Final Comic Book Wednesday

Welcome to the final installment of...

Comic Book Wednesday

Issue #33

Yep, you read that right. After this issue, I'll be unable to continue my weekly blog. It's been a blast writing about the books I read here, and I think it's actually increased my enjoyment of those comics. I've been working as a Screenwriting teacher at Five Towns College, and my workload has increased threefold this semester... and I think it's time to focus all of my writing attention on - well, you know, my writing. I'll still write about comics, and I'll even post reviews, but I definitely can't do it on a weekly basis any more.

So alas... let's get to it!

Thankfully, this was a good week. Angel & Faith, TMNT, and JLD all delivered fantastic reads, and even the books that didn't totally impress me weren't quite bad.

Angel & Faith #6

Daddy Issues - Part One

Written by Christos Gage

Art by Rebekah Isaacs

Dark Horse Comics

It makes sense that the best installment of Angel & Faith thus far has the best cover. Steve Morris' cover, featuring a younger Giles emerging from a Russian doll-version of Giles as we know him... it's perfect. It's perfect because it intrigues and mystifies while also accurately representing the inside story. It also functioned to tease the fandom a bit, as it was released before we got a chance to read A&F #4, which many fans thought to be the climax of the "Angel resurrects Giles" arc. However, it wasn't, and Christos Gage is telling that slowburn story over the course of the whole twenty-five issue series. What this cover did was make the fandom wonder if Giles was going to be brought back successfully as Ripper - which is a great idea, but Gage has something else in mind.

Angel, while still obsessed with the idea of bringing Giles back, continues his mission of using Giles' Watcher's Diary as a yellow pages of the supernatural. He goes after a Lophrage demon, a mosquito lookin' mamajama who we're introduced to in a kickass flashback to Giles' time in Watchers Academy. The show, because of obvious age issues, never gave us a look at the teenage, pre-Ripper Giles... but now, in this comic, all those old impossibilities are nothing but memories. Along with the rest of his senior class, Giles has an encounter with this horrifying Lophrage demon, which serves to give Angel a new mission as well as to shed some light on why Giles became Ripper in the first place.

Faith is kept busy, investigating a vampire named Mother Superior. Faith's story is still very tied to Nadira, who is about as fun to read as Rona was to watch in Season Seven, but at least the Slayer Juniors get very little page time here. As Angel brings Faith on board with his Lophrage hunt, it becomes clear quickly that the elusive Mother Superior is involved with the demon in some way. I'm just going to go ahead and spoil the reveal at the end, because... well, anyone who has seen the covers knows, and really - anyone that knows Drusilla knew it would be her as soon as the name "Mother Superior" was mentioned. What other vamp who would warrant a reveal would choose such a name?

The real reveal, though, is that Drusilla is sane. This intrigues me a lot, because the optimist in me thinks that this may be Christos Gage attempting to tie his stories into IDW's work on Angel and Spike, considering Drusilla's sanity (and the fragility of it) was a major, major aspect of Brian Lynch's final Spike arc. On the other hand, I can see Drusilla using the Lophrage demon to steal other people's sanity - but there's enough speculation on the boards. From where I stand, it was the best issue of the series so far. I love how we're playing with the motif of fathers (Angel - Drusilla, Giles - his father, and Faith - her father... who we meet in this issue as well), which solidifies my hope that this series isn't just throwing Angel and Faith together for the hell of it. This series is about something, and I'm very, very engaged.

The most awesome aspect of the book, though, is Rebekah Isaac's artwork. Her characters are the perfect marriage of stylization and capturing likenesses. The action moves nicely, the small character moments really sing, and it has a dark, consistent tone that elevates this book quite a bit. I may like the lightness and the wordplay in the Buffy: Season Nine book slightly better than the story Gage is telling, but Isaacs' art just makes this one the winner. That might be, though, because BtVS:9 is such a vast improvement over BtVS:8, which Angel & Faith has just been really consistently good.

I hope this title continues to grow, but it really has everything right. I hope that the one-shots and the comedic stories are a bit better going forward, but Christos Gage and Rebekah Isaacs knock the arcs out of the park.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6

Story by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz

Written by Tom Waltz

Art by Dan Duncan

IDW Publishing

I originally tweeted that this was the best of IDW's ongoing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, but I'm going to amend that... it's the best since the first issue. And don't think I'm trying to turn this issue into Pluto, but I just went back and reread all of the issues, and that first one is really the perfect comic book. This one continues the story in an incredibly exciting way, continuing to blend the original gritty comic with the pizza-celebrating cartoon, creating a book that all generations of fans can embrace.

In this one, shit begins to hit the fan. It's revealed that Baxter Stockman hired Old Hob to bring down the turtles, and this uneasy alliance makes for great reading. It leads to the awesome reveal at the end of the issue which reintroduces the MOUSERS to the TMNT-verse, but the best think about the Hob/Stockman team-up is the humor. My favorite scene in the comic:

HOB: Holy...

STOCKMAN: Impressive, aren't they? We've been developing them as part of a program to locate and destroy I.E.D.s on the battlefield.

HOB: I.E.D.s?

STOCKMAN: Improved Explosive Devices.

HOB: ...

STOCKMAN: A booby trap that goes boom.

HOB: Ah. Gotcha.

All of the plotlines from the previous issues continue here. Casey Jones meets up with April O'Neil, the turtles and Splinter continue to talk about and debate their presumed reincarnation, and the Foot Soldiers brew up some trouble. It's all building toward something big, and I can't wait to see what the ongoing and Brian Lynch's two remaining microseries bring.

Aquaman #5

Lost

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Ivan Reis

DC Comics

I liked this. I liked it a lot better than JL#5. It's about as "written for trade" as JL, but the thing about this book is that it's a hell of a lot stronger than JL, so the overall effect is a bit less damning. It's a quick read, but the narrative device of throwing Aquaman into the desert and then showing us how he got there by alternating from the desert to the past is strong.

