New Comics - May 10th Part One

It seems that this week somehow became matte cover week. The first three books I have for review this week all have matte finish covers. I actually think this is a great trend. It showcases one further advantage of print over non-print media. The difference in tactile experience is just one more factor in your form of entertainment attaching itself to your brain. Just like those of you in my generation who remember the first appearance of "baxter" and "mando" stock paper in comics as an upsell from their newsprint brethren, this can be a similar experience. I rememberr the drastic change in appearance and feel between these papers when they made their comicsland debut in the early 80's. I know that presently there are titles like Swallow (IDW) that have spot varnish on the cover, or titles that have that funky, extra-thin cover stock like Ultimate Spider-Man. I like that every major company released books this week with different cover stocks and finishes depending on the aesthetic and fiscal needs of the titles. Enough blather - on with the reviews.

• Magic Whistle 10 (Alternative Comics) - Sam Henderson is yet another great example, and one I forgot last week, of modern comics creators who create humor comics that are actually funny. This is the long awaited new issue of the long running title Sam Henderson's Magic Whistle. This title started as a self published mini-comic and graduated nearly 10 years ago to a regular pamphlet comic, and is now being published on an almost yearly basis as a "graphic novel" format title of a about 100 pages. This issue, unfortunately, didn't quite live up to my expectations, but my expectations were astronomic. I've been waiting for well over a year for this to come out, and the anticipation might have inflated my expectation. I have to say that it lives up to the pull quote that Mr Henderson chose for the back cover: "...wildly inconsistent" -Comics Journal. The MW still brings the funny though, and this is worth reading, especially if you've followed his comics before. His humor tends to grow on you and once you get into the vibe of it, you're hooked. My favorite story in this issue is one that is billed as "...previously published material," and the story of a childhood cartoonis competitor is great as well. Henderson's art is consistently faux naive, and less seamless here than usual, but it fits his idiom well. A small sample:The message here: I'm always happy to get my hands on Sam Henderson's Magic Whistle.
  
• Batman: Secrets 3 (DC) - Sam Kieth continues to focus on the psychological foibles of characters who wear their hearts on their sleeves and their underwear on the outside, but does so with passion and compassion. The art is superlative in this issue, bringing Dave McKean to meet Bill Sienkiewicz at Sam's house, and to wonderful result.
• Will Eisner's John Law, Detective and Nubbin the Shoeshine Boy: Angels and Ashes, Devils and Dust 1 (IDW) - How's that title for a mouthful? Australian stalwart Gary Chaloner provides art and story for this title based on a long sleeping Eisner character. Near as I can tell, this title has been in the works for years and Chaloner's love and skill came forward when I scanned this pre-purchase. I'm waiting for another issue or two before reading, so you'll have to wait for my judgment, but it looks wonderful.