Donist World

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 2/10/2012

2012-02-10T17:44:00.000-08:00

(Sung to the Tune of TV on the Radio's "Wolf Like Me")

Say, say my good mates
Won't you come read with me?
Batwoman you must see
Kids gone a tragedy

Kate Kane and Chase pull a shift
Beatin' on gangland twits.
The hook hand is big and cruel
Gotta bust that jerk, gotta save some kids

You should really try Demon Knights
Exoristos gets in lots of fights
Etrigan is not really there
He still whups ass so I don't care

Obie maintains
Frankenstein again, that dog likes it
Monsters remain
Assault your brain, yeah dog we like it.

Obie waiting for his
puppy martini.

Hello there all you happy people. I just got back late from a business trip, thus the delay in this week's Donist World FSoH/SitW post, but better late than never. Ooops. Hold on a moment. Why lookie there. It' none other than my friends' Boston Terrier and my main reader Obie. Obie was also on a business trip as evidenced by his little power tie, the tiny suitcase filled with kibble, and his traveling fedora resting atop his head. The cool thing is that Obie will be staying over for the next few nights and keeping his sister, Tulip, company here at casa del Donist. Since we're already late, we're going to keep this short and get right down to it...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Batwoman #6

Batwoman #6 - Written by J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman and illustrated by Amy Reeder, published by DC Comics. We all knew this day was coming. A day where J.H. Williams III was not the one providing the illustrations for Batwoman. Enter Amy Reeder, the artist covering the latest storyline and a fitting addition to one of my favorite 52 relaunch books.
The story begins with Batwoman fighting in an underwater lair with the hook-handed freak who nearly cut Bette Kane in half. From here the story jumps around revisiting everything that has happened from the previous five issues and reintroducing the reader to the main characters. We are also given a glimpse of those responsible from creating the Weeping Woman, the mysterious Falchion and the mystical Maro. After having her identity exposed by Cameron Chase, Batwoman is forced to work with the DEO agent as they battle the secretive Medusa group, leading back to the present battle where the story is about to begin.
This issue almost seemed as if it exists to bring new readers up to speed, but since this book is only on issue six, I'm not sure why such a move is necessary at this early stage. That said, there is still plenty to enjoy for new and current fans, with much of the "catch up" scenes containing new information such as the introduction of Maro and Falchion to spark the reader's interest. There are some great character moments between Kate Kane and Maggie Sawyer as well as Colonel Jacob Kane as he watches over the comatose Bette Kane. What will probably be the main topic of conversation concerning this issue is new artist Amy Reader, who does an exceptional job of filling in for J.H. Williams III for this storyline. She maintains the beautiful look and tone of the book--with the aid of colorist Guy Majors--while providing her own style to great effect. Despite not moving the story forward all that much, this issue is still highly enjoyable and although J.H. Williams III's masterful pages will be missed, Amy Reeder fills his shoes quite well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Demon Knights #6

Demon Knights #6 - Written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Diogenes Neves, published by DC Comics. Demon Knights is DC Comic's sole fantasy title and thankfully it's a good one at that. Filled with conflicting personalities, cruel betrayals and one hell of a complex threesome relationship this comic continues to be much fun despite taking place in the same little town for six straight issues.
Exoristos is overflowing with guilt over her decision that sent a young girl to a terrible fate, and the Amazon warrior means to atone by dying in battle. Of course killing an Amazon is no simple feat as a monstrous triceratops and its riders soon discover. The horse woman--does she even have a name at this point?--comes up with a plan to bring an army to the battlefield. Madame Xanadu weighs the choice of taking a life to restore her youthful vigor and she too comes up with plan that Etrigan is not going to appreciate. The final battle is upon the Demon Knights, but can four mighty warriors stand against an army?
Demon Knights seems to take a cue from Batwoman by having some fairly blatant moments of exposition to bring new readers up to speed, but again with only five issues before this one, catching up is not that big of a deal. Again, this is not necessarily a bad thing and should not pull current readers too far from the story. As I have said in most of the reviews of this series, Etrigan is still the least interesting of the group, but I'm sure that is something Cornell will remedy in later issues. For now, it's the cover model head-butting a dinosaur who shines as she single-handedly wrecks havoc on the invading army; hopefully her story will come soon. Neves provides some stunning battle scenes that keep the pages flying by, while also providing great scenes of emotion through the expressions on the character's faces. Combined, Neves's art and Cornell's story are a perfect match and Demon Knights continues to be a lot fun even though a certain yellow-skinned demon has been absent for much of the series. I would not count Etrigan to remain in the background forever and the next issue looks to be nuts. RECOMMENDED!

Frankenstein Agent
of S.H.A.D.E. #6

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #6 - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Alberto Ponticelli, published by DC Comics. Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. is one of those books that manages to surprise and entertain on a monthly basis. This is not a shock since Jeff Lemire is the writer, and--discounting the recent crossover with Omac--the comic has managed to remain outside of the DC superhero universe. Because of this Lemire is able to create in his own sandbox without the constraints of continuity or crossover events--again minus the Omac issue. It'll be interesting to see the direction the book takes when Lemire steps down to be replaced by Matt Kindt later this year.
As Nina and Ray Palmer discount the humanid drone project, one of the beings with the 24-hour lifespan becomes sentient and runs from imminent recycling. Meanwhile, Frankenstein and the other Creature Commandos find themselves in Vietnam on the hunt for Colonel Quantum, an immensely powerful and insane red-skinned agent who harkens back to a certain blue-skinned super doctor hailing from Manhattan. When Quantum is found in an unexpected physical and emotional state, Frankenstein releases his old friend from his pain, but unfortunately a Commando's work is never done. The rogue humanid has gathered fellow sympathizers and with their aid they free the deadly inhabitants of a micro prison, leaving only Lady Frankenstein and Nina to square off against the original Creature Commandos.
Using the "F" word to describe comics is becoming annoying. Frankenstein is an enjoyable, gladdening, rip-roaring...awwww, forget it. Frankenstein is a fun book that consistently entertains and while reminiscent of the old days of Vampirella, Eerie and Creepy, manages to provide something new at the same time. I was sad to learn that Lemire is set to leave the book in order to work on Justice League Dark, but I am more than willing to stick around to see what his collaborator Matt Kindt comes up with. My main hope is to get some insight into the other Commandos before he leaves, as there's a wealth of story waiting to be told. A cool book that monster fans should love. RECOMMENDED!

Isotope Comics While on a Business Trip and Other Groovy Things - This week I had to be out of town for the better part of three days for a business seminar...but let's not talk about that. One of the key points that made the trip tolerable was that I was able to briefly see a close friend, see my brother, buy some Blue Bottle Coffee and visit Donist World favorite comic book store Isotope Comics. Isotope is one of those comic book shops that you just want to move into. I don't mean park down on one of the stylish leather couches, but bring a suitcase, toothbrush, sleeping bag or inflatable bed and actually move into the place. They have lovely art displayed on the wall--including the toilet seat art--the most recent comic book releases and many trades. They oftentimes host crazy after-hours parties--that I have sadly not been to--with cocktails, DJs and fabulous creators. Most important to the experience is store owner James Sime, who stands out in a crowd with tall hair, an impressive mustache that I have no hope of ever growing and amazing stylish suits. The thing about Sime is the clear joy that comics bring him. He's a blast to talk to and I would have gladly stayed much longer had I not had a measly hour and a half to walk to catch the muni, ride it across town, walk to the store, walk back to the muni, and walk back to the seminar. Not enough time at all. So, Mr. Sime, I agree, you should not have told your friends about Daredevil when you were a kid, causing an increased demand in your neighborhood, but hey, you were a kid and we all make mistakes as kids. Now with his own tremendous store, he never has to go without his favorite comics and neither should you. If you are in San Francisco, Isotope is a must see store.
Speaking of Isotope and good comics, I need to mention that I picked up Supergod written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Garrie Gastonny, published by Avatar Press and as recommended by Mr. Sime. Essentially, this is a story of what would happen if the nuclear arms race was actually a race to create super humans and the repercussions of doing so. Haunting and crazy in a way that only Ellis can effectively pull off. Also recommended was Ellis's other book Black Summer but I will definitely be buying that once I have a bit more cash money. Written when Ellis was angered by American politics during the Bush administration, the comic is about a super hero who takes matters into his own hands to right the world. I can't wait to read this one.
I will briefly mention Severed #7 which Donist World will give a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! designation for the issue and the series as a whole. This is another title that I could devote an entire post to praising, but I will have to do that at a later time. Just know that this horror comic from Scott Snyder, Scott Tuft and Attila Futaki is a slow-building, tension-filled roller coaster of a ride that expertly shows the power of the comic storytelling format. Well worth finding the individual issues or pick up the hardcover in April...but seriously, why wait.
Finally, while in San Francisco, I went to another place that I would like to move into, Smuggler's Cove. Smugglers Cove is a hidden gem that a friend took me to and is a rum bar with amazing drinks (I had something with all-spice syrup in it that was amazing). The place is small and looks like an adult Pirates of the Caribbean ride, with three levels, incredibly complex drinks that take a while to make, and lounge music that I simply adore. Be ready to drop some serious coin at this amazing bar, but be ready for an experience you will never forget. Plus, the place is in walking distance from Isotope...YOU CANNOT FAIL! Now to try to make some all-spice simple syrup and recreate that drink...not a chance.

Slice Into the Woods

Losing Out on Morning Writing Time - Yeah, the business trip wiped me out and the stupid alarm clock (probably user error) did not work to get me up to write one morning. I did get to briefly work on a short, personal, dark fantasy script that is pretty much hammered out on paper and I should be able to type up on Saturday, so at least I did that. Then, to really put me behind, I was a total wreck on Thursday due to lack of sleep that I was not able to start this blog...hence the delay. Not cool, Work, not cool.

Donist World Top Eleven Comic Titles for 2011

2012-02-09T07:34:00.000-08:00

Every other blog and their cousin has done a top whatever list and lacking in creativity I thought, "Hey Donist, wouldn't it be swell if you put out a Top Eleven for 2011 list like everyone else did weeks ago?" Sure, why not.

Top Eleven Comics of 2011

Below are my favorite series that were released in 2011. There is no particular order other than alphabetical.

Animal Man - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Travel Foreman, published by DC Comics. Back in the day I was a fan of Morrison's run, but after reading the first issue, it was clear that Lemire was going to bring something different. Equal parts family drama and horror, Buddy and Maxine's journeys into "The Red"to stop "The Rot" immediately grabbed my attention. This is one of my most anticipated reads on a monthly basis and my favorite of DC's 52. Coupled with the complementary Swamp Thing, the beginning of each month brings an amazing and scary good time.
Batman - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Greg Capullo, published by DC Comics. After reading Snyder's chilling run on Detective Comics there was no way I was going to pass on this new series. Bruce Wayne is once again the Dark Knight, and on the trail of a secret society that could not possibly exist. At times an informative history lesson of Gotham and others a frightening thriller, there's a reason why this is currently one of the best selling comics on the stand.
Batwoman - Written by J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman and illustrated by J.H. Williams III, published by DC Comics. Greg Rucka originally chronicled Batwoman's story in one of my favorite storylines in Detective Comics a few years ago. Now, Williams III has taken up co-writing with Blackman and they do not miss a beat. Batwoman (Kate Kane) is one of the strongest and most complex female characters in comics today and one of my favorite characters period. A cool and creepy murder mystery, Batwoman always leaves me wanting more.
Chew - Written by John Layman and illustrated by Rob Guillory, published by Image comics. Chew is one of the oddest and most disgusting books I have ever read, yet it is a great joy to read every month(ish). I love the idea of food based powers and the intricate tale that Layman and Guillory have created and kept flowing since the beginning is addictive. Cibopaths, saboscrivners, bird flu pandemics, alien plants that taste like chicken, conspiracies, family drama and the list goes on and on, but everything works together and to further the story as a whole. I hope to be reading this book for some time.
Detective Comics - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Jock and Francesco Francavilla, published by DC Comics. I had not read any of the Dark Knight's books in quite some time, but after getting a hold of a second printing of the first issue, I was scrambling to gather up the other back issues I was missing. As much Commissioner Gordon's Story as Dick Grayson's, the pair confront threats both internal and external in one of the best BatBook runs I have ever read. A great and honestly terrifying run that left me peeking through my fingers as I read each issue, while afraid to turn to the next page.
I, Vampire - Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino, published by DC Comics. As a kid, I only caught bits and pieces of the '80s I...Vampire stories and the relaunch of the title caught my attention primarily because Fialkov was writing and because of my interest in a character I knew little about. Now having read the first five issues, it's easy to say that I was blown away. A centuries old love story, Andrew Bennett's true love, Mary, finally embraces the evil within her and betrays the "man" she loves to rule the world as "The Queen of Blood." Filled with dark, lovely art and strong, emotion-filled coloring and an intriguing story, this is one of DC's best titles.
Rachel Rising - Everythinged by Terry Moore, published by Abstract Studio. Following Moore's ultra-cool sci-fi drama Echo comes a horror story with a deliberate, slow-burn pace that is well-written, scary and beautifully illustrated. Why was Rachel killed? Who killed her? Why is she back from the dead? All are questions at the forefront of this murder mystery that finds the murder victim attempting to find her own killer, while a simulacrum wanders the streets inciting others to commit horrible acts. Weird, creepy and everything I want to see in a comic book.
The Sixth Gun - Written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Brian Hurtt, published by Oni Press. What's not to love in this Western, supernatural mashup complete with cowboys and strong characters in possession of an evil set of guns. You have dead generals roaming the countryside in search of the mystical weapons, mummies, secretive religious sects, ghosts, train heists, and so much more. Becky, Drake and Gord have each pulled me into this great tale and I am not surprised that the first trade will be a mini-series appearing on the Sci-Fi channel in the future.
The Stuff of Legend - Written by Mike Raicht & Brian Smith and illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III, published thy Th3rd World Productions. As a kid, and long before the days of Toy Story, I believed that my toys would come to life and go on fantastic adventures while I was away at school. I wished that I could join them. The Stuff of Legend team puts a twist on this scenario, when the Boogeyman kidnaps a young boy and drags him to the dark, leaving only his toys and his puppy to enter the spooky closet and retrieve their abducted friend. Charming, scary, nail-biting suspense make this one of my favorite books on the shelf. Currently on volume three: "A Jester's Tale."
Swamp Thing - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Yanick Paquette, published by DC Comics. Don't get me wrong, Moore's Swamp Thing is one of my most treasured runs of all time, but Snyder's reboot/relaunch/rewhatever is an excellent continuation and expansion of the Swamp Thing character. Alec Holland is again human, but with a link to "The Green" he does not want. Along with Abigail Arcane they seek to stop "The Other" also known as "The Rot" from enacting its horrendous plan. An excellent companion book to Lemire's Animal Man, I cannot imagine reading one without the other. So very creepy, so very good and a book that I rush out to buy each month!
Sweet Tooth - Everythinged by Jeff Lemire, published by Vertigo Comics, a DC Comics Imprint. Sweet Tooth is one that I foolishly passed on buying during its initial release in 2009. After absorbing the first two trade paperbacks and scrambling to find the uncollected individual issues, I switched to buying the floppies as they release. I did this with good reason. Although Sweet Tooth is not the most uplifting of comics on the stands, it is one of the best. A post-apocalyptic tale of a world where humans are dying and animal/child hybrids are the norm. Lemire leaves the reader loving the characters and fearful for their safety with every page turn. A powerful and addictive series.

There you have it, but there are a few other titles that have me thoroughly impressed that I have to mention. Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang is incredible with heavy doses of myth and the strongest female protagonist of them all. Mark Waid's Daredevil is a shot in the arm for the "Man Without Fear" as Waid brings a sense of wonder back to the character who has been mired with a depressing and terrible life over the years (don't get me wrong, I loved Bendis's run and Brubaker's followup). Warren Ellis's done-in-one issues of Secret Avengers have been tons of fun and is currently the second Marvel title I am reading (I know, I know...I will read Uncanny X-Force soon). Nate Simpson's Image title, Nonplayer, was incredible and would have made it on the list if another issue had come out, but this is not a slight to the creator as excellence takes time and issue two should see release in 2012. Also worth checking out: Demon Knights, Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E., Who is Jake Ellis, Witch Doctor, The Shade, Morning Glories, Severed. Overall a DC heavy list which I find surprising since before the relaunch Sweet Tooth was the only DC title that I was buying. I am excited for the coming year and for comics in general, it's a great time to be a comic book reader folks, so get out there and support the work of the creators you truly love.

*I hope to next do a look back at the Graphic Novel releases of 2011, that are worth checking out. If you feel there is something that I am missing, please let me know; I'm always looking for more great comics.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 2/3/2012

2012-02-03T06:57:00.000-08:00

(Sung to the tune of Psychedelic Fur's "Pretty in Pink")

Swamp Thing's a blast and frightening to boot
Alec and Abby are so screwed
The Rot's burning trees and chainsawing homies
The Green says that Alec's too late

Rachel Rising's creepy, Mister Moore says
"You're Ma Malai...the angel of death!"
Aunt Johnny is cool, Zoe's friend oh so cruel
Sweet Tooth's Gus and Jepperd are hating life

Comics are great, aren't they?
Comics are great, aren't they?

Obie, my friends' Boston terrier and my main Donist World reader after my mom, is not doing so hot after taking a spill down a dirt hillside. It turns out that dog + dirt hill + leaping after a missed tennis ball = one nasty wipeout of a spill. The poor little guy has a fat lip and dual scraped carpal pads and a whole heaping helping of the bummers. You see, that's when Doctor Donist pays a house call to read him this week's comics, which after looking at the list of titles might not be the best of things for a hurtin' puppy. This week is all about horror and misery, but that's okay, he can take it. I'm more worried about my own fragile world getting rocked, but then again amazing comic books are always just what the doctor ordered. Amiright?

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Swamp Thing #6

Swamp Thing # 6 - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Marco Rudy, published by DC Comics. As I have said with each new installment of Swamp Thing and its sibling book Animal Man there is a reason why these two books--and Snyder's other excellent 52 book, Batman--are my three favorites. With last issue's cliffhanger ending of the Green about to be torched by an agent of the rot, upping the ante so soon and in a believable way seemed unlikely. Sometimes it's good to be wrong.
Alec Holland just felt something course through his body, something terrible. The Parliament of Trees is dying and according to the Rot, Alec's refusal to take in the power of the Green is why the battle is now about to be lost. Then there is Abigail Arcane, who is revealed to be the chosen champion of the Rot, not her brother William Arcane as previously believed. As the Green reels and Alec is left powerless, the Rot seizes Abigail and begins to transform her into its most powerful agent. Alec runs, but no matter how desperate his pleas for the Green to take him, the power is not there and things only get worse.
Oh man, oh man, oh man. That has got to sting something fierce! How do you walk away from that? Sorry, folks, you're just going to have to read this issue to find out what happened. Leave it to Scott Snyder to take an already tense, stressful read and push the story further than expected. This issue was uncomfortable and disgusting with terrible things befalling the lead characters, but the events do not alienate the reader or make them want to stop reading. The opposite is true. You desperately want Alec and Abby to pull through, to conquer the evil before them, but you're not going to get what you want and that is why this comic is so great. I don't see how anyone could resist wanting to know what happens next issue after such a chilling defeat, a thrilling chase and a brutal cliffhanger. Yanick Paquette's is again absent, but Macro Rudy does a great job of filling in, at times reminding the reader of Totleben, Bissette and even Paquette, although some panels felt a tad rushed; he was a great fill-in artist. All of that said, it should be obvious that I LOVED this installment and as scared as I am to read what happens next, you can bet the farm that Swamp Thing #7 will be the first book I read the day it comes out. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Rachel Rising #5

Rachel Rising #5 - Everythinged by Terry Moore, published by Abstract Studio. For someone who is doing everything on a book (pencils, inks, layouts, lettering, scripting, possibly production, and who knows what else) Moore still manages to release his latest horror book on a regular basis; thank goodness for that.
Rachel awakens from her second death at her Aunt Johnny's house. Confused, but glad to be in the company of a loved one, Rachel receives an odd welcome from Aunt Johnny's dog, Priscilla. Another friend, Jet, stops by and Rachel recounts what it was like to wake up in a make-shift grave. Later that evening, a new dinner guest makes the evening awkward when he tells Rachel that she is Ma Malai, the Angel of Death. Zoe, the little girl forced to commit murder by Rachel's doppelganger, finds herself in foster care and her soon-to-be foster parents are not people any child should be forced to endure. Fortunately, Zoe's dark guardian angel is watching out for her and a child abuser/molester gets what's coming to him in a big way.
Although Moore is taking his time in telling the story, the mood and the fascinating mystery that he has created along with the unique and interesting characters make the tale worthwhile. It's refreshing to experience the events in this world at much the same pace as the characters, without all of the ZIP, BOP, POW fury prevalent in many mainstream superhero books. Like Strangers in Paradise (read it!) and Echo (read it, too!), each person Moore introduces is given their own persona and quirks, whether beneficial or self-destructive for that person. As much as I like and sympathize with the undead/resurrected/immortal Rachel, I am particularly loving her Aunt Johnny. A mortician by trade, Aunt Johnny is a bit off from years of working alone with dead bodies, and frequently passes the time talking to imaginary people. Or maybe, she has always been a bit off and working as a mortician was the perfect job for her, but regardless here she is forced to deal with actual living (and unliving in Rachel's case) human beings. Rachel Rising would translate well to the world of television, but even if it remains firmly in the realm of comics, I will be there eagerly anticipating every issue. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Sweet Tooth #30

Sweet Tooth #30 - Everythinged by Jeff Lemire, published by Vertigo Comics, an imprint of DC Comics. When you crack open the latest issue of Sweet Tooth, you need to be ready for what you are about to read. It's almost a given that the subject matter is going to be harsh, you might be appalled, or you might cry; more than likely you're in store for a combination of all three. If you're like me you know you love it and will be back for more.
Last issue Jepperd came across the Project Evergreen survivors--the real Project Evergreen survivors--and he learns that the man claiming to be Walter Fish is actually Haggarty. He, Gus and Singh then learn of the atrocities that Haggarty committed in order to claim the dam and several of the women for himself. Jepperd rushes off to rescue his friends, but suffers an unfortunate accident, Gus is taken, and Bobby gets real on Haggarty. In the end it's Haggarty who looks to be in control as all of the Sweet Tooth gang fall before dire circumstances.
Another great issue of Sweet Tooth has come and gone, leaving everyone the worse for wear; this includes the bad guy, Haggarty. I loved this issue, but I have to say that the scene with Jepperd's military jeep skidding on the ice is a bit much in the bad luck category. Does he or Gus ever catch a break? Hopefully someday they find a frozen locker filled with chocolate cakes or something that gives them just a moment of joy. Man, do they have a right to sing the blues. Also, when reading this issue it looked slightly different than usual and I cannot quite put my finger on whether it was the art or the colors, it was just different. This is not to say that it was not enjoyable, possibly just rushed to meet a deadline. There was also a grammatical error at a key scene and the caption lettering was missing quotes in the panel where Jepperd was driving. Again, nothing big, but those things did pull me out of the story for a moment, but the story is so great it really was not that big of a deal. Between Animal Man and now Justice League Dark, Lemire is going to be stretched a bit thin, and I hope that Sweet Tooth, one of my favorite comics on the stand, continues to be around for a long time to come. RECOMMENDED!

Other Comics and Comic Related Items I Have Been Enjoying - Animal Man #6 was of course a great read as Lemire takes a moment to pull back from the story of the Rot to focus on Buddy's earlier days as an actor. It provided a nice interlude before some really icky stuff comes along next month.
The final newly released comic I read this week was Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillip's second issue of Fatale, which is still an interesting and tense look at a noir-style world with a building supernatural bend that looks to soon become more Lovecraftian than Criminal. A great read and a book that is dripping with menace. Fatale is only on the second issue and is well worth seeking out.
A friend recommended that I try a manga series about the world of wine called The Drops of God, and I have to say that not only was I pleasantly surprised by this book, I'm addicted and will be collecting the entire series. This manga is occasionally snooty, but more than that it is informative, dramatic, the characters are interesting and more than anything it makes me want to read it while drinking a glass of wine. I will be reassessing my decanting skills later this week and will write a proper review at some time in the future. This is a must read if you like a blend (see what I did there) of wine, an intriguing story, cool characters and manga; now if someone will create a comic centered around bourbon, I will be a happy camper.
I also watched the visually intense and structurally odd Speed Racer Blu-Ray a few days ago and aside from being too long at just over two hours, I was mesmerized and highly entertained. I will admit to being a little confused by the exact demographic target for this movie. Was it for hyperactive children, old men (like me) who were nostalgic for the old days of the cartoon, or raver kids on ecstasy...my guess is that it was for hyperactive old men on ecstasy, which is why it didn't do that well commercially. It was a blast though. "Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer, he's a demon on wheels. Go Speed Racer. Go Speed Racer. Go Speed Racer. Goooooooooooooo." Maybe I should have watched Speed Racer while drinking a glass of wine inspired by The Drops of God.
The Brutal Circle member and good friend Robert Anderson's new comic mini-series, Rex Zombie Killer was announced in the Diamond Catalog (Code# FEB12 0806) and I have already put it on my pull list. I have read a couple of the scripts and have to say that this book is going to be great. Three dogs, a cat and a gorilla with a baseball bat fend off hordes of zombies and other terrible situations as they search for a safe place to call home. Rob also had a commercial for the comic on the latest episode of the We're Alive podcast on iTunes. Check it out and follow him on Twitter at @RobertEAnderson.
Finally, another good writing friend, a person I have not yet met in person--oh the internet--announced yesterday that he has a publishing deal for a comic, which is beyond amazing and well-deserved. A victory for one of our group is a victory for all. Congratulations J.D.! Follow J.D. on twitter at @JD_Oliva to stay up to date on new projects from another talented creator.

Slice Into the Woods

Job Trip - It seems I have to go on job-related trip for a training seminar for a couple days, which is less than thrilling since my writing will have to go further into the backseat during that time. I will still be rising early to actually get some scripting hammered out and some revising done, but nothing beats sitting in front of my own computer, in a chair that makes too much noise every time I move. Thankfully, I will get to see a friend, who I have not seen in a long while and hopefully my brother is free to go to dinner the next night...dang, speaking of which I better call him. Plus, I hate being away from Amy and Tulip. Oh well...

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 1/27/2012

2012-01-27T09:49:00.000-08:00

(Sung to the tune of Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills")

Laughing Ghost he sailed the sea
Stealing from Boogie Man with glee
He sunk some ships, the toys did bleed
Then Jester came, to right the deed.

There's Drake Sinclair, his life is hell
Becky Montcrief the Sixth Gun's belle
Evil weapons, possessed by three
Will Becks and Drake ever be set free?

Andrew Bennett loves Mary Queen of Blood
She's evil son, aint it a shame.
Even with Batman, beating some vamps
They can't stop her wicked game.

The Stuff of Legend, The Sixth Gun both rule
I, Vampire's the most, these comics are cool!

