JMS

 I've never really been a fan of Straczynski, but I guess I just never read the right stuff. I never read Midnight Nation or Rising Stars, his early creator owned books. I read a few sparse issues of various corporate superhero books and wasn't that impressed. Recently, he returned to his creator owned Joe's Comics imprint to go back to original content. I mentioned a couple months back that I tried out Ten Grand because of artist Ben Templesmith and really enjoyed it. So I figured, why not try out his new one Sidekick with artist Tom Mandrake. I might like this one even better.

I was a little skeptical on this because it's a superhero book. I've got a stigma. They're overdone and really hold back comic books as an art form. I read some Marvel and DC books, but that's more because I've already accepted those characters. I'm not saying that those are poorly written, (some are) because there are some good ones, but it's nothing new. And I'm not saying that people aren't doing innovative things with an old genre. Joe Casey in particular. Although I wasn't impressed by Sex or The Bounce, Catalyst Comix is pretty good and Butcher Baker, the Righteous Maker and Godland (who's final issue was just solicited) were spectacular.

Anyway, back on track, Sidekick takes place in a world with Superheroes but reads more like a story of a washed up child star. There are some pretty dark and uncomfortable scenes. Check it out.

Against My Better Judgement

I gave this book the benefit of the doubt mainly because I was excited for the movie which somehow got amazing reviews which I don't really understand. I guess because all comicbook movies always get amazing reviews. I don't know. I can't really call it a bad movie. I liked it more than most comicbook movies, but I generally don't like comicbook movies. I do love the original Iron Man. Perhaps I should really do an Against My Better Judgement column on Iron Man 3 alone, but I couldn't call it a waste of time or money. It was a movie. and I'll leave it at that.

I was also intrigued by this Stark Seven story arc that Marvel's been promoting. I felt maybe because the movie was coming out last week that Marvel might try to release some A material to coincide.

Buying this went against my better judgement for several reasons. Most obviously, there's a baby on the cover. While this is obviously a metaphor and not in the comic. I should have also viewed the diaper as a metaphor on what this issue was filled with. I'm being unfair to make a poo joke. Much like the movie, I really can't call this comic good or bad. 

Another reason I shouldn't have picked this up is because I decided I didn't like this book eight issues ago. I've since cut my Marvel list down to three, so I figured I'd give it another chance. Where this issue seems to start The Secret Origin of Tony Stark, the entire issue is really more of a segue than a prologue. Stark walks around space cities and talks to Death's Head and robots which is kind of cool, but ultimately feels like decompressed filler.

The last few pages start a film reel of Howard Stark explaining some sordid secret history, but there's not a not a lot to get me hooked and pick up the next issue. They really needed to tease a little more for me to at least get interested. For example, instead of ending the issue with Stark saying into the camera, "It's time for you to know the truth. Son, you may need to have a drink." Maybe end the issue with something that leaves the audience a little more confused or horrified. Something like, "Let me tell you about the time I raped Galactus." I don't know. There's a reason a don't write for Marvel.

What you should get instead is Ten Grand by J Michael Straczynski and Ben Templesmith, published by Image. I haven't really ever been too impressed by Straczynski, but I also haven't read a lot of his work. I picked this up because of Templesmith's art, and it turned out to be a really cool book. Without giving too much of the story, it's part horror and part noir. I loved it. You should really check it out.

American Banned

A quick follow-up on Black Kiss 2 which I mentioned a couple weeks back. I mentioned that the first issue had some pretty fucked up stuff in it (for a mainstream comics anyway). Apparently it's so fucked up that British customs held it for a week. To avoid further complications, Diamond has cancelled all future issues including a second printing of the sold out first issue.

Happy Endings

A year ago I loved this series so much that I wrote:

"It's what Disney and Warner Brothers comics would be like if they had any balls and didn't just publish stories aimed at little kids to generate supplementary sales for their big budget summer garbage."

Which I still stand by. Any hero published by the big too comes off as a pussy in comparison.

Unfortunately after seven monthly issues, this one had a ten month delay. On the up side, it's very good and I'm kind of glad that it ended since it can't keep up a schedule. Six years ago, Godland was my absolute favorite book and I wore my Basil Cronus t-shirt (on a side note, the only person who ever recognized it was Patton Oswalt) out faster than any shirt I have ever owned. Now it comes out twice a year and I still love it, but a lot of the excitement's gone.

Anyway if you missed this, there's a hardcover coming out soon. And Godland only had one issue left (although 36 just came out earlier this month, so probably not until next year) so that should be collected sometime. There both great.

Black Kiss 2

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it on here, but I love Howard Chaykin. He's possibly my favorite artist, and I buy nearly anything he draws.I think American Flagg! is way better and more innovative than Dark Knight Returns (and predates it by three years).

For those unfamiliar with Black Kiss, it was a black and white erotic hard-boiled neo-noir. Published in 1988, Vortex Comics gave Chaykin complete control to push boundaries with really graphic and some pretty weird sex scenes, and to  his surprise, nothing was censored.

I actually only got around to picking it up earlier this year. It's surprisingly dense for a story that's essentially centered around blowjobs. Like much of Chaykin's writing, it takes re-reads to get everything. You can read a synopsis upon completion and realize that you missed half of what went on. Anyway this is very cool and enjoyable even beyond the X-rated content (which is also pretty awesome). The only problem is that Chaykin's stories can be difficult to follow since a lot of his characters look similar, and black and white doesn't make that any easier.

