Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice into the Woods 2/27/15

(Sung to the tune of Rick Springfield’s “Love Is Alright Tonite”)

I’m picking up my comics tonight
Chew and Low best be waiting, to keep things alright
You never know, there might be a surprise
Like Spider-Gwen and Criminal to try on for size

Tonight, web-crawling is the ticket
Another must-read Harley Quinn
You surely must, surely must read it

I love these books, alright
Gonna read ’em all, tonight
I love these books
I love these books, alright


Hello there Donist World denizens and welcome back. I’m joined as every by CFO Obie (my friends’ Boston terrier) and by marketing director / administrative assistant / party planner / bad-week counselor (my dog, Obie’s sister). I am running a bit behind on Donist World, and this week has been none-too-fun, so we are going to cut the intro a tad short. Usually, Obie would balk at this, but even he is feeling bad about things, so he is thankfully not giving me any grief about stuff. Hey, he even went so far as to give me one of his spare chicken tacos. Sure there was a sizable bite taken out of it, but it’s the thought that counts. Anyhow, check out these four comics, as well as the awesome hardcover that wowed us this week.

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Criminal: The Special
Edition (One-Shot)

Criminal: The Special Edition (One-Shot) - Written by Ed Brubaker, illustrated by Sean Phillips, colored by Elizabeth Breitweiser, published by Image Comics. Teeg Lawless is not a good man. Not by a long shot. It’s no wonder he’s in prison, only he is doing time for a trivial crime as opposed to the the very big one the authorities don’t even know he committed. Thankfully, the sentence is short, and all Lawless has to do is keep his head down and wait out the days reading old comic magazines…that and figure out why there’s a price on his head.

Holy shpamoly, denizens, this comic is fantastic. Last we saw of Brubaker and Phillips’s Criminal was back in 2011 with the four-issue mini-series Criminal: The Last of the Innocent, and if you read my FSoH/SitW posts from back then, you’ll know that I was kind of blown away by that chapter. Honestly, you can say the same about most of the Criminal books over the years, but after an over-three-year-long absence, was I was worried the series had lost some of its luster? Heck no.

If you are a fan of crime comics, then there is absolutely no reason to skip out on this issue or the series in general. In each chapter, the creators take unsavory characters, criminals (duh), and provide a glimpse into who they are, what they’ve done, and for some, who they were. The brilliant part of this series is that you begin to sympathize with the various characters, even up until the point they do something truly horrible; even then you might find yourself rooting for them. The same holds true for this one-shot.

Teeg Lawless is a terrible human being. He is fine with killing, thieving, and most other illicit activities, and if you have been following the various Criminal books over the years, then you already know of Teeg, as he has been around in most (possibly all) of the arcs, and even starred in an issue. You should not like this man. You’re not supposed to. Still, the creators bring you into the mystery of who put the hit on him, and you can’t turn away.

In addition to the regular story, we are treated to a Warren Magazine-esque, black and white comic — with yellowed pages, no less — of Zangar the Savage, which Teeg attempts to read to pass the time despite continually being interrupted by attempts on his life. Phillips’s dark, shadowed style — prominent in books like Criminal, The Fade Out, and Sleeper — is better than ever, but in the Zangar sections he casts aside the shadows for a clean line style prevalent back in the day of the Warren Magazines I loved so much as a kid. Whether you are looking at the story proper or the comic-within-a-comic, Phillips’s artwork, regardless of the style, is simply beautiful.

Buy this comic. When I sat down to read this 48-page, $4.99 book (a bargain) it was late, I was tired, and almost called it a night to go to bed. Then I peeked inside to the yellowed, black and white Zangar tale, and the next thing I knew, I was awake and completely hooked by the story. I loved it. You can read this one-shot without having read any of the material that came before it, and I encourage all Criminal newbies to do just that. But…if you have interest in reading a phenomenal crime series, then I STRONGLY recommend you pick up the trades. That said, be sure to pick up the newly re-issued Image Comics versions of the Criminal trades, versus the older Marvel Icon ones, as I believe the creators receive a larger share of the sales. Although Criminal: The Last of the Innocent is still my favorite chapter, this one-shot comes in at ridiculously close second. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Chew #46

Chew #46 - Written and lettered by John Layman, illustrated and colored by Rob Guillory, color assist by Taylor Wells, published by Image Comics. Poyo in hell? Colby and Chu at odds? New and unexpected partners? A candy shop that is anything but sweet, and a plan that's kinda-all-sorts-of-messed-up? You betcha.

Did you feel it, denizens? If you have been reading the ever-awesome Chew, then I’m sure you did. For those of you not reading the most unique book on the stand, allow me to explain. After 45 issues — and two must-read Poyo specials — Chewvotees (devoted Chew readers…duh) have become quite attached to many of the characters in the book, and although every issue contains at least one moment of laugh-out-loud hilarity and zaniness, the past couple of installments have proven to be emotional gut punches that left us all reeling. We have watched characters get brutally beaten, one eviscerated, and one major character seemingly killed by a most heinous betrayal (no way is this so!). With issue 46, we see the fallout of broken trust and strifes worsened.

Still, you can’t help but laugh through much of this issue.

Layman and Guillory bring back D-Bear as Tony’s new partner, and despite my still being tore up over what went down at the end of last issue (I ain’t spoiling, but I’m sure you could figure it out), I was smiling as the diminutive man with larger-than-life hair punched out the evil-doer of the issue; heh…I’m still cracking up over it. But here’s the thing about these creators: one moment you’re grinning through the exaggerated characterizations, the funny sequentials, and the brilliant colors, but the next page brings all of that to a screeching halt as we are reminded of the grim events of the past couple issues. <brrrrr> Throughout the series you are allowed to become comfortable with the insane characters and the oddball world they inhabit, but that is when the creators remind us that although this is a mostly humorous comic, there is a grand story at work that isn’t always so nice.

Still, you can’t help but laugh through much of this issue.

Chew is flat out the best comic book ever created involving food-based powers. Yeah, I know, there are no other comic books involving food-based powers, but if there were, Chew would still be number one. Outside of that, this comic is consistently one of the best books on the stand. We are rapidly approaching the series end — issue 60? — which leaves me conflicted in my need to see what happens next, and my desire to see this fine book continue for infinity years. If you are not reading Chew (<sigh>, btw), and you can get past some of the gross parts (you know you can) do not just jump on anywhere. Start at the beginning. You can easily find the first nine trades, or take pride in your comic collecting / reading via the four gorgeous “Omnivore Editions”… like I have. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Low #6

Low #6 - Written by Rick Remender, illustrated by Greg Tocchini, lettered by Rus Wooton, edited by Sebastian Girner, published by Image Comics. Stel Caine’s life has not been easy, yet she remains optimistic about the future. She has seen her husband killed, her daughters abducted, and her son fallen to corruption amid life in a city that is about to die. Then she receives hope in the form of a returned probe promising life beyond her dying world. She drags her son away from self-destruction to search for the probe, and in their journey, Stel finds the pirate king Roln, the man who killed her husband. She also finds one of her missing daughters, and learns that the future is not something that comes easily.

I am still loving this book. I count it as my favorite of Remender’s recent creator-owned work, which is saying something given just how great Black Science and Deadly Class truly are. Low is a comic that may as well have been written for me in that we have an undersea sci-fi adventure mixed with monsters, massive cities filled with corruption amidst a world about to die, villainous villains, and a hero who remains strong in her optimism of a future despite every single horrible thing thrown her way. I wish I had Stel’s strength.

