Curse of the Maroon Glove: It strikes Jog on 3/9

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Posted by: Joe McCulloch on March 10, 2008

Categories: Reviews

Omega: The Unknown #6 (of 10): This one’s really found its level, I’ve gotta say. Even when it draws close to being too cute, it has a habit of slowly, cleverly backing away. Hell, it’s got a Watcheresque character who doubles as a Harry Naybors-like in-story critic (“The Overthinker,” haw), but it somehow comes off as more a playful tribute than anything. This issue kicks off the second half of the series, and brings with it a few new locales and some character development, but what really caught my eye was a shitload of doubling going on. Some of it is really obvious – in the first three pages, we’ve got two funereal splash pages, one for boy hero(?) Alex…  Read More…

Two Long, Two Short: Jeff Looks at Logan #1

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Posted by: Jeff Lester on

Categories: Reviews

It’s nice to feel part of something larger, to be connected to others through a similar sensibility or predilection. And so, as I finished the last page of Logan #1 and groaned aloud, there was an element of pleasure in the groan, knowing that there would be others like me who had groaned aloud at the cheapness of the cliffhanger, and it was possible, almost, to imagine my groan joining others already in the air, mingling there in some luminiferous aether of fanboy disgruntlement. After the jump, the spoiler, some snark, and a dramatic reduction in the hoity-toityness of the post’s tone. So, yes. Logan’s in Japan at the end of World War II. He busts out of a prison,…  Read More…

Around the Store in 31 Days: Day Eight

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on March 8, 2008

Categories: Reviews

Did I mention that I’m making this up as I go along? I don’t have a list books that I’m covering or anything, I’m just wandering in the store each day and coming up with whatever suits my fancy that day. I’m also trying to (in the end) cover each of the racks in the store — some racks have 2-5 genres/authors on them (like the Miller/Moore/Morrison/Creating Comics) rack — if I just do one book in each category as I have them at the store, then I’d be at like 28 books from just that. Some of them are easier than others. For example, today I think I’m eyeing the “licensed comics” rack, and that’s a pretty hard one…  Read More…

Jog takes a look at 3/4: Yes, 3/4

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Posted by: Joe McCulloch on

Categories: Reviews

BodyWorld: Yeah, there may have been comics released on Wednesday, but I feel the urge to talk about this past Tuesday instead, since it saw the completion of Chapter Two of a VERY GOOD webcomic, Dash Shaw’s BodyWorld. If you’re an admirer of rampant drug use, sticky sporting events, eye-searing colors, municipalities of the future and extra-sweaty teenage hookups, you’d best be clicking that link forthwith. Now, Shaw isn’t a mysterious guy on the comics scene. He’s already completed two longform comics projects — Love Eats Brains: A Zombie Romance (Odd God Press, 2004) and The Mother’s Mouth (Alternative Comics, 2006) — a collection of short stories — Goddess Head (Teenage Dinosaur Press, 2005) — plus anthology contributions to MOME…  Read More…

Number One With A Bullet: Diana Quick-Shoots 5/3

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Posted by: admin on

Categories: Reviews

Let’s get right in there, shall we? BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #12: Here’s my $0.02 on The L Thing, from the perspective of a series-long fan. Do I believe Buffy would sleep with a woman? Yes, provided the woman is a Slayer – that was, after all, the subtext of her dynamic with Faith (especially in “Bad Girls”). However, I thought the execution here was a bit problematic for two reasons. Number one, as Chris Sims points out, the whole “post-coital reveal” really is a cliche these days. Number two, and this is something that bothered me a lot during the show’s final years, there’s no subtext or ambiguity in the Buffyverse anymore. That was a huge pet peeve for…  Read More…

Let me break their jaws: Douglas’s quick takes on 3/5

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Posted by: Douglas Wolk on

Categories: Reviews

Pamphlets! Under the cut: LOGAN, NEW FRONTIER and YOUNG LIARS. LOGAN #1: I realized after I’d bought this issue that it’s cover-priced at $3.99, and for that money I expect more than 22 pages of story. And in fact I got more: it’s 23 pages of story. (And a glossy cover; so what?) Eduardo Risso’s in good form, but I expected much better from Brian K. Vaughan. The story is once again sending Wolverine to Japan (which was a really clever and refreshing idea when Claremont and Miller did it twenty-five years ago–yes, I am of the Paul O’Brien “oh Christ, not Japan again” school), and once again exploring a bit of his adventuring past so deeply forgotten it’s never…  Read More…

Around the Store in 31 Days: Day Seven

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on

Categories: Reviews

Look, I made it a whole week! I like comics that make me laugh. I also like comics that are smart and teach me something new. Even better when they do both! More after that ol’ jump! EPICURUS THE SAGE is a clever little book. Set in Ancient Greece, in concerns philosophy, philosophers, and the Greek Gods. Socrates is a jerk, Plato is a boob, and Epicurus tries to find a reasonable position based upon moderation. Throw in a young Alexander the Great, and quests from Hades and Hera and such like and you’ve got a pretty rich comic stew. EPICURUS, by William Messner-Loebs and Sam Kieth was orignally published by Piranha Press, DC’s attempt at an “eclectic” imprint in…  Read More…

