Thursday, December 31, 2009

Looking ahead: comics in 2010 and beyond

I'm pleased that over the last decade I investigated a number of comics that were outside my usual sphere, including some of the high-regarded stories/series. On the verge of 2010, there are still a lot of books I haven't got around to yet that I hope to at some point.

Namely:

  • Black Jack
  • Bone
  • Grimjack
  • Heavy Liquid
  • 100%
  • John Ostrander's Spectre
  • Usagi Yojimbo

I'd also like to try something by Joe Sacco (but his works are expensive). I'm curious about DMZ too. I'm curious about From Hell, though I'm told it wouldn't be to my taste.

At some point I'd like to get back into Fables after leaving it five years ago. I keep intending to read more of Hellboy/BPRD too.

I'm hoping there will be more Beasts of Burden in the future. I'd also like to see Gemini wrap-up some day and if Fell could publish at least one issue per year I would be content.

Happy new year!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Michael's favorite comics of 2000-2009

The period of 2000-2009 was very significant for me as a comic book reader. I started out as a Marvel-only reader who could afford maybe four new titles each month and ended it as a mostly-Marvel reader but open to all publishers and formats who buys about 16 new titles each month. Along with that, I became a Marvel freelancer in 2004 and that affected which Marvel titles I could justify purchasing (and my willingness to speak openly about Marvel's creative directions).

From all that I read during 2000-2009, these are my favorite books - ongoing titles, minis, one-shots, collections, OGNs, back issues, super hero or otherwise. Note that word read. They needn't have been brand-new at the time I found them.

MY FAVORITE ONGOING SERIES (SUPER HERO): Incredible Hercules by Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente.

There were a number of ongoing titles I followed this last decade which I would consider great comics (see below), but above them all I've chosen Incredible Hercules. Although it hasn't approached the epic level of Pak's previous work on Incredible Hulk, it makes fine use of the Marvel Universe and Greek mythology while mapping out its own directions. It's often very funny, occasionally poignant. The recent in-story references to Joseph Campbell point to the series as the journey of a modern-day hero and the gradual development of Amadeus Cho from know-it-all novice to responsible hero has been entertaining to watch.

Also of Note: Agents of Atlas, Amazing Spider-Man, Astro City, Atomic Robo, Avengers: The Initiative, Black Panther (by Priest), Blue Beetle (by John Rogers), Cable/Deadpool, Detective Comics (by Paul Dini), Dynamo 5, Fantastic Four (by Mark Waid), Guardians of the Galaxy, Immortal Iron Fist (by Matt Fraction), Incredible Hulk (by Greg Pak), Invincible Iron Man, Nova, Runaways (by Brian K. Vaughn), She-Hulk (by Dan Slott), Spider-Girl, Thunderbolts (by Fabian Nicieza)

MY FAVORITE ONGOING SERIES (NON-SUPER HERO): Rex Libris by James Turner.

Rex Libris was the book for me, merging the world of librarians with action and laughs...mostly laughs. The librarian action hero concept caught my attention, but the consistently fun situations and high-brow jokes held me there.

Also of Note: Comic Book Comics, Fell, Johnny Hiro, North World, Planetary, Proof, Scott Pilgrim, Street Angel, the Unwritten, Warlord of Io

MY FAVORITE MINI-SERIES/ONE-SHOT (SUPER HERO): Agents of Atlas by Jeff Parker and Leonard Kirk.

As much as I loved the old What If story "What if the Avengers Had Been Formed in the 1905s," I wouldn't have guessed that it could make for a brilliant new star in Marvel's universe. Jeff Parker placed his stamp on these mostly-forgotten characters and the combination of espionage, action and laughs in the original mini-series made for a thoroughly excellent super hero story. I would have been entirely pleased with Agents of Atlas even if the mini-series were all that existed, but the succeeding ongoing format was an additional pleasure.

Also of Note: Annihilation, Chamber, Empire, GLA, Gravity, the Hood, Iron Man: Hypervelocity, Livewires, Seaguy, Spider-Man/Human Torch, Suicide Squad: Raise the Flag, Umbrella Academy, War of Kings, Wednesday Comics

MY FAVORITE MINI-SERIES/ONE-SHOT (NON-SUPER HERO): Global Frequency by Warren Ellis.