The current arc is leading to a major storyline having to do with Atlantis, and I'm very much looking forward to it. I like Aquaman as this likable, badass, overlooked hero. I like that the events of the previous arc are still bothering him. I like that the new mystery is still attached to the events of "The Trench" storyline, giving this book a cohesive "big picture" feel. I like a lot of things about this book and I think that, in good time, I may even love it. This issue doesn't do much to make Aquaman climb to the top of my pull list, but I'm consistently enjoying it.

Justice League Dark #5

In the Dark finale: There Was a Crooked Man

Written by Peter Milligan

Art by Mikel Janin

DC Comics

And the first arc of one of my favorite New 52 books comes to a close. It's a satisfying, if not perfect, ending that leaves me wondering where the hell Milligan's going to take the story. The dark tone that makes this series such a creepy read permeates this issue especially, so there is no happy ending for June Moone... but it's not heart-crushingly dark either. At the end of the issue, our team of characters isn't a team at all. Hell, they don't want to see each other, and I don't blame them. Milligan is cooking up some nastiness for them in each issue, and none of these people are true heroes. They lack the moral fiber of Superman and his kind, but some of them still try to be heroes... which leads them to clash. A lot.

One minor complaint was that Constantine was a bit too much of a jerk here. I know he is no longer the man who wants to save the world that we first ran into in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, but he's a bit... well, he's sort of like Spike in the finale of the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. For those of you that don't worship at the altar of Whedon, that means that Constantine claims to only be interested in saving the world because he is on the world. The Constantine I've read has lost a lot, but isn't selfish enough that he only values his own safety. Maybe it's just him being a hardass and I'm reading too literally, but that was a bit jarring for me.

The art is perfect. Mikel Janin's work is perfect for this book, and I hope he's in it for the longrun. He is perfect for this book and certainly vice-versa.

I know some folks have lost patience with the slow-boil narrative, but this is one of the most consistently enjoyable books in my pull list. I can't wait to see what fate has in store for these poor bastards next.

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Thanks for reading. I'm going to keep updating this blog, so hang around. I've got a lot more to say.

Morning Glories #15 review, Ghostbusters #5 review, Legend of Oz Wicked West #2 review, Batman #5 review, Birds of Prey #5 review,

Comic Book Wednesday #32

I had some dental surgery this week... so seriously, thank everything that is good for comics. Here are some books that you should be sure not to miss out on.

Image Comics

Morning Glories #15

P.E. part three

Written by Nick Spencer

Art by Joe Eisma

Anyone who follows this blog on a regular basis knows my feelings about Nick Spencer's Morning Glories. I tend to go on and on about how brilliant it is, how engaging the mystery is, how well-crafted the dialogue is, and how Joe Eisma just knocks every page out of the park. This issue is no different. It's scary, tense, and has the best use of a flashback intercut with scene "in the now" that I can remember reading. Morning Glories is like that TV show that you look forward to watching because everything about it just better, from the writing to the acting to the damn editing. This is the comic book version of that dream show.

This series is a Lost style mystery and, at fifteen issues, it has nearly as many mysteries as that show did in its heyday. Since Nick and Joe plan on creating 100 issues of Morning Glories, we know that none of those answers are coming anytime soon... and yes, that's frustrating. In the best way possible. The mythology and the mystery remain in the background, with Nick keeping his attention squarely on the characters. Almost all of this issue is made up on conversation, and I love that.

Not only is this book great, it's also an insane value. This book costs $2.99 - the same price as our twenty page DC books... but this is a thirty page story. With no ads interrupting it. Yeah, Morning Glories is the ultimate comic book experience.

IDW Publishing

Ghostbusters #5

Written by Erik Burnham

Art by Dan Schoening

PCOC pages by Tristan Jones

The new arc begins with this issue. While it's not as instantly gripping as the start of the first storyline, it's still a hell of an entertaining read. The majority of the comic, before the baddie takes center stage, has an almost day-to-day feel, and it seems to be setting the tone for the ongoing adventures of these characters. Fun dialogue, great interactions, and some of the best visuals in comics - this series remains at the top of my pull list.

Big Dog Ink

The Legend of Oz: The Wicked West #2

Written by Tom Hutchison

Art by Alisson Borges

If you didn't catch the first issue, the premise is simple: The Wizard of Oz as a western. Damn near a Tarantino-esque modern take on a spaghetti western, to get to the core of it. Dorothy Gale pulls no punches; she's badass and will punch the teeth out of your mouth you say something she doesn't like.

(A lot of people say things that she doesn't like.)

The story really kicks off in this one as we begin to see Hutchison's interpretations of the classic cast. The Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch are all present here, and they all make this book a bunch of fun. The most inventive reinvention (heh) is the sort of living doll take on the Scarecrow.

The writing is fun, the art is downright gorgeous, and the presentation is flawless. The cover is extra thick, giving this book some nice weight to it. When you go to your local shop, take a glance through this book - I guarantee you won't put it down.

DC Comics

Batman #5

Face the Court

Written by Scott Snyder

Pencils by Greg Capullo

If you have this fun little thing called the Internet, you know what people think of Scott Snyder's Batman. It's nearly universally loved, and for good reason. It's fantastic. Best book of the New 52. This issue is no different. It's trippy, emotional, and... well, it's the scariest that the series has been in a long time. And I'm not talking "Joker's face nailed to the wall" scary. That isn't scary. This book is moody, foreboding, and disorienting. As Batman stumbles through the labyrinth, you'll get lost with him, shifting the book to the side, on an angle, and upside down to read. It's damn good writing with damn good art. You're missing out on a defining moment in superhero comics if you let this book pass you by.

