Long Box Thought: Batman/Superman Annual, CHEW, Vic Boone

CHEW

OK, so I followed the lead of London and am all caught up on what is one of the greatest accomplishments in modern comics: CHEW. I’m not supposed to mention that it’s going to be a TV show or what I think about that (it fucking rules), so I’ll just focus on the book in this initial foray into this week’s ramble.

As JL mentioned in the 2010 list of best comics, CHEW is about Tony Chu, “a stereotypical Asian guy” (according to the author’s notes). Not so typical about Chu is that he can bite or taste things and get a psychic impression from his mouth. In fact, the whole universe is food-centric and I love it! There are people who can write about food in such a way as to make readers taste it. There is a mute chef who can communicate through his cooking.

The art by Rob Guillory is very “indie” without being pretentious and every frame is filled with something fun. To me, it has a very “manga” style.

So, the first book I’m reviewing this time around is CHEW #18. This book is a real turning point for CHEW readers. We get to see the inner workings of the USDA and the demise of my favorite character of the whole series. Talk about a blaze of glory!

I just love the effortless writing by John Layman and fun that goes into every issue. This is truly a comic book done by people who love comics. Maybe it’s because I had the fortune to read all of the trades in a matter of days, but I really feel that the characters are deep and great, despite the whimsical premise of the series. Things matter in the CHEW universe and in the great tradition of the graphic medium, no one stays dead for long and even the most minor character could mean something very big down the line.

The creators state that the book will definitely end at #60 and I like that. It makes every page feel important and every twist and turn genuine, you know? Love it. Buy CHEW.

Fables

This week also saw the completion of my Fables adventure with the release of the most recent trade paperback collection “Rose Red”. Finally I filled in the gap leading up to the epic Fables #100, which is included in this volume (along with all of the extra stuff).

The story focuses on the Sisters White/Red and the history of their falling out and eventual reconciliation. It’s got all the info you need to catch up to #100 and you will want to go back and catch things you missed before. Exquisite.

Batman/Superman Annual

I am constantly amazed at both the quality of the good stuff out there and also at the sore lack of it. I broke my rules and read the Fables trade before my single issues for the week and the book I read directly after was the Superman/Batman Annual.

These days, when I pick up a DC book, I feel like I woke up riding a bicycle on a gravel road. This book is no exception.

I have really come to enjoy the old school feel of the Super/Bat-man book. The little stories it tells are sometimes right out of the Golden Age. And the story that tied into the death of Batman? It was classic and awesome.

This one is part of the “Reign of Doomsday” crossover event and I have no F-N clue what’s going on. I mean, I can infer a bit, but LOL WUT? I do know that the satellite turns into cyborg Superman and then into Doomsday? Then Doomsday turns into cyber-Doomsday. What? Then Supergirl is dying, but then she’s not dying and comes out all bad-ass. Then she gets her ass kicked and dragged off by her hair. Huh?

Plus, they yell “Doomsday” at him a lot. Is that even his name? Doomsday is a mindless brute, he doesn’t speak as far as I can tell and so has probably not told anyone his name. I mean maybe that’s why he just keeps going on rampages.

He’s like, “they can’t possibly be talking to me, my name is Aloysius”. Even Batman yells it at him and he should know better.

I will say this: the art by Miguel Sepulveda is really cool. The issue is mostly fights and they are done in a very cool and kinetic style. Lots of flips and thrusts. Very nice. The book looks great. I’m sure it’s probably an amazing chapter to those who have managed to fork the dough over to keep up with the RoD event.

BPRD & Witch Finder

Very quickly, as to save London some grief: I also read BPRD: The Dead Remembered and Witchfinder: Lost and Gone Forever.

I love Witchfinder. This new series is just so god damned manly. People stitch themselves up in this issue and there’s plenty of gore and plot to enjoy. The art is really evocative and fits in perfectly with the Old West setting. I am really looking forward to seeing this book progress.

BPRD: TDR tells the story of fire starter Liz Sherman’s first field assignment and they keep promoting that this series will depict, in apparently loving and astute detail, the incident in which Liz kills her family. It’s almost ghoulish how they keep mentioning that. I’m just happy that the art is finally clean and discernable. Thank you.

Vic Boone

Finally, Geekscape sent me issue #1 of 215Ink’s “Vic Boone” series. Right off the bat, readers will probably notice the stylistic art and the limited color palette. OK, so there’s that. But look past that and the story here is a little bit Blade Runner, a little bit Film Noir and all the way fun.

It’s a world of sentient robots and dangerous dames – a world where corporations rule and everyone has a secret. It’s also a world where an informant takes the form of a fly with a human head and heroes are fallible.

The seemingly sparse artwork by “Geoffo” is actually quite effective. It places the emphasis on the story and this time the story is solid. The problem with most noir-influenced stories is that they get bogged down in the language and trappings of “classic noir” (Marvel’s “Noir” books, I’m looking at you) and the story suffers. This time, the tone is totally Noir, but the action seems fresh and moves quickly. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

See? I don’t hate everything. In the end, comics should be fun. These days, it seems that the tone seems pandering (Marvel) or ponderous (DC) and all of the fun is happening on the fringes. The “Brightest Day” mega-mess seems as serious as a Catholic mass and the endless movie tie-ins happening over at the House of “Ideas” really turn me off. I mean, good for them, but who cares?

Foster Broussard: Demons of The Gold Rush

I was sent a review copy of Red 5’s “Foster Broussard: Demons of The Gold Rush”#1. I could linger on the misspelling on the first page, but they spelled the same word correctly later on, so I’ll skip it. (Disappointed = one S and two P’s, not the other way around).

In any case, this book was pretty good. It’s as if the blond guy from the animated movie “The Road to El Dorado” got his own book and was a bit more of a prick. He’s raffish, roguish, and devil-may-care!

In a book where the central figure is supposed to be charismatic, detail of facial expression is key. The expressions that Dan Glasl puts on Foster are priceless at times. The look on his face when he’s being read his list of charges on the gallows is awesome. Well played. In fact, I would almost rather see this book in black and white. The heavy inks detract from what I suspect was pretty subtle pencil work.

If you’re a fan of rollicking adventure and bored to death of superheroes and robots and zombies, check this book out. It’s a very nice tribute to adventure books of the past.(EDITOR’S NOTE: Foster Broussard: Demons of The Gold Rush Hits stores in May)

Hellraiser

One other thing of note this week: the return of “Hellraiser”! In the 90s, there was this great anthology series based on the Clive Barker masterpiece and now it’s back. Boom Studios picks up the story where the old series left off.

See, even though the old series was mainly an anthology, there was a scripted, serialized story running through the pages of the book as well. The Harrowers were on the trail of the Cenobites and stand to be their only natural enemy.

I’m not sure yet if I can recommend this book. This first issue is divided into two parts and the second part has art that had me thinking it was a reprint from 1994. However, I will pick up the next one anyway and report back.

Does anyone remember the Nightbreed/Hellraiser cross-over from Epic called “Jihad”? I loved that book. A lot.

Disagree? Want to kill? Lay it on me in the comments. I can take it.