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.