What is Will World?

Hello Chums,

Everybody knows who DC's big three are. You know Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. But who would be in the number four spot? I not going to debate this. I think it would be Green Lantern. Green Lantern's power comes from his ring. What he can do with it is only limited by his imagination.

When I was in Dallas at Wizard World Texas last year, I picked up Green Lantern Will World by J. M. Dematteis and the late great Seth Fisher. For you not in the know, J. M. Dematteis has written some of the best (funny) Justice League and Justice Society stories around. Seth Fisher on the other hand was an incredibly talented artist that died way before his time. Will World was their really fun Green Lantern collaboration.

Being a fan of Seth Fishers', I had Will World on my "must buy it" list. I'm glad I did. Sure the story is good, but I bought this for the artwork. Fisher's art style is a kind of fusion between the likes of Moebius and Geoff Darrow. He had a very clean line with an almost plasticy style.

What is Will World? It starts off as almost an Elseworlds tale. You know a DC version of What If. As in, what if Green Lantern was stuck in some outlandish world and had amnesia. We see Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) riding an alien horse, desperadoes with heads of bulls, a four armed woman and floating heads all in a futuristic city. Hal Jordan doesn't know who he is or what he's capable of (as Green Lantern). Could this story even make sense in current DC continuity? As if that would even matter. But yes it can, with the very nice twist ending. Doesn't it seem every good comic story has a twist ending?

Buy the hardback edition of this book. Of course it has a nice dust jacket, but who reads a book with the dust jacket on? The outside of the book has a nice soft leather feel to it. While the interior paper and printing quality are very high. It's a really nice package overall.

Rating: Story B+, Art A+ And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the outstanding colors of Christopher Chuckry.

Tomorrow, Jan. 30th 2008 is the two year anniversary of Seth Fisher's death. Fisher died from a fall off a seven story building in Japan, he was 33 years old. For more on Seth Fisher check out the Wikipedia entry.

K.R.C.

D.L.

THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR EVERONE, but read on.

Hello Chums,

If you thought last weeks book selection was different, you haven't seen anything yet. This weeks book is The Trial Of Colonel Sweeto and other stories. While not a graphic novel or a trade paperback, this book is chock-full of strips from the on-line comic The Perry Bible Fellowship. These strips, written and drawn by Nicholas Gurewitch, remind me of Bloom County or The Far Side in their heyday. However, these jokes are taken much further. Too far in fact to be in any respectable newspaper. Enter Dark Horse Books. Their nice little book has 85 pages of strips and a bonus section of "lost strips" all in full color goodness!

But what's in the book, you ask? One through five panel strips that feature people, animals, plants and even toys that are up to something that's usually just wrong. We see things like a young girl and her "boyfriend" a rabbit talking about sex, a lonely old lady who decides to make a gingerbread "man" and cows drowning a pig who took a drink from a tet.

What is neat about the book is the various art styles that are utilized for the strips. Although there are too many styles to describe, Mr. Gurewitch uses a "happy face people" style that works well with his subject matter.

With it's subject matter and language, this book is not for everyone. It's not for anyone under 18 years old for sure. However this book is a lot of fun and should not be missed, IF YOUR OLD ENOUGH.

Rating: A

Keep Reading Comics (K.R.C.)

D.L.

How About Something Different...

Hello Chums,

I know I usually review a superhero type of story, but I though I would talk about something completely different today. Comics aren't just about superheros and zombies you know. A few years ago I decided to branch out and try other genres of comics. I'm glad I did. There are some great works out there that would appeal to just about anybody.

This weeks review is of a nice little graphic novel named Shutterbug Follies. Written and illustrated by Jason Little, Shutterbug Follies tells the story of Bee, a nice single girl working at her monotonous job.

Bee is a film developer at Mulberry Photo. Her job is so boring and repetitious that the only way she can stand it is to print duplicate customer photos to show to her friend. Some of these photos show nudity and dead people.

After developing some particularly gruesome photos, she decides to investigate the photographer. How did he get so many shots of freshly dead individuals? The story really becomes a page turner from here.

By using his address from the film he dropped off, Bee stakes out the photographer at his house. His activity there just makes her more suspicious of him. As the story moves along, we find out the photographer is having a show of his work in a gallery. Although this legitimises his work, Bee still suspects he's up to no good. As Bee digs deeper into the photographers business, she meets his sexually repressed assistant, a helpful cab driver and (oh yeah) his wife ends up dead.

I won't spoil the ending of this book for you. Track it down. Read it yourself.

The Art and coloring really set a nice mood for the story. While at 153 pages long it's not a short book, but it could have been 20 pages longer to tidy up some plot points.

Rating: Art: A+ Story: A

K.R.C. (keep reading comics)

D.L.

My First Review Of The Year!

