Trillium TPB

Wow. That was… insane. Jeff Lemire certainly isn’t holding anyone’s hand in this unique Vertigo series. For a book that only lasted for 8 issues, a whole lot happens, a whole lot of insane ideas get laid out, and I got a whole lot confused.

First of all, a warning: if you are going to read this book, please make sure to read the helpful narration boxes at the opening of each issue. There are a few instances where I breezed over the caption and missed very helpful guidance. Like, for example, how to read the comic book I was holding. That led to me having a much more challenging time than Lemire intended.

OK, the quick summary of what happens in this: Nika is a far-future human colonist seeking a rare flower capable of curing a sentient virus called the Caul. Nika is negotiating with aliens when the book opens, trying to gain access to a vast field of Trillium on their lands. William is an English soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as he accompanies his brother through 1920’s South America. And these two characters’ paths intersect!

I won’t ruin the how, and I can’t really ruin the why. I’m not sure what the overall “point” of this story is, exactly. But that doesn’t stop Lemire from delivering some rousing action and heartfelt moments that really make this book entertaining. There are only four characters that have any real relevance to the plot, along with a sentient A.I., yet by the close of the series, I feel like the points of view necessary for the story all worked well when viewed through those eyes.

I’m not huge devotee of Lemire like some, so while I found the story engaging enough, I didn’t love the art. It is fine, and the storytelling is perfectly clear. But Lemire’s indie style doesn’t mesh perfectly with my obvious super-hero tastes. Again, the art is perfectly capable of setting the scene and telling the story. But no one looks pretty. Since I mention it so often, I’m going to commend Lemire on his backgrounds. Each location is instantly established by a rich, detailed background that really helps ground the scene. With a story that confuses time, place, and identity so much, the surroundings are essential to establish a clear narrative. Lemire realizes this and lays out the story clearly for his readers.

This isn’t my normal type of comic, but dang, I do enjoy reading GOOD, mind-bending sci-fi. This is the type of thing that would make a kick butt movie, too. 

Fables v18: Cubs in Toyland TPB

This is another strong, consistent series that I don’t think gets the attention it deserves. Just because Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham have been doing it for so long, it is easy to forget how riveting this title can be. I’m guilty of it myself. I let a few trades stack up and didn’t get around to them for a long time. I took the book for granted. Thank goodness this trade is so strong that it reminds me of what I’m missing.

The majority of the trade tells the story of Therese, one of Bigby Wolf and Snow White’s cubs. She seems like a normal kid, except that her toy boat has started talking to her in the middle of the night. Eventually, the boat whisks her away to the titular Toyland, where things are a lot direr than they seem. It’s pretty easy to get a Blaine the Mono vibe from the boat specifically, and Toyland generally. This is a place where discarded, forgotten toys pine away for a queen to save them. Therese is just the latest in a line of possible royalty.

After her disappearance, Darien (another cub) and the tiger Mountbatten stage a rescue, ably assisted by some of Darien’s favorite toys. Things just get darker and darker as Therese’s justifiable hunger keeps her from recognizing those who are trying to help. I felt so bad for most of the cast that even after I closed the book, I found myself thinking about the characters in the story and the trials they faced. Willingham has always been a master at this sort of thing; the warping of the childlike fables into something horrifying and fascinating. This is a great example of the heights this book can reach.

There is a two-parter at the end showing Bigby Wolf discovering his fate through the hand of fate, but I wasn’t as enthralled as I was in the first story. It’s a good thing; the first arc is so depressing it would be hard to move forward without a palate cleanser. There are also plenty of one-page tosses to keep the greater Fabletown story moving forward.

Mark Buckingham’s broken toys are fascinating. Their damage makes them horrific, but you can still see how they were meant to be cute at one time. It’s a perfect manifestation of the characters. Even the broken toys aren’t quite as irredeemable as it seems. Gene Ha’s art is gorgeous, as always, in the backup. I would have liked to have seen him draw more of the main cast, though.

