Archive for July, 2007

Superman/Batman: Enemies Among Us

July 9, 2007 | Trades

Superman/Batman: Enemies Among Us Mark Verheiden, Ethan Van Sciver, Matthew Clark, Joe Benitez DC Comics $23.99/$19.99 US (Hardcover) *** 1/2 (out of five) Batman has a lot of people gunning for him — he just never expected one of them to be an old friend. When fellow longtime Justice League member Martian Manhunter shows up at the Bat-cave and lays a beating on him that he barely survives, the Dark Knight is shocked. After deciding against taking on such a powerful opponent by himself again, Batman decides this is a job for Superman. While the duo quickly learn the true meaning of the attack, they soon find themselves under siege by more and more aliens — all of whom are old foes not seen or heard from in years. Soon all Earthbound aliens, friend and foe alike, are all working together to stop Batman and Superman from finding out the truth and preventing a major catastrophe. And the question becomes: How long can the Kryptonian hero ignore the lure to join his alien brethren? Battlestar Galactica executive producer Mark Verheiden — helped by the sublime art of Ethan Van Sciver — equates himself well as writer of this fast-paced and intriguing Superman/Batman story arc.

Satan’s Sodomy Baby

July 9, 2007 | Comics

Satan’s Sodomy Baby Eric Powell Dark Horse Comics $3.50 US **** 1/2 (out of five) Some things are just so wrong that they’re right — and Satan’s Sodomy Baby is definitely one of them. After being delayed for months and months thanks to a fear-mongering campaign by an overzealous American religious conservative, the most over-the-top and wonderfully offensive tale of The Goon is finally available. Let’s be clear: There is nudity, profanity and more hillbilly anal sex jokes than perhaps any previous comic in history — this book is not for everybody. If you consider yourself open to such humourous notions, however, you may just injure yourself while laughing so hard at writer/illustrator Eric Powell’s masterpiece.

Gutsville #1 (of 6)

July 9, 2007 | Comics

Gutsville #1 (of 6) Simon Spurrier, Frasier Irving Image Comics $3.50/$2.99 US **** (out of five) If being lost at sea is a scary thought, then being lost in a sea monster is a nightmare. This is the bizarre reality of the people of Gutsville — the descendants of the passengers and crew of the HMS Daphne who have survived for over 150 years in the belly of the beast. Making matters worse in this puritanical society are the rumours of revolution and the presence of a mysterious serial killer they call the nosunman, who’s latest victim Jon Oliphant was the town ratcatcher, forcing his artist son Albert into taking up the family business. While he’s reluctant to get too into his dad’s work, Albert finds out the business may just have led Jon to something nobody in Gutsville thought existed: A way out. Gutsville is one of the most unusual and gripping concepts in years. Writer Simon Spurrier and artist Frazier Irving may just have a million-dollar idea here.

Strange Embrace #1 (of 8)

July 9, 2007 | Comics

Strange Embrace #1 (of 8) David Hine Image Comics $3.50/$2.99 US *** 1/2 (out of five) Strange Embrace had long been one of the most chilling comic book stories around — and it just got even more so. The psychological horror from the mind of David Hine (Spawn, X-Men: Civil War) finally gets the full-colour treatment as an eight-issue miniseries from Image Comics. The first issue sees delivery boy Sukumar’s first encounter with the mysterious psychic Alex and a trip into Alex’s past that leads him face to face with the devil. Fans of Hine’s fine recent work on Spawn won’t want to miss this one.