Leave Your Spandex At The Door 6.23.04

Archive

Welcome one and all, to the preview-riffic 34th installment in the ongoing delayed saga that is ‘Leave your Spandex @t the Door”

Like every month, me and Dave ‘’God who snores like a man” Graham got together to give you an advance look at titles shipping in august. We call it ‘’PreviewScope”, cause it’s more fun this way.

As you know by now, Dave is heavier than me so his words leave a greater mark on the screen, appearing somewhat like this. I’m light as a feather, despite my stature, and just type regularly. On to the Previews!

LYS@D’S PREVIEW SPOTLIGHT:

BONE: THE ONE VOLUME EDITION TPB

When I first saw this I thought I was dreaming. How can such a small publisher have the sheer audacity to put this trade out? What you get in this lovely hardcover is the complete run of Paul Smith’s Bone. I’ll say that again the COMPLETE run of Bone in a single volume. That’s 1300+ pages all wrapped up inside a limited edition trade. I’ve read very few of the actual issues, but what I’ve read I have really enjoyed, and now I can get the whole run (that’s 55 issues) for $40. In fact, I’ve already pre-ordered this and I got a nice little discount as well getting the book for around £20 (that less than I paid for my Crisis Of Infinite Earths trade). Wow!

You can’t beat this kind of offer! Bone remains one of the greatest indy titles. Bone ‘s last issue came out last week, wrapping the epic saga of the Bone clan. I applaud this publishing strategy, and I hope to see similar moves from other publishers soon! A STRANGERS IN PARADISE mega-volume wouldn’t be too shabby, for example! I still tremble at the thought of the size of the thing though…

Oni Press

TOO MUCH HOPELESS SAVAGES DIGEST TPB

A collection of the third HOPELESS SAVAGES series. I’ve been getting these series in trade form, and I’ve become enamoured with the family’s adventures. The books focus on the four children of punk rock Dirk Hopeless and Nikki Savage… the Hopeless-Savages! In this third instalment, the oldest daughter, Arsenal, travels to Hong Kong for a kung-fu tournament, but someone slips a valuable and much sought-after package in her bag, which will get her into all sorts of trouble. And of course, the rest of the family don’t take too long to become involved.

I dug the hell out of the first HS series, and the second (despite my store only getting the occasional issue) left a lasting impression as well. I didn’t read any of this series in issues as I didn’t want another fractured reading experience, so I’ve been waiting for this trade. Jen Van Meter really immerses you in the twisted world of the Savage clan, and what’s more it’s a fun read.

SCANDALOUS
A sequel of sorts to DAYS LIKE THIS, featuring the same creators, J. Torres and Scott Chandler. DAYS LIKE THIS was a sweet and memorable look at the music industry of that time, following three teenage black girls trying to get their record deal. This new oneshot tackles a new setting in 50s Hollywood, following Paige Turner (he he), celebrity columnist who decides to go up against “the Tabloid Dick”, Harry Richards in order to become the queen of Hollywood gossip. Digest-sized for little under $10.

LOVE FIGHTS #12

The best new series of 2003 concludes this month as Andi Watson wraps up his addictive romance and mystery book set smack in the middle of a superhero world. The cover of this issue features simply a burnt match, referring (as the solicits reveal) to the death of the superhero, The Flamer. Simple in design, but simply the best cover of this month. DC should taker a few pointers from Oni and stop plastering the same boring Top Cow expatriate art on all their covers.

I recently picked up the first trade of this series (a nice digest-sized tpb, well done ONI) and it really is very impressive. Whilst there is a fantastical side to the concept, it’s the trueness and reality of the dialogue that keeps the comic fresh. It’s a real shame that the series is winding up, but it was great while it lasted. I look forward to more Andi Watson. And the covers are indeed fantastic.

OJO #1

Another new series by Sam Kieth, and while he is still publishing SCRATCH through DC, no less! This means a double Kieth fix for me in July! Annie is a small girl with a penchant for getting her pets killed in ungodly ways. Now she stumbles upon a small monster, Ojo, in the sewer pipes and takes it home. Will it suffer the same fate or will the karmic balance shift against Annie?

