Where pop culture meets geek culture and they make out a little.
Comics
Spawning Passion
Sep 11th
While it was not the first comic book that I ever purchased or read, “Spawn” was the first book that I ever felt the need to purchase every month. Let’s all face facts; the comic book is a form designed in large part to keep outsiders out. Most books are are absolutely mired in continuity so dense that sometimes even true devotees forget storylines. In 1992 the world of comics was turned on its head with the launch of Image, a comic company founded by some of the day’s hottest artists. I was nine at the time and remember the release well, but did not really have much interest. It wasn’t until three years later, at the age of 12, that I became interested in “Spawn.” I remember walking down the new comics wall of my local shop, seeing the cover to an issue of “Spawn,” and thinking “gee this looks pretty cool maybe I should give it a try.”
At the time that I picked up my first issue, Todd McFarlane was no longer on art duties. Pencils were being done by Greg Capullo and the dark art was all I needed to suck me in. There was something about the world of “Spawn” that was both darkly intimidating and greatly exiting. I read through that first issue several times then went on a quest to collect up all of the back issues. I knew I had stumbled on to something special. Granted, the story was not particularly original or complex. The writing was merely serviceable but, when combined with the art of McFarlane and the creators to follow, it was as though some sort of magic had aligned to create something perfect.
Everything about Spawn speaks to the mind of a twelve year old boy. The violence is extreme. The Monsters are horrific. Many a night Malebolgia would haunt my mind, my dark room full of his sharp teeth and pot belly, waiting to gobble me up and swallow my soul. The women were everything sexual. Wanda was a perfect wife with a drop dead perfect body, a woman worthy of trading your soul for. The Angels were even hotter women who could kick anyone’s ass. Angela alone could take down every nerd hating bully in the world, not break a sweat, and look beautiful doing it.
I collected everything Spawn: action figures, comics, shirts, movies, soundtracks, pins. I have every issue of “Curse of the Spawn,” “Hellspawn,” “Angela,” and “Sam and Twitch.” Over the years, the comic has lost some of its luster. Angela and Malebolgia died in issue 100. Al Simmons is no longer the Spawn of continuity; ex comma patient Jim Downing is the new character readers are following. Somehow, even though I know that it isn’t what it once was, (and, honestly, wasn’t much more than a flash to begin with) I still purchase an issue of Spawn every month and, somehow, I am transported, if only for a matter of minutes, to 1995 and the mind of a twelve year old boy who was looking for some danger.
The House of Ideas sold to a Mouse
Sep 6th
I know that this week was supposed to be dedicated to all things back to school and so I am going to make a loose connection between going back to school and what I have to discuss here. Going back to school is very depressing for youngsters, it is the demise of things that are fun and awesome. Well that is how I feel about the purchase of Marvel by Disney there goes my fun down the drain. I know that Disney might not ruin Marvel and I know that it is unlikely there will be a change in the comics after all a simple look at the relationship DC has with Warner Brothers shows that the comic world has essentially been left alone, but oh how I dislike Disney.
Ever since I was a small child and I found out the way that Disney treated Peggy Lee, for those of you who don’t know, they attempted to short her for royalties from the video release of “Lady and the Tramp”, I have thought that Disney epitomized the evil corporate empire. It is not just Peggy Lee who found Disney was treating them poorly. Many celebrities have claimed ill treatment by the company over the years. Whoopie Goldberg for once sent a tape to a roast of Richard Pryor in which she said, “Working for Disney again, I do feel like a nigger… So I just wanted to say I’m sorry I can’t be there… I’m picking cotton for Disney these days.” (her word not mine). My dislike however goes further since I grew up in Orange County everywhere I turn Disney is jammed down my throat.
My major concern is what will happen to the Marvel films. Will all of the characters I love be Disneyfied? Due in large part to Marvels previous $500 million contract with Paramount for production of films, Disney will not fully get its hooks into Marvel studios until 2013 after the release of “Iron Man 2”, “Thor”, “Captain America” and an “Avengers” film (Disney will however receive the money from these films) but it is only a matter of time ladies and gents when will we start seeing cartoons in which Spiderman and Aladdin team up to take down Jafar and the Kingpin. And What is going to happen to the darker marvel characters like the Punisher and Ghost Rider (granted neither of them have had particularly great films although the one with Thomas Jane was getting close) will they be relegated to firing bean bags and fighting fairies. I can’t even imagine.
