New Comics - March 29th

There was one great disappointment this week. The new issue of Or Else by Kevin Huizenga came out this week and my store was shorted. I'll have to wait until at least next week for this issue, and it's currently my immediate-top-of-the-pile book when it comes out. I'm consistently impressed with the stories, both in this series and in anthologies like Kramer's Ergot which he appears in. The Ganges book from Fantagraphics a month ago was tremendous as well. If you're not familiar with his work yet, don't hesitate, he's the next (insert innovative young indy comics superstar name here). Anyway, on to the list...

• The New Avengers: Illuminati (Marvel) - This Bendis written plot intro to the upcoming crossover is yet another example of retroactive continuity that is necessary to add impact to the current storyline. The nice thing about this one, and the Secret War series before this, is that the premise is built around something kept secret for years. The weak link in this is that it would be easy for some continuity nerd to tear the whole thing apart with a few choice examples of these characters behaving in a manner out of line with the description herein. Personally, I don't care about continuity one way or the other, so I read all these stories as though they were the bible of these characters. It makes my mindless entertainment much more palatable.
• Ultimate Spider-Man (Marvel) - As a fan of this series, which I recommend (as though it needs it) to any fan of Spider-Man, let me just say that Bendis occasionally blows the readability of his two page spreads. One key mistake that he, or Bagley, and the editor make is that panel borders frequently line up with the fold, demanding a little guess work in reading panel flow. The first two-page spread in this issue is a good example. If it needs to be a spread, use the spread to its full effect. If it doesn't need to be a spread, move one panel border 1/4 inch to the left (at the top), and move the panel continuity and you have a regular two page non-spread. Check it out.
• Iron Man (Marvel) - Warren Ellis writes great action books, but this series feels like it went three issues too long. How about some recompressed stories every once in a while. Oh yeah, Fell. See, I knew you could do it.
• Put The Book Back On The Shelf: a Belle & Sebastian anthology (Image) - When this book came out a few weeks ago, I followed the advice that the title gives. It looked nice, but felt it would probably not be a great read, as music-based stories rarely are. Then my wife heard about it and asked where it was. So, here it is. She gets what she wants.
  
• Will Eisner's Spirit Archives vol. 18 (DC) - Another great volume (I say without even cracking the shrinkwrap). Is it weird that I'm collecting this material in color in these volumes while still trying to build my run of the Kitchen Sink black and white series?
• All Star Superman (DC) - I am really enjoying this series, but the first two left me feeling a little lost. I hope this one clears it up.
• Blue Beetle (DC) - Don't think I would have bought this title if Cully Hamner wasn't the artist. I'll buy any book he draws. Down was great, Red was phenomenal. Glad to see him on a monthly title.
• Captain America: 65th Anniversary Special (Marvel) - The Brube, Javier Pulido, and Marcos Martin. I can't wait.

And I grabbed one preview from next week:

• Moon Knight (Marvel) - I enjoy David Finch a great deal. For my money he's my new McFarlane (1992 era). His anatomy is hinky (story page 17 is a great example, Marc Spector's right leg is about 30% shorter than his left in this illustration), but he seems to draw obsessively. His storytelling is serviceable and the super-detailed look actually draws you in rather than pushing you away. I think as he gets better, and he has already improved greatly in the last two years, I think he will be a solid superstar with the post-Image generation. No new ground, but exciting to look at. The story itself is fairly interesting, I'll have to see more before I'm hooked.

That's it for this week. If you didn't have to wait for Or Else, you're a step ahead of me.

New Comics - March 22nd

It was another interesting week, in that it was fairly heavy in the amount of money that I spent. There will be some weeks when you will be embarassed that I consider myself a hardcore comics fan, as my spending will be paltry, but keep in mind, I do have an extra mouth to feed. Anyhow, here it goes for this week, again in no particular order...

