Eye on Comics

This week marks the debut of not one but two Iron Man titles. One is an ongoing series, and despite the fact that I’ve not been interested in the regular Iron Man series for some time now, the talent involved in this second title is more than enough to draw me in. The other new title is a limited series crafted by the Iron Man movie’s director and a Marvel artist who also served as an artistic/design consultant for the flick as well. One of these comics is a real delight, challenging and clever while maintaining a strong sense of drama, both external and internal. The other is more of a fleeting diversion, not so satisfying but wholly disappointing either. Read the rest of this entry »

After seeing an Iron Man matinee at the cinemas Saturday, my fiancee and I headed downtown. She planned to pop back into the housewares store that’s one of three commercial venues at which we’ve registered for the wedding, and I was headed to my local comic-book shop. It was Saturday, May 3rd, the seventh annual Free Comic Book Day. I’ve always felt a bit guilty about attending the event, to be honest. It’s designed to reach new customers (or at least I feel it should be), and I kind of feel like I’m in the way. On the other hand, I support the business every week, so why shouldn’t I avail myself of a handful of free comics? Read the rest of this entry »

As I noted in an earlier post, I enjoyed the new Iron Man movie, and I’m pleased to read a few reports online that it’s driven moviegoers to comics shops in search of comics featuring Shellhead. There were a couple of moments in the film that took me right out of it, such as the over-the-top notion of stripper/stewardesses on the protagonist’s private aircraft. But also frustrating but rather interesting is a key line uttered by the villain of the story, portrayed adeptly by Jeff Bridges.

In a climactic scene, Bridges’s Obadiah Stane berates Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark for having the gall to believe that just because Stark conceived of and created a particular invention that it belongs to him. The line, to the best of my recollection, is something to the effect of, “Just because you have an idea, Tony, it doesn’t mean it belongs to you.” Read the rest of this entry »

Action Comics #864 (DC Comics)
by Geoff Johns, Joe Prado & Jon Sibal

I was so impressed with the strength of the previous story arc, “Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes,” I decided to add Action Comics to my regular pull list again. This issue is something of an epilogue, but not just to the previous Legion arc. This ties up loose ends (or purports to do so) from Countdown and “The Lightning Saga” from Justice League of America and Justice Society of America. Needless to say, the storytelling here is rather impenetrable, and the most inaccessible aspect is the villain of the piece. Unless you’re up on your Legion of Super-Heroes lore from the 1960s to ’80s, the significance of the embittered narrator will be elusive. But perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the book is that, well, nothing really happens. There’s no real conflict, just personality clashes and continuity maintenance. While this is an epilogue, it also serves as a prologue to the upcoming Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds. I’m looking forward to that book, as both a Legion and George Perez fan, but this comic book isn’t necessary reading for those of us who will delve into it. Also disappointing is the artwork. While before, readers were met with the crisp artwork of Gary Frank, Joe Prado’s work for this fill-in issue pales in comparison. The figures are inconsistently rendered. Frank’s vision of a cool, grittier Lightning Lad looks silly here. And Prado fails to convey the cavernous, immense quality of the Fortress of Solitude. His work on this issue seemed merely ordinary at its best, and it’s rarely at its best. It’s a shame that the creators and editors of this title have so quickly squandered the momentum they had going after the Legion story. 4/10 Read the rest of this entry »

DC Universe #0
“Let There Be Lightning”
Writers: Grant Morrison & Geoff Johns
Pencils: George Perez, Doug Mahnke, Tony S. Daniel, Ivan Reis, Aaron Lopresti, Philip Tan, Ed Benes, Carlos Pacheco & J.G. Jones
Inks: Scott Koblish, Christian Alamy, Tony S. Daniel, Oclair Albert, Matt Ryan, Jeff De Los Santos, Ed Benes, Jesus Merino & J.G. Jones
Colors: Alex Sinclair, Tom Smith & David Baron
Letters: Nick J. Napolitano
Cover artist: George Perez
Editor: Dan Didio
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: 50 cents

