I’ve been travelling, and so am still not completely caught up on new comics.
Best Comic of the Fortnight:
Rare Flavours #6 – I have really loved this book. Ram V and Felipe Andrade made a really special comic about Indian food, memory, myth, and ultimately, connections between people. The fifth issue wrapped up most of the plot, so I was not sure what to expect from this one. Mo gives a speech at a screening of his documentary, and it summarizes the themes of this series, as he talks about his mother and her kitchen, while sharing her recipe for an iconic dessert. This book was more delicate and sensitive than most comics about a man-eating demon should be, and it gave me some things to think about. I love Andrade’s art, and how the colours reflected the story so perfectly. I really need to read V and Andrade’s previous series, the Many Deaths of Laila Starr.
Quick Takes:
Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 – This is a collection of three short stories that help set up the Absolute Power series. In one, Amanda Waller sends Task Force X to capture Jay Nakamura, and he’s not happy to see his friend Dreamer working against him. In the second story, Waller has Time Commander restore the Failsafe robot that Batman just spent two story arcs defeating, so it can come to her side. In the third, we see how she gathered up Brainiac’s “Queen” from the just-finished House of Brainiac story. I guess we’re all set for the big event now.
Animal Pound #4 – I guess Tom King and Peter Gross are going all-in with their updating to George Orwell’s Animal Farm to reflect the current political moment in the US. The shaky alliance between dogs, cats, and rabbits that has allowed the pound to flourish since the revolution is in great danger of collapse now that Piggy is in charge of things. At the end of the last issue, Piggy decided to eat one of the rabbits, and now he denies that this was against the law, or that it was wildly supported by many, including other rabbits. What follows, after Piggy’s exhortations to “be animals again” is a dark period, with the rabbits becoming targets. The cats are not happy to accept rabbits into their play enclosure, and soon Fifi, the most influential of the cats, finds herself in the position of defending the ideals of the revolution to her allies. King’s portrayal of Donald Trump as a piggish English bulldog is pretty spot-on, and it makes for some uncomfortable reading in the same week that Trump has pulled ahead in the polls. The last page surprised me, as we see similarities between the cats and rabbits and some minority voters in America. This is a brilliant piece of political satire, and if I taught high school English, I’d love to teach this book (although I’m sure it will be outlawed if Trump wins again).
Blood Hunt #4 – I’ve been a little surprised by the pace of this book. For a major event series, it’s spent its first three issues on set-up, and this issue, which reveals the truth behind Blade’s villainous turn and has the Stranges taking one approach to fixing things, while Tigra and Hunters Moon work on another, carries a lot of narrative heavy lifting, setting up next issue’s big finish. I’ve enjoyed this event (but I’ve avoided any tie-in books I’m not already buying monthly), and am glad that it’s not sprawling into a nine-issue event.
Captain Marvel #9 – I learned this week that this title is ending with the next issue, and I’m not all that upset about it. I would have thought after the longevity of Kelly Thompson’s run (which I intend to read this summer), we’d have gotten more than two trades out of Alyssa Wong’s run; in many ways, it feels like it’s still setting up Carol’s new dynamic, and maybe that’s part of the problem. This whole Omen/Undone storyline hasn’t been interesting enough for me to really care that this book is coming to a close.
Daredevil #10 – Matt’s problems in his personal life continue, as one of the kids at his tiny orphanage (only four kids?) discovers his Daredevil suit, and hates him for it. At the same time, he and Elektra receive a tip as to the whereabouts of the Kingpin, but that doesn’t go well either. Juann Cabal drew this issue, so it looks terrific, and I like how Saladin Ahmed is handling three or four plotlines at the same time (Kingpin’s return, the demonic possessions, Matt’s issues at home, and Matt’s problems with Foggy). It feels like this is settling in to be a good long run, and I’m here for that.
The Department of Truth #23 – James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds’s series returns after a long hiatus with the story of Lee Harvey Oswald. We see how he was first recruited into the Department of Truth at its very beginnings, and start to learn a lot more about how things in the world have been operating. This is an excellent comic that sometimes feels unfocused; this is not one of those issues, and it serves as a decent jumping-on point for new readers. I’m so happy to see this book back on the stands.
Detective Comics #1086 – Ram V continues his excellent run that feels completely unconnected with the rest of the DC Universe. Batman continues to assemble people to help him take on the Orghams, while Joker recruits Duela Dent to do something for him, and we see how the conflict inside Two-Face is playing out. I really like this run.
