Graphic Novels? Not Really. by Sean Stoltey

Graphic Novels.  I am getting so sick of this term.  Not because it is invalid, but because it has become misused and abused.  It all started with Hollywood, of course.  Some suit somewhere decided that the general public looks down on comic books, but graphic novels are acceptable.  So suddenly you hear every actor and director working on comic book adaptations referring to the “graphic novels”.  Sounds very tony, much more high class than the oh so pulpy “comic books”.  Unfortunately, it also sounds like bullshit because it doesn’t fit.  Graphic Novels are actually a very specific thing within the realm of Comic Books.

In the 1970’s the medium of comic books had been around for over thirty years.  The artists working within it were starting to feel constrained by it.  They wanted to experiment and really do things that were different.  Some of them wanted to do much more serious work.  Thus, the “Graphic Novel” was born.  Will Eisner’s A Contract With God is considered by many to be the first of them.  It had four short stories that all took place within a 1930’s Bronx tenement and it was inspired by Eisner’s own life experiences.  It was a finite work, designed to exist as one lone piece on the shelf.  It was not serialized.  One book, one statement.  Like a novel, but…you know…graphic.  Marvel started a line of graphic novels.  Two of their most notable, The Death of Captain Marvel and X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills, did feature characters from their serialized comic books but were finite stories published in single volumes.  Dc did Which is the perfect description of a Graphic Novel: finite stories published as a single volume.

Comic books are serialized fiction.  They are published (generally speaking) on a monthly basis and while issues can stand alone, they are all part of one giant ongoing story.  That obviously says nothing about the quality of their content.  Nor does the finiteness of Graphic Novels say anything about their quality.  Somehow along the way, the term Graphic Novel became accepted as something more serious.  Something of consequence.  Which is all fine.  Most creators who set out to do a proper Graphic Novel are usually trying to say something a little more important.  Whether they are using original creations or pre-existing characters they are trying to set themselves apart from the rest of the books by creating a large story that can be read in one volume.  Because of the import of some past Graphic Novels, it is a an announcement of serious intent and a proclamation of quality or importance.

Quite a while back publishers started collecting their regular comic books into paperback collections.  Usually it was special, popular or “important” storylines.  These are referred to as Trade Paperbacks.  The practice has become so prevalent though, it is basically every book published these days.  When the book is special or important they might do a Hardcover Collection.  Although they are starting to do that more and more as well, and in the process are diluting the inherent importance brought by a hardcover.  Unfortunately, strapping a bunch of comic books together in one volume DOES NOT make them Graphic Novels.  If it was not originally published as a Graphic Novel, it is a comic book.  So what’s wrong with that?  Absolutely nothing.

In the day and age of “Let your Geek Flag fly.” and people who are constantly proclaiming that “Geeks rule the Earth.”  There is nothing wrong with saying that you love comic books.  At least there shouldn’t be.  So when I see comic book shop owners saying “Come in for the latest Graphic Novels!” it’s quite a bit disheartening.  You sell comic books, own that.  Be proud of it.  Comic books are one of the great American institutions.  They were invented here, they were perfected here.  Unlike Rock and Roll, we still do it, and always have done it, best.  So comic book fans and comic book sellers unite and embrace that thing which we love:  COMIC BOOKS!  Oh, and their fancy cousin, the Graphic Novel.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

Finally, another pile by Sean Stoltey

I once again apologize for an absence.  Kids, kids in school, sick kids and then sick me.  It’s been a cornucopia of awesomeness.  So let’s just jump back into reviews, shall we?

HAPPY! #1 by Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson-  A new off-beat creation from Grant Morrison?  I figured I can finally get in on the ground floor of something Morrison did outside of the Superhero mainstream.  Yeah, I’m one of those.  I was aware of Morrison, but I didn’t really give him much of a shot before his run on JLA.  After that, I have mostly just read his mainstream stuff.  (Yes, I plan on reading The Invisibles and The Filth.  Give me time!)  For me, Morrison is either firing on all cylinders(Batman, New X-Men, All-Star Superman), or being incoherent in the name of being fresh and different(Final Crisis).  There really is no middle ground.  After reading the entire first issue of HAPPY!, I’m not entirely sure which Grant we’re getting, but I am enjoying him so far. 

The story starts out as a gangster movie/TV Show pastiche.  We seem to be getting gore and sexual situations just because it’s an IMAGE publication, and therefore we can.  Bullets, blood, begging for life, crooked cops, reference to an account with untold riches…then just when you think you've had enough, a cute blue cartoon winged horse shows up.  The ridiculous juxtaposition somehow works.  

Since this is just the first issue, and what seems to be the point of the story has only just appeared, I still don’t quite know which Grant we’re getting.  The situation created has major potential for humor and craziness.  I honestly can’t wait to see where Morrison goes with this.  I actually laughed out loud at one moment while reading, and that was before the horse showed up.  For someone known for craziness, Morrison is actually a very funny guy in person so I’d love to see his humor come through full force. 

Robertson’s art is at an all time high.  I’ve never hated his art, I’ve just never been all that impressed by it before.  He shows more detail than I’ve noticed before, and his characters are a bit more distinctive than I felt they were in the past.  The pages flow great, and for someone who’s known for gritty, dark artwork he knocks the cartoon horse right out of the park.  So, overall I found it really enjoyable, definitely going to be keeping up with this one.  Come on Grant, keep it up.  As usual, I am rooting for you.