The creators gave us much to admire in the Caine family from the first few pages of the first issue. They roped us in with their dreams and the closeness of their tight-knit family, and then summarily tore it all apart by the end of that same issue. It’s a difficult thing to endear new characters to readers in but a few pages, yet Remender and Tocchini succeeded in doing so, and have since given us the highs and (more) lows that hit hard and left us admiring Stel for her perseverance. Again, I wish I had Stel’s strength.

Tocchini’s art continues to be staggeringly beautiful, especially with the predominantly warm color scheme, and the character designs of Stel, Marik, Tajo, and the supernatural pirate king Roln. My only nitpick with this issue is that a handful of panels are a bit unclear as to what is happening, but that said, those panels are still gorgeous in color and composition. As I have mentioned in past reviews, I would LOVE to see many of these covers / pages / panels become posters.

Thus ends the first arc, and what an ending it is. Some gnarly stuff goes down in this issue, denizens — boy howdy, does it — and I still don’t know quite what to make of what happened or what to expect for the next arc. What I do know, is that I am already anxiously waiting for the next issue of Low to return, and it’s safe to say that issue will be at the top of my reading stack come June. The first trade will be available near the beginning of April, so if you have not been reading this thrilling series, then catching up should be simple and at the top of your todo list. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Spider-Gwen #1

Spider-Gwen #1 - Written by Jason Latour, illustrated by Robbi Rodriguez, colored by Rico Renzi, lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles, published by Marvel Comics. In another time, another place, another world, it was Gwen Stacy, not Peter Parker, who was bitten by a radioactive spider that left her with sensational powers and abilities. Now, she is known as Spider-woman, and villains best beware. But that is her secret life…in the real world she is the daughter of police captain George Stacy, and she just recently quit the hit band known as The Mary Janes.

Okay, full disclosure here: I have not bought or read a Spider-Man book in I don’t know how many years. It has seriously been a long time, denizens, but please know that I’m not saying I don’t care about the character, I do, it’s just that I dropped off decades ago and never came back. That said, I am curious about what went down in Superior Spider-Man, and I’m unsure of the Spider-Verse event, but I know this Spider-Gwen character had a bit of buzz, not to mention one heck of a groovy character design. So, why not give this #1 a shot?

The one-page intro sheet explained some of what happened in the Spider-Verse thing, but honestly I was a bit confused as to what is up with Matt Murdock and the grey-skinned, goatee, Hulky dude, but whatever…I just went with it. Anyhow, having zero experience with this character or the world, it quickly became clear that this is a different universe as we meet a very different Ben Grimm, and a familiar Frank Castle working what has to be the man’s dream job. The Vulture quickly appears on the scene and the story kicks off from there.

Latour does a fantastic job giving all of the characters their own voices and the dialogue and situations made the F-word come to mind…the “F-word” being fun. This is further aided by Rodriguez’s solid storytelling skills and tight line work, with Renzi’s bright, close-to-flats color schemes creating a style that looks to make this title more accessible to new readers, which is great. Again, Spider-Woman’s design is just plain cool.

Like I said, I’m not completely certain what the heck is going on, but this issue captured my interest, and made me curious to see what happens next issue. I want to learn more about Gwen, The Mary Janes, and this new parallel universe. The crazy thing is that Spider-Gwen also got me buying a Marvel superhero book once again, one that wasn’t the soon-to-end Hawkeye. This issue is definitely worth checking out and had I read Edge of Spider-Verse #2 (where Spider-Gwen is introduced) prior to this one, I would have probably liked this issue even more — looks like I need to track down a copy of Edge of Spider-Verse #2. RECOMMENDED!

Harley Quinn:
Hot in the City HC

Harley Quinn: Hot in the City HC - Written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, art (mostly) by Chad Hardin, colored (mostly) by Alex Sinclair, lettered by John J. Hill, published by DC Comics. Harley Quinn is back and on her own in Brooklyn after inheriting an apartment building along with its colorful cast of occupants. Unfortunately, the property taxes that go along with the building require a hefty sum of green, something Harley is sorely lacking. So, with the help of a part-time therapy job, a roller derby job, and various…legally questionable jobs, Harley's looks to make life work. But when someone mysteriously puts a hit on her, sending every second-rate assassin out to kill her, Harley luckily has her apartment building friends, Poison Ivy, a stuffed beaver named Bernie (don’t ask), and a really, really, really old cybernetic guy to lend a helping hand.

I’ve been cool with Harley since the phenomenal Batman: The Animated Series first aired, but have not kept up with her in the comics at all. Sure, I’ve seen hundreds of people dressed as Harley at the various cons, and have heard / read about the various changes with the character and the myriad teams she has been involved with, but I just haven’t cared enough to delve into the Harleymania. Thanks to podcaster Jason Wood’s very high praise for this book on the 11 O’Clock Comics Podcast (my favorite podcast, btw), I decided to give this book a shot. I am so glad I did.

As of this writing, Amazon.com (click the image or the link) is selling this beautiful hardcover for $12.49. This is for nine issues (0–8) of the New 52 Harley Quinn series, which also includes uncolored Amanda Conner cover art, a bunch of penciled art from the series, and all of the alternate covers. For little more than a dollar an issue, you can’t beat this deal.

As for the book itself, it is charming, zany, and funny-as-all-get-out. I was immediately pulled into the crazy story and the mentally-unbalanced, animal-loving Harley had me seeing hearts every time she pulverized a bad guy with her immense mallet. I have no idea why an inanimate, partially-scorched, taxidermied beaver named Bernie is her best friend, but who am I to question a psychopath? Poison Ivy is great, the roller derby moments fun, and the fast-pace of the story kept me whipping through the pages.

Hardin’s character designs are stunning and his storytelling fantastic, while Sinclair’s vibrant colors keep the vibe disarmingly light, even when Harley flat out murders some dudes. What I love the most about the art, though, is the expressiveness of Hardin’s characters, namely with Miss Quinn. This is a beautiful book in story, art, and overall design.

You need to buy this. It’s practically a steal at this price, and I’m sure the deal at Amazon.com won’t last for much longer. The funny thing is just as Swamp Thing, the only DC book I’m buying, is poised to end, I’m brought back into the fold with this demented, fun-filled book that I hammered through over a couple days. It’s great to see some fun come back to the Big Two, and I now can’t wait for the next hardcover to come out. I never would have thought I’d be reading and loving a Harley Quinn book…huh, imagine that. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Slice into the Woods

Bad Week - I’m not going to go into it other than to say I was just notified that I did not get a job I REALLY wanted, and a comic story I wrote for a project I was excited about is kind of in limbo at the moment. <sigh> As always, looks like I’m going to have to do things the hard way. I hope your week is going better than mine. Joy…

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice into the Woods 2/27/15

Friday Slice Of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 2/20/2015

(Sung to the tune of The Cure’s “A Reflection”)