Around the Store in 31 Days: Day Six

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on March 6, 2008

Categories: Reviews

So yesterday I did a “kid’s” comic, let’s go 180 degrees the other way today, and talk about something that’s fully for adults. With like screwing, and everything. More after the jump, but if you’re a prude, you should probably stop reading here. Erotic comics are a difficult thing, a lot of the time, because you have to rate them both on how well they tell their story (when, that is, they HAVE one), as well as how “hot” it is. That latter is SUPER subjective. I think most erotic comics really (no pun intended) suck. Especially these days. There were a couple of years were stuff of pretty decent quality was coming out, that was human-driven (instead of purely…  Read More…

Editurs r gud

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Posted by: admin on March 5, 2008

Categories: Reviews

Two quick periodical hits, since I’m standing in a pretty empty store today for some reason… AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #552: I’m just generally opposed to any character introduction where a seemingly normal junkie (Down to yelling “China white, we’ve got a date!”) is able to evade Spider-Man through the streets of Manhattan. that’s just sloppy lazy writing. But what bugs me even more is two editorial lapses which just TORE me out of the comic. First off, on page 8 Spidey tears the ass in his suit. On page 10, the crowd comments about being able to see his ass. Page 9, which has got a fairly clear ass shot? Nothing. (not that I WANT to see Spidey’s ass, just saying)…  Read More…

Around the Store in 31 Days: Day Five

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on

Categories: Reviews

If you’re old enough, you might remember when DC comics had a slogan int he UPC box of their Direct Market-shipping comics that said something “DC Comics: They’re not just for kids anymore!” And, in general, the comic book industry has really followed that lead — comics AREN’T for kids any longer (except for a very small number of titles) To me this is kind of a shame. When I bring home the new week’s books, and plop on the sofa to start reading them, I often have to chase Ben (now four-years old) away when I’m reading something even as supposedly as innocuous as SPIDER-MAN or SUPERMAN, because there’s just so much violence and in them. Unnecessary violence and…  Read More…

Around the Store in 31 Days: Day Four

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on March 4, 2008

Categories: Reviews

I was going to write about a completely different book this morning, but then I saw the news that DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS co-creator Gary Gygax died on Tuesday morning. The intersection between comics and games is often a pretty deep one — our forms of geekness are different, but there’s a lot of overlap between the two camps. Back when I opened Comix Experience in 1989, it was de rigueur for comic book stores to carry gaming material. I opened my stores 4 doors down from San Francisco’s best (and, today, only) game store, Gamescape, so that I wouldn’t have to touch the things. It’s not that I’m not a gamer (I am — dude, I was playing D&D when…  Read More…

Sometimes, you forget to headline these things…

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on

Categories: Reviews

Was it just me, or was February a strange and full month that just overwhelmed everyone else with stuff? I’m used to January seeming like a hangover from the previous year, but there was something about February this time that seemed to take me by surprise. Those damn leap years, man. They take it out of you. Reviews of last week’s books under the jump, for those who want comics. BATMAN #674: This is a strange book; you get the idea that Grant Morrison knows roughly where we wants to go with the character, but just can’t quite get there for whatever reason. Ideas that should be big and bright and interesting – the trainee Batmans gone rogue, Bat-Mite showing…  Read More…

Around the Store in 31 Days: Day Three

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on March 3, 2008

Categories: Reviews

I’m not the biggest fan of most Japanese manga; largely this is down to the common tropes that comprise the majority of what’s been brought over — the big round eyes and so on. But there’s a handful of pieces of manga work that I think are utterly terrific. My number one favorite series is after the jump! I love me some DEATH NOTE. Part of it is that it is largely unlike any other manga that I’ve ever read, the other part is is it unlike any Western comics that I have ever read, either. First of all: there’s very little action of any kind. There’s plenty of suspense, and plenty of twists and turns, but almost none of…  Read More…

Arriving 3/5/2008

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on

Categories: Shipping Lists

Here’s what Comix Experience is receiving this week — another solid shipment! 2000 AD #1573 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #76 (A) ALL NEW ATOM #21AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #552ANITA BLAKE VH GUILTY PLEASURES #9 (OF 12)ARMY OF DARKNESS #7 LONG ROAD HOMEBETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #182BOYS #16 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #12CABLE #1 DWSCARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #23CASANOVA #12 CLANDESTINE #2 (OF 5)COMIC BOOK COMICS #1CORY DOCTOROWS FUTURISTIC TALES HERE AND NOW #6 (OF 6)COUNTDOWN LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS #5 (OF 6)COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #7 (OF 8)COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 8DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME #1 (OF 5)DC SPECIAL RAVEN #1 (OF 5)DEAD SPACE #1 (OF 6)DETECTIVE COMICS #842DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS #4DYNAMO 5 #11END LEAGUE #2EXTERMINATORS #27 GREEN LANTERN #28GRIMM…  Read More…

Almost On-Topic: Jeff Talks Briefly About Morpheus, Obama, and Politics.

