The year is fast disappearing. And I think we are quickly moving from Spring into Deluded. I have been sent and seen some of the best and worst comics for a while. Maybe there is something in the air. Both accompanied by some outrageous claims in their pull quotes and PR. Cunningly drawing me in to read and purchase. The bad ones causing me then to doubt my sanity and/or consider making an allegation of fraud at the local police station.
More of that later.
In better news I hear that Free Comic Book Day was massive this year. I couldn’t make it but enjoyed seeing and hearing all the shenanigans. Couple of the weekend staff at Gosh Comics in Soho were telling me that it may have been their busiest for a good while. Blood Hunt anyone?
Over at the ACP this week we had special guest Zack Cahill on the show and chatted to him about his recent Zines and comics output that you can find right here.
We also had an in-depth chat about the new Ghost Machine line of comics lead by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. Some beauts in here that extends the line I’ve mentioned in the last couple of Best of the Year columns on here. If you are looking for good adventure comics with top level writing and amazing artwork look no further.
To the applause of one single man in Bradfield Compost the NIA podcast is also now back up and running. I’ve started a short season where I interview my regular collaborators about their craft. You can have a listen to my overly sweary chat with Adam Falp. But make sure you stay for the outtakes. And tomorrow my conversation with Helena will be dropping. Both a couple of inspiring, intriguing and interesting folk that I think you will enjoy hearing from.
So, back to the task at hand. A quick run through my favourite read of the week and my least favourite. This week I had 146 comics to choose from.
Tops.
Easy one this week. I knew this was going to be great and saved it for a rather dreary stay in a Cardiff hotel.
For my tastes this may be the best Batman comic of the last ten years. Told with an eye to fun and with incredible art. This import/reprint really shows the US market how you can create an iconic series.
For those heading in to the second issue you should know that there is less Batman in the second half and it takes a little bit of a Vertigo/Brave and the Bold style turn. But because of the quality i didn’t mind at all and loved every single panel. Sadly there is just one more issue to go.
Bottoms.
In another example proving that you should never believe the hype or those nominated for awards I read the first issue of a slightly older series co-written by a TV actor. This one should actually gets the double warning of also stirring up controversy where there isn’t really any to get eyes on it. A tend that is becoming all too obvious these days, Doctor Who anyone?
I was actually prompted to read this by a couple of buddies who opened page 1 and were shocked at the overwritten nonsense. I decided to try the whole issue and found it to be terribly written and over-written as well as having a totally misleading cover. Seriously, what is that cover all about? It looks like an art project from a High Schooler that they claim is something deep but actually means FA.
Here’s that Page 1.
Yeah, I know. I couldn’t quite believe it either. This was co-written by a professional. Why not just cover the whole page with ass-clenchingly bad dialogue that means nothing and is said to nobody. I can only guess that the artist was ‘Super-Pleased’. I fought onwards.
Honestly, why not just completely cover up all the page and be done with it. Some of these are pretty well drawn with an eye to some great layouts!
I don’t know what ‘Yummytime’ is but I’d hazard a whopping guess that the above pages are not it.
Avoid at all costs.
That’s it for this week folks. At least I was on time for a change. Why not go buy that Batman/Dylan Dog book right now? You may well be surprised how much you like it. And remember. Twitter is not real. The people you believe are your ‘friends’ on there are not and their spiteful attacks will just disappear into a puddle of pee if transported into a real life scenario.
Many thanks for reading.
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