Hello there, denizens, and welcome back to Donist World! I’m joined as ever by CFO Obie (my friends’ Boston terrier) and by marketing director / administrative assistant / party planner / time management repair dog Tulip (my dog, Obie’s sister). We are running a bit behind this week as a bunch of stuff is happening, and given that Tulip is giving me the I need you to take me outside, right now look, I had to skip this week’s song for an instrumental (have you noticed The Cure has been my focus over the past couple months?). I only do this so that the you can get the lowdown on the heavenly items for this week before noon PST. Obie is shaking his head in disapproval, even going so far as to call me a slacker, but he should talk seeing as how he’s been outside the office (my mom’s basement) eating tacos and drinking water from the hose; I haven’t seen him do a lick of work all day. So, while I take Tulip out and hit up some of them tacos, have a look at this week’s…

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Lazarus #15

Lazarus #15 - Written by Greg Rucka, illustrated by Michael Lark with Tyler Boss, colored by Santi Arcas, lettered by Jodi Wynne, published by Image Comics. The Family Hock stands accused, the Family Carlyle the accuser. In instances such as this, the accused has the right to demand a trial by combat to prove their innocence, but Jakob Hock does not have his own Lazari to stand as champion, and thus pulls on a failing alliance with the Family Bittner. Unfortunately, Bittner's Lazari is none other than Sonja, Forever Carlyle’s dear friend.

Oh man, denizens, I totally forgot about how issue 14 ended, but when I picked up this issue and saw the cover — which is shocking in its display of the casual acceptance of violence — it all came flooding back. Last issue ended with the #$%@ing evil Jakob Hock demanding that Sonja and Forever meet in (possibly) deadly combat to prove his innocence in the death of Forever’s traitorous brother. Although Hock is innocent of this accusation, he is guilty of far more, but what struck me the most was the man’s cruelty in pitting friend against friend. I partly expected / partly hoped that Jonah would burst into the hall to confess all that had transpired, so that we would not have to watch these two friends take each other apart for the false appearance of honor amongst those who hold no such qualities. This does not happen, and the two Lazari come to blows.

Rucka and Lark have spent the previous four issues introducing us to Sonja. First as a unflinching, ruthless killer, then as the off-the-clock, naive woman possessing an almost childlike demeanor. She and Forever become close friends among a larger friendly group of Lazari. The creators cleverly had me fear Sonja by showing what she is capable of, then they made me absolutely adore her as much as I do Forever, which made this issue one of the most tense reads of the series thus far. Keep in mind that I usually read Lazarus with my shoulders pulled up taut near my ears, but this issue…dang…this issue is something else.

The first few pages remind the reader of just how stressful a cliffhanger we were left with, and the dialogue on those six pages steadily confirm that there is no avoiding this fight. We also see just how unimportant the Lazaris’ feelings (and safety) actually are as the call “…refreshments will be served,” is announced as the non-combatant Lazari gaze on. <sigh> Even just having reread this masterfully crafted scene, my heart starts to race, and the 12.83 silent pages of pure beauty begins.

I have never seen a more stunning, more action-packed, brutally executed, and flawlessly choreographed fight scene in a comic before Lazarus #15. Lark carries such power in not just the punches and stabs, but also in the character acting of the non-combatants. Seeing Jakob Hock’s disdain for Malcolm Carlyle as he ignores the violence transpiring on the floor below, his eyes scanning Malcolm for a reaction that never comes, is almost as chilling as Sonja and Forever’s battle. Almost. The actual fight is only made more intense by Arcas’s colors as the marble floors become increasingly bloodied and the toll of the battle on the women is painted for all to see. To be honest, I have never spent so much time on silent pages as with this issue, as I lingered on every single panel.

This might be my favorite issue of the series after issue 13 where the Lazari hang out free from the confines of family duty. That said, as amazing as this issue is, I would still recommend that new readers start at the beginning, as much of the impact of this issue comes from the investment of time spent in the world and becoming acquainted with each of the characters. You can easily catch up with the hardcover (issues 1–9), or with the first two trades (a third will be available in the coming months). Lazarus is one of my favorite of the recent onslaught of amazing Image titles, but it is also one of the most nerve-wracking of the bunch. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Deadly Class #11

Deadly Class #11 - Written by Rick Remender, illustrated by Wes Craig, colored by Lee Loughridge, lettered by Rus Wooton, edited by Sebastian Girner, published by Image Comics. The end of the second arc is here, as Marcus, Saya, Maria, and the gang take on Chester and his unholy family of meth-head psychopaths. If that wasn’t bad enough, hell hath no fury like a girlfriend wronged, who just happens to be trained in the deadly art of assassination.

Talk about going from one stressful book to another. This issue sees carnage and mayhem happening in practically every scene to such a degree that it at times seems like a hillbilly horror movie — you never know what sort of maniac is going to come at our heroes next. And if I’m going to be completely honest…ain’t nothin’ more terrifying than being pursued by a maniac wearing a headband, a tank top, and a pair of tighty-whities. The story has been slowly building toward the many confrontations of this issue, and now that we are here, the only moments that slow the pacing down are done so to make Marcus and Chester’s confrontation all the more creepy.

Craig keeps the pace frantic with his many-paneled pages, and off-kilter layouts, and Loughridge takes the tension and ratchets it up by frequently changing color schemes. The exception to this is during the Maria versus Gran Gran scene, which relies on a bluish-green lighting to the creepy bathroom where the fight takes place. The entire book is unnerving in both art and story, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We are also left on pretty brutal cliffhanger that looks to keep us biting our nails for the next 60 days until the story resumes.

Deadly Class is a blast, but like most of the books I am loving — predominantly from Image Comics — I would not suggest jumping in willy nilly. The first trade is a mere $9.99 for six issues, and the second trade collecting issues 7–11 will probably show up in the next month. If you are looking for something outside of capes and tights, and are cool with an adult-oriented comic about some messed up kids attending a secretive high school for assassins, then there is absolutely no reason to pass on this dang-entertaining book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Bitch Planet #3

Bitch Planet #3 - Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by Robert Wilson IV, colored by Cris Peter, lettered by Clayton Cowles, published by Image Comics. We interrupt the regularly scheduled programming to take a look at one of the players in the “Bitch Planet” games: Penelope Leona Rolle, aka “Penny Rolle.”

It looks as if every couple issues in this series will feature a look at one of the women from “Bitch Planet,” and will feature a guest artist to tell the tale. Being the first woman featured after only two issues, we take a look at Penny Rolle, who has thus far only been seen beating the bejesus out of the misogynistic guards. My initial reaction to this change in story pace was one of hesitance, but then I read this issue. Not only did I gain a new appreciation and understanding of Penny, this abrupt break from the greater story actually fit in well with some of the harsh cuts found in cult / exploitation films that inspire this book. We also gain more insight into the patriarchy — the “Fathers” — who ultimately decide how woman are supposed to act.

Wilson IV’s art has cleaner lines and a more cartoonish feel than that of regular artist Valentine De Landro, which makes it all the more apparent that this is a flashback / break and works so very well as a “commercial” to the story proper. Peter then uses a halftone dot coloring style on Penny’s days before being shipped off to Bitch Planet, and adds a coloring scheme to the gutters and margins that imply yellowed ’70s comic paper as a cool effect.

