As I have mentioned in this space on prior occasions, I was once a film reviewer. When you review movies, you’re generally stuck watching about 75% shit that you would never choose to sit through. But it’s your job, and you have the privilege of going back to the office and trashing the holy Hell out of it for wasting two hours of your life. Everyone takes the hit, big blockbuster or small indy film. That’s life in the big leagues.

I run this column quite differently, which most of you have probably noticed. A comic takes a lot less than two hours to read, which in most cases is a “Thank God” concept. But I also have a bit of an easier attitude towards the smaller press efforts. We’re talking about folks who are quite likely sitting on the edge of bankruptcy by putting together a print run. So I see absolutely zero reason to spend time and mental energy ripping their efforts here. If someone sends me an item and I don’t review it, the creator or publisher is more than welcome to contact me and ask me why, and I’ll tell him or her. And if they insist on me taking my time to write out a rip job, I will. They just have to be careful what they wish for.

But that’s the way I work things here. If a book can’t muster up a “C-“ or better, I’m not going to spend my time on it. And it damned well isn’t likely to be optioned by Hollywood anyway. Life is too short to waste time reviewing bad comics. There are plenty of good ones that deserve my efforts. And on that note, as a courtesy, these are the books I picked up in San Diego that will not make this space. As I said, these publishers and creators are welcome to contact me if they would really like some constructive feedback.

• THE WANG: THE BIG ONE
• 1 BLOCK DOWN
• HYDRAULIC LEG #1
• SCRAPYARD DETECTIVES #1
• OCUPUNKTURE #1
• GAROU: THE LONE WOLF #1 and #2
• HEROES INC. #1 and #2
• SHADOW PROPHESY #1
• WHY WAS I PROGRAMMED TO KILL? #1

VIDEO #2
Written and Drawn by Stephen Buell
Published by Lost In The Dark Press

I did a shorter review of issue one when it came out and liked it well enough, but I’m pleased to report that issue two of this modern gothic horror story is a big step forward for the book. The pace of the story quickens and the plot thickens, making this one of the more intriguing books to arrive in the last half of this year.

The story is deceptively simple: one day, out of the blue, Jesus returns. He then commandeers the airwaves and announces that he will shortly be gathering up the faithful and returning with them all to Heaven.

This means, of course, that all fucking Hell breaks loose.

Buell’s story focuses on four characters: Keisha, her boyfriend Jesse, and her longtime friends Katy and Pepe. At the end of issue one, Keisha found Jesse in the bathtub with slit wrists explaining, “I saw him…” From there, it only gets darker and stranger.

I think part of what makes VIDEO interesting is that Buell is approaching the end of days from a much different vantage point than most tales of the type. Usually these stories revolve around Satan working his evil magic on the world or some such nonsense, but Buell rightly figures that perhaps nothing would be worse than Christ showing up. Consider the impact that’d have on the power religions of the world that don’t follow Jesus and you start to get the picture. Then the panic sets in for those who do and who are wondering what will happen if they aren’t saved. It’s an ugly picture of amorality and paranoia. That’s why I refer to VIDEO as a modern horror tale.

Buell’s art is still shaky at best, but it is improved over issue one. Plus, I’m not even remotely sure where the book is headed, which makes me nothing but happy. This is a book that left a good taste in my mouth. Grade: B+

SIBAM?

Any day soon now, a sharp player is going to pick up the film rights to VIDEO. Scary shit is the one genre that is constantly critic proof and which always opens well. Even better, two issues in, I’ve seen nothing that requires an F/X budget over $1.69. It doesn’t even need big name talent in front of the camera. Barring something insane over the next few issues, this is a $10-15 million picture at most.

Hell… I want to make this movie. Anybody wanna loan me some money?

FINISHES!

MR. MONSTER: WORLDS WAR TWO
Written by Michael T. Gilbert and Drawn by George Freeman
Published by Atomeka

Like my friend Steven Grant (and many others), I think Nazis are just about the most played out villains in the history of fiction. However, when the absolutely gonzo Gilbert wants to drag out Mr. Monster and pit him against a Martian with Hitler’s brain? I’m down with that.