• Captain America (Marvel)
• Squadron Supreme (Marvel)
• She-Hulk (Marvel) - I'm a fan of humor in comics, and this is a welcome respite from the over-serious superhero books.
• X-Factor (Marvel) - Nostalgia got the best of me when I added this title to my pull list, but Peter David and regular artist Ryan Sook (this issue is a fill-in) are doing fine by me.
• The American Way (DC/Wildstorm) - The first issue didn't have me convinced, but interested just enough to give issue two a chance.
• Nextwave (Marvel) - Even though it's off to an uneven start, I think the Ellis/Immonen team will hit their stride and this will pay off greatly in the long run. This issue already looks to be a jump in quality (even if Boom Boom does still have a mullet).
• The New Avengers (Marvel) - in spite of Deodato coming on to this book (look, a snark).
• Batman (DC) - James Robinson has long been one of my favorite comics writers, and I picked this storyline up to give it a go and so far I'm quite pleased with it. Although, I would note that this is a perfect example of why you generally shouldn't bother with sound effects in comics. Just about every sound effect in the story detracts from the reading of it. As an example, story page 13 is well designed and capably illustrated, but marred with superfluous sound effects. Try imagining they aren't there, and see if it wouldn't have helped the flow. Garth Ennis has learned this lesson well, and I think that this issue would have had a wonderful pace to it without the effects, and it was good to begin with
• Alex Toth Reader vol. 2 (Pure Imagination) - 160 pages of black and white art from one of my favorites.
• Mome vol. 3 (Fantagraphics) - I began to put together an anthology of comics until I realized the budget couldn't handle it, and this is what I wish I could have done. My favorite anthology of the last 20 years (sorry, Sammy).
• Previews (Diamond Comics) - I love to shop.
  

Walking Concert

Walking Concert is the brainchild of Walter Schreifels from Quicksand, Rival Schools, and Gorilla Biscuits. If you are familiar with the first and last bands on this list, then you have an idea of how influential this guy is. If you are familiar with the Rival Schools, then you have an idea what his new band sounds like. They step a little bit more into melodic rock than the previous band, but continue the trend in singer/songwriter Walter's writing style. If you're looking for xxhardcorexx or pre-emo (preemo?) then this might not be the album you want. I personally can't stop listening.

There is one funny thing about the new record, Run To Be Born, that I didn't even notice the first several times I listened to it. Then, as the lyrics began to sink in, it hit me. There are multiple comics references on the album. The most tangential is in the song "Hands Up!" when the lyrics:

You're action figure collection
is fillin' up the kitchen.
But they're not helping,
no more plastic superhero dreaming.

To a comic geek like me this is enough of a connection, but then in two other songs I noticed more. In the song "The Animals" he sings, "fight the evil/Batman/caped crusaders/need directions." And then there is a song, "A Lot to Expect" which partly seems to be built around the theme of transparency and emotion, in which he uses Wonder Woman as a stand in for his ex(?)-lover:

...anyone can see through
it's as clear as the plane that you're flying.
The bracelets you wear might stop bullets
but they can't stop time.

Anyway, all this is just to make a connection to comics to entice you to listen to one of my favorite new records. Just go to iTunes (or your favorite download source) and check out the songs "Audrey" and "What's Your New Thing" for a taste of what the band sounds like.

New Comics - March 15th

I thought I would try a regular feature here. A weekly list of which comics got my hard earned money each week. They idea being that if I thought they were worth my money then they are worth an implicit recommendation for anyone else to buy them. In fact, because this implication occurs, I will make a note for anything I don't think you should spend your hard earned money on. This will be one of the few places I might break my unwritten rule of not slamming comics on the blog, since there is enough of that online, but I'll be gentle for the most part.

I am hoping that this will be posted every Thursday, or at the latest Friday. If there is no other benefit, I will at least emabarass myself by showing you what I've wasted money on, and in the process maybe make my comic buying habits a little more discriminating. There is a fine line between supporting comics and supporting crap.

In no particular order, here it goes for week one:

• Girls (Image)
• Truth, Justin, and the American Way (Image) - I'm not really a fan of PvP, but the art on this is very nice, so I'll give Kurtz a chance.
  
