Whatcha Readin'? 11/22/05
Nov. 22nd, 2005 09:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jkcarrier
I think this finally catches me up on all the SPX purchases, plus some stuff I picked up yesterday. I still have some minicomics to cover, plus I'm sure I'll pick up some stuff at Mid-Ohio Con this weekend...
AMERICAN SPLENDOR: OUR MOVIE YEAR
Harvey Pekar and Various
Ballantine Books
http://www.harveypekar.com/
Despite the title, this isn't a single narrative, ala "Our Cancer Year". It's actually a collection of short strips that Pekar did for various magazines, during and around the time the movie was being made. Which wouldn't be bad, except that many of the strips end up re-telling the same movie-related anecdotes, which gets a little tedious. Fortunately, there's also a lot of material that doesn't overlap, like the various music-related strips. Pekar writes very knowledgeably and passionately about music, and these strips are a fascinating read, even when he's talking about artists and genres you know nothing about. And there's all the usual stuff about his daily struggles, major and minor. Even after his brush with fame, Pekar remains the same old loveable crank.
"If you're buyin', I'm sellin'."
BLACK WIDOW #2
Richard K. Morgan, Sean Phillips & Bill Sienkiewicz
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/
Natasha stirs up shit in the Miami underworld, while both the bad guys and good guys close in on her. It's looking more and more like the climax of this story will involve a Widow vs. Daredevil fight -- that's going to require some careful handling to be believeable (in her current tunnel-vision, woman-on-a-mission mode, I can see Natasha taking a poke at him, but it's hard to imagine Matt reciprocating. We'll see, I guess). Phillips and Sienkiewicz make a good team, although I'd just as soon see Sienkiewicz solo.
"You always said crime was about taking what you wanted without being willing to pay for it. Organized crime is the exact opposite. It's about giving people what they want, what they really deep down want, and making them pay for it over and over again."
BLUE MONDAY: IN-BETWEEN DAYS
Chynna Clugston
Oni Press
http://www.bluemondaycomics.com/
A collection of the various holiday-themed one-shots that were published in between the major story-arcs. Lots of teen angst, slapstick humor, and a bit (actually, a ton) of fan-service along the way. Sort of The Breakfast Club meets FLCL. Chynna Clugston's exaggerated manga-flavored art suits the extreme mood-swings of hormone-addled teenagers, whether they're cackling with joy, exploding in rage, or falling in love. My one complaint is that shrinking these stories from standard comic size to digest size doesn't do the intricate artwork any favors, and the teeny-tiny lettering becomes a bit hard to read.
"It's a scientifically proven fact that all horny creeps run quicker than any normal human being can manage. Hence, our dire situation."
BONE SHARPS, COWBOYS, AND THUNDER LIZARDS
Jim Ottaviani & Big Time Attic
G.T. Labs
http://www.gt-labs.com/
I wanted to like this more than I did. The art's great, and it seems like a pretty interesting chapter out of history. But I just had a really hard time following what was going on. Maybe if I were more of a history or paleontology buff, I could put this stuff into context, but as it is many sequences just left me scratching my head.
"It is clearly (heh-heh) wrong-headed. You see, he's taken the skull of my camarasaurus and placed it on his -- and I use that word advisedly -- apatosaur!"
THE BOOK OF LOST SOULS #1-2
J. Michael Straczynski & Colleen Doran
Marvel Comics/Icon
http://www.marvel.com/
No surprise, Colleen Doran delivers stunning artwork. I'm not quite sold on J.M. Straczynski's story yet, but it does have potential. An Elizabethan sad sack named Jonathan tries to kill himself, but instead ends up being recruited in the battle between good and evil gods -- though even he's not sure which side he's actually working for. He's sent to the modern world and told that his job is to find people who are on the cusp between light and darkness, and push them one way or the other. In issue #2, he helps a woman get out of an abusive relationship, but his method is so insanely risky that I wonder if he wasn't actually trying to get her killed instead. That ambiguity is the most interesting aspect of the series, but I don't know if it's something they can maintain indefinitely. If it's going to be a case where Jonathan just keeps sashaying into people's lives and solving their problems like some bishounen version of "Touched By An Angel", the novelty could wear off pretty quick. One to keep an eye on, at least. (Aside: I hate the way the cat's DIAlogue is EMphaSIZED at RANDom... it's reaLLY anNOYing.)