We are not all that far into Bitch Planet, but I have enjoyed everything I have read thus far, including this interlude issue, which fits nicely into the grand story. With only three issues available, you might have to do a little searching to get ahold of the first two issues, but I would strongly suggest doing so, as Bitch Planet looks to be taking us on one heck of a journey, while casting an important light on gender roles and stereotypes in the process. Enlightenment and fun, all rolled up in one! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Autumnlands:
Tooth & Claw #4

The Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw #4 - Written by Kurt Busiek, illustrated by Benjamin Dewey, colored by Jordie Bellaire, lettered and designed by John G. Roshell and Jimmy Betancourt of Comicraft, published by Image Comics. Dunstun’s awe of the Great Champion, Learoyd, only deepens when the odd man invites the boy to join him on his exploration through the surrounding areas. Also, what exactly is Goodfoot playing at?

The creators continue to slow the pacing a little more after the intense first two issues. Dunstun takes more of the spotlight and we see him begin to realize exactly just how sheltered his life in the air had been. Busiek takes this pause to let his character experience real life and see that there is more to the enemies than he previously thought. We also get to see a single panel of Learoyd’s past as well as some of his tactical skills as he gains an understanding of both his enemies and his supposed allies.

The art continues to be wonderful, especially when it focuses on the many animal people, with Dewey continuing to amaze in his ability to impart emotion through an animal's expression. The brief battle with the bat people is exciting in its choreography, but much of the strength of this issue is found in Dewey’s storytelling and character acting. As a sidenote, I really wish I had one of those walking chairs…you just need to see it.

Things may have slowed down with this issue, but The Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw continues to be a fascinating and magical read. I’ve been hoping for a serious fantasy comic for some time now, and Busiek and Dewey have more than delivered. Issue one is already at a second printing, so picking up these first four issue should be possible, and I encourage all fantasy lovers to give this series a try. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Running Out of Time! - Ack! I’m going to have to cut this short, as I have had interviews, a graphic design job, large and complex class assignments, and work on the second Tulip: The Superpowered Boston Terrier book raining down upon me. It’s good to be busy, but geez Louise…

Friday Slice Of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 2/20/2015

Friday Slice Of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 2/12/2015

(Sung to The Cure’s “Catch”)

So lend ear towards new books I kind of love
Some groovy ones you need to know
Yeah The Sixth Gun’s end indeed draws closer
I sure don’t want to see it go

You know Rachel Rising might be great for you
That dead dame’s been through hell it’s not fair
With sports I roll my eyes up to heaven
Yet Southern Bastards makes me care

These books make me fall in love by gosh
I can’t help but keep falling again and again
And there’s still one more to read, have no fear
Satellite Sam’s back top of game


Hello there, denizens, and welcome back to Donist World. I’m Donist, and we’re joined as ever by CFO Obie (my friends’ Boston terrier) and by marketing director / administrative assistant / party planner / head nurse of medicine disbursement Tulip (my dog, Obie’s sister). I’ve been sick this week and had to resort to taking some NySwill anti-cough, knock-yo’-butt-into-next-Tuesday cold medicine last night, so I don’t really know what the heck is going on or in what plane of existence I’m actually residing at this moment. What I do know is that Obie, thankfully, is leaving me alone with his “Full-Contact Management” nonsense, and instead has used his new techniques to hammer one of the comic distributors (yeah, we all know there’s only one) into being sure all of our comics arrived on time this week. Historically, for whatever reason, there has been a higher probability of any comics beginning with R or S, being mis-shipped and delayed for at least two weeks. I would say that 5–10% of the time this occurs, and it just so happens that this week’s comics were only comics beginning with R or S. So, thank you, Obie, for getting on the horn and letting that distributor know that we suffer no…hold on…Tulip’s whispering something in my ear. Okay, it turns out that Obie was not on the phone yelling at the distributor, earlier this week, he was actually yelling at the burrito joint about holding the sour cream on his order — he just said he was securing our weekly comics. Hmmmmmm…well, we got them all anyways and that is what matters. So, while I re-up on my coffee, and try to get back down to Earth, rise up towards all things heavenly with…

Friday Slice Of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

The Sixth Gun #46

The Sixth Gun #46 – Written by Cullen Bunn, illustrated by Brian Hurtt, colored by Bill Crabtree, lettered by Crank!, designed by Keith Wood, edited by Charlie Chu, published by Oni Press. With Screaming Crow’s spirit dispersed, the great thunderbirds have gone mad, lashing out at everything in their path as the tempest rages on. Griselda the Gray Witch and Jesup have used the six guns to break the damnable seal and they head downward to forever alter the world. Meanwhile, Becky and Drake have snakemen, wild thunderbirds, and a flood to occupy their time.

This issue is one heck of an adventurous blast. The issue opens as Griselda and Jesup succeed in placing the final gun upon the seal. Drake and Becky have failed…and you hold your breath as you turn the page. From that moment on, Bunn and Hurtt refuse to let you catch that breath as thunderbirds rampage, snakemen descend, and Drake and Becky struggle to stay above water as a town dies. The tension never really lets up until the very end with a surprise guest who made me cheer. Still, the good guys are totally hosed, and I was left desperately wishing for another 20–40 pages since my adrenaline was in overdrive; no matter how long the wait for next issue, it’s going to be a brutal one.

Save for a couple of pages, the creators use high panel counts to keep the tension high and to make each sequence all the more dire. The scenes with Drake moving from house to house and from level to level had the feel of an Indian Jones movie as the hero barely squeaks by with his hide intact as enemies come at him from every direction. The same is true for Becky as she struggles to stay alive despite all hope being lost. Each character’s fight had me eagerly flipping through to see what happened next, and despite being nerve-wracking, I enjoyed every page.

This issue is yet another example of Hurtt’s storytelling prowess, as your eye flows through each panel and your mind fills in the unseen actions in-between. The character acting is as wonderful as ever, with great scenes of snakemen losing their bravado when faced with Drake, as well as when Becky flashes a smile just before Drake panics over what lurks behind her.

The artwork alone is beautiful, but Crabtree’s colors make the book shine. Because of the rain and the flood, most of the book is set to cool color tones, but near the issue end, the blast of red with flowing blue lines (not going to spoil exactly what is going on) has a shocking similarity to blood and veins on a gorgeous full-page spread.

The Sixth Gun is rapidly approaching its end with what I believe to be only this chapter and the next (?) remaining. Now is not the time to jump in. If you have been reading this comic since the beginning, then you already know how great this supernatural Western with a The Lord Of the Rings vibe continues to be. If you have not been reading The Sixth Gun — despite my continuously telling you to read this exceptional comic, I might add — then you really need to start at the beginning with the first trade and move on from there…you'll be glad you did. This thrilling roller coaster ride of an issue comes VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Rachel Rising #31

Rachel Rising #31 – Everythinged by Terry Moore, published by Abstract Studio. A grisly find on a long, lonely stretch of road gives Aunt Johnny cause for concern. Rachel died…again…but this time she sees “the stream of life” and gains the address of her killer from the ghost of one of his previous victims. She also envisions Zoe’s fate five years in the future, and it is not a good one.

Rachel Rising has been moving at a slow, steady pace for the past couple of issues, but that changes as we (maybe) learn the identity — or at least find the residence — of Rachel’s killer. We also see Aunt Johnny — one of my favorite characters in the series — at work and discovering a horrific murder that makes me very curious to see how it ties into Rachel’s search for her own killer.

