New Comics - April 26th

Here's another week passed already, and I still have one book left from last week that I haven't read yet. Well, two. Here's the other, but you don't really "read" it.

• Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide 36 (Gemstone) - This is indispensable for a comic nerd like me. It'll probably end up lying within arms reach of the desk I'm at with a highlighter for reference and notation. Nerdvana.
• Solo 10 (DC) - I heard this title is cancelled. I hope it's not true because I love to buy and read it, even when I'm not particularly fond of the featured artist. This month it's Damion Scott, who I was surprised to see with an issue, but thought it would be worth checking out. It's not very appealing to me at all. Much of the art is quite nice, but when it's not nice, it's almost unappealing. Mr Scott writes about a desire to bring "Hiphop" (sic) to comic art. It's not to my taste, and too frequently seems to be a pin-up approach to the storytelling that leaves it flat. Not enough variety or negative space to keep my attention.
• Wolverine 41 (Marvel) - I don't normally get this title anymore (I bought it through J.R. Jr.'s run), but this one-shot story caught my eye, and not being familiar with the artist - C.P. Smith (below) - it seemed like a good one to grab. It was a simple, interesting, straightforward story with art and storytelling that was quite appealing. You could occasionally tell the artist was covering up for his shortcomings, but he did it by designing very attractive panels, page after page.
• Tron 1 (Slave Labor) - I like the writers, Landry Walker and Eric Jones, and have since I first saw their Filthy Habits mini comic a decade ago and I think it's great that Disney has licensed titles to Slave Labor. I remember thinking this movie was cool when I saw it in the theatre, but the real reason I bought this title, I have to admit, was that it struck a nerve with the comics retailer inside me. It seems that most stores will underestimate long term demand for these books, and I wanted to speculate a little. I won't even bother reading this.
• The American Way 3 (DC/Wildstorm) - I am still reading this title, even though I didn't think it would make it into my stack again, but I'm glad I picked it up. I think John Ridley is hitting his stride and getting comfortable with the medium. I like the idea, and I enjoy super-hero titles that exist outside of the big "universes."
• Blue Beetle 2 (DC) - I don't have anything invested in this character. I didn't care that the 80's version died, and I didn't care that it's not that same character brought back to life in this title. This is a title I added based on the artist, Cully Hamner (right), who's one of my longtime favorites. The fact that Keith Giffen is sharing writing chores only solidified my purchase, as he tends to be very dependable when it comes to soap opera-like entertainment. So far it's holding my interest and this issue has a nice hook at the end to bring on the anticipation for the next issue. The real star here, though, is Mr Hamner's art and storytelling skill. His character designs are very attractive and effective. His storytelling is fluid and exciting, and his inking ties everything together beautifully. As long as he's on this title, so am I.
• New Avengers Annual 1 (Marvel) - I think that Brian Michael Bendis and artist Olivier Coipel match up quite nicely. Mr Bendis' penchant for talking heads filling up pages of Mametesque dialogue is supported very well by Mr Coipel's singular and nuanced rendering style. The artist blends an expressive naturalism in the expressions with an effective layout work on the action pages. The story here is fine, but the artwork brings it up to a high level of achievement.
• Paris 4 (Slave Labor) - I haven't read this final issue yet, but you can feel the love here, and this looks as good as ever. Just get it.
• Batman 652 (DC) - Still a great read, and still great to have James Robinson back in the pages of comics. A great build towards the Grant Morrison Batman that is arriving in June.
• X-Factor 6 (Marvel) - The art slips another notch this month as Ryan Sook's influence disappears more and new regular artist Dennis Calero is thrown under the bus deadline-wise. I can only assume that's what caused the slip this issue, that pressed for time, the art took the hit. I'm enjoying the storyline, and the slow build mystery regarding main character Layla Miller gets a few new answers and a few new questions. I'm hooked, and I hope Peter David continues to build his work back to previous heights.
• Cry Yourself To Sleep (Top Shelf) - A short story by Jeremy Tinder, with character designs reminiscent of early Craig Thompson and pacing that seems to hold a James Kochalka influence. Mr Tinder (right) makes them both his own, but reading his work for the first time, these connections come naturally, and not intended as a slam. My favorite thing about this book was the fact that it was unapologetic for being slight. It's a quick read, and the ending is somewhat underwhelming. A good start from someone I wasn't familiar with, and the sequence leading up to the title was done masterfully. It introduces all three main characters, then ties them and the title all together in a particularly effective method. A great use of layout and page design, not to mention the perfect pacing of the sequence.

That's it for this week, I'm tired and late enough as it is.