Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
Big one today. And again... I’m sorry these columns were late this week. All my fault. Andrew... get this thing goin’, and let’s hear it for the insanely prolific Chaos McKenzie this week, eh?
Hi Gang. Andrew from GHMonline.com with another batch of recommendations for you including a ‘first look’ at the nine cent Fantastic Four issue and some books of note from the Chicago con by Chaos. Read on...
AGEIS PRELUDE #1
Everything by – Becky Grutzik
Crushing Press
Reviewed by Chaos McKenzie
K’ this one is another score from the Chicago con… it’s a chick, who’s really funky and cool, (oh…lingo clarification, I say “chick” in the pro-positive, hyper cool, funky girl kind of way) the book “Ageis” has some crazy underground legacy, so Becky gave me an introductory issue to introduce the jist of it.
Started in Art School, Ageis was a four panel weekly strip, and “Prelude” is a proper comic book retelling of those oh so ghetto early years… telling the tale of teen aged kids with bizarre powers with a mythological, American manga feel.
It’s a fun read, though the story comes off like the pilot episode of a comedy show as we skip through an introduction to cast, social dynamics, and their powers. Grutzik has a really clean style, which is heavily manga, but with a nice professional look, which is the one thing that usually hinders the hoards of American manga hopefuls. Grutzik has a nice Blue Monday, with super powers brewing here.
You can try to find a copy through the creator herself if you CLICK RIGHT HERE!!
FABLES #4
Written by Bill Willingham and Illustrated by Lan Medina
Published by Vertigo Comics
Reviewed by Aaron Weisbrod
My high school World History teacher had a great poster on the wall. It was a picture of a man in a concentration camp, and next to it had a saying that went something like this: “When they came for the Jews I did not stand up because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Poles I did not stand up because I was not Polish. When they came for the Protestants I did not stand up because I was not Protestant. Then they came for the Christians, and I found that there was no one left to stand up for me.”
Mind you, that’s not the exact quote, and I cannot for the life of me remember who it was attributed to (hence my ability to look it up by author), but I’m sure you get the general idea. Well, this same theme is one of the main topics explored in Issue #4 of FABLES.
With the annual celebration of “Remembrance Day” upon them, many of the remaining survivors of Fabletown have gathered at a grand ball to reminisce about their lost homelands. Much like the quote above describes, we learn in this issue that the numerous factions of the Fablelands ignored the growing threat of The Adversary until it was too late. By the time the kingdoms that were not yet conquered considered banding together (rather than ignoring the attacks made on neighboring territories as they had dome in the past) he had become too powerful. Soon the remaining pockets of survivors found themselves forced to flee to the “world of the mundanes” (read: New York City). For the first time, in this issue we actually get some hints about who The Adversary may be as well as how he conquered the Fablelands with such ease.
Furthermore, Issue #4 also has Bigby Wolf finally solving the murder mystery surrounding Snow White’s sister Rose Red. Was it Blackbeard the Pirate? Jack of Fables? Prince Charming? That damn pig? Although this issue does provide the answer, the cliffhanger at the end of the issue will surely leave fans clamoring for the final resolution in Issue #5.
As has been the case with every issue of FABLES to date, Lan Medina’s artwork on this title is wonderful. Each member of the large cast of characters is instantly recognizable and visually distinct. Furthermore, the pages that “flashback” to the invasion by The Adversary are breathtaking. One two-page spread in particular (“It took an invasion to unite us”) actually solicited a verbal response from me when I turned upon it. This is a feature that happens with alarming rarity considering that comic books are such a visually driven medium. (This same spread also made me think to myself, “Gee, I wonder if I could sweet-talk Jess Nevins into starting an online ‘annotations’ guide to FABLES as well as LoEG…”)
FABLES is quickly becoming one of Vertigo’s best titles. With it’s plethora of entertaining characters, riveting storylines, witty social commentary and great artwork, FABLES is well on its way to becoming the SANDMAN of the new millenium.
Seek out this book as soon as possible. If you can’t find the early issues (I know Issue #1, which is now completely sold out, is posted online at Vertigo’s website) I implore you to ask your local comic book provider to order you a copy of the first collected TPB as soon as it is solicited for. Quite simply, FABLES is a book that is too good to miss.
