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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Fan Expo 2010 - Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne # 3

Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Yanick Paquette
Ink/Color: Michel Lacombe/ Nathan Fairbairn
Publisher: DC
Published: August 2010

Part 3 of The Return of Bruce Wayne has Batman visiting ye ol' pirate days.

What stands out in this particular issue is Yanick's stellar artwork. The guy's a pro! I also had the chance to meet him while at the Fan Expo. Of all the artists/writers I met, he was certainly the most lively and open with his thoughts. Yanick hails from Quebec, and when I arrived he was knee deep in a conversation with another fan regarding the state affairs of European and French comics. I had no idea what they were talking about, but it was fun to listen to nonetheless.

While perusing his original artwork for this issue, I asked him how long it takes him to do a page. He told me he does a page a day. I was taken aback and expressed my amazement. His response, with a diabolical hammed up glee: "I'm a machine!"

I then went on to express how much I enjoyed the look of this issue, especially his attention to the skulls and bones bridge. Yanick said he had created a 3d model to figure out the angles, which makes sense, because his bridge of bones is the most mechanically solid bridge I have ever seen rendered. In the above credits I see that Michel was the inker on this issue, but when I saw the originals, they were already inked. I never thought to ask how the two of them collaborate, but let me just tell you, his black and white originals for this issue are outstanding! They look fantastic! (Check this link for an idea of the level of skill Yanick is at.)

Yanick then went onto discuss his working relationship with DC and Grant Morrison, which is startling/fascinating unto itself. If you ever get a chance to meet Yanick, let me just tell you, he's an interesting/fun guy.

Leonard Nimoy

Writer: Schnakenberg
Artist: Nora Tapp
Cover Artist: Robert A. Herrera
Publisher: Celebrity Comics
Published: August 1992

This is from the Celebrity Comics line. Although they are called comics, in actuality they are unauthorized biographies with some illustrations. Here's a line from the biography. It is in reference to Nimoy hitting pay dirt after directing Three Men and a Baby: "He and Susan spent the rest of the year counting their wad at their estate in San Fernando Valley." Nice. I can picture Spock surrounded by wads of cash, decked in a fur coat, his chest encrusted in gold chains, smoking a cigar while Susan is lounging on his arm complaining: "Spockie-baby, why can't we go out tonight?" whereupon Spock responds "Not tonight, I got an appointment with Kirk honey bunny."

Lost in Space # 1

Writers: Matt Thompson, David Campiti
Artist: Eddy Newell, Mark Jones, Mike Okatomo
Publisher: Innovation
Published: August 1991

Found this a year back in Halifax. I never watched Lost in Space, so reading this issue, I was at a bit of a loss as to who the characters were. This really didn't interest me though, because I was still trying to put my head around this questionable cover. Ok, I thought, Innovation does cater to an adult audience, so I left it at that. After a read, I can see why they chose this cover. The story has a giant plant with tentacles attacking the family Robinson. Only problem I have is that the cover monster is gray, and the actual monster is a green plant. Petty, I know, but it does make a huge difference in terms of what kind of monster to expect. The story also has a bunch of ridiculous poses by the guys and gals, that don't quite fit the story. Take for instance these two images:



The first image is clearly Major West checking out Judy, while Judy puts on a major pout. All just because Major West gave Penny a flower! According to Wikipedia, the show didn't really explore Judy and Major West's relationship together beyond the first few episodes, so I guess this is a slight nod to old fan boys...who were probably the only folks who picked up these issues.

In my post on Heroes for Hire I talked about covers and their relation to the contents of the story. The cover implies danger, sex appeal, and giant tentacle monsters. The story had danger, sex appeal (be it lame), and a giant tentacle monster (green though). The Lost in Space cover comes closer to the story then the cover for Heroes for Hire #13 does to its story. In this sense, Lost in Space achieves it's aim of having a provocative cover, all the while reinforcing what a reader would expect when picking up an issue that has a giant monster attacking a bosomy woman. It's not high art, but one could argue its honest...somewhat...

