Attack of the Killer Comic Reviews! n o.8 *********************************************************** This week's haul: Angela 2 (Image) Bone 17 (Cartoon) Grendel Tales: Homecoming 2 (Dark Horse) Incredible Hulk 427 (Marvel) Rare Bit Fiends 7 (King Hell) Sandman Mystery Theatre 24 (DC/Vertigo) Shade, the Changing Man 57 (DC/Vertigo) Soulsearchers and Company 10 (Claypool) Usagi Yojimbo 11 (Mirage) X-Files 1 (Topps) Mailbox haul: Go Go Boy ashcan (Mermaid) Mortal Coil ashcan (Mermaid) *********************************************************** Angela 2 McFarlane could take a few lessons from this guy. Gaiman manages to make the most ridiculous plots, characters, and situations plausible. And there's more photos of everyone's favorite sweatshop. ($2.25, Image) Bone 17 I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the direction that Bone seems to be going in. Some important revelations have placed this book firmly in the realm of high fantasy, and I hope that's not at the expense of the characterization and comedy that makes this book a favorite. ($2.95, Cartoon Books, P.O.Box 16973, Columbus, OH 43216) Grendel Tales: Homecoming 2 (of 3) This is a rather low key issue, by Grendel standards anyway. The main characters spend most of their time talking and walking around naked. Not that that's bad; characterization is always welcome, especially in a book so often dominated by action. ($2.95, Dark Horse) Incredible Hulk 427 (deluxe version) The arrival of new artist Liam Sharpe has seemed to have prompted Peter David to veer off in a new direction. It's six months later, and Bruce and Betty are holed up in Florida, next door to the Man-Thing's haunting grounds, the Everglades. Sharpe's layouts continue to impress, but his Imagized characters leave much to be desired. The Hulk's muscles and Betty's breasts are larger than their respective heads. Even the local police chief is pumped up to extra-human size. And, though she's got a new hairdo, I should be able to recognize Betty. Oh, and I'm not pleased with the price hike scam, but what can I do? ($1.95, Marvel) Rare Bit Fiends 7 How does he do it? I'm lucky I can remember one of my dreams, much less enough to fill a book each month. Plus a guest dream from Moebius and more mini-dreams from Ashley Holt. ($2.95/$4 ppd., King Hell, P.O.Box 1371, West Townshend, VT 05359-1371) Sandman Mystery Theatre 24 It's the conclusion of the "Dr. Death" arc, and a turning point in Wes and Dian's relationship. The team of Wagner, Seagle, Davis, and Locke turn out a first rate issue, as always, and Guy Davis will be drawing the next arc too. It doesn't get much better than this. ($1.95, DC/Vertigo) Shade, the Changing Man 57 Shade's kid attempts to wring one last fling out of life before he ages to death, while Andrea Merdoch (who is this woman?) is toting around Kathy's corpse in the back of her car. ($1.95, DC/Vertigo) Soulsearchers and Company 10 In an especially funny issue of Soulsearchers, they look back on the group's first case and how Bakara arrived on Earth. But we still don't know how Arnold became a...whatever he is. This issue features multiple artists, as regular penciller Amanda Conner is, unfortunately, preparing to move on to better-paying pastures. No word yet on the new regulars. ($2.50, Claypool, P.O.Box 1099, Forestville, CA 95436) Usagi Yojimbo 11 Usagi is one pissed off rabbit. He's after General Fujii, the bandit who has stolen his swords. We also get a glimpse of the sword making process, a sacred art in feudal Japan. ($2.75/$4.25 ppd., Mirage, P.O.Box 486, Northampton, MA 01061) X-Files 1 Stefan Petrucha writes a complex, but not confusing, story about prophecies, flying saucers, and the military. He does a good job, though he does veer a bit close to the absurd at times. Also, he's got a good ear for dialogue. I can practically hear these characters speaking their lines. I wouldn't be surprised if he penned a television episode in the future. Charles Adlard's art is not bad, but he doesn't do a good job of making the characters recognizable, unlike cover artist Miran Kim. ($2.50, Topps) Go-Go Boy ashcan Mortal Coil ashcan These are preview issues from a Canadian comic book company, Mermaid Publications. The first issues of these books, and three other titles, should be in stores early this year. When I looked at Mortal Coil, I thought "Does the world really need another Image imitator?" But then I read the book, and it wasn't what I had feared. It's about a group of government superheroes called Redline who are formed to fight crime in 2110. There also seems to be a war going on in a Colorado prison called Mortal Coil, sort of an "Escape from New York" riff. We only get a glimpse of the story here. It needs to be fleshed out quite a bit, but it looks promising. There are a few Imagesque fetishes, like President Nixion, who sports a long ponytail and totes a large assault weapon, but on the whole, the art is not too overbearing and is anatomically correct. Go-Go Boy, written and drawn by Neil Johnston, is a book about a gay hero with the power of super speed. In the story department, it is very strong. It's a thoroughly irreverent book, with a great title, strong characters, and an emphasis on interaction instead of action. Go-Go Boy has money problems, boyfriend problems, and spends more time hanging out with his friends than fighting crime. Not that he's neglecting that, mind you. The art, unfortunately, needs some work. I think the title would be better served if Johnston handed the art chores over to someone else. If they find a better penciller, Mermaid will have a first rate book on their hands. (Mermaid Publications, P.O.Box 91976, West Vancouver, B.C., Canada V7V 4S4)) *********************************************************** Attack of the Killer Comic Reviews is posted on rec.arts.comics.misc, rec.arts.comics.info, and Comics-L whenever I feel like it. An abridged version is sometimes posted to rec.arts.comics.alternative and the comix mailing list. Feedback is welcome and encouraged. I also publish a print fanzine called Stick Figures which is in need of submissions and subscriptions. (Hint, hint) Comics and stuff sent to me will be reviewed here and possibly in Stick Figures.