�We could pitch this to him,� he recalls telling his publisher as he put the final touches on his graphic novel Capote in Kansas.
The book gives a fictionalized account of Capote�s time in Kansas researching the Clutter family murders for his groundbreaking book In Cold Blood. Ande introduced several unreal elements, including the ghost of 16-year-old murder victim Nancy Clutter, who becomes a confidante for Capote. The book deals with the writer�s ambivalence over his involvement in the crime�s aftermath.
Unfortunately, someone else had a similar idea. Ande�s book was published in July 2005, just in time to bump up against the movie “Capote” starring Hoffman. This month the movie garnered Hoffman an Oscar.
Comments Off | Posted: March 21st, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
March 2006 Previews Rundown 2: The Re-Rundowning, covering all of the various “smaller” publishers.
Starting off this month’s section is an ad from Graphitti Designs, who are putting out a prequel to Richard (Donnie Darko) Kelly’s feature Southland Tales. Written by Kelly with art by Brett Wiedle, this three-issue mini expands on the background for the film’s characters. I’m a big, big fan of Donnie Darko and Brett Wiedle’s work, so even with the View Askew name being attached to it, I’m going to give this a shot.
ADV Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days promises to take the supremely fucked-up anime’s twisted take on human relations and destiny and turn it into a lighthearted romp. While I’m curious, I’m not $10 of curious. I’m more like $5 of curious. Interesting idea, though.
Amaze Ink / Slave Labor There’s a Rex Libris t-shirt coming out, and that’s nice, but Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew are doing a post-Wonderland story featuring Alice. Despite the Disney brand being drizzled all over this, Sonny Liew’s art always impresses, so I’m giving this a shot.
Antarctic Press Apparently, “world-renowned historian” T. Campbell is getting a lot of flack from the people he’s written about in the upcoming A History of Webcomics. The back-pedaling on his blog is fairly amusing if you like that sort of thing.
Avatar The third and final issues of the long-delayed Holed Up see print and the lack of thunderous applause is deafening.
Boom! Studios Everyone’s favorite small publisher sees a new series launch with a typically media-tastic hook: Jurassic Park meets H.R. Giger. X-Isle is by Andrew Cosby, Michael Alan Nelson, and Greg Scott and I’m pretty damned sure it’ll be more than readable.
Keith Giffen’s got another horror/suspense book out this month from Boom! as well: Tag. It’s about zombification from the victim’s point of view and it sounds fairly interesting, even if Giffen’s occasional dabblings in shock have left me fairly cold.
Broadsword Comics Christ almighty, this ad for Tarot. What the fuck is wrong with you, Balent?
Dabel Brothers Publishing This company finally stopped buying double-page spreads and got around to telling us more about their comics. It looks like an uncensored version of XIII will finally be out in the states thanks to them. This is a good thing.
Dynamite Comics They’re doing a Battlestar Galactica comic. My affection for the new series, which is about a billion times better than anything with that title should be, is well known. I’m breaking my embargo against this company because of this. I tell myself that’s fine because I’m only buying one cover, the one by McNiven, not the photo cover featuring Six in a tiny red dress.
DMP The “Edu-Manga” story of Anne Frank, narrated by Astro Boy, comes out June 7th.
That is all.
Fantagraphics Joe Sacco’s rock n’ roll reportage and fiction gets a comprehensive release with But I Like It, a $25 hardcover-with-CD set. I don’t know if I can justify the cost for 120 pages, but this is a great idea.
Linda Medley’s complete Castle Waiting collection, though, looks exactly like something I can get on board for: the complete run of her series with a new concluding chapter in a 448 page hardcover for $29.95. That a heckuva bargain for a series I’ve seen compared (favorable) to Bone and Gormenghast.
:01 First Second I should soon have review copies of the brutal Deogratis: A Tale Of Rwanda and Joann Sfar’s much-lighter Vampire Loves and will be able to go into more detail about these. Considering that this company looks determined to make sure the European-styled graphic novel succeeds here, I’m 99% sure that you can order these in advance if they look remotely in your league.
Gemstone Publishing While I may take exception to the branding, an easy-to-grab collection of Carl Barks Duck Stories is something that I could never pass up, so I will be getting Greatest DuckTales Stories Volume 1.
