What I Got and Why: The Geek Who Came In From The Cold

Aloha from somewhere that ain’t Hawaii!

What follows is a massive blog post regarding my last few weeks comic book purchases. I'm trying out a lot of new books at the moment, mostly Image and Dark Horse as that's where the new-weird is at apparently. I'm also dropping a lot of books at the moment, Winter Soldier being a recent victim, along with a few 'New 52' books from DC that I was still buying. Mostly all good books but there is a lot of great stuff out and I can't buy it all. So without further prattle here is what I done gone and got.

American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #1

Looking forward to seeing Dustin Nguyen work on something non Batman related (even if it is still bat-related) he's been doing sterling work over the last few years on various Bat-books, but it'll be nice to see him sink his teeth (see what I did there?) into some work that doesn’t involve superheroes. I've not really checked out what the story is going to be about, aside from that it's going to be a period piece with vampires.

The last mini they did had superlative art form Sean Murphy but the story went off the rails for me with the introduction of gigantic vampire gods, my least favourite aspect of the American Vampire mythos, but was still a fun romp. You just can’t go wrong with undead Nazis. The main series is on top form at the moment and it seems Snyder can do no wrong these days (though I'm not reading his Batman so I can't speak for that). Fingers crossed this'll be a jolly good mini.

Bad Medicine #1-2

I know bugger all about this new series from Dark Horse but the art looks funky and the first 2 issues were on the new imports rack. Looks like a mystery/detective story in the vein of X-Files of early Warren Ellis work. I'll give this opening two-parter a go and see what happens. Curious that so many mystery books are popping up this days (Hoax Hunters, Saucer Country etc...) The beginning of a '90s nostalgia trend?

Batwoman #10

I've spoken about this series' highs at length, but unfortunately I'm debating dropping the title soon. Sub-par artwork from Amy Reeder and Co, and a storyline too fantasy heavy for my tastes has put it in serious danger of being dropped. Happy to see that JH Williams is back soon, but I may start skip arcs drawn by others in future. It's still head and shoulders above most of the industry's superhero output, but without the razzle dazzle artistry of JH Williams III and without Gregg Rucka making Kate Kane a truly compelling character, it can fall a bit flat.

Bulletproof Coffin: Disinterred #5

The Bulletproof Coffin: Disinterred #5

Another truly crazy series from messers Hine and Kane. This issue is not so much a comic as a series of fictional bubblegum cards, I've yet to read last months as well so I've got a double dose of Shaky goodness. I'm absolutely loving this series!

Casanova #4

Still weird. Still Love it. Stupidly late, but I don't really have a leg to stand on, do I? I suggest you buy a copy, you won't have a clue what’s going on, but who fucking does?

Daredevil #14

Top quality Superhero comics from Mark Waid with art duties from Chris Samnee at the moment, who although a beautiful craftsman, loses some of the acrobatic dynamism of the series' original artists Marcos Martin and Paolo Rivera. Both of whom have unfortunately left the title now, leaving rather large shoes to fill. Samnee, a rising star of yankee picture books, does a bang up job, but it's another title in the dropped title dangerzone for me, due in equal parts to double shipping, the past few months mediocre fill in art, excessive crossovers and the massive anticlimax that was the end of The Omega Effect.

Dancer #2

In the words of M Night Shyamalan (by way of Robot Chicken): "What a Twist!!" So the mysterious reveal at the end of last issue was a bit Future Shocks, but it's a rather gripping series so far. I picked issue one up on a whim, I'm making a point of giving all of Image's new series a go at these days because they've got a pretty good hit rate. I'll go on about it more another time, but while Vertigo's on the wane, Image is the got-to publisher for exciting new series right now (with Dark Horse bringing up the rear). This series is basically an espionage thriller with a twist at the end of issue one that I shant give away. Without the twist it's a competent spy story, with the inevitable intrigues and occasional bouts of obvious expositional dialogue, but it hooked me for issue two at least. Artwise it's what you expect for this sort of story, moody, filmic and dark. If that sounds dismissive it's not meant to, Dancer is a very good looking book.