DC Comics

BATMAN: WAR GAMES

My opinion on crossovers is reasonably well-documented – put simply, I think they’re mostly a waste of good comics. Generally they are an attempt by publishers to increase sales on the more superfluous titles related to a character. There are some exceptions, however. The two that quickly spring to mind are BATMAN: NO MAN’S LAND and BRUCE WAYNE: MURDERER (before the drawn out and dull BW: FUGITIVE crossover kicked in). Hopefully this Batman crossover will be in the vein of those two, creating an engrossing, arcing story that warrants three months of issues spread throughout the entire Bat-line.

I remember Bob Wayne, during the Bristol DC panel, saying that ‘’yes, you WILL need to read every issue to get the story”. Who, in this day and age of $3/issue, can shell out that amount of cash for a crossover? The first month alone is 8 issues! During my formative years, I rather enjoyed the various Marvel crossovers that were blooming at the time, but I think the mega-events are a tradition best left forgotten. In any case, I’m picking my monthly issue of CATWOMAN, I just hope I can enjoy the story regardless of the cross-over plot. At least BIRDS OF PREY and GOTHAM CENTRAL are left alone.

BATMAN: THE 12-CENT ADVENTURE

The 10-CENT ADVENTURE brought me back to the Batman, giving me hope for the franchise. Slowly though that feeling has waned, leaving me with only two regular Bat-titles in my pull-list, GOTHAM CENTRAL and BIRDS OF PREY (which oddly enough aren’t being included in this crossover). Rumours abound as to what happens in the WAR GAMES event, but given that Spoiler (*ahem* sorry, I mean the new Robin) is heavily mentioned in the solicit for this first issue, I think that we can assume that Stephanie Brown is in for a tough time. The story is written by current NIGHTWING scribe, Devin Grayson, so it’s sure to be interesting.

I quite enjoy reading the adventures of She-Robin. I wasn’t all that enthused with Bill Willingham’s first issue on the title, but issue 126 with blondie pulled me in. Rich Johnston seems to believe she’s gonna bite in this crossover, too. I say it will be a great wasted opportunity if they off her and reinstate whatsisname as Robin. Just when you thought the DCU wasn’t allergic to change…

BATMAN #631

Part 8 of Act One of WAR GAMES. The only reason I’m mentioning this issue is that it’s written by FABLES and ROBIN writer Bill Willingham. Willingham’s an excellent writer, and I’m eager to see what he does with the Caped Crusader – even if it’s part of a contrived crossover storyline.

He DID write Bats in ROBIN, Dave! Where were you? ;-) I just hope all this sudden battiness doesn’t preface Bill taking on more DCU titles. I’d much prefer him to stay in the Vertigo imprint where he produces his best work.

BATMAN: DEATH AND THE MAIDENS TPB

As I write this the final issue of this miniseries hasn’t yet been released in the UK (comes out tomorrow actually) so I don’t know how it all turns out. But as of right now that’s irrelevant. The first few issues of the series were excellent, it went a little astray with the stuff with Bruce and his parents, but now that Ra’s al Ghul (and his estranged family) are back front-and-centre the story is back on track and has built to a decent climax. If you haven’t tried Greg Rucka and Klaus Janson’s series, this collection may be the best way to read it.

ROBIN: UNMASKED TPB

This trade collects the first arc of Bill Willingham’s run on the title. I’ve heard mixed reviews on the story, but it certainly interests me. Given the close relationship this story may have with the WAR GAMES event then it may just be worth picking up – especially if WAR GAMES turns out to be any good.

SUPERMAN ADVENTURES VOL.1: UP, UP AND AWAY! TPB
SUPERMAN ADVENTURES VOL.2: THE NEVER-ENDING BATTLE TPB

I’ve never read the Mark Millar SUPERMAN ADVENTURES issues, but I’ve heard some good things. And of course I’m a sucker for these digest-sized comics, it’s nice to see DC following Marvel’s lead in getting into this format. Oddly however, DC isn’t reprinting from issue #1, the first trade collects issues #16, 19, 22-24. I’m sure they have their reasons, but skipping issues in a trade seems a bad precedent to set (or return to).

I believe that’s when Millar came on board. I love these digest-sized trades too, they’re so fun (and cheap!). I’m no longer on a crusade to find a book to make me like superman (mission accomplished with SECRET IDENTITY, what a wonderful title), but I like to push my luck, on occasion. Millar’s work on this title has been recommended as the best Superman action comics, after all. Plus, I want to see it with my own two eyes, a Millar comic that is actually all-ages, and not just advertised as such!