Even though the story is fantastic, Moore’s greatest success with each issue of this series is his ability to make you love his characters. A child with the soul of a serial killer and in possession of Lucifer’s sword? Fine by me, Zoe is one of my favorite characters. A slightly unbalanced mortician who talks to her subjects, and was once poisoned, and had her soul placed into a dog before being brought back from the brink of death? As I said before, Aunt Johnny is one of my favorite characters. Of course you have Rachel and Jet — the dead girls — who are fascinating in their extremely different personalities. Moore’s art only makes you love each character all the more, which can even be said of some of the past villains like Lilith and Malus.

Every panel of Moore’s work is beautiful to such an extent that even the rain falling on a two-lane road is something to linger over and enjoy. Or the lovely falling leaves as Rachel and the spirit girl stare at a murderer’s property. Every character is a work of dramatic, expressive art, and the same can be said of even the mundane background elements that set the mood of the scene. Moore is a master writer / artist, a rare thing nowadays, and each of his creator-owned books is worthy of all praise given.

This cover is also my favorite to date.

If you are not reading this book, then I implore you to do so. Moore is a solo act on this series, he does it all, including publishing it on his own. Every issue and every trade sale goes to ensuring we continue to experience this awesome horror comic. Rachel Rising is always one of my most anticipated reads, and I look forward to rereading the five trades in the near future. I actually double dip on this one, denizens, as I read issues, and my wife reads the collections, and we are glad to give a little extra boost to a creator we adore. Face, it, you owe it to yourself to be reading this dang-fine comic. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Southern Bastards #7

Southern Bastards #7 – Written by Jason Aaron, illustrated by Jason Latour, lettered by Jared K. Fletcher, edited by Sebastian Girner, published by Image Comics. After Euless Boss got his foot shot as a result of his no good, rotten-to-the-core daddy’s illicit activities, one would think the boy had given up on football…not so. In fact, even before he is fully healed, Boss is on the field giving it his all. With the instruction of blind Big, Boss might have a chance of seeing his dreams made real. Unfortunately, carrying the name “Boss” carries a helluva lot of weight.

As I have said before, I do not like football, and after issue four of this fantastic series, I sure as heck hated — and I mean hated — Coach Euless Boss. Now, I still have little to no love for the sport, but the creators are succeeding in turning me around on Coach Boss. This is kind of insane, as Euless is a deplorable character in the present, but now that we’ve taken a look at his youth and seen the household he’s grown up in…let’s just say the wicked son of a gun looks to have good reason for being the way he is. Criminy, his life was awful, and therein lies the extraordinary talent of these creators, who have made a sport I dislike and the culture behind it fascinating, while at the same time making me sympathize with the murderous Coach Boss. Heck, I still have a hard time believing it. Even more crazy…I want more: more of Boss’s past, and more of the game and its effect on the town of Craw County, Alabama.

What’s different with this issue from the previous two, is that we stay completely within the red-toned, yellowed paper of the past, with not a glimpse of Boss’s present. This is not a bad thing, just something I noticed, and given how much there is to tell of this character’s history, it was precisely the right way to go with this issue. I loved seeing Euless stand up to his father, and excel in the game as each victory brought an even greater crushing blow that made me wince…again, for a character I completely hated.

Aaron’s dialogue is great and Latour’s art jaw-dropping in its harsh beauty. The cover alone is something I could see blown up and hanging on my wall as blind Big looks into the night sky and where he once saw stars, now he only sees football plays. What the heck has come over me? I’m stoked about a sport, and that is something that never happens — except when two truly gifted creators are able to actually make me care.

With a name like Southern Bastards, do you have any doubt that the comic itself will be anything less than kinda harsh? Even if you hate football, or sports in general, this is a book that should not be missed. Just be ready to get angry, real angry, by the end of the first trade. If any creators capable of making you care when you didn’t, sympathize for someone you hated, or excited to see what happens next, then something truly amazing is happening within the pages of their fine book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Satellite Sam #11

Satellite Sam #11 – Written by Matt Fraction, illustrated by Howard Chaykin, lettering and logo by Ken Bruzenak, digital production by Calvin Nye (thanks to Dean Parks), designed by Drew Gill, edited by Thomas K, published by Image Comics. Michael and Kara in bed together? Libby forced off the road and left for dead? Blackmail? Klan problemes? Multiple non-conventional marriage arrangements set to implode? Backstabbing at the studio? All that and Dick only just recently died. Things can only go downhill from here.

Satellite Sam has been on hiatus for a while, but the creators waste little time in bringing readers back up to speed with the informative roll call page, just before we awaken alongside the hero of the show. The cast of characters is huge in this series, and it honestly took me a while near the beginning to keep them all straight, but once I figured out who was who, I’ve been transfixed by this book ever since. Satellite Sam can be compared to a darker, more dysfunctional sibling of Mad Men, only with more adult-style themes (i.e. more explicit S-E-X), but like that television show, this comic is not for everyone. There are no superheroes, no fantastical elements, it is straight up reality perfectly set in the early’50s. Fraction has brilliantly written and researched this tale, requiring you to have your thinking cap fit tightly upon your head, and that you are nowhere near the state of mind of the series’s main character, Michael White.

Chaykin’s art is gorgeous and dramatic and his storytelling without compare, with the jaw-dropping shading of crosshatching and halftone dots used throughout the book providing amazing depth to all the characters — mere description cannot do his art service, you have to see it. Then there are the intricate background and clothing patterns like the wood grain in a headboard, or the details of a rug or the titles of books, or the label of a pack of cigarettes, or the checkerboard floor of a diner: it’s all stunning. Everything written and every visualization deserves to be lingered over, making this one beautiful black and white comic.

We are in the final arc of Satellite Sam, and although I did not expect the story to last for many years, I will be sad to see it go. As I mentioned above, this smart, risque series will not be for everyone, but those up to the challenge are sure to be wowed once they get into the groove of things. If you have not been reading Satellite Sam, then by bejeebus do not jump on in the middle. Start with the first ridiculously inexpensive $9.99 trade that covers the first five issues, and proceed from there to the second, and then read this issue. You need to devote the time to the world, the characters, and the multifaceted story Fraction and Chaykin have masterfully built. I cannot wait to reread this series from the beginning once it all wraps. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

This Stupid Cold - It seems everyone has it. The kids at Amy’s school are dropping like flies, my publication design teacher had it, and I had barely recovered enough to make it to class as well. Yuck. So that makes it two illnesses thus far in 2015 for this Donist, and we are not even halfway through the second month. I probably should not have boasted near the end of 2014 to a friend that I had not been sick for nearly three years…I totally jinxed it. Drink plenty of liquids, and get plenty of sleep, denizens, and possibly lock yourselves in a self-contained, human-sized, hamster ball…you don’t want this.

Friday Slice Of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 2/12/2015

Into the Land of Discovery: The LCS

It’s been a good, long while since I posted something other than a “Friday Slice Of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods” post (weekly) or a “Micronauts Monday” post (ended July of last year), but I’ve been thinking a lot about the golden days of the ’70s, and spinner racks, and newsstands, and what life was like before my first local comic shop (LCS). I touched on some of these topics back in 2010 when I first started Donist World, but thought it was high time for a revisit.

As a kid living in Akron, OH, I always had comics around from a very young age. I’m not completely certain where they had come from, whether my mom or dad bought them for me, or maybe they had been lugging some around for some reason, but all I know is I had quite a few. Of course I had books with Batman, Spider-Man, Superman, the Fantastic Four, the Legion of Superheroes, and the Avengers, the usual superhero fare, but I also had some stuff most adults would consider worthy of contacting child protective services.

