Genre fiction in comics tends to be straightforward: it explains the world and the stakes up front, then sends a generally pretty obvious Protagonist off to Do the Thing, which far too often is Saving the World.
Brandon Graham, in his afterword to Rain Like Hammers , describes that as being like a Japanese game show where the goal is to get someone to eat a hot dog as soon as possible after waking up. And he’s not into speed-eating hot dogs.
Graham’s stories tend to start in a more leisurely fashion. His camera-eye is focused, but not insistent. Hey, look over here, it says. Something is going on; I wonder what it is?
Rain Like Hammers collects a five-issue comics story – the issues were published in the first five months of 2021, and this collection came out in August. They’re long issues, too – the book is unpaged, but...
Brandon Graham, in his afterword to Rain Like Hammers , describes that as being like a Japanese game show where the goal is to get someone to eat a hot dog as soon as possible after waking up. And he’s not into speed-eating hot dogs.
Graham’s stories tend to start in a more leisurely fashion. His camera-eye is focused, but not insistent. Hey, look over here, it says. Something is going on; I wonder what it is?
Rain Like Hammers collects a five-issue comics story – the issues were published in the first five months of 2021, and this collection came out in August. They’re long issues, too – the book is unpaged, but...
- 5/27/2022
- by Andrew Wheeler
- Comicmix.com
Titan Comics has a new series on the way, titled The Beautiful Death, which debuts with a special cover by iconic comic book creator Brandon Graham (Island, King City, G.I. Joe, Multiple Warheads). Take a peek at two interior pages… Continue Reading →
The post Get Your First Look at Titan Comics’ The Beautiful Death appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Get Your First Look at Titan Comics’ The Beautiful Death appeared first on Dread Central.
- 6/20/2017
- by Debi Moore
- DreadCentral.com
“A youth spent coaxing an already-outdated dial-up modem into letting you log on to your favorite Mud, following friends you’d never met from server to server.”
Internet Murder Revenge Fantasy is a raw, trippy memoir-cum-comic anthology from Canadian author, game developer (retired), and podcast host Merritt Kopas. Written by Kopas and illustrated by a dizzyingly talented slate of artists, the collection of short comics delves into shame, body horror, sexual awakening, online storytelling, and the road from being abused to fixating on power and martyrdom. It’s a shock to the system, work trading without apology in the stickiest thoughts of the adolescent mind without indulging in the self-deprecation of enlightened adulthood. Reading this book feels like going through an old stash of porn before burning it outside under the stars, or maybe like popping a huge and pustular blackhead. It’s ugly, difficult, and cathartic.
From Michael DeForge’s opener,...
Internet Murder Revenge Fantasy is a raw, trippy memoir-cum-comic anthology from Canadian author, game developer (retired), and podcast host Merritt Kopas. Written by Kopas and illustrated by a dizzyingly talented slate of artists, the collection of short comics delves into shame, body horror, sexual awakening, online storytelling, and the road from being abused to fixating on power and martyrdom. It’s a shock to the system, work trading without apology in the stickiest thoughts of the adolescent mind without indulging in the self-deprecation of enlightened adulthood. Reading this book feels like going through an old stash of porn before burning it outside under the stars, or maybe like popping a huge and pustular blackhead. It’s ugly, difficult, and cathartic.
From Michael DeForge’s opener,...
- 3/23/2016
- by Gretchen Felker-Martin
- Nerdly
5. Paper Girls (Image)
Paper Girls #1-3
Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Art by Cliff Chiang
Colors by Matthew Wilson
Letters by Jared K. Fletcher
Only three issues in, Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang’s Paper Girls has already piqued intense fandom. Grounded in the recognizably familiar–1988 Midwestern suburbia–with its head in the clouds–aliens on dinosaurs, time travelers, mutant teenagers, Paper Girls engages both the heart and the mind. The four pre-teens on their paper route–Erin, Mack, Tiffany, and K.J.–are tough, mature, and can persevere through the toughest situations. They have to be, they’re paper girls. But they’re also only 12, so their innocence and relative naivety give them space to grow as characters. Littered with artifacts from the era, the comic is, in part, an authentic period piece, colored in the equivalent of retro sepia-tones for the late 80’s.
The characters speak in the parlance of the time,...
Paper Girls #1-3
Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Art by Cliff Chiang
Colors by Matthew Wilson
Letters by Jared K. Fletcher
Only three issues in, Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang’s Paper Girls has already piqued intense fandom. Grounded in the recognizably familiar–1988 Midwestern suburbia–with its head in the clouds–aliens on dinosaurs, time travelers, mutant teenagers, Paper Girls engages both the heart and the mind. The four pre-teens on their paper route–Erin, Mack, Tiffany, and K.J.–are tough, mature, and can persevere through the toughest situations. They have to be, they’re paper girls. But they’re also only 12, so their innocence and relative naivety give them space to grow as characters. Littered with artifacts from the era, the comic is, in part, an authentic period piece, colored in the equivalent of retro sepia-tones for the late 80’s.
The characters speak in the parlance of the time,...
- 12/21/2015
- by Staff
- SoundOnSight
The Wicked + the Divine #17
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Brandon Graham (Backup art by Jamie McKelvie and Matthew Wilson)
Letters by Brandon Graham (Backup letters by Clayton Cowles)
Published by Image Comics
If it wasn’t obvious before, the “Commercial Suicide” arc of WicDiv is about the personal tragedies of the Pantheon members. If the first half was about misogyny, it seems like the second half is about the personal choices of women. This becomes fairly obvious in the final issue of the arc, which is about Sakhmet.
From the opening page of a child named Ruth in the British Museum crying while looking at a statue of the goddess Sakhmet, claiming that the goddess doesn’t have feelings because she’s made of stone, we immediately know just what the Sakhmet of the Pantheon is about. For the third issue in a row, the question of do the...
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Brandon Graham (Backup art by Jamie McKelvie and Matthew Wilson)
Letters by Brandon Graham (Backup letters by Clayton Cowles)
Published by Image Comics
If it wasn’t obvious before, the “Commercial Suicide” arc of WicDiv is about the personal tragedies of the Pantheon members. If the first half was about misogyny, it seems like the second half is about the personal choices of women. This becomes fairly obvious in the final issue of the arc, which is about Sakhmet.
From the opening page of a child named Ruth in the British Museum crying while looking at a statue of the goddess Sakhmet, claiming that the goddess doesn’t have feelings because she’s made of stone, we immediately know just what the Sakhmet of the Pantheon is about. For the third issue in a row, the question of do the...
