Brubaker and Phillips continue their merciless in-depth examination of the good ol' vigilante concept, and the result is an increasingly twisted littlBrubaker and Phillips continue their merciless in-depth examination of the good ol' vigilante concept, and the result is an increasingly twisted little page-turner of a comic book that walks the line between idealism and madness to more and more absorbing effect. Can't wait until my library gets the next volume!...more
I've read this trippy, absurdist, Kafkaesque, meta-fictional nightmare of a graphic novel many times (the German edition), and I still love it. It's oI've read this trippy, absurdist, Kafkaesque, meta-fictional nightmare of a graphic novel many times (the German edition), and I still love it. It's one of those comics that first got me hooked on the medium back in the 90s. Highly recommended to anybody interested in comic-book art!...more
So good. Like the great EC horror comics from the 1950s, Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing stories from the mid-1980s do not exploit our fear of the Other, butSo good. Like the great EC horror comics from the 1950s, Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing stories from the mid-1980s do not exploit our fear of the Other, but instead force us to face the dark, downright nasty underpinnings of our own modern world, the frailty and absurdity of our own bodies. These are psychological, often philosophical horror stories, sharp and subversive, lyrical and hypnotic, brought to life by artists Steve Bissette and John Totleben in wonderfully creepy fashion.
By the way, as I am reading this series in its single-issue form, I found myself enjoying the letter pages quite a bit. In a letter written months prior to the arrival of Alan Moore (published half a year later in #22: those were slower times...), for example, Roger Myers from Berkshire, England, warns American readers still unfamiliar with then-2000 AD writer Moore that they "are in for a real treat," because "that man is nothing short of absolutely brilliant." And then the enthusiastic responses to Moore's first issue, of course: "destined for stardom," Paul Harrison from Shropshire wisely predicted. Letter pages, sigh......more
This one really grew on me. Mezolith by Ben Haggarty and Adam Brockbank realistically depicts tribal life as it existed 10,000 years ago, exploring onThis one really grew on me. Mezolith by Ben Haggarty and Adam Brockbank realistically depicts tribal life as it existed 10,000 years ago, exploring one tribe's inner workings and struggles for survival, and then seamlessly combining the realism of these explorations with the characters' mythical worldviews. The result is some fascinating stone-age magical realism that steers clear of the hyper-masculine exploitation you might expect from the premise. It's a book that deserves a wider audience, so do yourself a favor and check it out!...more
"This story... Like I said, it's been passed down from generation to generation... Damned if it don't get a little longer every time. Don't make it an"This story... Like I said, it's been passed down from generation to generation... Damned if it don't get a little longer every time. Don't make it any less true, though. And it began here. With a storm, an old man, his family, a demon... an ancient, indestructible, enchanted twelve-foot sword... and the God who wanted it back."
That's how this first issue ends, and it sums things up pretty well. The story combines family drama with fantasy, superhero, horror and western elements, and so far it works: well executed all around. First it reminded me of Pretty Deadly, then of Thor -- we'll see where the story goes. 3.5 stars....more
I like Raina Telgemeier's fluid, spunky, unpretentious cartooning a lot, and it is beautifully matched here by a very timely story that is all about eI like Raina Telgemeier's fluid, spunky, unpretentious cartooning a lot, and it is beautifully matched here by a very timely story that is all about embracing the Other. You know, rather than "bombing the shit out of" it....more
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