JONAH HEX “Only The Good Die Young” tpb

“Only The Good Die Young” is the 4th tpb volume of DC Comics’ JONAH HEX, containing issues 19 to 24.

Brilliantly written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, JONAH HEX would have to be the one of the best and most consistent comic book series currently being published.

It is no easy task to create original stories in a genre that appears to have exhausted all possibilities, but Gray and Palmiotti always manage to twist new and unique ways to explore this character and his environment.

Issue 22 “The Current War” is the highlight of this collection, as Jonah Hex come face-to-face with Thomas Edison. A terrific tale, that touches on actual real people and events, all the while hinting that Hex’s “old west” is soon evolving into something else.

A wonderful comic book series.

8 out of 10.

PREVIEWS May 2008 #236

I got the latest PREVIEWS May 2008 #236 (for items shipping July 2008 [and beyond!]). I haven’t bought “Previews” for a couple years, mostly as it seemed redundant due to the internet being a vast and up-to-date resource for upcoming released comic books and everything else geeky.

But I bought it this month, as I wanted to have a in-depth look at upcoming trade paperback/hardcover comic books and there is still nothing like holding 580+ pages of geeky goodness in the hands!

So, these are things of interest to me…

DARK HORSE

BARB WIRE OMNIBUS tpb – For some strange reason, I have yet to purchase any of these Omnibus trade paperbacks that Dark Horse have been releasing (Star Wars, Terminator, Indiana Jones, etc.), but I think I might get this. 320 pages of Full Color “boobs ‘n’ violence” for US$25 sounds too good to pass up!

GROO “HELL ON EARTH” tpb – Groo is one of my all-time favorite comic books. I’ve resisted buying this new series in preference to “waiting for the trade”. A certain purchase.

DC

GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY “WEDDING ALBUM” hardcover – It looks too interesting to pass up, and should be a good starting point for new readers (such as myself).

WONDER WOMAN: The CIRCLE hardcover – Yeah, like there was any chance of me NOT buying this!

Absolute RONIN hardcover – THE must-get purchase of 2008! Absolute. Frank Miller. Roll on September 24…

SUPERMAN: KRYPTONITE hardcover – I wasn’t even interesting in this, then I saw the writer and artist credits. Still will flick through this upon release, but there’s a big chance I’ll buy this.

GOTHAM CENTRAL volume 1 In The Line Of Fire hardcover – I’m more than happy to upgrade my trade paperback set for hardcover version. Let’s hope DC hardcover the entire series ASAP!

MILLENIUM tpb – A retro event that I vaguely recall. Written by Steve Englehart, so it MUST be good, huh?

INVASION tpb – Why has it taken DC so long to collect this as a tpb? Furthermore, surely this could have been a hardcover release, too!?

HEAVY LIQUID hardcover – Sure, it’s kind of expensive. But it’s 100% Paul Pope. September 24 is beginning to look like an expensive day!

IMAGE

The ASTONISHING WOLF-MAN volume 1 tpb – It’s from Robert Kirkman, and seven issues for US$15 sounds like a good deal.

MARVEL

POWER PACK volume 1 hardcover – This was suppose to be released late 2007/early 2008. I’m definitely getting this, as I’ve always been a fan of Power Pack. I hope Marvel release collections of their early stuff too.

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY volume 2 hardcover – Why? Because I am a sucker for punishment!

CAPTAIN MARVEL: SECRET INVASION premiere Hardcover – Yeah, not sure why, but I just know I’m gonna buy this!?

LONGSHOT premiere hardcover – Another trade paperback I can upgrade to the hardcover with.

INDIE COMICS

(ANTARCTIC PRESS) WARRIOR NUN AREALA: ARMOR OF GOD pocket manga Volume 1 GN – Looks too good to ignore!

(BOOM! STUDIOS) The FOUNDATION tpb – Well, I’m only one issue from the complete monthly series, so how it finished up will determine if I will also buy this tpb.

(DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT) BAD BOY 10th Anniversary Hardcover – Yeah, umm, it’s Frank Miller and Simon Bisley and a hardcover. Instant purchase!

(DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT) JUNGLE GIRL hardcover – Can. Not. Resist.

(DIABLO PRODUCTIONS) The UNWANTED graphic novel – I have a feeling this graphic novel is going to be huge! Remember where you saw it first!

(DMF Comics) SOUL STEALER volume 1 graphic novel – Ok, it does seem to have a Highlander vibe about it, but that ain’t necessarily a bad thing!

(FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS) LUST KINKY: ONLINE PERSONAL ADS FROM SEATTLE’s STRANGER hardcover – This thing has a genuine chance to break into a mainstream Top 10 bestsellers book list.

(GIRL TWIRL COMICS) The MARTIAN CONFEDERACY volume 1: Rednecks Red Planet graphic novel – Looks irresistible!

(HARPER COLLINS PUBLICATIONS) Neil Gaiman’s CORALINE graphic novel – Neil Gaiman, and it’s a hardcover too!

