ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL – Issue #5
IDW Publishing
Written by Brian Lynch Art by Franco Urru
Let’s get ready to rumble! The major players enter the battle for Angel’s life and basically the future of Hell-A, and… well, it gets cut short like a fire drill interrupting a strip poker game as the big-breasted Hooter chick you took home is about to take off her Victoria’s Secret bra. Some sort of gimmick comes into play as the story is put on hold for another story to make an entrance just as Illyria changes back into Winifred, and the T-Rex throws down with the Buffy Dragon. The writer actually acknowledges the “cruel” trick on the last page, but it’s not exactly cruel. It’s more like a bitch slap, basically telling his readers that, “Hey, I’ve got you in the palm of my hand, so now watch an hour of Love Boat, my slave. And no… not the original show either. The NEW Love Boat.” Not sure who polished the brass balls here, whether it was the publisher’s idea or Numfar himself, but if this idea doesn’t go according to plan, Angel fans are going to be even more pissed off after watching their favorite vampire clang a sword at the end of “Not Fade Away”. So yeah, there’s not much to write about for this here issue as it’s all setup. Nobody dies. Nothing is wrapped up. Nothing really revealing, and the definition of story arch gets thrown into the meat grinder. The clock is now ticking Mr. Lynch and Mr. Whedon, and the patience of Angel fans is certainly being tested. I’d really hate to be in your shoes right now.
GRADE: C CONTINUE READING? Unfortunately, I’m a slave for these characters, so I’ll be checking out this interruption called, First Night.
SIMON DARK – Issues #6
DC Comics
Written by Steve Niles Art by Scott Hampton
Simon says kickass. DC Comics newest dark hero in Gotham City makes Batman no longer the ultimate shadow walker. Nope, Simon Dark lives up to his name as he’ll pop out of nowhere and kick your butt for a bowl of Spaghetti-O’s. Simon learns more about himself in this issue as he retraces the footsteps made by his dark magic worshipping parents, and then finds his mission is to protect people from a very bad man using bar soap as a killer. What I like most about this book is the look it has, mixing James O’Barr’s The Crow with Batman. I was a big fan of The Crow until it faded away because of terrible movie sequels, so for me, it’s sort of a vicarious, wishful thinking that Simon Dark is Eric Draven. Steve Niles also loves his Frankenstein, and that’s a clear influence and a nice touch to the character’s inability to function as a normal human being. I also like that this series only speaks when it’s necessary in the captions and doesn’t ramble on, keeping the mystery alive but also setting a comfortable pace. Each issue gives a slice of the Simon Dark pie, letting the reader enjoy a little bit more and always opening the door for next time. And every month, I keep coming back for more. Simon says eat more Simon Dark pie!
GRADE: A CONTINUE READING? This is a great book, and like Hack/Slash, I’ pretty sure I’m here for the long run. Well, until Guy Gardner shows up. God, I hope not.
LOCKE AND KEY – Issue #2
IDW Publishing
Written by Joe Hill Art by Gabriel Rodriguez
I can’t stand ghost stories, and yet, I love this series. Granted it’s only two issues in, I’m hungry for more. Through the past what, ten years at least, Hollywood has been pumping out ghost stories left and right, mainly remaking them from Japanese imports. Only a few like The Devil’s Backbone and The Sixth Sense really grabbed me and made me enjoy the tale of things “there but not there”, but the rest of Hollywood’s Evil Casper clamor just made me groan like a hippo giving birth. And maybe that’s why I love this book because it has a taste of both of those movies I mentioned. It’s told mainly from a child’s perspective, Bode, having the ability to die in front of a doorway and become a ghost, floating around the house and spying on his family in his cool new birthday suit. He has a friend in a water well, kind of like Samara from The Ring, but can actually spit out a sensible sentence. Joe Hill is churning out great writing as he leads the reader through a complex story without overcomplicating things. I think that’s the key (pun intended?) into having most of the narration come from Bode as it’s simple and humorous, dare I say, cute. Strange thing is that it feels like a Clive Barker book, but that’s probably me because of artist Gabriel Rodriguez and the everlasting imprint he left on his previous series, Clive Barker’s The Great and Secret Show. His art rocks. Locke and Key is a surprise for ghost stories looking to run away from the common scare tactic film structure, and Joe Hill acknowledges that fresh start for the subgenre with his superb writing. Gabriel Rodriguez brings the words to life with his fantastic art, and I’m addicted. A real winner for IDW.
GRADE: A CONTINUE READING? And did it get better! Wow. This is a great ride folks. Unlock it for yourself.
SCREAMLAND– Issue #1
Image Comics
Written by Harold Sipe Art by Hector Casanova
A gigantic spider as a bartender? Now that in itself makes this book awesome! There have been many of nights and many of bars where the bartender has made me look like an idiot in front of the ladies. “Please serve me. I have money!” But enough about me. Let’s talk about Screamland, a new twist on the classic Universal monsters team-up as all of the favorites like Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, and The Wolf Man try to survive today’s Hollywood movie-making machine. Take one part The Monster Squad and mix it with HBO’s Entourage, and that’s basically this book in a nutshell. And it definitely meets that high level of entertainment as writer Harold Sipe brings sharp wit and laugh out loud humor to the comic book show along with Casanova’s sleek style of art. The first issue finds Frankenstein’s monster trying to stay in Hollywood, getting roles even Pauly Shore would pass up. Along with Carl the Wolf Man, times become tough when they’re no longer in the spotlight. So when Frank’s attractive and human agent comes calling with a new acting gig that gets the band back together, namely Dracula, Wolfman, Mummy, and Frank, well, it’s a job they can’t pass up. Especially after Frank’s previous effort to make money, the disastrous (yet extremely humorous) website business venture. Sipe and Casanova have a fun book on their hands, and it won’t be long before the comics world takes notice of Screamland. This is what Spooks from Devil’s Due should be. A careless ride down Sunset Blvd with a bunch of monsters in your car looking for the next acting gig and a way to party like it’s 1931. Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
GRADE: A- CONTINUE READING? You bet. Screamland is a scream, and not the terrible kind.
FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH – Issue #6 of 6
Dynamite Entertainment
WildStorm Entertainment
Written by James Kuhoric Art by Jason Craig
The nail is finally in the coffin to this series. Praise Jeebus. As expected, more cut and paste from the movies intertwined with the three main characters is used like cheap cologne on a cheap date. “Hey! How bout the scene where Ash shoots the shit out of the witch in Army of Darkness… how bout we put Jason in there instead? Brilliant!!” Yeah, and so are my farts under lighter fluid. This was definitely a series for fans who didn’t mind this kind of replacement of popular moments from each franchise, and I certainly envy them for enjoying it. For the life of me, I tried to lose myself in this story. I mean, I have the ability. I was able to do it for Deep Blue Sea, Eight Legged Freaks, and Snakes on a Plane. Why not this? And the answer still shines like a burning star: originality. Those movies took the campy idea and made it into something new. Gave it legs, arms, and a chunk of cheddar for the head. This series? Nope. It seems it just wanted to prove the three characters could coexist with one another, and that’s really about it. “Hey Hollywood. See? I told ya!” We already know two of them can from the movie, so it’s not hard to throw Ash into the mix. But why cut up each movie and tape it together like a third grade art project? Make it original. Make it new. Make it enjoyable. And the ultimate insult to injury to end it all? Ash puts on Elvis glasses as he rides of into the sunset, nodding to Bubba Ho-Tep now. Just stop already! Oh wait. It did. Praise Jeebus.
GRADE: C- SERIES GRADE? C
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