|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2021 1:05:19 GMT -5
Catching up on my backlog of 2020 (and 2019) comics here in January (and the tail end of December). I have read the following (with quick ratings or comments)
Dune: House Atreides #1-3 (BOOM! Studios; 3.5 of 5 stars; great Jae Lee covers, solid Dune fare but hardly necessary or up to the standards of Dune itself)
King Size Conan #1 (Marvel; 5/5 stars, 2 great stories, one by Roy Thomas and the other by Kurt Busiek, along with three decent stories by TMNT creator Kevin Eastman, Chris Claremont and Stephen S, DeKnight plus some very good Conan art)
Berserker Unbound #1-4 (Dark Horse; 4 out of 5 stars; interesting take on the sword and sorcery genre meets the modern world by Lemire and Deodato)
The Crone #1-5 (Dark Horse; 4.5 out of 5 stars; interesting take on the Red Sonja archetype in sword & sorcery, and what happens when the hero survives to a ripe old age. Wasn't familiar with any of the creators but would check out some more of their other work based on this)
Department of Truth #1-4 (Image; 5/5; I read issue 1 last year and it alone made it one of my favorite new series of 2020, so reread it along with 2-4 and I like the book even more now).
Norse Mythology (Dark Horse; 5/5; PCR nails adapting Gaiman every time, and Gaiman's take on Norse mythology is a joy. Phenomenal art by the likes of Mignola and Ordway too)
Seven Secrets #2-5 (BOOM! Studios) 3.75 stars out of 5; I wanted to like this book as its premise was in my wheelhouse, issues 1 and 2 were a little uneven, but the series picks up steam as it goes along, by the end of #5 I was anxiously awaiting #6 as I was caught up in the story, but a lot of this is going to depend on how well it pays off, a bad ending to the first arc or the overall story will sour the experience, so it is hard to rate it as it is in progress, hence the conservative rating)
Batman: Three Jokers #1-3 (DC Comics/Black Label; 3/5 stars; bought this out of curiosity on how the 3 Joker concept would play out and like most solo Geoff Johns written books I was left completely underwhelmed; a couple of interesting moments and some nice art, but not worth the special format and high cover price)
Hawkman #23-29 (DC Comics; 4/5 stars; a nice ending for Vendetti's run, though the premature cancellation due to the shake up at DC management and the shrinking of the line left it feeling a bit rushed. Overall I really liked Vendetti's run despite a couple arcs running a bit longer than they needed to and the ending being a bit rushed. It was a solid take on the character with some well-told entertaining stories.
Family Tree #1-10 (Image; 5/5 stars, another creator-owned series from Jeff Lemire that has taken me on a wonderful ride, featuring sensational art by Phil Hester)
-M
|
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Jan 11, 2021 11:07:38 GMT -5
Norse Mythology (Dark Horse; 5/5; PCR nails adapting Gaiman every time, and Gaiman's take on Norse mythology is a joy. Phenomenal art by the likes of Mignola and Ordway too) -M I mostly love this (I loved Gaiman's book). And I've been buying it to support things I love. My only issue is that this is going to read far better in collected from than it does as single issues because of the way it's being adapted. Breaking up some of the stories between issues is a bit of a problem for me. |
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Jan 11, 2021 11:17:23 GMT -5
Impossible Jones! Volume 1: Grin & Gritty!Created, written and illustrated by Karl Kesel and David Hahn, 2020  This is the fruit of a successful Kickstarter campaign held in the summer of 2019, but the whole project was only finalized this fall, and the actual physical books were only sent out pretty recently - sometime in late December I think. I only pledged for the pdf version, which was made available in November. Finally read it today and quite thoroughly enjoyed it. The titular character is a thief who gets double-crossed by one of her partners during a heist in a high-tech laboratory. She gets locked in a testing room for some new experimental tech, comic-book science happens, and a few days later she's kind of like Plastic Man or E-man. She initially wants to get revenge on whichever of her former partners was responsible (she's initially not sure who did it), but along the way she unintentionally gets mistaken for a hero, and so begins her rather ambiguous career. I won't say any more, as I'm assuming there's a few members here who also pledged and may be waiting to read their physical books and I don't want to spoil anything. I'll just say that these are fun comics. I've always liked Plastic Man/E-man-type characters, and this one has a nice hook. Also - and this is something Gail Simone notes in her introduction to the book - Kesel and Hahn created a whole little universe populated by other colorful heroes and villains which makes you want more once you get done with this. They have announced a volume 2, and hopefully