New Reliable Press True Loves Volume 1 looks like my sort of thing, with a difficult romantic entanglement set against the backdrop of Vancouver with nary a sign of pandering or goofiness. Sometimes, I like a little “real” drama between my bouts of cockpunching and giant robots.
Oni Press A new book comes out from Portland’s other publisher: Borrowed Time, which looks to follow Neal Shaffer’s tradition for stories of alienation in everyday life.
There’s also an omnibus collecting the first three Love As A Foreign Language volumes, which is certainly a good thing if you like cute and funny with your romance.
Rebellion The words “complete” and “Alan Moore” appear in the title of their latest collection from 2000AD, so I’ll be getting it, of course. Alan Moore: The Complete Future Shock may be a little spendy – $22 for 160 pages, but getting to see the man’s earlier works is worth it.
Top Shelf Productions Two graphic novels from the little publisher that could: 110 Per� has Tony Consiglio exploring the whole Soccer Moms Who Love Boy Bands phenomenon while Johnny Tinder’s debut tome Cry Yourself To Sleep looks to capture the angst of early adulthood with a robot and a bunny to help you along.
Yeah, I like this company.
And that’s it for comics. I figure you’re grown up enough to figure out which magazines, toys, t-shirts, and DVDs you want to buy.
Comments Off | Posted: March 20th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
Comics, March 22. You know the drill.
DC Comics
JAN060353 AMERICAN WAY #2 (OF $2.99
I thought the first issue was pretty clumsy and did little in the to differentiate itself from, say, an Astro City story. I’m giving it one or two more to impress me.
JAN060329 SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY VOL 2 TP $14.99
Like I’d not buy this.
JAN060370 TOP 10 THE FORTY NINERS SC (MR) $17.99
I bought this in hardcover and was blown away. If you don’t buy it now that it’s in paperback, you are a fool that deserves to be mauled by bears that quote Alan Moore.
Image
JAN061784 GUN FU SHOWGIRLS ARE FOREVER #1 $3.50
I wonder if I ordered this or not. The last series was a case of diminishing returns for me, even if the art was pretty funky. Oddly enough, this series is co-written by Dave Sim. You know, Showgirls + Dave Sim = Frank Miller, I bet.
Marvel
JAN062089 MARVEL VISIONARIES JACK KIRBY VOL 2 HC $34.99
Yay! Kirby! Yaaaay!
JAN062045 NEXTWAVE AGENTS OF HATE #3 $2.99
Huh? What’s up with that “Agents of HATE” thing? Did I miss out on something here? Is the series getting renamed? Is this the storyline name? Do you like ice cream? I like this fancy blueberry ice cream made by hippies that Kristin brought home. A little tiny bit is like a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, but without the taste that the Lever Corporation leaves in the back of your throat.
Other Companies
DEC052994 BILLY HAZELNUTS HC (MR) $19.95
I’m not buying this, just pointing it out so the Millionaire fans know he’s putting something out!
FEB063347 EVERY GIRL IS THE END OF THE WORLD FOR ME GN (MR) $8.00
Attention, women of America. Do not date Jeffrey Brown. He is a nice man but will make a comic about your relationship. That is all.
JAN063100 SUPERMARKET #2 (OF 4) $3.99
At Rocketship, Wood was telling me that he still gets blown away by Kristian’s art every time he looks at it. That’s a high compliment in my estimation, because Wood’s no slouch at all when it comes to slinging the ink himself.
And a special throwback to the old “Shit That’s Killing Comics” list days, here’s Brian Pullido:
NOV052787 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS #1 (OF 3) $3.99 NOV052790 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS BATTLE READY CVR #1 (OF 3) $3.99 NOV052789 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS CALL TO ARMS CVR #1 (OF 3) $3.99 JAN062906 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS CHARGE CVR #1 (OF 2) $5.99 JAN062950 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS COMMEMORATIVE CVR #1 (OF 2) $5.99 NOV052791 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS GODDESSES CVR #1 (OF 3) $3.99 DEC052926 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS GOLD FOIL CVR #1 (OF 3) $5.99 NOV052792 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS PREMIUM CVR #1 (OF 3) $9.99 FEB062896 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS WHITE HOT CVR #1 (OF 2) $5.99 NOV052788 LADY DEATH LOST SOULS WRAPAROUND #1 (OF 3) $3.99
Fuck you, Avatar. Fuck. You.
