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

Ugly Fans an opinion by Sean Stoltey

It takes all kinds, right?  Sure, but there's a limit to everyone's tolerance.  Last week I was reading Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort's Formspring feed, and I saw one of the ugliest things I've ever seen in fandom.  (Despite following some of the Before Watchmen "debate".)  Some poster, anonymous of course, made the following threat: "If you don't do a better job I will rape your wife with a rusty blade and make you watch. Then I will cut out her eyes and make you eat them".  I am not exaggerating this in any way at all.  You can tell it's a direct quote because I didn't add the necessary punctuation.  Here's a link:   http://www.formspring.me/TomBrevoort/q/327804198370427135

Now I don't care if you love Marvel and the job Tom and team are doing, or if you hate them. This is completely out of line and uncalled for.  Recently Dan Slott, who writes Amazing Spider-Man, closed down his formspring because someone had obtained his personal phone number and other information and was threatening to post it if the book didn't go the way he wanted.  WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE!?  These books are supposed to be fun escapism.  Sometimes they can tell a serious, relevant story but it is ink on a page people.  I can get into a long-winded, passionate discussion (fine, call it an argument) about most any comic book character.  However, I would never tell Dan Didio that I was going to assault and murder his wife because Wally West is absent from the "DCnu".  Even though I am quite angry about that as a fan, I know that sometimes these things happen.  I think it was the great Mark Gruenwald I'm about to paraphrase or outright misquote here, but I believe he said: "Give the fans what they want, not what they think they want."  Not every effort is going to please every fan.  That's just the way it is.  A writer or editor's job is to create the best book they can, tell the best story they can.  A great artist doesn't get great by trying to figure out what people want and spoon feeding it to them.  When they do we accuse them of pandering.  Great art, story, music, film, etc does not come from following a formula.  It comes from following your heart and doing what you want to do.  Most interviews with the best musicians, filmmakers, writers, artists after creating something wonderful and widely loved, all end pretty much the same way.  "Well, we were just trying to do something we would enjoy and put our all into it and made it the best that we could."

To bring this back around to the original point: why do fans shit on everyone who works so hard at entertaining them?  If you do not like a certain writer or artist’s output, don’t buy it.  The problem arises from our obsession with unbroken runs.  I had every issue of Uncanny X-Men from 1991on and a couple times I almost dropped the book because of quality.  I couldn’t bring myself to do it because I didn’t want to break the run in my collection.  Eventually I grew up and got over that.  Some people love the characters or teams SO MUCH that they can’t drop the book.  No matter how much they hate the direction the book has taken.  What they don’t seem to understand is that in this situation the problem is not the people producing the book.  It is the readers’ fault.  They stop being readers and become collectors.  Worse, they become addicts, but one person’s hell as a reader is another’s perfect book.  There are apparently quite a few people who cannot wait for Bendis to leave the Avengers books.  Personally, I have only regularly collected Avengers twice in my life.  When Busiek and Perez were on it in the nineties, and Bendis’ current run.  You don’t like the books?  DON’T BUY THEM!  Whining, moaning and threatening violence don’t make publishers change teams.  Lack of sales does though.  With the exception of some Bat books and Action Comics I won’t be regularly giving any money to DC (buying G.I. Combat because Dan Panosian is a great guy and a great penciller).  I will not be threatening them, bullying them or asking them snarky questions at Cons.  They simply will not get my money.  Just like, despite the amazing talent involved, my X-Men habit will not be including the First X-Men.  I won’t be threatening Neal Adams, and frankly he doesn't seem like the kind of guy you want to threaten anyway.  I just won’t buy his book.  So please fandom, stop being so ugly about these things.  It’s good to love something, it’s good to be passionate, but when your girlfriend or boyfriend treats you poorly you should just walk away.  Why should we be more obsessive about paper and ink than we are about the real world?

Maybe I’m being to logical and mature about it.  Maybe I’m wrong.  Feel free to let me know what you think.  But let’s keep it civil folks. 