(HARPER COLLINS PUBLICATIONS) ZOT! volume 1: The Complete Black & White Stories 1987-1991 tpb – Yay, something I recall from my youth!

(IDW) DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS: Volume 1 tpb – Tom Baker stories!

(RUNNING PRESS) The Mammoth Book of BEST CRIME COMICS tpb – Too much talent in this anthology book to ignore!

(TOKYOPOP) TOO LONG graphic novel – I love one-shot manga graphic novels!

(VIRGIN COMICS) Jenna Jameson’s SHADOW HUNTER volume 1 hardcover – Ka-ching!

(VIRGIN COMICS) The STRANDED volume 1 tpb – I am assuming this is a softcover tpb, as it has more pages but a lower price than Shadow Hunter hardcover.

Previews #236 – May 2008

Barb Wire omnibus

GROO Hell On Earth tpb

Green Arrow/Black Canary “Wedding Album” hardcover

Wonder Woman – The Circle

Absolute RONIN hardcover

Superman – Kryptonite

Gotham Central volume 1 hardcover

MILLENIUM tpb

Invasion tpb

Heavy Liquid hardcover

Wolf-Man volume 1 tpb

Spider-Man Brand New Day volume 2 HC

Captain Marvel – Secret Invasion HC

LONGSHOT hardcover

Warrior Nun manga volume 1 GN

The FOUNDATION tpb

BAD BOY 10th Anniversary Hardcover

JUNGLE GIRL hardcover

The UNWANTED graphic novel – Diablo Productions

SOUL STEALER graphic novel #1

LUST KINKY

Martian Confederacy volume 1 GN

Neil Gaiman’s CORALINE

ZOT! volume 1

Doctor Who Classics volume 1 tpb

The Mammoth Book of BEST CRIME COMICS

TOO LONG graphic novel – Tokyopop

Shadow Hunter volume 1 hardcover

The STRANDED volume 1 tpb

The UN-MEN volume 1 “Get Your Freak On!” tpb

“Get Your Freak On” collects the first 5 issues of the Vertigo title The UN-MEN, written by John Whalen with art by Mike Hawthorne.

The Un-Men is a Swamp Thing spin-off that originated many, many years ago, created by comic book industry legends Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson.

Aberrance is a self-contained district inhabited by freaks of nature, some naturally born, others surgically created. Only days before a new “reality television show” featuring the town goes live to air, a dead “freak” citizen is found many miles outside of the city. Kilcrop, a special government agent who happens to be a freak himself (African-American Albino), enters Aberrance seeking answers.

This is wonderfully written by John Whalen. The script and dialog is clever, as I was always caught unaware by the numerous plot twists. Nothing can be faulted with Mike Hawthorne’s art either, as he had already proved his knack for the macabre and grotesque with his previous work on The Exterminators and Umbra.

So, at the base level, The Un-Men is a murder-mystery with a conspiracy/cult plot. Looking deeper, it’s also a profound judgement on what it is to be human. Overall, a bloody good comic.

8 out of 10.

RED SONJA “Travels” tpb

RED SONJA “Travels” tpb collects four separate one-shot Red Sonja tales published by Dynamite Entertainment.

This long awaited trade paperback (it was initially scheduled for release in mid/late 2007) contains the one-shot comics “One More Day”, “Red Sonja Goes East”, “Monster Isle” and “Vacant Shell”.

“One More Day” is the best of the tales, as Sonja is honor bound to serve a King that in her past was a much loved Prince. Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, this tale captures the perfect essence of the character. One page in particular is among the finest written of all Red Sonja comics I’ve ever read, in which Sonja details her backstory with the King yet also firmly enforces her philosophy and existence. Brilliant.

“Red Sonja Goes East” is a fun tale from Ron Marz, in which Sonja covertly delivers justice to a sex-bored ruler of an Eastern Empire.

“Monster Isle” by writer Roy Thomas, finds ship-wrecked Sonja washed-up on an island inhabited by bizarre humanoid animal creatures, in what turns out to be a warped retelling of the Island of Dr Moreau.

“Vacant Shell” is a spooky tale, typical of writer Rick Remender, as Sonja battles ghosts and is soon reminded that no one can be trusted.

Overall, four very different tales with four drastically different art styles, but it integrates into a great book that can be recommended to both new and old fans of Red Sonja.

8 out of 10.

ClanDestine CLASSIC hardcover

ClanDestine Classic hardcover contains Marvel Comics Presents #158, Clandestine #1 to #8 and X-Men & Clandestine #1-#2.

I totally skipped the ClanDestine the first time around in the mid-1990s, as it was printed in that decade when I pretty much avoided most mainstream comic books, X-Men-related titles especially.

Written and drawn by Alan Davis, a misfit family of mutants emerge out of hiding to face an enemy that could endanger us all. To my great surprise, this hardcover is excellent!