A FINE & PRIVATE PLACE #1 by Peter Gillis and Eduardo Francisco (based on Peter S. Beagle’s story)-  I’ve never read the story this was based on, so I don’t know if it would enhance or diminish my appreciation of this adaptation.  It was somewhat confusing at first.  A crow that can carry two pounds of bologna…okay.  Then the crow speaks to an older man in a graveyard.  His name is Rebeck and he lives in a mausoleum at a graveyard.  He speaks to the crow, he speaks to a dead man, and then a lady comes to visit her husband’s grave and he speaks to her.  They seem to hit it off, despite the previously mentioned dead man interfering in the conversation.  Then Rebeck tries to leave with her and something happens.  Maybe.  See Rebeck makes an excuse not to leave with her and she goes without him.  It’s hard to tell if Rebeck can’t leave or won’t leave.  Is he unable to mentally/emotionally, or is something truly trapping him within the walls of this graveyard? The scene isn't clearly played in either direction, so I can’t begin to predict.  It just suddenly ends there with no explanation. 

It almost felt (once again) as if they were writing a graphic novel and decided to cut it into individual issues, without any concern for where it cuts off.  It’s an interesting enough start to a story, it in no way stands on its own though.  Maybe there was supposed to be something played through the emotions of Rebeck’s face in the final scene?  If so, it was not conveyed by the art, which was pretty good by the way, somewhere between Sal LaRocca and Brett Booth.  Maybe the penciller botched that scene, but I doubt it.  If it was intended as an intriguing cliffhanger to draw you in for the next issue, that didn’t work so well either.  If I read further it will be because of everything else in the book besides the ending.  I was enjoying a nice, quiet ghost story and then it just stopped for no discernable reason other than page count.  It's irritating because the story was really feeling like it had something to say, but we are obviously not near the point yet.  This story is so obviously served better by consuming it as a whole, why not publish it that way?  Maybe I will wait for the collected edition and read it at a book store.  

Well there you have it.  Two completely new books, off the beaten path and quite enjoyable in two completely different ways.  Let me know what you think if you read them.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

Editorially driven... by Sean E.Stoltey

Sooooo, Rob Liefeld's at it again.  Being controversial and stuff.  Does anyone really believe his shtick anymore (and I'm wondering, as well, if he even does)?  Complaining about editorial interference in his work at DC.  This made me run off on an interesting (at least to me) train of thought.  When you go to work for a big comic book publisher on one of their many pre-existing, ongoing properties; do you really expect them to let you do what ever the ---- you want?  

Now, in the case of Rob Liefeld, a very "special" case if there ever was one, the obvious issue is the ego of the creator involved.  By many accounts, Rob is pretty sure he is the best thing to happen to comics since Jack Kirby.  So of course he bristled at an editor telling him what he should do on a comic book.  "Don't you know who I am?  I created Youngblood!!"  "Who's that, Rob?"  "Hmm.  Oh yeah!  Don't you know who I am?  I co-created Cable!"  "Whatever you say Rob.  We're here to talk about your handling of these DC characters who've all been around a lot longer than Cable."  But seriously, I didn't come here to talk about Rob Liefeld.  It's the concept of editorially driven that I find interesting.

It seems to me that the books can go one of two ways, with many varying shades in between of course.  On the one hand, you have a story or even a full fledged book that originates with a writer or artist or both, or one person doing both.  That's where most creator owned and independent work lies.  Which is of course implied in the term "creator owned", duh.  In this case, the writer and artist are in complete control of their creation and, presumably, the editors role is mostly to keep everybody on course and hitting their deadlines.  They might take creative input from their editor, but when it comes to the creative content, the creators are the final word.  In the case of a company owned book, a Marvel or DC character or something like that, it would be a bit different.  If the editor chooses, they can allow the talent to steer the ship.  However, the editor still has final say on what can and cannot be done on the book.  They would be much more of a collaborator (if they wanted) and they can veto creative decisions.  In this situation, they are responsible to the company they work for on all decisions made on their books.  When the s--- hits the fan, they are the ones that take the heat.  Which is probably why a lot of them might choose to go the other way.

In a truly editorially driven book, the creative direction of the book is mandated by editorial.  In some cases it comes from above them on the company food chain.  They basically tell the writers what they want and where the book needs to go.  Some people have complained that the editor basically wants a typist.  That could be oversimplifying it, but I could definitely see how frustrating it could be for a writer.  You have decided to create for a living and now someone is telling you what to create and how to create it.  Unless you're Grant Morrison apparently; but then he presumably makes that part of his contract, and the powers that be feel his sales warrant that situation.  My opinion?  I think the better editors find some sort of happy medium.  Especially when you are working in an established, company owned universe.  First off, there are rules you have to follow.  These are company assets, you can't do whatever you want.  Many say though, that having rules imposed makes you work harder (and often better) to find a way to work around the rules.

Quite often filmmakers speak about how they had to come up with alternatives because of budget constraints and their alternate choices made the film better.  Hell, the main reason you don't see the shark through most of Jaws is because it didn't work.  That choice to work around the shark made it much more terrifying.  Many musicians do their best work when others are producing.  When they are given the reins a lot of them never quite match the quality of their earlier output.  Some do, don't get me wrong.  I think the challenges imposed on some writers have created a lot of great work.

So to move back to comics, an editor that knows he can trust his writer will let his writer loose.  Within reason.  Also, as long as the people above you are trusting you to do your job, you are more likely to trust the people below you.  Just as having constraints put upon you can make you work harder and more creatively, knowing you are being entrusted to care for these iconic and (to the company) important properties might just motivate you to put your best foot forward.  A lot of these "editorial" complaints from the folks working for DC seem to indicate the real mess is above editorials pay grade.  It's unfortunate.  I always felt that if I was paying someone to do a job, I should let them do it.

