stormwatch p.h.d. vol. 1

by Christos Gage & Doug Mahnke

collects Stormwatch PHD # 1-4 & 6-7

the premise: Jackson King has re-assembled the Stormwatch team, complete with several new members and a few returning faces, but minus the budget to which he is accustomed. Now the new division has to learn to fight crime on a budget.

the lowdown: Just so you know PHD stands for "post-human division". Essentially this is a return to basics for the Stormwatch franchise, bringing back some of the old characters (including a few who were killed by the Aliens way back when), tossing in a few new faces, and sending them out to have new adventures and explore their new group dynamic. If you're looking for the innovation or cutting-edge material of the Warren Ellis run, you will need to look elsewhere, because it's not here.

What IS here is a pretty good, if relatively generic, superhero team book. The new character concepts are interesting if not the stuff of legend. Gage crafts stories that generally make sense and highlight the various personalities of the characters, each of whom speaks with a pretty distinct voice. The heavy emphasis on action and violence that drives so many of the best Wildstorm books is here. It's not anything you haven't seen before, but if you like this sort of story it may be the kind of thing you'll enjoy seeing again.

Mahnke's art is characteristically excellent - he particularly excels in the action scenes. Nothing really *new* here from him, just his usual standout work.

the verdict: It may sound like I'm being pretty harsh on this book's lack of originality, but honestly I don't want to minimize that - the best Wildstorm books have usually been the ones that showed us something *new*. This really doesn't - but I enjoyed it for what it is, a well-done straight-up superhero book.

iron man: doomquest

by David Michelinie, Bob Layton & John Romita Jr.

collects Iron Man # 149-150 & 249-250

the premise: Armors collide in two fondly-remembered battles, as Iron Man and Doctor Doom first do battle in the distant past, then become uneasy allies in the far-flung future.

the lowdown: The juxtaposition of Iron Man against Doctor Doom is one of those ideas that just pops. Clearly there are some similarities between the characters (post-Civil War perhaps more than ever), but that doesn't entirely explain the chemistry that they have. It may be as simple as Stark's red and gold armor looking good on the page next to Doom green & grey. It is a visual medium, after all. For whatever reason, it works.

This volume collects the classic "Doomquest" story from #149-150 as well as its sequel from 100 issues later. Despite being published a decade apart there is a through-line connecting them, and the 2nd story (drawn by Bob Layton) is very much set up to echo the first (drwn by JrJr), right down to having similar panel composition. Both IM and Doom are taken a little out of their element in both stories (IM even moreso than Doom), and thrust into scifi/ fantasy settings a little removed from their norm. The stories themselves are a little wooden, very heavy on exposition (as were most Marvel books of this era), but enjoyable in a "geez would you look at that" kind of way. I found the first story superior to the second, if only because the second tries so hard to emulate the first that it loses some of the novelty of the IM/ Doom pairing.

The art by both JrJr and Layton is excellent, as expected. JrJr draws mostly in the same type of style he used on Spider-Man back in those days - not as gritty as his more recent work, smaller figure composition etc. Layton's story was drawn in the late 80's/ early 90's, and you can see his panels getting larger, the work getting more detailed.

the verdict: This was a fun nostalgia trip for me - I read IM #149 when it was published but my subscription ended with that issue, and I never read the conclusion. The experience of picking up part two thirty years later was a little surreal. I'm not sure it'd have the same appeal to someone encountering the story for the first time, but if you're willing to look past some of the dated elements (Stark's mullet), you'll get an old-school Iron Man story that's well put-together.

vampire loves

by Joann Sfar

original graphic novel

the premise: Ferdinand is just about the most neurotic vampire you'll ever meet. He bites people with one tooth in order to pass as a mosquito. His girlfriend yells at him for catching her cheating on him. This volume details Ferdinand's sometimes hilarious, sometimes touching misadventures.

the lowdown: There's kind of a running theme in comics where people call all sorts of things autobiographical that aren't. A few years back I recall someone describing his autobiographical story about ninja monkeys or something, and this was in a real interview. "Sure it's just like my life - except with ninja monkeys!" Riiiiigggghhhtttt. With that said, and keeping in mind that I know nothing about Sfar's life, this book feels like it has autobiographical elements - or at least that Sfar is drawing on his own life experiences and re-creating them through poor neurotic Ferdinand.

At this point I'm sure many are rolling their eyes at the novelty of another autobiographical indie comic - and frankly there are moments where this one does lapse into tedium. For the most part, though, this is a cute book, kind of akin to reading a collection of a comic strip. It's not going to blow you away, but it may make you chuckle from time to time. Ferdinand is more or less a vehicle for Sfar to talk about.. whatever he feels like talking about at the moment, and more often than not it's at least worth a few minutes' diversion.

