UNTIL YOUR HEART STOPS v21.4
by Brian Domingos

"Squirrels didn’t know there was a second show”

November 7th, 2007

God, I can’t believe it’s November already. We’re actually a week into it – so it’ll be Thanksgiving and then Festivus and Christmas and, hey, St. Patty’s already?

Anyway, I read a great book you should check out. It comes out this week from Vertigo.

CAIRO is the latest release of the line of black & white Original Graphic Novels from the DC imprint by writer G. Willow Wilson and artist MK Perker.

It’s a complex string of stories that follows a handful of characters over one long day. The cast is slowly introduced over the first few pages – Ashraf, the twenty-something guy, whom dabbles in life outside of the law, trying to make a living on the streets of the City of Victory; Tova, the Israeli soldier, hurt and stranded, on the wrong side of her border; an airplane and two strangers: Kate, the blonde American female student and would-be world traveler and jihad-contemplating American-Lebanese male Shaheed, at the end of their transatlantic flight; Ali, the vigilant, underground journalist and love interest of Ashraf’s sister, Salma. They slowly enter each others spheres, overlapping and being tied together by incident and circumstance.

As the plot unfolds, the script opens up beyond the typical adventure story tropes. It takes a supernatural turn, amplifying the atmosphere of the city of Cairo itself. There are many expectations set upon the city by Westerners through Hollywood from the start. It’s been portrayed as a whimsical place with flying carpets, genies and their mystical brethren so these twists of the paranormal play into the default mindset.

Wilson uses this to play with the layouts and, when necessary, the overall storytelling. When Shaheed and his new-found genie, Shams, encounter a demon, she uses the gutters between the panels and the panels themselves to break the dimension of space. Shaheed reaches out of one panel and into another to successfully complete his task. It’s something that can only happen in the visual medium of comics and it’s a smart move.

Similarly, she uses static images – the sun in the sky, dripping water – to pass from one scene to another. It’s a little narrative tool than binds the stories together while having them occur in geographically different places.

Wilson has the difficult task of properly pacing the story and I think she succeeds. The OGN is a difficult format to control because it is one continuous story with no breaks until the end. It moves at a full clip from the start and does not experience any lulls, which is important in a book with this design. I’ve read OGNs from much more experienced writers than she whom have had issues with proper pacing. Wilson does not fall into those plotting traps and delivers a story that truly satisfies. There’s a maturity in seeing this type of story mechanics and it’s impressive to see them in such a young new writer.

Perker is a new name to me and I wasn’t sure what to expect from him. His storytelling is clear and succinct and offers much to Wilson’s stories. His figure work is interesting, because at times he draws some awkward male characters. His women are always gorgeous and it’s interesting to see just how ugly his men can be. But it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a stylistic thing that has worked for the likes of Carlos Ezquerra for decades. I think it puts Perker in good company.

I very much look forward to their new projects. I know for a fact that there is a new Vertigo book in the mix and from what I’ve heard of the premise – it should fit in nicely with the more atypical books of the line. The book ships to all Diamond shops this week and I highly recommend it. It’s a unique book and worth a look.

I should note that Wilson is a long time friend of mine. I’ve know her for years and read an early draft of this story about four years ago.