So which way is the better way?  Whichever one produces the best story, honestly.  Some classic comics have come from both styles, and every shade in between.  Remember, Alan Moore made Watchmen at a big company with an editor who was in charge.  He also made League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with little to no editorial input, and that turned out pretty damn well too.  However, I really do think that the best editors int he business have always found a balance.  A way to serve both sides of the equation.  You can have happy bosses and happy creatives.  It is possible.  I would never fault anyone for the style of management they choose, as long as it was a job well done.  Sometimes I think it's best if those of us outside the system don't hear about it.  Hey, you don't want to know how hot dogs are made.  You may never eat one again.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

Don't step in this week's pile of Reads! by Sean Stoltey

Debris #1 by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Riley Rossmo - Okay, so like Star Wars, this is a fantasy story wrapped in the trappings of Sci-Fi.  I'm not saying it's like Star Wars, it's not, I'm just trying to point out that machine monsters and big guns do not make something Sci-Fi.  Not much is really explained in the issue.  We are introduced to Maya, a young warrior, and her mentor Calista.  It's hard to tell if she is supposed to have special powers or if everyone can jump around and fight  like Maya.  Calista is the Protector of their village.  I guess it's supposed to be the far future, or is it another planet?  Honestly, that doesn't really seem to matter to the story.  I just expected a bit more back story to be filled in because this is not the first  issue of an ongoing book, it's a four issue mini-series.  So I guess it will all be filled in along the way?  Who knows.  They are protecting their village from some robotic (I'm guessing) beasties.  Apparently water has to be manufactured and this is the last of the human strongholds or some such.  This is a story that's been told many many times.  Which wouldn't be a problem if they were bringing something new to the table.  So far, that doesn't seem to be the case.  At the end of the issue our heroine sets off on a quest alone for some fabled thing that also isn't really explained.  Some of the dialogue is pretty clunky.  The art however is pretty good.  It looked great and I liked the coloring.  Some of the pages could have flowed better, but the line work was pretty good.  I can't really recommend it, but I think this is another book that might have been better served being produced as a graphic novel rather than a comic book.  Unfortunately as a stand alone chapter, this issue simply doesn't work.

Insufferable Week 12 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause - This week's installment was the quickest read of the bunch due to some action that ate up a few pages right at the start.  Even with that, this is still one of the more satisfying reads in comics.  Waid and Krause are building an ongoing story that is full of drama, thrills, humor and is changing the way comics can be produced and read.  The way the panels open up and shift and are revealed is perfect.  No more turning the page and having the reveal at the end of the page spoiled.  What you need to see is what you see.  You can scroll or click back and forth all you want, you are still in control of your reading, bu the creators now have very precise control over how it comes at you.  Marvel has been using the same techniques for their Infinite Comics issues of Avenger vs. X-Men and they are equally as impressive.  Now back to the review!  More reveals this week building up the animosity between Father and Son former super team Nocturnus and Gallahad.  Their interactions are always priceless, and this story is building towards something steadily and progressively week in and week out.  Waid has always been one of the best comic book writers in the business.  Now he is one of the best and leading everyone into the true potential of the digital comics frontier.  Pay attention, someday everyone's going to look back and say it started here.  Oh and by the way, it's free.  Every week at thrillbent.com.  And all the previous weeks are archived right there for you to read on the website.  You can download it, or just view it there on the site...for free.

So, I saw The Dark Knight Rises this week.  I can't say it was the amazing piece of perfection I was hoping for.  Maybe the bar was just set too high with The Dark Knight.  Maybe it's just the nature of trilogies.  Godfather: great.  Godfather II: amazing.  Godfather III: had some great stuff in it that was surrounded by some problematic bits.  And so goes DKR.  

There was a lot I did love. There's bit of a twist near the end for one character that pretty much made the movie for me. Anne Hathaway was great as Selina Kyle. Bane, one of my least favorite characters from the comics, I quite enjoyed and (no surprise) Tom Hardy was fantastic. The story tied very tightly into the first and second movies, which was great. It really creates a nice payoff for both stories. I also was having fun spotting all the people that I knew from various TV series. Huge movies like this usually get the best selection of actors even for the smaller roles. So I did a lot of: "Oh there's Owen from Torchwood! Hey, it's Franco from Rescue Me! Look! Quinn from Dexter!" However, the middle of the movie drags so much I wanted to check the credits to make sure the movie had been made by the same people as before (it had). There were also some bits of pretty ham-fisted dialogue that felt offensive in the context of the previous movies. Therein lies the problem of following up one of the greatest comic book adaptations of all time. You can't help but pale in comparison.

Again, there was a lot of stuff to like, but when I'm rolling my eyes while watching a Christopher Nolan movie there's something wrong. For a series that was so steeped in realism, despite being about a superhero, this just got very overblown and larger than life to a fairly ridiculous point. I wanted to love it, and at best I liked it. Maybe it will grow on me with repeat viewing, who knows. For now, it wasn't bad; and that's just not good enough.  A lot of people took issue with the ending, and honestly that didn't bother me all that much. It's not the choice I'd have made, and it doesn't jive with the Batman I've been reading for the last 30+ years, but I just told myself that this is movie Batman and let it go. If you are going to see it and there is an IMAX theater near you, that is definitely the way to go. They shot quite a bit of the movie in IMAX, much more than they did with The Dark Knight. It's worth the slightly higher ticket price for the visuals.

So, that's it for this week.  I'm thinking of doing reviews of past storylines.  Ones that are widely liked, or perhaps notorious for something that might be worth taking a look at.  In general I would try to do it with things I haven't read yet.  Thoughts?  Ideas? Suggestions?  Let me know.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

This Week's Stack by Sean Stoltey

Star Trek: TNG/Doctor Who Assimilation2 #3 - Scott & David Tipton w/Tony Lee, J.K. Woodward and the Sharp Brothers - What can I tell you about this series that I haven't brought up before?  If you watched Doctor Who in the 70's and 80's and were also a big fan of the the Original Series Star Trek, you are going to love this issue.  

Keeping with the subplot of the Doctor remembering things about the Trek universe while realizing that he didn't know them before, we are treated to an adventure with the original Trek cast along with the Tom Baker version of the Doctor.  Man oh man, was that cool.  The art is handled by a different team for this sequence and it really sets it apart from the rest of the book.  It definitely feels like a flashback of some kind.

