Cover of the Week!

Cover Artist: Yanick Paquette

Check out his line work on this issue! Fantastic!

Fan Expo 2010 - The Bomb

Writer/Artist: Steve Mannion
Publisher: Asylum Press
Published: August 2008

One of the comic book creators I was most excited to see at the Fan Expo was Steve Mannion. A few months back I picked up The Bomb on a whim. When I saw Steve I mentioned this,... well I said this: "I had never heard of The Bomb, but based off the cover I picked it up, and well, it's the bomb!"

This statement could have gone two ways with him: awkward silence or laugh. I got a laugh. Nice. I knew right then this guy's alright. We talked for a few minutes. He struck me as a goofy guy who easily breaks a grin. These qualities definitely come through his work. I asked if he plans on continuing his Fearless Dawn run, upon which he responded yes, and flipped to a drawing of Helga and her Nazi buddy on the moon!

The Bomb is a collection of great looking goofy stories ranging from a Jungle girl and a dinosaur, to a juiced up pirate, to nazi shenanigans, to zombie robots. It has a swimsuit edition that is nice play on Archie Comics. Anyway, I can't express how much I like this collection of comics. There just good ol' fun comics...

As an final note, at the Expo, his sketchbook was the best purchase of the day. As far as sketchbooks go, for $10 you won't find a better deal. I have a feeling he'll be realizing this and the price will go up...but good for him!




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The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft #1 of 4

Writer: Mac Carter
Artist: Tony Salmons
Cover: Adam Byrne
Publisher: Image Comics
Published: April 2009

Taking authors and making them into a character within their own universe is fairly common these days. It has its pros and cons. If you're a big fan of the writer and familiar with their works, then its a match made in heaven. However, it can be infuriating because outsiders won't be able to pick up on all the nuances. Luckily for the creators of this comic, Lovecraft created such a rich and wonderful world, outsiders don't need to know every little detail to enjoy the story. For example, you don't necessarily need to know what the Necronomicon is, but just to know that it leads to bad stuff suffices. Which, by the way, it usually always does.


The Strange Adventures of HP Lovecraft opens with the origins of the Necronomicon. We are then introduced to the writer HP Lovecraft, who is struggling with writers block. After an unfortunate revelation regarding his love interest, Lovecraft is attacked by a couple sailors. Too bad for them, Lovecraft is the "key and the guardian of the gate." This statement doesn't make much sense on its own, but when the Necronomicon mystically pronounces you're the "key and the guardian of the gate," that's usually always bad.


I'm a big fan of Lovecraftian monsters. One of the reasons I love them is because of the visual possibilities they inspire. Lovecraftian monsters usually defy human comprehension, are huge, epic, impose madness, and destructive. Take for instance the scene in Hellboy where Hellboy releases the monsters from their prison, or the scene in the Mist when Tom Jayne's character is driving by towering monsters - awesome.

izombie # 1 (Plus Variant Thoughts)

Writer: Chris Roberson
Artists: Michael Allred
Colors: Laura Allred
Publisher: Vertigo
Published: May 2010

This is an intriguing story. Gwen is a zombie. By day she works as a grave digger. By night she solves mysteries with her ghost gal pal Ellie. Oh, and the these mysteries are instigated by Gwens meals, namely, newly dead folks brains. Umm!

The art is great, and the premise is promising...it'll be interesting to see where this one goes.

Also check the variant cover by one of my favourite artists, Darwyn Cooke.

I really don't like the whole variant cover thing going these days. Usually the art is pretty fantastic, but still...

Take for instance, the variant for this particular issue (see just below). It's fantastic. Probably one of Cookes finest, but what I'm not a fan of is the cover price. This issue was priced at $1, which is an introductory price for the first issue. Great. However, at the comic shop I go to, the Cooke variant cover was marked up to $10! That's a 1000% markup! As much as I love Cooke's work, I can't justify spending $10 for a 30 page comic. There are some some shops in Toronto that mark up all variant covers to $20, which is even crazier!

I wonder if retailers actually sell any of these variants. They must, considering how many are being produced these days. While I'm not 100% familiar with the economics of comics, I have a few ideas as to why variants are so pricey.

1) They're considered 'rare' as retailers have to purchase a certain amount of comics before they can receive a variant.
2) They usually have stellar artwork for the cover. Usually.
3) They have to be pricey so retailers can make up costs for the extra issues they had to purchase just to get the variant.
4) Hardcore fans and collectors will buy them.

Whatever the reason, I just can't get behind buying a variant cover with a cover price of $10 to $20 bucks. That's just too much. It would be better if variants were treated like rewards instead of priced up comic books. The loyal fans who really want a variant would make sure they were the first in line on new release Wednesdays. It's a win-win. The store gets customers in regularly, and fans pay regular price for a variant cover. Anyway, here are some variant covers that are awesome, and I'll never own.

Breaking Into Comics - The MARVEL Way # 2

Writers: Various

Artists: Various

Publisher: Marvel

Published: May 2010

This comic was a great way to introduce fans to some up-and-coming talent in the Marvel U. Breaking Into Comics is a showcase for new talent, who describe their experiences on getting hired by Marvel as well penning/illustrating some great stories. This particular issue has 5 tales, centred around a choice selection of Marvels characters: The Fantastic Four, Thor, The New Mutants, Psylocke, and Deadpool.