FABLES #4
Written by Bill Willingham and illustrated by Lan Medina
Published by DC/Vertigo
Reviewed by Aaron “Vroom Socko” Button
Throughout the past three issues, the mystery of what happened to Rose Red has had me completely befuddled. It’s not that I’m bad at solving mysteries; it’s just that to solve them I need to understand the why. However, the final page of this issue reveals the who, making the why easy to follow. Next issue promises to tell the how and why of the matter, which I’m about two thirds positive I’ve figured out. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
It is Remembrance Day, the anniversary of the loss of the homelands, and all of the survivors are throwing a party. Through King Cole’s toast (actually through a flashback,) a bit more about the Adversary and his methods are revealed. The highlight of this section is a sweeping double page spread of fleeing fairy tale creatures, including Robin Hood, Baba Yaga, and the Tin Man. Yes, apparently Willingham considers the lands of OZ to be fairy tale material, among others. There’s even a reference to Aslan that’s right on the money. There’s also an appearance by Don Quixote, Alice of Wonderland fame, and the Adversary’s fighting Uruk-Hai. Admittedly, the armies of the Adversary aren’t named, but there is a slight resemblance. (That or I’ve watched a certain DVD too many times in the past week.)
The rest of the book plays out with a big wink and huge smile. Prince Charming decides that the best way to sell his title is by a lottery. Bigby receives some dancing lessons from Snow White, while his swine of a houseguest raids the caterers. And then there’s the appearance of Pinocchio. Oh my god, Pinocchio. As much as I enjoyed the entire book, the words coming out of the mouth of the little wooden boy had me laughing like a hyena on nitrous oxide.
Then there’s the big reveal at the end. It’s difficult to talk about this part without spoiling anything, but the identity of the killer made sense to me. With the perpetrator’s identity revealed, every clue from the lack of a body to the lock on the fridge falls into perfect place.
Bill Willingham is one of those writers that I’d heard a lot about, but had never read before. Now that I’ve had a chance to see him do his stuff, I’m desperate for whoever holds the rights to The Elementals to collect the entire run in TPB form. One of my associates says it’s the best comic ever published. Of course, he hasn’t read Fables yet.
‘SNEAK PEEK’
FANTASTIC FOUR #60
Written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Mike Wieringo
Published by Marvel Comics
Reviewed by Andrew Goletz
In Stores August 28th
Like Batman, the 10 Cent Adventure and Gen 13 for 13 cents before it, this edition of Fantastic Four can be yours for a mere 9 cents. That’s right, 9 cents! Pick up 25 of these puppies for the same cost of one edition and give them away. Whether or not you’re an FF fan is pretty much besides that point. Batman, Gen 13 and Fantastic Four are 3 different types of books that may appeal to people even if you don’t particular like the book. I know that after giving away a few hundred copies of those other books around our neighborhood quite a few non comic fans asked me how to get more comics (to which I was more than happy to help). So I’m not asking for you to get a couple hundred of these like me (or 200,000 like the retailer in Baltimore who’s adding them to the local newspapers) but if we all do our part, we can help expose more people to our ‘secret’ industry. And maybe, if we’re lucky, we’ll be able to count on publishers to offer these types of deals more often. This issue also marks the debut of the new creative team of Waid and Wieringo.
I’m not a Fantastic Four fan usually. I enjoy the early run from Lee and Kirby and still feel that John (please continue collecting his run, I beg) Byrne’s tenure was the best ever and have picked up scattered issues from DeFalco and Loeb’s run, but I’m not a huge fan of these cosmic sprawling epics. I can respect the appeal of the Silver Surfer, Galactus, and the like, but when it comes to costumed heroes, I like mine a bit more grounded. That said, this is a very good introduction to who the Fantastic Four are. It carefully explains the origin and characteristics of the quartet without slowing the pacing or being redundant and also clarifies their motivation in a way not touched on for the older FF fans.
Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic and head of the family has hired a PR group to help the team out. A consultant is assigned to tag along with the team and through him, Mark Waid reaches out to the readers. Waid does a good job of addressing the criticisms/questions about the team for both long time fans and the potential new readers who’ll be checking the book out due to its price. In doing so, he also establishes a break in point for what Marvel hopes will be a long and defining run for the new creative team.
