Low Blows 02.18.07

“Crossing Midnight” #1-3
DC/Vertigo Comics
Writer: Mike Carey
Artist: Jim Fern

Over the last year or so, I’ve become more and more aware of writer Mike Carey’s work. He’s probably best known for his work for Vertigo Comics’ “Lucifer” series, which was both a spin-off from and based upon Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman” mythology. He’s now writing “X-Men” and “Ultimate Fantastic Four” for Marvel Comics, but with his new series “Crossing Midnight,” Carey has been granted the chance to create a mythology of his own, and explore a world solely of his own creation.

This book is set in modern Japan, though story elements tie back to the latter days of World War II at the bombing of Nagasaki, and even further into the past, with the dealings of the Hara family in feudal times with entities and powers beyond their reckoning. More specifically, though, it deals with twin brother and sister Kai and Toshi Hara, who were born on either side of midnight on a very important day. Now teenagers, they are confronted with the deadly consequences of a bargain which their father was not even aware he made before they were born. As Kai sees his sister plunge headfirst into an unknown mystical world to which she (to his horror) seems completely suited, he is himself confronted by powers which seek to control him as well.

These three issues are very much the beginning of the story. By design, I’m sure, they offer very little in the way of resolution, but they make up for this in that they lay the foundation for all sorts of interesting storylines -- who exactly was it that visited the Hara family so long ago? Where is this new world which they have only been given glimpses over the years, and what has happened to their long-lost playmate that they left behind? To what faction does this dragon entity who has enlisted Kai into his service truly belong? And perhaps most importantly, what will be the end result of the sacrifice that Toshi makes in the end?

The atmosphere of this story is comparable to that of C.S. Lewis’ “Chronicles of Narnia” series or Hayao Miyazaki’s film “Spirited Away,” but with a greater sense of dread and horror underneath. Not going along with the wishes of these mystical beings has grave results, which is made viscerally evident at the end of the first issue. Imagine if “Spirited Away” had had a much darker ending -- say, in which Chihiro had failed to save her parents, and then you might have a little better idea of where this series seems to be heading.

Penciller Jim Fern did a great job a little while back on a two-issue “Fables” arc, and I was very happy to see him assigned as the regular artist on this book as well. His art carries a strong line which I really like, and really shines in its depiction of the otherworldly creatures which Kai and Toshi encounter, as well as the more mundane aspects of their life. I should also mention that J.H. Williams III has been contributing beautiful covers to this series that look like ancient Japanese woodcuttings and watercolors, which really sweeten the deal every month.

It’s a great feeling to stumble upon a new book with such promise. I missed out on the first issues of “Y, the Last Man,” “100 Bullets” and “Fables,” and had to scramble to find back issues. Not so with “Crossing Midnight” -- I was lucky enough to get in on the ground floor with this one. It receives my highest recommendation, and future issues can’t possibly come out soon enough.

[9.5 out of a possible 10]

The Longbox: Essential Moon Knight

Much like the groundhog of Puxny, Pa., "Graphic Novel Grab Bag" returns to Low Brow Media from nearly a year of slumber. Even though Phil did not see his shadow this year (meaning a shorter winter), it's still going to be cold outside. So what better to keep you warm than picking up a good collection of comics?

Essential Moon Knight vol. 1
writers: Doug Moench, Bill Mantlo, Steven Grant
artists: Don Perlin, Mike Zeck, Jim Mooney, Jim Craig, Gene Colan, Keith Pollard, Bill Sienkiewicz
Collecting: WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #32-33, MARVEL SPOTLIGHT #28-29, PETER PARKER, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #22-23, MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #52, HULK MAGAZINE #11-15, 17-18 & 20, MARVEL PREVIEW #21, and MOON KNIGHT #1-10; 528 pages
Marvel Comics, released 2-15-06
Having greatly enjoyed the first few issues of Charlie Huston and David Finch's latest incarnation of Moon Knight, I decided to pick up the first volume in his Essential line in order to find out more about him. There was too much going on in those pages to be left to a quick scan on the Moon Knight Wikipedia page. I needed to know the real story about this character that was completely foreign to me.
For those of you unfamiliar with Marvel's Essential collections (as well as DC's similarly produced Showcase series), they consist of many classic issues reprinted in black and white on lower quality paper. Because of this, they are priced around $17, probably half of the price that colored, high-quality paper editions would run you. This may bother you; it doesn't bother me. I love a good, cheap comic. Sure, color would be nice, but as you know from reading this site, story is king in my book.
Though I've only read a handful of the Essential books that are available, I suspect that this assemblage is different than most of the others. For one, this only collects the first 10 issues of the original Moon Knight series. The majority of the books offer closer to 25 issues of a particular title. But Moon Knight's ascension to his own title took a different path than many other players in the Marvel Universe. He began as a guest character in a handful of issues of Werewolf By Night, followed by a few other similarly short appearances in other books, all of which are collected here. The first third of the book containing these stories was a little hard for me to get through. I am just used to the modern sensibilities of graphic storytelling and stories from the mid-70s seem a big quaint. While entertaining to a degree, the predictable and simplistic nature of these comics are one of the chief reasons why comics are still looked down upon by many people, which bothers me. On the other hand, I do have to remind myself that this was a different era, and the standards were very different then. Plus, Spidey and the Thing show up, so it's not a total loss.
Despite my criticisms of these early Moon Knight stories, I have to salute the talent of the pencilers, particularly Don Perlin, whose initial design for the character has only been altered over time, never completely overhauled as so many others have been -- even the Ultimate version of MK is very similar to that first panel in Werewolf By Night. I suspect the look of Moon Knight is one of the reasons he developed the cult he has around him.
Then came the stories from the Hulk Magazine. These are fantastic; probably the best stories of any kind that I've read from this era. The art is rich, even in the Essential format. I didn't know these reprints could look so good. At first, I was sure they had originally been painted panels, but I think the quality of art must have simply been better for the magazine than it had been for the standard comic back then. Regardless, it is an extraordinary effort by the reprint team and shows us that today's comics will be well-served in the black-and-white format someday. In addition to the great artwork is the grittier, racier, and more adult-themed storylines from Doug Moench. Moon Knight really came into his own character at this time, moving beyond the knock-off, Batman-in-white character he had largely been beforehand. Of particular interest of these stories is the three-part Randall Spector arc, in which MK is set up against his brother. I really did not think comics had reached this level of depth until the 80s, and this came a bit before that time.
Finally, the book closes with the initial 10 issues of Moon Knight's first solo series. All written by Moench and drawn by Sienkiewicz, these stories delved into MK's past and began to address the four personas in one man: Marc Spector, veteran marine and international mercenary; Steven Grant, the handsome, billionaire playboy; Jake Lockley, the common cabbie; and Moon Knight, the cloaked crime fighter. While the dabbling into multiple personality disorder is quaint at best, at least the creative team actually acknowledged it. Plus, it does set the stage for more in-depth analysis in later incarnations of the character.
These first 10 issues are pretty strong overall, if not perfect. The roles of MK's girlfriend and his sidekicks are all expanded during this period. No longer is Marlene just waiting around for Steven Grant to take her to a party. Frenchie actually has opinions while flying the Mooncopter. Crawley does more than merely divulge the word on the street to Jake Lockley. Gina and her kids do more than serve food and yell at Crawley. It's a fascinating group of characters and a more diverse supporting cast than most other heroes have.
As I've stated in various ways before now in this review, Essential Moon Knight vol. 1 is a solid collection. What really should propel you to take a look at this book, however, is how it ties so directly into Charlie Huston and David Finch's current run on Moon Knight. They've woven almost all of the characters mentioned here into that first arc. While you don't need to read this to enjoy the current adventures of MK, you will benefit from knowing both the history of what these characters mean to him and appreciate just how great a writer Huston is by successfully intertwining the past with the present for a cult character revered by many but unknown by most. If you're a Moon Knight fan, this truly is essential reading material.
8 out of 10

