The Books I Want to Buy:
Gone to Amerikay
by Derek McCulloch and Colleen Doran; Vertigo, $24.99
Here’s the solicitation text for Gone to Amerikay, a new Vertigo graphic novel:
This sweeping, century-spanning graphic novel explores the vivid history of Irish émigrés to New York City via three intertwined tales, from a penniless woman raising a daughter alone in the Five Points slum of 1870, to a struggling young artist drawn to the nascent counterculture of 1960, the year America elected its first Irish-Catholic president.
Now, I love historical fiction, so this should appeal to me, but there’s something about it that makes me feel caution. I think it’s the emphasis on Irish-ness; it’s not a topic that naturally grabs my attention. Handled correctly, this could be a fascinating exploration of character and history, but it could also be a treacly, pro-American Dream piece of sap. I don’t know McCulloch’s writing, so can’t pre-judge.
On the other hand, I love Colleen Doran’s artwork, and therefore can’t wait to sit down and work my through this book. I don’t think I’ve read anything from her since she did the excellent Orbiter with Warren Ellis years ago, and it’s going to be great to see new art from her.
Rachel Rising Vol. 1 Shadow of Death
by Terry Moore; Abstract Studios, $16.99
Since the series began, I’ve been wanting to read Terry Moore’s Rachel Rising, but I haven’t been picking the monthly comics up because they feel a little short to be paying $4 a month for. I didn’t start reading his excellent series Echo until it was in trade, and I kind of believe that is the best way to read Moore’s work (I’m only one-third of the way through Strangers In Paradise).
I don’t know much about this series. It’s got something to do with a woman who wakes up in a shallow grave, and then tries to find out how she died. It appears somewhat similar to DC’s Resurrection Man, only without the other superpowers, as Rachel is frequently being killed and returning.
Nobody writes strong female lead characters like Moore does, and the premise of this book sounds like something he could really run with. I’m certain that this is going to be a very good book.
So, what would you buy Were Money No Object?