Grim Leaper #2

Another interesting new series from Image. I've yet to be 100% sold on this series, but issue one intrigued me enough to come back for issue two. I think it was the faux-retro romance strip at the end of issue one that sealed the deal for me. This is a sort of Groundhog Day/Quantum Leap/Rom-Com thing with a morbid humour to it. I like it. I think. Certainly enough to come back for issue two.

Hellblazer #292

Hellblazer #292

One Off Story! Bisley Art! Werewolves! Cockneys! Gangsters! Buy it!

We at 2Badguys are big Hellblazer fans and you should be too to be honest, so hop to it!

Seriously, what the shit are you waiting for?

iZombie #26

Alas poor iZombie, I knew him Horatio. Unfortunately Chris Robeson and Mike Alred's delightfully upbeat supernatural series is coming to an end soon, and the much publicised barney with DCEntertainment certainly suggests he wont be back for a second go. Ever. Sad to see yet another of Vertigo's consistently exciting series getting cancelled, they will have very few quality series left soon. I shall miss it.

As for the story, a Lovecraftian apocalypse is coming to the town of Eugine, and the thrill of it being a) a Vertigo book, and b) a Vertigo book that’s finishing in a few issues, means that literally anything could happen. I hope for, but wouldn’t put money on a happy ending. This is a great book for fans of bold art, Buffy fans, fans of classic American comic books, and generally those that like kooky spooky highjinks. A woefully underrated book.

Judge Dredd: The Megazine #325

Spurred on by the esteemed Action Ash I’ve been seduced by the Meg in recent months. In my years of absence, the Megazine has transformed into one of the best value for money packages on the market. For your entrance fee you get four new stories, creator interviews, reviews plus - and this is the best bit - a whole fat booklet of 2000AD reprints, seemingly chosen at random, but always complete. It’s like the Meg and Best of 200AD Monthly all in one Zarjaz package.

Heartily recommended!

Juxtapoz #138: Adult Swim Special

Unfortunately this is a massive disappointment from my favourite magazine and my favourite animation company. The art on display is scarce and uninspiring and the interviews as insightful as those to be found on the One Show. Do not but this issue, save your money I emplore you!

The Massive #1

Once again I'm taking a chance on Brian Wood's new series, once again I'm sure I’ll find it to be pretentious toss, but I’m a glutton for punishment and it does look rather interesting, but let’s see if he can write a character that doesn't come off as a hipster douchebag. What’s that? The lead characters are Green Peace activists? Oh well…

Saga #4

Saga #4

In another case of Image picking up on something you would expect from Vertigo of yesteryear, Brian K Vaughan’s triumphant return to comics continues. This book is a breath of fresh air, a real treat. Fiona Staple's design work on this is like nothing you have seen before, and Vaughan's at his usual high standard with the dialogue and storytelling. This space-opera has none of the baggage of the genre and all of the excitement. I urge you to read this if you aren't already it is a class act in every respect. A mere four issues in and I can tell you I’m in it for the long haul.

The Shade #9

This time-spanning, globe trotting maxi-series had been top quality all the way; it’s got it all intrigue, derring-do, morally dubious adventurers and exquisite art has put it on the top of my pile every month. The story follows immortal reprobate The Shade tracing the mysteries of his past, in flashbacks to various stages of the 20th Century and the modern day, with some choice cameos from the DC adventurers of yesteryear. Story as ever by Starman author James Robinson with Frazer Irving stepping in for art duties this week. Irving is as eerie and impressive as ever, I don't know how they did it, but they've put together a mind-blowing collection of artists for this series; Darwyn Cooke, Javier Pulido, Frazer Irving, Cully Hamner, Jill Thompson, Tony Harris. This is a must-try for any comics fan.

Sweet Tooth #34

Another excellent Vertigo series that's reaching journey's end, but what a journey! This off beat post-apocalyptic road book has been a real treat every month. I’m really going to miss it. I wouldn’t recommend anyone jump on at this point but I'd heartily recommend picking up the first trade and giving it a pop. Sweet Tooth is an offbeat but consistently touching, engaging and exciting series. One of my favourite series of recent years.