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 Pile – Reviews by Sean Stoltey

Secret #1 by Jonathan Hickman and Ryan Bodenheim – I know what you’re thinking, “Oh, here goes another one of Sean’s Hickman love fests.”  Not quite.  I know I’m as surprised as you are.  Don’t get me wrong, I certainly didn’t hate it.  It just didn’t live up to expectations for something form Hickman.  There’s a bit of a reveal at the end of the first issue that is glaringly obvious long before you get to it, and frankly I just expected more.  The line art is very well done; the panels are laid out well and move the story along nicely.  The color art was confusing; each scene had a singular color, although violent scenes were black and white with red, so the colors seem to be tying different scenes together.  Was it a clue?  Were they tied thematically?  I certainly couldn’t tell yet, but that’s more on me than it is the creators of the book.  Overall, it is definitely intriguing.  In fact I feel unfair reviewing it on its own.  As I’ve said before (insert plug for my recent opinion piece) many comics produced today are not designed to stand on their own.  So my opinion may be wildly different when I’m able to digest more than the first issue in one sitting, but this is the hook.  It should lock you in, and for me it does that but just barely.  There’s enough set up here to get me interested to see where he’s going, but if the hooks aren’t firmly in at the end of the next issue I’m out. 

Supercrooks #1 and #2 by Mark Millar and Leinil Yu – The first exciting thing was on the credits page.  “Co-Plotted by Nacho Vigalondo”.  If you’ve never seen the movie Time Crimes, do yourself a favor and check it out.  After seeing that, I saw the recent video that Nacho made as a sort of tease for a Supercrooks Movie.  I really hope they do it this book is quite obviously structured like a movie.  Sometimes that’s a bad thing in comics, but I really like what they are doing here.  I was smart on this one to wait until at least two issues are out to start reading (see mistake above).  Issue one is pure set up, it introduces the world and the main characters superbly and gives them proper motivation to take on the task that will be the centerpiece of the story.  The idea is that they need to pull off a big heist, but the cities are overrun with superheroes, so they know they’re going to get caught and put back in jail.  So the main character decides to pull this job in Spain where super powered people are not allowed.  Mark Millar is writing so there’s the dark outlook on humanity and even the “heroes” have hidden dark sides.  This story is perfect for Millar’s outlook and that comes through.  Likewise, Yu’s art has always felt a bit dark so he is the perfect fit for the story.  Great work here, great set up, interesting characters and great art.  They play to the rules of a heist movie and it seems to be promising a damn good time.  Imagine Ocean’s Eleven populated by super villains.

The Secret Service #1 by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons – Yeah, I’m taking a double dip in MillarWorld, sue me.  This one says co-plotted by Matthew Vaughan, the screenwriter and director of Kick-Ass.  The comic and movie of Kick-Ass fed into each other as Millar and Romita were still finishing the original series while Vaughan was writing the adaptation.  I’m assuming this is where Millar got the idea to involve directors in the plotting of his comics.  The opening of the book plays out as if Millar and Kevin Smith were writing the opening scene of a James Bond movie, without the heroic “Ah-ha!” at the end of it.  It involves Mark Hamill, yes that Mark Hamill, being rescued by a British Secret Agent from kidnapping by Middle Eastern terrorists, and it is very funny.  The story is steeped in pop culture references and apparently that is a big part of a plot that certainly is neither resolved nor fully revealed in this issue.  As before, this is a story that might be served better by reading after more of it is published, but it is very entertaining and if you like spy stories and British culture, you’re going to love it.  For those who have trouble with British accents and colloquialisms there’s a few pages in the South of London you’re going to have trouble with.  The art is by Dave Gibbons, so I really shouldn’t have to tell you that it’s great.  He’s a master of the form and the reason why I couldn't wait for another issue to start reading this book.  It’s hard to tell at this point in the story if Secret agent Jack London or his troubled nephew Gary is going to be the real star of the book.  Most likely they'll be true co-stars, with Gary leading us into this world of intrigue.  All I can say with certainty is that it’s going to be a lot of fun finding out.