DC PRESENTS:

We covered the first batch of these oneshots in last month’s PreviewScope. Each issue features two stories by different creative teams, with both stories based on a specific cover from DC’s past. This month, the issues that stand out for me are:

JLA
The Justice League gets attacked by their own weapons! It’s such a geek joy to see Bats getting sprayed in the face by his bat-belt! The first story is co-written by Harlan Ellison and Peter David, with art by Silver Age artist Joe Giella. Peter David AND Harlan Ellison! Second story by Marv Wolfman and Dustin Nguyen.
SUPERMAN
Supes faces off against a ghostly rugby player (rugby to us, football to the yanks out there). Featuring a team-up had longed for: Stan Lee and Darwyn Cooke!

I really wish DC would launch a monthly anthology title in this vein, with more mouth-watering creative pairings like these.

Wildstorm

ABSOLUTE PLANETARY HC

I’ve only a passing familiarity with PLANETARY, but what I’ve read I really have enjoyed. These “Absolute” editions from DC have been excellent so far, and I can’t see this being a disappointment. Add to that John Cassaday’s artwork in and over-sized format and this is a hard collection to pass up. Only problem is the $50 price tag. Maybe the trades would be a better option.

Live a little! With 12 issues reprinted here, that amounts to… (grabs calculator)… $4.20 per issue. That’s not really that much more expensive than the in
dividual issues, and you get better production values here. I’m evolving into a hardcover junkie, and this will be another great fix!

America’ Best Comics

TERRA OBSCURA v.2 #1

The sequel to last year’s Tom Strong spin-off, featuring the adventures of the obscure characters from Nedar comics, as they were re-imagined by Alan Moore in TOM STRONG #11-12. The book features a staggeringly large cast, one to put the Legion comics to shame, but Peter Hogan manages to juggle all of them quite effectively. Yanick Paquette also returns on the art chores. This time around, the heroes are called in to investigate a spaceship that heads towards Earth causing anomalies in the time continuum. The first series is still available in TPB form.

Vertigo

WE3 #1

A world where the government has been experimenting with using animals to replace soldiers. Cool. A rabbit, a cat, and a dog out on a journey home. Okay. The three animals are ultimate killing machines. Huh? This project has Grant Morrison written all over it – and I mean that in the best way possible. Art chores fall to the excellent Frank Quitely. This comic just screams “read me”.

Judging by the opening chapter of SEAGUY, Grant Morrison is really back in top form after the lacklustre closing chapter of his X-opus. I’m eagerly anticipating all his new DC projects, and especially this. Frank Quitely sequential art is a rare treat (he’s down to 4 issues a year, it seems), but I feel a bit sad that these issues will mostly feature kitties and bunnies, as I’m a fan of his (human) character design skills. –sigh-

ENDLESS NIGHTS SOFTCOVER COLLECTION

The critically acclaimed (and NY Times best-seller) collection of short stories by Neil Gaiman and an impressive assortment of international artists is finally being released in affordable softcover form, for the wallet-impaired. I couldn’t wait any longer, so I actually placed my order for the hardcover last week :-p. Truly, last year’s don’t-miss book!

Image

JACK STAFF VOL.2: SOLDIERS TPB

This trade collects issues #1-5 of the all-colour JACK STAFF series published by Image (as opposed to the previously collected BLACK AND WHITE trade collecting the independently published issues). Paul Grist tells a story that takes place in different time-frames that is just plain fun. Pick up the BLACK AND WHITE trade. Pick up this trade. You’ll enjoy them.

I sure did. I picked up the first two issues of Image’s JACK STAFF during Bristol and I was surprised at how good it really was! I really need to get a hold of the following issues to see how it all connects. All the various strands of the story from the past and the present of the hero keep overlapping in such a fascinating way, but it still complicated unless you read the whole thing in one sitting, I gather. As a new convert I can’t recommend this book enough! My stingy-sense â„¢ prohibits me from getting this trade though, as I’ve already shelled out half its price on the individual issues. Dave, could you mail me your copies? ;-)

DEEP SLEEPER

Phil Hester & Mike Huddleston’s mind-trippy limited series makes a surprising jump into Image’s ranks with its third issue. The first two issues were published by ONI PRESS, and are reprinted in a special OMNIBUS oneshot, while the series continues with its numbering. Image is indeed a much bigger ship than ONI, but how will that help the series if the first issue out of the house is numbered 3, and there’s no sign of a 1 or a 2, except for a pricey Omnibus? I got the first issues when they first came out of Oni (I actually buy every single thing out of Oni) and found it to be a real treat with exploration of the dream state and the ‘astral plane’. I hope this move leads to the title reaching a wider audience.

