Comics-and-More Podcast: Image Comics Debuts

Patrick Markfort and I take a look at four debut issues from Image Comics.

Reviewed:

Part One:

Prophet #21
Brandon Graham, Simon Roy & Richard Ballermann

Part Two:

The Bulletproof Coffin: Disinterred #1 (of 6)
David Hine & Shaky Kane

Part Three:

Whispers #1
Joshua Luna

Part Four:

Fatale #1
Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips

For further reading:
The Bulletproof Coffin TP
David Hine & Shaky Kane

Girls (Volume 1): Conception TP
The Luna Brothers

Sleeper (Volume 1): Out In the Cold TP
Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips

Prophet/Cable #1-2
Rob Liefeld, Robert Napton & Mark Pajarillo

Pick of the Week 2/1

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops on Wednesday...

John Romita Amazing Spider-Man: Artist Edition HC - Collecting seven issues from Romita's run on Amazing Spider-Man, and featuring some of Spidey's greatest villains, this welcome addition to IDW's Artist Edition series is sure to look absolutely stunning.

Other Noteworthy Releases
American Vampire (Volume 3) HC
Archie Archives (Volume 4) HC
Incredible Hulk: Fall of the Hulks HC
John Carter: A Princess of Mars TP
John Carter: World of Mars TP
Jurassic Strike Force 5 #1
Madman 20th Anniversary Monster HC
Magic: The Gathering #1
Winter Soldier #1

Whispers #1

Joshua Luna

Whispers is the first solo project from Joshua Luna, one half of the Luna Brothers team who have brought us some memorable comics in the form of Ultra: Seven Days, Girls and The Sword.  As Jonathan Luna's pencils are what we're used to seeing attached to the Luna name in terms of art, it's different seeing Joshua's art style on this title.  But not in a bad way.  Joshua's pencils aren't as sleek and refined as his brother's, but it does have that cinematic storytelling quality that we're used to with their books.  You can really see the writer behind those other books in this title, and Joshua has obviously taken a lot away from working with his brother previously, and as he's done scripting and layouts for books before, you can see the similarities between this and something like Girls.  But this is all Joshua's product, and anybody who has enjoyed The Luna Brother's previous works will like this as well.

The main character we are introduced to in Whispers is Sam, who has obsessive compulsive disorder, and as is revealed during an awkward lunch date with his ex and her friends, has the ability to see other people while he is dreaming.  And he discovers that it's more than just a dream that allows for this, as it happens again later that evening when he finds himself floating intangibly in a ghost-like form while his body rests.  I've always been interested in astral projection, so I think it's cool that this is about that subject.  I also really like the way that Sam tests his abilities, learning how they work.  Like many first issues out there, this is mostly a set-up issue, but we do get a good taste of the type of story we are in for here, with a cool, but flawed main character, great dialogue, and some pretty impressive art for a creator known primarily for his writing skills.

Pick of the Week 1/25

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops on Wednesday...

Polly & the Pirates (Volume 2): Mystery of the Dragonfish TP - I'm very happy to see Ted Naifeh's Polly and the Pirates is back in a new adventure!  I really liked the first volume, and while it's been awhile since that first swashbuckling mini-series came out, this is definitely a welcome release, even if Ted Naifeh himself isn't drawing it this time around (art is by Robbi Rodriguez).

Other Noteworthy Releases
Batman & Robin: Dark Knight, White Night HC
Bulletproof Coffin: Disinterrred #1 (of 6)
Captain America by Ed Brubaker (Volume 1) HC
Creepy Archives (Volume 12) HC
Daredevil by Brubaker & Lark Ultimate Collection (Volume 1) TP
Daredevil by Mark Waid (Volume 1) HC
Durarara (Volume 1)
Fantastic Life GN
Hawkman by Geoff Johns Omnibus (Volume 1) HC
Infestation 2 #1 (of 2)
Lil Abner (Volume 4) HC
Manara Library (Volume 2) HC
Naughty & Nice: The Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm SC
The Silence of Our Friends GN
Strikeforce Morituri (Volume 1) TP
Wally Wood's Strange Worlds of Science Fiction TP

Comics-and-More Podcast Publisher Spotlight: Sparkplug

Patrick Markfort and I take a look at two releases from small publisher Sparkplug.

Reviewed:

Part One:

The Heavy Hand
Chris C. Cilla

Part Two:

Orchid
Edited by Ben Catmull & Dylan Williams

For further reading:
Sparkplug Homepage: http://sparkplugcomicbooks.com/index.html

Dylan Williams Reporter (a tribute blog to the late cartoonist and publisher): http://dylanwilliamsreporter.blogspot.com/

Memorial #1

Chris Roberson & Rich Ellis

Memorial is a new mini-series published by IDW, from Chris Roberson (I, Zombie, Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love) and Rich Ellis, following a girl called Em after she stumbles into a hospital with amnesia, with no record of who she is, the only clue being the letter "M" on a necklace she's wearing.  While we follow Em as she establishes a new life for herself, we also get a glimpse of a dark world of magic called the Everlands, where we are introduced to a mysterious tyrannical ruler in shadows and her henchmen, which includes a living puppet.  Em stumbles upon a key in a curiosity shop and things kind of get hectic from there, as she is attacked immediately upon finding it by people from the Everlands, and discovers something rather interesting about the shop she has found.  This was a nice introduction to this world of magic that Roberson and Ellis have created.  Using a character with amnesia like Em, readers get to discover what's going on alongside her, letting things slowly unravel in an exciting way.  And while there is a lot of set up in this first issue, it unfolds slowly and is clearly laid out in neatly arranged panels, with nice art from Ellis.  The creators have also established a nice atmosphere here, with a real energy to the work that I appreciated.  Memorial is an intriguing story thus far, with several mysteries that I'm actually pretty anxious to see resolved.  A very promising first issue to a neat series.  There will be six issues in the mini-series total, with the second issue hitting comic shops today.

Pick of the Week 1/18

Here is the book you should be paying attention to, in comic shops on Wednesday...

Steve Canyon (Volume 1): 1947-1948 HC - Here's the first volume in a new reprint series of Milton Caniff's adventure strip Steve Canyon, his follow-up to Terry and the Pirates, featuring all of the color Sundays and dailies in deserving handsome hardcover volumes.  This is part of IDW's solid Library of American Comics line.

Other Noteworthy Releases
Bill Griffith: Lost and Found: 1970-1994 TP
Conan (Volume 11): Road of Kings, Part One TP
Danger Girl: Revolver #1 (of 4)
Fraggle Rock Classics (Volume 1) TP
Lord of the Jungle #1
Marvel Firsts: 1970's (Volume 1) TP
Mazeworld GN
Steed and Mrs. Peel #1 (of 6)
Ultimate Comics: Hawkeye by Hickman HC
Wally Wood: Strange Worlds of Science Fiction HC
War of the Green Lanterns: Aftermath HC