Run to your store - read all these books
Run to your store - read all these books

Alright folks, we're going to have to make this quick. Obie--my friends' Boston terrier and main Donist World reader after my mom--and I are back in our secret cave and working on a task of huge import. A task that demonstrates that there is a HUGE injustice in this world and as comic book readers and lovers, we are looking for a hero of super proportions to save us from the evil that has been wrought against us. Yes my friends, we are compiling the tax "return" information for the Donist. We keep gazing into the sky to see if a blue and red blur that is faster than a speeding bullet is on its way to stop the evil's of Rex Ruffor and his sub-15% tax rate and offshore accounts. There is nothing. Where is a Dusk Knight who will right the wrongs of a Donist tax rate that is double that of Rex's rat? Hmmm, Obie...get back in the house, The Quick isn't gonna pull our bacon out of the fire, so we might as well just fill these forms out and hope for the best. At least there is some good in the world, at least we have...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

The Stuff of Legend Vol. III
A Jester's Tale #4

The Stuff of Legend Vol. III: A Jester's Tale #4 - Written by Mike Raicht & Brian Smith and illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III, published by Th3rd World Studios. Who hasn't wished their toys came to life when they left the room? I'm certain Ironman and Batman teamed with Stretch Monster to take on the evil Baron Karza while I sat in class practicing my cursive. Epic adventures and great battles occurred during the time I was away at church (bored out of my gourd) or being made to shop for clothes (the horror) or stuck in solitary confinement until I ate all my peas (the trick is to just swallow the vile things like pills). I always felt I missed out on taking an active roll in my toys struggles. If Stuff of Legend was available to me back then, I might not have thought twice about joining the escapades of my toys...no, come to think of it, I would have wanted to help fight against the "The Dark," especially if Jester was there to protect me.
Artic, the Princess's abductor and one of the Indian Nation, lies dead as a result of his own actions against Jester, and Princess wants the clown off of her land. Unfortunately, Jester's lost brother appears at the gates of the Indian Nation and he is none other than the Laughing Ghost, pirate scourge of the sea. Jester is not one to be taken lightly in any battle, but his dark brother is something different entirely. The Ghost is fueled by anger with a touch of insanity and instills terror in those who oppose him. Jester shares a touching moment with his traveling companion Filmore, as the boy and his friend are stowaways on a train headed straight into the chaos of battle. The Ghost takes sibling rivalry to an uncomfortable level and a traitor is revealed along with the discovery of a mysterious weapon.
Holy cow, this issue was intense. Beautiful and dramatic action scenes make up the majority of this issue, but there is still plenty of room to further the story and provide hints--and warnings--of what is to come. Raicht, Smith and Wilson III continue to provide a well-told and visually striking tale that only improves as the story progresses. I also need to draw attention to the design, coloring and production work done by Jon Conkling and Michael DeVito who give the book its unique and lovely look. With incredible battle scenes, emotional farewells and the fates of many characters who I have come to love in peril, I'm not really sure how I'm going to suffer the wait for volume IV in summer 2012...maybe a few repeat readings of the wonderful The Stuff of Legend Vol. III: A Jester's Tale chapter. This book is something that everyone should be reading and with the first two volumes already collected and this third volume being released at the end of February, getting caught up with this Donist World favorite is strongly advised. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Sixth Gun #18

The Sixth Gun #18 - Written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Brian Hurtt, published by Oni Press. The exceptional The Sixth Gun continues to come out on a regular basis despite the fact that Bunn is working on an ever growing list of Marvel titles and he and Hurtt have this book soon to be a Sci-Fi channel mini-series and another title, The Damned, set to appear on Showtime in the near future. These guys are busy beavers to say the least, but as stretched thin as they might be, it does not show in this great issue.
Flashback. We finally get to see what happened to Drake Sinclair the night he faced a giant mummy and fell from a moving train into the lake below. He is greeted on the shore by a man named Gabriel, an agent of the Knights of Solomon, and his cohorts, who whisk the exhausted man away with the aid of a disembodied hand that burns like a candle at the fingertips. There is some definite history between Drake and the group, and anticipating their desire for the guns, Drake enlists the help of Billjohn. Speaking of BillJohn, the poor guy never gets a moment--or an eternity's chance--to rest as he skulks away with four dire weapons. Becky arrives at a plague ridden town with a new-found bravado and finds herself dealing with the unsavory folks who run the place. Meanwhile, Drake might just have received a job offer from the Knights of Solomon.
As much I have enjoyed the past couple of issues, I will say it's nice to have Drake back in the picture along with all of the mystery and weirdness that follows him. Then there's Becky Montcrief, whose determination and newly acquired confidence make her much more interesting than she has been for most of the series. I'm not saying that I did not like her in the beginning, but seeing Becky finally come into her own by accepting the task of ridding the world of the evil guns made me care all the more. Bunn's storytelling is better than ever and Hurtt delivers some truly beautiful pages, especially the quick glimpse of the the Knights of Solomon's underworld, which has me very curious about this new group. Also worthy of mention is Bill Crabtree's striking colors that give this fantastic comic the distinct look and tone that sets it apart from other titles on the shelf. The Sixth Gun is another Donist World favorite that everyone should be reading. Three trades are readily available, so I reckon you should be a orderin' 'em. I can't wait to see what happens next. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I, Vampire #5

I, Vampire #5 - Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino, published by DC Comics. Before I read this issue, I was worried. The first three issues were great and then the fourth came along and there was already a guest appearance. Of course that guest was John Constantine, who fit rather well into the I, Vampire world that DC has repeatedly stated is part of the general DC Universe. Here we are at issue five and we're already on to the next guest appearance, by none other that Batman. Having been disappointed with crossovers in the past, I let out a sigh and read Fialkov's latest. You know what? I should have just trusted that this issue would still be great...after all, its in good hands.
Mary's horde of vampires have arrived in Gotham City, and the Batman is not pleased with the carnage that they bring. Andrew, accompanied by his companions John and Tig, head straight into the calamity, but this leads the vampire into direct conflict with Batman after a believable misunderstanding. The motley crew agree to work together, but soon find themselves face to face with more fledgling vampires than they can count. Then, of course, there's Mary Queen of Blood to contend with and the issue ends just as the excitement is about to begin.
Again, my fears were put to rest after reading yet another great installment in this horror-love story. I will say that that although I did enjoy this issue, there was something slightly off with the introduction of Batman. This was not a problem with the previous issue, which I can only attribute to John Constantine being a better and more obvious fit for this series than the superhero Caped Crusader and his special costume. This is only a minor quibble, as the story is still engaging and the threat of Mary Queen of Blood is an ever-building stress that makes this title so enjoyable to read. Andrea Sorrentino's art is as dark and beautiful as ever and Marcelo Maiolo's colors continue to embellish the look and emotion of the book. With the cliffhanger ending, I am left to wonder how these characters are going to make it out alive, I guess I have a month of fingernail biting in anticipation. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Other Stuff to Check Out - I just need to mention that I have been reading outside of my comfort zone and have been LOVING Darkwing Duck and Best of Archie. As a kid, Archie Comics were always something that held no interest to me primarily because there were no horrific monsters, cool super heroes or gigantic robots. Now as an adult and finally giving the company a chance, I know what I have been missing for the past 30+ years. This ultra-cheap $9.99 retail tome is a brilliant look into the history of the company and the characters who have held solid for decades; I honestly want to read more. The final story from The Life or Archie Magazine really drew me in to the point that I MUST read more and will be buying Archie: The Married Life Book in the near future. Heck, I might even buy a few of the collections out there as well. As for DarkWing Duck, I'm not yet done with the first BOOM trade, but I am loving it. This is a truly all-ages comic that would appeal to the young me (after you pried a Spider-Man book out of my hands) and more-so to the current me with the painfully relatable look at cubicle life. So very well-done and another title that I will be seeking out additional volumes in trade. I cannot recommend them enough.

Slice Into the Woods

Still Fighting for My Writing Time - Not to moan about this too much, the jobby-job has been requiring much in the way of coming in early, which as all you Donist World Denizens (Hi Mom!) know is when I do my writing. But, not to be dissuaded I did a little writing from 5:45 AM to 6:45 AM and spent some additional time writing in the evening. Not my preferred method of working, since a couple of solid consecutive hours is more productive than splitting up the time, but at least I was able to continue working on my projects, which is always a good thing.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 1/20/2012

2012-01-20T09:22:00.000-08:00

(Sung to the tune of David Bowie's "Starman")

Comics love
Better times, Daredevil's not feeling so low
Spidey has missed the train oh no no no
Black Cat's layin down some innuendo don't you know, she said
Wonder Woman's got tiny pants
An audience with froggy Poseidon brings the rants
Getting stabby is Morning Glory Zoe's vibe

There's a Batman lost in a big maze
The Court of Owls are meanies
He's been trapped in there for days
There's a Layman writing up the Chew
Cibopaths and cyber-lions
It sounds weird but yes its true
She told me:
Let the children buy it
Let the children read it
Let all the children boogie

Quick! Obie (my friends' Boston terrier and dedicated Donist World fan), grab that cell phone and silence it. Arghh the emails won't stop and the jobby is calling to get me to come in early...during my sacred writing time no less! How can we stop the onslaught? Oh the dogmanity! Everything is conspiring against us to prevent finishing this week's Donist World, but with Obie's help we are--pull the blinds, Obie, don't let anyone see that we're here--going to do this thing. We shall prevail. LIVE! Now the sink is dripping...put a towel in there and fetch me my Daredevil book by golly, we will not be halted. We will fight for the right to write. So, before the crazy person across the way knocks on the door to discuss the termite problems in the condo complex, we will tell you about...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Batman #5

Batman #5 - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Greg Capullo, published by DC Comics. Okay, what the heck did I read? I'm dizzy, confused, and didn't sleep well last night, and you know what? I'm a happier reader for it. Snyder's Batman--and his terrifying Detective Comics run before it--is phenomenal at leading the reader into the darkest corners of Gotham. The latest issue pushes the Dark Knight to the realm of madness, dragging the reader with him as his world crumbles all around.
Batman has been missing for days. Friends and colleagues alike search the city for any shred of evidence, but their efforts are futile. Commissioner Gordon is running the Bat Signal all night and still no word of Batman or his whereabouts. Unknown to all, the detective has been abducted from the world above, the known world, and trapped in the unknown realm of the Court of Owls. The mysterious group has placed Batman in a monstrous labyrinth without food and with his only source of water spilling from an owl fountain that is most likely filled with hallucinogens. The Owls are trying to tell the Dark Knight a story and try as he might to remain strong and resist, the odds are not in his favor. A startling ending assaults the reader as the search for Batman continues.
I was not expecting this issue in the slightest. Where less able hands would fail, Snyder and Capullo successfully pull the reader into Batman's disorientation, leaving the reader just as turned around and hesitant to turn the page. This is not to say that the sequentials were confusing as a result of poor storytelling, quite the opposite. The storytelling flowed perfectly, but required the active participation of the reader in a way that I have not seen in the comics medium before. Batman is the best superhero comic out on the stands and the next issue cannot come soon enough after the shocking second-to-last page. With the multitude of printings of this series, it is never too late to catch up with one of the best books the 52 has to offer (buy Animal Man and Swamp Thing while you're at it!) VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Daredevil #8

Daredevil #8 - Written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Kano, published by Marvel Comics. I know you're thinking, "Alright, Donist, what gives?! What about issues 1-7?" Yeah, well...you see...confession time. For Christmas, Amy's dad gave me a gift certificate to a comic store and I picked up the first seven issues of Daredevil all at cover price no less! Bonus, my friends, bonus. I fully intend to circle back and talk about how each of those issues are outstanding and there is a reason why Daredevil is the only Marvel superhero book that I am currently reading. I should also point out that this is part two of two of a storyline that began in Amazing Spider-Man #677. You don't have to read part one to understand what is happening, but since Mark Waid wrote it as well, I will be searching for that issue.
A high-end hologram device was used to frame the Black Cat for a crime and Spider-Man asks Daredevil to help prove the Cat's innocence. The only problem is she thinks Spidey tried to turn her over to the authorities. Looks like everyone's being framed, but at least the heroes...and Black Cat...are all finally on the same page. As Spider-Man rushes to save a life, Daredevil and Black Cat set off to retrieve the hologram device. The pair...work well together and we learn the formula of Billy Club + Helicopter = Awesome. The fun times end when Horn Head discovers that someone has tampered with his father's grave in a most unusual way.
This series is a blast and I'm glad that I was able to pick up every issue in one fell swoop. Waid creates such an interesting dynamic between Daredevil, Spider-Man and the Black Cat that any combination of the three would make an excellent story, even better is having all three playing off one another. To put it simply, Daredevil is a ton of fun. The Bendis and Brubaker runs were each great in their own way, but it's been difficult to continue reading about the pure hell Matt Murdock has been forced to endure for the past decade. With the bad times behind him, it's good to see Daredevil catching a break for once as well as getting to spend some quality time with Black Cat; he deserves some upbeat adventures for a change. This is another title that all fans of superhero comics should be enjoying. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Chew #23

Chew #23 - Written by John Layman and illustrated by Rob Guillory, published by Image Comics. There's only three more issues to go until we are caught up with the from-the-future (add echo effect here) issue of Chew #27 that was released last year. That issue found a battered, comatose Tony Chu in a hospital room with no explanation of how he got there. This issue looks to explain the terrible circumstances behind what happened to the cibopathic (ability to glean the history of anything he eats, including people...icky) detective-turned meter maid. That is unless Layman and Guillory aren't yet done with abusing our hero.
Tony Chu's former partner and pal, Colby, is not enjoying his time at the USDA. Nor is he enjoying his new partner, Buttercup, a cybernetic lion who Colby does not exactly jive with. Couple that with Director Peña, an elderly, hardass of a boss and Chu's former partner can't imagine a worse day. Of course he's not aware of the position Tony is in: tied to a chair, beaten and forced to eat the exhumed body parts of dead baseball stars. The abductor is Dan Franks, Tony's girlfriend's ex. He has the bright idea of revealing the sordid sex lives of baseball stars, but when those stars have all died, you need a cibopath to bite into the problem and unearth the really twisted secrets that they took with them to the grave. The situation goes from bad to worse and Colby falls back on a tried and true method of making his life easier.
Crimony. I love this series. It's almost a given that every time an issue hits the stands it will appear here at Donist World on "Friday Slice of Heaven" and I will be showering it with praise. Chew is also a difficult series to explain to someone who knows nothing about the comic, but reading the little synopsis above will tell you that there is nothing else like this book. Cybernetic lion partners for a USDA agent? Cibopaths? Eating dead baseball stars? Honestly, this is mild compared to events in past issues, but what matters most is that this series is well-written, expertly illustrated and tells a grand and mysterious story in a complex and intriguing world. Yes, Chew can be disgusting, but at the same time there is a charm within the pages that will keep me coming back until the bitter end. There are two HC "Omnivore" editions available on the cheap with each containing ten issues...I just might have to buy them for the book shelf. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Other Books Worth Reading: Wonder Woman #5 was a great read, although I found the change in art a tad jarring, but this is not a knock against the artist, the art style was just different from what I had grown used to in the first four issues. A possible sibling is introduced and the most unique and stunning interpretation of Poseidon is revealed as a composite of the beasts that live beneath the waves. Time for the action to begin! Morning Glories #20 is an example of how to sell comics. Spencer "holds the line at $2.99" and gives the reader 30 pages of material for their money. A common complaint I have with some of my favorite books, Animal Man,Swamp Thing, and Batwoman, is the rushed feeling brought by the constraints of adhering to 20 pages. Not the case with Morning Glories. Not much happens in the 30 pages of the book until the end, but from beginning to end the characters are fully fleshed out and their relationships allowed to breath with no sense of feeling rushed. All that I need is to figure out what "Woodrun" is.

Slice Into the Woods

Cold that Won't Quit - I know. What does this have to do with cool stuff and writing/creating. Nothing. It's been three and a half weeks of coughing, hacking grossness that is honestly fit for the pages of Chew, but I think I'm finally on the mend. Joy.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 1/13/2012

2012-01-13T07:47:00.000-08:00

(Sung to the tune of Bee Gees's "Night Fever")

Listen to the sound:
Donist World what's goin' down?
There are comics all around
And I can feel it

With a warm heartfelt stare
I'll tell you what's out there.
It is somethin we can share,
You can feel it.

And that groovin' Batwoman
She sure likes to fight
Kidnapper ghosts with no soul.
You should also buy Shade
Yeah, Cooke's guest art's dynamite,

Got Demon Knight fever, Knight fever.
You know that you love it.
Love Demon Knight fever, Knight fever.
You know how to show it.

My oh my. The first two weeks of the month keep turning out to be whopper comic book release days for me, which I am more than cool with, but taking the time to write up reviews for each of the ones that I love is becoming difficult to do. So, with Obie's permission, I'm going to try something a little different going forward. I'm going to do three of the usual mini-reviews with a section below that with a less-detailed shout out to all the other books that wowed me that week. If it happens that more than three comics leave me in a stunned state of comic book heaven, then I will of course write something about each of the books regardless of how many there are.
Now, why am I doing this? Well, I have a ton of projects that I'm working on, both comics and prose, and then not just writing, but lettering and coloring as well. This will include different types of posts here at Donist World, AND continuing the Friday Slice of Heaven posts that my mom and Obie, my friends' Boston terrier, have come to love. My hope is to have my work begin to show up throughout the year for others to see and enjoy. I also want to be sure that everything is done right and without a rushed feel to it.
All of that said, let's get to it. Obie...the curtain, please. It's...

Friday Slice of Heaven

*Possible Spoilers Below*

Batwoman #5

Batwoman #5 - Written by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman, illustrated by J.H. Williams III and published by DC Comics. Quiero ver el hombre Pajarito. ¿Donde está Pajarito? Sorry, had to put in a little joke here. I noticed countless webizens referring to the character with the hooked hand who eviscerated Flamebird in the previous issue as "Pajarito." Now, my Spanish is very rusty, but "pajarito" translates to "little bird", which I take to refer to Flamebird and not the creepy-as-heck, unnamed Frankenstein guy. I honestly can't see that horror show of a man being called "Little Bird." Could you imagine, "Oh no! Look out it's the vicious, serial killer Little Bird! Don't let him gut you!" It's kind of like if Darkseid had his name changed to "Good Friend" or "Cupcake" or "Blue Mini Skirt" or something along those lines. Ahora la revisíon.
Annnnnyyywho, Batwoman is still a great book, but still rushed and I wish the creative team had the long-extinct 24 pages to allow this tale a bit of room to breathe.
Kate Kane meditates for bit and knows how to defeat the Weeping Woman, taking the fight back to the haunted boathouse where a couple of issues ago she nearly drowned. The ghost appears to put Kate Kane through the ringer, once again using the memory of her deceased (?) twin sister Beth against her, but Kate is strong enough to resist and makes the Weeping Woman acknowledge her own worst fears. With the ghost dispelled, but still no information on the missing children, Kate returns home to continue the search, but instead finds Agent Chase and Director Bones in her home and they are both fully aware of her superhero identity. She makes a deal that she has no choice but to accept and later has to explain herself to Batman. Nothing matters, just so long as Batwoman finds the missing children; the consequences of her decisions will have to wait.
This was another great issue for a series that I very much enjoy, but as I mentioned above, the story seemed like it was cramming too much into its twenty pages. Of course the art is gorgeous, the story engaging and I am dying to see Batwoman put the smackdown on Hooky, which is why I anticipate this book so much each month. It would have been nice to see a little more than one page of Kate meditating to discover how to defeat the ghost. As it was, it seemed as if she sat down and figured it all out in a second and then walked across the street to the boat house. This isn't the fault of the creators, but an unfortunate effect of the 20-page format and adhering the storyline to be in a trade. Despite this small gripe, it all boils down to me wanting more, more, more of this great series with one of the coolest and toughest superhero female characters in print. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Shade #4

The Shade #4 - Written by James Robinson and illustrated by Darwyn Cooke, published by DC Comics. Hold on a second there, pardner. What the what? Somehow the fact that Darwyn Cooke would be illustrating this issue escaped me, but dang if that was not a pleasant surprise when I opened this book. I will have to look into it, but I believe Cooke is on for the next two installments and then a new artist will join for three issues and another for the final three. Sounds like a plan, Stan.
The story opens with The Shade reminiscing the year 1944 when he learned of a plot against his great-grandson, Darnell Caldecott. The Shade had made it a habit of keeping tabs on his heirs and with his newfound intel he put both plans and people in motion to protect Caldecott. Vigilante (who I knew from the JLU cartoons) and Madam Fatal (who I'm still thrown for a loop over) are two such protectors who have to find Caldecott's missing wife and to rescue Caldecott himself from a hijacked plane. The day is of course won and The Shade speaks with his great grandson for the first time, leaving the reader to wonder why Caldecott has put out a hit on The Shade's life in today's time.
The Shade continues to be a fun read and this issue provides a nice glimpse at the villain-turned-sort-of-hero and his machinations throughout history. Even though this is a break in the cool story that we have been following, this relevant look into Dickie Swift's past is enjoyable and something I wouldn't mind seeing more of in future issues or once the maxi-series has ended. I would love a "The Shade Through History" book, but for that to happen, sales need to be higher than I suspect that they are. Cooke's art is a wonderful addition to the title, especially given the time period, and Robinson's noir-inspired story of betrayal kept me along for the ride. My one point of confusion is Madam Fatal...did this person exist in comics before this issue?! If so, the creator of Madam Fatal is ahead of the times. If you enjoyed Robinson's Starman books, then there is no reason to not pick up this comic. RECOMMENDED!

Demon Knights #5

Demon Knights #5 - Written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Diogenes Neves, published by DC Comics. I'm still enjoying this series despite the fact that Etrigan and Jason Blood have had precious little face time in a series that I thought was supposed to center around them. This is fine since each of the characters appearing in this book are fascinating in their own right and at times eclipse the supposed star of the series. Last issue left off on a cruel cliffhanger with the horse woman (does she have a name?) firing an arrow into Exoristos without warning.
The Demon Knights fall into fighting amongst themselves in the face of the certain doom of the Queen's horde who are waiting to strike. The archer explains that she is enraged with Exoristos, who turns out to be an Amazonian, for causing the death of the young girl a couple of issues ago. Vandal Savage begins to loose heart. Mordru "visits" most of the Demon Knights to tempt them into abandoning the fight so the Wandering Queen can kill the Shining Knight and claim the grail that will allow her to rule New Camelot. Mordru is outwitted by Jabr, who learns from the magician of a way to possibly stop the Queen. The archer proves to be as dangerous as ever and one of the Knights commits an atrocity that pulls them away from the group and back to the fold of the enemy.
Still not a whole lot has happened in the past couple of issues, but gaining further insight into Cornell's characters make me love them even more. And speaking of character development, I did not suspect the traitor of the group at all. Crimony. That was harsh and its taking everything I have to not give away the secret, but I'm going to resist the urge. I will say that I am anxious to see the party started again and learn how the Demon Knights get themselves and the villagers out of the predicament they have been in since issue one. This series continues to be good, dark fun and next issue looks to deliver on the action. Now that I have grown attached to these characters, I hope that they all make it out alive. RECOMMENDED!

Other Books Worth Mentioning - Also this week I picked up Green Lantern #5, which was a fun look at Sinestro as he fixed the Korugar problem and Hal Jordan prioritized his life. Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. was a crossover with Omac--a book that I don't follow, but will get the trade--which had some cool fight scenes and loads of sci-horror weirdness...he got his darn arm torn off! Secret Avengers was another enjoyable Warren Ellis done-in-one adventure involving an undercover Shadow Council agent. Finally, there was Severed, a book by the amazing Scott Snyder that I have not yet talked about on Donist World, but I will do so when the final issue arrives next month. Severed easily falls in the HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! realm and is a shining example of how to do a horror book right.
I should also mention that Scott Snyder was kind enough to spend an evening with the Comics Experience Creators Workshop group for an online meeting talking about his other amazing book (aren't they all?) American Vampire. Mr. Snyder was very open about his writing process, how he became started in the business, the process of pitching American Vampire and some of his collaborative process of creating comics. A great evening and The Comics Experience continues to push and inspire me in all of my creative endeavors. Check it out if you can.

Slice Into the Woods

Not Enough Time On My Hands - Far too many things going on right now that are stressing me out of my gourd, but I'm pushing back by getting up early to write and chipping away on important projects in the evening. It sometimes seems like I need a force field to deflect everything including stray worries from sidetracking me. That is why I am staging an "Occupy My Mind" rally in my own head against everything attempting to derail me from my work. Donist World stands firm...OCCUPY MY MIND!

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 01/06/2012

2012-01-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

(Sung to the tune of Siouxsie & the Banshees' "Peek-a-Boo")

Big kick to your backside
Scary comics for you all
Swamp Thing, Sweet Tooth I won't lie
Read Fatale and have a ball
Rachel Rising's mental
Animal Man's dang freaky too
Dead chicks, animal kids whoa now
Demons, monster piggies...ewww
Have-a-look Peek-a-boo
At-good-books Peek-a-boo

Golly jeepers
These books are the creepers
Peepshow creepshow
Best comics for your eyes

Obie, my friends' Boston Terrier and my most loyal follower, and I are again hiding in my mom's basement, but this time it's not because we are still trying to escape the horror that is the holidays, but because we are hiding from horror in general. I don't know what it is about this week, or the state of my mental health for that matter, but ALL of the books that blew my little Donist World mind this week were steeped in thrills, chills and all things scary. I'm telling you, Mac, the five books I'm gonna to tell you all about below fall well into the "spine-tingling" range of the tranquility meter. Seriously, the tranquility meter in my mom's basement is reading a clear 254 parsnips...any higher and we're heading into full-blown The Shining, Blair Witch Project, and Eyes of Fire territory. We're talking scare-the-pants-off-of-you material that...whoa now...wait a minute... Obie? Where are your pants? Come to think of it where are my...never mind that right now, I just found a pair of "Lazy Forever"suits for a full-grown man and one for a dog so we should be fine. In the meantime, tighten your belts and have a gander at...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Swamp Thing #5

Swamp Thing #5 - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Yanick Paquette, published by DC Comics. From a comic book standpoint, I am loving the first week of the month since I get to read a trio of DC horror comics that have been creeping me out in the best of ways. I never thought I would ever (I know...I sound like the beginning of a Penthouse Forums letter) eagerly await a Swamp Thing comic since the Alan Moore days, but I do, and with good reason.
An agent of the rot shows up in Brazil to meet (meat?) with the Terena tribe, who are the guardians of a certain grove of trees. Alec and Abigail share some downtime in a convenience store that is all too brief as William appears with a host of monstrosities that he has "built" from the nearby slaughterhouse. Alec embraces the green that has haunted him his entire life, but when he thinks the day has been won, William rejoices that an agent of the Rot has taken control of the Parliament of Trees and is intent on burning them to the ground.
Man, I do not want to wait until next month for the next issue! Now that the world has been cemented after the first two issues, Snyder is free to tell his story at his own deliberate, slow-reveal pace to great effect. Alec and Abigail's (re)blossoming relationship is great to see--I loved Moore's decision to bring them together years ago--even though they are essentially trapped in a never-meant-to-be Romeo and Juliet style romance. Paquette does an amazing job of adding little character moments such as Abigail smiling when Alec finally taps into the Green revealing a hint of the power within, and also the loosening up of the characters when they interact, like Abigail's tiny smile when leaving the convenience store. It's the subtle moments that make the relationship real and that turns their powerful "first" kiss to tragedy as the specters of their true natures looms above them. The invunche creep me the hell out and I can still imagine the horrid "crack, crack" of the tribesmen as the rot takes them. Brrrrrrr. This issue had everything that I look for in a comic: exceptional writing, characters I want to know more about, seamless sequential art, love, monsters, a reluctant hero and a logical continuation of one of my favorite comic book runs. If you can handle the scary and the grotesque, then you should be buying this exceptional series. One month to go to next issue....VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Animal Man #5

Animal Man #5 - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Travel Foreman & Steve Pugh, published by DC Comics. Another one of the three amazing books that I pickup during the first week of every month, Animal Man is also the first comic that I read. I know I should save what I think to be the best for last, but for this book and Swamp Thing I can't manage to make myself wait. I didn't know what to expect from this comic when it was released and I cannot express enough what a great surprise this title is.
Buddy (Animal Man), Maxine and an involuntary "Socks" (a talking cat and former Totem of the Red) rush to save Ellen and Cliff from the horrific third Hunter who is intent on eating them. Buddy drops off Maxine at her Grandmother's house despite Socks's protests and he ineffectively fights the monster who can take far more abuse than Animal Man is capable of dishing out. The fight goes bad and the third Hunter gives Buddy visions of what the Rot hopes his daughter will become, but Maxine, desperate to help her father, unleashes her power in such a manner as to make the problem infinitely worse, leaving Socks to suggest enlisting the aid of a certain other DC horror comic character.
You know you've read a great comic when you have an emotional response and the latest issue of Animal Man had me wanting to shout, "No! Bad Idea!" and then shortly afterwards cheering with the very last splash page--to my sleeping wife's chagrin (sorry Amy). Lemire and Foreman provide an exceptional fight scene that shows just how powerless Buddy is in the face of this new and terrible force. The tense, frantic nature of the situation is infectious and had me flipping pages despite feeling scared to see what comes next. But the main driving force of the book, the sense of family, is made very clear as all of the family members do what they can to keep each other safe, even if their plan backfires and therein lies the hidden charm of this oftentimes disgusting book. Cliff and Ellen don't abandon the other when faced with death, Maxine won't let her father die and Buddy does everything he can to protect his loved ones despite being hopelessly outmatched. The one odd point of the book is the use of Steve Pugh for the final four pages, but his artwork manages to fit the style of the story, especially with much of the look, tone and feel of the book belonging to the exceptional coloring of Lovern Kindzierski. Animal Man is still a fantastic title that seems to be getting better with each installment. It will be a long month's wait for the next issue. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Rachel Rising #4

Rachel Rising #4 - Everythinged by Terry Moore, published by Abstract Studio. I'm beginning to notice a theme with all of the books being reviewed here on Donist World...might it be that I am a fan of the horror comics? True enough, but not just any horror books, rather deliberately paced tales that focus on developing characters who I come to care about and a story that leaves me wanting more. Thus my love of Rachel Rising.
After taking a 5-story plunge off a building and onto a car, requiring emergency crews to pry her dead body from the wreckage, Rachel sits up in the morgue scaring her friends, Jet and Aunt Johnny. The body of the dead woman who knocked Rachel from the rooftop is missing from the scene as the man who killed her, her husband, takes her body to bury it in the same location that Rachel was murdered. Many odd events follow involving snakes, a murderous child chooses to bury her sister in the same woods, and she then follows up by killing the man and burying him in the same spot. Rachel's doppelganger makes an ominous, but brief appearance.
What the hell is going on?! No, don't tell me. I don't want to know. I trust Moore to bring clarity to what is happening in some future issue and I am more than fine knowing just a tad more than Rachel knows. I am loving how Rachel is bringing more of her friends into the fold, creating a team of interesting and unique people who Moore expertly gives their own voices and quirks. Whatever is happening in the woods is 100% creepsville and I desperately want the reveals to come, but whatever the situation is, the wait is all part of the fun of this excellent new book from one of my favorite creators. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Sweet Tooth #29

Sweet Tooth # 29 - Everythinged by Jeff Lemire, published by Vertigo Comics, a DC Comics imprint. After a three issue hiatus during which Lemire looked at the history of the apocalyptic plague that spread across the world and revealed that an antlered boy existed in 1911, we return to Gus and Jepperd's story. The past three issues were fascinating and answered some questions concerning the collapse of society, but with each revelation, new questions were raised and by the end I was missing all of Lemire's characters who I have grown attached to. It's great to have them back although I predict that times are about to get tough...again.
After being asked to leave the safety of the dam, Jepperd has been living out in the wilderness on his own for the past month. During that time Gus has been healing from the gunshot wound that he received, but being well enough to travel, he and Singh agree to continue with "the big man" to Alaska where they hope to find answers to what has happened to the world. Becky finds Lucy in an terrible, unexpected state, while the truth about Walter Fish becomes clear at the worst possible time.
I honestly enjoyed the recent interlude, but damn if I'm not thrilled to be following the main cast once again. Another slow-build, horror title, Sweet Tooth relies heavily on its powerful and flawed characters who struggle to survive in a terrible world of violence, disease and uncertainty. The humans and animals' rolls have reversed with people being the wild, the savage, while the animal hybrids are the innocents and oftentimes the prey. This is a stressful comic book to read. Before every page turn I find myself fearful over what waits for Gus and Jepperd, or wondering if Walter will finally stand revealed. I just can't look away and even when I know something terrible is going to happen, I am still hoping and praying for the safety of the fictitious characters whose luck always seems to be dwindling. An outstanding book that just keeps getting better and better and one that I hope is around for years to come. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Fatale #1

Fatale #1 - Written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Sean Philips, published by Image Comics. Last year's Criminal: The Last of the Innocent was the best installment in a series of stellar stories to date, so when I read that Brubaker and Phillips were releasing a creator-owned crime comic with a Lovcraftian bend I knew I had to buy this book. I'm glad that I did.
When Nicolas Lash meets the mysterious and stunningly alluring Jo at a funeral for his godfather, Dominic Raines, a psychotic chain of events follows that leaves Lash a broken man. Later Hank Raines, a reporter looking into a crooked cop case, meets Jo, or rather Josephine, at a bar to discuss bringing forth the truth about Walt Booker--who is involved with Josephine--and his corrupt partner. Unfortunately Hank isn't thinking straight, but then how can he after having met Josephine's gaze? Men can't help but fall under Josephine's spell and it seems she has been alluring men for quite a few years, but as she stays young, Booker is slowly dying and he looks to be preparing to make a deal with the devil.
Fatale seems to be headed in the best of directions. This introduction mostly covers familiar territory for Brubaker and Phillips, but the seeds of something we have not seen from the creators before are there and the next issue looks to bring in more of the horror and the supernatural lurking beneath this noir tale. Jo, Walt, Hank and Nicolas are all interesting, but with only 24 pages--an epic undertaking for the usual "holding the line at a mere 20 pages" mindset...sorry, had to take the dig--there is more to be learned before I cling to any of them just yet. That said, the pages are packed with information and intrigue in this new mystical world and I will definitely be picking up issue two. A lot of fun that promises thrills to come. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Been Illin' and In the Slumps - Despite--or because of, if you believe in jinxing yourself--my claims that I would not get ill this holiday season, as I have done for the past 26 out of 30 years, I managed to catch the Kris Kringle Flu during the last week of December and I'm still leveled by it. I have also been feeling run down in other areas, and it has been difficult to make myself work on my writing projects. But in the end, I drag my whiny posterior to my desk and I write anyways. I write and have a great sense of fulfillment and see that much of my effort is going to be fruitful this year. I finished the first draft of my kid's/all-ages book in 2011, I have one more draft/polish of my sci-fantasy novel to hammer out, and I am moving forward on having all of my comic book stories illustrated. I also have a pitch to put together tomorrow morning for an amazing and informative, learning opportunity. So no more down in the dumps for ol' Donist, time to make the magic happen.
Now if I could only shake this stupid cold that has been lingering for the past week and a half.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 12/30/2011

2011-12-30T08:57:00.000-08:00

(Sung to the tune of Bing Crosby's version of "Walking in a Winter Wonderland")

Great comics, are you reading
Donist World says what you're needing
For beautiful art,
You could always start
Reading about a vampire no man's land

Vampire 'Drew is the coolest
One of DC's all new best
Fialkov is right
To give you a fright
Reading about a vampire no man's land

The Avengers got a group that's Secret (shhhhhh)
A story by Ellis you won't soon forget

He'll say: You expect this?
We'll say: No Man
But you do a fine job
Heck go to town.