The art isn't the most polished you'll encounter, and clearly Sfar is more a cartoonist than a "mainstream" comic artist - but the rough art fits pretty well with the story. Again - nothing that will wow you, but something that will entertain. (The book is in full color, BTW.)

the verdict: This is a light, breezy read. I enjoyed it though I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it, and really I'm probably not in the target demographic. It's a well put-together book, though, and might be worth checking out if you're in the mood for something a little different.

stagger lee

by Derek McCulloch and Shepherd Hendrix

original graphic novel

the premise: On Christmas Eve in 1895, Stagger Lee shot Billy in a bar. The whys, the hows, and the wherefores subsequently became the stuff of myth and legend. This original graphic novel examines the "Stagolee" myth from all angles.

the lowdown: I wouldn't quite categorize this book as "historical fiction", because the subject matter is myth and the book makes no bones about that fact. It's akin, however, to an illustrated documentary, a fairly comprehensive examination of the Stagger Lee legend. It offers details of the competing accounts, the inconsistencies between tellings, and presents the evidence in a way that's part folk tale, part illustrated song, and part straight-up comic.

The reading experience is a fun one - this is a good book to kick back with a beer or glass of wine and enjoy. I found myself pretty well immersed in the story very quickly, and you won't want to put it down until it's done. It'll make you care about the Stagger Lee story even if, like me, you go in knowing nothing about it.

The art is in sepia and white by Hendrix, who shows off some range as an artist. At times he subtly shifts to a more exaggerated style, as the narrative moves from straightforward to abstract.

the verdict: Although I'm certainly no expert on the topic, this appears to be a well-researched and informative look at the story behind the legend of Stagger Lee, and it doesn't sacrifice readability in order to be informative. This is a great way to spend a couple of hours.

mighty avengers vol. 1: the ultron initiative

by Brian Michael Bendis & Frank Cho

collects Mighty Avengers # 1-6

the premise: Iron Man assembles a new team of Avengers, led by Ms. Marvel. The team is immediately pressed into action when Ultron (who is now a nekkid Janet Pym lookalike) subverts Tony Stark's physical form and unleashes an apocalypse plan on humanity.

the lowdown: This series is interesting in several ways. First, the Avengers under Bendis have now pretty much come full circle. As I recall one of the things he wanted to change about the team was that it was a bunch of C-listers. So what's the team now? Iron Man and lots of C-listers. (Sorry Wonder Man, but it's true.) Perhaps they're more powerful D-listers than say, Jack of Hearts - but this is a not a lineup long on star power.

The other thing is that this is really the first true example of Bendis writing a big blockbuster action story without tweaking that genre. New Avengers is excellent but there's no denying it feels very different from a traditional Avengers story - it's more street-level, harder-edged, etc. This arc, on the other hand, is a straight-up action story with lots of explosions and big fights. For the most part Bendis pulls that off a lot better than I think many would have expected. There are definitely some moments when the Avengers look like dolts who are more or less clueless as to what to do with Ultron, but overall Bendis acquits himself well - each character gets a fair bit of face-time and contributes meaningfully to the story.

(Also - kind of interesting that for most of the book Tony Stark is presumed dead, and no one seems to care.)

Cho's art plays to Bendis' script, or perhaps vice-versa. There are lots of pretty girls posed suggestively, and as noted Ultron is now a nekkid girl. Leaving aside the cheesecake, Cho's action scenes are really pretty good, and they add to the excitement level. It's nice work.

the verdict: A nice start for this series, and it actually feels like there's a reason (beyond the obviou$) to have two different Avengers series, as they feel very distinct from one another. This might even pull back in some of the old-school Avengers fans who don't like the post-Disassembled stuff.

p.s. Just in case you're curious - Hank Pym is in this arc, and he is, in fact, still a loser.

catwoman: nine lives of a feline fatale

by Ed Brubaker, Doug Moench, Tom Mandrake and more

collects Catwoman v. 1 #54, Catwoman Secret Files, Batman # 392 and more

the premise: Very similar to DC's "Greatest Stories Ever Told" line, this collection presents a wide variety of Catwoman stories through the years, starting with the Golden Age introduction of the character and working through Ed Brubaker's run, as well as the B:TAS version.

the lowdown: In general I'm not a big fan of the "Greatest Stories Ever Told" books, because I don't think many of them offer good value for the $19.99 cover price. There are usually only 1-2 good stories with a lot of fluff. This similarly-styled collection, however, is worth the coin. It's got a nice selection of Catwoman stories, including several that aren't reprinted anywhere else.

The more modern stories are my favorites (although the older stuff is cute too), and highlights include the Doug Moench/ Tom Mandrake issue where Batman and Catwoman go on a "date" that keeps getting interrupted. There's a Devin Grayson/ Jim Balent issue that was one of their better efforts. The book also includes the Ed Brubaker/ Mike Oeming story from the Secret Files issue, which recounts a lot of Selina's backstory and explains some of her costume changes.

Finally, the book includes a number of pinups by various artists, including the George Perez pinup from the Batman 3-D book - now presented in full color. Catwoman has been reinvented more often than any of the other Batman villains, and this book gives a nice tour through her evolution over the years.

the verdict: Thumbs up to this one. It's gotten a little hard to find but IMO is one of the few "greatest hits" collections that are worth the money. Good stuff.

dmz vol. 4: friendly fire

by Brian Wood, Riccardo Burchielli, Kristian Donaldson &more

collects DMZ # 18-22

the premise: Matty investigates the event that plunged the 2nd Civil War into a stalemate - the massacre now known as Day 204 - while the soldiers considered to be at fault stand trial before a military tribunal.

the lowdown: One of the few things about the first three volumes of this series that was unclear was the backstory. We're told that there's a Civil War in America, but the dynamics of that conflict were somewhat unclear. In this volume Wood gives us that backstory and fleshes out that background.