we won't have to wait too long for it. Finally got around to this last night. I agree that it's a super fun book. Kesel does a good job of mixing the humor with just enough seriousness that there feels like there are stakes. And the humor isn't overdone. I've not seen a lot of Hahn's work but this is the best of what I've seen, his style seeming to have matured a fair bit. It probably helps having a strong artist like Kesel writing the book. I've mostly been bored with super-heroes. But this book along with Lemire's Black Hammer universe have convinced me there's still life in the genre. Oh...and I really loved the Easter egg of having Paul Dini's Jingle Belle in the book. And the fact that our heroine didn't have a 100% perfect funnybook body. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2021 12:23:04 GMT -5
Norse Mythology (Dark Horse; 5/5; PCR nails adapting Gaiman every time, and Gaiman's take on Norse mythology is a joy. Phenomenal art by the likes of Mignola and Ordway too) -M I mostly love this (I loved Gaiman's book). And I've been buying it to support things I love. My only issue is that this is going to read far better in collected from than it does as single issues because of the way it's being adapted. Breaking up some of the stories between issues is a bit of a problem for me. The way I tend to read new comics, this isn't an issue for me. I rarely read things as they come out, except for first issues. I only pick up books once a month or so, and what I take home when I do tends to sit in a to be read pile for several months before I get to it, so I usually have a chunk of issues of a title to read in a sitting rather than reading issue to issue. I probably should just trade wait on a lot of them, but most of my purchase choices are about supporting a title and supporting my lcs rather than wanting to read them as they come out. -M |
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 12, 2021 10:35:07 GMT -5
Norse Mythology (Dark Horse; 5/5; PCR nails adapting Gaiman every time, and Gaiman's take on Norse mythology is a joy. Phenomenal art by the likes of Mignola and Ordway too) -M I mostly love this (I loved Gaiman's book). And I've been buying it to support things I love. My only issue is that this is going to read far better in collected from than it does as single issues because of the way it's being adapted. Breaking up some of the stories between issues is a bit of a problem for me. I didn't get around to doing a review of the latest issue but for some reason although it maintained the same structure as the previous issues it just read better in my opinion. Maybe I'm just getting used to the format, or maybe it felt like it read better as the giant's story ended with Loki getting a son and the next was about his other children. Either way it was a solid issue and I love the series. |
|
|
|
Post by wildfire2099 on Jan 13, 2021 0:30:20 GMT -5
Norse Mythology (Dark Horse; 5/5; PCR nails adapting Gaiman every time, and Gaiman's take on Norse mythology is a joy. Phenomenal art by the likes of Mignola and Ordway too) -M I mostly love this (I loved Gaiman's book). And I've been buying it to support things I love. My only issue is that this is going to read far better in collected from than it does as single issues because of the way it's being adapted. Breaking up some of the stories between issues is a bit of a problem for me. I thought about doing that, but with Gaiman, I think he pretty much can do anything he wants and get it pubished at this point... and I REALLY want this as a nice Hard Cover... so I'm waiting, even though it calls me every time I see it. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 14:18:15 GMT -5
 BLOODSHOT Book 3. Collects Bloodshot(2019)#7-9 and #0. Written by Tim Seeley. Art by Marc Laming, Pedro Andred, and Jason Masters. Continuing Seeley's 12 issue run on Bloodshot. I really liked the first 2 volumes collecting #1-6 (plus other issues). Part of the reason was Brett Booth's kinetic art. This volume was a bit of a let down for me with the change in art. Plus I felt the long break due to covid halting publishing hurt some of the momentum. I hope Seeley has a satisfying conclusion for #10-12 (Book 4). |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 17:00:33 GMT -5
 THOR. The Devourer King. Collects Thor (2020) #1-6. Written by Donny Cates. Art by Nic Klein. Cover by Olivier Coipel. As part of my switch from monthlies to trades I waited to pick up this series. Wow! What an epic story. Galactus comes to Thor to help stop The Black Winter (the end of the universe). What a great idea. I love the twists and turns the story takes as Thor becomes the new herald of Galactus & fights off the Black Winter. But there were many surprises this long time reader did not see coming. A fresh and exciting concept to take Thor on new adventures. Really good stuff! |
|
|
|
Post by Batflunkie on Jan 16, 2021 15:08:15 GMT -5
Been re-reading Matt Kindt's re-vamp of Valiant's Rai. So good!
