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VIDEO OUTHOUSE
10 BEST OF 2010 |
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"Sweet" Dan Sweet's list of his picks for the
10 Best comics of 2010. |
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"The opinions expressed in the reviews below are not necessarily those of Alternate Reality, Inc. Hey, I don't agree with all of them either!"
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#1-MORNING GLORIES #1 |
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Writer:
Nick Spencer Artist:
Joe Eisma |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Image
Comics
Shipped On:
081110
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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IMAGE'S SYNOPSIS:
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The most anticipated new series of the year starts here! Morning Glory Academy
is one of the most prestigious prep schools in the country... But behind it's
hallowed doors something sinister and deadly lurks. When six brilliant but
troubled new students arrive, they find themselves trapped and desperately
seeking answers in a place where nothing is what it seems to be! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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A book touted as “Runaways meets Lost” meant one of
two very distinct possibilities as far as I was concerned: a) This had potential
to combine two of my favorite genre stories, thus solidifying my adoration
almost immediately; or b) This had potential to combine two of my favorite genre
stories, thus cherry-picking parts from each that felt as if they’d work in
context with one another, and then crash and burn horribly. Well, when I got to
the shop on Wednesday, grabbed one of only two copies left on the shelf (a gross
miscalculation by Comic Book Man, but a forgivable one considering the lack of
attention paid to new series that don’t have the words “New”,
“Blackest/Brightest”, or “X-Whatever” on the cover), and got home I wasn’t sure
if I’ was going to read it first or last (I read it last), but by the time I was
finished with it I was sure of one thing, and one thing only: Best. New. Series.
Of the year.
Everything about this book worked for me in spades; from the first page, which
only seemingly had nothing to do with the rest of the book unless one pays close
attention to the background through out the issue, then it seems entirely too
ominous. The two-page sequences, each introducing a different main character
work wonders in terms of characterization. Each student feels unique, and easy
to relate to in one way or another; you know who you like right away, and whom
you hope to see skewered, smashed, shot, stabbed, or snuffed out (if any of that
is likely to happen). The full-of-herself Zoe, the wall-flower/emo kid Jade, the
irritatingly hilarious Ike, typical every-girl Casey, alpha-male Jun, and the
comic book loving Hunter make up the newest class at Morning Glory Academy.
Welcome to your first day, children. Now prepare for the worst.
The students aren’t the only ones given a chance to shine in the debut issue;
Miss Daramount, Miss Dagney, Mr. Gribbs, the creepy chauffer who drugs the kids
on their way to the school, presumably to keep its location a secret, are all
made out to be authoritarian figures who, while welcoming and ‘warm,’ all have
their own secrets and agendas. Then there’s the ghost. Or, whatever the hell it
actually is, because calling it a ‘ghost’ just doesn’t seem to be right; it’s
probably a wraith, or worse, one of the academy’s students…but all the same,
he/she/it looks like a ghost.
Joe Eisma has worked with Spencer before on the book “Existence 2.0” and it’s
clear that his style has been altered, just a bit, in order to keep with the
slick, stylized look that they’re trying to achieve with “Morning Glories”. I
enjoy greatly his dynamic use of panel-layout to move a rather expository issue
along without feeling as if it was dragging. He does get to flex his action
muscles a bit early on, and nails it, but the rest of the issue he’s able to
make the mundane seem visually fascinating. It’s the details that he adds to
each scene that really pay off: the posture of the student as they sit through
an introductory lecture, the expressive faces of each character, the thorough
attention to backgrounds and environment which add to the atmosphere of Morning
Glory Academy. All of it, inked by Eisma himself, which I’m not usually a fan
of, but done perfectly as to compliment his line-work without fear of over-doing
it; a factor I’m sure came into play when making that particular decision.
