Comic Book Journal

From the Ashes #1 by Bob Fingerman in a romp into society after the apocalypse through the eyes of an artist and his wife. They are the only remaining couple in the world. While its more of a commentary on the wasteland of pop culture and the effects of technology on communication, it doesn’t really grab me as being a book that average Joe or Jane will want to pick up. There are some humorous moments with his wife lamenting the loss of Jimmy Choo shoes over the loss of friends and relatives, but in my opinion the story falls flat. Maybe the adventure will pick up after meeting the cannibals (a traditional hook in post apocalypitical literature), but I’d have to say overall the book is just decent at best. The artwork is definitely distinct and stylized, and the colors work well for setting the grim tone of the story, but I still felt as if something was missing. Perhaps the small-press feel of the book, and the unfinished look of the artwork was altering my interpretation of the text, but like with most Eisner works, I didn’t really see true genius in the pages. Overall, I’d have to give this one a six out of ten, it’s just average, not extraordinary. For more reviews see http://www.comicbookjournal.net/category/reviews/

I have made an error in assumption once again. After looking through some FCBD samplings, I stumbled upon Thom Zahler’s Love and Capes. Glancing at the artwork, I had assumed this was another small press title, which would be a few pages of cheesy, over exaggerated black and white art, which little plot, nonsensical dialogue, and characters with nothing to love about them. I was wrong an all accounts. After giving the cartoony artwork a chance, I discovered that this book is a little-known gem. I’m glad it was part of the FCBD offerings because I did have the chance to discover a title I would not have ordinarily read. The story was paced well and kept my attention throughout, while the artwork, while cartoony, seemed to fit just right with this comic romp. The characters are instantly likable and there is plenty humor to go around. Would I buy this next issue? Absolutely. Should you? You betcha. I’d give this book a solid nine out of ten. I think that Thom Zahler’s wit would be extremely refreshing on a mainstream title like the Flash or perhaps he could even add a touch of merriment to Marvel’s mighty mutants again. As far as self-published/small press books go, this is tops! For more info on Free Comic Book Day and other fantastic reviews see http://www.comicbookjournal.net/category/reviews/

Frank Frazetta’s Neanderthal #1 by Image Comics is an attempt by comic book creators to interpret and pay homage to some of the greatest fantasy paintings of all time. The good news–the art does Frazetta justice. The panels are luscious and the colors make the artwork pop. The bad news–the plot is a little weak and the one-shot format makes the story suffer in scope. The characterization of the neanderthals are fantastic as they in no way resemble modern man and the evolution of the weaponry used in the tribal warfare was interesting. What I like most about this story is, there were no words, save the opening captions. The artwork did the storytelling, as it does in Frazetta’s paintings. Maybe I find the subject matter a little dull for my tastes, but all in all the story didn’t do anything to draw my interest, it did however make me remember just how brilliant Frazetta’s work is. Tim Vigil does a fantastic job mirror his style to match Frazetta’s in terms of action and attention to subtle detail like leaves of grass, hairs on the animals, and facial expressions of the “cavemen.” All in all I’d give the one-shot a five out of ten. Sorry comics world, this one is for die-hard Frazetta fans only. It’s almost time–read the Free Comic Book Day survival guide here: http://www.comicbookjournal.net/its-like-christmas-in-may-how-to-gear-up-for-free-comic-book-day/

I’m sitting here was a stack of comics to review (some old, some new) and I’m anxiously awaiting the task of adding a few more to the pile after May 2nd. For those who do not know, Saturday, May 1st is Free Comic Book day, which launches nicely after the kickoff of the summer movie frenzy. Looks like there’s going to be some good ones this year, stay tuned for my review of X-Men Origins: Wolverine as soon as it opens. It’s going to be a scorcher. This year’s FCBD goodies also look mighty fine was plenty of titles to choose from. What I like most about Free Comic Book Day is it gives many people with no background in the comic book industry a chance to see what variety there is in the field and also it gives us die hard comic book geeks a chance to get out of the basement and into the spotlight. To help you gear up for the festivities I’ve compiled a list of titles out there. Also the one marked indicate a “gold” title, which means it’s pretty limited and could be hard to find, depending on how many titles your retailer has ordered from the publishers. So without further ado here’s the list:

• Archie Comics: Archie Presents: The Mighty Archie Art Players

• BOOM! Studios: Disney/Pixar’s Cars

• Bongo Comics: 2009 Free For All

• Dark Horse Comics: Star Wars: Clone Wars

• DC Comics: Blackest Night #0

• IDW Publishing: Transformers Animated/G.I. Joe

• Image Comics: Savage Dragon #148

• Oni Press: Resurrection #0

• Marvel Comics: The Avengers

• Viz Media: Shonen Jump Presents: Ultimo

Dark Horse Comics: Aliens/Predator

APE: Cartoonapalooza #2

Aracana Studio Presents

Atomic Robo And Friends

Attack Of The Alterna-Zombies!