Clearly, this is still an EXCELLENT read, and lapsed readers need to take note and get back on board. I know I certainly am.

Justice League Dark v2: The Books of Magic TPB

You guys know I hate to admit when I’m entertained by a new 52 comic, but Jeff Lemire has pulled off that trick in the second collection of this series.

I gave up on volume one around the time the team was attacking some witch in a house filled with bees, or flies, or something. I picked up this trade at the library to see if things improved. They have. While the story picks up in the middle of some sort of vampire war that I have no clue about, things move along quickly enough that I can just ignore the whole thing. Other than I, Vampire becoming something of a reserve team member, it doesn’t seem that story really mattered much.

Things get more interesting when Constantine leads the Dark team to battle classic villain Felix Faust. Faust has a new, desiccated look that makes him pretty spooky throughout. I really dug the way the team talked about Faust as sort of a doofus, and he seems like he’s going to be a throw-away villain, but then he ends up foiling the team for the entire trade. Teaming Faust up with a few new and classic supernatural villains really gives this a big fight feel. This is the magic Justice League against the magic Legion of Doom. Faust teams up with Nick Necro (new), Blackbriar Thorn (classic), and Black Boris (new to me), along with a surprise traitor from inside the League.

The lineup is part of what makes this book work. While the Dark team was formed by ARGUS, Constantine works pretty hard to put together his own group by tying them to his own magic base of operations. Bennet (the vampire mentioned above), Frankenstein, Amethyst, and Dr. Mist all join to some level, while Black Orchid is on the team for the entire trade. They join Madame Xanadu, Zatanna, Deadman, and Constantine after Shade the Changing man bugs out and disappears. Black Orchid is a lot of fun throughout the story. Her “classic” super-powers actually work really well mixed in on a magical team. Even when people are tossing spells around, super-strength and shape-changing are pretty darn effective!

I’m not a fan of complete skullcaps on ladies’ costumes, but Mikel Janin almost pulls it off with Black Orchid’s new look. I’m more of a fan of the black and neon purple color scheme than the mast, but there is no denying the design is striking. Janin’s art often looks photo-referenced, but in a striking fashion. His Madame Xanadu and Zatanna are beautiful, and you can practically smell the cigarettes wafting from Constantine’s smug face. Janin gets to draw a lot of demons, monsters, and golems, and they all are sufficiently varied to make this feel like a well-populated corner of the Marvel U.

Since I didn’t really have an attachment to any of these Vertigo characters in the old DCU, I found myself enjoying this collection. The only characters I really know are Deadman and Zatanna, and they both are acting just as I remember. I don’t know Timothy Hunter from Harry Potter! No character conflicts for me!

This is a pretty fun collection that makes for a GOOD comic. 

Scene of the Crime TPB

Now, I’m going to clue you guys in on a little something. Ed Brubaker is a pretty good crime writer. I know, shocking that the guy who wrote Captain America for all those years would be so good at this, but I’m serious. His crime books are actually better than his super-hero comics.

Seriously though, reading this trade made me quite happy. I know how good Brubaker is at crime, and I know that’s where his passion lies. I’m actually OK with him bowing out of the Marvel U for awhile if it means we get more books like this, Incognito, and Criminal.

This star of this one is Jack Herriman, a surprisingly straight-up protagonist. He certainly meets many of the expected noir stereotypes; upsetting past, ladies man, and many connections to the local police. But unlike most private detectives, Jack has family living downstairs, and multiple friends who actually come when they’re needed. I don’t think it is spoiling anything to say that everyone doesn’t end up being “in it” or betraying our lead. Sure, the story is tragic and upsetting, but only the villains are actually trying to ignore it.

A standard missing person case leads to old crimes, hippies, drug dealers, and routine beatings, just like any good detective story should. This is definitely an adult story, although that’s mostly expressed through dialogue rather than through Michael Lark’s perfect artwork.