I’m a fan of this series, and not just because I’m a fan of “Runaways”, “Lost”,
or any of Spencer’s OTHER works (which I command you to seeks out and enjoy as
much as I did), but because it’s a great way to utilize teen characters, in a
setting that is entirely believable yet ridiculously manufactured, without
losing touch with audiences young and old alike. I’m not sixteen years old, as
all of the stars of the book are supposed to be, but the story isn’t written
with sixteen-year-olds in mind; sure, a kid could pick up the book and enjoy it
for the snotty characters, or the action, or even just the ‘purty-pitchers’, but
an adult (young or otherwise) could pick up the book and become enthralled in a
rather gripping mystery which promises to pay off over time. I’m hoping, and I’m
sure I’m not too far off-base, that this develops a HUGE following, paying off
for a young creator who’s quickly becoming my favorite NEW comic book writer. |
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#2-GUARDING THE GLOBE #1 (OF 6) |
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Writers:
Robert Kirkman and Benito Cereno
Artist:
Ransom Getty |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Image Comics
Shipped On:
082510
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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IMAGES SYNOPSIS:
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As the VILTRUMITE WAR rages on within the pages of INVINCIBLE, the ranks of the
Guardians of the Globe are suddenly depleted. The world is in danger, and the
team is in search of new blood. It's the biggest recruitment drive since
Omni-Man slaughtered the original members. But will the new Guardians of the
Globe be ready in time to stop The Order? This series is a can't-miss action
extravaganza! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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All hail, KIRKMAN! No, seriously, comic book fans
everywhere should be praying to an altar of this guy before they leave the comic
store every Wednesday. Nobody, as of this moment, is doing MORE for independent
comic books than Rob, and his passion for his characters and the medium as a
whole could never be more obvious. I enjoy his projects almost without
exception. Say what you want about his tenure on the Ultimate Marvel series of
titles, but when allowed to work within the context of his own universes,
without editorial mandate to interfere, he’s a maniacal genius, wreaking havoc
with abstract abandon the likes I haven’t seen in ages. His books make me feel
like a kid again.
If you’ve ever read Kirkman’s “Invincible” than you should already know who the
Guardians of the Globe are, and if even if you haven’t read the ‘greatest
super-hero comic book in the universe’ you probably get the gist of the idea
simply from the title. A collection of heroes from around the globe consider it
their responsibility to guard those of us who can’t defend ourselves from giant
robots, or aliens, or whatever really. The team debuted in “Invincible” #7, and
though it’s seen many team members leave, die, or become otherwise
incapacitated, The Guardians of the Globe are only just NOW becoming a
world-wide force for good.
The team goes about recruiting potential members, and they start in China as
Britt, team leader, gets the drop on Yeti, a character that teasers would have
you believe is keeping some sort of strange secret. There’re bad guys too,
although I’d be hard-pressed to fill you in on what they’re up to; so far it
seems they’re putting their own kind of squad together, of course the likelihood
of the two teams butting heads is inevitable. Even as I write this I’m actually
looking forward to the next issue; there’s something extremely refreshing about
a book, even a super-hero book, that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and
luckily Kirkman’s just the guy to spearhead something like this.
Ransom Getty was discovered by Kirkman after sending a pin-up to “Invincible”,
so if you’re an artist out there and you’re looking for your BIG break, maybe
it’s time to start drawing pin-ups and send them into Image (or some other Indy
publisher)…you never know right? His style is in the vein of “Invincible”
artists like Cory Walker or Ryan Ottley, which makes him a perfect fit for a
book like this. It feels right; his ability to bring out the humanity, even in a
giant, hairy, white, abominable snow-man is easily relatable. Characters like
Shapesmith, Monster Girl, Black Samson, and even Dupli-Kate are rendered
flawlessly, and with a great deal of zeal. I can’t wait to see Getty tackle some
SERIOUS action sequences…maybe even extend the book beyond the initial six-issue
run?! |
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#3-SCIENCE DOG SPECIAL |
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Writer:
Robert Kirkman
Artist:
Cory Walker |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Image/Skybound Comics
Shipped On:
090110
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MSRP:
$3.50 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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IMAGE/SKYBOUND'S SYNOPSIS:
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Fight fire with fire. Fight evil with SCIENCE! Collecting the never before
reprinted Science Dog back-up stories from INVINCIBLE #25 and 50, this story
leads right into the senses-shattering back-up story contained within issue 75.
If you're only reading INVINCIBLE in collected form - this is what you've been
missing! Don't miss out a second time! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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How can you NOT love a book called “Science Dog”?
With his odd similarity in style of dress to Tom Strong and what not, AND he has
a jet pack, AND he’s a dog who fights crime with science…I mean, C’MON! Robert
Kirkman’s comics, and I know I’ve raved about the guy like some sort of teenage
girl with an unhealthy infatuation, but the guy really ‘gets it’. He takes stuff
that seems SO OBVIOUS, a post-zombie apocalypse, a teenaged super-hero, a dog
that fights crime using science (!!!), and transforms it into an epic
‘must-have’ every time, and it’s THAT knack for consistency that brings me back
time and again.
Originally this ran as a back-up in “Invincible”, so yes, this is NOT original
“Science Dog” material but rather a re-print issue, giving those of us who
didn’t get a shot at reading it the first time-round a chance to catch up before
the latest installment hits in “Invincible” #75. Readers are treated to the
tail-end (no pun intended) of a Science Dog adventure that we’ll never actually
read about, which then is followed by ANOTHER Science Dog adventure, I guess
heroes, no matter the species, never get any rest. There’s a bit of the
character’s origin spliced in there somewhere, as the issue’s primary villain is
actually a by-product of the same weird series of catastrophe’s that gave the
world Science Dog, so the inter-connectedness of their stories makes for an
interesting read.