The New Deadwardians #1 by Dan Abnett and I.N.J. Culbard – It’s weird seeing the name Dan Abnett without Andy Lanning right behind it.  I haven’t read much of their work outside of their New Mutants run, but it’s still strange to see one without the other.  To explain too much of the story would destroy the fun of discovery in this first issue.  It does a great job of setting up the characters and the word they live in.  It’s London circa 1910, but it’s certainly not “our” London circa 1910.  It’s almost like Downton Abbey, but with zombies, vampires and instead of the Lord of a County, our main character is the only homicide Detective left at Scotland Yard.  If that doesn’t sound great, well you obviously have never seen Downton Abbey and have no love of supernatural creature stories.  I have to confess that vampires and zombies are two things I’ve grown rather tired of seeing.  Between this and Scott Snyder’s American Vampire I’m realizing that there is plenty of gold left in this particular genre mine.  You just have to know how to find it.  Snyder and Dan Abnett are rather resourceful miners.

And finally this week, I’d like to give you my spoiler free, yet insightfully detailed, thoughts on The Avengers film written and directed by Joss Whedon.

WOW!!!

Seriously, if you haven’t seen it yet, go!  I haven’t felt that much like a kid at the movies since the first Jurassic Park in 1993.  My youngest son spent most of the next day in the back yard with his toy Mjolnir and Thor helmet smiting invisible enemies.

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 you like at http://www.formspring.me/WWest3001 (try not to be rude if you can help it, rudeness will receive no response) follow or contact him via twitter @WWest3001 his personal blog is at http://stolteysbrainblasts.blogspot.com/ (be aware, that’s where his frustrations go along with weird writing exercises) or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

IDW Previews and a Review by Sean Stoltey

Gonna try something new here folks, so let me know how I do…seriously, there’s a comments section and my contact info below.  Some quick reviews and previews all bundled together. 

Previews

First up, Star Trek Classics Vol. 3  - Now, I have to be honest, when I hear the word “Classic” in reference to Star Trek the last thing I’m thinking is Voyager.  However, in the interest of space I’ll leave that debate for another article.  In the past, Star Trek books have suffered most when it comes to art, not so here.  The pages looked quite good.  They captured the likenesses fairly well without being slavish about it and the ship actually looked right, so kudos.  The writers have definitely captured the voices of the characters as well and it’s set in the latter, better seasons era of Voyager.  The Berman era long-windedness and techno-babble is all there as well.  All in all an interesting set up that had me thinking I’d like to read the whole story some time.

Dungeons & Dragons: Forgotten Realms Classics Vol. 3 – Okay, full disclosure, fantasy comics are not my thing.  I love a good fantasy film and even some fantasy novels, but those are pretty rare in my opinion.  So I tried this, and it just wasn’t for me.  If this is your thing, then you will probably dig it, and if you are a Rags Morales fan then it might be worth checking out to see some of his earlier pre-fame work that is included in this volume.

Godzilla King of Monsters Vol. 3 – Having NEVER read a Godzilla comic in my life, I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this preview.  It sets up something with a Man and his young daughter running around in a Mechagodzilla, and for some reason this worries the President.  There’s not much detail here, but I was shocked by how intrigued I was.  I want to see what this is all about now.  I don’t know if I need to track down Volumes 1 and 2 first, but that seems a pretty fair bet.  So I guess I’ll have some weekend Monster reading to do pretty soon. 

Full Issue Review

Star Trek (Ongoing) #8 – This issue starts with a nice little inside joke/reference for Trek fans.  For anyone who’s ever wondered why so many high-level ship officers go on away missions, this page is for you.  As with the Voyager review above, the writers have definitely captured the characters voices here.  It probably helps that one of the screenwriters of the movie is consulting on every issue of the book.
  