Birds of Prey #5

Chokepoint

Written by Duane Swierczynski

Layouts by Jesus Saiz / Finishes by Javier Pina

This story is just not letting up. It's pretty obvious that Swierczynski is a thriller writer, because the mystery is genuinely interesting. Black Canary, Starlette, Katana, Poison Ivy, and (maybe?) Batgirl reach a very confusing point in their investigation of the s'ploding peoples, and I am completely stunned by the way that Swierczynski is executing this story... because I have no clue what's going to happen next. Not a shadow of an idea. I can't speculate, because I'm just so lost in his storytelling that my instinctual Writerly Instinct of "he's gonna do this, isn't he?" has completely shorted out. This is right behind Snyder's Batman as the best superhero title from DC.

Comic Book Wednesday #31

Comic Book Wednesday

Issue #31

Here's what I've been reading over the past three weeks. Some good, some great, some not-so-much.

IDW

The Cape #3

Written by Jason Ciaramella

Inspired by the short story "The Cape" by Joe Hill

Art by Zach Howard

This saga of misguided revenge gets even scarier this time around. Ciaramella cuts this tale up with flashbacks of a much more innocent childhood, giving the horrific scenes a harsh dichotomy. The story, while simple, is as riveting as it is batshit crazy (flying dude takes down a plane with a CHAINSAW), and it remains on the top of my pull list. The issue ends with the deranged Eric preparing for a showdown of sorts with his brother Nicky, who just happens to be the primary object of Eric's war on his family. Shit is going down, and I'm pumped to see how they end it all.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Microseries #2

Michelangelo

Written by Brian Lynch

Art by Andy Kuhn

I already covered this one in my Best of 2011 blog, but if you missed that... man was this good. Hilarious, witty, and just pure fun. Easily the best thing to come out of the consistently excellent TMNT series from IDW.

IMAGE COMICS

Whispers #1

Written and drawn by Joshua Luna

This is among the best first issues I've ever read. It's my first comic by Josh Luna (I bought the Ultra TPB at NYCC, but I haven't read it yet), and I'm stunned by how good it is. I read a preview of it last month, and I was intrigued by the depiction of OCD, but this... the whole story is just such a complete mind trip. Anyone who has even had even a slight case of OCD will relate, but this comic doesn't focus on just that. Sam, our protagonist, has recently discovered his strange ability to travel around town, incorporeal and invisible, visiting people he knows while he's asleep. It's a simple concept, but the execution is just... well, honestly, it's perfect. I can't recommend this enough. I bought this comic because I want to support creator owned books, but I'll keep coming back month to month because of how brilliant the writing and art is. Best book of the new year, so far.

DARK HORSE

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #5

Slayer, Interrupted

Written by Andrew Chambliss

Art by Karl Moline

Karl Moline is my favorite BtVS artist, so it was great to see him return for this issue. The story has been called both a sequel to Restless and Season 8's The Chain, but I liked this issue a lot better than either of those stories. While (in my opinion, of course), the former two tales got lost in the dangerous territory of style over substance, this issue delivered the awesome with dream sequences that delivered the wonkiness while still adding to the overall story of the season in a manner that is both clear and entertaining. There are some major developments here and, while I'm sure the internet is already pissed off about the end of the issue, Chambliss and Whedon are taking the series in a surprising direction that's already a hell of a lot more down to earth than Season Eight. I'm thoroughly enjoying this book.

Angel & Faith #5

In Perfect Harmony

Written by Christos Gage

Art by Phil Noto

I dig Phil Noto's covers, but his sequential art didn't do much for me in this issue. It was a fun, light issue - essentially, it's what you expect when you hear the concept. Harmony reaches out to Angel and Faith to investigate a particularly damning sex tape that someone is threatening to leak. There are some cool moments with Clem, who is always a joy to read, and some great Snarky!Faith lines, but man... Rebekah Isaacs was sorely missed.

DC

Justice League Dark #4

In the Dark part four: By the Light of the Moone

Written by Peter Milligan

Art by Mikel Janin

Dark and intriguing, JLDark is everything that it should be. Considering that this book is made up of the most interesting characters in all of DC coming together to fight the baddies too dark and nightmarish for the Justice League proper to face, that's big praise. Every beat of this slow boil story has been an immersive and mind-melting experience, and this issue brings this roller coaster of a book to its highest peak. Shit is about to go down, and I can't wait to see how these characters deal with it. Especially Constantine. Man, can Milligan write him some Constantine.

Green Lantern #5

Sinestro part five

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Doug Mahnke

The fight to defend Sinestro's home planet from the team of villains that he created comes to a head. Geoff Johns creates the perfect balance of action and drama in this book, and Sinestro continues to be one of the most interesting protagonists in all of DC. Hal Jordan's romantic issues with Carole also gets resolved by the end of this issue, and that happens a bit too... easily. That plotline comes off as a bit "Let's give Hal some girl trouble," which feels a bit weak in contrast to the captivating relationship of Hal and Sinestro. I'm very glad that DC didn't just give Sinestro the Green Lantern title for a few issues for shock value - they're really going through with it, and the end product is as engaging as the idea is ballsy.

Aquaman #4

The Trench conclusion

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Ivan Reis

Every bit as engaging as Green Lantern, Johns brings his first Badass Aquaman storyline to a conclusion. Oh, what? This series isn't called The Badass Aquaman? Could've fooled me. Johns is pulling out all the stops here to make Aquaman the badass that Grant Morrison already knew he was. The action is great, and double page spreads are used liberally, but not in a way that takes away from the content of the story. It feels like decompressed comics should feel... like you're watching a widescreen film. And this... well, this is that summer blockbuster that leaves you coming back for more.