There are not a lot of solutions found in this issue, mostly more questions raised.  It was kind of like watching an episode of LOST.  So, of course there is moment at the end of the "episode" that makes you really want to see the next issue.  Kudos, once again, to the whole team for doing a crossover that is actually entertaining AND in character.

Captain Marvel #1 by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Dexter Soy - So Ms. Marvel is taking on the Captain Marvel name.  The irony being that when she left the Air Force, the character was a full Colonel.  This is a book that I really want to like, and I almost succeed.  I want to like it, because I agree with some folks out there that there are not enough female-driven comics in the mainstream.  I honestly don't blame the companies though.  As Spider-Man writer Dan Slott pointed out, it's a business and fans have to vote with their wallets.  The companies keep trying to push female solo books, they try to embrace diversity; but if the fans aren't buying it then they can't afford to publish it.  All that aside, it was an alright book.  There's some fun to be had here.  I hope that DeConnick plans to keep the fun tone going forward as that was the best part of the book.  It opens with Carol Danvers (Capt. Marvel) taking on the Absorbing Man with Captain America.  They make fairly short work of him, but the scene is used to highlight the fact that Cap sees Carol as an equal.  He is, in fact, the one that tells her she should stop being Ms. Marvel and become Captain Marvel.  

For a comic book that wasn't written by Robert Kirkman, there is a lot of inner-monologueing in the book.  Because of that, it is odd that we learn more about Carol through her interactions with other characters than we do in her inner monologue.  To be more accurate, there isn't much in  her monologue we couldn't have learned from some more action and dialogue.  I'm old school, I don't mind the inner monologue, but this one just didn't sit too well.  I just wanted her to stop talking to herself and hit more things.  Maybe the shortcoming is mine, I don't know.  Some new history and supporting cast are introduced.  At least it was mostly new to me as I hadn't read the Ms. Marvel series.  I've always liked the character, just haven't tried her solo yet.  

The art on the inside is not at all like the poppy colorful fun art on the cover.  Not to say Soy is all that bad, his style just doesn't immediately seem like a fit for this particular book.  There is one moment, a transition between pages where I almost felt like he had decided to redesign the costume one day and didn't feel like going back and fixing the other pages.  Mostly, though, I just felt like his darker, almost painterly style just didn't set well with the character or the story.  I think it could have popped a little more with a lighter, peppier tone to the art.  The issue sets up enough and shows enough promise for me to try a few issues, but it's going to have to set that hook pretty soon.

Revival #1 by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton - Closest I can come to a description is that Fargo, The Walking Dead and the X-Files had a baby.  It seems on a recent Christmas in the area of Rothschild, Wisconsin that a lot of dead people came back to life.  They aren't really zombies.  At least not in the "classical" sense.  The area has been quarantined and life is attempting to return to normal while the government figures out what exactly is going on.  There's a bit of behind the scenes at the police station, family drama, something spotted in the woods and then some good old fashioned violent mayhem and mystery.  Also, some pretty gross stuff involving teeth.  This one has some interesting characters, an intriguing plot and some good horror elements all thrown into the pot.  Our main character is Officer Dana Cypress, daughter of the police Chief and seemingly connected to every plot and subplot in the book.  She is a single mother and older sister and despite who her dad is, those two relationships seem like they are going to have the most connection to any answers that will be found.  As with a lot of my reviews, I don't want to delve to deep into this.  I want you to enjoy the discovery and the surprises.  This one is definitely worth picking up.  I will be doing so for the foreseeable future.

I'll try to be back for more this week.  Let me know what you guys are reading out there.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

Oh my god...Not..something new!! an opinion by Sean Stoltey

"Look, it's Jean Grey!"

Hey woofers!  So as the Marvel event Avengers Versus X-Men strides into it's second half, we are starting to see a glimpse of what's to come afterward.  And again

, some very vocal folks are freaking out.  Last year DC Comics decided to do a complete wipe and reload on their continuity.  They felt the best way to entice new readers was to junk their old stories (this is nothing new for DC, to be fair) and start over with new "kewl" costume designs and total revamps...sorta.  I could go on at length about what went wrong with DCNu in my opinion, but that's not what today is about.  Nor am I trying to Monday Morning Quarterback Marvel's current and future creative decisions.  No, I am once again watching fandom's reaction and shaking my head.  

People have been screaming bloody murder and throwing text tantrums at Marvel over the return of Jean Grey.  "You better bring her back, we demand it!"  She's dead says Marvel, and for the foreseeable future she is staying that way.  So then the Phoenix-centric AvX comes around and now they want her back and Marvel is a bunch of hateful sadists because they have a new redhead that is not Jean in the middle of the story.  "You hate us, we are so maligned, we want our Jean back."  This is actually a toned down version of the sad, pathetic display I have seen playing out on the internet.  When I have tried to point out that these people are screaming and wailing and calling people names over a FICTIONAL DEAD PERSON, apparently I'm the asshole.  Go figure.  

So now this brings us up to the Marvel NOW! announcement.  Comic book solicitations having to hit three months ahead of publication, we are getting a glimpse of the post-AvX Marvel universe.  They are bringing Jean Grey back to comics.  Sure she's the teenage Jean Grey from the original X-Men comics, but it's Jean Grey alive and active in the current Marvel Universe.  You've been asking for Jean Grey back?  Here she is...do you think those folks were happy?  Of course not.  To be fair, some were just happy to have Jean back in any capacity.  Unfortunately, there is still a lot of "That's not what we wanted!  Give us OUR Jean back!"  

"How much do you love our awesome high collars?"
Said everyone but Wonder Woman.