Comments Off | Posted: March 20th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
To: Writer/Artist Antony Mazzotta, whose Bombaby seemed oddly disjointed but carried its mood really well.
From: Kevin Church of BeaucoupKevin.com
Re: Your titular character’s designs.
Thank you.
(When Diamond has the shipping list up, I’ll review it and I’ll do all those indie companies tomorrow.)
Comments Off | Posted: March 20th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
Sure, the folks at Diamond tell you that you need to have your form in by March 11th, but I’m quite sure your retailer can still add items to their order for the current catalog before the new one comes out this week.
This time around, due to sloth and my amazing abilities when it comes to procrastination, I’m only covering new items and ignoring all of the regular things that smart people like yourself are picking up on a monthly basis. This should make the whole process much more focused and allow me to get it done in two segments.
Dark Horse Manga, manga, manga seems to be their ongoing theme this month. Samurai badasses, sweeping romance with the Harlequin brand attached to it, horror, and Michael the fat orange cat are all front and center.
It’s only after some cursory glancing and flipping that I found something I was truly interested in: Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba’s De:Tales. These brothers have consistently impressed me with their enthusiastic art and excellent storytelling, so this is sure to be something of note. It’s a short story collection that goes from “the urban reality of their home in Sao Paulo” into some of that Garcia-Marquez “magical realism” action.
Hey, you can get your manga in English and your Star Wars in Spanish according to page 41. As a reformed Lucasite, I feel I have enough knowledge to safely say that this upcoming Star Wars: Legacy comic about Cade Skywalker is going to be pretty shitty. It feels like an RPG expansion instead of, you know, proper licensed fiction.
DC Comics Not to be too snarktastic about it, but this whole “A Startling Secret About Batman’s Past Is Discovered!” sales line for the Justin Gray Legends Of The Dark Knight? isn’t really working at this point, especially its concurrent overuse in the advertising for the Sam Keith thing that’s coming out. I keep imagining “Batman: Seeeeecrets! in the style of the Conan O’Brien.
Hey, if you’ve not read Thrillkiller, now’s your chance, thanks to a new printing. This is one of the few Elseworlds I’ve really enjoyed, and it’s by Howard Chaykin with art from Daniel Brereton. It’s sexy, violent, and over the top.
Oh, they make Superman comics too? I’m unsure of the success level of these trades outside of comic shops, but I’d like to think that there’ll be more interest in the quality source material that’s out there. Hell, if some kind got a copy of that new Showcase Presents: Superman Volume 2 trade and expected to see giant gorillas with Kryptonite vision in any future Superman books he read, I could only view that as a good thing.
I don’t want to, but I will be getting the Crisis Aftermath: The Spectre miniseries. Will Pfeifer’s a good enough writer and Cliff Chiang could draw a DVD player manual and I’d pay top dollar for it.
I’ll also be giving 52 a try, as the idea intrigues me, but I probably won’t be adding it to my sub, just in case it turns out to be a case of Morrison coming up with awesome, magical things and the rest of the gang sucking the fun out of them.
The Ellis JLA: Classified story gets a trade paperback, and that’s a very good thing indeed, as it’s one of the few recent books featuring DC’s big heroes that’s anything resembling fun for a doddering old throwback like myself.
Fine, I thought Villains United was a real treat, reminding me of what I liked about the 80s Suicide Squad book. Gail Simone, I’ll buy your Secret Six miniseries on good faith. Don’t mess with me, though.
Over at Vertigo, Rick Veitch has a new softcover book in what I’m being told is the “Garfield Format” – wider than it is tall. I think Veitch is the bee’s knees, so I’m going to spend the $20 to pick up Can’t Get No, a 352 page story of one man’s bizarre journey after 9/11.
If you are not reading DMZ, then you now have no excuse: the first trade paperback comes out June 7 and it’s only $10.
Image Man, if one of you loved me, you’d buy that $50 The Art Of Brian Bolland, because if there’s something I like, it’s the art of Brian Bolland.
Matt Fraction and Steven Sanders’s Five Fists Of Science finally comes out through the house that Rob, Erik, Jim, and Jim built. (For those keeping score, AiT is using this month’s Previews to advertise the also-going-to-Image True Story, Swear To God.)