*** Now that LBM has expanded beyond comics, I've retooled some of the columns for the sake of simplicity. This was originally part of a feature I did called "Graphic Novel Grab Bag." I only ever wrote five, so I've re-tagged them as Longbox entries. Enjoy the early days of LBM that I've somehow resisted the urge to purge. -- JA, 1/20/10 ***

The Shortbox 1/26/07

Powers #21
writer: Brian Michael Bendis
artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Icon/Marvel Comics, released 11-29-06
Because this book has been erratic with it's publishing schedule since moving to Marvel's Icon line, when I opened up the first page, I had no idea what was going on anymore or who was lying dead on the floor before Deena and Christian. Unfortunately, Powers has not been the same since bolting from Image to allow Bendis to sign his exclusive deal with Marvel. While I jumped on the series with the beginning of volume two, I've since gone back and read all of the Image issues. Those 37 issues are absolutely amazing -- filled with fantastic action, huge plot twists, hilarious and poignant dialogue, and the great talent of both Bendis and Oeming at the top of their games. You should all log onto eBay and buy them when finished with this article. Sadly, the pace has dropped considerably since the move to Icon and the jump in time in the Powers universe. Well, until issue #21. This one was full with as many visual twists as there were plot divergences, most perfectly timed with the turn of the page. I'm dying to detail them all, but won't. Let's just say the dead "power" on the floor on page one isn't the last by book's end. I hope this is a sign of more crazy goodness in Powers. It's been too long.
10 out of 10

Winter Soldier: Winter Kills #1 (one shot)
writer: Ed Brubaker
artists: Lee Weeks, Stefano Gaudiano, & Rick Hoberg
Marvel Comics, released 12-27-06
Since his reintroduction to Marvel continuity, Bucky Barnes has been shrouded in mystery. Appearing almost exclusively in the pages of Brubaker's Captain America thus far, we have only gotten a few extended glimpses into Bucky's life. Now known as the Winter Soldier, he's tapped by Nick Fury to take down a suspected Hydra cell on his own -- on Christmas Eve no less, his one night off on the year. Throw in a trio of Young Avengers out on Civil War business, and there's a nice mix witty banter, furious combat, and insight into Bucky's state of mind. This issue is a great byproduct of the Civil War delay, because it probably would not have been written without it. As much as a part of me would love to see a Winter Soldier series, I hope Marvel resists that temptation and hands us the occasional one-shot focusing on him or a well-placed guest spot in another book from time to time. Revealing too much of a character such as this too quickly will only kill the intrigue that has built up.
9 out of 10

Union Jack #4 (of 4)
writer: Christos N. Gage
artist: Mike Perkins
Marvel Comics, released 12-20-06
This mini-series spinning out of the pages of Brubaker's afore mentioned Captain America series has proven to be a fine gem each month in my stack. (It also began strongly. See here.) Gage has been easing into the realm of comics, as he's well established in Hollywood for his work on shows such as Numb3rs and Law & Order: SUV. After reading this series, I now have my eye on him. With Union Jack, Gage explores one of the less-popular Marvel heroes in a politically charged story full of classic comic-book goodness, and it doesn't come off as dated or contrived in the slightest. Joining the title character are a nice trio of D-list characters, all of whom were interesting choices to form a team with given their interactions with each other, even though I had never heard of a single one of them beforehand. Added to a very good story is artwork by Mike Perkins that explodes off of the page in nearly every panel.
I have a feeling this title got lost in the shuffle with all the Civil War brouhaha, which is unfortunate because it deserved more attention. I'd also like to see another mini with this cast of characters. I'm pretty sure both Gage and Perkins have another story with this crew up their sleeves. In the meantime, I hope this story will be collected in trade. If you see it, definitely pick it up.
8 out 10

Low Blows 01.22.07

“Snakewoman” #6
Virgin Comics
Writer: Zeb Wells
Artist: Dean Hyrapiet




“Snakewoman” is a relatively new series from an equally new publisher that I took a chance on a couple months back. And while the earlier issues had their flaws, I was pretty happy with a turn that the story took in the fifth issue -- one that I didn’t expect, and one that I thought would surely set up future stories that I’d be interested to read.

