Wham! Pow! Bif! That Is, More Comics...
Apr. 5th, 2003 12:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ealgyldenWhee! According to the new Previews, June is going to be a fabulous month for comics! Scooter Girl will still be coming out (it starts in May, yay!), and there will be new Halo & Sprocket, True Story Swear to God, and Hopeless Savages, a pair of anti-censorship themed anthologies filled with creators I love, a new monthly series from Andi Watson (eeeee!), and the long-awaited (by me, at least) third Artesia miniseries, Artesia Afield. All in time for my birthday (if you stretch my birthday out all month, which I plan to do). I'm going to be so broke.
Blue Monday: Nobody's Fool- Chynna Clugston-Major is one of a handful of comic creators (along with Andi Watson, Jay Hosler, Elizabeth Watasin, and a few other) whose work I'd buy even if it came down to a choice between the comic and food. The Blue Monday kids are at their loopy, warped, but ultimately sweet best in a pair of holiday-themed stories. Clover rants about the fake-Irish mawkishness of St. Patrick's Day as only a high strung Irish teenager could, and Victor revists his Goth past, "the good old days... ‘bout a year or so ago," for April Fool's Day. Clover is my favorite character, so there was really no way I could fail to enjoy her getting busted for having shamrocks on school grounds or stumbling onto the Northern California Annual Leprechaun Convention (trust me, you need to see it to appreciate it). But Victor's story was even more fun. Scenes like him in gym class in full goth-gear saying, "Pleasure and pain go hand in hand, Coach. I love soccer so much, it hurts," or quoting Byron to his blushing English teacher were classic. Both stories end on a sweet, quirky note, perfect for the Pixy Stix craziness of Blue Monday.
Mutant, Texas: Tales of Sheriff Ida Red #4- The final issue of this first miniseries and the conclusion Ida Red's origin story (every hero needs one). I really hope Paul Dini and J. Bone are planning more Ida Red stories, because she and her world, a blend of 50's atomic mutation flicks, classic Western cliches and Saturday morning cartoons, are too good to go to waste. In this issue, Ida Red gets a handle on both her powers and her new jaguar sidekick just in time to save the townsfolk from the baddie (with a little help from Clint Saguaro, a cactus spine-covered cowboy). The character design has been consistently fun and clever in this series, and happily the writing is quick enough to keep up. I wish I knew a young girl or two- this is a great addition to Oni Press' all-ages line-up, and I’d love to give it as a gift.
The Sandwalk Adventures #5- Another final issue, alas. Jay Hosler, creator of the must-read Clan Apis, wraps up his comic about Charles Darwin's eyebrow mites. Yes, seriously. I didn't cry as much at the end of this one as I did at Clan Apis, but still, Mara earned a tear or two. She's the cutest and most interesting eyebrow mite I've ever read about. This is another must-read comic, and luckily the collected edition will be published in May (I think. Possibly early June). Jay makes me wish I taught Jr. High Science, so I could use his comics in class.
Comic Book Heaven #8- True, it isn't a comic. It's a zine about comics. And it's wonderful. Scott Saavedra loves Golden and Silver Age comics in all their loony glory, and it shows. Every issue features "Me Am Weird," a section of summaries of some deeply bizarre old comics presented with a completely straight face, so their weirdness really shines through. This time the featured comics include an adventure in space with Miss Sunbeam the bread company mascot, Jimmy Olsen and his band (the "Carrot-Top Cut-Ups") getting Superman to boogie to the "Krypton Crawl," and a romance comic titled "Romance a la Flapjack!" Other treats in this issue are a page of Jimmy Olsen, Superman's Pal covers depicting Superman as a Super Jerk, a 1949 ad for a toothpaste tube both racist and insane (you push back the "injun's feathers" and he vomits out toothpaste. Charming), and dialog quotes from old western comics. My favorite? "Why ya book-larned idiot, you can’t outshoot… aiieee!" Comic Book Heaven is one of the funniest comic-related publications out there, but annoyingly it can be tough to find. Even when I had easy access to an LCS, I often had to order it directly from Slave Labor. Check out Scott’s sample pages for a taste of the weirdness.
Hawaiian Dick #1 and 2- Best for last. I bought Issue 1 back when it came out, in December, but for some reason I never read it. Just as well, because by the time I got to it I had issue 2 on hand, saving on cliffhanger-caused stress. Hawaiian Dick comes from the brain of B. Clay Moore, not usually one of my "buy instantly!" creators but one on the next tier down, those who interest me and whose work I usually buy as long as it doesn't mean starving. Boy, am I glad the starving question didn't come up in this case.
Hawaiian Dick is a "tropical noir" comic, the story of a PI (a private dick, that is) named Byrd. He was a police detective in an unnamed mainland city before he was kicked off the force for getting rough with a suspect. Off he goes to lie low in Hawaii, home of Mo Kalama, a fellow detective and an old army buddy. Byrd helps Mo with those cases that fall outside the cops' normal jurisdiction. This particular case involves a drug lord named Bishop Masaki, a kidnapping, ghostly warriors, and a healthy (or not) dose of magic courtesy of an amateur kahuna named Auntie Chan. The year is 1953.