Upcoming…
Books and items shipping Wednesday, November 7th, 2007

AUG073935 2000 AD #1559 $4.10
AUG073936 2000 AD #1560 $4.10
MAY073242 2001 MANIACS SPECIAL #1 (MR) $3.99
MAY073246 2001 MANIACS SPECIAL ENGLUND SIGNED ED #1 (MR) $24.99
MAY073243 2001 MANIACS SPECIAL GORE CVR #1 (MR) $3.99
MAY073244 2001 MANIACS SPECIAL PHOTO CVR #1 (MR) $3.99
MAY073245 2001 MANIACS SPECIAL WRAP CVR #1 (MR) $3.99
SEP073771 30 DAYS OF NIGHT EBEN & STELLA TP $17.99
AUG073719 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #69 (A) PI
SEP073598 ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY VOL 18.5 PX PORTFOLIO (MR) $32.00
SEP073475 ALEX RAYMONDS FLASH GORDON VOL 1-7 HC SET $139.65
SEP074081 ALICE ON DEADLINES VOL 1 TP $10.99
SEP070191 ALL NEW ATOM #17 $2.99
SEP072181 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST #1 (OF 6) $2.99
AUG072207 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST STAR LORD #4 (OF 4) $2.99
AUG073383 ARCHIE DIGEST #239 $2.49
AUG074002 ARK ANGELS VOL 3 GN (OF 3) $9.99
JUN071891 ART OF GREG CAPULLO SC $24.99
JUN072192 ASTONISHING X-MEN #23 $2.99
AUG073922 ATLANTIS RISING #1 $0.25
SEP073289 AZUMANGA DAIOH OMNIBUS VOL 1 GN $24.99
AUG074075 BABY & ME VOL 5 GN $8.99
JUL073276 BANZAI GIRLS #3 $3.95
JUL070245 BATMAN ARCHIVES VOL 7 HC $49.99
APR070274 BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE STATUE JIM LEE $59.99
AUG073386 BETTY & VERONICA #231 $2.25
SEP073599 BIG QUESTIONS #10 (MR) $6.50
AUG074061 BLACK CAT VOL 11 TP $7.99
AUG074003 BLAME VOL 10 GN (OF 10) (MR) $9.99
JUL074117 BONES OFFICIAL COMPANION SEASONS 1 & 2 SC $14.95
JUL073967 BOOTLEG #18 (A) $8.95
AUG074000 BOYS BE VOL 15 GN (OF 20) (MR) $9.99
AUG074021 BRATZ BABYZ CINEMANGA GN $3.99
AUG078105 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #1 FINAL VER $2.99
AUG078106 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #2 FINAL VER $2.99
AUG078107 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #3 FINAL VER $2.99
AUG078108 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #4 FINAL VER $2.99
SEP070077 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #8 $2.99

JUL070292 CAIRO HARDCOVER
Vertigo/DC Comics
$24.99

If I didn’t sell you on this on the review above, there’s nothing else I can say to win you over.

SEP073578 CAMERA CAMERA CAMERA VOL 1 GN (MR) $12.95
SEP073579 CANT WIN WITH YOU VOL 2 GN (MR) $12.95
JUN073852 CHARLEYS WAR VOL 4 BLUES STORY HC $19.95
SEP073758 CORY DOCTOROWS FUTURISTIC TALES HERE AND NOW #2 (OF 6) $3.99
SEP070149 COUNTDOWN SEARCH FOR RAY PALMER RED RAIN #1 $2.99
SEP070188 COUNTDOWN SPECIAL JIMMY OLSEN 80 PAGE GIANT $4.99
SEP070142 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 25 $2.99
AUG072277 CRIMINAL #10 (MR) $2.99
AUG074069 D GRAY MAN VOL 7 GN $7.99
SEP073872 DAN BRERETONS NOCTURNALS VOL 1 PX ED HC (RES) $39.99
SEP073871 DAN BRERETONS NOCTURNALS VOL 1 REG ED HC (RES) $29.99
SEP072026 DARKNESS FIRST LOOK $0.99
APR073669 DF ACTION COMICS #851 SGN $29.99
SEP073476 DICK TRACY THE COLLINS CASEFILES VOL 1-3 TP SET $53.85
SEP073820 DONT EAT THE ELECTRIC SHEEP #5 (MR) $3.95
SEP074025 DOROTHY OF OZ VOL 1 GN $11.95
AUG074004 DRAGON HUNTER VOL 17 GN (OF 18) $9.99
JUL070056 EDEN VOL 9 ITS AN ENDLESS WORLD TP (MR) $12.95
AUG070127 EMILY THE STRANGE VOL 2 THE FAKE ISSUE #2 $3.50
SEP073585 ENCHANTER VOL 6 GN (MR) $12.95
SEP073298 EVERYBODY COSPLAY VOL 1 GN $19.99
SEP070271 EXTERMINATORS #23 (MR) $2.99
SEP073780 FALLEN ANGEL IDW #21 (MR) $3.99
AUG072216 FANTASTIC FOUR #551 $2.99
AUG078110 FANTASTIC FOUR #551 ART ADAMS VAR $2.99
SEP072188 FANTASTIC FOUR SILVER SURFER POSTER BOOK $5.99
SEP071951 FEARLESS #1 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP071996 FRANK FRAZETTAS DEATH DEALER B&W SP ED #1 (MR) $2.99
SEP070264 FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH ASH COVER #1 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
SEP070263 FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH FREDDY COVER #1 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
SEP070265 FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH JASON COVER #1 (OF 6) $2.99
AUG073923 GHOSTING #3 $2.99
AUG073558 GI JOE DATA DESK HANDBOOK COLL A-M $5.50
AUG074070 GIN TAMA VOL 3 TP $7.99
AUG074076 GODCHILD VOL 7 TP $8.99

AUG070272 GREEN ARROW: ROAD TO JERICHO TPB
DC Comics
$17.99

Judd Winick’s GREEN ARROW kind of sputtered to an end, but the first part of “Road to Jericho” is terrific. I haven’t read them all the way through and I’d like to see how it turns out.