Of particular note was the New Mutant tale illustrated by Gabriel Hernandez Walta. The story is dark, very disturbing, and all grown up for a bunch of teenage muties. Hernandez Walta delivers top notch artwork. His work is foreboding, menacing, and deliberate. Just beautiful. After reading the tale, I couldn't get it out of my mind. It has such force.

The remainder of tales are great as well. With these folks propelling Marvel Foward, I'd say DC has their work cut out for them...then again DC has got Batman and Grant Morrison...

Here's a collage of some images from Breaking Into Comics:

Mr. Monster # 1: Origins

Writer/Artist: Michael T. Gilbert
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: February 1988

Another kick ass cover! Equal parts Batman-esque jumbled up with a fish creature dealio. The story revolves around Mister Monster losing the love of his life due to the demands of killing monsters. In the issue he uses a homemade flamethrower. Can't beat that.

Batman: Black & White # 4 Special 3D Edition

Writers: Brian Bolland, Jan Stanad, Archie Goodwin, Dennis O'Neil, Katsuhiao Otomo
Artists: Brian Bolland, Kevin Nowlan, Gary Gianni, Brian Steelfreeze, Alex Toth
Publisher: DC
Published: September 1996

If you're a someone, than you know or gots Batman Black & White. This is a Batman series that is exactly what it is called: Batman in black and white. Creators were given the chance to write/draw a 8 page self-contained story of the Dark Knight. Issue # 4 has got the infamous "An Innocent Guy" by Brian Bolland, which alone, makes this issue a hot number. What makes my particular copy extra special is that this is only 1 of only a 1000 issues printed that were in eye popping 3D!

Check some scans from the 5 stories contained in this issue:





An Innocent Guy
Monsters in the Closet
Heroes
Leavetaking
The Third Mask
Back Cover
Jealous?

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Heavy Metal September 2008

Writers/Artists: Felix Vega, Matt Wilson, Nathan Fox, Various
Publisher: Heavy Metal
Published: September 2008

Heavy Metal. Did you know Heavy Metal is owned and edited by Kevin Eastman? If you're wondering who Kevin Eastman is, think walking talking ninja turtles. Anyhoo, Heavy Metal is a collection of different stories aimed at a mature audience, ie. the stories often have graphic violence and nudity.

2008 September's issue has an artist I have been keeping my eye on: Nathan Fox. His run on Pigeons from Hell was pretty cool, so I picked up this issue. His tale is called Fluorescent Black and is written by Matt Wilson. The story is a bio-sci-fi-punk story where genetics rule the day. Check the vid as Fox explains it better than me.


Another story inside the issue involves Vincent. The Vincent. Van Gogh. It's bit of bizarre tale that explores an alternate view of why he lost his ear. Written and drawn by Felix Vega, it's a pretty cool ride.


If your not sure what he is holding, head to your local library (or Wikipedia) and read up on this remarkable artist!


Ok, that's it, I'm done with tentacles in comics (for now). I had planned to integrate some pics of tentacles in film, but I can't be bothered now, so I'll just post 'em.

Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs
Oldboy

The Goon # 19

Writer/Artist: Eric Powell
Publisher: Dark Horse
Published: July 2007

One more tentacle issue after this and I think I'm tentacled out.

The Goon is just an awesome comic. I think I've said this before. Powell is about the only artist that I know of who can pull of pages of just Goon hitting things. Issue 19 has Goon taking on a new menace spawned by the Zombie Priest. This new beast has taken some from Goon, but you'll never guess what. Hint: it ain't the love of his life. Or is it?

Oh and this issue has this guy. Watch it, he's a biter:

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Fantastic Four # 565: Don't Eat Valeria!

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Bryan Hitch
Publisher: Marvel
Published: March 2009

Ok, the FF take on a giant tentacle monster. The kids are at risk, and the townsfolk besieged by the monster are not what they seem. Nuff said.

Epic Illustrated # 22: Marada the She-Wolf in 'Wizard's Masque'

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: John Bolton
Publisher: Marvel
Published: February 1984

Epic was a relatively short lived magazine published by Marvel. It allowed Marvel to avoid the Comics Code and create stories of a more mature theme. Issue # 22 has a number of stories, but it also has Marada the She-Wolf battling the most dreaded of monsters: the tentacled Gyatria. While sleeping, Marada's companion Arianrhod attempts to create a portal to whisk herself home. Unfortunately for her she opens door that lets things pass that should not pass.


Marada attacks the beast, only to be dragged to the spaces in between spaces. (Ugh, I can't believe I just wrote that!)

The beast transports Marada to what appears to be a land right out of Arabian Nights. It is here that she befriends Taric Redhand (who just so happens to cop a feel during a battle.)
But don't worry folks, he gets his just reward for such an indiscretion!


Before his untimely death, he advised Marada to seek out Jaffar the Wizard:




Too bad for Marada though.

Just goes to show: Can't never trust a wizard named Jaffar.




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