You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club- Jack London
Looking Forward into December 2009
Hi--
looking forward, everything based on hope--
Horror-masters Mike Mignola (W) and Richard Corban (A) enlist Dave Stewart’s colors for a Hellboy one-shot, “The Bride of Hell” from Dark Horse. For me this all but gaurantees a highly entertaining comic book.
Usagi Yojimbo #125 will be published in December, likely to be only as brilliant and beautiful as the previous—what is it? 240 issues?—chronicling the wandering of the honorable and capable rabbit ronin.
“Jonah Hex” reaches issue #50, and the culmination of a 6-issue story; it’s remarkable for a western comic to have done so well, and JH has done it on the strength of its lead character, excellent scripting and sometimes incredible artwork.
Though I dropped the title several issues ago, I’m getting “House of Mystery” #20 on the strength of the previews write-up that Cain finally finds his house. And Matthew Sturges (W) and Luca Rossi with Michael Wm. Kaluta (A) is a team well worth a dime.
Placing my chances on Michael Avon Oeming & Daniel Berman’s “God Complex” #1, (art by John Broglia), an ‘everyday’ story of Apollo, son of Zeus, trying to live an earthly, mortal life, very much against dad’s wishes; from Image Comics.
“King City” #5 Issues 1 & 2 are quirky to look at, quirky to read, and engaging, bringing more depth of background in an incident-by-incident (‘will it ever all tie together?’) storytelling style. Writer/artist Brandon Graham has street scenes, and injured aliens, and a cat that becomes or produces any tool one happens to need, yet remains a cat throughout; from Image Comics.
Boom Comics’ “Incredibles” hasn’t had the zip, edge and drive I’ve been hoping for but it’s nice to have a well-done, blatantly superficial, humor comic to read on Sunday. Boom’s “Mickey Mouse and Friends” first issue is likewise so-so, but shows it could become really swell, issues to come. Incredibles #5, Mickey #299, and a new Scrooge (#386) series-debut this December.
I’ve learned “Jon Sable: Ashes of Eden” is actually a reprint of an on-line series, but I haven’t seen it, and I much prefer comics on paper, December promises issue 3; hopin’ for the best comics can offer.
Trevor von Eeden’s The Original Johnson is a GN biography of the great Jack Johnson, first African-American heavyweight champion of the world. I’m a longtime Eeden fan (“Thriller” and “Green Arrow”) and a biography fan, and I’ve got a lot of hope for this one; 128 full color pages from IDW Publishing, at $20.
Rob Williams a long time ago published a very classy politically-toned comic book, now reprinted as “Cla$$war,” which predates present storylines in its tale of government ‘controlled’ superheroes gone rogue; from Com.x, full color, for $20.
“Stumptown” #3 is written by Greg Rucka whose mysteries I’ve liked a lot, going back to “White Out.” This’s tagged as “adventure/sci-fi” and then compared to “Rockford Files” and “Magnum P.I.” both of which I find occasionally entertaining, and “Gotham Central,” “Criminal” and “Stray Bullets,” all of which I find very entertaining… not adventure/sf…but dark detective, and I’m gambling it’s another worth the $4 (but 40 pages) cover-price.
Rick Remender’s stories are pretty much hit or miss for me, but I liked the presentation for “The Last Days of American Crime” in which the government (Them again) is about to broadcast a signal which makes criminal behavior impossible. The protagonist hears of this, and plans that one last great crime. A three issues, each 64 pages from Radical Publishing, $5 each; art by Greg Tocchini.
For my manga fix in December, I’m ordering “Naoki Urasawa’s ‘Monster,’” billed as a compelling manga thriller; apparently in an X-files serial killer style. 224 pages for $10, from Viz Signature.
Dare-Devil “#501” was okay, hopefully not a best effort by the new team; much depends on these follow-up issues, revealing whether 501’s ending is true, or cheap sham.
Spider-woman (#4) still isn’t the Jessica Drew I knew but I’ll support this a ways; as always, anything Dr. Strange is hope-demanding, so issue 2 of “Strange” is on my list.
“Criminal” #3 is part of another short story in a series; I’d really like to see the characters lives begin to interweave. Tightly, unsparingly written, well illustrated. Marvel/Icon comics
They still say “Powers” #2 is part of a monthly series, which would be great to see; one of Brian Bendis’ series in which he seems very invested; at its best it’s clever, surprising, and beautiful to look at: hill street blues in a superhero world. Marvel/Icon
Still on my wait and see-list: Doom Patrol #5, (although the new, #3, is a sure step up); Power Girl #7, Unwritten #8, Queen Sonja #2 ( I really want to like these, but so far… not enough.)
And of course, I suggest each next issue of Conan, Usagi, Hellboy, Gotham City Sirens, Jonah Hex, Madame Xanadu, Fables and Jack, Unwritten, Echo, Lone Ranger, the Good, the Bad & the Ugly, and--Hulk (the Crimson Crusher).