Walker and Kirkman started this as a labor of love, and every 25 issues, or so,
of “Invincible” comes the latest installment in the saga of the “Science Dog”.
With issue 75 looming in our future (YAY! Rejoice!), it could only mean that the
conclusion (?) of S.D.’s adventure is upon us. With the cliff-hanger ending that
left reader’s hanging, either in this issue or in “Invincible” #50, I can’t
imagine NOT finding out what happened. I’m so excited for it, but I’m also a
little bit sad. For all of the good that Kirkman’s comics bring to the creative
table, so to speak, there’s a great deal of his creativity that will never see
the success that his primary books, “The Walking Dead” and “Invincible”, have
achieved. Books like last week’s “Guarding the Globe” or “Science Dog”, or his
soon to be completed “Astounding Wolf-Man”, don’t get a fair shake by the
reading-public at large.
It’s not that they’re sub-par in quality or imagination, but because they’re not
“Spider-Man” or “Wolverine”, or now, to a lesser extent “Deadpool”, it’s as if
people glance right past these gems, never to discover the world of adventure
that Kirkman has been organically gestating over for YEARS. I can only hope, if
“Science Dog” doesn’t pick up a following, which let’s face it, probably ain’t
gonna happen, that the meta-mental mongrel will find some sort of home alongside
Kirkman’s other super-hero stuff over in “Guarding the Globe”. I‘d be so down
for a rotating cast of “Invincible”, “Wolf-Man”, “Science Dog”, “Battle Pope”
characters, keeping in line with the rest of the stuff that’s come before it;
not a new continuity, just one central location to find all of this great stuff
that (shamefully) doesn’t seem to be meant for it’s own title. |
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#4-ACTION COMICS #890
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Writer:
Paul Cornell
Artist:
Pete Woods |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
DC Comics
Shipped On:
063010
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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DC'S SYNOPSIS:
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Look out, Metropolis - Lex Luthor is back! The dynamic new creative team of Paul
Cornell and Pete Woods (SUPERMAN: LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON) hits the scene with
an oversized issue packed with non-stop action! That's not all! Superstar artist
David Finch (BRIGHTEST DAY, New Avengers) joins ACTION COMICS this issue as new
cover artist! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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Surprisingly, this was far and beyond my favorite
read of the week; Paul Cornell shows a mastery of dismantling Lex, a character
long-time readers have known for half-a-century or more, in one medium or
another, then introducing his own unique twist by expanding upon the neurosis
necessary to carry a burden such Luthor’s. I’ll admit I had to read it twice to
take it all in. I was wondering what the hell Lois Lane was doing having dinner
with the crown-prince of douches, but in time all relevant answers are delivered
to those who wait patiently.
The story moves around without leaving readers behind, it starts with Lex being
dangled over the edge of his own building, just in case you’re one of the five
people reading comics to NOT have seen the preview at the end of, well, every DC
comic of the last month. He’s amazingly resolute despite his opponent’s having
the upper-hand, instead of panic, pleading, or prayer he chooses instead to
reflect upon the last few days and the path that’s brought him to this point,
the brink of death. Readers flash back to a miscellaneous LexCorp Laboratory and
some no-name scientist whom Lex insults, then fires, then kills, and while it
may seem like a harsh punishment for some, for Luthor it’s entirely rationalized
in a matter of moments. This backs up the character’s long-standing reputation
as a $#!t-head, while also humanizing him through his apparent relationship with
Lois (WHA?!)
Pete Woods can draw anything and I’d rave about it. His style seems to be coming
more and more into itself with every issue that I see from him. He’s been
working in the Superman universe for quite some time, and I’ve never grown tired
of his interpretation of Big Blue, or Metropolis, or anything for that matter.
He has a masterful handle of story telling, and his designs for everything from
the page-layouts to the ‘villains’ of this first issue are spot-on. He’s inking
his own work now, which isn’t a bad thing in this case. I’ve made a case for
inkers, and the necessity for clean, smooth lines that don’t intrude upon the
pencils; it would seem that Woods feels he’s most capable of delivering a
polished look to his pieces and I’d agree with him.
