The Walking Dead: Vol 19

This was a good one! Fucking action packed. Just when I thought it was a bridge to another cliff-hanger, no, they still brought the goods. Exciting read for sure.

Once again, very stoked to see how this plays out. I really dig Jesus and King Ezekiel. Two really cool characters. When Ezekiel was explaining his relationship with his pet tiger, Shiva, it almost brought a tear to my eye. I can relate, brother.

Of course there was the obligatory moment when I wasn't sure if a character or two were male of female. But that happens every book because TWD is the best book out there with the worst art. Sorry, it could be so much better.

Very satisfying read, though.

100 Bullets: First Shot, Last Call

I bought this noir book a while back and just finally read it. I didn't want to get hooked when I had too much on my plate. So now that it freed up a bit I was ready to plunge the needle.

Looking at the artwork for the cover of the first book, and you wouldn't be retarded for thinking this was a Sin City knock-off. Thankfully the hard-boiled criminal noir stands on its own. The characters don't have that glamorized, archetypical Bukowski element that you'd expect. This is Chicago. This is now. These are "gangstas" not "gangsters." There are no "dames," only "chicas" and "bitches." You get where I'm going.

Speaking of dialogue...I'm not totally sold on it. Sometimes it kind of reads like a honky trying to "speak ghetto." Feels a bit freakin stereotypical. A bit cheesy and forced.

The art is solid. It has its own style. It's tight and detailed, yet expressive. I dig.

The story is unfolding into an interesting idea. The first installment seems like it's a bit repetitive, but I'm interested to see how it ties into future books as the characters intertwine.

I'll probably try picking up a bunch of the books used on Amazon or something.

What would you do with 100 untraceable bullets?

Saga: Volume One

So comic books, err graphic novels, I don't know where to start... I want to love comic books the way that I want to love video games. I feel that both mediums have so much potential and yet in most cases, don't seem to follow through. Now, I'll be honest, I've played more video games than I've read comics. I like to read the Walking Dead, because I love zombies, and I've read the Watchman, because it's supposed to be the best comic ever. Both are good, but I wouldn't say great. That said, the Prez is always talking about comic books and how much he digs them. So I decided to get in on the ground level with a new(ish) series called 'Saga'. It's by the same dude who did 'Y: The Last Man', which I'm told by reputable sources, the Prez included, is incredible.

Saga is a sci-fi story about two warring planets of two different, for a lack of a better term, alien races. A couple (one from each planet) fall in love and have a baby. The main characters are looked upon as defectors, and are hotly pursued by both armies and some bounty hunters. The story is simple, but intriguing enough to keep me reading. The artwork is beautiful, and uncensored, which I can appreciate. 

I really enjoy science fiction when it's really well done. It's a genre that I don't think gets enough respect (Side note: I can't wait to see Elysium). And while Saga isn't the thoughtful, sophisticated sci-fi story I crave, it fills a void for me. This is the first comic that I've read where I'm invested enough in the characters to keep reading. I found this to be a fun read and I am looking forward to reading future volumes.

The Walking Dead: Vol 18

This one was hotly anticipated. After the mindfuck of issue 100...god damn. What's Rick's plan?

"What Comes After" delivers the goods. There are some really grim moments in this one. It's got a lot of action. Some crazy shit happens. I dig the current situation they're in. It's a rough one. But the characters are interesting. There's a lot of tension as things unfold. What exactly is Rick's gameplan? Gotta wait and find out...

I feel like there's a lot of twists and turns jammed into this particular volume. Some real dark territory. After issue 100 I don't think anything's off the table.

Some lazy-ass artwork at times. Annoying that such a high-profile comic has some real lazy drawings.

Again, can't wait for the next TPB. Chop chop.

Conan: Queen of the Black Coast

The thirteenth trade in the Dark Horse series. This one sees a bit of a departure from everything we've read prior.