The high concept is excellent - we're told of an event, now known as Day 204, but no one can agree on what actually happened that day. So as Matty investigates he learns different versions of the story and must piece together the truth, all the while navigating the political issues perpetuating the conflict. The resolution ends up being a little pat, both in terms of how it's explained and the role Matty plays - but the journey to that point is extremely compelling.

Burchielli's art has grown on me to the point that the fill-ins here actually annoyed me a little, even the issue by the uber-talented Kristian Donaldson, Wood's collaborator on Supermarket. The fill-ins are used mostly to illustrate flashback scenes, primarily the different accounts of Day 204, so they work for the most part without disrupting the story.

the verdict: I liked this a lot despite some of the politics being a bit simplistic. There are some nice character moments, and it's an excellent concept presented in an effective way. If you liked the first three volumes, you'll enjoy this one too.

xiii vol. 1: day of the black sun

by Jean Van Hamme, Ben Avery, and William Vance

collects parts 1-3

the premise: A man wakes up on a beach with no memory of who he is or how he got there, but quickly learns that he has special military training. Now he's on a quest to learn his true identity, which may or may not mean he killed the President of the United States.

the lowdown: This is a story originally published in Europe some years ago that was part of the Dabel Bros. works at Marvel. Although that relationship has ended, the remainder of the story is said to be on the way. Thus far vol. 1 is the only one released, and it contains the first three parts of the story - works out to about the average length of a TPB.

The story is perhaps timely in light of the popularity of the Bourne movies - similar type of premise except we know even less about the lead character, and he's led in one direction right after another as he searches for the clues to his identity. The creators use that opportunity to introduce us to several different sets of characters, who are pretty widely variant from one another. This volume alone has a ton of twists and turns, and it seems that the surface hasn't even been scratched yet.

The art is in a more European style, as one would expect - less crosshatching than you'd see in most North American books, a little more subdued in terms of panel composition. At times it's a little "stiff", but the storytelling is impeccable and (key for a book like this), the normal people are distinguishable from one another. Probably not the sort of thing you'd see in a contemporary Marvel or DC book, but good work nevertheless.

the verdict: I enjoyed this a lot. It's a fun brain puzzle, and it promises to make a nice epic. I'll be buying the later installments for sure, and I recommend the book to thriller fans.

justice league international vol. 1

by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis & Kevin Maguire

collects Justice League # 1-6 & Justice League International #7

the premise: Spinning out of the Legends crossover, the Justice League has been re-assembled - but the new team has some serious difficulty gelling as a team. Add to that the fact that unscrupulous businessman Max Lord has started recruiting new members to the team - without the League's consent - and wackiness is bound to ensue.

the lowdown: Okay, first things first: the paper. It's newsprint. On a $24.99 hardcover. Kind of a disappointment on something that's priced as a high-end product. It's not BAD, really - it's not the same kind of newsprint they used on, say, the original issues. It's bright white, sturdier than the old stuff, shows the color pretty well - just a little bit of a letdown on a high-end book.

With that out of the way - I'm thrilled that DC is collecting the bwah-ha-ha Justice League, and in HC to boot. This volume has essentially the same contents as the old Justice League: A New Beginning TPB, plus a few extra pinups. The stories center around the manipulations of Maxwell Lord, introduced in these pages, and a battle royale with a villain called The Gray Man. Although there's a healthy dose of humor, this isn't the full-on bwah-ha-ha yet - it took awhile before the creators really gave in to that impulse. These issues are fun (especially the classic Batman/ Guy Gardner fight), but a little stiff in places and kind of awkward to read. Probably best to think of it as an extended intro to the book while the creators found their sea legs.

Maguire's art is very good but not as polished as his current work. It's interesting to compare this to the more recent TPBs - everyone's a little more "round" and jocular in the newer stuff. The trademark facial expressions are there, though - it's good work for an artist who was, at the time, still relatively new to the scene.

the verdict: I think it's worth getting despite some production issues and the fact that these stories really aren't the cream of the run. Reading this volume will enhance the reading of the later ones, and it'll give you a few chuckles along the way.

punisher war journal vol. 2: goin' out west

by Matt Fraction & Ariel Olivetti

collects PWJ v. 2 # 5-11

the premise: Shocked and inspired by the death of Captain America, the Punisher travels south to take on the newest incarnation of the Hate-Monger, who has started a militia along the Mexican border. Castle dons a new costume inspired by Cap to confront the Monger's twisted ideology.

the lowdown: Here's the unique problem with this book. It's not just that Garth Ennis has just done what many consider to be the definitive Punisher, and did so by taking him out of the Marvel Universe. It's that Ennis' book is still going, so this book can either be totally redundant, or it can go in a completely different direction from the MAX book - in other words, do the book completely differently from the Best True Way to do it. It seems like an inherently flawed proposition. But Fraction has jumped in with both feet - the first arc was a Civil War tie-in, and this one is heavily influenced by Cap's death and has Iron Man in it.