Wow, Rumble In La Rambla sounds right up my alley: three crimelords who have managed to peacefully keep their city together find themselves the targets of one man who wants to give it back to the people. I bet there will be a lot of blood.
Jim Mahfood’s Stupid Comics are getting a trade paperback collection, featuring all four issues and 30 new pages of strips. That’s a good thing.
Marvel Uh, this “not a hoax, not a dream” Fantastic Four: A Death In The Family may be written by Karl Kesel and drawn by Lee Weeks, but I’m still not sold on the idea, especially as it will probably end with a trip on Doom’s time platform and hugs all around. Who knows, I may be surprised, but I am kinda doubting it.
Another Marvel Legacy handbook, this time covering the 70s. What I’ve seen of the 60s volume makes me think this’ll be a real hoot.
Ah, the final Kirby Fantastic Four masterworks comes out, collecting issues 94-104 and allowing me to walk away from that particular addiction. I know the King’s heart really wasn’t into it by the time these issues came around, but they’re still so blamed purty…
I am going to buy the Firestar digest.
Shut up.
I hear this Punisher Max: The Slavers storyline actually beats Up And Down Is Black And White in the Truly Stupid Levels of Gore contest. This, I have to see.
I’ve never, ever hidden my affection for the works of Grant Morrison, have I? I love the man’s work with a passion and buy just about everything that comes out with his name on it. I will not be doing this for the Skrull Kill Krew trade paperback. I have the singles and only the tiniest bit of completism keeps me from chucking them in the shredder and then using the results for mulch.
Essential Handbook Of The Marvel Universe: Extended 12″ Remix Volume 2 come out, so those of us who have refused to pay stupid eBay money for the originals get to feel a little more redeemed in their selections.
Up next: the rest of the catalog.
Comments Off | Posted: March 18th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
We’ll be on Cape Cod until Sunday night. Don’t set anything on fire while we’re gone, ok? Thanks!
Comments Off | Posted: March 17th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
Quick reviews while I pour coffee down my open gullet and try to not think about work for a few moments? Yes, let’s do that.
Others have complained about the art in the current JLA: Classified arc, but I’m really digging it: Garcia-Lopez’s dynamic layouts with Klaus Janson’s jagged inks makes the whole story pop more for me than the usual teams I see on DC superhero books. Simone’s in top form here, reminding the readers why only these people could form the Justice League while managing to show that they’re only human without invoking murder or rape or whatever else the clumsy, over-the-top “realistic” element du jour is. If I get a chance to do the “Top Five Panels” thing this week, at least two of them are coming from this issue.
“Diana, Alfred will need that recipe.”
Gail Simone, I may be falling for you.
Planetary Brigade #2 is funny without going over to schtick completely and manages to make the small lump of coal that functions as my heart feel a tugging with the last few pages. Fabio Moon, along with the other contributors, just draw the ever-loving heck out of the entire affair, too. Don’t think I missed that JLA tribute on the cover, either. Between JLA: C and this, I may be falling for the non-”indie, metatextual, or overly ironic” superhero meme all over again.
Man, Grounded started off so well, but has manages to turn into a complete mess by its fifth issue. Azacota’s art is still lovely, but Sable’s just not writing enough for me here. This entire book consists of three bloated scenes with stale dialogue and no edge at all.
Fury: Peacemaker #2 features Nick teaming up with a British SAS group behind enemy lines and slaughtering a ton of Nazi fucks. If it weren’t for Jimmy Palmiotti’s heavy, murky inking of Darrick Robertson’s pencils, I would ask this comic to marry me.
Batman: Year 100 #2 doesn’t answer many questions about our titular hero, but we get glimpses at the past Batman (Batmen?) and I get the feeling that Pope’s really building towards something as he carefully puts all the players in the right places. It’s also really, really pretty.
Speaking of pretty, Yannick Paquette does a slam-bang job over the last issue of Seven Soldiers: Bulleteer, which features Morrison dissecting, subverting, and reinventing the female superhero/supervillain idea in the space of 24 pages. Sure, people get punched, refrigerators get tossed, and there’s cleavage. but there’s fodder for a dozen posts from our friend Ragnell and even my monkey brain got something out of it. Also: boobies.