I felt that the decision to change artists for each installment of this twelve-issue series was little more than a gimmick. Some great artists graced this series and the particular format of rotating stars in each self-contained issue lent itself to that set-up, but what interested me were the stories, not the art. Global Frequency had a great concept and made the most of it; drawing mostly-normal people into mostly sci-fi threats paid off time and again, my favorite being the issue with the bionic man. This was also a turning point for me in terms of learning to appreciate Warren Ellis, a writer I hadn't thought much of previously.

Also of Note: Arrowsmith, Beasts of Burden, BPRD: the Ectoplasmic Man, the Muppet Show, Mysterius the Unfathomable, Potter's Field

MY FAVORITE SERIES WHICH ENDED ALL TOO SOON: Street Angel by Jim Rugg.

Well, I'd like some more Rex Libris too, but I was served 13 helpings of that series; Street Angel only made it to six issues. Street Angel brought me in to the black & white independent books and I was immediately taken with its humourous reworkings of cliches, particularly the running gags about ninjas. It also brought Jim Rugg to my attention and I've enjoyed his work in other places since then. More, please?

Also of Note: Agent X, El Cazador, Johnny Hiro, Sentinel, Storm Shadow

MY FAVORITE MARVEL SERIES THAT WAS MOSTLY IGNORED: Thanos by Keith Giffen.

Giffen did continue some of his ideas for Thanos into the first Annihilation event, but the series itself had a fun take on Thanos similar to Priest's Black Panther in that Thanos' motivations and inner thoughts were hidden from the readers, leading to great payoffs when the pieces fell in place. It seems to me that Thanos the wandering pilgrim of the cosmos is the perfect place to take the character, given that Jim Starlin made him unsuitable as a villain.

Also of Note: the Crew (by Priest), Exiles (by Jeff Parker), Inhumans (by Sean McKeever), Iron Man (by John Jackson Miller), Master of Kung Fu (by Doug Moench), True Believers, X-Factor (by Jeff Jensen)

MY FAVORITE TRADE PAPERBACK/COLLECTION: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD by Jim Steranko.

My trade paperback collection exploded across 2000-2009, but my absolute favorite is one of the earlier ones I purchased that decade: the collection of Jim Steranko's Nick Fury stories from Strange Tales. Partly this is because I enjoy the stories so much; partly it's because of the reproduction efforts and extras; partly it's to see Steranko's 4-page splashes finally shown the way they were intended. Mostly, it's because this is one trade paperback I go back to read for pleasure again and again.

Also of Note: 300, Action Philosophers!, Agents of Atlas, Al Williamson's Flash Gordon, Batman: Year One, Batman: Year 100, Blazing Combat, Dan Dare, Dr. 13: Architecture & Mortality, Golgo 13, Invincible, Johnny Hiro, Judgment Day, Marvels, Masterpiece Comics, Maus, the Nearly Complete Essential Hembeck Archives Omnibus, Ocean, the Rocketeer: the Complete Collection, Shockrockets, Showcase Presents Bat Lash, Showcase Presents Shazam!, Street Angel, Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?, Supreme, V for Vendetta, Watchmen, Zot!: the Complete Black & White Collection

MY FAVORITE ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL: The Interman by Jeff Parker.

It's good to go into a book without any expectations some times. I knew Parker's abilities as a writer from Agents of Atlas, but I knew nothing about his strengths as an artist. This fast-moving espionage story works because Parker developed an action hero who is simply relatable; superhuman in his abilities but human in his reactions to dangerous situations. The Interman sidesteps so many cliches of the action hero and questions everything from the evil twin to the murderous hero.

Also of Note: Bookhunter, It Rhymes With Lust, Midnight Sun, the New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln, Pride of Baghdad, Understanding Comics, a Wizard's Tale

MY FAVORITE BACK ISSUES: Suicide Squad by John Ostrander.