I want you to read these comics! I enjoy’m, and I want you to, too. Read all of them. Read some of them; and please let me know what I'm over-looking.
thanks, and happy reading!
looking forward, everything based on hope--
Horror-masters Mike Mignola (W) and Richard Corban (A) enlist Dave Stewart’s colors for a Hellboy one-shot, “The Bride of Hell” from Dark Horse. For me this all but gaurantees a highly entertaining comic book.
Usagi Yojimbo #125 will be published in December, likely to be only as brilliant and beautiful as the previous—what is it? 240 issues?—chronicling the wandering of the honorable and capable rabbit ronin.
“Jonah Hex” reaches issue #50, and the culmination of a 6-issue story; it’s remarkable for a western comic to have done so well, and JH has done it on the strength of its lead character, excellent scripting and sometimes incredible artwork.
Though I dropped the title several issues ago, I’m getting “House of Mystery” #20 on the strength of the previews write-up that Cain finally finds his house. And Matthew Sturges (W) and Luca Rossi with Michael Wm. Kaluta (A) is a team well worth a dime.
Placing my chances on Michael Avon Oeming & Daniel Berman’s “God Complex” #1, (art by John Broglia), an ‘everyday’ story of Apollo, son of Zeus, trying to live an earthly, mortal life, very much against dad’s wishes; from Image Comics.
“King City” #5 Issues 1 & 2 are quirky to look at, quirky to read, and engaging, bringing more depth of background in an incident-by-incident (‘will it ever all tie together?’) storytelling style. Writer/artist Brandon Graham has street scenes, and injured aliens, and a cat that becomes or produces any tool one happens to need, yet remains a cat throughout; from Image Comics.
Boom Comics’ “Incredibles” hasn’t had the zip, edge and drive I’ve been hoping for but it’s nice to have a well-done, blatantly superficial, humor comic to read on Sunday. Boom’s “Mickey Mouse and Friends” first issue is likewise so-so, but shows it could become really swell, issues to come. Incredibles #5, Mickey #299, and a new Scrooge (#386) series-debut this December.
I’ve learned “Jon Sable: Ashes of Eden” is actually a reprint of an on-line series, but I haven’t seen it, and I much prefer comics on paper, December promises issue 3; hopin’ for the best comics can offer.
Trevor von Eeden’s The Original Johnson is a GN biography of the great Jack Johnson, first African-American heavyweight champion of the world. I’m a longtime Eeden fan (“Thriller” and “Green Arrow”) and a biography fan, and I’ve got a lot of hope for this one; 128 full color pages from IDW Publishing, at $20.
Rob Williams a long time ago published a very classy politically-toned comic book, now reprinted as “Cla$$war,” which predates present storylines in its tale of government ‘controlled’ superheroes gone rogue; from Com.x, full color, for $20.
“Stumptown” #3 is written by Greg Rucka whose mysteries I’ve liked a lot, going back to “White Out.” This’s tagged as “adventure/sci-fi” and then compared to “Rockford Files” and “Magnum P.I.” both of which I find occasionally entertaining, and “Gotham Central,” “Criminal” and “Stray Bullets,” all of which I find very entertaining… not adventure/sf…but dark detective, and I’m gambling it’s another worth the $4 (but 40 pages) cover-price.
Rick Remender’s stories are pretty much hit or miss for me, but I liked the presentation for “The Last Days of American Crime” in which the government (Them again) is about to broadcast a signal which makes criminal behavior impossible. The protagonist hears of this, and plans that one last great crime. A three issues, each 64 pages from Radical Publishing, $5 each; art by Greg Tocchini.
For my manga fix in December, I’m ordering “Naoki Urasawa’s ‘Monster,’” billed as a compelling manga thriller; apparently in an X-files serial killer style. 224 pages for $10, from Viz Signature.
Dare-Devil “#501” was okay, hopefully not a best effort by the new team; much depends on these follow-up issues, revealing whether 501’s ending is true, or cheap sham.
Spider-woman (#4) still isn’t the Jessica Drew I knew but I’ll support this a ways; as always, anything Dr. Strange is hope-demanding, so issue 2 of “Strange” is on my list.
“Criminal” #3 is part of another short story in a series; I’d really like to see the characters lives begin to interweave. Tightly, unsparingly written, well illustrated. Marvel/Icon comics
They still say “Powers” #2 is part of a monthly series, which would be great to see; one of Brian Bendis’ series in which he seems very invested; at its best it’s clever, surprising, and beautiful to look at: hill street blues in a superhero world. Marvel/Icon
Still on my wait and see-list: Doom Patrol #5, (although the new, #3, is a sure step up); Power Girl #7, Unwritten #8, Queen Sonja #2 ( I really want to like these, but so far… not enough.)
And of course, I suggest each next issue of Conan, Usagi, Hellboy, Gotham City Sirens, Jonah Hex, Madame Xanadu, Fables and Jack, Unwritten, Echo, Lone Ranger, the Good, the Bad & the Ugly, and--Hulk (the Crimson Crusher).
I want you to read these comics! I enjoy’m, and I want you to, too. Read all of them. Read some of them; and please let me know what I'm over-looking.
thanks, and happy reading!
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