Would you let your
six-year-old read this?

Yeah, this six-year-old loved to read himself some horror funny books. Weird War Tales, Werewolf By Night, Tomb of Dracula, Man-Thing, Godzilla, Unknown Soldier, House Of Secrets, and House of Mystery all completely rocked my world. I recall the odd Richie Rich, or Casper the Friendly Ghost, or Hot Stuff (which I liked…y'know…a devil baby, c’mon) kicking around my collection, but for me, the creepier the comic, the better. That’s why Swamp Thing #10 is the issue that solidified my love of comics.

Of course I wasn’t exactly reading the issues way back then, mostly I flipped through and enjoyed the monster mash, but that one issue of Swamp Thing…dang, I just could not get enough of it. You had the title character of the Swamp Thing, who was a large, green, plant creature with roots for veins, but he was not the only monster in this issue. It also had the positively horrific Anton Arcane and his equally disturbing Un-Men to make my heart pump faster and to keep me awake late at night. Although I didn’t know it at the time, I had gained an appreciation of illustration through the gorgeous artwork of Bernie Wrightson, whose style I would recognize in many of my beloved horror comics. I would also come to notice Wrightson’s work in the more naughty magazines (Eerie, Creepy, and Heavy Metal), which I secretly perused at the the local Clicks store, which led to my discovery of Richard Corben, but that is another tale that I touch on briefly here and here in a couple looks at some beautiful hardcover releases.

Oh my gosh.
I think I have the vapours…

Anyways, Swamp Thing made me a lover of comic books, but I still only bought them on occasion off of spinner racks at convenience stores and grocery stores. That was until the day I bought my first issue of The Micronauts — cue the “Hallelujah” chorus from Händel’s Messiah. The amazing toy line had utterly consumed me for sometime, but the day I saw The Micronauts #2 sitting on the rack at the newsstand, it seized my eyeballs as I seized 35¢ from my mom to buy it. On the cover I saw Acroyear, Space Glider, and my soon-to-be-favorite character, Bug, who I prayed would someday be made into an action figure — I’m still waiting. One read through this sci-fi adventure with stunning art by Michael Golden, I had suddenly changed from a kid who bought comics willy nilly, to a monthly buyer and collector.

My poor parents. I kind of feel sorry for them at this point. Not only did I beg to go to the toy store at the mall, but more so I wanted to go to the newsstand a couple times a week, just on the off chance the latest issue of The Micronauts had arrived. My love and devotion to this series followed me from Ohio to California, where I was still able to find all my new issues at the grocery store, 7-11, and K-Mart. I was happy as could be until the day issue #37 arrived to shatter my world. I reminisce about this issue in my “Micronauts Monday” post here, but the short version is that the death knell of buying comics at grocery stores and newsstands had sounded. The Micronauts was one of the first series to go to the magical realms known as “comic specialty stores” and “select retail outlets,” which made zero sense to my 11-year-old mind. Thus I entered into what I call The Micronauts Void.

VICTORY!!!

This period would last roughly a year and a half, until by some weird miracle I found out about Andromeda Bookshop. The first time I set foot in this L-shaped store, I was initially disappointed by the overstuffed shelves of sci-fi and fantasy books, but once you walked further in and hung a right…glory. Before me was a large, square room with cubbies full of comics behind the counter on the left and back walls, and new comics on racks to the right. There was also a table in the center that held the week’s new releases, and multiple bundled series climbed the right wall toward the ceiling; we wont’t go into the XXX books crammed into the corner. I had found it, my own pirate’s treasure trove. I had entered Olympus itself, and it bore riches beyond my imagining. More importantly, there sitting upon the Andromeda comic racks was that which I coveted beyond all else: a new issue of The Micronauts, #50 to be exact. 

I have tried to find pictures of Andromeda for years,
and finally found one. I was not here for this event,
but this is the room. Photo by Ted Mills.

I was back in business. Not only could I buy new books, I could also fill the many gaps in my collection — once I had saved up enough allowance, of course. This would take some time, as new and what would become legendary comics (Batman the Dark Knight Returns, Miracle Man, Watchmen, The Saga of the Swamp Thing, and so many more) were dropping like joyfully dark rain upon the gritty concrete streets.

Over at least two summers, my brother and I made the couple-times-a-week walk from our house to the comic store downtown (4.25 miles round trip) so we could torment the employees by making them drag out all The Micronauts, Daredevil, Uncanny X-Men (the Claremont issues, by golly) back issue stacks, so we could marvel at the covers, and bemoan the out-of-our-price-range costs. These journeys were in addition to our mom driving us to Andromeda every Saturday once we had been paid our $2/week allowance. It’s safe to say we were a little obsessed.

Nerds are cool and all, but this nerd
prefers Volcano Rocks.

The walk downtown wasn’t just about the comics; although that was the primary force for making the trek. We also got to stop by the State Street Video Game Arcade to play Bagman, Joust, and Crystal Castles. Then there was a quick visit to the game store inside the Piccadilly Square mall, not to mention spiced potato logs, lime Slush Puppies, and Willy Wonka Volcano Rocks at Fernando’s Market on the way back home…if we had any money left over, which we rarely did.

Alas, my first LCS bit the dust in the ’90s thanks to high rents and the comic crash, but thankfully Metro Comics came along and I have been shopping there ever since. Only now, I drive to my LCS and I have big boy money to spend, which given current comic book prices means I can roughly buy about the same number of books as I could back when I was a kid.

What was your first LCS?

Any fond memories, or epic journeys to get to one?

How about your favorite Holy Grail comic as a kid?

I’d love to hear about it.

Into the Land of Discovery: The LCS

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 2/6/2015

(Sung to the tune of The Cure’s “A Forest”) <--great old live video, btw

Come closer and read
The books that you need
Wytches chill
Star Wars, man

Come closer and read
Return to Saga
I’ll tell you no lies
I’ll tell you no lies

East Of West, guys
Swamp Thing closing
Nameless is deep
I’m in the dark

I fear Hawkeye’s
About to end
One more to go…
One more to go…

Criminy we have a lot of books to talk about this week, so let’s get right to it. Welcome to Donist World! I’m joined as ever by CFO Obie (my friends’ Boston terrier) and by marketing director / administrative assistant / party planner / experience specialist Tulip (my dog, Obie’s sister). This week we have seven books to look at, which might not seem like many, but when I explain why I like each one, and why I feel you might like them as well…trust me, it takes a long while to write it all down. Anyhow, Obie and Tulip are in the corner trying to piece together what the heck is going on in Nameless, Grant Morrison’s latest book, which is fine by me, as I have had enough of Obie’s “Full-Contact Management” nonsense that he has been trying to enact as corporate policy, here at the office (my mom’s basement). Except for my diminished bank account, this was a pretty good week for comics, with my favorite book of the bunch following below. So, get yourself some tacos, sit back, and enjoy this week’s…

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Wytches #4

Wytches #4 - Written by Scott Snyder, illustrated by Jock, colored by Matt Hollingsworth, lettered by Clem Robins, edited by David Brothers, published by Image Comics. With his daughter missing, Charlie is at a loss for how to find her. Luckily, the strange, legless woman who assaulted him in his own house left a message written in the broken blood vessels of his stomach, a message that simply reads “Here.” His wife, Lucy, doesn’t believe him, but Charlie heads to the hurricane-ravaged town of Here, to find the legless woman. Meanwhile, Sailor awakens in the wytches’ den.

