the stuff inside my head that must get out
archives
Sat, 31 Dec 2005
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Sat, 24 Dec 2005
If you like to laugh, you must check out this music video. I laughed out loud!
Thu, 22 Dec 2005
I'm so glad that this website already exists, so I'm not forced to create one myself. They've indexed 4,808 different games and the scope of the project is very impressive.
Thu, 08 Dec 2005
This weblog lists a bunch of personally customized things you can have your sequenced dna turned into. Besides, y'know, babies.
Wed, 07 Dec 2005I will knot is a really cool website that teaches you to tie different knots. Each not has step by step instructions and uses inline flash video clips to demonstrate the steps. Gripping stuff if you're a nerd like me.
Mon, 05 Dec 2005
the top 25
I couldn't afford to get one of those fancy animated coverpop things I
blogged about recently, so I made a poor man's version with the help
of my old buddy Perl. Below is a list generated from the top 25 best selling graphic novels in the past 3 months at Hijinx, in order of sales. It's a good mix of all ages and mature readers material, both new and old. Click on the thumbnail image if you'd like to see a bigger version. Enjoy!
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Sat, 03 Dec 2005
This is just the beginning to the latest round of store improvements. Look for the Manga and all ages sections to undergo similar transformations soon!
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Sat, 19 Nov 2005
This blog entry attempts do dissect the ineffable elegance of everybody's favorite Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing.
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Fri, 04 Nov 2005
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Mon, 31 Oct 2005
The first issue is a self-contained story that gives you a glimpse into one of the most interesting characters in the DC Universe. For those of you looking for more info on the mysterious lawman, try The Jonah Hex Corral. Who would have the time to catalogue every bit of Jonah Hex minutiae in excrutiating detail and put it on the internet? The url says it all: www.lonely.geek.nz.
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Thu, 27 Oct 2005I'm not exactly sure how to describe this, but it's neat. It's a giant collage of 1001 graphic novel covers. Cool enough by itself, but run your mouse over any cover and see it zoom out and then get more info about the book, or even purchase it on Amazon. But I'm sure nobody wants to do that!
Sat, 22 Oct 2005
I'm not sure why you'd want to make your own food taste like McDonald's, but in case you do it's good to know you can
Wed, 19 Oct 2005
Watchmen on Time's top 100 novels list
Time Magazine has released their list of the top 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to present. It's on there with books like Animal Farm, Catch-22, The Catcher in the Rye and 96 other great novels.
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Mon, 17 Oct 2005
A loyal customer just sent me this link to the independent presidential campaign from former Phantom Zone gangleader turned presidential hopeful, Zod. What the heck, can't be much worse than what we've got, right?
Check out this cool Doctor Octopus costume I just read about on boingboing. There's a 8 page tutorial on how to build your own, just in time for Halloween!
Mon, 10 Oct 2005
It seems Unicef has produced a rather disturbing video to illustrate the horrors of war. Apparently, the idyllic mushroom village is bombed to smithereens leaving little blue corpses and general smurfy mayhem. I must see this video!
UPDATE
I found a chopped up version of the smurf snuff film in question here.
Sun, 09 Oct 2005
That's right, comics will be on time and ready to go on Wednesday. And what a wednesday it will be! Just look over there to the left at that list of comics and trades. See you then!
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Fri, 07 Oct 2005
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Mon, 03 Oct 2005
The Greatest American Trivia Contest Answers
A:Dr Henry Pym
Q:What character was an active member of the X-Men, the Avengers and the Defenders?
A:The Beast
Q:Where did Buddy Bradley grow up?
A:New Jersey
Q:What special type of vehicle does the Flaming Carrot sometimes use, and who designed it?
A:Atomic Pogo Stick designed by Dr. Heller
Q:What are the Fantastic Four's costumes made out of?
A:Unstable Molecules
Q:What was the name of Reid Fleming's mean manager?
A:Mr Crabbe
Q:Who married Triplicate Girl (later known as Duo Damsel)?
A:Bouncing Boy
Q:What does OMAC stand for?
A:One Man Army Corps
Q:Who is known as the God of Manga?
A:Osama Tezuka
Q:What is the first and last name if Linus and Lucy's little brother?
A:Rerun Van Pelt
Q:What was the first color newspaper comic strip?
A:Hogan's Alley (featuring the Yellow Kid)
Q:Who wrote Seduction of the Innocent?
A:Frederic Wertham
Q:What does SHAZAM stand for?
A:Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury
Q:What was the name of Supergirl's horse?
A:Comet
Q:Who knows what evil lurks inside the hearts of men?
A:The Shadow knows
Q:Who said, "We have met the enemy and he is us"?
A:Pogo
Q:What does blue kryptonite do?
A:Kills Bizarro
Q:What is the world's greatest comic book store?
A:Hijinx (also acceptable: Mike's Coliseum)
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Thu, 29 Sep 2005
a truly horrific special guest
Apparently, the guest of honor for the Northridge Necrocomicon will be none other than everyone's favorite slasher star OJ Simpson. Please click on the Juice for a heartfelt exhortation to attend the festivities. Thanks go to Mark Evanier for pointing this out.
Sat, 24 Sep 2005
Practical Development Environments
If I had this book when I was a release engineer, I might still be doing that now. Thank god he waited, but you shouldn't wait to pick up this book that shines a light on the underbelly of the software industry. Plus, my name is in it!
Read this interview with legendary Calvin and Hobbes cartoonist Bill Watterson. It's short, but it's the first new Watterson interview in a dog's age and it helps to set the stage for the upcoming Complete Calvin and Hobbes hardcover out this Fall.
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Sat, 10 Sep 2005
Meet the creators of Wraithborn
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Yes, hard times have fallen on dear old Betty Boop. Kicked out of their Hollywood bungalow by longtime companion Koko the Clown, Ms Boop has taken to serving chicken wings at the world's most tasteful owl-themed restaurant franchise. Good luck Betty!
Dan reviews The Clouds Above by Jordan Crane before Justin has a chance
The Clouds Above by Jordan Crane is one of those wonderful books that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. It tells the whimsical story of Simon and Jack who go through a fantastic journey in their search for fun. Along the way they meet malicious birds and a sentimental cloud named Perch who takes them for a wild ride among storm clouds.
Between Crane's seemingly simple linework and the gorgeous production values of the book, I don't expect it to stick around very long. Perfect for fans of Goodbye Chunky Rice or the work of Walt Holcombe. This one's a keeper and gets an A rating from me.
If you like The Clouds Above we'll also soon be getting Crane's long out of print The Last Lonely Saturday back in stock at Hijinx thanks to a wherehouse find at Fantagraphics.
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Thu, 01 Sep 2005
From his campaign website:
Macgyver is neither left nor right, Macgyver is not a republican or a democrat. Macgyver is Macgyver, an enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a shroud of kindness.
Mon, 22 Aug 2005
Justin G really didn't read many comics this week
Green Lantern #3
DC
I really want to like this book, but Johns and Pacheco are making it difficult. Pacheco's art is beautiful in terms of individual panels. They are simultaneously very clean with smooth like work, while boasting some impressive details. Some of his panel to panel storytelling makes my head hurt though. I had to repeatedly go back and study how one panel transitioned to another and try to comprehend which character was taking what action and how that subsequently got us to the next panel, not very intuitive at all. At a macro level, I really like how Johns is setting up this run of GL. I like his social commentary with the citizens of Coast City, the tension and big reveal between Hal and General Stone, the sad demise of the lone Manhunter, and seeing the Manhunters as an organization gear up for what promises to be a big showdown. That last panel is really exciting. But some individual moments just leave me scratching my head. The Manhunter slams into the cockpit canopy and then the two of them just stand there? Super powers or not, wouldn't the speed of say, mach-whatever, blow them right off? The Raptor is a supersonic jet with alien hybrid technology after all. Then, right when GL's power level reaches 0% and he's most vulnerable as regular Hal Jordan, the Manhunter conveniently leaps off the plane instead of just killing him? Next scene, when the Manhunter sends a blast of energy at the plane to destroy it, he conveniently hits himself on the head with a chunk of aircraft shrapnel which distracts him long enough for Hal to recharge the ring on the guy's face? Ooookay. Being generous here, Grade B.
Godland #2
Image
It's just campy fun! I find myself smiling a lot when I read this book. So hokey, but so enjoyable. Some really nice nods to the Fantastic Four and other 1960's Marvel tropes, as well as Kirby's 70's DC work with Mister Miracle and The New Gods. The depth of self-awareness that this book demonstrates makes it thoroughly entertaining. It's almost as if it is so intensely and deliberately representational of the genre that it borders on satire or self-parody. I nominate Basil Cronus as the villain of the year! Grade A-.
