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October 19, 2004
Will I buy it?
Aonther week, another batch of new comics! Sure enough, this is shaping up to be a light week, proving my theory that all the good comics are being moved to one week of the month. Hmmm...
DC
Human Target #15 - I've heard that this is a good series, but sadly I've never taken the plunge. I feel that I need to start from the beginning, and I fear that by the time I get around to figuring out which is the first TPB the series will have already been cancelled.
Ocean #1 - See, I don't buy something that I may like such as Human Target and instead I buy something that will probably only frustrate me like this Ocean series. My understanding is that this is another Warren Ellis decompression special, and after my aggravation with him from Ultimate Nightmare I fear this could really burn me up. But the art is by Chris Sprouse & Karl Story! And while I get aggravated at the "widescreen comics" BS, I have to admit I like a lot of other things about Warren Ellis' writing, especially when he goes more sci-fi than superhero. I'm there.
Terra Obscura Vol 2 #3 - I read the first Terra Obscura series out of loyalty to Tom Strong, but it just didn't grab me. Fairly standard super-hero fare, capable but unremarkable. Maybe I'll give this a look in TPB form but it's not making the cut in monthlies.
Son of the Gun TPB - This book, by Euro comic heavyweights Alexandro Jodorowsky and Georges Bess, got a favorable write-up on the Ninth Art site and looks interesting. I really want to support DC's Humanoids comics line so I will give this a long look at the store.
Marvel
Fantastic Four #519 - I was ready to jump ship after that awful story arc featuring the new Frightful Four, but it looks like I'm still here. I dig Mike Wieringo's style a lot. Mark Waid always delivers entertaining characterization and sometimes delivers cool stories. It's kind of a lightweight book but a welcome dose of fun.
Madrox #2 - I'm giving Peter David the benefit of the doubt on this one. Honestly issue #1 was a bit of a let-down; I'd like to see a little more done with the interesting possibilities of Madrox' multiple-person power. And frankly, the art was woeful. The arbitrarily placed smooth-edged black shapes on everything looked less like shadows than dalmatian spots. The anatomy work was weak, and there was no communication of the setting, which is unfortunate because it could be a major player in this comic. Look at David's Fallen Angel book, for example, and note how much the depiction of the town of Bete Noir adds to the tone of the story.
Supreme Power Vol 2 Powers And Principalities TP - I have been following this story in trades instead of monthlies. I enjoyed the first collection, and I have been looking forward to this one for a while now. If I don't buy it this week I will definitely pick it up soon.
Dark Horse
Conan #9 - One of my favorite current books. Cary Nord is back. I can't wait! It would be the first book I read this week if it weren't for...
Goon #9 - When I see that there is a new issue of The Goon coming out, it makes my week. The second I wake up Wednesday morning, my first thought will be, "New Goon today!!! NEW GOON!!!!" (My second thought had damn well better be, "Thank god the Yankees wrapped up the AL pennant last night!")
AiT/PlanetLar
1000 Steps To World Domination Vol 1 GN - Another book that has gotten a ton of positive buzz for a while now. I believe it won some kind of award when it was originally printed in mini-comic form. I will give it a look.
King Hell Press
Crypto Zoo TP - What was I saying about this being a light week? As it turns out there are 4 TPBs that I am considering. Jeez. I really like Rick Veitch's comic chronicles of his dreams. But I fear this may get bumped aside by competing trades this week. A future buy.
Polite Stranger Press
Less Than Hero #4 - I've read the last 2 issues of this independent book, and there are things about it that I like. The San Fransisco setting is very believable, even to somebody like me who's never been there. Seems like the creators have a definite love for and knowledge of the place. But there seem to be one or two too many plots going on at once, and the cast of characters is a little too large to follow. The unclear art and muddy production values don't help. My advice to the writer is to pare down his many good ideas, and my advice to the artist is to use blacks & whites to more effectively create a hierarchy of visual information. I'd like to continue supporting these guys, because they are independent creators who clearly display a lot of enthusiasm for their project. But at the end of the day, I can't justify paying for a subpar reading experience.
Posted by jdonelson_nyc at October 19, 2004 09:45 AM