It's like a perfect blending of everything that made the original so great with more of a cyberpunk edge that was sort of there in the original, but not entirely touched on. It was more pulp sci-fi meets Feudal Japan tbh
Really wish the collected editions hadn't gone out of print
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2021 4:20:30 GMT -5
Dune: The Graphic Novel Pt. 1 (Abrams Comics Art; 2020)  based on the novel by Frank Herbert, adapted by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson; art by Raul Allen; cover by Bill Sienkewicz Since the novel is decades old, there are some spoilers within, so if you have never read Dune and don't want spoilers, don't read any further, but the books been out since the 60s, what are you waiting for? A couple years back, I asked on these boards if there had ever been an adaptation of Herbert's novel (not Lynch's movie) in comics. The answer was no. Well, now there is, or at least part of one. This is the first of a proposed trilogy of graphic novels adapting the novel. The second volume is not due until 2022. The release of the first part was supposed to coincide with the release of the film, but that was delayed a year due to the pandemic, so this adaptation might not get quite the attention it would have. I wanted to read this, but the Herbert/Anderson team caused me to have some trepidation, so instead of rushing out to buy it, I borrowed it from hoopla to read first. It is a solid, faithful adaptation. The first part starts with the preparation to make the move from Caladan to Arrakis and ends with Paul in Jessica taking refuge in the stilltent in the desert after the Harrokens have retaken Dune and killed Duke Leto. The adaptation stays true to the story, and as far as I can remember the original (it's been a few years since I read it) there are no added scenes or major alterations. Since it is pretty much straight from Frank, it minimizes the voices of Brian and Kevin, which allays some of my trepidations. The art by Raul Allen is excellent. Good visual narrative skills, recognizable characters, decent use of body language and facial expressions, good panel and page design, etc. I am not familiar with his stuff, though he has worked for some of the major American publishers like Marvel previously. I wouldn't say the art is fantastic, or a draw that would make me go out of my way to seek out his stuff, but it is technically solid and ascetically pleasing, and enhances the reading experience, but is not a draw in and of itself. If you like Dune, you should like this adaptation (even if you haven't liked Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's other Dune efforts). If the novel intimidates you but you want a taste of Herbert's Dune, it's a good starting point (though it may take a while to get books 2 and 3). I'll likely get around to adding this to my library (especially if I find it at a good price), but I am not in a rush to go out and get it. I'll likely want to reread it when vol. 2 comes out, as a refresher, but once the trilogy is complete, I am not sure this will become a staple of rereading, but time will tell. -M |
|
|
|
Post by Icctrombone on Jan 22, 2021 8:54:44 GMT -5
Nothing lasts forever. I read the first 2 parts of the FF Anthesis mini with Waid and Neal Adams. Adams has slipped a lot.  |
|
|
|
Post by Duragizer on Jan 27, 2021 1:19:48 GMT -5
Harrow County, Vol. 4-8      Started reading Harrow County some months back, finished this past week. Overall, I enjoyed the series. Especially love the watercolours, which you don't see much in comics, especially not in this digital era. I have some nits to pick with the final two volumes, though. {Spoiler: Click to show}Kammi is Hester Beck reborn. Emmy kills Kammi and absorbs her power. This enables Hester to rise from the dead to exact her revenge. Yet Kammi was Hester. Hester is more powerful than Emmy, even though Emmy's power was doubled after absorbing Kammi's power, who was Hester. God, my head hurts. It would've been simpler to've made Kammi the final boss. 7/10 (for the whole series)
|
|
|
|
Post by Dizzy D on Feb 5, 2021 11:53:38 GMT -5
Third batch of the Humble Bundle 2020 end of year bundle that came out near Christmas (see earlier posts for the rests of the bundle):
Death or Glory Vol. 1-2: Really liking the art on this. Bengal is a French artist and his style is similar to a lot of other French artists I've seen, but I have a hard time tracking down who the main inspiration is. Writing; I also like it: Glory's step-dad is dying of cancer, but the former racecar champion knows her ex-husband is a working for a crime family and is planning some big smuggling operation. Glory therefore decides to steal the money to pay for her step-dad's new liver, but as always plans rarely work out.