DC’s release of this inexpensive comic book, focusing on the best-known icons from its super-hero stable, strikes me as kind of odd. Just days in advance of Free Comic Book Day, I’m left wondering why the publisher didn’t just make this one of its freebie titles for the event. Mind you, if other retailers are like mine, a lot of shops will likely give this cheap comic book away anyway. Still, I wonder if DC might be undercutting its FCBD efforts or if it will end up capitalizing on the larger crowds that it tends to generate. In any case, this is far from a key issue, despite early promotional and marketing efforts to bill it as such. This is little more than a tease, and not just for Final Crisis. Writers Grant Morrison and Geoff Johns just tease readers here, giving them sneak peeks at upcoming storylines for its top tier characters. On the one hand, it’s a bit frustrating. The comic reads like it’s a picture made up of pieces from different puzzles, a patchwork quilt made up of almost random pieces of fiction fabric. On the other hand, the teases are incredibly effective. It really makes me want to read several of the storylines previewed in its pages. Read the rest of this entry »

Caliber #1
Writer: Sam Sarkar
Artist: Garrie Gastonny
Colors: Imaginary Friends Studio
Letters: Annie Parkhouse
Cover artists: Garrie Gastonny/Stanley “Artgerm” Lau/Dave Wilkins
Editor: David Elliott
Publisher: Radical Publishing
Price: $1.00 US

Sometimes it seems like every week brings with it a new publisher throwing its hat into the comic-book ring. This week is Radical Publishing’s big coming out party, with the release of this comic book and the first issue of Hercules: The Thracian Wars. Not all of these newer publishers offer a product to the marketplace that’s really up to a professional level. Fortunately, Radical doesn’t appear to be one of those outfits, at least not judging by the work in this debut episode of Caliber. The high concept is fairly simple: Arthurian legends meet the Lone Ranger. Writer Sam Sarkar doesn’t force the square peg of the legend of Excalibur into the round hole that is the Western genre too hard, and the end result is a surprisingly cohesive, entertaining and fresh take on old stories. Also impressive is the artwork by Garrie Gastonny. His efforts yield a painted look that balances the gritty, raw qualities of the Western elements with the magical fantasy nicely. If I’d been the editor of this book, there’s really only one major change that I’d call for, and that’s to do something about the painful predictability of the plot. Read the rest of this entry »

Cthulhu Tales #1 (Boom! Studios)
by Steve Niles, Michael Alan Nelson, Tom Peyer, Chee & Sunder Raj

Not surprisingly, it’s horror writer Steve Niles who provides the strongest story in the first issue of this themed anthology series. He and artist Chee quickly establish a pervading, unsettling atmosphere that something unnatural and insidious lurks just outside of the reader’s perspective. The story’s not terribly innovative; it’s easy to see where the writer’s going. And Niles’s opening scene doesn’t really jibe with the plot. Still, it’s entertaining. The other two segments in the book are diverting as well. Nelson’s piece about kids stumbling upon the emergence of evil in their own community is pretty much by the numbers, and I didn’t quite follow what the sheriff was talking about at the end of the book. I suspect his comments would be appreciated by the diehard Lovecraft fan. Sunder Raj’s art tells the story clearly, and the colors really drive home the eerie atmosphere. His designs for the corpse and the monster really put me in mind of Guy (B.P.R.D.) Davis’s style. For his story, Tom Peyer takes the notion of the Boston Red Sox’s long-running “curse” and ties it into Cthulhu rituals and dark magic. It’s a fairly tongue-in-cheek story that really doesn’t strive to scare or disturb; its appeal is limited to the high concept. It’s one that doesn’t merit a long explanation or execution, so this short story suits it pretty well. After reading the comic, though, the stories didn’t stick with me at all. I would have expected at least one to offer a challenging idea or a lasting chill, but that really wasn’t the case. I’m left wondering if there’s enough life in the premise to sustain an ongoing anthology (not to mention the fact that Boom! already has another related title — Fall of Cthulhu – on the go). 6/10 Read the rest of this entry »

New publisher Radical Publishing is looking to make a name for itself in the world of comics, and it’s recruited some big-name talent to help in those efforts. The Los Angeles-based company issued a news release Tuesday to announce that comics legend Jim Steranko has provided cover artwork for the first two issues of its new Hercules: The Thracian Wars series. Furthermore, Steranko designed the look for this incarnation of Hercules as well as the cover logo for the series.