Batgirl #5

A Candy Full of Spiders

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Adrian Syaf and Vincente Cifuentes

Best issue yet. The minor flaw of Simone's recent writing pops up here again... if you hadn't noticed, it's Batgirl's very occasional incredible lame quip. I had to stop reading when Batgirl kicked her opponent in the face and said "Kiss my rear end!" I mean, is she seventy-five now? Besides that jarring moment, this book is damn solid. We get a follow-up on Barbara's meeting with her mother, as well as a villain twice as interesting as Mirror was. The first part of this new arc has already blown the last one out of the water, and Simone has consistently kept this book on my pull list... and with the way I've been cutting, that's no small feat. The art is mostly good, though some anatomy issues (Batgirl's pose on the first page and Bruce's weird hand on the final page) pop up, and Barbara's mom could've looked a bit less like she was Barbara's age. Despite those issues, though, this remains among the strongest of DC's recent efforts. Get it get it get it.

Batman & Robin #5

Mutineer

Written b Peter J. Tomasi

Art by Patrick Gleason

If you've liked the first four issues, you'll enjoy this. It offers nothing incredible or new, but... well, it's a solid read. Damian ventures off with Ducard, Batman's latest nemesis, and I think it's pretty obvious that he's going to turn on him in favor of Batman. There have been moments, especially in the first and fourth issue, that awed me, but if I'm going to stick with this series something major is going to have to happen to keep me engaged... soon.

The Ray #2

Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray

Art by Jamal Igle

Jimmy and Justin, the writerly team behind Power Girl, deliver another really fun comic. Protagonist Lucien Gates breaks the fourth wall, telling us his story as he experiences it, and the action and monsters are highlighted with the human drama kept to a minimum. It has a certain darkness to it, but the darkness teeters on the edge, coming from the villain instead of from the hero himself like most modern superhero comics. In fact, as the Ray, Lucien is essentially a goofball. A goofball with the badass power of light, yes, but a goofball still. The comic is a quick and enjoyable read and, while it isn't as effective as the duo's other efforts, it's worth the spot on your pull list for the four issues it's going to last.

Action Comics #4

Rocket Song

Written by Grant Morrison

Art by Andy Kubert

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Baby Steps (back-up story)

Written by Sholly Fisch

Art by ChrisCross

Grant Morrison's main story in this month's Action is decent. As readers have come to expect from Morrison, it's pretty damn inventive; we see the destruction of Krypton and Kal-El's voyage to Earth through the mind of the spacecraft he flew in on. It loses steam once the craft lands, as it blends a bit of story from the first Action arc with something that seems to be set in the future. It's all a bit confusing and, while I'm sure it'll make sense with next month's issue, it makes for a rocky read considering the fairly straight-forward beginning. What makes the comic more than worth the cover price is Sholly Fisch's back-up story, which focuses on a recently wed Jonathan and Martha Kent. It's eight pages of well-written and drawn human drama, giving readers a real portrait of two people who are struggling to have a child. I've been a critic of ChrisCross's work in the past, but he does quite a nice job here... and Fisch's script is, beat for beat, perfect.

Detective Comics #5

Wheel of Misfortune

Written and drawn by Tony S. Daniel

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Russian Roulette (back-up story)

Written by Tony S. Daniel

Art by Szymon Kuranski

This is another book that, after this read, I'm going to follow through the trades. The writing isn't bad, nor is the art... it's just that nothing here is particularly strong. Batman watches over Gotham, Batman broods, Batman chases a villain, and then we reveal the Penguin - who was already featured on the cover. The back-up features Catwoman and the son of Hugo Strange teaming up to take on some Russian gangsters. It's not bad by any means, but I don't think it's a comic that I'm willing to shell out three bucks a month for.

Superman #4

Mind for the Taking

Written by George Perez

Art by Jesus Merino

The first issue of this series was great. It was journalistic, emotional, engaging, and simply a good Superman book. Everything that has followed failed to live up to the high standard the first issue set, and I'm sad to say I'm dropping this book because it's such an iconic title, but I got six pages into this book before I closed it, sighed, and put it away. The story hasn't gone anywhere since the first issue, and it doesn't seem as if that's changing this time around. Maybe the second half of this issue is stellar, but I just don't have the patience to get through it. I'll come back to this book later, but I'm clocking out of this storyline.

Supernatural: Caledonia #4

Emma of the Isles Part II

Written by Brian Wood

Art by Grant Bond

I've been a big fan of this series, but it peters off a bit with this issue. Emma meets up with Sam and reveals the reason she called him... evil siren/mermaid kind of creatures. The depiction of these beasties is cool, but the last third of the book is a bit jarring. Sam's behavior is confusing, as is some of the action. Sam witnesses something happening with one of the creatures (after already being dragged away by one and then saved by Emma) and then suddenly realizes how unsafe he is in his location... but he was only unsafe because he went to the beach, where he already knew the creatures were! Sam's fear and subsequent behavior (so scared, gotta wait for Dean!) struck me as a really weird moment in an otherwise stellar series. Hope the next issue gets things back on track.

NEXT TIME: Batman, Birds of Prey, Ghostbusters, Supergirl, Morning Glories, Legends of Oz: The Wicked West.

Comic Book Wednesday - Best of 2011

With one day left in the year, I'm a week behind in my weekly comic book reviews. It's the holidays, though, so what can I say? Instead of this week's round of Comic Book Wednesday, I've decided to do a bit of an awards show.

Eh, who am I kidding? One ginger's opinionated ramblings do not an awards show make. Here's a run down of my favorite comics this year, as well as some stuff from years past that I think you should give a look at.

The Comic Book Wednesday 2011 Not-Really-Awards Awards

Best Ongoing Series - Mainstream

Batman

Written by Scott Snyder

Art by Greg Capullo

DC Comics

This is absolutely no contest. While DC's New 52 changes have forced my formerly favorite title (Supergirl) to the bottom of my pull list, Batman was left unscathed by this shiny new universe. In fact, with Scott Snyder at the wheel, this revamp of Batman is the best on-going title I've had the pleasure to read all year. Snyder's Bruce Wayne is intelligent, calculating, flawed, human, obsessed, and entertaining as all hell. While more than six titles feature Batman as a lead character, do not let this one get lost in the shuffle. Scott Snyder is the Batman writer to follow.

Best Ongoing Series – Indie

Morning Glories

Written by Nick Spencer

Art by Joe Eisma

Image Comics

Again, not much of a contest here. Image, Vertigo, Avatar, IDW, Zenescope, and (especially) Archaia are putting out great creator-owned series, but the sheer quality of Nick Spencer's magnum opus is what, as a creator, I personally aspire to. The dialogue is perfect; the characters are alternately intriguing, amazing, and despicable; and the plot, as mind-fuckey as it is, creates the most interesting fictional setting since Lost. Nothing but praise for this series.

Best Ongoing Series - Media

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Nine

Written by Joss Whedon & Andrew Chambliss

Art by Georges Jeanty

Dark Horse Comics

It's an understatement to say that Buffy: Season Eight got a bit wacky, but Joss Whedon managed to reel his imagination in and start this new season of comics with a story that was as true to the characters as any episode of the original show. It's still early in the series (we're currently four issues in), but this has already moved back to the very top of my pull list.

Best Miniseries – Indie

Mystic

Written by G. Willow Wilson

Art by David Lopez

CrossGen

I'm not sure if this can really count as indie, because Marvel puts out CrossGen books, but this is about as far as you can get away from your normal superhero fare. G. Willow Wilson's tale of magic, privilege, friendship, and class was two parts Harry Potter, one part Victorian, and fully awesome. With the best art and some of the wittiest writing of the year, I hope that this will return with the same creative team for a long, long run.

Best Miniseries – Mainstream

Flashpoint

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Andy Kubert

DC Comics

I was going back and forth between this and Nick Spencer's Spider-Island: Cloak and Dagger. I'm still not 100% sure that I've made the right choice, but here's why I settled on Geoff Johns' Flashpoint... despite all the shit that it's gotten. This series has a lot of build-up and not much action to pay it off, but what it does have is more emotional payoff than I've seen in this medium. By the time I finished this series, I was a shivering mess - and I applaud Geoff Johns for that. It heralded the end of a universe, but for Barry Allen, it was the end of the hope that he'd be able to save his mother's life. It's that core of the series that makes this mini so much stronger than people give it credit for.

Best Miniseries - Media

Illyria: Haunted

Written by Scott Tipton & Mariah Huehner

Art by Elena Casagrande

IDW Publishing

It might be cheating a bit because I ended up working on IDW's Angel and Scott is a friend, but I'll be damned if this wasn't one of the best books of the year. This series, which is mostly a team-up between Spike and Illyria, has a perfect balance of action, emotion, and humor - basically, it's everything that Angel the TV show was at its best. Also, it's pretty ballsy, considering the character-altering changes made to a licensed character. I'm not sure if we'll ever get another Illyria series, but it's good to know that the comics finally lived up to the standard that Whedon set with "Not Fade Away" and Brian Lynch set with the stunning climax to his "Angel: After the Fall" arc.

Best One Shot – Mainstream

Jimmy Olsen

Written by Nick Spencer

Art by RB Silva and DYM

DC Comics

This was my first introduction to Nick Spencer, and I've since powered through his entire impressive catalogue. Hilarious and heartfelt, this one-shot collects and finishes the stories that Spencer began in Action Comics. It focuses on (obviously) Jimmy Olsen, Superman's pal. I hope this gets collected in some sort of trade, because if I read this oversized issue once more, it's going to fall apart.

Best One Shot – Indie

Gotta be honest here. I haven't read any indie one-shots this year except for a few that it would be totally douchey to list. I read Scott Tipton's ANGEL: THE COVERS, which is great... but it's an art book. Tim Seeley gave me a one-shot of his at NYCC, but that's not from this year. It would be totally pretentious to even mention my Grimm Fairy Tales one shot, and it would be pandering to Zenescope to list their one shots that I read (and really enjoyed, particularly Dan Wickline's SINBAD stuff). I really enjoyed THE BEAUTY from Top Cow's PILOT SEASON event, but that is effectively the first issue in (hopefully) a series. So I fail. Instead, I'm going to leave this blank and ask you guys what indie one-shots you'd recommend to me.

Best One Shot – Media

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Michelangleo

Written by Brian Lynch

Art by Andy Kuhn

IDW Publishing

To get an idea of why this comic is listed here, check out this preview of the issue. This book just came out last two days ago, and I've already read it through twice... because it's really just that good. Brian Lynch, who wrote Angel: After the Fall and the creator-owned Everybody's Dead through IDW, has been scripting one-shots focusing on the Turtles since November. He began with Raphael, and then finished out 2011 with this issue that features Mikey attending a New Years Eve party and... and, well, getting into some deep shit. It's hilarious, a bit cute, and pretty damn fun. Can't think of a better book for both new and longtime Turtles fans.

Best New Series – Mainstream

Justice League Dark

Written by Peter Milligan

Art by Mikel Janin

DC Comics

You won't find such an assortment of wonderfully tortured, criminally interested characters in one book anywhere else in comics. While I think these characters should also have their own books, their team-up is one of the other good aspects of DC's New 52. The book is clever, creative, and - most importantly - different from everything else out there. If you're looking for a comic that satisfies both your superhero cravings and that small part of you that loves being creeped the hell out, this is your book.

Best New Series – Indie

Infinite Vacation

Written by Nick Spencer

Art by Christian Ward

Image Comics

Though it only came out a few times in 2011, this book is one of the best new creator owned properties since American Vampire and iZombie. It's got all of the humor and what-the-fuckness that Nick Spencer always offers, but what makes this series go above-and-beyond is Ward's beautiful art. Just open one these issues in a comic shop and I dare you to leave the store empty-handed. Utterly gorgeous, even (especially) when it's so terrifying it makes you squirm.