- 12/16/2015
- by Ashley Leckwold
- SoundOnSight
From Under Mountains #1
Art and colors by Sloane Leong, 34-35 by Brandon Graham
Story and script by Claire Gibson
Cover and story by Marian Churchland
Letters by Ariana Maher
Published by Image Comics
From Under Mountains #1 has magic, demons, familial struggles, murder, mystery, and a whole lot “Um, so what’s it about?” Gorgeous art meets minimalist storytelling in this new series from Brandon Graham’s 8House imprint.
From the cover to the interior artwork by Sloane Leong, and the final world map by Brandon Graham, From Under Mountains delivers the amazing artwork characteristic of 8House. Sloane Leong’s simplistic pencils and layouts are bolstered by lush coloring. The most impressive example would have to be the first ten pages. In the desert, an old woman conjures a shadow creature from the skeleton of a small animal. Her shadow fuses with the skeleton, and the creature slowly takes form, seeming...
Art and colors by Sloane Leong, 34-35 by Brandon Graham
Story and script by Claire Gibson
Cover and story by Marian Churchland
Letters by Ariana Maher
Published by Image Comics
From Under Mountains #1 has magic, demons, familial struggles, murder, mystery, and a whole lot “Um, so what’s it about?” Gorgeous art meets minimalist storytelling in this new series from Brandon Graham’s 8House imprint.
From the cover to the interior artwork by Sloane Leong, and the final world map by Brandon Graham, From Under Mountains delivers the amazing artwork characteristic of 8House. Sloane Leong’s simplistic pencils and layouts are bolstered by lush coloring. The most impressive example would have to be the first ten pages. In the desert, an old woman conjures a shadow creature from the skeleton of a small animal. Her shadow fuses with the skeleton, and the creature slowly takes form, seeming...
- 10/5/2015
- by Ben Howard
- SoundOnSight
Island #1 Review – Image Comics
I lived in Europe for half of my life, and my entire life I’ve lived on the coast. For some of that life I listened to podcasts or read articles about comics in europe and how they and creators are viewed in comparison as an ideal to the United States, as if comics were a common sighting and comfortably excepted, a part of the passive everyday culture like film, music, or coffee.
I cannot speak from a creator’s point of view, but from my experience as a resident of some dozen years, that was never true. I don’t think I ever saw a comic in my time in Italy, France, or Spain unless, much like in the U.S., I entered an establishment that was comic book specific. In fact, at the time, the last time I had lived in the U.S you could find comics everywhere,...
I lived in Europe for half of my life, and my entire life I’ve lived on the coast. For some of that life I listened to podcasts or read articles about comics in europe and how they and creators are viewed in comparison as an ideal to the United States, as if comics were a common sighting and comfortably excepted, a part of the passive everyday culture like film, music, or coffee.
I cannot speak from a creator’s point of view, but from my experience as a resident of some dozen years, that was never true. I don’t think I ever saw a comic in my time in Italy, France, or Spain unless, much like in the U.S., I entered an establishment that was comic book specific. In fact, at the time, the last time I had lived in the U.S you could find comics everywhere,...
- 7/18/2015
- by Jay Tomio
- Boomtron
Legends of the Geomancer #1 Review
I loved this so much.
Damn, I’ve missed me some Fred Van Lente pacing. I’ve been enjoying the hell out of Valiant comics who has had talent like Jeff Lemire, Joshua Dysart, and Matt Kindt writing a stable of books that are among the best of the year, especially when considering Kindt’s and Trevor Hairsine’s Divinity, but where books that trio are helming are often grimdarkish looks at the Valiant present and future, Van Lente be the perfect choice to helm what is a bit of an odd project in Book of Death: Legends of the Geomancer, because of his cynic-proof style of storytelling that Archer & Armstrong fans have had to miss in the Valiant universe.
And he was. And we did.
We are introduced to intrusions upon the earth. Clad in the bones of former life, painted white faces riding...
I loved this so much.
Damn, I’ve missed me some Fred Van Lente pacing. I’ve been enjoying the hell out of Valiant comics who has had talent like Jeff Lemire, Joshua Dysart, and Matt Kindt writing a stable of books that are among the best of the year, especially when considering Kindt’s and Trevor Hairsine’s Divinity, but where books that trio are helming are often grimdarkish looks at the Valiant present and future, Van Lente be the perfect choice to helm what is a bit of an odd project in Book of Death: Legends of the Geomancer, because of his cynic-proof style of storytelling that Archer & Armstrong fans have had to miss in the Valiant universe.
And he was. And we did.
We are introduced to intrusions upon the earth. Clad in the bones of former life, painted white faces riding...
- 7/11/2015
- by Jay Tomio
- Boomtron
8House: Arclight #1
Written by Brandon Graham
Art by Marian Churchland
Published by Image Comics
Note: this comic will be released on July 1, 2015
Brandon Graham and Marian Churchland don’t want to make it easy. The solicitation copy that Image is using to sell 8House: Arclight #1 is way more clear on what is happening in this issue than the comic itself it. But don’t jump to the conclusion that it’s a bad thing. Graham and Churchland create a new reality of ladies as knights, magicians and mystery. It’s a reality that they want you to discover and characters that they want to you get to know. The story of Lady Kinga, a noble lady now trapped in the body of a robed creature, and her faithful knight and protector Arclight is about true worldbuilding where the creators take their time to reveal the characters and the story.
Churchland...
Written by Brandon Graham
Art by Marian Churchland
Published by Image Comics
Note: this comic will be released on July 1, 2015
Brandon Graham and Marian Churchland don’t want to make it easy. The solicitation copy that Image is using to sell 8House: Arclight #1 is way more clear on what is happening in this issue than the comic itself it. But don’t jump to the conclusion that it’s a bad thing. Graham and Churchland create a new reality of ladies as knights, magicians and mystery. It’s a reality that they want you to discover and characters that they want to you get to know. The story of Lady Kinga, a noble lady now trapped in the body of a robed creature, and her faithful knight and protector Arclight is about true worldbuilding where the creators take their time to reveal the characters and the story.
Churchland...
- 6/20/2015
- by Scott Cederlund
- SoundOnSight
It may not seem likely but I don’t mean it as a pejorative after reading Bloodshot Reborn #3 in asking if Jeff Lemire likes Bloodshot because I think we are watching his process of attempting too.
This actually isn’t the first time I raised this in my mind as you can probably see the question bubbling between the lines since I started reading the beginning of Lemire’s run on Bloodshot. I think its a fair question because Lemire and Suayan’s run thus far, its very premise, seems to be in search of what Bloodshot is, what might be interesting about him, trying to find the substance that makes him interesting or what will make him Bloodshot interesting as if maybe he didn’t think he was to begin with.
I think conflict as a reader can be advantageous to the experience. Comfort is often derided by hipster commentary,...