Who are these people that have the audacity to call themselves the ‘Fantastic’ Four? Why, in an age where readers want to see the bang/crash action of Authority or Ultimates or even Avengers and X-Men, should we pay attention to a family of four (plus the Richards’ two young children)? All of these questions and more are answered and I don’t think it’s a spoiler to reveal that Waid establishes the Fantastic Four, not as a team of superheroes, but as a group of explorers who happen to also step in and meet the challenges that await them. The appeal of the Fantastic Four is that they’re willing to step out into the unknown. They, as led by Reed, want to know what’s on the other side of the wall and go on through.
Equal time is given to all four main characters. Generally, the members of the Fantastic Four are handled about the same regardless of what writer is guiding their adventures. This time, things have become a little more defined. Reed is made a lot more interesting with a look into his motivations and a concluding segment in the book, which wraps up exactly what Waid is trying to say with these characters. Ben Grimm, aka, the Thing, is probably the one character that seems the same so far, although he also has the least amount of ‘screen time’ in the book so we’ll see what future installments have to say. Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch looks as if he’s been de-aged, in terms of personality, at least. His bickering and whining about everything makes him come off more like Franklin (the young Richards’ son) than a 20 something hero. But when he ‘flames on’ and gets into hero mode, the attitude drops and he steps into his own, making for an interesting dichotomy. The character with the most focus in this issue is Sue Richards, the Invisible Woman. The plethora of single characters and men in comics lead readers to suspect that married characters, female characters and God-forbid, married female characters, are boring. Waid has to be given credit for building Sue up to the dominating figure in this issue, along with Wieringo who draws her sexier than she has been without resorting to gratuitous T&A shots of carving holes in her costume. Wieringo’s art on the book was the true highlight for me, after an all too brief stint on Superman.
As a book for people who don’t usually read comic books, I think this issue accomplishes just what it needs to. To comic fans who don’t usually get the book, like me, there are enough treats and great moments to hold our attention, entertain us and invite us back for more. We aren’t bogged down with continuity or Waid showing how clever he is. It’s a straightforward story showing us the team through the eyes of an outsider, and makes us want to see more.
FINDER: Sin-Eater Vol. 1 and 2
Written and Illustrated by Carla Speed McNeil
Lightspeed Press
Reviewed by Chaos McKenzie
The best score to come out of the Chicago Comic Con to me was the discovery of Finder and the genuinely friendly Carla Speed McNeil. I’d heard of Finder, and though I’d never seen it, I somehow recognized it instantly as I cruised down the aisles of the creator’s alley. Finder has won Eisner awards for it’s brilliance, but as Scott McCloud points out it’s “the best comic you’ve never read.” I started reading the first volume at Carla’s table while she passed me copies of all four of her volumes, with a cheerful smile and an honest “I hope you like it.” I did like it - I loved it. As Mark Crilley notes in a quote on the back of the first volume, Finder has more story, more ideas, more creation on each page than an entire run of Claremont’s X-Men.
It’s a complicated tale of a world not too different from our own, but flung thousands of years into the future where a new society scrambles to remember the details of those foggy memories, which haunt us with our childhood worlds. McNeil is inspired by everything the world has to offer, as she crafts the tale of Jaeger, a jack of all trades who has a soft spot for playing the knight in shining armor though he you would probably never catch this guy in a suit of armor if his life depended upon it. Jaeger’s tale takes us to an incredibly well thought out, well planned, well developed world of Anvard, an apocalyptic city that has grown so big it’s twists and turns seem impossible to navigate. And yet, McNeil’s tale walks us threw it all as easily as a stroll through the park.
I realize that there is soooo much going on in these two volumes that to explain it all for you here would go well beyond the average amount of space needed for a simple review. All I can really say is if you find yourself insulted by stories that solve themselves before they begin, if you find your bored by the lagging third act as you await a hallow climax… then Finder is for you. It will restore your faith in graphic literature.
FUNRAMA #1
Written and Illustrated by Ryan Kelly, co-writer – Lillian Minx
MCAD Press
Reviewed by Chaos McKenzie
K’ so I went to Chicago and discovered many things that I enjoyed... none are easy to get at the store, but I’m setting you up with all the addresses so you can discover them for yourself on the net… This one comes from one of the artists on Vertigo’s Lucifer, Ryan Kelly, who is a really friendly artist, who is still showing support for his school at the convention. FunRama is published under the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Press, and shows a really unique whimsical story, that shows a real strength in story and art. It’s errr; I can’t really explain it beyond, a lost colony of carnies hidden in the Bermuda Triangle and the adventures that such a thing would bring.