Howdy Donist World folks. Sorry for the slight delay in posting this, but with the past holiday, traveling, and the Kris Kringle Flu, I was unable to get to my LCS to buy my books...all two of them. Once I post this, Obie should start talking to me again, it seems he is rather unforgiving when it comes to Donist World posts that are late, and I can't say that I blame the little guy. Anyhow, I hope that everyone of my loyal readers (Mom and Obie) had a wonderful holiday and that they survived the weirdness of it all, so here's...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

I, Vampire #4

I, Vampire #4 - Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino, published by DC Comics. Oh...come...on... A guest appearance already?! We're only four issues in and already we have DC Universe characters hopping into the series? But here's the odd thing that I am not used to seeing--the issue is not hampered by the appearance of an outside character, rather the story and the world of I, Vampire is enhanced in a great way, showing the threat of Mary Queen of Blood is not one that outsiders are going to be prepared to deal with; this includes the supernatural "dark" heroes.
While Tig and John rest at a hotel, Andrew Bennett sets out on his own to find some food, and he comes across another vampire scrounging for leftover blood in a hospital medical dumpster. Optimistic that he has found another vampire capable of controlling the dark urges, the centuries-old vampire allows the man to live, and believing the man can handle it teaches him how to transform into a strong and powerful being. Unfortunately, Andrew was wrong about the man who embraces his newfound power and gives up trying to contain the evil within. The young vampire terrorizes some diner patrons, not knowing that the supernatural John Constantine is there, but Andrew prefers to deal with his own problems personally. After dispatching the vampire, Andrew warns Constantine about Mary Queen of Blood and a disappointing truth about the identity of the young vampire is revealed.
I expected this installment of I, Vampire to be good, but I also expected a loss of momentum by the introduction of a DC Universe character so early in the game. I'm glad I was so wrong. Fialkov provides further characterization into Andrew Bennett and his desperate need to find more vampires like himself, ones that are able to control and deny their very nature and work for the betterment of the world. He is wrong in his judgement and it costs people their lives. Constantine's appearance shows that he is still as mysterious as ever and no slouch in dealing with your everyday vampire, but Andrew is not what you would call normal and takes the mystical man out of play with little trouble. Constantine fits well into this world and maybe someday Swamp Thing will appear as well, but when the brightly colored "Supers" begin to show up, that is going to be a little more difficult to pull off. Batman shows up next issue along with Mary, but since his is one of the darker heroes and a human, I am looking forward to the meet up, BUT I also hope to see an absence of heroes for a while to further the story as opposed to pushing cross-marketing campaigns. Sorrentino's art is even better than previous issues, primarily the silent stunning page two and three spread of Andrew setting forth into the night. The coloring by Marcelo Maiolo is a gorgeous showing and brings home the mood especially in the scene with Andrew talking to the younger vampire. If you are a fan of well-told horror stories and have not yet picked up these readily available issues, then you are missing out. Dang...I am loving this series. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Secret Avengers #20

Secret Avengers #20 - Written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Alex Maleev, published by Marvel Comics. I think that I have mentioned before that I am trying to find an "out" on this series, primarily because of the $3.99 price point with only 20 pages of material (not counting the introductory page), but I'll be darned if Ellis doesn't keep preventing me from actually pulling the plug. These one-and-done stories have been great and the latest installment is no different with the spotlight on surprise, surprise Black Widow (have a gander at the cover).
As the dead and dying members of her team lie strewn around her, Natasha Romanoff finds herself in possession of a time machine that removes her from certain death and takes her back to the past. Playing with time is tricky business especially when the "timeflow must be maintained," and thus saving the lives of her teammates is difficult. Natasha has to work with a brilliant master of time and his not-as-bright husband, Kongo, while consulting with a past version of the Beast and a back-stabbing weaponsmith in a ploy to rescue her comrades while maintaining the secret of her manipulations.
Time travel can be mind-boggling to say the least, and pulling off a good tale without confusing the heck out of the reader is not all that easy, but left in Warren Ellis's hands, this story shines. I love Natasha's calm and realization that she has plenty of time to see things done right with little pushes and shoves and with the resources she has at hand. Maleev's art is great for this issue and I especially enjoyed the 18-panel homage to Modesty Blaise (am I right in this?) with the change in look and production down to the cool yellowed pages of a newspaper comic strip. Dr. Druid's appearance was a welcome surprise and I still wish that his excellent mini-series Druid--written by Ellis in '95-- had not been canceled before it had a chance to thrive. Secret Avengers #20 was another fun, action-packed story and I will definitely be picking up the next issue. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Sorry for Posting Late - Yeah, again, sorry about that, but you know...the holidays, man, the holidays. Also, I was hoping to have a copy of the Witch Doctor 1-shot, but I did not see it in my pull, so hopefully I will have that one to talk about next week. That said, this coming Friday's post is going to be ridiculous with six titles supposedly coming out and the week after that is crazy with at least eight titles to read and talk about at Donist World. I know, I know, "Boo hoo, Donist. Eight whole comics. Wah, baby pants, wah." But reviews are difficult for me to write, which, aside from spreading the love of awesome comics, is why I do them. The funny thing is that the rest of January will probably only see a couple of books each week, so can someone inform DC and Marvel that they need to break these books up some over the month to better accommodate my schedule? I mean, it's for Donist World right? But their response of, "What's Donist World?" might cancel out that initiative.
Joking aside, I wish everyone a fantastic new year and much success in 2012. I for one am glad to see 2011 go--for the most part it was not kind to me--but I have a good feeling about the coming year and will keep everyone posted on what I am up to and what I am doing and when you can read some of my own comics. Much success for you all.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 12/23/2011

2011-12-22T21:16:00.000-08:00

(Sung to the tune of The Ramones's "Sheena is a Punk Rocker")

Well the kids are all psyched up and ready to read
They're ready to read now
They've got comic books
They got Batman and Wonder Woman that's right
Stuff of Legend rules, son
You need to pick up one
Well your LCS better have it all
Oh yeah, oh yeah

Obie bought cool comics
Obie bought cool comics
Obie bought cool comics now

Hello friends. Obie, my friends' Boston Terrier and lead Donist World reader, and I are once again hiding in my mother's basement. "Why are you hiding in your mother's basement again, Donist?" you might ask. Well, the answer is simple. Obie and I are under holiday siege. SIEGE I tell you. Holiday elves from strategic, secretive positions located around the country are attempting to track us down, trying to find us before other holiday elves can find us. We have been in the basement for two weeks now, and finding the time to write and to read great comic books has been difficult, but we have perservered. We have triumphed and we will continue to fight for our right to write, and we will continue to read in the space in between. So don't let that demon juice (Egg Nog) destroy you or prevent you from reading any of the spectacular comics listed below. Don't let an overdose of ham or turkey leave you brain addled and unable to jot down coherent thoughts. Don't--hold on a sec. Sweet! Mom's got some turkey and egg nog on the table, back in a bit. For now, it's...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

The Stuff of Legend, Vol. III
A Jester's Tale #3

The Stuff of Legend, Vol. III: A Jester's Tale #3 - Written by Mike Raicht & Brian Smith and illustrated by C. P. Wilson III, published by Th3rd World Studios. I have a big problem with this title. I know that I promised to stay away from negative reviews of comics, and to only talk about the ones that I love, the ones that I look forward to picking up every time at my LCS. Don't worry, nothing's changed. My problem with the latest issue of the wonderful The Stuff of Legend is that I now have to wait for the final installment in the third volume; a great problem to have.
We start with the boy stowed away on a living train, Bessie, along with the metallic conductor, his aid and the other human boy, but escaping from The Dark just became more difficult as agents of the Boogeyman board the train. Jester's twin, "The Laughing Ghost," stumbles upon Harmony, Percy, Quackers and a group of new animals, but after a brutal confrontation that leaves one dead and others injured, the dreaded pirate makes his escape. Jester and Filmore convince Rebecca and a group of dolls to set sail in search of the Indian Lands in hopes of finding the Princess, but Rebecca has interests of her own that don't center on rescuing the woman who holds Jester's heart. A fight. A death. And two reunions close out another exciting issue.
The Stuff of Legend only gets better with each release. Raicht, Smith and Wilson III's tale of toys who seek to rescue their boy from the dark world of the Boogeyman, contains a large cast of characters both old and new who I have come to adore; Jester and Quackers especially. The new character Rebecca is a great addition and one who seems more of an ideal match for Jester than the Princess, although she does not share their history. I love how Rebecca is torn between reporting to the Boogeyman--they appear to have a past together--and to Jester who has charmed the woman; I hope to see more of her for some time to come. I also love Jester's dark twin and the havoc that he is causing throughout the Dark, and I'm curious to know more about the mysterious stolen book and the secrets that it contains. Much ground has been covered over the past three issues with Jester, his brother, Princess, Filmore, Rebecca and possibly the boy, and next issue looks to have them all coming together in what promises to be an exciting conclusion to this third volume. At times funny and charming, and at others intense and scary, The Stuff of Legend has it all: Fun, excitement, superb characters, gorgeous art and beautifully told story with unique production. Everyone should be reading this fantastic comic. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Batman #4

Batman #4 - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Greg Capullo, published by DC Comics. After last issue's ZIP, POP, BANG! ending, I was eager to see how Batman managed to survive the blast of the building and imagine my surprise when one of my favorite childhood heroes bought the farm. Goodbye bat-titles and goodbye next summer's movie... Okay, yes I'm only joshing you, we know Batman is going to live through the insurmountable odds stacked against him, that's a given, it's how he manages to pull through and the repercussions of his actions that brings me back month after month.
Bruce Wayne, Batman, escapes the blast from the Talon's hidden base, but only barely. With no rest for the battered and bruised, Bruce is back up and analyzing the bones of his great, great grandfather and still not convinced that the Court of Owls has been in existence since the 1800s. Dick Grayson is worried for his former mentor, and Bruce tells of his first detective work, which began as a child and ended badly for the boy, with no confirmation of the Owls existence. Bruce continues his search as Batman, and the story ends with a stylish cliffhanger splash page.
After reading Scott Snyder's first Batbook run on Detective Comics that can be found collected in the amazing Batman The Black Mirror (you owe it to yourself to read this fantastic and creepy book) I knew I would be following Snyder on anything he was writing that concerned the Dark Knight. This issue had no real confrontation with the enemy, but instead focused on the mental confrontation with the Batman's belief that there never was a Court of Owls and that the evidence he has seen with his own eyes is but an elaborate fabrication. But what if the man who knows nearly everything about his city missed something? Snyder does a great job of convincing the reader that Batman is in control one moment and then turning the situation around until we doubt his actions and rationale. We are as uncertain as our hero and that is exactly where the writer wants us to be. Capullo's art is lovely as ever, but there was the panel of young Bruce kicking the owl's nest that took me a while to figure out what I was looking at. This was a minor point as everything else was beautiful and drove the action home. I also have to mention the outstanding coloring of FCO (Is this a person or a government agency?) who expertly directed this reader's emotions to Snyder's and Capullo's whims. Such a fun, intense book, there's a reason Batman is heralded as one of the best of DC's 52. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Wonder Woman #4

Wonder Woman #4 - Written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Cliff Chiang, published by DC Comics. Speaking of the best books of DC's 52, I never thought I would ever be reading a Wonder Woman comic book and so thoroughly loving it as much as I do. Azzarello's Wonder Woman is steeped so heavily in myth that I could not help but be drawn to this series. His gods are cruel and devious, petty and jealous and ultimately terrifying. I can't wait to see more.
A new god, War (Ares?), is introduced as a withered old man, void of eyes, sitting in a bar in Darfur where a war is being waged. He is literally covered up to his knees in blood when his brother Apollo arrives to discuss their missing father, Zeus. Wonder Woman, Hermes, Zola and Strife are also in a bar, but one located in London where they watch a band perform. A naked Hera, save for her peacock cloak (I'm curious if there is mention of this in Greek mythology...anyone know?), pays a visit to Diana's mother Hippolyta for some baby-momma drama. Strife learns just how tough her new-found sister, Diana, really is. Wonder Woman realizes that she was a bit harsh with her mother, and both women discover that Hera's wrath is mighty.
For an issue with little fighting or battle coming from the main characters, Wonder Woman continues to be as exciting as ever. The reader is given a close look into the "family ties that bind and gag," but then only given a glimpse at the beginning and end result of the terrible events that Hera unleashes upon Hippolyta and the Amazonians. Azzarello delivers another powerful story that does not need the punches to the face to be exciting, although I'm certain those are coming. Chiang's art is stunning and dramatic especially during the scenes of Hippolyta's rage and the brief instance of her vulnerability that left me more sympathetic to her plight. Of course I can't wait for the next issue, but Wonder Woman, although great in installments, looks to be even more enthralling when each issue is read back to back, which I look forward to doing upon completion of the first arc. If you want a book with a strong female lead...well, you know where to find the strongest of them all. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Fighting For the Right to Write - It's no surprise that I'm usually dreadfully sick at some/multiple points from Thanksgiving through the end of the year due to the stress of the holidays and overcommitments, and I am surprised that I have not caught any flu bugs, although there is still a week to go. Finding the time, the calm and will to beat the exhaustion of the season and actually get some writing done--whether it's comics, prose or rewrites--is not easy, but it can be done. I currently have a goal of finishing my kids/all-ages book before the end of the year and to also find an artist to illustrate another short comic script of mine, but it is going to be tight. I'm confident that I can reach my goals despite the terrible month of October that put me behind, and with a bit of luck there will be some cool things in 2012.
Thank you for reading the ol' Donist World, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday and that you never stop working on the the projects that truly matter to you. In the words of my wife's favorite show, "Clear eyes, strong heart, can't lose!"

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 12/16/2011

2011-12-15T07:44:00.000-08:00

(Sung to the tune of REM's "It's the End of the World and We Know it")

That's great it starts with a Wednesday, comic books just have a look
At Jeff Lemire's killer book
Son it's called Frankenstein, that cat brings the sci-fi
D-World knows what you need, cousin you should have a read
Below's a damn fine lead, grunt
Robinson's hero/villain Shade's well-played with top hat fancy that.
Hark it's the dark representing Dickie Swift dueling lizard gods with heart, all right a fight
Now there's Flamebird's goose getting cooked by a freak's hook in the Batwoman book.
My oh my, Kate Kane's night was out of sight, but drats
Chase is on her case! Fine then.
Uh Oh, undertow, Weeping Woman's dead, yo. What's she gonna do?
Read yourself, serve yourself
Also great's Demon Knights, spotlights the Shining Knight
Learn about a quest for a treasure and wizard, right? Right
Comic book thrills and chills best bust out the bright night light,
Feeling pretty psyched.

Obie loves Donist World yeah you know it.
Obie loves Donist World yeah you know it.
Obie loves Donist World yeah you know it and I hope you do too.

Okay, short intro this week as that song has left me completely tongue tied and unable to form a clear thought. Of course there were some great comics this week as detailed below and there were a couple that I am probably going to drop, but that is the way it goes. Maybe if the titles that are on the fence for me were to drop to $1.99 digital I would keep buying them, but at $2.99 and $3.99...funds are unfortunately limited. This saddens Obie, but unfortunately it's the laaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwww of the west*.
(*a line I remember from an old Tom & Jerry episode)

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Batwoman #4

Batwoman #4 - Cowritten by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman, illustrated by J.H. Williams III, published by DC Comics. Another great installment that really could have used the old--can you believe this is considered old?--format of 22 pages.
As Kate Kane (Batwoman) enjoys a night of intimacy with Detective Maggie Sawyer, Kate's cousin, Bette Kane (Flamebird) hits the night and also the faces of some gun runners. A new villain arrives on the scene, one looking like a Frankenstein/Solomon Grundy mashup with a hook/scythe on his left hand, an instrument that he uses to practically eviscerate the outmatched Flamebird. Cameron Chase, who is hot on the Batwoman's trail, locates the barely living Flamebird and pumps the dying woman for information in a cruel and heartless way. Batwoman, still unaware of the dire straits of her cousin's life, continues to track the Weeping Woman and discovers her identity to be that of a dead woman. Speaking of discovered identities, what happens now that Chase and those who employ her know the name of the woman who calls herself Batwoman?
With Batwoman you can expect beautiful art and an engaging story and this issue does not disappoint, although, as I mentioned above, this issue could have used the extra two pages of the not-so-olden-days past to develop Hooky, or Hooker (huh?) or Agapanthus, or whatever the new villain's name is and why the Weeping Woman appeared from nowhere to warn Flamebird. I am not saying that the Flamebird fight against Hookster was not exciting or expertly executed, but that I needed just a kick more to really bring it home. The love scene between Kate and Maggie was beautiful and dreamlike as it played out between the scenes of Flamebird being brutally taken down and nearly killed. I also liked how Williams III portrayed the usually in charge and tough-as-all-getout Kate the next morning as calm, quiet and uncertain through the use of her expressions and body language (this was also the third style of art used in the book at that point). Cameron Chase comes across as a cruel and dangerous woman, and I'm left wanting to know more about her and how and why she became so cold (going to have to pick up the Chase TPB in January or on Comixology). Overall, I really want to see Kate beat the living daylights out of Hookie-Cookie and make that jerkwad pay for what he did to her cousin, but that is probably going happen in the second arc. The next issue brings the conclusion to the current "Hydrology" storyline and I can't wait to see what happens next. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Demon Knights #4

Demon Knights #4 - Written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Michael Choi and Diogenes Neves, published by DC Comics. Another issue has come and gone and this one does not have a single panel of Etrigan the Demon to be found. You know what? That's okay. What has finally sunk into my head is that although the title of this book is Demon Knights, that does not mean that the Demon is necessarily the main character. Rather, what you should be holding in your hands is a fantasy team book that looks to give equal time to shine to all of the characters involved and not just a yellow-skinned, pointy-eared Etrigan.
After the cliffhanger death of the young girl from last issue, the Shining Knight is ready to enact vengeance on the Horde, but instead she (??? seems like it, but then again...) has a vision of Merlin and we learn of the Shining Knight's quest that she herself was not fully aware of until now. Ages past, the young warrior was gravely wounded at the fall of Camelot and would have perished if not for Merlin allowing the child with "two natures" to drink from the holy grail and thus heal and gain immortality. The knight learns of how Merlin later lost the grail and how she (?) was charged with retrieving the artifact. She also gains insight into her own future and certain events look less than desirable and unfortunately unavoidable. The evil red-bearded child killer meets a just end at the hands of the "horse woman," but she then turns on the Demon Knights and commits a completely unexpected act.
Whoa now! What the heck?! I was not expecting that ending at all. Cornell has been pulling me into this magical world since the first issue and this spotlight on the Shining Knight makes me love this unusual team book all the more. Although we get a look into the this character's origin, there are still plenty of questions left unanswered and some new ones raised during the process. Michael Choi provides the artwork for the vision scenes, which is most of the book, and he does a stellar job in telling this tale. Diogenes Neves does have a few pages, which are beautiful as ever and he will supposedly be returning to the illustrate the entirety of issue five. Not much happened in this installment to move the main story forward, but that is perfectly acceptable when Cornell allows us a glimpse into the history of one of his fascinating characters; I can't wait for Savage to have his turn. Demon Knights is ready to accelerate forward, and moments to pause and take a breath like this only help this rich world, leaving me wanting more. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Frankenstein Agent
of S.H.A.D.E. #4

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Alberto Ponticelli, published by DC Comics. I like this series more and more with each passing issue. Frankenstein completely reminds me of something you would find in the Warren Magazines of old, and that is definitely a good thing.
Frankenstein and his team learn that Monster World is actually a living, telepathic planet that was overtaken by the three titans--only two remain after Frankenstein took care of one in amazing fashion last issue. The problem is that the monsters have nearly killed the planet and they will only have one place to turn to...Earth. Frankenstein and Nina go after the sea titan and the vast monstrosities of the ocean have a most odd reaction to the pair's arrival. Lady Frankenstein, Velcoro (Vampire) and Griffith (Werewolf) are charged with killing the Ogre titan, but they are quickly overwhelmed by the masses aligned against them. Thus arrives "The Toybox" and its G.I. Robots and the incredibly cool War Wheels, which helps even the odds. Lady Frankenstein proves to be a skilled tactician, but even if they Creature Commandos can defy the odds and defeat the Titans, time is running out for them to return home.
Crimony this issue was a blast. What could have been one of the silliest of the 52 comics to see print, turns out to be one of my favorites, which should be no surprise with Lemire writing this fun and exciting comic book. Despite the title, this issue belongs equally to Lady Frankenstein and to what I call the "back office" or the ones running the show from behind the scenes. The fantastic page with Dr. Belroy and Father Time taking remote control of the War Wheels cracked me up and it is apparent that Lemire is having a grand old time with all of these characters. The premise is ludicrous, but the right mixture of charm and intense situations makes the comic work. If you are tired of your average superhero fare, take a look at the supernatural heroes in Frankenstein and you should not be disappointed. This is exactly the type of alternate programming that DC Comics needed and I hope to be reading this title for years to come. Forget team Edward and team Jacob, I'm team Frankenstein all the way. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Shade #3

The Shade #3 - Written by James Robinson and illustrated by Cully Hamner, published by DC Comics. Once relegated to the ranks of F-List characters, The Shade was revitalized to the big leagues by Robinson's excellent Starman series and he was cemented as one of my favorite DC characters of all time. So, it should come as no surprise that I like this series, but there is plenty to love for those new to the character and any confusion after the first issue should be a thing of the past--you should still read all of the Starman Omnibus books though.
The Shade arrives in Sydney, Australia to aid an old friend in return for information that he might have in finding who has put a hit on the life of the master of darkness. He learns that Darnell Caldecott is now called John Cross and that the man lives in a secluded home and is under the guard of a lizard god, a creature even the Shade has no prayer of besting. The Shade then consults with magician Diablo Blacksmith, an old adversary who agrees to offer some advice, and the lizard god battles the Shade allowing a startling secret to be revealed.
Although this issue seemed slightly less engaging than the previous two installments, it was still immensely enjoyable. It was great to see the Shade cut loose with his powers against an unbeatable foe he has no hope of defeating, but what was missing were the character moments that I loved so much from the previous two issues. Still, this was a fun book and after the cliffhanger reveal of Richard Swift's enemy, the next issue promises to be most interesting indeed. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

What Happened to Green Lantern #4? - Well...I made a boo-boo and forgot to pick it up, which blows. For some reason I forgot to add this title to my pull list and now I will be making a trip to the store this weekend to pick it up. OH NO! Go to the comic store and look around?! *gasp* Odds are high that I would go there anyways to take in the aroma of the new books and their crisp, freshly printed pages. It's like free therapy to me to just walk into the place. KnowWhatIMean?