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Fri, 12 Aug 2005
more comic reviews by Justin G
Iron Man #4
Marvel
I literally winced in pain when I saw the damage that had been inflicted to Tony's hand and leg underneath the Iron Man armor. I'm really eating up the way Ellis is portraying Iron man as being quite vulnerable here and still working out some problems with the different iterations of the suit. It really makes the super-soldier-biological-compiler-as-villain concept that much more menacing. Adi Granov's art is also "beautifully dirty" for lack of a better term. Beautifully smooth and soft lines with a very used and worn in feel that seems just right in capturing the dichotomy of high technology ideas with very base motivations and altercations. I'm afraid that with all of the tomfoolery going on in the Marvel U right now, not to mention this title's lackluster publishing schedule, this book will be overlooked as a real hidden gem. Perhaps the smartest superhero comic around. Grade A.
Supergirl #1
DC
Gosh, I don't know. My confusion started when I saw a #0 issue right beside #1 on the rack. Why would DC release both on the same day, I asked myself? Why wouldn't they price a #0 issue cheaper? Oh, it's a reprint of the Superman/Batman ish that intoduced the new Kara Zor-El. Then why didn't they clearly label it as a reprint? Then, just when I think I'm sold on Ian Churchill's art, he goes and adds these wacky bell-bottom wings to Power Girl's boots and makes her look like an over-muscled man in some panels. Just when I think Jeph Loeb has mastered the voice of Supergirl, she says that the whole "Girl of Steel" thing prevents her from getting a piercing. Really? Why? How does she cut her hair or her nails then? Doesn't make sense. Assumably she does it herself with super-strength or a power, which would be the same way she could inflict a piercing. On top of that, there just seems to be too much crammed in here, JSA, Lex Luthor, Superboy, etc. Also seems that Power Girl and Superboy aren't terribly helpful (which is out of character) and serves only to create conflict to advance the plot. I guess I can buy the "suspended animation" while-stuck-in-a-clump-of-exploding-planet line explaining why Supergirl has just now shown up on Earth when her ship was launched from Krypton at the same time as Kal-El's, but couldn't quite swallow the explanation of "two positives" offered by Mister Terrific - and how the heck would he of all people know this anyway? My guess is that Power Girl may not make it out of Infinite Crisis alive, but I doubt I'll stick around with this title that long to find out. Grade B-.
Ultimate Fantastic Four #22
Marvel
Lots of jibba-jabba here about alternate universes and infected vampire-like hero dudes that wasn't terribly interesting. It all just felt like a bunch of white noise that is inconsequential. And once I figured out that they lured Reed into their world only to open a portal to the Ultimate U, it got even more boring waiting for that to play out. Will probably read better in collected format. Based solely on Greg Land's luscious art, Grade B.
(Dan's note: They're not vampires, they're Marvel Zombies!)
Zatanna #3
DC
Though I can kind of see the overarching Seven Soldiers story beginning to coalesce here with the Sheeda appearances and Castle Revolving references, this is still pretty obtuse and non-linear. In other words, typical Morrison. I dig some of this concepts, like "obsolete thoughtforms," but the rest feels a little inaccessible. Breathtaking cover and interior art from Ryan Sook. Grade B.
Hero@Large
Speakeasy
Pretty insightful commentary on the industry embedded in the narrative and sort of mildly entertaining in random spots, but not particularly funny, which is what I think the creators were going for. Grade C+.
The Winter Men #1(of 8)
DC, Wildstorm
I was really enjoying the high concept of this book and the regretful tone of the first few pages, then it turned all dialogue heavy and became really dense. The who's who and what are their motivations foothold became a bit convoluted in spots, but overall I'm intrigued as to where this is going. Really enjoyed the representational art of John Paul Leon that seemed to intentionally lack detail off in the distance. Grade B.
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Thu, 04 Aug 2005
A couple of days ago my dog was hit by a car and killed. I had a dream about him last night where he was alive and happy and had somehow cheated death. I think that's how I'll try to remember him. Anyone who ever met him loved him, and he was the sweetest, most gentle dog I've ever known. I'll miss him a lot.
Justin G. and the comics factory
Ex Machina #13
DC, Wildstorm
I'm so happy that this book won an Eisner for Best New Series and Best Writer (for Vaughan) at the recent San Diego Con, hopefully generating more buzz and sales ensuring it will be around for a long time. Vaughan's ear for dialogue, crafting of interesting plots, and unique characterization continues to impress. Some may question the plausibility of the Mayor of NYC actually making it past the voir dire phase of jury selection, but suspending that disbelief aside, this is a rockin' book. Top-of-his-game pencils from Tonny Harris and beautiful coloring and panel rendering. Also some interesting commentary on the industry embedded here with the comic shop, Clark Kent style reporter, and some of the archetypes of the supporting characters going against type. Anxiously anticipating the wrap up of this 3-issue arc with The Automaton. Grade A.
Astonishing X-Men #11
Marvel
I've said it before and I'll say it again. This is the absolute best and only X-Men comic I've bought and thoroughly enjoyed for at least the last 10 years. Cassaday's pencils are their usual hauntingly beautiful selves, and we must mention the brilliant coloring of Laura Martin. The amber and violet hues in a devastated Genosha cityscape and the subtle striations in the X-costumes are a sight to see. The overall plotting, dialogue, humor, and personal relationships (Kitty and Peter!) are wonderfully presented by Whedon. Grade A.
JSA Classified #1
DC
The long awaited origin story of Power Girl finally arrives and there is some really entertaining stuff here. Johns pulled off a real dichotomy of tone. There are some hilarious and fun beats and there are also some very insightful and introspective remarks in the narrative. Dig the cover logo. I dig that Power Girl is not presented as a dimwitted blonde bombshell here, but she is very self-aware regarding her looks, abilities, and how to play those strengths against the perceptions of others. Amanda Conner's pencils are amazingly strong here, the looks of some of the JSA members (Dr. Mid-Nite, Sand, and Stargirl to name just a few) and particularly the Legionnaires are breathtaking. I haven't seen a cuter rendition of Saturn Girl. Continuity-laden, but not inaccessible. Johns has a knack for "cleaning up" projects like this, so I'n on board Grade B+.
Conan #18
Dark Horse
The boys at "Cheval Noir" sure know what they're doing with this title. Allowing Cary Nord some space to get ahead on the art chores, they enlist veteran and top end talent like John Severin and Bruce Timm for the fill-in issues so they don't even feel like fill-ins, are portrayed as special treats. The two for one approach with the comical back up story was quite a riot also. Pleased to see that a second hardcover was recently solicited. This issue also solidly delivers a wonderfully thoughtful letters column. Grade B+.
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Sat, 23 Jul 2005
In case anyone is wondering what to get me for my 30th birthday next week, one of these would be nice. Now somebody needs to invent repulsors.
Fri, 22 Jul 2005
comicon 2005
Now that I've returned from my very first Comicon in sunny San Diego I
thought I'd take a moment to reflect. Overall I had a blast, although
that was due as much to what a great city San Diego is as anything that
went on in their super-futuristic convention center.
My host was Chris "Chip" Vanacore, who long-time Mike's Coliseum customers may remember from his days working behind the counter. He's currently drumming up a storm for his band Dirty Sweet. Actually, you probably won't recognize him as he looks nothing like the kid I remember beating up in elementary school. Now he looks more like Charles Manson than I ever remember.
Anyway, the highlight of the convention for me was the hour-long perfomance by Tenacious D. They truly delivered an awesome performance that I'll always remember.
The best comics-related panels that I went to were the Bill Liebowitz memorial and the Eisner awards, which were both fun yet twinged with sadness as we lost two really important men involved with the comics industry.
While we were nominated for the Eisner Spirit of Retailing award, we failed to make the finalists and were not even allowed to sit with the nominees. I was disappointed, to say the least, but there were 18 nominees this year, and the competition was very tough. The winner was Mimi Cruz of Night Flight in Salt Lake City, Utah. I've only heard great things about Mimi, and I know the award was well deserved. We'll just have to keep working hard at improving the store, and we'll try again soon.
After the dissapointing denouement of the awards, I decided to spend some time seeing San Diego. We met Alton Brown, my favorite TV cook and got him to autograph some books for us. He was a nice guy and really took time to talk to everyone.
Sunday we sipped cocktails at the scenic and historic Hotel Del Coronado. It was beautiful and really helped relax and enjoy the first vacation I've taken in a long time.