This actually isn’t the first time I raised this in my mind as you can probably see the question bubbling between the lines since I started reading the beginning of Lemire’s run on Bloodshot. I think its a fair question because Lemire and Suayan’s run thus far, its very premise, seems to be in search of what Bloodshot is, what might be interesting about him, trying to find the substance that makes him interesting or what will make him Bloodshot interesting as if maybe he didn’t think he was to begin with.
I think conflict as a reader can be advantageous to the experience. Comfort is often derided by hipster commentary,...
- 6/15/2015
- by Jay Tomio
- Boomtron
(Note: At the time of this writing it was 11:40 Am)
The author with a Saga cosplayer
This is my overview of the Image Comics Spotlight panel. I get there a few minutes early to make sure I can hear everything and have a good line of sight to take pictures for potential announcements. While I wait for the panel to start, I look around the open ended theater to check the turnout for the panel. The first few rows are filled to capacity already, and people try and find seats where they can. The panel begins and our panelists for the day are Adam McGovern (Nightworld writer), Becky Cloonan (Southern Cross writer), Brandon Graham (8House: Arclight writer), Valentine De Landro (Bitch Planet artist), and Alex de Campi (No Mercy writer).
Each panelist goes through the books I named above and tells us a few short points about why we should be reading these books.
The author with a Saga cosplayer
This is my overview of the Image Comics Spotlight panel. I get there a few minutes early to make sure I can hear everything and have a good line of sight to take pictures for potential announcements. While I wait for the panel to start, I look around the open ended theater to check the turnout for the panel. The first few rows are filled to capacity already, and people try and find seats where they can. The panel begins and our panelists for the day are Adam McGovern (Nightworld writer), Becky Cloonan (Southern Cross writer), Brandon Graham (8House: Arclight writer), Valentine De Landro (Bitch Planet artist), and Alex de Campi (No Mercy writer).
Each panelist goes through the books I named above and tells us a few short points about why we should be reading these books.
- 6/8/2015
- by Terrence Sage
- SoundOnSight
Airboy #1
Written by James Robinson
Art by Greg Hinkle
Published by Image Comics
Airboy, no matter how you slice it, it an utterly unique comic. When I first got ahold of it, I had no idea what I was getting into. The title sounded like some kind of fantasy adventure comic, Amy Reeder’s Rocket Girl for boys, maybe. If writer James Robinson (“The Starman Guy”) had played it straight, that might just be what we’d have ended up with. Instead, what we got was either an alarmingly frank portrait of Robinson bent on self destruction, a send up of self-serious autobiographical comics, or a speedball of both.
I played around with a few different ways of wrapping my head around Airboy while I was reading it. The Kaufmans’ Adaptation as a comic. A heroin snorting riff on Steven T. Seagle’s It’s a Bird… Then I reached...
Written by James Robinson
Art by Greg Hinkle
Published by Image Comics
Airboy, no matter how you slice it, it an utterly unique comic. When I first got ahold of it, I had no idea what I was getting into. The title sounded like some kind of fantasy adventure comic, Amy Reeder’s Rocket Girl for boys, maybe. If writer James Robinson (“The Starman Guy”) had played it straight, that might just be what we’d have ended up with. Instead, what we got was either an alarmingly frank portrait of Robinson bent on self destruction, a send up of self-serious autobiographical comics, or a speedball of both.
I played around with a few different ways of wrapping my head around Airboy while I was reading it. The Kaufmans’ Adaptation as a comic. A heroin snorting riff on Steven T. Seagle’s It’s a Bird… Then I reached...
- 6/5/2015
- by Emma Houxbois
- SoundOnSight
I usually review the weekly Valiant releases separately but I think it’s understandable that after the first issues or arcs that a lot of needless repetition can and often will occur in terms of opinion on theme or backdrop. It’s why I personally have always found issue by issue reviews at even places like Newsarama and Cbr to be largely useless, usually not offering anything that a publisher’s synopsis doesn’t already cover. It becomes a grind. After the first issues we kind of get it unless we are talking about event comics, and I don’t mean just company wide crossovers but also works that are introducing something new, either in character or big picture direction, like an Identity Crisis or even Valiant’s current Divinity miniseries, which feels like both an event and cosmic vignette at the same time. I feel for the most part...
- 5/19/2015
- by Jay Tomio
- Boomtron
Image Expo will be taking place on January 9th and features a number of Image Comics’ top writers and artists, including The Walking Dead‘s Robert Kirkman. If you’re planning to attend, we have a look at the schedule of events. For those who missed our previous coverage, we’ve also included our look at The Walking Dead #1 variant cover art that will be available at the show.
“Image Expo 2014 Program Schedule
Theater Sessions
9:00 Am – Doors Open
Attendees are welcomed to Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater to check in and pick up badges and their welcome bags.
10:00 Am – Theater Doors Open for Seating
Please note that there are designated sections for Press, Retailers, and Premium Ticket holders.
10:30 Am – I is for Image: Keynote Address
Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson discusses the upcoming year for Image Comics. This not-to-be-missed address will feature announcements of new creators,...
“Image Expo 2014 Program Schedule
Theater Sessions
9:00 Am – Doors Open
Attendees are welcomed to Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater to check in and pick up badges and their welcome bags.
10:00 Am – Theater Doors Open for Seating
Please note that there are designated sections for Press, Retailers, and Premium Ticket holders.
10:30 Am – I is for Image: Keynote Address
Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson discusses the upcoming year for Image Comics. This not-to-be-missed address will feature announcements of new creators,...
- 1/6/2014
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
2013 was a big year for comics, both mainstream and independent. DC celebrated Superman’s 75th birthday with the launch of the much hyped (and delayed) Superman Unchained by superstar creators Scott Snyder and Jim Lee. There were also the big crossover events “Trinity War” and its follow up Forever Evil which will continue into 2014. This year also marked the return of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and other great Vertigo series, like Scott Snyder’s The Wake and Jeff Lemire’s Trillium.Marvel celebrated the X-Men’s 50th anniversary with the time-traveling event “Battle of the Atom” and the launch of Brian Wood’s X-Men, which featured an all female lineup. Marvel had its share of big events (Age of Ultron, Infinity), but it also found room for quirky, offbeat books, like Hawkeye, Young Avengers, and Superior Foes of Spider-Man. 2013 was an especially huge year for Image Comics. It enlisted big name creators like Matt Fraction,...