SYLVIA FAUST #1

An interesting premise in this new title by SWORD OF DRACULA’s Jason Henderson and Greg Scott. Apocalypse Drafthouse is a movie theatre which runs movie marathons hosted by fading b-movie stars. Original setting, and when you add a levitating mystery woman (named Sylvia Faust, no less) with powers to affect minds and matter, I can’t help but feel the tinge of pain in my lip from the hook!

Marvel

ULTIMATE NIGHTMARE #1
Warren Ellis writing an Ultimate Universe mini series. Okay, couldn’t have predicted that 12 months ago. But I think this’ll be an interesting little mini. Add to that the art of Trevor Hairsine (who impressed me greatly with his work on the last UltimateU mini, ULTIMATE SIX), and you’ve got yourself a project that attracts me.

Another ultimate X-Men/ Ultimates crossover… Amazing talent involved again, but the ultimate crossovers have a perfect track record of disappointment for me. Warren Ellis seems to be getting pretty cosy in the ultimate universe, as he is now actually writing 1/3 of the imprint’s monthly output!

ULTIMATE ELEKTRA #1

I’ve got two names for you – Mike Carey and Salvador Larocca. That’s enough to get me reading a comic. I read the first issue of ULTIMATE DAREDEVIL & ELEKTRA and enjoyed it. This version of the Elektra character interests me (as opposed to her 616 counterpart).

The jarring dissimilarities between the two versions had put me off at first, but I admit Rucka did an interesting re-imagining of the character in his previous mini. Mike Carey has NEVER (EVER, even slightly) disappointed in his work and I doubt he will start now. Marvel continues to snatch away DC’s top names for their ultimate projects, (with Ellis and Vaughan as the most recent examples) and it’s working well for them. I hope this projects acts as a springboard for Mike Carey into ‘stardom’, like in Bendis’ and Millar’s case, so that more people will get drawn into his impressive work on the Vertigo titles too. I’ll be talking more about this project with mike in an upcoming interview, so watch this space.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #54: ARACHNOMAN VARIANT

Erm…not sure what to make of this one at all. Is this Marvel coming up with a truly interesting idea? Or are they just trying to cash in on the Spider-Man movie by having another tie-in (or “alternative”) comic out there? Either way it’s Bendis and Bagley, so I’m sure it’ll at least be fun.

“Truly interesting”? They’ve just recolored the issue, giving the movie spidey a new color scheme, and changing some of the word balloons. Bendis would sell anything, and Marvel realised it long ago.

So what you’re telling me is that they’ve changed the colouring, and changed the dialogue, but kept the same general plot and art composition? Well, that sure sounds like Marvel output. Of course, I jest. But if that’s all they’ve done here, I’m less than impressed about the shear audacity of the company trying to cash in on the movie.

AVENGERS #500 DIRECTOR’S CUT

Foil-enhanced cover! Yup, you were wondering when they would rear their shiny little heads around the corner, weren’t you? This is essentially a reprinting of July’s Avengers #500, but with ‘behind the scenes’ extras and ‘historical bonuses’. Whatever that means… Who knows? Who cares? It’s foil-enhanced! Marvel is milking the Bendis cow: MOOOOOOO!!

Woot! “Foil Enhanced”, I’m all giddy!

CAPTAIN AMERICA #30

Batroc Ze Leaper! Diamondback! Nick Fury, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.! Funny that the return to classic superhero-fest coincides with the more mature Disassembling tie-in… Still, it’s good a return of the leaping Frenchman and Cap’s classic romantic interest.

X-FORCE #1

The only solicit this month that lists the artist first and the writer second. Liefield returning to X-Force was one of those nasty rumours going around last year that I refused to believe, but has come to pass. I’m not gonna say that this book shouldn’t be published, because I’ve seen myself that Liefield DOES indeed have a big fan following, for reasons I can’t fathom. This relaunch goes to show that Marvel has indeed retuned their x-clocks back to 1991, in terms of marketing and approach to this family of titles…

As for this book, it’s the return of the book’s founders, Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefield, with the original line-up more or less. Like 1991, Liefield is drawing and co-plotting, with Fabian scripting over the art, Marvel style. Although at times referred to as ongoing, 10 and 8 issues long, it’s now apparently 6 issues. Going once, going twice…