Monday we went to the world famous San Diego Zoo. It lived up to it's reputation and was a great way to wind up our time in San Diego. I'll be back to visit next year for sure.
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Sat, 09 Jul 2005
Comics: The 9th Art
I should have posted this weeks ago, but I didn't. I'll be giving a
speech for 6th to 12th graders on the mezzanine level of the new MLK
Library downtown on Saturday July 9 at 3:00.
I'm going to try to give a talk on comics and communication theory to kids. Sounds boring? We'll soon see. I'll be talking about why comics are a medium that's rarely well done.
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Tue, 05 Jul 2005
Justin G is a comics addict
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume 2: Absolute Edition
America's Best Comics
I think it's ironic that this book came out the same day as Spielberg's War of the Worlds opened in theatres. Both feature some of the H.G. Wells tripod contraptions. The movie boasted a vaguely interesting script with unoriginal visuals. This book just blows it away, we knew from the opening shots of Mars that we were in for something special here. Don't let the price tag fool you, this is a special pedigree well worth the price of admission considering the grand scope, craftsmanship of both scripting and art, as well as the extra features. Grade A.
Shining Knight #3 (of 4)
DC Comics
This book is getting really good. I wasn't bothered by the Arthurian bits that irked me before, in fact they've grown to be really interesting. The art remains very strong with striking panel choices. Throwing the term "antiquities" around gave it sort of a vague Indiana Jones feel in spots and I'm looking forward to the wrap up. One of the strongest supporting casts I've seen in quite a while. B+.
Albion #1 (of 6)
DC Comics, Wildstorm
Pity that Moore never got to do his follow up project to Watchmen, Twilight of the Superheroes, due to his ever festering fallout with DC. All of his projects seem to have a hint of it present which never has come to fruition. Albion feels and looks like that, like it's trying to connect with that energy, particularly with the "play within a play" feature that Moore borrowed from Shakespeare's Hamlet. While some might think having Moore's daughter Leah handle scripting is nest, it just comes off as kitschy to me - it's just not very good dialogue and I think it's in poor taste. I glossed over from the less than engaging story about half way through and just enjoyed the art which starts as an odd blend of Sean Phillips and Phil Hester, and ends up with a heavy Eduardo Risso influence. Grade C.
Young Avengers #5
Marvel Comics
Still solid superhero comics. I refuse to get sucked into the debate about the questionable sexuality of Asgardian and Hulkling. I don't care. Whether the characters are female, black, gay, or time-traveling warlords, I'm in as long as they're written in an entertaining manner, and they are. Questioning whether they belong in this medium in the first place means we haven't truly accepted them as a part of mainstream society. I'd like to believe that our beloved medium's stance of tolerance is better positioned than that. This is a great books for kids because not only is it fun superhero comics, but it doesn't dwell on issues of race, gender, or sexual preference. It just lays them out there as givens and moves forward with a good story. Grade B.
GI Joe #1
Devil's Due Publishing
Not bad at all. I'm digging the look of Scarlet and the wildly different personalities and opinions of the team members. The book also just feels really weighty, maybe it's the thick paper, the dark colors, or the Casey dialogue, but finally a $2.95 comic that I don't feel cheated by. It feels like we're getting our money's worth of entertainment here. Grade B.
Green Lantern #2
DC Comics
Reminiscent of the old 80's Green Lanterns that I grew up on. Johns has definitely found his groove and is channeling the sound and feel of the fast moving action and thoughtful dialogue that a GL book should offer. There is lots going on here to take in with all of the various sub-plots and Pacheco's solid art is very easy on the eye as it welcomes you around the page. Grade B.
Solo #5, Darwyn Cooke
DC Comics
DC's Solo series is such a great idea. What a wonderful spotlight on the modern masters of the medium. Cooke pulls off a great diversity of vignettes that reads more like a really great anthology book. His pieces are also interspersed with an uncredited story about a bar scene with some wonderful background cameos. Really good stuff. Grade A.
Planetary #23
DC Comics, Wildstorm
Planetary is the best work of Warren Ellis by far. The individual story arcs that are vaguely familiar, the cover designs hosting different genres, and the superstory which seems to tie together the canon of all comic continuity is simply amazing. Though it narrowly misses the A+ grade for a laughable publishing schedule, still one of the greatest comic achievements of the modern age. Grade A.
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Sun, 03 Jul 2005
Comics delayed for Independence Day
We'll be closed Monday July 4th in honor of Independence day. Due to the holiday, comics will be shipping on Thursday instead of Wednesday.
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Fri, 01 Jul 2005
This cool gallery of bootleg toys has some hilarious pictures of illegal action figure knock-offs.
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Thu, 23 Jun 2005
"City Hideout," from Dutch design studio OOOMS, is a portable temporary dwelling made to fit one seated adult. The collapsable metal box resembles the kind of streetside sheds that commonly house electrical devices such as streetlight controls, new-age parking meters, and small generators. The hideout can be easily assembled on any corner or rooftop as the ultimate urban camouflage. I saw this on boingboing.
Justin G reads too many comics
Hellboy: The Island #1 (of 2)
Dark Horse Comics
I have really enjoyed the various BPRD series, but it's quite a treat to see Mike Mignola return to author and pencil his creation that started it all. The often teased "next chapter" in Hellboy's life seems to be gearing up here after his two year long slumber at the bottom of the ocean. Impressively open and expansive panels with a nice yellow wash. I'm assuming that the next Hellboy trade will collect "The Third Wish" story arc along with this two issue tale of "The Island" which begs the question, will the Hellboy shorts from the Dark Horse Books of the Dead, Witchcraft, etc. ever be collected anywhere? Grade A.
Conan #17
Dark Horse Comics
Not much to say here except that Conan is just good comics. Barbaric cunning, thievery, flirtation, and fighting. Busiek has the "sound" of Conan down pat and Cary Nord's art is stunning. As the beginning of the "City of Thieves" arc, this is a great jumping on point for new readers. Grade B.
Queen & Country Declassified: Volume 3 #1 (of 3)
Oni Press
Whew! That title is a mouthful, which is a nice segue to my main concern. And let me say that I am deeply concerned for my favorite title. Queen & Country is now chronically late, I don't remember where the last issue of the main series left off and there doesn't seem to be any hope on the horizon for when the next ish is due out. This is now the third spin-off series, the second of which is also very late and lingers unresolved. Rumors of movie deals and more novels abound. This issue marks the first in the title's history not written by master scribe Greg Rucka. Nick Poole, a second tier character at best, is supposedly the headliner of this spin-off, yet is hardly seen at all. No complaints on the art as fans have all grown accustomed to the wildy different styles of the rotating artists. On the writing front, I didn't feel very engaged by the story or any of these characters, which was further hindered by the lack of the usual roster page. What's going on here guys? Let's get Q&C back on track with some focus. Grade B-.
Shaolin Cowboy #3
Burlyman Entertainment
I'm almost speechless, this is simply breathtaking. Darrow's detailed and eclectic style is an absolute joy to wander through and find little hidden gems. I so look forward to this book, which is really picking up steam and not losing a bit of quality along the way. Buy it today. It's guaranteed fun. Grade A+.
Supreme Power #17
Marvel Comics, MAX
This series is the most intelligent analysis of the superhero paradigm that I've seen since Watchmen. Yeah, it's that good. Flawless execution of writing, penciling, inking, coloring, and a general sense of dramatic plausability. This book has tremendous attitude and a dark tone, yet is simultaneously thoughtful and insightful with a twinge of hope. Probably my favorite Marvel Comic in the last 10 years. Grade A+.
Girls #2
Image Comics
My fault for missing the first issue and not knowing what's going on here, but... I don't know what's going on here. And shouldn't the mark of a good comic be that it passes the test of "any issue of any series could be somebody's first and should thus be accessible?" That aside, I do have a general concern with this series based solely on what I've seen here. I'm really not digging the nudity. Surprising, I know. But it just seems so intentionally unrevealing. As if the figures are deliberately drawn so that an out of place wisp of air or oddly posed arm will cover up a nipple or some razzle dazzle. It's distracting. Either keep it PG or go straight for the R, this in between pseudo-titillation is not clicking. However... based on the stregnth of their Ultra series, I will bear with the Luna brothers and see what happens here. Grade C.