- 12/29/2013
- by Logan Dalton
- SoundOnSight
If you’re anywhere near San Francisco early next month, you’ll want to head to Image Expo on January 9th. Along with a number of special guests, including Robert Kirkman, it will also be your chance to pick up the recently revealed special edition of The Walking Dead #1 with variant cover art from Nick Dragotta:
“Exclusive variants and even more guests will be at Image Expo! As if Image Comics hasn’t given you enough reasons to count down the days to the Expo on January 9 in San Francisco, The Walking Dead #1 full color cover by Nick Dragotta, The Walking Dead #1 B&W variant cover by Nick Dragotta, Black Science #1 with a cover by Sanford Greene, Sex Criminals #1 with a cover by Chip Zdarsky, Ghosted #6 B&W variant by Matteo Scalera, Manifest Destiny #3 B&W variant by Matthew Roberts, and Prophet #42 with a cover by Brandon Graham, will be...
“Exclusive variants and even more guests will be at Image Expo! As if Image Comics hasn’t given you enough reasons to count down the days to the Expo on January 9 in San Francisco, The Walking Dead #1 full color cover by Nick Dragotta, The Walking Dead #1 B&W variant cover by Nick Dragotta, Black Science #1 with a cover by Sanford Greene, Sex Criminals #1 with a cover by Chip Zdarsky, Ghosted #6 B&W variant by Matteo Scalera, Manifest Destiny #3 B&W variant by Matthew Roberts, and Prophet #42 with a cover by Brandon Graham, will be...
- 12/18/2013
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Well, it’s upon us once again, and not a moment too soon: the superlative annual comic convention Thought Bubble is back as part of both the Leeds International Film Festival and Comic Art Festival, with a signing tour currently wending its way across Britain and the main events happening this weekend at the Royal Armouries.
And, boy, is there a lot going on.
So I thought I’d put together a brief guide to my picks of the panels and events being put on over the weekend. This is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully (if your tastes are anything like mine) it’ll at least steer you in the right direction. If you’re at all disappointed by where I send you, I can be found yelling at Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie for quitting Young Avengers…
Saturday 23rd
The morning of the first day has a couple of neat-sounding panels,...
And, boy, is there a lot going on.
So I thought I’d put together a brief guide to my picks of the panels and events being put on over the weekend. This is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully (if your tastes are anything like mine) it’ll at least steer you in the right direction. If you’re at all disappointed by where I send you, I can be found yelling at Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie for quitting Young Avengers…
Saturday 23rd
The morning of the first day has a couple of neat-sounding panels,...
- 11/22/2013
- by Mark Allen
- Nerdly
The Thought Bubble Anthology is the third annual comic book accompaniment to the Leeds Comic Art Festival which this year falls on 23-24 November. Most anthologies tend to be an even mix of good and bad stories though this year’s Thought Bubble Anthology was really enjoyable and features an abundance of absolutely brilliant comics from some of the best creators in the industry.
Marc Ellerby’s Chloe Noonan: Monster Hunter/Ellerbisms crossover was definitely my favourite as he sends up his own work (autobiographical comics), comic book perceptions of non-comics readers, and digital comics all in one brilliantly written and drawn self-contained story. The final panel is perfect and this comic will have you looking up more of this artist’s work.
Cameron Stewart and Brandon Graham’s One Night in Comicopolis is so good it should have its own series. A woman carrying a caption box through streets...
Marc Ellerby’s Chloe Noonan: Monster Hunter/Ellerbisms crossover was definitely my favourite as he sends up his own work (autobiographical comics), comic book perceptions of non-comics readers, and digital comics all in one brilliantly written and drawn self-contained story. The final panel is perfect and this comic will have you looking up more of this artist’s work.
Cameron Stewart and Brandon Graham’s One Night in Comicopolis is so good it should have its own series. A woman carrying a caption box through streets...
- 11/16/2013
- by Noel Thorne
- Obsessed with Film
With less than a week to go till the week-long events kick off (taking place 17th – 24th November), we thought we’d run down even more highlights from this years Though Bubble, the largest celebration of comics and animation in the UK – a celebration of sequential art in all its forms, including everything from superhero comics to independent and small-press artists and writers.
The festival programme for this year’s Thought Bubble comprises 90 events, spread across more than a week of festival fun, and will feature free art and writing based workshops for young people and adults, a two-day academic conference, talks and masterclasses led by industry professionals, and a programme of sequential art related film screenings, all building up to the awesome two-day convention on 23rd and 24th November.
The Thought Bubble Convention includes an incredible line-up of industry leading artists and writers, as well as independent creators from around the world,...
The festival programme for this year’s Thought Bubble comprises 90 events, spread across more than a week of festival fun, and will feature free art and writing based workshops for young people and adults, a two-day academic conference, talks and masterclasses led by industry professionals, and a programme of sequential art related film screenings, all building up to the awesome two-day convention on 23rd and 24th November.
The Thought Bubble Convention includes an incredible line-up of industry leading artists and writers, as well as independent creators from around the world,...
- 11/11/2013
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
11th and 18th September
Jack here; I’ve bashed two weeks of my contributions to Mark’s stuff for the week of the 11th, because a) I’m behind on my writing and b) I’m not sure how to get caught up otherwise. Bit of a mishmash then, but I’m sure you can handle it, intelligent and tolerant reader.
Mark
It’s tie-in central at Marvel this week as X-Men #5 (w/Brian Wood, a/David Lopez) continues Battle of the Atom with a brevity and economy that Brian Bendis should take note of if he wants to make his lion’s share of the chapters anywhere near as compelling or characterful. Wood and Lopez deliver a solid chapter that allows almost every member of the exponentially growing cast to shine while doing a stellar job of keeping the utterly ludicrous plot seem almost grounded in some kind of reality.
Jack here; I’ve bashed two weeks of my contributions to Mark’s stuff for the week of the 11th, because a) I’m behind on my writing and b) I’m not sure how to get caught up otherwise. Bit of a mishmash then, but I’m sure you can handle it, intelligent and tolerant reader.
Mark
It’s tie-in central at Marvel this week as X-Men #5 (w/Brian Wood, a/David Lopez) continues Battle of the Atom with a brevity and economy that Brian Bendis should take note of if he wants to make his lion’s share of the chapters anywhere near as compelling or characterful. Wood and Lopez deliver a solid chapter that allows almost every member of the exponentially growing cast to shine while doing a stellar job of keeping the utterly ludicrous plot seem almost grounded in some kind of reality.
- 9/21/2013
- by Jack Kirby
- Nerdly
The 2013 Eisner Award Winners have been announced at San Diego Comic-Con with Chris Ware leading the wins for his celebrated work Building Stories, alongside Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples’ Saga which also won a number of awards.
The Eisners are awarded each year at the San Diego Comic-Con and are the most prestigious awards in the comics industry, being the comics equivalent of the Oscars.