Comics Festival! 2009 Volume 3

Contract #1

Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer Preview

Dabel Bros. Showcase

DC Kids Mega Sampler

FCHS

Fist Of Justice #1

Gold Digger #101/Prince Of Heroes

IMPACT University Volume 5

Love & Capes

Love & Rockets Sampler

Mercy Sparx: Under New Management

Nancy & Melvin Monster

NASCAR Heroes: Origins #1

Owly And Friends

Radical 2009 Preview

Sonic The Hedgehog: Evolution Of A Hero

Studio 407 Sampler

The Stuff of Legend

The Wizard Hot List

TMNT #1 25th Anniversary Reprint

Warhammer Fantasy

William Shatner Presents #1

Wolverine: Origin Of An X-Man

Worlds Of Aspen #4

I predict that of these titles the biggest sleeper hits will be Green Lantern: Blackest Night, which will shake up the DC Universe a bit. I’m a bit partial I’ve always been a big Green Lantern fan.

Also check out Shatner’s latest offering, with the upcoming Star Trek film I’d imagine a little Kirk nostalgia will likely drive sales of his upcoming title.

A pile of reviews will be coming tomorrow and also Saturday I’ll have the claws out for Wolverine! Be there at www.comicbookjournal.net

It’s rare that I can find a preview that I can’t enjoy and I’m sorry to say this is one of them. Usually I enjoy this sort of other-worldly, Vertigo-esque title, but I found this title to be a bit flat. The plot is, I hate to say it typical, with a hero/heroine, demon/angel, coming to earth on a quest to find someone/something from the past, who is now perhaps, inhabiting someone/something else’s body. There’s many unknowns here and that’s my main problem with the story, there’s not enough of an introduction for me to like any of the characters or become attached to them, or their plights. Granted, this is only a preview with little room for narrative, but there’s nothing here that made me want to pick up the first issue. The artwork is of the usual indie fair also I’m afraid. There’s bold lines, sketchy backgrounds, and lack of depth and detail. Again there was never a “wow” moment with the artwork. The only bright spot in the art was the coloring. The muted tones and lack of brightness did add a bit of gloomy atmosphere to the story and added a hint of richness to the overall art, which makes me think the story might have looked far better as a painted graphic novel rather than single issues. Overall I’d have to give this one a lousy five out of ten, it was a nice attempt that fell flat on its face. I’d recommend this only to die hard fans of J.M.’s. As always for more reviews check out www.comicbookjournal.net/reviews.

I finally went to go see Watchmen and the end is nigh because the movie is better than the graphic novel. Now, don’t get me wrong the graphic novel was groundbreaking in numerous ways, but I never thought it would be the be-all-end-all of narrative storytelling in the industry. Yes, it was long and I think probably about twenty minutes could have been cut out without giving up any essential story, but it was almost three solid hours of pure engagement. What I liked most about the film, is even though it was a wonderful retelling Zach Snyder’s scene selection. He found a way to incorporate all the irony and emotion from Moore’s story into film and keep me engaged throughout. Sure, some purists will hate the flick because of the altered ending, but come on, do we really have to see the monster to get the point? Snyder trusts his audience will make the leap and form their own conclusions concerning the “monster” that society itself has become.

Let’s be clear, the film would not have worked it bigger A-listers had been cast as any of the characters. These actors and actresses did an excellent job and their performances could be oscar fodder. They did not overact and did a solid job interpreting the material. That’s what makes Watchmen as a film work. They do not just play men and women in capes and suits, they really internalize the written word and each did a fantastic job bringing life to these ‘everyman’ heroes.

Bear in mind, though this is not a movie to take the children too. Just because there are costumed heroes, does not mean this is an all-ages film. This movie, as well as the graphic novel, is intended for an adult audience only.

Here’s the bottom line: Watchmen is an extraordinary film of substance, but die hard purists and Moore followers might not enjoy it as much. On a scale of one to ten I’d give this one a solid nine and a half of ten. Go see this movie not because it’s comic book related, but because the story is still culturally important. For more comments on the movie see the prequel to this post at http://www.comicbookjournal.net/who-watches-the-watchmen-2/

This makes Superman Returns look like Citizen Kane!