Ultimate Fantastic Four #20
Marvel Comics
After some hiccups last issue, we're back on track here. Characterization? Check. Humor? Check. Action? Check. Creepy Villain? Check. Mining past continuity with a modern twist? Check. Big brother Dan here at Hijinx totally called this one a couple weeks ago; Ultimate Mad Thinker, complete with Android! All in all, a fun little arc from Mike Carey and Jae Lee. They absolutely pulled this one out. Grade B+.
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Mon, 20 Jun 2005
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Drawn! The Illustration Blog
Drawn is a really well done blog about
illustration. It's not always comics stuff, but it's all incredibly
interesting to dorks like me.
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Sun, 19 Jun 2005
I've been meaning to post this since I got back from Disneyland almost a month ago, but I haven't been in the mood. Until now, that is! I went for a weekend with my main squeeze Christine, who is the queen of all things Disney and was the main instigator of the whole trip.
We had more fun in two days than I thought was possible, thanks to the new fast pass system in place at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, which is right next door, and we both agreed had better rides than Disneyland proper.
Somehow we managed to ride almost every major attraction on both parks in two days, some of them twice! We even fit in the monorail and the train ride around the park, as well as the riverboat ride. We only missed a couple of second tier rides, but I was most bummed out about Space Mountain, which is undergoing repair work and is closed until July 15th. This made me sad, as it's my very favorite ride in the park.
Overall we had nothing but a good time, and not even a tenth of the time I expected to wait in line. California adventure was a nice surprise, as the lines aren't as long and the rides are all newer and better than Disneyland. But then again, they don't have Pirates of the Carribean!
Justin G thinks comics are keen!
GI Joe: America's Elite #0
Devil's Due Publishing
Aside from a major plot inconsistency (expressly stating that GI Joe is a strictly covert, classified, and top secret organization designed for counter-terrorism then two pages later sending them to a very public emergency management scene with no presumable connection to terrorism), this was a fairly engaging read (thanks to Joe Casey) with surprisingly cool and consistent pencils from Stefano Caselli. Priced beautifully at only 25 cents. As long as Devil's Due can keep the cast small, quality high, and avoid market saturation, this could really work in the still lingering 80's revival niche. Grade B.
Powers #11
Marvel Comics, Icon
Some things remain the same. Brisk dialogue. Quick moving scripts, sans dialogue. Reading better in trade format than single issues. Some things change. Great paper quality. Does Oeming's art look a bit rushed now? Why does it look grainy in spots? Obviously attributed to the attainment of powers, but wow is Deena's out of character behavior jarring. And why am I not enjoying the shameless self-promotion and no holds barred letters column like I used to? Is it me dear readers or is this title slipping a tad? Grade B.
Wildsiderz #0
DC Comics, Wildstorm
A little thin on story even for a $1.99 promo book, but looks fun enough. Pretty interesting interview describing Campbell's process of layering the holographic art page over the traditional pencils. Fans of Danger Girl, come on down! Grade B-.
Ex Machina #12
DC Comics, Wildstorm
This book just keeps getting better and better. Big fan of the Christopher Priest style headers that shift the narrative backward and forward in time. Loving the rhythm and cadence of the speech patterns: "It's not my fault the ****** threw his flare gun into the drink while I was landing his dumb-*** whirlybird!" Digging all of the strongly developed characters. Tony Harris' pencils are excellent. Inking and coloring is near perfect. The comic references, the nudity, the plots, the designs and backgrounds, the premise, the politics, and the cliffhangers. I am so on board with every aspect of this book. Brian K. Vaughan's strongest work. This book should be selling millions of copies. Yes, I'm talking about you. Buy it. Use the Hijinx Book Club and buy the first trade. Buy it today. Tell your friends to buy it. Give it to your Dad for Father's Day. Trust me, he'll love it. Mine did. Grade A+.
The Black Diamond: On Ramp
AiT/Planet Lar
Tired of selling less than stellar work, I admire Larry Young for taking matters into his own hands and just starting a (insert expletive here) publishing company. That creative entepreneurialism is so what the industry needs and he'll forever have my respect for that. But... aside from the initial Astronauts in Trouble books and selected issues of the recent Demo series, not much from AiT/Planet Lar has really clicked with me and this is no exception. Decent enough high premise, weak on execution. Great cover design and colors, really difficult to interpret pencils on the interior. The 60's Mustang Fastback suddenly morphs into a 1980's Mustang II. Really confusing inking in spots. Cool layout, but repetitive and boring interview. Young prides himself on innovative marketing, but leaves me confused. Is it a flip book, a promo book, a #0 issue, will it be collected in trade form, all of the above? The one title that looks really intriguing with a wonderful 9 page panel, Five Fists of Science, receives a mere two page spread. I'm not feeling it, but if you keep publishing Lar, I'll keep trying them all. Grade C.
Battle Hymn #3
Image Comics
This title represents the hope of the "new" Image to me. The Erik Larsen, let's try anything, we're-based-in-Berkeley-now-Image. Still a very engaging read, strong balance of 1940's era publicly hopeful posturing with a seedy and realistic underbelly. Grade B+.
Street Angel: Volume One
Slave Labor Graphics
This trade collects issues 1-5, the initial Princess of Poverty arc. So wonderfully eclectic that it nearly defies categorization, it rides the line between indie praise and mainstream critical adoration. Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca, who offered up the much loved Afrodisiac in Shock-A-Con in Project: Superior, really have something fun, unique, and insightful on their hands here. We'll be keeping our collective eye on the careers of these two. The best offering from San Jose-based Slave Labor Graphics. Ever. Grade A-.
War's End: Profiles From Bosnia 1995-96
Drawn & Quarterly
As far as I'm concerned, anything from Joe Sacco is worthy of attention and praise. Really, they should be using his books in collegiate level courses. The perfect mix of political commentary, documentary style, journalistic intrigue, travelogue, self-deprecating humor, and amazing art. I'm in love with his thick, lush lines and the overall non-preachy attitude of the material. Grade A.
Negative Burn: Winter 2005
Image Comics, Desperado Publishing
Like the Caliber Comics anthology that came before it, this volume of Negative Burn is a plethora of mediocrity seldomly punctuated by a piece that really stands out. I got that sinking feeling on the very first page when I discovered 2 typos in the intro piece that was written by anthology Editor and Desperado Publisher, Joe Pruett. In order of appearance, the pieces rated B, C, D, C, D, F, C, D, F, D, C, F, D, C, B, F for a grade point average of D-. And what's with the IDW-inspired front cover?
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Wed, 15 Jun 2005 Thu, 09 Jun 2005
Justin Giampaoli & the Magic Reviews
Ultimate Fantastic Four #19
Marvel Comics
Regular readers of the Hijinx reviews will know that I believe strongly in UFF as the prototype of a successful modern comic. Perfect blend of diverse age appeal, honoring the past, looking ahead, and strong skills of rotating writers and artists. But, despite my fondness for Mike Carey and Jae Lee, this really didn't click for me. Really odd dialogue choices, such as turning the Las Vegas strip into "loose chippings"(?) and "nobody do the bronco"(?). This coupled with a bad characterization of Ben Grimm and some very jerky panel to panel transitions that forced me to go back and re-read the previous panel in an attempt to see who was talking and what they were referring to. Big fan of Jae Lee's Inhumans work, but his strong art chops just felt like a mis-match for this title. His is a dark, introspective, and moody style and UFF is primarily bright adventure and hopeful fun. Thankfully only a 2 issue arc, but I can still only go as high as a B-.
Stray Bullets #38
El Capitan Books
Lapham's opus seems to be chugging right along. Difficult to fully appreciate in single issues as the seemingly disparate elements all typically coalesce wonderfully in collected form. The master of uncomfortably realistic moments. Grade A-.
Tom Strong #33
America's Best Comics
Who the heck is Ben Oliver? Sign this guy up for a multi-year deal as an artist somewhere and I'll buy whatever title you stick him on! Really consistent stuff. Dynamic poses, interesting camera angles, great facial expressions and details on close up shots, very clean and balanced long distance shots that are just a joy to take in. Really dug Casey's take on the life form discovery and the "creation" moment. I think that when you add a little Warren Ellis to a little Alan Moore, you get Joe Casey. Really cool blend of grounded deconstructionism with manic and adventurous sci-fi wonderment. I'm diggin'. Grade B+. Eh, Wot? Why the B+ you ask, sah? Yeah, Solomon the talking ape has always bugged me.
Fables #38
DC Comics, Vertigo
It's not even my place to say, but I'm really proud of guys like Bill Willingham and Mike Carey. All those who have marched off in the direction that Neil Gaiman set with The Sandman and produced these long sprawling epics like Fables and Lucifer that blend existing literature, mythological references, fairy tales, and religion with their own visions. Fables is consistently strong and Mark Buckingham's clean lines have never looked better. Really enjoying the character of Winter. Grade A-.
