Thor: Tales of Asgard
Written by Stan Lee
Penciled by Jack Kirby
Inked by George Roussos, Don Heck, Paul Reinman, Chic Stone, Vince Colletta & Bill Everett
Colored by Matt Milla
Lettered by Artie Simek & Sam Rosen
Published by Marvel Comics

If there’s one good thing about the upcoming Thor film (there may be more than one, but this particular one is the highlight so far as I’m concerned), it is the existence of this book.  You see, back in the 60s, when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby came up with Thor, they devoted five or so pages in the back of their comic to short stories that were inspired directly from classical mythology, rather than fitting everything into an urban, superhero context.  Tales of Asgard started as short “origin”-type stories, but quickly evolved into a multi-part, epic/quest serial.

Tales of Asgard also stands out as perhaps the highest point of the classic Marvel Comics era.

(more…)

Transformers: the IDW Collection v.1

Written by Eric Holmes, Shane McCarthy & Simon Furman

Illustrated by Alex Milne, Marcelo Matere, Casey Coller, Robby Musso, Nick Roche, MD Bright & E.J. Su

Colored by Josh Perez, Zac Atkinson, Mark Bristow, Gabe Eltaeb, Joana Lafuente, Josh Burchman, John Raunch, Liam Shallo, Rob Ruffalo, Aaron Meyers, Simon Bork, Mark Englert, Sunder Raj & Kevin Senft

Lettered by Chris Mowry, Robbie Robbins, Neil Uyetake, Sulaco Studios & Tom B. Long

Published by IDW

I am not, by nature, a nostalgist.  The things that you once loved, particularly that you loved as a child, rarely hold that same gleaming splendor to the jaded adult eye.  And that’s fine – it’s not hard to find bits of entertainment that thrill a reader of my age.  Consequently, recent reboots (via comics, film or other formats) of childhood favorites haven’t really registered with me.  As much as I loved G.I. Joe or Masters of the Universe as a kid, I honestly don’t pay the slightest attention to revival attempts (and no, I haven’t seen the Joe movie).

(more…)

A Sickness in the Family
Written by Denise Mina
Illustrated by Antonio Fuso
Lettered by Clem Robins
Published by DC/Vertigo

Vertigo’s crime line has, by and large, left me cold.  So it’s a welcome surprise to find that Denise Mina and Antonio Fuso’s A Sickness in the Family achieves a twisted and creepy level of satisfaction.  Mina wisely forgoes the predictably washed-up, pseudo-alcoholic private dick protagonist that burdens many of the Vertigo crime titles, introducing readers instead to the Usher family (Yes, Edgar Poe readers have reason to do a double take).  Mom and Dad, Gramma, and three young adult children, all living together under one roof – where family tensions have them at each others’ throats.

Mina spends enough time on the entire cast to let readers connect to them and understand them.  Excepting Amy, always angry and blaming, and perhaps Gramma, whose on the tableau is limited early, each Usher is given room to show their shallow side and their reasons for being disgusted with their kin.  Yet Mina also takes time to present a softer, more human side of each person, rounding them out into something close to fully realized persons.

(more…)

The Green Woman
Written by Peter Straub & Michael Easton
Illustrated by John Bolton
Lettered by Todd Klein
Published by DC/Vertigo

Famed horror novelist Peter Straub makes his first foray into comics scripting in The Greem Woman, accompanied by writer and actor Michael Easton and acclaimed painter John Bolton.  The story involves the serial killer Fielding “Fee” Bandolier from Straub’s 1993 Bram Stoker-winning novel The Throat on a new killing spree. Hunting him every step of the way is psychic detective Bob Steele.

The Green Woman throws around several interesting ideas.  Unfortunately, few of them amount to very much – Bob Steele, named after a famed cowboy movie hero, struggles with the ideal of his name; planks from a cursed pirate ship make up parts of two buildings that play heavily into the book’s events; Fee flashes back to experiences in Vietnam while trying to control his compulsion to kill.

(more…)

Who Will Comfort Toffle?
Written & Illustrated by Tove Jansson
English script by Sophie Hannah
Published by Drawn & Quarterly

Tove Jansson’s second Moomin picture book gets a new English translation courtesy of Canadian publisher Drawn & Quarterly and English scripter/poet/writer Sophie Hannah.  Like the Moomin comic strips and Jansson’s first children’s book, The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My, Who Will Comfort Toffle? brims with whimsy and wonder.

Lonely Toffle journeys through Moomin Valley, encountering the denizens of Jansson’s imaginative world.  Every person she encounters, in addition to partaking in imaginative flights of fancy, has someone to share the moment with, yet Toffle remains alone, in search of a companion.  It’s a direct and clear message for kids, that we all feel lonely and that we’re the only person without somebody, but of course, it all works out when you meet the right person.  And you may have to persevere to meet that person, but doing so is worth the effort.

