Comics Reviews: 'How novel' edition

This round-up happens to be written by guys who moonlight as novelists and a comic co-written by two guys who should.

Bloodshot #1 (Valiant) - written by Duane Swierczynski - Valiant Comics has been resurrected and is making its bid at competing with the Big Two.  I never got onboard with them during their early-90s heyday, though, I did get excited when Acclaim Comics emerged in 1999.  That relaunch included works by Garth Ennis (the promising, but flat Shadow Man), Warren Ellis, Mark Waid, and Kurt Busiek.  That was ultimately shortlived.

Valiant is trying a third time with a handful of titles.  the one that caught my eye was Bloodshot, being a fan of Swierczynski's novels and comics, I figured it was my chance at supporting the ambitious company.

I heard a lot of good things about Bloodshot.  It has been out awhile so I had to work with my comic shop to pick up issues 1, 2, 3 and 4, though I don't think you will have trouble.

Bloodshot is a gritty superhero - a man who has been framed, his memory erased, and given specials skills and a purpose created by the government that has a mysterious past- sort of Weapon X, yes. 

Issue 1 is as far as I have read, and it's a fairly solid story.  Duane paces it well and even throws in twists and turns.  The artist team of Manuel Garcia and Arturo Lozzi is as good as any Marvel or DC title.  I liked it and given Swierczynski's recent Birds of the Prey, it should be worth seeing through.  i suppose the only complaint I have is that this comes about a year after Kevin Smith's Bionic Man which i enjoyed immensely.

This is going to be a bit of a different trip than that, but I think it will be one worth taking.

Daredevil: End of Days #1 (out of 8) (Marvel) written by Brian Michael Bendis & David Mack- This is like an all-star team up to tell a very ambitious tale (the murder of Kingpin by Daredevil, and the death of Daredevil himself).  besides Bendis, this also features Bill Sienkiecwiz's art and Klaus Janson's pencils- truly rounding out some of the best to ever work on this series. 

The scope of this comic is ambitiously epic, but issue 1 of the miniseries seems to fulfill the promise.  Bendis told some excellent Daredevil stories, and here again, he throws what feels like a mixed media message to make the comic pulse-pounding and urgent.  This is one of those books that truly feel like it is a movie, and Bendis uses some of the techniques he is known for and used on his successful DD run.  Bendis throws in a knowing Citizen Kane twist.  If you are someone who just makes the rare trip to the local comic store, Bendis and Mack have put together something that you won't want to miss.

Stumptown Vol. 2 (Oni Press) -written by Greg Rucka- In 2009, I picked up the first issue of Stumptown and was instantly blown away.  Oni Press was their worst enemy though, as I could never find issue #3 and never continued (It was unavailable from Oni for months.)

Like the Daredevil comic above, this is why I love the medium.  While that above title is all splash and urgency (though at its heart is a slow-burning character study with a lot of emphasis on personal relationships), this title is the opposite- stripped to a basic core.

Rucka, at the end of the book, namedrops his heroes- stars of the genre, past and present- Chandler, Westlake, MacDonald, Block, and Vachss, and in the case of this book, taking inspiration from The Rockford Files and Magnum PI- and what Rucka does with this title puts him in that company.

Credit also is due to Mathew Southworth, the artist who gives this a realistic fill.  Vol 2 is "The Case of the Baby in the Velvet case", a tale about a missing guitar that may lead to something more.  Rucka's lead (a female PI named Dex) is charismatic and memorable.

While, to a certain extent, Vol 2 didn't hit me like vol 1 (likely hard to capture the shock of the new.), this will likely be one of the titles I look forward to most each month.  Although hopelessly cliche, I really do feel like this title is a perfect comic for people (who think they) don't like comics.  It's mystery and drama, not unrealistic superheroics.  A preview of issue 1 is available here and issue 2 is just out this week.

Adventures of a Battleground State voter- "Vote Early and Often" edition

You may remember my informal poll from two weeks ago. 

I haven't continued keeping numbers, but would say it is still fairly accurate.  I still see more Mitt bumper stickers than Obama ones.  I would say it is close, but it is enough difference to notice. 

As far as that other visible factor goes- yard signs- Romney has a marked advantage.  I would say that in cross-town errands all across the Metro Area of Des Moines, Romney is probably up 3 to 1 (Roughly, I would say 15-5, advantage Mitt).  Truly, this may not indicate anything but that Romney has a pretty dedicated group of pavement pounders, but let's not discount that.  Romney appears to have a strong street team.

Of course, at this point, there are actually better numbers to reference than my eagle-eye observations.  you see, Iowans have an option to cast their votes early- from now up until the polls close on Election Day.

Cityview had those early numbers and 939 people have taken advantage of this.  If this isn't something your state experiences, it is a big deal here, and the Democrats have pushed it heavily the last three election cycles.

Since Iowans declare a party affiliation on their voters' card (though they obviously can jump party lines when the curtain closes), we can get real numbers and here they are:  656 Democrats have voted, 157 Republicans have cast their ballots.  There have been 114 independents and 3 "other"s.

After Iowa looked to be done, things have shifted post-debate, and that means Mitt was here.  He stayed to one of the basic tenets of electioneering -stand in front of a barn and a Massey Ferguson tractor- doesn't get any more American than that.

Romney's visit did get a bit stuck with some conversation about Romney's remarks to the Register about abortion.  Specifically, that Romney has no abortion-related legislation on his agenda.  Romney says he still plans to overturn Roe v Wade, but his plan is to do that by appointing Supreme Court judges.  Romney had been pretty forceful on related issues, such as saying he would defund Planned Parenthood.

Democrats have attacked Romney, by saying he has some strong anti-women positions, and his comments were meant to subterfuge them.  Personally, I would say that is less an issue than what the Far Right must think when they hear those words.

Meanwhile, the Dems have their own foot-in-mouth moments that overshadow them as well.  Joe Biden was here last week, and had to spend that time clarifying his 'middle class has been buried the last four years' quote (asking exactly who was in charge during this burying).

On tv, things are as brutal as ever as the Republicans have hit on Obama hard over mishandling the Sept 11. Libya terrorist incident, (more than) suggesting that Obama is more interested in campaigning for re-election than doing what is best for the country.  Obama continues to push Romney on outsourcing, and telling stories of workers who had their jobs outsourced to India (even having to train the new workers).

Both parties have been pushing ads regarding a nonpartisan report that claims Romney's tax plans are better for the middle class.  Obama's team counters that this nonpartisan group AEI has newt Gingrich and Dick Cheney in high-profile roles, and one of Willard's Bain partners running the study.