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods - 12/09/2011

2011-12-08T06:18:00.001-08:00

(Sung to the tune of The Pixies "Here Comes Your Man")

Want great comics? Don't sit waiting
You know what you got to do
Swamp Thing will get you breathing
Consume tasty pages in Chew
I know the Action Comics
Will rethrill on Superman
Great comics? Don't sit waiting
No Gus, I'm still a Sweet Tooth fan

A month can feel too long (too long, too long)
It really ain't that long
Here's Animal Man
Here's Animal Man
Here's Animal Man

It's cold my friends. So very, very cold...at least by Santa Barbara standards. Of course what is our coldest weather here in town is the warmest--if they're lucky--it will get for many of our East Coast friends, but that's beside the point. I'm here with Space Cadet Obie, my friends' Boston Terrier and we have retreated once again to the warm, safe womb of our Fortress of Sympathy. What is the Fortress of Sympathy? Well, Amy, my wife, hates it--that's for sure--since it involves removing everything from the dining room table, strategically lining up all of the chairs and covering everything in blankets and stocking the cave with couch cushions. It's all rather nice aside from the fact that we are hiding from Magneto and are forced to wear telepathy blocking (aluminum foil) hats to avoid detection. Hold on a second, Obie's trying to tell me something. Okay, apparently I have not read an issue of the X-Men in quite some time and it is rather early in the morning as I have just been reminded that Magneto is actually the Master of Magnetism and not the Titan of Telepathy. Boy, do I have a headache all of a sudden...is it me or is this hat getting tighter? Oh well, on to...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Animal Man #4

Animal Man #4 - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Travel Foreman, published by DC Comics. This is getting ridiculous. Yup, Animal Man #4 is great. I love it, my favorite of the 52...blah, blah, blah. I have been saying the same thing since the first issue and you know what? I'm gonna say it again. Animal Man (followed by Swamp Thing below) is my favorite comic of the 52. Yes this book is disturbing and gross, but it has its charm which overshadows all of the disgusting imagery. At the core this "superhero" tale is the story of a man struggling to protect his family when he does not have the necessary power or knowledge to do so. I can't get enough of this book.
As Buddy Baker's wife and son are escorted by one of the Hunters Three posing as a police detective to a safe house in the country, Buddy is on his last legs as the other two agents of the Rot threaten to rend him limb from limb. Maxine, Buddy's young daughter, the true wielder of the power of the Red, is the one with the power necessary to vanquish the invaders and to heal her father. A brief history of the Hunters Three follows and a member of the Parliament of Limbs agrees to leave the protection of the Red to join Animal Man and Maxine on their quest. Cliff, Buddy's son, discovers firsthand the danger he and his mother are in, as the enemy reveals itself and begins to feed in front of him.
Damn. What a great series. In addition to the slow build of the hidden terror endangering Buddy's wife and son, and the action of Buddy fighting two of the Hunters Three, Animal Man also shows the danger of a family beginning to unravel. Buddy's wife, Ellen, and his son, Cliff, have no superpowers and Buddy's role as Animal Man--a role he has no choice but to partake in--puts them in danger. Ellen's mother, vocally opposes her daughter's marriage to a superhero and further doubts are raised by the danger they find themselves in. The repercussions of Buddy's destiny is part of what makes this book great. I also loved how Travel Foreman included a double-page spread of Animal Man merging with the Red that was stylistically similar to what Yanick Paquette is doing in Swamp Thing. My main criticism is the choice of the cover image, which is fine with me, but not something that will grab any new readers and quite possibly turn them off. In fact, I am waiting for Amy to tell me to not have this issue on top of the mountainous stack of comics on the side of the bed, because it is, "Disturbing and gross." That minor issue aside, you know you're reading a great comic when you get to the last panel of the last page and go, "No! I have to wait until next month? No!" That is the feeling I've had with each issue that leaves me desperate for more, and worrying over what is going to happen next. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Swamp Thing #4

Swamp Thing #4 - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Marco Rudy, published by DC Comics. Yeah, here we go again. "Two great tastes that taste great together." If you're reading Animal Man and not Swamp Thing, you are doing yourself a great disservice. The reverse is equally true. This is one of my favorite books of the 52 and a worthy continuation of the much revered Alan Moore Swamp Thing issues. If you enjoy horror comics then this and Animal Man are the books for you.
William Arcane walks into a diner and demonstrates on the folks inside the power of a knight of the Rot in a horrific and gruesome manner. Abigail Arcane, the boy's sister, explains to Alec Holland exactly how William's frightening power works. Alec and Abigail take a moment to sleep in the safety of a grassy area, but Alec dreams a portent of the Rot's plans in the desert, and in an amazing two-page spread he sees the history of the fight between the Green and the Rot (aka the Other). He also learns that the Parliament of Trees has more of a problem with Abigail Arcane who they say is an agent of the Rot and possibly more dangerous than William could ever be. Alec awakens to a startling and disturbing verification of the Green's concerns and the issue closes on an image of what awaits the pair when they finally do find William.
The confrontation between the Green and the Other draws slightly closer and although it will probably be a few issues before this happens, I am totally fine with Snyder's deliberate pacing that brings the reader more in tune with Alec and Abigail, while providing more insight into the history of this ages-old struggle. It also hints at an inevitable conflict to come once the menace of the Other has been suppressed, which makes the events of Animal Man all the more important to this tale. Yanick Paquette is not featured in this issue, but Marco Rudy does an amazing job handling the art and David Baron's colors are vibrant and striking. I could not be happier after reading this issue other than having the next installment already in my hand. The slight--keyword being "slight"--problems that I had with the first issue are gone and the comic book only gets better and better. Scary and gory at times, Swamp Thing continues to slowly ratchet up the tension and urgency of the situation while hooking the reader in and not letting them go. I cannot wait to see what happens next. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Chew #22

Chew #22 - Written by John Layman and illustrated by Rob Guillory, published by Image Comics. It seems like it has been a while since I read the last issue, but I am glad to have the latest issue in my grubby mitts. Chew never ceases to entertain me with its witty, crude, and oftentimes disgusting storylines and unique cast of characters. In fact, it continues to be one of the best and most creative titles on the stands...if you can get past the gross bits. But being the seasoned comic book readers that you are, this should not be a problem, especially with a book of this caliber.
Savoy and Caesar have kidnapped Tony Chu's sister, Olive, in the hopes that she shares her father's food based abilities so that she can help them with their secretive agenda. Unfortunately, it's a "like father, like daughter" situation and the young woman is...less than cooperative. Caesar and his anti-social partner discover an evil coffee shop barista corrupting people through the coffee. Tony Chu finds himself in trouble after crossing paths with a rough bunch of golfers and Olive agrees to help Savoy and Caeser, but under certain conditions.
Such a fun, odd, exciting book that I never know what to expect and one that I eagerly anticipate every month(ish). If there is anything that I take away from Chew #22, it's that I hope to never, ever have to suffer from "Amish Ice Cream Entombment." Of course I am not Amish, but...man, what a way to go...truly terrible. This book cracks me up to no end and combined with a fantastic story that is out of this world you can't go wrong. There are currently two Chew: Omnivore HC Editions out that can catch you to the insanity that is Chew. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Action Comics #4

Action Comics #4 - Written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Rags Morales, published by DC Comics. This book is exactly what was needed to bring a lapsed Man of Steel fan like me back into the fold. With a hero struggling to find his way in society and to gain acceptance while protecting the populace, some of whom don't even trust him, Action Comics grabbed me with the first issue the moment Superman confronted one of the world's worst enemies; a greedy and inhuman corporation. Now in the fourth installment, a more foreign foe has stepped into the picture and the stakes have been raised.
Lex Luthor runs for his life as a possessed John Corben wearing the Metal-Zero armor scours the city in search of Superman, who is busy battling a formidable army of spare-part robots. Lois and Jimmy attempt to talk some sense into Corben, but he is too far under the power of the invading alien entity, who--upon finding Superman--begins to overcome the hero until John Steel's arrival turns the tide. We catch a glimpse of Brainiac, who looks to be truly bizarre and...well...alien. Brainiac has also bottled and filed away a good chunk of Metropolis, including Lois, Jimmy and Lex, leaving Superman and Steel to determine their next step. This issue also includes a separate and cool story about Steel's fight with John Corben as written by Sholly Fisch and illustrated by Brad Walker.
I am still immensely enjoying this comic and will continue to pick up the next few issues, but I am somewhat concerned that there will be a two issue "interlude" before the story picks up from where it left off. I'm not sure if this is the wisest choice at this early stage in the game, but I am trusting that Morrison will have plenty of vital character development and story elements to introduce into the series that will make the conclusion to this story arc all the more satisfying. The action was intense and fun with a sense of urgency that was contagious. I especially liked the giant robot that plopped the tank on top of its shoulders for a head before promptly blasting Superman in the chops. Action Comics continues to be a good time and the backup story was enjoyable as well, despite some slightly corny dialogue. If you are a fan of the Man of Steel, or you love superhero comics that don't go to the "dark place" as Batman tends to do, then you should be reading this book. RECOMMENDED!

Sweet Tooth #28

Sweet Tooth #28 - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Matt Kindt, published by Vertigo Comics, a DC Comics imprint. "The Taxidermist" storyline featuring guest artist Kindt comes to a shocking conclusion that raises a far more questions than it does answers. This is okay. Take a deep breath and hope you're not inhaling the Alaskan plague, as this post-apocalyptic world has become all the richer.
James becomes terrified at the sight of Louis's baby boy, an antlered child that James sees as a harbinger of death. Louis chases the confused white men from his land with the belief that Jasper and James are already carriers of the plague and that they will carry the sickness back to Europe with them as the gods have dictated. James, on the verge of death, is found and restored to health where he and the remaining crew members wage a war on Louis and his people until only Louis and his antlered son remain. The baby is dropped in the "cursed" cave and left to the elements, as James, Louis and the rest of the crew attempt to make their way back to Europe, but ultimately meet an expected end.
I don't want to say that this three-issue history lesson was not a well-written, beautifully painted chapter in the Sweet Tooth universe, but as a reader I am more heavily invested in Gus and Jepperd's story. I've missed these tragic, flawed characters and their terrible struggle to survive. "The Taxidermist" shed some small degree of clarity on what happened 100 years in the past, but there are many more questions raised: 1) So the baby was dropped in the cave, what happened to him? 2) Is the baby Gus? Probably not since it had a belly button, 3) What are the odd animal totems found in the cave. 4) Did the plague die with James Thacker? I expect there will be another interlude in the future, where a high-stakes cliffhanger is broken up to explain the next phase of the boy with antlers and the plague's story. Although this break will hurt, it will be necessary and hopefully provide even more of a payoff. I look forward to the next history lesson, but more so rejoining the characters that I have grown to love. This is still an amazing book. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Oddly Enough, All's Well in the Donist World on Comics - If anything, not enough time in the day to read everything that I wish to be reading.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 12/02/2011

2011-12-02T06:58:00.001-08:00

(Sung to the tune of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald’s version of “I Got Plenty of Nothing”)

This week...

I bought plenty of nothing

And nothing is plenty for me

I read a book

Read Clockwork

Oh boy yes siree

Folks with few of the indies

They might be looking for more

Than the capes and tights, cousin it's alright

It ain't at their store.

For sure

Hello there, Donist World patrons. It was quiet at the LCS this week. Well, maybe quiet is not the right word. How about dead, decimated or non-existent. An odd thing happened, I did not buy a single comic this week, nothing, zilch, nada. Next Wednesday is looking to be a doozy though, and I fully expect my wallet to take one hell of a beating. This should have been okay as we were set to have an appearance by special guest Darkseid, but unfortunately my friends' Boston Terrier, Obie, who is also my second reader after my mom, had to cancel his interview with the dark lord of Apokolips. You see, he just learned that the Anti-Life Equation was not only discovered by a big pharmaceutical company, but it has already been set to go to a generic over-the-counter version called Deadheroitol, which should be fully covered by most HMO plans* (*please check with your provider for potential coverage). So, in lieu of his appearance here today, Mister Darkseid is having to track down his legal team to cross some T's and dot some I's and quite possibly omega beam the bejesus out of some New Gods or something. Despite having no special guests this week, and not buying anything at the LCS, I still have a comic that I have been meaning to talk about for quite some time.

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Clockwork Volume 1

Clockwork Volume 1 – Written by Paul Allor and illustrated by various artists, published by Gov’t Comics. I first have to lead with a disclaimer that I have known Paul Allor for over a year now through Andy Schmidt’s excellent Comics Experience Introduction to Comic Book Writing class and also through the Creators Workshop. He is also a member of The Brutal Circle (we will get another post up soon…promise) and one of the most talented and driven individuals I have met. That said I would not go easy on the guy. Hells no. But here’s the thing, if I didn’t honestly like Clockwork Volume. 1 it wouldn’t be here on Donist World. What you hold in your hands—or rather should be holding in your hands—is an impressive anthology of 12 five-page stories consisting of multiple genres and subject matter. All stories were written by Allor and illustrated by 12 different artists, with most of the production work for the entire graphic novel done by Allor. Let’s have a look:

“Another Life” – Illustrated by Ben Dewey. A gorilla first mate tells the story of the feared and renowned space pirate, The Butcher. Dewey’s wonderful art brings back memories of “weird tales” style stories from the ‘70s for which I have a soft spot. Great story and wonderfully suited artwork. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
“The Hottest Part of Winter” – Illustrated by Carl Peterson. A western tale of a person’s decision to change the path their life has taken. Peterson is a Comics Experience member and his particular lighthearted artistic style is refreshing and perfectly suited to this story. Don't be surprised to see his lovely art popping up in the near future. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
"Reach the Sun" - Illustrated by Juan Romera. A thoughtful and all too realistic slice of life look at a young man reflecting on the perceived joys of childhood in relation to the reality of his current teen years. I'm a huge fan of Romera's art and you cannot help but feel for the main character and the sad conditions of his life as seamlessly evoked through each panel. Expect to see more from this talented artist in the future. RECOMMENDED!
"The Things I See" - Illustrated by Nikki Cook - A blind and deaf woman, who "sees" more than she should be able to, walks into a corner store and multiple lives are changed. Haunting, beautiful artwork with heavy black inks that only enhance the images. RECOMMENDED!
"Cage Around My Heart" - Illustrated by Jesse Hamm. A robot escapes from its creators and innocently causes havoc on the streets. Whimsical yet heartbreaking, Hamm's art is perfectly suited to this particular story and I can almost hear the music of Yann Tiersen (Amelie soundtrack playing) as BART discovers the world around him. RECOMMENDED!
"The Day I Go Home" - Illustrated by Leandro Panganiban. A man attempts to return home after being stranded alone on a planet with only the computerized A.I. SAMM for company. Unfortunately, SAMM does not wish to lose its only friend. This story was my first exposure to Allor's writing and was actually his first written script for this anthology. Brilliant right out the gate and the sci-fi nature was exactly my type of story. Panganiban's art was crucial to making this story a success and his ability to shift subtle details made that possible. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
"The End of This Story" - Illustrated by Silvio dB. A fantasy tale of a war started thousands of years ago, follows a warrior as she hunts her enemy. Silvio dB's art blows me away and is another one that fits perfectly for both old horror stories of '70s and modern tales as well. Crimony! Keep an eye on this artist. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
"Skull Buzz" - Illustrated by Ken Frederick. A man changes a tire on a quiet street, but underneath the calm setting stirs something dark. What this story taught me is to be very, very, very nice to Paul Allor and also that he can go to the dark place and tell a cool yet disturbing story. Frederick is also a member of the Creator's Workshop and his art drips with a tense menace that delivers with shocking precision. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
"Mercy Kill"- Illustrated by Brett Weldele. On the day a woman discovers that she does not have long to live, she is involved in an accident that resonates with her and her new situation. A grim story, but one that left me wondering what I would think were I to find myself in the same situation. Weldele provides ethereal imagery with striking effect primarily in the panels involving light sources cutting through the night. RECOMMENDED!
"Plutoville" - Illustrated by Borch Penya. A space station amusement park falls victim to an unknown menace that kills its inhabitants one at a time. Another disturbing story, that perfectly utilizes tension and the menace of the unknown to great effect. Penya's art expertly brings across the subtle horror of this short, never once giving the reader a moment of reprieve until the unexpected ending. With any luck we will see another collaboration with Penya and Allor in the near future. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
"Warlord" - Illustrated by JM Ken Nimura. A five-page short of five related one-page stories about the people whose lives are influenced by a warlord's campaign to stay in power. Nimura, the artist behind the gorgeous I Kill Giants, provides the emotion and drive needed to make this difficult-to-pull-off story work. "Warlord" is an epic boiled down to the base ingredients. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
"X-Row" - Illustrated by Aaron Houston. A self-described experiment in non-sequential storytelling through flashbacks. The captions guide the reader through the story that works in the end. "X-Row" looks at the life of an unrepentant man who is about to be put to death for some of the terrible crimes he has committed. Houston provides a great look at the various stages of the man's life from childhood all the way to his death in quick, chaotic glimpses and reflections. RECOMMENDED!

There you have it. Overall, I enjoyed each story in this ambitious undertaking with my favorites clearly indicated above. Allor obviously has placed much thought and time not only in the production of this beautifully constructed book, but in pairing the right story with the right artist. This is also the most professional-looking self-published book I have ever held in my hands and one whose content reflects the exterior. What you see is what you get, a beautiful book of well-crafted stories.

You can read the entirety of the Clockwork Volume 1 online for free here, or better yet, support this creator by buying a physical copy of the book directly here. Expect to see much more from Paul Allor in the future. Now...where's my Clockwork Volume 2?

Slice Into the Woods

No New Comics At the Store This Week - Alright, this is not necessarily a bad thing as I was able to finally buy Seven Samurai on Blu-Ray, but it would have been nice to break up next week's books some, but whatcha gonna do. I will however head down to comb through the comic store anyways as I am addicted to going there and my week would not feel right if I did not visit at all. I can't shake it, man. I can't shake it and thank goodness for that.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 11/25/2011

2011-11-24T09:44:00.001-08:00

(Sung to the tune of The London Suede's "Drowners")

Won't someone, read The Sixth Gun
Hey, I bought it for my brother
So Hurtt draws the line, and Bunn writes so fine
I say 'Oh, it's one of the best books out there.'

Then there's Shade, read the Shade
It will take you over
Comics are made, don't be afraid
Let it take you over

Does someone, want somethin' fun
Well there's Secret Avengers
I, Vampire's fine, actually it's sublime
Oh, real winners

Then there's Shade, read the Shade

It will take you over

Comics are made, don't be afraid

Let it take you over

Ohhhhhhhhhhh man. I'm sitting here on the couch in the aftermath of a wicked food coma with my friends' Boston Terrier, Obie, who is also my harshest critic and my most dedicated reader after my mom. You see, we had a happy Donist World Thanksgiving and stuffed ourselves to the gills on turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and a whole host of other items including pumpkin pie. Of course Obie had only kibble with a bit of turkey and gravy on top, but hey he's a comic book reading dog and cranberry sauce can't be all that good him, but he at least has the spirit. I also happened to partake of the spirits last night which explains the needed couch time. As we reflect on our past glorious feast and look forward to the turducken that we will have next year, we have a bit of time to discuss some great comics that were released this week.

So put down that leftover drumbsick and have a gander at...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

The Sixth Gun #17

The Sixth Gun #17 - Written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Brian Hurtt, published by Oni Press. The Sixth Gun continues to be one of the best and most unique titles on the shelves. Equal parts western and supernatural horror tale, this comic is one of my top five series and it should come as no surprise it has been picked up to become a television mini-series in the near future. Good things come to those things that are great.
The golem of BillJohn stalks toward the stronghold of the Sword of Abraham as it becomes clear to Becky Montcrief that the monks she assumed were her allies are more interested in imprisoning her as opposed to protecting her. Brother Roberto tells of the Knight's of Solomon, a secret society seeking the power of terrible, mystical artifacts, including the six currently possessed by Becky and the missing Drake Sinclair. Gord Cantrell sits in the basement of a haunted plantation left with a choice to take a set of books that possibly contain information on how to the destroy the six, or to burn the books and see the return of his dead wife and children. With the aid of the sixth gun, Becky learns that Drake still lives and she sets her resolve to free the imprisoned man whether he wants her to or not.
I have been saying for a while that I wanted to see Becky Montcrief step up and begin to take charge of situations as opposed to letting things just happen to her, and Bunn and Hurtt have delivered with this issue. With a glimpse into Drake Sinclair's fate after his disappearance for multiple issues, the next arc looks to reveal what happened to the man after his fall from the train, how he became imprisoned and hopefully his rescue by a newly determined Becky. Another great issue, that was light on action, but this was necessary for Gord to find the books and battle his own demons, while showing Becky and her new found strength. Although I loved this issue, it is not a good jumping on point for new readers, but then the first two trades are readily available with the third collecting this finished arc coming soon as well. If you are looking for something more than capes and tights that is well-written, expertly structured and beautifully illustrated, then you should be reading this exciting adventure. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Shade #2

The Shade #2 - Written by James Robinson and illustrated by Cully Hamner, published by DC Comics. Robinson's Starman was one of those books that immediately grabbed my attention with Jack Knight, an antique dealer forced into the role of a superhero while fighting against the family legacy and forced to confront villains bearing grudges against the Starman family. The series also had an impressive list of fascinating characters such as the O'Dare family, Bobo Benneti, Ted Knight (Jack's father), Mikaal, Solomon Grundy and most of all The Shade. All of the characters had a rich history and unique personality, but none so much as the reformed villain, Richard "Dickie" Swift, The Shade, who was my favorite character after Jack Knight. Now, the immortal master of darkness has returned in his own 12-issue series and Robinson does not miss a beat with the character he did not create, but rather defined.
Last month's issue left the Shade handless, headless and presumably dead at after his confrontation with Deathstroke, but with 11 more installments to go, there was no way the death was going to be permanent. Swift shares a touching moment with Hope O'Dare and explains that he must disappear for her own safety until he can determine who has ordered his death. Will Von Hammer--I'm still not familiar with this guy--is still being hounded by assassins and has information for the Shade, who is busy asking Bobo Bennetti to watch over Hope and Star City while he is gone. The two men meet, but before anything can be discussed Bete-Noire--I don't know this villain either--arrives on the scene leading to a battle of shadow powers and a glimpse of an antagonist to come.
I was shocked to see the Shade supposedly killed last issue and when the predictable reveal that he was not actually of the dearly departed came, the explanation of how he survived was logical and made sense, fitting perfectly with the character's line of thinking. Seeing Bobo Bennetti again was a great but short moment and I hope to see more of the man who is forever stuck in the '50s in future issues. Overall I'm pleased as punch with my favorite villain-turned-hero receiving his own series and I'm excited for what is to come. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I, Vampire #3

I, Vampire #3 - Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino, published by DC Comics. I still know little about the "I...Vampire" story that appeared in DC comic's House of Mystery in the early eighties, and I was thrilled to learn that a collection of those tales will be released in February. I am most interested in this older material out of a sense of nostalgia for the times, plus I always wanted to read those stories as a kid, but always passed on them because of an allowance that only afforded me my precious Micronauts, Swamp Thing and X-Men comics. Now, after being drawn to this relaunch title by writer Fialkov, I will definitely be buying the original tales, not because I need them to understand what is happening in the relaunched title, but because the current creators are constructing one heck of a fine tale and I am curious about what came before.
Professor John Troughton has been a close friend of Andrew Bennett, an immensely powerful vampire, since the moment he was saved from slaughter by rogue vampires 25 years ago. When Andrew collapses in his friend's doorway in the worst condition John as ever seen him, it's time to start worrying. Mary's vampiric army has spread to four cities, which is more than a man/vampire can handle on his own, but even with John agreeing to help the odds are still not looking good. The pair follow up on a lead that is a dead end, but introduces them to Tig, a young vampire killer who is more deadly than her looks would suggest. The newly formed trio discover an all-too-clear and intentionally placed sign that tells exactly where Mary Queen of Blood intends to strike next and a certain caped crusader will not be pleased when she makes her move. Contemplating the terrible task before them, John comes to a startling but simple conclusion about how to end the vampire menace once and for all.
I am enjoying the heck out of this book, and this third issue further cements the fact that this is one of the 52 that I will be picking up for a while. As I mentioned above, I only knew of the original "I...Vampire" story, but the relaunched title is a perfect jumping on point even though the first issue is a bit complex as I mentioned in the review of the first issue. Fialkov has done a wonderful job pulling me into this world and its characters and although I was worried about bringing the DC superheroes into the mix, I feel more and more confident that he will be able to pull off the meet up in a manner that is not hokey. Sorrentino continues to deliver some stunning pages--primarily the introduction of John in the '70s--and colorist Marcelo Maiolo drives home the mood of each scene to great effect. Even with the introduction of the DC heroes to this book, I am looking forward to see how this tragic love/horror story plays out. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Secret Avengers #19

Secret Avengers #19 - Written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Michael Lark, published by Marvel Comics. I'm pretty sure this is the only Marvel book that I am currently buying. I intend to pick up Remender's Uncanny X-Force trade at some point, but I have been losing interest in Marvel for a while. I fully intended to drop this title as well, but Ellis's great stories keep pulling me back in, refusing to let me leave.
The Secret Avengers are deployed to the city of Aniana in the country of Symkaria to stop a drug lord named Voydanoi from selling a mysterious new drug to the Shadow Council. Moon Knight poses as a wealthy business man with an interest in the women in the employ of the establishment, while Black Widow and Sharon Carter arrive as supposed escorts for Voydanoi. Meanwhile, Steve Rogers patrols the frigid streets only to barely escape with his life when he comes across a guard enhanced with what Rogers assumes is a modified super-soldier formula. Moon Knight is introduced to his girl for the evening, whose life he makes much better, before he dons his mask and proceeds to show how badass he really is. The Secret Avengers fight their way up to Voydanoi's office only to learn that the drug czar is actually selling a powerful demonic drug that enhances the user to supernatural proportions and one that he has been taking for quite some time.
That was some damn fine action if I do say so myself. Ellis, created another great standalone issue filled with tension and some cool character moments that read all too fast. Moon Knight has some great fight scenes as drawn by Lark and the hero looked cool in his white suit, silver tie, white gloves and mask; I wanted to cheer with each super thug he took down. Overall a fun comic and one that I will gladly contribute my $3.99 to for as long as the superheroic stories of this caliber continue. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

It's Thanksgiving, So Let's Be Thankful and Not Gripe About Petty Crap - Enough said...although, I do feel kind of fat...

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 11/18/2011

2011-11-17T05:22:00.001-08:00

(Sung to the tune of Quiet Riots "Cum On Feel the Noize")

Come on check these books
Batman's got the hooks
Give it a try, try, try
Then buy, buy, buy

Have your doubts about Wonder Woman?
I'll tell you honey
She's just so fly
She's not a guy

Say you aren't into Morning Glories?
It costs little money
You must go buy
Don't make me cry, anymore
Oh no

So come on, check these books
Obie's got the looks
Let's get wild wild wild
wild wild wild

Yaaaawwwwnnn. Obie? Are you making the coffee? Oh, sorry. I forgot for a moment that you only weigh 20 pounds and have paws, so I guess scooping ground coffee into the machine might be a little difficult. Howdy folks. It's 5:00 AM and I'm at my computer, showered, dressed and ready to do this thang we call Donist World. Obie, my friends' Boston Terrier and my only reader outside of my mom, is here attempting to make me a desperately needed cup of opaque, bitter darkness to thaw out my fingers and my ever-lovin' mind enough to where I actually make horses as I type on my cereal. I'm sleepy as all sweaters but *yawn*, I'm up and adrift and on the shift. What am I saying? Obie! Where's my damn coffee? I can't tank straight...

...Ahhhhhh, much better. On with...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Batman #3

Batman #3 - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Greg Capullo, published by DC Comics. Before Scott Snyder came along, I would classify myself as a lapsed Batman fan. It was not that I didn't like the character, watch the cartoon shows, the movies, much the opposite, I love all those things, but I was not buying any bat books. Frank Miller's Batman The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One, Grant Morrison's Batman: Arkham Asylum, Alan Moore's Batman: The Killing Joke as well as Jim Starlin's Batman: The Cult were the books that stuck with me for years, and although there are plenty of well-regarded runs out there--I need to read The Long Halloween--that I am told are must-reads, I have been stuck in the past with this loved character; no longer.
The issue opens with a look back at Bruce Wayne's ancestor, Alan Wayne, supposedly experiencing dementia and ranting about being followed and watched. He then mysteriously disappears. Meanwhile, Batman is pummeling the heck out of a Ukrainian Mob and the Dark Knight dispatches them in one of the most unique ways I have ever seen... I'm still laughing about that one. Wayne and Alfred discuss the nature of owls and their habits, which leads the detective to discover how the Talon of the Court of Owls made his way into the tower to attempt to kill him, leading him to question the Alan Wayne Trust for Young Architects and the nature of superstition. From there he discovers the location of each of The Talon's secret nests for the past one hundred and fifty years, followed by an explosive conclusion.
"Wow," has been my reaction after reading each of Snyder's Detective Comics and Batman books and this issue is no different. The reveal of the "owl nests" in each of the buildings was a thrill with the pictures of the masked owl members disturbingly chilling. What is it about Snyder and psychos with creepy-as-all-hell masks? It must be a phobia of his, which he has now extended over to me...brrrrrrr. Capulo's art and layouts continue to amaze me, especially with the fight scene at the rails and the look of each of the respective owl's nests that grew more technologically advanced through the times. My only complaint is that if not for the excessive squared jaw on Lincoln, he and Bruce Wayne would look identical. That nitpick aside, this is a fantastic book that all current and lapsed Batman fans should be reading. Exciting, creepy, at times funny, and ultimately engrossing, this is the superhero book to buy. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Wonder Woman #3

Wonder Woman #3 - Written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Cliff Chiang, published by DC Comics. Wonder Woman, like Batman, is another character that I have not followed in any of her own titles...ever. She has always been one of my favorite superheroes, but I followed the Princess of Power through her appearances in other comics, never in her own. That was until the 52 re-whatever gave me the perfect jumping on point. I'm hooked.
As the Amazonians build funeral pyres for the fallen who died because of a selfish goddess's meddling, Diana learns the truth of her birth and the danger that this revelation brings. Strife continues to push everyone's buttons and Hippolyta has no choice but to reveal Diana's true history as opposed to the one that gave her the derogatory nickname of "Clay." Thoughts of dissent run through some of the Amazons, until Diana, Wonder Woman, puts the smack-down (literally) on the growing anger and agrees to leave Paradise Island forever.
Another great issue of Wonder Woman and there was little fighting to be found, only that of naked Zeus and Hippolyta "battling." *Who in their right mind fights in the buff against someone with a sword?! Crimony, that is a bad idea, but the guy is a god, so I guess he is relatively save* With mythology taking the forefront of this story and myths about Diana's birth being dispelled, this issue sets up the story for the inevitable wrath of Hera to come crashing down upon the self-exiled goddess and her odd assortment of traveling companions. There is still much to be told of Diana's past with further glimpses into her character and Azzarello is definitely the one I want to take me there. Chiang's art continues to be beautiful and I hope to see him involved in the exciting pages that are to come for this great comic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Morning Glories #14

Morning Glories #14 - Written by Nick Spencer and illustrated by Joe Eisma, published by Image comics. I have to admit that a few months back I was wavering on whether or not I wanted to keep this title. I was fearing that a Lost (the television show) effect was beginning to set in on Morning Glories, with more questions being raised with each tiny reveal. Don't get me wrong, there are still questions being raised and the clarity on the mystery is slightly less opaque, but I get the feeling now that everything is happening for a reason. I'm glad I stuck around.
In 1693, a woman (witch?), who we don't know, knows something that some other men, who we also don't know, want to know. Do you know what I mean? Miss Hodge attends a faculty meeting with Miss Daramount and Mister Gribbs to discuss the importance of Woodrun (?) and to threaten one another by tattling to the mysterious Headmaster of each other's failings. A familiar scene plays this time from Zoe's perspective and showing that the mean-girl might have gained a little respect for Hunter, who she originally thought to be a weak-willed wet blanket. The girl we don't know, agrees to divulge what she knows to the people we don't know, but we still don't know what it is that she knows, but I know it will not end well for her. Jun, Hunter and Zoe are paired together for Woodrun, but in the course of their bickering the lights go out, leaving an angered Mister Gribbs and panicked Miss Daramount to wonder where all of the kids have gone.
As I have said for the past two issues, I have no idea what's happening, but I am intrigued and invested in the story enough to anticipate the next installment. I like that the feel of the book has gone from a weird college why-can't-we-all-just-get-along vibe to a much heavier Twilight Zone feel. I am identifying more with the characters, primarily Hunter and especially Zoe, who falls apart so well in this issue that I cannot help but feel sorry for her. Something is stirring within this complex story that is going to take a while to work itself through, but I sense it will get there at exactly the pace Spencer has constructed from the very beginning. Two things to mention: 1) This is not a "jumping on point," and you should probably pick up the trades or wait for the big 400 page hardcover next month, 2) BIG props to Spencer for "holding the line" on this whopping 32 page comic at $2.99! Marvel, DC...this is how you sell comics. Substantial content at a reasonable price. Although Morning Glories is confusing at times and not for the tights-n-capes only crowd, I definitely have to say this comic is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Batman Obsession Kicking In Because of Scott Snyder and That Darn PS3 Game - Dang it. Batman, Batman, Batman. That Arkham City game is driving my crazy. Until my month of illness (read about it here for the gruesome details) I rarely played video games, but having so much time requiring me to sit on the couch coupled with not having my brain functioning properly gave me the option of television or playing a game. After reading Scott Snyder's amazing Detective Comics and the current Batman series, Batman has been pushed back into the realm of my favorite heroes. Following those books and then reading some positive reviews of Batman Arkham City I had no choice but to buy the game to pass the time while I recovered. Now here I am trying to Platinum the stupid thing, which I never usually have interest in doing, and generally having a grand ol' time flying around pulverizing unsuspecting thugs. So much fun. Now I fear my returned love of Batman is becoming an obsession. Is it really so bad that I wear adult-sized Batman underoos to bed as well as a cloth Batman mask? What right does my Amy have to be mad about this? And HR should really not have a problem with my dressing up as Batman and--on alternating Wednesdays--Robin complete with green chainmail speedo...I mean the employee handbook says a casual style of dress is acceptable and to use my better judgement, which I have. What's the problem? It's Bat-Day every day at Donist World.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 11/11/11 - Part 2

2011-11-12T15:15:00.001-08:00

No song today as all of our Donist World bands and musicians have a clause saying that they only perform on Fridays as Saturday is "slice and a beer" for $4.95 at Creekside. That said, David Lee Roth wouldn't budge on doing a quick performance no matter how much Obie pleaded, but maybe in the weeks to come he'll "Jump" for a chance some Friday. Only time will tell.
Anyhow, I got the two books missing from my pull today, so here without delay is...

