With the end of "House of M" and the start of "Infinite Crisis" the
lacking of the major labels seems amplified by these major marketing
pushes.
A few months ago I wandered into a comics store after not being in one
for 20 years. I picked up a few and followed the current stories. I
was overwhelmed by the feeling that nothign in Marvel and DC had
changed. Sure, certain art styles are more prevalent now, and all the
"Ultimates" seemed to have big stylish hair that makes everyone look
very metrosexual. But the storytelling often sucked and each issue
seemed more like Marvel was just cranking one off. Another
corss-over-mania event was in progress to hype sales with "everythign
will change" and the world hangs in the balance, when really everyone
will end up with amnesia except for a handful of characters and within
6 issues all effects of the mega-event will have evaporated. I recall
Secret Wars was just like that. It was novel to see all of them
fighting together, but really it didn't matter at all when all was
done. I've sure the current mega-events will toss in some bones to
make it seem like this is any different. All mutants are gone. I guess
all the mutant-based comics will stop printing now. RIght...
Anyway I've been getting more and more intersting in the Independents,
so I thought I'd mentino a few and see if there are other
recommendations out there. To DC's credit I find there smaller labels
are doing some interesting stuff.
CURRENT RELEASES
==============================================
* Dark Horse-Revelations - a favorite. Beautifully drawn and colored
* DC/Wildstorm-Astro City:the Dark Age - just discovered the Astro
City universe. Brilliant idea. They rely on the reader knowing about
all the archetype superheroes and using them as a backdrop for telling
stories. There is an invincible man ehro, and a patriotic hero, a
wise-cracking city hero, the dark brooding hero with his younger
partner. You knwo who these types are and the kinds of backstories
they have. But tt isn't about the superheroes but the people who live
in a superhero world. Gotham Central is a similar vein.
* Image-Fell : Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith. I'm not a big fan of
Templesmith. i think his artwork can be kinda ugly, but I get that
that's the style. I think it is well matched here and he's probably
glad to be drawing somethign other than vmapires. The 9-panel layout
with variations works well and I think he dones a really good job with
it. The plot and odd characters are great. nicely twisted story
elements in a way you don't often see.
* IDW-Angel, the Curse: this one just finished. Last issues seemed a
bit weak. but the story was good and early issue were very wlel drawn
and dramatically laid out. Last issue seemed to be going through the
motions. Climatic moment lacked any punch. Still leaves some hope for
telling some intersting stories in Whedon's Buffyverse.
* Image/Top Cow-Hunter Killer: this one is getting my attention. Nice
art and intersting bits. #4 was nice, more self-contained story.
Seems like it is getting some buzz. I missed the first issues so some
backstory is needed.
* DC/Wildstorm-Winter Men: a bit heavy on exposition but still an
interesting story. Invloves russian mobs and international smuggling.
No men in tights or aliens. Just tries to tell a good story.
* DC-Jonah Hex: really well done first issue. Good story, great
ending. Liked it despite that I hate westerns.
* Image/Desperado-Atheist : grabbed #2 on this, waiting for #1 & #3.
Despite the black and white quality, it is well drawn. Nicely
constructed story, well done layout--kept things interseting and
moving. Looks promising.
* Devils Due-Stronghold : grabbed the first issue. Thoguht it told the
story well, but the artwork is a bit uneven. not in color, but it
ended the issue really strongly and that is promising. I'm waiting on
#2 form an oinline retailer.
* Image-COmmon Foe: Historical WWII soldiers vs creatures. Not loving
the way the creatures are drawn but the issue I picked up was
entertaining enough to keep going with it and see where it ends up.
Otherwise I liked the artwork.
* Devils Due-Dragonlance Chronicles : I read these books 20 years ago,
so it is intersting to see an adaptation of them. Reasonably well
done. It's been long enough that I don't remember the story fully so
it has some freshness.
* DC-Wraithborn - this one is okay, I'll see if it gets more
interesting
* DC-Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere: Faithful adaptation from the book. SO
far no surprises. Good enough.
* Image-Fear Agent: Throwback to golden age styled sci-fi. Very 1940s.
Pretty well done although the hokeyness throws me a little. Don't know
if it will just be a gimick for a few issues or has something else to
offer.
* Image-Battle Pope : I think this is a color reprint of a previously
published series. Humorous, irreverent,and totally inappropriate.
Hoping it keeps it up.
* Dark Horse-13th Son : okay start. Not sure if this one will survie
past #2 or #3.
* Dark Horse-B.P.R.D. Black Flame : okay I kinda hate Hellboy artwork.
Just doesn't seem good, but they do have some quality tucked into the
stories. Haven't decided if I really like this one or not.
* Icon-Book of Lost Souls : This may work out to be interesting. First
issue is mostly setting up premise.
* Devils Due-Megacity909 : just picked up the final isseu(#8) and it
seemed like t might have been intersting. Or maybe just the ending was
intersting. Anyone read this??
* Aspen-Fathom's Cannon Hawke : Reading this one I feel like I missed
something. I guess without reading Fathom you lose somethign.
Beautiful drawing. But not sure if it can hold me.
* Zenescope-Grimm Fairy Tales : A twist of traditional fairy tales.
Not bad but nt compelling. Artwork is good. Most series that form a
collection of unrelated stories cna be uneven.
* Moonstone-Kolchak-Tales of the the Nightstalker : continuing stories
of the Darren McGavin TV series of 1974-1975. Faithful to that down to
the likeness of the principal actors. Not bad. If you were a fan of
the show yo'd probably enjoy.
* Marvel-1602 New World : I enjoyed the original 1602, but this one is
boring.
FUTURE RELEASES that look/sound interesting
================================================
AmericAnime Productions-Airshell #1
Boom! Studios-Jeremiah Harm
DC-Testament
Devils Due-Forgotten Realms:Dark Elf
IDW-Angel: Old Friends
IDW-Fallen Angel
Image-Dusty Star
Image-Hatter M:the Looking Glass Wars
Silent Devil-Runes of Ragnan
Top Shelf-Surrogates
Zenescope Entertainment-Sins of the Fallen:the Nightstalker
DiGiTAL_ViNYL (no email)
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