Hello Chums,

When I read comics as a kid, I started off reading single character comic books. You know Yang, House of Yang, Richard Dragon Kung Fu Fighter ( all martial artist titles too). The more I read though, I quickly realized I could get more bang for my buck by reading ensemble books. About that same time I switched over to Marvel comics. I started reading The Avengers and then The X-Men. Both titles had so many cool characters, I didn't have to read a single character book again. I mean I could read about Iron Man, Captain America and Thor in the pages of The Avengers without buying their books. And of course The X-Men was the hottest group title going.

Now I know ensemble books don't have the highest amount of character development, but I was a kid. I didn't need the characters sitting around talking about their feelings. I wanted a lot of action and that's what I got.

Now that I can afford to buy as many books I want a month, I actually prefer the single character books. The stories generally have a lot more depth. They are (usually) more rewarding.

So where is this going? Well I never really read Daredevil. He was never part of any team I read. So I've been catching up on him lately through trades.

The relaunch of Daredevil has been going on a few years now. The first arc was written by Kevin Smith. Yes that Kevin Smith (Mallrats, Clerks, Dogma, etc..) The art is by Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti. Read on. Spoilers ahead.

This is another story about Daredevil that brings him down almost as low as one man can go. The story starts off with a young girl bringing her new born into the office of Matt Murdock. The young lady explains to Murdock (Daredevil) that there is no father and she is a virgin. Meaning this baby is special. She hands over the baby to him and bolts. Of course not knowing what to do with a baby he gives it to the Black Widow to take care of. What? The Black Widow. Does this make any sense? No.

Before long we find out that there are multiple sides looking for this special baby. A Nicholas Macabes meets with Murdock and convinces him that this baby is the Anti-Christ. Daredevil attempts to kill it but is stopped by the Black Widow.

Along the way Matt Murdock's friends fall victim to bad luck by being associated to him while he protects the child. Law partner Franklin "Foggy" Nelson arrested for murder. Girlfriend Karen Page finds out she has aids. How much worse can it get?

The Daredevil (hurt from a fall) takes the child to the church. Maggie (a nun and Matt Murdock's mom) looks after them while he recovers. And that's when our story takes a turn for the worse. Enter Bullseye.

Bullseye, hired by Nicholas Macabes, is there to take the infant. Nuns are killed. The Daredevil is beaten badly. But before he can kill Daredevil, Karen Page offers Bullseye a deal: Take the baby and walk away. Of course it's a fake baby. Maggie makes a getaway with the real baby but doesn't make it. Bullseye takes the real baby and leaves. But before he leaves, he throws Daredevil's club back to him striking Karen Page in the heart. She dies in Daredevils arms.

After loosing his long time love, Matt Murdock goes through a deep depression even contemplating suicide. What finally gets him out of his funk? How about a little payback! Daredevil shakes down a local hood in the know for an address of Bullseye's employer. That address is to Nicholas Macabes. Let the good times roll!

Turns out Nicholas Macabes is really Mysterio. It also turns out Quentin Beck (Mysterio) has cancer. The same chemicals that he has been using for disguises and smoke have been poisoning him. With little time remaining he decides to take down Daredevil. During their confrontation, Daredevil gets the best of him. Daredevil gets the child back and Quintin Beck kills himself.

The baby ends up being just a regular baby after all. Franklin Nelson gets out off jail and re-teams with Matt Murdock. Daredevil and Black Widow even make up. All's well that ends well. Except Karen Page is still dead.

Is this story deep? Way deeper than any ensemble book. It is a long story though. Eight issues. Most arcs now days are 4 to 6. Did I like? Yes. I may even pick up some more trades. Although this is the only one written by Smith.

Although I like Quesada's art for covers. I found it a bit to cartoony for this gritty tale.

Story:A- Art:B-

Until next time. K.R.C. (keep reading comics)

D.L.

Happy Friggin New Year

Hello Chums,


Well I know I've been away for awhile, but my time away has been filled with more than the usual Christmas and New Years activities. First of all, my electricity was off for 28 hours after an ice storm knocked out power to most of the city. Now I know 28 hours isn't very long, but it's the not knowing when it will come back on that gets to you. At the 1 day mark I was just about ready to loot the local (powerless) Walmart.


Once the holidays were over, everything was back to normal right? Wrong. My computer crashed last week. Everything on the computer was a total loss. However with some help from good friend Scott, the computer has been rebuilt. Bigger Hard Drive. Less Programs. Bigger, Stronger, Faster? We'll see.


So I was thinking of a good New Years resolution. Losing weight? Exercising? Those are for girls. Guys (who are married) don't care about their appearance anymore. This blog is about popular culture topics (comic books, movies, TV, video games, etc.) right? Who cares if I drop 5 lbs?


So how about a comic book resolution? My New Years resolution will be to do at least one blog entry a week. Those entries will feature a review of a graphic novel or a trade that I have read. 52 reviews in one year? Yes I can do it!


Time to start reading.


D.L.