As it turns out, though, I didn’t enjoy issue 6 as much as the previous ones. A large part of this is probably due to the fact that this is the first issue without the participation of Michael Gaydos (“Alias,” “The Pulse”), whose name attached to the title page of this book prompted its purchase in the first place. Another reason I was a little disappointed with “Snakewoman” this month is that there was very little forward motion to the plot. While I’m certainly no “anti-decompression” activist, there had better be a dynamite story in an issue that spotlights a certain character whom I barely knew was in the previous issue -- and will in all probability never appear again.

Unfortunately, Zeb Wells’ script for this issue focuses more upon the cliché ramblings of a mentally unwell janitor than on the much more compelling theme of Jessica Peterson’s descent into the acceptance of a life of revenge and murder. While the Snakewoman does appear towards the end of the book, just in time to make a very difficult choice, I definitely prefer her to be in center stage, especially when the other story elements aren’t all that compelling.

I’ve never run into Dean Hyrapiet’s work before, either, but his penciling brings to mind Roy Allan Martinez’s art. It’s certainly not as polished as Martinez or his predecessor Gaydos’ stuff, but it does the job well enough. There were some awkward panels, but I’m willing to chalk that up to Hyrapiet still getting a feel for the characters, and not any deficiency in his abilities.

Now, I’ve been reading comics long enough to realize that every series has its hiccups, and I’m not about to give up on “Snakewoman” just yet, especially when I consider the strength of the previous issues. I can appreciate that Wells has tried to make each issue a unique experience, and one mediocre issue out of six isn’t such a bad record. Better luck next time.

[6.5 out of a possible 10]



“Iron Man” #14
Marvel Comics
Writers: Daniel and Charles Knauf
Art: Patrick Zircher and Scott Hanna




When I first heard that Daniel Knauf, creator of HBO’s “Carnivale,” and his son Charles were going to take over the writing reins on “Iron Man” once Warren Ellis and Adi Granov’s six issues had been completed, I was a little disappointed. Not so much because I didn’t love “Carnivale” (I do!) but instead that Ellis was leaving a book that was so uniquely suited to him.

And when the Knaufs’ first six-part storyline ended up being yet another “somebody gets control of Tony Stark/Iron Man and wreaks havoc, thus creating self-doubt in Tony’s mind” story, I was even more disappointed. I’ve never been crazy about Pat Zircher’s art, and if I may be completely honest, it looked horrible on “Iron Man,” especially when compared to how pitch-perfect Adi Granov’s art was for the character.

Here’s the good news, though: the book’s getting better. I’m not crazy about the death of a long-running character in these pages, and the art still seems a little off, but we’re now starting to get some fascinating background for Stark’s mindset and actions in “Civil War.” In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that the character development beginning in issue 13 and especially this issue contains some of the best justification for Iron Man’s continued support of the Registration Act and the tough decisions he has had to make that I’ve read in the entire Civil War event. The meeting with Captain America, and how badly it goes, shows how Cap’s anger is clouding his judgment a bit, and how, like it or not, Stark is just doing the best he can in a difficult situation.

If this book keeps improving by leaps and bounds as it has over the past months, I have no doubt I’ll end up being very happy with it. Truthfully, I’m already feeling pretty good about it. And this is not to mention the addition in the coming months of incoming penciller Roberto De La Torre, fresh off of his great work on “Ms. Marvel,” which will no doubt address my other concern with the book, too.

I’m not sure where “Civil War” will leave Iron Man, or if Tony Stark will even be the bearer of the armor at all after the dust settles. If he is, in fact, going to become the head of SHIELD, as previous issues of “New Avengers” and this title seem to be hinting, that should be a real interesting direction for the character, and I assume, the upcoming “Mighty Avengers” comic. In light of the increasing quality of this book and these very interesting times for this character, my advice would definitely be to give it another chance -- even if you have just recently dropped it due to the Knaufs' lackluster opening arc.

[8 out of a possible 10]

Low Blows 01.15.07

"Sandman Mystery Theatre:
The Sleep of Reason" #1 (of 5)
DC/Vertigo Comics
Writer: John Ney Rieber
Artist: Eric Nguyen



A couple of years ago, when I was just getting back into comics and trying to catch up on all that I had missed in the last seven or eight years, I spent quite a bit of time on Ebay chasing low prices on full runs of comics. One of sets I won was a near-complete set of Matt Wagner and Steven T. Seagle's "Sandman Mystery Theatre" series for around $30 -- an incredible steal. This is the series that made me a huge fan of artists John Watkiss and Guy Davis, and also tied into another favorite series of mine, James Robinson's "Starman," in some really cool and rather shocking ways. I was hooked, and over 70 issues, even after the departure of Wagner, "SMT" maintained its strong characterization, rich 1920s "period piece" setting, slight mystical undertones, and subtle yet thought-provoking and often violent storylines all the way through. What was perhaps most appealing was the relationship between Wesley Dodds, the Golden Age Sandman, and Dian Belmont, his girlfriend and sometime sidekick.

