Reading + Blogging: 1.14.08
I’ve got somethin to say about this stuff.
JLA Classified #50
John Byrne! JOHN BYRNE! Do you like John Byrne? I love me some John Byrne, his art anyway. It’s what super-hero comic books should look like, as far as I’m concerned. We can debate his writing techniques later, for now, just admire the drawings.
I read on someone’s blog that those hating the regular JLA book ought to be reading this. I feel bad for being so late to the party, I hear JLA Classified is almost over. Too bad, if the rest of the run has been anything like this, it’s clear this is where the real JLA lives.
The Punisher (MAX) #51, 52, 53
This book is winding down, we’re told. Ennis only has one more storyline after this. I wonder what he’s gonna do to top bringing in Frank Castle’s daughter.
Anyway, these 3 issuses are pretty damn good. There are those great moments of Ennis’s dark humour in the midst of horrible situations. The artwork has been even more enjoyable, though. Goran Parlov pencilled the Barricuda solo series and is one more reason I probably should have read this book. His art – grim, widescreen, and serious, but somehow cartoony – is ideal for the Punisher. He nails the moments of violence as much as he captures the hilarity that is Barricuda’s whole character.
What more can you say about a book that just continues to be really good?
Justice League of America # 13, 14, 15, 16
Whatever. Come on, DC, stop jerking us around on this.
The InJustice League story-line was pretty fun, but delivered little of the big-time, colorful action that it promised. No new twists. Maybe we’re spoiled by the ridiculous, sensational cross-overs that permeate the industry’s biggest books, but I expect more when you get so many major baddies in one place for a handful of issues.
And what the fuck is number 16? It’s an ad for some bull-shit book that no one wants to read anyway. Did I really just pay for that? I feel abused.
Omega the Unknown #3, 4
It’s really hard to believe this has a Marvel logo on the cover. It’s really creative, really different, and has cool people like Jon Lethem, Farel Dalrymple, and Paul Hornschemeier (colors) on it. I like to imagine that Lethem request Paul H. specifically.
Anyway, the book is down-right weird, but it has more story per issue that pretty much anything else Marvel publishes (with the obvious exception of most of Ed Brubaker’s work). And yet, I still have very little idea what’s going on. But, I can’t stop reading it. Yes but … Yeah, you need to read it. I give a special indie-spirit award.
Suburban Glamour # 1, 2
I’m not buying anymore of this. Are they selling this book at Hot Topic? I actually think it’s kind of fun, except for the parts with magic, which seem like they’re going to take over the book now that the inexplicably-hip elf-lady took a page and explained everything for us. I guess McKelvie just had too many text messaging gags planned to use any of the other pages for actual story. Oh well.
Justice League of America: Wedding Special
Why isn’t this just an issue of JLA? Well, duh, they had to make room in an issue of the regular series to plug other books. (See the above.) Oh, yeah.
Wormwood: The Last Enemy
Did you read this book? Yeah? I’ll see you in hell.
Fucking funny, though, right?
Drafted #2
Does the art in this book get any better? Cause in this issue it’s horrible. At least the inking sure is. I’d be curious to see what Chris Lie’s raw pencils look like and to know if a better inker could make this stuff work.
But, the idea for the book is pretty good, as far as I can tell from this one issue, I’d be interested in reading more, if the art gets better.
It’s a shame when bad art happens to good writing.
Cory Doctorow’s Futuristic Tales #1, 2
These were both pretty strong. I like the first one better.
Doctorow’s stories seem ripe for adaptation into other mediums, though I might not have picked comics, except for the fact that there’s probably some fanbase crossover happening there.
Issue 1 is better mainly because the story fits better into the issue. Whereas issue is able to tell the story, you get the feeling that issue 2 is only summarizing the story – it’s rather sketchy.
They’re great stories though, and thoroughly unlike anything else in comics.