New comics - March

Some that I was looking forward to

Moon Knight (Marvel) -written by Warren Ellis- This title brings the return of Ellis to superhero comics with this somewhat obscure Doug Moench created character from the mid-70s.

It's about as good as it gets,

There's a complicated back story involving a boxer-turned-mercenary who dies in an Egyptian tomb and is resurrected, by the Egyptian Gods, but comes back with something akin to multiple personalities disorder.  I am actually quite impressed with how Ellis brings new readers up to date without making it too complicated or clunky or over-explained.

Although, there's a lot to work with and I am not sure everyone could pull it off.  If you can make it work, it means the Moon Knight is Batman, Bruce Wayne but also, The Joker.

The first issue states that unlike the other hero who hides in the shadows, but he wears white so the bad guy sees him coming.

There is also a procedural element present that is really appealing.  You can imagine CBS picking up a show like this, except for it feels like Warren Ellis is writing it.

Which, of course is true- Ellis is writing it, but it is the perfect vehicle.  If the character didn't already exist, you would swear Ellis drew him up.

I also would be remiss if I didn't say another reason why this comic is so appealing is the artwork by Declan Shavley, which does an exemplary job of setting the mood.

Overall, I am really, really excited about this book.  Sure, Batman is the first touchpoint (or The Shadow), but I think the detective stuff is as addictive as the alpha-male superhero stuff, and I wonder how long it will be before I think of this more in terms of Planetary than I do of any traditional superhero character; and though the readers here tend to gravitate towards graphic novels and collections, file this one away in your back pocket for that time.



Starlight (Image) by Mark Millar-  Millar's next new comic is already optioned to be a film.

Haters are going to hate so let's get that stuff out of the way, because it's already out there.  This is the story of a science hero a la Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers (the Gordon pathos are extremely strong on this one) and it's got a bit of the (forgotten by his children) senior citizen archetype that artists constantly revisit a la Eastwood in Gran Torino. 

This one is more maudlin than angry, but it's the story of a superhero who left earth to save another planet.  As that planet's saviour, he was their biggest hero, but he returned to Earth to be with the one he loved.  Now, he's a widower, so what's next.

You know I like Millar, and certainly everyone will have their mind made up already; but I really dug this first issue.  It's clearly in the same vein of some of Millar's Superman stuff.  It's epic and classic- the spectrum opposite of Kick Ass.  Everything works well in this issue, though- it's pulp and it's traditional and you care for the lead character in a nostalgic way. 

Millar really does this well in this first issue.  It's promising big things, so obviously it is too early to predict if it will finish as strong, but I am really happy with the development so far.

I give big respect to Gorlan Parlov on art who really sales this as a big important story but also really brings in that feel of classic space fiction.


I think this one could be huge, and if it gets lost in the shuffle of Millar projects, I think those that find it will be very happy.