DMZ #5 reminds me why I love New York City, which is really kind of fucked up, but there we go. There’s some great imagery in this compact story of one journalist’s chase to get his credentials back, and world-building happens before your eyes!
100 Bullets #70 looks like we might have a story that returns to the series’ roots, which is a nice change of pace, as I’ve gotten kind of weary of the political jousting the book had turned into. Sure, there were beatings, murders, and sex, but I’ve been wanting to see that briefcase show up in some schmuck’s hands and behold something horrible happening to their enemies.
And that’s it for me and the singles this week. Amazing, how much DC managed to get into my hands.
ADDENDUM (Since Blogger’s a fickle beast that takes its sweet time to be up and running on occasion.) I just finished the beautiful graphic novel Pizzeria Kamikaze by Etgar Keret and Asaf Hanuka over lunch and it reminded me of a book I dearly love: Hard-Boiled Wonderland And The End Of The World by Murakami. Blackly comic with some great characters and a real knack for making you think, it’s going to be a movie soon featuring the guy that played Gob on Arrested Development.
Comments Off | Posted: March 17th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
What I love, love, love about this old DC house ad is how Superman actually looks kinda pissed off at Kara for going and getting the family album.
“What the fuck, cousin? We don’t do that in my Fortress, OK?”
Comments Off | Posted: March 16th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
Reason #4,294 to hate the “Comics Internet”:
Someone, somewhere is masturbating to this image.
From Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #44. Reprinted in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #95 and the new Superman: The Daily Planet trade paperback.
Comments Off | Posted: March 16th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
YouTube, home of endless bad lipsynching videos and emo kids telling their girl/boyfriend that they really love them, finally has a trailer parody that matches, if not beats the infamous Shining one from last year:
Comments Off | Posted: March 15th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
Why do I think you should go buy Brandon Hanvey’s new graphic novel Entaglement from his web store?
Now that we’ve got that bit of self-glorification and hype out of the way, here’s a picture of a sexy Marine that I found for Dorian.
From Charlton’s Fightin’ Marines #132, which Roel has been kind enough to let me borrow for this site’s use. Thanks, man!
Comments Off | Posted: March 14th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
Why I love DC Silver Age comics, by Kevin J Church, Age 31.
So, Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen (star of Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen) goes and gets himself turned into a gorilla. What does Jimmy do when he finds himself in this problematic primate position? He goes to work anyway.
And what happens when Perry and Lois run into the gorilla Jimmy? They seem to have a gorilla transmogrification plan in place. They’re able roll with things because, hell, after Titano, it’s all jazz and hotcakes for these people.
(Off-line/Real World) Jason: I didn’t find the Son Of Congorilla story last night, but will do my best to have it up here by this weekend. I hope this is an acceptable substitute.
Comments Off | Posted: March 14th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
Like the Man of Steel says: Let’s Rap!
Interesting little artifact I found while rereading *cough* Action Comics #392 – a marketing survey DC put together in 1970, presumably for the twin titans of Editorial and Marketing. Denny O’Neil must have plotzed when he saw that such important matters as “Black People,” “Pollution,” and “City Problems” all managed to work their way into this.
The specificity of some of the answers is a little off-putting. “What did you do with your free time last week? How many hours were spent doing those activities? How large is your allowance? What do you spend it on? What’s your favorite breakfast cereal? Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Mighty Marvel Marching Society?”
Still, I felt it was kinda neat and thought you would, too.
Comments Off | Posted: March 14th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
“This is 100 percent having to do with his faith of Scientology,” Stone told the Associated Press. “He has no problem – and he’s cashed plenty of cheques – with our show making fun of Christians.”
The episode that’s upset Hayes, a man best known for informing us that there’s a black private dick that’s a sex machine to all the chicks, airs tomorrow at 10est/9cst on Comedy Central.
“From the time I could read, I’ve been devouring these things,” says Meltzer, who is 35. “I had a $5 allowance growing up in Brooklyn and I spent the whole thing every week at the Nostrand Avenue Comics shop.”
ITEM! DC Solicitations for comics coming out in May and June and whatever else they shoehorn in are up over at Comics Continuum, but make sure your Pop-Up blocker is running. I really should do the March Previews review soon, shouldn’t I?