The purchase of marvel has actually already had ramifications for the film world of the “Fantastic Four”. While the first two films were marginal at best saved only by the work of Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans (I maintain that the Human Torch should actually be played by Mark Paul Gosselaar) it seems that Fox intends to get everything they can out of their properties before the rights are turned over to Disney forcing through a new Four movie by prepare yourselves Akiva “Batman and Robin” Goldsman. The Horror… The Horror. Next thing we know we are going to see Thing nipples Gah.
All I have to left to say is, thank you powers that be for suck fest 2009.
Ness’s Mess
Aug 29th
Anyone familiar with any portion of the life of Eliot Ness most likely knows about his time as the head of The Untouchables. The Untouchables were a group of police officers who made a huge splash during the days of Prohibition. Few people, though, know what became of Ness post Chicago. It is Ness’s time in Cleveland Ohio investigating a series of grizzly murders that Brian Michael Bendis tackles in his award winning graphic novel “Torso.” Bendis is best known for his work on marvel comics superhero books but his true strength lies in the crime tales he told oh so many years ago.
Torso is a roller coaster of a ride as we follow Ness, and two other detectives, trying to solve the killings that have been plaguing Cleveland. Bendis utilizes many unique techniques to tell his story including spiraling panels and news clips from the time. The most shocking and valuable of his techniques, and also the most bloody and terrifying, is the utilization of actual crime scene photos in the pages to the comic. This book is not for the squeamish and I have warned people in the past that if you cannot handle photos of decapitation and decay that this is not the book for you…but if you can stomach it I full recommend this comic.
Torso gives the reader insight into what drives a man like Ness. Torso also gives a unique perspective on the beliefs about homosexuality at the time. The tale deals with corruption like no other book I have ever seen. The reader gets to witness the unraveling of a once powerful man as a killer slips through his fingers over and over again.
It is also important to note that Torso is a graphic novel in black and white so if you are one of those people who needs vibrant colors to read a comic; this isn’t the book for you. If, however, you are the kind of person who is ready to have chills run down your spine, if you are the kind of person who loves police procedurals, if you are the kind of person ready to expand your graphic novel reading prowess, this is the place to begin.
I do not want to give away too much of the plot because it simply would be unfair so I am going to stop here but this is my bloody valentine to all you out there in NR world. Oh, and I hope that the Torso (now called Ness) film comes to fruition soon.
4/5 - Nearly classic!
Crazy Like Lightning….Thunderbolts
Aug 21st
Can a trainwreck be entertaining and fun? Yes it can!!! I present to you, Thunderbolts, a team headed by a psycho and filled with other psychos.
Let’s start with a little back story on the team. Originally, the team consisted of villians posing as heroes in order to further their nefarious plans. Then they decided the hero bit wasn’t so bad and became a group of reformed villians.
Fast forward to the Civil War mega event. A schism exists between superheroes that agree to register with the government and those that won’t. The government decides to create a team to hunt down unregistered heroes. Now who could you get to do such a questionable job? Enter the new Thunderbolts. Now instead of villians looking for redemption. You have a team of villians working for the government on the promise of money and a one way ticket to anywhere outside of the United States.
Who are these villians?
- Songbird – member of the original team. She has sonic powers and is one of only two members who are not insane. She acts like the heart of the team.
- Radioactive man – also an original member. He is radioactive and is just hoping to get back to his homeland of China. He is the other non-crazy member.
- Moonstone – last of the originals. While not traditionally crazy, highly manipulative and a master of psychology.
At this point you may be asking, “Where’s the crazy? Why should I read this book at all? Not so trainwreck-like.” Well you’d be right if this was all there was to it. So let’s bring on the crazy:
- Venom – not Eddie Brock, but Mac Gargan (orginally, the Scorpion). Regardless of who is wearing the symbiote, Venom is a bloodthirsty monster. Mostly uncontrollable and likes to eat people.
- Swordsman – has powers but can only use them when touching his twin sister. The problem being that his sister is dead so he wields a sword whose hilt is wrapped in the skin of his dead sister. Oh yeah and he was promised a clone of his sister in lieu of payment. Plus it’s inferred that he and his sister are closer than most siblings (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).
- Penance – was the mutant who was part of the team that started the whole civil war. Blames himself for all of it. The only way he can access his powers is when he is in physical pain.