It's a relief, then, that this new miniseries, which ostensibly introduces a new Sandman, begins with Wesley and Dian in the twilight of their life, once again getting into trouble in the Afghanistan of 1997, of all places. John Ney Rieber, whom I know from his long tenure on Vertigo's "Books of Magic" years ago, does a good job maintaining the established characterization of the pair, and providing a clear connection between this and the previous title.

Flash forward a few years, and embedded photojournalist Kieran Marshall is abducted while attempting to secure an interview with a terrorist leader. A subsequent meeting with the aforementioned terrorist goes sour, but also results in an encounter with a certain gas mask and sleeping-gas gun of interest to readers of the 1990s "Sandman Mystery Theatre" book. A compulsion takes control of Kieran, and he retaliates upon the terrorists who have captured him while bellowing the familiar command "SLEEP." (It's actually a lot cooler than it sounds.) Now, the present-tense story is compelling enough, but I assume the story of how Wesley Dodds' equipment came to rest in a madman's tent in Afghanistan for ten years' time will be told over the course of the miniseries, and I, for one, can't wait to read it and find out.

I found that Eric Nguyen's pencils and inks in this book were an acquired taste, but not entirely unlike that of Guy Davis when I first encountered his art -- and that is intended as a compliment. I ended up really enjoying Nguyen's quirky linework and slightly askew perspective in combination with Lee Loughridge's muted colors. There were a few times when I found myself a little less than positive about what was going on in a panel, but upon reading the book a second time, I found the fault lay more in too-quick reading on my part than any artistic inadequacy on-panel.

I'm not entirely sold on this new character yet, but the promise of seeing more of Wesley and Dian, and the potential that the strange dreams experienced by Kieran before even encountering the mask are evidence that Dream of the Endless (whose story is told in that one other "Sandman" series you may have heard of) may have a hand in this, as with Wesley Dodds before him, definitely intrigues me. The first issue of "The Sleep of Reason" certainly merits checking out the next issue, if not the entirety of the miniseries.

[7.75 out of a possible 10]




"Loveless" #14
DC/Vertigo Comics
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Danijel Zezelj




I'm a fan of Brian Azzarello's work, and I buy pretty much everything he puts out. But I'll be the first to admit that he can be pretty inscrutable at times. Most of his comics require two reads, minimum, to fully appreciate. His characters speak in a profanely poetic street verse, puns wrap themselves around page transitions, and callbacks to events in the series that go way back can be a real barrier to the casual reader.

And while Azzarello's other Vertigo book, "100 Bullets," has a healthy life on the graphic novel market, I'm a little worried about "Loveless." I was pretty shocked when the character which the book had been focusing upon for the majority of the previous issues was killed in issue #12. I was even more shocked that this was barely even touched upon until the very end of this issue, #14. It's brave, nearly crazy, choices like this that make me love this book. I just hope other people feel that way, because I can see how this would be a challenging read, to say the least.

For one, "Loveless" lacks the playful humor which humanizes and endears the bloodthirsty criminals of "100 Bullets" to the reader. In this issue, for example, the recently-deceased Wes Cutter's wife Ruth spends most of this issue cruelly killing members of the town who stood by while she was raped by Federal troops when the Southern town of Blackwater was taken over after the Civil War. She holds literally everyone responsible for this, and her husband's apparent death seems to have pushed her to take some very final action against those who have wronged her.

Artwise, I will say that series co-creator Marcelo Frusin is missed, but only because I love his artwork so much. I'm not sure what's happened, but he hasn't done anything but "Loveless" covers for quite a few issues now. The very talented Werther Dell'Edera and Danijel Zezelj have been trading spots every couple of issues providing the art, and I have no complaints about their work except that it is sometimes difficult to keep their individual representations of Frusin's characters straight. For instance, I'm pretty sure that's Wes' body which appears on the last page, not quite dead yet after all, but I'm not 100% sure.

If you're into "Deadwood" or hardcore western movies like "Unforgiven," this series is for you. There is a racial element brewing that is also fascinating, but which I don't completely understand yet -- and that's fine. There's plenty of time for Azzarello to bring those characters into play later. This series is slated to run about 36 issues long, assuming Vertigo is good enough to provide us with them. I have heard that many readers gave up on this series in earlier issues due to the difficulty in keeping the complex story and characters straight. I don't blame them, but this series is rewarding to the reader who is, frankly, willing to be confused for a bit and just go along for the ride. I have a feeling that the second half of this series is where everything will fall into place, and I'm impatient to see what is in store.

[8.5 out of a possible 10]

Newsflash -- LBM Quoted on Wasteland #5 Cover

Much to my surprise in this month's comics delivery, LowBrowMedia has been quoted on the rear cover to Oni Press' Wasteland #5. Mike and I had no idea this was going happen, but we are thankful to the folks at Oni for bestowing an up-and-coming site like this one with such an honor. This follows the two references of LBM in the blog section of Boom! Studios after they appeared in some our recent reviews, the first acknowledgements of the site from an outside source.
If you've come across our site by way of Boom! or Wasteland, welcome. Here at LowBrowMedia, we review comic books from all over the industry, not just Marvel and DC. We hold comics to a high standard. We want to tell you where a great story can be found, as well as where to avoid an underwhelming one. We try not to get too spoilery, and warn you if we do.
If there's something you want us to take a look at that we haven't reviewed yet, let us know in the comments section. I'm always looking for another great book, but my budget has its limits, so I can't pick up everything that looks tempting. However, a push from a devoted fan of comics certainly will spur me to find a copy.
Also, if you are a creator or a representative from a comic company and would like us to review your book, contact us at LowBrowMedia@gmail.com. We can even post a review of it before the book is released if given ample time to read it.
On another quick note, I apologize for not posting in December, but the holidays got in the way. That said, discovering that our site is on the radar of members of the comic industry has inspired both Mike and I to take our little hobby to the next level. That means regular posting of reviews. I also hope to bring back my "Longbox" and "Graphic Novel Grab Bag" columns soon, which haven't been touched in some time, as well as some other ideas I've been toying with.
Happy New Year, everyone! We've certainly gotten off to a great start and hope you come back often in 2007.

