The Week In Ink: December 10, 2008

Just hear those
Sleighbells ringling, jing-jing-jingling too!
Come on, it’s a lovely place
For a kick to the face with you…

 

 

Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling “Yoo-Hoo!”
Come on it’s time for folly
With the ‘Net’s Most Jolly Reviews!

 

 


 

Action Comics #872: Long-time ISB readers might recall that I’ve had a little difficulty with Geoff Johns over the years–and even now, I’d rather sit down with the original run of Youngblood than read Green Lantern or Justice Society–but I’ve got to admit that what I’ve read of his Superman stuff is pretty darn good.

I’ve mentioned my surprise at how much I enjoyed Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes before, and while I really only picked this one up because I couldn’t resist catching the comeback of Bob Kanigher’s most ridiculous creations–and the fact that they’re Robert Kanigher’s most ridiculous creations oughtta tell you something–I was equally surprised at how much I liked this one. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting a whole lot from it; I’m waiting for the collection on the Brainiac story and I’m only keeping up with the Superman parts of “New Krypton,” but I was able to follow right along. And not only that, but the story hit just the right beats: I’ll admit to being thrilled with lines like “I’m not like every other human, Brainiac. I am Lex Luthor” and the reveal of Reactron’s Kryptonite heart.

That said, it’s not a perfect story. It reads like Johns got distracted with really nice Brainiac/Luthor and Kandor stuff and then had to cram the crossover stuff into the last few pages, which suddenly kick up to a choppy, five-panel layout. I imagine he’s going for the effect of capturing the confusion of battle, but it just doesn’t work. And while there is the almost mandatory lurid scene of decapitation that we’ve all come to expect from Johns, Pete Woods manages to class things up a little bit. Still, it’s the kind of story that plays to Johns’ strengths, and while I just popped in to see the Creature Commandos, it got me interested in the rest of it as well.

So just one question: Where’s R.K.?

 

Final Crisis #5: I’ll be honest with you, guys: Pretty much everything I said about the last issue still stands, so there’s really no reason to get back into it except for one thing: Even the sight of Motorcycle Frankenstein could not get me as stoked as seeing a Pseudo-People Factory that made OMACs.

If a section is evacuated and/or destroyed against impossible odds in the next issue, I will freak out.

 

Phonogram: The Singles Club #1: This week, Gillen and McKelvie’s music-as-magic series returns–in glorious color!–and while I wasn’t surprised that I loved it as much as the first series, I was pretty much shocked that I managed to catch most of the music references too.

I mean, sure, The Pipettes were a given–I talked about my love for them in general and “Pull Shapes” in particular, the song around which this issue’s based, back when it was solicited–but man! CSS? Le Tigre? I actually have those albums! Heck, I even made a Long Blondes reference last week on this very blog. And considering that the only reference I was really hip to in the first series was a minor character’s love of the Wu-Tang Clan, I’d say that’s a pretty drastic change.

Point being–and yes, there is a point beyond just assuring you that I am, relatively speaking, one of the cool kids now–this is the first time that I’m experiencing the book as I imagine that it’s meant to be read: With the songs that they’re talking about playing in your head as you go, rather than just getting them in the footnotes afterwards. And it’s great.

It’s easy to say that McKelvie’s the star on this one, because–let’s be honest here–this is a book about a hipster chick dancing in a club, and that’s something he’s pretty damn good at drawing. But beyond that, the clean lines and expressive faces that make his work so enjoyable in the first place are on display in every panel. But when I read through it the second time, Gillen’s story work came through beautifully, from the–pardon the expression–beats of each scene to the obvious-but-still-fun metaphor of dancing as magic that makes people happy to the more subtle stuff like a character that speaks only in lyrics. Admittedly, it lacks the bitter know-it-all protagonist that made the first series so easy to identify with, but it more than makes up for that by being just that darn good.

Plus, there’s a backup story about the theme from Back to the Future, and I think we can all agree that that’s rad.

 

ISB BEST OF THE WEEK

 

 

 

Punisher: War Zone: All right, folks: I can write about getting the retro-dance-pop references in the indie darling comic all night, but when you get right down to it, I’m still a guy who just really, really loves the Punisher.

Specifically, the Ennis/Dillon Punisher. Sure, I might have a lot of affection for the 80s action movie fun of the Mike Baron stories and I think Circle of Blood is probably a little better than most people give it credit for, but I’ll go to bat for Welcome Back, Frank as one of the best and most fun comics I’ve ever read, period. And while the later Ennis stories of the MAX run are solid (if formulaic) in their relentless darkness, there’s that element of very, very dark humor that’s completely absent.