So what we end up with is a gritty vigilante story that happens to have some ridiculous elements - such as Hate-Monger having a big machine that produces "H-rays" and gives everyone bezerker rages. I doubt Ennis could write that without sobbing hysterically, but Fraction presents it without a trace of irony. His Punisher isn't exactly a superhero, but he's pretty close to one. But for the fact that he kills the bad guys, he could be a low-tech version of Batman.

And while the result still feels a little off - it's "off" in a good way. I am one of those who believe Ennis has presented the definitive take, but for awhile it's nice to see the character in a somewhat goofy superhero story. Might just be a case of needing a change of pace from the somewhat morose MAX book, but whatever - this kind of hits the spot for now.

Olivetti's art is heavily CGI-influenced, again, with what appear to be lots of computer-generated backgrounds. It's not great but doesn't look bad, and a style like that actually seems to reinforce the glorious absurdity of the whole enterprise.

the verdict: I'll be sticking with this series for awhile. There's some stuff being set up that seems pretty interesting, and the Hate-Monger story works as a relatively straightforward superhero yarn.

batman: gothic

by Grant Morrison & Klaus Janson

collects Legends of the Dark Knight # 6-10

the premise: Batman is confronted by a terrifying figure from his past - the serial-killing Mr. Whisper - who has a demonic plan in store for Gotham. Batman must crack Mr. Whisper's secrets and locate him in time to prevent a cataclysm.

the lowdown: Grant Morrison has morphed several times over his years in the industry, and this story comes from his early dark phase, originally having been released in early 1990, hot on the heels of the Arkham Asylum graphic novel and the Nicholson/ Keaton movie. His work from that era reads very differently from the more madcap, idea-packed stuff he does today. It's far darker, albeit with an occasional touch of humor, but fits much more closely in line with the faux-iller interpretation of the character that was very much in vogue at the time.

Here Morrison crafts a horror story that fits nicely with Janson's atmospheric art. He also does a bit of retrofitting to get Mr. Whisper into Batman's past, and presents the Waynes as well as Bruce's pre-tragedy childhood in a somewhat disturbing light. I'm not sure I really like that as an addition to the legend, but it works for the purpose of this particular story. Batman inhabits a very bleak world here, and the notion that it's always been that way adds to the mood. The sunny optimism of something like Ultramarine Corp is nowhere in evidence here - this is dark and grimy and uncomfortable and, at times, morose.

Although this was written in 1989 and saw print late 89/ early 90, it holds up remarkably well, and reads as if it could have been written today. Some of these tropes have been repeated over the years (the first Batman/ Spawn book has a nearly identical plot), but they're rarely done as well as they were here.

the verdict: This is a good story on its own merits, and it's also interesting for a student of Grant Morrison's work to catalogue the ways his work has changed over the years.

ultimate spider-man vol. 19: death of a goblin

by Brian Michael Bendis & Stuart Immonen

collects Ultimate Spider-Man # 112-117

note: the trade is red, not blue.

the premise: Norman Osborn escapes from SHIELD custody and begins a campaign of revenge against Nick Fury and Peter Parker. Peter's loved ones scramble for safety as he and Kitty Pryde attempt to assist a Fury-less SHIELD in recapturing Osborn.

the lowdown: Yeah yeah - Spidey two days in a row. Sue me.

Anyway, the premise of this arc is about as basic as superhero stories get: villain breaks out of jail and seeks revenge. Bendis does a good job of giving it a modern twist, though, as Osborn uses the media to publicly smear the missing Nick Fury. (I understand he's in the Squadron Supreme-verse or something.) Peter, of course, gets drawn into the melee, but finds himself contending with a very different SHIELD than the one to which he is accustomed, now helmed by Ultimate Carol Danvers.

With the exception of the outstanding Clone Saga, this series has settled into a pattern wherein none of the arcs really blow me away, but all are entertaining and fun. This is, as always, a very solid superhero book with clever dialogue and interesting twists on old situations. There's enough of Pete's private life mingled in here to keep it feeling like a Spider-Man story, and enough action to keep it from just being a talking head-fest.

This arc also manages IMO to salvage the Norman Osborn character, which I always thought was a fairly weak sister compared to the MU version. The Goblin design is still pretty dull, but the scheming Osborn of the original USM arc is back, and actually feels like a credible threat rather than a weird version of Man-Thing. Bendis makes him feel like the smartest guy in the room and keeps the reader guessing as to what he will do next.

This is also Stuart Immonen's first arc as the regular penciller, and I'm pleased with the early results. For a long time it was hard to imagine this book drawn by anyone other than Bagley, but Immonen acquits himself well. The character designs are thinner and taller than Bagley's, with a sketchier line, and it works great without just apeing Bagley.

the verdict: Another good volume - this series rarely trods much new ground but rarely disappoints, either. This is good comics.

spider-man visionaries: kurt busiek vol. 1

by Kurt Busiek & Pat Oliffe

collects Untold Tales of Spider-Man # 1-8

note: actual cover varies from image shown. (basically it's the same image minus the background.)

the premise: Busiek & Oliffe spin 8 done-in-one stories set early in Spidey's career, literally in-between pages of the classic Lee/ Ditko run.

the lowdown: This book reprints the first third of a "loss leader" series Marvel published to try and get back on newsstands in the late 90's. Each issue was 16 pages long and retailed for 99 cents. The idea is that these are the stories that happened while the camera was off during the Lee/ Ditko years. Busiek even goes so far as to do illustrated text pieces explaining exactly how these stories fit into the original run.

Which is cute but not really my bag. For me the hook was far more "classic Spidey" than "explaining how Peter's glasses got broken between #5 and #6". But that's okay - this series delivers early Spidey tales with what I consider to be the best Spidey setup - high school, Pete's a nerd, etc.

Make no mistake, though - these stories are retro in every sense of the word. Busiek's prose isn't quite as purple as Stan's, but this isn't exactly a cinematic approach. Even Oliffe's art style has been tailored to look more like Ditko's work. In some respects the book loses a little by trying so hard to ape Lee & Ditko. Granted those guys started it all, but it might have been fun to see a more modern take on those years as well. I guess that's what the Ultimate book is for.

the verdict: I'd buy a Vol. 2 if Marvel decides to continue this line. It's hard to say the primary appeal here is nostalgia, because these are (at least for me) new stories - but they do offer a classic Marvel feel and tone, and they're an amusing distraction. Nothing wonderful, but pretty solid Spidey.

green lantern: the sinestro corps war vol. 1

by Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, Ethan Van Sciver, Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason & Angel Unzueta

collects Sinestro Corp. #1, Green Lantern # 21-23, & GL Corps # 14-15

the premise: Sinestro is back, and this time he's assembled an entire army of followers in an attempt to remake the world in his own image. The GLC finds itself matched against a massive onslaught, featuring no fewer than three near-ominpotent SC members.

the lowdown: I'm not a regular GL reader, but picked this one up due to generally liking GL: Rebirth, and the fact that this series was, by most accounts, the highlight of DC's 2007 publishing schedule. Even as the rest of the line was getting pounded critically, this storyline got almost unabashed praise.

So why didn't I like it more? I dunno... it is a basically well-told story with dynamic artwork. Although there are two different writers pursuing what are basically parallel plotlines, there's a connection between them that feels organic. There are lots of interesting characters, including the return of a few who have been AWOL for some time. In terms of craft, it's quite well-done.

With one exception - the stakes aren't impactful. By that I mean - we've got this big war going on, and all these admittedly great moments - but there's not enough of a sense that I should really care how this turns out. Maybe it'd be different if I had some emotional attachment to some GL or another, but I don't, and I really shouldn't have to in order to appreciate this particular story. Rebirth worked for me, for example, without any such attachment. We're told that if Sinestro and his followers achieve their goal, it'll be bad mojo - but their goal is for the most part only defined as "spreading fear". Yeah, I guess that would suck, but I'm not feeling it as the Greatest Threat of All Time.

They do bring things a little closer to home at the end, though, so I am still optimistic that Vol. 2 will deliver the emotional impact along with the splodey.

the verdict: GL fans will undoubtedly adore this book. I'm a little lukewarm on it but appreciate the craft that went into its production. If you're into hard sci-fi, this one will be a fun read for you.

capote in kansas

by Ande Parks & Chris Samnee

original graphic novel

the premise: Author Truman Capote lives in a small town while doing the research for his famous novel "In Cold Blood". Capote struggles to fit in while carrying on a dialogue with the ghost of the 16-year old girl whose exploits he intends to chronicle.

the lowdown: Ande Parks has swiftly become the go-to guy for historical fiction, following up an impressive debut on Union Station with this tale of Truman Capote in 1959. This book was obviously researched very well, and there are lots of neat little asides (like the use of Harper "To Kill A Mockingbird" Lee in a cameo role as Capote's assistant).

The best thing this book does, though, is divorce itself a bit from reality and embrace the fiction half of "historical fiction". Overly-accurate historical fiction can be really boring - a nice bit of academia but devoid of the feeling that true fiction generates. Parks never loses sight of that - his Truman Capote is an interesting character whether you're a student of history or just someone wanting to read a compelling story. And he treats the most salient question the book asks - "why would someone want to tell this story?" - with a great deal of respect, delivering an answer that will warm and break your heart at the same time.

Samnee's art is excellent as well. Although relatively new to the genre, he already has a very strong sense of how to use shadow to convey both mood and texture. His work really doesn't look like Mike Mignola's, but he has the same design sense. It looks really good in black and white here.

the verdict: A+. This one's a keeper - it's been out a few years now but should still be available, and I highly recommend picking it up if you haven't already.

el cazador

by Chuck Dixon & Steve Epting

collects El Cazador # 1-6

the premise: Look! Pirates!

the lowdown: This is one of the Crossgen series that got aborted somewhat prematurely when the company collapsed. Dixon & Epting managed to complete six issues before things went pear-shaped. I'm not sure if all six saw print under the CG banner or if this is their initial publication, but in any event this book has a relatively complete storyline.