(more…)

American Vampire v.1
Written by Scott Snyder & Stephen King
Illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque
Colored by Dave McCaig
Lettered by Steve Wands
Published by DC/Vertigo

In recent years, that old horror staple, the vampire, has been co-opted by the froo-frooey clutches of melodramatic, angsty teen romance.  Well, American Vampire is trying damn hard to reclaim the bloodsuckers for the horror crowd, and it’s fairly successful in doing so.  Although American Vampire is Scott Snyder’s baby, having Stephen King write the origin of the series’ protagonist is a surefire way to get lots of notice and establish the series’ horror roots.

Now, admittedly, I’ve never had much interest in vampires (or zombies, mummies, creatures from any lagoons, or werefolk for that matter), so I’m not necessarily the target audience for a book like this (though it’s far more up my alley than, say, Twilight).  But the high concept is sound enough – ancient European vampires come to the United States, a young land ripe for exploitation.  Along the way, they create a new vamp, one Skinner Sweet, and the new land, the new blood (where, exactly, Skinner is descended from is never mentioned, although he appears to have European ancestry somewhere up the tree) and ole’ Charles Darwin’s theory combine to create a whole new breed of vampire.

(more…)

How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less
Written & Illustrated by Sarah Glidden
Lettered by Clem Robins
Published by DC/Vertigo

A few years back, Sarah Glidden went on a Birthright Israel trip, which basically boils down to her taking a paid trip to Israel to experience life in the Holy Lands for herself.  If nothing else, good for her, because nobody’s yet offered a similar trip to those of us of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry! (Though I suppose I can drive to Amish country on my own.)

Actually, Glidden’s book detailing her experience – How to Understand Israel in 60 Day or Less – is a fascinating read.  Like many people, Glidden comes to the situation with a ton of baggage.  We all think we know about Israel or even, in the bigger picture, the Middle East or other cultures, but few of us have really walked in the shoes of those other people.  Through her experiences in Israel, however, readers are exposed to the intricacies of the peace process and the difficulties in finding compromises while still providing protection against extremism.

(more…)

Nexus Archives v.11
Written by Mike Baron
Pencilled by Mark Heike, John K. Snyder III, Luke McDonnell & Hugh Haynes
Inked by Heike, Jay Geldhof, Jeff Albrecht, Tom Baxa, John Robinson & Arne Starr
Colored by Les Dorscheid
Lettered by Clem Robins & Kevin Cunningham
Original covers by Heike; Snyder III & Geldhof; Angel Medina, Bob Dvorak & Ian Tetrault; Dorscheid; Haynes & Baxa; and Paul Sonju & Steven Butler
Published by Dark Horse

The intolerance of the Elvonic religious order reaches fever pitch in the eleventh volume of the Nexus Archives, which collects issues sixty-six through seventy-three of Baron and Rude’s Nexus.  Even back in 1990, devotional zealotry fascinated Baron, and the issues of how such an order can fit into a peace-minded, democratic society are at the forefront in this selection of stories.

Stan’s slide into insanity, prodded by the persecutions of the Elvonics and his own considerable ego, reaches the greased-up, ninety-degree slope portion of the ride, and even in collected form, the cliffhanger at the end of v.11 should leave regular Nexus readers breathless.

(more…)

Nexus Archives v.10
Written by Mike Baron
Illustrated by Steve Rude, Steve Huston, Greg Guler, Mark McKenna, Tom Baxa, Tony Akins & Hilary Barta
Colored by Les Dorscheid
Lettered by Clem Robins
Published by Dark Horse

Judah the Hammer backups
Written by Roger Salick, Ian Carney & Peter David
Illustrated by Steve Epting, Phil Hester, Mark McKenna, Paul Fricke, ChuckWojtkiewicz, Tom Baxa, Brandon Peterson & Steve Huston
Colored by Les Dorscheid
Lettered by Jim Massara, David C. Weiss, Diane Valentino & Huston

Just three issues of Steve Rude artwork in this Archive, as Greg Guler and Tony Akins handle the other five chapters.  Graphically, it’s a clear step backwards; neither of the replacement artists provides the quirky background details or stylized action that fleshes out and defines the world of Nexus.  Granted, at least Rude’s still present.  The ensuing Archive won’t have that going for it.

Fortunately, even without Steve Rude’s illustrative prowess, Mike Baron’s scripts keep this series compelling. Let’s establish a little background first though: in the future, Horatio Hellpop is Nexus, the cosmic executioner, tasked by the alien Merk to assassinate humanity’s worst mass murderers.  After Horatio quit, disgusted by the Merk’s whims and the consequences of his assignments, Professor Stan Korivitsky approached the Merk to become the new Nexus.

