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July 19, 2005
To Buy and Buy and Buy
Oh, it's going to be a hungry week at Casa de Pickytarian, because the budget is not going to withstand the assault from this week's comics. Something's gotta give here, and I don't think I like Manhunter or Astonishing X-Men's chances...
100 Bullets Vol 8 The Hard Way TP - Each time a new trade comes out, I have to go back and re-read all the previous ones to refresh my memory of the story. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because it gives me a chance to bask in Eduardo Risso's masterful storytelling and design all over again. Risso doesn't seem to get the attention and praise that fans lavish on a lot of his peers, but the amount of imitators out there indicate the level of professional respect that he deservedly receives.
Detective Comics #808 - Lapham keeps on keepin' on with his Batman run. I've enjoyed the way that he carried over his plotting style from Stray Bullets by letting the larger overall plot take a back seat to some of the smaller related stories. Lapham's resistance to wrapping up each investigation/conflict in a tidy little bow before moving on to the next one adds a layer of credibility to the story. When you're talking about Batman fighting The Penguin, a little credibility goes a long way.
Ex Machina #13 - It sometimes dips into melodrama, but that's a minor complaint about this freshly-anointed Eisner Award winner. A movie deal was recently announced, and that has me wondering: will a risk-averse movie studio keep the World Trade Center stuff that is so integral to the plot?
Manhunter #12 - The last issue was so crummy that this book has found itself perched precariously on the bubble. In a crowded week like this one, it needs to pass a thorough flip-through test to make the cut.
Astonishing X-Men #11 - Speaking of the bubble, my patience is just about at an end with this book. The plots are thoroughly underwhelming and I've seen better art from John Cassady. The long delay between issues isn't exactly building my anticipation, either.
Defenders #1 - I was never in on the joke of Giffen & DeMatties' beloved Justice League stuff. Nonetheless, I'll take a chance with their take on Marvel's most absurdly-conceived super-team.
GLA #4 - Liking it. Buying it.
Incredible Hulk #84 - The 2nd issue in the House of M crossover arc. Frankly, the story in chapter one failed to grab me, and the art was sort of ho-hum and over-colored. I think I'm going to pass.
Ultimates 2 #7 - see GLA #4.
Conan #18
Goon #13
Hellboy The Island #2 - It's definitely a good week when there are new issues of my three favorite Dark Horse titles!
Love & Rockets Vol 2 #14 - I tried to get through the monster Locas collection, but it whooped my butt soundly. I like these individual issues much better because the brevity of the chapters makes it easier to savor and appreciate the pure cartooning genius of the Hernandez brothers.
Tales Designed To Thrizzle #1 - A collection of wacky comics from Michael Kupperman makes this the first week in Pickytarian history with two new Fantagraphics books to buy. According to the Fantagraphics web site, the debut issue of this new ongoing series features "'Uncle Billy’s Drunken, Bitter Guide to the Animal Kingdom,' new Pablo Picasso adventures, information on sex blimps and sex holes, an opportunity to meet the hot boy band Boybank, cowboys debating whether comics are serious literature, 'Cut-out n Play:Soccer Joust!' and much, much more." Yeah, OK, sold.
Northwest Passage #1 - Scott Chantler has a great eye for staging and storytelling, and his confident, cartoony drawing compares favorably with Jeff Smith's. I'm not sure how much of an audience exists for frontier-era action, but I'd pay $5.95 for 72 pages of Chantler's art any day. Check out this lengthy preview on CBR and see for yourself.
Posted by jdonelson_nyc at July 19, 2005 04:19 PM