This book is gorgeous. The art works perfectly for the story, and is done by a newcomer, an Australian guy named Steven Griffin. The characters are a nice mix of the realistic and the exaggerated. Byrd is a typical noir hero in Hawaiian shirts and a tiki charm necklace- not very big physically, rumpled and unshaven, good-looking but not remarkable. He's comfortably, but not showily, tough. Mo, by contrast, is a hulking lug (though a fairly smart one). Bishop Masaki is one creepy looking baddie, and his first appearance definitely lives up the cautious and respectful tones with which he’s described up 'til then. The two beautiful women in the book, Kahami and Leila Rose, are voluptuous but not in an impossible, "comic book" way- they look like real, gorgeous women (and what a nice change that is). The background characters show a mix of races and cultures befitting a book set in Hawaii, but one not that common among comics in general. As far as I could see, none of the character designs hit a false note.
But for me, the coloring was really tied all the pieces together. It looks painted, but apparently it was done digitally. However it was achieved, it really conveys the tropical heat of the setting. The night scenes are appropriately steamy (not in a sexy way) and creepy, and the days look like they've been drenched in sunlight. The light and heat conveyed reminded me a bit of the film version of L.A. Confidential, or maybe the greenhouse scenes of The Big Sleep. Not bad for a piece of paper.
Clay manages to balance the noir and supernatural elements without allowing either to dominate, and his tone, though not flip or shallow, isn’t as cynical as many crime comics tend to be. No doubt the unusual setting helps add a hint of lightness- fruity drinks in tiki bars and pretty girls with flowers in their hair contrast pleasantly and effectively with the expected bullets and beatings. The details of period and locale, including musical references and glimpses of local architecture, are present but not oppressive. The characters sound just like one expects they should, like their archtypes but also like themselves- Clay knows his allusions and uses them wisely, avoiding the trap of being boringly derivative. Overall the book is a worthy addition to one’s noir bookshelf, whether one normally reads comics or not.
My only complaint is that this miniseries is just three issues long. That's not enough! I'm not sure a monthly series would be the best choice for this book, but a series of several miniseries would be perfect (That's the sort of publishing pattern followed by Oni Press, which would have been a natural home for this book. I was surprised to see it come from Image, whose few Age of Bronze-quality titles are far outweighed by their T&A and superhero team books. But if Image is responsible for the gorgeous coloring, I’m sure as heck not complaining). For concept sketches, preview pages and especially some comic strips (which I assume will be included in a collected edition, if there is one), check out the official page. It'll only give you a glimpse of the art, but some is better than none.
The only books I have left to read from that particular order are issues 2 and 3 of the new Courtney Crumrin miniseries, but I haven't been able to get a copy of the first issue yet so I'm stuck for now. Sad to think how quickly one can go through a nice, fat stack of new comics (and how expensive they get, and how much room they take up). Oh well, no hobby is perfect.
Blue Monday: Nobody's Fool- Chynna Clugston-Major is one of a handful of comic creators (along with Andi Watson, Jay Hosler, Elizabeth Watasin, and a few other) whose work I'd buy even if it came down to a choice between the comic and food. The Blue Monday kids are at their loopy, warped, but ultimately sweet best in a pair of holiday-themed stories. Clover rants about the fake-Irish mawkishness of St. Patrick's Day as only a high strung Irish teenager could, and Victor revists his Goth past, "the good old days... ‘bout a year or so ago," for April Fool's Day. Clover is my favorite character, so there was really no way I could fail to enjoy her getting busted for having shamrocks on school grounds or stumbling onto the Northern California Annual Leprechaun Convention (trust me, you need to see it to appreciate it). But Victor's story was even more fun. Scenes like him in gym class in full goth-gear saying, "Pleasure and pain go hand in hand, Coach. I love soccer so much, it hurts," or quoting Byron to his blushing English teacher were classic. Both stories end on a sweet, quirky note, perfect for the Pixy Stix craziness of Blue Monday.
Mutant, Texas: Tales of Sheriff Ida Red #4- The final issue of this first miniseries and the conclusion Ida Red's origin story (every hero needs one). I really hope Paul Dini and J. Bone are planning more Ida Red stories, because she and her world, a blend of 50's atomic mutation flicks, classic Western cliches and Saturday morning cartoons, are too good to go to waste. In this issue, Ida Red gets a handle on both her powers and her new jaguar sidekick just in time to save the townsfolk from the baddie (with a little help from Clint Saguaro, a cactus spine-covered cowboy). The character design has been consistently fun and clever in this series, and happily the writing is quick enough to keep up. I wish I knew a young girl or two- this is a great addition to Oni Press' all-ages line-up, and I’d love to give it as a gift.
The Sandwalk Adventures #5- Another final issue, alas. Jay Hosler, creator of the must-read Clan Apis, wraps up his comic about Charles Darwin's eyebrow mites. Yes, seriously. I didn't cry as much at the end of this one as I did at Clan Apis, but still, Mara earned a tear or two. She's the cutest and most interesting eyebrow mite I've ever read about. This is another must-read comic, and luckily the collected edition will be published in May (I think. Possibly early June). Jay makes me wish I taught Jr. High Science, so I could use his comics in class.