Kelly shows a real variety of characters, so even the background people as fun to stare at; everything is toned with that slightly dark, children’s menagerie style art (big word from nowhere, just accept it and move on). The story is funny, and is so well paced it reads smoother than many of the mainstream hits right now. I can see a sense of his work at Vertigo, influencing his decisions… by means of already showing at lot of the qualities that vertigo is famous for – no short cuts, pacing, strong story with impressionistic art. Best of all it never bores, he never lets a joke stray too long and the artwork keeps even the dullest moments full of life.
It’s one of the best I grabbed from the con – you can investigate it at Kelly’s site…
CLICK HERE!! Enjoy!! (which is presently down… keep patient and spread the word).
INFINITE KUNG FU #3
Written and Illustrated by Kagan McLeod
Self Published
Reviewed by Chaos McKenzie
Kagan and I both live in T-dot O-dot, up north here in Canada though we’ve never met, and it actually took a trip to Chicago for us to bump heads in Artist’s Alley at Wizard World. Which is where I finally got my fingers on the third and final issue of McLeod’s first Infinite Kung Fu story line, showcasing McLeod’s unique artistic style and funkadelic storytelling. Gossip chains have been even hinting at McLeod beginning production on a more regular follow up to Infinite Kung Fu sooner than later… hmmmmmm
Issue number three makes things make sense, it explains the principals behind Infinite Kung Fu as our hero becomes the master of an infinite number of kung fu styles learned by studying the fighting techniques of a thousand different beasts and the discipline to mix styles with infinite possibilities. This issue also boasts the most intricate of fight scenes yet seen from McLeod that was senses shattering and beautiful, it reminded me of the clean Kung Fu style we get month after month in Batgirl. McLeod is truly growing in skill and execution to impressive heights.
For those of you still wondering who Kagan McLeod is, he’s been featured in Wizard magazine like a handful of times, and he kicks complete ass with unconventional and refreshing art styles. You can track down Infinite Kung Fu at www.kaganmcleod.com/infinitekungfu
NEW X-MEN #130
Written by Grant Morrison and Illustrated by Igor Kordey
Published by Marvel Comics
Reviewed by Aaron Weisbrod
I’m a long time comic reader who has never regularly read any X-Men titles. I picked-up the first few issues of Jim Lee’s adjectiveless X-MEN series back in the day, and I know the basic history of the team (“Weapon X,” “Days of Future Past,” “The Mutant Massacre,” the convoluted history behind Cable, the Legacy Virus, etc.), but this cursory knowledge comes more from the X-Men cartoon series of the ’90s than it does any of the comic books.
It’s not that I actively disliked the X-Men… rather, the concept seemed bland. Yes, they’re different. Yes, it’s an allegory of racism and prejudice. Yes, it’s a big soap opera. Whatever. Oddly enough, having never read an issue of UNCANNY X-MEN in my life, I still knew more than I needed to about the book and its characters.
Then came Grant Morrison.
A lot of my friends spoke highly of Morrison as a writer. He was oftentimes compared to a quirky version of Alan Moore who wrote books that were either extremely entertaining or extremely pretentious. That aside, most things I heard about him were favorable, and as a result I always kept an eye out for an ongoing series written by Morrison that I could jump in on at the ground floor.
Then came NEW X-MEN.
Well, I was never too keen on the X-Men, and I new little about Morrison (aside from reading a few brief selections of his work such as ARKHAM ASYLUM, KILL YOUR BOYFRIEND, and the first ANIMAL MAN TPB)… but what the hell. If I didn’t like it, I could always quit buying it after a story-arc or two, right?
Wrong.
Honestly, Morrison’s first two story-arcs did little for me. There were some bits in there that I really liked (the idea of the extinction of the human race due to the ever-increasing mutant population was a nice touch), but overall I wasn’t crazy about the series. My understanding was that Morrison was supposed to be making the book accessible for new readers, but his early issues seemed way too involved with a lot of past continuity.
Regardless, the title was showing enough potential to motivate me to stick around… and I’m now very glad I did.