• Punisher/Bullseye (Marvel) - I have been greatly enjoying this action title, and it holds promise for me that the Way/Dillon team will provide an exciting run on Wolverine.
• Superman/Shazam: First Thunder (DC)
• Painkiller Jane (Dynamite Ent.) - I enjoyed this book in it's first run, and I have enjoyed the handful of books that I've read from Palmiotti the Writer.
• Fury Peacemaker (Marvel)
• Infinite Crisis Secret Files (DC) - Even I don't know why I spent $6 on this.
• Batman: Year 100 (DC) - I'm buying this and holding it to read in one giant blast. I can hardly wait.
• Ultimate Extinction (Marvel)
• Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Marvel) - I started this title for the team of David/Ringo, and this is already the second break in the team and it's only the sixth issue. I'm still holding on because I nerd out for Spidey more than any other institution in comics (Batman comes a close second).
• Spider-Woman Origin (Marvel) - One day the Luna Bros. will be huge, for now they still have a few artistic kinks to work out.
• Body Bags (Image)
• Green Arrow (DC) - The first OYL title to get me curious enough to try it. I've always been a fan of G.A.
• Concrete Vol. 4: Killer Smile (Dark Horse) - This is, for my money, the most eminently re-readable title of the last two decades.
• Treasure Chest Vol. 17 No. 19 (Cathetical Guild - pub. May 1962) - A great cover, and only three bucks, but I'll probably never read it.

There were also two titles that I grabbed out of the preview stack to read, but they aren't officially released until next Wednesday.

• Daredevil (Marvel) - The Brube is charging along with a great second issue in what I hope to be a very long run. He is making me not miss Bendis one bit, and I expected to.
• Daughters of the Dragon (Marvel) - Another good all-out action title, and a good example of Palmiotti the top-notch genre writer.

That was it this week. I'd recommend all of these titles if you think they're up your alley. Except the Infinite Crisis thing.

Crickets by Sammy Harkham

I first became aware of Sammy Harkham's art at the San Diego Comic Con about five years ago. He was in the small press section selling hand painted postcards for just a few dollars each. I was intrigued and interested and bought a few. I didn't see his work again until I came across issue 3 of Kramer's Ergot. I checked it out, but it seemed that the main interest for me in this anthology was Mr Harkham's story and art. I have seen his work, not just in the subsequent (and much better) issues of the Ergot, but also in other anthologies here and there - which I'm too lazy to look up right now, I'm sure Google will help you find them - but was very excited to flip through Previews and find a new ongoing title from Drawn and Quarterly (sidebar link).

The first issue came out a few weeks ago, and it is great. The only downside is that the beginning of this story has appeared already in Drawn and Quarterly Showcase 3. This is a small hindrance, as the story rolls right along and it's open and fluid storytelling style allow for illuminating re-readings. I am already looking forward to a collection, and I won't cut off buying the individual issues to spite them.

Mr Harkham has a cartooning style that is clean and expressive, and he has built up a cartoon language to suit his strengths. This is something that the best cartoonists pull off, but the average ones never get a hold on. The key is that Harkham is aware of his strengths and weaknesses, and plays off them to bring the story to the reader in the most clear-headed way possible. In addition, he is clearly continuing to grow as an artist. The artwork and storytelling in this book is more assured and he isn't afraid to let the story grow at its own pace. He has an open, leisurely style, but isn't afraid to use a panel transition that jolts you with a story turn. He lets the pace set you up for the moments of whiplash that are interspersed as needed.

If this style were used for a straight genre piece, it would be call "decompressed" or "cinematic." In the land of indie comics, it reminds one of the open storytelling of Jordan Crane or Renee French, rather than the dense style of Chris Ware or Gary Panter.

The first issue asks more questions than it answers, but the barest of plots sometimes build into the most powerful stories. I hope that this title fulfills its promise and that the story proves to be powerful indeed.