Comic Book Journal

http://www.comicbookjournal.net/battlestar-is-pure-dynamite/ is the comic book to beat right now. It looks as if the industry is on the upswing in terms of independent publishers starting to be successful again. Recently I have noticed the trend of new companies forming, and either taking over known licenses or creating original material that is inspiring. Maybe all of the new blood (pun intended) will revitalize a dying marketplace. In Aracana’s Eve: Vampire Diva, a vampire who has the ability to control werewolves and other creatures of the night must navigate the cutthroat world of divadom and Hollywood. I give the creative team props for the originality of this concept. The idea is fresh, the art seems to complement the campiness of the storyline. But make no mistake, this title is no Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter. Marvel is the publisher to beat in the goth/vampire scene right now. Maybe if the theme was a little more mature, and the characters personalities a little more edgier I would enjoy this book more. Maybe if the plot progressed to something a little darker in the background it would make me want to pick up more than one issue. I give Aracana credit for originality, but that’s about it. I do give the book an e for effort and hopefully this will give the creators an open door in the industry to further define their work and hone their skills. I wanted to like this book more than the average comic, but it did fall a little flat. I’d have to give this one a solid six out of ten. Not bad, but no verging of greatness either. If you’re interested in more from Aracana, they do have a web site at www.aracanacomics.com. Onward!

In continuation of the reviews for February, I have but one thing to say in my defense– I am a procrastinator. That makes up for all the late postings and maybe even some reviews going into March. With that said, I read Countdown #15 and I have to say I think the title itself is in crisis. While this isn’t the best jumping on point for someone unfamiliar with the series I think it read as lackluster. The writing seemed tired and cliched and some of the dialogue reeked of the mediocre. “Say hello to my little friend.” went out in the late nineties, along with the buzz over Grand Theft Auto. Anyway, I’d give this book at least a six out of ten as the artwork carried the book, along with great characterization of Batman and his no nonsense attitude. However, for the best book you’re probably still not reading see my review at: http://www.comicbookjournal.net/battlestar-is-pure-dynamite/

What’s the best book of February so far? Check out http://www.comicbookjournal.net/battlestar-is-pure-dynamite/
For all the details! So Booster Gold huh? Well even though the banner touts him as “The Greatest Hero You’ve Never Heard Of,” or something to that effect–I have heard of him. In the eighties and the flood of superheros in the market he was a flash in the pan. I wasn’t excited to read this issue, I’ve never been a fan of washed up has beens, but I’m glad I did. DC is on a roll this month. This issue, while not exactly a work of genius was enjoyable. I liked the lack of ego that Booster Gold had in this issue as he travels back in time to save Ted Kord, Blue Beetle. I have to confess I missed most of the events of 52 (hoping they will eventually be collected) but it was intriguing that another minor character of the late eighties/early nineties, Checkmate played a pivotal role as one of the Masterminds. As for as the writing goes it was solid throughout and the art…fantastic. Reading a Dan Jurgens comic is always a pleasure because he can be counted on for consistency in detail, line work, pacing, and his storyboards are always smooth. He knows how to lay out a page, and delivers on every issue he works on. He also can draw him some pretty blonde hunks too, that’s a big plus for me. On a whole, this issue gets a solid six of ten, readable, fun, but no masterpiece.

When I read this issue, I felt it was the closest thing to a pure DC book I’ve read in a while. What I do enjoy about DC Comics is that DC from cover to cover makes me excited to read the comic. When I read the first page, I keep thinking, “yeah, this is why I love this medium.” Even though it’s far different than the Battlestar comics I’ve fallen in love with recently, This comic was vibrant. It left me wanting more, which is far more than some titles DC has released recently can say. The plotting was smooth, but I have to say I was even more impressed with the dialogue. I chuckled at the scene in the bar, where Linda tries to out drink her buddy, and I felt myself even becoming a little worried about Barbara Gordon. What’s my point? That comics today often lack the characterization necessary to allow readers to empathize with the superheros. This is why comics, especially early Marvel and DC became successful to start with. The art is also very clean, detailed and transitions from panel to panel and page to page easily. It looks almost effortless. So kudos to DC for keeping this book in print and also putting together a top notch creative team. I give this book a more than solid seven out of ten. If DC keeps this up, they’ll be back on track.