Say what you want about Superman not being around to star in any of the series
named for him over the last year or two, Jim-Rob was at the helm and all of the
books were so closely related that it didn’t seem to matter. Now that the “World
of New Krypton” story has drawn to a close I can understand why people think
that these books need Superman to return in order to be good again. I
understand, but I disagree. With Straczynski doing the whole “Grounded” thing it
leaves the supporting cast to twist in the wind. Taking a character like Lex
Luthor and turning more common perceptions of him on their bald heads,
transforming him into the protagonist of this tale, whether he’s a good guy or
not, is an exciting decision! |
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#5-BATMAN INCORPORATED #1 (1110 Book of the Month) |
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Writer:
Grant Morrizon
Artist:
Yanick Paquette |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
DC Comics
Shipped On:
111710
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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DC'S SYNOPSIS:
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Grant Morrison continues his earth-shattering run on the Batman titles with this
exciting, new ongoing series! Featuring art by the remarkable Yanick Paquette
(SEVEN SOLDIERS: BULLETEER), BATMAN, INC. marks the next stage of evolution for
The Dark Knight. This can't-miss series will star not just Bruce Wayne as
Batman, but also a huge number of guest-stars! Don't miss out on this all-new
start to a stunning direction for Batman! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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Morrison dives right into the next chapter in his
sweeping Bat-epic with “Batman Inc.” The idea of Bruce Wayne funding a worldwide
army of Batmen seems like a perfectly logical step in the hero’s evolution,
taking the character beyond the streets of Gotham City and into the dark, seedy
corners that exist in so many countries around the globe. Morrison gets right to
it too, setting up a character called Mr. Unknown, a Japanese crime fighter that
Bruce has been keeping tabs on in hopes of bringing him into the fold. Oh, and
he dies by page two (SPOILER WARNING! HA!).
The appeal of this series more so than anything else for me, at least, is the
endless possibilities it presents by expanding on the idea of Batman. I like the
idea of Bruce extending his reach; I like the idea of new and different
characters modeled after Bats, and I especially like the fact that each of these
new characters is going to come with their own rogues’ gallery. Mr. Unknown is
no exception; Lord Death Man and his skeleton crew go to work on the Japanese
hero before readers even show up. They’ve located his hideout, destroyed his
toys, and trapped the costumed crime fighter; it would appear all is lost for
our new found hero.
This is, of course, only where the story begins, and it takes us in a surprising
direction courtesy of Morrison’s whacked-out imagination. Mr. Unknown has a side
kick, apparently, or at least a confidant that he trusts with his secrets. THIS
is the character to watch, even as he arrives too late to save his friend he
goes about fighting the bad guys the way any good hero would. Jiro Osamu is, or
more directly, WILL BE the new Mr. Unknown, and Bruce is right there to help aid
him in his quest to avenge his Sifu’s death. But will Lord Death Man’s
death-trap spring and take him out first?
Yanick Paquette’s art was the ONLY thing about this series I was skeptical of,
and I’m proud to say that I was wrong; very, very wrong. While some of his
previous works have been drowned in heavy black inks, his style here is less
bulky, more refined, and even a little subtle in places. I found myself drawn to
each panel and the finer details within. While I originally sold the guy short
based solely on my previous exposure to his work, I find him to be a perfect fit
for a globe-trotting Batman book. His handling of Catwoman is graceful and sexy
without losing any of the ferocity that makes her so appealing; the way he
renders Bats as a gruff and gritty warrior isn’t lost in the shuffle of new
stuff either. He pays a great deal of attention to detail, there’s very little
in the way of empty space, a fact I consider quite reassuring considering the
amount of posing and posturing that could have been done for a first issue. I
originally thought him to be a weakness, but now I consider Yanick Paquette to
be one of this book’s many strengths. |
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#6-INCOGNITO BAD INFLUENCES #1 |
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Writer:
Ed Brubaker
Artist:
Sean Phillips |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Marvel/Icon
Shipped On:
102710
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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MARVEL/ICON'S SYNOPSIS:
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It's been over a year since Zack Overkill came out of Witness Protection to
build a new life. But working for the government isn't that different from being
controlled by them, and his new secret identity is becoming more trouble than
it's worth... So what will Zack do when tasked with a mission that sends him on
a hunt into the darkest corners of the super-criminal underworld where he was
raised? |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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The last time we checked in on Zack Overkill he was
a reformed super-villain living in the Witness Protection program. His hum-drum
existence was too much for him to take and thus began his transition to crime
fighter. By the end of the last series Zack had been recruited into the S.O.S.
fold (a super-hero/crime fighter organization) and turned his life around for
real, despite his somewhat shady past. This issue, which is more of a direct
continuation of the previous series rather than a new volume altogether, picks
up with Zack bouncing around the country fighting all the bad guys he could ever
want to fight, but that doesn’t mean everything hunky-dory.
Happenstance, that’s all it was; that’s all it ever is, isn’t it? Everything is
going well, looking up, and then BAM, $#!t changes in the blink of an eye. In
this case Zack’s life is turned upside down when he’s mistaken for a man that he
is a ‘direct descendant’ of, Lazarus the Returned Man. I don’t want to get into
specifics, because I never get into specifics, but rest assured that it all is
laid out for you in the pages of the story and that it makes perfect sense.
