Few micro-reviews from my pull list here:
- FATALE #2
I’m a huge fan of the Brubaker/Sean Phillips combination. Of course, as many are. They’ve had a wonderful history together, growing into one of the better writer/artist teams in the industry. When I heard they were taking a stab at a Lovecraftian horror/Noir book I thought it a little insane, but I dug the fact that they were willing to step out of their pre-established Criminal/Incognito boundaries to try something new and exciting. Then I read the first issue of Fatale and thought, “well, this is eerily similar to something these two have done before…” It’s no slight on them as artists, as creators. When one has such a singular voice — even as a team, or especially as a team — that voice probably transcends almost all things like genre, setting, characters and the rest. But it’s hard to read Fatale and not feel like I’m reading a Criminal arc with Chutulu worshipers embedded into it. Again, damn fine comics… but more of a change of pace from these two could only help their cause. They’ve already made gold, let’s see what they can do with coal. Because there’s that small chance it may turn to diamond.
(Jess Nevins, who writes post-script articles after Phillips/Brubaker’s comics, writes an interesting blog.)
- PUNISHERmax #22
Frank Castle is dead. At least, the “MAX” version of character is. The universe where super-powers do not exist. The NYC where Spiderman doesn’t patrol Manhattan and Daredevil doesn’t patrol Hell’s Kitchen. In that world, in our world, Frank is dead. It was obvious this was coming; the foreshadowing of Frank’s life closing wasn’t over-the-top, but it was palpable. You felt it even back when you read Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon’s very first issue of the series. Kudos to the publisher for putting Aaron’s final note about the character and the creative team at the end of this book. The way he spells it out, it seems only inevitable that soon enough Frank’s got to die. Hell, it maybe could’ve happened earlier. And it’s something the Marvel exec’s should look into, to relaunch the character into modern times. Think about it, this guy is a Vietnam veteran. Which means he’s gotta be into his 60′s by now. I liked the little moment where the NYPD is looking at the body with Nick Fury and the officer says, “This is the Punisher? He looks old as fuck.” Aye, he is old as fuck. And there’s no way a life such as his can extend too far beyond that age, it’s just too much emotional/physical/spiritual wear and tear to make it last. I liked the way this ends: it looks as if Frank’s life, all the blood he spilled out of righteousness or downright insanity, has been worthless at first. Then Aaron turns the tables in a very Dark Knight Returns moment; except instead of an aging Bruce Wayne, commanding the youngsters from the underground, Frank actually is dead and buried, inspiring them even in death.
- CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1
I admit, I have never in my life read a Conan comic. Nor have I seen the Jason Momoa flick. Nor have I seen the Arnold flick. I am a Conan virgin in every way. But when I heard that Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan (with colors by Dave Stewart; who also works on Fatale) were taking a stab at the character, and adapting one of the most legendary stories from Weird Tales ever to be published, I was sold. “The Queen of the Black Coast” was originally published in 1934. It is a love story, for she-devils and criminals and murderers and pirates, but a love story nonetheless. By now, the original story is public-domain; so anyone is allowed to adapt it, rewrite it, remix it all they want. Yet, it seems to me Wood will be doing a pretty straight-forward adaptation which is refreshing. It’s a brilliant beginning to his run also: Conan is clearly very young at this point of his life, it begins with him fleeing the authorities of a coastal city and court system, it features violence, love, lust, plundering, and everything the barbarian’s become known for. It is the perfect jumping on point for new readers like me. And I don’t know if I’ll stick with this indefinitely, but so far I’m taken aback by the quality Cloonan (who is a masterful artist) and Wood are offering.
-Sonny