H.P. Lovecraft's Haunt of Horror # 1 of 3

Writer/Artist: Richard Corben
Publisher: Marvel
Published: August 2008

Marvel's Haunt of Horror centered on HP Lovecraft is equal, if not better, than their last limited series focusing on Edgar Allan Poe. (Of course that all depends on your preferred story teller). Corben really sinks his teeth into Lovecrafts method of madness and delivers a great read with great art.

Issue one has 3 tales: 'Dagon,' 'The Scar,' (after Lovecraft's 'The Recognition') and 'A Memory.' Dagon has a man on the brink of madness who won't let Them get him, at all costs. The Scar is a boy attempting to face a great fear, or else someone will die. Finally, A Memory, is a tale of revenge throughout the ages. Check some scans!!

Challengers of the Unknown # 82

Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Mike Nasser
Publisher: DC
Published: August 1977

The Challengers of the Unknown are Red Ryan, Rocky Davis, 'The Prof' Haley, Ace Morgan, and together they CHALLENGE THE UNKNOWN! Issue #82 has the Prof Haley dying. He has some weird sickness that is inside him, and the only cure is in Perdition, PA. This town earlier had a visit by the Swamp Thing who levied some justice on an unspeakable evil.




Too bad it lived on!

The 3 remaining Challengers and Miss Robbins, travel to Perdition, only to be beset by this lurking evil as the town is under the beasts commands, and this beast demands sacrifice!


The issue ends with Miss Robbins being served to the evil beast! Behold it's tentacle gruesomeness!


Behold a good time with the Super Friends!

Spider-Man's Tangled Web # 15

Writer/Artist: Paul Pope
Publisher: Marvel
Published: August 2002

Yet again, another Paul Pope comic finds its way onto COMIX 3 6 5! No, folks this isn't bordering on obsession,..well maybe a little, but trust me, partly the reason is because I'm right tired and I have some of his comics pre-scanned from an earlier post. But the rest is obsession.

Tangled Web 15 has Spidey only appearing for about 4 or 5 pages, with the rest about a daughter finding out her dad is not the man she thought he was. As always the art looks great.

New Love # 1

Writers/Artists: Jaime & Gilbert Hernandez
Publisher: Fantagraphics
Published" August 1996

I'm new to the world of Love and Rockets, but from what I have read, it's pretty cool. The artwork looks great, and stories are interesting and 'life filled.' New Love has 2 stories and a couple strips attached.

The first tale has Venus getting in trouble for reading a porn comic. The second tale has this weird creepy guy trying to help his 'love.' His love happens to be a mob mistress, and to help her he has to stare into the depths of death (as far as I can figure). Each time he looks he has to stare longer and longer to get help from death. This subsequently causes him great harm. The story ends with his mother dead, and his love willing to follow him. To where, no idea: she just says she's going with him.

So, sticking to my love analogies, sometimes love means staring into the depths of death, and not knowing what the hell is going on. That and porn comics are not for minors.

Captain Dingleberry # 1

Writers: Harper Jaten and Rick Remender
Artists: Harper Jaten, Rick Remender, and Rory Hensley
Publisher: Underhanded Comics
Published: August 1998

Just over a week away from V-Day!

In my quest to find lovey dovey comics I've hit bit of a wall, ie. I didn't want to try today...because I'm feeling a bit shitty. However that being said, just like some days are shitty, so can love be shitty. So for today's romance comic review, here's one just on poo.

Captain Dingleberry is a superhero who can summon The Fecal Four from his butt. They are lumps of crap: Super Turd, Boil, Crazy Eight, and Runny. In this issue he is battling a bitter art nerd, who he ends up sending to Assville which is a universe that is entered via his poop shoot. In Assville, the villain heads to Yeast of Eden which is a Salon and Bakery, and it is here that he meets Sir Richard. Meanwhile, Cpt. Dingleberry and his Fecal Four are going to reign in Curly The Fallen Dingleberry.

No, I did not just make that up...this is one of those comics that ol' Voltaire has a saying for: "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

Vive Le Poo!

