[  Mood: Sleepy ]
[ Currently: Taking a break from cleaning. ]
Just recently finished this book, and I made some observations I thought I would share.

The villains of the DC Universe have been having nightmares about the end of the world and how the heroes can’t stop it. So they band together for two purposes, 1) to save mankind by performing acts of good and 2) stop the apocalypse by stopping all the heroes.

In this first volume we see hero after hero fall to the onslaught of villains. It is a bit depressing watching the icons of my childhood fall so easily to the onslaught of the badguys. If it had been this easy, wouldn’t it have happened before? Still there is enough here to make me want to read the next instalment.

I also have a problem with Alex Ross’s artwork. I know that a collective gasp just broke out, like the voices of a thousand Geeks could not believe that I said that. But Ross is all about the strong chin and defiant stance, which is awesome when you have male heroes wearing masks. The results with the females of the DC Universe are not so pretty. Black Canary and Wonder Woman end up looking quite manish, almost transvestite like, especially in the covers. Gone are any suggestions of delicate beauty. I get that they will be muscled, but Canary was designed after femme fatales of Hollywood, she should not look like she has a chin you can cut cheese on.

And so that one thing puts me off much of Ross’s work. I don’t doubt he’s one of those artists who takes pictures of models posing to achieve his photorealistic art, but it’s just slightly creepy.

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Chew Volume 4: Flambe
Written by John Layman
Art by Rob Guillory

Promo copy:

These are strange times for Tony Chu, the cibopathic federal agent with the ability to get psychic impressions from the things he eats. Strange writing in extraterrestrial script has appeared in the skies of Planet Earth – and stayed there! People don”t know if the end days are upon them or not, but they don”t seem terribly concerned about the laws of the FDA, and what was once the most powerful law enforcement agency is rapidly descending into irrelevancy. So where does that leave the FDA best agent, Tony Chu?

I’ve been a fan of this extraordinary series almost from the beginning. The Chew Omnivore Edition, Volume 1 even ranked among my top ten graphic novels of 2010.

On the Ground: An Illustrated Anecdotal History of the Sixties Underground Press in the U.S.
Edited by Sean Stewart
Cover by Simon Benjamin

Promo copy:

Forthright anecdotes and interviews fill this eye-opening account of the birth of the underground newspaper movement. Stemming from frustration with the lack of any mainstream media criticism of the Vietnam War, the creation of the papers was emboldened by the victories of the Civil Rights–era, anticolonial movements in the Third World and the use of LSD. In the four short years from 1965–1969, the subversive press grew from five small newspapers in five cities in the United States to more than 500 newspapers—with millions of readers—all over the world. Stories by the people involved with the production and distribution of the papers, such as Bill Ayers, Paul Buhle, Paul Krassner, and Trina Robbins, bring the history of the movement to life. Full-color scans taken from a broad range of publications, from the Berkeley Barb and the Los Angeles Free Press to Chicago Seed and Screw: The Sex Review, are also included, showing the incredible energy that fueled the counterculture of the 1960s.

Tanner Hall

Promo copy:

As Fernanda (Rooney Mara) enters her senior year at Tanner Hall–a sheltered boarding school in New England–she’s faced with unexpected changes in her group of friends when a childhood acquaintance, the charismatic yet manipulative trouble-maker Victoria (Georgia King), appears. Shy and studious, Fernanda is usually the voice of reason among her friends–adventurous and sexy Kate (Brie Larson) and tomboy Lucasta (Amy Ferguson)–but when she begins a complicated friendship with Gio (Tom Everett Scott), an older family friend, she decides it’s finally time to take some risks. Jealous of Fernanda’s exciting relationship, Victoria begins to sabotage Fernanda’s plans and plots to publicly humiliate her. Meanwhile, Lucasta struggles with her newfound feelings towards another classmate, and mischievous Kate is too preoccupied with making her teachers nervous to pay much attention to her actual classes. However, as each of the girls flirt with adulthood, they realize they still need each other to help get through their first grown-up decisions–and the consequences they bring.

Directed by Tatiana von Furstenberg and Francesca Gregorini, Tanner Hall also stars Amy Sedaris and Chris Kattan. Featuring designs by Diane von Furstenberg Studios. Produced by Julia R. Snyder, Tatiana von Furstenberg and Francesca Gregorini. Executive producer by Richard L. Bready.

Robin Hood: People’s Outlaw and Forest Hero
by Paul Buhle

Promo copy:

Using a unique blend of text, collage, and comic art, this social commentary written in graphic novel format analyzes the continuity between the myth of Robin Hood and the occurrence of social uprisings among peasants. In addition, the book explores the mysteries, factual evidence, and trajectory that led to centuries of village festivals, songs, films, and cult television shows about the mythical hero who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Featuring a collage of various artistic renderings of Robin Hood over the past seven centuries, the comic portion presents a distinct perspective of the folk hero. Furthermore, the book reveals a largely unknown and unconsidered environmental side of Robin Hood, and touches on ecological wholeness that, for the most part, is absent in the mythos.

Back Issue No. 53
Edited by Michael Eury
Cover by Walter Simonson

Promo copy:

BACK ISSUE #53 (84 pages with FULL-COLOR, $8.95) takes an in-depth look at WALTER SIMONSON’s Thor in this “Gods” issue! And there’s more Thor: the Thunder God in the Bronze Age and a TOM DeFALCO/RON FRENZ “Pro2Pro” interview. Plus: Hercules: Prince of Power, Moondragon, Three Ways to End the New Gods Saga, and an exclusive interview with fantasy writer MICHAEL MOORCOCK. Featuring art and/or commentary by GERRY CONWAY, JACK KIRBY, BOB LAYTON, and more, with a hammer-swinging Thor cover by Simonson. Now in FULL COLOR!

The excellent Moorcock interview by RevSF’s own Alan J. Porter focuses on the SF master’s comic book career.

Stuff received 12/18/11 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

[  Mood: Angelic ]
[  Currently: Listening to CBC Radio ]
I have been doing a lot of reading recently and feel the need to share some observations with you.

Imagine a world where superheroes have been outlawed, with the exception of those who are willing to reveal their identities and work for the government? Those that haven’t are considered outlaws and need to be captured.

This is the world of New Frontier. We have the classic DC Silver Age heroes, before most of them were heroes, learning to control their powers and to act to help the ones they loved.

Heavily influenced by the Watchmen (but what isn’t in modern superhero comics), the beauty of this work is the art, which looks like the art of the 50s and 60s. Also of note is the reimagining of Wonder Woman into a strong female character who is still constrained by the social norms of the time. Her giving the liberated sex slaves the guns and turning them loose on their captors is one of my favourite scenes in comics period.

Can’t wait for the second volume.

For the latest Nexus Graphica, Mark London Williams and I revealed our top 5 selections for the best graphic novels of the year.

Swing over to SF Site to read the reasons behind our selections.

The Other Half of the Best was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon