One week older, one week wiser. What will our newly found wisdom have to say about comics? Let's find out. Spoilers ahead.
Orc Stain #2
It took awhile to come out but it was totally worth the wait. First off the book is gorgeous. I highly recommend you expand the image above too see a little bit of what I mean. I really liked James Stokoe's black and white art in Wonton Soup but his use of colors totally elevates his work here to another level. The book is also funny, interesting, and completely unlike anything else on the market. Much like his fellow cartoonists Bryan Lee O'Mally (Scott Pilgrim) and Brandon Graham (King City) Stokoe adds so much depth through small, crazy details like this:
I have no idea why that can of unknown liquid is seemingly alive, or why a living creature filled with juice would have a pop-top, but it's awesome. It's very hard to world build effectively while being original which is why so much fantasy relies on your basic sword and sorcery ideas (Lord of the Rings and D&D). While Orc Stain clearly didn't invent Orcs what Stokoe is doing with them is unique and by adding little details like the living, quasi-inanimate objects gives the reader an excitement that only comes with discovering something that feels truly fresh and new. It's also really funny. Be forewarned you do get one panel of orc penis so there is that.
Nemesis #1
So Steve McNiven drew this comic...I guess,I mean that's what it says anyways, it doesn't really look like Steve McNiven but Mark Millar would never lie to us right? That being said the arts not bad by any means it just lacks the usual McNiveny goodness of McNiven. From time to time artist do play around with styles and that perfectly okay I just don't think this was his best work, I suspect he's drawing a bit faster to speed up the process of this selling to a Hollywood studio and McNiven making more money then he's ever made before. Honestly, I'm okay with that. It kind of sucks for us comic fans but if it means a big paycheck for a great artist and allows Steve McNiven to afford to stick around drawing comics then I'm cool. You might also notice that this is drawn basically like a storyboard, convent if you're chosen to direct the adaptation that I assume will be announced a week or two after Kick-Ass comes out. It's also quite possible that McNiven read the script and decided that this was all it deserved. Not that it's bad but it is severely lacking. Where Kick-Ass and much of Millar's other work is bolster by quite a bit of humor this seems to be taking itself entirely too seriously. Since this is only a four issue mini-series it probably would have been wise to make the characters a bit more engaging. While Millar peppers in a few odd details the cop never really connects and Nemesis is kind of bland. What kind of villain is Nemesis? Does he enjoy what he's doing, because he kind of seems board. I guess he's really smart but he doesn't speak like it. And maybe it's cause I read quite a few comics during the Bush years where The President was killed, captured, or humiliated (including Millar's own Ultimate X-Men) that that's really lost it's potency. Like the art the story's fine, I'm sure it will make a decent flick, but it was a disappointment.
The Guild #1
If you've never seen The Guild click here and/or here and enjoy. The comic is written by regular series writer and star Felicia Day (who has like 1.8 million followers on twitter, absolutely crushing a lot of main stream hotties, nerd chicks FTW) and has much the same feel as many of the episodes. The art is by Jim Rugg who also drew the much celebrated Afrodisiac. He's quite good and does a really nice job capturing facial expressions and body language. It's not necessary to have seen the show since this serves as a sort of prequel for season 1 but it really is a book for fans of the show. But really, the show is free, why wouldn't you watch it? I do feel that without the rest of the cast the first issue is a little sadder and not quite as funny as the show but still enjoyable and pretty.
Amazing Spider-Man #626
I have no complaints to get a comic drawn by Gaydos but I'm not sure he's the best fit for Spider-Man. That being said this was another great issue of ASM. I'm not sure if it's the writers or the editors but the Spider-Team is doing a great job at pacing out the ongoing plot threads, letting relationships develop slowly while changing things often enough to prevent malaise or boredom. The ongoing subplot of Peter's roommate Michele has been great starting as strangers that didn't get along, the unseen romantic twist which then lead to a funny and dramatic hostel living environment for Peter, and now they're almost friends. It took it's time but never got to repetitive. If you're not reading Spider-Man you are missing out.
Scalped #36
If you've been reading the blog you know I love Scalped and I routinely gush praise all over it and Jason Aaron's Marvel work. This is the issue were I finally say something negative. This issue is not as good as the last two... of course the last two were just about as good as any 2 comics you'll ever read so that's not much of a damnation, in fact this is still really good. I was a little worried at first that the twist in this issue was a cheap ploy to drum up shock but I should have had more faith because by the end Aaron had totally sold me on the concept. I usually don't worry about spoilers but i know a lot of people read Vertigo books in trade so I won't say what the twist was but I certainly wouldn't have guessed it after the first 35 issues. The art by Furno is solid and fits completely with the style of the series and this issue specifically. You should really be buying Scalped, it's a +4 to Wisdom and a +2 to charisma.
Power Girl #10
The best thing about the panels above, there are girls in the comicbook shop. It always irks me when even nerdy shows/movies/comics act as if a girl in a comic shop is some kind of impossible dream. I see girls in comic shops all the time, not that they out number the dudes by any means but still, not the second coming. So, much love to Amanda Conner for drawing a normal comic shop and not some uber nerd parody. It really is too bad that the creative team is leaving after #12 because this book continues to impress. As always Amanda Conner's art steals the show but I don't want to shortchange Gray and Palmiotti who are writing an almost perfect fun, old school superhero comic. If DC is smart (and that is a big if) they'll release the whole 12 issues in a nice trade. If they do, I highly recommend checking it out for good, superhero times.
What's Conner drawing next?
That's all for now. Another short week but that doesn't mean comments aren't appreciated and expected.
-egs
Seriously the whole "holy shit a girl in comic shop, wwwhhaaattt?!?" was the proverbial straw for Heroes.
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