What’s all of this? See my blog at http://www.comicbookjournal.net/the-pop-culture-superhero-collison/ for all the grisly details. To prove how much I love comics I’m attempting to review every February comic before the end of the month. Can I do it? We’ll just have to wait and see. Now with this title I reviewed it a few months ago and was blown away. To my joy, the folks at Dynamite have done it again. Battlestar Galactica: Season Zero #5 is pure magic. The issues felt as if it was “shot” instead of drawn and the writing, both plot and dialogue was seamless. Dynamite Entertainment is the place to be this year it looks like. It’s always hardest to review the best titles because they often leave me speechless in terms of having any criticism. This book is simply one of the best continuing series out there. Hopefully it won’t be just a mini-series, but will actually continue throughout the seasons. If a budding artist needs a lesson on plot and storyboarding, I would recommend this issue hands down. The action is smooth, the transitions are solid, and the detail is fantastic. With that said I have no choice but to give this title a ten of ten. Absolute perfection. Dynamite Entertainment will be the sleeper studio to blow 2008 away.

Have I gone crazy with the reviews? Yes, yes I have. I’m trying to review every issue in February, for more info on the madness, see my blog at http://www.comicbook journal.net/the-pop-culture-superhero-collison/. I took a looking over in the Wildstorm direction and read Authority: Prime #4. What I discovered as a comics fan was appalling. This title is still stuck in the mid to late nineties, Wildcats era. The plot, with one team, basically fighting their evil clones to the death was tired. The characters were from what I saw, unoriginal, looking like X-Men knock-offs. And the art was well, grossly undefined and devoid of any excitement or intensity whatsoever. I have to say that with the name the Authority I expected far more. Shame on you Wildstorm editors for letting a promising title that flourished under the helm of Warren Ellis, flounder in the hands of for lack of a better words, an amateur creative team. What is this issue missing? Just about everything. There are no exciting plot twists, no moments of interest, there is nothing there to make me, as a critic first and fan last, want to pick up the next issue. Hopefully this issue was the end of a mini-series, a number four of four or something. The best thing Wildstorm can hope for with this book is the printing costs didn’t outweigh the sales. I can barely give this title a three out of ten. Small press does it better in this case. This is what February is all about though, reviewing the good, bad, and the boring. There’s still more to come. We’re still in the A’s.

To see what all this fuss about with reviews see my previous blogs with February’s line up at http://www.com icbookjournal.net/the-pop-culture-superhero-collison/I’ve reviewed Amazing Spider-Girl #16 by Marvel Comics and there is some to like. While I’m not a spectacular fan of future-based superheros, I think with Spider-Man being one of the flagship characters of the Marvel Universe it makes sense (almost). This issue while being crafted by Tom DeFalco and friends was a fun book, but that’s about all. I think the art and design was a little too cartoonish for my tastes, but I do understand that this really isn’t a book geared toward too many adults. I applaud Marvel for its efforts, even it’s advertisements to try and draw in a younger fan base and a future fan base to the industry. And Amazing Spider-Girl #16 does a respectable job of that. All in all, I’d have to give this book a six out of ten mostly for its efforts to be accessible to younger readers. There’s a whole bunch of other reviews to come.

To check out what’s up with my blogs this month check out http://www.comicbook journal.net/the-pop-culture-superhero-collison/ . This a review from an independent publisher, Red5Comics. I have to say, for an independent company with this title only, to my knowledge in production. This title is fairly impressive. Afterburn, is the story of a post-armageddon earth where only one hemisphere is decimated. Jack, the Texan hero of the story is a former oil worker who narrowly escapes the doom. Where most of the population has been destroyed how does he reinvent himself? He becomes a kind of a soldier of fortune and leads a crew of survivors as they steal (or repossess) priceless works of art–for a cost of course. The writing and plotting is light as dialogue and action blend smoothly between panels. The characters, and concept is fresh as well. And the art is vivid and detailed. I think the colorist is the unsung hero of this creative team. Without the colors muted in all the right places, and eye-popping in others, the book would not be quite the same. I have to say, Afterburn is an impressive first endeavor and I’d like to see more from Red5Comics. All in all, this book gets a seven out of ten for plotting, art, and originality. Look forward to more reviews coming your way!