"Besides, all love is unrequited. Haven't you heard?"
BULLETEER #1
DC Comics
Grant Morrison, Yanick Paquette & Michael Bair
http://www.dccomics.com/
Making serious points about body image and the objectification of women, while at the same time filling every page with copious cheesecake, is either inspired or crassly hypocritical, I'm not sure which. Since it's Morrison, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. And since I'm a guy, I'll enjoy the eye candy regardless. Should be interesting to see where they go with this.
"Life's not supposed to last forever, Lance."
THE COURIERS: THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY FUNWRECKER
Brian Wood & Rob G.
AIT-Planet Lar
http://www.ait-planetlar.com/
The "secret origin" of Brian Wood's badass mercenaries Special and Moustafa. As kids, they meet while working for notorious Chinatown mobster Johnny Funwrecker. Eventually they partner up and decide to rat out Johnny to the feds -- not because they have any qualms about his business, but because they figure he's going down anyway, and they'll be in a position to take over the mob. Which pretty much sums up the moral tone of the whole series: Some small value is placed on personal loyalty, but otherwise it's do whatever you have to to come out on top, and the meanest fucker with the biggest gun wins. But the whole thing is so absurdly over-the-top that I can't take it seriously enough to be offended by it. And Rob G. does draw outstanding action/chase/stuff-blowin'-up scenes. If you can put your brain in neutral and just enjoy the fireworks, it's a pretty fun ride.
"Right. Where's that fucking coke? We are so ripping that fucking cunt off."
FLAMING CARROT COMICS #4
Bob Burden
Dark Horse Comics/Desperado
http://www.flamingcarrot.com/
Humor that relies mostly on non-sequiturs is a tricky thing. "Monty Python" works for me, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" not so much. Burden hits the balance just right though -- enough of a vestigal plot to keep the momentum of the story going, while still delivering plenty of WTF? moments. The brief photo-sequence looks terrific, and I can't wait to see the all-fumetti issue coming up.
"I love you, Ducky Soap."
FLIGHT VOL.1-2 #4
Various
Image Comics
http://www.imagecomics.com/
Holy crap, these books are gorgeous. Just page after page of stunning, full-color art in a variety of styles. There's adventure, fantasy, funny animals, slice-of-life, and stuff that's uncategorizable, but it's all very high quality. Highest recommendation.
"I don't mean to be rude but you're not gonna eat me are you?"
KABUKI #5
David Mack
Marvel Comics/Icon
http://www.davidmack.net/
Kabuki continues to build a new identity for herself, and starts acclimating to the strange new environment she finds herself in (i.e., the mundane, non-espionage world). The metafictional levels start to pile up as she gets a job as a mascot in a Noh theme park -- luckily, she doesn't end up playing as Kabuki, or I think my head would have exploded. We also get hints that her benefactor Akemi has a larger agenda -- which may not be entirely altruistic. Mack's unique page designs and multi-leveled symbolism continue to be breathtaking.
"I see that children view silliness and laughing as the natural state that you'd like to find yourself in all the time. Adults see seriousness as their natural state. Ever looking to get ahead. Silliness is something to set aside for a specific time. To be mostly avoided as they feel it takes from their edge to get ahead in the rest of life. Children learn that you occasionally have to set it aside and go to class and learn things, but as soon as those formalities are over, they get right back to their natural state of silliness. Here I see that natural state in the children. And I am finally able to cultivate that natural state in myself."
LOST AT SEA
Bryan O'Malley
Oni Press
http://www.onipress.com/
A very touching story, with both very sweet and very funny moments. A young woman named Raleigh has sunk into depression, due to a bad breakup and other issues in her life. Through accidental circumstances, she ends up on a cross-country trip with a group of people she barely knows, and slowly starts to piece herself back together. It's really interesting watching the shy Raleigh and the extroverted-to-the-point-of-obnoxious Steph bonding, and sort of leveling each other out. Even though a lot of it is just talking heads in a car, there's not a slow moment in it. O'Malley is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
"I'm an anti-social monster. I'm such a fuckup. I'm - I'm - I'm a mediocre fuckup, even. I'm not even good at fucking up!!!"