Look, I am a passionate fan of comic books.  I get being upset because the books aren't going the way you'd like them too.  Actually I'm okay with them not going where I want them to, as long as the story is good.  When it's not, I stop reading the book.  Revolutionary, right?  If you don't like what's happening, stop reading it.  Stop buying the book.  If enough people stop buying the book, it will go away or get retooled.  Maybe even in a way you like.  Just to show that I practice what I preach, I was very upset about the idea of the DCNu.  I told the people around me that I thought it was a bad idea, BUT!  I also said I would give it a try and see if maybe I was wrong.  With a couple of exceptions, I feel like I was not wrong.  People who scream bloody murder over a creative decision make all of us fans look bad.  If there was a reasoned opinion expressed it might all be understandable.  Unfortunately, the internet isn't a place for reasoned opinion.  It doesn't get enough hits I guess.  There's a lot of vitriol out there, and it is almost always when a major change is coming.  Generally speaking, comic fans complain when the books just give us the same ol', same ol'.  They also complain when you try something new and different.  Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

So, here comes some major change over at Marvel.  Not even expressing my own opinion on the announcements so far, there is one thing about it that sticks out to me.  It feels very much as if it is a natural progression from the story that is currently being told.  They seem to be of the mind that if they are going to hype an event (like AvX) as being a (fictional) world changing story, well maybe the (fictional) world ought to have actually been changed by that story.  The complaint I had about DCNu, is that it felt like a marketing ploy.  Yes, they wrote a story to explain why everything was suddenly new.  However, it seemed like the change necessitated the story rather than the other way around.  Everything should serve the story, not the other way around.  In fact, I think I would have been much more accepting of it if they had just said "You know what?  Everything is ending in August and we're starting something new in September and we're not going to fleece you with an expensive mini-series and it's 327 tie-ins first.  We're just gonna sack up and do this."  It would have felt more honest.  Marvel isn't re-booting, but they are embracing the power of a #1 issue in this day and age.  I have to say, that's the part I like least about this Marvel NOW! launch.  I really hate that they are relaunching some books with new #1 issues that have been relaunched three or four times in the last 10-15 years.  I accept that it is the best way to market this change and get people interested, and you don't want to scare off the people who are curious after seeing the Avengers movie by making them feel that they missed something.  I just am a fan of legacy.  That's one of the things I liked best about DC before they threw out their history.  The idea that there was going to be an Action Comics #1,000 or an Avengers #600 was very appealing to me.  That we probably won't get either of those now is sad to me, but I certainly am not going to tell Dan DiDio or Tom Brevoort that they are sadists who are torturing me with their decisions.  I guess after over thrity years of reading my precious comics, I've gotten used to the fact that I'm not always going to like the next step in their evolution.  But I'll always give it a try.

So, what do you guys think of the stuff going on at DC and Marvel?  It really has helped me explore and embrace independent comics to lose some of my big two devotion over the years.  Lots of good stuff out there.  I'd love to hear some recommendations of non mainstream books to read and review.  Let me know!

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

New Star Trek today from IDW! by Sean Stoltey

Star Trek: TNG/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 issues 1 & 2 - Man oh man, have I been enjoying the Star Trek output at IDW.  It just get's better now that they are teaming up the Next Gen crew with the current incarnation of Doctor Who.  Usually Trek crossovers don't fare too well, but this is a definite exception so far.  The writers have captured the Doctor's voice well and the Trek cast as well.  The Borg have teamed up with the Cybermen and are on the move assimilating planets.  Rather than pretend that the Trek era of Earth's future is just part of the Who universe, there is some strangeness being hinted at as to why these two teams are in the same place at the same time.  The first issue shows the build up of the Cyber/Borg alliance invasion and has The Doctor, Rory and Amy on an adventure in ancient Egypt.  We get a quick little bit of fun and then the Doctor promises some relaxation.  The first issue introduces the Doctor and his companions by showing them in action and letting their personalities and character traits shine through.  Then it hits you with a humdinger of a final page.

Then the second issue shows Picard and crew on a diplomatic mission of some importance with a dash of peril and adventure.  Like the Doctor-centric first issue, the TNG crew is introduced through their interactions.  The writers definitely are showing instead of telling and it really does work.  We get to know the personality types and just how comfortable they are with each other.  The crew has always had a familial quality and that is shown here rather well.  We see the lead up to that final page of the first issue, and if you came to this from the Doctor Who side of things and not the Star Trek side of things then you will be surprised by how it all came together.  Even if you are not surprised, it is a whole lot of fun.  From the dialogue we see that this is not being treated as if the Trek and Who universes are the same and always have been.  The Doctor is realizing that he knows about things he is quite certain he'd never even heard of before.  The explanation is going to be quite interesting.  I am definitely hooked for the duration of this mini series.  As a fan of both television shows, this book is a blast.  Especially in moments like when the Doctor is doing his usual babble at one point and Worf tells him to "please stop talking".


I felt like the art, at times, left a bit to be desired.  Some panels lack detail.  It seemed like there were moments captured perfectly and wonderfully, but the time spent on them were to the detriment of other pages.  It also seemed like capturing likenesses was the most important concern, and that quite often leads to somewhat stiff art.  However, the story and characterization are so well done that the bad pages can't bog them down at all.

Star Trek (ongoing) #10 - This month's issue concludes the re-telling of the original series episode "Return of the Archons".  To be honest, I don't recall being a big fan of the episode.  If I am recalling correctly the basic premise is the same.  I like the added touch of the U.S.S. Archon having been an NX class ship, just like the one from the series Star Trek: Enterprise.  It's nice to have another acknowledgement of that series after the reference to Admiral Archer in the feature film.  While the basic story isn't any better than it's original version, the exploration of the Abrams/Orci/Kurtzman versions of the Enterprise crew is what makes this so enjoyable.  This series sometimes greatly diverges from the episodes it is based on, but it never strays from who these people are.  The interplay between the characters and the capturing of who they are makes it so you can hear each actor perfectly in your head.  In fact, there is a moment with Scotty where he's talking to himself, that you just wish Simon Pegg was reading it to you if not playing it in a full adaptation.  It has been an enjoyable series overall.  Some stories are better than others, but the characterizations are getting so good that they are saving lackluster stories.  Also, at the end of the issue the groundwork is laid for a subplot that would seem to have wide-reaching repercussions.  It would indicate more involvement of Admiral Pike, which would be great I think.  He was one of my favorite things about the movie.  The art is good, it doesn't sacrifice quality in favor of likenesses, but you can easily see who they are supposed to look like.