Here, though, it’s all back, in a sequel to WBF that doesn’t miss a beat, right down to the fact that it’s got a guy named Schitti who’s involved in a monkey-attacks-genitals incident that is, I kid you not, based on actual events. Immature? Of course, but it’s also hilarious, and completely fitting for the follow-up to the story that gave us the Punisher slugging a Polar Bear. It’s a hoot, and if the first issue is any indication of how the rest of the story’s going to go, there’s no reason to doubt that it’s the closure to Ennis’s nine-year run that I’ve been wanting ever since i found out he was off the book.

 

Secret Six #4: There’s a heck of a lot to like about this comic, mostly springing from Bane’s interaction with other characters, but what really stuck out to me was, and call me crazy here… Well, did anybody else notice that Junior talks a lot like Herbie Popnecker?

 

X-Men and Spider-Man #2: You know, a book where Black Costume Spider-Man teams up with the mid-80s X-Men to track down Mr. Sinister is one of those things that if you told me a year ago I’d be reading and loving it, I would’ve thought you were hepped up on goofballs, but here we are, and this thing is a hoot. For those of you who missed the first issue, the deal here is that Christos Gage and Mario Alberti are doing a series of team-ups between Spider-Man and the X-Men at different points in the characters’ history, sort of like a more serious version of Dan Slott’s phenomenal Spider-Man/Human Torch from a few years back. And while the first one didn’t do a lot to grab me, this second one hits just the right notes.

The story functions as a sequel of sorts to both Kraven’s Last Hunt and Mutant Massacre, and brother, does it read like it–but in a good way. Christos Gage manages to capture the exact beats of the mid-80s not-totally-crazy-yet Chris Claremont in a way that echoes the style of the time perfectly, and while it’d feel weird anywhere else, getting lines from Dazzler–yes, Dazzler–like “Hardly. Not when my light-sheild can deflect your energy harpoons” adds an authenticity to it that only makes it more fun.

And Alberti’s art amazing. It’s the first I’ve realy noticed of his work–although Wikipedia informs me that he did some covers for Shadowpact, which I’m sure I have around her esomewhere–and it blew me away in this issue. The panel layout, the motion that he gives to the fight scenes, it’s all beautiful and engaging, to the point where I find myself completely hooked in a story about Mr. Sinister that has Dazzler in it. And that alone is a hell of an achievement.

 


 

And that’s the week. But before we go, there’s one more thing I’d like to discuss:

This month has brought us a new Zuda competition, and while I’m sure you’re all tired of me shilling after I talked your ears off about Planet X last time, there’s one up there right now that you just have got to see: Rob Osborne’s The Accountants.

Some of you migh remember Osborne as the creator of The Nearly Infamous Zango, which I really enjoyed, and now he’s turned his sights to… Man, I don’t even know how to describe it, except to say that the first time I read it, I was in tears when I got to the last page from laughing so hard. It’s different, it’s funny, it’s easy to read in that weird-ass viewer program they’ve got over there… it’s got it all. It’s in first place right now–as well it should be, if you ask me–and if you head over and give it a read, I’m pretty sure you’ll understand why.

As for everything else, well, as always, any questions about something I read this week can be left in the comments below, and while I can’t promise that I won’t insult you for voicing a dissenting opinion, I’ll at least try to do it in a reasonably festive manner.

After all, it’s Christmastime!

39 thoughts on “The Week In Ink: December 10, 2008

  1. Did your store not get any Vertigo books? I mean I know you buy 100 Bullets normally and I could have sworn you get DMZ as well, but neither is on your list…

    *double checks*

    Nope. Not there…

  2. You buy 100 Bullets? It’s never on your list.
    And yes, DMZ came out this week.
    As for The Accountants…holy shit!I haven’t read it yet but that cover alone makes me laugh

  3. I have to say, I always thought Phonogram’s indie music setting was mostly window-dressing for their super-nifty magic world rules and that they’d work equally well with any other influential creative scene, like late 20s jazz or early 80s graffiti.

    At least I hope that’s the case, since despite the first volume’s insistence on its importance I really rather hate Motorcycle Emptiness.

  4. the story hit just the right beats
    from the – pardon the expression – beats of each scene
    that doesn’t miss a beat
    capture the exact beats of the mid-80s

    Is it lets-see-how-many-times-you-can-use-the-word-‘beat’ day today, or something?

    Hmm, beats me. :)

    Still, that X-Men and Spider-Man sounds pretty rad. In a mid-80s way. Cheers for that.