MISTER MIRACLE #1
Grant Morrison & Pasqual Ferry
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/
This may turn out to be my favorite of the Seven Soldiers books. Morrison's recasting of the Fourth World tropes -- particularly Granny Goodness and the notorious Black Racer -- feels very right. He seems to dig deep and get at the emotional core of Kirby's metaphors, instead of just mimicking the surface. I'm positively drooling over the brief glimpse of Darkseid... Morrison handled him brilliantly in JLA, and I can't wait to see what he does with him in this context.
"I can still see that face, like a shattered gravestone, like the end of all hope."
MOPED ARMY
Paul Sizer
Cafe Digital Comics
http://www.paulsizer.com/
On the plotting level, this graphic novel feels a bit cliche -- the rich "townies" are pure evil, the street-dwelling moped-riders are saints, and their battle plays out like every "snobs vs. slobs" story you've ever seen. What makes the book work, though, is the lead character Simone and her personal arc. She starts out as a child of privilege, who's parents (pretty much literally) pimp her out to an abusive but well-connected asshole. She mopes and whines about it, but isn't willing to take any action. Finally, things get bad enough that she starts to examine herself and figure out what's actually important to her and what kind of life she wants. That's the real story that transcends the pulpy sci-fi trappings and resonates with the reader (and I really appreciate that Sizer avoided the easy trap of having Simone simply swap out a "bad" boyfriend for a "good" one -- the Moped Army might be knights in shining armor, but ultimately she "rescues" herself).
"She's got it so good and she's gonna blow a free ride."
MONSTERS ON THE PROWL
Steve Niles & Duncan Fegredo
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/
Damn, why can't the regular books be as entertaining as these little one-offs? The Hulk, the Thing, the Beast, and Giant-Man, all trading quips and kicking monster ass. That's the stuff! Ben deliberately harrassing Bruce Banner so he'll turn into the Hulk is a very funny scene. Terrific dialogue throughout, and nice artwork too.
"It's that anti-social attitude that keeps people at a distance, you know."
PECULIA AND THE GROON GROVE VAMPIRES
Richard Sala
Fantagraphics Books
http://www.richardsala.com/
It sounds like a bad b-movie: Nubile young babysitters stalked by vampires! But Sala brings a touch of class and a great deal of charm to the silly premise, while keeping tongue firmly planted in cheek. Amusing and creepy at the same time, in the vein (heh heh) of Charles Addams or Edward Gorey. Only Sala draws way cuter chicks. Very fun.
"I'm coming for you, clever girl!"
QUEEN AND COUNTRY: OPERATION STORM FRONT
Greg Rucka & Carla Speed McNeil
Oni Press
http://www.onipress.com/
I picked this up because I'm a big fan of McNeil, but Rucka quickly won me over with his smart and suspenseful writing. This is volume 5 of the British spy saga, but the helpful chart up front quickly got me up to speed on the characters and their relationships. One of the members of the "Special Section" turns up dead, and his colleagues have to deal with the personal loss while breaking in his replacement. It's particularly rough for Tara Chace, who was the dead agent's former lover. Meanwhile, agency supervisor Paul Crocker finds out about a kidnapping that has a personal connection to him, and he is determined to get involved, even though it's technically out of his jurisdiction. Politics, procedure, and personal feelings all get tangled together, and the outcome is bound to get ugly. Tara Chace ends up stranded alone in the middle of hostile territory, and the steps she takes to get herself out are both extremely clever and pragmatically brutal. Kudos to McNeil, who's expressive artwork tells us everything we need to know about the characters' inner turmoil.
"You want me to trust you. I've given you this. Don't make me regret it."
QUEEN OF THE BLACK BLACK
Megan Kelso
Highwater Books
http://www.highwaterbooks.com/
A collection of short stories from Kelso's old Girlhero series. Most of them are melancholy slice-of-life pieces, often dealing with troubled relationships. A few have a touch of fantasy to them, like the very witty tale of an office worker from the 1890s who changes places with her modern counterpart. I also really liked the story about a man and a woman who meet while participating in a herpes study; they trade stories over coffee, each of them silently condemning the other for their irresponsible behavior. Some very keen observations of human nature here. The art is rough in spots, but conveys emotion well, and Kelso pulls off some very interesting and innovative page layouts. The cover design is very cool: At first glance, it appears to be just an arrangement of grey and purple squares. But then you tilt the book a bit, and you can see another illustration, done in spot varnish -- elaborate mechanical shapes that interact with the colored boxes. It's hard to describe, but the effect is very neat.
