The Comic Bloke’s Review Block #3 – 3/17/06
By: Chris Delloiacono
How-dee, to one and all! The new format is starting to take off and this week is the biggest and best week on the Block so far! Keep those letters coming in, and by all means send me some recommendations for future reviews.
Let’s get to it!
DMZ #5
“Crosstown”
Writer: Brian Wood
Artists: Riccardo Burchielli & Brian Wood
Colorist: Jeromy Cox
Publisher: Vertigo > DC Comics
Brian Wood has risen to the top of my list of favorite writers. His stories are engrossing, the characters seem like real people, and he’s adept at writing one-off stories that propel the bigger story forward.
This mont’s DMZ is the best issue thus far.
By crafting a brilliant chase sequence, Wood and artistic collaborator Riccardo Burchielli take us Crosstown and show off what we haven’t seen of the DMZ. The chase is incredible, but we aren’t just sightseeing. Wood unfurls a crisp internal monologue that fills in the gaps from last issue and sets us flying on towards the next issue.
I’m telling you, go out and pick up the first five issues of DMZ; it’s that damn good. If you don’t have the cabbage to pick ‘em all up, then jump aboard with this issue, it’s near perfection!
Score: A – Chip of the Week!!!
Truth, Justin, and the American Way
Writers: Aaron Williams & Scott Kurtz
Artist: Guiseppe Ferrario
Publisher: Image Comics
I was going to review the long delayed Atheist #3 this week, but my shop didn’t get any copies. Intent on filling the void, I decided to pick this up based purely on the enticing artwork of Guiseppe Ferrario.
Ferrario’s animated style didn’t fail to dazzle, but the story barely kept my interest.
I admit the script contained a handful of funny nods to the ‘80s, but Williams and Kurtz went out of their way to throw in far too many sly references to the decade. They apparently used a cookie cutter to churn out the rest of the book, since there’s nothing even minutely original contained within. I like well written in-jokes as much as the next guy, but this never steps beyond being an in-joke.
The next time this book’s released it’ll take two good comics failing to reach my pull stack for me to pick it up. On a positive note, I will keep an eye out for Mr. Ferrario’s name in the future.
Score: C
Conan #26
“Seeds of Empire”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Timothy Truman
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse has me worried after reading the latest issue of Conan. This was a downright bad pseudo fill-in and there’s apparently no sustained direction (and consequentially a regular writer) for seven more months. That’ll kill a book’s momentum.
It’s mind-boggling this was written by Kurt Busiek, who’s written every issue of this iteration of the series to date.
What gives?
Last time, we were left with Conan in peril, yet this month we jump forward to the adventures of an older Conan interspersed with the return of the prince and wazir from issue #0. Two years ago these characters served as a wonderful introduction to the new series, but now they stunt the proceedings and haul the tale down into seemingly unending boredom.
When you’re not even halfway through a comic and you’re counting how many pages are left, the creative team goofed.
Conan can’t even save the day, as his adventures turn out to be tiring dreck linked to the prince’s own storyline. I have no problem with diplomacy and dialogue taking over a sword & sorcery book, but this is downright tedious.
The only bright note comes from Tim Truman who fills in for Cary Nord with nary a drop in quality. Truman best be as adroit at writing the barbarian as in illustrating him, as he’s signed up as writer when #33 hits.
Score: D – Cow Chip of the Week!!!
Retro Rocket #1
“Soul of an Old Machine”
Writer: Tony Bedard
Artist: Jason Orfalas
Publisher: Image Comics
CrossGen’s Negation was one of the finest ongoing comics of the past half decade. Tony Bedard and Mark Waid were the initial writers but it became Bedard’s baby before long. Due to CrossGen’s collapse, Negation never reached a fitting conclusion. At least Tony Bedard has been getting a lot of high profile work since the fall of CrossGen.
Retro Rocket is my first sample of Bedard’s creator owned material. It isn’t sheer perfection, but it turns out to be a well executed premiere.
The concept surrounds an obsolete mech named Retro Rocket trying to keep up with new improved models. Bedard adds in ample amounts of gravitas. Retro gave up his humanity years ago and is now merely a brain inside robotic armor. The newer models are strictly suits that the wearers can shed at the end of the work day.
There’s an extra monkey wrench in the form of Retro’s new mechanic, a young female that raises his internal temperature in more ways than one. Also, lurking in the shadows is a big, bad villain. So we’re looking small and big at the same time.