Best New Series - Media

Ghostbusters

Written by Erik Burnham

Art by Dapper Dan Schoening

IDW Publishing

I had a couple of ways I may have gone for this. I'm loving Buffy: Season Nine, Angel & Faith, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Brian Wood's Supernatural... but this comic does something very rare. I'm still scared that Ghostbusters fans might seek me out and stab me to death, but at just five issues, I already like this comic better than the movies. It's brilliant. Brilliant. The dialogue is the best Ghostbusters comics have ever seen, incredibly interesting things are being done with the characters, and Burnham is embracing all of the Ghostbusters tropes while also paving his own way. And that, my friends, is everything a tie-in comic should aspire to be.

Best Webcomic

The Adventures of Superhero Girl

Written and drawn by Faith Erin Hicks

I joined the party late, but I think I'm sticking around until everyone else is long gone. Yeah, gonna be that guy. This is one of those excellent comics that you visit for a few laughs... and before you know it, you've gobbled up the entire thing and you're late to do that super important thing that you now realize wasn't nearly as important as spending your day reading this excellent strip.

Best Artist

Michael Allred

(iZombie)

Chris Roberson's amazing entertaining creator-owned book iZombie is one of my favorite series, so I had to give this to Mike Allred. His retro-inspired art is perfect for this book, adding to the off-kilter tone that Roberson plays both up and against. More than any other artist this year, Allred's style kept me lingering on each panel a bit longer than necessary. I hope he and Roberson stay on this underrated book for a long, long time.

Best Cover Artist

Jenny Frison

(Angel, House of Night, I Vampire, Hack/Slash)

For me, there's no better cover artist working in comics. She's distinctive, consistent, so wonderfully strange in her concepts, and... well, the work speaks for itself. When it's not utterly terrifying, it's painfully beautiful. Jenny has been getting more work lately than I've been capable of tracking, and no one deserves it more. I can't think of a single other cover artist whose books I will buy just for the cover - but her work is just that good.

Best Writer

Scott Snyder

(American Vampire, Batman, Swamp Thing)

Scott Snyder and Nick Spencer's work really defined my reading schedule this year. However, it's Snyder's inspiration posts about the craft of writing, his pitch perfect scripts, consistency and intriguing ideas that pushed him (slightly, because I love me some Nick Spencer) to the top for me. This is a man who, after this year, has gotten me hooked. He's joined the ranks of Alan Moore, Brian K. Vaughan, Joss Whedon, and Nick Spencer in the I'm Going to Buy Everything They Write No Matter What club. It's because the books are great, yes, but also because Snyder's phenomenal work makes me want to be a better writer. And what else can a guy ask for?

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Just for kicks, here are a few other recommendations.

An Elegy for Amelia Johnson. Written by Andrew Rostan. Art by Dave Valeza and Kate Kasenow.

Fly. Written by Raven Gregory. Art by Eric J.

Hack/Slash. Written by Tim Seeley.

Growing-Up Comic. Written and drawn by Matt Roscetti.

The God Machine. Written and drawn by Chandra Free.

27: First Set AND 27: Second Set. Written by Charles Soule. Art by Renzo Podesta.

All right, friends. See you next week for another set of reviews for Comic Book Wednesday.

Review Round-up

I've been slacking on the reviews, so here's a big round-up of the last few weeks of comic book goodness.

IDW Publishing

- Memorial #1

Chris Roberson's new creator owned series was one of my most anticipated reads of this month. iZombie, his Vertigo series, is one of the best books on stands, so I was expecting this book to deliver... big time. It delivered, sure, but I'm not as hooked as I expected to be. I'm certainly going to buy the trade (or, knowing IDW, the big beautiful hardcover), but I'm not convinced that this book is going to keep me coming back on a monthly basis for the floppies. I love Roberson's writing and I want to see him keep putting out great material, so I'm reserving judgement of this series until the second issue.

- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5

Last issue, Raph was reunited with his brothers, and this issue spends a lot of time showing how these four are going to function as a unit. However, the most interesting aspect reveals why these Teenage Mutant Turtles are... well, Ninjas. We get a surprisingly intense flashback to Feudal Japan that reveals the four turtles, Splinter, and even Shredder were reincarnated from past lives. The series ends with a sweet, very Christmassy moment that shows Splinter giving all four turtles their own (differently colored) mask, while also giving an in-text reason for the wearing of the red. It simultaneously embraces the original comics and the cartoon, and that is, I think, the best route to take this comic. Loving it.

- Ghostbusters #4

So, about loving things. The first storyline comes to a climatic conclusion in this issue. While some fans have complained about this being a retread of the first movie, what this series has been doing is developing and expanding upon the mythology that made the first flick as awesome as it was. The quippy dialogue and tone are all present here, but Dapper Dan is given the chance to really flex his penciller muscles for the action scenes. So, so good.

DC Comics

- Batman #4

Scott Snyder's Batman continues to be the best superhero book on the market. The mystery of the Court of Owls deepens. Bruce is put at odds with Dick and, seemingly, everyone else in his life as he continues his war against this mysterious group (and sleep). With 2011 coming to a close, I can now say that this is easily the best of the New 52. As a side note, though, I'd like more of an idea of where Damian is through all of this, as he is very present (and rightfully so) in every moment of the Batman & Robin series.

- Batgirl #4

Opening with a terrifying image of Batgirl once again bound to a chair, this comic doesn't let up. While I'm still not sold on Mirror's hokey M.O., no matter how nicely it ties into Barbara's character arc, this issue is bursting at the seams with character moments. Sweet, smart, and loaded with kick-ass action, the fourth issue of Batgirl proves to be another solid installment.

- Batman & Robin #4

The slow boil of this series really, really intrigues me. While I'm getting tired of the repeated image of Damian killing little creatures to show how disturbed he is, the visuals here are almost always great. There's a wonderful scene where Damian visits the Waynes' graves just to tell them how much of a stubborn ass their son is. The villain named Nobody (fan of classical literature, maybe?) is interesting as hell, and has a very theme-centric M.O. that, unlike that of Mirror's, completely works. So interested to see where this is going.

- Nightwing #4

Higgins takes a break from the main story arc and follows up on the Batgirl/Nightwing crossover from last month's issue of Batgirl. They have a fun dynamic, but the exchanges between the characters don't sing the way they do when penned by Gail Simone. This comic has been mostly fun to read, but I think it's time to drop the monthly and wait for the trade.

- Birds of Prey #4

Continuously the biggest surprise of the New 52. The characters are great, the action is great, the plot is great, the writing is great, and the tone is... you get the point. Beat for beat, this is second only to Snyder's Batman in the DCnU... and this is the best issue yet. I have questions about Batgirl's sudden desire to play in the BoP sandbox, what with her stance in #1, but I'm surely sticking around for the longrun to see all of my questions answered. Oh, and Starling needs her own series, stat.

- Justice League #4

The decompression has gotten completely out of control. The last five pages consist of two double page spreads and a full page reveal... but each image accomplishes the same effect. It's done either to take up page space or to give the comic a cinematic feel, the latter of which is a good idea, but it just doesn't work. While the action in the comic is decent, none of these issues aside from #3 have lived up to what a Justice League comic should be. Hell, the story is so flimsy that it doesn't live up to what a comic focusing on any of the given JL heroes should be. If you're looking for a good example of why Geoff Johns is one of the best writers in comics, a game of "anywhere but here" might be in order. Aquaman is great, Green Lantern is great... but this is just twenty one pages a month of unfulfilled potential.

- Green Lantern #4

Really, really solid. In Geoff Johns' hands, Sinestro is one of the most complex characters in superhero comics. He's beginning to give off a bit of a Severus Snape vibe, what with his loyalties split and his spoiled morality challenged, and I can't wait to see what Johns is going to do with him in the longrun. It seems that he's keeping both Hal and Sinestro as Lanterns, which has the potential to be a fantastic team. If #1-4 are evidence of what is to come, this book will no squander that potential.

- Supergirl #4

It's a lot better than last month, but... I just can't bring myself to care very much. The art is great and the writing is competent, but we're not given enough of Kara as a character to care much about what she's going through. There is way too much focus on Tycho as a villain so early on, and it's taking page time away from the development of Supergirl herself. She's my favorite character in the old DCU, so I'm in it for the long run, but this book has sadly fallen to the very bottom of my pull list.

Wonder Woman #4

Devastating and epic. That's mostly what this book is. There's a club scene with Wonder Woman and Strife trying to let off some steam, but we spend so much time with other people talking about what Wonder Woman is doing and with Strife being creepy that we really don't get the chance to see what Wonder Woman is doing in this club. Is she trying to distract herself? Is it working? I love the idea of her letting off steam, but I'd rather see how she does it than to see others reacting to her doing it. That may've come out wrong. Anyway, the stuff back of Paradise Island is horrific and shocking, and easily overcomes the flaws inherent in the presentation of other scenes. This is a really slick book, and I'll be sticking with it as long as Azzarello is on it.

- The Ray #1

This is a fun new series from the writers who made Power Girl awesome. The writing is bright, cheery, and quirky... and then pitch black dark by the end. It's a strange, strange read, but I'll be back to see where two of my favorite creators take this new hero.

Dark Horse

- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Nine #4

This is everything that a finale to a first arc of a comic book "season" should be. It finishes the story while building on the overarching plot of the season, it's emotional without being too much too soon, it gives new characters page time without taking away from the established/oldies but goodies, it ends with a twist that doesn't come off as shock value for shock value's sake, it's funny, it's true to the show that it's continuing, and it's just very, very good. I'm really digging Christos Gage and Rebekah Isaacs' work on Angel & Faith, but Buffy: Season Nine is just completely nailing it on the writerly front. Now, if only we could get Isaacs on this title...

APE Entertainment

-Helldorado #1

I won this through a really strange Facebook contest. The APE Facebook page posted that the first five people to call a certain editor would be given a free comic. I called, talked to the dude (nice guy) who was surprised that anyone saw that, and was subsequently shipped this comic. It's a western kung-fu horror that is surprisingly readable. It takes a few pages longer than necessary to really get going, but the book banks on the likability of the characters. And then, it kills them as all hell breaks the fuck loose. It's a horrific book with enough blood to have the names Ennis or Millar attached, so I'd encourage fans of good ol' blood splatterin' horror to pick this one up.

TMNT microseries Raphael Review

Comic Book Wednesday

Issue #30

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

MICROSERIES #1: Raphael

Written by Brian Lynch

Art by Franco Urru

IDW Comics

It feels like old times.

It seems like ages, but only four years have passed since I began reviewing IDW's ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL. It was the official continuation of Joss Whedon's epic show (my favorite of all time) written by Brian Lynch. I'd done coverage on my blog of Brian's previous work in the Buffyverse (two SPIKE miniseries), but it was ATF that made me realize how great a writer this guy is. Over the following years, my blog Buffyverse Comic Reviews covered all of his comic book work, and while it was honest and critical when I felt something was off, I found myself resorting to hyperbolic praise more often than not. Thing is, looking back at his work on IDW's ANGEL and SPIKE titles... those books, for my money, are more often than not... well, fucking brilliant.

I'm thrilled that Brian contributed scripts to this TMNT "microseries" (four spotlight issues focusing on each of the turtles), because not only did this franchise define my childhood, it's also one of this year's most enjoyable new series. So realize that I mean absolutely no offense toward the main TMNT series when I say that this is far and away the best IDW title I've read all year. And if you frequent this blog, you know I read a hell of a lot of books from them.