"False modesty. Be done with it! If you know you're good, you must proclaim it. Proclaim! First to yourself, then to the world."
SCOTT PILGRIM VOL.1-2
Bryan O'Malley
Oni Press
http://www.onipress.com/
When a book gets as much overwhelmingly positive buzz as this one, you almost want it to suck. Because, you know, nothing could be that good. But I'll be damned if this didn't turn out to be exactly as charming, innovative, and funny as everyone said. Scott himself is kind of an asshole -- totally self-absorbed, and not very considerate of other's feelings. He's got a good thing going with his girlfriend, but dumps her to chase after a "dream girl" he barely knows. And yet, he's so completely guileless and befuddled in his "why can't the world be as simple as I want it to be" attitude, that you end up grudgingly liking him anyway. And then, towards the end of vol. 1, the story takes a hard left turn that will either completely alienate you, or (like me), have you rolling on the floor, laughing at the sheer audacity of it. I won't say it's for everyone, but I was totally sucked in. Bring on vol.3!
"This song is for the guy who keeps yelling from the balcony, and it's called 'We Hate You, Please Die'."
SLOWPOKE: AMERICA GONE BONKERS
Jen Sorenson
Alternative Comics
http://www.slowpokecomics.com/
A collection of newspaper strips by Jen Sorenson. Most are unabashedly political, somewhat in the vein of Tom Tomorrow (although Sorenson can actually draw!). Others are more general social commentary, and a few are just silly gags (like her recurring character, "Drooly Julie", a walking bundle of libido). All are funny and smart, though obviously your level of enjoyment will depend on how much you agree with her liberal politics -- she's mainly preaching to the converted here.
"I prefer scandals that involve poontang."
SPX 2005
Various
The Expo/Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
http://www.spxpo.com/
A decent anthology, definitely skewed more towards the extreme-alternative end of things. Just about everything in here is at least interesting on a formal/technical level, but not too many of the strips really engaged me emotionally. If you're into that whole scratchy, confrontational underground aesthetic, step right up. Fans of more traditional narratives and art-styles will probably want to steer clear.
"That's right. My shit sinks. My entire life I've been deprived due to my poor diet of Pepsi, candy, taquitos & ice cream."
STREET ANGEL VOL.1
Jim Rugg & Brian Maruca
Slave Labor Graphics
http://www.streetangelcomics.com/
I had read these in singles, but I went ahead and got the trade anyway. There's a good chunk of bonus material (a couple of short stories, preliminary sketches, guest pin-ups), plus I just felt like throwing some more money at these guys, because they're That Damned Good. Jesse Sanchez, 13-year-old homeless skate punk, is a grubby superheroine who takes on everything from ninjas and time-travelling robots to Satan himself. (One of the best running gags is a series of vignettes of Street Angel vs. a giant squid -- first in hand-to-hand combat, then in increasingly absurd situations like a chess match, hot dog eating contest, go-kart race, and so on.) The ridiculous situations, played with deadpan seriousness, yields some great comic moments. But just when you think it's all laffs and japes, Rugg and Maruca will pull a genuine heart-tugger: Issue #4 contains no "hero action" at all, just Jesse dumpster-diving for her next meal, and her humiliation when one of her schoolmates sees her doing it. The mix of old-school superheroics and alt-comix sensibility seems like a recipe for disaster, but everything clicks here brilliantly.
"No dear reader, you didn't skip a page. Street Angel wiped out all of Pangea's hench-ninja in the time it took you to turn the page."
TOMORROW STORIES SPECIAL #1
Alan Moore and Various
DC Comics/Wildstorm/ABC
http://www.wildstorm.com/
Tomorrow Stories was always the red-headed stepchild of the ABC line. If you didn't like these strips before, this probably won't change your mind; most are amusing trifles, with at best a mildly satiric bite. But the Moore/Veitch Greyshirt story -- a brilliantly conceived and executed tribute to the late Will Eisner -- is well worth the cover price all by itself.
"H is the Hero, an ordinary dope,
Who gets hurt, who is human, has heart and has hope."
X-MEN AND POWER PACK #1
Marc Sumerak & GuriHiru
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/
Wow, a Wolverine guest-shot that doesn't suck! His interaction with the Power kids is hilarious, gently poking fun at his "fierce rep", while still keeping him in character. Love that "The cavalry's here!" splash page. Looking forward to more of this.