X-MEN UNLIMITED #4
The first of this issue’s stories is written by Lee ‘’Budgie” Barnett, who I had the pleasure of meeting during Bristol con. Lee is a comic talent, scripting the hilarious ‘Hypotheticals’ panels for the festival, and participating himself. In this story, Juggernaut is trying to prove himself to Cyclops so that he will let him teach kids’ PE. Heh. :)

X-MEN: THE END BOOK ONE – DREAMERS & DEMON #1 & #2
So let me get this straight. X-MEN: THE END is the story about the end of the X-Men franchise. The ultimate final battle. It’s not being told as a single miniseries, but rather as a “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, each part consisting of six comics. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. The LOTR reference scares me quite considerably, is it just Marvel trying to describe a trilogy to today’s illiterate youth? Or is there a more pressing reason for the comparison. could it be that this comic event contains a mammoth quest to destroy an object of power? Who knows, and I only have a passing interest in it.

I leafed through the (p)reprinted first issue in Marvel’s preview book, and it looks like another solid CC story. The first issue focuses on a young mutant, the teenage daughter of Deathbird and Bishop, picking up on the forgotten Seagle/Lobdell plotline. We also get cameos from new millennium b-class x-men, like the Exiles’ Nocturne, and Davis ‘good riddance’ Cameron from early X-Treme X-men. With the way the x-titles have operated in the last months, I’ve actually come to miss the convoluted continuity aspects of the books (I was a big x-junkie during the 90s, so I get a kick out of seeing obscure references I recognise). Claremont thrives on big epics, and he hasn’t had the chance to really do this sort of long-range project since he returned and had to abide to the 6-month mentality.

AMAZING SPIDERMAN #511

ou’ve read the news reports on various sites about Joe Q’s ‘accidental’ unveiling of the shadowy person on this cover, during a recent comics con in the U.S. The person shown on this cover bore a striking resemblance to Gwen Stacy. Wasn’t the clone saga set in the 90s? You know, the one who let loose Ben Reilly and the Gwen clone in the M.U. I just pray that is is the clone, because the alternative will lead to me dropping the spider-titles for good… (not that the return of the clones is a particularly jolly alternative, mind you)

MARVEL AGE SPIDERMAN #9

Featuring art by up-and-comer Patrick Scherberger, winner of last year’s COMIC BOOK IDOL competition from CBR. Patrick is a very talented young artist, and this is his first work with one of the major publishers, so give it a look!

RUNAWAYS #18

And another one bites the dust… Only in this case it’s only a ‘season’ finale, a la SLEEPER, ending the first volume of the series with a big wrap-up of all plotlines, and a promise to return to theiscast with a new title later this year. On one hand, I will really miss this book in the interim, but on the other, I can’t wait to see the resolution of all the mysteries! Who is the mole?!? TELL ME VAUGHAN!!! :O

Okay Manny, calm down. I loved the early Runaways issues, but now it just feels like its trying too hard. Maybe a break is exactly what the series needs to give it a new lease of life. *Braces himself for the wrath of Manolis*

GRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*

The latest issue, out this week, finally reveals the mole, in a truly fascinating cliffhanger. Like Y the last man, it’s a revelation that pushes you to reread the whole run to pick up on the backstory you didn’t notice at first! BKV loves his layers ;)

X-STATIX #26

Don’t think I haven’t noted the irony that old-school X-Force is relaunching the same month that the fresh, mature and interesting version of the book is getting cancelled. And just as it was getting back to top shape, with the current X-Statix versus Avengers storyline being the best story published by Marvel this year! This is my current favourite title, with a cast I’ve come to really care for in the last 3 years, and a story that kept pleasantly surprising me with its twists and turns. It’s the last of the Quesada/Jemas creative teams left and its demise marks the end of an era for the publisher…

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Coming up next week: well, hopefully a new column. But you never know. I like to keep you all on your toes, don’t I? ;)
As always, I’m waiting for your comments through email or in the official LYS@D discussion thread.

Manolis Vamvounis
a.k.a. Doc Dooplove

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

ah, the good old Dr Manolis, the original comics Greek. He's been at this for sometime. he was there when the Comics Nexus was founded, he even gave it its name, he even used to run it for a couple of years. he's been writing about comics, geeking out incessantly and interviewing busier people than himself for over ten years now and has no intention of stopping anytime soon.