The Eisners are named after Will Eisner, one of the most celebrated artist/writers in comics whose works included creating the superhero series The Spirit as well as his masterpiece, A Contract with God, one of the best books of the 20th century.
This year saw artist/writer Chris Ware pick up the lion’s share of the awards for his book/construction project Building Stories, winning Best New Graphic Album, Best Writer/Artist, Best Lettering, and Best Publication Design.
Also among the winners...
The Eisners are awarded each year at the San Diego Comic-Con and are the most prestigious awards in the comics industry, being the comics equivalent of the Oscars.
The Eisners are named after Will Eisner, one of the most celebrated artist/writers in comics whose works included creating the superhero series The Spirit as well as his masterpiece, A Contract with God, one of the best books of the 20th century.
This year saw artist/writer Chris Ware pick up the lion’s share of the awards for his book/construction project Building Stories, winning Best New Graphic Album, Best Writer/Artist, Best Lettering, and Best Publication Design.
Also among the winners...
- 7/21/2013
- by Noel Thorne
- Obsessed with Film
Best Short Story “A Birdsong Shatters the Still,” by Jeff Wilson and Ted May, in Injury #4 (Ted May/Alternative) “Elmview” by Jon McNaught, in Dockwood (Nobrow) “Moon 1969: The True Story of the 1969 Moon Launch,” by Michael Kupperman, in Tales Designed to Thrizzle #8 (Fantagraphics) “Moving Forward,” by drewscape, in Monsters, Miracles, & Mayonnaise (Epigram Books) “Rainbow Moment,” by Lilli Carré, in Heads or Tails (Fantagraphics) Best Single Issue (or One-Shot) Lose #4: “The Fashion Issue,” by Michael DeForge (Koyama Press) The Mire, by Becky Cloonan (self-published) Pope Hats #3, by Ethan Rilly (AdHouse Books) Post York #1, by James Romberger and Crosby (Uncivilized Books) Tales Designed to Thrizzle #8, by Michael Kupperman (Fantagraphics) Best Continuing Series Fatale, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image) Hawkeye, by Matt Fraction and David Aja (Marvel) The Manhattan Projects, by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra (Image) Prophet, by Brandon Graham and Simon Roy (Image) Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan...
- 7/20/2013
- ComicBookMovie.com
Hey guys, Mark here. As my comics addiction turned much more literal last week and I ended up buying 10 new books at the store (along with attempting to inject Hawkeye pages into my bloodstream with my trusty [hip drug] needle, which is Exactly as hard as it sounds), I decided to go for brevity and cut my contributions down to the barest of bones.
To wit: 10 words apiece. Yeah, I’m kind of a critical maverick.
26th June Jack
X-Men #2, Brian Wood, Olivier Coipel, Marvel Comics
I enjoyed last month’s first issue in the new X-Men series and this second book continues at a similarly breakneck pace. Psychic bacteria alien thing Arkea has busted into the X-house and is causing all kinds of trouble by possessing Karima Shapandar, the Omega Sentinel. This didn’t mean much to me, but what impresses me about X-Men is that unlike many books (say, Age of Ultron,...
To wit: 10 words apiece. Yeah, I’m kind of a critical maverick.
26th June Jack
X-Men #2, Brian Wood, Olivier Coipel, Marvel Comics
I enjoyed last month’s first issue in the new X-Men series and this second book continues at a similarly breakneck pace. Psychic bacteria alien thing Arkea has busted into the X-house and is causing all kinds of trouble by possessing Karima Shapandar, the Omega Sentinel. This didn’t mean much to me, but what impresses me about X-Men is that unlike many books (say, Age of Ultron,...
- 7/2/2013
- by Mark Allen
- Nerdly
It’s time for the Oscars of the comic book world! Awards shows like these are always controversial, of course, and hardly definitive when it comes to “the best” of anything. However, like the Oscars, the Eisners have a tendency to focus on small print, relatively obscure titles in addition to mainstream ones, thus expanding the small books’ audiences and proving that nothing has to be a blockbuster to be awesome.
I’ve gathered a smattering of major categories together for all you monster kids that feature titles I’ve raved about in previous columns and reviews. (I’m damn well amazed that Batman didn’t make the cut, but I’m not on any committee, am I?) Also, check out that Image mojo! Dang! Marvel and DC had better watch their backs…
Best Continuing Series
Fatale, Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image)
Hawkeye, Matt Fraction and David Aja (Marvel)
Manhattan Projects,...
I’ve gathered a smattering of major categories together for all you monster kids that feature titles I’ve raved about in previous columns and reviews. (I’m damn well amazed that Batman didn’t make the cut, but I’m not on any committee, am I?) Also, check out that Image mojo! Dang! Marvel and DC had better watch their backs…
Best Continuing Series
Fatale, Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image)
Hawkeye, Matt Fraction and David Aja (Marvel)
Manhattan Projects,...
- 4/17/2013
- by Holly I.
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Comic-Con International has released the complete list of nominees for the 2013 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. The winners of the award will be revealed during the annual ceremony held at Comic-Con International in San Diego on July 19.
Official Press Release
Comic-Con International (Comic-Con) is proud to announce the nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards 2013. The nominees, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of judges, reflect the wide range of material being published in comics and graphic novel form today, from crime noire to autobiographical works to cartoon adventures.
Three titles lead the 2013 list with 5 nominations each. Chris Ware’s critically acclaimed Building Stories (published by Pantheon) has nods for Best Graphic Album–New, Best Writer/artist, Best Coloring, Best Lettering, and Best Publication Design. Also garnering 5 nominations are Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’s Fatale (published by Image) and Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye (published by Marvel...
Official Press Release
Comic-Con International (Comic-Con) is proud to announce the nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards 2013. The nominees, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of judges, reflect the wide range of material being published in comics and graphic novel form today, from crime noire to autobiographical works to cartoon adventures.
Three titles lead the 2013 list with 5 nominations each. Chris Ware’s critically acclaimed Building Stories (published by Pantheon) has nods for Best Graphic Album–New, Best Writer/artist, Best Coloring, Best Lettering, and Best Publication Design. Also garnering 5 nominations are Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’s Fatale (published by Image) and Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye (published by Marvel...
- 4/17/2013
- by Adam B.
- GeekRest
Comic-Con International is proud to announce the nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards of 2013. The nominees, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of judges, reflect the wide range of material being published in comics and graphic novel form today, from crime noir to autobiographical works to cartoon adventures. Three titles lead the 2013 list with 5 nominations each.