"Wolverine just asked my little sister for help. I am never going to live this down."
AMERICAN SPLENDOR: OUR MOVIE YEAR
Harvey Pekar and Various
Ballantine Books
http://www.harveypekar.com/
Despite the title, this isn't a single narrative, ala "Our Cancer Year". It's actually a collection of short strips that Pekar did for various magazines, during and around the time the movie was being made. Which wouldn't be bad, except that many of the strips end up re-telling the same movie-related anecdotes, which gets a little tedious. Fortunately, there's also a lot of material that doesn't overlap, like the various music-related strips. Pekar writes very knowledgeably and passionately about music, and these strips are a fascinating read, even when he's talking about artists and genres you know nothing about. And there's all the usual stuff about his daily struggles, major and minor. Even after his brush with fame, Pekar remains the same old loveable crank.
"If you're buyin', I'm sellin'."
BLACK WIDOW #2
Richard K. Morgan, Sean Phillips & Bill Sienkiewicz
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/
Natasha stirs up shit in the Miami underworld, while both the bad guys and good guys close in on her. It's looking more and more like the climax of this story will involve a Widow vs. Daredevil fight -- that's going to require some careful handling to be believeable (in her current tunnel-vision, woman-on-a-mission mode, I can see Natasha taking a poke at him, but it's hard to imagine Matt reciprocating. We'll see, I guess). Phillips and Sienkiewicz make a good team, although I'd just as soon see Sienkiewicz solo.
"You always said crime was about taking what you wanted without being willing to pay for it. Organized crime is the exact opposite. It's about giving people what they want, what they really deep down want, and making them pay for it over and over again."
BLUE MONDAY: IN-BETWEEN DAYS
Chynna Clugston
Oni Press
http://www.bluemondaycomics.com/
A collection of the various holiday-themed one-shots that were published in between the major story-arcs. Lots of teen angst, slapstick humor, and a bit (actually, a ton) of fan-service along the way. Sort of The Breakfast Club meets FLCL. Chynna Clugston's exaggerated manga-flavored art suits the extreme mood-swings of hormone-addled teenagers, whether they're cackling with joy, exploding in rage, or falling in love. My one complaint is that shrinking these stories from standard comic size to digest size doesn't do the intricate artwork any favors, and the teeny-tiny lettering becomes a bit hard to read.
"It's a scientifically proven fact that all horny creeps run quicker than any normal human being can manage. Hence, our dire situation."
BONE SHARPS, COWBOYS, AND THUNDER LIZARDS
Jim Ottaviani & Big Time Attic
G.T. Labs
http://www.gt-labs.com/
I wanted to like this more than I did. The art's great, and it seems like a pretty interesting chapter out of history. But I just had a really hard time following what was going on. Maybe if I were more of a history or paleontology buff, I could put this stuff into context, but as it is many sequences just left me scratching my head.
"It is clearly (heh-heh) wrong-headed. You see, he's taken the skull of my camarasaurus and placed it on his -- and I use that word advisedly -- apatosaur!"
THE BOOK OF LOST SOULS #1-2
J. Michael Straczynski & Colleen Doran
Marvel Comics/Icon
http://www.marvel.com/
No surprise, Colleen Doran delivers stunning artwork. I'm not quite sold on J.M. Straczynski's story yet, but it does have potential. An Elizabethan sad sack named Jonathan tries to kill himself, but instead ends up being recruited in the battle between good and evil gods -- though even he's not sure which side he's actually working for. He's sent to the modern world and told that his job is to find people who are on the cusp between light and darkness, and push them one way or the other. In issue #2, he helps a woman get out of an abusive relationship, but his method is so insanely risky that I wonder if he wasn't actually trying to get her killed instead. That ambiguity is the most interesting aspect of the series, but I don't know if it's something they can maintain indefinitely. If it's going to be a case where Jonathan just keeps sashaying into people's lives and solving their problems like some bishounen version of "Touched By An Angel", the novelty could wear off pretty quick. One to keep an eye on, at least. (Aside: I hate the way the cat's DIAlogue is EMphaSIZED at RANDom... it's reaLLY anNOYing.)
"Besides, all love is unrequited. Haven't you heard?"