  5. I’ve got to say, when Dan Jurgens told me he was taking over full-time writing duties for Booster Gold, I was pretty dang excited, especially after reading the collected edition of the original Booster Gold series…

    …But sadly the comic was very underwhelming. Booster’s personality seems like it took three steps back to when he first arrived on earth, being much more irresponsible than we’ve seen in the series. It’s kind of jarring, but I trust Dan knows what he’s doing.

  6. I missed a Week in Ink like this one. I read and liked AC872, FC5 and Invincible, but now I’ll get War Zone too.
    I’m not much of an indie-music fan so no Phonogram for me.
    But I’m curious about Marvel Apes #0. What’s that about? I read Marvel Apes and ejoyed it. Is this a worthy prequel, or the start of a new series, or what?

  7. Booster Gold has been a missed opportunity for me, a great idea to revitalise the concept that never really made it off the ground, unfortunately.

    I’m glad Geoff Johns is coming off JSA and Superman in the near future. The New Krypton storyline has read a little flat to me, with lots of ‘cool’ concepts – Creature Commandos, revitalised Braniac, General Lane, etc lumped together with a narrative that’s high on exposition and ‘last panel surprise’ moments but low on emotional resonance and wit.

    Looking forward to his LoSHs on the new Adventure Comics tho.

  8. Marvel Apes #0 is a reprint of the first appearance of the Gibbon (I think he worked better in Spidey Super Stories than the Amazing issues here), a cover gallery, and a short preview (three pages) that I think is also a reprint from elsewhere.
    Also, I had the exact same reaction to Action: where WAS R.K.?

  9. There’s a lot in Simone’s portrayal of Bane, particularly how “moral”, observant, and manipulative he is, that reminds how great a character he COULD have been after Knightfall.

  10. That Storm face-kick image reminds me of the Barry Windsor-Smith X-Men comics he did in the late 80’s mixed a bit of with Ladronn plus a bit of extra sauce that I can only assume are Mario Alberti himself. In any event, BWS + Ladronn is indeed as awesome as it sounds, and the BWS tone gives it extra bonus 80’s points.

  11. “War Zone” was awesome, but I better see Detective Soap somewhere in the next five issues or I’ll feel grossly unsatisfied.

  12. There’s a lot of comments here about what you didn’t review, but…

    Really? Nothing to say about Batman 682? I’m really surprised. I was sure you’d have this on your Best of the Week list.

  13. When I saw the OMAC factory in FC #5 my first thought was “Sims is going to LOVE that.” God knows I did. I too will freak out if a sector gets destroyed or if someone beats up an entire city single handedly.

    And after reading the new Ambush Bug this week, just HOW does Keith Giffen still have a job? He’s tearing Didio a new one.

  14. I mean I know you buy 100 Bullets normally

    No I don’t.

    and I could have sworn you get DMZ as well

    I used to, but I’ve switched over to waiting for the collections on that one.

    I have to say, I always thought Phonogram’s indie music setting was mostly window-dressing for their super-nifty magic world rules and that they’d work equally well with any other influential creative scene, like late 20s jazz or early 80s graffiti.

    Agreed–again, I loved the first series just fine, and I’d never heard of Kenickie or the Manic Street Preachers or Echobelly before I read it, and I still don’t particularly care for Oasis–but actually getting the references made it even more enjoyable.

    Also, a Gillen/McKelvie breakdancing/graffiti comic would be fucking righteous.

    Is this a worthy prequel, or the start of a new series, or what?

    It’s some reprints and a gag story, but it has a cover of Santa Claus as a monkey, so…

    You never review Invincible. Why is that?

    I do review it on occasion. In fact, I’m pretty sure I reviewed it… three, four issues ago? When Kid Omni-Man killed those guys? In fact, it was mentioned in the lettercol last issue. But I don’t review it often because I often don’t have anything new to say about it. I love the book, and it’s been well established by this point that Kirkman and Ottley are doing a pretty fantastic comic every month, so just assume that’swhat I think unless I say differently.

    Really? Nothing to say about Batman 682? I’m really surprised. I was sure you’d have this on your Best of the Week list.

    Batman 682 came out last week, I mentioned it briefly in the big post on 681 that I did.

  15. there is the almost mandatory lurid scene of decapitation that we’ve all come to expect from Johns

    Is there a reason, stated or theorized, why Johns see-saws between bringing back or dismembering characters? Just curious.

  16. We need to put Johns on the Gentleman Ghost and see what he does with a character who is pre-decapitated and back from the dead.

