Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Indies Previews for December Part 1 of 3

Lee: After last month’s short list, this one is huge. I am back on form for finding all sorts of strange and wonderful things.
Thomm: Now if only you could turn those talents to funding all these new and interesting things.

1821 Comics
Romeo and Juliet: The War GN by (W) Stan Lee (A/C) Skan Srisuwan
Two groups of superhuman soldiers have turned the Empire of Verona into the most powerful territory on earth. The Montagues, powerful cyborgs made of artificial DNA, and the Capulets, genetically enhanced humans known for their speed and agility, worked in tandem to destroy all threats to the city. With no one left to fight, the Montagues and Capulets found themselves a new enemy: each other. A young Montague boy and Capulet girl who fall in love. They secretly plan to marry, hoping their union can be what brings peace between the warring factions. But forces beyond their control begin to conspire against them, threatening their love, their lives - and the entire Empire of Verona. $19.99 Visit the official site here.
Lee: Ok, it’s a classic story but I really like how it’s updated with all sorts of science fiction elements. And, Srisuwan appears to be a really good artist. Here’s hoping the ending gets updated for a modern audience too… I’m kinda sick of the same old-same old ending.
Thomm: Wait, are you actually pleading for the Hollywood-style happy ending to this? Granted, Stan Lee might give you that, but I’d hope not. Kinda detracts from everything the original was about. Little things like love not conquering all…



:01 First Second
Mush: Sled Dogs with Issues GN by (W) Glenn Eichler (A) Joe Infurnari
Venus wants Buddy to quit asking her to make puppies. Buddy wants Winston's help wooing Venus. Winston wants Guy's respect. Guy wants Dolly's job. Dolly wants to know the meaning of it all. Nobody knows what Fiddler really wants, not even Fiddler. But mostly, these sled dogs just want to run. Sounds simple? It should be, but even dogs have their problems. From Colbert Report writer Glenn Eichler comes a postmodern tale of heroism on the tundra, epic romance, and yellow snow. 128 pgs. $17.99 
Lee: I was sold at the cover but even beyond that, this looks hysterical.
Thomm: Call of the Wild meets the Colbert Report! Hysterical probably doesn’t do it justice. Insane might.

Same Difference HC (special edition) by (W/A) Derek Kirk Kim

When Derek Kirk Kim published his debut graphic novel back in 2003, it made an immediate stir. The story about a group of young people navigating adulthood and personal relationships is told with such sympathy and perception that the book was immediately hailed as an important new work. Seven years later, it's clear that Same Difference has won a place among the great literature of the last decade. Derek's distinctive voice as an author, coupled with his clear, crisp, expressive art has made this story a classic. And this classic is now back in print, in a new deluxe edition. 96 pgs. $16.99
Lee: I’ve always liked the slice of life books and this looks to be one of the better ones. The only thing that keeps me for immediately buying it is… well, let’s just say I’m not as close to my “trying to find myself” 20’s as I once was. Not to mention I was never that lost in my 20’s, drunk and obnoxious yes, lost and indecisive no.
Thomm: That’s what the world needs, decisive drunks. I think it could be interesting, but it has something I’ve never seen. First time something in the comics world has been described as a deluxe edition while priced at $17.

Across The Pond Studios
Extinction GN by (W) Stephan Nilson (A) Kevin Stokes (C) Charles Pritchett
The end is nigh! Wrong! The end is here, now! A deadly virus has swept across the globe wiping out ninety percent of all life on Earth.Only a handful of the surviving population remains resistant to the infection, but by no means are they unaffected by it. The infected have discovered a secret to hold the sickness at bay - cannibalism! 104 pgs. $16.99 Visit the publisher here.
Lee: Yeah, the zombie thing has been done to death but I am intrigued by the reverse cannibal thing. Usually it’s the dead eating the living, not the living eating the living. Maybe this will be a tamer version of Crossed.
Thomm: I was fairly bored by the promo until we reached the cannibalism part. Now I can’t figure out how that would provide immunity. The Walking Dead did cannibalism without getting into any kind of immunity from the plague.

Arcana Studio

Gangsta Queen GN by (W) Chaos McKenzie (A/C) S. Partington
Only daughter to an old-school gang diva, Gwenesha grew up surrounded by thugs who kept an eye on her like a sister. With none of the drive that supported her Mother, Gwenesha used sex as a tool, playing her way to the top, away from the life she was born into. Today, Gwenesha sits pretty on the arm of Ricco, South Beach Don, gunrunner, and drug supplier, who keeps her covered in the finest things. Avoiding gang politics, Gwenesha ignores Ricco's hard rule over the streets - as long as she's covered in Gucci threads! $14.95
Lee: And this is herefore untold story of Gwen’s childhood. Growing up in the back room of a comic store and bored with the geeks that inhabited it, she turned to the streets and so began the legend of Gwenesha!!!!
Thomm: Ok, a dig on Gwen is good reason to include this. Otherwise, this is poorly described and appears to have no plot direction. Either that or there’s different meaning to “gang diva” than I’m aware.

Archie Comic Publications
Archie #627 (Archie Meets KISS Part 1) by (W) Alex Segura (A/C) Dan Parent
Archie Meets KISS Part 1: Riverdale Rock City. The biggest band in rock history invades Riverdale! When the Archies find their town overrun by monsters because of a spell gone wrong, can the KISS gang save the day? Find out in part one of this four-part epic featuring KISS! Features a regular cover by Dan Parent and a variant cover by Francesco Francavilla. $2.99
Lee: Archie meets Kiss. This has classic written ALL over it. I never thought it would get better than “Archie Meets The Punisher” but I was wrong. And, yes Archie really did have a cross over with the Punisher.
Thomm: Why do I feel like it’s 1978?

Asylum Press
Fearless Dawn: Secret of the Swamp (One-Shot) by (W/A/C) Steve Mannion
Once again Fearless Dawn gets herself into a predicament! Following a treasure map to find a secret elixir, Fearless Dawn travels deep within a murky swamp. Ignoring the warnings of Old Lady Flannigan, and hot on the trail of buried pirate booty, Fearless Dawn and her sidekick, The Masked Kid get assaulted by the giant swamp creature! $2.95
Lee: Steve Mannion is a great guy. I have spoken to him at many a convention. But, besides being a nice guy his comic books are really funny. This is exaggerated violence with exaggerated female anatomy with tongue firmly in cheek.
Thomm: I feel like I’m on a nostalgia tour in this section of our look to the future. I can’t put my finger on it, but this reminds me of something I read in high school back in the ‘80s. It’s kind of Mad Magazine meets Playboy cartoons. Not that that’s a bad thing.

More tomorrow...

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