I went to go see the Spirit on Christmas day. I was in a rather cheerful mood, because not only was it Christmas, but I got to spend the day at my leisure as I finally got the day off. My cheerfulness ended there, however. Cheer was replaced with anger as I exited the theatre disappointed and outraged. Yes, I will repeat genuine outrage. Frank Miller can hold his own in the comics industry, and Eisner as we all know is a legend and has created a remarkable character in the Spirit, so what happened? From the beginning the movie did not even attempt to acknowledge the audience. No effort was made to establish any sort of plot. The visuals, while interesting did nothing to revive the lackluster story. No wait– there was no story. The origin story of Denny Colt becoming the Spirit was the only saving grace, but therein lies the problem, there was not anything to get me involved in the film. And don’t get me started on the appeal to the highbrow class of movie-goer, who would attempt to draw meaning on the various imagery throughout the film. If someone was deciphered the meaning behind the ethos, pathos, logos clones, or the significance of the blood of Heracles, please…get back to me because I don’t get it. I don’t think I want to. This film could have been legendary like its creator, but as the director has said, he did not make this film for the fans. If Miller had focused on the fans, we might have had a fitting tribute to a man who devoted most of his life to this industry, instead of an over-the-top, look-at-me ego trip which is nothing more than a waste of film. I give this flick a two out of ten. The actor playing the Spirit was good in a few scenes, but that’s about it. For more reviews of (hopefully) better movies check out http://www.moviereviewreport.com/

We have fun here at Comic Book Journal don’t we? Hee hee. Ah yes, fun with numbers. To correct the last post, the Action Comics annual received a six on a scale of one to ten. Maybe I should invent a new scale hmm….something to ponder, perhaps a contest in the future then. Anyway I still have a ton of stuff to review, so onward!

With a title like Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters, I was not expecting to be entertained. In fact, I was expecting another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles rip-off. And I though the days of animals having human characteristics were over. I thought Dynamite was a one-trick pony with Battlestar Galactica, but Dynamite has created an entertaining read with this series. Far from parody, ARBBH shows two aging former super hamsters fighting chupacabra in the Texas sun and reuniting with old allies.

While the story is entertaining and the artwork is nuanced and meshes well with the story, the book, in my humble opinion is overpriced. At $3.50 an issue the series, despite its high production quality will find it hard to attain and maintain readership. Overall, I’d give this book a seven out of ten. The comic is highly original with stylized artwork and high quality production– sure to attract new and younger readers, yet it could sink under the weight of its hefty price.

Interested in having a hamster of your own check out the forum on pets at home zookeeper on our own 451 Press. I’m sure you can search to find valuable advice on caring for your very own radioactive hamster. Here’s a link to one of the posts there: http://www.homezookeeper.com/wordless-wednesday-goofy-hat-boy/

Still more to come….

Being a Mike Mignola fan, I thought I’d pick up an issue of Abe Sapien. Again, Dark Horse, has made a wise decision keeping Mike, and of course, Hellboy, in their stable of growing horror comics. Dark Horse, as a publisher, is in my opinion, one of the most fan-oriented publishers in the marketplace. They have also launched campaign to capture the hearts of online readers with their Myspace Dark Horse Presents site. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, back to Abe. Did Abe Sapien impress me? As far as story goes, I’ve seen a little better from Mignola. Did Abe Sapien intrigue me? Yes, yes it did. Granted, I picked up this issue right near the end of the storyline, so I wasn’t as engrossed with the storyline as I would have been if I followed the story from the beginning, but this is the beauty of Mike Mignola’s plotting. Through this stand-alone issue the compelling plot and the fantastic artwork did make me want to find the first three issues, or perhaps get the graphic novel when published. If the arc is finished with the same quality and care as this particular issue, I anticipate those sales figures to be strong and steady for Dark Horse. Do not be mistaken, this title is not the typical Hellboy fare, that at times can be tongue in cheek. This is a serious horror comic and has almost a Lovecraftian feel to it. Also I can’t say enough about Jason Shawn Alexander’s artwork. His detail, pacing, and textures give the artwork the exact same tone the storyline has as well. Again, shades of H.P. Lovecraft. On a scale of one to ten, I’d have to give this book a solid eight to ten on the basis of originality alone. For more reasons why I like Mike Mignola, see my post at: http://www.comicbookjournal.net/why-i-like-mike-mignola/
Stay tuned…more reviews cometh!

Devil’s Due publishing has successfully proved they are more than just a one-trick pony. By branching out to other genres and different types of storytelling platforms they have proven they have what it takes to be successful on the comic book front, not just with GI Joe either. Other than Image and Dynamite Entertainment, I feel they have produced the best quality of work, outside of Marvel and DC. As far as independent publishers go, they are among the best. So what has made Devil’s Due successful? Talent. They consistently attract high-profile talent and that leads to a high quality of product made. Spooks #1 is no exception.

With a script by acclaimed fantasy novelist R.A. Salavatore and long-time comic book scribe, Larry Hama (who also draws a pretty picture or two himself), this series has large market success all over it.