Where the story loses me just a bit, is the decision by Overkill’s superiors to
send a reformed super-villain undercover as…a super-villain. I mean, it’s a
little bit like waving a bag of powder in front of an ex-addict and not
expecting them to go through a bit of withdrawal. I expect that the internal
conflict will be ramped up just as much, if not more than the violent action
that we saw in previous issues, and all due to the poor decision making of
Zack’s bosses.
Sean Phillips is Sean Phillips, and while his style is somewhat unorthodox by
most cape-and-cowl comics, it’s his noir-ish sensibilities that Brubaker runs
with like a madman. There’re shadows everywhere and in each shadow seems to be
dozens of secrets lurking about waiting to sap someone over the head and drag
them into the darkness. I love the mood that he sets with his pencils, and the
environments he builds around his characters. I don’t think that there’s any
other way to put it: Sean Phillips is Sean Phillips, you either know his work
and love it or you’ve been living under a rock and have NO IDEA what you’re
missing. |
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#7-AMAZING SPIDERMAN #617
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Writer:
Joe Kelly
Artists:
Max Fiumara & Javier Pulido |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Marvel Comics
Shipped On:
011310
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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MARVEL'S SYNOPSIS:
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The Gauntlet continues to close around Spider-Man in this heartbreaking story of
love, loss and lust for power as the Rhino charges into Spider-Man's life, out
to make a name for himself...by killing the Rhino? Joe Kelly & Max Fiumara, who
kicked off The Gauntlet in Amazing Spider-Man #600's prelude, return for this
pulse-pounding chapter!
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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A great stand-alone issue by web-head Joe Kelly is just what I need to get my
weekly comic fix rolling. I’m beginning to realize now that “The Gauntlet”, for
which this series of Spidey stories was named, is less the traditional
super-villain ploy, where a hero is expected to take on any number of foes in
rapid succession, and more an emotional roller coaster where Parker is forced to
deal with his past, and the colorful cast of characters that make it up.
First it was Doc Ock, waaaaaay back in issue #600. Then, Max Dillon turned his
Electro persona into a folk hero amongst the tired, and poor, and huddled
masses; after which, the Sandman kidnapped a little girl, but only because he
believed her to be his daughter. Now the Rhino is back on the scene, but not in
the way that I initially expected, and with the backing of a certain hunter’s
family his abilities have been upgraded far beyond what Aleksei Sytsevich was
ever capable of before. That, I think, is the issue’s biggest strong point.
Kelly wastes no time in letting readers know that it’s not the same man under
the impenetrable hide, and while he doesn’t come right out and let everyone know
who it is, he definitely let’s us in on who it isn’t (the old rhino).
That’s what I think I like so much about this latest run of Spider-titles, and
this one in particular. While returning to old foes and revisiting the idea of
what made those foes bad guys in the first place, the brain-trust has
consistently delivered inspired takes on extremely tired characters. How many
times has Spider-Man fought the Rhino? Too many to count. How many times has he
fought the Rhino, side-by-side with the man who originally took on that
identity? Exactly. There’s freshness to the way these guys are approaching
old-school aspects of what makes Peter Parker who he is, and whether it’s Paul
Azaceta’s gritty, every-man take on Electro, or Javier Pulido’s classic, Ditko-inspired
style, the visuals have been every bit as strong as the story.
Max Fiumara isn’t all that reminiscent of illustrators of yesteryear, but he has
a sleek style of penciling that doesn’t intrude on the visual flow of “The
Gauntlet”. His rendition of the Rhino is menacing, without ever being fully
revealed, but the rhinoceros horn-scythe that he carries is a nice touch.
There’s a great page where the new Rhino uses a horse as a club, pummeling
Aleksei as Spider-Man and a reporter-friend get to safety. Fiumara doesn’t
over-do-it, worrying less on the gore and violence and instead focusing on the
disappointed expression on Sytsevich’s face as he realizes his only good work
suit is now ruined.
That brings me to the second part of the story, (that’s right kiddies, two
stories in one comic!) and Kelly’s chance to elaborate on what made The Rhino,
the original, turn away from his life of crime. As it turns out, and the story
goes as far back as Mark Millar’s “Civil War”, Sytsevich just got drunk one day
and turned himself in. S.H.I.E.L.D. specialists were able to surgically remove
his ‘skin’ and he’s placed in a maximum security facility where he serves the
terms of his sentence. He’s approached by gangsters looking for help but turns
them away; he ignores an escape attempt, choosing instead to sit and wait for
the guards to regain order; and finally he’s released due to ‘good behavior’ as
a reformed citizen.