Friday Slice of Heaven (the Late Edition)

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Batwoman #3

Batwoman #3 - Written by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman and illustrated by J.H. Williams III, published by DC Comics. There is a reason why I went all the way back downtown, two days after visiting my LCS, and it was in the hope that the mysterious lost shipment from Diamond Distributors delivered so I could get my mitts on this book; today was my lucky day. Issue three of Batwoman is not as good as the outstanding second issue, it is actually better.
Continuing the "Hydrology" storyline of the terrifying Weeping Woman who has been drowning the children of Gotham, Batwoman has met a foe that she does not understand and "who" threatens to destroy her emotionally. Kate Kane is pulled beneath the waves by the apparition as she experiences firsthand the chilling touch of the ghost who is abducting and killing the city's children. Barely escaping with her life, but with the demons of her past brought to light, Kate is confronted by agent Chase and her team, none of whom are a match for Batwoman who escapes with ease. Unfortunately escaping the damage done by the Weeping Woman proves more than she can handle, leaving Kate to fire her cousin, Flamebird, from her tutelage. Cameron Chase attempts to strongarm Kate's father to no avail and as Kate's world falls apart, she learns that she might not have to face things alone.
Crimony! Issue four cannot come soon enough. Blackman and Williams III created one of the most frightening--and beautifully illustrated--sequences of pages with Batwoman's near-drowning that I have ever seen. Follow this with more of the highly-rendered Batwoman fighting the practically flatted Chase and her cronies to the bright real life scenes with love-interest Maggie Sawyer, you are left with one of the best looking and most engaging comics released this month. I will be double dipping on this one when the hardcover collection is released later in 2012. If you love superheroes and a steely female lead who is fascinating, complex and at times realistically flawed then this book should not be passed by. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Green Lantern #3

Green Lantern #3 - Written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Doug Mahnke, published by DC Comics. I have always had an interest in the books that take a multi-dimensional bad guy and give them a moment to be the hero, to shine and quite possibly redeem themselves to some extent, which is part of the reason I am enjoying Green Lantern or as it should be called Sinestro the Green Lantern. Like the previously mentioned Batwoman, the third installment of this comic manages to slightly improve on an already fun second issue.
Carol Ferris switches on the television to see that Hal Jordan is back to being a Green Lantern, but what shocks her the most is his apparent partner, Sinestro. Hal agrees to aid Sinestro in his quest to free the people of his home planet, Korugar, from the menace of his old Yellow Lantern Corp. After some amusing verbal shredding, Sinestro fills Hal in on his plan to take down his old followers and the unlikely team set out to do the impossible. But can two Green Lanterns defeat hundreds of Yellow Lanterns and has Sinestro been completely honest with Hal Jordan?
I did not see this ending coming at all, and I am curious to see how this months shocking conclusion plays out next month. Boy-o-boy, looks like some bad news for Hal, but he is honestly not the character I am most interest in here. Sinestro continues to be the star with his horrendously rude, pompous, but usually correct assessments of Hal Jordan and despite the ending of this installment, I am betting that his plan has not fully played out yet. We will see. Doug Mahnke's art is superb with exciting and dynamic action sequences that keep the story flowing. I did not expect to like this book as much as I do, but I will say that I am excited for what comes next. Great superheroic fun! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Diamond Distributors Making Me Wait For These Books - No use crying about it, I did get my hands on these books after all, but I would love to see some competitor to Diamond rise to break up this nice little monopoly they have going. Dare to dream.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 11/11/11 - Part 1

2011-11-10T06:19:00.001-08:00

(Sung to the tune of Astrud Gilberto's "So Nice")

Some book I want to read, that would be very nice
Some book I really need, that would be very nice.
Some book like Frankenstein, that is a dream to me
Some book like Demon Knights, that is the team for me

So nice, life would be so nice, if one day I'd find
More books like Rachel Rising
That Beck girls's rocking you see?

Oh yes, that would be so nice
Only the best comic books
I can see it would be nice

It might be a freezing cold (sorry East Coasters) 54 degrees out by Santa Barbara standards, but Obie, my friends' Boston Terrier--my only other reader besides my mom--and I are sitting in front of the heat dish, wearing sunglasses and drinking a Big Gulp-sized caipirinha while listening to only the best classic bossa nova music. "Agua de Beber?" At 7:00 AM? Are you kidding? No way. We'll listen to the beautiful song, but we are sticking with caipirinhas for now my friends. That is at least until I have to head in to the day job, and leave Obie to scrutinize and criticize the projects I am working on and my life in general. It's okay, that's his thing. For now though, there are are a few things that we agree on, and that's...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Rachel Rising #3

Rachel Rising #3 - Everythinged by Terry Moore, published by Abstract Studio. Holy moly I am loving this book. I was already a fan of Mr. Moore from his Strangers In Paradise series and the recently completed Echo series. I became even more impressed with his works after sitting in on a few of his inspiring panels at SDCC and Wondercon in the past and I was curious as to how Moore would handle a horror comic when he announced Rachel Rising. Now I know...with mood, a fantastic central character, a dark chill-inspiring character and the looming mystery of a woman investigating her own murder.
Rachel Beck was murdered a few days ago, but for good or bad, death didn't stick. Suffering from memory loss, Rachel sets off on a journey to discover what happened and more importantly who was the cause of her demise, leading her to The Blue Note jazz club. Aside from dazzling a bartender with her beauty, Rachel's evening becomes more confusing when she coughs up a bit of rope before foretelling the death of a soon-to-be-wed woman named Natalie. Meanwhile, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to Rachel uses her mystical (?) abilities to incite a man to murder his wife-to-be Natalie, the very woman who Rachel just frightened in the The Blue Note bathroom. Rachel notices her doppelganger and follows her to the rooftop only to find the woman gone and Natalie's dead body rolling down the roof to knock her off the building to cold, hard surface of the street five stories below. The issue ends with the little girl from last issue torching her home and driving off to dispose of her dead sister's body, who she murdered after speaking to Rachel's double.
Again, I loved this issue. Currently, I barely know more about what is transpiring than Rachel Beck and I am fine with that. Moore has set up a deliberately slow-paced murder mystery that pulls the reader in to join Rachel in her attempt to solve her own murder. As fragments of what has happened are uncovered, new mysteries come into play, such as Rachel's ability to predict someone's death, but not in a Lost (the TV show) sort of way. Every reveal is here for a reason that might take a while to unfold, but that is all part of the fun of this series that leaves the reader thinking about the most recent events up until the highly anticipated next issue which cannot come soon enough. Great character designs, painstakingly detailed backgrounds and a phenomenal action sequence ("Kool" goes ouch...read it) only enhance this great new series that reminds me of the best moments of Twin Peaks and leaves me with the same feeling of trying to sleep after watching a particularly scary psychological thriller. It's safe to say that I like this book and you will too. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Demon Knights #3

Demon Knights #3 - Written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Diogenes Neves, published by DC Comics. Last issue had fighting, spell casting and Vandal Savage remembering the wonderful taste of dragon meat. This issue had none of that, opting to slow things down and focusing on looking more at the characters and the dire situation they are in. I am totally fine with this.
Etrigan streaks through the sky on his recently grown wings, while carrying his immortal (?) lover, Madame Xanadu, in his arms away from a powerful mystical barrier that she has just created. The problem is that the spell took nearly all of her power and the cost has withered her to an ancient crone. In anger, the yellow-skinned demon does something not very nice to a happy cleric. Vandal Savage sets out to build an army from the slim pickings available. The mysterious warrior-woman (Amazonian?), Exoristos, and the Shining Knight build a wall. Exoristos is convinced that the Shining Knight is a girl--an incredibly strong one at that--and the androgynous knight briefly mentions a terrible quest that she/he is on. Finally, Exoristos not just allows, but encourages a young girl to attempt to sneak past the waiting horde on the other side of the magical shield to a disastrous, but realistic end. The horde might be hungry for blood, but the Demon Knights are filled with fury--except for Vandal Savage, who is thrilled at the impending bloodshed; the invaders don't stand a chance.
After two issues of action and fighting, issue three focuses on letting the reader have a quick peek into who the protagonists are and to great effect. I want to know more about the story of who this Exoristos woman is and I can't wait to hear the tale of the Shining Knight and his/her terrible quest. Al-Jabr, the seemingly powerless engineer, holds much intrigue as well. Then there's Vandal Savage with his could-care-less attitude and fun-loving spirit, who is the star of this series thus far, but I suspect that when the immortal man eventually does let anger reign it will be momentous. The unnamed horsewoman and Madame Xanadu are interesting, but the oddest thing about this serious for me is that the character I care the least about thus far is Etrigan, which is odd seeing as how The Demon has been one of my favorite characters since I was a child. Despite this, Demon Knights is a great book and I am dying to see our heroes kick the bejesus out of that mean, mean, mean red-haired jerkface next issue. I also have faith in Cornell to bring my much-loved demon to the forefront of this fantasy team book and allow him to become the great and possibly tragic character he is supposed to be. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Frankenstein Agent
of S.H.A.D.E #3

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #3 - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Alberto Ponticelli, published by DC Comics. Where the hell was this book when I was seven? Seriously. As much as I loved The Micronauts, Swamp Thing, Spider-Man, Batman, Iron Man, Aquaman and all the rest of those guys, I was enamored with the Hollywood movie monsters. Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Creature From the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein's Monster, and the Mummy. All these guys rocked my world and those scary Hammer Horror movies that I was probably too young to be watching only made me love those characters more. Now in my...slightly older years...I have the comic I dreamed of and I'm a kid all over again, only now I'm a married, beer drinking, stay-up-as-late-as-I-want "adult" kid. Candy before bedtime? Don't mind if I do.
Frankenstein and his Creature Commandos arrive to rescue Frankenstein's (ex)wife on what they regret to find is a planet of horrid monsters. Hopelessly outnumbered with the tide of the battle turning against them, Khalis, the mysterious mummy, casts a magical spell that knocks him unconscious, but saves the day. Unfortunately, the egg-shaped ship that brought the unlikely heroes to the monster planet was damaged and needs time to self-repair. What's worse is the monster planet is moving toward a portal that will bring it to Earth. During a briefing on the situation, an enormous "Spider Titan" appears, but an unfazed Frankenstein takes care of the menace in a gruesomely amazing manner. The team then learns they have three hours to vanquish a sea monster titan and an ogre titan before the planet breaches the portal to Earth and they are forced to split up to meet the challenge. Back on Earth Ray Palmer and "Father" learn that their troubles are just beginning.
This comic is just plain nuts and it's clear that Lemire is enjoying doing whatever he wants, which is part of the strength of this title. A successful mashup of classic horror and weird science, Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. is not something I ever expected to see come from today's DC Comics, but I am thrilled to have this title and hope it continues for some time to come. I also need to point out (SPOILERS) the awesomeness of Frankenstein jumping down the Spider Titan's throat and bursting through it's chest, which has been done before, but in this instance he also brings along with him the creature's heart, which he impales with his sword in front of his team. How often do you get to see that?! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Diamond Distributors - I should probably watch what I say here as I hope to someday soon have my own comics going through the near-monopoly that is Diamond Distributors, but that said they shorted my LCS half of their shipment. What this meant was no Batwoman or Green Lantern yet and I was highly anticipating picking up those books. They might deliver today, or they might show up next Wednesday, but who the heck knows. For a comics store enjoying a definite upswing in sales, seeing a late/delayed shipment of about 500 books can be damaging, but with any luck they can convince shoppers to pick up an extra trade or better yet a new title such as the amazing Stuff of Legend, The Sixth Gun, or Locke and Key. I will write a "Part II" to this entry once I have my missing comics. Waiting blows. Boo hoo.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 11/04/2011

2011-11-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

(sung to the tune of Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl")

Comics are the best,
Yeah Animal Man and Swamp Thing are sublime
But lately something's changed
Too many books to buy
Donist World's got the scoop
On comics so good they'll make you cry
Action Comics is a cool prize
And you would be lovin' Witch Doctor, I just know it
And Stormwatch is the book to read so late at night

You know I wish that you read Donist World
I wish that you read Donist World
Where can I find more comics like that?

Obie? Obie! Put down that chicken bone that some nincompoop threw into the bushes. Don't they know that chicken bones can splinter and are bad for dogs? Geesh, besides, you need to focus on what's important...comics. For those of you playing the Donist World home game, I'm Donist, your host and this is my second reader--after my mom--Obie. Obie is my friends' Boston Terrier and he has a love Rick Springfield surpassed only by his love of comic books, running so deep that he is willing to drop this death-stick known to most people as a chicken bone so that we can...HEY! I said drop that. What the hell's the matter with you? *sigh* The good thing about Boston Terriers is that you can pick them up, carry them into the house and force them to read...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Animal Man #3

Animal Man #3 - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Travel Foreman, published by DC Comics. Ewwww! Gross! Disgusting! Awesome! Give me more! When this title was announced, I was intrigued enough to give it a shot. It had a character that I loved from the Morrison days and a story steeped in horror that I could not ignore. If I had to choose only one title of the 52, Animal Man would be the title that I bought for years to come.
Buddy Baker (Animal Man) is having a terrible time wrapping his head around the events of the past day. As he travels through The Red, a world of blood and life, and his body threatens to be torn asunder by his lack of understanding, it is his young daughter, Maxine, who is in control and understands exactly what is happening. Once calm and adjusted to being in The Red, Buddy meets the Totems, previous Animal Men from times gone, but in talking with them he comes to a harsh realization that there is more to Maxine than he is ready to accept and his role in the coming battle with "The Rot" is not what he wishes it to be. Meanwhile, the Hunters Three split up to confront Buddy and Maxine and to chase down his powerless wife and son.
Animal Man continues to be an amazing series that immediately leaves me wanting the next issue after each read. Yes, it delves heavily into the grotesque world of The Red and much of the imagery might turn away some potential new readers, but this should not detract from the compelling story that Lemire has crafted or the fascinating characters, who despite having powers and abilities have all too real relationships and fears. Foreman continues to deliver striking and disgusting visuals that work well in furthering the story and creating Lemire's world. Brrrr...his final panel of this issue alone is enough to give me the willies. My only complaint for this book is that a couple of panels seemed blurred, or overly smudged, but I believe that might be an issue with the production, but it was not enough to pull me out of this wonderful book. Animal Man is my favorite of the new DC 52. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Swamp Thing #3

Swamp Thing #3 - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Yanick Paquette, published by DC Comics. I know that I just said that Animal Man is my favorite book of the new 52, but Swamp Thing is a close second. In fact, I kind of want to lump these two books into one animal/vegetable hybrid...Animal Thing, or Swamp Man, or Animal Swamp Thing Man. I can't imagine buying one or the other of these fantastic books that I hope to see for years to come.
This issue opens with Dr. Durock talking to a young boy named William, who has to spend his time inside a bubble that filters out the allergens and toxins that threaten to kill the boy...mainly chlorophyll. Back to the main story, Alec Holland is being held at gun point by the beautiful (I like the new haircut) Abigail Arcane who demands that he prove he is actually Alec Holland. He does this in a startling display of his still present powers over The Green. William is tormented by wicked, evil terminally-ill children, but he strikes back in an unexpected and startling manner reminiscent of the Miracleman "Olympus" storyline. Abigail then reveals a secret to Alec about the young William that I also did not see coming, ending with a page that gave me the chills.
I'm surprised that I did not have more twisted dreams last night after reading these two complementary and horrifying titles. I have to admit that I had reservations about anyone writing Swamp Thing after the Alan Moore run that is one of my favorite comics of all time, but three issues into the new series and Snyder is doing just fine. The slow, creeping terror of this book is building in such a way that allays all my worries about the series, leaving me one happy and scared camper. Paquette's work is adapting nicely to the title and although great from the beginning his art continues to improve with each issue. I also appreciate the cover that is reminiscent of the old Saga of the Swamp Thing Tom Yeates covers (I liked the Yeates shout-out on Abby's jeans btw), with a killer eye-catching triadic color scheme (a side thanks to Chris Sotomayor for the informative and challenging coloring class this summer!). If you are a fan of engaging and intense horror stories, you cannot go wrong with this title, BUT you are doing yourself an immense disservice if you do not pickup the complementary Animal Man title as well. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Sweet Tooth #27

Sweet Tooth #27 - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Matt Kindt, published by Vertigo Comic, a DC Comics imprint. "The Taxidermist" storyline continues with again no appearances by Gus, Jepperd or any of the rest of the Sweet Tooth cast, but that is okay as the story begins to clue the reader into what happened to the world.
James Thacker and his crew have found Louis Simpson in the frozen and perilous regions of Alaska, but unfortunately the man did not want to be found. In fact, Simpson was the one who sabotaged their expedition from the beginning and is now considered a member of the tribe living in the region. Simpson believes that his attempts to thwart the expedition was a way to save the lives of the search party as a sickness had killed all of the missionaries that came before them; a sickness that Simpson unleashed into the world. He then tells of a strange cave filled with stone tablets, especially one that bore the likeness of a deer that when opened contained the skeleton of strange creature. After his desecration of the tomb, the sickness came and the elder blamed Simpson. Thacker believes none of what he was told until his friend shows him his son, a baby born with antlers.
As confused and hesitant as I was with the last issue, I am fully back to loving Sweet Tooth after the insane reveals in this latest chapter. Now I desperately want to know how the final installment in "The Taxidermist" storyline fits in with the present world of Sweet Tooth and there are still many questions to answer. Kindt continues to be an excellent fill-in artist for Lemire and this glimpse into the past has jumped one of my favorite comics back up to HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Action Comics #3

Action Comics #3 - Written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Rags Morales and Gene Ha, published by DC Comics. The book that did the impossible and made me once again excited about Superman returns in a less action packed if not hastily paced issue. Although a somewhat abrupt and slightly disjointed outing, Action Comics continues to be a fun and exciting look at the early days of the Man of Steel.
The story opens with a flashback of baby Kal-El with his mother, Lara, at a party for her sister, only to be warned by her husband, Jor-El, to leave Kandor due to the invasion of an alien consciousness that is taking over the planet and killing its inhabitants. In real time, a roughed-up and frazzled Clark Kent is awakened by his landlady and Inspector Blake who is investigating the young journalist under suspicion of pushing Superman into action against businessman Glen Glenmorgan. Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane attempt to entice Clark to work for the Daily Planet, while Glenmorgan attempts to pull attention from his illegal activities by successfully turning people against the alien Superman with the aid of the media. Clark Kent sets out to expose another businessman replacing his workers with robots, only to find that those robots have come under control of the same alien consciousness that destroyed his birth planet. At the end, the true villain takes shape in a modified human body.
Another great issue in this series, but as I mentioned above, some sections moved far too fast to convince me that Superman would go from being a hero in issue two to a feared menace in issue three. I respect and love how this comic takes situations very much alive in the today's world, but more than a page or two was needed to make this change come across successfully. There was also an odd panel that out of nowhere shows Clark sitting on a park bench as a homeless person tells him that a white dog (a ghost) watches over him, with no other transition given; I am guessing this to mean my main puppy, Krypto. Jarring actions aside, there is still plenty that is done right, especially with the characterization and the movement of the story. Fun, exciting and a book that I look forward to reading next month, Action Comics continues to be a stellar read. RECOMMENDED!

Stormwatch #3

Stormwatch #3 - Written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda, published by DC Comics. Although I have read some complaints about this title, I am still enjoying it and will continue to buy it for a few more issues at least. I am wondering when Apollo will actually put on the uniform that he has been shown to wear on the all three covers, yet he has not changed out of civies in the interiors. Things that make you go, "hmmmm."
Jack Hawksmoor consults with three of the major cities of the world in order to discover how to combat the monster that landed in Colorado--in a very clever manner I might add. Apollo soars into the heavens to engage the monsters rocketing towards Earth, while Jenny Quantum and the Engineer "rescue" Harry Tanner who has just taken the knowledge of "The Scourge of the Worlds." The situation in Colorado is worse than expected and with Apollo occupied, the rest of Stormwatch attempt to fight the monstrous creature that is absorbing everything it touches and the the hidden city in Colorado refuses to listen to Jack. In the end, one member of the group stands to fight the menace that threatens the world.
Where Action Comics was light on action, Stormwatch had an abundance, and that is what made this issue so enjoyable. There was still some essential character moments, primarily with Hawksmoor and Cornell's unique vision and personification of Paris, Metropolis and Gotham reminding me of how much I loved Warren Ellis's version of the "God of Cities." This title has a lot of promise and will hopefully become as great as Cornell's other title Demon Knights, but more time and pages are needed to develop the large cast of characters. My main criticism thus far lies with some inconsistent depictions of the characters from issue to issue and at times from panel to panel, but this is a minor point and did not overly detract from my enjoyment of this comic. RECOMMENDED!

Witch Doctor #4

Witch Doctor #4 - Written by Brandon Seifert and illustrated by Lukas Ketner, published by Skybound, an Image Comics imprint. The final issue--of the mini-series--of the "House meets the Supernatural" mashup arrives and it continues its mad whirlwind of monsters, medicine and curing the common "Patient from the Black Lagoon."
At the "Mystics Without Borders Board Hearing" Dr. Vincent Morrow is under review and at risk of losing his mystical medical license over his unorthodox methodology. He launches into the final portion of his tale of how he, Eric Gast and the monstrous Penny Dreadful took down the Cthulu-worshipping gillpeople with magic pills, extreme violence and harsh, mocking criticism. What Morrow deduces is that the gillpeople are afflicted with a reproductive bacteria and treating bacteria is a simple matter of using antibiotics. But how do you administer antibiotics to a small army of creatures that wish to tear you and your friends to pieces? The Witch Doctor gang win the day and Dr. Morrow shows the board who's really in charge, but the victory might only be a bandaid on a deeper problem.
The "final" issue was all sorts of fun in all of its tense, humorous, and gruesome glory, but this is not the end of Witch Doctor, as a one-shot is set to release in December with a followup mini coming in 2012. Much congratulations to Seifert and Ketner on the success of this unique and enjoyable first-time comic book. I also need to point out how much I love Ketner's creatures with special praise going to the goofy looking gillman with the angler fish lure-light coming out of his head...too funny. This is not a book for the faint of heart or those with a weak stomach and probably not germaphobes either, but if you are a fan of horror mixed with doses of comedy and wit, then you will definitely enjoy this book. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Too Many Comics, Too Little Money and Overly Late Books - Crimony. I bought nine books this week, which was pricy and I still have not had a chance to read two of the comics yet. The seventh book that I read was good, but I will probably talk about that series as a whole at some later date. Not to be overly mysterious, but the book was so delayed that I have forgotten much of what happened in previous issues. The same can be said of late comic book number eight, but unread comic number nine is Mystic #2, which finally arrived at my shop and I hope to read it this evening. I have a sneaking suspicion that I will really enjoy Mystic #2 and #3 and that they will be appearing on FSoH/SitW at a later date. HEY! Mystic #4 was supposed to be released this past Wednesday...dammit!

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 10/28/2011

2011-10-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

(Sung to the tune of OMD's "Secret")

I got a Secret Avengers, Aja's king
Martial arts sincerely is his thing
Loved The Sixth Gun I will never doubt
Them demon guns to stop freaking me out
There are books that you gotta read
I, Vampire is one that you need
It's not really all that hard Obie
Visit Donist World and you will see

Alright, thank you OMD for stopping by and you are more than welcome to perform "Messages" or "Electricity" or "Enola Gay"...okay, yeah, talk to y'all later. You guys up for meeting at In-N-Out later? We'll just take that as a date tbd. Until that time it looks like it is just me and your pal Obie, my friends' Boston Terrier and my second reader after my mom. Anyhow, I bought five books this week, but I'm only going to be talking about three of them as one underwhelmed and the other just was not my thang. So have a look-see at this week's...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

The Sixth Gun #16

The Sixth Gun #16 - Written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Brian Hurtt, published by Oni Press. The Sixth Gun is usually the first comic that I read when I get home from the comic store. It is one of the most consistent titles even when guest artists are brought in and remains one of my most anticipated titles month to month. But, after this week of being less than enthused by my other books, I realized that this stellar comic is damn near impossible to follow, so I think I will be listening Vanessa Williams's advice and "save the best for last" going forward.
The story opens with Gregory VonAllen Montcrief talking to his young step-daughter, Becky Montcrief, in what appears to be a flashback. While Becky plays in the yard, Gregory walks into the house and retrieves the Sixth Gun from under the bed and uses it to communicate with a very much adult Becky years in the future. Meanwhile, Gord Cantrell sits on the porch of the abandoned plantation with his dead wife, Caroline, who had her heart cut out of her chest by General Hume many years ago. In speaking with another ghost, that of the evil plantation owner, Braxton Bill Hood, Gord learns that there might be a way to bring his wife and children back to the land of the living. The reason and method of Hood's demise becomes clear and Gord finds the books of the Six Guns, while present-day Becky realizes that the Sword of Abraham may not have her best interest at heart.
I loved this issue! With little in the way of action, but the realization of an incredibly new cool power for the Sixth Gun, plus a deeper look into Gord Cantrell's past, this issue left me riveted and wanting more. Sure I'm biting my nails to learn the fate of Drake Sinclair, but it's coming. I'm more than happy with Bunn and Hurtt taking their time getting there so long as they keep giving me stories like this and they continue delving into their other fascinating characters. I do hope to see the day when Becky finally takes charge and we learn more about her past and character, which I'm sure is not that far down the road. I can't wait for issue seventeen. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I, Vampire #2

I, Vampire #2 - Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino, published by DC Comics. Last month, issue one told the story of Andrew and Mary's years together as vampires: their love, their beliefs and the beginning of the end of their relationship. It also showed Mary's betrayal of Andrew and her goal to rule the world...all from Andrew's point of view. The second installment tells much the same story, only this time from the perspective of Mary, Queen of Blood.
Mary Seward has been a vampire for many years, but she has held her desires at bay out of respect for the love of Andrew. But no longer. In an act of betrayal, Mary sets a trap for her beloved maker, namely an army of vampires, all wishing to see him dead. As he fights the much lesser undead, Mary joins the fight in one last, vain attempt to win her love over to her side, but Andrew will not bend. With her adversary occupied, Mary leaves the scene to begin her crusade to rule the world.
Damn. Cool. Comic. Damn, cool comic. I, Vampire is unlike any vampire book/show/comic I have seen and Fialkov has succeeded in taking a horrible, evil creature and making her plight understandable. Although the majority of this issue is a huge fight scene, it at no time becomes boring or repetitive. Each attack, punch, kick and transformation is important to the direction these two characters are destined to take. Sorrentino's art brings such tension and grace to the book, where one moment Mary is a beautiful, almost whimsical-looking woman, to the next where she is a creature of terror, with elongated jaws and a torn mouth full of teeth ready to combat Andrew's flowing mist form. With introductions out of the way, I am anxious to see where Fialkov and Sorrentino take us with the tragic story of these vampire lovers turned enemies. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Secret Avengers #18

Secret Avengers #18 - Written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by David Aja, published by Marvel Comics. True confession time...I have been on the verge of canceling this title for quite a few issues, but the introduction of John Aman and Shang-Chi occasionally to the team has kept my interest sparked and having Warren Ellis added to the equation doesn't hurt. Now it looks like I have to get the next issue, despite my grumbling at the $3.99 price point.
Shang-Chi stands in a space station located in the "No-Zone," completely surrounded by members of the Shadow Council; they don't stand a chance. The Council is mining "bad continuums" for transmatter, a substance that a mere two gallons worth could turn the earth into a sun, and these terrorist are willing to unleash it on the world. All that stands in opposition to the Shadow Council is Steve Rogers, Sharon Carter (wearing a Satan Claw...badass) and the aforementioned Shang-Chi. Again, the evil-doers don't stand a chance.
Ellis's story was fun and I especially liked the panels and development given to Shang-Chi, whether he was fighting, or expressing his disapproval at being used as a thug, this character shined. The real draw for me--aside from one of my favorite martial artists--was the art of David Aja. The Immortal Iron Fist by Matt Fraction, Ed Brubaker and Aja is one of my all-time favorite Marvel books, not just because of the stellar story, but also because of the amazing art by David Aja. Seeing Aja tackling Shang-Chi left me wanting more of his beautifully choreographed fight scenes and the dramatic pauses in action for a character's moment of self reflection. ***Plea to Marvel: Give us loyal readers a Kung-Fu comic. How about a title that is eleven pages of Iron Fist and eleven pages of Shang-Chi. ALL PAGES drawn by Mr. Aja and each story written by a talented writer. *cough* *cough* I'm available and I know some other new writer folks too*cough* *cough*. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Layoff At Marvel - Sigh...I hate to hear news like this, but I sincerely hope that all of the talented people who lost their jobs land on their feet and continue to work towards making great comics...just as they were doing previously at Marvel. I am sorry for you all.

