Matthew: Year One (1977) – Celebrating Thirty-Five Years of Collecting Comic Books!

I started collecting comic books 35 years ago this spring and to commemorate this milestone event, I’ll be posting several retrospectives from the glorious year of 1977!  Will it be a weekly event? Monthly?  Who knows?! But I think it’ll be fun (for me anyway).  First up, is my anniversary present to myself: the original opening splash page from Godzilla #8!

Lego's and the Bible

And now for something only sorta off topic, let’s talk Lego’s. But not any generic Lego, let’s talk the Lego Bible! Actually, the full title is The Brick Bible, A New Spin On The Old Testament, as told by Brendan Powell Smith, published by Skyhorse Publishing, 8.5 x 11, 272 pgs, $20.

I didn’t even know this existed until Wife brought it home from the book store the other day. She figured it was a good way to have the kids learn more about the Bible. And, oh my goodness have they been learning about the Bible!

To say this isn’t what I expected is an understatement. You can read more below the break.

What I Read This Week – Mar 27

Because of all the indie books I skipped reviews last week, which means this weeks list of books is longer than ever. So, no intro, we’re just getting right to it.

This week I read Catwoman Vol. 1: Trail of the Catwoman, Daredevil Vol 1, Battle Royale Vols 1 / 2, Black Widow: Deadly Origin, and The Incredible Hulk #5

The best of the week by far was Catwoman Vol. 1: Trail of the Catwoman written by Darwyn Cooke and Ed Brubaker, illustrated by Darwyn Cooke and Brad Rader, inked by Mike Allred Cameron Stewart, Rick Burchett, published by DC Comics. Collects Selina’s Big Score, backup stories from Detective, and Catwoman #1-9, 336 pgs, $30

It’s Brubaker. It’s Cooke. Was there ever a chance this was gonna be bad? Nope. Since I read, and still have, these in single issues I really just wanted to see if it was as good as I remembered it to be. And, I am happy to report my memories are as good as ever. This is a gritty, noir-superhero pastiche which is as good today as it was 10 years ago. Yep, 10 years. Bottom line, it’s great and deserves a second, or third read. See my long review here. 

You can see what I of the rest of the books below the break.

Avengers 1959

There was a time when Howard Chaykin was a lure for me to buy a book. I especially like American Century from Vertigo, but at this point I'm finding that Chaykin just doesn't have the same drawing power.

That's meant both figuratively and literally. Where once his art work would be enough for me to check out a book, I find now that it pains me, more often than not. A lot of that is because of the frequent pained expressions on the characters he draws, regardless of whether the circumstance calls for a pained expression. Look at the cover to the first issue of this mini, for instance. Three of the six characters are grimacing. I think they're meant to look fierece, but they look like vampires with bowel problems, especially Sabretooth and Namora.

That sort of thing occurs in the interior art, too. Characters who are supposed to be smirking look like they stubbed their toe. Even smiling the characters look uncomfortable. Something about the corner of the mouth that makes it look like the smile is forced, I think.

Image Previews For May

Lee: Image has been releasing a lot of good titles recently and people are really starting to notice. Now I wonder if they can keep it up. This month they are releasing a stack of new #1’s so we shall see.
Thomm: I’m mostly on their existing offerings, but I did just start with Saga, which, after 1 issue, looks good.

MIND THE GAP #1
story Jim McCann
art / cover Rodin Esquejo / Sonia Oback
variant cover Rodin Esquejo / Sonia Oback
48 PAGES / FC / $2.99
After Elle Peterssen is mysteriously attacked on a Manhattan subway platform, she is left in a coma, the only clues to her attacker trapped inside her mind. No one knows the identity of the person behind this brutal beating or where they will strike next. In this All-New Ongoing series, everyone is suspect, and no one is innocent. Eisner-winning writer Jim McCann joins Rodin Esquejo (Morning Glories) and Sonia Oback (S.H.I.E.L.D., The Defenders) unite for a psychological thriller that will leave you guessing at every turn!
Lee: This is interesting because it’s certainly outside of the norm. Nary a cape, cowl, or even monster to be seen anywhere. I am not sure that I am sold but an oversized first issue for the same price will at least get me to look.
Thomm: Good premise, outside the usual box of comics topics. Not quite noir, not quite police procedural. Really, interesting to see where it goes.

Five more below the jump.

Catching Up Can be Fun

 

In my continuing efforts to get back on track with the monthly comics I have succeeded in being caught up with every Marvel series, except the Twelve as the hiatus was so long I decided to wait until I have all four and I can get back into the flow of the story. Independent books I’m actually caught up with again with the exception of the Warlord of Mars books which encompass three of four series all the time. Heck I’m even close on Vertigo with the exception of Unwritten. This means I have actually had the chance to get caught up on some of the DC books. All of this leads me to have a lot of remarks/ impressions on a lot of different titles this week.

First up Hellblazer has been a great series again under the scripting of Peter Milligan. This current arc called “Another Season in Hell” has been brilliant. John is as he always is making bets and taking chances on things that he never should. Protecting himself first and foremost and negatively impacting those he says he cares about. Hellblazer is great writing and is telling stories about a flawed man who is not an anti-hero; he is not someone to root for or against, but someone whose story you want to read. John is now at the stage of his life where his regrets weigh heavily on him, but he still does not know how to be anything other than the con artist practitioner of black arts. 

The Goon #38

When I tell people I read comic books you get all sorts of reactions, few are positive but often the writers find ways to express themselves which are eloquent and very true. My Mom died Feb 17 this year and I wrote and delivered a eulogy, I wish I had included this line from the last book of Goon #38 which was a tribute to Eric Powell (writer/author)'s grand mother who died last year. "When you died I knew there was one less person in the world that really loved me." So true.