AUG070273 GREEN LANTERN CORPS: A DARKER SHADE OF GREEN TPB
DC Comics
$12.99

I’ve been vaguely following the new GREEN LANTERN CORPS series. It’s two steps from being totally cool but I don’t think it’s gotten there yet. It’s a cool concept, though.

APR070023 GRENDEL: ART OF MATT WAGNER’S GRENDEL HC
Dark Horse Books
$39.95

I love art books. I’ve got the ART OF HELLBOY and ART OF SIN CITY. Dark Horse Books always does a great job with them.

JUL073973 GRIMM FAIRY TALES RETURN TO WONDERLAND #4 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
JUL070018 GROO HELL ON EARTH #1 (OF 4) $2.99
AUG073553 HACK SLASH VOL 3 FRIDAY THE 31ST TP $18.99
AUG073993 HANDS OFF VOL 1 DONT CALL US ANGELS GN (OF 2) $9.99
AUG074022 HANNAH MONTANA CINEMANGA VOL 3 GN (OF 4) $7.99
AUG074023 HANNAH MONTANA CINEMANGA VOL 4 GN (OF 4) $7.99
JUL070031 HELLBOY DARKNESS CALLS #6 (OF 6) $2.99
JUL073912 HERC BROWN #1 $2.99
AUG073581 HEROES ARE EXTINCT VOL 2 GN $12.95
JUL078014 HEROES HC ALEX ROSS COVER $29.99
SEP070246 HEROES HC ALEX ROSS COVER (O/A) $29.99
JUL078015 HEROES HC JIM LEE COVER $29.99
SEP070245 HEROES HC JIM LEE COVER (O/A) $29.99
JUL073446 HIGHLANDER #12 $2.99
AUG070010 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2007 PI
SEP072195 HOWARD THE DUCK #2 (OF 4) $2.99
AUG074071 HUNTER X HUNTER VOL 17 TP $7.99
AUG072221 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #10 $2.99
AUG078022 IMMORTAL IRON FIST ZOMBIE VAR #10 $2.99

SEP070165 INFINITY INC #3
DC Comics
$2.99

I think there’s some potential here with Peter Milligan’s INFINITY INC series but I fear that it may be canceled before it really gets moving. It has a macabre atmosphere with its bizarre characters and moody artwork. I’m enjoying it but I have a feeling I’m one of like twenty people.

AUG073992 INITIAL D VOL 28 GN (OF 35) $9.99
AUG074024 INNOCENT BIRD VOL 3 GN (OF 3) (A) $9.99
SEP073379 IRON & THE MAIDEN #4 $3.99
SEP072198 IRON MAN ENTER MANDARIN #3 (OF 6) $2.99
MAR070295 JLA COVER TO COVER STATUE WONDER WOMAN $59.99
SEP070201 JONAH HEX #25 $2.99
AUG073939 JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #264 $7.50
SEP070228 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #39 $2.25
AUG074077 KAZE HIKARU VOL 7 GN $8.99
AUG074005 KINDAICHI CASE FILES VOL 16 GN MAGICAL EXPRESS (OF 27) (MR) $9.99
AUG070301 KING OF CARDS VOL 2 $9.99
AUG073811 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #132 $4.99
AUG074072 KUROHIME VOL 2 TP $7.99
MAY070069 LISA PETRUCCIS KICK ASS KUTIES PENNY PIRATE VINYL $24.99
AUG074007 LITTLE QUEEN VOL 4 GN (OF 8) $9.99
SEP070081 LOBSTER JOHNSON THE IRON PROMETHEUS #3 (OF 5) $2.99
SEP070233 LOONEY TUNES #156 $2.25
AUG074078 LOVE COM VOL 3 TP $8.99
AUG074025 LOVE MODE VOL 7 GN (OF 11) (A) $9.99

SEP074014 LOWER REGIONS OGN
Top Shelf Comix
$6.95

This is the all ‘silent’ story about the barbarian chick fighting in some dungeon. It’s from Alex (BOX OFFICE POISON) Robinson, so it’s worth a look.

SEP072001 LUCHA LIBRE #2 $5.99

MAY073661 MAINTENANCE #6
Oni Press
$3.50

MAINTENANCE is fun. You should buy it.