The Stardust Kid #1
Image Comics, Deperado Publishing
And suddenly, Desperado is everywhere. This week witnesses not only the return of Abadazad creators JM DeMatteis and Mike Ploog, but the resurrection of the Negative Burn anthology, which looks promising. Honestly, I had high hopes for The Stardust Kid and was a bit underwhelmed. Art seems a little fuzzy with more of an unfinished feel than I remember their previous work having. Scripting felt very dense, to the point that I stopped, looked around the page, and sort of sighed at all the text boxes to come. I'll give it another shot, but for now, B-.
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Tue, 07 Jun 2005
I saw a sneak preview of Batman Begins last night, but I don't have any pictures of the movie since everyone was searched for camera phones on the way in! Not that I have a camera phone, but I still like to think of Adam West as the real Batman anyway. I can't be the only one out there that wants to see a Dark Knight Returns movie starring Adam West, can I?
As for the movie, Batfans as well as the uninitiated will all love this movie, as it is the best screen adaptation of Batman since the original animated series. It finally puts to bed the sickening legacy of Joel Schumacher's work on the last 2 cinematic abortions with a bat signal stuck to them.
I'm not going to post any spoilers, because there were some great twists on the villains and they worked perfectly. The performances were all above average, with particularly great acting by Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.
This is by far the best Batman movie ever, and one of the best super hero movies of all time. It leaves plenty of room for sequels, and I'm already excited about seeing them. We give this one a solid A.
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Mon, 06 Jun 2005
Toby Craig's DIY book binding
For the hobbyists and aspiring publishers among you, Tom Spurgeon blogged about this handy howto on book bindery.
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Sat, 04 Jun 2005
Justin G sure likes him some comics
Zatanna #1
DC Comics
I tell my friends from the East Coast that the easiest way to tell they're not from the Bay Area is when they refer to San Francisco as "San Fran." Only out-of-towners talk like that about "The City." I guess I just expect more from Morrison. That minor quibble aside, this issue was all over the place and I loved it. Ryan Sook's art is off the charts, channeling a sort of restrained version of Sam Kieth on the original run of The Sandman with an undercurrent of 1970's House of Mystery. Great self-referential mention of The Invisibles as well as lots of tidbits surrounding the somewhat nebulous DC mystical continuity. Enjoying the ride. Grade B+
House of M #1
Marvel Comics
I really dug Olivier Coipel's pencils on the still-never-collected Legion of the Damned & Legion Lost arcs some time ago, but his work here really lacks consistency. Odd facial expressions, weird blocky heads and stiff angular poses, and a general lack of clear panel to panel storytelling in spots. And who knows what's going on plot-wise, some odd characterization amidst a fabricated dilemma which is relatively minor considering the threats The Avengers and X-Men face daily. Grade D+
The Intimates #8
Wildstorm
I think I'm officially throwing in the towel on this series, just isn't clicking for me. Another couple neat references to the Joe "Casey-verse" with a halo.net email address and some pseudo-fictitious cancelled titles, such as Aromatic Kraka (ie: Automatic Kafka). But, not enough to keep me interested after 8 months of waiting. Grade C
Superman/Batman #20
DC Comics
Never really a big fan of McGuinness's art. Not really into the Bizarro thing. Never really got into the running jabs at The Avengers knock-offs or the Disassembled bits contained here. Aside from a brief Captain Atom cameo, I didn't see a reason to come back. Grade C-
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Not much more I can say about this story I saw on boingboing, except that if I ever own chickens, they'll be rocking solid threads.
Wed, 01 Jun 2005
comics delayed for Memorial Day
God bless America!
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Tue, 31 May 2005
Justin G returns with reviews
Young Avengers #4
Marvel Comics
Surprisingly, still a lot of fun. Great interpersonal dynamics and a lot of opposing views between the classic and new crop of Avengers. Loved the "Hawkingbird" moment and all the various story elements at play here. Grade B
Conan #16
Dark Horse Comics
Really enjoyed the return of the Prince and the Wazir from earlier in the series. Great in-between-arcs issue that sets up the next storyline without feeling like a wasted breath. Cary Nord's pencils are as strong as ever. Grade B+
The Omac Project #2
DC Comics
So, what's the big deal with this series? First ish must have sold out due to a combo of hype and DC's new books-sell-out-before-even-hitting-the-stands method of printing and accounting for orders, because it couldn't have been the strong storytelling. Really murky art that is inked too heavily. Pencils seem ok with the long shots, but get very odd and stiff on the close-ups. Still can't buy Maxwell Lord as the uber-competent power broker who runs Checkmate. Not very accessible for readers who don't know the Sasha Bordeaux history in the Bat-verse. And the JLA members don't seem to be characterized in a very, I don't know, mature fashion? Grade C-
Desperado Primer #1
Image Comics
Quite a mixed bag of previews here, some very interesting and some very boring, but priced just right at $1.99. Looking forward to solo Writer/Illustrator Tony Harris's two volume Roundeye for Love in which he has slightly modified his pencilling style. Also intrigued by The Stardust Kid from the creative team behind the much loved CrossGen late bloomer Abazadad. Dusty Star looks great as do the art books by Brian Bolland and P. Craig Russell. As for the Liefeldian art in World Traveler and just about everything else here, count me out. But not bad for a promo book. Grade B
Green Lantern #1
DC Comics
First impression was that this was kind of slow moving, lots of time spent on rehashing Hal's origin, which the key demographic for this book knows quite well. Hey, Ethan Van Sciver! Hey man, Image from 1994 called and they want their art back (I mean, why was including him as artist for 4 pages even necessary?). Pacheco's art also seemed a little off up front, but seems he found his usual strong groove toward the end of the book. By the end, I was getting into it though. Nice love interest, nice mysterious ship, and nice alien poking around. Lots of interesting seeds being planted here. Grade B
Ex Machina #11
DC Comics, Wildstorm
Excellent single issue story. Still one of the most original and socially charged books in the market. Strong scripting, penciling, and rendering. Highly recommended. Grade A
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Fri, 27 May 2005
A friend of mine just put together a nice little web page about hacking amazon images that is a lot of fun and requires no programming experience.
Wed, 18 May 2005
jedi skeptics
Check out this link for a thorough debunking of the so-called "force". In the words of Han Solo: He's flown from one side of this Galaxy to the other. He's seen a lot of strange stuff, but he's never seen anything to make him believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field that controls his destiny. It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.
If you're wondering what to get me for my 30th birthday later this year, consider tetris shelves, the stackably customizable storage units that cost a fortune, but look god doing it.
Tetris may be the most important piece of software to come out of the former Soviet Union. That is funny stuff!
Thu, 05 May 2005
Justin reviews still more comics
Ultimate Fantastic Four #18
Marvel Comics
by Warren Ellis, Adam Kubert, and Scott Hanna
This issues treats the audience to a great wrap up of the N-zone story
arc. Kubert's pencil's are wonderful with very impressive spreads and
wild action sequences. And leave it to Warren Ellis to trash the Las
Vegas strip with a crashed space shuttle and Nihil's downed warship.
Ellis is really "N the zone" (ahem...) with the writing chores
as well. Lots of subtle wit from the cast and a striking portrayal of the
FF as a team that hasn't quite yet congealed. We really see them here,
particularly Reed, as brilliant but not terribly experienced. Yes, he's a
genius. Yes they all use their powers, but in a disorganized way. They're
not a superhero team yet. I loved the ending of this issue. Reed's
hopeful sense of discovery turns to disappointment and sorrow about the
whole N-zone experience and Nihil's ultimate demise. Rather than someone
equally excited for the scientific opportunity, he gets a maniacal
warlord as his "first contact" scenario. "Stupid
jerk" just breaks your heart with emotional power. You can feel
Reed's disappointment in your gut. What would have been a solid A grade
for a very tightly scripted and entertaining issue gets knocked down for
the horrible inclusion of the Tusken Raider clones again. It's so
distracting. Homage is one thing, but this is a downright swipe that
ejects me right from the story. They are so obviously using gaderffii
(aka: "gaffi sticks") that I just have to call the team on it.
Don't believe me? Check out this picture of a gaffi stick and compare to
the weapon Reed tosses to General Ross:
Gaffi sticks
Grade A-
The Intimates #7
DC Comics, Wildstorm
by Joe Casey, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Sandra Hope
I'll preface this by again saying that I really am a Joe Casey fan. And
there's a nice self-referential nod to the "Casey-verse" here
with an appearance by Agent Stahl of the National Park Service (NPS), the
cover organization for a covert CIA-like agency that monitors and
influences metahuman activity, who was last seen in the pages of the
lamented and abruptly cancelled Wildcats Version 3.0. That aside, I am
really sensing a lack of overall vision here, a sense of purposeful
direction. After 7 issues, I'm still asking where the heck is this going?
Maybe Casey and company have that direction or end result squarely in mind,
but they haven't yet clued their audience in. In short, losing...
interest... quickly. Grade C
Shining Knight #2
DC Comcis
by Grant Morrison and Simone Bianchi
After not being very impressed with the first, I have to admit that with
this issue Shining Knight is starting to grow on me. I was immediately
struck by the pencils and how they were so beautifully rendered by colorist
Dave Stewart. The look of this book is so wonderfully dark, lush, and deep,
which really conveys the mood perfectly. At times, some of the Arthurian
Knight bits hit me as kind of hokey, particularly the dialogue heavy
ramblings about Sheeda and Castle Revolving, but the overall narrative
certainly pulls through that momentary lull. I also really enjoyed the
originality of some of the bit players such as Crazyface and Strato-San,
very menacing looking bodyguards of the wonderfully eclectic crime boss.
Graphically, it all culminates nicely with our look through the eyes of
Crazyface's visual display. From a narrative standpoint, Sir Justin's sword
in asphalt stand against virtue vanishing is very stirring. Anxiously
awaiting the rest of this ride. Grade B
Why Are You Doing This?
Fantagraphics Books
by Jason
I was pleasantly surprised this week to find another offering from this
Norwegian powerhouse after thoroughly enjoying his works Tell Me Something
and You Can't Get There From Here. The most controversial aspect of this
book will probably be that it's his first major work released in the US in
full color. Previous offerings have been either pure black and white, or
b&w with some sparse magenta or sepia like colors and effects. I was
actually worried that the color would distract from the emotive lines and
subtle expressions that you're forced to focus on in Jason's work.
Thankfully, my worries fled quickly after absorbing this book somewhere
around the second page. The color adds a whole other dimension, a vibrant
dynamic that lays right on top of the other strong elements. As usual with
Jason's work, there are two primary layers of story at work. Ostensibly,
this is a straightforward and energetic tale about an artist who
unknowingly witnesses a murder and then becomes involved in a frame-up for
his best friend's murder which is initiated to cover up the first crime.
The sub-text really has to do with person to person relationships and their
motivations. The artist has relationships here with his friend, the woman
who takes him in, her daughter, the killer, the police, etc. and they all
have their own motivational backing, necessity, dynamic, and outcome. The
question Jason ultimately poses with this project is what defines our
existence? There is a basic struggle; two competing paradigms. A series of
emotional bonds or truly connecting with people on some level vs. traveling
through life simply acquiring interesting anecdotal tales to tell. How do
you lead your life? Why Are You Doing This? Buy it today. Grade
A
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There's been a lot of talk about the most recent issue of The Ultimates 2, especially regarding Thor and whether or not he's a god or just a dude with a tricked out techno-belt. Most people ask, if he is a god, how did the Ultimates beat him by taking off his belt?
I'm no Norse mythology expert, but I do remember enough to say that Thor had a magical belt that gave him extra strength. Check out this link and this one too for some corroborating evidence.
A quick google for "Thor" belt of strenght also revealed some interesting tidbits for the true believers out there.
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we have the smartest customers
I've always said the best thing about owning Hijinx is all the cool customers I get to meet. Being something of a geek myself, I get into lots of fun technical conversations with some of Silicon Valley's top
engineers. One of those smarty-pants has written a book, called Practical Development Environments from my all-time favorite technical publisher O'Reilly Books, thus fulfilling my long-time desire to have my name in one of their books. Ok, it's only in the thank you section, but it's a start!
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Wed, 04 May 2005
Witness the horrors of heroin addiction through the power of comics. Hooked tells the timeless tale of boy meets horse in an effort to reform junkies in methadone clinics in New York. Thank you screenhead for the link.
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Fri, 29 Apr 2005
Click here for an up to the minute status report on the health of Abe Vigoda. Besides playing the cranky old cop with bowel problems on Barney Miller his finest role was Sal Tessio in The Godfather. Think good thoughts for him, won't you? Thanks to Mark Evanier for blogging about this first.
Justin G reviews a go-go
Richard Dragon #12
DC Comics
by Chuck Dixon, Scott McDaniel, and Andy Owens
As predicted a few weeks ago here at Hijinx, the series Richard Dragon is
now over. This final issue marks the underground arena showdown between
sometimes lovers, sometimes mortal enemies, Dragon and Lady Shiva Wu San
determining who is the best hand to hand fighter in the world. Green
Arrow Connor Hawke is even briefly in the fray before he and Eddie Fyers
are spared by Dragon. Dixon plays up the understated respect, but
competitive edge these two exhibit toward one another. It's very
impressive that at one point during the rumble, Dragon has Lady Shiva
cold with her own move, the Leopard Blow. This suggests that barring
outside interference, Dragon may very well be the best hand to hand
fighter in the world. Shiva may be the best warrior, the most ferocious,
Connor may have the best reflexes and form, Arsenal may be the best with
weapons, Bronze Tiger may be the best mentor, but Richard Dragon is the
best overall due to his mastery of an eclectic mix of fighting
styles.
In a stunning visual display, Wu San kills, that's right - kills
Richard Dragon with the powerful and lightning quick Leopard Blow, her
signature move. His death was unexpected. I liked it. It gave weight and
importance to this underutilized character. There was emotional resonance
there when his life flashed before his eyes. But then, Neron brings him
back to life and the reader is a little uncertain as to why. The ending
dialogue is a bit evasive. Does Dragon have a new lease on life, a clean
slate? Have his sins been washed away? Does he live only to face Shiva
again? None of the above? All of the above? This is what happens when
series are cancelled abruptly.
I would submit that Dixon and company should have actually killed Dragon
and let him be at peace. Judging from the poor sales figures on this
book, I don't think anyone would have minded. I mean, really are there
any hard core Richard Dragon fans out there? This book had one of the
best writer/artist combinations around and nobody was clamoring for it. I
think that Dragon's true death would have been the catalyst for a great
event. "The Hunt for Lady Shiva" I would have called it. Bronze
Tiger, Connor Hawke, even Nightwing and Bats could have been involved.
This could have kicked off a huge event where they all went after Lady
Shiva Wu San as the killer of their friend/mentor/ally. How about that
DC? An event that is character driven and story driven, not all
fabricated hype. As always, Dragon is a fun, engaging read. Find all 12
cheap back issues today! B+
Superman/Batman #19
DC Comics
by Jeph Loeb and Ian Churchill
This issue revisits Supergirl as she attempts to find her place in the
world and explore her powers under the watchful eyes of Superman and
Batman. Churchill's pencils are surprisingly taut here, he's grooving
with sort of a Michael Turner influence, which whether you like it or
not, has worked very well for this book in the past. As always, I really
like Jeph Loeb's dual running narration. He really has a talent for
getting into the minds of DC's big guns. It's still entertaining and
grounded in their personas, even 19 issues in. I've really been enjoying
all the appearances of Noah/Calculator as sort of the slimy anti-Oracle.
It was also nice to see Batman a little more vulnerable than usual when
Supergirl pops right into the Batcave, as opposed to the uber-competent,
near invulnerable, grouchy super-sleuth that he is often portrayed as.
One slight glitch was some weird out of character banter that Martian
Manhunter had, perhaps she's "trying to ditch him?" Does he
really talk like this? As always though, this book is super fun, looks
great, and is just a fun time. The ad blurb for the new Supergirl series
from Loeb and Churchill due out this summer is also exciting.
B+
Supreme Power #16
Marvel Comics, MAX
by J Michael Straczynski, Gary Frank, Jon Sibal, and Chris
Sotomayor
In a lot of ways, Supreme Power is the exact opposite of something like
Superman/Batman. And I don't mean that in a negative way, it just goes to
show that you can have wildly different approaches to storytelling and
still present a very entertaining package. At the most basic level,
Supreme Power is Marvel and not DC. It focuses on somewhat familiar
archetypes of characters, not big gun properties which are household
names. The storytelling is very decompressed, rather than the in your
face brawl of say Batman, Superman, and Supergirl taking on Darkseid on
Apokolips. And of course, the MAX line is definitely for mature readers
as opposed to the come-one, come-all approach that Supes/Bats is meant to
be in the marketplace. Supreme Power is a fantastic read and really
deserves the MAX label, not for nudity or cursing, but for the very adult
and complex themes that are presented.
