Everyone is thinking about Star Wars today. J.J. Abrams is doing Star Wars VII after all, in spite of the early announcements that even though he was interested he wouldn't take on the storied franchise. He is at the helm of the 2013 release now. I'll bite and announce my support. If you didn't like his Star Trek, well, your mistake I guess. J.J. Abrams didn't make the Star Trek movie you wanted maybe, but he did give you the Star Trek movie that the franchise needed. It's a super promising start. The new movie, with an unknown villain played by Benedict Cumberbatch, who is, frankly, awesome, should rise above all expectations. Star Wars VII will likely be awesome too.
But, I'm not here to talk about movies and stuff. I talk about comics, my particular area of expertise. As it relates to Star Wars, that means I'm talking about the new Brian Wood series simply titled Star Wars. The concept is that Wood will take over after A New Hope and re-write the entire series in perpetuity. Of course, he only has a couple of years before Disney owns the entire product and the licenses move from Dark Horse back to Mighty Marvel. Let's hope he and his team have some books already in the hopper and at least get around 30 issues of this series out before DH loses the rights. The first issue is solid and sold out. It's heavy on Wedge, which will please the shit out of my 30-something make friends who all seem to have a man crush on this bit player in the early SW universe. There's hardly a lightsaber to be found and only a bit of Vader. The story is focused on the rebel's regrouping to locate a new base after losing Alderaan. I won't say that the first issue blew my ears back, but it holds serve on a promising concept, "What if Star Wars was run by someone other than George Lucas?"
I recently read four new graphic novels: the first collection of the new series premised on Alan Moore's old Image product Prophet, the last book of Scalped, Underwater Welder by Jeff Lemire, and Scene of the Crime by Ed Brubaker. Prophet is really interesting. I didn't even know it was happening, much less something I ought to read, until I was informed as such by Bryan at Wizard's Asylum. 90's throwback books don't usually grab my attention, especially given my deep hatred for the 90's comics. Of course, it intrigued me that this had been a Moore project from the early going, and Bryan's rec carries a lot of weigh with me (he's generally more selective than I am). From the opening pages, the artwork has a primal feeling to it. The writing is sparse. It's practically all narration. The imagery is stark and imaginative. It's like dreaming sci-fi from the cromagnon. It has an Aeon Flux feel to it without the clear lines and glossy art. You are left with a tension of never quite knowing what to expect, which is excellent when the late payoff occurs in the story. Sometimes, you get the feeling you're reading Heavy Metal, a series of one-off episodes with no clear connection. But, there is an overarching, unseen narrative that will bring everything together. I would recommend this book -- it's fresh and appealing.
Scalped is one of the greatest comics of all-time. I like Jason Aaron, but I love R.M. Guera. I have other posts explaining what this book is all about, so I'm not going to delve into the concept again, but suffice it to say this is the swan song for Aaron and Guera's Indian Sopranos series. I hate knowing those things going into reading a book because I always have unsaid expectations about what the book ought to produce to finally finish all of the remaining plot lines and satisfy my expectations for the characters. I think Aaron takes some easy ways out in the finales, he takes some unexpected plays with a few other characters, he has a lot of big reveals, and helps to explain why it was all said in the first place. It was a good, not great, ending for an excellent series. In my opinion, it was my satisfying than Y: The Last Man (a real let down), but not as epic as Promethea, one of the better endings in comic series history. It retained the voice of the book, which is a crucial point worth hammering home. Dash's story, Dash's rules. Scalped will be missed.
Underwater Welder is something everyone should read. Why? Because it's an original graphic novel by Jeff Lemire, one of the best comic book writers everyone should be reading. It's about the hauntology of family and the way our myths about our parents affect our lives forever. And it's wonderful. Jeff Lemire is the wildly successful author of the highly acclaimed graphic novel Essex County and the DC/Vertigo series Sweet Tooth. I won't belabor his pedigree, but it's excellent work and all of it deserves your attention. Underwater Welder meets those standards. For readers of Lemire's early work, this will be immediately recognizable. His visual aesthetic is consistent. Here, he opts for some new splash page work that is unlike Essex, but meets with some of his recent opening pages in Sweet Tooth, which I have loved. His writing is precious. No one writes melancholy like Lemire. He expresses the gaps between people in a way few writers of any medium have done well. There are no spandex or laser guns in these books, but the messages are no less heroic in content and epic in scale. If it weren't for Jonathon Hickman, Jeff Lemire would be my favorite new comic book creator.