Lark is a joy to behold as he creates and populates Jack’s world. There are keys on the wall of the hotel, there is salt on the plate with the fries. I never realized quite how important those little details are until I started paying attention to how real this world felt. Lark’s work brings this to light. Like much of Vertigo’s finer collections, this thing is begging to be made into a movie.

Excellent

Fairest TPB

I don’t know what I was expecting with this Fables spin-off, but I don’t think this was it. Based on all the covers and press I’d seen about Fairest, I assumed it was a new series following Snow White, Rose Red, Cinderella and the many other princesses involved in the world of Fables. 

Instead, Bill Willingham seems to have expanded his Fables book into two titles. This book literally picks up some dangling plot points from the main Fables series and sees them through a logical conclusion. It is good stuff, and an enjoyable read, just not what I was expecting!

The leads in this are Ali Baba, Briar Rose, the Snow Queen, and a silly little genie obsessed with Earth (or Mundy) culture. After Briar Rose put a whole city to sleep (including the Snow Queen), Ali Baba has to wake her up with true love’s kiss. Only it turns out that’s more of a fable-code requirement rather than actual love.

Willingham continues to play around with what fairy tales actually mean and how they can relate to each other. Fairy powers are broken down to spells with redundant language. Former villain Snow Queen isn’t so bad once she’s free of the Adversary’s influence. Ali Baba falls in love with the wrong royalty. The same tone of originality and attention to detail so present in the Fables core title is on display here. If you like that book, you really must be reading this one!

I don’t associate Phil Jiminez with this sort of fanciful art, but he really does a nice job with it. Jimenz’s Snow Queen and Briar Rose really steal the show with their exotic costumes and dynamic facial expressions. I really appreciate the variety in the different fairy godmother designs too. Each one has a ton of personality in her almost super-heroic outfit.

Matthew Sturges and Shawn McManus have a done-in-one featuring the Beast that is heartbreaking, but only on the last few pages. The abrupt departure from the first story is part of what makes this series feel like a companion to the core Fables book.

Good

The Losers v 1, 2, 3 TPB

Holy cow. Andy Diggle must be pissed. 

I’ve never read a comic so blatantly prepped to be a feature film. (Which is saying something, I’ve read a lot of comics.) I’m not sure why I didn’t read this when it came out, but after being bored during the film; I never got around to checking out the comic. Turns out that was a big mistake, because this is one action-packed ride. Sure, it’s filled with tropes from every action movie ever made, but man, when that stuff is done well? It’s hard to top it! 

Everyone knows the basic story; Special Forces team, assumed dead, out for revenge. But instead of clearing their names, these guys want to blackmail the CIA into giving them their old lives back. Part of what makes this so much cooler than a generic A-team rip-off is the team’s makeup. Most of the guys are basically decent dudes. They want their revenge, but they aren’t going to do evil things to get it. But that’s not true of all of them, as the newest member Aisha is willing to kill US soldiers and other folks to achieve her goals.

Diggle gets another important aspect of the action-thriller: good villains. Max, the CIA handler may be the mastermind behind all this, but hired merc Wade, Goliath Oil, and a darned inconvenient traitor all make for an impressive rogues gallery throughout the book. 

The variety in approach is VERY clear in volume three, where we see Aisha off on a solo mission. Volume three also has the origin of the Losers, and we see how they turned from a fairly confident, happy bunch into the driven loners fighting against the world in the rest of the series. (Cougar’s transformation is the most obvious when looking at the whole, but Diggle holds off on laying it out for the reader until the close of the flashback.) Jensen is the only team member who seems to make it through the book unscathed; he retains his silliness and excitement for the job to the point that her prefers to do his hacking in his underwear. How can you not like that character? 

It’s just infuriating, seeing all the pieces laid out so clearly. Diggle did all the hard work? And the movie is even well cast! Clay, Roque, Jensen, Aisha, everyone looks the part perfectly! And they knew enough to ape a few of Jock’s action sequences for the film, the strongest being the finger-pointing team-up for Jensen and Cougar in the office building.

