Justin G returns with reviews

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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amazon image hacking

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.

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RIP Frank Gorshin

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jedi skeptics

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big pussy

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Tetris shelves? Da!

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!

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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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ultimate accessory

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

hooked!

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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