Now heartily into his run, Morrison has worked out some of the literary kinks he displayed in his initial approach to the book (he initially seemed too eager to contort and redefine the characters) and he’s seemingly gotten over the “new toy” thrill of writing stories featuring the X-Men. The stories are now more consistent, more grounded, and overall, more enjoyable. He has found a comfortable rhythm and voice lately, and as a result I find myself more and more eager to read NEW X-MEN with each passing month.
Issue #130 brings about the end of the “Weapon Twelve” story-arc. In a clever little twist on some previously established (and very well-known) continuity, Jean Grey and Professor Xavier have learned from the European super-thief Fantomex that “Weapon X” (aka: Wolverine) was really “Weapon “Ten” in a long and continuing string of experiments by an unrevealed government agency whose goal is to create super-soldiers for the upcoming war against all of mutantkind. In Fantomex’s own words: “Your Mister ‘Logan.’ The Wolverine? Only the tenth generation living weapon. They’ve gone far beyond that now.”
Far beyond, indeed. Weapon XII is a powerful mutant/weapon who can take control of any living creature through a parasitic consciousness. Anyone it touches becomes another extension of itself that can in-turn infect even more victims. Basically, Weapon XII is a walking sentient plague.
However, Fantomex (a character inspired by the French pulp villain Fantomas) has mot alerted Jean and Xavier to the threat of Weapon XII only because he wants their help in detaining it. Rather, he wants it dead, and he makes no secret of this. However, will Jean and Xavier, both of whom are self-professed pacifists, help this self-professed villain kill Weapon XII in order to save the dispatched team of X-Men recruits (several of them former members of X-Factor) who are now trapped in the subway tunnel with it? Therein lies the dilemma…
Without spoiling anything, I will say that the issue is filled with several surprises. Furthermore, throughout these past three issues the roguish Fantomex has grown on me quite a bit. I would love to see more of the character, but I fear that any return appearances after this issue are highly unlikely. (However, this may be for the best, since the last thing I want is a return to the days of Marvel when any moderately interesting villain was given numerous mini-series with foil/holographic covers and then turned into a “cool” anti-hero.)
My only real complaint with this issue is (…wait for it…) Kordey’s art. He’s a competent artist, and his work on this issue is better than it has been on others (I don’t think he was as rushed on this issue as he was on some of his earlier installments), but suffice to say I’m not going to miss him once his run on the title is finished.
If you’ve been staying away from NEW X-MEN recently, consider giving Issues #128-130 a shot. It’s a fun, interesting, and at times extremely thought-provoking storyline that should entertain readers old and new with interesting concepts, exciting twists and turns, and major surprise endings in Issues #129 and #130 that are sure to enrage more than a few obsessive X-philes.
100 BULLETS: A Foregone Tomorrow
Written by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso
DC : Vertigo Comics
Reviewed by Chaos McKenzie
The fourth volume of 100 Bullets, is one of the best yet, collecting 10 full issues of the series we are able to grasp the wider concept of the driving stories behind this title. I can’t stop raving about how much I love this title, it has a real sense of story to it, it feels so natural and flowing not laid out and planned. The best part being that this series must be one of the most intricately laid comic book epic’s in print. Things happen in one panel, in the corner of your eyes only to burst through the seams somewhere else. It is a tapestry of tales, of lives, of motives, and of agendas. It is a series revolving around life, and all of it’s many shades and surprises, and it reads like poetry.
This volume delves us deeper into the history of the “Minutemen” dropping clues to who and what they really were. We’re also given a glimpse of major insight into the role of Dizzy who was the first character to walk us down the dark paths of 100 Bullets. We begin to see puzzle pieces fitting together, and I think reading this book is helping me become more observant and more aware of hidden clues with all of my sequential art reading habits.
Cheers
PIN-UP GIRLS (from around the world)
Pin-Up Gallery by Fred Beltran
Humanoids Publishing
Reviewed by Chaos McKenzie
Okay so it’s a love / hate thing with this book – on one hand intense and beautiful artwork and on the other, big breasts… really big breasts. The highly exciting return of Metal Hurlant is celebrated with this special coffee table collection of pin-up girls from around the world, as painted by Humanoids veteran, Fred Beltran.
