming out. I enjoyed this a lot, but it's definitely not for everyone. It's completely goofy and stupid, and there's bits in there (especially the treatment of women) that would be offensive if you took it at all seriously. But it's all in good fun.
"False report! It wasn't a giant ear! It was a giant belly button!"

JLA #109: I missed the first couple issues of this storyline, but I'm wondering what the heck was in them, because this reads very much like a prologue. Lots of set-up, no follow-through, and the villains are completely generic. The art's pretty blah, too. Think I'll pass on the rest of this.
"Not bad, eh? Beats a rock upside the head, right? Huh? Huh?"

CONCRETE: THE HUMAN DILEMMA #1: Another welcome return; I've missed Chadwick's combination of eco-politics and character drama. Concrete muses (and muses, and muses) about the fate of the world, while the people around him deal with the nuts and bolts of everyday life. The art's excellent, as always.
"Yes, we're not dancing in the posies, here."

PLASTIC MAN #13: A bit thin on plot, but the gags are piled on so heavy, I didn't really care. Somebody needs to option this for an animated series.
"I mean, just because you're a freak, it doesn't mean you have to look like one."

SHAOLIN COWBOY #1: Not much story here either, just page after page of comic mayhem, all in Darrow's insanely-intricate style. Not the deepest comic ever, but lots of fun.
"How charmingly Asian of you... and without the aid of wires!"

LOVE & ROCKETS #12: Viv is a great character, and seeing her strike sparks off some of the old familiar players is really interesting. The way Jaime blocks out a scene and balances the black and white spaces is really amazing. Seems like Gilbert is in a bit of a rut with his ongoing stories, but those one-pagers like "Kid Stuff Kids" are ace.
"She doesn't even know who Walter Cronkite is."

DEMO #12: I'm afraid this one baffled me. I have no idea what's going on. That Becky Cloonan sure draws purty though.
"Heavy feet walking subway stair stomping. Breath held tight against subway car heat."

BPRD - The Dead #2: Really cranking up the tension, with Abe's past, the mushroom monsters, Johann freaking out, and now the weird old guy hiding in BRPD headquarters. Guy Davis is kicking all kinds of ass on the artwork. I still miss seeing "real" Hellboy stories, but this is a pretty great substitute.
"Hi. I have pants on."

OCEAN #3: The plot thickens, as the Microsoft-ish corporation shows it's true colors. Lots of neat little sci-fi touches here, like the pre-programmed employees... creepy. And of course, Ellis' trademark smartass dialogue. Plus Chris Sprouse's beautiful art. I'm really digging this.
"Imagine how horny that makes me."