One Heck of a Bad Month

2011-10-27T10:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, this post has nothing to do with comic books, writing, or the creation of art to any degree, so totally feel free to skip it as I detail all of my not-that-entertaining health problems...okay, maybe a little entertaining for you sickos out there. This is mostly something I wanted to write about so that I remember what happened, how scary everything was and maybe there are some answers for those going through similar situations. I will say that I now have plenty of material for future writing projects of the horror and possibly sci-fi genres, but that is not what I'm going to talk about right now.

Basically, in addition to the shoddy eyes that I inherited from my father's side of the family (I'm also blind in one eye), and the messed up jaw I inherited from my mother's side of the family, I also inherited weak intestinal lining fortitude from my mother's side. Sigh. What this means is that I developed an inguinal hernia.

For those who don't know, there are many types of hernias, but my particular problem stemmed from a tear in the intestinal lining that caused my guts to start to poke through. Hernias do not heal on their own and require surgery to correct and are something best fixed right away as some gruesome and terrible complications can arise if you do not have the problem corrected. From what I was told, hernia's are common and (don't quote me on this as I might be wrong) occur at some point in 25% of men, but can happen in women as well. Regardless, if you suspect you have a hernia get it checked out and fixed sooner rather than later, and avoid learning first hand what the "more extreme" complications are.

Anyhow, I arrived two hours early for my September 28, 2011 12:30 PM operation for my right side. Amy, my wife, took me to out patient surgery and I was given a room that I luckily had to myself.  My mom showed up out of the blue, which was actually nice, and the nurse walked me through what was going to happen. Now, since I was a toddler I have had a fear of needles. My mom loves to recount the time two-year-old Donist broke free from the doctor and nurse who were attempting to hold the screaming boy down to administer a booster shot, and it was then that I reached back, grabbed the doctors hand--the one with the syringe--and yanked it away, scraping the needle across my lily-white ass. Yup, true story. I think they called up Dom Deluis to sit on me after that, so I ended up getting the shot anyways.  Ever since, I have been trying to get past this fear, but needles are just not high on my favorites list and the thought of being fitted for an IV left me reeling. My hope for this day was that I would walk into the hospital and someone would come up from behind me to chloroform my ass, where I would wake up a few hours later in a bathtub filled with ice, the surgery complete and me asking my wife if she still had my wallet. Not so much how it happened.

My nurse was superstar fantastic and kept me calm while hooking me up with the IV, which was actually pretty easy and not terribly painful.  Soon enough, I said goodbye to Amy and my mom and I was wheeled off down a bunch of corridors that went from bright and pleasant to less inviting, cold and dimly lit.  I would be lying if I said that the video game Silent Hill did not pop into my mind, but all the nurses did indeed have faces and none of them wielded any butcher knives that I could see. I was then guided into a brightly lit and chilled operating room, where I looked around briefly, was asked a question, looked around again...that was that.

I came to a few hours later in the recovery room with a slightly sore throat from the breathing tube that they gave me and when I was cognizant enough to know what was going on, I was asked to cough--not pleasant after a hernia surgery even when doped up--and noticed that I had four incisions: one just below the bellybutton (for the camera), one an inch and a half below that, another an inch and a half below that (oh please god don't be any more further down!), and one on the right side. Apparently it was happy hour or two-for-one Wednesdays as I went in for one hernia repair operation and received two; they also fixed the left side. After that I magically appeared in my original room, where Amy and my mom were waiting, and my IV (and much of the hair on my arm) was removed. The only thing I remember after that was getting out of a wheelchair and into Amy's car.

From there, we went to the pharmacy, picked up vicodin, stool softener and a gallon of prune juice and it was off to home (word of advice: tell your driver to take all speed bumps and dips in the road with caution...you'll be glad you did, unless you are into the whole pain thing).

Okay, brutal honesty time on this one. Vicodin sucks, but you have to take it. It will definitely take the edge off of the pain, but it also turns you into a zombie and as a writer this is terrible and accounts for why I only did one blog post during that time. For those who take Vicodin recreationally, you are complete and utter morons. Seriously, I am judging you.

Back to the story. Another downside of Vicodin--thus the prune juice and stool softner--is that it makes going to the bathroom difficult...no need to expand any further on this.

Later that night as I climbed into bed with slow, deliberate, terrified movements, I was able to get comfortable with no incidents.  I was so out of it that I did not think to set a pillow on top of my abdomen when Tulip jumped into bed. She walked up to me and thumped her front left paw down onto my left side...right where the work had been done.  My whole life I have been a fan of cartoons and I now understand why stars appeared when Bugs Bunny smacked Elmer Fudd in the head with a hammer. One tiny thwack from a little 22-pound Boston Terrier and boy did I see stars, and everything went white for a moment.  I spent the next week sleeping with a pillow between my wife, dog and me.

Okay, here's another brutal honesty point that does not apply to woman, only men after an inguinal surgery repair...you can probably guess the region this is headed towards, so skip this paragraph if you would rather not know. Damn. Remembering this still makes me want to faint...here goes. When I first consulted the doctor about the surgery, she warned me to not be surprised when a few days later I noticed that my "balls would be black and blue and swollen." Two days later I determined that she had lied to me--there were also some lovely rich purples mixed with the black and blue. "HOLY CRAP, I'M DISFIGURED!" was my reaction, and as for swelling of the area, all I could think of was a medium-sized grapefruit. I tried to get my wife to have a look at the carnage--that's what wives are for, right?--but she refused and I honestly can't blame her. This is why the moment you wake up from surgery, they have you slide into a cheap, attractively-named scrotal support (jock strap thing) which you need.  The scrotal support will be your buddy, your wingman, your closest friend, because without it...I really don't want to think about what life would have been like without its desperately needed protection and fastidious grip on my nu-nus.

Sorry about the preceding paragraph, but that is what happened and that is what you need to be prepared to see if you have a inguinal hernia surgery. Alright. All of this said, each day was a slight improvement on the last--not counting the brain fog from the vicodin. I could be a little less cautious with movements, I was relying on ice packs less and less, and I was getting my appetite back. During this time I also--so I thought--severely pulled a muscle in my left leg; more on this later.

A little over a week passed, I stopped the vicodin and was thrilled at the notion of having my mind back and being able to read complex books, or to write, or to not be confused by episodes of Dancing With the Stars--actually, I'm still confused by that one. But this is when I began to get cold. Freezing cold. I had to change to warmer socks, and pajamas, and I was wearing a Snuggie as well, but I could not get warm. I was back to being unable to concentrate. I assumed that I was going through withdrawls from the vicodin, but by Saturday afternoon, when Amy found me bundled in bed, shivering and not making sense, she also found that I had a temperature of 102.9. It was off to the emergency room.

I checked in at 3:00 PM, and was immediately given my own curtained-off space in the hall, next to a surly old-as-hell man, who I never saw, but my wife commented that he seemed like a frequent flier of the place and was probably lonely, which was disheartening. I was then given some Tylenol to start to combat the fever and the most glorious cup of ice water I had ever sipped. A little later, I was fitted with an IV on my left arm (joy), had two big vials of blood drawn, then had someone else come in and take another two vials of blood from my other arm, and I was then hooked up to some antibiotics and a saline drip as I was massively dehydrated. I cooled down immediately and clarity crept back into my mind and it was off to have a CT scan.  Later I was told that I had a kidney infection, a urinary tract infection and bacteria in my blood. No one knew how I got the infections, only that I had them and they needed to be treated. I also need to point out that I mentioned to them the muscle that I pulled in my left leg after the surgery and that it was very painful to walk. They brushed this off.

Time for some words of advice. If you ever need to go to the emergency room on a weekend, try to do it well before 5:00 PM. Apparently, that is the magical time that the drunks, college student douchebags and other psychos decide to start pouring in with their self inflicted traumas. Here is what I heard: 1) A plastered drunk couple who were to be married that day (ten minutes from the time they were admitted) where the woman, wearing a blood-drenched wedding gown, had "fallen" and hit her head. The man was periodically saying in loud drunken, slurred speech, "How is my baby, girl. Is my wife-to-be doing okay? I can't believe she fell...you know how it is." 2) a douchy college student who spoke with such a loud, booming voice that I assumed he was partially deaf. He had some sort of bleeding sore in his mouth and would yell anytime anyone got near it. The doctor repeatedly asked if he had been fighting, but the guy loudly proclaimed that he had not and he also could not find any sort of documentation showing that he was actually enrolled at UCSB for their medical coverage. I did catch a glimpse of this guy and was surprised that he looked just like Bam Bam Bigelow from the old WWF days. 3) A French woman who discussed loudly with a police officer that she not only refused to take a breathalizer test, but that she also refused to take a blood test. They went round and round about driving under the influence and I honestly have no idea how their deal ended, but I was aghast to hear Bam Bam Bigelow next door loudly tell a lab technician, "Yeah, you hear that drunk French chick out there? What a dumb bitch!" I was thrilled to leave when we did, before the place turned into even more of a zoo.

The next day I picked up the two-week supply of Cipro (no alcohol or caffeine), and was admittedly feeling better, aside from the leg which was aching pretty bad. Having been cooped up so long at home, we decided to go to lunch with our friends which was a bad idea. My leg was very uncomfortable and I was having trouble paying attention. I started to get cold again and declared, "I think I need to go home." Turns out I was running a 103 temperature and physically shaking with the chills. "I...I d-don't w-want to go b-b-back to the ER. I d-don't w-want to b-b-be poked or p-prodded anymore," I muttered to Amy from the depths of my Snuggie cocoon. "I c-can't t-take anymore of th-this." Thankfully, we got the fever down, and feeling semi-competent, I made Amy listen about how to handle various affairs if I were to die. "You need to contact a lawyer," I told her, "close my bank accounts and move them to a credit union without auto-withdrawl. I also have life insurance through work which will pay you for two years of my salary and you will need to walk away from our mortgage; those bastards never helped us, don't feel obligated to keep paying them."   Yes, it was all overly dramatic, but I seriously thought I was done for. Thankfully this was not the case.

On to the third act...

After a few days, I began to feel better, but Cipro also made me loopy and hampered my writing--although not as much as the Vicodin.  However, my leg was bothering me more than ever. Keep in mind that I was still very much recovering from my double hernia repair surgery during all of this. Nine days after the ER visit, I decided enough was enough with the aching leg and went to the walk-in clinic, where the doctor immediately sent me downtown to have a ultrasound. I did as told, relieved that I was not going to be injected or have more blood drawn.

Thy found a blood clot in my leg.

I rushed back to the walk-in clinic where the doctor informed me that the blood clot was potentially life-threatening, I was going to have to be on a regimen of blood thinners for three to six months consisting of a scary drug called Coumadin and that I would need to start taking self-administered injections of Lovinox, twice per day, under the skin of my stomach. He had a Lovinox shot at the office and guided my shaking hands as I injected myself with the syringe. Again, not one for needles, this idea was mentally unpleasant, but honestly not that bad to do. He made an appointment with my primary care physician for early the next morning and I was off to the pharmacy to buy a box of ten Lovinox syringes and a single Coumadin pill. When I got home, I pet the dog, put everything away and lost it. A double hernia repair surgery, Vicodin, incision rashes, an ER visit, severe kidney infection, urinary tract infection, bacteria in the blood, two weeks of Cipro, and now a blood clot in my leg that could kill me all happened over the course of two weeks and five days...I just couldn't take anymore.  I was glad that Amy was at work and did not see me in this state, only Tulip was at the house and she just wanted me to play with her, which helped more than her puppy brain could ever imagine.

The next morning, I met my doctor, who set my mind at ease. He told me that because I had taken two injections of the Lovinox that the life-threatening aspect of the blood clot had dropped to almost 0%, which was a relief to hear. I was told to continue the injections until I had run out of the box of ten and he explained that for the next three to four months I would be having my blood drawn regularly and receiving a call afterwards with an INR number that measured anticoagulation.  I was less than enthused about the "regular blood draws), but he said that as my results normalized to the desired range, then the blood draw would be less frequent.  He also told me that standing around in line anywhere was very bad for me. Sitting at a computer desk--kind of like I'm doing now--is not good for me. Sitting on a couch with my legs on an ottoman was the ticket and I was not to be walking too much. At the same time, I was not to be sitting around for any stretch of time, but slowly walking about when I could.  "Huh?" Regardless, removing the words "life threatening" from the equation was the news I wanted to hear.

I was also told that having a beer once off of the Cipro was okay, just not to go crazy.  Beautiful, lovely words.
I finished the Cipro pills on Saturday and on Sunday evening I had my first beer in a long while and actually went to my friends' house for dinner and to watch The Walking Dead.  I of course had my leg elevated the entire time, but that was the most that I had been out of the house in almost a month. I had been in the house for so long, that I was beginning to feel like a 20-something celebritard on house arrest for shoplifting or repeated DUIs that would send normal folk to jail.

Thus far, I have had my blood drawn on 10/21, 10/24, 10/26 and 10/28. Hopefully I get a free sandwich or gift certificate to Hollister Brewing Company after my 10th blood draw, but I doubt that the lab has any kind of punch card policy.  I'm also still doing Lovinox shots, which totally blows, but I am hopeful that today's results are good enough to quit the injections.

Other than these events, my October has absolutely sucked, but I am hopeful that I am finally on the way back to some degree of normalcy. Better yet, I'm hoping for some sort of cool super-powers out of this health fiasco after the shit I've been through. A healing factor would be nice, but I would have rather had it kick in a few months ago so I would not have had to go through all of this nonsense. Or maybe spider powers or invisiblility or something, anything. I won't hold my breath on the super-powers.

Anyhow, if you read all of this, then you are gruesome and twisted to the maximum, but thanks for checking it out. If you want to comment and add some of your own nightmarish ordeals, or have questions then please let me know; I would love to hear what you have to say. Thank you again and I'll be back to the normal "Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods" posts, and updates on projects that I am working on as they happen. I will say that it is GREAT to be writing again.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 10/21/2011

2011-10-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

(Sung to the tune of Electric Light Orchestra's "Evil Woman")

I'm all happy you see, 'cause good comic books will never end.

Hey Obie, you got the blues, cos you ain't got no books to peruse
Visit your LCS, you know where, you need some titles?
Best get over there
I'm kind of stoked that Mystic three came in
But I missed issue two which equals no win
Won-der Woman it's a total gas
Snyder's Batman, it's great, you bet your ass.

W-Wonder Woman, W-Wonder Woman, W-Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman

After last week's monster FSoH/SitW entry with so many fantastic comics, it was kind of a relief to only have three books to talk about. I'm certain there would have been four books, but I will have to put a temporary hold on Mystic #3, as my LCS skipped on issue #2 and I'm not going to read them out of order; the first issue was great btw. I will also mention that I picked up Justice League #2, which was okay, but not for me. I must mention that Jim Lee's art on this issue was out of control in it's beauty and definitely something to be admired. Again, it just wasn't my cup of tea. For now, here are the three wonderful books that I loved this week...drumroll please, Obie, it's...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Batman #2

Batman #2 - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Greg Capullo, published by DC Comics. In a past few FSoH/SitW entries, I discussed how blown away I was by Scott Snyder's Detecive Comics run (available on Comixology and in hardcover in November, you owe it to yourself to pick it up!) and how I loved the dark, twisted, slow-burn tale he was telling. It was genuinely scary, but something that I could not put down. The new 52 reboot and Snyder's move to the Batman proper title is not quite as dark, but just as enjoyable.
The story opens with Bruce Wayne thinking about the architecture of Gotham and Wayne tower in particular as he is thrown through one of the "unbreakable" windows by an assassin, and left to plummet to his death. 24 hours earlier, Batman foils a robbery attempt involving a helicopter, a train and the batcycle in way that shows just how kickass Batman really is. Later, Jim Gordon examines the autopsied body of the dead man from the first issue and is joined by Batman via a holographic image and scanner that Batman installed in the morgue to avoid having to break in on a regular basis. The two come to a few conclusions about the man, but Batman does not disclose that the skin found under his fingernails belongs to Dick Grayson...Nightwing. Back at the tower right before the story opener, Bruce Wayne meets with Lincoln March "the next mayor of Gotham" and the pair are assaulted by a Court of Owls assassin, a group who Batman has denied even exists. Wayne gets trounced pretty bad, but manages to survive the encounter while the assassin, who should be dead from the fall, escapes, seemingly unscathed.
Crimony! This was a great comic. Issue one was very good, but served mostly to (re)introduce the reader to Batman, Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne and set up the story. This issue opens with action and keeps the momentum going for the entire issue, while upping the creepiness factor and the threat level. Snyder succeeds in taking Batman and his unshakeable confidence in his knowledge of everything Gotham and begins to methodically fracture that certainty. I'm anxious to see how this turns out for Batman, it's probably not going to be pretty. Then there is the matter of Greg Capullo's beautiful art that improves upon the already impressive first issue and FCO's colors which bring mood and life to Capullo's images in stunning fashion. Very enjoyable and one the best of the 52. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Wonder Woman #1

Wonder Woman #1 - Written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Cliff Chiang, published by DC Comics. I have really wanted to find a jumping on point with Wonder Woman, spending much time perusing the intimidating number of tpb's, written by a multitude of writers and with differing looks of the Amazon warrior whether in her classic gear, business suits, leather jackets with shoulder pads and long pants, or spy gear, and each time I have turned away, usure of where to start. Thank goodness for the DC 52 reboot. I missed this first issue the first time around, which was disappointing, but going to the glass half-full side, I got the second print and issue two on the same day.
Wonder Woman begins with a depiction of Apollo that I have never seen before: wealthy, business suit, ebony skin and burning eyes. Apollo is attempting to locate his missing father, Zeus, who is supposedly off catting around with whatever mortal woman he can find. A naked woman in a peacock cloak and hood creates a pair of centaurs in a horrific manner unlike anything I have ever seen before. We then jump to a woman named Zola, who has Hermes, the messenger of the gods--also given a unique appearance--held at gunpoint, but the god is then gravely wounded by the centaurs who are after Zola, or mainly the child that she unknowingly carries; Zeus's child. Hermes gives the panicked girl a key that teleports her to Diana, Wonder Woman, and Zola brings the warrior woman back to where the injured Hermes lies. A brutal and intense fight between the Amazon and the centaurs erupts and Wonder Woman easily shows just how formidable she is.
Fast paced, exciting and a great (re)introduction to this amazing hero that embraces the mythological and skirts the lines of horror, providing a book that is everything I enjoy and should be enjoyable to others as well. To those less familiar with Greek mythology, there will be some confusion as to what is going on, but things will be clarified as the story progresses. Little insight into Wonder Woman's history is spent in these pages, and that is fine. The reader knows that Wonder Woman is a protector of those in harm's way and at the same time a ruthless, cunning warrior not to be taken lightly and Azzarello shows this through her actions as opposed to exposition. Cliff Chang's art is perfectly suited to the Princess of Power with smooth transitions from normal people talking, then to a horrific event and then to intense action. I also liked the subtle touch of Diana's room in London that gave further insight into Wonder Woman's character by showing that she does not have any art or plants or personal keepsakes, only practical items: a bed, a wardrobe, a chair and water. Also worthy of mentioning is Matthew Wilson's coloring that helped all of the characters stand out and provided additional tension to the action scenes. Overall, this was a fantastic book that I expect to be reading for quite some time and a perfect jumping on point for those not knowing where to begin. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Wonder Woman #2

Wonder Woman #2 - Written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Cliff Chiang, published by DC Comics. In case you didn't notice from the previous review, I was pretty blown away by the first issue of Wonder Woman and the second issue did not disappoint.
This issue opens with the purple-toned Strife (no idea who she is in Greek Mythology) speaking with Zeus's wife, Hera, about Zeus's dalliances and confirming that Hera wishes to destroy the child that Zola carries. Diana, Zola and an injured Hermes travel to Paradise Island where we are introduced to Wonder Woman's mother, Hippolyta, and her great big axe. Hermes gets bandaged up and tells Zola the legend of Diana's creation out of clay by the barren Hippolyta. Wonder Woman agrees to a sparring match with her friend Aleka in one heck of a cool battle spread, until Strife comes down to Paradise Island, looking not for Zola but Wonder Woman, leaving many dead Amazons in her wake.
Another fast moving issue with only slightly less action, Azzarello's tale is no less compelling. Although we only get to see a small glimpse of Paradise Island, it is apparent that there is a deep and rich history waiting to be explored and one that I hope to see told over the coming year, with other characters like Hippolyta and Aleka given some additional development. First thing's first, though, and the mystery of Wonder Woman's back story looks to be an exciting one. Chiang's art is again stellar and I am going to do search to see what else he has done, while Matthew Wilson's colors continue to add additional life to the already beautiful characters. I can't wait to see what happens in issue three. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

I Have Mystic #3 But Not Mystic #2 - Grrrrrrr...I really want to read this book, but I can't go out of sequence on this really cool four-issue mini. It's on order so hopefully in a couple weeks I will have a copy in my collection.

Further Health Issues - I'm writing a long piece about what has been going on over the past three weeks, that I am deciding whether or not I should post. I probably will, but we'll see. Let's just say it hasn't been pleasant and has been quite scary, but I am hoping things are finally under control and that I am recovering. I am beyond thankful for my wife's help and caring through everything; she is the true Wonder Woman. I'm also glad to have more of my wits about me so I can continue writing and working on my projects and such.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 10/14/2011

2011-10-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

(sung to the tune of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy")

Dear comic reader, we have gathered here today
To read some kick ass comics
Groovy word comics it means super heroes, cool spies and troubled teens
But I'm here to tell you 'bout some sweet books from...
The Donist World!
A world of never ending happiness
Batwoman and Who Is Jake Ellis? Yeah!

So when you go to your LCS to buy Grifter
Or you know the ones...Frankenstein, The Shade and Stormwatch
Instead of asking them how much this is gonna cost
Ask him how much of your mind, baby.
'Cause in this life Demon Knights and Green Lantern are the most
This life you got Donist World

And if your LCS tries to bring you down
Go Crazy
Buy even more comics!

Thank you, Prince for joining Obie, my friends' Boston Terrier and my only other reader outside of my mom, and I here at Donist World. Or do you prefer to go by Symbol? Or is it The Artist Formerly Known As Prince? I...oh, where you going? Um we made some PB&J sandwiches, don't you want--okay, stay cool Prince. (Donist then goes through the following motions: points at his eye, pretends to snap a twig, makes a gun shape with his fingers that he then points at his head, then holds up four fingers, then points at Prince as his driver slams the car door shut and the Purple One speeds off with the rising sun). Okay, thank you, buddy. Anyhow, let's not drag things on as I bought ten books this week and I'm going to be talking about nine of them, so this will be a LONG Donist World entry. Hold on, Obie is spelling something out with his kibble...Donist, you su...hold on, he's still spelling it out. Looks like he is adding a "c" to the "su"...well, we'll come back to Obie in about never, so for now hold on to your seat, it's...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Batwoman #2

Batwoman #2 - Written by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman, illustrated by J.H. Williams III, published by DC Comics. I'm a huge fan of Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III's run on Batwoman and have written about it here at Donist World in the past, heaping the praise on both the creators and this fascinating character. But, when I heard that Rucka was bidding a fond farewell to DC and that Williams III and someone named W. Haden Blackman were going to pick up where the original run had left off, I was hesitant to be excited about this rebooted book. Boy howdy was I wrong.

The story opens with Batwoman and Flamebird beating the snot out of some golden age-era thugs with some moments reminiscent of Sonny Chiba in Street Fighter to grim, but awesome effect. Cameron Chase from the Department of Extranormal Operations tracks down Detective Sawyer, suspecting her of being Batwoman. The Weeping Woman claims another victim. Kate Kane begins to romance Detective Sawyer, who walks knee deep into a gang-related murder mystery of the weirdest proportions. Batman attempts to bring Batwoman into the Batman, Inc fold. The story ends where the Weeping Woman's murders began...the boat house, but will Kate survive her ghostly adversary?

I am loving this book. I'm counting it up there with Animal Man and Swamp Thing as my most eagerly anticipated monthly books of the 52. The story continues to be strong and adds the new element of the gang war murders, but it is the development of Kate Kane as a character, her apprehension to talking to her father, her hesitance to join Batman, Inc, her budding romance with Detective Sawyer and her mentoring of Flamebird that I am loving the most; now I'm anxious to dig into the other characters. Then, of course, there's the creepy mystery of the Weeping Woman lingering in the background daring the reader to want to know more. Williams III's art is beautiful as ever, with one of the coolest pages occurring at the beginning where the bad guys are colored in bright flats, Flamebird colored with less saturated hues, and Batwoman being fully rendered to a visually striking degree; the effect is stunning. Blackman and Williams III had a hard act to follow with the original Detective Comics Batwoman run, but they pulled it off with no problems. If you want a great story, a scary mystery and a strong female lead, who is not all bouncing boobies and a total ditz in overly-revealing clothes, but instead seek someone intelligent, passionate, who knows what she wants and dares opponents to defy her, then this is the book for you. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Who Is Jake Ellis #5

Who Is Jake Ellis? # 5 - Written by Nathan Edmondson and illustrated by Tonci Zonjic, published by Image comics. The concluding issue of this exceptional spy/mystery tale finally arrived, but was it worth not just the wait, but the journey as well? Definitely.

Jon Moore and the mysterious Jake Ellis, the man in Jon's head, have infiltrated the Sandbox where the men remember being experimented upon, but something is not right with Jake. The closer they get to discovering the truth, the less Jake seems to know and the more confused he becomes, until Jake suddenly vanishes from Jon's mind. Then enters the doctor who experimented/tortured Jon and the explanations begin to fly, including the full reveal. Armed with the knowledge of who Jake is, Jon attempts to escape the Sandbox with his friend in tact, but doing so will be no easy task and may very well cost both Jon and Jake their lives.

Wow, I really did not expect that. I was close to determining who/what Jake was, but I still did not guess this. All I will say is that I was stunned and surprised in the best of ways. Edmondson crafted an intriguing story with two characters who really held my interest and left me wanting more for the entirety of this excellent series. Then there is Tonci Zonjic and his beautiful art and unique use of color to pull emotion and excitement even further panel to panel (the Barcelona pages left me wishing I was there again, so very lovely). I was introduced to Edmondson's work through the Comics Experience program and was impressed by the man's passion for telling stories and his honesty and willingness to share everything about his experiences in the comic industry with the class and when he brought up Who Is Jake Ellis? I knew I had to give the title a shot; I am so glad that I did. I believe a trade of this fantastic series will be available in about a month and this is a book for those needing a break from the capes and tights. Give it a try and just buy it! Also available through Comixology. I'm anxious to read the series again in its entirety. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Grifter #2

Grifter #2 - Written by Nathan Edmondson and illustrated by Cafu, published by DC Comics. The story about a character who I knew next to nothing about from the forgotten days of the pre-52 continues with non-stop action and excitement.

Cole Cash is still plagued by the alien voices in his head, but he has a moment of relief when his partner in crime, the lovely Gretchen, agrees to meet the frazzled con artist at a diner. But, things just won't slow down long enough for Cole to organize his thoughts as an alien posing as a police officer notices him and Cole is again fighting for his life. Gretchen misunderstands the fight and chases Cole off, who then steals a police car until he comes face to face with his brother, Max, the man tasked with bringing him in. Finally, certain government agencies begin to suspect that Cole might not be as crazy as he seems.

Talk about epic action scenes that work well with the story and do not exist merely for the sake of being gratuitous, and you have another great issue of Grifter. Edmondson excels at the slow reveal intermixed with fast-paced storytelling and this issue is no exception. Cafu provides some lovely panels and the scenes all flow naturally at a lightning pace that left me frantically flipping through the pages. Exciting, fun and engaging this is a great book for new readers and old. I can't wait to see what comes next. RECOMMENDED!