I've always been very strong on my Marvel back issues, but it wasn't until my income increased that I began digging up older books from other companies which had interested me. The concept of Suicide Squad had always fascinated me; how wonderful to discover that the series itself was so good! From the civilian support crew who kept the Squad ready for field work, to the tarnished heroes, to the unrepentant criminals who made up the Squad, Suicide Squad told interesting tales of the Cold War, drawing on actual events for inspiration. Unbelievable as the DC super hero universe is, Suicide Squad captures a sense of verisimilitude; it's a world where Darkseid can raise the dead, but also a world where a lonely computer technician can be shot in the back and a self-serving lowlife can outlive scores of people better than him.

Also of Note: 1963, Astro City, Deadshot (by John Ostrander), Destroy!, Eclipse Magazine, Firestorm (by John Ostrander), Lobo (by Keith Giffen), Manhunter (by John Ostrander), OMAC (by John Byrne), Quantum & Woody (by Priest), Red Rocket 7, Weirdworld, Youngblood (by Alan Moore)

MY SINGLE FAVORITE ISSUE: Astro City: Samaritan Special#1 by Kurt Busiek & Brent Anderson.

This was the story of the Superman-like hero Samaritan and his nemesis Infidel. The duo are so evenly-matched that neither one can entirely defeat the other. Consequently, they call a truce once each year and share a dinner, but spend that dinner scanning each other, looking for a sign of weakness that might tip the balance to their favour. If anyone doubts that Kurt Busiek's Astro City lacks the punch it had in the 1990s, this is the best antidote to that kind of thinking.

Also of Note: Action Comics#775, Astro City: Local Heroes#2, Atomic Robo & Friends FCBD Edition, Deadpool#67, Fantastic Four#60, Marvel Adventures Avengers#12, Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four#12, Peter Parker: Spider-Man#35, Peter Parker: Spider-Man#37, Solo#11, Young Allies Comics 70th Anniversary Special#1

MY FAVORITE BOOK I CONTRIBUTED TO: Marvel Mystery Comics Handbook 70th Anniversary Special by Michael Hoskin.

I wrote or co-wrote a lot of comics last decade, but this one was particularly important to me. It wasn't as widely-read as I would have liked, but I'm so happy that I was able to bring dozens of Marvel characters from the first year of the company's publication back into the spotlight, ever so briefly. It's also a pleasure to have new artwork whenever possible and Gus Vazquez turned in some sharp work.

Also of Note: All-New Iron Manual, Annihilation: Nova Corps Files, Annihilation Saga, Dark Reign Files, Marvel Atlas, Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone, Marvel Pets Handbook, Marvel Westerns: Outlaw Files, Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age 2004, War of Kings Saga

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Iron Man Index on its way!

In March, rev yourself up for Iron Man 2 with this collection of all the Iron Man entries from the Official Index to the Marvel Universe!

IRON MAN: OFFICIAL INDEX TO THE MARVEL UNIVERSE GN-TPB

Get the complete history of Iron Man from his earliest appearances all the way up to the present day. This book comes packed with synopses of every Iron Man comic—including back up strips—introducing you to the characters, teams, places and equipment that appeared within, providing vital information about all things Iron Man! Collecting material from OFFICIAL INDEX TO THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #1-13. 272 PGS./Rated A ...$19.99 ISBN: 978-0-7851-4589-9

Friday, December 25, 2009

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Bah, humbug

Sometimes for Christmas you get a playful snowball in the face.

And sometimes, that snowball has rocks in it.

Today is the release day of Fall of Hulks: Gamma. You might recall that I was pretty excited about the previous release, Fall of Hulks: Alpha because I had helped advise on continuity matters and was listed in the main credits while also being credited for a set of back-up biographies I contributed.

I had nothing to do with Gamma's continuity, but I did contribute a few pages of biographies again. The difference is, this time I wasn't credited.

I'd be lying if I said this doesn't bother me; I'd also be lying if I said I wanted anyone to buy this book; you certainly shouldn't buy it for my sake...so far as the credits are concerned, I don't exist.