The Shortbox 11/30/06

Criminal #1
writer: Ed Brubaker
artist: Sean Phillips
Icon/Marvel Comics, released 10-4-06
As much as I enjoy the science fiction, fantasy, and superhero genres, my favorite will probably always be crime stories. If it's well-crafted noir, gangster, or espionage, I'm almost always sold in an instant. The new ongoing series Criminal from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips is a crime comic and, to put it mildly, I'm in love. I've reread this first issue 5 times since I've gotten my hands on it. I reread a lot of my comics, and some of them I've read more than 5 times, but never in less than a month's time. There is magic within the pages of this comic, and I'm not sure that I'm going to be able to describe why I'm so head over heels for it.
It's no secret to those of you who have read my articles here at LowBrow Media that I think Brubaker is writing at a level unparalleled in comics at the moment. Everything he's been putting out has been truly phenomenal. Then re-team him with the brilliantly talented Phillips, who has done some really fine work on Marvel Zombies since their collaboration on Sleeper from Wildstorm/DC a few years back. (I still have yet to read all of Sleeper, but I have to say its one of the best things I've ever read.) It sure looks like Criminal, with it's cast of creator-owned characters under the anything-goes Icon imprint, has the potential to be the perfect comic book series for someone like me.
I'm not going to get into the plot in this review. I'm sure other review I'll write will cover that in the future. I'm going to tell you what I know about this title and why I think it's going to be great. First off, its closest comic cousin is probably Sin City. It'll be focused on the underworld of society, a real world with guns and blood, but no superpowers and no miracles. There is not a main character. Sure, each arc will focus on a character or two, but then it'll move on to someone else's story. These stories will overlap in time and the most characters will interact eventually. I bet that a couple of characters who are referred to in this first issue who do not appear in panel we will not meet until ten issues into the series. The first arc's main character is a guy named Leo. He's a main character, not a hero. If you can tell the difference and you can appreciate that difference, this comic is for you. In fact, if any of this sounds good to you, this comic is for you.
And then there is what may be my favorite aspect of Criminal -- the covers. Phillips has absolutely outdone himself here with these. Issue one and the advance peeks of subsequent issues look gorgeous. They have that old movie poster feel to them, which has fallen out of favor for some reason amongst the studios. I swear I can see Lee Marvin's mug lurking in the background of each one. Just beautiful stuff.
In conclusion, buy Criminal. Buy a bunch of copies. Give a copy to your friends who only read superhero comics. Hell, give a copy to your friend that doesn't read anything, let alone comics. Just get this title off the ground. I can't believe I have to wait a whole month for each issue. It's just not fair.
10 out of 10

X Isle #3 (of 5)
writers: Andrew Cosby & Michael A. Nelson
artist: Greg Scott
BOOM! Studios, released 10-11-06
Halfway through this mini and things continue to get more intriguing. BOOM! has been coming out recently with a really diverse collection of titles. X Isle has been billed online as a Lost knockoff, which I could see saying after the first issue, but after the third it's not a very accurate description any longer. I think this comic is a bit closer to a sci-fi island version of Land of the Lost, only the people they dropped off are actually interesting. It's difficult to pinpoint what the purpose of this group of people on this island is, but if they continue to be attacked by plant monkeys, I'll be satisfied. (That's right, plant monkeys.)
7 out of 10

The Damned #1 (of 5)
writer: Cullen Bunn
artist: Brian Hurtt
Oni Press, released 10-18-06
When I first read the solicitation for The Damned, I had dreams of two of my favorite universes colliding: The Godfather mixed with Joss Whedon's daemons. Of course, it falls short of my personal grand vision, but it's still worth checking out if you're up for some genres combining that usually don't. What newcomer Cullen Bunn brings to the table is a gripping tale of a cursed man who can't die, but can get even. Eddie is damned, for lack of a better term, to never die. Sure, he can take a dirt nap for a few days, but if he's dug up again, he's back up and doing the bidding of mob bosses. Mix him up with a couple of crime families and an ex-girlfriend, and you've got the base of a pretty good story going. My one gripe about Bunn's work is the dialogue of a few of the supporting characters. It's a bit too much like a James Cagney movie for my taste, but thankfully I couldn't pick out an Edward G. Robinson amongst the cast. Meanwhile, Hurtt's art is solid throughout the issue, but none of the character designs appear to be entirely original; that said, I'm not certain that they are supposed to be. The characters very well could be drawn to evoke a classic feel to a world that is very unfamiliar. In the end, take a chance on it if you're in the mood for something a little different.
7 out of 10

Casanova #5
writer: Matt Fraction
artist: Gabriel Ba
Image Comics, released 10-18-06
I'm checking back in on this title that I gave a perfect score to it's inaugural issue a few months back in The Longbox, and all things continue to be a go. I love this title. It's crazy and I have to reread it before totally absorbing everything Fraction and Ba pack into each issue, both visually and structurally. This issue was particularly fun. The mission for Cass this time around is to infiltrate the last island of savages left on the planet, kinda like Kong Island in King Kong, but it still exists just like that in modern times. I really, really want to spoil this for you right here, but I won't. I think it's pretty safe to say you won't guess what comes next; I sure as hell didn't. It's fun, it's smart, it's violent, and it's has some really touching moments as well, as it resolves the fate of Casanova's mother. It'll take a bit for new readers to wrap their head around the world of Casanova, but it's completely worth it.
9 out of 10

