Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 5/06/11

"Donist?"
"Yes, Obie."
"Is the water warm enough?"
"Yes, Obie."
"Shall we begin?"
"Yes, Obie."
Wait a second, Obie...you hate warm water.  You equate warm water to taking a bath and Boston Terriers don't like baths, so what are you talking about?
Donist World is a one big bath with jacuzzi jets, floating trays of bourbon and a television tuned to the Venture Brothers 24 hours a day.  A push of one button sends garlic duck fat fries into a bucket and for those of us watching our figures, the all-you-can eat salad bar is the way to go and you don't even have to leave the comfort of the tub.  Then there are the comics, the glorious comics being projected on a 72" screen and I have the sole control to turn the pages.  So, grab yourself a salad, some tasty fries, a generous serving of bourbon, sit back by one of the jets, and have yourself a gander at...


Friday Slice of Heaven




POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNINGS

Sweet Tooth #21

Sweet Tooth # 21 - Written and illustrated by Jeff Lemire, published by Vertigo Comics, a DC Comics imprint.  It's safe to say that any week involving Sweet Tooth means this title will be on FSoH.  I love this richly dark, foreboding, yet occasionally uplifting post-apocalyptic tale so much that the monthly wait for each issue is a painful one.
The tension between Jepperd and Gus reaches its zenith just in time for the two to be confronted by the deadly menace of a grizzly bear (no spoilers here, look at the cover).  The girls continue to talk to the possibly too-good-to-be-true Walter Fish and enjoy the amenities of the ecological wonder of the dam abandoned by the secret Project Evergreen.  A character begins to fall ill and a heartfelt reunion left me feeling choked up.
Because of the dark subject matter, Sweet Tooth is one of those books that might be difficult for some to read, but for those who can get past the bleak world Lemire has built, there is a real gem filled with characters that you will grow to love and admire.  The resolve to survive in a world so dire and after so many catastrophes is admirable and every minor victory is something to be celebrated.  You will gasp, you will cheer and possibly cry, and that is what good comics are all about.  VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Axe Cop:
Bad Guy Earth #3

Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth # 3 - Written by Malachai Nicolle and illustrated by Ethan Nicolle, published by Dark Horse Comics.  The final issue of the Bad Guy Earth mini-series arrives and it dutifully provides a realistic explanation of the Axe Cop world and it's inhabitents...no, no it doesn't.  I'm totally lying.  This book continues the madness and there is no explanation of really anything, but that is fine and I found myself laughing with every page.  This book is almost impossible to review without resulting to quoting directly from the book itself.  For instance: "Her name was Tuwasso.  She just bounced all around smashing dogs with her huge bottom and fire farting on them.  So Dinosaur Soldier shot her in the bottom.   She died, but her pet grizzly bear was really mad. So he shot it.  Bear blood splattered on Dinosaur Soldier. He became Bear Cop." Bear Cop is a bear with police shades and an uzi and what I just transcribed is one page of this insane book.
Nothing on the stands is like this and if you want a break from the same old superheroes, then give this title a try, and/or check out the Axe Cop TPB from Dark Horse comics, which reprints the webcomic.  Insanely wacky stuff, but so much fun and a perfect book to read after something as grim (yet compelling) as Sweet Tooth.  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Heroes for Hire #6

Heroes for Hire #6 - Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning and illustrated by Brad Walker, published by Marvel Comics.  I was about ready to drop this title after the last issue as it fell a little flat for me, but the latest installment brought me back on board.  In this issue Misty Knight is trying to rebuild her Heroes for Hire program, but after being controlled by the Puppet Master, few are willing to trust her.  Paladin, a former villain, is an exception, although he is still being paid.  No big spoiler here (look at the cover) but Spider-Man makes an appearance and he is willing to lend a hand in stopping the distribution of the Atlantean narcotic Hook and to work with Paladin.  This book is exciting and left wanting to read the next issue, which is great for a title that I am glad to have not dropped.  RECOMMENDED.



Slice Into the Woods


Back Pain - What the hell does this have to do with comics, movies, music or art in any way?  Well, I've always found agony to be a great stifler of creativity when I try to write, but maybe that's just me.  Thankfully, the pain has seemed to chill a lot and I am about to take the dog for a brief walk, have lunch/beers and see Thor with some friends--I will load up on the Ibuprofen.  Here's to hoping I'm healing and that I don't do whatever it was that I did to myself ever again.
*sidenote-when the pain was so bad yesterday that I had to crawl into a hot bath to relax the muscles, my Boston Terrier, Obie's sister, Tulip, sat outside of the tub the whole time.  She knew something was wrong, and her concern definitely helped matters.  Good dog.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 5/06/11