Chris Ware’s critically acclaimed Building Stories (published by Pantheon) has nods for Best Graphic Album–New, Best Writer/artist, Best Coloring, Best Lettering, and Best Publication Design. Also garnering 5 nominations are Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’s Fatale (published by Image) and Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye (published by Marvel). Both are nominated for Best Continuing Series, Best New Series, Best Writer, Best Penciller/Inker, and Best Cover Artist. (Fatale also shares the coloring nomination for Dave Stewart.)Close behind with 4 nominations are Boom!/kaboom’s Adventure Time (Best New Series,...
Chris Ware’s critically acclaimed Building Stories (published by Pantheon) has nods for Best Graphic Album–New, Best Writer/artist, Best Coloring, Best Lettering, and Best Publication Design. Also garnering 5 nominations are Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’s Fatale (published by Image) and Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye (published by Marvel). Both are nominated for Best Continuing Series, Best New Series, Best Writer, Best Penciller/Inker, and Best Cover Artist. (Fatale also shares the coloring nomination for Dave Stewart.)Close behind with 4 nominations are Boom!/kaboom’s Adventure Time (Best New Series,...
- 4/16/2013
- by Glenn Hauman
- Comicmix.com
And just like that, it was Sunday, the final day of the con.
I suspect I wasn’t the only one there, who, by the end, almost felt as if they were going through the motions, that feeling of Con fatigue in full effect. My feet hurt, the spectrum of colors blur, comic companies meld, and the idea of sitting down at panels regain its appeal.
Even the atmosphere felt a tad muted, the costumes a bit less ubiquitous and clever, but the throng of fans still thundered along the show floor, squeezing through doors and escalators to get to panels on time or to see their favorite comic book artist.
This afternoon, I spent more time at comic book panels, seeing just one celebrity to finish off the Con.
The first may have been my favorite of the con, entitled “Pitching Creator Owned Comics” or something like that, featuring...
I suspect I wasn’t the only one there, who, by the end, almost felt as if they were going through the motions, that feeling of Con fatigue in full effect. My feet hurt, the spectrum of colors blur, comic companies meld, and the idea of sitting down at panels regain its appeal.
Even the atmosphere felt a tad muted, the costumes a bit less ubiquitous and clever, but the throng of fans still thundered along the show floor, squeezing through doors and escalators to get to panels on time or to see their favorite comic book artist.
This afternoon, I spent more time at comic book panels, seeing just one celebrity to finish off the Con.
The first may have been my favorite of the con, entitled “Pitching Creator Owned Comics” or something like that, featuring...
- 3/9/2013
- by Andy Greene
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Rob Liefeld has responded to criticism of his original work on titles such as Glory, Prophet and Bloodstrike. The divisive artist has handed his properties over to creators including Brandon Graham, Joe Keatinge and Tim Seeley for the Extreme Studios relaunch, with his critics insisting that their work is superior. However, Liefeld insists that he is unfazed by the naysayers, claiming that his contribution to comics over the last two decades speaks for itself. "The internet snark has zero effect on me. I was there 20 years ago, I'm out there on the (more)...
- 1/22/2013
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
Image has suddenly become the go-to publisher for startlingly original Sci-Fi, fantasy, and pulpy awesomeness. What used to be a market cornered by DC’s Vertigo imprint has migrated to the offices of a publisher that was once formed to buck superhero trends with the medicore likes of Spawn, The Darkness, and Witchblade. But these days, taking a trip down the Image aisle in any given week leads to a killer assault of creepy mini-series, ongoing detective stories, science fiction epics, and generally intriguing tales that may have been troubled to find a home even five years ago.
Let’s take a peek at this week’s gallery of greatness, shall we?
Exhibit A. Bedlam #2, Nick Spencer and Riley Rossmo. What began as a disturbing journey into the mind of a genocidal killer has expanded into a philosophical exploration of the effects of violence on both its participants and victims.
Let’s take a peek at this week’s gallery of greatness, shall we?
Exhibit A. Bedlam #2, Nick Spencer and Riley Rossmo. What began as a disturbing journey into the mind of a genocidal killer has expanded into a philosophical exploration of the effects of violence on both its participants and victims.
- 11/29/2012
- by Holly I.
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Happy Halloween, comic book lovers! Although the only truly significant thing about this Halloween column is that I’ll be covering two weeks worth of comics instead of just one, after missing last Wednesday.
Also, we must remember our less fortunate monster brethren on the east coast, some of whom have been forced to cancel Halloween festivities altogether due to the ferocity of Hurricane Sandy. For them, I suggest venturing out, grabbing one of these titles, and curling up in bed with a candle to recreate the magic…
Magic such as is found in DC Comics’ National Comics: Madame X, which is full of voodoo and zombies and murder and extramarital affairs. The Tarot plays a perfect role, and the tale could easily fit into an Eerie issue of old.
Wolverine is everywhere in Marvel, it’s true. But he doesn’t always get to swear and be his intensely violent self.
Also, we must remember our less fortunate monster brethren on the east coast, some of whom have been forced to cancel Halloween festivities altogether due to the ferocity of Hurricane Sandy. For them, I suggest venturing out, grabbing one of these titles, and curling up in bed with a candle to recreate the magic…
Magic such as is found in DC Comics’ National Comics: Madame X, which is full of voodoo and zombies and murder and extramarital affairs. The Tarot plays a perfect role, and the tale could easily fit into an Eerie issue of old.
Wolverine is everywhere in Marvel, it’s true. But he doesn’t always get to swear and be his intensely violent self.
- 11/1/2012
- by Holly I.
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Image Comics has unveiled a host of new projects from top creators at San Diego Comic-Con International. Matt Fraction, Joe Casey, Darick Robertson, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Howard Chaykin, Chris Roberson, James Robinson and Greg Rucka joined Image editor-in-chief Eric Stephenson on the publisher's panel to announce a spate of forthcoming titles, reports Comics Alliance. Glen Brunswick and Whilce Portacio will be working on Non-Humans, a tale of a very strange extraterrestrial disease, with Stephenson himself writing Nowhere Men and Multiple Warheads coming from Brandon Graham in October. Casey unveiled Sex - a title which the writer said would (more)...
- 7/16/2012
- by By Hugh Armitage
- Digital Spy
Kick off Comic-Con with the greatest stars in comics to celebrate 20 Years of Image Comics and the power of free expression at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Comic-Con Welcome Party! Starting at 8:00 Pm on Thursday, July 12 at the Westgate Hotel, the Cbldf Comic-Con Welcome Party is jam-packed with amazing people and cool stuff! This party is sponsored by Image Comics, Tfaw.Com, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, & Threadless! Experience Creativity with Image Comics greats including: Ales Kot, Amanda Conner, Ben McCool, Ben Templesmith, Brandon Seifert, Charles Soule, Chris Giarrusso, Cory Walker, Dan Brereton, Darick Robertson, Deborah Vankin, Dexter Weeks, Dirk Manning, Edwin Huang,Eric Shanower, Eric Stephenson, Erik Larsen, Gerry Duggan, Glen Brunswick, Jim Mahfood, Jim McCann, Jim Valentino, Jim Zub, Jimmy Palmiotti, Joe Keatinge, John Layman, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Joshua Williamson, Kody Chamberlain, Kurtis Wiebe, Mark Poulton,Matt Hawkins, Michael Moreci, Moritat, Nate Bellegarde, Nathan Edmondson, Phil Noto,...