Scene of the Crime was my favorite of these books. I am a Brubaker hack though, so that's not entirely fair. I also love the modern crime comic. I like big mystery because it gives me a puzzle to solve while I'm reading. Scene is typical of the Bru crime novels we know today, like Criminal or Gotham Central. A gumshoe gets caught up in a case that looks open and shut but turns out to involve drugs, cults, sexual deviance, and family betrayal. The aesthetic from Sean Philips and Michael Lark is readily accessible and consistent with those books. The writing style is similar to the successful Criminal series. The arc is long and the detail is a bit more intricate. I suspect today people would be concerned that this book was too detailed for comics, the pacing too slow. Bru himself might prefer to move the story along a bit quicker for the readers. For me, this was about right. I'm a fast reader and a 4-issue arc goes by in under an hour for me typically. This book was slightly more involved and therefore gave me a bit more to chew on. I'd love to see Bru go back to this book, maybe as a regular series or an occasional on-going (bi- or tri-monthly).
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Top Comic Series of 2012
After having read a series of weak lists for the best comics of the past year, I decided I would do a top 10 list for 2012. This list excludes a few graphic novels I haven't finished yet, included some evidently excellent work in Underwater Welder and Building Stories, both of which are frequently mentioned as top books. I'm also behind by a book on both Sweet Tooth and Scalped, which are excellent books. You should read them. That said, this represents my top ten list. I read around 150 comics a month, so it spans most of the top books that are being produced. A few things slip through the cracks from time to time, but I don't miss much.
10. Punisher -- Replacing Garth Ennis on this book was never going to be easy. No one has written more Punisher than Ennis and he has defined a particular aesthetic for this book that most people both like and now expect. Rucka seamlessly grabbed this book, ran with it, and refreshed it all in one move. It was a singularly impressive work. Marco Chechetto's art is masterful and expressive. The mood is edgy and powerful. Rucka is one of the most under-respected creators in comics, constantly having excellent books cancelled on him. Punisher is no exception.
9. Fantastic Four -- If someone had told me 10 years ago that FF would be at the top of my list of books, I'd have laughed in their face, but after the Millar and Hickman runs on the first family of Marvel, it's hard to argue that FF isn't one of the most exciting books on the shelves. Jonathon Hickman is the innovator. He's the future of comics, period. What he does with Avengers in the coming years will define the industry for an entire era. What he has done for the FF in the last 2 years is comparable to the epic lifting that Bendis did on Avengers in the mid-2000's. The conclusion to Hickman's run on FF was as big a payoff for a series as any book ever written. Ending 2011 with the return of Johny Storm was bound to be a tough act to follow; Hickman raised the bar again.
8. Batman -- The best superhero book coming from the other company. Scott Snyder is an ok writer. Greg Capullo is an amazing artist. If this book was drawn by anyone else, it would not be on this list, period. Court of Owls was, imo, a weak plot with excellent execution and art direction. Other than this book, the x-over was belabored. Here, Snyder shows some understanding of the psychological thriller that drives the Bat and introduces a new Bat-villain that the world didn't particularly need. Obviously, I'm pretty torn about this book. I think that the overall gushing reviews for it are nonsensically gushing. I do think it's a good Batman story from a struggling publisher.
7. Batwoman -- The future of DC comics. JH Williams III is DC comics today. A Vertigo creator on a Vertigo book forced into the mainstream DCU to make up for the lack of quality creators on their other titles. Still, Williams III handles his task with artisan quality expertise, delivering moving stories, jaw-dropping moments, incredible visuals and paneling, and generally top notch work. The arc is a bit long, as have been most New 52 arcs, but that's not his fault; it's an editorial problem. I'm impressed with the book, the creator, and the character even 5 years after it's creation. Kane is still surprising me.
6. Fury: My War Gone By -- Ennis + Fury = homerun. The early 2000's series was amazing. I was visibly thrilled when I heard about this series and pleasantly surprised about the content. Placing Fury all of the way back into his earliest days as a spy and examining U.S. history through the lens of Fury's chiseled visage is classic Ennis. If you enjoyed the Ennis War Stories, you'll enjoy this. If you enjoy the Fury character, you'll enjoy this. If you're a history buff, you'll enjoy this. Goran Parlov is a fantastic illustrator, drawing on Sergio to create accurate, moving depictions of humanity caught in the depths of scandal, massacre, and depravity. It's a tour d'force.