For those that don’t know, this series takes the new Abrams-era Trek characters and throws them into stories based on episodes from the Original Series.  Anyone who knows me personally knows what high, practically religious, regard I hold Original Trek in.  So it’s no surprise that it’s been a bit of a mixed bag for me.  I liked the first story, based on the pilot episode “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, quite a bit.  I felt the “Galileo Seven” arc was somewhat lacking, though I honestly couldn’t point to why.  This latest arc seemed to be an original story, until I got to this last issue and realized the argument could be made that it was a rather radical re-invention of the Season Three episode “The Enterprise Incident”.
  

It involves the Romulan Empire and the infamous “red matter” from the recent reboot/sequel/prequel movie.  It delves quite deeply into the different reactions the Vulcans are having to the destruction of their home and who should be responsible for it.  It does so quickly and thoroughly without bogging down the story, which is a great thing.  I don’t want to say much more, but I thought it was quite enjoyable.  This series is a nice appetizer for the big meal of a movie which will be coming out next year.

I think IDW has been doing rather well with the Star Trek license.  I think it might be the best Trek comics since the ones DC produced in the mid to early 80’s.  I honestly didn’t read the Marvel stuff from the 90’s, other than the X-Men crossover.  What were they thinking?  What was I thinking reading it?  I quite enjoyed the John Byrne Trek work that IDW had been publishing up until now, especially “Frontier Doctor” featuring the 70’s disco bearded McCoy.  It’s a bummer that they can only do work with Kirk and his crew that's based on the new movie continuity, but at least this series has been mostly enjoyable despite that restriction.  Fortunately they can still work with TNG so we have the Star Trek: TNG/Doctor Who crossover coming soon, which should be buckets of fun.

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

To Be or Not To Be...continued an opinion by Sean Stoltey

I have a general complaint about a lot of modern comics (I’m looking at you Walking Dead) where they need to be read in chunks, that not every issue can be read on its own.  If each issue isn’t necessarily satisfying on its own, why are people going to come back month in and month out?  In an era when younger people (the obvious market if we really are trying to get new readers) are so into singles and digital and a “get it to me now so I can be done with it now and move on to the next thing” attitude, this seems a poor choice at best.  The shorter attention spans mean that the idea of waiting six months or more for a complete story is extremely off putting to new readers.  There are many times that a single issue can be exciting, satisfying AND leave you wanting more and salivating for the next issue while being part of a larger story.  It’s interesting how things come back. 

It was decided at some point that comic readers wanted more complex and engaging stories.  Someone figured that meant longer story arcs and the trend went to (in general) six issue story arcs that could easily be collected in Trade Paperback form to cater to the growing bookstore market.  So began the “writing for the trade” era, which became the “waiting for the trade” era.  Stories became “decompressed”, which basically meant if Stan Lee and Jack Kirby did it in one issue back in the day, it would take AT LEAST six issues to tell that story today.  Some writers got good at building a cliffhanger, or even better a conclusion with a cliffhanger, on each issue so the reader became engaged enough to keep coming back.  However some (I’m sorry to pick on you Walking Dead, I do enjoy you but this is true) just cut off at the end of the issue.  It was insultingly obvious that the faithful, monthly reader who was keeping the industry going was being underserved.  It felt like, “We’ll take your money, but we’re not going to give you what you paid for”.  What we pay for is a story, not part of a story.  There are books that I love that I felt forced to “wait for the trade” because that was how they were written and reading them any other way was making me not like the book.  Some days it’s hard to justify buying the monthlies…but I gotta get my fix man!!