The Shade #1

The Shade #1 - Written by James Robinson and illustrated by Cully Hamner, published by DC Comics. I was a fan of Robinson's Starman with the release of the "Zero" issue back in the mid-nineties. I could see much of myself in the the reluctant hero of Jack Knight and that was enough to sell me on the book alone, but it was the character of the enigmatic Shade that really pulled me deep into the book. Here is a character who was a joke in the olden days, and now one who has done horrible, terrible things, but he has grown tired of the ways of evil and has found a new purpose, that of protecting that which he loves most...Opal City. I loved the redemption of this borderline demonic character and the respect/friendship that he developed with Jack and the degree to which Robinson made me care about this villain turned noble. Here we are years later and I still love the character and I'm sold on this 12 issue series.

October brings melancholy for Opal City's dark benefactor Richard Swift, also known as The Shade. It is the month that he was created and became the master of the darkness and creatures that live within the world he controls. Mikaal, the blue-skinned alien and most recent hero of Opal City to wear the mantle of Starman, enjoys a cup of tea with The Shade, but neither can get past their gloomy moods. Private Detective William Von Hammer finds himself the target of an assassination attempt by some meta-humans, which makes Hammer worried for The Shade. The Shade and his love, Hope O'Dare, share an intimate moment, but Dickie Swift is not himself and Hope prescribes going on an adventure to sort himself out. At the end, a surprise villain appears and The Shade is left in the most dire of situations that only he (hopefully...we have eleven more issues to go!) can survive.

I was thrilled when I read that Robinson was returning to The Shade, a character that he did not create, yet one that he defined to be one of my favorite reformed villains. The reintroduction to Dickie Swift is refreshing and this issue left me excited for the next issue. Cully Hamner provides a unique, almost cartoonish look to the characters in the book, but when The Shade uses his powers the reader witnesses a transformation to thedark, cruel Shade of the past to great effect. Well worth the purchase for Starman fans, but possibly a bit confusing to the new reader (if you have not read Robinson's Starman it is must-read material) initially, but enough background is given to bring them up to speed. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Stormwatch #2

Stormwatch #2 - Written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda and Al Barrionuevo, published by DC Comics. The first issue of Stormwatch moved bit too fast in an effort to introduce all of the characters, many of whom were brand new, but it was still an enjoyable read. With introductions out of the way, issue 2 kicks everything into high gear giving more pages to the story and the threat at hand.

The chapter opens with a look at who Adam One is and his historical origin, but not all is well in the ranks of Stormwatch as The Engineer does not respect the nearly immortal man as leader. Martian Manhunter attempts to recruit not only Apollo, but also the Midnighter to the ranks of the team. Poor Harry Tanner is forced to deal with "The Scourge of Worlds" on his lonesome, but he manages to hold his own against the terrifying beast, while Adam One and the Projectionist attempt to hide the monstrous threat from the populace of the earth, to comical degree. But that is where the fun ends as the moon launches monsters at the earth and Harry Tanner might be a much different man after taking on the knowledge of The Scourge of the Worlds.

Although I really enjoyed the first issue, Stormwatch #2 manages to improve on both pacing and story and the threat level becomes real. Cornell inserts some subtle humor into this epic superhero team book without pushing aside the urgency of the situation or the nature of the characters. The art is also a vast improvement over the first issue, whether it is the introduction of Al Barrionuevo or some other unknown factor, it just looks better; maybe the beautiful colors of Alex Sinclair had something to do with it as well. A nice cliffhanger and the next issue looks to be filled with action; I look forward to it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Demon Knights #2

Demon Knights #2 - Written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Diogenes Neves, published by DC Comics. Being a big fan of Etrigan the Demon, Demon Knights looked to be right up my alley, and although Etrigan and Jason Blood are not as prevalent in the second issue as they were in the first, the story is enjoyable and the action tremendous when coupled with the excellent supporting cast.

Dragons strike the tavern that houses Etrigan and those who I assume will become the Demon Knights, and boy did they pick the wrong tavern to plunder. Blood flies, Vandal Savage (who is fantastic as a fun loving eternal warrior) beats a dragon to death with...another dragon, Etrigan grows wings, and the Shining Knight slices and dices. The Wandering Queen and Mordru take notice of the magics being used and send some powerful magic of their own at the warriors.

This series is very much engrained in the realm of fantasy, which is a benefit for DC as none of their other titles fit into the "sword and sorcery" category. Neves's art is beautiful and his sequential storytelling intense and I hope to see him on this title for quite some time. As for the lead character, well, it's Etrigan, of course I love him, but not much is revealed into his character in this book, with the shining stars definitely belonging to Vandal Savage and the The Shining Knight; Ex is not that bad either, although I really want to know more about her. This is a fun book that looks to get better as the story progresses and I am happy to be along for the ride. RECOMMENDED!

Frankenstein Agent
of SHADE #2

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #2 - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Alberto Ponticelli, published by DC Comics. This comic is odd, weird and ultimately a highly enjoyable read. Frankenstein reminds me of the old black and white Vampirella and Monsters magazines that I used to love as a kid, but this book takes the monster mashup genre and mixes in a healthy dose of weird sci-fi, for yet another unique book in DC's 52 lineup.

Frankenstein and the gang have succeeded in routing the monsters that were destroying the city, but when it is determined that they came from a portal at the bottom of Bone Lake that leads to Dead Space the Creature Commandoes go to check it out. The big guy and Nina dive into the lake to research the portal and the reader is provided a glimpse into the life of Nina Mazursky and how she was the one who turned herself and fellow teammates into the sea creature, werewolf and vampires they are today. We also learn that her previous failed experiments were banished to a microscopic prison within their microscopic base, leaving a future storyline in the making. At the bottom of the lake, Nina and Frankenstein uncover the town's horrendous history, before they are joined by the rest of the team to head into the portal where they find...

Frankenstein continues the monster mayhem and the cliffhanger ending promises that issue 3 will be intense as the crew fights their way through Dead Space. Lemire shows his love of the classic characters and subject matter and when combined with Ponticelli's rough, stylized pencils the result is an homage to the horror books of the '70s. Jose Villarrubia also deserves much praise for his wonderful color palette that imperceptibly leads the eye where it needs to go. This is not a book that is to be taken too seriously, but one that any fan of monsters with science fiction should enjoy. RECOMMENDED!

Green Lantern #2

Green Lantern #2 - Written Geoff Johns and illustrated by Doug Mahnke, published by DC Comics. Green Lantern: Rebirth got me back into Green Lantern and especially Hal Jordan, then came along the brutal Sinestro Corp War and I was excited for everything Green Lantern. Then with the promise of the other emotional spectrum rings I was enthralled and biting my nails for Blackest Night, which fell flat for me. Even more so for Brightest Day. After that I was done with GL, but with the reboot I thought, "Why not?" I'm glad I did.
There's nothing worse than hearing the doorbell ring, and fully expecting the mailman with an amazon package with the new blu-ray you ordered waiting for you, only to find Sinestro standing in the doorway. Welcome to Hal Jordan's life. Having lost the power ring, Jordan is helpless as Sinestro abducts him and proceeds to lecture the former hero about responsibility and thinking on a grander scale than he has in the past. Sinestro then creates a ring for Jordan, a ring incapable of causing its creator harm and with a shutoff switch that Sinestro can control with a whim. Sinestro then provides a demonstration of thinking on a grander scale by not just saving individuals, but fixing the problem endangering them in the first place. A Sinestro corp member attempts to kill Sinestro, and fails, and Jordan is told what Sinestro actually wants of him.
Wow, this was a fun book. The story looks to scale out nicely in the next issue and with any luck Hal will actually have more to do than look stunned and speechless, but that is fine for this issue. The spotlight belonged to Sinestro and that is actually why I chose to take a chance and buy these first two issues and I'll be back for the next as well. RECOMMENDED!

Morning Glories #13

Morning Glories # 13 - Written by Nick Spencer and illustrated by Joe Eisma, published by Image Comics. This series continues to confuse, yet enthrall and keep me coming back for more. Spencer has mentioned this book lasting anywhere from 60 to 100 issues, and I'm buckled in and ready for the ride.
A brief flashback to a young Casey provides a little insight into her strong will and determination. Back at the academy after delivering the "let's just be friends" deathblow to Hunter, Casey receives an envelope from Mrs. Hodge, the guidance counselor, that leaves her worried and she sets off with Jade to find the boy she just crushed. Unfortunately for the Morning Glories, the school decrees the day to be "Woodrun" day (no idea what that is) and all the students are put into groups of three. With worsening luck, Casey ends up with Jade and the boy she despises most, Ike. Not to be dissuaded, Casey drags her "team" to a hidden cave to meed Mrs. Hodge, who is less than enthused to see Ike instead of Hunter. The group then enter an underground room of dancing shadows and light, and Mrs. Hodge and Casey attempt to leave the school and succeed, but not quite in the way they hoped to.
Okay, I'm not totally sure what the hell is going on, but I am definitely enjoying the mystery and the suspense. "Woodrun" leaves me fearful, Mrs. Hodge and the cave leave me bewildered and the Morning Glories--minus Ike--leave me sympathetic, but stuff is happening even if I am not certain of what it is exactly. Eisma's art continues to be consistent and does not feel as rushed as it has on past issues, although there is panel four on page two where young Casey is doing something weird in front of a tree...is she hugging it? Kissing it? Walking into it? I have no idea, but it is a odd choice to let this one panel through. That said, this issue was 32 pages of story for $2.99 and that simply cannot be beat, so a big thank you to Spencer and Eisma for eating the additional cost and holding the line at $2.99. Morning Glories continues to be an enjoyable read, but not necessarily accessible to someone just wanting to jump in on this issue. If you want something very different from all of the superhero books, and you are patient enough to wait for the payoff, then definitely pick up the trades. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

This Post Was a Doozy! - Not complaining about this, but of the ten books that I bought this week, the nine mentioned above rocked my world and were worthy of mentioning. 90% amazing works for me, but dang this post took a while to write, but I am thrilled that comics of such quality are hitting the stands and that readership is up, which is great for aspiring writers like ol' Donist. My pocketbook is not happy with me this week, I will tell you that much. If you want to read some fantastic comics, definitely check these out, you can't go wrong.

As always, let me know what you think, or let me know of books I should be reading to further beat the crap out of my finances in this down economy.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 10/07/2011

2011-10-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

(Sung to the tune of Hall & Oats's "Your Kiss Is On My List")

Obie wonders why I buy books
All of the time, what can I say
I don't think they'll ever give Animal Man away
He's not sure about Chew but I know that I'm right, all right

He's just better off listening to my dang advice
But I insist that Sweet Tooth is bliss, I tell him this
Is Action Comics good? You bet it is!
Puppy just buy the comic and I'll tell you why

(It's my pull list)
That title's on my list
(It's my pull list)
That title's on my list
Because
(Swamp Thing is on my list)
Of the best things in life

Thank you Misters Hall and Oats for visiting me while I convalesce and for performing this week's Donist World opening song for both myself and my friends' Boston Terrier, Obie, one of my two faithful readers...hi Mom. Anyway thanks again and I am indeed happy to be off the vicodin and able to string together a semi-compent string of thoughts and words. I would say that the past week has been a long one, but that is not necessarily true as it is all one big blur, which is probably for the best, but good thing that I am on the mend as there were a few books that I had to read and tell y'all about this week. So here comes...

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Animal Man #2

Animal Man #2 - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Travel Foreman, published by DC Comics. If my LCS had not pulled this title for me this week, I would have been pretty upset as this is the comic in the new 52 that I enjoyed the most. But did it deliver everything that I hoped a followup issue could deliver? Oh yes, very much so.

The Baker family is shocked to their very foundations when they find their youngest child, Maxine, in the backyard playing with some of the neighborhood animals. The only problem is that all of the animals are dead. Aside from resurrecting pets, Maxine exhibits powers that rival those of her father and she has a knowledge of "the red" that is far beyond her years. When Buddy again bleeds from the eyes and strange markings, almost like tattoos, appear on his body, his daughter is the one who points out that the markings are a map to "the red." An angry neighbor discovers first hand (get it?...you gotta read it) the disturbing effects of what Max can do, and Animal Man and his daughter fly off on their journey. At the end, the monstrosities from the first issue make an appearance in one of the most horrific scenes I have ever seen.

Wow! I blazed through this book and was saddened that I now have a month-long wait for the next installment. Reading the story of Maxine and Buddy reminds me of the great Alan Moore issues of Miracleman with the immensely powerful Winter explaining the world to her father who can no longer keep up with his daughter. Lemire ups the horror aspect of this exceptional book to eleven, instilling the reader with a feeling of dread but leaving them unable to turn away. Travel Foreman's art is now the only art that I can imagine on Animal Man, with his ability to one moment show the emotion and vulnerabilities of the Baker family and the next show the grotesque nature of the Hunters Three. Complementing Foreman's beautiful art is the coloring of Lovern Kindzierski, who uses a muted coloring beautifully to remind the reader that they are reading a comic book and a great one at that. This is the best book of the current 52 and I cannot express enough how great it is. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Swamp Thing #2

Swamp Thing #2 - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Yanick Paquette, published by DC Comics. My only complaint with the first issue is that there was some confusion as to what was going on and what had happened in the past. This issue managed to clarify on what had happened.

The story opens with World War II fighter pilot Calbraith A.H. Rodgers recounting his life and recounting his need to be a pilot in order to be as far away from the ground and "the green" as possible. But when he is shot down he is eventually taken and changed into the Swamp Thing of the time. This Swamp Thing is who stands before the resurrected Alec Holland to ask him to become a champion of "the green" and challenge the horror that is Sethe, the opposing force to both "the green" and "the red," a force of rot and decay. Having left the protection of the Parliament of Trees and deteriorating rapidly, with his dying breath the Swamp Thing warns Holland to beware the woman with the white hair. Holland returns to his room only to find the property is overrun with the dead, all of whom have their heads facing backward. When all seems lost, a woman with a motorcycle rescues Alex, but he might just be in worse shape than he was before, as this woman has white hair.

Swamp Thing and Animal Man are the perfect complementary books to one another and I hope that they stay that way for a long time to come. Snyder is no stranger to writing compelling horror stories, and this one does not spare the chills for a moment. Paquette only adds to the fear and darkness with amazing art with my only complaint being that some of the pages are a tad confusing in regard to text balloon flow, but with a little effort the story soon became clear. Swamp Thing is a scary comic and one that should be read right before bedtime and in the same sitting as Animal Man. The next issue cannot come soon enough. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Action Comics #2

Action Comics #2 - Written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Rags Morales, published by DC Comics. Here I am back after a month and excited for a Superman book...a Superman book. Who would have ever thunk it? Not me, that is for sure and this month's installment does not disappoint, rather it exceeded my already high expectations.
The man of steel is being held prisoner by Lex Luthor to determine any and all weaknesses that the alien might have. The testing is not going well...for Luthor or the military. Lois Lane knows that Superman is being held on the base and attempts to talk her way into seeing the man who saved her and Jimmy Olsen last issue, but Superman has already made his escape. The story ends with Lex receiving a call from someone I was not expecting in the least.
Action Comics has managed to reignite my love of Superman, something I had lost more that two decades ago. Morrison provides an interesting take on the early years of the man of steel and provides the back story for the enmity that will eventually rise between Kal-El and Lex Luthor. Rags Morales provides more stunning artwork, not counting a couple odd shots of Lois Lane. Action Comics continues to be fun and exciting and I highly anticipate issue three, which for a lapsed Superman fan is a feat in itself. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Chew #21

Chew # 21 - Written by John Layman and illustrated by Rob Guillory, published by Image Comics. Chew has not failed me yet, and I would say that this latest issue was just as good as all the others, but it isn't...it's even better.
Applebee is overjoyed to finally be rid of Tony Chu, after firing him and having him moved down to the traffic division. Tony has to wear a silly getup, and where he leaves dreading his first day of work at the new job, things don't go all that bad. Where Applebee hated him, his new boss, Marshall Mello, welcomes him to the team wholeheartedly and Tony is taken aback by the kind treatment. But handing out parking citations begins to weigh heavily on the cibopath until a crime scene presents itself and this newly appointed traffic cop takes charge and solves the case. The only question is, how will Mello take the news of Tony going outside of his current duties.
This issue was classic and the first two pages of Applebee skipping through the street--especially the Michael Jackson homage--are some of the funniest pages I have read outside of Axe Cop. This comic continues to attempt to gross out readers, but at the heart of each issue is a great story with unique and fantastic art that make this series a joy to read. Everyone should be reading this book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Sweet Tooth #26

Sweet Tooth #26 - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Matt Kindt, published by Vertigo Comics, a DC Comics imprint. With the past couple of issues we have been left with Gus on the verge of dying from a gunshot wound inflicted by an unknown assailant and the group becoming divided over their next course of action. This issue, everything comes to a head as...well...okay, nothing comes to a head. The latest chapter of Sweet Tooth does not feature a single panel of Gus, Jepperd, Singh or any of the group.
In 1911, Dr. James Thacker embarks on a voyage to locate his sister's long-lost husband-to-be, who journeyed to Alaska to spread the word of Christ to the native "seal-eating savages." The journey to Alaska is long and tedious, but it is the journey across the ice itself where the terror and the danger rises. The team's dogs are brutally slaughtered, the deathly silent church they find holds a terrible truth and Louis is found...only he has gone through some changes.
This is a great story and one that I would have bought outside of the Sweet Tooth universe for its slow build horror factor and eye-catching art of Matt Kindt. That said, I was surprised to see that after being taken on the journey of Gus dying for the past three issues, that this new three-issue arc does not feature any of the main characters at all. In fact, the only similarity this story holds to the main one is the goal of reaching Alaska. I have every confidence that Lemire will flawlessly weave the two stories together, but for my sake, I hope that happens very soon...preferably next issue to some degree. Definitely still worth a read. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Hey Wait...Where's My Stormwatch #2 - Awwwww...shucks.

Off Vicodin but on Benadryl - "What does this have to do with comics?" Obie is asking me. Good question Obie. Well, while taking Vicodin, reading comics--or anything for that matter--is somewhat of a chore, and writing about comics is all but impossible. But now it turns out that I'm allergic to the glue that was used on all four incisions and I am on Benadryl, which provides roughly the same effect. I just know that the Umbrella Corporation is behind these two drugs somehow. Now if I could get up from the couch long enough to research and prove--Oh look...Resident Evil: Afterlife is on. Sweet.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 9/23/2011 - Part 2 - Revenge of the Fallen

2011-10-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

(Sung to the tune of John Cage's "4'33"")

*
****
*ahem*
*Rachel Rising...* Shhhhhhhhh!
*
****
*The Sixth Gun rules!* Hey buddy, do you mind keeping it down?
***
*I, VAMPIRE! Ahhhh, I can't take it, I can't take it! The silence! The crushing silence!*

Wow, song of the environment my sweet patootie. Alright, here's the rest of Friday's FSoH/SitW entry that I did not get to do on account of being immobile, on vicodin and no way to pick up my books, until I could properly bribe Obie into running down to the LCS and picking them up for me. Hopefully, this week's entry will be on time and I am well down the road to recovery.

Friday Slice of Heaven

***Possible Spoilers Below***

Rachel Rising #2

Rachel Rising #2 - Everythinged by Terry Moore, published by Abstract Studio. I really enjoyed the first issue of Terry Moore's latest series. The slow pacing and the building of mood was just perfect and the latest installment does not disappoint in this regard either.
Rachel Beck continues her quest to discover who killed her and why, but she finally gains an ally with her Aunt Johnny, who unfortunately is tad off after working for 20 years at a mortuary. The blond woman who witnessed Rachel's rise from the dead briefly appears to a young girl who then murders her own sister in a horrific manner. Who is the mysterious blond woman and why does she and Rachel bare a resemblance to one another? And, why do the people who knew Rachel not recognize her? All questions I can't wait to learn the answer to.
Again, not much momentum is gained in the story, but this is a good thing while Moore takes the reader through the process of preparing a dead body for viewing, as Rachel tries to explain to Johnny what has happened. Although there is some humor to the scene, a quick cut to the girl murdering her sister firmly reminds us that this is book of mystery and horror, and very different from the types of stories that Moore has written in the past. Rachel Rising succeeds in showing off Moore's skill with pacing and character building and the ever-lovely art looks as good as ever. The next issue cannot come soon enough. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Sixth Gun #15

The Sixth Gun #15 - Written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Brian Hurtt, published by Oni Press. Despite the awesome news that Bunn and Hurtt's properties are being made for television, writing for Marvel and illustrating a Vertigo book, the pair continue to bring out The Sixth Gun--one of my favorite books on the stand--on a regular basis, keeping the quality of the writing and the art top notch. I imagine this is not an easy feat, and as a reader I could not be more pleased.
After a couple of train heist issues and a glimpse into the history of the terrifying mummy, the story slows down slightly to focus on Becky Montcrief and to bring back Gord Cantrell. Gord returns to the haunted estate of Braxton Bell Hood for reasons as yet unexplained and stirs up the ghost of not only the cruel estate owner, Hood, but also a few ghosts he would never have expected to see. Becky finds herself in the protective stronghold of the Sword of Abraham and attempts to learn the fate of Drake Sinclair through the aid of an uncooperative sixth gun. Brother Roberto shows her the holy location that imprisons General Hume's body and Becky begins to see ghosts of her own.
Bunn and Hurtt delve more into the horror aspect of their story through the use of silent panels and creepy imagery to great effect. Although not a single gun was fired and not a single skirmish occurred, this book expands The Sixth Gun world and pulled me in even deeper than before. This series continues to be one of the comics I anticipate picking up the most on a monthly basis. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I, Vampire #1

I, Vampire #1 - Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino, published by DC Comics. I remember the days when I was a kid and seeing House of Mystery with the "I...Vampire" tale on the spinner rack at the grocery store. Although I often flipped through the book, I usually opted to buy The Micronauts or The Saga of the Swamp Thing as my one comic that I was allowed to purchase. Now I wish I had pushed mom to go the extra $.60. Fast forward to the 52 relaunch and I am essentially a new reader to the franchise and know as much as the next newbie.
Andrew Stanton is a vampire who hunts and kills other vampires, but his main conflict--emotional and soon to be physical--arises when Mary, a vampire he sired and has loved deeply for 400 years, fully embraces her evil nature. The story alternates between lovely flashbacks of the pair realizing their time together is over and the present of Andrew walking into a trap of dire consequences. Mary Queen of Blood, as she now calls herself, has set her sights on ruling the world and no one, not Andrew or any caped superhero will stop her plans.
I'm going to admit that I was fairly confused by this book on the first read through and I don't believe it was because of the vicodin. It's understandable, because on the first page, the location caption, Andrew's captions and Mary's captions all look remarkably similar and then there are the flashbacks that occur without any sort of notice at all. That is not to say that I did not enjoy the book, quite the contrary, it just took a couple of reads to make sense, which is not the best way to go for a new series. That said, Fialkov does a wonderful job of explaining the world, and Andrew and Mary's relationship without slapping the reader in the face with blatant exposition. Also worthy of praise is the haunting art of Andrea Sorrentino coupled with some of the most intricate coloring to set the mood firmly in the reader's eyes. All three artists combined produce an incredible book that looks to become better and better. I only drop the "HIGHLY" from this book due to the confusion of the like colored caption boxes, which was probably something that happened in the production stage of this fine book. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Vicodin - I hate this crap. Sure it takes the pain down a few notches--so I HAVE to take it--but it really clouds the mind. Writing even these three pieces has been a tremendous chore and I have not been able to work on the book or any of my comic book projects, but soon enough I will be off of it and back into the flow of things. I can't wait to get back to being productive.

The 52 Scorecard

Loved and Keeping!
Animal Man
Swamp Thing
Action Comics
Demon Knights
Batwoman
Batman

Really Enjoyed and Keeping!
Frankenstein - Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
Stormwatch
Green Lantern
Grifter
I, Vampire

Might Drop After Issue Two
Justice League

Ones I Missed
Batgirl
Wonder Woman
All-Star Western
Aquaman

Let me know if you have any comments on the 52 or any of the other books I've been mentioning, I would love to see them.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 9/30/2011

2011-09-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

(sung to the tune of Astrud Gilberto's "Girl From Ipanema")

Tall and pale, not young or fit-like,
This man from Santa Barbara goes walking
To buy comics, each book he passes he goes, "Aaah..."
Rachel Rising, and The Sixth Gun
Are so darn cool and drop dead sexy
When he passes, he walks into a shelf and goes "Owww..."

Oh, that hurt so god damn badly
How can he he ever recover?
I, Vampire I'll buy gladly,
But each week at the store he does see,
Books like the awesome Locke & Key...

I have to admit that I have not picked up this week's comics yet, but with good reason as I will briefly explain in the Slice Into the Woods section below. I will probably do a regular entry this Sunday or Monday after I read the books and with it enough to comment on them. As you can see by this weeks song, I knew what I was going to buy and like, and I am glad that I have the awesome Locke & Key book to talk about today at the very least.

Friday Slice of Heaven

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW***

Locke & Key:
Keys to the Kingdom

Locke & Key: Keys To the Kingdom - Written by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez, published by IDW Comics. Crimony! For a series that started outstanding with the first volume, each successive chapter manages to improve upon the first, ratcheting up the tension and turning the story around in ways I never saw coming.
Chapter one opens with art that both pays homage and pokes fun at Calvin and Hobbes with Bode's discovery of the Beast Key and a shifting storyline that depicts a humorous view intermixed with the real world horrific. Bode then finds the Skin Key" which proves helpful when Kinsey comes across Erin Voss, a seemingly deranged friend of her father's who screams the word "white," but it looks like someone has been toying with her mind. The third chapter introduces yet more keys, but the lives of the Locke kids begin to unravel as a result of betrayal and poor decisions, plus a callback to a famous Claremont X-Men issue. Sam Lesser speaks with Rufus who happens to be able to see the murderous ghost and Brian finally awakens from his coma as Dodge's machinations begin to come to light. The book comes to a close with a couple of brutal deaths and changes that only one person is aware of with the Locke family mistakenly thinking that their troubles are over.
Alrighty...now that I am all caught up on the hardcovers released to date, I am left wanting more of this amazing series and I am considering buying the downloads to tide me over until the release of the fifth book that I must have to sit upon my shelf with the others. Which brings me to the beautiful production on this book and my only complaint that this volume was missing the little ribbon bookmark found on the other three volumes. Not a big deal, but something I would have appreciated with this beautiful book. Joe Hill is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers with his expertly crafted Locke & Key series and I can envision no artist other than Gabriel Rodriguez to bring his words to life. Locke and Key is a charming, terrifying and well-told tale that has become one of my all-time favorite comic books. Not enough people are reading this fantastic series. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

Out-Patient Surgery - Not to go into too much detail, I went in for a hernia operation on Wednesday (Comic new release day no less!) and left with two hernia repair operations. I'm kind of a mess and cannot drive, plus the vicodin has jumbled the hell out of my brains. Thankfully, I was able to latch my hospital bed to Obie, my friends' Boston Terrier and faithful critic, and he hauled me back safely home, although those speed bumps were murder on the ol' guts. I'm looking at two weeks recovery and about a month before I can go running again. This September sucked, but at least I had some kick-ace comics to keep me busy.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 9/23/2011

2011-09-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

(Sung to the tune of Nena's "99 Luft Balloons")

You and I in a comic book shop
Buy The Stuff of Legend with the money we've got
Batman, Red Wing I'm tellin' you son
Wonder Woman I got none
Of course they're out, but I don't care
Sold on Witch Doctor's charming flair
One reboot book? I won't lie
52 DC Comics fly

Peoples, I'm here this week in my own basement, since the Sears delivery man is intalling a new washer at my mom's house, but rest assured that this is the perfect place to do this little thing we call Donist World. Since Mom is occupied, I am joined by my only other reader, Obie, my friends' Boston Terrier, and we are listening to some truly depressing stuff to maintain the mood of the past two dreadful weeks. What better albums to put on repeat than The Cure's Disintegration and Pornography to put you down in the dumps and keep you there, but the main problem is these "gd" comics that I read this week keep screwing things up. Seriously, how can I get my forlorned on when I have books like the below to make me good and happy? What's a sad boy to do when the comics he reads are so amazing? "gd"

Friday Slice of Heaven

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW***

Stuff Of Legend
A Jester's Tale #2

The Stuff of Legend A Jester's Tale #2 - Written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith and illustrated by C.P. Wilson III, published by Th3rd World Studios. The latest chapter of the wonderful--and criminally under appreciated--The Stuff of Legend series released this week and wastes no time picking up from the cliff hanger ending of the previous issue where an unconscious Jester lay sinking beneath the waves.

Jester awakens on a distant shore only to be captured by a group of dolls who provide insight into the history of the "Laughing Ghost" who is terrorizing the seas of The Dark and who looks surprisingly like Jester. He is led back to the town of predominantly female dolls, many of whom he has already charmed to his favor, except for the leader of the town, Rebecca. He finds the mayor in stockades on charges of "groping" and a duel ensues over Jester's mistaken identity as the "bad clown." Can Jester convince Rebecca and the dolls to help him in his quest to find his missing Princess, or will they proceed with killing him. Percy and the rest of the toys appear briefly on their trek to escape the dark, only to run into an unexpected guest.