I just can’t help but be disappointed seeing what SHOULD have been printed right in front of me. Couldn’t they just use the trades as storyboards? 

Good

Seaguy: Slaves of Mickey Eye #1-3

What happened in this series? I don’t know.


Why did Sea Guy’s allies change from allies to enemies? I don’t know.

How did Chubby Da Chuna return to give Sea Guy advice? I think I know, but then how can other people see him?

What is the secret of the outside world that so bothers some of the cast? Unclear.

How did that tiny moth create a wave of flame that destroyed the city? Don’t ask me.

So clearly, I don’t understand a lot of what Morrison is doing in this title. But much like the first Seaguy mini, I absolutely love the book. There is a palpable sense of sadness and loss just permeating the book. I don’t understand the Post-Dad world, but clearly Mickey Eye is a cruel corporation/mascot, and I’m glad Seaguy finally stands up to him.

Unlike some mysteries (like LOST, Prometheus, or Final Crisis) I don’t feel like the parts of the story lessen my experience. Morrison has plopped us into a strange, uneasy world, and much like Seaguy, we’ve got to do the best we can.

Is this what Invisibles is like?

Cameron Stewart does such a great job with this book. The oddball ideas and characters pop out on every page, and he sells it. Heck, I even believe that Seaguy’s alternate career is possible; soon there will be bull-dressers in the real world too.

Good

American Vampire HC v2

It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a good protagonist.

Scott Snyder introduced us to Pearl Jones back in the first collection, but she spent almost all of that trade as a victim. I find her a lot more likable now that she’s out kicking butt with her vampire powers. Skinner Sweet is a great villain, but he was the star of the first trade, and I found him so distasteful I just wanted to see him suffer. Unfortunately, there were no heroes in that trade that seemed up to the task. Now Pearl seems to have some potential. Plus, we get some great new protagonists in Sherriff Cashel and Felicia Book. They may be a lot more “generic” in a vampire story (good-hearted cop and vamp-hunter) but they give me someone to cheer for.

I like where Snyder leaves Cashel at the end of the story, but I hope this isn’t the last we see of him. He’s a neat character and with his new burden, there is a lot of potential in following his journey. I know Felicia Book will stick around, and this is Pearl’s comic as much as Skinner’s.

It’s taking me some time to get used to liking a book about different vampires fighting each other, but I think I’m coming around. The clever use of the different breeds (including the titular “American Vampire”) is helping me bridge my distaste for the vampire genre. It’s amazing what actually caring about your characters can accomplish.

It’s also neat seeing how pervasive the vampire culture is into the world of this comic. Back-room drainings, business dealings, and hiding in plain sight are pretty much the only way this stuff would work. I’m glad there are some vamp hunters trying to keep things in check.

Rafael Albuquerque continues doing solid work. He doesn’t have the most realistic style, but there’s no doubting the mood on his pages. The heavy blacks and reds establish the tone from the cover to the last page.

I didn’t plan on continuing with this series, but I already had a pull request in at my library. I’m glad I decided to give the book another shot, it’s a lot more gripping than volume 1.

Good

The Unwritten v3: Dead Man's Knock

I've made no secret that I love Mike Carey's work. His X-Men comics are a wonderful reminder of what I loved about comics during my childhood, and his concepts always feel unique. That said, his work on the Unwritten has to be some of the best storytelling I've ever seen in comics.

Carey doesn't take it easy on the reader. This is a story that KNOWS it is a story, so the reader can't take anything for granted. You always have to keep in mind tropes and manipulations that Carey or the protagonists might be pulling. Which parts of the story are real? Well, none of it of course, but Carey actually admits this and lets the reader define a lot of what is happening. This is most clearly laid out in the Lizzie Hexam origin issue, a choose-your-own-adventure type story with multiple endings. If you aren't careful, Lizzie doesn't end up joining up with Tommy Taylor, she ends up drugged into a stupor in a mental hospital. Choose wisely! (I'll briefly mention that depending on the path you take, quite a few odd occurrences from earlier in the series get explained.)

