April 2007
Looking over my last few columns, I’ve noticed that the accuracy of the shipping dates (taken directly from Previews Magazine) is at about an "F plus." Because of this, I’d like to use this month’s column to salute the little guys who don’t even give shipping dates. They’re admitting that they have a no idea when their books will be released. Waiting for indie books can be frustrating, but at least they’re honest about the unpredictability of their books’ release dates (unlike the “big two” publishers). Another plus about indies is that they are usually easier to reorder, so if you miss a deadline, you still have a good chance of purchasing the book.
Here are some high quality indie books that you should check out in April (or whenever they get around to publishing them):
Athena Voltaire: The Legend of Mu King #2
(Ape Entertainment, $3.50)Imagine a World War Two era adventure in the style of Indiana Jones, complete with those pesky Nazis. Now change Indy’s part to a beautiful pilot and toss in a helping of supernatural oddities. This is Athena’s second series, where she is on the run from Japanese soldiers on her way to a mysterious place in Asia called the Temple of the Skulls. The writing in the book is always clear and concise. With smaller publishers, I often get the feeling that they’re writing each issue like it may be their last, trying to give you as much bang for your buck as possible. Their dream is on the line, so if they put out one crummy issue, the whole company might go belly-up, or at the very least, the title will be canceled. With the bigger publishers, they could put out a crap issue of Superman or Spider-Man, and it will have no impact on the future of the company or the titles. I applaud the creators of Athena Voltaire (Paul Daly and Steve Bryant) for putting everything on the line with each thrilling issue. For the latest news on the book, check out: http://www.athenavoltaire.com/index.html
Chronicles of Wormwood #4
(Avatar Comics, $3.99)For those of you missing Garth Ennis’ (Preacher) twisted writing on The Boys (now that it’s in the process of moving from DC to Dynamite) you owe it to yourself to check out Chronicles of Wormwood. Christ and the Antichrist are on earth and they’re both tired of being told what to do by their fathers (God and Satan, respectively). It’s typical black humor, with an eye towards skewering organized religion. If this kind of thing offends you, steer clear of just about anything written by Ennis. The art by Jacen Burrows (303) is A-list quality, not the typically mediocre indie style. For an interview with Burrows and a glimpse at his artwork, check out this Newsarama feature: http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=92286
Lone Ranger Vol. 1 TPB
(Dynamite Entertainment, $19.99)This advanced solicited book won’t ship until August, but if you’ve missed the boat on this series, picking up this TPB is a great way to catch up. I was skeptical at first thinking, “Hi-ho Silver? Tonto? Who cares?” To my surprise this series has been engaging from the start, well paced by writer Brett Matthews (Serenity), and beautifully drawn by Sergio Cariello (Batman). A cover gallery of John Cassaday’s (Astonishing X-Men) eye-catching covers will be included in this volume. Check out these Batman pencils for Cariello, this guy is talented: http://www.sergiocariello.com/pencils_inks/pencils_inks_gallery/az99p2inks.jpg
Madame Mirage: First Look
(Top Cow Productions, $0.99)The solicitations for this title are ultra-cryptic, with quotes like “Who is Madame Mirage?” I don’t want the book to be spoiled for me, but that’s not the best tag line to use when a publisher is trying to introduce a brand-new character. What has me intrigued is the creative team of writer Paul Dini (Batman the Animated Series) and artist Kenneth Rocafort (Hunter-Killer). Dini has turned out a string of brilliant one-shot mysteries for DC with his run on Detective Comics, and Rocafort did a bang-up job taking over for Marc Silvestri on Hunter-Killer. With these two names attached to the book, count me in for at least a few issues. This sixteen-pager is only a buck, give it a shot! Check out this trailer just released by Top Cow (scroll down for it): http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=10062
Painkiller Jane #0
(Dynamite Entertainment, $0.25)I love PKJ and I was thrilled to see her name pop up in Previews again. Her butt-kicking return to comics coincides with her upcoming show on the Sc-Fi Channel this Spring. Writer Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex) never lets me down with his intense storytelling and artist Lee Moder (Highlander) creates a dark and disturbing world that serves as a perfect backdrop for Jane’s blazing guns. This issue is only a quarter! A steal! Check out this Newsarama feature about the re-launch of this ongoing series: http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=106231
Red Sonja: Vacant Shell One-Shot
(Dynamite Entertainment, $4.99)After I “discovered” Dark Horse’s Conan at Comic-Con last summer, I’ve been on the lookout for more comics based on the work of the enigmatic writer Robert E. Howard. I’ve tried Dynamite’s Red Sonja a couple of times and it’s never grabbed me. With near perfect artwork on Conan, the mediocre artwork on Sonja has always been a letdown. Until now! I can’t remember where I first encountered Paul Renaud’s artwork, but I’ve been waiting for his name to appear in Previews ever since. Rick Remender (The Last Christmas) is a fine writer, but I’m buying this because of Renaud. Here’s why: http://www.newsarama.com/general/Remender/VacantShell/RSVacantShell1RenaudCover.jpg
Sadhu #8
(Virgin Comics, $2.99)Now that Seven Brothers is ending, Sadhu is the best book being published by Virgin comics. Writer Gotham Chopra (son of Deepak) puts his all into this series about a British soldier venturing into the world of Indian mysticism. While many other Virgin books have been heavily steeped in Indian mythology to the point where I felt lost (Devi, Snakewoman, Ramayan), Sadhu finds a delicate balance between East and West. I’m exposed to a new culture, but I can easily follow what’s happening. The artwork in all Virgin titles has been amazing, and this series is no exception. Rumor has it that Nic Cage will play the Sadhu in a feature film: http://www.killermovies.com/s/thesadhu/articles/6709.html
Stephen Colbert’s Tek Jansen of Alpha Squad 7 #2
(Oni Press, $3.99)No politics here, seriously. The Tek Jansen cartoons on TV’s Colbert Report are a send-up of the sci-fi genre, much like something you would see on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. Even if you can’t stand Colbert’s politics, you have to give him credit for his work in bringing comic books into the mainstream. He interviewed Joe Quesada about Civil War and has included Captain America’s shield as a permanent set piece on his show. All that aside, this book should be a hoot. Here’s a semi-related link: http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/original/marvel_colbert_comic.jpg
Wasteland #8
(Oni Press, $3.50)Imagine Clint Eastwood playing Mad Max (Two men enter, one man leaves!) and you’ve got the basic concept of Wasteland. This black and white indie tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world where water is scarce and danger lurks around every corner. Ain’t It Cool News raved about this series, writing, “This book kicks seven different kinds of ass.” Check out this site where you can download the first issue for free: http://www.onipress.com/thebigwet/
I’ll be back soon with picks for May and stories from Wizard World LA. Here's a teaser: I stood next to Rob Liefeld in line at Starbucks and he acted like a complete ass.
Peace out,Cory
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