It's got the humor and snarkiness, but not as much as you'd expect. It shows a somewhat sullen Raphael; while he's no stick in the mud, and not even close to the sort of Frank Miller characters that the original comics were parodying, he's not crackin' wises in every panel. He's got some serious issues communicating, and his conversations with Casey, while seemingly light, speak volumes without really saying much. Brian, through a few well-placed lines, communicates that while Raph (who was missing until last week's issue) has grown to love his brothers quickly, it isn't nearly as easy as "Raphael is taken in by the others, everything is okay, copious amounts of pizzas are ordered." There are some serious issues here, but all of this serves to simply add texture to the comic, flesh out the characters, and give a nice context to the story being told.

And the story... holy whoa. A lot more major plot developments happened here than I expected. Things that I would have thought would be saved for the main title, so the element of surprise was extreme. In this issue, a run-in with a mutant fox (being chased by thugs who longtime fans will recognize as the pre-mutation forms of Beebop and Rocksteady!) leads Raph to the revelation that some dark and mysterious baddie wants to know where the turtles' hideout is. Turns out, that villain is...

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(If you don't like spoilers, see you tomorrow. This is too big to hold back.)

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The Shredder.

What.

Talk about a reveal. I'm not sure if each of these one-shots will build on the plot Brian whipped up in this one, or if they're saving all of that for the main series and this just served to give us an unexpected and exciting peek at the dangers we've been waiting for, but all I know was that this was an absolutely great read. Franco Urru, who collaborated with Brian on more than twenty-five Buffyverse comics, does art chores for this book, and he brings such movement to the action scenes. He also nails the quiet scenes, but if you want to read me carrying on about how Franco is the best artist working in comics, you can read any given ANGEL review on my Buffyverse blog. Seriously - you can keep your big Marvel and DC names. Can't beat Franco. And with colors by Fabio Mantovani, this makes for one beautiful book.

Reading Brian Lynch's ANGEL and SPIKE comics was what made me realize that writing comic books was something I'd be interested in doing for a living, and everything that made those books so wonderful is present in this comic. What more can you ask for?

TOMORROW: Supernatural, Action Comics, Detective Comics

Comic Book Wednesday

Issue #29

Like almost all comic book readers, this strange fifth Wednesday of the month saw my smallest pull list in quite a while. Let's get to it!

Angel & Faith #4

Live Through This - Part Four

Written by Christos Gage

Art by Rebekah Isaacs

Dark Horse Comics

With this finale of the first arc, Angel and Faith go up against Pearl and Nash in a fight as bloody as it is glowy. These two Big Bads, who are apparently "so far beyond what (Angel and Faith) can even imagine," are dealt with in a clever way that leaves room for our heroes to escape without downplaying the major threat these baddies pose. The skirmish is fun and exciting, though the issue itself doesn't reach the emotional heights I thought it would based on what the previous three installments seemed to be building toward. However, with the way this chapter ends... well, let's just say that it's clear that Christos is writing this story with the long-haul in mind. A lot more questions are posed by the end of the issue, and they're all interesting, true to the characters, and one of them is even all out shocking.

After the battle with Pearl and Nash, Angel comes to a startling discovery about the affect of Mohra blood in a world with no magic. It's grotesque, but it leads Faith and Angel to a sad but necessary decision that, for me at least, seemed to harken back to the old days of Angel. He's darker than Buffy, and he's able to do things that she (at least during the TV show) would have had a problem with - it's debatable whether that makes him more of a hero or less, but what it surely makes him is one of the most interesting characters in the 'verse.

Faith also gets a lot of cool scenes, and the way she plays off of Angel is great. All of my reservations about Angel sharing his title are gone, because while Faith clearly plays an enormous role, Christos and Rebekah never shortchange Angel.

The issue ends with a reveal... and I know I don't normally talk about this sort of stuff in my reviews, I think it's such a big moment that it warrant a bit of speculation. Toward the end of the issue, a glasses-wearing Angel asks Faith for, in lieu of a mug of blood, "a spot of tea, if it won't put you out." Faith says that his impression of Giles was great... and Angel says that he doesn't know what she's talking about. Confused and disturbed, she walks away to get the tea. End of issue.

What.

It seems that Angel is channeling Giles. Or possessed by him. Or something. Whether it's due to something with the Seed, the loss of magic, or something sinister... I don't know. How can we? Maybe it's just Angel's guilt trying to make up for the absence of Giles in a creepy way... but I tend to think not.

This story is going somewhere strange and new, somewhere creepy and fascinating. Is it time for #5 yet?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4

Story by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz

Written by Tom Waltz

Art by Dan Duncan

IDW Publishing

Another finale of sorts. The first storyline of TMNT wraps up in this issue, which sees Raphael reunited with his brothers as Old Hob pulls out all the stops to take his revenge. We're treated to another flashback, which gives us some time with soon-to-be-villain Baxter Stockman and another look at the freshly mutated turtles and Splinter. There's a really cool metatextual scene where Spliter alludes to the turtles relearning what they once knew in another life (seemingly referencing the old Turtles continuity, giving a wink to old fans), but mostly this issue just deals with the ongoing war between Old Hobb and the turtles.

There is some great action in this issue, and it's more nostalgic than I can say to see all of the turtles fighting together. What really works, though, is the emotional scenes. Raphael's return to the fold is moving, to say the least - especially Splinter's reaction upon seeing him.

This series - the creative team, the ideas new and old, the art, the flashbacks, and the characters - just works. It's month to month one of the best books being published, both for nostalgic and quality reasons, and with the turtles united at last, it seems as if it's only going to get better.

Plus, with Brian Lynch, the brilliant writer behind ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL on next week's RAPHAEL one-shot... well, let's just say that turtles fans who haven't read/seen Brian's previous work are about to become big, big fans of a new writer.

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NEXT WEEK: Action Comics, Detective Comics, Supernatural Caledonia, TMNT: Raphael.