Comic Book Heaven #8- True, it isn't a comic. It's a zine about comics. And it's wonderful. Scott Saavedra loves Golden and Silver Age comics in all their loony glory, and it shows. Every issue features "Me Am Weird," a section of summaries of some deeply bizarre old comics presented with a completely straight face, so their weirdness really shines through. This time the featured comics include an adventure in space with Miss Sunbeam the bread company mascot, Jimmy Olsen and his band (the "Carrot-Top Cut-Ups") getting Superman to boogie to the "Krypton Crawl," and a romance comic titled "Romance a la Flapjack!" Other treats in this issue are a page of Jimmy Olsen, Superman's Pal covers depicting Superman as a Super Jerk, a 1949 ad for a toothpaste tube both racist and insane (you push back the "injun's feathers" and he vomits out toothpaste. Charming), and dialog quotes from old western comics. My favorite? "Why ya book-larned idiot, you can’t outshoot… aiieee!" Comic Book Heaven is one of the funniest comic-related publications out there, but annoyingly it can be tough to find. Even when I had easy access to an LCS, I often had to order it directly from Slave Labor. Check out Scott’s sample pages for a taste of the weirdness.
Hawaiian Dick #1 and 2- Best for last. I bought Issue 1 back when it came out, in December, but for some reason I never read it. Just as well, because by the time I got to it I had issue 2 on hand, saving on cliffhanger-caused stress. Hawaiian Dick comes from the brain of B. Clay Moore, not usually one of my "buy instantly!" creators but one on the next tier down, those who interest me and whose work I usually buy as long as it doesn't mean starving. Boy, am I glad the starving question didn't come up in this case.
Hawaiian Dick is a "tropical noir" comic, the story of a PI (a private dick, that is) named Byrd. He was a police detective in an unnamed mainland city before he was kicked off the force for getting rough with a suspect. Off he goes to lie low in Hawaii, home of Mo Kalama, a fellow detective and an old army buddy. Byrd helps Mo with those cases that fall outside the cops' normal jurisdiction. This particular case involves a drug lord named Bishop Masaki, a kidnapping, ghostly warriors, and a healthy (or not) dose of magic courtesy of an amateur kahuna named Auntie Chan. The year is 1953.
This book is gorgeous. The art works perfectly for the story, and is done by a newcomer, an Australian guy named Steven Griffin. The characters are a nice mix of the realistic and the exaggerated. Byrd is a typical noir hero in Hawaiian shirts and a tiki charm necklace- not very big physically, rumpled and unshaven, good-looking but not remarkable. He's comfortably, but not showily, tough. Mo, by contrast, is a hulking lug (though a fairly smart one). Bishop Masaki is one creepy looking baddie, and his first appearance definitely lives up the cautious and respectful tones with which he’s described up 'til then. The two beautiful women in the book, Kahami and Leila Rose, are voluptuous but not in an impossible, "comic book" way- they look like real, gorgeous women (and what a nice change that is). The background characters show a mix of races and cultures befitting a book set in Hawaii, but one not that common among comics in general. As far as I could see, none of the character designs hit a false note.
But for me, the coloring was really tied all the pieces together. It looks painted, but apparently it was done digitally. However it was achieved, it really conveys the tropical heat of the setting. The night scenes are appropriately steamy (not in a sexy way) and creepy, and the days look like they've been drenched in sunlight. The light and heat conveyed reminded me a bit of the film version of L.A. Confidential, or maybe the greenhouse scenes of The Big Sleep. Not bad for a piece of paper.
Clay manages to balance the noir and supernatural elements without allowing either to dominate, and his tone, though not flip or shallow, isn’t as cynical as many crime comics tend to be. No doubt the unusual setting helps add a hint of lightness- fruity drinks in tiki bars and pretty girls with flowers in their hair contrast pleasantly and effectively with the expected bullets and beatings. The details of period and locale, including musical references and glimpses of local architecture, are present but not oppressive. The characters sound just like one expects they should, like their archtypes but also like themselves- Clay knows his allusions and uses them wisely, avoiding the trap of being boringly derivative. Overall the book is a worthy addition to one’s noir bookshelf, whether one normally reads comics or not.
My only complaint is that this miniseries is just three issues long. That's not enough! I'm not sure a monthly series would be the best choice for this book, but a series of several miniseries would be perfect (That's the sort of publishing pattern followed by Oni Press, which would have been a natural home for this book. I was surprised to see it come from Image, whose few Age of Bronze-quality titles are far outweighed by their T&A and superhero team books. But if Image is responsible for the gorgeous coloring, I’m sure as heck not complaining). For concept sketches, preview pages and especially some comic strips (which I assume will be included in a collected edition, if there is one), check out the official page. It'll only give you a glimpse of the art, but some is better than none.
The only books I have left to read from that particular order are issues 2 and 3 of the new Courtney Crumrin miniseries, but I haven't been able to get a copy of the first issue yet so I'm stuck for now. Sad to think how quickly one can go through a nice, fat stack of new comics (and how expensive they get, and how much room they take up). Oh well, no hobby is perfect.