- Bullseye – all around homicidal maniac. Can kill anyone with anything and enjoys doing it.
And the cherry on this crazy sundae, their leader is Norman Osborne, aka the Green Goblin. Supposedly cured of his sickness, he is put in control of the team.
The first two arcs of this team were phenomenal train wrecks. You have one of the most dysfunctional teams ever taking on c- and d-list heroes. The team does get the job done but they tended to leave the places they visited a little worse for wear…and Venom was always trying to eat innocent bystanders. Every issue the team would fall a little more apart. In truth, one of the main reasons I continued to read it was to see just how bad it could get. I was never disappointed.
Now a disclaimer, currently, the Thunderbolts are made up of a different group of characters and their mission is slightly altered. I much prefer the crazy team.
The first two arcs by Warren Ellis are collected in 2 volumes: Faith in Monsters and Caged Angels. I highly recommend them if you enjoy a good trainwreck.
4/5 - Nearly classic!
Save Comic-Con
Jul 24th
I have been going to Comic-Con since I was thirteen years old. I remember my first Comic Con very vividly. It was one of the greatest experiences I had ever had at that young age. The San Diego Convention Center was a place where the true comic book fans could go and talk comics, a place to buy, and sell, and trade. A place where one of the most misunderstood mediums was given the reverence it deserved. I have noticed bumper stickers all over the roads in recent years that say things like “Save the Rainforest,” “Save the Polar Bears,” and “Save Trestles.” I think that it is time a new sticker was added to this list, “Save Comic Con.” The one place where comic book fans could go and have fun and speak about their passion for comics without being ridiculed for it, has been turned into nothing more than a place for Hollywood and the media to come try to pimp their new products and point and laugh at the pasty freaks.
The big studios have essentially taken over Comic Con in the past few years; for that they should be ashamed. They have perverted something that was once pure. If the product does not relate to comic books, it should not be at a convention where the first word in the title is Comic. A quick glance at the list of panels for this year reveals tons of things that do not belong at the convention. Let me begin with the slate of films. Those who go to Comic Con this year will be treated to material from the new films “Zombieland,” “Boondock Saints 2”, “2012” and, of course, “Twilight: New Moon”. Not a single one of these films should be at this convention. Don’t get me wrong, I am thoroughly excited to see the first two films, and have no interest what so ever in the second two, but none of them, no matter how I feel about them, should be at the convention
Next up is television. I know for a fact that there are tones of guys lining up to see what Anna Paquin has to say about this season of “True Blood,” (once again not a fan watched some episodes, read “Living Dead in Dallas,” didn’t like any of it). Fox will be there shilling it’s new T.V. show “Glee” which I saw the first episode of and really liked a lot, this may be due in large part to the fact that I was in show choir when I was in High School but the fact of the matter is that it doesn’t have anything to do with comic books and therefore it does not belong at Con.
After leaving the convention last year I was so dejected and so upset that I swore I would never again buy a full pass to the convention. The comics had become tertiary, with retailers forced to the dark fringes of the floor. This week I was reading an article in the new Entertainment Weekly which posed the question has Comic Con alienated its base. To this I say a resounding yes. There is nothing more frustrating then being unable to search for that rare comic book gem while being accosted by a bunch of media crews attempting to get the scoop an the newest fad. The comic book fan has been made to feel like an outcast at our own convention. I hope that this years con will be better but am certain it will not be as for last years convention I give it….
1/5 - Basic shite.
“Chew” on this.
Jul 17th
This week we are talking about epic deaths and “Chew” #1 has one of the most disturbing death moments I think I have ever seen in a comic. Written by John Layman, “Chew” follows the exploits of beat cop Tony Chu. Tony is Cibopathic which means that he can tell the history of anything that he eats. Chu can see the moment an apple is ripped from its tree, taste the second a cow is slaughtered etc. It is this unique skill that makes Chu one of the most valuable members of the P.D.
The comic takes place in a world where the sale of fowl has been outlawed due to an outbreak of avian flu. Tony and his partner, John Colby, are seen staking out a restaurant that makes its money through illegal sales of chicken. After attempting to bust some of the restaurant’s patrons to little avail, F.D.A. agent Mason Savoy, head of the poultry task force, tells Chu and Colby to go inside the restaurant and have something to eat .