The Walking Dead #99

In this Issue: More talking and build up! As the series raises the tension in preparation for the big #100 we know is coming, we get a fairly quiet issue. If you aren’t reading this by now there’s not much I can say to make you but I will say that this series has now been consistently excellent for 100 issues. Not many book in the history of the medium can say that.

Wonder Woman #10

Wonder Woman #10

Another perfectly decent book that's in the drop zone. Love the covers, the story is rather gripping, the fill in art isn’t even that bad (yet still noticeably inferior), no this time I'll give the fill in art a pass, this time it’s the dialogue. The naff fucking wordplay, that littered Azzarello's early work is at it's lowest and most prevalent in this book. It seems like a minor thing, but Jesus, will you listen;

Hell: "...You're nothing but Meat now!"

Wonder Woman: "Meat? Meet an Amazon!"

Yeah, fuck off Brian.

And with that, I bid you adieu!

See you sooner than last time.

Valhallahan

The Comic Books of March: A Valhallahan's Eye View

Hi there!

Been a while, but now I'm back, from outer space! Well, Stevenage, but whatev's, the point is not where I was but where I am now. You know what I mean? The journey, though important is oft mooted by the destination. You dig? No? Ah sod you then, here's what I've been buying.

Mostly I've been buying from Chaos City in St Albans lately as I've been largely Herts bound and also because it's a jolly nice shop. It's a bit like when Silver Surfer was earth bound but with more pubs, less moping and a day job in social services.

Oh and Post It Notes. But I digress.

What I Got and Why...

Hellblazer: Original Sins

Inappropriate cover artist nothwithstanding (Jim Lee, WTF?) this is a loverly looking package. DC are finally reprinting Hellblazer in its entirety starting with his appearances in Swamp Thing. Thank The First of the Fallen for that! I started reading Hellblazer at around the #100 mark, so there's soooo much cool shit for me yet to read. Expect a full review of this when I'm done.

Joe The Barbarian #8

Finally this delightful little series has come to an end. I recently caught up on this series at Chaos City's sale, but I've been waiting for this issue to come out so I can sit and read it in one sitting. Sean Murphy's artwork in this is su-fucking-perb! He really is a superstar in the waiting. Also be on the look out for an American Vampire mini series from him soon. I can't wait. Never has a story about a young boy drifting in and out of a coma, whilst tripping balls looked so damned purdy. Top hole.

Sweet Tooth #19

The one we've all been waiting for... well, more like the one we've all been kinda curious about, but hey, this is my blog and I'll huckster all I like. This issue is primarily flashbacks and dream sequences, which has given series writer/artist Jeff Lemire a chance to rope in some other indie talent to give us their interpretation of his vision. and what a vision it is. A great issue, absolute top quality, well worth your shekels. This issue also pushes the overall story along in an exciting direction with the final pages' creepy cliffhanger. I bloody love this series.

American Vampire #12

Yee-Freaking-Haw! Danijel Zezelj, the unpronounceable master of the dark and moody, lends his considerable artistic talents to Scott Snyder's American Vampire this month., and a bloody good job he did too (pun not intended, but welcome). This issue is a standalone story featuring outlaw vampire Skinner Sweet going to and old timey rodeo show and reliving some past ignomies with some old... friends? This is one of those melancholy "how the west was lost stories" and a jolly good one it is too. I'd recommend this as a standalone, regardless of whether you're reading the series.

New York Five #2

I am now the proud owner of issues one and two of NY5. How is it, I hear you ask? I must like it right? Weelllll...... I haven't actually read them yet, I can't quite bring myself to. This stupid predicament stems from my ongoing beef with the artistic works of Brian Wood. I'm always suckered in by the gorgeous art, product design and premises of his stories, but I'm always disappointed by the characters. Every. Fucking. Time. It just seems to me that he can't write anything but pretentious hipster douchebags. Even his fucking vikings come across as hipster douchebags! How is that even possible? I'll read these at some point I'm sure but, maybe not soon.