I have been enjoying this series ever since the beginning as should be all too apparent in every posted review I have written concerning this wonderful comic. The writing is so true and honest from the flashbacks of the relationship of the boy and his brother, to the quest to rescue Jester's true love, that it is impossible not to become enchanted by this adventurous tale. Wilson III's art is gorgeous and the production on the book is unlike anything else on the shelf. The Stuff of Legend continues to be one of the best comics in publication and something that everyone should be reading. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Batman #1

Batman #1 - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Greg Capullo, published by DC Comics. After a fantastic run on Detective Comics, Scott Snyder resumes writing Gotham's dark protector in the new 52 Batman title, only this time with Bruce Wayne as the lead character.

The story opens with Batman at Arkham Asylum investigating a guard only to find himself staring down a mob of his most diabolical adversaries. When the situation becomes dire an unexpected ally joins the fight and Bruce Wayne later explains what happened to a rebooted, younger Jim Gordon. Always on the go, Bruce then attends a charity event where he announces that he will be dumping tons of his fortune into restoring Gotham to a beautiful city and that the rest of the Gotham elite should join the cause. Then while investigating a grisly murder scene involving knives emblazoned with the image of owls, Batman makes an unsettling discovery and evidence in the murder points to an unexpected suspect.

I loved Snyder's dark, twisted Detective run and the lurking terror of that book can be found in the reboot, but there is also a light-hearted edge at times that I was not at all expecting, yet the story pulled me in immediately and kept me riveted. I will say that I miss the art of Jock and Francavilla, but Greg Capullo's art is lovely and fitting to the title, with the colors pushing the story and mood to the necessary extremes. My main concern is that a new reader will be confused as to who Red Robin and Nightwing are, and if they know anything of Batman's history why Dick Grayson is not Robin, but other than that, this issue manages to be accessible. With no origin story or painfully blatant exposition, this comic starts with action, offers insight into Bruce Wayne and kicks into high gear with an immediate, multi-layered case to be solved. Fun, exciting and fairly open to new readers, this book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Witch Doctor #3

Witch Doctor #3 - Written by Brandon Seifert and illustrated by Lukas Ketner, published by Image Comics. Seifert and Ketner continue their gross, creepy, weird and at times horrific tale of Witch Doctor, Dr. Vincent Morrow and thank goodness they have.
The story begins with the end as Morrow justifying the events of the next two issues to two of his superiors in order to retain his mystical license. Through flashback, we see an actual live gillman is strapped to the table where an over-eager Morrow makes the enormous mistake of dumping water on the monster, reviving it. Penny Dreadful comes to the rescue and some of her backstory is finally revealed, as is the nature of Morrow's blood-red sword. Eric Gast is taught the "true history of the world" and we see exactly what it is the mystical doctor is up against. Gast and Morrow track the gillmen back to the Arkham Aquarium where they find a most unpleasant surprise.
This penultimate issue sees questions answered and the world defined and I found myself enjoying this installment the most of the three released thus far, but then I'm a sucker for a good gillman story. Seifert explains the world quickly and in an understandable manner to the reader through Morrow instructing Gast. Through these revelations I am hooked. Ketner's art is dark, dreary and perfectly suited to this tale; plus he can draw a damn fine-looking monster. This book is the stuff of nightmares, but with interspersed moments of light-hearted comedy ("Penny, we've got not choice. It's up to you. Kill them all.") and an intriguing story, Witch Doctor is a fun and exciting read. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Red Wing #3

The Red Wing #1 - Written by Jonathan Hickman and illustrated by Nick Pitarra, published by Image Comics. After leaving off with a startling ending last month, the latest The Red Wing returns with the penultimate issue of this intense sci-fi story.
The enemy returns to trouble Dom and Val's world and this time it's not just a couple of ships, but rather the entire fleet. As the Red Wings struggle to route the enemy, Dom's father is lectured by his captor and learns their motives and that the marauders are there to strip mine the world of its resources. Val pursues the enemy back to their time-line in an effort to determine the extent of their forces, only to learn the scope of what they are dealing with.
Although I still enjoyed this installment quite a bit, little happened in comparison to the first two issues, but the enemy was revealed and the scale of their power shown for a good lead-in to the finale. Where the previous issues provided more characterization--with the exception of the enemy leader--this issue provided a grander glimpse of what the Red Wings are up against. Hickman's statement on the world we leave to our children and how that poses a very real problem in this world is one I can appreciate and enjoy seeing played out. I will again tout the lovely art of Nick Pitarra and my hope to see more of him after this project is completed...a big "wow" on the final two-page spread! I am hopeful for a strong conclusion to this unique and fascinating sci-fi comic. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

I Don't Want to Go Into It - All I want to say is that my LCS was out of Wonder Woman. The rest is not worth repeating here. Boo hoo.

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 9/16/2011

2011-09-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

(Sung to the tune of Berlin's "Metro")

Demon Knights
With Etrigan's got lotsa class
Batwoman
She's kicking all kinds of ass
Monsters threaten Frankenstein
Sinestro as Green Lantern's fine
Diggin' the 52
DC really aims to please

Looks like I only bought one Marvel book
I got the amazing Criminal
I Just remembered Grifter rocking it, "gd"
Buying books at Metro

Per Obie's ~~demand~~ kind request, I am going to keep the intro brief and to the point as there were many great books that were released this week. So much so, that I did not get to read everything that I bought yet and I expect some--if not all--will spill over into next week's installment. I did read all of the new DC 52 books that I bought, all of which are listed below, so have a look and let me know what you think or if there is something else I need to check out.
"gd!" Let's do this thing.

Friday Slice of Heaven

***SLIGHT SPOILERS BELOW***

Criminal: The Last of
The Innocent #4

Criminal: The Last of the Innocent #4 - Written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Sean Phillips, published by Icon, a Marvel Comics Imprint. The only non-number one issue of the week is also one of the best and despite DC dominating my read pile with some amazing books, Marvel did have this Hope Diamond-sized gem.
Riley Richards is almost there. He's so close to getting away with it all he can taste it. Yes he murdered his wife and styled the killing after a suspected serial killer long thought gone, and he also framed the man who was screwing his wickedly cruel wife with the crime. Then there is the matter of his old pal, Freakout, whose life is falling apart because of Riley using the recovering substance abuser, but hey, Riley got the money. He also got the girl, the girl he should have been with all along, the one he was meant to be with. Unfortunately his dead wife's father suspects foul play and has hired a detective and Freakout might not be as incoherent and oblivious as Riley had originally thought. Will he pull off his last shot at happiness and the ultimate crime.
I have enjoyed every one of Brubaker and Phillips various Criminal books, but "The Last of the Innocent" pulled me in deeper than any of the excellent installments that preceded this exceptionally-told tale. I loved the characters, and found myself wanting Riley to succeed, which is disturbing as the man is a selfish, gambling addicted, back-stabbing murderer who seeks to reclaim the road not traveled as a result of his own poor choices; therein lies part of Brubaker and Phillips's magic in telling a powerful story. This book is a must-own for all fans of the noir genre and something that I will be rereading in its entirety in the coming months. I also would like to ask...no...beg that covers of this four issue series be released as an edition of mini posters as they are some of the most striking and beautiful images I have ever seen. What do you say Marvel? VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Batwoman #1

Batwoman #1 - Written by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman and illustrated by J.H. Williams III, published by DC Comics. After a long and confusing break between issue number zero and number one, the book I have been anticipating has finally arrived, but was it worth the wait? Oh yes, it most definitely was worth the wait. The original Batwoman run in Detective Comics (I wrote about that one here) is one of the coolest stories enhanced by the most gorgeous and striking artwork. This new series continues to blow me away.

The story opens with a bang as the creepy, apparition of a woman attempts to drown three children while leaving the parents paralyzed with fear. Batwoman (Kate Kane) interrupts the drowning only to watch the children vanish along with the ghost, leaving her promising to find the missing kids. The following day, Kate makes a date with female Detective Sawyer who is investigating the case. In the absence of her father, with whom she is no longer on speaking terms, Kate has taken on her cousin, Bette Kane, as a partner to train, but the situation becomes complicated when her father returns. With six kids drowned and the lives of thirteen missing children at stake, Batwoman sets out to find them only to receive an offer of assistance that she was not expecting.

J.H. Williams III's beautiful art is something that I have not been shy over exalting and this book continues to be a stunning example of his talents, but the book also showcases his writing skills in coordination with Blackman, his cowriter. Kate Kane is a powerful lead character and possibly the highest profile lesbian superhero, without being exploitive, in comics today. This issue is fairly accessible, but some of the flashback scenes, primarily the one that depict a werewolf and a squidly, might confuse the dickens out of new readers; everything else should be perfectly understandable. I loved this book and can't wait for issue two. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Demon Knights

Demon Knights #1 - Written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Diogenes Neves, published by DC Comics. I've always loved the character of Etrigan the Demon ever since I first saw an add for The Demon #1 as everythinged by Jack Kirby in the '70s, and I have to admit that I was a tad worried about how this series would handle my much-loved, yellow-skinned demonic character. I can rest easy after reading this great first issue.

After Camelot has fallen and Excaliber tossed into the lake, Madame Xanadu leaps from King Arthur's Avalon bound vessel to retrieve the legendary sword only to have it and her boat vanish, leaving her stranded. Merlin the Magician decides to merge the captured demon, Etrigan, with the human Jason of Norwich leaving the two as one in order to fulfill a vision of the future. Four hundred years later, the enemies of the story, The Questing Queen and Mordru, commit a bloody awful act of evil magic as they prepare to lay siege to every town and village that they pass. Jason/Etrigan are traveling with Madame Xanadu and share an interesting relationship and come across their acquaintance Vandal Savage, the immortal barbarian, and later meet the youthful Sir Ystin, the Shining Knight. Two more characters are introduced--Al Jabr and Exoristos--and look to join the group in the future if they all can survive an assault of the Questing Queen's horde. But when Jason summons forth Etrigan to soak the floor with the blood of the raiders, Mordru sends some dastardly creatures to deal with those who oppose the Queen's will.

Cornell has created a fun, action-filled romp that wastes no time getting things moving. Characters are introduced quickly and I know all of them with the exception of Al Jabr and Exoristos who I am sure will be explained later and this version of the Shining Knight looks to be the one from Grant Morrison's the Seven Soldiers series that I now must read. I found Neves's art beautiful and well-suited to this Dark Ages tale. Demon Knights is accessible to any new reader who is a fan of the fantasy genre. A demonically good read. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Frankenstein Agent
of SHADE #1

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1- Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Alberto Ponticelli, published by DC Comics. Looking to take a journey into the weird? Well, if you are--and you "gd" should be if you visit Donist World often--then Lemire's Frankenstein is the book for you.
The book opens with a boy and his grandfather fishing at a lake when a bunch of revolting monsters murder a dog (in gruesome fashion) and then proceed to tear apart the town. While that is occurring, Frankenstein enters the new S.H.A.D.E. (Super Human Advanced Defense Executive) which is a three-inch indestructible sphere called "The Ant Farm" that requires visitors to be both teleported and shrunk down to size through the utilization of Ray Palmer's (The Atom from DC books of long ago) technology. Frankie meets up with his "father" who has since taken the shape of a 12-year-old girl with a domino mask and Sailor Moon outfit (remember...you wanted weird). It is brought to Frankie's attention that his wife--a four-armed, green-skinned killing machine--went to stop the monsters and mysteriously vanished. The Creature Commandos are introduced: Dr. Nina Masursky (gill woman), Warren Griffith (werewolf), Vincent Velcoro (vampire) and Khalis (mummy). The team then heads out to confront the monster menace and find a startling discovery in the basement of a church.
I did not make up anything in the synopsis above...Jeff Lemire did, and he is awesome for it. Those who read Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown, might be a little confused as to how that series leads into this one as a character who died in FatCotU is alive and well in this one and other characters don't appear at all, but an important thing to consider is that we got a mummy now, which is A-okay in my book. As far as what happened in-between, I'm just going to chalk it up to a Flashpoint thing and since I did not follow the main book, I will just go with the flow. The art took me a little getting used to, but around the half way point the roughness of the lines worked in the book's favor and set the mood. Frankenstein is as weird as they come, but also loads of fun and something that any horror/camp/cult flick fan can jump right into. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Green Lantern #1

Green Lantern #1 - Written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Doug Mahnke, published by DC Comics. I fell in love with the Green Lantern books during the Sinestro Corp War event from a few years ago and followed along with the introduction of the Red Lanterns, the Orange Lanterns and the rest of them. I was psyched for the Blackest Night storyline, but was left less than enthused and Brightest Day put me off on Green Lantern all together. If it were not for the respected opinion of a friend, I did not intend to pick this book up at all. I'm glad I did.
Sinestro is once again a Green Lantern and the Guardians allow him to return to duty protecting his sector, despite protests from Ganthet who is lobotomized(?) by his fellow Guardians after Sinestro leaves. Meanwhile, Hal Jordan is struggling in the real world with bills, rent and his own attitude issues that no longer work in his favor. After his arrest and subsequent bail post by Carol Ferris, things only get worse. Sinestro returns to his home planet of Korugar to see his old Yellow Corp subjugating his people in much the same way that he once did. Less than pleased, he decides to seek the aid of an unlikely ally.
From what I read, Green Lantern and Batman are both books that will continue from where things left off in August, so I am unsure of why Sinestro is once again a Green Lantern and at odds with his Yellow Lantern corp, but that does not matter. Sinestro is one of my favorite villains and I am intrigued at seeing how he handles life on the side of the "good guys" for a change, despite his eyes still burning yellow with the power of fear. Seeing Hal Jordan fumble around his life as a civilian was a great character piece that honestly left me feeling bad for the cocky ex-hero. Green Lantern left me with renewed interest in the book and excited to see what comes next. As for a new reader, enough information is given to provide some idea of what is going on, but overall I can see reading this book as daunting for them; if they had seen this summer's Green Lantern movie that won't help matters. This issue was exciting and left me hungry to see what was next which was pleasantly unexpected. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Grifter #1

Grifter #1 - Written by Nathan Edmonson and illustrated by Cafu, published by DC Comics. Although I have known of the Grifter character from seeing him pop up in various old Wildstorm comics, I know next to nothing of who he is or what his powers and motivations are. The purchase of this book was entirely off of the fact that I am a big fan of Edmonson's work, so it is of little surprise that I really enjoyed the first issue of Grifter.
Cole Cash is a con man wanted by the same dangerous people he has recently conned, and now all law enforcement agencies are also after him as he is a suspected terrorist and serial killer. Life was fine for Cole until the day he was grabbed off the street by mysterious assailants and later awoke to sinister voices in his head that revealed aliens/demons that walk among us. Too bad other people cannot hear the voices that prompt Cole to kill two individuals aboard a plane before jumping to the water below. Unknown to Cole is that his brother, a special operations officer is now on his trail as well as the many people he has wronged. How long was Cole unconscious? Was it 17 minutes, 17 hours or 17 days? What's with 17?
As I eagerly await the finale of Edmonson's fantastic Who is Jake Ellis?, Grifter looks to be a thrill ride adventure series of spys, conspiracies and a "hero" of questionable mental stability. I was pleased to see Cafu's lovely art pushing the story and tension along and I look forward to discovering this new/old character and what this team has in store for him. Easily accessible to anyone who is a fan of thought provoking action and conspiracy stories, Grifter is a smart fun comic that I look forward to reading for a long time to come. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

DC's Version of Where's Waldo...errr...the Lady in Red - Alright, this is not really a gripe or a problem, just a point of confusion. So what is the deal with the mysterious Lady in Red who appears in each of the new 52 books anyways? The most popular theory is that she is the big reset button on the the DC Universe if things were to blow up in the comic company's face, which does not appear to be an issue if sales continue to be high. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look for the lady with the red hood that is hidden somewhere in one of the panels of each of the 52. Trust me, cue up some Chris De Burgh's "Lady In Red" and play some "find the hooded chick," it's fun for about ten minutes.

Gd Retailers Getting All gd Incensed Over gd Crap
Sorry about that. My dog jumped on my lap three times while writing the title of this entry and knocked the wind out of me...much in the way being hit by a shell fired from a tank would feel, I guess. Anyhow some retailer got all bent out of shape over Superman saying the incredibly insulting, make-your-momma-cry, I-can't-believe-it's-not-butter sound of "gd." You read that right, folks. "Gd." I think I might be sick I'm so appalled. How could Grant Morrison commit such an affront and cause this poor, lone retailer to threaten to not stock the book or any other Morrison books? And just in time for Banned Book Week no less! Ban it! Ban it! Ban it!
"Gd." What was the goddamn retailer thinking?! Goddamnit!

Friday Slice of Heaven, Slice Into the Woods 9/9/2011

2011-09-09T15:48:00.000-07:00

(sung to the tune of Journey's "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)")

Batgirl's out
Only bought four of the 52 (two, two)
Got Stormwatch
Need sadness
I'm buying Sweet Tooth (Tooth, Tooth)

Yes Animal Man
It will terrify
As does Swamp Thing, bro
It horrifies but I love those guys

Action Comics'll thrill you
That's 'cause DC wants it to
One read will remind you
Just how much
We liked the 52
If reboots are not for you
Morning Glories should do
Marvel, I still love you

Only this week

We liked the 52

No little story to introduce things this week, folks, there's a lot to talk about. This past Wednesday was the first real week of the DC 52 releases and I have to say that my expectations were surpassed with the great comics that I picked up. My main disappoint is with Batgirl, but only because my LCS was out of that book and it was not on my pull. In fact, by the time I arrived at the shop (3:00 PM on Wednesday) almost all of the DC relaunch books were sold out, with Animal Man, Swamp Thing, OMAC, Batwing and another book being left to pick through. I am surprised that Animal Man and Swamp Thing were two of the stragglers as these are two amazing books, which I will get to in a moment. So what happened? Did my comic shop get bum-rushed and have their stock decimated before I could get down there, or did they under order on these surefire hits? I really hope it was the former case.

Friday Slice of Heaven

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW***

Animal Man #1

Animal Man #1 - Written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Travel Foreman, published by DC Comics. This is the book that I was most excited to read and the payoff was beyond what I could have ever hoped for. Of the 52 released this week Animal Man is the clear champion of the day and I loved every bit of what I read.
Buddy Baker is many things: family man, stuntman, actor, activist and superhero. Lately, he is going through somewhat of a midlife crisis, unsure of what his true path should be, opting "to take opportunities as they present themselves," but never achieving his full potential. When he hears of a deranged man taking hostage of an entire hospital wing, Buddy dons the Animal Man suit and soars into the calm night sky, relieved at the momentary calm. At the hospital he easily stops the threat with the use of his animal powers, but receives an unexpected side effect when he starts to bleed profusely from the eyes. Disturbed and exhausted, Buddy heads home to sleep, only to dream a horrific nightmare involving his family in peril as inflicted by "The Hunters Three," misshapen beasts that threaten "The Red" with rot. He awakens to hear his panicked wife yelling for him to come outside, where he finds his daughter, Maxine, with some very unexpected guests.
Animal Man started as a family-centered superhero book and twisted and contorted to become a family-centered horror book unlike anything I could have expected. Lemire succeeded in creating a story that hooked this long-time comic reader and made it something that a non-comic reader could enjoy. He nails the realistic family dynamic perfectly with the tension between Animal Man and his wife, and the interactions with his children to such a degree that Buddy would be embarrassed to know his life was this open to the readers.
Also worthy of much praise is Travel Foreman and the images of tender moments and horrific ones with some of the best page turn reveals I have seen in a while. I especially loved the nightmare sequence in black, white, red and gray that definitely brought the creepy. Then there is the final page...brrrrrr.
In case I did not make it clear, I loved this book and I hope to see Lemire's Animal Man on the shelves for years to come. This book exemplifies what DC set out to do with the relaunch, by creating a comic that was accessible, fun, and addictive; they very much succeeded. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Sweet Tooth #25

Sweet Tooth #25 - Everythinged by Jeff Lemire, published by Vertigo Comics, a DC Comics imprint. Hey, will you looky there...another one of them funny books by Jeff Lemire. It's safe to say that you can expect to see Sweet Tooth here in some form or other every time it comes out, which is not nearly enough (Weekly? Daily? Please?).
This brutal post-apocalyptic story continues as Gus fights for his life after receiving a gunshot wound from a mysterious shooter, and although Singh was able to remove the bullet, Gus has lost far too much blood. While the animal hybrid boy lies dying, the tension between Jepperd and Walter Fish worsens, while the rest of the group sides with Fish and the perceived serenity that life at the dam holds for them. Jepperd is cast out to fend for himself, and Gus delves further into his dream state (premonition?) that leaves him with having to make a terrible decision that hopefully will not have to play out in reality. The issue ends with the return of someone thought dead and the return of others who we wish were dead.
I am pleased that Sweet Tooth (a Vertigo comic) survived the DC 52 reboot as it is one of my top five books on the shelves today. Even though after reading every issue of this intense series I'm left feeling like someone punched me in the stomach 52 times and then tore my heart from my chest, I still come back hungry for more. A mighty fine book that not enough people are reading, yet they should be. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
*I need to point out to all of the aspiring comic creators out there, that Tuesday, September 27, 2011, as part of the Comics Experience Comic Creators Workshop, Jeff Lemire will be on hand to discuss the first two trades of his incredible series Sweet Tooth. This is not an event to be missed, but you must sign up to attend. I have been involved with the Comics Experience community for over a year now and the experience and opportunities available are invaluable.

Action Comics #1

Action Comics #1 - Written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Rags Morales, published by DC Comics. If someone were to tell me that a Superman comic would be reviewed on this site that did not feature Krypto and was not the fantastic All Star Superman, I would have called them a "no good stinking liar," but I would have been dead wrong. The aptly named Action Comics was precisely that, loads of action and an immensely fun read that drew me in from the very first page.
The Glenmorgan company is celebrating a deal gone well, but unfortunately a young, unable-to-fly Superman is not happy with Mr. Glenmorgan's company policies. Going outside the boundaries of law, Superman scares a confession of wrong doing out of the terrified CEO against the will of the Metropolis police, but to the vast approval of the average citizens who see the alien as a hero. We next see Clark Kent as a ruffled young reporter paying rent in a rundown apartment and calling his friend Jimmy Olsen who is in the company of coworker Lois Lane who both work...for a rival newspaper. A shorter, pudgier Lex Luthor, with the aid of a disgruntled Glenmorgan, sends a speeding bullet train out of control in an effort to draw out the mysterious alien who Lex repeatedly refers to as "it" and into the arms of the government. All in one issue.
I immediately related to this jeans and boots wearing Superman that Morrison has provided and cheered as he tore down the corrupt corporation, while still learning the scope of his abilities. Both Superman and Clark possess a well-defined charm, and Jimmy and Lois look to become great supporting characters, while Lex is definitely the villain you'll love to hate. This book is a great reintroduction of this classic character with a highly accessible storyline that anyone should be able to pickup and enjoy. I very much look forward to the next issue. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
*"Hey Supes? I can get you the address for Koch Industries if you like. You might want to have a chat with a couple brothers that work there. I'm just sayin'..."

Swamp Thing #1

Swamp Thing #1 - Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Yanick Paquette, published by DC Comics. I have been a fan of Swamp Thing since the '70s when Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson's introduced the plant monster to the DC Universe, but it wasn't until Alan Moore redefined Swamp Thing that I truly fell in love with the character. Moore's Swamp Thing is one of my "stranded on a deserted island" books along with Miracleman, The Preacher, The Authority and Starman, so I have to admit that seeing Scott Snyder--one of my current favorite writers--attached to the property had me both joyful and apprehensive. How does Snyder possibly followup Moore's treasured run? Answer: Very well indeed, with an amazing story of his own.
Animals are dying in the air, underground and in the sea and no one knows why. Alec Holland has returned to the land of the living and has the memories of the creature known as Swamp Thing and no idea how to be rid of them or the plants that are mysteriously drawn to him. When Superman drops by to discuss the dying animals with Alec, he declines the alien's request and sends the man of steel on his way. Meanwhile, something bad, something evil has risen in the desert and has taken shape with the use of dead animal parts. It promptly attacks three men and forces them to kill themselves and to become Invunche(?). The scene is nightmarish and will stick with the readers long after they put the issue down. The book ends with Alec turning his back on "The Green," but that does not mean "The Green" intends to let him go.
I loved almost every bit of Snyder's Swamp Thing and had the same feeling of excitement that I had reading Moore's issues from over two decades ago. There's some truly scary stuff to be found in these pages and Yanick Paquette's art perfectly complements the creepy story that Snyder is telling. An added bonus is that with "The Green" and "The Red" both Swamp Thing and Animal Man look to be complementary titles that most likely will overlap at some point, which I am more than cool with. My one and only problem with the book is the somewhat confusing timeline of what happened to Alec Holland. Is this story its own deal, or set after Flashpoint or Brightest Day? Also, when did this new Superman die? Why was Alec Holland resurrected? I'm not sure, but the other 95% of the story was great; maybe answers are coming further down the line.
The wait for issue two looks to be a painful one, and if not for the slightly confusing origin, I would not have to take the "very" from this HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! book.

Morning Glories #12

Morning Glories #12 - Written by Nick Spencer and illustrated by Joe Eisma, published by Image Comics. Morning Glories has always been a polarizing series, but one that I have very much enjoyed and recommend although some of my friend's and colleagues would disagree. To each their own as this issue provides insight into just how far away Morning Glory Academy actually is and reveals that the right people can and do leave.
The story opens with a cheerful Miss Hodge, the Morning Glory Academy school counselor returning from the outside world (?) and making a grand trek to reach the school. The moment she steps inside the gates, Hodge is greeted by students thrilled to see her back on campus. She jokes and laughs until she learns that students have been dying in her absence and she will have none of that. Hodge appears to be one of the few people who can challenge Mrs. Daramount and an answer to the nature of their relationship is given. Also revealed is the amount of control and cruelty the enigmatic "Headmaster" is willing to use on everyone at the academy. But Hodge is not as truthful as she would like everyone to believe and whether or not she can be trusted is another question entirely.
Okay, is Miss Hodge a new character or someone we were introduced to back at the beginning of the series and I need to do some rereading? I honestly have no idea, but I am intrigued by the woman and what her relationship to the new students will be. Although answers to the ever-compiling questions still prove to be elusive, Morning Glories retains its grip on me and is a title that I look forward to reading each month. RECOMMENDED!

Stormwatch #1

Stormwatch #1 - Written by Paul Cornell and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda, published by DC Comics. Yet another comic this week revamping a must-read series by a fantastic creator. Warren Ellis's Stormwatch and The Authority are two of the best series about superheroes I have ever read, so I approached this book with some caution, but thus far, things seem like their going to be all right.
The book opens with The Engineer and Jack Hawksmoor (Ellis creations), Jenny Quantum (Mark Millar creation), and Adam One and Projectionist (Cornell creations?) along with Martian Manhunter (old as dirt, yet awesome character) attempting to convince Apollo (Ellis creation) to join their "professional" team of superheroes as someone who can possibly help save the world and/or standup to Superman if the need ever arises. Meanwhile, The Engineer has determined that the moon is threatening the Earth and that poor Harry Tanner (Cornell creation?), who happens to be investigating the moon, might be in need of some help. The Midnighter (Ellis creation) arrives to offer Apollo a different path than what Stormwatch is peddling.
Much happens in a very short amount of time in this issue, but we appear to know most, if not all, of the players involved and the scope of what Stormwatch is and does. This is fine for someone who is familiar with most of the characters, but to a new reader the barrier to entry on this title is currently a bit high and likely to leave them confused. This is not to say that issue two won't rein in the story, and the book becomes more accessible to all, I just see this first issue as problematic for new readers, which is the risk of starting a new group book. That said, I still enjoyed the title and I am curious to see what happens next. I want to know more about Adam One, Projectionist, and Harry Tanner and I'm curious to hear the backstory on all my Authority favorites. Even though characters are being switched up, I hope that Apollo and Midnighter become the gay couple they were in the Wildstorm verse and remain the most powerful and the deadliest men alive. RECOMMENDED!

Slice Into the Woods

I Had to Restart This Entry From Scratch - I cannot begin to tell you how angry I was this morning when Blogger failed to Auto-save (a possibly deadly function to begin with) the later 2/3 of what I wrote this morning and then proceeded to auto-save a web address over the entire blog after I had nearly finished writing it. That's right. What you are reading was completely rewritten from the ground up. Oh well, you live, you burn...with rage. But hey, it's here! I'm so very, very tired.

Obie Received a Skunk Mouthwash Earlier This Week - Okay, having your blog post vanish is annoying, but it is not nearly as terrible as getting skunked in the face, which happened to my friends' Boston Terrier, Obie, who is also my only other reader outside of my mom...and even she is on the fence about still following me. Poor little puppy. I'm sure it's going to be a rough couple of weeks for my friends having to live with that smell, but I can only imagine how bad it must be for a dog's sensitive nose. It just goes to show you that when life sticks its ass in your face, backing away slowly might be a better course of action than confronting that particular problem. I'm just sayin'.

A Twittering Moron and a Great Response By Gail Simone - You never know what you might find out on the ol' interwebs, but earlier this week I came across a tweet from some jerk begging Gail Simone to not put any gay people into her upcoming Fury of Firestorm comic book. My first reaction was that this was a friend of hers making a joke, but that was not the case. I was annoyed that someone could be that moronic, but Simone's response made me smile. She basically said that if the guy was really that upset by a gay person being featured in one of her books and that if such a thing was offensive/a sin, then the guy should stop buying all of her books and move on to something else. Cheers, Gail Simone. I admittedly was not going to buy the Fury of Firestorm, but I will now, and I hope to see plenty of gay people in it...you know, drinking coffee, driving cars, having good and bad days just like WE ALL DO.