Mr. Bedard has aligned himself with a top notch artist with tremendous versatility. Illustrator Jason Orfalas brings this world with fighting robots to magnificent life. The power, awe, and majesty of these machines are highlighted on every page. Orfalas also has no trouble drawing sexy women and other human characters.
Bedard and Orfalas have succeeded in making Retro Rocket feel like a big time licensed book with a cartoon, toy line, and lunchboxes behind it. The proceedings almost feel like they’re part of Robotech, Transformers, Ultra Man, or Voltron, except there’s an remarkable depth of characterization!
Egads! You won’t find that in many licensed titles.
Score: B
Advanced Review:
Living in Infamy #3
Writer: Benjamin Raab & Deric A. Hughes
Pencils: Greg Kirkpatrick
Inkers: John Lucas
Colorist: Allen Passalaqua
Publisher: Ludovico Technique
I heartily recommend picking up Living in Infamy #3 next week when it ships to your local comic shop. If you haven’t grabbed the first two issues, get those too. If your shop doesn’t carry it, then ask for it by name.
Back on the same riff as the previous review, Living in Infamy is the definition of a well executed creator owned project.
First, get a killer concept: Infamy, Arizona is the location of a witness protection program for super-villains.
Second, populate the book with well crafted characters.
Third, create a 4-6 issue storyline that rocks every single month.
Kerching! It’s a winner.
Now that we’ve gone beyond the halfway point of the 4-issue miniseries, Raab and Hughes are turning up the pace considerably. The storyline steps up a notch and so does the artwork as Kirkpatrick and Lucas prove they can keep up with the writers.
The series is proving to be masterfully plotted. Raab and Hughes laid their groundwork perfectly, now the pieces are falling into place bringing the reader a bountiful supply of pleasure for their patience. All the characters are here for a reason, the subplots are assembling into a giant tapestry of comic artistry, and thanks to the timely arrival of antagonist Baron Skaar on the final page, there’s one more issue of excitement ahead.
I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.
Score: A
Catchin’ Up:
Fear Agent #1-3
Writer: Rick Remender
Pencils: Tony Moore
Inkers: Sean Parsons, Mike Manley
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Publisher: Image Comics
I joined this party late, but in plenty of time to dance to the music. Fear Agent #3 shipped a few weeks ago and it’s worth tracking down along with the first couple of issues.
There isn’t much good sci-fi available in the world of comics. Come on, does anyone still read the Star Wars comics from Dark Horse? Besides that, what else is there?
The last great sci-fi comic was Negation, which I mentioned above.
Fear Agent is the first space opera in a dog’s age. I’ve seen some great reviews where Heath Huston, the Fear Agent, was likened to Han Solo. That’s only true if we use the pre-wussed-out version that blasted Greedo without a second thought.
Where have you gone George Lucas?
In any event, Rick Remender and Tony Moore have a found the perfect recipe for comic sci-fi. The Fear Agent kicks all kinds of alien ass and it’s unrepentantly fun. Remende’s scripts are sharp and Moore’s art reminds me why The Walking Dead was never the same once he departed. There’s plenty of action, freaky aliens, and striking locales.
This has been pitch perfect from day one. With a script and art like this, I’ll take a ride with the Fear Agent anytime!
Score: A
It’s about time to close up shop, but first”¦
Kick to the Bollocks:
This week, I’m sending an enthusiastic kick to the bollocks to Hollywood!
Two remakes in theatres this past week, huh”¦
Make an original damn movie!
Nobody needs to see a dumbed down version of The Shaggy Dog or The Hills Have Eyes. Perhaps I’d care if the movie making folk showed a modicum of innovation and created an amalgamation of the two films instead of repackaged fossils.
The Hills Have Shaggy Eyes
The Shaggy Dog Eyed Hills
The Dogs Have Hills for Eyes
Any one of these titles would begat a substantially more attractive film.
I hate to give all this wonderful advice for free”¦but what the hell.
Hollywood should take a real gamble and add one other film from yesteryear to the mix…
The Hills are Alive With Shaggy Dogs – A musical horror opus featuring Julie Andrews battling atomic mutant canines in Austria.
Now that’s a flick!
Make this one, and I’ll bring ten friends opening night.
Special thanks once again to Patti Maillaro for the imaging hilarity. Thanks, Peat!
Contact me at acegecko@comcast.net if you want to talk comics, have a book you’d like me to review, or just to bitch.
Bloke’s done. See ya next Friday!