The main plot moves along nicely too, with Wilson Taylor, Tommy's Dad, finally making his on-panel appearance. Wilson clearly has some sort of destiny in mind for Tommy, but Tommy isn't ready for it. And it doesn't seem like Wilson's got a lot more chances to make this work. This trade shows the big release of the 14th Tommy Taylor novel and all the wonderful maneuvering Wilson and his friends have done to take down the cabal that secretly runs the world.

In such a word-heavy and convoluted story, Peter Gross's art would be easy to overlook. But don't. It's his panel layouts and rapid reality changes that make this story work, and he does a fantastic job leading the reader through multiple worlds and perceptions of reality.

The concepts are unclear and challenging, but if you've got the time and interest, this is an intensely rewarding series.

Excellent

Scalped vol 5: High Lonesome TPB

Another trade, another collection of brilliant tragedy from Jason Aaron.

After the fairly frantic pacing of the series until now, Aaron pauses to give us a bit more background on some of Scalped’s supporting characters. The trade opens with a character piece about a grafter about to make Dash Bad Horse’s life even worse. It then spends two issues dealing with longtime foes Diesel and Agent Nitz. I really enjoyed all three features; like always, the story was fascinating yet it made me glad I’m not a part of Dash’s world. The pressure that guy must be under every waking moment!

The quick change from character focused drama to a horrific robbery is jarring for the reader and for Dash. Because of Dash’s… state of mind, I’m not sure he even understands what is happening until the end of the event. And once again, we’re reminded why you don’t mess with Agent Bad Horse.

As always, life is cheap in this comic. A bunch of guards and innocent bystanders get killed throughout the book, reinforcing the dangerous feel of this title. It’s odd, but with the death and the emphasis on character, along with the Western setting, I think I’ve realized what this book reminds me of. This series is basically Deadwood in book format, and that’s about the highest praise I can give. It’s simply brilliant, and as always I’m amazed that Aaron can create such dark stories that remain so fascinating.

A variety of artists work on the different chapters of this trade, but each one is a good match for the subject matter. The editors clearly made careful choices for each of these “fill-in” issues.

Excellent

Rat Catcher OGN

This thing should be a movie. And I mean that as high praise. As I found myself more and more engrossed in this story, I felt like I could practically cast Andy Diggle’s gritty crime story. This thing has it all, betrayals, racial supremacists, traitors, shootings, and fist-fights. This is destined to be a movie! (This was also true of Christos Gage’s Vertigo crime book, so maybe that’s the point of the line?)

Diggle plays with the reader a bit, saving a lot of reveals and reversals for more than halfway through the book. Some of the reversals are predictable, but others aren’t. And regardless of whether I saw it coming, Diggle lays out the foundation and justifications for every twist and turn. This is solid storytelling, and the modern Western feel gives me a lot of hope for Diggle’s new Marvel Western mini-series.

Victor Ibanez’s art is quite striking. Everything in this OGN is realistic, but the “acting” on the characters really makes the story work. This is a suspense story, and that is hard to pull off on the printed page, but Ibanez does a great job.

Good

DC Relaunch part 3! Bat-stragglers, Vertigo, and Teens!

Wow. DC has been loving this, I’m sure. I don’t think I’ve EVER spent so much time thinking about DC comics before this last week. They’ve got me tweaking my sublist on a daily basis!

So we’ve covered the Justice books, Green Lantern, and Batman. Let’s see what else they’ve got for us!

First, a few bat-stragglers.

Nightwing – Kyle Higgins and Eddy Barrows – they sure made us wait for this, didn’t they? You know they were loving the internet frenzy over Dick Grayson. I don’t know Kyle Higgins’ work at all, but Eddy Barrows is serviceable. I’m tempted. Not sold yet.