I noticed an interesting thing at Marvel.  With their Avengers Versus X-Men event they are going bi-weekly and running a twelve issue series in six months.  They also tend to ship more than once a month on some of their books.  Now I know a lot of people just see that as a “cash grab”, but come on, just because we treat comic books like scripture doesn’t mean they are not businesses.  Get over it folks, there is no sanctity here.  They have adjusted the way they approach ongoings and events to be more in tune with the realities of the market and the customer.  As the dust clears from the explosion of the “nu-52” at DC, Marvel seems to be moving back to the top of their industry.  Speaking of DC, or as I will be referring to them: nuDC, they’ve gone another way.  They gave themselves a huge opportunity for a fresh start, and claimed that digital was an integral part of this direction.  However, the short attention span of your average digital consumer seems to be furthest from their minds.

I love Scott Snyder’s Batman, but we are on issue eight and the first story is not only still going, it’s expanding into EVERY Batman related book for a month.  That’s twenty issues, and who knows if the story finishes there.  Green Lantern-New Guardians is getting better than it was, but it’s also still on the same initial story and the earlier issues felt like six pagers stretched out to a full book.  DC has announced a new initiative where they will be creating exclusively digital content, like the current Smallville Season 11, so let’s see if they can turn this around.  I know it seems as if I’m a bit of a Marvel Zombie, and at the moment maybe I am, but I dig any good material no matter where it comes from.  If you’ve read my recent reviews of indie books, you know that I am only a recent resident of the indie comics’ fandom.  I go where the quality is, and there’s a lot of it out there that in the past I’d cut myself off from.  I also understand, as a writer, that sometimes the story needs to be longer.  Often, they take you places you never planned on going.  Hell, this article has changed direction on me at least three times! 

Now here in the new, modern, birth of digital age the opportunity has arisen for a new kind of comic book creating and marketing.  You Indie and creator-owned types should pay attention here.  The way that the digital single has changed music, digital comics could be creating a big opportunity for everyone.  It costs too much to publish physically.  The big companies will ALWAYS get the counter/shelf space, you’ll be lucky to sit anywhere in a comic shop.  However, many bands have been built off the success of a good single that they carried around with them and put into people’s hands.  Maybe it’s time comic book creators took the same tactic.  Produce the best possible work you can in anywhere from 10-24 pages.  Make it available digitally and pimp the hell out of it.  Send it to online reviewers, sell it yourself or get a local store to place it in their digital storefront if they have one.  Go to conventions, when you meet other creators, or better yet: editors, e-mail them a free copy.  Hand them a disc or thumb drive, print a small run and hand it to folks as well.  Some people need something physical in their hands.  Get the word out and most importantly, don’t give up. 

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 follow him via twitter @WWest3001 or boring old e-mail at SeanStoltey@yahoo.com

TOPPS Unveils John McCrea's MARS ATTACKS Trading Cards

Eisner Award-Winner to Illustrate Exclusive Subset & Hand-Drawn Sketch Cards

The Topps Company today has released a first look at a special subset of all-new trading cards by acclaimed comic book artist John McCrea, to be included in this summer's Mars Attacks Heritage card set.

McCrea, the Eisner Award-winning illustrator and co-creator of DC Comics' Hitman (with Garth Ennis), is the artist on IDW's Mars Attacks comic book series. Pulling double duty, McCrea has also created 15 brand new images for Topps, exclusive to Mars Attacks Heritage- four of which are unveiled today.

The 15 images, officially titled 'The New Universe Subset,' offer a glimpse into the new Mars Attacks, which build from IDW's upcoming comic book. In addition, the subset will include insight into the new series, through a narrative that unfolds on the back of each card.

"We wanted John to treat these cards like miniature comic book covers," said Adam Levine, Topps' Licensing Manager. "To weave the cards and comics together even further, we crafted a story that introduces fans to our reimagining of Mars Attacks, beginning years before the Martians invade and continuing into the future, perhaps even beyond what you'll see in IDW's series in 2012. If fans look closely, they may even spot a few hints at what lies ahead."

 

Along with providing art for 'The New Universe Subset,' John McCrea recently paid a visit to Topps in New York, and found time to contribute a limited number of original, hand-drawn sketch cards to be randomly inserted into packs of Mars Attacks Heritage.