Doctor Strange: The Oath #1 (of 5)
writer: Brian K. Vaughan
artist: Marcos Martin
Marvel Comics, released 10-4-06
Doctor Strange hasn't really done anything cool in any story that I've read with him in it. He more often than not has been used by writers as a deus ex machina, and because of that tactic, I've developed a involuntary "oh, come on" syndrome every time he pops up in a panel. I didn't lay down $2.99 so some mystical dude can pop up out of nowhere, wave his arm, say "bibbity, bobbity, boo" and Iron Man is suddenly out of his jam. That said, because he's constantly being used tells me that once upon a time he was bad ass. That knowledge swimming in the back of my head combined with one of my favorite authors out there right now penning this miniseries drove me to pick up this one that I would have passed on most any other time. And I am glad I did. First off, the art is fantastic -- a bit cartoony, yet somehow not -- and full of color. Meanwhile, BKV mixes humor (Iron Fist chatting with Arana was just plain great) with full-force drama, unapologetically delivering the unique world of Stephen Strange to us behind an intriguing mystery -- who shot and robbed the doctor, stealing the exilir to cure Wong's cancer, and who orchestrated the whole she-bang. Add the answer to these questions along with Night Nurse and you can count me in for the whole series.
8 out of 10

The Shortbox 10/6/06

Birds of Prey #98
writer: Gail Simone
artist: James Raiz
DC Comics, released 9-20-06
I finally think I've gotten a good grasp on the ladies of BoP since their one-year-later jump, but it's taken longer than I'd have liked it to. Now that Black Canary is back in the fold, things are getting back to normal, meaning that there is plenty of craziness to unravel. The big twist this issue is the appearance of a new, mysterious Batgirl. The inclusion of Rose Forrest/Thorn for a scene earlier in the book is a pretty sad fake hint as to the identity of the new Batgirl. For one, Thorn lacks the transportation ability that Batgirl possesses, as well as the freckles adorning her nose and cheeks visible beneath Batgirl's mask. Cassie (the most recent, yet currently retired Batgirl) is busy being an assassin, so it's not her either. Frankly, even by the end of the issue, I don't really care who it is. Issue #99 will have a lot of work to do to get me excited for what one would expect to be very big issue #100.
6 out of 10

Claws #2 (of 3)
writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
artist: Joe Linsner
Marvel Comics, released 9-13-06
Eventually, someday, I will buy a mini series featuring the Black Cat and not be horribly disappointed. The first issue was nothing special, but I could still see the potential for at least an enjoyable read by the end. This issue shattered that. All Wolverine and the Cat are doing is avoiding being killed by a bunch of nameless hunters in a very uninspired fashion. This does not live up to the standard of the film Surviving the Game, the best people-hunting-people story I've ever been exposed to. However, the disappointment of this series is mainly due to the reveal of the villain, who has very likely been contracted by someone else with a legitimate vendetta against Logan and Felicia. This villain should be regulated to Marvel Adventures titles, not the Marvel Knights imprint. Even if there was a good reason to slap these two protagonists together, it has not even been hinted at yet. This is a very underwhelming effort given by Palmiotti and Gray, who have shown themselves to be a solid writing team, which is evident in the highly enjoyable Heroes for Hire and Daughters of the Dragon books. With the exception of a few funny visual gags, this mini is flat out not worth your money or time.
3 out of 10

The Cross Bronx #1
writer: Michael Avon Oeming & Ivan Brandon
artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Image Comics, released 9-6-06
Set in the eponymous section of New York, The Cross Bronx is an intriguing premise. Our main character is Rafael Aponte, a detective who seems disillusioned -- by what, we are yet to discover; however, due to the repeated inclusions of moths and religious iconography, I'd have to say it's got something to do with a combo of those. What does religion have to do with moths? Hell if I know; go ask a Christian entomologist. Anyway, Rafael is following the trail of a gun involved in a multiple murder case, leading him to the former owner's family. Further coincidences between the family and the murder are teased, followed by some more mysterious killings.
There is plenty of moody art in this issue. Because of Oeming's style, I can't help but be reminded of he and Bendis' fantastic Powers while reading this, but I believe after another issue, the differences in tone between the two will become more prevalent, thus separating it from his creator-owned masterpiece. The depictions of violence here are gruesome, and he has done a wonderful job with it.
I think this book has some real depth to it and, depending on how events progress in the mini, could even be turned into an intriguing ongoing series. This is not one to be missed.
8 out 10

Jack of Fables #3
writers: Bill Willingham & Matthew Sturges
artist: Tony Akins
Vertigo/DC Comics, released 9-27-06
It took a few issues, but it now looks as those Jack of Fables does have enough legs to stand apart from Fables on its own. Many fears I'd presented in a Shortbox article a few months back have been laid to rest at the close of this issue. There is certainly a foe worthy on the same level as the Adversary in Fables with the Librarian and all of his employees. Jack has grown on me as a hero, but it's still hard to relate to him. He's simply too perfect. I prefer a hero I can relate to, which is why I like Daredevil fighting to serve justice and his own desires in the midst of the chaos that his life constantly brings. Jack may reach similar hardships in time, but right now he is the dashing, incredibly handsome guy who always wins a battle of wits, not to mention that his has a healing power akin to Wolverine. (I only have the incredibly handsome thing going for me.) That said, Jack is likable enough to root for, and I expect the more I invest in his character, his likeability will only increase. Pick this one up now, as well as the first two issues; they are probably still on the stand at your local shop.
8 out of 10