The main characters we've been introduced to are becoming increasingly
bogged down in this bureaucratic morass that would likely surround an
individual with these types of powers. In their attempts to be "good
samaritans" or to just "help people" their intent becomes
convoluted within political posturing and the media's perception. I'm
reminded of the saying "Do a great right, one must do a little
wrong." While trying to save people's lives, the speedster character
discovers that he has broken half a dozen laws. All of this serves to beg
the question, if superpowered individuals did exist, would they, should
they be held to the same criminal and civil liability as anyone else? If
they're not, what would this do to the supposed egalitarian fabric of
society?
All the while, you can really feel something building within Supreme
Power. Each of the characters are being slowly forced out of the
conventional paradigms they've been living in. As something uncomfortable
brews, each of them is being pushed a little closer to one another,
ultimately we assume, culminating with the formation of a team that
stands above or beside "normal" society. Joe and the aquatic
woman have a bond. Mark Milton is totally disenfranchised, a loner. Power
Princess is running amok, directionless. The speedster character is about
to burst out of his corporate sponsored confines. And Nighthawk has long
been living on the fringe of acceptable societal norms. I can't wait
until all of these seemingly disparate elements converge. Straczynski's
best work to date. Grade A.
Kabuki #4
Marvel Comics, Icon
by David Mack
David Mack is brilliant. There isn't one
artistic medium he hasn't perfected and adapted to graphic storytelling.
He is a revolutionary to me, pushing the bounds of how this medium can
express itself. I hope they'll be teaching David Mack in art classes 20
years from now. He is the epitome of how innovative this medium can be.
And Kabuki is his grand symphony. 6 volumes already in print. Volume 1:
Circle of Blood earned him an A for this Master's Thesis. Volume 5:
Metamorphosis is one of my favorite books of all time.
This issue is within Volume 7: The Alchemy and blends the typical
metaphysical, stream of consciousness type of storytelling with some
auto-biographical bits from Mack. It even mentions a brief cameo in
Powers. As always, Kabuki is a striking comment on our identity, the
security of personality, and how masks both mental and physical allow us
to engage with the world and with our own truths in various ways. And
that's just the sub-text. Superficially, it's about a rogue government
assassin, an Agent of the Noh and her exemplary service, breakdown,
institutionalization, escape, and self-induced rehabilitation. Pick up
any Kabuki book as fast as you can or you'll be missing out on one of the
most innovative artists of our time. Grade? The first ever A+
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Wed, 27 Apr 2005
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Tue, 26 Apr 2005
When I first blogged about Bumperboy each issue was still hand-made by the creator Debbie Huey. Now she's gone and won a Xeric award and her minis are being collected by Adhouse Books. A great all-ages indy success story. Keep it up, Debbie!
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Mon, 25 Apr 2005
It's an honor just to be nominated
Hijinx Willow Glen has been nominated for the 2005 Will Eisner Spirit of Retailing award! We have to make a 5 minute video to present to the judges showing them the glory that is Hijinx, as well as documenting our commitment to diversity and our involvement with the community. It's truly an honor for such a new store to be nominated and I want to thank whoever did it for recognizing all of our hard work here at the store.
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24 hour wrap-up
I pooped out way early, but our artists persevered into the wee hours
and we actually got 2 out of 3 24 page comics totally completed. We
didn't have all the time or resources to promote this event the way we
did last year, and will next year, but I'm still jazzed by the spirit
of creativity and fun that runs through the event. Next year I promise
it will be a blowout party, as long as it isn't one week after our
anniversary sale and two weeks before Free Comic Book Day like it is this year.
Two of our three participants actually finished their books with time to spare, while one is now regretting his choice to use full sized bristol board instead of something smaller. I'll let you figure out who finished...
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Sat, 23 Apr 2005
Dan gets punchy
I'm starting to entertain paranoid fantasies of rearranging the store tonight when my willpower drops to it's lowest ebb. Be afraid...
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Bonni joins the crew
Another late arrival, Bonni Moeller joins the Hijinx 24HCD crew. She's already asked if she can do more than 24 pages. Let's see how she feels about it around 3 am.
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Just along for the ride
Meet Rusty who doesn't have the time to participate in 24HCD this year, but is here to write a paper about it for his high school English class.
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Auggie took two for the team
Auggie will be in and out of the store throughout the day and into the night. He's currently recovering from a little procedure and has to wear the Elizabethan collar for another week!
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Carmen Ogden better late than never!
Hour 2 and the artists are working diligently. Dementia shouldn't set in for hours yet.
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Jarred Russell starts off strong
Only one hour in and I'm already behind in my blogging. So far we've got Jarred Russell and Carmen Ogden participating, and a long day ahead of us. Jarred works for Avanquest as a graphic designers where he works on stuff like this:
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Fri, 22 Apr 2005
Hot on the heels of the Complete Peanuts launch, Fantagraphics is at it again with Hank Ketcham's Complete Dennis the Menace. Hank Ketcham was a terrific artist and his work is worth a second (or even third) look before you dismiss him based on the TV show and lame movies. You know, if Dennis was a kid today he'd be put on ritalin and forbidden to carry a slingshot. What a world we live in!
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Jim Blanchard's little chicken
Hijinx mascot designer and comics renaissance man Jim Blanchard was asked to customize a Chicken Little figurine to be auctioned off for charity and to promote the upcoming Disney film.
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Thu, 21 Apr 2005
a caffeine molecule
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Sat, 16 Apr 2005
why I don't like roller coasters
Rideaccidents.com is a website that aggregates news of carnival ride accidents from around the world. A bit morbid, but fun and whimsical at the same time!
The first day of our 23rd anniversary sidewalk sale is not even over yet, and we've already smashed our sales goals for the entire weekend! But there are still tons of great bargains to be had, and starting Sunday, all the books are only 25 cents each! Don't miss out!
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Fri, 15 Apr 2005
Powers #10
Marvel Comics, Icon
by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
Say what you will about Bendis, but the man has stamina. He's coming up on 50 issues of Powers and his crime/superhero opus is still as entertaining as the very first issue. This arc centers around Blackguard's missing power jewel, the investigation of how it got onto the open market, and a series of deaths and odd incidents surrounding it. Bendis is very good at layering concurrent plot elements, some of which are recent, some stretching back to the very first arc of the series. Like little girl turned Retro Girl replacement, Calista. It's nice to see her still working out her powers and trying to live up to Walker's perception of responsibility. I like the nuanced developments with Deena's mysterious powers apparently about to erupt. This is being handled in a subdued way. And when Bendis does turn to long bouts of expository dialogue to provide backstrory and character motivations, such as with Blackguard's wife, we don't mind because if feels right. His ear for dialogue feels so natural and is downright entertaining. Yup, Powers is still quite strong and only loses a bit of the innovative feel it started with because the arcs seem to now follow a repetitive and predictable pattern of shocking incident, initial investigation, red herring, investigation, exposition, and resolution. B+
Iron Man #3
Marvel Comics
by Warren Ellis and Adi Granov
"A super soldier biological compiler" being sold to militants on the open market. I love Warren Ellis! I love what he's doing with Iron Man, we really never have seen anything like this before with Tony Stark. What a different, original take on a classic character. The intrigue slowly unfolds in a very engaging manner, we feel as if the characters are really talking to each other trying to figure it all out while we listen in, they're not talking at the audience. Ellis uses the Iron Man armor very sparingly, reserving it for appearances that we can truly enjoy due to their scarcity. When the armor is on screen, it seems so realistic. How would a real man wearing this suit act? How would a real weapons system display interact with the user? Would a real person like Tony be cautious with its usage, the interaction with police, the heads up call to the Avengers? Wouldn't something as basic as the phone protocol to the Avengers be just that secure and intricate? Yes, I think it would! And the fight scenes! He's just Iron Man here, not the Invincible Iron Man. You can hurt this guy. And the altercation happens so quickly that there is no time for exchanging silly banter with the bad guy. Yet again, Ellis applies his science fiction sensibility to another concept. What if a rich idustrialist had a suit of armor? What would this world feel like? I am really enjoying him fleshing out a believable corner of the Marvel U inhabited by his distinct version of Iron Man. Small things like the explanation of how the repulsor beams work just go to show that the devil is in the details. Granov's art is working very well. Sort of a mix between John Cassaday and Christian Gossett's CG masterpiece The Red Star. Very good panel to panel visual storytelling, especially in the fight scenes. I enjoyed issue 3 so much that I went back and re-read the first 2 issues immediately (I mean it has been a while, right?). Come on guys, don't leave us hanging for more issues! A-
Adam Strange #7 (of 8)
DC Comics
by Andy Diggle and Pascal Ferry
Poor Adam Strange. He really is a cool character. I feel like I just fell for this whole bait and switch thing hook, line, and sinker. What began as a classic DC sci-fi romp with neat action sequences and inventive art has quickly become 2-3 page vomit sessions of expository dialogue that is really nothing more than set up for the Rann/Thanagar War mini-series spinning out of the DC Countdown event. I feel like there are too many loose ends here (Braniac and Legion, The Omega Men, Thanagarians, Strange's family on Rann, Starbreaker, references to The Justice League, etc.) than can be tied up satisfactorily. The art is still very purdy, though feels a bit rushed and not as detailed or inticately rendered as the first couple of issues. C+
Flight: Volume 2
Image Comics
by Various, Edited by Kazu Kibuishi
I like almost everything about the follow up Flight anthology, except most of the actual comics. Let me explain. I liked that I saw the Flight crew at the Alternative Press Expo (APE) in SF last year and that you could feel the buzz around the booth, the "darling of the show" the press aptly called them. I like that Jim Valentino from Image "discovered" them at that show and I literally saw that happen before my eyes. That's one of the most dynamic things about that convention and the industry in general, that's how quickly it can happen. It's very reassuring to creators trying to break in and to some extent restores my faith in the industry. I like that this year at APE, the Flight booth was crammed with about 20 people out front and I actually had to wait in line to chat with Editor/Contributor Kazu Kibuishi. They were selling copies of this anthology faster than they could restock the table. I like that there is a concerted effort to thematically link all of the pieces, they either literally depict the act of flight or figuratively showcase that concept, as in "taking flight" from a situation. I like that they seem to be gaining momentum, this volume is nearly double the size of the first, and the production quality remains extremely high.