This completely psychotic and nonsensical adventure sees Mr. Monster team up with a liberal hippie babe to combat the evil of the Nazi Martian invaders who have come to subjugate the planet. As you can probably guess, they’ll also be heading back to Mars to face down the nasty creatures on their own planet as well. As with all the best Mr. Monster stories, the best thing to do is completely shut off your brain, relax, and just admire how much strange shit that Michael Gilbert can get out of his head. This is someone who could likely drink you under the table without a second thought. And while normally I’d be displeased to see a Mr. Monster tale drawn by someone other than Gilbert, George Freeman does an outstanding job of illustrating the tale in perfect gonzo Gilbert fashion. Grade: B+

INVINCIBLE #16
Written by Robert Kirkman and Drawn by Ryan Ottley
Published by Image Comics

This issue of INVINCIBLE sort of varies wildly across the spectrum. Part of the book deals with the aftermath of the last BRIT special (reviewed here a few weeks ago). But the real thrower is the opening sequence, which is set in an alternate universe where Invincible decided to join with his evil father and conquer the Earth. Then the alternate universe thing spreads to becoming a bigger plot thread later in the book. Plus, Kirkman gets back to establishing Invincible’s roots as a high schooler and the everyday troubles that can cause. Essentially, there’s a lot happening here, and the new reader would be absolutely screwed in trying to figure out part of it, particularly the stuff that involves Brit. Still, I can’t protest too much, because the book continues to be a dandy bit of fun issue in and issue out. It’s also the one of the five best colored books on the market thanks to the incredible Bill Crabtree. Grade: B

REX MUNDI #12
Written and Drawn by Eric J. and Arvid Nelson
Published by Image Comics

Someone please write and tell me: is there REX MUNDI trade paperback yet? Because I had one the damnedest moments ever when I opened up and started reading this book. Defying normal procedure, each issue that came before this one was recapped within the first two pages. I thought that was fantastic. The bad news was that I couldn’t make any sense out the recaps. I got part of it, and I was able to read this issue and grasp at least part of the story, but man, oh, man. I found myself beset by the severe feeling of needing to just read the whole thing from start to present. Basically, REX MUNDI is a story about a long brewing religious conspiracy, and it’s full of intrigue, sexuality and power. These are good things. It’s nicely drawn, and what is written here can mostly be followed, but boy did I feel lost. And I didn’t want to feel that way: I like conspiracy stories of this nature. Grade: B-

BLUESMAN Vol. 1
Written by Rob Vollmar and Drawn by Pablo Callejo
Published by Absence Of Ink

BLUESMAN is the newest effort from the Eisner-nominated (for THE CASTAWAYS) duo of Vollmar and Callejo. This time, they have sets their sights on a wandering blues musician named Lem Taylor as he journeys through deep Arkansas in the 1930s. It’s a haunting and sad tale, as Lem is basically a very good man fighting against forces that want to deprive him of both his goodness and his life. Vollmar’s tale is deceptively simple on the outside, as much of Lem’s true journey is going to be internal; fortunately, the wonderful art by Callejo is able to capture that internal struggle in Lem’s posture and face. There’s nothing flashy about this book; it’s a tale to be taken at face value in its pain.

I’ve known Rob Vollmar for years now, as we not only worked at ComicBookGalaxy together, but we participate in some private discussion areas online. That said and in the open, one of the things I discovered about Rob from the start, before he ever published his first comic, is that he has a strong commitment to high quality independent comics. BLUESMAN is just another example of Rob walking his talk. Grade: A-

SILK TAPESTRY AND OTHER CHINESE FOLK TALES
Written and Drawn by Patrick Atangan
Published by NBM Publishing

This second volume of Atangan’s “Songs Of Our Ancestors” series is a spectacularly written, drawn, and colored, feast for the eyes. Atangan infuses his art with a level of detail that is remarkable in how perfectly it renders the brilliance of the traditional artistic representation of the look of ancient China. The tales revolve around the unifying theme of creation, each tackling the subject from a different direction and perspective. It’s difficult to describe the book beyond the surface, because ruining it would just be wrong. One thing I will tell you: the first book Atangan did in this series, THE YELLOW JAR, is now part of a textbook for educators to use comics for instruction purposes. I imagine this one won’t be far behind in joining it. Grade: A