Scalped #46

Scalped is Scalped. Scalped is good. Yep, it's still bloody great and I'm still loving it. I highly recommend this series to anyone comics fan or no comics fan. Actually, scratch that, I wouldn't recommend it to children or depressives as it deals only in adult themes and is truly fucking bleak. Anyway the point is, yet another top-notch storyline, back to the trials, temptations and failures of Chief Redcrow and the continual corruption of Dashiel Badhorse, and back on form after arguably dipping (slightly) with the Agent Nitz story a couple of months a go.

Jonah Hex #65

"Snow Blind" - Yet another classy Jonah Hex strip from Messrs Gray, Palmiotti and Bernet.Hex is one of those series that I have very little to say about month in, month out except that it's so damned entertaining, and such a quality package. $2.99 a month for a mean and fearless western yarn, that's done in one and features invariably monstrously beautiful art from some of the industry's most underrated masters. Just pick up a copy, I double dare you you sunofabitch!

Infestation: GI Joe #1

I'm still following the Infestation series, but after a little break, I'm losing enthusiasm. It really is absolute nonsense, good fun, but bloody stupid. The artwork in this GI JOE tie-in is proper shit though, someone should have a word as these 2 issues will probably outsell any other GI JOE book they produce, and they could have at least put a B or C caliber artist on this. To cap it all off the only character I've heard of in it is Baroness, and through boredom at work, Google and a childhood as an Action Force fan I probably know more than most about the franchise. They must know they can do better....and knowing is half  the battle (drumroll optional).  

Incognito: Bad Influences #4

When this issue came out I sat and read this series from #1 and boy does it read better that way! Don't get me wrong, I love reading my books periodically, but sometimes a book just takes an age to come out and you forget all about it. Anyway, Incognito is going from strength to strength. Expect a full review when we read #5 but suffices to say this is some of the very best super-work on the market. Brubaker and Phillips are so good at what they do it should be illegal. The Secret Ingredient is Pulp apparently...

Xombi #1

Xombi sees the return of an obscure Milestone character I know next to nothing about. I picked this up partly because the premise sounded kind of intriguing, but mainly because of the art by Frazer Irving who, to paraphrase, can make whippet shit look like the Sistine Chapel. The story, featuring living paintings, characters jumping from movie screens, inexplicable tuna sandwiches and mystery popcorn looks fucking mental. Expect a full review of this in due course.

Knight and Squire #6

I'm very sad to see this series go, but it has been a wild ride. I loved every minute of it. I wholeheartedly recommend this series. Also as Ash mentioned in the post below, writer Cornell had the dubious pleasure of meeting the bad guys last weekend. I loved what he did in Soundgarden.

iZombie #11

A slightly drab issue by comparison, but it's still so damned pretty. I really am enjoying this series immensely, despite the fact that it's mixture of supernatural action, soap opera, romance, pop-whimsy and occasional moping is not normally my bag.. Waitaminute, that's totally my bag, what am I on about? Anyway, check out this happening series daddy-o.

Casanova Gula III

Talk about happening! This series is happening as fuck! Not for squares dad, this is the heavy scene. If Jim Steranko and Ian Flemming wrote beat poetry this would be it. Dimension hopping, metaphysical espionage jazz from Matt Fraction and Fabio Moon.

Hellblazer #276-7

In which our hero (?) comes back from his honeymoon, tries to find a new thumb and deals with some pesky property developers all with the aid of nasty mysticism, demons and pure British obnoxiousness. I love Hellblazer. This run is really floating my boat at the moment, and as the cover to #277 says, it's the start of a new storyline and a fine jumping on point for new readers. Hellblazer hasn't been this consistently good for years. Long may it last.

The Walking Dead #82

Another series that it's hard to write any more about, either you're reading it or not at this point. All I'll say is that we're currently in one of Kirkman's "everything turns to shit" storylines and it's as exciting as ever. Who'd a thunk a zombie series could still be so good 82 issues in. Wowsers. I will add that TWD is one of those series it's worth starting from the beginning, if you start here, you're really missing out (and Vol 1 is really affordable, so do it).

 

The New Frontier

Many thanks to friend of the blog, Rene, who sent me The New Frontier Volumes one and two which I can't wait to get stuck into. Rene definitely earned a 2Badguys No Prize!