How about you guys?  Have you been enjoying any of the IDW Trek books?  How about Doctor Who?  Let me know what you think.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

This week's Pile o' Reads by Sean Stoltey

So I've decided that this week I am going to dive head first into the controversy that is Before Watchmen.  When this was announced, my first reaction was "Why?"  If anything DOES NOT scream out to be expanded upon it's Watchmen.  Then they announced the creative teams.  I cannot ignore a work by Darwyn Cooke or Amanda Conner.  I certainly cannot ignore Adam Hughes doing interior work for the first time since...I don't know when.  The first book hit a couple of weeks ago and I have not been able to get myself to read it.  I honestly just cannot see the point to touching the world built by Moore and Gibbons, oh so long ago.  However, that Cooke and Conner art kept staring at me, and as a comic reviewer it's my duty to please that booty.  Oops, sorry.  That's Shaft, not me.  It's my duty to read the new books, even when I'm not sure why they exist (yes, I know, money).  So, without further ado:

Before Watchmen - The Minutemen #1 by Darwyn Cooke - If I had any interest in expanding the universe of Watchmen, this is it.  I loved the idea of the golden age super team with an unbelievable dark side.  In this first issue, Cooke re-introduces us to each member through Hollis Mason's (Nite Owl I) book "Under The Hood".  It is a very effective technique.  We are seeing this world from one character's point of view and it helps guide you through and into this world.  Like the original Watchmen though, there is a bit of an emotional distance because we are reading a book not hearing his true inner thoughts.  There are familiar artistic motifs, specifically some recurring shapes in the art of the first couple of pages, that really make the book feel like it artistically ties into the original Watchmen.  There's even a panel of Hollis' dog that is such an innocent portrait, yet brings to mind the final fate of a certain dog in Watchmen.  Amazing where the mind goes.  Did Cooke evoke that on purpose?  Who knows.  His art has always been amazing and continues to be so.  It has that classic timeless animation feel and looks as if the Batman: The Animated Series guys were doing a Minutemen movie.  For something that I felt should never have existed, I really enjoyed this book.  It is primed for me though.  A thoroughly dark and modern take on golden age comic book archetypes.  All apologies to Mr. Moore (and my teenage self who loved that original work like it was a religion), anyone who enjoys Cooke's work and liked these characters should love this book.

Before Watchmen - Silk Spectre #1 by Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner - Damn Cooke, did it again.  This time out he is joined by Amanda Conner, who co-writes the script and supplies the art.  Amanda's art I am very fond of, but I had my concerns about it fitting the dark and gritty world of Watchmen.  Cooke's art is also more cartoony and energetic but I have seen him handle dark world's like his Parker books so I had no similar concerns with him.  I shouldn't have worried.  Amanda just knocks this one out of the park.  She is perfectly suited for this character, and her conveyance of emotion in the characters is pitch perfect.  There is a lot of emotion in this book.  You can see every bit of Sally Jupiter's anger, regret, pain, love, sorrow, jealousy, vanity and so much more.  If this were to be a film, the major actresses in their 40's would kill for this role.  In Laurie, we see everything that must be going through the mind of a teenage girl who just wants to live but is struggling under the yolk of forced responsibility and expectation.  Cooke and Conner have hit such a home rum with their work in this book.  There is a part of me that is genuinely irritated with how much I am enjoying these books.  Just a few months ago i was bemoaning their existence, now I can't wait for the next issue.  Like Cooke in Minutemen, Conner's art sticks to the 9-panel grid that Gibbons adhered to in the original Watchmen.  It works so well for these stories, because there is a LOT of story to get across here.  Neither book felt rushed at all.  They both were very satisfying experiences that left you ready and wanting for more.

Before Watchmen - The Comedian #1 by Brian Azzarello and J.G. Jones - Azzarello takes on the Comedian, which seems on paper like a perfect fit.  Except on the paper the comic is printed on.  That was a little harsh, but it really pales in comparison to the other two books.  However, it does have one thing the others don't, which I really enjoyed.  The Comedian's story is tied into real life history from the 60's.  One of the things the original Watchmen did so well, was to show how the appearance of a truly super-powered being would have changed the course of twentieth century history.  It was something that I really loved about the original, being a bit of a history buff.  This story seems to be using that to show a more humanized and likable Comedian.  We know the Comedian is a horrid bastard, and the death of Kennedy may have disillusioned him and made him the truly evil bastard he was in the later eras depicted in Watchmen, but he seems too far from that guy at this point in his story.  He does some shady, dark stuff (partially at Jackie Kennedy's urging) but it just seems like there's a longer row to hoe than there should be in that particular garden at this point.  On top of that, J.G. Jones doesn't really stick to the 9-panel grid structure established by Moore and Gibbons and used so effectively by Cooke and Conner in their books.  Comedian is by no means horrible, but it doesn't compare so well to it's companions, nor it's predecessor.  Maybe they're just getting started and things are really going to take off in the subsequent issues, I will give it a chance to get where it needs to go.  It is worth reading, but not as good as Minutemen and Silk Spectre.


