6 posts tagged “comic books”

Today was free comic book day.  Rae and M went to a birthday party for one of M's classmates, so I took the opportunity to head up to Star Clipper and see if there was anything interesting worth picking up.  They had a three-book limit, and I managed to find three that looked interesting.

The first one I picked up was the Dark Horse book.  Any time I've managed to get to Free Comic Book Day, I pick up the Dark Horse book.  This one featured The Umbrella Academy, and included sneak peeks at Zero Killer (from the writer of Rex Mundi) and Pantheon City.

The second was The Train Was Bang On time - An Episode From The Black Diamond Detective Agency by Mr. Eddie Campbell (from publisher First Second).  Looked like a fun read, and was in a small press format, which always catches my eye.

Then finally  I picked up the Virgin Comics Sampler.  I'd read a bit about the comic book venture that Virgin embarked on, and it looked pretty, so I thought I'd give it a try.

As I'm wont to do at times, I've been surfing when I should be working.  As I mentioned below, I've been reading through Warren Ellis' blog and clicking links.  One thing led to another and I found something I'd totally forgotten about but was excited about when I first saw it.  Needless to say I'm happy I found it again, and I'm just as excited. 

That thing is Fell, by Ellis and Ben Templesmith.  I'll let you click on the links below and find out more about it for yourself.  This isn't a book review (I haven't read it yet), but I am willing to throw it out there now and tell you you should be getting this book.  If you like Ellis' writing, I hear he's in top form.  And who hasnt' seen and enjoyed Templesmith's art in 30 Days of Night?  Besides, each issue is self-contained, and the pricetag comes in at two bills, so what's not to love.  Pick it up anywhere and you're in for a good read.

Here's an interview with Warren at Newsarama with some preview pages.  But don't bother with those prievews (do bother with the interview), as the whole first issue is available to read online (here).

I just called my local comic book shop and they said that the Fell TPB was coming out early April.  I had them hold it for me *smile*

I was reading Warren Ellis' blog and clicking links and one thing lead to another and I found a fellow voxer doing the comic book (among others) thing.  Thought I'd share if anyone else is interested.

Sin City - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Look what showed up in my mailbox on Monday!  It's my bday/xmas present from my buddy, Ken.  I cracked it open last night and started watching it.  It is oh so nice.  I'm watching the original theatrical release right now, then I'll take a look at the extra scenes and the commentary. 

I've never seen the whole movie, only bits and pieces when we were getting the movie channels.  The bits were fun, but the entire package is simply delicious.  It's amazing how many key images from the books are so keenly captured in the movie, from Deadly Little Miho's click of her katana, to the silhouetted breasts in Marv and Goldie's sex scene, to Kevin's gruesome ending.  I love how Miller's bold ink art style is integral to the movie, and how the live action elements are blended with the comic-like CG to create a real unique feel that is never campy or artificial.  

I'll finish the movie tonight, then I can't wait to get into all of the extras.  Yumm.  Thanks, Kenny *smile*

Bone: One Volume Edition

Jeff Smith

Bone, the omnibus edition.  I got it Tuesday night.  It's been on my MUST HAVE list since the holidays, but I was waiting for things to settle down before I threw some Xma$ money at it.  Then on Tuesday my comic shop sent out one of their "members only exclusive e-mails" announcing a spur of the moment sale, everything in the store 25% off, Tuesday only, if you mentioned the e-mail.  So, since my folks were already watching M because I had an early evening meeting, I ran over afterwards and picked it up.  Started reading it that night, have read a bit each night this week, and am really enjoying the hell out of it.  It's already so much fun and I can't wait to see what different directions it goes as the story unfolds.  I've heard so many great things about it that I hope it lives up to the hype, and so far, early on in the game, it is.  I expect it to continue and finish strong as well.  I'll let you know.

The Surrogates Volume 1 (Surrogates (Graphic Novels))

Robert Venditti

I went to Star Clipper on Friday and picked up The Surrogates by Robert Venditti & Brett Weldele.  I took time over the weekend to completely devour it, and I already want to read it again.  It's an unbelievable story, one I think would resonate with most of the WE-folk.

It's so much more than just a good sci-fi cop story.  Sure, it's set in central Georgia in 2054, it has mind controlled androids (the surrogates), techno terrorism, corporate espionage, action, and intrigue.  It has a veteran cop up against his toughest case, made tougher (or perhaps not?) by the moral questioning the case raises within him.  It has the vane but compitent partner who can't quite grasp the inner turmoil his buddy is going through.  There's the obvious foil set to play out his destiny, and the real foil that becomes aparent to the sharp-eyed among us about mid way through the book.  All of the pieces are there for a fun, sci-fi mystery.

Venditti, however, takes the story beyond being a simple 'cop story'.  The Surrogates has a depth and a richness that is conveyed through the intricate layering of story lines and features that put you right in the year 2054.  Through transcripts of tv news story archives, current online news articles and advertisements, we're allowed to expreience the events as they happen (or as one might do a bit of online research as current events unfold).  We're there, part of the world, a world where surrogates live our lives for us and we don't think twice about it.  

Yet we do think twice.  We begin to realize what it means for our lives to be lived through surrogates.  What it means on a societal level, to have machines and not people running so much of our daily lives.  What it means to our relationships, as we relate to one another only through our surrogates.  What it means on a personal level, as we begin to question what role the surrogates play in our quality of life, and what quality really means. 

I'm not an artist or an art critic, but I do know what I like, and Weldele's art definitely works for the book.  He uses heavy ink lines and a wash of colors that blend to create a real cenematic feel.  It's not photo real by any means, but very evocative, lending to an edgy feel that is simultaneously futuristic and raw. It works well with the story, helping to create and build on thoughts and emotions that spring from the words.  Just as the words do, the pictures give just enough detail to get you thinking, then let your brain do the rest. 

The Surrogates is an engaging and thought provoking story, that on the one hand delivers well-paced action with believable science that is integral to the fiction; and on the other a layering of perspectives, keen dialog, and rich detail.  You can't read it without taking a moment to consider the deeper questions Venditti raises, and once you do, you'll realize we don't have to wait until 2054 to face similar issues.  You'll realize that we have surrogates here and now, and you'll begin to question what they're really worth to you.