BULLETEER #1
DC Comics
Grant Morrison, Yanick Paquette & Michael Bair
http://www.dccomics.com/
Making serious points about body image and the objectification of women, while at the same time filling every page with copious cheesecake, is either inspired or crassly hypocritical, I'm not sure which. Since it's Morrison, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. And since I'm a guy, I'll enjoy the eye candy regardless. Should be interesting to see where they go with this.
"Life's not supposed to last forever, Lance."
THE COURIERS: THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY FUNWRECKER
Brian Wood & Rob G.
AIT-Planet Lar
http://www.ait-planetlar.com/
The "secret origin" of Brian Wood's badass mercenaries Special and Moustafa. As kids, they meet while working for notorious Chinatown mobster Johnny Funwrecker. Eventually they partner up and decide to rat out Johnny to the feds -- not because they have any qualms about his business, but because they figure he's going down anyway, and they'll be in a position to take over the mob. Which pretty much sums up the moral tone of the whole series: Some small value is placed on personal loyalty, but otherwise it's do whatever you have to to come out on top, and the meanest fucker with the biggest gun wins. But the whole thing is so absurdly over-the-top that I can't take it seriously enough to be offended by it. And Rob G. does draw outstanding action/chase/stuff-blowin'-up scenes. If you can put your brain in neutral and just enjoy the fireworks, it's a pretty fun ride.
"Right. Where's that fucking coke? We are so ripping that fucking cunt off."
FLAMING CARROT COMICS #4
Bob Burden
Dark Horse Comics/Desperado
http://www.flamingcarrot.com/
Humor that relies mostly on non-sequiturs is a tricky thing. "Monty Python" works for me, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" not so much. Burden hits the balance just right though -- enough of a vestigal plot to keep the momentum of the story going, while still delivering plenty of WTF? moments. The brief photo-sequence looks terrific, and I can't wait to see the all-fumetti issue coming up.
"I love you, Ducky Soap."
FLIGHT VOL.1-2 #4
Various
Image Comics
http://www.imagecomics.com/
Holy crap, these books are gorgeous. Just page after page of stunning, full-color art in a variety of styles. There's adventure, fantasy, funny animals, slice-of-life, and stuff that's uncategorizable, but it's all very high quality. Highest recommendation.
"I don't mean to be rude but you're not gonna eat me are you?"
KABUKI #5
David Mack
Marvel Comics/Icon
http://www.davidmack.net/
Kabuki continues to build a new identity for herself, and starts acclimating to the strange new environment she finds herself in (i.e., the mundane, non-espionage world). The metafictional levels start to pile up as she gets a job as a mascot in a Noh theme park -- luckily, she doesn't end up playing as Kabuki, or I think my head would have exploded. We also get hints that her benefactor Akemi has a larger agenda -- which may not be entirely altruistic. Mack's unique page designs and multi-leveled symbolism continue to be breathtaking.
"I see that children view silliness and laughing as the natural state that you'd like to find yourself in all the time. Adults see seriousness as their natural state. Ever looking to get ahead. Silliness is something to set aside for a specific time. To be mostly avoided as they feel it takes from their edge to get ahead in the rest of life. Children learn that you occasionally have to set it aside and go to class and learn things, but as soon as those formalities are over, they get right back to their natural state of silliness. Here I see that natural state in the children. And I am finally able to cultivate that natural state in myself."
LOST AT SEA
Bryan O'Malley
Oni Press
http://www.onipress.com/
A very touching story, with both very sweet and very funny moments. A young woman named Raleigh has sunk into depression, due to a bad breakup and other issues in her life. Through accidental circumstances, she ends up on a cross-country trip with a group of people she barely knows, and slowly starts to piece herself back together. It's really interesting watching the shy Raleigh and the extroverted-to-the-point-of-obnoxious Steph bonding, and sort of leveling each other out. Even though a lot of it is just talking heads in a car, there's not a slow moment in it. O'Malley is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
"I'm an anti-social monster. I'm such a fuckup. I'm - I'm - I'm a mediocre fuckup, even. I'm not even good at fucking up!!!"
MISTER MIRACLE #1
Grant Morrison & Pasqual Ferry
DC Comics
http://www.dccomics.com/
This may turn out to be my favorite of the Seven Soldiers books. Morrison's recasting of the Fourth World tropes -- particularly Granny Goodness and the notorious Black Racer -- feels very right. He seems to dig deep and get at the emotional core of Kirby's metaphors, instead of just mimicking the surface. I'm positively drooling over the brief glimpse of Darkseid... Morrison handled him brilliantly in JLA, and I can't wait to see what he does with him in this context.
