Archive for October, 2006
October 23, 2006 | Trades
Justice Vol. 1
Jim Krueger, Alex Ross, Doug Braithwaite
DC Comics
$26.99/$19.99 US (Hardcover)
**** (out of five)
The term “waiting for the trade” has become a very common term among comic book readers over the past few years.
It means that instead of buying a series in its serialized (most often monthly) form, you’re going to save your money for the collected edition or trade paperback.
Well I’d like to make a new entry in the comic fan lexicon: Waiting for the Absolute.
As good as DC Comics’ new bimonthly 12-issue maxiseries Justice is (and it is pretty damned compelling), the current plan is to release three four-issue hardcovers at $27 each (or $20 for our American neighbours).
With an all-star cast of Justice League characters, a compelling storyline which sees the DCU’s greatest villains suddenly working for the betterment of humanity and breathtaking art by Alex Ross and Doug Braithwaite, this series is destined to be collected in one of DC’s gorgeous Absolute Editions — complete with slipcase and bonus materials galore and likely only a bit more expensive than the $80 or $60 US these hardcovers will cost you.
So you can spend your money however you like, but I’m waiting for the Absolute.
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October 23, 2006 | Trades
Invincible Vol. 7: Three's Company
Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, Bill Crabtree
Image Comics
$14.99 US (Paperback)
**** 1/2 (out of five)
He’s fought off alien hordes, rampaging villains and the wrath of his murderous father.
But nothing Mark Grayson, A.K.A. Invincible, has been through before can prepare him for — the triangle of doom!
Those of us who have survived the high school dating scene will surely recognize this dastardly conundrum as the love triangle, in this case featuring Mark, his girlfriend Amber and his fellow hero, Atom Eve.
After a clever and ruthless villain named Angstrom Levy makes a run at Mark by holding his mom and little brother hostage, a vicious and bloody battle ensues — one that leaves Mark stranded in an alternate dimension. Thankfully he’s rescued by the future versions of some of his hero friends, including Eve, who confesses her long-unspoken love for him.
So Mark is left with the choice: His high school sweetheart and his normal life as a college student or the superhero life with Eve.
If you’re a superhero comic fan and you can resist the temptation to read this utterly compelling series on a monthly basis, then this trade is a must-buy. With its amazing mix of action, dialogue and brilliant characterization — courtesy creator Robert Kirkman and artists Ryan Ottley and Bill Crabtree — this series never disappoints.
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October 23, 2006 | Trades
Superman: Up, Up And Away!
Kurt Busiek, Geoff Johns, Pete Woods, Renato Guedes
DC Comics
$19.99/$14.99 US (Paperback)
**** (out of five)
It’s One Year Later and there’s still no sign of the Man Of Steel.
While the stunning conclusion to Infinite Crisis saw Superman lose his powers, it’s been a good year for Clark Kent. Instead of disappearing when the big stories break, he’s now Mr. Reliable. There’s even rumours of a Pulitzer.
Mrs. Kent, A.K.A. Lois Lane, is happy, too. She doesn’t have to worry as much about her husband putting himself in the line of fire.
Or does she?
As he continues to deal with the reality that he may never be super again, Clark is busy trying to break the story of a criminal organization called Intergang trying to establish itself in Metropolis.
But when he finally gets the scoop, the backlash leads to a price on his head and costumed villains galore gunning not for Superman, but for Clark Kent.
Meanwhile, Lex Luthor is up to no good, starting by accumulating every scrap of Kryptonite he can and possibly ending with the destruction of the Man Of Steel’s city.
With star creators like writers Kurt Busiek and Geoff Johns along with dynamic artists Pete Woods and Renato Guedes, this was one of the best of DC’s first wave of One Year Later storylines. It brings Superman back to lofty heights and lays a solid foundation for what promises to be a bright future for Action Comics and Superman.
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October 23, 2006 | Trades
Jonah Hex: Face Full Of Violence
Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Luke Ross
DC Comics
$17.50/$12.99 US (Paperback)
*** 1/2 (out of five)
It’s hard to say what’s a worse feeling for the ne’re-do-wells of the Old West — having to peer down the barrel of Jonah Hex’s guns or having to look at his ugly mug.
DC’s scar-faced Wild West bounty hunter is back and badder than ever and thanks to the talents of terrific artist Luke Ross, he’s never looked so vividly nasty.
He’s got a malevolent attitude, too, and some really messed up bounties to track down — thanks to writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray.
The only thing missing from this collection of the first six issues of Hex’s new series is a little cohesion. The stories are all stand alones and he could do for at least a two-parter from time to time.
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October 23, 2006 | Comics
The Other Side #1 (of 5)
Jason Aaron, Cameron Stewart
Vertigo/DC Comics
$4/$2.99 US
**** (out of five)
Two young men are going to war.