"I'm very excited to be able to play in this world of aliens and robots and giant insects," said McCrea. "Mars Attacks is right up my alley; it's everything I love to draw. I'm thrilled to be a part of the creation of this new world and to be able to my own stamp on it."

Mars Attacks Heritage releases this July, while IDW's new comic book debuts in June. Both are currently available for order.

For more on Mars Attacks, including an ever growing gallery of sketch cards, follow on facebook: www.facebook.com/MarsAttacks
For all the latest updates, follow on twitter @realmarsattacks

  

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DISCOVER THE FUNNY SIDE OF FRANK FRAZETTA!

A wealth of rarely-seen material by the late master returns this week!

Frank Frazetta has been called “The Grand Master of Fantasy Art,” but did you know he did a glorious omnibus’ worth of funny sexy and funny cute stories in the Golden Age of comic books?! That’s right, hillbilly babes to hoppy bunnies were drawn with the Frazetta magic. And Eisner-winning editor Craig Yoe captures that magic in the new FRAZETTA—FUNNY STUFF large format, full-color, 256-page hardcover collection from Yoe Books. FRAZETTA—FUNNY STUFF debuts at the MoCCA Fest in New York City this weekend and will be in comic book shops this week.

Yoe says, "Besides the amazing art itself, Frazetta fans will be stoked by the sheer quantity in this big thick book. There are 27 comic book stories, well over 200 of The Master's delightful text illustrations, and tons of rare and unpublished original art, illustrations and photos carefully reproduced in the introduction."

Frazetta’s "Fire and Ice" collaborator Ralph Bakshi provides a compelling freeform, stream of consciousness introduction that you have to read to believe. Dig the beatnik beats of this hep cat sharing his story of working with THE MAN. Only Craig Yoe can conjure up such wild and unexpected material!

 

 

“The team at Yoe Books put countless hours in restoring these charming strips to ensure a proper vintage reading experience,” said IDW Senior Book Editor, Justin Eisinger. “Like each and every Yoe Book, FRAZETTA—FUNNY STUFF is a lovingly created artifact that itself is a piece of art.”

 

But don’t just take our word for the glory of this vintage Frazetta. Here’s what some fine, respectable folks have to say about the man and his funny work.

 

“Frank Frazetta... his comic book output was unforgettable!” —Harvey Kurtzman

“You don’t have a full picture of Frank Frazetta until you’ve seen his funny stuff. It was his own favorite work, as it captured an important aspect of Frank that his sword and sorcery paintings did not—his warm sense of humor.” —William Stout

Why stop there?! Even the great talent himself was known to claim that the funny side was the real Frazetta.
“I do reveal that dark side in some of my work. I am known for my violent stuff. But the funny stuff is the real me.” —Frank Frazetta

 

Pappy's Golden Age Blogzine says that FRAZETTA—FUNNY STUFF is “a long overdue compilation! The book is beautifully produced. I love the over-sized pages, and especially the enlarged spot illustrations. As always, Craig's books are impeccably designed and printed. Permanent binding, thick quality paper to ensure the best reproduction possible. You will never go wrong buying a book with the Yoe Books imprint.”

Keep an eye out for the limited edition as well. A hot ticket item at 100 copies, it features a bookplate signed by Yoe as well as a variant cover featuring a rare drawing of one of Frazetta’s much-lauded sexy gals!

 

 

Craig Yoe is available for convention appearances and interviews with the press in regards to this and his other books.

Yoe Books' website is http://yoebooks.com

FRAZETTA—FUNNY STUFF ($49.99, 256 pages, hard cover, full color) will be available Wednesday, April 25, 2012. ISBN 978-1-61377-167-9.

Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books. IDW can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/#!/idwpublishing and http://tumblr.idwpublishing.com/ and on Twitter at @idwpublishing.

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