UNTIL YOUR HEART STOPS v6.7
by Brian Domingos

What Would I Say to You Now

December 8, 2004

At the start of these columns, I’m always tempted to rant and rave about something and I try my best not to stoop. Sometimes I run across things that I feel the need to talk about, but for the most part I’ll try to keep the negativity out of here. (You of course, would know better than I, with your outsider’s view and all.)

So this is week I’d just like to focus on the Good if you don’t mind. As you might be able to tell, I read a lot of comics of all genres and styles, and I’m always looking for the next new project to get attached to. I love the way you can do just about anything with comics and they all cost the same. You’ve got an idea for a Summer Movie Blockbuster or a romantic-comedy? Sounds good. And that spy-thriller you’ve had tucked away? 10-4. There’s so much potential and so much possibility that it’s hard not to get excited about it.

And, sure, it’s not a perfect system – Diamond Distributors has some kinks and the Direct Market isn’t working for everyone, but it’s generally a pleasant experience. And there’s really no room for complaining with the internet around. Diamond won’t carry your book? Sell it off your webpage and set up a PayPal structure. You can send your press releases to The Pulse and Newsarama and CBR (and of course PI). Hell – if you’ve got a book you want to pimp drop me an email, and send me a copy. I love new stuff and I’d be happy to spend some of this space to share your talent. I did it for Bosch Faustin’s TABLE FOR ONE -- I could do it for you, too.

To keep up with the similar theme, I’ll be taking a look at the Best in 2004 because everyone should do that, right? I’m talking about new ongoing series’, new minis, and new reprints of new OGNs. I’m even talking about the books that began before January, but really kicked ass in aught four. If you have any comments, or recommendations, let me know at the email address below because I’ve got some ideas, but I’ll probably forget some things.

Upcoming
Books of note shipping December 8, 2004…

OCT040021 B.P.R.D.: THE DEAD #2 (Of 5)
Dark Horse
$2.99

Mike Mignola’s been pumping us full of minis these days, using them to flesh out the well-known secondary characters. I hope he gets to all of them as this continues because the Abe Sapien plot has been very entertaining. He and co-writer John Arcudi introduced a new B.P.R.D. team leader and a new base of operations and it’s a change of the status quo that I can really get behind. I have to mention Guy Davis, who’s artwork is nothing short of stunning.

OCT040350 ADVENTURES IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE TPB (MR)
Vertigo/DC Comics
$14.95

I’m glad I skipped the floppies of these two minis when they came out, because I’d rather have them collected all nice and portable. This looks like classic Garth Ennis humor by way of bizarre characters and complicated, absurd plots. Carlos Ezquerra, whose work is an odd, but fitting choice for Ennis, joins him, ensuring some fun. I’ve enjoyed their work on that HITMAN annual and I look forward to more of the same.

OCT040349 ANGELTOWN #2 (OF 5) (MR)
Vertigo/DC Comics
$2.95

Gary Phillips nailed the pacing in the first issue and Shawn Martinbrough made all the right artist moves. The ending was enticing enough to get me to pick up the next issue. If you’re at all interested, so you pick up these issues because we’re not likely to see a trade paperback of this in the future. We might – but you never know.

OCT040340 GLOBAL FREQUENCY: DETONATION RADIO TPB (MR)
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$14.95

I’m pretty excited about this collection because I’ve read all these issues before, but I don’t really remember what happens in all of them. I remember the Simon Bisley one and the Chris Sprouse issue, but there are a few in-between those and I am drawing a blank. I do know that I really enjoyed the issues and that Tomm Coker and Lee Bermejo’s art was killer; same with Gene Ha. Oh, and Brian Wood’s brand new cover is excellent as well. Jesus, just buy this.

OCT040267 GOTHAM CENTRAL #26
DC Comics
$2.50

So Michael Lark is gone and we must move on. DC has yet to announce who the new artist (or artists) are on the book, but we’ve got a couple months to find out who it will be. Until then, Ed Brubaker and Jason (QUEEN & COUNTRY) Alexander will do a two-parter, followed by Greg Rucka and Stefano Gaudiano, who was Lark’s inker. I hope this book goes on and on because the characters are great and the series has a lot of room to grow. A few more tpbs would be nice…

OCT041808 AVENGERS: DISASSEMBLED: IRON MAN TPB
Marvel Comics
$14.99

Although this says “Avengers: Disassembled” it’s not all from that story line. Marvel snuck some issues from the pre-A:D IRONMAN as if anyone cares. I liked the A:D plot from Mark Ricketts and I wish he could have spent some more time on the book. He had a nice tone and did light and breezy very well. And Tony Harris was a nice additive to the book, too, since his style doesn’t really work. I don’t think Harris finished this story and that Scott Kolins did the last issue, so that’s rather disappointing. Still, it was a fun few issues and something to look at in the shop.

OCT041784 DISTRICT X #8
Marvel Knights/Marvel Comics
$2.99

The first 5/6ths of the first story were really good and I was a bit unimpressed with the ending. Part I of plot II was a good start, though. It seems like Hine is trying to shake off the “1 of 6” mold and attempting to do something different. Those turn out to be just numbers, rather than actual story parts. I like it that way – the pacing makes more sense if you ignore the labels. That said, I hope this story is strong all the way through because this really is an interesting book.

OCT041795 POWERS #7 (MR)
ICON/Marvel Comics
$2.95

I feel like I just got POWERS #6 last week, but I’m really not complaining. This storyline has had some really drastic plot points and last issue was a bit of a ‘cool off’ from the breakneck pace of the parts before that. I’m interested to see where this all leads us and I’m enjoying it at every second. This is still one of my favorites from Bendis (and certainly the best Oeming book on the market). Now if Marvel would just release POWERS: Forever

OCT041810 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR: DOOM, VOL 2. TPB
Ultimate/Marvel Comics
$12.99

Warren Ellis got a lot of flack for this storyline, but I really enjoyed the whole thing. The artwork was really nice and the script had some really cool ideas. I didn’t take the ‘dolphins’ scene personally, (as others did) so I thought it was a nice moment. Ellis is injecting the Fantastic Four with some pseudo-science and his ideas all make a lot of sense and are new and fresh and original. This far surpassed the first storyline’s retelling of the Lee/Kirby origin for the 100th time.

SEP042305 DEMO #12 (Of 12)
Ait/Planet Lar
$2.95

*sigh* The end of DEMO. This has been a monthly joy to read with relatable characters and twists on everyday topics. On top of that, it’s one of the best looking books on the stands, production-wise and really, they raised the bar. The best part of this is going to be the short story inside written by artist Becky Cloonan and drawn by writer Brian Wood. See how that works? It’s been so long since Wood’s drawn some pages for us and I can’t wait to get my hands on this.

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That’s it for this week. Check back next Wednesday for some reviews. Yeah, I said it.

 

Brian Domingos is the Columns Editor at PopImage. You can reach him for comments via email.


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