So last week Black Kiss 2 #1 was released by Image Comics. Even though Chaykin's said he's not trying to top the original, this has some pretty wild stuff in it. Trust me. You don't want to read this on the subway. I'm not even sure exactly how it ties into the original, but it's pretty awesome.

Fatale

Despite my love for most things hard boiled and noir, I've never read Criminal or any of the Brubaker/Phillips stuff. I'm not really sure why. My only guess is that I never jumped on it at the beginning because I was never really that into Brubaker's mainstream stuff. I don't think I even became that aware of it until the Blast of Silence was released on DVD a few years back with Sean Phillips art. One day, I'll have to catch up on the trades.

I was pretty happy that they started a new series that I could get in on from the ground up. On top of that, this series infuses Lovecraftian horror. How cool is that? The first issue incorporates the horror themes subtly and it works seamlessly.

If that's not enough to get you on board, look at this cover. How could you not want to read this?

Recommended Reading

Severed
This just came out last Wednesday, and I was totally floored. It's the first part of a seven-issue miniseries by Scott Snyder, Scott Tuft, and Atilla Futaki. I know it's still early for a statement like this, but if the quality holds in subsequent issues, this could be Snyder's best work yet. Now you know I don't like talking about plot too much, so I'll say it's a dark atmospheric American Gothic horror story involving hobos. What more do you need?

Also, there have been a few other series that started up in recent months I've been meaning to mention, but just never got around to it. But you're going to want to pick these up too:

Butcher Baker, The Righteous Maker
This is without a doubt the BEST comicbook on the shelves right now. In fact, that's an understatement. It's Joe Casey's and Mike Huddleston's ongoing superhero book that's a cross between Captain America and Smokey and the Bandit. It's what Disney and Warner Brothers comics would be like if they had any balls and didn't just publish stories aimed at little kids to generate supplementary sales for their big budget summer garbage. It's kind of reminiscent of Automatic Kafka (which I thought I was the only person who knew of its existence; although in a recent discussion at a comic shop, I leaned it now has a kind of legendary cult status). Anyway, issue five recently came out, so there's probably a trade on the way soon. But definitely, one way or another, catch up.

Sergio Aragines Funnies
The title says it all. An anthology of color and B&W shorts. Some are funnies. Some are autobiographical. This series a no-brainer. Not sure why it took so long for its inception.

Dark Horse Presents
The new volume may surpass the original. 80 full-color pages filled with new stories by Howard Chaykin, Richard Corben, Neal Adams, and many others. The price may be a little steep, but add up any other comics and see how much 80 pages cost you, even with DC "holding the line." The best anthology on the shelves.

Book of the Week

2-3-10

Holy Fuck! This book just keeps getting crazier! I wish all superhero books had this much excitement.

I mean, although The Siege is only halfway through, we all knew six months ago that it would end with Cap, Thor, and Iron Man getting back together to defeat the Dark Avengers. I could still be wrong, but I don't think that there's anyone here that wouldn't bet copious amounts of money on that statement.

This book could still has the potential to go in hundreds of directions. I wouldn't be surprised if the Dragon we read for 150 issues never returns. The book could easily be shift focus to the crazy dictator Dragon or even Malcolm, Dragon's son and be just as entertaining. Possibly even more so.

Savage Dragon moves the story forward the way that the big two are always pretending to. We now have a new Dragon that eats brains; a new Overlord who's a Cubs fan. How many series are this exciting 160+ issues in? Great job, Erik Larsen! Here's to 150 more!

Book of the Week

1-6-10

Savage Dragon is a book for that is for people who love comic books. Its not a something that will convert a non-reader, but people who are familiar with the genre and serial storytelling should be picking it up.

There's really no good jumping on point. Maybe issue 1, but it's not really necessary. Like the old Marvel Comics, you can jump on anywhere (maybe even this issue which is a Part 2) , feel like there's a lot of stuff you may not know, but enjoy it the same nonetheless.

Hell, I don't remember a lot of what's happened. It's been going on since 1992. There have been ups and downs, but after 160 issues (including the miniseries and zero issue),I'm in for the long haul. The book is episodic and long term plot lines are there to reward old readers as opposed to alienate new ones.

Erik Larsen knows the genre, and unlike Marvel or DC doesn't have to worry about keeping characters stagnant to sell movies and merch. The character is constantly evolving and...

SPOILER ALERT

...is not even in this issue. I mean, there are two Dragons in this issue, but one is a clone and the other is from an alternate universe. Our Dragon got offed six issues ago. Will he be back? Probably, but who knows? Larsen has gotten rid of core characters (and even core timelines) in the past. Whatever happens will serve the story.

Larsen will often try different art or storytelling methods. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don't. This issue is one long fight sequence. It totally works. There's enough dialogue and plot throughout the banter to keep this issue interesting and move the story along. In fact, I didn't even realize that the whole issue was one fight until it was pointed out on the letters page.

I'm very happy with the way this book has picked up since Larsen stepped down from being the head of Image. Although, I do think he brought a lot of quality books and some prestige to the company, his own book suffered in scheduling, story, and art. Since he's gotten back up to speed, Savage Dragon it the best its been in years , and with this issue, it gets even better.