For more info as to what’s happening on the site this month be sure to check out http://www.comicboo
journal.net/the-pop-culture-superhero-collison/ I’ve recently, as in today, reviewed After the Cape II #3 while doing laundry. And although it’s meant to be read as a series, as far as a single book goes, I think it’s a little subpar. The writing and dialogue by Howard Wong is just as fine as I’ve seen in any DC or other Image comic, but it falls a little flat for me. The story, is intentionally melodramatic and I think would have been better while reading the context of the whole series. I hate to say it but the issue felt rushed and I could really feel for the characters within the story, especially Mr. AA because I didn’t have enough background to go on. The art is nice, especially with only the black and whites and the artist has a good command of texture, yet I feel facial expressions, and at some points, basic anatomy was out of proportions and some characters appeared scrunched. On a scale of one to ten I’d have to give After the Cape II a five of ten. Perhaps the original was a better fit for image and comic fans alike. For more reviews read on fanboys. The best is yet to come.

Happy Valentine’s day kids! It has been an exciting month in comics so far, and I’m still struggling to read a pile of old books to put up some more reviews. I thought I would take a brief reprieve however, put up my personal top ten reasons to love comics:

5. Comics are portable entertainment.
4. Comic book art. Some of this stuff is museum quality. Comic book artists are underrated.
3. Comic book writers. Hey some of these guys (and gals) are the most intelligent people I’ve yet to encounter.
2. Comic book nostalgia. There is no better way to feel like a kid again without a care in the world than reading a comic book (and maybe even giggling a bit).

1. Superheros!! I don’t think I have to explain this one Without superheros there would be no industry.

And now for a little news….sadly, Steve Gerber died at a hospital following a long illness on Saturday. For those of you who didn’t know, Gerber created Howard the Duck for Marvel comics and spent the last of his days working on a new Dr. Fate title for DC Comics. He will be missed by many as a champion for creators’ rights and also for his inspiring positivity through the ups and downs the industry has recently faced. Be sure to check out Dr. Fate to read some of his final and perhaps best work.

Also, the writers have called it quits, with striking that is. Great. Can’t wait for more Desperate Housewives. Ridiculous.

As I promised, and I’m getting to it slowly but surely, the reviews have begun! I just read 52: Aftermath Four Horsemen, and I have to say that I think that DC, with a huge event like 52 really had the opportunity to overshadow Marvel, but just seems to have dropped the ball. I think this is apparent in this issue. Admittedly I came into the series late, but this should have been the most exciting issue, since it was number six of six. I was in a word disappointed, while Keith Giffen’s plotting is good and he is a talented writer, there was not enough dynamite in this issue for me to ooze over in an explosion of compliments. The art, looked, for lack of a better word tired. While the issue started out massive and detailed, towards the middle of the issue detail was lacking and it looked hurried and unfinished, something a book with epic characters like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman should never look. I think DC’s editorial staff should take a series look at the type of work their top notch artists are producing and compare them with other talents in the industry. I think they would be surprised that some artists can meet deadlines and have polished work. With that said, the issue wasn’t all bad as Giffen, near the end of the book shows some nice non-superhero moments and witty banter between the characters. Plotting definitely carried the issue. On a scale of one to ten, as always I have to give this issue a five out of ten. It’s just average, nothing more, nothing less. For more reviews stay tuned.

February happened quickly didn’t it? Comic books and especially superheroes are officially hot and along with the release of Batman this summer there is a highly anticipated super hero comedy as well. Will Smith is Hancock, an alcoholic superhero who is trying to make a well, heroic comeback. For more on this flick and even a trailer, see >http://www.popculturebuzz.com/will-smiths-hancock-super-hero-movie-looks-hilarious/.
But didn’t this phenomenon happen in the late nineties as well? Didn’t the world take a tongue in cheek look at superheros with series’ such as the Tick, Holy Cruellers, and who can forget one of the greatest superhero stories of all time, with Mystery Men. Yes, it has been criticized in the past, but I think it’s subtle humor and and lowbrow guffaw moments, made it one of the most enjoyable film experiences out there. I guess this proves there is nothing new any longer history and pop culture as well, just recycles it’s interests. I can’t wait for the all in color for a dime to come back though. Four to five dollars a book is breaking my bank account. Anyhoo, Februrary is the shortest month. So what does that mean? That means I’m gonna stuff a whole bunch of news, reviews, and overall good fun into it. Here’s what you can look foward to for the rest of the month: reviews will be my primary objective this month as I’m going to attempt and review EVERY SINGLE comic book that comes out in February. Note I said attempt. Whether they are good, bad, or just plain silly, they’re getting reviewed. Also, I have a special report for all you cupid watchers out there on romance in in the comic book world and also some articles on black history and race in comic books. Whew! That’s a lot of stuff to do so I’m gonna start reading. As always if there’s any questions, comments, or you just want to show me some love on Valentines day feel free to comment! Later days!