Dune: House Corrino #4 – The stakes keep getting raised in this third Dune series, which does not even pretend to follow the House Corrino it’s named for. This book is all over the place, as Brian Herbert’s plotlines advance but don’t often collide. I’m sure Kevin J. Anderson is having a hard time adapting this to comics; it bears no resemblance to the Dune of the movies at this point.
The Flash #10 – I’m still struggling to follow all that’s going on in this series, as Jai figures out what’s happening with the tenth-level dimension folding whatever it is, Wally sits around in a fugue, and Amanda Waller’s latest operative (see below) goes after Barry. There’s a lot of chaos, and I’m not sure that Simon Spurrier’s storyline is in a place to connect with the Absolute Power event, but I’ll ride for anything Spurrier writes; I figure there’s a payoff coming.
Green Arrow #13 – Ollie makes a rather abrupt decision to join up with Amanda Waller, leaving his family without explaining anything to them. Soon, he’s in conflict with Roy when he tries to rescue Cheshire from Waller’s prison. I kind of figure that Ollie is just going undercover, but I like the way this shakes things up a bit, and I love that the whole family seems to be sticking together through these events. I’ll be curious to see how Absolute Power impacts this book for the long term. I’m happy to see Amancay Nahuelpan’s art in this issue. I’ve followed his career for a while now, and am glad he’s getting more recognition for being a great artist.
Green Lantern War Journal #10 – I just learned recently that this title is going to end soon, which is a shame, because I would have loved to see Phillip Kennedy Johnson stick around for a longer run than just a single story arc. I miss the days of longer runs. This issue is fine, advancing the plot, and having Steel (and other Steel?) come help John’s mother while he deals with the cosmic threat that’s driven this series. Montos’s art has really impressed me, and I hope we see him on another book soon.
Grommets #2 – Rick Remender and Brian Posehn must be having a blast writing this book, which serves as a kind of adolescent wish fulfillment for them. The two are writing as if they’d become friends in the 80s, skateboarded around and caused some trouble while trying to impress some skater girls, and now want to document their adventures. It’s lighthearted and fun, with some nice art by Brett Parson. The writers start to hint at a possible plotline, but this is mostly a feel good book for people who wished Stranger Things lacked monsters and other dimensions.
The Holy Roller #7 – Rick Remender and his cowriters continue to have a ball with this issue (pun intended). Our hero works to try to save people from the hateful townsfolk whose hate app has taken over their minds. He gains a couple of allies, before going into the office tower of his foe, hoping to shut things down. Remender and crew are poking fun at the alt right, but often seem more focused on making this book funny, possibly diluting the message a little.
Immortal Thor #12 – I really should just drop this title, shouldn’t I? With every issue, I keep hoping that I’ll finally see Al Ewing’s vision for this book, but honestly, I find it a bit of a hard slog. I’m not a big Thor fan these days, and I don’t really find what Ewing is doing here to be all that interesting. This surprises me, because it’s the first time I haven’t loved an Ewing book…
Justice Society of America #10 – This latest JSA book, which is on a quarterly schedule (I guess?) is very frustrating to me. I love the Justice Society, and haven’t understood why Geoff Johns has wanted to cram this book so full of new, often retconned, characters. Now he’s got the Legion of Super-Heroes showing up, which should be thrilling to me, but it’s not the recent Bendis version of the team, leaving me to wonder just who these characters are. It looks like the classic team, but the inclusion of Blok makes me think the Five Year Gap never happened, and my head starts to hurt thinking about the continuity (I know that shouldn’t matter, but DC’s continuity is so confusing now, and I can’t really enjoy the book without knowing characters’ relationships with one another). Anyway, Mordru wants to join the JSA, but his way of dealing with a fight leaves them questioning the wisdom of allowing him to join. This decision leads to the visit by my favourite super-team. I wish I was more thrilled by this. And the knowledge that it’s likely going to be three more months before the next issue comes out makes it worse.
Nights #8 – As much as I love this title, the increased focus on the supernatural aspects of the series is taking over a little too much. I like this book best when it focuses on Vince, the only ‘normal’ person in this world it seems. This issue is exciting, as an ancient spirit steals Gray’s body during a Hallowe’en party, and it’s up to Ivory to try to rescue her. Luigi Formisano’s art is terrific, and I love the way Wyatt Kennedy writes these characters. I think this is one of the most creative and unique books on the stands right now.
