This land is your.....No. This land is GODLAND!

Hello Chums,

I thought I'd talk about 3 more trades and a graphic novel I just finished reading.


First up is Daredevil Born Again by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. This trade collects Daredevil issues 227-233. These issues tell a story of betrayal.

Matt Murdock's world slowly gets yanked out from under him. First, all of his money is frozen by the IRS, he then looses his license to practise law and his house is blown up. That's just the start of all his problems. How much more can one man take?

What set all this in motion? How about a strung out ex-girlfriend who sold his secret identity for a fix. Of course he realizes who the mastermind behind all of this and confronts them as Daredevil-The Man Without Fear. rating: A-

What if Jack "King" Kirby was alive and well. He'd be doing comics of course. If we were lucky he'd be doing a comic like Godland. Joe Casey and Tom Scioli are the next best thing to "The King". Mr. Casey's script is chock full of cosmic goodness. Mr. Scioli's art has that Kirby blocky style with crackle! Lastly the coloring by Bill Crabtree seems to leap off the page.

The story features Adam Archer, an astronaut who (four years ago) gains cosmic powers while on a mission to Mars. Now the government has set him (and his three sisters) up in a base in NYC to deal with "cosmic" threats. In this arc Archer befriends an alien "dog". Oh yeah, there's also a host of villains to deal with. Give Godland vol.1 Hello Cosmic a try. rating: A+


Next is the original graphic novel (ogn) The Incredible Change-Bots by Jeffrey Brown. As you may know already, Jeffrey Brown is the writer/artist responsible for Unlikely, Clumsy, AEIOU, and Big Head just to name a few. Although his art style appears simple, it is pleasing to the eye. With the Incredible Change-Bots, he has done something he hasn't done before. A full-colored book.

The Incredible Change-Bots are pretty much what they sound like. Large robots that turn into household items, cars, etc. They're made up of two groups. The Awesome Bots are the good guys. While the Fantasticons make up the bad guys. These two factions go at it for years until their planet is in total ruin. They then form an uneasy alliance and come to earth to start battling some more. Is this Jeffrey Brown's best book? No. Did I enjoy it more than the Transformers movie? Yes. rating: B+

Finally is The Black Coat: A Call To Arms. Ape Entertainments' Lichius, Cogan and Francavilla have knocked this one out of the park. While the story is good, the illustration is top notch and really feels right for this type of story.

In 1775, the British Crown has a strong hold over the colonies and is based out of New York City. The Continental Congress has a masked spy working for them to combat the British injustices - The Black Coat. Working with his secret group, the Black Coat uses his equipment and his fighting skills (ala Batman or James Bond) in an attempt to stop the unseen enemy directing the British troops. rating: A
Happy Reading.
D.L.