- 7/9/2012
- by Charles Brownstein
- Comicmix.com
Steve Aylett has written some comics. I have read them. Yet, I haven’t felt like I read a Steve Aylett comic until I read Brandon Graham’s King City.
You may have not heard of Steve Aylett.
This is a huge compliment.
I Love King City, and it ascends to my post-nostalgia top shelf along with such titles as Planetary, Maxx, Seven Soldiers, Morrison’s New X-Men, Skyscrapers of the Midwest, Lemire’s Essex County, Warriors of Plasm, and One Piece. King City, my new shit, the best of my best of 2011 for me, the cream of the crop — the Val Kilmer and Barry Tubb. This is the one comic you need to read if you haven’t yet done so.
King City has everything. What you don’t see is just a page away, invisible, or something Graham just doesn’t think you deserve to see. It’s...
You may have not heard of Steve Aylett.
This is a huge compliment.
I Love King City, and it ascends to my post-nostalgia top shelf along with such titles as Planetary, Maxx, Seven Soldiers, Morrison’s New X-Men, Skyscrapers of the Midwest, Lemire’s Essex County, Warriors of Plasm, and One Piece. King City, my new shit, the best of my best of 2011 for me, the cream of the crop — the Val Kilmer and Barry Tubb. This is the one comic you need to read if you haven’t yet done so.
King City has everything. What you don’t see is just a page away, invisible, or something Graham just doesn’t think you deserve to see. It’s...
- 5/8/2012
- by Jay Tomio
- Boomtron
Pretty much the comic book Oscars, the 2012 nominations for the Eisner awards have been announced. There is quite are large showing from Marvel in the superhero department, not so much from DC. Surprising, considering the company’s high profile New 52 relaunch. Save for Jeff Lemire’s nomination for Best Writer, most of DC’s nomination are pre-relaunch, or from their Vertigo imprint which has been left untouched by the New 52. The nominations are usually as controversial as the Oscars, with books and whole companies being left out, much to fans, sometimes, anger and confusion.
A full list of the nominations are below, courtesy of Bleeding Cool, and the award will take place at this years San Diego Comic Con.
Best Short Story “A Brief History of the Art Form Known as Hortisculpture,” by Adrian Tomine, in Optic Nerve #12 (Drawn & Quarterly) “Harvest of Fear,” by Jim Woodring, in The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror #17 (Bongo) “The Phototaker,...
A full list of the nominations are below, courtesy of Bleeding Cool, and the award will take place at this years San Diego Comic Con.
Best Short Story “A Brief History of the Art Form Known as Hortisculpture,” by Adrian Tomine, in Optic Nerve #12 (Drawn & Quarterly) “Harvest of Fear,” by Jim Woodring, in The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror #17 (Bongo) “The Phototaker,...
- 4/7/2012
- by Tom White
- Obsessed with Film
As many of you may already know, each and every year, awards distributed at San Diego Comic Con to a few select (and noteworthy) nominees who are chosen by retailers and professionals in the comic book industry. The ceremony is better known as the Eisner Awards which is now heading into its 24th year with some great talent in the running. One of the most loved titles in this year’s nominee list is Marvel’s Daredevil, picking up 6 nominations that include Best Continuing Series, Best Single Issue, Best Writer (Mark Waid), Best Cover Artist (Marcos Martin), and Best Penciller/Inker Team Marcos Martin, and Paolo Rivera/Joe Rivera). DC also scored some decent recognition with their iZombie Vertigo series, gathering 3 nominations (Cover Art, Coloring, Inker/Penciller) for the creative team.
You can check out the full list of nominees below.
Eisner Award Nominees 2012
Best Short Story
“A Brief History...
You can check out the full list of nominees below.
Eisner Award Nominees 2012
Best Short Story
“A Brief History...
- 4/4/2012
- by GeekRest
- GeekRest
Brandon Graham King City, ABC’s The River, Uncanny X-Force, G.I .Joe Code Name Blast Off and More!
Hello all, this is just a quick pointer to a personal blog, Dun Moch, that I wanted up for awhile and updated regularly before I mentioned it here , but it’s pretty much comics, tv, film, and art but personal commentary off the books. Some of it’s long form and some of it is very hit-and-run, but I’d appreciate anyone who has interest in awesome things to check it out. A little something for everyone over there, like non-spoiler thoughts on the upcoming ABC’s The River (one of the show creators contacted me about the post – very cool!) which will be the best thing on TV (though Downton Abbey will be battling!), from must read comics like Brandon Graham’s King City (pictured above) or Rick Remender and...
Hello all, this is just a quick pointer to a personal blog, Dun Moch, that I wanted up for awhile and updated regularly before I mentioned it here , but it’s pretty much comics, tv, film, and art but personal commentary off the books. Some of it’s long form and some of it is very hit-and-run, but I’d appreciate anyone who has interest in awesome things to check it out. A little something for everyone over there, like non-spoiler thoughts on the upcoming ABC’s The River (one of the show creators contacted me about the post – very cool!) which will be the best thing on TV (though Downton Abbey will be battling!), from must read comics like Brandon Graham’s King City (pictured above) or Rick Remender and...
- 1/30/2012
- by Jay Tomio
- Boomtron
Image Comics will release a collection of King City. Brandon Graham's series will be collected in the 424-page volume. King City was originally published by TokyoPop before being reprinted and continued by Image as a 12-issue series. "There's a couple new drawings but for the most part I kept it pretty close to what was in the issues," Graham wrote on his blog. "It's still got all the backups, covers, games and puzzles that were in those. I'm a big advocate of the fun of getting a book in issues (more)...
- 11/16/2011
- by By Hugh Armitage
- Digital Spy
Dark Horse Presents #7 will debut The Speaker. The story will mark cartoonist Brandon Graham's first contribution to Dark Horse Comics' newly-relaunched anthology. "A man loses his voice," said Graham. "His voice goes off to see the world. "Years later the man dies and the voice that walks like a man hears the news and returns home. The Voice has to deal with all the personifications of the man's doubts, secrets, and ideas that (more)...
