The Best Comic of My Week:
Marc Spector: Moon Knight #3 & 4 – I continue to maintain that Jed MacKay’s Moon Knight run is the best since the character was created, and is easily the best book that Marvel is making right now. These two issues wrap up the story of MK’s abduction by Bushman, with an epic fight, and then move into the next storyline. While Marc was missing, some buildings near the Midnight Mission have gone dark in a supernatural way, and it appears that Marc’s friends have disappeared into one of them. I like how MacKay never gives Marc time to rest before plunging headfirst into the next situation. I really like how issue three has Marc question and resolve his thoughts and feelings about Bushman, while dealing with the fact that he was being helped by Zodiac, his latest archfoe. MacKay keeps adding to this character, and it’s wonderful. Artist Demalya Pramanik is a really good fit for this book, and has a way of making Marc’s costume look so menacing. This is a great title.
Quick Takes:
American Caper #6 & 7 – Storylines are converging more and more as this amusing look at American decadence continues. None of these characters are likeable, and their various schemes and desires make it clear that none of them are heroes, but this book is fascinating for the ways that writers Dan Houser and Lazlow have constructed their story. David Lapham, who is everywhere, is doing great work on this book, and I like how his art looks when finished by Chris Anderson.
Cyclops #3 & 4 – After a bit of a slow start, I’m really digging this series now. Scott is lost in some woods, blind because he’s lost his visor, and being chased by Reavers who have been running a mutant slave labour mining operation in the woods. Alex Paknadel gives us a good look at what Scott is like when he’s desperate and angry, and also feels responsible for rescuing some young mutants. Artist Rogê Antônio does fine work as well. I’m looking forward to seeing how this resolves itself in the next issue.
New Titans #34 & 35 – New writer Tate Brombal found an interesting way to introduce the team’s new lineup, as we learn who is behind putting the core Titans into a virtual reality prison where they relive their greatest battles over and over. I like most of the lineup of the new team, but find the Eva character a little annoying. I also found that Brombal’s use of older Gen Z slang to be a little, while, cringey, but I’m curious to see where he goes with this group. Sami Basri is an excellent artist choice for this title.
Nightwing #137 & 138 – Ever since a superhighway was built through Blüdhaven (at superhuman speeds I might add – it doesn’t look like it would have been a quick project), strange things have been happening. After surviving a car crash caused by the ghost of a witch (that he was blamed for), Nightwing keeps coming across some strange things that might be connected. In issue 137, he and Batman have to deal with someone shooting people on the bridge between Gotham and Blüdhaven, and issue 138 has him and Starfire managing a strange being that has been mutilating a farmer’s cattle. These are interesting and slightly unconventional issues, and I enjoy how Dan Watters is exploring the consequences of urban redevelopment. It’s great seeing Denys Cowan’s art again, but I’m not sure that Norm Rapmund is the best inker for his work; he tends to smooth over a lot of the roughness that Cowan is known for.
The Ultimates #23 – This is a cool issue. Deniz Camp is joined by Stipan Morian, his collaborator on Bleeding Hearts and the sublime 20th Century Boys, to tell another epic poem featuring Thor and the gods of Asgard. As the Ultimate Universe approaches its end, Ragnarok comes for the Asgardians, and once again, things come down to a fight between Loki and Thor. I’ll be honest, I don’t love this format, but I like that Camp keeps trying new things with this book, and Morian’s art is beyond gorgeous.
Wonder Woman #32 & 33 – If I ran a comics company, I’d put a moratorium on stories that take place in the characters’ future, because it’s just become too much of a trope in recent years. Wonder Woman and Trinity are working together to try to stop The Matriarch, and that means a trip to Paradise Island (which is under her control) to see a particularly important prisoner being held there, and then a trip to Hell, for reasons that aren’t all that clear yet. I understand the appeal of these types of stories (it’s possible to kill Superman in them, for one), but the knowledge that every part of this will be retconned away almost immediately cheapens the story for me. I’d have preferred that Thomas King keep his story in the present (which means that Trinity would stay an infant). Anyway, I do enjoy this run, and these are good comics, I’ve just grown to strongly dislike this sort of thing.