They will begin as raw recruits, both struggling with their marksmanship and their ability to be obedient soldiers. But their leaders need them in the battle, so their frailties are forgiven and they are headed for combat.
There are only two major differences between these young men. First, one is afraid to die, while the other is only afraid of dying in vain. Second, Billy Everette is a U.S. marine and Vo Binh Dai is in the North Vietnamese Army.
Comic book newcomer Jason Aaron, along with talented Toronto artist Cameron Stewart, gives readers a look at the dual faces of war in this smart and sensitive war book. Aaron, whose cousin — the late Gustav Hasford — wrote the novel The Short Timers, which inspired the film Full Metal Jacket, creates two interesting characters in Billy and Vo. Both are simple guys caught up in something so much larger then themselves and the road that will no doubt lead them into conflict with one another is sure to be a fascinating trip.
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October 23, 2006 | Comics
Dwight T. Albatross’s The Goon Noir #1 (of 3)
Patton Oswalt, Mike Ploog, Bill Morrison, Steve Niles, Ryan Sook, Thomas Sniegoski, Eric Powell
Dark Horse Comics
$2.99
*** 1/2 (out of five)
The Goon written and drawn by someone other than Eric Powell?
Blasphemy!
Well, actually it’s not bad at all.
Powell’s sidekick, Dwight T. Albatross, has roped some an interesting collection of creators from both comic books and TV comedy writing and let them loose in this anthology series.
The result is some wild and definitely different takes on The Goon, including a hilarious Yogi Bear send up by Simpson’s Comics veteran Bill Morrison.
Just a word of advice before you do yourself any permanent harm: DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE CENTREFOLD!!! You will regret it.
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October 23, 2006 | Comics
Impaler #1 (of 4)
William Harms, Nick Postic, Nick Marinkovich
Image Comics
$3.35/$2.99 US
**** (out of five)
An unspeakable evil is about to arrive in New York City and Victor Dailey couldn’t care less.
The police detective just can’t seem to care about anything anymore — not since he lost his wife to breast cancer six months ago. But just as he’s turning in his badge and getting ready to move out of town, a ship full of corpses sails into New York harbour. When two cops are savagely killed while investigating the case, detectives are called in — but not Victor, who is off to drown his sorrows. Will he get back in the game in time to save the city?
Writer William Harms gives us an interesting reinterpretation of the vampire mythos to chew on, but the real wow factor of this book is the standout art by Toronto’s Nick Postic and Nick Marinkovich. The mood is dark and creepy thanks to the Nicks’ use of shades and shadows and the impending bloodfest over the next few issues promises to be spectacular.
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October 23, 2006 | Comics
The Pirates Of Coney Island #1 (of 8)
Rick Spears, Vasilis Lolos
Image Comics
$3.35/$2.99
*** (out of five)
Eyeball removal, shotgun dismemberment and spider-kissing robbery — this issue’s got them all.
What it doesn’t have is the title characters.
First we meet the Cherries, a nasty girl gang and their latest victim, a teenaged homeless boy caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. When he tries to put up a fight, he gets his eye sliced out by the gang’s leader, Trish, who later distracts a pet store owner by smooching a tarantula so her girls can rob the till.
Meanwhile, a bookie named Sal meets his maker thanks to a mysterious smiling man with a shotgun.
Lots of good stuff, eh? Just no Pirates — yet.
Writer Rick Spears and artist Vasilis Lolos have laid a compelling foundation that is well worth keeping an eye on — if you’ll pardon the pun. Personally, I’ll come back next month just to meet the Pirates.
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October 23, 2006 | Trades
Goosebumps Graphix Vol. 1: Creepy Creatures
R.L. Stine, Gabriel Hernandez, Greg Ruth, Scott Morse
Graphix/Scholastic
$11.99/$8.99 US (Paperback)
**** (out of five)
R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps tales have sent chills up children’s spines for years, but now, with the help of comic book illustrators Gabriel Hernandez, Greg Ruth and Scott Morse, they get a new chance to spook you out. This collection offers three devilishly good tales: The Werewolf Of Fever Swamp, The Scarecrow Walks At Midnight and The Abominable Snowman Of Pasadena.
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October 23, 2006 | Trades
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Stations Of The Cross
Mike Carey, Marcelo Frusin, Leonardo Manco
Vertigo/DC Comics
$19.99/$14.99 US (Paperback)
*** 1/2 (out of five)
John Constantine lives in the darkest, bleakest, nastiest corner of the DC Comics Universe.
So does it come as any surprise that he doesn’t want his memories back after a run in with the dark forces leaves him with amnesia?
Serial killers, demonic possession and an appearance by the Lord of Hell himself all make this Hellblazer tale pretty darned creepy, but the really unsettling part? — John Constantine: Daddy?!
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