The paintings are stunning, the design of the book is flawless, a tongue in cheek commentary on modern situations presented in the classic pin-up styles of the days gone by. I was really blown away with the artwork, which at times is only heightened by the clever on line captions that accompany each piece in a pulp poster type style. But as noted above, I’m really not a fan of big breasts. They look painful, awkward, and out of place. Beltran’s pin-up girl’s have captivating faces, eyes that lock you in a trance, but they’re all accompanied with breasts bigger than… meh, forget it. I’ll let it drop, because I realize most of you are gigantic breast fans and so I’ll let you have your moment.
The two pieces that stood out most to me are “Girl Pirates Hijack Sailors” which is simple and stylistically beautiful beyond comparison; and “Yeah, that was real nice. But I should be going no” – this one is perhaps the best piece in the book, since the pin-up girl’s breasts are no a focal point, allowing the reader to absorb just how well Beltran can render human _expression.
THE RED STAR Vol 2: Nokgorka
Created by Team Red Star
Archangel Studios
Reviewed by Chaos McKenzie
There is something about the Red Star that strikes a chord in me, the son of a Russian Gypsy family that survived for decades in Siberia with only luck and some charm, I have had a kinship for Russian stories since I was five. My own ventures in writing comic books center around a world where the Roman Empire never fell and tomes of rewritten history, I’d admire Team Red Star for going in alone and doing whatever they want, strong with the belief that if the story is good it will be read.
Red Star feels like your watching a movie, unlike any other piece of graphic storytelling utilizing that good old cinematic feel, Red Star makes your stomach crackle like you’ve been strapped down on top of a THX speaker and told to hold on the best you can. It’s an amazing thing they have done here.
Nokgorka follows the central cast of Red Star as the Russian army attempts to stop a band of rebels in the warring Nokgorka territories, a place fueled by a passion for freedom that has made them fierce beyond the colds of a Siberian windstorm. The story requires a more than slightly familiar knowledge with the first volume of Red Star, I found I had to put reading this volume on hold while I reread my copy of volume one. But volume one is brilliant as well, so it’s not like your being put out to have to pick thing up and read it, in the end it only makes Nokgorka that much more enjoyable.
Red Star deserves all the props it can get, for not backing down from a challenge, and not feeling itself pressured to do what others have done. I wish it a long life down the road.
REX MUNDI #0
Written by Arvid Nelson and Illustrated by Eric Johnson
Image Comics
Reviewed by Chaos McKenzie
I met Arvid at Wizard World Chicago, he was extremely easy to talk to, the excitement with Rex Mundi clearly prevailant with him. We talked extensively, and immediately I was sold on this series. Rex Mundi shares a lot of the principals I am struggling with in the development of my own series (check out the web page…) mainly rewriting history in such a way that won’t scar off readers, and will in the long run, bring in more.
Alternate timelines, no matter what the story line, seem to be a tough sell on the comic book market. I’m still saddened by the cold embrace SteamPunk received month after month, despite the utter uniqueness that went into that tale. I worry that Rex Mundi may face the same fate, but I am hoping more so that SteamPunk still served a purpose to warm people up to the possibilities of rewritten human history. Rex Mundi takes place in Paris during the 1930’s, the church still openly uses the Inquisition to govern its power and real sorcerers rule the underworld. It’s a gripping story; I’m instantly attracted to it despite it lacking all of the clichés that I’m usually drawn to. Nelson uses enough blends of research and original ideas to bring a dark supernatural detective story to life.
Nelson met artist Eric Johnson in San Diego - Johnson is an amazing artist. He has that realistic style that seems always so popular, but Johnson has a way of filling the character with enough life to keep them from looking like polished romance comics from the seventies which a lot of that style of art happens to echo.
I wish this series a long life, and at least a part of the recognition it widely deserves.
THE RING OF THE NIBELUNG Vol. 2
Written and Illustrated by P. Craig Russell
Dark Horse Comics
Reviewed by Chaos McKenzie
Russell is a genius, bringing musical notes to life in a stunning portrayal of visual images that echo their original chorus to you on every level. This the second and concluding volume of the original tale of the lord of the rings… This book is brilliant, stunning, and absolutely inspiring.
The first volume got you used to the idea, you started to hear the instruments tuning behind your eyes, but here Russell doesn’t hold back the emotions rise up from the page in torrential it is an amazing thing to behold. The Ring of The Nibelung is the epic opera written by Richard Wagnar, and adapted into sequential art by the skills of P. Craig Russell, telling the story of a cursed ring of gold and all the horrors it carries with it. Music and sequential art are amazing bedfellows, the rhythms of the opera shaping the layouts of the page so that you can literally hear the sounds.
