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Comics Review
Nov. 15th, 2016 07:37 amSome of these are getting to be 2 months old now, but here's my First Issue reviews:
The Black Hood (The Nobody Murders) by Duane Swierczynski (Dark Circle) - I got into Swierczynski through his over the top noir-ish novels, but he's more known for his comics work. I have picked up some of his titles over the years, and there's some inconsistency, but 2015's Black Hood really hit on all marks. Improbably on Archie Comics (though on the adult imprint Dark Circle), it's a dark vigilante comic, for lack of a better comparison, is most closest to The Punisher.
Which means it is a perfect fit for over-the-top violence (and the steady plotting) of Swierczynski, and then bolstered by some complimentray art from Greg Scott, who gives it a dark comic feel a la Nailbiter or Bendis's noir stuff, but still very clean This is a relaunch, being advertised as Season 2. If you missed "Season One", here's your jumping on point.
Cage by Genndy Tartakovsky (Marvel NOW)- I think of Genndy Tartakovsky as the guy who supplied a lot of the late 90s programming for Cartoon Network like Dexter's Labatory and Powerpuff Girls (though others will know him form Samurai Jack and Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003), so i have to say I was excited. Just look at the cover and you know you are getting some of his flavor.
![Image result for cage genndy]()
It's Pure 70s-style. It opens up with a scene that is reminiscent of that Spalding ad with Dr J and Rick Barry that ran in every comic book I read as a youth, and then parodys it.
It's a quick read- simple, funny, overblown. Odd at a time where Luke Cage is hitting a peak of popularity with gritty realism via Brian Michael Bendis in the monthlies and Michael Colter now on the tv. Yet, this is the polar opposite of that. In fact, it reminds me a lot of Kyle Baker. I found out this project has been shelved for almost a decade, so maybe that is why the stark contrast.
Which will make this a divisive book, but also could make it a cult book. I loved it, but others won't. Needless to say, some also may have trouble with Tartakovsky going down a road that screams Blaxploitation. It's a fair comment. Still, I don't think that his intent is more than to give the Marvel universe some of his flavor and do it cartoony (indeed early Cartoon Network) style.
Shipwreck - written by Warren Ellis (Aftershock)- Ellis's first title (I believe) for the upstart Aftershock Comics. Aftershock has assembled an all star roster- Ellis, Paul Jenkins, Brian Azzarello, Garth Ennis, Connor and Palmiotti, Mark Waid, Tim Seeley and Phil Hester among others,
Shipwreck is the story of Dr Jonathan Shipwright, who we are introduced to as ostensibly some sort of Shipwreck survivor. We learn he was part of the USAF's Janus project, and appears to be launched into some sort of parallel universe. It seems like some may be looking to rescue him, while others are looking to kill him.
This will sound like a criticism but bear with me. This book feels very much in the vein (no pun intended) of Ellis's recent writings. It's almost Ellis by the numbers. The book doesn't feel a million miles away from Injection or Karnak for the matter (As an aside, that Karnak series is looking to stay strong) and falls right in line with a career that features titles like Fell, Desolation Jones, and Planetary. This sounds like criticism and maybe it is.
But listen. Teaming up with Phil Hester is a work of genius. It's a perfect marriage. I feel like Hester has worked on an Ellis book before, but I can't find anything online to confirm so perhaps this is their first pairing.
![Image result for shipwreck warren ellis]()
Hester's art makes it perfect- it's a bit cinematic times- bright and bold, but it goes dark and gritty when the plot needs it to be. It is also worth mentioning that Ellis is right on point, too. Yes, this is a typical Ellis plot, but everything about it shows Ellis on top of his game. There's dark humor, there's action, and it's well plotted. Sure, it's well trodden ground for Ellis, but it feels absolutely original. Recommended.
The Black Hood (The Nobody Murders) by Duane Swierczynski (Dark Circle) - I got into Swierczynski through his over the top noir-ish novels, but he's more known for his comics work. I have picked up some of his titles over the years, and there's some inconsistency, but 2015's Black Hood really hit on all marks. Improbably on Archie Comics (though on the adult imprint Dark Circle), it's a dark vigilante comic, for lack of a better comparison, is most closest to The Punisher.
Which means it is a perfect fit for over-the-top violence (and the steady plotting) of Swierczynski, and then bolstered by some complimentray art from Greg Scott, who gives it a dark comic feel a la Nailbiter or Bendis's noir stuff, but still very clean This is a relaunch, being advertised as Season 2. If you missed "Season One", here's your jumping on point.
Cage by Genndy Tartakovsky (Marvel NOW)- I think of Genndy Tartakovsky as the guy who supplied a lot of the late 90s programming for Cartoon Network like Dexter's Labatory and Powerpuff Girls (though others will know him form Samurai Jack and Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003), so i have to say I was excited. Just look at the cover and you know you are getting some of his flavor.
It's Pure 70s-style. It opens up with a scene that is reminiscent of that Spalding ad with Dr J and Rick Barry that ran in every comic book I read as a youth, and then parodys it.
It's a quick read- simple, funny, overblown. Odd at a time where Luke Cage is hitting a peak of popularity with gritty realism via Brian Michael Bendis in the monthlies and Michael Colter now on the tv. Yet, this is the polar opposite of that. In fact, it reminds me a lot of Kyle Baker. I found out this project has been shelved for almost a decade, so maybe that is why the stark contrast.
Which will make this a divisive book, but also could make it a cult book. I loved it, but others won't. Needless to say, some also may have trouble with Tartakovsky going down a road that screams Blaxploitation. It's a fair comment. Still, I don't think that his intent is more than to give the Marvel universe some of his flavor and do it cartoony (indeed early Cartoon Network) style.
Shipwreck - written by Warren Ellis (Aftershock)- Ellis's first title (I believe) for the upstart Aftershock Comics. Aftershock has assembled an all star roster- Ellis, Paul Jenkins, Brian Azzarello, Garth Ennis, Connor and Palmiotti, Mark Waid, Tim Seeley and Phil Hester among others,
Shipwreck is the story of Dr Jonathan Shipwright, who we are introduced to as ostensibly some sort of Shipwreck survivor. We learn he was part of the USAF's Janus project, and appears to be launched into some sort of parallel universe. It seems like some may be looking to rescue him, while others are looking to kill him.
This will sound like a criticism but bear with me. This book feels very much in the vein (no pun intended) of Ellis's recent writings. It's almost Ellis by the numbers. The book doesn't feel a million miles away from Injection or Karnak for the matter (As an aside, that Karnak series is looking to stay strong) and falls right in line with a career that features titles like Fell, Desolation Jones, and Planetary. This sounds like criticism and maybe it is.
But listen. Teaming up with Phil Hester is a work of genius. It's a perfect marriage. I feel like Hester has worked on an Ellis book before, but I can't find anything online to confirm so perhaps this is their first pairing.
Hester's art makes it perfect- it's a bit cinematic times- bright and bold, but it goes dark and gritty when the plot needs it to be. It is also worth mentioning that Ellis is right on point, too. Yes, this is a typical Ellis plot, but everything about it shows Ellis on top of his game. There's dark humor, there's action, and it's well plotted. Sure, it's well trodden ground for Ellis, but it feels absolutely original. Recommended.