Chu sits down to a tasty meal of chicken soup only to find that the man who made the delectable meal is actually a mass murderer. This leads to a chase through the rest of the comic and the chef’s suicide. It is at this point that “Chew” goes from camp fun to dark and grim and wonderful. In order to find out the names of all of the murderer’s victims Chu must do the unthinkable…eat the man’s face. That’s right, Chu eats his face!!!!!!!
Layman has a skill for the slow build, for about the first three pages of this comic book I wasn’t convinced. I mean, yeah, it seemed fun and cute but for three bucks, I wasn’t sure I was going to buy issue two. Then it took a turn I didn’t really see coming and that has convinced me to put this on my mental pull list.
The art by Rob Guillory functions well as a cartoony juxtaposition of the tale. The book could have been filled with dark heavily cross hatched panels and deep colors but instead it is bright and simple. It is this art that makes the dark moments that much more evil, like a monster under the bed invading a child’s room.
In the end “Chew” is a great read with excellent art. I am looking forward to issue 2.
4/5 - Nearly classic!
Top 10 Epic Comic Book Deaths
Jul 17th
Any comic book reader knows that characters die at the drop of a hat. Featured below is a countdown of the 10 most epic comic book deaths. The list below is comprised of deaths that really count, the shockers, the deaths that haunt the reader. So without further ado…
10 Edsel: Mage
Edsel functioned as Kevin Matchstick’s squire in Matt Wagner’s epic comic book “Mage”. She was always ready to serve and protect her leader. Her great downfall came in the line of duty throwing herself on a mystical bullet of sorts to protect Kevin. Edsel’s sacrifice was not in vain however since it allowed Kevin to defeat the malicious Umber sprite.
9) The Joker: The Dark Knight Returns
I know that this is by far one of the most spoken about epic death moments ever, but it sits at the bottom of this list because it is a moment that is outside of standard continuity. The Joker, as all comic fans know, is the epitome of all evil. After being paralyzed by Batman in Frank Miller’s legendary comic, the clown prince of crime forces his broken neck just the few inches more it takes to sever his spinal cord and frame the Dark Knight for murder. Now that’s commitment!
Agent 355: Y: The Last ManIn the most heartbreaking moment in the entire series, Yorick Brown professes his love for protector 355. Everything is right in the world, the concern for saving mankind has been resolved and it is time for 355 to retire. Just as she and Yorick come to terms with their mutual feelings for each other she catches a snipers bullet in the “All Quiet on The Western Front Style” Leaving Yorick Holding the broken limp body of his one true love in his arms.
7) John Hartigan: Sin City: That Yellow Bastard
Hartigan is the hardest of all cops on the beat. After years of solitary and physical rehabilitation he finds himself protecting the one thing he has a soft spot for, Sin City’s own stripper with a heart of gold Nancy Callahan. After protecting Nancy from the evil Jr. Roark the only way that Hartigan can be sure she will be safe is blow his own brains all over the black and white page.
6) All Father D’Aronique: Preacher
We are talking Epic Death here and there are few that are more epic than the fate that befalls All Father D’Aronique. The all father meets his untimely demise at the hands of preacher villain Herr Starr. The massive D’Aronique is dropped from a helicopter to splatter satisfactorily on the cement below. It isn’t just his death though but the death of on a couple of soldiers and the last scion of Jesus Christ that he lands on in the process.
5) Morpheus: The Sandman
We all knew that it was coming. Even though he was one of the Endless, it was made clear on several occasions that they were not immune to death. Yet it is the quite dignified way that Morpheus is taken away that makes the whole thing so sad. As a reader it feels like losing an old friend or mentor and any reader just like the characters Morpheus is survived by would not be human if he or she did not feel the sting of the dream kings replacement by Daniel.
4) Mr. Hyde: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
In the second volume of League, Hyde really came into his own. Shown to be nothing more than a blood thirsty monster in the first arc, Alan Moore gives the reader greater insight into the workings of Hyde’s mind. Hyde sacrifices himself to buy the League time as they try to beat the Martians. The thing that is amazing is that the hulking murder makes note of the fact that he is not concerned with anything other than bloodshed and that he will be mistakenly seen as noble and noble he does appear.
