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Off the Beaten Path

10/20/06

This column is suggested for mature readers due graphic language and scenarios!

I must apologize (again) for my lack of timely columns; blame it on Heroes, quite possibly the best show on television (that is until Rescue Me comes back). Today's column features a few arseholes, one Bitch (I say that in the Lil' Kim, positive kind of way) and two crazy bastards! I call it the "A few arseholes, 1 Bitch and 2 crazy bastards sitting in a tree" column. Possibly some of the most despicable hero's in comics today, how could you go wrong? Wait and see, thank you, and as always…enjoy.

Title- The Boys

Publisher- Wildstorm
Script- Garth Ennis
Artist- Darick Robertson
Format- monthly
Shipping- so far so good
Age- 17&up

The Basics-

The book opens with a big black boot on some super powered beings head, his now flat head. AND he's missing an eye. We meet Billy Butcher (who coincidently is wearing big black boots), as he's looking up in the sky watching a team of super heroes fly by, he says to himself and I quote, "I'm gonna fuckin' have you…. you cunt." End quote. Next we meet Terror, his lovable British Bulldog, as we are led into a happy little scene involving a man (Wee Hughie) and his new love (Robin), who is (while celebrating her newfound love) ripped from his arms (leaving them hanging in his hands, mind you) and smashed like a tattoo into a brick wall by the careless throw of the super hero known as A-Train, in his attempt to catch a super villain. Hughie, the now comatose former lover of said tattoo woman stands in shock while A-Train tells him "out of my fucking way", not noticing or not caring that Hughie is holding what is left of his girlfriend in his hands, her arms. The romance in this scene is overwhelming (insert sarcasm here). Who polices the super heroes? This is the question Butcher asks, his answer…ME. Butcher, better known by the CIA by this description 'characterised as possibly single most dangerous individual ever encountered by this agency." Is the one who they call when the supes need a lil' reminding of whose really in charge here. Remind he does, with the help of 'The Frenchman', a psychotic little man with a severe penchant for violence, 'The Female', a quiet tiny woman with a penchant for disturbing, let me repeat myself, 'disturbing violence', Wee Hughie, who we all know lost his first love at the hands of a reckless supe, and last but not least 'Mother's Milk', who defies explanation. This is The Boys, the first line of defense against the supes, and the last people any supe wants to see EVER!

The Art-

The art is strong, graphic, and entertaining, man of the Characters resemble actors and actresses you've all seen at one point or another, a nod to the British cinema I suppose. The backgrounds are detailed, overflowing with characters and scenery. Each scene is played well through the artists' eye, with an attention to detail and dialogue often absent from today's comics.

The Verdict-

I know, it sounds a little shocking? A little disgusting? A little AWESOME? My thoughts exactly!

Title- Bomb Queen

Publisher- Shadowline (Image)
Script/Artist- Jimmie Robinson
Format-monthly
Shipping- it's Image, who knows
Age- 17&up

The Basics-

The Bomb Queen rules, I mean it, she rules with an iron fist, okay maybe a fist full of bombs, but she rules never the less. New Port City is her domain, she has been the undisputed dictator for the last 10 years, surprisingly and even though she brutally kills (many times entertainingly so) any and everyone who opposes her, the citizens of New Port City love her, they rightfully fear her, and yet the love seems so genuine. Of course her attire, large (frequently) exposed breasts, g-string and penchant for playing to the cameras doesn't hurt either. This will be The Queen's second mini series, her first mini series was 4 issues followed by a one shot featuring Blacklight, and this series may be ongoing. Don't fear, for those of you unfamiliar with the Queen, this new series gives a great recap of her past and how she became the Queen of New Port City. The story starts with the Queen killing some bank robbers, the hostages, some boy scouts, and countless bystanders, aww she's so sweet. She follows this little romp up with a nother little romp. She goes on a date, not one to mince words, she tells her would be beau, if he can't fuckk, she'll kill him. Now that's some pressure, the kind of pressure every red blooded young man loves. I think. Before testing his skills and possibly killing him, she recounts a portion of her story, how she became the Queen of this little city. The reader is left with some clues, and a little foreshadowing of things to come, what's coming is some major ass kicking, who's? You'll have to read to find out.

The Art-

Printed on a higher quality paper, using better inks and bright colors, this book really stands out. Each scene is filled with mayhem of some sort, New Port City is very Norman Rockwell like, which makes the dialogue and story that much more entertaining, and the pictorial the artist chooses to use to depict the love scene magical, magical I tell you. I like this artist.

The Verdict-

Does he fuck well enough to live? I want to know, whom will the Queen kill next? I want to know, what will happen next? You want to know!

Title-The Savage Brothers

Publisher- Boom
Script-Andrew Cosby/Johanna Stokes
Artist- Rafael Aburquerque
Format- monthly
Shipping- I've only seen 1 so far?
Age- 17&up

The Basics-

The apocalypse has arrived, so now what? Well if for some particular reason you were not saved, you have to make a living, and what better way than to sell your services as purveyors of heaven, that is to say, you kill the un-dead so they can ascend to the higher plane and be with their loved ones. In return, you make a decent living, and who the hell cares if they are really ascending or just plain old dying; a living's a living. Meet the Savage Brothers, a pair of good Samaritans living in the end days trying to make an honest living, by defrauding those left behind, and killing some zombies while they're at it. Reminds me of the Boon Brothers, (search myspace, you'll find them) just some good ol' boys been in trouble with the law since the day they was borne.

The Art-

Lots of reds and blacks, all hellfire and brimstone if you know what I mean. The art is funny; the characters are all drawn with an extra bit of character, does that make any sense to you? If not take a look and you'll see what I mean. Purple seems to be a color of choice in this artists palette as well, I like purple, so did Jimi Hendrix and Prince, if they liked it, it must be cool.

The Verdict-

Satirically funny, anything poking fun at religion is worth a read in my book, not to mention zombie killing is always fun, I'm off to kill some myself, until next time…enjoy.

Anthony Dominguez
www.anthonydominguez.com
myspace.com/anthonydominguez <TOP>