The Movie of the Week:
I Love Boosters – I’ve been a fan of Boots Riley for a couple of decades now, having started with his amazing rap band The Coup, but moving on to also loving his previous movie (Sorry To Bother You), his TV show (I’m A Virgo), and his rare Twitter threads about leftist politics. His new film, I Love Boosters, is a brilliant mélange of social commentary and wild ideas. It starts by focusing on a booster (a woman who shoplifts en masse and sells the clothes at low prices, providing a service to her community). Corvette (played by Keke Palmer) dreams of being a designer herself, and idolizes Christie Smith (played by Demi Moore), who is basically a tech bro in a pants suit, but is also a target of Smith’s ire, because she keeps robbing her stores. Things escalate, as they do, and soon there are a lot of story elements that I can’t really talk about without spoiling some of the best and strangest moments in the film. This film should appeal to comics fans, as many of the plot devices feel like they’ve come from a comic book, and the bright colours and over-the-top villains trigger some childhood comic book memories. This movie is exceptionally funny, with several laugh-out-loud moments, and very well acted. Lakeith Stanfield stands out, but I can’t say why. I highly recommend seeing this one in theatres instead of waiting for streaming, because hearing other people react to it is part of the fun.
The Week In Music:
Navy Blue – The Sword & The Soaring – This was one of my favourite albums from last year, and I was so happy to finally get a copy of it on CD. Navy Blue’s latest is a clear-eyed assessment of his life, and how he feels about many things in his childhood. It’s delivered in a straight-forward manner that really showcases his lyrical and emotional prowess. The production is handled by Sage himself, alongside many of my favourite producers, like Child Actor, Sebb Bash, Chris Keys, ShunGu, and Animoss. It’s a surprise that there are so many beat makers, because the sound is really consistent throughout. The only feature here is by Earl Sweatshirt, and it fits the feel of the album as well. The first time I heard this, I was reminded of the deceased rapper Ka, and feel like Sage is his best successor. This is a beautiful, beautiful album.
Les Louanges – Alouette! – This band from Quebec really impresses on their latest album, which I think is their third. Unlike their debut album, this one has a lot of singing over a variety of styles. Parts of it are annoying, like when they sing the title song on interludes, but generally, this is an interesting album that incorporates elements of a lot of genres to make high quality alternative music. The more I listen to it, the more I discover unexpected elements. My French is not good enough to understand much of the songs, but I’m fine with that.
Fresh Kils & Myer Clarity – OCDC – Sometimes you really just want a fun hiphop album, full of nice boombap beats, sharp lines, scratches, and maybe even a skit or two that aren’t too annoying. Local MPC hero Fresh Kils has teamed up with rapper Myer Clarity for this album, and it could have come out in 2004 (and I say this as a huge compliment). Clarity is a really skilled rapper who has clearly studied the greats. Kils is always going to provide some great beats (and is a lot of fun to watch live). They’ve got some terrific guests from the Southern Ontario bench (including Roshin and D-Sisive) and some Canadian legends like Wordburglar and Moka Only. This album makes me nostalgic but also like the diversity of the rap world is impressive. This one is a great time.
By Storm – My Ghosts Go Ghost – The members of By Storm used to be part of the experimental rap trio Injury Reserve, but after the passing of Stepa J. Groggs, surviving members RiTchie With A T and Parker Corey decided to rebrand with this new name. This album is pretty incredible – it’s weird and wild, with long almost industrial stretches of noisy beats, and with RiTchie providing some impressive abstract raps. This album would most appeal to fans of groups like clipping., and the other leftfield corners of independent rap. billy woods makes an appearance on one song, and shockingly, it’s not even my favourite on this album. I recently saw them perform this stuff (it’s where I was able to snag the CD), and their live show is and incredible and overwhelming display of noise and the most aggressive strobe lights I’ve ever seen. I loved it, and it’s made me appreciate the album even more.