This, denizens, is the exact kind of horror story I love and seek out whenever I can. There is something oddly comforting about reading a comic that makes you so uncomfortable. After reading this book, it was past 9 PM and I had yet to take the dog out to do her business. I live in a very quiet area — outside of freeway noise — and could not help but be hyperaware of the fog giving a pinkish hue to the night sky, while providing barely increased visibility of the deserted park out back. The rustling trees, the scattered obscuring hedges, the darkened makeshift path off the parking area where I have once or twice seen a person stagger from, all brought me to distraction. Everywhere I looked seemed to be a place where the wytches might be watching, whispering their promises of desires fulfilled, all for a little sacrifice. As much as I dig the extra awareness of my surroundings, I hurried Tulip along so we could get back inside. THAT is what reading Wytches did to me, and this feeling of nervousness and unease carried through to where I am still thinking about the book the next day as the sun shines bright and the creepy park becomes lovely.

“That’s great, Donist. We now know you’re a big scaredy cat, but we want to know about the comic, not you. You’re probably left trembling after an episode of Goober and the Ghost Chasers.” Uh, yeah, not so much. What I mean to say is that this series, and this issue in particular, really affected me…as all good horror should. Snyder, Jock, and Hollingsworth don’t care about the dreaded cat waiting to leap from behind the trashcan to elicit a scream followed by the tension-relieving laugh. They also don’t resort to gore pr0n that is so over-the-top that you again resort to laughing at the ridiculousness of what you are seeing. Instead, the creators have created a mood, an atmosphere, that began as something unsettling and only escalates from there. It’s a slow build and nowhere do you find cheap scares in story, art, or colors. There is no release of tension until you set the issue you just read down…and then you take the dog outside into the quiet night, or have to get something you forgot out of the car, or have to walk down the darkened hall of your own home. Wytches excels in not the fear of the unknown, but rather the fear that comes from realizing there actually is something lurking out there, and it knows more about you than you know about it.

This issue jumps seamlessly between the past and the present of different characters. The flashback scene with Charlie and Sailor shows some of Charlie’s past less-than-admirable parenting moments, offering insight into the person Charlie was back then. The present day scenes with Charlie and Clara Poirot (the legless, bald woman) provides a hint into the who and what the wytches are, while being scary as all heck — Jock’s wytch skull is something that should stick in your mind for a good while as well. The scenes with Sailor, especially with the clothes (I ain’t spoilin’), push you ever deeper into the tension this book is certain to instill.

I have already mentioned how spectacular this series is in both its individual aspects (writing, illustrations, colors) and the collaborative whole, so I won’t rehash all the technical details as to why Wytches is so great. If you are a fan of the horror genre, and want a comic that is masterfully told by three creators working in perfect harmony, then look no further than Wytches. I believe the first arc will run six issues, and a trade collecting them will follow shortly thereafter, but this series looks to have an essay by Snyder included in the back matter of each issue, and thus far is well worth a read. I just went from really, really liking Wytches to absolutely loving it, and I am happily terrified to see what happens next. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Saga #25

Saga #25 - Written by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples, lettered and designed by Fonografiks, coordinated by Eric Stephenson, published by Image Comics. Wreath (horns) and Landfall (wings) have been at war for a very long time, and a short history lesson — from Landfall’s POV — summarizes things. Three months have passed since Dengo abducted Hazel, Prince Robot IV’s newborn, Clara, Alana, Izabel, and Friendo (Friendo!), and Dengo is making little headway in recruiting for his cause. The Brand, Sophie, Gwendolyn, Sweet Boy, and Lying Cat seek to find a cure for The Will. Marko and Prince Robot IV need to stop trying to kill each other long enough to work with Ghus and Yuma to find their abducted families.

Month(ish) in and month(ish) out, Saga continues to be fantastic and one of the best comics on the stands. After a brief hiatus, this issue begins the fifth arc and mostly serves to remind readers of what has occurred while moving the story along just a tad. Usually, recap issues annoy the heck out of me, but the Vaughan and Staples creatively bring us up to speed through cleverly hidden exposition, while providing a view of the history of the Landfall and Wreath war, and managing to work in a comment on the nature of modern warfare as well.

It is great to be reacquainted with my Saga friends, and as always the book is over much too fast. The large cast of characters looks to expand even further with the one-page introduction of the “Revolution,” but where I would be worried about too many characters in other titles, my reaction to this issue was bring ’em on! If I was to find any fault in this month, it would seem that things on a whole seemed…rushed. That said, a possibly rushed issue of Saga is still an amazing thing to behold, and well worth your time.

If I am correct in thinking this issue read somewhat like a jumping on point, and you have never picked up an issue of this Donist World darling, then I strongly recommend you do yourself the favor of indeed buying this issue, but doing so along with the first four trades and starting from the very beginning. I fell in love with Marko, Alana, The Will, Lying Cat, and this universe back in the first issue, and everything after that has served to only deepen my love of each new character. It is never to late to jump in at the beginning. I promise you won’t regret it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Star Wars #2

Star Wars #2 - Written by Jason Aaron, illustrated by John Cassaday, colored by Laura Martin, lettered by Chris Eliopoulos, published by Marvel Comics. If the negotiator you are about to square off against is none other than Darth Vader, then you should probably think about changing careers. As Luke Skywalker stands completely outmatched against the Sith Lord, Han, Leia, and R2-D2 attempt to pilot an AT-AT Walker loaded with former slave labor workers out of the area. C-3PO receives some unwanted roadside help with the Millennium Falcon.

Dagnabbit, denizens, I…do…not…want…to…buy…this…comic! As I mentioned last month, delving into the Star Wars universe is like trying to drink Kool-Aid through a funnel that is an inch at the bottom, and that opens up to a diameter of roughly a mile. Sure, we are going to start with this one title, but then we will get Leia, then Darth Vader, then Han Solo, and so on until infinity. By this time next year there will probably be about 10 Star Wars titles…at least. “If that is the case, Doofus, then why are you buying this?” Easy, denizens. I’m buying this comic because it is a thrilling adventure set in a universe I adore, it has some much-loved  and talented creators involved, and it is just a total kick in the pants (i.e. a heck of a lot of fun).

Aaron continues to just nail every single character voice in this comic to such an extent it might as well have been the long-lost Star Wars: Episode 4.5. Seeing Darth Vader in the first Star Wars trailer back in the ’70s absolutely blew my kiddie mind, and even though I loved all three of the movies, I always wished I could see more of the dreaded Sith Lord in action. I can only suspect Aaron felt the same, as he brings Vader to the story as a fearsome force of nature who toys with Luke, and practically takes down a tank-on-steroids with the Force (get it?) of his mind. All of this is visually thrust at you by Cassaday and Martin, who elevated my heart rate with each beautiful sequence. I guess what I’m trying to say is that this book made me go Wow!