Giant-Size Kung Fu Bible Stories: Disappointing, a collection of short stories, the main one filled with winks and nods to famous comic stories, but few of the stories in this collection that I found interesting, despite the high pedigree of writers and artists on the title.
Hedra: No words, all storytelling done by art and it's AMAZING. Not for everybody I guess.
Image Firsts Compendium 2020; A collection of (all?) number 1 issues of Image series that launched in 2020, and there are quite a few of time. Not really something you can review as one thing.
Rumble Vol. 1 - 6: Another series I've read the first issue of, was ambivalent about, but ended up enjoying now reading it as a collected piece. During a war between Gods and Demons, Rathraq, the demi-god warrior that defeated the Demon King, was tricked and his soul was seperated from his body and imprisoned in hell. Now millenia later, his soul is released and he returns to his body, but instead ends up in a scarecrow. Despite his new, far more vulnerable body, Rathraq is still a formidable warrior and is going to hunt down the last demons to protect humanity, except humanity has been doing pretty well for the past few millenia and the demons don't seem to be that much of a problem.
The series does end on a bit of a whimper IMHO, but it then includes some crossovers, including a Headlopper crossover which was really good (and it works well for both characters). I think the thing I appreciated the most is that Rathraq despite being a warrior god, shows great respect to Bobby, the human protagonist, who is absolutely not a warrior. After so many series with proud warriors looking down on non-combatants, this was something good to see.
Skyward Vol. 1 - 3: After a disaster has disabled gravity on Earth, humanity had to adapt to living in a way where if you're not careful, you could easily float of the planet. Despite the absolutely absurd concept (if there was no gravity, the impact would be far greater than shown in this series and I doubt there would have been any life left), the series itself was enjoyable and the art is really doing heavy lifting to put this series near the top of this batch of comics. So far this Bundle has been a lot of hits.
Underwinter Vol. 1 -2: Volume 1 and 2 are two seperate (though related stories). Artwise, it's reminding me of Dave McKean. A quartet of strings is asked to play blindfolded for a rich party in exchange for a lot of money. The four assume that it's some Eyes Wide Shut-like orgy, but when one of the blindfolds slips for a moment during the performance, the truth is far worsen than they could imagine. It's a horror story and I liked volume 1 better than 2.
I also tried to read the rest of the Savage Dragon archives, but this series is just not for me. I think I don't have disliked a comic as much as this series (maybe individual issues, but a longrunning series). Funny enough I then read Hack/Slash from the previous Humble Bundle (another title I had no interest in) and after the first archive I also hated that, but it then turns around and I ended up enjoying that series (way too many crossovers though).
|
|
|
|
Post by commond on Feb 5, 2021 18:22:51 GMT -5
I read the latest chapters of Beserk and Vinland Saga. Beserk is a dark fantasy manga and Vinland Saga is a Viking manga.
|
|
|
|
Post by Batflunkie on Feb 5, 2021 19:06:42 GMT -5
I read the latest chapters of Beserk and Vinland Saga. Beserk is a dark fantasy manga and Vinland Saga is a Viking manga. Was never able to get into either. Kind of prefer Claymore (before it turned into another battle manga) and Thorgal |
|