Red Hood & the Outlaws – Judd Winick and Kenneth Rocafort - hahahaahah! Oh man, look at Arsenal’s ball cap! He’s so hip! I wish Starfire wasn’t in this book so I could totally ignore it, but I do like her. I wonder who else will round out the team. Winick loves these types of books, but I got bored by Outsiders, so I can’t imagine I’ll love this. I don’t love Rocafort’s work either. No thanks.

Batwing – Judd Winick and Ben Oliver – I loved this guy’s visual in Batman Inc. I’m thrilled to see that Batman Inc. is continuing, it really seems like the Batbooks are not getting rebooted. I’ll check out the first issue.

Then we have the returning Vertigo characters.

Animal Man – Jeff Lemiere – I don’t know enough about Lemiere’s work either. How weird is this going to be? Another one I’m not sure about.

Swamp Thing – Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette – this is a darn solid creative team. I can’t imagine a world where I care about a vegetable man on a monthly basis, but this team might be able to do it. This is another wait-and-see.

Justice League Dark – Peter Milligan – Peter Milligan, Zatanna, and Shade the Changing Man? I have to at least give this a try!

Demon Knights – Paul Cornell – described as medieval super-heroes, Cornell says this book is targeted for folks who like Dragon Age and Game of Thrones. I hate that I’m so easily identified as the target audience. But I guess that means I better buy it!

Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE – Jeff Lemiere – Frank was my favorite from the Seven Soldiers, so I at least need to sample this. It looks like it may be a sort of Creature Commandos type situation, and I want in on that.

Resurrection Man – Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning and Fernando Dagnino – never in a million years would I have predicted this book making a return. I loved the original, I’m back for the encore, even if it only lasts a few issues.

Voodoo – Ron Marz and Sami Basri – interesting, this is our first ex-Wildstorm title. I loved Marz’s work back in the day, and I hear good things about Witchblade under his pen, so maybe I’ll try an issue?

I, Vampire – I don’t care who the creative team is, I don’t need romantic, beautiful vampire comics. NO.

Today we got the teen titles. Some surprises in here!

Teen Titans – Scott Lobdell and Bret Booth – This has got to be one of the worst re-designs of the whole DCnU. Those folks look TERRIBLE. My daughter wanted to buy this comic, but I’m not sure I can let her. NO.

Static Shock – John Rozum and Scott McDaniel – I loved Rozum’s work on Xombi, and McDaniel’s art has a kinetic energy that I’ve always enjoyed. Plus I adore Static as a character. Sold!

Legion of Super-Heroes – Paul Levitz and Francis Portella – I’m afraid I fell away from the Legion when they did the whole “Supergirl &” relaunch and I’ve never come back. Too bad, it looks like this book is picking up without another reboot
(thank goodness!)

Legion Lost – Fabian Nicieza and Pete Woods – that’s a crackerjack creative team, and I still remember Fabian’s New Warriors fondly. I’m sure I’ll give this an issue, depending on the regular cast. At a glance I only really know Wildfire, Dawnstar, and Timber Wolf.

Hawk & Dove – Sterling Gates and Rob Liefeld – unlike a lot of folks, I don’t have a problem with Liefeld’s art, but I have no interest in the characters. Pass.

Overall, I think my DC pull list is going to go up with this reboot!

My main concerns at this point is the lack of JSA, Martian Manhunter, Blue Beetle, and Wally West announcements.

The Unwritten v2: The Inside Man TPB

What a brilliant, but sad, story. The second volume of Mike Carey and Peter Gross' fascinating story is just as brilliant as the first, which is surprising considering the main character is still a bit of a jerk. Tommy Taylor is a jerk, but he's in some awful circumstances. Framed for murder, he's quickly whisked away to a French prison to await trial. He's escorted by the "inside man," a reporter riding along to write a story on Taylor's predicament. Both of these characters are jerks, but they do drive the story and they have redeeming qualities, so I find myself rooting for them even as I cringe.