5. Saga -- I don't want to say to much here for those of you that haven't read it, but suffice it to say it's one of the most original sci-fi series of any time. It's smart, beautifully illustrated, and exciting. I can not wait for each new issue, the inevitable movies, and literally everything about this book. There are some "whaaaa" moments, a little shock value, and a few odd plots here and there, but all of it just makes the book interesting and remarkable. Enjoy it. Brian Vaughn may not write many more comics.
4. Mind Mgmt -- Matt Kindt is my favorite new comic book writer of the last year. I read Super Spy in one setting. I bought everything else he's done immediately. When I found out about Mind Mgmt, I treated it like I had Miracle Man: saved it all for one glorious reading. It was exactly that. His art won't be for everyone, but if you can't appreciate what he is doing, then you don't know or care much for comics. The story is a mindfuck, masterfully delivered. The little easter-egg bookends are wonderful little treats. I love this book. I hope we get to follow it for a very long time.
3. Archer & Armstrong -- Let's be clear: Old Valiant didn't appeal to me. The books rolled out too slowly. The plots were tangled. The art was mediocre. Shooter was a hack. I was not clamoring for new Valiant titles. I am now. All of the new Valiant titles are excellent, fresh, beautifully illustrated and excellently scripted. Archer & Amstrong is the best of them. I have seen people gush about X-O (personally my least favorite of the new books), but I can't imagine how they think it holds a candle to Patrick Zircher's work here. This book is awesome. Big Illuminati-esque conspiracies, big action, big buddy story, big family intrigue, big tie-in's to old Valiant favorites -- what more do people want. A++.
2. Daredevil -- Only in this year would Daredevil be #2 to anything. Mark Waid wrote a simple book that was masterfully drawn by Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin, frankly, the two best artists drawing comics today. Paolo Rivera is the best most original artist in comics since Steranko. His panel work is epic. Marcos Martin is the classic story-teller, like Jack Kirby. His pencils are simple and solid, but convey action and emotion as well as anyone. Mark Waid is back to his old basics from the days of writing Flash: don't overdo the characters, don't unnecessarily complicate the plots, and tell clean stories. This book is banging.
1. Uncanny X-Force -- Simply the best writing on an X-Men book in years. I can't even pretend to be interested in practically any character in this book, but Remender demands your attention. Fantomex is gripping. Angel is the best Angel since he got his Apocalypse wings. The evil Nightcrawler is amazing. The new Brotherhood reminds you of why you cared about them in Mutant Massacre 25 years ago. And Apocalypse Kid -- what's there to say. This is a state of nature debate taking place between the ears of the murderous X-Men black ops team. Rick Remender was one of Marvel's greatest pick-ups, not because every book he writes will be as good as Fear Agent, but because some books he writes will be this good. I'm running out of space here but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Jerome Opena, Billy Tan, and even the great Phil Noto have done interiors on this book. If you don't know Opena, you're about to get to know him, since he is doing the art for Avengers with Hickman. Read every issue of this book. You're welcome.
10. Punisher -- Replacing Garth Ennis on this book was never going to be easy. No one has written more Punisher than Ennis and he has defined a particular aesthetic for this book that most people both like and now expect. Rucka seamlessly grabbed this book, ran with it, and refreshed it all in one move. It was a singularly impressive work. Marco Chechetto's art is masterful and expressive. The mood is edgy and powerful. Rucka is one of the most under-respected creators in comics, constantly having excellent books cancelled on him. Punisher is no exception.
9. Fantastic Four -- If someone had told me 10 years ago that FF would be at the top of my list of books, I'd have laughed in their face, but after the Millar and Hickman runs on the first family of Marvel, it's hard to argue that FF isn't one of the most exciting books on the shelves. Jonathon Hickman is the innovator. He's the future of comics, period. What he does with Avengers in the coming years will define the industry for an entire era. What he has done for the FF in the last 2 years is comparable to the epic lifting that Bendis did on Avengers in the mid-2000's. The conclusion to Hickman's run on FF was as big a payoff for a series as any book ever written. Ending 2011 with the return of Johny Storm was bound to be a tough act to follow; Hickman raised the bar again.
8. Batman -- The best superhero book coming from the other company. Scott Snyder is an ok writer. Greg Capullo is an amazing artist. If this book was drawn by anyone else, it would not be on this list, period. Court of Owls was, imo, a weak plot with excellent execution and art direction. Other than this book, the x-over was belabored. Here, Snyder shows some understanding of the psychological thriller that drives the Bat and introduces a new Bat-villain that the world didn't particularly need. Obviously, I'm pretty torn about this book. I think that the overall gushing reviews for it are nonsensically gushing. I do think it's a good Batman story from a struggling publisher.