What I found interesting about the announcement was the nature of the Steranko cover art for the second issue. That cover is an homage to a well-known cover the artist produced for Marvel Comics 30 years ago: that which adorned Incredible Hulk Special #1. It’s an easily recognized image in comics, one that’s been reproduced and homaged often. Boasting a strong Will Eisner influence, perhaps the reason it’s been referenced time and time again over the years is how effective it is in conveying the power and struggle that are inherent in the premise and character. The Hulk is in danger of being crushed under a rock that spells out his own name. The earth and rock beneath his feet cracks and crumbles from the sheer weight. The seemingly simple cover says a lot about the title character. The biggest threat that the Hulk faces is himself, his own raw, uncontrolled power (and how others perceive it as a threat). Read the rest of this entry »

White Picket Fences: Double Feature original graphic novel
Writers: Matt Anderson & Eric Hutchins
Artists: Micah Farritor, Brian Mead & Tim Lattie
Colors: Micah Farritor & Brian Mead
Letters: David Hedgecock
Editor: Kevin Freeman
Publisher: Ape Entertainment
Price: $6.95 US

While this book reads more like a short collection of a couple of issues, the Comics Space website for the property bills it as an original graphic novel. Actually, it’s an original graphic anthology, with the same setting and characters appearing in all three stories. This is my first exposure to White Picket Fences, which apparently has already been published as a limited series, with another on the horizon. It’s a cute, comic tribute to science-fiction and super-heroes of a bygone era. While entertaining, there’s little that’s actually original to be found here — save for its visual style. The exaggerated, angular art on the opening and closing sequences, as well as an unconventional approach to coloring, really held my interest. While there’s not a great of logic in how the characters act in these stories, there’s no denying the charm, sense of adventure and — most of all — innocence that draws one into these all-ages book. Read the rest of this entry »

Super-hero publishers have been trying to find a wider market in recent years, and some efforts (and a lot of talk) have been focused on recapturing a younger readership. Kids were the industry’s first big audience, but ever since the late 1960s and early ’70s, when comics became a staple of the college crowd, the youthfulness of those buying comics has been fading. Many argue that the genre is propped up today by a plethora of Peter Pans in their 30s, refusing to ever grow up. But it seems that execs of the companies that own the best-known super-hero characters on the planet see potential in markets other than playgrounds and grammar schools.

They’re eyeing the Middle East. Read the rest of this entry »

The Brave and the Bold #12 (DC Comics)
by Mark Waid, Jerry Ordway & Bob Wiacek

From the start, this team-up series has been a love letter to a simpler time in super-hero storytelling, and that certainly holds true with the conclusion of Waid’s lengthy, 12-episode story. I think he missteps, though, by embracing a Silver Age sensibility too much and forgetting the more modern touches that kept previous issues from being too campy. That the resolution will resolve around the sole female Challenger of the Unknown is telegraphed far too early in this issue. For a time, June is the only female player in the drama, so that she’s also the most terrified can easily be confused with the notion that the woman is the weakest. Megistus’s design is clearly inspired by the Silver Age, but it’s also goofy. The villain should really look intimidating, not silly. Firestorm’s role in the story makes sense, given the transmutation elements, but it comes from out of nowhere. That being said, there’s so much charm to be found in this climactic episode. From Ultraman’s magical escape from peril to Waid’s wink to Darwyn Cooke’s DC: The New Frontier with the reteaming of Ace Morgan and Hal Jordan, there’s a lot of fun and energy in this story. Younger readers will no doubt be delighted. Ordway’s wide-eyed artwork is in keeping with the lighter, bold strokes of the plot. As I noted before, I wasn’t wild about the Megistus design, but I have to admit that Ordway did his job: he crafted a look for a Silver Age villain. Ordway also brings an impressive level of detail to the cosmic elements, from Ultraman’s burning flesh to the energies floating around June as she endeavors to save the world. The most surprising — and somewhat disappointing — was the link that’s made between these events and Final Crisis. One of the bonuses of this series has been its self-contained nature, so the passing “crisis” reference in this issue seems out of place. 6/10 Read the rest of this entry »