This trade deals even more with the ramifications of Tommy Taylor possibly being a real version of the Harry Potter-like character his father wrote about. I adored the two children of the prison warden, two fervent believers in the world of Tommy Taylor. The prison warden may have his faults, but he is fanatical in protecting his children's right to imagine, and he is supportive of their magical role-playing and adventures throughout the story. Unfortunately, this leads to some rather tragic circumstances made worse by what it does to the warden.

There are neat elements in the trade besides the one I mention about the children, but Gross does such an amazing job giving those kids a sense of bravery and heroism, I couldn't shake them from my thoughts. Since this is a prison story, there is a riot, and the shots of the kids in the riot are simply amazing. Maybe it's because I'm the parent of imaginative kids myself, but I just couldn't get past that element of the trade.

The twisting of Nazi propaganda is powerfully evil, and the cursing bunny exiled into the world of Beatrix Potter is fun, but I just can't forget about those kids. I hope there can still be some kind of happy ending. Tommy is magic, after all.

Excellent

Madame Xanadu v2: Exodus Noir TPB

What an improvement over the first trade! My main complaint with volume 1 was that Xanadu really didn't do that much. She provided a POV for the reader of a whole bunch of other DC characters being heroic. The Phantom Stranger, the Spectre, the Demon, they all showed up and Xanadu witnessed their actions throughout history. But she didn't do a whole lot.

That changes in this trade. This arc is set in 1940 New York, where Xanadu has become a sort of psychic/private detective. This is the role we know her in, and her role in the story is improved immediately. She's smart, capable, and mysterious as she unravels the long-standing curse killing off successful families in the city. As the trade goes on, we even get a nice little cameo from other Matt Wagner characters, the Sandman
and Diane Belmont.

Wagner gives us a nice little parallel story set during the Spanish Inquisition that shows just how difficult it has been for Xanadu to try and be happy through the years. It's a sad lesson; she is definitely safer and more controlled in 1940, but she doesn't seem to be as happy as she was with her companion in the flashbacks.

Michael Wm. Kaluta art is as detailed and moody as always. He does a particularly great job with the demonic dog that haunts much of the trade.

Good

DMZ v4: Friendly Fire TPB

I want to like Brian Wood's stylish series more than I do. The problem is I can't wrap my head around the core status quo for the book. I get that New York is the DMZ, and that the bridges and tunnels out are blocked off by different factions of the country. But I don't understand how the people in NYC get new supplies or have any sort of continued existence if they're that cut off. Not to mention I'm fuzzy on the whole Free States faction. I understand they are supposed to be an insurgent army, one with no real base and that they are mixed in with everyone else, but I know they have strongholds around New York, so why not just take those out?

This trade deals with a traumatic day in the DMZ when US troops mistakenly opened fire on a crowd of peace protesters. It's a tragic, awful scene, but again, I'm confused on what the US troops are even trying to accomplish with their patrols in the DMZ. Are they guarding borders? Advancing the US front? Since I don't understand the core of the book, all the drama feels manufactured to me. How does the rest of the country and the world feel about what's happening?

The art is ok, with some of the military sequences looking particularly good. The whole "fog of war" is very effectively portrayed, especially just prior to the friendly fire incident.

Average

Scalped v6: The Gnawing TPB

Jason Aaron's Native American noir is still brilliant. No other word can describe the riveting story that's been going strong for six trades now. I didn't re-read the older trades when I picked up this one, and I was amazed at how quickly I was pulled back in to the awful, fascinating life of Dash Bad-Horse. I picked this book up meaning to read one issue and ended up staying up late to read the entire trade. I love that there are still comics this good.

There is a ton of payoff here. Chief Red Crow is an awfully likeable villain. After standing up to the Hmong enforcer Mr. Brass, he proceeds to do the right thing when dealing with the entire Hmong crime family. Red Crow reminds me of Swearengen on Deadwood; he's a bad guy, but he's OUR bad guy now, so he's preferable to all others. Dash is still in trouble with Red Crow and the law, but things do finally start to sort themselves out thanks to the meth-head Diesel. A lot of innocent people (or as innocent as anyone is in this comic) get hurt or killed along the way, but perhaps things are evening out for Dash. Maybe he can finally relax for a few issues.