The One Hand #5 – Ram V’s half of this sci fi noir series comes to a close, with Detective Nassar being confronted with answers and questions, and an unresolved feeling that might be addressed with the end of The Sixth Finger. V and artist Laurence Campbell put together a moody and fascinating comic that might have suffered a little under the weight of all the concepts it explores. In the end, this book really caught my eye and kept me guessing throughout. Good atmospheric stuff.
The Penguin #11 – Tom King (and the Penguin) have spent months setting up chess pieces on a very complicated board, and now, as this series hits its penultimate issue, we see just how these layers of schemes are going to play out. It looks like Penguin’s people are abandoning him, making him vulnerable to attack from his children, but maybe there’s something else going on. The shifting narrators help keep the surprises under wraps, as a lot goes on in this issue and the effect can be a little disorienting. King and artist Rafael De Latorre have really redefined Oswald Cobblepot, making him cooler than he’s ever been before, and making him feel like a viable and believable villain perhaps for the first time. I’m really excited to see how this all ends (remembering that that ending was foreshadowed in the first issue).
Resident Alien: The Book of Life #1 – I’m so happy to see this long running series about an extraterrestrial who is hiding on Earth, posing as a doctor who sometimes solves crimes in his small town, has returned. At the end of the last RA mini, we learned that Asta, Harry’s girlfriend, is pregnant with his child. This issue focuses on the questions raised by this information (What will the child look like? Will they have to go into hiding? How will they live?), and as usual with this book, it’s all handled delicately and with empathy. Peter Hogan has made this town and its colourful characters feel real, and Steve Parkhouse does an incredible job of making mundane living look vibrant. This is a really special series.
The Sacrificers #9 – Pigeon is on some Frank Castle type s***, and in this issue, he attacks Lord Aquatica in his quest for revenge. As the two go after each other with increasing levels of violence, we realize that the nobles of this world don’t know just what goes into the elixir they drink to stay alive. Rick Remender is clearly making statements about just how out of touch the 1% of our world are with this series, and wrapping it up in a pretty dark fantasy quest story. Max Fiumara’s art is phenomenal – detailed yet very fluid, like the water forms Aquatica uses to attack. This is an impressive series.
Spectregraph #2 – This DSTLRY release comes into sharper focus with this issue. Two women are trapped in a giant mansion that was designed to be a type of spirit camera. Vesper’s character is fleshed out for us, and we learn why this young goth would want to become a ghost, and see how she was manipulated by the occult group she belongs to. Meanwhile, our hapless real estate agent hero is desperate to get home to the infant she abandoned so as not to miss work, and her hysteria fuels a lot of the drama in the issue. Previously I wondered why Christian Ward would be tapped to draw a book like this, but it all makes sense now, as he gets to do this thing on the larger size DSTLRY canvas. James Tynion IV is really making a name for himself as a horror writer, and this is great.
Superman #15 – The House of Brainiac story wraps up, and like a lot of recent DC storylines, maybe a little too quickly, as it rushes to get ready for Absolute Power. I’ve liked this story, but am glad I can go back to only buying this title and not Action Comics again. Williamson has a nice approach to Superman, and I like how he uses the extended family here, but this mini-event wasn’t all that memorable.
Titans #12 – The Titans finish their fight with the deluded young woman who has been tricked into challenging her greatest heroes. It’s a solid issue that advances Tom Taylor’s larger Raven story, while still setting up Absolute Power.
Ultimate Black Panther #5 – We learn a little more about what Khonshu and Ra want with Wakanda, as T’Challa, Shuri, and Storm investigate the substance they’ve found, which is the opposite of vibranium. This series is fine, but I’m still stuck on the fact that it’s not really all that different from the 616 Black Panther for me. The other Ultimate books are full reinventions of their main characters, while this one is not, and it feels like a missed opportunity.
Vengeance of the Moon Knight #6 – My favourite thing about Jed MacKay’s time on Moon Knight has been how he’s introduced new characters to Spector’s long-running story. This issue focuses on Reese, the young vampire, as she, Soldier, and 8-Ball rush around New York trying to save people from the vampire apocalypse caused in Blood Hunt. Moon Knight’s older supporting cast had gotten a little stale, and these are very likeable characters, working hard to preserve the Midnight Mission and its goals. Artist Devmalya Pramanik does a great job here, especially in the scene where Reese and Soldier are confronted by Yulan, who is kind of their grandmother. I know that there’s been a lot of talk in the last week about how this series is going to be relaunched again, with a returned Marc Spector, but I’d be happy just hanging with the Midnight Mission crew a while longer.
Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu #0 – I didn’t know that this book was going to happen, and was glad to be able to grab a copy. It’s basically a series of pin-ups going over everyone in Moon Knight’s circle, told from Khonshu’s perspective. Now, I hate the way Khonshu has become a character in comics; I much preferred him as an unspeaking god whose statue’s eye occasionally maybe twinkled in Marc Spector’s home. I’m not that happy that he’s going to be in the mix moving forward, but I trust Jed MacKay to handle this, as all of his Moon Knight stuff has been very good.
Void Rivals #10 – The Autobot who has helped our heroes discovers some interesting things about them, including what their forehead jewels are, but the knowledge he’s shared isn’t likely to do them much good, with a ton of Zertonian soldiers on their heels. This series doesn’t let up on the action for long, which is pretty typical of a Robert Kirkman book. I’m really enjoying it still.
W0rldtr33 #11 – James Tynion IV has a lot happening in this series. Agent Silk is in the fight of her life against Gabriel’s sister, while we learn something surprising about the one man who might be able to restore the Internet. I like how this series is built on a few groups of characters who don’t always appear in each issue; the ensemble approach works well for this story.
X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse #2 – The mutants Apocalypse assembled try to fight of Genocide, his fiery son, and it costs a few mutants’ lives in the process. Netho Diaz is drawing the hell out of this book, and I imagine he’ll be a big name artist soon. If this series is meant to serve as a bridge to the coming relaunched titles, it’s kind of a strange choice, but I am enjoying the mutant action. When the first mutant was killed off in this issue, I assumed it was going to be permanent, but then some of the other deaths we’ve seen here have to be reversible, as I don’t think characters of this pedigree will be taken off the board in such an off-hand way, now that resurrection is not an option.
Bargain Comics:
Timeless #1 – I’m not sure how many of these Timeless one-offs Marvel has made over the years, but this one appears to be the first of them (I was hoping it was the one that helped set up Jed MacKay’s Avengers run, but whatever). It’s a cool enough issue spotlighting Kang, and featuring some stellar art by Kev Walker, and some okay art by Greg Land and Mark Bagley. Kang is traveling with a scholar, wanting to prove himself to him, but also wanting to show that he’s above needing to prove himself. It looks like this story was used to tease a few Marvel storylines, and ends teasing something with Miracleman, although two years later, that has not seen the light of day. I’m liking MacKay’s writing lately, so I was happy to see where he started to lay the groundwork for his current takeover of Marvel Comics.
The Fortnight in Graphic Novels:
The Fearsome Doctor Fang – I have liked almost everything that has come out of TKO Studios, but I avoided this, not knowing the writers, Tse Chung and Mike Weiss. I later learned that Chung was involved with I’m A Virgo, my favourite TV show of last year, so I decided to finally give this book a try. Chung and Weiss, who are TV people, set up an Indiana Jones type story set in 1905. It centres around a San Francisco cop who ends up stumbling over a plot to destroy parts of the world using an ancient weapon developed by Genghis Khan. He believes that an international mystery villain, Doctor Fang, is responsible for the plot, but we learn that’s not really the case. Fang, a Fu Manchu like character, is in fact a ‘good guy’ who has cultivated an aura of criminality to better serve his heroism (kind of like Shroud in Marvel Comics). The story is quick paced and took me a little while to get into, but it eventually grabbed me. I love Dan McDaid’s art here – he captures the action well, and has designed a very futuristic Orientalist version of steampunk to explain the wild technology used. This was a good read, and as with all TKO books, the fine production quality helps elevate the material.
The Fortnight in Music:
Arooj Aftab – Night Reign – I hadn’t really tapped into Arooj Aftab before this, but absolutely love this album. Her music, which is gentle and relaxing, is gorgeous. She sings mostly in Urdu, but I’m not coming to music like this for lyrical content. That said, my favourite track is Bolo Na, which features Moor Mother and Joel Ross. Other guests who turn up include Cautious Clay and frequent collaborator Vijay Iyer. This is a truly remarkable release that I can’t recommend enough.