"I can still see that face, like a shattered gravestone, like the end of all hope."
MOPED ARMY
Paul Sizer
Cafe Digital Comics
http://www.paulsizer.com/
On the plotting level, this graphic novel feels a bit cliche -- the rich "townies" are pure evil, the street-dwelling moped-riders are saints, and their battle plays out like every "snobs vs. slobs" story you've ever seen. What makes the book work, though, is the lead character Simone and her personal arc. She starts out as a child of privilege, who's parents (pretty much literally) pimp her out to an abusive but well-connected asshole. She mopes and whines about it, but isn't willing to take any action. Finally, things get bad enough that she starts to examine herself and figure out what's actually important to her and what kind of life she wants. That's the real story that transcends the pulpy sci-fi trappings and resonates with the reader (and I really appreciate that Sizer avoided the easy trap of having Simone simply swap out a "bad" boyfriend for a "good" one -- the Moped Army might be knights in shining armor, but ultimately she "rescues" herself).
"She's got it so good and she's gonna blow a free ride."
MONSTERS ON THE PROWL
Steve Niles & Duncan Fegredo
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/
Damn, why can't the regular books be as entertaining as these little one-offs? The Hulk, the Thing, the Beast, and Giant-Man, all trading quips and kicking monster ass. That's the stuff! Ben deliberately harrassing Bruce Banner so he'll turn into the Hulk is a very funny scene. Terrific dialogue throughout, and nice artwork too.
"It's that anti-social attitude that keeps people at a distance, you know."
PECULIA AND THE GROON GROVE VAMPIRES
Richard Sala
Fantagraphics Books
http://www.richardsala.com/
It sounds like a bad b-movie: Nubile young babysitters stalked by vampires! But Sala brings a touch of class and a great deal of charm to the silly premise, while keeping tongue firmly planted in cheek. Amusing and creepy at the same time, in the vein (heh heh) of Charles Addams or Edward Gorey. Only Sala draws way cuter chicks. Very fun.
"I'm coming for you, clever girl!"
QUEEN AND COUNTRY: OPERATION STORM FRONT
Greg Rucka & Carla Speed McNeil
Oni Press
http://www.onipress.com/
I picked this up because I'm a big fan of McNeil, but Rucka quickly won me over with his smart and suspenseful writing. This is volume 5 of the British spy saga, but the helpful chart up front quickly got me up to speed on the characters and their relationships. One of the members of the "Special Section" turns up dead, and his colleagues have to deal with the personal loss while breaking in his replacement. It's particularly rough for Tara Chace, who was the dead agent's former lover. Meanwhile, agency supervisor Paul Crocker finds out about a kidnapping that has a personal connection to him, and he is determined to get involved, even though it's technically out of his jurisdiction. Politics, procedure, and personal feelings all get tangled together, and the outcome is bound to get ugly. Tara Chace ends up stranded alone in the middle of hostile territory, and the steps she takes to get herself out are both extremely clever and pragmatically brutal. Kudos to McNeil, who's expressive artwork tells us everything we need to know about the characters' inner turmoil.
"You want me to trust you. I've given you this. Don't make me regret it."
QUEEN OF THE BLACK BLACK
Megan Kelso
Highwater Books
http://www.highwaterbooks.com/
A collection of short stories from Kelso's old Girlhero series. Most of them are melancholy slice-of-life pieces, often dealing with troubled relationships. A few have a touch of fantasy to them, like the very witty tale of an office worker from the 1890s who changes places with her modern counterpart. I also really liked the story about a man and a woman who meet while participating in a herpes study; they trade stories over coffee, each of them silently condemning the other for their irresponsible behavior. Some very keen observations of human nature here. The art is rough in spots, but conveys emotion well, and Kelso pulls off some very interesting and innovative page layouts. The cover design is very cool: At first glance, it appears to be just an arrangement of grey and purple squares. But then you tilt the book a bit, and you can see another illustration, done in spot varnish -- elaborate mechanical shapes that interact with the colored boxes. It's hard to describe, but the effect is very neat.
"False modesty. Be done with it! If you know you're good, you must proclaim it. Proclaim! First to yourself, then to the world."