It was interesting to see Kelly really get into the head of Aleksei Sytsevich, a
man who’d been dumped on so many times throughout his life, contented to sit and
wait in jail until such a time as he may be released back into society. Even
when his old life come calling, as it should always be expected to do, Sytsevich
has no place for it in his new life, instead focusing his attention on building
a relationship with a young waitress. There’s a solemn quality to this man that
hasn’t ever been displayed. He’s truly a beaten, tired, old dog whose best days
are in front of him, as long as he stays on the straight-and-narrow.
Next up for Spidey is the return of ol’fishbowl-head, Mysterio, with art chores
supplied by my FAVORITE Spidey artist ever, Marcos Martin. It’ll be interesting
to see how he fits into all this that’s been going on, and if the Kravinoff
family is going to be pulling his strings as well. I’ve been enjoying this
latest run of ‘Amazing’, and seeing as how they’ve established themselves in the
comic world post-OMD, with new villains, friends and love interests, it only
makes sense that they’d bring it full circle and revisit the cast of characters
who made the Spider-Man who he is.
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#8-TURF #1 (of 5)
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Writers:
Jonathan Ross
Artists:
Tommy Lee Edwards |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Image
Comics
Shipped On:
040710
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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IMAGE'S SYNOPSIS:
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A four- issue hard boiled noir crime thriller with
girls, guns, fangs and aliens.New York, 1929. The height of prohibition. The
cops turn a blind eye while the mobs run the city, dealing in guns, girls and
illegal liquor. But the arrival of the mysterious Dragonmir Family from Eastern
Europe with more of a taste for blood then booze co-incides with a series of
brutal attacks on the gangsters themselves. As the gangs fall before the fangs,
only handful of mobsters survive. But an unlikely alliance formed between tough
guy Eddie Falco and a character from a LONG way from New York City - a long way
from Earth in fact - offers the humans a glimmer of hope. As the strong willed
young reporter Susie Dale from the Gotham Herald tries to survive in the middle
of the maelstrom, and an ancient prophecy unfolds, no one can guess who's going
to win the battle for this particular slice of Turf. |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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Ok, I’ll admit that sometimes I read a brand new comic that normally wouldn’t be
at the top of my pull list, and find myself biting off a little more than I can
chew. In the case of “Turf” my previous statement takes on a kind of
double-meaning, what with the setting being prohibition-era New York City and
the constant conflict between rival crime families and their vampire
competition…what? You weren’t aware that there was an intense rivalry between
gangsters and vampire-gangsters? Well, it gets better, when a spaceship, belong
to an alien race, happens to crash in a forest ten or so miles from New York.
You wanna know what was on the ship, other than aliens of course, don’t you?
Firearms and hooch! WOO-DOGGIE!
Alright, on a much more serious note, not that the above statement about the
contents of the book are anything other than factual, but rather the context in
which those contents are taken, when described the way I did, can sound corny or
stupid, but in reality this is one of the more fun, and satisfying books I’ve
read in LONG time. I don’t mean that I needed a cigarette after reading it or
anything, don’t get the wrong idea, it wasn’t THAT satisfying, but in a world of
decompressed storytelling, and the wait-for-trade writing mentality that so many
companies have adopted, it was refreshing to read a book with more words per
page, maybe even more per panel, than the whole of Marvel’s “Civil War” and
“Secret Invasion” combined.
Prohibition was an era where organized crime flourished in cities around the
country, and it’s made even more fantastic by the inclusion of a clan of
vampires vying for control of the vice trades. This book walks the line between
genius and catastrophe, as most genre mash-ups haven’t proven to be a droll
undertaking as opposed to a chore to read, yet, I like gangsters, I like
vampires, and I love aliens…so how could this go wrong, right? The vampires are
brooding, vain, and somewhat reclusive, even though they find themselves amused
by the simple human pleasures of Jazz music and sex with multiple partners. The
gangsters are boisterous and streetwise, with one eye counting their money and
the other always looking over their shoulders, but even they aren’t prepared for
an attack by the supernatural.
The aliens are going to make or break this title, and it’s just that easy. In a
lot of ways I wouldn’t have cared to read a story where crime families are
overrun by their vampire competition; but, include some green guys and a rocket
ship and that Vamp/Gang mix-up could be more interesting than anything the Big
Two have released amongst the glut of cape comics that clog comic shop shelves
like so many arteries caked with plaque, pumping blood to an already unhealthy
heart. With the advent of the iPad, in this age of Amazon.com, it’s reassuring
to me that some publishers realize that the way to go with monthly comics is to
offer MORE bang for the reader’s buck, and at $2.99 I’m sure you’ll find more
people satisfied with purchasing this than anyone who’s paying a dollar more for
a book with less content, including myself.