7. Batwoman -- The future of DC comics. JH Williams III is DC comics today. A Vertigo creator on a Vertigo book forced into the mainstream DCU to make up for the lack of quality creators on their other titles. Still, Williams III handles his task with artisan quality expertise, delivering moving stories, jaw-dropping moments, incredible visuals and paneling, and generally top notch work. The arc is a bit long, as have been most New 52 arcs, but that's not his fault; it's an editorial problem. I'm impressed with the book, the creator, and the character even 5 years after it's creation. Kane is still surprising me.
6. Fury: My War Gone By -- Ennis + Fury = homerun. The early 2000's series was amazing. I was visibly thrilled when I heard about this series and pleasantly surprised about the content. Placing Fury all of the way back into his earliest days as a spy and examining U.S. history through the lens of Fury's chiseled visage is classic Ennis. If you enjoyed the Ennis War Stories, you'll enjoy this. If you enjoy the Fury character, you'll enjoy this. If you're a history buff, you'll enjoy this. Goran Parlov is a fantastic illustrator, drawing on Sergio to create accurate, moving depictions of humanity caught in the depths of scandal, massacre, and depravity. It's a tour d'force.
5. Saga -- I don't want to say to much here for those of you that haven't read it, but suffice it to say it's one of the most original sci-fi series of any time. It's smart, beautifully illustrated, and exciting. I can not wait for each new issue, the inevitable movies, and literally everything about this book. There are some "whaaaa" moments, a little shock value, and a few odd plots here and there, but all of it just makes the book interesting and remarkable. Enjoy it. Brian Vaughn may not write many more comics.
4. Mind Mgmt -- Matt Kindt is my favorite new comic book writer of the last year. I read Super Spy in one setting. I bought everything else he's done immediately. When I found out about Mind Mgmt, I treated it like I had Miracle Man: saved it all for one glorious reading. It was exactly that. His art won't be for everyone, but if you can't appreciate what he is doing, then you don't know or care much for comics. The story is a mindfuck, masterfully delivered. The little easter-egg bookends are wonderful little treats. I love this book. I hope we get to follow it for a very long time.
3. Archer & Armstrong -- Let's be clear: Old Valiant didn't appeal to me. The books rolled out too slowly. The plots were tangled. The art was mediocre. Shooter was a hack. I was not clamoring for new Valiant titles. I am now. All of the new Valiant titles are excellent, fresh, beautifully illustrated and excellently scripted. Archer & Amstrong is the best of them. I have seen people gush about X-O (personally my least favorite of the new books), but I can't imagine how they think it holds a candle to Patrick Zircher's work here. This book is awesome. Big Illuminati-esque conspiracies, big action, big buddy story, big family intrigue, big tie-in's to old Valiant favorites -- what more do people want. A++.
2. Daredevil -- Only in this year would Daredevil be #2 to anything. Mark Waid wrote a simple book that was masterfully drawn by Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin, frankly, the two best artists drawing comics today. Paolo Rivera is the best most original artist in comics since Steranko. His panel work is epic. Marcos Martin is the classic story-teller, like Jack Kirby. His pencils are simple and solid, but convey action and emotion as well as anyone. Mark Waid is back to his old basics from the days of writing Flash: don't overdo the characters, don't unnecessarily complicate the plots, and tell clean stories. This book is banging.
1. Uncanny X-Force -- Simply the best writing on an X-Men book in years. I can't even pretend to be interested in practically any character in this book, but Remender demands your attention. Fantomex is gripping. Angel is the best Angel since he got his Apocalypse wings. The evil Nightcrawler is amazing. The new Brotherhood reminds you of why you cared about them in Mutant Massacre 25 years ago. And Apocalypse Kid -- what's there to say. This is a state of nature debate taking place between the ears of the murderous X-Men black ops team. Rick Remender was one of Marvel's greatest pick-ups, not because every book he writes will be as good as Fear Agent, but because some books he writes will be this good. I'm running out of space here but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Jerome Opena, Billy Tan, and even the great Phil Noto have done interiors on this book. If you don't know Opena, you're about to get to know him, since he is doing the art for Avengers with Hickman. Read every issue of this book. You're welcome.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)