Stop Crying Wolf!

courtesy Image

Why do we read comics? Is it to read a good story, to be moved like we would if we were reading literature? Or are you an art connoisseur, and you read to see illustrations?

While many comic fans pretend to understand and be art experts, the main reason we read comics is for the good story. And good stories need characters we care about, characters established so the writer can then utilize them in new situations that tell great stories.

I’ve defended Robert Kirkman’s use of large sections of dialog because I know that all the talking has a legitimate point. He had to take time to wind up his toys so he could let them go, and Astounding Wolf-Man #8 panders to those people who read but hate reading. Compared to other Kirkman titles, this issue has little dialog. The characters are already established so long-winded speeches aren’t needed.

Kudos, Mr. Kirkman. Now let me interview you!

Brit was Robert Kirkman and Image’s way of testing the market to see how well Kirkman’s other hero properties would fair in the wake of Invincible’s success. The book has sold well, and is continuing past the 6th issue and planting itself as a monthly series. Now one has to ask, does this book deliver on all that and Invincible promises?

Of course it does! Kirkman’s super hero books operate on several levels, delivering a commentary/homage on classic comic formulae, providing crazy ideas and characters, and developing his own unique characters and universe. The latter is the strongest aspect to Kirkman’s writing. What some critics decry as too much dialog is actually great character building interactions that allow the reader more access to the people and who they are, which makes the reader more invested in the story, even after a few pages.

Brit #7 specifically did disappoint me a little bit, but only because the last issue promised an altercation between Invincible and Kirkman’s other heroes, Astonishing Wolf-Man and Tech Jacket. #7 only had Invincible attacking Brit, and under a different pretense (though the gay alien spider was a great pretense). So far this book has done a good job of not fully relying on Invincible and establishing itself as an easily accessible, comical action book. Trades are great, but I’d get the individual issues of this one.

image courtesy Image

Beginning on Thursday and concluding today, this convention was hosted in Rosemont, up in Chicago. Compared to earlier this year’s New York Comic Con, WizardWorld was a more laid back experience, where speakers and company reps spoke more candidly and seemed less stressed. This was a far better fan experience than New York, and while writers and such qualified every secret with “We’ll be revealing in San Diego”, there was less showmanship - sensationalism geared at new projects - and more reflection on the medium, at least in the sessions.

I saw the hilarious Robert Kirkman and a retrospective on Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s Daredevil. I also got to see the Marvel and DC panels, as well as the first ever Marvel & DC panel, where Bendis, Brian Reed, and C.B. Cebulski sat with Gail Simone and Geoff Johns to talk about what they liked about the other company. I would have seen more, but I could only attend Friday, as some of my friends were so inconsiderate that they just had to get married this weekend. Read the rest of this entry »

credit: Image

Amory Wars, Vol. 1: The Second Stage Turbine Blade TPB (Image) - Hey Coheed & Cambria fans! Be one among the fence and get this book, which reworks the already existing Coheed comics and completes the storyline (which is incomplete without the other albums’ series). Did I mention all of C&C’s albums are about an epic space saga that the band plans to release in comic form? No? I’m sure I did. Read the rest of this entry »

Secret Invasion #1 (Marvel) - Marvel’s big crossover event begins here! This is the comic that defines Marvel for the next few months.

Hulk: Planet Hulk TPB (Marvel) - What happened before Secret Invasion? World War Hulk, that’s what! This is the lead up for jolly green and how our favorite gamma-irradiated scientist became the king of a world.

Shazam: The Greatest Stories Ever Told TPB (DC) - A compilation of Captain Marvel stories, from his first appearance to his later 90s series. As not many definitive chronological collections have been offered at this point, this is really all Shazam fans have got!

The Boys #17 (Dynamite) - Storylines converge as a ghost from Huey’s past literally has a bone to pick with him.

Brit #5 (Image) - Robert Kirkman’s fun series about an immortal and the crazy world he lives in continues. Kirkman is really good with disposable ideas and characters, using fun and bizarre entities in the background or filler (I’m talking buzz saw-laden animals here, people).

They aren’t comic’s only married creative team, but they’re one of the few. Working together on such titles as Albion, Wild Girl, and titles using other creative properties, Leah Moore and John Reppion continue to bring new ideas and unique interpretations of the medium.

Recently, Moore and Reppion took time to talk to me about their new crossover and their zombie series, Raise the Dead. Read the rest of this entry »

Mighty Avengers #10 (Marvel) - I mentioned last week that New Avengers #39 and Mighty Avengers #10 were supposed to come out this week, but it looks like due to allegations of art theft against artist David Mack Marvel has delayed printing New Avengers #39. Controversy aside, Brian Michael Bendis’ Avenger titles have been top notch, even in the face of crossovers. I think that is because Bendis basically created Secret Invasion… Read the rest of this entry »

Or, Clusterf#@&

I didn’t like the sound of this or any of the other Gilded Age projects. The Next Issue Project had a somewhat unique idea - that each issue would be a continuation of the last 30s or 40s public domain series. So if Fighting Yank was canceled at issue #X, then this would be issue #X + 1.

Image courtesy:
Image Comics

But the first issue of this delayed series, “Fantastic Comics #24″, was far worse than any of my wildest low expectations. What I figured we’d get with this series were stories in the vein of Alan Moore’s 1963 series. Basically, comics drawn and written to be like crude, poorly-written comics of that time. We would get to see old characters in their same time period, but in a new light.

Instead, what we get is an anthology book of random short-shorts about several characters. The illustrators and writing shifts every few pages and I don’t know why we should care. This isn’t about the legacy of these old heroes. This wasn’t a series that needed to be done. This was clearly made because Erik Larsen and company could, not that they should.

Hopefully next month’s Next Issue Project will become it’s Last.

Ms. Marvel Comics

One of my favorite comic series right now is Brian Reed’s Ms. Marvel. While a solo book, what appeals to me is the various characters that show up in the title as sounding boards for Carol Davers (Ms. Marvel) to bounce off of. So far the series is collected in three trade paperbacks and issue #24 came out last week.

Mr. Reed recently spoke to me about Ms. Marvel and his plans for the future. Read the rest of this entry »

Green Arrow/Black Canary #5 (DC) - Green Arrow’s son, Connor, is in a coma. Throw in the fact that a shapeshifter had been masquerading as the Emerald Archer, and good old Ollie’s had a rough couple of months. Now he’s got to reevaluate his priorities - starting with the wife he never actually married.

Brit #4 (Image) - Robert Kirkman’s Brit continues his mysterious journey with the help of his sister and cyborg companion. Read the rest of this entry »