AUG073469 MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST NEW MANGA 2ND ED (MR) $15.95
JUL073327 MARK MILLAR UNFUNNIES FIRST FOLLIES (MR) $4.99
SEP072207 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #33 $2.99
SEP072284 MARVEL LEGACY 1960S TO 1990S HANDBOOK TP $19.99
SEP072208 MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #5 $4.99
SEP070202 METAL MEN #4 (OF 8) $2.99
SEP070166 METAMORPHO YEAR ONE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
MAY073802 MIDDLEMAN VOL 3 TP $9.95

SEP070257 MIDNIGHTER #13
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99

MIDNIGHTER continues to meander on. A year later and “Worldstorm” has pretty much crash and burned.

SEP073477 MILTON CANIFFS STEVE CANYON 1947-1954 TP SET $143.90
AUG073979 MODESTY BLAISE VOL 12 DEATH TRAP TP $19.95
SEP072214 MS MARVEL #21 $2.99
JUL072182 MYSTIC ARCANA SISTER GRIMM $2.99
SEP073642 MYSTIC FUNNIES #2 (NEW PTG) $4.95
AUG074063 NARUTO VOL 22 TP $7.95
AUG074064 NARUTO VOL 23 TP $7.95
AUG074065 NARUTO VOL 24 TP $7.95
AUG074094 NAUSICAA WATERCOLOR IMPRESSIONS HC $34.99
AUG074010 NECK AND NECK VOL 8 GN (OF 8) $9.99
AUG074009 NEVER GIVE UP VOL 6 GN (OF 13) $9.99
SEP072217 NEW AVENGERS ILLUMINATI #5 (OF 5) $2.99

SEP072277 NEW AVENGERS: REVOLUTION, VOL. 6 TPB
Marvel Comics
$14.99

I read a bunch of these issues when they came out but I want to read it all at once. It’s Bendis’ ‘underground’ Avengers with art from Leinil F. Yu. Yu’s one of my long time favorites, so it’s nice to see him get such a high profile project. The next one of these, volume 7, looks like a good one, too.

JUL073434 NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON ZERO #3 $2.99
AUG073448 ODYSSEY PRESENTS VENUS (BLUEWATER) #1 $3.50
SEP072279 OMEGA FLIGHT ALPHA TO OMEGA TP $13.99
SEP072219 OMEGA UNKNOWN #2 (OF 10) $2.99
AUG074062 ONE PIECE VOL 16 TP $7.95
AUG074011 ONE VOL 10 GN (OF 11) $9.99
AUG074012 PLANET BLOOD VOL 7 GN (OF 11) $9.99
AUG073578 PRINCE CHARMING VOL 1 GN (MR) $12.95
AUG074067 PRINCE OF TENNIS VOL 22 GN $7.95
SEP073586 PRINCESS PRINCESS VOL 5 GN (MR) $12.95
MAY071876 PVP #36 (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
AUG074014 QUEENS VOL 4 GN (OF 5) (MR) $9.99
AUG074015 RECAST VOL 4 GN (OF 6) (MR) $9.99
SEP072002 RED DEMON VINYL FIGURE $50.00

SEP070174 ROBIN #168 $2.99

AUG070278 ROBIN: TEENAGE WASTELAND TPB
DC Comics
$17.99

Big week for ROBIN. First, we’ve got the second part (first actual ‘Part’) of the “Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul” arc. It’s looking like Damian Vs Robin which looks like fun. Damian’s been an interesting character so far, so I’m on board for more.

Then we’ve got “Teenage Wasteland”, the second collection of Adam Beechen’s regular series issues. I don’t know what’s in here, specifically, other than the fact that it ends with the two-part Klarion story with art by Frasier Irving.

SEP070175 ROBIN VAR ED #168 (GHUL) $2.99
AUG074081 SA VOL 1 GN $8.99
AUG074016 SAKURA TAISEN VOL 6 GN (OF 6) $9.99
AUG074017 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED VOL 5 GN (OF 9) $9.99
SEP070279 SCALPED #11 (MR) $2.99
AUG073772 SCARFACE DEVIL IN DISGUISE #4 (MR) $3.99
JUL073974 SE7EN WRATH #7 (OF 7) (RES) (MR) $3.99
AUG070304 SEIMADEN VOL 10 $9.99
SEP072223 SHANNA SHE-DEVIL SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST #4 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP072226 SILVER SURFER IN THY NAME #1 (OF 4) $2.99
AUG074082 SKIP BEAT VOL 9 TP $8.99
AUG073397 SONIC X #26 $2.25
MAY071880 SPAWN #172 $2.95
SEP072263 SPIDER-MAN PETER PARKER BACK IN BLACK HC $34.99
AUG074038 STAR PROJECT CHIRO VOL 1 TP $11.95
AUG073759 STAR TREK ALIENS SPOTLIGHT VULCANS $3.99
SEP070093 STAR WARS KNIGHTS O/T OLD REPUBLIC HANDBOOK $2.99
AUG070131 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #22 $2.99
AUG070132 STAR WARS LEGACY #17 $2.99
AUG072032 STEVE NILES STRANGE CASES #2 $2.50
JUL071963 STRANGE EMBRACE #5 (OF 8) (MR) $2.99
AUG074020 SUITE LIFE OF ZACH AND CODY CINEMANGA GN $7.99
SEP072224 SUPER VILLAIN TEAM UP MODOKS 11 #5 (OF 5) $2.99
SEP070189 SUPERGIRL #23 $2.99
SEP070190 SUPERGIRL VAR ED #23 $2.99
SEP070182 SUPERMAN #670 $3.99
AUG073911 TALES FROM THE CRYPT #3 $3.95
SEP073853 TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #40 $3.25
SEP073785 TANK GIRL THE GIFTING TP $17.99
JUL073448 TERMINATOR 2 INFINITY #4 $3.50
AUG072255 THE ORDER #4 CWI $2.99
AUG078142 THOR 1-3 REBIRTH $4.99

