Six Comics-Related Items.
- I think that for a debut work, Jonathan Hickman's The Nightly News is a stunning-looking comic. There's a real sense of design and control in that book and it jumps off the shelf. I'm glad to see another talent who's got a radically different style making an impression in the North American comics market. However, it seems a real shame that neither the editorial team or Hickman apparently read Brian Wood's Channel Zero prior to putting the thing together.
- Boy, Agents of Atlas had one of those smart, surprising endings that I just love to see pop up in a mainline Marvel book. I was reminded of Iain Banks, actually, because it was a reveal that felt perfectly in place while deviating from my expectations. Kudos to Parker and Kirk on this one.
- While I'm talking about Jeff Parker, I'd like to say he's the only writer I'd want to see replace McKeever as writer on Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane. I think he and David Hahn would make a nice team and maybe (since he's got so much copious time) Parker could draw the occasional issue, too. Yes, that is what I want. Somebody make that happen.
- 52 fatigue has finally hit. Everybody else is saying "Yes, they're finally ramping up towards that ending!" I'm thinking "Christ, just let it end!" I knew what I was getting into with a 52-issue weekly series, but outside of the occasional bit (such as Luthor gloating on New Year's Eve), it's gotten tiresome. The fact that Animal Man's death didn't even make me pause is probably worth consideration. Seeing a character whose title under Morrison was one of the things that truly energized my brain when it came to the possibilities of a superhero book die should gut me - it didn't. Honestly, I've probably had a more emotional response to correcting a typo, and that's sort of depressing.
Or, you know, as depressing as a non-reaction to a corporate-owned superhero character's death can be... - Yes, there's a lot of in-print or easily-available comics material on the site1, but the real gems on X-Y-Z Cosmonaut's CosmoBlog are the odd bits from the nooks and crannies of Marvel and DC. The site recently spent some time celebrating black superheroes, so you can get all the Jungle Adventure stories featuring Black Panther2 and some Brother Voodoo action before checking in with The Falcon and Black Goliath. Heck, one new-ish entry gives you all the opportunity to read DC's Atari Force, one of my personal favorites.
I don't particularly like reading comics on the computer - I prefer to have the tactile experience for a number of reasons - but for catching up and archival purposes, these are excellent. Note that the site uses Rapidshare, a service I have previously described as "odious" and will this time add "needlessly complex." - Personal-ish note: I've gotten a chance to check out layouts and pages from Cover Girl #1 and Walter Pax makes my script sing. I'll be shocked if there's not some major imprint interest in him after this. We're chugging along on (if not ahead of) schedule so far and #2's script should be finalized this weekend. One of the things that's made this work for me is getting feedback from Andrew Cosby, who really nails what makes something pop a bit more; two minor changes he suggested in issue #1 made me go from "pretty happy" with the thing to "immensely proud."
I'm sure that feeling will go away with the first review, but I've enjoyed the buzz in my head.
1So, please, for God's sake, don't download them or at least consider purchasing the hard copies once you've read a few issues of something and liked it.
2Seriously, where's my Essential Black Panther?