Yeah, I don't think so, either.

R.M. Guera's art is fantastic. Dash's emotions are hidden in public, but you can see him crumble every time he's alone with the reader. Red Crow's daughter Carol is the weirdest mix of sad, gross, and hot I've ever seen in a comic. You almost have to read it to believe how well Guera handles the balance.

Excellent

Proposition Player TPB

I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting with this trade, and in fact, I can't remember where I even got this trade. At some point, when you have70 longboxes of comics, I think they start spawning on their own.

This trade follows a professional gambler as he inadvertently becomes a player in the afterlife game. As some of his friends take him up on a bet, he ends up buying their souls for a beer apiece (it's not like they believed in them anyway). The problem is, Heaven and Hell don't want a new player in the game, so they try to buy him out. The problem is he can read faces and he figures out just how profitable it can be to be the new god on the block.

The story features some cool characters from all different mythologies, and it is fun seeing someone avoid both heaven and hell. The stakes never seem that high. Joey is just too smart, he can see all the angles and gets all the right people in his corner right away. Bill Willingham has a habit of writing extremely intelligent protagonists, and keeps that up here.

Paul Guinan's art is a bit cartoony, but that works well for the larger than life figures who make up the afterlife society.

Fair

Young Liars v3: Rock Life TPB

Wow. This is a great example of a story that I love, but definitely do not understand. I mean, there is no "right" answer here, correct? David Lapham (through Danny Noonan/Danny Duoshade/Johnny) never comes clean with the reader.

There are two or three conclusions presented, all dealing with different realities and possibilities. It's hard to even describe a book that has its lead drive out into the desert, poke through a hole in a rock, and then see that guy's eye peering out from a hole in some wallpaper. This book is firing on three or four levels, and there is no way to be sure which one is "real" since we're dealing with a liar like Danny, but man, I love this comic on each one of those levels.

There is a fantastic done-in-one issue featuring the sad secret origin of Danny's boss at Big Box. This was a heartbreaking story; the sad real life stuff is bad enough, factor in Sadie Dawkins' insane influence and you see how no one else really has a chance in her world. Sadie is the engine that drives every aspect of this story. Figuring out just who Sadie is gets mighty tough, since she could be Sadie, Sadie's sister Lorelei, or even Big C, one of Danny's other friends, but there is no arguing she's the one that makes this story go.

David Lapham's artwork has to carry this insane story. I'm happy he draws it himself, so we can be sure we're seeing exactly what he wants us to in this insane narrative. That concluding shot of Danny putting on the makeup; wow. The look on his face of sadness and resignation are killers and make the entire series work. Are we ending on a flashback from a dead rocker, or are we seeing a daydreaming, housekeeping clown just starting his day after an odd dream?

Excellent

Kid Eternity TPB

I read over half of this, and I have absolutely no idea what is happening.

Poor

DMZ v2: Body of a Journalist TPB

This was a fun read, but the frantic pace and the feel of exploration that made the first trade so riveting is dialed back a bit, making Brian Wood's second trade less fascinating. Wood is still parcelling out information about the war between the United States and Free America, but I feel at this point we should have gotten a real info dump on it. I would appreciate that more than an expanded essay on the people of NYC and the popular graffitti and eateries. The war is a bit more relevant to the greater plot.

It is fascinating seeing how the two armies are constantly moving in and out of the city. It might be a No Man's Land, but it sure is well traveled. Special forces teams and soldiers are regularly wandering around getting into trouble. I also like the idea that Matty has become a celebrity outside the DMZ. It would happen, and having other reporters come along and try to be a part of that action makes a lot of sense. Matty's Dad is a real jerk too; a bad Dad, but a great motivator for future stories.

The art seems a lot cleaner in this installment. I think I preferred the darker look of the first trade, everything felt a bit more dangerous and lost. Here it seems like a lot more of a free choice for people to live this weird NYC half-life.

Fair