The storyline of Spooks is fairly simple. It’s werewolves, vampires, and monsters versus the rest of the world in a battle for complete domination. Throw in some powerful magic, and an undead war general in charge, and you have a pretty good fight. The government has assembled a highly trained team of officers to protect and defend against supernatural enemies, and possible terrorists. In the first issue the spooks members see what they are up against with seven foot werewolves and then Frankenstein’s monster joins in at the end of the issue. I think this series could be really entertaining, but would like to see more development from the members of the task force. Right now, they just seem to be cardboard cut outs of characters.

I look forward to the series, but this issue was just not enough of a taste to keep me involved. In my opinion no one will ever write the story of humanity versus supernatural forces better than Mike Mignola. To see why he writes the ultimate end of the world story see my post at http://www.comicbookjournal.net/why-i-like-mike-mignola/

Now about the art. Adam Archer has made me believe werewolves exist they were literally jumping off the page. This is dynamic action, nicely rendered beings, brilliant backgrounds. And what I like most about Archer’s artwork is it flowed. It is clear that this issue was storyboarded and planned out before he drew even the first panel. Careful planning plus attention to detail equal outstanding artwork.

On a scale of one to ten I’d have to give this book a solid seven out of ten. While it’s a great starting point for a new series, that’s all it does is give a sample of what could be greatness. I’d have to have more of a sense of direction as to where the story will be taken before I could give it a ten. Sorry Devil’s I’ll give you your Due, but I’d just recommend this story to a casual reader who is looking for some fluff reading on the bus.

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!

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!

Myth and folklore leave lasting impressions on any culture. Since it is now October, we’ll take the story of the Jack O’ Lantern for example. From folklore, it is rumored that a stingy man named Jack made a deal with the devil which took a wrong turn. Jack ended up tricking the devil, which saved his soul from Hell, yet, he was also barred from Heaven. Jack was doomed to wander the land forever, with nothing but a burning ember left to him by the devil to light his way. Jack, scared to lose his only light hollowed out a turnip and put the light inside of it. Thus, the legend of the Jack O’ Lantern was born. The myth later evolved to a pumpkin instead of turnip, and many Scottish and Irish families, used these “lanterns” to ward off evil spirits. We continue the tradition today. Comic books are one legacy we can leave behind. Sometimes the characters are borrowed from past myths and legends, others are completely original. Characters like Scooby Doo, Ghost Rider, Spawn, Evil Ernie, the Spectre, and Dr. Strange, all uniquely deal with the otherwordly, and are all perfect Halloween comic picks. Proving that horror comics have a future in the industry. Such titles as 30 Days of Night, Buffy, Angel, Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter, and Moon Knight are still going strong. New twists on old familiar characters will surely haunt your world this October like the new Marvel:Zombies, Resident Evil, and Silent Hill. When considering a list of favorites however, don’t forget to include the classics in the stories you will tell such as The Witching Hour, House of Mystery, and Tales of the Crypt. As comic book readers, and also storytellers we have the power to shape our own mythos for generations to come. I think Buddy Scalera in his 1999 article for Wizard had the right idea by passing out comic books instead of candy for trick or treaters, this will ensure the embers will never burn out in the niche the comic book genre in the annals of literature. So happy October loyal readers, if you’re unsure of costume ideas for your collective parties be sure to check out my blog about the Top Ten Sexiest Superhero Costumes. It can be found here:http://www.comicbookjournal.net/top-ten-sexiest-superhero-costumes/

If you haven’t already, it’s time to check out Dark Horse Comics Presents on Myspace.com. No subscription is required to Myspace in order to peruse the offerings. You don’t even have to get a subscription to the online comics. This is completely FREE. I applaud Dark Horse in ths bold move to get new readers. And these are great comics kids. I read all of the mini issues on the site, and was extremely impressed by Ron Marz’s story with Samurai:Heaven and Earth. The art was gorgeous also and the attention to detail (notice the reflection of the rider and horse in the eyeball) along with the coloring, set the mood for a great epic. I would follow this one in print as well. Do yourself a favor: check this stuff out!

A new book slated for release in November looks promising. Chris Morgan’s new comic, “Salem.” looks to be intriguing. Released by independent Boom studios, it has already been announced as certifiably cool from Previews and could be a critical darling. The book which tells the story of a colonial witch hunter in Salem could be what’s needed to fill the niche in horror comics that has been left after the success of zombie thrillers, such as 30 Days of Night has waned. Do yourself a favor and get a first printing of this gem, I have a feeling it could be a very popular comic in the future. Remember the old adage of supply and demand, it’s very possible this could be the sleeper hit of the fall. With an interesting concept, gorgeous visuals, and a Lovecraftian tone, all of elements of a hit are in this book.