3) Eben Oleamun: 30 Days of NightEben succumbs to a fate worse than death in Steve Nile’s and Ben Templesmith’s vampire story. In order to protect his town and family Eben must become what he is trying to fight. Knowing full well that he will become an out of control blood sucker, Eben chooses instead to watch the sun rise with wife Stella after a month of darkness, as they have so many years before. The chilling last page of Stella sitting alone on a hill after the disintegration of the vampiric Eben is the most shocking of all of the images contained within the comic.
2) Rorschach: Watchmen
His commitment to truth is his undoing. The true hero of Watchmen finds his end at the tip of Dr. Manhattan’s finger. I am almost incapable of saying anything other than heart wrenching. No one who has read this comic will forget the look on Rorschach’s face as he screams at Manhattan to “Do It!”.
1) Jason Todd: Batman: A death in the Family
Jason Todd was, by far, the most hated of Batman’s sidekicks and I know that many will disagree with this as the number one most epic comic book death but there is one thing that makes this death unique. After being beaten close to death with a crowbar by the Joker, Jason is left in a warehouse with a ticking bomb. Batman readers were left to choose the fate of the new Boy Wonder by calling one of two 800 numbers. After the calls were tabulated it was found that Jason was voted dead, the bomb exploded and The Dark Knight’s sidekick went up with it. This was not a murder by a random psychopath, as the comic world would have you believe, no this was a hate crime committed by Batman fans all over this land, and that is why it is the most epic comic book death of all time.
Of Gods and Men of Tomorrow (Abridged): Thoughts on DC Comics’ FINAL CRISIS
Jul 17th
Cover artwork for Final Crisis #4
Grant Morrison should not be constrained. He called Final Crisis his ‘magnum opus,’ and if you stand back and simply look at the story, you would have to agree that was his intention. A story about the fight for either existence or non-existence. There is time travel. There is inter-dimensional travel. There are gods and deicide and even the sky cracking in limbo. However, the story reads like an abridged edition of an epic I wanted to enjoy. Even with the series being printed with extra pages per issue, character development is still rushed. Morrison cuts from scene to scene very quickly, which is something that can be used to affect a reader when working with a smaller cast. This is not a small cast, though. The DC Universe is replete with characters, each with their own complex and interwoven mythologies. I’ll admit I’m more of a casual fan of the DC Universe and, therefore, many of the character references didn’t register with me. Yet it’s not the history of these characters that I need to be familiar with, as far as who they fought in what issue and so forth. Morrison is also known for inserting mind-bending concepts into his work. It’s a difficult balance to strike between character and plot development, as well as finding room for concepts such as “quantum superposition used defensively.”
There is an issue that focuses on the “Tattooed Man” and “Black Lightning.” The former is a “villain” and the latter is a “superhero.” There are chases and action in the issue, yet the main focus is the interaction between these two characters and their views on themselves and on one another. The Tattooed Man holds a prejudice against superheroes. He’s been wrongly incarcerated. He reflects on this and his treatment by the superhero community. “Black Lightning” confronts these views and the narrative focuses on two men with different points of view trying to communicate with one another. The action doesn’t always upstage them. The series is at its best when the characters aren’t upstaged by the plot and the action and the need to fit all of this in a set number pages, and instead are allowed to breathe. Then they are allowed to affect us.
There were times where I wanted more of this. I wanted to be more invested in these characters and, therefore, be able to fully experience and enjoy all of Grant Morrison’s work. Perhaps there’s an expanded edition out there? That’s wishful thinking, I know. I also know Grant Morrison is capable of delivering this kind of experience to a reader. His run on X-Men was over thirty issues. His All Star Superman series about what the last son of Krypton decides to do with the last year of his life affected me in a way I didn’t expect. It made me remember who Superman was and why I cared about what happened to him when I was a kid. Final Crisis could have used more room for a man like Grant Morrison, with so much coming out of his mind.
3/5 - Might be worth a try...
“Greek Street” #1 Reviewed
Jul 10th
This week we are talking about how much sweating sucks and damn does it suck. Being one of the dark creatures that only comes out in the night, I find that on those hot, hot, days in Southern California, the best thing to do is to test out new comic books for my weekly pull list in the nice cool air conditioned comfort of my home. This week the new Peter Milligan penned “Greek Street” was on the list of things to read. Having several college degrees in various forms of English, I have always been drawn to retellings of classic stories and how much more classic can you get than the old Greek tragedies.