Echo #2 (Abstract Studio)
by Terry Moore

The plot gallops forward in this second issue, indicating the lazy pace to which we’re accustomed from Moore’s Strangers in Paradise doesn’t seem to be part of the plan for Echo. This episode brings in an element that SiP fans will recognize, and that’s a strong degree of intrigue and an espionage-genre feel. It’s a natural fit for this super-hero story, though, so it doesn’t feel as though Moore is repeating himself in any way. Julie’s reactions to an impossible, paranormal development in her life are incredibly convincing. Moore brings a realistic feel to the story not only through the character but in the circumstances and humor. The emergency-room doctor’s frustrations with Julie’s predicament and his dismissal of her condition as a prank are plausible ways to keep Julie from becoming a lab subject for conventional authorities. Also reinforcing the realistic approach to the surreal situation is Moore’s lovely, detailed artwork. The full-page shot of her cabin in the woods is absolutely breathtaking. The color on the cover makes me feel as though we’re missing out a bit when it comes to the black-and-white interiors, but there’s no denying the effectiveness of Moore’s storytelling and the attractiveness of his art despite the lack of color. I’m honestly surprised that this project has garnered as much buzz as fellow self-publisher Jeff Smith’s RASL has, but I expect that once the Echo collected editions start coming, a lot more people will be talking about this indy super-hero title. 8/10 Read the rest of this entry »

FX #s 1 & 2
“Monkey Business” & “Things That Go… Crash… in the Night”
Writer: Wayne Osborne
Artist/Cover artist: John Byrne
Colors: Greg Cordier
Letters: John Workman
Editor: Tom Waltz
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Price: $3.99 US each

There’s been a trend in some super-hero comics toward lighter, brighter, more fun action/adventure stories, harkening back to the Silver Age of the genre. Some have argued that it’s a good development, as super-heroes have grown so dark since the 1980s, perhaps alienating younger readers. Others put forth the notion that the shift is a step backwards, that it’s nothing more than a fad of nostalgia, pleasing the already insular audience and no one else. I think both arguments have some validity, but it’s a more complex cultural issue. Wayne Osborne and John Byrne’s FX is certainly in keeping with the afore-mentioned trend, but it bucks one of the problems that sometimes accompany the more traditional approach. With DC and Marvel comics, the retro approach can also bring with it a lot of continuity references, to the delight of longtime fans but the confusion of newer readers. With FX, the creators don’t have that issue to contend with, as it’s brand new, unattached to any shared universe. Read the rest of this entry »

Krash Bastards original graphic novel
Writer: Joe Casey
Artist: Axel #13
Letters: Ryan Young & Rob Osbourne
Publisher: Image Comics/Man of Action Studios
Price: $9.99 US

This thoroughly American book takes a decided Japanese approach to comics storytelling, as this book reads back to front as genuine manga (as well as many Western editions of manga books) do. That’s a strong cue of what to expect from this action-oriented property. I’ve reached a point in my comics reading habits that that reverse approach to reading doesn’t faze me anymore. Unfortunately, this book is so focused on a certain cool factor that I felt completely alienated. Writer Joe Casey has crafted a sci-fi/action concept around the notions of celebrity and youth culture. It’s possible Casey means this as a satirical look at what passes for entertainment for youth today, but my sense is that it’s actually targeted at that demographic, explaining why I felt left out in the cold. Honestly, as I read through the pages of this book about a space-faring gang of sword-wielding good guys, I felt old — ancient, really. Read the rest of this entry »

One of DC’s mid-level super-hero titles has been the focus of a fair bit of discussion online as of late. Plummeting sales figures have prompted industry pundits to ponder the problem with The Brave and the Bold. It’s been a critical darling of many reviewers, and it was launched to a bit of fanfare, especially given the involvement of two of comics’ stalwart talents: writer Mark Waid and artist George Perez. The series had a lot going for it. Seemingly separate from current DC continuity, it’s an accessible read, embracing a more traditional approach to super-hero storytelling. Comics readers tiring from endless events and crossovers could find relief in Waid’s words and Perez’s pencils. Those who thought the super-hero genre had grown too dark — especially DC’s take on the heroes, in light of its Identity Crisis series, with its incorporation of rape, betrayal and ethical breaches into the plot — were offered a kinder vision of the publisher’s iconic characters.

With the latest sales numbers coming in at only a little more than 39,000 copies (down from almost 100,000 for the first issue), it seems a given that The Brave and the Bold might be destined for the same fate as Marvel’s recent attempt to relaunch a team-up title: cancellation. There’s no sign of it from DC yet, though. The fourteenth issue is solicited for June release, with popular artist Scott Kolins stepping in to take over for Perez’s replacement, Jerry Ordway. The series trudges on despite speculation about its sustainability. Read the rest of this entry »