September
10
Cracking the Case
Fell #1
Creators: Warren Ellis, writer; Ben Templesmith, artist
Image Comics, 24 pages, color, $1.99
So? The story of Richard Fell, a loner cop assigned to a new post in the worst part of a nasty town, seems tailor-made for Ellis and Templesmith. But Fell, who makes new friends and solves his first crime in this debut issue, is a much more sympathetic and human protagonist than is the norm for Ellis, giving the story an extra touch of character and warmth. Templesmith’s paintings bring the lonely city and lonelier characters to life with surprising vividness. This is Ellis’ best character work since Transmet. Grade: A-
Ghost Rider #1
Creators: Garth Ennis, writer; Clayton Crain, artist
Marvel, 48 pages, color, $2.99
So? Ghost Rider is one of those comics characters who has lacked great stories to go with his stunning visual. The character’s long history (which goes way back to a 1950s Western title) has only proved especially popular during the boom of the early 1990s. But with a movie coming next year, Marvel’s brought in Garth Ennis of Preacher and Punisher fame and artist Clayton Crain to try to give some life to the character. And this first issue is on the right track. Full of Ennis trademarks including indifferent and manipulative angels, small-town goofballs and strange villains, there is an interesting framework here for Ghost Rider (who is something of a background character in this issue) to be more than just a cool-looking image. Throw in fantastic artwork from Clayton Crain, who gives the entire book the look of a top-notch CGI effect, and you’ve got a thick book worth a good look at a decent price. Grade: B+
Superman-Shazam!: First Thunder #1
Creators: Judd Winick, writer; Joshua Middleton, artist
DC Comics, 48 pages, color, $3.50
So? Art junkies love Josh Middleton’s art, and with good reason. The artist behind CrossGen’s Meridian and Marvel’s NYX has landed at DC pairing up the Man of the Steel and the World’s Mightiest Mortal. Middleton does the art and the colors, bringing a bright, animation style to these characters that’s just cool to look at and soak in. Winick’s story gives Middleton a good if basic cross-over foundation and there’s lots of cool stuff such as giant robots, big blue monsters and a few nifty-looking magical spells. Grade: B
The Bakers #1
Creator: Kyle Baker
Kyle Baker Publishing, 48 pages, black and white, $3
So? Kyle Baker may be too good and too funny for the good of comics. How else to explain the lack of real competition for Baker’s humor efforts than that Baker’s so good no one wants to compete with him in any way, shape or form? This book is full of short, mostly silent and very funny tales of Baker’s life as a father trying to get some rest, convince his kids there aren’t monsters under the bed, and most frightening of all, taking the brood to the mall to find a gift for his wife. Grade: A
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Interesting article!
Where can I find more on this theme?
Posted by: MalkEvange | August 06, 2007 at 12:33 PM