 

Stuff I didn't bother with...

 

FF #1

Because really, who gives a fuck? Does anyone really like the Fantastic Four in 2011? Anyone? Actually I can think of one guy I know, and he's a good bloke so I'll let you have that. Still not buying it though. I'll ask him what it's like next I see him and let you know.

 

Anything Deadpool

Because, despite the great covers from Skottie Young and Jason Pearson, I really don't find Deadpool funny, interesting or cool.

 

Vertigo Resurrected: Finals

Because it looks like some magic fairy wizard flute bullshit.

 

The Marvel Universe

Not really doing it for me at the moment. For the first time in a long time, I'm not reading any Marvel titles regularly. Feel free to suggest something to me to rectify this.

 

And Finally...

 

Wow, the new TV Wonder Woman costume looks like one of those naff "sexy" Halloween costumes.

 

The new Thor animation from Marvel Knight looks fecking awesome! 

 

I'm loving The Boondocks at the moment. Check it out. Thanks to Mr Nick for the recommendation.

 

I like drawing on Post It notes.

 

Keep your eyes peeled for some bargain bin reviews coming up from me.

 

TTFN pendejos!

 

Valhallahan

  

What I Got and Why: This time it's February

Valhallahan

Aloha Chums! I picked up quite the haul this week, from the fine and friendly establishment that is Chaos City Comics in sleepy St Albans. It was a perilous journey, fraught with danger and worsened by the fact that I'd been up all night with friends and wine the night before like the bourgeois pig that I am. Anyway I came, I bought, I err... went home and blogged about it.

Star Trek: Infestation #1 - "He's dead Jim". Good clean fun.

Transformers: Infestation #1 - I don't normally read Transformers books so I don't know what sort of status quo they're running on, but if you've seen the original movie you'll know who everyone is. It's a stupid and confusing book but good fun nonetheless. What do you expect though?

New York Five #1 - I picked this up as a try out. I'll do a proper review, but it's written Brian Wood whose work I have a love/hate relationship with. It always piques my interest and he always picks fantastic artists to work with, but I'm almost invariably disappointed by the end product. I'll save that rant for the review though. Looks like classy stuff.

Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder #1 - I don't read much by Dark Horse but I'm often temped. This one stuck out for it's period setting. I'll post a proper review of this one in the week.

Knight and Squire #5 - An absolutely bloody brilliant issue of this excellent series. Top Hole!

Jonah Hex #39 & 56 - To make up for not being able to get the latest issue I picked up two issues I didn't already have. At least I think I don't have them... Anyone want an issue of Jonah Hex?

Incognito: Bad Influences #3 - I'm looking forward to reading all three issues in one sitting.

The Walking Dead #82 - Always a winner. It does say something about the state of the market though that I bought three books about zombies without even trying.

Power Man and Iron Fist #1 - Ash got my interest piqued with the revelation that 2badguys' favourite, the Don of the Dead appears. Looks fun, but I'm not keen on the new look Iron Fist, I like the Green Pajamas darn it!

Wolverine #1000 - Stan only knows how he's on #1000, perhaps Marvel just have gremlins, but I digress. This issue is an anthology, and although I don't read the regular books, I do love Wolverine stories. I've been burned before but I'm hoping this one will be a winner. I really like the look of the story with the young girl who wants to be Wolvie. Fingers crossed.

Chaos War #5 - Thus ends the saga of The Incredible Hercules. It's been a wild ride and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Casanova: Gula II - Beautiful artwork from Fabio Moon, crazy tales by Matt Fraction. Good job all round. I missed this series first time around, but I can see why it got so much hype.

What I Got And Why: January 2011!

Valhallahan
Guten Tag Home-Friends! Welcome sie bitter to What I Got And Why 2011!

Jonah Hex - Well here we have another classic Hex tale, Hex takes a rare execution job off some wronged townsfolk, to take out some low down killer pervert. And kill him he does and then some! The art is by Jordi Bernet who is as close to a regular artist as they get in Jonah Hex. He good, he real good.