Encore!
SHIVER IN THE DARK #1
Written and Illustrated by Stuart Sayger
Singing Ink
Reviewed by Chaos McKenzie
Stuart was a super cutie, who kind of pouts you over into checking out his both at Wizard World, my pal Willow couldn’t get over how cute he was… but cute aside, he’s got a good thing going. Stuart has a style that’s somewhere in between Ashley Wood and Bill with the really big last name… Stuart has a really chaotic and artistic art style, but he is rarely lost, his story is simple and clean enough to be easily followed.
A young jet-set party girl, gets a cursed book… with what had to be the best ever twilight zone style narration I’ve ever read. The story has a subtle dry humor underneath its 1950’s noir/horror feel that constantly shows the intelligence of the creator. The story is campy, but blended with the art it seems completely at place in the book. It’s a nice approach, and an interesting peek.
Stuart can be found RIGHT HERE, visit if only to see his incredible renderings of Elektra and Batman…
SKINWALKER #3
Written by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir and illustrated by Brian Hurtt and Arthur Dela Cruz
Published by Oni Press
Reviewed by Andrew Goletz
Some people have started to compare this wonderful new series to the television show Twin Peaks or the film Silence of the Lambs. With its FBI agent protagonists and weirdo killers, it’s easy to see a passing resemblance but those people are doing a disservice to Skinwalker, which is a much better story than either of those two examples.
Skinwalker features Agent Gregory Haworth of the FBI, recently promoted and well on his way to going up the ranks of the Bureau, as is his plan. Haworth gets a frantic call from an old friend and original partner, Brian Forsythe, who’s up to something in Navajo county. Whatever it was seems to have spooked his old partner, so Haworth heads out to check on things. He meets Ann Adakai, a tribal police officer who has no love lost for the Feds and fears that Haworth’s presence means that the government is going to be stepping on her toes again.
Their stories are intertwined in more ways than one when it seems that Charlie Wiletto, who was recently released by Navajo authorities after taking part in a peacemaking ceremony has apparently killed Agent Forsythe and has done so in a manner befitting a skinwaker. A skinwaker is someone who believes that they can harness the power of an animal that they skin by wearing its coat on their body. Wiletto’s the first to attempt this on another human, though.
As the story progresses it becomes apparent that this first grizzly murder scene won’t be the last and the Bureau is called in to take over the case, leaving Haworth on the outside since it doesn’t cover his area of expertise. Adakai is also left out of the investigation because to the FBI, she’s nothing more than a rural rent a cop with nothing to offer the Feds in the way of help. Haworth is able to convince his superiors to let him stay on but doesn’t offer support for Adakai. The bureaucracy of the FBI notwithstanding, the true high point of this series so far has come from the ‘fish out of water’ motif with both Haworth in Navajo county and Adakai in dealing with the government. The relationship between the two characters is intelligently written and believable. Adakai and Haworth are both very good at their jobs, although their expertise covers two vastly different areas and here is a case that will make them truly rely on each others cooperation. It’s not too often that we hear about the goings on in places like Navajo county where the culture is different from what we are used to. It’s a shining example of what this industry can do when a comic book gives us one of the more informative looks at just this very topic.
As this third issue begins, another body has been discovered and Haworth, based on the evidence he’s been told about, has come to the conclusion that Agent Forsythe is the killer, not Wiletto. In explaining the reasoning to his superiors, Haworth also deduces that Forsythe is probably going to have to kill at a rate of 2 people a day since he only has a limited time in each skin. With the case set to move East, Haworth, in a moment of good faith, requests that Adakai stay on.
From this point on, Adakai and Haworth go their separate ways. Haworth heads East to begin investigating Forsythe and try to understand how the agent became involved with this while at the same time attempting to come up with a measure to stop him. Adakai uses her Navajo connections to try and predict the killer’s next move. It’s interesting to see how the two use completely different resources and methods to uncover the truth in their searches. The entire sequence is entertaining not just for the varying means to which the main characters seek their answers, but also as a comparison study to two different forms of police procedure.