My issue is that this falls into the trap that so many anthologies do, I just didn't like the majority of the pieces it contained. And it bothered me that creators whose pieces I did enjoy in Volume 1 were nowhere to be found in Volume 2. Before I start sounding too negative, let me say that my absolute favorite piece was Wilford's Stroll by Justin Ridge. A very imaginative piece, sans dialogue, that tells such a satisfying and intriguing tale of discovery and wonder. Ridge is an absolute master storyteller and very effectively conveys emotion via facial expressions and body language. I love, love, love this story. I was so moved by this story that I even contacted him the very next day over email to inquire about purchasing some of the original artwork. I also enjoyed the autobiographical The Golden Temple by Neil Babra, which is a travelogue style story reminiscent of Craig Thompson's Carnet de Voyage. Dust on the Shelves by Bannister is a charming little story about love found in a comic shop. Icarus by Johanne Matte was done very well and Kazus Kibuishi's The Orange Grove was a very insightful look at missed opportunity that "most times feels as though the memory of what never was would be sweeter than anything that could have been." I was very into Ride by Rodolphe Guenoden, which centers around the correlation of death and danger with lust and the physical chase. So that's 6 pieces out of a total of 33 offered, or about 18% enjoyment. Not a very successful rate and I have a couple of theories on why Flight seems to be largely an "honorable failure" for me personally.
Sometimes, I think that the pieces I don't like try too hard to be intellectual. In their quest to be complex or heady, they actually become obtuse. They border on being pretentious. Tendergrass by Matthew Woodson and WeatherVain by Hope Larson fall into this category for me. Some just seem to meander all over the place and go nowhere like Ghost Trolley by Rad Sechrist. Steven Grant over at Comic Book Resources (CBR) has been currently putting on a very insightful series of online workshops for creators and one of his writing rules is that all plot elements introduced have to contain some sort of pay off or resolution. Reading Flight, I was often reminded of the importance of providing this element while plotting to ensure audience satisfaction or emotional resonance. Some pieces seemed to force feed a political message or cautionary tale too hard. Skyblue or Laika by Doug Holgate fit well into this category.
By comparison, the pieces I did enjoy relied on relatively simple and focused messaging that came across much more clear and powerful. Wilford's Stroll nailed a sense of wonder and amazement. It was magical and was conveyed clearly in the visuals. Icarus went straight for the humor and totally delivered both visually and verbally. The Orange Grove was uncompromising in it's themes of missed opportunity and familial obligation. I loved how Ride so clearly captured the idea of death and lust being linked. The pay off of the last panel, with no expository dialogue, was very impressive.
The other comparison I am forced to make because it's fresh in my mind and was reviewed here at Hijinx is the recent anthology by AdHouse Books, Project: Superior. When I look at Flight, I am struck by how many creator bios reveal work in animation and it definitely comes across in their work. Pieces like Blip Pop by Ryan Sias, The Flying Bride by Giuseppe Ferrario, or La Sonadora by Joana Carneiro all made me feel as if I was watching Saturday morning cartoons. This is not negative in and of itself, but it's really not what I want from a comic book anthology. Project: Superior feels direct and pure, like authentic comic books. Paul Pope's thick and inky style and Brian Maruca's Afrodisiac could only exist in comics and I feel they're more representative of the true medium.
This is an odd review to sum up because there were a handful of pieces that really hit the mark, but there was a very high percentage that I just did not personally respond well to whatsoever. I have to look at effort vs. results. If someone told me they had $25 to spend, I'd recommend Project: Superior over Flight: Volume 2 in a heads up comparison. Or I'd suggest as a more adventurous option, purchasing Flight Editor Kazu Kibuishi's Daisy Kutter (a seamless mix of robots, Western, an off type romance, and nice touches like games of Texas Hold 'Em) and leaving enough money left over for a down payment on the Project: Superior Hardcover.
Something I rarely do is explain my grade, but I feel it's appropriate here. Good production quality and good execution resulting in nothing I responded to would get a flat C. If i liked close to half of the pieces, that would push us into B territory. But I only liked a sprinkling here, which keeps us in the C+ area. However, the pieces I liked were so strong they'd all get an A or A+, pushing the overall package to B-
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Tue, 12 Apr 2005
Justin G reviews more comics
DC Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1
DC Comics
by Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Judd Winick, Rags Morales, Ed Benes, Jesus Saiz, Ivan Reis, and Phil Jimenez
It seems that everyone had made up their mind about this book before it even came out. It smacks of Identity Crisis! It upsets continuity! It's disrespectful to the humorous era of JLA/JLI/JLE! Oh the horror, they cried! I was anxious to read it and make my own evaluation. I went into it with my normal guidelines. Regardless of continuiuty and external factors, is it just entertaining in and of itself? Is it well executed in both writing and art, do they hold up to scrutiny? And does it deliver on its promise, achieving what it intended to do?
Most critics took issue with the way everyone blatantly disregarded Blue Beetle's concern. Someone is clearly attacking Ted Kord both financially and physically and the big name JLA'ers seem to think he's just paranoid, goofy ol' Beetle. I can accept Batman blowing him off, doesn't seem to be too out of character for him lately. Whether you like the justification for it or not, he has alienated Oracle, Nightwing, and everyone close to him, so why hesitate to ignore a self proclaimed second stringer? The one that does seem extremely out of character is Martian Manhunter, his reaction to Beetle's concern was jarring and pushed me right out of the story. The Manhunter from Mars is typically very calm and collected, exhibiting a great deal of concern for all JLA'ers past and present, whether you're Superman or a Reservist. I don't know about being the "spinal cord" of the league, but he has certainly been the glue holding all the disparate members together through every incarnation. Yet here he is ready to dispatch Hawkman and Hawkgirl to Rann based solely on a message fragment from Adam Strange, but he can't be bothered with an attempted murder, while the victim is standing right beside him in the Watchtower. That characterization was unacceptable.
I did like the moments between Booster Gold and Blue Beetle. I thought this was a touching and insightful look into their surprisingly complex friendship. I liked all of the continuity references that were dropped. The references to the original Crisis, the hint of the Marvel family slipping off to other worlds, the links to Identity Crisis, the absolutely cool reference to Booster taking the first hit from Doomsday on the fateful day that Superman died. I thought Beetle's narration throughout the book was very strong. His stoic attitude about death and acknowledgment that there would be a third Blue Beetle to carry on the mantle. His description of Starfire was a very nice touch.
Beetle has always been goofy, but he's not stupid. The second he sees the knight symbol on the monitor, wouldn't he intuitively recognize that was a Checkmate compound? And since when is M