First off, all the content creators for volume thirteen are different from volume twelve. I wasn't super stoked on twelve (if I recall), so this wouldn't have been a big issue had they all be replaced with superlative artists. But it's a bit hit and miss. The text is fine. But the story makes Conan seem a lot more vulnerable than he's ever been depicted. Very out of character to me at times. And a bit disjointed in its narrative.

Since when does Conan worry about dying? When does his life actually lay in the hands of another? Fuck that, Conan is always king of his own destiny. He doesn't give a fuck and no one can save Conan cuz Conan can decapitate anyone and everyone within arms reach. He'll do it with his bare hands. So, plotwise I thought it was a touch weird and more feminine than we're used to seeing.

Speaking of which, Conan wasn't drawn as the über-muscular northron we're used to seeing. He was depicted with a more pedestrian body. That's not to say he wasn't ripped, but he wasn't Conan ripped. I believe this story breaks from the timeline that the Nemidian Chronicles had established and it appears that it's a younger Conan. Maybe that's why.

There's been no foreword / introduction in the last three books. They switched some details around on book eleven. The spine is different and the content is a bit paired down. What started off as a ridiculously strong series for me, has been slowly losing its magic touch. I'm still gonna buy it faithfully, but I hope the pendulum swings back in favor of the Conan we were introduced to in the first half dozen books. The real Conan.

This is totally bizarre and I'd return the book if I hadn't bought it on Amazon and couldn't be bothered, but one of the signatures in the book was inserted upside down! All of a sudden I'm reading the book and the pages are flipped. So I have to turn the book and read 8 or 16 pages, then return to where I left off and continue right side up. So weird.

Conan rules.

Criminal: The Deluxe Edition Volume 2

I was comic shopping with Eric the other day and this bad boy was just sitting there. I didn't know there was a second edition. I had to have it.

I reviewed the first deluxe edition last year and said it was probably the best comic I'd read in 2012. Well, I think this might be even better than the first edition! I want to start right back at the beginning again. Books this good can't go too long without repeating readings.

Read the first review. That sums up the book. It's a modern-day noir with AMAZING art. It's cinematic. You get sucked into Brubaker and Phillips' world from the first word and first shadow. Ridiculously good. Get it!!!!!!!

Leviathan

I can't remember where I first came across this book. It definitely popped up in my google Reader feed somehow. The cover intrigued me so I read a bit about it.

It was originally published in parts in the 2000AD Megazine, so it immediately scored points with me. British authors writing about some gnarly mile-long evil ship from the roaring twenties. Cool. I'm in.

I picked the book up used on Amazon. I like the cover stock. Feels good. Well produced. The TPB itself contains the original Leviathan story, plus 3 or 4 mini stories that spun off the original.

D'Israeli's art is different. He inverts his lines in a way you don't see very often. Outlining with white instead of black, and whatnot. It's cool. The book is definitely succinct. There's no meandering. Edginton does a good job of editing out superfluous plot details. The Leviathan was supposed to be somewhat like the Titanic...only it's been at sea for decades now, never running out of fuel, and never able to make contact with life. It's essentially floating in limbo. Why? You'll have to read the book to find out.

I like the iconography in the book. I like the deco grandeur and the quintessentially aristocratic landed gentry that make up the first class passengers of the Leviathan. The whole package is well done. It's like the Great Gatsby meets the Great Deceiver.

It's a quick read. It's not amazing or anything. But it was worth the time.

Black Blizzard

I'm literally buying all of Tatsumi's catalog whenever I see his work. You know I went bananas over The Pushman, Abandon the Old in Tokyo, and Good-Bye.

So here's Black Blizzard. An early caper about a couple crooks on the lam. Murder, mystery, women, alcohol, great twists, and a gripping yarn. It's cool to see where Tatsumi came from. I definitely prefer The Pushman era of fucking fucked up sordid visions and indictments of Japanese culture. But Black Blizzard is cool, too. I dig the presentation; the paper stock and printing.