DUNGEON Vol. 1: DUCK HEART
Written and Drawn by Johann Sfar and Lewis Trondheim
Published by NBM Publishing

This, on the other hand, is just damned funny. The Dungeon is a castle full of all manner of odd monsters, trolls, and goblins, and for reasons far too silly to explain here, Herbert the Duck is assigned the role of barbarian who must defend the castle and its honor. Fortunately, he has his friend Marvin the Dragon to travel at his side and help, though Marvin is, unfortunately, a vegetarian. On the bright side, though, Herbert is granted a legendary sword to help his battle whatever evil he comes across. On the no-so-bright side, the sword thinks that Herbert is a ninny and won’t let allow himself to be used until Herbert has done three great feats first. And the sword threatens to strike Herbert with lightning if he tries to use another weapon. What’s a poor duck-turned-barbarian to do?

I don’t know. But I know what the reader can do: laugh. Plenty. DUNGEON takes the piss out of the fantasy genre like nothing I’ve seen in recent memory. Brilliantly illustrated and colored, this is a wonderful piece of work. Grade: A-

2 SISTERS
Written and Drawn by Matt Kindt
Published by Top Shelf Comics

2 SISTERS is a surprisingly ambitious book. Kindt has created a fascinating, multi-generation tale about two women each with the goal of achieving a life of their own terms after years of pain and heartache. In one era, we follow a young woman who must navigate her way through life on a pirate ship at one point; in the other, we meet a young English woman who seeks solace from the loss of her lover in World War Two by going to work as an espionage agent against the Germans.

The two women’s stories on their own aren’t necessarily anything groundbreaking, but it’s the way they work together on a thematic level that makes the book sing. It’s about power, control, and self-determination in the face of horrible pain and long odds. Kindt isn’t a brilliant artist by any stretch, but what he does in constructing his panels to create a flow, and the way he renders the action wordlessly at junctures shows that he’s attempting to grow and build himself as a work of art as well. The book is 330 pages long, and honestly a bit more decompressed than necessary, but I give Kindt full marks for effort. I’m extremely interested in seeing what he does next. Grade: A-

B. KRIGSTEIN COMICS
Art by Bernard Krigstein and Edited by Greg Sadowski
Published by Fantagraphics Books

I saved the best for last this week.

When Sadowski’s first tribute to Krigstein, B. KRIGSTEIN VOL. 1, hit the scene, it was all the rage amongst the comics press and among my friends who got the book. It was described as one of the finest books of its type ever produced by many, and was nominated for multiple awards. So I dug in to this follow up book with a deep curiosity about what the fuss was all about. Let me tell you, folks: I get it.

This astonishing collection of great Krigstein drawn stories is an incredible primer to an artist who had clearly, in a very short career, inspired so many of the men who went on to work longer and make bigger names for themselves. The versatility on display here, as we see crime, romance, horror, and war tales, is extraordinary. Krigstein was able to adapt his style and bring a depth and maturity to his work that I suspect many publishers likely didn’t care about. The art presented in this book is the work of a man who was clearly seeking to find something better in himself and what he had chosen for a career, and it’s a thing of beauty to devour.

Beyond the artwork, much of it restored from Krigstein’s personal files, you can’t help but admire the color reconstructions done by the great Marie Severin as well. Then you reach the end of the book, and Sadowski steps in with full-length annotations for each story: where it published, who wrote it, what reconstructions might have taken place, and other behind the scenes details, including battles he had with editors over page rates and balloon placement.

I could sit and spew adjectives about this book for a long time, but the best thing for me to do is tell you to go buy it. It’s one of the best books we’ll see this year, and an instant contender for multiple awards. It gets my highest possible recommendation. Grade: A+

It would be lovely if you were to please visit me at The Comics Waiting Room and Happy Nonsense. I’ll be lonely and waiting for you. And then I’ll be right back here in seven days.

E-mail me from the link provided. Review materials may be sent to: Marc Mason, P.O. Box 26732, Tempe, AZ 85285. I’m so needy that it scares me.

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