ITEM! Canadians sue the shit out of each other over a coffee cup. I know many Canadians. I like almost every Canadian I meet. It’s of note that these are Quebecians or Quebecites or Quebecois or whatever.
ITEM! If you have any questions about being a ninja, you should probably go to AskANinja.com. It’s a handy resource.
ITEM! Speaking of ninjas, check out this bit from an article about a father-and-son terror trial in California:
The father also admitted visiting training camps, but some observers say his strange accounts are similar to the Ninja Turtles TV show.
Oh, Master Splinter. How far you’ve fallen.
ITEM! Waxy.org says “Eat my fuck” to Bill Cosby’s legal team, who were last seen feasting on babies in the moonlight.
ITEM! Are you a Windows XP user? Check out this great desktop wallpaper application that “updates your wallpaper with an accurate representation of the Earth as it would be seen from space at that precise moment.” It’s brilliant and somewhat soothing, actually.
Comments Off | Posted: March 14th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
Who loves Milk Duds candy and is willing to tell you how you can win excellent prizes, such as a trip to New York, where you can take a tour of the Marvel offices?
Doom.
Who brazenly laughs in the face of such pan-universal characters as Superman, Wonder Woman, and Spider-Man while letting you know that even runners-up can get a Swiss-Made Milk Dud wristwatch featuring The Joker, a villain whose technique he admires?
Doom.
Who is magnanimous enough to allow 100 third-place winners to receive subscriptions to comics that do not feature him?
Doom.
Who is willing to tell you even more about this contest that will let ten lucky winners receive their own Schwinn Bicycle, the preferred mode of transport in Latveria?
Comments Off | Posted: March 13th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
There’s a bunch of stuff shipping to comics shops this week, due to arrive on March 15.
Here’s what I’m getting. It looks like there’s just one thing from non big-4 publishers for me this week, but with all the trades that I’m stuck with, maybe that’s just fine.
Dark Horse
DEC050018 CONCRETE VOL 4 KILLER SMILE TP $12.95
Don’t like Concrete? Then you don’t like life, my friend. This collects the titular four-part series, along with over a half-dozen shorts.
DC Comics
JAN060287 BATMAN YEAR ONE HUNDRED #2 (OF 4) $5.99
In this issue: Batman says more than six words! Paul Pope walks away with six Eisners! Genius!
JAN060375 DMZ #5 (MR) $2.99
The second done-in-one issue of DMZ for the guy that’s becoming known for telling compact little stories thanks to Demo and Local.
JAN060316 JLA CLASSIFIED #18 $2.99
Hey, Ray Tate, who said some bullshit about Gail Simone “dropping to her knees” for Infinite Crisis in your unedited “review” of the last issue of JLA Classified?
Fuck you and fuck SilverBulletComics.com for allowing your verbal diarrhea to hit the internerd.
JAN060297 SHOWCASE PRESENTS SUPERMAN FAMILY VOL 1 TP $16.99
Mmm. That’s some fine, fine Silver Age Jimmy Olsen craziness in this volume. Buy enough so they have to put out the second volume, where we’d start getting Lois’s adventures as well. However, for those of you that need some whacked-out material immediately, this next book is here to take care of you…
DEC050241 SUPERMAN THE DAILY PLANET TP $19.99
192 pages!
Image
OCT051738 GROUNDED #5 (OF 6) $2.99
After a lackluster fourth issue, I’m glad this is winding down.
Marvel
NOV052035 ESSENTIAL GODZILLA TP $19.99
I want you to close your eyes and think of these six words: “Dum-Dum Dugan Fights Giant Radioactive Lizard.” Only one print run of this, so get it while you can before you start finding out how truly crazy Marvel got with their early licenses.
JAN062007 FURY PEACEMAKER #2 (OF 6) $3.50
While I enjoyed the last issue just fine, I’m wanting more out of this comic than I’m getting. I think maybe I was spoiled by the insanity of Fury and the Punisher MAX ongoing.
DEC058188 NEXT WAVE DIRECTORS CUT #1 $2.99
I think I may have to get this for the script and sketches. Damn it, I hate this sort of thing, but they just know what buttons to hit!