I really like the writing by Alan Davis, he fleshes out the characters and their history gradually over the issues, and though some of the action gets quite heavy, the script is often comedic and tongue-in-cheek. I get a real Power Pack/Runaways vibe about this comic book.

It should be noted that this does not quite print ALL original ClanDestine issues. The original series went for 12 issues, with the final four issues written by Glenn Dakin.

Though, the 2 part X-Men crossover is certainly the epilogue of the overall Alan Davis storyline from the “classic” era.

7.5 out of 10.

The WALKING DEAD Book One hardcover

The WALKING DEAD Book One hardcover contains the first 12 issues of Robert Kirkman’s black & white Image Comics series.

Small town cop Rick Grimes is shot in the line of duty and wakes up from the subsequent coma a month later to find his town filled with dead and the undead. Searching for his wife and kid, Rick uncounters a world over-run with Zombies, along with many strange people trying to survive!

This is one of those series that many friends (and strangers) have highly recommended, but I’ve never got around to reading… until now!

There is a lot of like about this comic. Robert Kirkman’s story and script are well developed, as the comic surprisingly develops into a melodrama, rather than a simple gore-fest.

Art for the opening 6 issues is by Tony Moore and Charrlie Adlard takes over pencil duties from issue 7 onwards. Both artists show a wonderful flair for characterization and the black and white artform.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why this is so brilliant. It just is. Though I don’t have a strong emotional attachment to any of the characters, I do care about what happens to them next, and I’ll certainly seeking to read Book Two ASAP!

8 out of 10.

MARVEL ZOMBIES “Dead Days” hardcover

MARVEL ZOMBIES “Dead Days” hardcover collects the Dead Days one-shot, Ultimate Fantastic Four #21-#23, #30-#32 and Black Panther #28-#30. All up, a reasonable size hardcover collecting ten issues.

The various Marvel Zombies series have been enjoyable, not to be taken too seriously, though they seem to have a life of their own nowadays.

The highlight of this hardcover is the origin of the Marvel Zombies from the Ultimate Fantastic Four issues, as they contain a very smart script and some surprisingly twists. Doctor Doom plays a pivotal role, and almost steals the show.

I found the one-shot and the Black Panther issues less interesting, as they seemed to be mostly pointless and mindless action without much reason. Though, those Zombie Skrulls are interesting! :O

Of all the Marvel Zombies hardcovers released thus far, “Dead Days” is the best (thanks to those U.F.F. issues), but having said that, I’m totally sick to death of the concept, and I’m not sure if I’m going to bother with the upcoming Marvel Zombies 2.

7.5 out of 10.

Terry Moore’s ECHO #2

The story of Julie continues, as she attempts to remove the foreign substance that has attached itself to her upper torso and chest.

Superb black ink art by Terry Moore, it’s one of those rare comic books in which I stop and stare at the images before turning to the next page. I love some of the cross-hatching work too.

Storywise, the plot is moving along, as we discover more about Julie, and a pending confrontation with the military developers that are searching for their lost “weapon” coming soon.

8 out of 10.

X-MEN “ENDANGERED SPECIES”

X-MEN “ENDANGERED SPECIES” hardcover contains the one-shot Prologue special and the 17 chapter storyline that was presented as back-up pages of X-Men 200-204, Uncanny X-Men 488-491, X-Factor 21-24 and New X-Men 40-42.

Since the House of M event, with Scarlet Witch’s immortal NO MORE MUTANTS words, as well as decimating the mutant population, no new mutants have emerged since.

Fearing extinction for mutantkind, Hank McCoy (aka Beast) travels to various locations, trying to find answers, in order to reverse the Scarlet Witch’s magic, or attempt to kickstart mutation artificially.  This is very much a Hank McCoy story, even though it’s also designed to be prelude to the Messiah CompleX storyline.

I’ve read plenty of X-Men comics over the past several years, with a majority of them hugely disappointing. This does not disappoint. Endangered Species is superb, in fact.

Replacing mindless action and convoluted plot devices with an intelligent script and unique ideas.

Ideas. That is what attracted the X-Men to me when I was a teenager. Ideas. To present a concept that is left-of-field, fourth-wall, and willing to break through it.

This is the kind of X-Men I want to read.

But not recommended to anyone that doesn’t enjoy reading and thinking.

8 out of 10.

SPIDER-MAN “One More Day” hardcover

SPIDER-MAN “One More Day” hardcover contains issues 544-545, FNSM 24, Sensational 41.

Even weeks after reading this rubbish, I still can’t find the right words to express my total disappointment of what Joe Quesada has done to Spider-Man here.

It’s so poorly written, it’s hard to believe it came from J. Michael Straczynski? And I’ve never been a fan of Quesada’s art, anyway.

Peter Parker is faced with the choice, erase his marriage to Mary Jane to save his Aunt May.

It doesn’t make sense.

Adding insult to injury, Marvel priced this hardcover $5 more than the normal “premiere edition hardcover” price. Pricks!

A total disgrace.

2 out of 10.