Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Great Unknown #1 (of 5)

A lot of Image titles fall flat, or completely disappear forever (Forsaken, Flak Riot, Ex Patriate, Pirates of Coney Island, Hector Plasm). But I'm not bitter. I'm not bitter because Image is a publisher who takes risks. Sometimes those risks pay off big-time (Hawaiian Dick, Battle Hymn, Nightly News). I didn't really pay much attention to The Great Unknown when it was solicited, but it had a neat cover (I like puzzles) and Christian put it on my radar (Christian and I agree 86% of the time). This was a really promising first issue. It had a few neat factoids and references to important but obscure historical figures. It was funny. The main character is nobody new--an intelligent slacker from a middle-class family who has big dreams but never "applies himself" to his "full potential". He has the brain of Nikola Tesla but the attitude of Scott Pilgrim. I really hate distributing comics along the spectrum of high and low-art, but this book sits nicely right between the artsy Omega: the Unknown (maybe only because of the similarities between the title and main characters) and the punky Teenagers From Mars (oh my god, please read it). Can't wait for the second ish.

4 (out of 5) over-used parentheticals and asides,
-sanford c bledsoe iii

angel of death.......again,i know.

the ed brubaker scripted "angel of death" premieres on crackle.com on monday,march 2nd.new 8-10 minute episodes will appear every weekday through march 13th.peep it.also homies new book with sean phillips is very awesome!its called "incognito" and is about a supervillain in witness protection.....thats the pitch,i dont want to say much else.issue #2 just came out so hop onboard!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Bad Dog #1


Joe Kelly (I Kill Giants, Ben 10) knows how to use swear words. I've got my eye on this son of a bitch; I Kill Giants and Four Eyes are must reads and now, so is Bad Dog. Werewolf Bounty Hunter and his born again, alcoholic, shit-heel partner hunt down low-lifes, though they themselves are low-lifes. I can't think of anybody doing better dialogue in comics right now than Joe Kelly across his titles. Does it bother you that "Dog the Bounty Hunter" is already a thing, that in fact the terrible theme song for that show acutally uses the words "I am the dog / the big Bad Dog"? No, it doesn't. Get over it.

One thing: Diego Greco, making his American Debut with this title, gives the whole thing an overall more cartoony effect than is cool. The titular Bad Dog looks more like a golden retreiver than a fucking werewolf and that is upsetting. Nevertheless, read this shit, you'll be back for more.

-Nick

Sunday, February 1, 2009

The Stand: Captain Trips #1-5

As a self-described "anti-capitalist", I imagine the end of the world often. But, shit, man--I hope it doesn't happen like it does in this comic. I had the flu last week and kept hoping I didn't have Captain Trips. I don't want to die violently spewing snot all over my shirt. I don't think my mom could handle finding me like that. Anyway, this comic is real good, if you have decent taste. I dunno, maybe you just read Archie or some shit. That's cool too, I guess.

criminal:bad night? NOT IF YOU READ THIS!



criminal vol. 4 came out this week.i re-read the story therein and it is still fuckin awesome.all the volumes are seperate stories.....you dont have to read them in any order.if you're not reading criminal then fuck you.