Morning,
Finally the trip is here. I’m sat in the Lounge at Heathrow waiting for the gate to get posted. Sadly without Falpy my usual travelling comics buddy but happy that I’ll be seeing that gentleman of Mary Land, Clifford Q Cumber, in a day or two. We are sharing a room, God help those sheets! Yup, off to Charlotte, North Carolina for my second ever visit to Heroes Con. Happy in the knowledge that they have a list of guests as long as my arm and unlike certain UK Festivals, people you’ve actually heard of! Jim Starlin, Howard Chaykin, Jim Rugg, June Bridgman, Simon Bisley, Chris Claremont, Pat Broderick (see below), Colleen Dorian, Alan Davis, Michael Fife, Tana Ford…
And nobody from Stargate SG1 for as far as the eye can see!
Pure heaven.
It’s also a bit of a yearly pilgrimage for the 11 o’clock Comics crew and I’m looking forward to hanging with those dudes. Good Eggs every one of them.
Over at the ACP podcast we had the brilliant Steve Niles on for a chat this week. We’ve all been fans of his for years, especially Vince who has a special place in his heart for all things horror (and werewolf). I think it is fair to reveal that we have a couple of things we look for in a guest and Steve excelled in both. First up is a willing to talk about craft. I was particularly taken with his thoughts on collaboration and how it adapts to the artist and the project (and the publisher). The second is a much needed sense of humour. Off mic and as soon as he connected to the call he got an immediate allegation that Dan is considering killing someone (he’s not – calm down – it was a joke) and he was straightaway in on the gag and we were all off and running! The sign of a top dude. Vince, Dan and I came away with big grins on our faces.
It’s been a bit of a Bronze Age Marvel week (again). I got through the door the first Micronauts omnibus. That long yearned for but always out of our grasp reprint. BUT IT IS HERE! Art from Golden, Ditko, Chaykin., three of my absolute favourites. But for me, the best art in this first volume is by Pat Broderick (see above Never Ironers). I kept reading onwards, digging out my issues. This dude does not get the credit he deserves and both myself and Cliff intend to shake his hand and drop cash at his table!
So, enough of the rattling on, time for the task at hand. The favourite thing I have read this week newly released and the least favourite. I read 126 comics this week.
Tops.
This one made it in just under the wire. Recommended by Josh on the ACP Slack and a book I’ve been hearing about from the writer (Gerry Duggan on his mailer) and elsewhere. Art is by Garry Brown and some brilliant colour work by Chris O’Halloran.
‘Even if it feels certain you will lose, retaliate.’
It’s hard not to spoil. But it combines a western, samurai and somewhere both of them encounter monsters in a brutal staging. Blood on almost every page. Glorious.
Highly recommended and I’ll hopefully be picking up a physical copy this weekend. Plus I just had to showcase the next image!
Next up…
Bottom.
This is a book that has been nominated for an Eisner. Presented as a scrolling ‘Infinite Comic’ on the Marvel app. I revisited it again last night and still can’t understand how it gets printed. It is meant to be funny. It just feels under-baked and rushed off. Oh, and not funny, even in a way designed for kids to enjoy. What has happened to the Eisners!
Oh well, not everything can be perfect!
Do yourself a favour, read this, read some comics, then stay off social media! Trust me, it’ll improve your day. Plus, we all realise that those apps you press on, they’re all owned by rich cunts!
Many thanks for reading.
Never Iron Anything - The Comics Review Website 