So, overall I am enjoying Before Watchmen much more than I thought I would.  The pirate story back ups are hardly worth mentioning.  You get two pages at a time and it's mostly irritating.  The main books though are definitely worth your time.  If you are opposed to the books' existence, skip 'em.  The original is neither tarnished nor improved by their existence.  At least at this point anyway.  What do you guys think?  Did you read them?  Did you enjoy them or not?  Drop me a line or leave a comment below.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

This Week's Reading by Sean Stoltey

America's Got Powers #1 and #2 by Jonathan Ross and Bryan Hitch - I went into this pretty open.  I had expectations for the level of quality in the art of course.  I've been a long time fan of Bryan Hitch.  He's gone from being a bit of an Alan Davis clone to forming his own more realistic style and attaching himself to projects that stand way out from the crowd.  The Authority and The Ultimates weren't just great work, they were the beginning of the new millennium for the comics industry.  However, this was a ground up creation in concert with a writer who is really known for being a comedian and TV/radio show host in England.  So, two Brits writing a comic about American's with powers in a gladiator style mix of American Idol and Survivor.  The first issue tries to get you up to speed by explaining how the contestants gained their power.  A quick history lesson of a huge crystal landing in Golden Gate Park causing every pregnant woman in a five mile radius to give birth successfully no matter how far along they were.  All the kids grow up to have powers, except one...if you can't see the end of issue one coming at this point, you've never read a comic book or watched a movie before.  So the "twist" comes and then the second issue hops back and forth giving us more back story and setting up the consequences from the first issue's ending.  The concepts and ideas are interesting, but it all feels very "been there, done that".  It's like a pastiche of many other ideas, which is really most modern storytelling I just don't see this one making itself stand out.  The other problem is that I don't find myself caring about any character in this book.  Nor does any of the danger faced feel threatening.  Because the story feels fairly telegraphed.  If the characters were compelling or interesting enough some of this wouldn't matter, but they aren't and it does.  Hitch's art is a bit uneven too.  I'll assume it's because two different inkers are used and perhaps their styles don't quite mesh.  For someone known for his detail, some of the pages were pretty messy and a little hard to follow at first glance.  I'll give it another issue to kick in, but only because I feel I owe it Hitch for all the years of greatness.

The Flash #9 by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato - The new version of The Flash has been a hard sell for me, but more on that later.  Manapul and Buccellato co-create the book in the truest sense of the term.  They co-write and Francis does the line art and Brian does the colors.  Presumably they give each other a lot of input on both sides of the art.  The look and design of the book is outstanding and has been since the first issue.  I applaud their efforts to convey the powers of the Flash in new ways visually.  They have done an outstanding job.  The first arc went a little long, but since then they have really hit their stride (pun intended) on the story side of the book.  The A stories are tighter and run about two issues.  The B stories percolate alongside and then take center stage when necessary.  In this issue we have my least favorite Flash villain, Gorilla Grodd.  I have to say that I enjoyed this version of Grodd and Gorilla City.  It's been so long since I read an old Grodd story though, I would be hard pressed to explain the difference.  Other than the fact that this guy didn't seem silly at all.  He popped up at the end of last issue as Barry emerged from the Speed Force and the story is wrapped up (for now) by the end of this issue and the Weather Wizard is set up for next issue.  The Flash's Rogues are being re-established in the new 52, and so far they seem a pretty dangerous bunch.  My only real quibble is Barry.  I am a die hard Wally fan so even pre-new 52 I was having a hard time with the return of Barry.  The stories have been well done, but I really have a hard time liking Barry.  In this issue he paraphrases and steals Wally's famous intro line from all his issues by saying: "I'm Barry Allen,  I'm the Flash and I'm the Fastest Man Alive."  I have to be honest, it kinda pissed me off.  You want Wally?  Write Wally.  Other than my little fanboy gripe, the issue is solidly done.  The writing has improved, I'd say with every issue, and the art continues to astound.  

Insufferable #1-5 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause - This is Mark Waid's big push into the digital frontier.  He is putting his money where his mouth is and producing this book only digitally (for now) and making it available for free on his new website www.thrillbent.com It is really worth the time it takes to read it.  I'd say it's worth the money you'll spend but IT'S FREE!  Waid and Krause started Irredeemable together and I've just started reading that and so it got me checking this one out.  The five weekly chapters read all together as one very good issue.  I don't know if it would have hooked me as good if I had read every chapter a week at a time.  Maybe it would have, I can never know now.  What I do know is that I'll be reading the future chapters the moment they come out.  Waid is one of my all time favorite writers (which you may have figured during my pro-Wally West statement above) and he continues to validate my stance in his work.  The story concerns an older hero and his successor whom used to be his sidekick.  I don't want to say anymore and ruin the fun for you.  Do yourself a favor and read it.  It won't cost you anything.  How could you argue with that?

Dial "H" by China Mieville and Mateus Santolouco - I remember reading the old Dial "H" for Hero when I was quite young.  They always had issues at the local library.  Along with all the War and Western comics and issues of Batman and the Outsiders.  It was eclectic selection at the old Santa Maria Public Library and it's Orcutt branch by the bowling alley.  Anyway, this new version starts off with two friends, Darren and Nelson, arguing about Nelson's health.  Darren storms off when Nelson won't take him seriously and is attacked in the alley outside the apartment building.  Nelson runs after him to apologize and tries to stop the attack.  After being knocked down he stumbles into a phone booth and in a panic randomly dials "4-3-7-6" and transforms into Boy Chimney.  He saves Darren, and then realizes that the phone booth did something to him.  That's basically the first half of the issue, it takes off from there and Nelson figures out how to use the phone and what those numbers stand for.  The story nicely sets up our average character and shows that he obviously has a choice to make regarding his discovery.  The art is dark and somewhat sketchy which lends itself to the story well, especially the Boy Chimney sequence.  All in all, it is a promising start to a series that, if you asked a year ago, I never would have gambled on existing.  Definitely worth checking out. 

That's it for now.  I will try to be back before the weekend with my thoughts on the new 52 version of Mr Freeze's origin in Batman Annual #1 and also the first three issues of Brian K. Vaughan's new book Saga.  Let me know what you guys think of any of these books if you do read them, especially Insufferable since it won't cost you a dime.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher.