(more…)

The Broadcast
Written by Eric Hobbs
Illustrated by Noel Tuazon
Published by NBM

1938, Indiana, and three rural families lose power during Orson Welles’ radio broadcast of War of the Worlds.  What follows is a taut thriller of betrayal and fear. Young Gavin and Kim are in love, but Kim’s father doesn’t approve.  Marvin, being African-American, was nearly lynched by two white men, and doesn’t know if he can truly trust the three white families he finds himself with after escaping.  Jacob’s angry and worried about his family, and Dawson, with his own family to protect, is too willing to fall into line when Jacob pushes him to do things he knows are wrong.

Eric Hobbs does a fine job crafting a scenario ripe for paranoia and backstabbing.  Playing the characters off one another in various ways, he explores the bonds that tie them together and the fears that wedge them apart effectively.  Each of the men benefits from Hobbs’ ability to make you relate to their circumstances.  On the other hand, the women (excepting Kim) and children have no presence at all in the book.  So while you understand each of the men’s concerns about their families, Hobbs fails to make the families themselves fully realized or viable as characters unto themselves.  This shortcoming is a flaw, but not a fatal one.  The Broadcast is a thriller more than anything, so its meat comes from watching the men each consider their course and whom they can or cannot trust.

(more…)

A Drunken Dream and Other Stories
Written & Illustrated by Moto Hagio
Translated by Matt Thorn
Published by Fantagraphics

Although there are hundreds of manga titles for youngsters and teens, and even a handful of violent genre titles for older readers, on American shelves, Drawn and Quarterly (with gekiga-originator Yoshihiro Tatsumi) and Vertical (publishing latter-era Osamu Tezuka tomes) seem to be among the few publishers interested in providing mature, adult material.  So I’m happy to see Fantagraphics step up to the plate and deliver another such offering: A Drunken Dream and Other Stories, a collection of ten Moto Hagio short stories.

Compiling comics originally published between 1977 and 2008, A Drunken Dream showcases the full range of Hagio’s short stories, while also granting readers insight into the themes of lost innocence, family dysfunction and perseverance in the face of abuse that underscore much of her work. Two of the best pieces are “Hanshin: Half-God” and “Iguana Girl.”  In the former, one conjoined twin appears healthy and happy, but never developed beyond the most simplistic (yet upbeat) personality.  The other half, Yudy, processes all the nutrients that her sister’s body takes to appear healthy, while Yudy herself, her mind and personality fully developed, remains sickly and ill.  “Iguana Girl” shows a mother’s disgust with her own child (depicted as an iguana) and the trauma of emotional abuse. Yet the tale also depicts the strength to persevere, to find something better and to, maybe, understand the emotional failings of another.

(more…)

The Sanctuary
Written & Illustrated by Nate Neal
Published by Fantagraphics

Nate Neal’s The Sanctuary (which he originally wanted to title with only a drawing of a buffalo, which would’ve made referring to it by title quite difficult) stands as one of the best comics of the year.  Ostensibly about an outcast caveman, Neal’s ultimately explaining the origins of comic book storytelling and, in the bigger picture, the importance of creativity and storytelling in general.

Using only an invented caveman language, Neal effectively offers readers a pantomime book.  Sure, you can take time and puzzle out the dialogue, but it’s still largely monosyllabic words and short phrases, to-the-point communiqués.  The point being, the language may intrigue some readers; for most, the book is eminently readable without glancing at a caption.  Neal’s cartooning carries the meaning so clearly that no words are really necessary (though the hand-drawn fonts often assist the reader in deciphering a character’s intent).

(more…)

Cuba My Revolution
Written by Inverna Lockpez
Illustrated by Dean Haspiel
Colored by José Villarrubia
Lettered by Pat Brosseau
Published by DC/Vertigo

The hope for a better world takes on many forms, many of them tied to the hope for a better, more compassionate government.  Revolution.  It’s a romantic notion, and a hard one to let go.  Inverna Lockpez knows.  Her graphic novel, Cuba My Revolution, recounts her story: Seventeen years old when Fidel Castro took power, the young idealist supported the cause through food rations, artistic censorship, and the flight of her family to the United States.

Lockpez dreamed of becoming an artist, yet put her ambitions aside to study medicine and support her country in the years immediately after Castro’s government took control of Cuba.  Being a soldier brought her pain (on nearly every conceivable level), yet she believed in her country.  After her military tenure, she found that art schools only taught “accepted” forms of art, yet she hoped.  Her friends disappeared, yet her pride refused to buckle.

(more…)

You’ll Never Know v.2: Collateral Damage
Written & Illustrated by C. Tyler
Published by Fantagraphics

The second (of three) volume in Carol Tyler’s memoir, You’ll Never Know: Collateral Damage, continues to address Tyler’s relationship with her World War II veteran father, as he finally opens up and reveals his experiences in the European theatre.  However, the emotional meat of the book comes from seeing how Tyler deals with her parents, her wandering husband and her trouble-bound daughter.