Naughty Bits # 17

Writer/Artist: Roberta Gregory
Publisher: Fantagraphics
Published: August 1995

I don't really have too much to say on this comic, beyond it was an interesting read. The main character Midge aka Bitchy Bitch is a confused mess who sleeps around and worries more about what people think about her then what she thinks about herself. While enjoying different sexual partners she joins a Woman's Collective. She stands out in stark contrast to the other woman that also attend, but in the end she shares a painful memory and is accepted by the group.

Also in this issue she develops a yeast infection, contracts gonorrhea, finds a new job, finds out her roommate is lesbian, and she has a fight with her parents. Definitely an eventful 18 pages.

My first year of university I took a woman's studies class. Man that sucked. I mean, woman that sucked. Never mind my initial reasons for taking the class, let me just say that back then I was a lot more determined and hard headed than I am now, and against my better judgment I stuck it out. Each week I looked forward to attending a class where I was the only male present, and the main topic of interest was: "what men do to ruin our lives?"

Just joking!...but at times it felt like that because a few of the students used the class as a forum to discuss how a man, or men, had or have worsened their life. Now, don't get me wrong for stating this. I'm not saying my fellow classmates had no right to bitch about men; I just couldn't help but feel that some of the ladies present saw me as a typical male that causes the sort of typical male shit that men cause and so I felt all eyes were on me.

In the end I can't blame them, I did err on my part. I joined a class that didn't want me there but let me stay out of forced politeness, and if anything, I'm thankful they sheathed their claws slightly because I just know if those cats* really wanted to scratch, I would have been a heap of sliced man meat.

* Yes, I know that women don't like being referred to as cats. I would have said "chicks" but everyone knows chicks are too tiny and cute to cut shit, so my last remark wouldn't have made sense. If I had said "hens" on the other hand...well that probably would have been worse, so ladies - you owe me one!

Better yet: we'll call it even. Equality. How refreshing.

Patsy Walker # 78

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Al Hartley
Publisher: Atlas Comics
Published: August 1958

Following up on yesterdays comic, here's the original Patsy Walker, before she was powered up by Marvel. This issue has a series of short tales which mostly involve harmless hi-jinks, teenage romance, and one page gags, and a 2 page word only romance story. The stories are pretty similar to Archie Comics (which Hartley would later go on to illustrate).

What I found most interesting about this comic was the fashion credits. In certain panels, a fashion design of one the characters would be given credit to a fan. For instance, on page one, Hedy's outfit is credited to Cheryl Branham of Tyson, Florida and on the same page, Patsy's outfit is credited to Norma Arsenault of Port Dalhousie, Ontario. I don't know why, but this intrigues me. I wonder what Norma and Cheryl are up to these days? Do they still own this issue? Was it a point of pride in their lives, or did it disappear from memory over the years? This comic was published in 1958, so if they were, say 14 when they designed Pasty and Hedy's clothes, they'd be 65 years old now. Holy Moly!

All Star Batman & Robin The Boy Wonder # 10

Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: Jim Lee
Publisher: DC
Published: August 2008

"Holy Shit Batman!"

After a spectacular issue # 9, Miller and Lee follow up with a voyage into Swearville. The story was decent, with Batman rescuing a beat up Catwoman, Batgirl being arrested, Black Canary blowing up a child porn base, and Jim Gordon's wife Barbara in the hospital after drinking and driving. Beyond that, the only element of note was the excessive amount of swearing. Now I can see why DC 'accidentally' published this issue without the swears being entirely blacked out, because with them blacked out I have to spend half my time figuring out what swear works best in the sentence. Are they saying "fuck", "shit" or what? I don't like having to guess what swear works best. Call it my lazy comic book nature, but the reason I buy comics is because the pictures are already created for me and I don't have to "imagine" the visuals. Hiding the words just further complicates my lazy nature, 'cause if I don't even want to imagine the visuals, who the shit Goddamn fuck motherfucking asswipe dickwad fucker' would think that I want to imagine the words!

Show me the muthfuckin' money bitch!

Swearing is wrong. But if Batman can get away with calling Catwoman "Baby " while Miller romanticizes their "sweaty, dirty, glorious mess..." then I guess swearing is the least of concerns.