Philistarved

by Ryan Skinner

4/07/08

No preamble from Ryan this week...right to the reviews:

Dead Space #1

Ordinarily, comic promotional tie-ins, most notably if they're promoting a video game, are cause to be weary. I didn't want to read this book. Bitter memories of IDW published Silent Hill comics sat fixed in my mind. I guess Ben Templesmith is the video game got to comic guy. I was never a big fan. His style is certainly interesting, but leaves much to be desired in the way of defining space. I'm not a big art guy. I don't write off or commend a book based solely on its art work, but the work that Templesmith has been doing on Fell has been superb. I think that this due, in part, to the specific vision of Warren Ellis. Templesmith's work of Fell is the first that has totally helped define the book. I can't imagine Fell being illustrated by anybody else. I know it sounds like I'm reviewing Fell. The reason I bring it up is because my purchase of Dead Space marks the first time I've ever bought a book based on the art work. I was pretty certain that any comic born out of the desire to promote an Electronic Arts game was going to suck pretty bad, but I bought the book anyway because I love Templesmith's maturing style. Now that I can tell where I am and who is speaking and so on, I'm now able to enjoy the more anarchic elements of Templesmith's style. OK! SO! Actually, Dead Space is a good read, and a genuine science fiction comic book. I don't know what it has to do with the game, and I don't care, I hope it never feels like a video game because this first issue, through its pacing and potential story arcs, has struck a very cinematic tone. I recommend this book highly if you enjoy the world Templesmith is helping to create with Fell or want a gritty science fiction book with little religious tension.

Transhuman #1

The dust hasn't even settled on PAX Romana and yet we've been graced with another original book from Jonathan Hickman. Once again challenging the standard for comic book storytelling, Transhuman takes an interesting approach to the medium. Somewhat similar to Max Brook's World War Z, Transhuman's story is told through its character's own storytelling. Rather than describe events as they unfold, the comic acts as a documentary film that's made its way to the present from sometime in the not-too-distant future. In other words, we're learning history that has not yet occurred. The documentary/interview style of the book doesn't lend itself well to action since it often consists of characters talking at you from the panel, but it isn't a book for Marvel/DC junkies with ADD. It has an intentionally subdued and quiet look so you can focus on Hickman's words. Do me this favor, pick a copy up, flip to a two page panel spread near the middle with all the experimental chimpanzees on it and read the analyst reports and if you like it, buy it and enjoy…and if you don't like it, put it back down, buy something else and then kindly kill yourself.

Deadlander/Dead rider #1,2

I saw issue 2 of this mini series and I was intrigued by the simple fact that it was a western. If it looks like a western, crime, or zombie book, it immediately gets a complimentary flip through. Ordinarily I'm in the camp that feels like the art should serve the purpose of the story and its pretty hard to miss that mark if the writing is good, but I've found that I am becoming more visually open to the comics I buy. Such was the case with Deadlander. I flipped through for the six-shooters, bought it for the EC-esque art, and am staying for lines like this "Somebody better start to talk real soon! Else I'm gonna hafta fill out a few more prescriptions…for smoking' bullet suppositories!"

Kick-Ass # 1,2

Not really a review as much as a rant. Is anybody else confused by this book? I'm not familiar with Mark Millar's work. I can't decide if I hate this book, or its setting me up for something special. If this is just some exercise in fan boy fetishism then I want off now. Every time the kid says something "nerdy" that y'know, is supposed to speak to us "nerds," I want to vomit. The whole "Oh boy do I love me some Buffy"…if I'm supposed to hate him that's fine, but if that's some ploy for reader identification than Mark Millar is a huge douche bag. Its difficult to tell because the front cover of #2 is a great big lump of pathetic and the words "Sickening violence: Just the way you like it." To me this says satire, but then you look at the back of the book and there's "praise" for the book like "Kick Ass: It Sure Does!"…Really? Was that necessary? The only people that refer to things as "Kick Ass!" are intellectually stunted fan boys that don't know how to explain why they like something. So Millar breezes through this kid's recovery, but with some genuine character-building moments like his newfound fear of death and the guilt he feels over what he's put his father through. But fuck all that noise man! Its time to kick ass! Poof, just like that I hate the kid all over again and I'm not sure what the book is trying to achieve. "…but who was I kidding? The beast was friggin in me, man." Cringe. The coin's still flipping on this one. Anyway I hope Kick Ass is about more than just kicking ass because that would be decidedly not kick ass. I think I might try to work in the title of every book I review from now on like "Transhuman? Trans-scendant!" or "Transhuman will Trans-port you!" , "Deadrider will ride you dead!" "Deadrider…you don't want to miss this ride!" I'll work on it.

2/04/08

Hello to those that are actually paying attention. I have to say that I'm having trouble keeping up with the all the good books lately. I've had to add something like six new books to my pull, but luckily some of them are mini series which more titles should aspire to be. Exterminators is coming to an end…you bastards. This was an awesome read. It was smart and had a great sense of humor, but poor sales are cutting its life short. Here's to hoping they can wrap it up neatly for the trades. The good news is that FELL has finally showed signs of life. I don't think there have been more than ten issues and each issue isn't longer than 22 pages, but whenever it comes out it never lets me down. Unlike Doktor Sleepless which…yeah. Supposedly the big FELL break was because Ben Templesmith was doing so much promotional work for 30 Days of Night (huge disappointment and missed opportunity), so now that it's flopped he can go back to illustrating my favorite comic book. In other exciting news, Y: The Last Man is finished so I can finally lift the trade embargo I've placed on my self…get it? Trade embargo? Of course I shouldn't be that excited because there's no way I can afford to blow through however many trades there are. The Resurrection of Ras Aghul is over…thank god. That was a cruel trick. You see I read the Grant Morrison and Paul Dini scripted Batman books because they have seemingly nothing to do with the current DC universe. So what the hell happens? My books get caught up in some bullshit major crossover event. Fuck that noise. Robin and Nightwing are fighting each other? Oooooohhhhh…who gives a fuck? Well anyway its all over now and none of the characters are any better or worse off for it. So stupid. Did anyone see Rambo? If you did, that's as close to a good Punisher movie as anyone's likely to get.

PAX Romana

Points for originality. This book is a on the wordy side, and so it will turn many off to it which I'm undoubtedly and pathetically certain will be the case. Why read something interesting or watch internet porn when you can look at illustrated boobies? Cause they're super boobies that's why!

76

If you like 70s grind house blacksploitation or kung fu movies, or both, or even if you don't, check out this book. This is exactly what I mean when I say that the comic book medium is capable of much more than super hero fetish. Boogie Nights meets Enter the Dragon meets Foxy Brown. I would love to see Jackie Karma become a substantial comic book character.

Cemetery Blues

I don't know what it was about this book. It had a strange sort of exposition about it. It felt like I was jumping into a series that had already started, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It wasn't enough to confuse or frustrate me, in fact it only served to intrigue me even more. This book has a very cartoony feel to it. Think The Goon except more British, less nihilistic, and more whimsical.

That's it til I find something else. By the way, Mike's told me that some of Pulp Fiction's customers have been inquiring about possible Magic The Gathering get togethers…tournaments, what have you. It just so happens that I am in the same boat. There aren't any organized meetings that I've been able to find, so if any of you know differently or are interesting in organizing one give me an e-mail Ryanbskinner@yahoo.com.