Other Companies
DEC052897 PLANETARY BRIGADE #2 $2.99
Hey, I liked the first issue and I’m sure I’ll like the second. This is where Graeme wonders about my sense of humor and I tell him to stick it up his Scottish arse. Then we hug because we are pals!
Comments Off | Posted: March 13th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
Hey, here’s three sketches I got at last year’s MoCCA festival, scanned in for your pleasure. I’ll be there this year, I’m sure.
Tom Beland of True Story, Swear To God didn’t charge me one red nickel for this. I now see why he’s crazy in love with Lily – she may be the most charming woman I’ve ever met.
What the hell, Jim Mahfood? What the hell, indeed.
Alex Robinson made my girlfriend a character in Tricked and didn’t even know her! Pretty amazing, that. I had him personalize it to her and keep meaning to get it framed.
If I remember, I’ll post the three other sketches I got at the show sometime soon.
Comments Off | Posted: March 12th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
A Super Special Bonus Genius Covers Sunday-Themed Sequence Involving The Legion Hating On Lois
From Action Comics #388.
Comments Off | Posted: March 12th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
Genius Covers Sunday Presents: Superman Loves Lois, Except Maybe For That Really Freakish Old-Person Version That Showed Up In Infinite Crisis #5.
Remarkably, I still have dreams like this.
Except I don’t really seem to mind.
Um.
Christ, ladies.
He looks like he’s gritting his teeth.
See, a lesser comics blogger would make a crack about “that time of the month.”
Lesser comics bloggers don’t live with a feminist that would kick his ass if they did such a thing.
Awwwww, Lois! Don’t worry, though – you needn’t fret for too long!
Comments Off | Posted: March 11th, 2006 | Filed under:Uncategorized
I came to a nasty realization tonight: the Silver Age Legion Of Super-Heroes is a pretty draconian group, probably working with a “non-profit educational organization” calling themselves The Project For The New Terran Century or something. You know, the sort of “thinktank” that helps put people willing to push their agenda into positions of power under the idea that Terran leadership is good for both Terra and the rest of the United Planets, and that such leadership requires military strength, diplomatic energy, and a commitment to “moral principle.”
“Kevin, you’re officially off your rocker and in the deep end of Lake Wacky. There’s no way a comic book featuring anyone with a name like “Matter-Eater Lad” could possibly reflect the political climate in this country,” you might tell me. In fact, tell me that right now so I can make you feel like more of a fool in just a second.
There. That feel good? Well, prepare to eat your words, true believer.
OK, so…on the planet Khann1, there’s these brain-globe dudes who are planning evil, or at least telling somebody that weapons of mass destruction are a fine, fine idea. Two representatives of the Legion Of Super-Heroes, a branch of the Science Police, an organization directly responsible for helping maintain the United Planets’ infrastructure, go to this planet and kidnap one of their leaders. They then accuse the entire populace of being villains and flee like mad.
It’s important to note that along the way, they make a new friend who Triplicate Girl hopes is “cute.” This is because she has, as Chris informed me, three times the libido of a regular girl. It’s interesting to note that the moral principle the Legion seems to espouse doesn’t apply to their own members, as they have unique and distinct needs which require tending or they’ll not be able to be the 30th century’s best and brightest strike force for military action.
By the way, that bright young scientist from the distant past?
To quote Shirley Bassey: “It’s all just a little bit of history repeating.”
1 I shit you not. Somebody was reading the young Dave Campbell’s fan fiction years and years ago, apparently.
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It’s only after some cursory glancing and flipping that I found something I was truly interested in: Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba’s De:Tales. These brothers have consistently impressed me with their enthusiastic art and excellent storytelling, so this is sure to be something of note. It’s a short story collection that goes from “the urban reality of their home in Sao Paulo” into some of that Garcia-Marquez “magical realism” action. 
Hey, if you’ve not read Thrillkiller, now’s your chance, thanks to a new printing. This is one of the few Elseworlds I’ve really enjoyed, and it’s by Howard Chaykin with art from Daniel Brereton. It’s sexy, violent, and over the top.
Ah, the final Kirby Fantastic Four masterworks comes out, collecting issues 94-104 and allowing me to walk away from that particular addiction. I know the King’s heart really wasn’t into it by the time these issues came around, but they’re still so blamed purty…