I've yet to read a Drifting Life (his massive autobiographical comic), but it's on my list o' comics to pick up. I know the creation of Black Blizzard is documented in A Drifting Life.

Yeah, Tatsumi rules. This book was tight. The only thing I'll say is that if you're new to Tatsumi, start with one of the titles listed above. But if you know him, you can't go wrong with checking this out at all!

Conan: Throne of Aquilonia

Volume 12 of the current Conan series by Dark Horse.

It would take an act of Crom to fuck up this series. By and large, it's pretty fucking awesome. Hence I'm religiously purchasing each trade as it comes out. BUT I gotta say the current penciler and writer aren't my favorite duo. There's some real clunky exposition. Just some ungainly scripting. And the art is pretty harsh. Lots o' angles. Not a terribly mature style.

And looking back on this story...quite an absence of boobs and booty. But some witty details to be caught, no less. I like Conan stroking his chin in the background as a fine lass saunters past in the fore. Good times at the local pub.

So, volume 12 is good. How could it not be? But I hope volume 13 is better. This just left me wanting  a bit more.

Crom's balls!

Sláine – The Horned God

So, like I said before, I couldn't wait to re-read "the Horned God."

You can read the original post above for my initial response, if you're so inclined. The second reading was fucking brilliant. I got sucked into Bisley's artwork even more. Since I knew the storyline already I could focus on his art. It's a goddamn masterpiece. I was constantly in awe of how incredible EVERY panel was. How did he paint such consistently incredible shit? It's such a long book. It's so grande. It's like holding an art gallery in your hand. The caliber is unmatched to this day.

The story is great. So relevant. One hallmark of a masterpiece is being timeless. "the Horned God" definitely ticks that box.

Honestly, it might be the best comic of all time. It's that good.

Bisley's perspectives! So damn dynamic. And his trademark colors are so rich and beautiful. Greatest comic artist ever.

Good-Bye

Nothing to elaborate on that I didn't already cover here when I first read it last May.

Tatsumi is brilliant. I've added at least three of his other books to my Amazon WishList for future procurement. The thing is, he's grim as fuck, but there's a poetry about his work. A lightness and elegance to the depression and mania. Unlike Stray Bullets (which I just reviewed), when Tatsumi covers neurosis and scum you want to go back and read it again and again. It's more palatable. I just love the simple way he tells stories. You should check him out...

Abandon the Old in Tokyo

So, I had my Remicade infusion today and brought some books to read. I got through Abandon the Old in Tokyo and then promptly fell asleep and didn't get to the others! Next time...

I picked this book up in London over the summer when Hammer of Doom and I were there with our old ladies. I gave it a proper review at the time, which you can read here.

It's fucking brilliant and I was glad to read it for the second time.

Stray Bullets: Innocence of Nihilism

Sanguis told me to check this title out after we were bullshitting about the awesomeness of Criminal and comic noir in general. I respect his opinion so I grabbed a copy from Amazon, since it's currently out of print.

He said it was super gritty and low-life and he wasn't freakin joking. Stray Bullets documents the debased behavior of weirdos and outsiders. The book is made up of a bunch of stories, seven in total, I believe. They all take place within a few years of each other and the characters weave in and out of each situation. It's one big connected universe centered around Baltimore, MD. Have you ever been to Baltimore? It makes Detroit look safe. That's how fucked up Baltimore is.

Stray Bullets is a DOWNER. It's like Sin City if Yoshihiro Tatsumi wrote it. The glamour and romance is sucked out, and you're just left with s-c-u-m. Life sucks, everything goes wrong, people are shit.

I really dig the high contrast black/white art. The stories are well-written. It's a really good book. I'm just not looking to read the whole series. I think I'll stick with volume one for now. There are some interesting plots, and he really keeps you guessing. He sets you up with one expectation and then fucks you up with the next panel. Throws you off track. It's great. It's an original book.