The story is a pretty basic pirate story. The big twist is introduced early on, and has to do with the identity of the, for lack of a better word, protagonist. That's not really a HUGE twist, though - I considered spoiling it here but thought better of it. It's fairly clear this is designed to be an all-ages read, like most of the CG books. Note: I did not say "kiddie", I said "all-ages". Think more along the lines of Pirates of the Caribbean than Sea of Red.

While the story is a solid read, the real draw of this book is the artwork by Epting, which is fantastic. This is the book where Epting really took "the leap" and became the guy who's lighting up Captain America now. If anything, this is even better than his Cap work, because there are so many exotic and beautiful landscapes for him to draw. The amount of detail is staggering, and you'll catch yourself just stopping to admire his craft.

the verdict: Calling this the best pirate book on the stands would be damning with faint praise, given the dearth of entries in this genre. This is a solid book, though - the story won't blow you away but is entertaining, and the art is stellar.

scalped vol. 2: casino boogie

by Jason Aaron & R.M. Guera

collects Scalped # 6-11

the premise: Crime Boss Red Horn is opening a new casino - his pride and joy and the culmination of years of work, some of it dirty. This volume examines the events of the night of the opening from six different perspectives - and one of the narrators doesn't survive the night.

the lowdown: It's really not fair - Jason Aaron is pulling off the kind of storytelling as a relative novice that it usually takes writers years and years to master. This time around he's opted for the time-honored "show the same events through different eyes" trick. That device has two major pitfalls. One is that the writer ends up conveying redundant information. The other is that the story degenerates into one of those Wizard articles where they list all the members of the JLA and tell what Batman thinks of them - in other words, it's a cheap shortcut to characterization. Aaron deftly avoids both of those pitfalls here. There's little if any redundant information in the stories - very few repeated scenes. More to the point, each individual story is used to fill in the backstory for the featured characters as well as the town. There's a LOT more to their interpersonal relationships than was evident in Vol. 1, and these issues give you a sense of that for the first time.

Aaron also switches very deftly between voices. The characters all "sound" different from one another, and although the stories are told from their perspectives, you can see each character's weaknesses and blind spots. Aaron has assembled quite a cast here and is putting together something that's mostly crime story, but also has elements of romance, tragedy, mysticism, etc.

Guera's art remains excellent - it's got a dark, blurry feel to it without becoming murky or hard to follow.

the verdict: The first volume of this series was good, but Vol. 2 is better. Even though 100 Bullets is still going, I think we've found its successor in the crime genre. This book is outstanding, and is highly recommended.

iron man: demon in a bottle

by David Michelinie, Bob Layton & John Romita Jr.

collects Iron Man v. 1 # 120-128

the premise: As Tony Stark battles Justin Hammer in both of his identities, he spirals into alcoholism, forcing him to rebuild both Tony and Iron Man from the ground up.

the lowdown: And the winner of the Craptacular Cover of the Year Award is... ? Geez - keep in mind the cover pictured is the recent hardcover release of this storyline. I actually have the TPB from a few years ago, which has the same image but is even more nondescript.

This is a classic Marvel storyline that, much like the Hulk's MPD, later became one of the character's defining traits. I was amazed how well this story holds up almost thirty years later. It begins as a pretty straightforward Marvel superhero comic, with Iron Man running through pretty much the same plots he and most other Marvel heroes did around that time. But as the arc goes on, we see the creators attempt something a little deeper, and while it's handled in the overly-melodramatic way most superhero comics handle these types of issues, there's a subtlety there as well. Rather than beat us over the head with the notion that Tony's lapsing into too much drinking, he's simply shown drinking, and you almost don't realie quite how much until it begins to visibly affect him.

Bethany Cabe is Tony's main ladyfriend through this volume, and her presentation as Tony's rock is pretty compelling. It's easy to see why the alcoholism stuck to the character the way it did - it's presented in a believeable way and makes perfect sense in light of Tony's prior characterization.

Plus there's plenty of splodey - this really isn't an introspective story. JrJr handles most of the art with his usual aplomb (at least his usual aplomb as it existed when the story was published - there are few artists who have evolved as much over the years as JrJr).

the verdict: If you like classic Marvel, or Iron Man in general, you'll probably enjoy this one. It's a good superhero book with a social point that doesn't club you over the head. Well-done and deserving of the status it has obtained over the years.

showcase presents superman family vol. 2

by Otto Binder, Curt Swan, Kurt Schaffenberger and more

collects Jimmy Olsen # 23-34 & Lois Lane # 1-7

the premise: Jimmy and Lois take center-stage in these late 50's Superman tales. Cub reporter Jimmy gets up to all sorts of hijinx while Lois schemes ways to get Superman to marry her (when she's not scheming to learn his secret ID).

the lowdown: The cover tells you all you need to know. These people are complete dicks. When someone introduces themselves to you, "Hi, I'm Jimmy Olsen", do you respond "Who's Jimmy Olsen?" And if you did, wouldn't they respond, "I AM, you moron! I JUST said that!"? And Perry White - crack editor in chief - throws anyone he doesn't recognize out of the office? Heh. Actually the whole thing is part of an elaborate scheme by all Jimmy's friends to pretend they don't know who he is. No really - that's the story.