  17. FYI, indie haters: for the first issue at least, The Singles Club is way more dance-pop than indie. Indeed the club it’s set in has a no-male-singers rule. I’m still reeling from how cool it is that a mainstreamish comic is referencing the Pipettes like that.

  18. “Well, did anybody else notice that Junior talks a lot like Herbie Popnecker?”

    He totally does.
    That’s actually Simone’s big reveal at the end of the series. And it explains why he’s got “all the Arkham guys shakin’ in their boots” and how he got the card from Neron in first place; he bopped them with his lollipop.

  19. “I’m still reeling from how cool it is that a mainstreamish comic is referencing the Pipettes like that.”

    Original Pipettes or “all new” Pipettes?

  20. It’s set in 2006 so it’s V2 Pipettes.

    (V1 had Julia-now-of-indelicates)
    (V2 – Gwenno Joins, Julia leaves)
    (V3 – Gwenno stays, Rose & Riot Becki leaves, more people join whose names I don’t know off by heart)

    KG

  21. You can tell it’s V2 from the poster on Penny’s wall. I first saw them as V2 Pipettes, so it’s pretty much perfect for me.

  22. “I mean I know you buy 100 Bullets normally”

    No I don’t.

    Huh. Reading too many comics bloggers I guess. Any particular reason you don’t? Just not an Azzarello fan?

  23. Any particular thoughts on this week’s Amazing Spider-Man? I enjoyed it, but then I was probably the only person excited to see The Blank, ’cause I really liked the West Coast Avengers mini-series.

    Also, your thoughts on Booster Gold would be appreciated. I liked it, but it fetl as though something was missing, that I can’t define.

  24. It’s always nice to see Roger Stern getting some work, especially on Spider-Man. But after the two stellar issues in a row, it felt more like just the average story, albeit an enjoyable one. And I think it says a lot about Marcos Martin and Paolo Rivera that they can make even Lee Weeks look like a piker.

    (Well, not a piker… Weeks is still pretty damn good. But still!)

    As for Booster Gold, you’re right. It’s fun enough, but the zing of the Johns/Katz scripts was missing.

  25. haven’t read the article yet. Couldn’t get past the song excerpt yet: Does anyone have friends that are calling yoo hoo? I swear to all that’s unholy that if any friend ever does that to me, they are dead to me from that point on. And considering where I work started with the Christmas music on all Saints Day they just might really be dead if they sing the song…

  26. My love for the X-Men era when Storm had a mohawk and Dazzler was a key member of the team knows no bounds. A nostalgia thing, no doubt, and I won’t defend it. It just is. So that Spider-Man team-up is going to be a must buy for me.

    The fact it might not suck will just be icing.

  27. SOO glad Phonogram is back! I’ve seen both CSS and the Long Blondes this year (shame they had to break up by the way.) Glad your musical tastes are now as hot and enjoyable as your blog is in general! Keep it up, I have half my workmates reading your column now!

  28. I’m shocked you didn’t review the “reads like a GOOD comic from the 80’s Amazing Spidey” from this week. I thought it was wonderful, and EXACTLY like what I grew up on without a forced nostalgia feel.

  29. I’ve come to believe that Johns uses decapitation because it is an expedient method of death, rather than out of blood-soaked malice toward certain characters.

    Decapitation is perfect sequential art shorthand; it only takes one panel. A head so removed makes more room for dialogue(or general story advancement), methinks.

  30. Well, did anybody else notice that Junior talks a lot like Herbie Popnecker?

    So, Herbie’s gone bad? Simone’s playing a riff on Mister Mxyzptlk in Moore’s “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”

    …Yes, I’m married. Why do you ask?

  31. And after reading the new Ambush Bug this week, just HOW does Keith Giffen still have a job? He’s tearing Didio a new one.

    Did it not occur to you that maybe Dan Didio, unlike his online critics, actually has a sense of humor?

  32. “The story functions as a sequel of sorts to both Kraven’s Last Hunt and Fall of the Mutants, and brother, does it read like it–but in a good way. ”

    If they got the character looks right, the story would need to function as a sequel to the Mutant Massacre. Storm had a full head of hair after The Fall of the Mutants. This story, just from the lineup on the cover, hits between X-Men 214 and 215 or X-Men 218 and 220.

    I have not read it. That’s just from the cover and the kick to the face posted by the blogmeister here.

  33. If they got the character looks right, the story would need to function as a sequel to the Mutant Massacre.

    Awp, you’re right. Sorry, I always get those two confused.