Union Jack #1 (of 4)
writer: Christios Gage
artist: Mike Perkins
Marvel Comics, released 9-20-06
Moving along to the other book in my stack featuring a lead character named Jack, comes the international terrorism thriller Union Jack. This mini spins out of the recent "Twenty-First Century Blitz" arc from Epting and Brubaker's Captain America. It takes place afterwards that storyline, though how long is unclear, and in the end unimportant. What is important about Joe Chapman is, unlike the two men who wore the uniform before him, he comes from a blue-collar background as opposed to the British aristocracy that they belonged two. Social class, while certainly causing instances of contention here in the states, is a much larger source of conflict in Great Britain. This Union Jack is a man of the people more than he is a mere vampire and werewolf slayer. While I have to admit I was kinda bored with most of this issue (the rest of the cast just is not very interesting to me yet), the last few pages really hooked me, especially considering that the man of the people just wrote many of their death warrants with a decision he made. I absolutely love a character that majorly screws up; it gives them the greatest motivation to make up for it, if they ever can. Now it's Jack's turn to do just that.
7 out of 10

The Shortbox 9/29/06

Squadron Supreme #6
writer: J. Michael Straczynski
artist: Juan Barranco
Marvel Comics, released 8-9-06
Six issues into this title, and I'm still waiting for things to get started. Typically after only six issues, a story with this much depth failing to explain everything wouldn't bother me. However, in this case, it's pace flat out irks me because Squadron Supreme is really at issue #24, being an extension of the fantastic, 18-issue Supreme Power series from 2003-05. The white elephant in the room for me is the amount of characters. Because there are 11 members in the group right now (not to mention the supporting cast), the development of both the characters and the plot is being spread too thin in order to cover all of them.
That said, Nighthawk finally makes an appearance in this issue. His most entertaining scene is one that would send Bobby de Niro's character from Taxi Driver into fits of violent jealousy. Though he may be nothing more than an African-American Batman, he's still the most interesting of the bunch to me. More Nighthawk can only be a good thing. Keep that in mind, J. Mike.
6 out of 10

Hellblazer #223
writer: Denise Mina
artist: Cristiano Cucina
Vertigo/DC Comics, released 8-16-06
I'm suggesting this as a jumping on point for all of those of you currently not reading the adventures of John Constantine because this issue was where I've begun reading as well. In this one-shot, Mina displays a fantastic ability to depict the insane with the villain here. I have a suspicion that we've not seen the last of him either. She's also reinvigorated Map in this issue, a minor character that I'm told had not been greatly utilized in recent runs by other writers. He appears to be placed on a path of great importance after the events at the close of the issue. That said, because I'm incredibly new to the title, I could be way off base. Either way, I dug the issue and can't wait to wrap my head around this world a bit more.
8 out of 10

New Avengers #23
writer: Brian Michael Bendis
artist: Oliver Coipel
Marvel Comics, released 8-23-06
If this issue is any indication as to what Bendis' proposed Spider-Woman series will be like, all I can say is, "Yes, sir! May I have another?" New Avengers #23 rocked my shit (that's a good thing, I think), and that's saying something considering how much I've enjoyed the Civil War-related N.A. issues already. Following the excellently scripted #21 and #22 about Captain America and Luke Cage, Bendis continues to focus on a single Avenger per issue. This round revolves around Jessica Drew and how the life of a triple agent is further complicated by the Registration Act. Although the Spider-Woman: Origin mini was seemingly unspectacular when I read it a few months ago, I now realize how important Jessica's past is to her relationship with the Avengers. I hope if you haven't read SW:O you enjoy this issue, but I can't see how -- you're missing out on so much without her backstory. She is on the verge of insanity by dividing herself between the Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the folks over at Hydra. Hopefully she can simplify her life by choosing the side of Civil War that she does. I just don't see that happening though.
10 out of 10

The Boys #2
writer: Garth Ennis
artist: Darick Robertson
WildStorm/DC Comics, released 8-30-06
I haven't read any of Preacher yet, but when I read that Ennis had proclaimed this book would "out-Preacher Preacher" I had to give it a look. Without delving into what that statement actually means, what I know about Preacher, besides it being one of the best reads of the 90s, is that it was considered insanely violent both in subject matter and the methods in which that violence was depicted in. Don't know about you, but I can usually go for a nice dose of insane violence every month, so I slapped this baby on my pull list. The second issue introduces us to the rest of the Boys who weren't shown to us in #1. A lot of what is going to happen in this book is totally out of my range of prediction, at least as of right now. That said, it's a great setup for a series after the first two issues. Although there's plenty of subjects here that Ennis isn't the first guy to tackle, mainly critiquing of the Superhero in a modern landscape, there's also plenty to like. The Boys is certainly not for young boys and girls; in fact, it's really not for mature readers either. This is the perfect book for people over the age of 18 that still like a good dirty joke or a display of unabashed brutality.
8 out of 10