Tommy Lee Edwards is what drew me to this project, as I’ve loved his style since
the moment I laid eyes on it. His line work is busy, and yet never overbearing
on the storytelling aspects that he’s trying to get across. There’s so much to
absorb, and yet it’s all so easy to take in, almost as if his mastery of guiding
the reader’s eye is akin to some sort of hypnotism. While it was the veteran
artist who attracted my attention to the out-there title, it’s the rookie
comic-writer who’s managed to get me to stick around. Jonathan Ross is,
apparently, sort of a big deal in the UK; a television personality in the vein
of America’s Letterman, or Leno if you’re a big baby. He wrote a documentary
about the life and career of Steve Ditko, which I’m determined to track down,
and is said to own not one, but THREE copies of “Amazing Fantasy” #15, in
addition to a number of other rarities that make my inner-fanboy urinate all
over himself in frustrated envy.
Ross manages, in one issue, to deliver more story and characterization than some
books see in their entire first arc, and I can only thank the man for restoring
a certain amount of respect, in this fan’s heart, to a medium that is quickly
pricing itself out of existence. Mark Millar says, “…it takes longer to have a
pee than read the dialogue in one of my books.” Now, I’m a fan of Millar, in no
uncertain terms, but I’ve often lamented my decision to forego the trade-wait of
six or so months in order to read his stuff before it can be spoiled for me on
the net or just hanging around the store. For one of my favorite creators to
sign off on a ‘new’ writer’s stuff isn’t something I usually lose my cool over,
but to see him do it at his own expense, and about a topic I’m most-passionate
about was very endearing to me, and I hope this starts a trend in a return to a
more classic, condensed style of storytelling in monthly comics. But, it
probably won’t. |
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#9-THUNDER AGENTS #1 |
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Writer:
Nick Spencer
Artist:
Cafu |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
DC Comics
Shipped On:
111010
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MSRP:
$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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DC'S SYNOPSIS:
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Would you rather burn out or fade away? That's the
question at the heart of this bold new series about a group of people who, for
one reason or another, are at their wit's end until they're offered a chance to
become superheroes. The catch? Their powers will kill them. Writer Nick Spencer
(Morning Glories) and artist CAFU (WAR OF THE SUPERMEN) present a fresh take on
the classic comics property, starring a new batch of recruits brought in to take
over the original agents' mantles and make some difficult choices of their own -
all while dealing with global threats the rest of the DCU doesn't even know
exist! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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Taking a chance on a new book has hardly proven to
be a rewarding experience more often than not, but every once in a while a title
will creep up, you may even see it coming and yet it still gets you right by the
gonads (or whatever the female equivalent might be…Damn it, I’m a comic
reviewer, not a doctor!) “T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents” written by industry
newcomer/breath of fresh air, Nick Spencer, is just such a book. It was
something that I’d seen advertised, knew little about, and yet still figured it
was worth a look. Well, the long and short of it is this: Buy this book RIGHT
NOW! It’s awesome!
Alright, I don’t mean to gush but Nick Spencer is on a winning streak and he
just keeps right-on going! His first work for DC, the “Jimmy Olsen”
second-feature has already been given the axe (along with ALL the
second-features) after only two-segments, but Spencer has finagled his way onto
TWO mainstream DCU-titles (this, duh, and the forthcoming “Supergirl”) in the
past couple months. I’ve enjoyed all of his Indy work, and it seems as though
that trend is going to continue.
The idea of super-heroics isn’t a new one, but when a slight twist is put on a
traditional idea sometimes the results are inflammatory. T.H.U.N.D.E.R. stands
for The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves, and it might be the
last superhero team you’d ever want to be a part of. The idea of people in
positions of power taking advantage of those in unfortunate life-situations in
the name of the ‘greater good’ isn’t exactly a new idea, but when it’s slammed
head-on into the superhero genre it becomes down right twisted and sadistic. At
least, in the hands of Spencer it does.
The United Nations have their own superhero team that responds to threats no
ordinary superhero ever finds out about. They’re locked in a power-struggle with
terrorist organization SPIDER whose motivation is unclear, but in a story more
worthy of James Bond than Superman the bad guys gain the upper hand and retain
it by kidnapping one of the U.N.’s agents. And then kidnapping him again!
If you’re not familiar with the “T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents”, like I wasn’t, then you
may wonder what sets them apart from the WildC.A.T.S., or the X-Men, or A-Next,
or any other number of super-teams with letters and punctuation in the title.
Well, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents all come with an expiration date. Sure you get
the powers, the glory, maybe even some chicks, but at the end of the year you
die. Yep; it’s dark, right? Twisted beyond belief but in such a good way as it
almost forces creators to create both NEW characters and personalities, but also
fantastic, fast-paced stories that draw us in despite the ticking clock that
will always loom overhead. The possibilities are endless.