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long.

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

This Weeks Reading by Sean Stoltey

Blue Beetle #9/Green Lantern - New Guardians #9 - Uuhh, okay.  I just am dumbfounded at this point.  The Green Lantern books were (for the most part) really well done before the relaunch.  Now I'm to the point where I'm just about to drop all of them.  I've really tried hard to give the DCnu a chance.  I WANT to like it.  At first I was surprised by how much I did enjoy, but that started fading fairly quick.  Now however, when the concept of the Reach and their scarab warriors is the most interesting part of a "crossover" with Blue Beetle...I think I'm at that point.  Crossover is in quotes because the Blue Beetle issue was COMPLETELY superfluous.  One more issue of each GL book.  If I'm not wowed they're gone.  I do have to admit though, Saint Walker and the Blue Lanterns get an opportunity to kick some butt finally.  It would've been pretty awesome if it wasn't the last page and I have to wait until next month to see it.

Trio #1 by John Byrne - John Byrne doing a superhero book.  'Nuff Said.  Oh, you need more?  Philistines.  This book is FUN.  It opens in the midst of big action and introduces it's characters on the fly.  The stars of the book are a team of three heroes (hence the title) named Rock, Paper, Scissors by the media, but they refer to each other as one, two and three. Byrne is a master and the art is, of course, superb.  I'm not completely sold on the effect used on Rock's skin, but I'm sure I'll get used to it.  It is an interesting mix of classic art and what appears to be a computer generated surface/texture.  There are a couple of mysteries introduced and a "villain" whose introduction is a bit reminiscent of Namor, and there's the promise of a big damn monster in the next issue.  This is modern Byrne flexing those muscles from his FF days.  There is a lot of fun ahead for the readers of this book.  Hopefully stores will order it and push it to their customers so we all can have the chance to watch Byrne really cut loose on some good old fashioned superheroin'!  This, people, is how comics should be done.

Batman Incorporated #1 by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham - Damn DC, so you still know how to do it!  While I have been disappointed by a lot of the DCnu (see above), the triumphant return of Grant Morrison to the Batman corner of the line has turned that frown upside down.  Here's another book that starts in the middle of the action.  There's a teaser of some bad stuff going down a month ahead of time and then it's right into a chase a la Lethal Weapon 2.  Grant's script is spot on.  I know, big surprise.  Honestly though, for me anyway, Grant's work is either completely and thoroughly amazing or nigh on incomprehensible.  Batman Inc. is definitely the former.  This is a great start to what seems to be an intriguing story.  Burnham's art perfectly conveys the kinetic-ism inherent in Damian/Robin.  There is a shot where he takes down 10 gang members that was just fun to go over and over soaking in the detail.  He also draws Bruce in a way that you can definitely see him becoming the Bruce seen years later in The Dark Knight Returns.  Thick and stocky, very powerful.  It may have been a suggestion, seeing as how the Mutants gang from DKR actually make an appearance in the story.  Morrison throws down a couple of classic lines.  One has been posted all over the web with Damian saying: "As of now, I am a vegetarian. And this is Bat-Cow."  This book is deadly serious without losing it's sense of FUN.  Like Trio, here's another master at work and twice in a week money well spent.

And now, another quick movie mention.

I just took my 5-year old to see Men In Black 3 today.  It was definitely enjoyable.  I've heard a lot of people say it's the best of the three.  I don't know about that, it's not quite as great as the first but is better than the second.  Granted, I'm one of the few that actually really likes the second one.  Josh Brolin once again absolutely nails it.  He is becoming one of the most consistently spot on actors in movies today.  Of course, anyone that was in Goonies gets a thumbs up from me.  The effects were great, the physically created creatures were amazing all while keeping that almost cartoony feeling the movies have always had.  They aren't high art, but they are fun pop art.  Fitting then, that we find out the real story behind Andy Warhol's efforts in the art world.  Time Travel is fun.  There's even a bit of an emotional, misty eyed element to the end of it.  The middle has quite a bit of talking and exposition (for a five-year old) and that did have Ewan a bit fidgety, but when the aliens and action showed up he was riveted.  Worth the money to see in the theater.  Where I went it was almost $10 for a matinee, so that's saying quite a bit.

Fantastic Four #606 by Jonathan Hickman and Ron Garney - Right after posting this article, I read Fantastic Four #606 and immediately wished I had done so before posting.  Then I remembered the edit function!  I cannot say enough good about this issue.  It seems to be the FF on a danger filled exploratory mission, but ends up so much more than that.  Hickman has crafted a story that is high adventure, completely personal, full of everything you could want from a story and FULLY CONTAINED IN ONE ISSUE.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss four bucks goodbye...but you won't mind spending the dough.  Garney is amazing.  He has (as always) completely nailed every moment of this book.  Big action, strange environments and the entire gamut of human emotion.  I really hope Marvel keeps him around and puts him on a high profile book after his FF run comes to an end.  He really deserves to be in a place where the most people are exposed to his art.

Sean Stoltey, writer, raconteur and retired rabble rouser, hails originally from California's Central Coast but currently resides in Southern California's BEAUTIFUL--San Fernando Valley. Screenwriter, Comic Book author, these are things he does because he's too poor to be a Producer or Publisher. 

Sean has been reading comics, watching movies, reading books and selling his soul (or at least his hearing) to Rock'n'Roll for as long as he can remember. He has been discussing and arguing about these things for almost as long. 

So now he has come here to throw his opinions in your face as well and hope that, even if you don't agree, hopefully you will enjoy them. For the record: Kirk was the greatest Enterprise Captain, Han was the only one that shot, Led Zeppelin was the greatest Rock band to walk the Earth and Keith Richards is the coolest undead person to walk the Earth. Coolest living people are my sons and my Mom and Dad. My Dad F---in' rocks, and my Mom can kick your ass.

You can ask Sean anything at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 contact him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com