Heroes for Hire #1
writers: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
artists: Billy Tucci & Tom Palmer
Marvel Comics, released 8-23-06
The idea behind this new ongoing really intrigued me -- bounty hunters collecting on villains because the big heroes of the Marvel U are too busy fighting with each other to do the dirty work -- and toss in the fact it would be a direct descendent of the very enjoyable Daughters of the Dragon mini from earlier this year, I made sure I put it on my pull list. Colleen Wing and Misty Knight are the new front women, taking over for Iron Fist and Power Man/Luke Cage (who were busy being pushed into A-list status to bother picking up their old mantle). Joining them are an interesting bunch -- Black Cat (as I've mentioned in previous columns, an inexplicable favorite of mine), Shang Chi (no idea), Paladin (ditto) and the new Tarantula (I've never even heard of the old one, but whatever), as well as favs of mine from the DotD -- Humbug, Orka and, of course, Otis. It's a solid introduction issue and you definitely do not need to hunt down the mini to figure out what's going on. It is bogged down some in seriousness as opposed to the pure fun of the mini due to the landscape of Civil War, but I think more humor will eventually slip in. I am calling for an Otis spin-off in the near future, however. I love me some Otis.
7 out of 10

Low Blows 09.25.06

“American Virgin” #5
DC/Vertigo Comics
Writer: Steven T. Seagle
Artist: Becky Cloonan





If you’ve never heard of the book “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” by Josh Harris, then count yourself lucky. Its author earned himself a fair amount of fame and money, as well as moral authority, in the Evangelical Christian community around 1997 or so with his Bible-twisting and fearful message of a return to the relatively ancient practice of courtship in lieu of the modern dating paradigm.

I’m absolutely certain that Steven T. Seagle had Harris in mind when he created “American Virgin”’s protagonist, Adam Chamberlain. He, too, is hip and in his mid-twenties, and has made millions of dollars after publishing a book about the virtues of preserving your virginity before marriage. But unlike the image Josh Harris has constructed of himself, Adam is not perfect. He swears, gets frustrated easily, and sometimes gives in to lust -- well, in his thoughts, anyway. And most recently, his life has gone to hell.

Now, I’m no stranger to Christian fundamentalism, and I’m also no small critic of the same -- which is probably why I find myself responding so strongly to this book. It is to Steven T. Seagle’s credit that he has, thus far at least, not made fun of the protagonist, but in fact made him someone that I’m rooting for. Adam has real emotions, and makes no attempt to conceal that due to recent developments, he is adrift in a sea of uncertainly regarding where his life is going. All he has left is his faith, but he continues to find himself in contexts which the Bible does not offer pat, easily-digested answers for. It’s one thing to spurn the sexual advances of a groupie after a pro-virginity rally, but what does the Bible say about what to do when a mercenary under your employ provides you with a potential opportunity to confront the terrorist who severed your girlfriend’s head in South Africa?

There’s a lot going on in this book. Adam has just returned from an overseas trip, where he retrieved his deceased girlfriend’s missing head at no small cost to his sanity. His step-sister, the only one who can really trust in his family, is involved with a drug deal gone bad. His manipulative, money-grubbing mother is trying to get him to attend a Christian speaker’s convention in Australia. It appears that his step-father was involved in pornography in his younger years -- and it’s his deadbeat brother and cousins who provide him with rather visceral evidence of this. And Cassie, the aforementioned deceased girlfriend, keeps appearing to him in visions.

Beautiful, charming art by Becky Cloonan and a ghostly cover by Josh Middleton compliment this story well. Cloonan (whom I have only previously heard of from Brian Wood’s “Demo” series) is a master of expressions, and her distinct character work, reminiscent of Paul Pope but more accessible, gives the series a look all its own. I’m not sure if I’d like the series quite as much without her involvement.

I don’t want to give the impression that “American Virgin” is a downer. It’s not deadly serious, and there is some pretty heavy satire at work here. I have absolutely no idea where the series is heading, but my theory is that it’s somewhere dangerous and controversial. And I’ll be reading it every step of the way.

[9 out of a possible 10]



“Ghost Rider” #1
Marvel Comics
Writer: Daniel Way
Artists: Javier Saltares and Mark Texeira





Though I wasn’t crazy about Garth Ennis’ somewhat half-baked miniseries that this new ongoing series picks up from, it laid an interesting foundation. You see, Johnny Blaze, the original Ghost Rider, has died, and is in Hell, stuck in his “flaming skull and magic bike” form. He spends most of this issue trying to escape the Pit, for obvious reasons. And I don’t think it spoils anything for me to say that, when he finally does escape at the end of this first issue, it brings with it a load of complications.

I’ll be upfront about this: it turns out that I do like Daniel Way after all. And, now that I’ve gotten that out, I’ll go ahead and say that his “Ghost Rider” is pretty good, too. Furthermore, with the advances in computer coloring in the last decade, legendary 1990s “Ghost Rider” artists Javier Saltares and Mark Texeira are looking better than ever -- really playing off each other’s strengths, much more so than when they were drawing “Wolverine” together not too long ago. This is the best-looking Ghost Rider I’ve seen in a long time, if not ever. All of which adds up to a really enjoyable book, but also one which I’d be surprised if it breaks any sales records.

It’s not real hard to pinpoint why Daniel Way isn’t exactly Marvel’s most popular writer. I think a lot of it stems from his lackluster “Venom” series from a while back, and perhaps even his middling “Hulk” and “Wolverine” stints last year. His two Bullseye-centric miniseries with Steve Dillon on art were a whole lot of fun, except that he seemed to borrow a bit too much from the atmosphere of Garth Ennis’ “Marvel Knights Punisher” in writing these instead of developing a voice of his own. I was spurred to give this new series a chance on the strength of the first few issues of Way’s “Wolverine: Origins,” though, and I’m glad I did.

“Ghost Rider” is probably never going to be one of Marvel’s top-tier titles, but sometimes, all I really want to read is a comic where the main good guy is a glowing skeleton on a motorcycle, and the main bad guy is the Devil. Way himself has stated in an interview that he’s trying to aim for something fun and middle-of-the-road. Well, with this premiere issue of the new series, I’d say he has definitely succeeded.

[7.5 out of a possible 10]