If the writing makes up the heart of Skinwalkers then the art is definitely its soul. Hurtt and Dela Cruz put a great amount of effort into their craft and it adds so much to the story. Whether it’s the incredibly detailed backgrounds to the subtle touches like an agent in the background reading a newspaper instead of paying attention and mysterious figures lurking in backgrounds, each panel has something more to say.
Skinwalkers is slated to run as a four-issue mini-series, as most of Oni’s books do. But like Queen & Country, this is a book ripe with potential and deserving not only of wider recognition, but of a life beyond issue #4.
THE ULTIMATES #6
Written by Mark Millar and Illustrated by Bryan Hitch
Published by Marvel Comics
Reviewed by Aaron Weisbrod
If you thought the last issue of THE ULTIMATES was disturbing, wait until you read Issue #6.
This issue runs on two different tracks at once. The first track follows a dinner meeting between billionaire Tony Stark (Iron Man), Steve Rodgers (Captain America), and Thor. During their meeting we learn some interesting facts about all three of the characters, including why Stark decided to become a super-hero and how Thor “learned” that he was the Norse God of Thunder. This storyline is fairly interesting, somewhat lighthearted, and above all, informative concerning all three of the characters’ motivations.
The second storyline involves Hank Pym (Giant Man) and Janet Pym (The Wasp). I really can’t say too much about what happens in their storyline without giving anything away, but I can say this: we learn some interesting secrets about The Wasp and that Giant Man has some major insecurity issues. You’ll have to read this issue to see what I mean, but be forewarned: it’s pretty intense.
Since his run on THE AUTHORITY (and possibly sooner, although I’m not familiar with much of his pre-AUTHORITY work), Millar has been seemingly obsessed with writing about superheroes that are flawed, twisted, and sometimes even down-right amoral. A perfect example of this is the “rampaging rapist” version of the Hulk from last issue that caused quite a fervor among more than a few readers. Well, if the “date rape” Hulk caused your stomach to turn, this issue is likely to make you puke. If you thought the Hulk was vile and scary, wait until you see the haunting scene towards the end of this issue. (That one-panel headshot is STILL creeping me out!)
Which brings me to the art: as always, Hitch’s work on this book is breathtaking. Although the art in Issue #6 is not as gorgeous as his work on Ellis’ issues of THE AUTHORITY (it may be because Hitch is still slightly rushing to get the book back on schedule, although it’s more likely due to the fact that Laura DePuy isn’t coloring this title), THE ULTIMATES is still one of the prettiest books Marvel is currently publishing.
Like it or not, THE ULTIMATES seems to be well on its way becoming a contender for the award of “Best Dysfunctional Superhero Team Book” now that THE AUTHORITY is a watered-down and neutered ghost of what it once was (although, for the record, THE ULTIMATES would most-likely never surpass THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN for such an award, if one existed). If you haven’t been picking-up THE ULTIMATES simply because it’s an “Ultimate” title, you’re denying yourself one of the better team books on the market. The art is gorgeous and the stories are engaging… but whatever you do, don’t give this book to anyone under the age of thirteen!
THE VOID #3, Vol. 2
Written and Illustrated by Matt Wendt
Self Published
Reviewed by Chaos McKenzie
This is on the top of my list of crazy finds at the Wizard World Chicago convention. I can’t remember exactly who Matt Wendt was, but if he is who I suspect in my churning memory banks, he was a wild guy, very funny and lively. It shows in this book, which only costs an American dollar (so like ten bucks to us Canucks) to get your hand on it.
It of course is the Void, an action / adventure / comedy, that is truly original despite it being completely made up of action / adventure / comedy clichés. Good brother The Void helps bad brother out of a tight situation with the mob and few a G’s, ‘cept good brother has a bad ass mouth which gets him and bad brother into a world of trouble with the mob, dragging good brother’s adopted mob princess daughter and bad brother’s killer girlfriend into the fray of insanity.
Wendt has a truly original storytelling sense, and he utilizes a variety of off the wall transitions and punch lines to keep the story sharp as a blade, a constant sense of the story making fun of itself saves it from even one ackward moment.
You can get a hold of Wendt at one of three email addresses advertised within the small black and white comic. Each issue also includes the hilarious Ninja Baby, and Great Big Pissed Off Bear. Each issue is only a buck American, and I can’t imagine a reason for why you wouldn’t at least check out one.
OR EVEN HERE!!
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