Oddly this issue is part of DC's line-wide "Covers with characters in front of logos without the title" month and as Jonah Hex doesn't have a logo as such, they've opted to go for "HEX" in the title font in the Dixie flag colours. I suppose just showing a Dixie flag would send the wrong signals what with the reb flag being the international symbol for redneck. I have to say I really like the idea behing these covers, and it looks great on the shop shelves but as Hex shows, it's not a comfortable fit for every title.

Knight and Squire #4 - Another dandy of an issue of Knight and Squire. Not my favourite by any means, if anything it's the weakest, but a weak issue of Knight and Squire is still funnier than a pile of Deadpool books big enough to build a stairway to the sun. This issue Knight fights... himself! And Squire fights... the awkwardness of budding teen romance! Plus Hank the American butler.

Scalped - Scalped is as Scalped does, so yet again we have some hard boiled brutal misery from Aaron and co. I wouldn’t have it any other way. This month the focus is on Special Agent Nitz as his overly complicated shitty downward drunken spiral misery he calls a life finally gets on top of him and he decides to end it. Hillarity ensues obviously.

Casanova: Gula I - I picked up the latest issue of Casanova, which is reprinting stuff I don't already have in trade now. This is one trippy book Daddy-o. It also looks rather delightful, drawn by 2Badguys' favourite artist Fabio Moon. Casanova is written by 2Badguys' seems-quite-good-but-not-quite-boner-enducing-yet-guy Matt Fraction and he really goes hell for leather with the nutso sci-fi concepts. Silver age madness filtered through European spy movie cool now in almost Technicolor!

Cutting the crap though, this is a great, fun series worthy of all the hype it got when it came out.

iZombie - iZombie continues apace, and what a pace! Actually that statement doesn’t even mean anything, I just wanted to say something other than "Still going. Still like it". I must say though, that this title has gone from a book I was considering dropping, to one I look forward to every month. iZombie is a fun, almost shamefully pretty-looking series.

Sweet Tooth - Sweet Tooth's second big storyline comes to a climax and shit really does hit the proverbial. I would like to talk about this series in depth at some point, because I really am loving it. The problem is I can't really understand why. I will say that it is a bizarre, exciting and utterly fresh book, once rather aptly described as "Mad Max meets Bambi". I recommend it to all, regular comic reader or not.

Science Dog #1 - Science Dog is a recurring double-fictional character in Robert Kirkman's Invincible universe. He's (Invincible alter-ego) Mark Grayson's favourite comic book character who apparently was created as a genuine comic book pitch by Kirkman and Invincible co-creator Cory Walker before they started on Invincible. This collects the first two mini stories by the pair which were originally printed in anniversary issues of Invincible. I really have said Invincible a lot now haven’t I? Anyway, it's a fun but forgettable romp, reminiscent of the lighter issues of that other book I keep mentioning, something beginning with I...

Incognito: Bad Influences #2 - To be honest it's been so long since issue one came out that I've completely forgotten what is happening in this series, but it's the second issue of the sequel to Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' superb Pulp-bad-guy-goes-sort-of-good series from a year or so ago, so you just know it's going to make a lovely collected story. I might wait till another issue is out and start from the beginning again.

The Walking Dead #80 - This Week: Zombies! Red hot zombie action makes a welcome return in the first part of new storyline, "No Way Out".

Bulletproof Coffin #6 - And so we bid adieu to one of my favourite series of 2010. I heartily recommend all you pretty folk go and by this series when it comes out in Trade Paperback. In fact, I fucking dare you!

Chaos War #4 - I'll admit that I'm kind of losing interedt now, but we're nearly done so fingers crossed for a doozy of an ending. I'll also note that this is the only Marvel Universe title I'm still reading.

Hellblazer #264 - This issue wraps up the time travelling trip and puts all the peices on the board for next issues big ol' wedding event. I'm on the edge of my seat! Hellblaxer really is a book worth talking about again. Nice.

and that, my freunds, is that. Keep your peepers peeled for some extra fun goodies from us in the coming weeks. not just more What I Got And Why's, oh no brothers and sisters, we are diversifying! Can You dig it?