So...Merry Christmas, won't you?

Marvel Handbook in March

OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE A TO Z VOL. 13 PREMIERE HC

Written by JEFF CHRISTIANSEN, STUART VANDAL, RONALD BYRD, MIKE O’SULLIVAN, MICHAEL HOSKIN, MADISON CARTER, SEAN MCQUAID, MIKE FICHERA, MARKUS RAYMOND, ROB LONDON, JACOB ROUGEMONT, CHRIS BIGGS, JEPH YORK, DAVID WILTFONG & KEVIN GARCIA Penciled by VARIOUS Cover by TOM GRUMMETT

Because twelve volumes couldn't possibly be enough, the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe carries on with lucky number thirteen! Featuring more expanded and up-to-date biographies from the likes of the Vision to the Young Avengers! Including a host of X-teams including X-Factor, X-Force, X-Men and X-Statix! Includes heroes such as War Machine, the Hulk's Warbound, Adam Warlock, Warpath, the Wasp(s), Wiccan, the Winter Guard, Pete Wisdom, Wolfsbane, Wolverine, Wonder Man, Jimmy Woo, X-23, Nate Grey the X-Man and Xorn! With villains including Emperor Vulcan, Vulture, Weapon X, Wendigo, Whiplash, Wizard, the Wrecking Crew and the Yellow Claw! Plus: Werewolves! Wild Child! The New Mutants' Warlock! Asgard's own Warriors Three! Mary Jane Watson! Face it tiger, you just hit the mother lode! 240 PGS./Rated T+ ...$24.99ISBN: 978-0-7851-4178-5

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

There are nine Deadpool comics in March; you only need to buy one.

DEADPOOL CORPS: RANK AND FOUL

Written by JEFF CHRISTIANSEN, MICHAEL HOSKIN, RONALD BYRD, MIKE O'SULLIVAN, ERIC J. MOREELS, JACOB ROUGEMONT, MADISON CARTER, MARKUS RAYMOND, KEVIN GARCIA, STUART VANDAL, CHRIS BIGGS, MIKE GAGNON & ROB LONDON Select Character Artwork by GUS VAZQUEZ Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS

In the Marvel Universe Handbook style, this one-shot has everything you need to make sense of Deadpool! (Is that even
possible?) In this issue, there are more ALL-NEW profiles than 'Pool has voices in his head -- from "allies" (Outlaw, Weasel,
Zombie Deadpool), to enemies (Ajax, Dr. Bong, Madcap), to the hotties (Dr. Betty, Blind Al, Big Bertha) and the sheer
awesomeness of the Sack! How could you pass this up? You know at least one of your personalities will love it! Featuring NEW ART for dozens of characters! More fun than a barrel of gun-wielding monkeys! 64 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99

I came up with the title of this book; you're welcome.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Index your classics!

Tomorrow is release day for Official Index to the Marvel Universe#12 (more here) & the softcover edition of Marvel Illustrated: Kidnapped (more here)!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Looking backward: old habits

Having been a comic book reader since I could read, I've developed a long perspective on comic books, with tastes that have changed a fair bit, particularly in the last few years. I've enjoyed Tom Brevoort's blog posts where he's looked back on what titles his office produced a certain number of years ago and John Jackson Miller's columns where he examines historical comic book sales data. Thinking along those lines, I wondered just what it was I was reading five, ten, even fifteen years ago.

FIVE YEARS AGO...

  • Astonishing X-Men#8
  • Cable & Deadpool#10
  • Captain America#2
  • Ex Machina#7
  • Fables#32
  • Fantastic Four#521
  • Invaders#5
  • JSA#68
  • Madrox#4
  • Marvel Knights Spider-Man#9
  • Mystique#22
  • New Thunderbolts#3
  • Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age 2004
  • She-Hulk#10
  • Spider-Girl#81
  • Stoker's Dracula#2
  • Street Angel#4
  • Tomb of Dracula#3
  • What If General Ross Had Become the Hulk?
  • Y: The Last Man#29

My buying habits really changed after I won my first real job. This is about the least conservative single-month purchase list of mine since I was 13. I had begun writing for Marvel, so I justified a lot of the Marvel purchases as "research." To the rest, now that I had money I was buying DC super heroes for the first time in more than a decade and giving creator-owned/Vertigo titles a try for the first time...ever. Still, within a few months I dropped all of the non-Marvel books on this list (except for Street Angel, which was cancelled).