SCOTT PILGRIM VOL.1-2
Bryan O'Malley
Oni Press
http://www.onipress.com/
When a book gets as much overwhelmingly positive buzz as this one, you almost want it to suck. Because, you know, nothing could be that good. But I'll be damned if this didn't turn out to be exactly as charming, innovative, and funny as everyone said. Scott himself is kind of an asshole -- totally self-absorbed, and not very considerate of other's feelings. He's got a good thing going with his girlfriend, but dumps her to chase after a "dream girl" he barely knows. And yet, he's so completely guileless and befuddled in his "why can't the world be as simple as I want it to be" attitude, that you end up grudgingly liking him anyway. And then, towards the end of vol. 1, the story takes a hard left turn that will either completely alienate you, or (like me), have you rolling on the floor, laughing at the sheer audacity of it. I won't say it's for everyone, but I was totally sucked in. Bring on vol.3!
"This song is for the guy who keeps yelling from the balcony, and it's called 'We Hate You, Please Die'."
SLOWPOKE: AMERICA GONE BONKERS
Jen Sorenson
Alternative Comics
http://www.slowpokecomics.com/
A collection of newspaper strips by Jen Sorenson. Most are unabashedly political, somewhat in the vein of Tom Tomorrow (although Sorenson can actually draw!). Others are more general social commentary, and a few are just silly gags (like her recurring character, "Drooly Julie", a walking bundle of libido). All are funny and smart, though obviously your level of enjoyment will depend on how much you agree with her liberal politics -- she's mainly preaching to the converted here.
"I prefer scandals that involve poontang."
SPX 2005
Various
The Expo/Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
http://www.spxpo.com/
A decent anthology, definitely skewed more towards the extreme-alternative end of things. Just about everything in here is at least interesting on a formal/technical level, but not too many of the strips really engaged me emotionally. If you're into that whole scratchy, confrontational underground aesthetic, step right up. Fans of more traditional narratives and art-styles will probably want to steer clear.
"That's right. My shit sinks. My entire life I've been deprived due to my poor diet of Pepsi, candy, taquitos & ice cream."
STREET ANGEL VOL.1
Jim Rugg & Brian Maruca
Slave Labor Graphics
http://www.streetangelcomics.com/
I had read these in singles, but I went ahead and got the trade anyway. There's a good chunk of bonus material (a couple of short stories, preliminary sketches, guest pin-ups), plus I just felt like throwing some more money at these guys, because they're That Damned Good. Jesse Sanchez, 13-year-old homeless skate punk, is a grubby superheroine who takes on everything from ninjas and time-travelling robots to Satan himself. (One of the best running gags is a series of vignettes of Street Angel vs. a giant squid -- first in hand-to-hand combat, then in increasingly absurd situations like a chess match, hot dog eating contest, go-kart race, and so on.) The ridiculous situations, played with deadpan seriousness, yields some great comic moments. But just when you think it's all laffs and japes, Rugg and Maruca will pull a genuine heart-tugger: Issue #4 contains no "hero action" at all, just Jesse dumpster-diving for her next meal, and her humiliation when one of her schoolmates sees her doing it. The mix of old-school superheroics and alt-comix sensibility seems like a recipe for disaster, but everything clicks here brilliantly.
"No dear reader, you didn't skip a page. Street Angel wiped out all of Pangea's hench-ninja in the time it took you to turn the page."
TOMORROW STORIES SPECIAL #1
Alan Moore and Various
DC Comics/Wildstorm/ABC
http://www.wildstorm.com/
Tomorrow Stories was always the red-headed stepchild of the ABC line. If you didn't like these strips before, this probably won't change your mind; most are amusing trifles, with at best a mildly satiric bite. But the Moore/Veitch Greyshirt story -- a brilliantly conceived and executed tribute to the late Will Eisner -- is well worth the cover price all by itself.
"H is the Hero, an ordinary dope,
Who gets hurt, who is human, has heart and has hope."
X-MEN AND POWER PACK #1
Marc Sumerak & GuriHiru
Marvel Comics
http://www.marvel.com/
Wow, a Wolverine guest-shot that doesn't suck! His interaction with the Power kids is hilarious, gently poking fun at his "fierce rep", while still keeping him in character. Love that "The cavalry's here!" splash page. Looking forward to more of this.
"Wolverine just asked my little sister for help. I am never going to live this down."