Elsewhere in this volume, we see a story where a Beard Society tricks Jimmy into growing an absurdly long beard in order to teach the world the value of beards. We see the cast involved in an elaborate prank to make Lois think she's been hurtled 50 years into the future and that everyone is now old. We see Lois join the army for some reason and immediately become a tyrannical, cruel officer. We see a wacky scientist accidentally clone Jimmy, and the clone turns evil. We see Jimmy create a fake identity and get a job at the Planet, intending to screw everything up so people will miss him. I'm not making any of this up.

And it's GLORIOUS. This book provides hour after hour of great, fantabulous, stupid fun. For a 500+ page volume, there are remarkably few duds. Literally anything and everything can happen at any time. Plus they all come up with elaborate plots to fool their friends, and that is always gold.

the verdict: If you have any affection for Silver Age DC, you will love these stories. They're an historical oddity, but a tremendously imaginative and incredibly enjoyable one. Highly recommended.

note: The original printing of this book has a printing error - some pages put in the wrong place. DC caught the mistake too late, and issued free, corrected replacements. Make sure you pick up the version with the red and white cover logo - it's the corrected one. The red and yellow cover logo = printing error.

the nightly news

by Jonathan Hickman

collects The Nightly News # 1-6

note: art pictured is not actual cover

the premise: A strange cult is murdering members of the media whose inaccurate or irresponsible reporting has caused harm to the lives of others. But there's a conspiracy behind the conspiracy.

the lowdown: This is IMO one of the most thought-provoking books of 2007, but it's interesting how much Hickman downplays that in the introduction and commentary, in light of the presentation. The story here is presented in a somewhat unorthodox way - most of the book eschews the traditional panel-by-panel format, with information presented in a variety of ways including blurbs, interviews with characters, and several other graphic ticks. Hickman's sense of design is probably the thing that stands out the most, as each page reflects a staggering amount of work and conveys a LOT of information. It's not a quick read by any means.

In fact at times it almost reads like a manifesto. The premise is fairly straightforward - the media is irresponsible. At times its irrresponsible reporting has real consequences for people. Thus, there's a cult dedicated to killing irresponsible reporters. Hickman insists, though, that the work is not intended as a call to action and doesn't reflect his real feelings. That is, in and of itself, pretty remarkable, because the cult is pretty believeable, and its thoughts are presented in a pretty persuasive way (well... up until the part about killing people, obviously).

This is one of those books that really needs to be experienced in order to be understood. And make no mistake - it is an experience, not just a diversion. This is a weighty book that experiments frequently - it's innovative not just in terms of the story it's telling, but even moreso in terms of design and presentation. This book stretches the medium and pushes it in a new direction.

the verdict: This one ought to be required reading for anyone who follows the progression of the medium. It's a pretty fair suspense/ thriller story elevated by the skill with which the story is told. This book is unlike any other you've read lately, or maybe ever, and is worth a look.

the order vol. 1: the next right thing

by Matt Fraction & Barry Kitson

collects The Order # 1-5

the premise: Tony Stark's 50-state Initiative takes root in southern California, where a new team of government-sponsored heroes debuts. Modeled after the pantheon of Gods, these team members can be fired at any time, and their powers are only good for a year.

the lowdown: This series was unfortunately cancelled even before the first collection came out, and it's not hard to see why this book is a hard sell. Aside from some cameo appearances by Tony Stark, the highest-profile established character in the book is Pepper Potts. The Soviet Super-Soldiers, at least a version thereof, appear - but their appearance is minor and brief. Essentially this is a book set in the Marvel Universe, but focusing almost entirely on new characters, and new characters who are intended to be disposable. So it's probably not a book that someone invested in Marvel continuity is likely to enjoy.

I think it's a worthwhile book, though, in that it takes a somewhat subversive look at the superhero genre, juxtaposed with a media-driven culture. It's a little like Peter Milligan and Mike Allred's X-Statix, but the execution is different. The X-Statix characters were essentially shallow actors - the members of The Order are fleshed out here (one in each issue), but they're presented more as objects of the system rather than manipulators of the system. That difference allows Fraction to show us the effects the media-driven culture has on these people and their relationships. X-Statix was probably better satire, but this book has more likeable characters.