TEN YEARS AGO...

  • Avengers#25
  • Avengers Forever#12
  • Blaze of Glory#1
  • Blaze of Glory#2
  • Captain Marvel#1
  • Gunslingers#1
  • New Eternals#1
  • Thunderbolts#35

I was in my last year of college and washing dishes to make ends meet. Both during and after college, I kept my comic book buying "rationed" down to four books a month. Unless a title I followed was cancelled (or I lost interest), I didn't add new titles to my monthly purchases so I had to pick the four books I enjoyed the most. However, I made an exception for the bi-weekly mini-series Blaze of Glory and the accompanying Gunslingers reprint book.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO...

  • Captain America#436
  • Generation X#4
  • Marvel Super-Heroes Megazine#5
  • X-Men 2099#17

I was in high school and although I had income from my newspaper route my interest in comics was starting to drift. This was my last month spent reading Generation X; Captain America and X-Men 2099 were the only titles I kept in touch with and I quit both of them within the year; after quitting them, I dropped out of comic book reading for almost an entire year.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

How long, Usagi Yojimbo, how long?

For some time now I've been interested in picking up Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo comic book series. It's one of the most remarkable independent comic book in terms of its longevity, having lasted for more than twenty-five years. My friend Texcap has repeatedly sung the book's praise over on his blog and I've sampled a pair of issues which confirmed it was definitely to my liking.

However, because Usagi has been around for so long I thought I should catch up with his past first. I began looking at the collections of the series, but it was difficult finding a decent set of the volumes printed by Fantagraphics, Usagi's original publisher (I also realized it would be a little pricey, even in trades).

Fortune seemed to smile upon me when Usagi Yojimbo: the Special Edition was announced. This tome would collect all of the Fantagraphics comics. From there, it would be simple to buy all of the Dark Horse (Usagi's current publisher) volumes until I was up to speed. I placed an Amazon order for the Special Edition last spring; the book was due to be published in May.

I'm still waiting.

Around May, Amazon altered its expected publication date, moving it to December. Sigh. All right, so I had to wait. Now December is here...and Amazon has reestimated its publication date as September, 2010???

The forces of the universe seem to be conspiring against me (to say nothing of the rabbit ronin).

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Apparently I have something else in stores today

Well, if you have any money left over after you've purchased Fall of Hulks: Alpha, I guess you could pick up Iron Man: Requiem?

COVER BY: Sean Chen WRITER: Stan Lee, David Michelinie, Matt Fraction PENCILS: Larry Lieber, Joe Brozowski, John Romita JR., Kano

You know him from his blockbuster movie and the hit on-going series, INVINCIBLE IRON MAN; now, take a trip back with this special presentation of Tony Stark’s early adventures as the Golden Avenger. In TALES OF SUSPENSE #39, see how a billionaire playboy is transformed into a super hero after he’s injured in combat and has to invent a life-sustaining suit of armor. Then in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #144, discover the truth behind Tony Stark’s first adventure in Vietnam! Experience the birth of one of Marvel’s most famous heroes like never before, fully remastered with modern coloring. Plus, an all-new framing sequence by Matt Fraction and Kano! Rated T …$4.99

...And it has my enormous Iron Man biography reprinted from the OHOTMU. I received a credit, but not a head's up. Buy it anyway.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

May I offer you some falling Hulks?

Tomorrow is the release day for Fall of Hulks: Alpha, the kick-off to the Fall of Hulks mini-event. Apparently the way to sell a Hulk event in 2009 is to name check an X-Men event from 1988.

As was mentioned previously, I have a special thanks in this issue for my contributions to the continuity/chronology.

As was not mentioned previously, I have also contributed a bonus feature section with biographies of the Intel, the villains of this event!