The big question…should you buy this? Duh. Of course you should. Just go into it knowing that if this book sweeps you up, as I suspect it will, you will probably think maybe I should pick up those Leia and Darth Vader comics as well. When you open those floodgates, just be prepared to take on that second job and rent that storage space as you are going to need it to pay for and house the deluge of Star Wars comics flooding into your life. You’ve been warned…but do check this out! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Hawkeye #21

Hawkeye #21 - Written by Matt Fraction, illustrated by David Aja with Raul Allen, colored by Matt Hollingsworth, lettered by Chris Eliopoulos, published by Marvel Comics. With Clint Barton partially deaf and Barney Barton paralyzed from the waist down after their encounter with The Clown, the Barton brothers prepare to defend their building, and its occupants, from the menace of the Tracksuit Draculas.

Wow, that was a heck of a long wait. I’m not really sure what the delay was, but even though some of the impact of my favorite Marvel superhero title is missed, this issue serves as a reminder of what I loved about this comic since issue one. Aja’s art is as striking as ever some with spectacular action sequences (Clint firing upon the Tracksuits), cinematic moments (the vans approaching, and The Clown preparing to leave the vehicle), escalating tension (the Barton brothers and the Tracksuits near the end…yikes!), and some killer design pages (the title page, and again Clint firing upon the Tracksuits). Sure there was a wait, but for results like this issue, I suppose it is worth it.

Fraction’s writing continues to make both the story and the character compelling, while making this title so unique compared to most normal superhero books. The lipreading sequence with Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman) had me confused for a moment, but once I realized the parenthesis symbolized lipreading, I was good to go — it’s actually a nice touch.

So, yes, we’ve been waiting for a while for this issue, and hopefully the final issue in Fraction and Aja’s award-winning series is already in the can and ready to go next month. I’m excited to see how things wrap, but, again, the massive delays caused me to forget some plot points or moments with significant impact from the past had dissipated by the time issue 21 finally arrived. This is a bummer, but I have a sneaking suspicion all “Hawkguy” fans will be picking up these final two issues anyways. What I do know, is that I am eagerly awaiting the conclusion, and that I will be rereading Hawkeye from beginning to end once I have the whole enchilada. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

East of West #17

East of West #17 - Written by Jonathan Hickman, illustrated by Nick Dragotta, colored by Frank Martin, lettered by Rus Wooton, published by Image Comics. As a former Chief of Staff is promoted to President, his old position has just been filled by someone as wily, if not more so. In the Kingdom, a Prince showcases his prowess in the mental, physical, and possibly romantic arenas. Meanwhile, Death and Xiaolian have a chat.

As a total side note, it is a completely odd experience to write about the intricately plotted, and highly intelligent East of West while listening to Doris Day. I felt you should know. Anyhow, little happens in four of the five sequences of this issue, but rather we see the various characters plotting, speaking of plans, and reminding us what has been happening. The majority of this issue, the final eight pages, focuses on Xiaolian and Death discussing Death’s failure to find their son, and what he suspects has been done to the child. If you are a fan of this thought-provoking series, an issue that moves the story slowly forward is to be expected from time to time, and although not much happens, our understanding of the characters and world deepens, and we love the book all the more for it.

Both the written and artistic storytelling on East of West are as fantastic as each issue before, but those who are already reading this title are well aware of this. If you are new to this post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, fantasy, revisionist-history comic book, and you enjoy placing the ol’ thinkin’ cap firmly upon that skull of yours for this intricate-but-rewarding tale, then you should pick up the first three trades and see what all the fuss is about. Once hooked, you’ll be with the title to the bitter end, and I fully expect that ending to be bitter indeed. RECOMMENDED!

Nameless #1

Nameless #1 - Written by Grant Morrison, illustrated by Chris Burnam, colored by Nathan Fairbairn, lettered by Simon Bowland, logo designed by Rian Hughes, published by Image Comics. A man with no name is tasked with retrieving the Dream Key of Nan Samwohl from…uhhh…dreams, which is in direct opposition to the Veiled Lady and her anglerfish-headed minions’ wishes. Ummmm…some lizard headed guys in the past, and a city with weird writing. Okay…then outer space stuff including an asteroid with a very big symbol on it, by golly, and lots of stuff divided in half. Or something.

Yup, I have no clue as to what the hell is going on in this book. That said, I did like it, and I figure things will make approximately 70% sense in the next few issues that come along — I will be there to read them. If I figured out anything in this issue, it’s that the bus driver who puts on the cloth mask, the one with the wired light on the front, does so to have the freedom to move around in Nameless’s dream…then again, who knows, I could be totally wrong.

Burnam’s art is phenomenal, whether he is bringing the psychedelics of the gorgeous title splash page, or the creepy interrogation room of the Veiled Lady. Fairbairn’s colors are equally outstanding throughout the intense action sequences and also in the calmer sequences with Paul Darius appearing via the drone. My favorite pages from the artists, outside of the stunning title page, are the two pages set in the Mayan(?) jungle, which have a strong Richard Corben vibe in both layout and color; I hope to see more of this look in future issues.

Again, very little clue as to what is actually going on, but you kind of have to expect that with a Morrison book. Just seeing the guy’s name on the cover should clue you in that you are going to have to work to comprehend what you are about to read, and that you will be returning to this issue multiple times throughout the course of the first arc. If you are not a Morrison fan, then you might want to pass on this one, but just know that doing so will mean missing out on some gorgeous artwork. If you are a fan of Morrison’s writing, then you are probably scratching your head as you try to understand what is going on, but smiling as you do so. RECOMMENDED!

Swamp Thing #39

Swamp Thing #39 - Written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Jesus Saiz, colored by June Chung, lettered by Travis Lanham, published by DC Comics. The Machine Queen makes her play, and she will suffer no interference from anyone, not even those who made her. Alec fights himself, or rather the monstrosity created by the Rot, the Machine, and the Grey. Abigail Arcane and Alec seek outside help and make a desperate plan to restore balance to the world.

I like this issue quite a bit, but I really want to love it. This issue runs into pacing issues as Soule and Saiz rush to next issue’s series conclusion. Bummer. The creators do an excellent job hastening to the finish line, but this issue would work so much better across three or four more issues. The art is as stunning as ever, especially the character design involved on that final WOW of a splash page, but the disconnect occurs with how things play out. This is no fault of Soule’s, but I wanted to see more of the Machine Queen’s monster being a credible threat, or of the conflicts within her own kingdom, or an issue or two of Alec and Abigail’s reunion. I also could have done without the guest appearance of a character — one who is not having his series canceled — who basically shows up to save the day. Give me more Mycos. Give me more of the Arcanes. Give me more of the kingdoms! Speaking of which, where is the Red? I’m guessing the Red will help save the day next issue.

<sigh> Regardless of the fact that I do not want to see this series end, and pacing problems aside, I must commend Soule and Saiz on still delivering a highly entertaining and beautiful issue. So, yeah, I’m sad but thankful we still have an issue left to wrap things up, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens. Also, after peering into my Donist World crystal ball, the obscuring mist begins to lift and I see Swamp Thing appearing in other titles, and eventually, once again, in his own series…eventually. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Need More Hours! More Hours! - Dang, I need more hours in the day so I can work on the second “Tulip” book, begin a YA novel cowritten with my wife, do my class work, hunt for a job, prepare the taxes, walk Tulip, create Donist World content, keep in contact with friends and family, exercise, eat, read, and do fun things. Argghh. <phew> I feel better now. We can do this.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 2/6/2015