Cafu, like Madonna or Cher, has no last name apparently, which is fine, because
unlike Madonna or Cher, Cafu is a real artist, with talent. ZING! Anyway, I’d
not been exposed to Cafu’s stuff before T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, but suffice it to
say that I’ll be on the look out for anything else I spot by him in the future.
For the most part I’m glad that they went with an artist with such a clean
style. At times he invokes the spirit of John Cassaday, at others he’s similar
to that of Don Kramer, but at all times he and Bit, inker, and Santiago Arcas,
colorist, come together to form flawless visuals. Back grounds, action,
characterization, everything but the kitchen sink is thrown in for good measure,
a truly enjoyable reading experience, and a team that I hope I see stick around
this title for a long, long time. |
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#10-OFFICER DOWNE |
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Writer:
Joe Casey Artist:
Chris Burnham |
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Reviewer:
"Sweet" Dan Sweet
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Publisher:
Image
Comics
Shipped On:
071410
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MSRP:
$4.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
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IMAGE'S SYNOPSIS:
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He walks the eternal beat... and delivers the eternal beat-down! Much more than
man... he is policeman! It's hyper-violence on the mean city streets, from JOE
CASEY (Avengers: The Origin) and CHRIS BURNHAM (X-Men: Manifest Destiny); an
all-new special where a lone Badass With A Badge takes on the scourge of the
criminal underworld: Headcase Harry! The Fortune 500! Zen Master Flash! Not even
death itself can stop this powerhouse of justice! You've never experienced
"command presence" like this! This is one cop that'll keep coming back for
more... even from beyond the grave! |
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SWEET DAN'S REVIEW:
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I don’t feel as if I’m doing this book justice if I
don’t tell you just how ****ing cool it really is. Not just ‘cool’, or ‘really
cool’, or even ‘really, really cool’, but ****ing cool. This is an adult book,
and not because of gratuitous nudity or sex, but for non-stop violence and
cussin’! Be forewarned, foul language awaits you in the following paragraphs;
it’s not for the faint of heart!
What is there to say about a title whose first issue, a stand-alone, is entitled
“Tough Shit”, I mean seriously. I could go on and on about how the first words
in the first panel are ‘Mother***ing L.A.’ and how it made me laugh at the sheer
stones it took to be that in-your-face simply for the sake of bad taste. Make no
mistake, this is an in-your-face kinda book, with a bad attitude that demands
your attention, not only for the HI-Larious way it presents itself by way of
Casey’s words but also the assist from Chris Burnham, my new favorite artist,
whose images are so detailed, yet clean and fluid in a perverted Don Bluth sort
of way.
Cops are rough, at least they’re often portrayed that way in stories such as
this, but Casey takes the typical archetype of maniac-cop to a whole new level,
instituting a maniac-police-force who are using telekinetics to constantly
reanimate the corpse of a tough-as-nails, bad-ass, super-cop named,
appropriately, Officer Terrence Downe. It’s sorta like “Universal Soldier”, “Robo-Cop”,
and “Judge Dredd”; it doesn’t matter how many times Officer Downe dies, or gets
shot, stabbed, blowed up, burned to death, decapitated, disemboweled, or any
other calamity that may befall him at any given moment during his never-ending
war on crime.
This mission to perpetually fight the good fight like Sisyphus pushing his
boulder up hill is what puts Downe directly in conflict with a weird
anthropomorphic crime family that immediately puts a price on his head. There’s
a great deal of bloody combat between Downe and a pack of urban ninja, clad in
break-dancing jumpsuits no less, and then the inevitable happens: Downe is
overpowered, brought to jail by his captors, and the inmates have their way with
him. That’s where the story starts to dissipate into mindless, gory fun, but
that’s all I was really looking for with this book anyway, so color me
satisfied. By then end the good guys (cops) have won and the bad guys (ninjas)
have lost, or the bad guys (cops manipulating a dead man) have won and the good
guys have lost (Officer Downe stuck in the purgatory-like existence of
non-life). Obviously I’m just having a gag at reading too much into a book with
a rather simple concept, but if this was to be adapted for a regular series
that’s definitely something that I’d imagine would be addressed.
I’ve been a Casey-fan for quite a while, I find his work to be on the edge of
what people have come to expect from comic creators, and that’s what excites me
about his work. There’s very little that needs to be said beyond “Casey’s
writing it,” to get me to pick up a new book, and I would hope that there’s a
good number of fans out there willing to do the same thing with their favorite
creators. Discovering the artwork of Chris Burnham was the biggest treat of all
as far as my experience went, I’ll definitely be looking to get anything he does
in the future! |
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All Books/Characters pictured herein are © Copyright 2011 by their respective
owners. No rights given or implied by Alternate Reality, Incorporated.
Reviews © 2011 Alternate Reality, Inc.
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