SEP070248 TRANQUILITY: ARMAGEDDON #1
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99

Last week’s MIDNIGHTER: ARMAGEDDON is getting a lot of bad press and I think it only deserves about half of what it is receiving. The concept itself isn’t bad – heroes from the various Wildstorm books are taken into a possible future by the Wildcat Void to see if he or she can prevent it from happening. The problem is that the story is a lot of smoke & mirrors with “One of these futures could come true!” angles and then we get the upcoming WILDSTORM: REVELATIONS mini series (January release) that shows which one is going to happen. Seems pointless to hint to a bunch of options and then blow it before the issues even ship. I’m a big Wildstorm fan (there are only a few of us Old School dudes out there) and they are making even me cringe – and I’ve got the two DIVINE RIGHT tpbs.

SEP073753 TRANSFORMERS BEST OF UK DINOBOTS #3 $3.99
SEP073745 TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT RAMJET $3.99

AUG073454 TWO GUNS CVR A #3 (OF 4)
AUG073455 TWO GUNS CVR B #3 (OF 4)
Boom! Studios
$3.99

I like Boom! Studios because they’re the only place to find new work from Steven Grant right now. His latest series, TWO GUNS shows off what he does best – action and conspiracy-fueled suspense. We’ve got a pair of government agents, whom were played against each other while undercover. Now their agencies have turned against them and they need to band together to clear their names and get out a live. The first issue ends with a great twist and the second starts killing off characters. This here issue three gets them together again their common enemy. Grant’s set up some interesting back-stories, vague enough to not be clichéd with details that help propel the motivations. The action has been good so far and I’m sure it’s only going to get better. The art’s from Mat Santolouco, who’s a less cartoony version of Raphael Albuquerque (who supplied the cover at right). It’s an interesting choice for such a hard-hitting plot but it works. With two issues to go, I’ll be curious to see how this wraps up.

SEP072264 ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 4 HC $29.99
AUG074073 ULTIMATE MUSCLE VOL 18 GN $7.95
SEP073905 UNBEATABLE GN (MR) $14.95
SEP072232 UNCANNY X-MEN #492 MC $2.99
SEP072233 UNCANNY X-MEN SILVESTRI VAR #492 MC $2.99
AUG073343 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 JUSKO REG ED #2 $5.95
AUG073347 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 JUSKO VIRGIN ED #2 $19.95
AUG073345 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 SCOTT B&W ED #2 $19.95
AUG073344 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 SCOTT REG ED #2 $5.95
SEP070281 VINYL UNDERGROUND #2 (MR) $2.99
AUG073974 WEIRDLING GN $15.95
SEP070252 WILDSTORM FINE ARTS SPOTLIGHT THE AUTHORITY $3.50
SEP073478 WINSOR MCCAY EARLY WORKS VOL 1-9 TP SET $179.55
JUN071937 WITCHBLADE #111 $2.99
SEP074082 WORLD OF QUEST VOL 1 TP $9.99
AUG072229 WORLD WAR HULK GAMMA CORPS #4 (OF 4) WWH $2.99
SEP070282 Y THE LAST MAN #59 (MR) $2.99
AUG073590 ZOMBIE HIGHWAY BACK IN BLUE $3.99

---

Another mini review or two next week. See you then.

 

Brian Domingos is the acting Editor-in-Chief at Popimage.com. Questions? Comments? Love Notes? Email him via brian@popimage.com. To submit a comic for review, please email me at the link below. I'm always interested to see what people have to offer.


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