I sat and read “Greek Street” pretty rapidly and did enjoy most of the comic over all. I really liked some of the changes that were made to the old tales in order to get this thing to all fit together. The Greek chorus functions well as three very aggressive strippers who work at the Olimpya strip club, Agamemnon and other characters are well placed as various crime bosses and under bosses in the city. My favorite of all of the changes, though, was the way that the oracle is done; a poor, freaked out, shut in girl who seems cut off from the real world.
The one character that really didn’t work for me was the lead in the book, Eddie. Eddie is supposed to be a version of Oedipus, the man who killed his father and married his mother but there is one distinct difference between Eddie and Oedipus. Oedipus, of course, didn’t know exactly what it was that he was doing. In the case of our friend Eddie, though, he is completely aware that he is having sex with his mother before he does it (um, ewwww). I mean, as a reader, we can forgive Oedipus because he is unaware but Eddie’s behavior, in my opinion, makes him the least likable of everybody in this line. Seriously, what kind of grownup does that? This behavior aside, he may still win me over in time, I just have to try to ignore that action the best I can.
The art work in the issue is quite good over all. Davide Gianfelice does a good job of joining the ranks of artists like Eduardo Risso (“100 Bullets”) and R.M. Guera (“Scalped”). The characters are beautifully drawn from the very first panel in this first issue. The color scheme is the same green, orange, purple, brown secondary pallet first utilized to its full extent in “Watchmen” that tells the reader, this tale is part of the real world. It also helps that the tale takes place in a real location Soho, London.
I would say that over all I enjoyed the extended forty pages contained within this first issue of “Greek Street”. Plus Vertigo was kind enough to give the comic to me for the low, low price of one dollar. I’m not one hundred percent sold yet but I will be back for another visit to Greek Street next month.
3/5 - Might be worth a try...
writer
“Howling Commandos only retire when they’re good and damned ready.”
Jul 3rd
Summertime has long been known as a season to lounge, enjoy barbecues, hang out with friends and blow stuff up. This summer is going to be especially enjoyable with not only loud explosions on the big screen but in the world of comics. For the past couple of months, I’ve been reading Marvel Comics “Secret Warriors” starring the living legend, Nick Fury and it has not disappointed me in this regard.
Co-written by Brian Bendis and Jonathan Hickman, this duo are spinning an intricate and engrossing story that brings you back to when men were full of grit, iron guts and balls of steel. Villians who are a true threat and a world that doesn’t know it needs saving. As part of Marvel’s “Dark Reign” this writing team looks to upend the status quo and put everything you (as the reader) know to the test.
After Earth survives a secret invasion by shape-shifting aliens, known as Skrulls, Norman Osborn, aka The Green Goblin, is placed in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. and quickly dismantles it and renames it H.A.M.M.E.R. Prior to all of this, Nick Fury went MIA and resurfaces with a new team of heroes but without a sanctioned government organization to back him up. As a result, Fury decides that having a mad man in power is not going to settle well in his gut and he begins to remind the world why he is “the worlds greatest spy.”
The art is top notch and the characters are given a real life appearance by Stefano Caselli. Caselli draws Fury as a man that, despite being battered by forces larger than him, will not break and bow down to the despot that is Norman Osborn. Characters are drawn with a fairly believable physique for being super-heroes and super-villains.
By issue #4 of the series, old Nick Fury fans will be pleased because the “Howling Commandos” finally make an appearance, with old favorites like Dum Dum Dugan taking center stage. At this point, old foes in the form of HYDRA have once again come to the forefront as well to renew their own bid for world dominance.
I’m looking forward to keeping this on my summer reading list as it keeps the pulse pounding and me wishing that I was as cool as Nick Fury.
I give it a unicorn rating of:
4/5 - Nearly classic!
The Ballad of the Green Berets-Sgt. Barry Sadler
The Immortal Iron Fist # 27
Jul 3rd
It’s summer time and we all know what that means. No, not rerun season. It’s that time of year when families pack up their stuff for the inevitable family vacation. In the case of the Rand family nothing seems like more summer fun then packing up to trek through the snow covered mountains of China, in search of the mystical city of K’un L’un. Fans of “Iron Fist” are, of course, well versed in the trip that took young Danny Rand out of the city streets of America, and into the mountains, where he would train to become one of the Immortal Weapons. It is through the words of Duane Swierczynski and the art of Travel Foreman and David Lapham that the story of Rand’s transformation from trust fund child into hero really gets the punch it so deserves.