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Posted by: Jeff Lester on

Categories: Uncategorized

The only letter I ever had published in a comic book was in Transmetropolitan. I don’t remember the issue but I’m pretty sure it’s issue #16, above–this cover of Spider as The Statue of Liberty rings some bells. Somewhere, Ellis had written about the ’92 election race that was currently underway, and posited a pretty good theory about who gets to be President. (As I recall, the theory is basically, “Whoever wants it the most, gets it.” Clinton, Ellis pointed out, wanted the Presidency in a way Bush I didn’t. I wrote back a response suggesting that, in fact, what we were seeing from Bush was petulance–the speed with which we devoured news media had changed, and what had been…  Read More…

God Gave Rock’n'Roll To You: Graeme gets his ass kicked.

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Posted by: Graeme McMillan on

Categories: Reviews

There is, I guess, something to be said for consistency of vision. For example, that’s probably the best thing about KICK-ASS #1, which otherwise could be easily described as “everything you’ve already read by Mark Millar in one comic”. Never mind his by-now-traditional unrealistic dialogue that mistakes unpleasantness and swearing for realism; there’s actual thematic threads in here from his other books, not least of which is Millar’s favorite “watching lead character transcend reality, which is mundane and soul-destroying,” this time managed through the power of self-belief and beating up black guys (Am I the only person who got nervous that the first thing the character did as a superhero was go out, find three black kids and call them…  Read More…

Batman, You’re GOOD and OKAY With Me: Jog in Gotham on 2/27

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Posted by: Joe McCulloch on

Categories: Reviews

In which we reach nearly the same grade in very different ways, although even when the grade is the same, its never really the same, you know? Batman #674: In which writer Grant Morrison is kind enough to provide an ‘explanation issue’ for most of what’s been going on across his run. Honestly, he maybe goes a bit far with it – I sure could have done without Batman putting together the pieces of The Mystery of the Three Fake Batmen via captions and flashbacks, immediately followed by Commissioner Gordon and a beat cop repeating exactly the same information via dialogue, in case anyone didn’t get it the first time around. I shouldn’t complain, though – too often for me,…  Read More…

Around the Store in 31 Days: Day 2

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on March 2, 2008

Categories: Reviews

Our second book is one that I hadn’t read in nearly 20 years before opening it back up yesterday. The book is extremely well known, but, at a guess, the vast majority of Comix Experience regulars have never read it. It is one of the oldest continually-in-print comics on the American market, too. More after the jump! art speigelman’s MAUS is a very important book. I mean I know, “duh” and all, but it really is the best known comic in the “real world”, having won the Pulitzer; but it’s also entirely important as a piece of work, both as a piece of reportage and history, as well as a completely honest piece of autobiography. Some people complain about the…  Read More…

It’s true, it’s real, it’s pretty: Douglas on "Little Nothings: The Curse of the Umbrella"

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Posted by: Douglas Wolk on

Categories: Reviews

Lewis Trondheim’s diary comics are so good I’m actually posting a puke joke here. My first exposure to Lewis Trondheim was Mister O, which is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read–the first time I looked at it, there were at least two or three pages that made me laugh so hard I was lying on the floor gasping–and I’ve been skimming bits of his enormous catalogue ever since, trying to find something I like as much. (The sequel Mister I wasn’t anywhere near as good, and I’m sort of mystified by A.L.I.E.E.E.N.) Most of his hundred-plus books aren’t available in English; if you’re reading this and you know which of his books are worth seeking out in French,…  Read More…

Around the Store in 31 Days: Day One

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Posted by: Brian Hibbs on March 1, 2008

Categories: Reviews

I have a plan. With the idea of having as much fresh content on the Savage Critic site as possible, I’m going to ATTEMPT to do a post-a-day for the month of March. These may not appear strictly every 24 hours, but I’m going to try. I’ve decided the theme is going to be “31 classic graphic novels”, trying to show the range and breadth of comics material that’s available to a 21st century comics shop. Please join me after the jump! I opened Comix Experience in April of 1989. There really weren’t a lot of graphic novels available back then — I think there were under twenty items that were in print and perpetually available at that point. I…  Read More…

Game got switched: Douglas on "Incognegro"

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Posted by: admin on

Categories: Reviews

I had reasonably high hopes for this one, but the result is pretty much the definition of a bad movie pitch in the form of a graphic novel. The premise of Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece’s Incognegro: A Graphic Mystery is very loosely based on the experiences of Walter Francis White, the executive secretary of the NAACP from 1931 to 1955, who passed for Caucasian–he was blond and blue-eyed–which meant that he could collect information on the KKK and lynchings, at a great deal of personal risk. (White wrote what sounds like a fascinating book of reportage about lynching, with the hasn’t-aged-well title Rope and Faggot; it’s worth reading both some horrifying letters from Time readers about a review of…  Read More…