You’ll Never Know is ostensibly about Tyler and her father’s war experiences, but she’s ultimately explaining how her father’s experiences shaped him, and how he in turn molded her.  Though her father remains a constant presence throughout the book, Tyler is pulled in many directions.

(more…)

Ding Dong Daddy From Dingburg
Written & Illustrated by Bill Griffith
Published by Fantagraphics

The latest collection of Bill Griffith’s newspaper strip Zippy the Pinhead, Ding Dong Daddy From Dingburg is also my first exposure to the long-running once-underground icon.  Griffith created Zippy in 1971.  After a long life in independent comics and magazines, Zippy became a newspaper strip, syndicated by King Features, in 1986.  Ding Dong Daddy collects the daily and Sunday strips from September 2008 through June 2010.

(more…)

Excalibur Visionaries: Alan Davis v.1
Written & Penciled by Alan Davis
Inked by Mark Farmer
Published by Marvel Comics

I haven’t been going to the library for comics lately – with all the comps piling up, there just isn’t time to read many of the books I buy for myself, much less stuff I’m halfway interested in but don’t want cluttered my shelves forever.  (I know, boohoo for me, having too many free comics.)  But I was at the library the other day to pick up some CDs I’d been curious to hear and there was a graphic novel shelf displaying a very nice variety of books, including manga, a Dash Shaw book, a Walking Dead, and a couple superhero titles.  This particular book, collecting Alan Davis’ run on X-Men spinoff Excalibur from issues 42 to 50 from the early 1990s jumped out.  I’d read the comics years and years ago, recalled them fondly, but long ago lost them in one of my many purges.

(more…)

Red Movie Prequels
Published by DC/Wildstorm

So there’s this film coming out, called Red, and it’s based on a 2003 miniseries of the same title by writer Warren Ellis and artist Cully Hamner.  I haven’t read it.  I tell you this only because Wildstorm is now publishing four one-shot comics that serve as prequels to the film and if you’re expecting me to cast these books against the comics that originated the concept … I can’t.  I can only judge them on their own merits.

And on those merits, they’re okay.  Don’t run out and buy them if you’re unsure about the material, but if the concept – ex-CIA spooks targeted for assassination to cover up their wetworks past – sounds interesting or if the movie trailer really rocked your world, yeah, go for it.  Each issue is plotted by the movie’s writers, Jon and Erich Hoeber, so these four little vignettes should dovetail nicely into what appears onscreen.  Telling an effective little black ops yarn in 24 or so pages, each one-shot focuses on one of the movie’s four protagonists, giving some insight into their methods and their relationships with each other and the agency.  It’s solid thriller stuff, with largely professional artwork.

(more…)

Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography
Written by Sid Jacobson
Illustrated by Ernie Colón
Published by Hill & Wang

After collaborating on a comic book adaptation of the 9-11 Commission’s report, and then issuing a book of journalism that followed up on the report’s findings and follow-through, Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colón have turned their attention to creating comic book biographies.  After targeting Che Guevara initially, the tandem digs into the life of a much less controversial figure, famed journal-keeper and Holocaust victim Annelies Marie Frank.

(more…)

The Bloom County Library v.1
Written & Illustrated by Berkeley Breathed
Published by The Library of American Comics/IDW

An admission: Prior to six or seven years ago, I’d never even heard of Bloom County.  I mention is because reading this volume got me thinking about how sometimes, for whatever reason (in my case, the strip’s ending when I was still fairly young and, in any event, its lack of inclusion in my local newspaper probably had quite a bit to do with my ignorance) sometimes we all overlook things that really deserve our attention.  Now obviously every reader out there can’t read every comic that might possibly appeal to them, but this book served as a notice to me to keep an open mind – just because you or I haven’t heard of a particular comic (or musician or film, etc.) doesn’t mean it isn’t incredibly influential and/or very, very good.

(more…)

Incredible Hulk Visionaries: Peter David v. 7
Written by Peter David with Tom Field
Penciled by Dale Keown, John Romita Sr., Ron Wagner & Gary Barker
Inked by Mark Farmer, Fred Fredericks, Mike Witherby, Al Milgrom & Joe Rubinstein
Colored by Glynis Oliver & Mike Thomas
Lettered by Joe Rosen, Brad K. Joyce & Mike Heisler
Published by Marvel Comics

Now I’m not the biggest superhero fan on the block, but writer Peter David’s twelve-year turn as writer of The Incredible Hulk stands out as one of the standards I look for when I do venture into superhero territory.  Visionaries v.7 collects eight issues from 1991-92 (one of those issues written by Tom Field, though Marvel might as well have skipped it since it’s not Peter David-written and doesn’t tie into David’s storyline at all – it’s pure inventory).

(more…)