I have always loved martial arts stories ever since I was a little kid. I remember begging my parents to take me to any movie that had martial arts in it. I must have seen “Three Ninjas” about ten times the year that it came out. It always saddened me a bit that “Iron Fist” was somewhat disappointing. Every time that a new “Iron Fist” series came out I would buy the first issue or two and find it just unacceptable, that is until 2007 when Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction took over the writing duties on the character. Finally someone got it, martial arts is about two things, finding internal piece and when the situation calls for it, kicking an inordinate amount of ass (Disclaimer: Only when words fail). With the book handed off to Swierczynski, anything could have happened but he has managed to tap into the same style that brought this comic out of the camp gutter that it had floundered in for so long.
In the newest issue, Danny Rand is in the process of trying to get his life back in order after previously being in a hell dimension for months in the previous arc. Rand comes home to find his business failed, his office full of Hydra members and his girlfriend Misty pregnant (don’t worry the baby is Danny’s).
Danny’s fight for his life against the ever multiplying numbers of Hydra is juxtaposed with the skill full retelling of the events that led to Wendell Rand taking his young son to China. The poor decision making that eventually led to Wendell’s death is used to highlight Danny’s concern over what type of father he will be to his unborn child. It is in the quite moments when this book really shines in particular in this issue, it is the moments between Danny and his best friend and fellow superhero Luke Cage that stand out. Luke puts everything into perspective for our hero by informing him that they are in the most dangerous business in the world, “Changing diapers at 3 A.M.”
The art complements the story incredibly well. Each of the characters is designed to look like something out of old kung fu and exploitation movies. Misty could be Foxy Brown’s daughter. My only real complaint about this book is that sometimes the art can be a bit inconsistent; nine out of ten panels gorgeously rendered and one that looks like it may have been drawn late at night, under the influence of several cups of coffee and a deadline that just can’t be ignored.
For those looking for an escape during those long drives in the family van I fully recommend taking a copy of Iron Fist 27 along for the ride. Just don’t read it while driving.
4/5 - Nearly classic!
Review: Batman and Robin
Jun 17th
I am a fan of Grant Morrison’s work. I thought his run on X-Men a few years back was exceptional. In essence, he took a book that was becoming somewhat derivative of itself and turned everything on its head, he made something old, new again. I did not, however, care for his recent run on Batman in the least bit. Batman R.I.P. was a story line that just simply didn’t resonate with me. It seemed contrived to some extent like it was simply going through the paces to get Batman dead. The Aftermath however is something completely different.
Locke and Key: Head Games #5 Review
May 26th
The newest issue of Lock and Key came out last Wednesday and it did not disappoint. After flipping their heads open in the last issue of Bode and Kinsey spend a fair amount of this issue looking at their bad thoughts trapped inside a Coke bottle. Probably the most important aspect of this issue is that Zach is finally starting to kick things into gear. After many issues of sitting back and letting things unfold, Zach has determined it is time to really start getting his hand’s dirty. No one in the Locke family seems safe from this powerful evil. Zach utilizes the keys he has obtained access to and, with the utmost of skill, begins removing old memories of himself form Uncle Duncan’s head. He then does something truly evil by seducing Kinsey. This guy is the worst of the worst. Once again we have crisp writing from Joe Hill and some super eerie images courtesy of Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW has become the new home of great horror. I can’t wait to see how this arc all wraps up with next month’s issue six.
Stoker
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Century 1910
May 13th
Hey all, Stoker again. So last week the new “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” story came out; I am glad to say that it is a step up from the last installment, “The Black Dossier.” Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed following the exploits of Mina and Alan as they searched for information on previous incarnations/variations of the League from around the world but, when all was said and done, the Black Dossier left me a bit on the cold side. Unlike the other League stories I have never had the urge to revisit it, something which I am prone to do with comic books I really like.
Locke and Key #4
Apr 10th
Joe Hill is following in his father’s footsteps. The son of Stephen King, Hill has won numerous awards for the horror tales found in his short story collection “20th Century Ghosts”. His first novel “Heart Shaped Box” made it all the way to number eight on the New York Times Bestseller list. In my humble opinion the best work that he has done so far is on his comic book “Locke and Key”. The tale follows the exploits of the Locke family after the vicious murder of the family’s patriarch in the first story “Welcome to Lovecraft”. Now in its second story arc “Head Games”, “Locke and Key” has not dropped a beat.