Kitson does his usual excellent job on the art. His work never really calls attention to itself - there are few dynamic splash pages or WOW money shots - just solid storytelling with well-designed characters, and very good storytelling.

the verdict: I enjoyed this, but I don't think it will be for everyone. I found it to be kind of a slow burn, and that may have contributed to its demise in the periodical format, but IMO the build-up pays off well once the characters and their setup have been established.

birds of prey: dead of winter

by Gail Simone & Nicola Scott

collects Birds of Prey # 104-108

the premise: Gail Simone's final BoP arc sees the Birds co-opted by Spy Smasher and sent to Russia to retrieve a weapon of mass destruction from a would-be terrorist. Only two problems: there's something alive inside the weapon, and the Secret Six are on the scene to try and get it back.

the lowdown: And so, over 100 issues later, I think DC has taken this concept about as far as it can go, at least for right now. The tone of this book changed in a very important way when Simone took over for Chuck Dixon. During Chuck's run, Oracle was the most interesting character in the book, and Black Canary was sort of a ditz. When Gail took over, Canary became a badass and easily was the most interesting character, while Oracle got a little obnoxious and slid into the #2 spot. So when DC took Canary out of the book (for reasons that are still not clear to me - I know Canary's in JLA but so is Hawkgirl and she's now in BoP), it really sabotaged the BoP series. Simone adapted nicely by expanding the cast and turning it into an ensemble book, but the ensemble really isn't enough to sustain the series for long. At its heart BoP was always about the relationship between Canary & Oracle, and without Canary there it must become something else.

This arc is a perfectly enjoyable story about the Birds, essentially blackmailed by Spy Smasher, squaring off with the Six in Russia over a Rocket Red suit and its inhabitant. It's beyond me why DC doesn't have a Secret Six ongoing out there, as IMO Gail's work with them has been her best. The plot's a little ridiculous in places, and there's a little too much meta-commentary disguised as dialogue, but overall it's got lots of snappy banter, colorful characters and wrong humor. Over than an overly sentimental ending, it's a solid story.

Nicola Scott's art is quite good if unspectacular. She manages to make a wide variety of female characters look distinct from one another, both in terms of their faces and body types. There's less T&A than the book had at other times over the last few years, which is IMO a good thing. The characters are all still buff or "hawt", but the gratuitous ass shots have mostly disappeared.

the verdict: Probably my last arc on this book for now - I intend to depart along with Gail - but it's an enjoyable finish to a nice run. Gail's run ended up spanning 52 issues and 7 TPBs, which is nothing to sneeze at. This is a nice capstone to a solid run.

fables vols. 3-4

by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham and more

collects Fables # 11-21, 23-27 & Fables: The Last Castle

the premise: The Adversary strikes at the residents of Fabletown in ways that are both cruel and heartbreaking, leading to an all-out war for survival. Plus: Snow White & Bigby's relationship hits a major fork in the road.

the lowdown: These two volumes are IMO where Fables really switches into high gear. Vol. 3 has a lot of action but is focused primarily on the character arcs of Snow and Bigby. Suffice it to say they go through an ordeal together that changes their relationship in a permanent way. Vol. 4, on the other hand, is the arc toward which everything up to that point has been building, as the Fabletown residents have to fight for their survival.

The beauty of these two arcs is how Willingham juxtaposes the larger meta-story with the smaller character moments. The reader never forgets that, despite their mythical status, there are *people* fighting the war, and there are real consequences to them. Two youngsters sharing a moment and experiencing a connection seems like a pretty minor thing, but ends up being a major event that affects hundreds of people.

Buckingham's art is just as frenetic as the script - with little asides and design tics all over the place. The cast of Vol. 4 in particular is very large, and the story consequently very tough to illustrate, but he comes through nicely and really establishes himself as "the" Fables artist.

the verdict: Awesome. Really awesome. Vol. 4 in particular blew me away. IMO this remains the very best moment of an always excellent series. Can't recommend these volumes highly enough.

superman: camelot falls vol. 2

by Kurt Busiek & Carlos Pacheco

collects Superman # 662-664, 667 & Annual # 13

the premise: Superman investigates Arion's claim that he will ultimately be responsible for humanity's destruction if he continues his superheroic exploits, and must make a decision as to whether to let humanity fall in order to better it in the long run.

the lowdown: After much ado, this is the long-delayed conclusion to this storyline, and for the most part it's worth the wait. Busiek's narrative loses a little structure this time, as you can see where he built breaks into the story to accommodate the bizarre scheduling of the "monthly" installments. It also gets a little wacky with a bevy of guest-stars, and a little too much time spent explaining the niggling continuity issue of multiple Arions in multiple books.

Overall, though, this is solid. It's really the perfect story to slide into the post-Infinite Crisis mythos, because in many ways it reads as a response to Batman's line that "the last time you really inspired anyone..". This Superman is inspirational and, moreover, he's decisive. He doesn't angst forever over Arion's predicament, and when he makes a decision he sticks with it. Busiek also uses both Lois & especially Jimmy very well here - Jimmy feels like Superman's "pal" more here than he has in a really long time.

Pacheco's art is gorgeous again. I assume his art is the reason for the stops and starts and delays, but if so it's worth it. He's just a stellar artist. Minor nitpick, though: does Zatanna *always* wear tight lingerie around her home? It doesn't look particularly comfortable.

the verdict: A nice ending to a very good storyline - this is a strong high concept executed in a way that's not overly talky or mopey, and brought to a very strong conclusion. Nice work all around.