- 10/28/2011
- by By Hugh Armitage
- Digital Spy
If you're a comic book reader on Twitter, two of the greatest joys you can find in your feed are Yildiray Cinar art posts and Gail Simone-created hash tags. This morning, the Great Tweet Magnet was benevolent, because Cinar tweets a Weapon X piece and Simone sounded off with her love for Bruce Wayne's butler using the #anysexyalfred tag.
In theaters, "Conan the Barbarian" has been struggling with its box office numbers. Rob Liefeld is a documented Conan fan, so his opinion means something on this matter. Meanwhile, Rafael Kayanan proposed his own approach to Conan filmmaking. Check out their thoughts and a reaction to Grant Morrison's recent Rolling Stone interview after the jump.
I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is the Twitter Report for August 23, 2011.
"Conan" pt. 1: @RafaelKayanan A Conan film should be parts Leone Western, creepiness of Rec/The Shining but with treatment of violence ala Kurosawa, directed by Fincher.
In theaters, "Conan the Barbarian" has been struggling with its box office numbers. Rob Liefeld is a documented Conan fan, so his opinion means something on this matter. Meanwhile, Rafael Kayanan proposed his own approach to Conan filmmaking. Check out their thoughts and a reaction to Grant Morrison's recent Rolling Stone interview after the jump.
I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is the Twitter Report for August 23, 2011.
"Conan" pt. 1: @RafaelKayanan A Conan film should be parts Leone Western, creepiness of Rec/The Shining but with treatment of violence ala Kurosawa, directed by Fincher.
- 8/23/2011
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Splash Page
The Story: “Stray Bullets” by David Lapham — El Capitan Books
What It's About: An anthology series set in the '80s that revolves around a group of recurring characters and chronicles the unintended effects of violence and crime upon both the perpetrators and the victims. The primary character is a young girl named Virginia Applejack who witnesses a murder that reverberates throughout the rest of her life.
Why It Works: Lapham masterfully creates a set of characters that are both sympathetic and repulsive while effortlessly tying together separate narratives to weave a larger story. Virginia's tale is particularly compelling, as we watch her struggle to deal with the violence in her life while growing into a strong young woman. Equally riveting are the vignettes about small-time crooks who think they can break away from their life of crime. Not every character survives as their past catches up with them and there are no happy endings.
What It's About: An anthology series set in the '80s that revolves around a group of recurring characters and chronicles the unintended effects of violence and crime upon both the perpetrators and the victims. The primary character is a young girl named Virginia Applejack who witnesses a murder that reverberates throughout the rest of her life.
Why It Works: Lapham masterfully creates a set of characters that are both sympathetic and repulsive while effortlessly tying together separate narratives to weave a larger story. Virginia's tale is particularly compelling, as we watch her struggle to deal with the violence in her life while growing into a strong young woman. Equally riveting are the vignettes about small-time crooks who think they can break away from their life of crime. Not every character survives as their past catches up with them and there are no happy endings.
- 2/26/2010
- by Blair Marnell
- MTV Splash Page
The Story: "Axe Cop" By Malachai And Ethan Nicolle
What It's About: At the scene of a fire, one cop found the perfect fireman axe. Armed with a new identity, Axe Cop now holds try-outs seeking the perfect partners for missions ranging from dinosaur extermination to reuniting unicorn-horned babies with their genius parents on snow planets created by the wishes of flute-playing avocado soldiers... and that's just the beginning.
Why It Works: "Axe Cop" is the brainchild of five-year-old Malachai Nicolle with art by his 29-year-old brother Ethan. As such, readers are sucked in by stories dripping with untainted imagination while more experienced, but no less kinetic lines keep them coming back for more.
Simply put: It's the comic every kid wishes they could draw and every adult wishes they could write.
Why It Doesn't: Those looking for romance need not apply. As explained in the series' "Ask Axe Cop" entries,...
What It's About: At the scene of a fire, one cop found the perfect fireman axe. Armed with a new identity, Axe Cop now holds try-outs seeking the perfect partners for missions ranging from dinosaur extermination to reuniting unicorn-horned babies with their genius parents on snow planets created by the wishes of flute-playing avocado soldiers... and that's just the beginning.
Why It Works: "Axe Cop" is the brainchild of five-year-old Malachai Nicolle with art by his 29-year-old brother Ethan. As such, readers are sucked in by stories dripping with untainted imagination while more experienced, but no less kinetic lines keep them coming back for more.
Simply put: It's the comic every kid wishes they could draw and every adult wishes they could write.
Why It Doesn't: Those looking for romance need not apply. As explained in the series' "Ask Axe Cop" entries,...
- 2/17/2010
- by Caleb Goellner
- MTV Splash Page
The Story: "King City" by Brandon Graham (W/A) - Image Comics/Tokyopop
What It's About: A 20-something, lock-picking adventurer named Joe returns to his home city of the future with unclear intentions and a kind-hearted friend named Pete who gets in over his head while agreeing to help some Mafiosos take care of a life-size sea-monkey girl they've been raising for illicit purposes.
Joe gets dragged back into the rough rackets of King City, all the while on a seeming collision course to rendezvous with his ex-girlfriend.
Why It Works: Graham's character Joe has all the stubbornness and energy of a Scott Pilgrim of the future, and the world he lives in is almost over-saturated with creatures and visual elements that give it a distinctive "Blade Runner"meets-"Animaniacs" vibe.
The real triumph of the series is how well Graham keeps his characters' personalities grounded in a completely haywire...
What It's About: A 20-something, lock-picking adventurer named Joe returns to his home city of the future with unclear intentions and a kind-hearted friend named Pete who gets in over his head while agreeing to help some Mafiosos take care of a life-size sea-monkey girl they've been raising for illicit purposes.
Joe gets dragged back into the rough rackets of King City, all the while on a seeming collision course to rendezvous with his ex-girlfriend.
Why It Works: Graham's character Joe has all the stubbornness and energy of a Scott Pilgrim of the future, and the world he lives in is almost over-saturated with creatures and visual elements that give it a distinctive "Blade Runner"meets-"Animaniacs" vibe.
The real triumph of the series is how well Graham keeps his characters' personalities grounded in a completely haywire...
- 2/4/2010
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Splash Page
Dan Hipp's manga series Gyakushu will return as a webcomic later this month. The book originally appeared in print, running for two volumes before restructuring at publisher Tokyopop resulted in its cancellation. Hipp is now planning to issue the entire series online, along with his work from the book's previously unreleased third volume. Hipp also revealed that he approached Image Comics with a view to releasing the third volume in print, before opting to distribute the book digitally. "To anyone that has suggested I should look into an Image deal, similar to what the amazing Brandon Graham did with King City, well... thank you so much for the thought and concern, (more)...
- 1/4/2010
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
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