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.

Liberty Comics # 2

Writers: Various

Artists: Various

Publisher: Image Comics

Published: October 2009

This is a comic dedicated to promoting and supporting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The CBLDF is dedicated to ensuring that free speech in comics is protected. I'm all for this.

This particular issue has a number of standout tales from some of comics top talent. I won't go into all the individual stories, but some standouts are Paul Popes Loverman, Chynna Clugston Flores "I Beg Your Pardon" and well, all of them actually. The art is top notch and the stories thrill, titillate, and tickle your senses. And isn't thrilling, titillating, and tickling worth protecting?

More Comix 365 articles:  

Art & Beauty

Patsy Walker

Solo # 7: Michael Allred

Writers: Mike Allred, Lee Allred
Artist: Mike Allred
Colorist: Laura Allred
Publisher: DC
Published: December 2005

It's been a while since my last Comix 365 post...so I thought I would kick start it with another spectacular stupendous stellar Solo issue from decadent DC! And which artist you may wonder is DC displaying? Well if you haven't read the title or looked at the cover image, then rejoice and hollar aloud: MIKE ALLRED!

If you don't know who Mike Allred is, then please take your head out of the muck and wake up (NOW). Mike Allred has worked on such hits as X-Statix, Deadgirl, and his own acclaimed Madman series. His style is sleek, poppy, dynamic, and with the Laura Allred coloring, his work is all the more awesome.

Anyway, enough Allred worship...this ain't no Perez Hilton-esque blog...

Solo # 7 has Allred focusing his whimsy on the DC universe. There are 7 chapters, with 5 complete stories. The first story 'An Hour with Hourman' has our hero battling a case of the highs and lows of being a superhero who derives his powers from a pill. The second story 'Doom Patrol vs. Teen Titans' involves a case of Doom Patrol having to deal with vitality of youth, which is even more pronounced when the youths in question are the Teen Titans! Thirdly, Batman A-Go-Go is a throwback to the swinging, care free 60s where Batman realizes that 'times are a changing'. Fourthly, 'Fourth World Wager' involves Mister Miracle taking up a wager of even he may not be able to escape from. Finally 'Comic Book Clubhouse' is a wordless, visual odyssey involving comic book heroes meeting the kids who draw them.

This was a great Solo issue, that was even more fun reading the second time around. Allred has an innocent playfulness with a sly nod to seriousness shining through his work. In my mind, the highlight tales were Fourth World Wager and Batman A-Go-Go. Mister Miracle taking up a challenge of escape, with Orion concocting the trap was probably one of the funniest moments in this issue. As for Batman I really dug the light, shiny optimism turned sour Lee Allred breathed into the Batman A-Go-Go tale. Mike and Laura's art was all the more exemplary as they turned Batman from the brooding hero of today back to the swinging, goody two shoes of the 60s.

As a side note, if you google this Solo issue and you see a cover of Batman, don't be fooled to look for an actual copy with that image. I looked for years at various comic shops for this cover, and not once did I find it. Turns out it was never printed...I guess due to legal likeness issues of Batman looking like Adam West they had to scrap it. Oh well, thank heavens to the internet preserving a digital copy...

Anyway, see you next time: Same Bat Time. Same Bat Blog!

X-Statix # 11: Introducing El Guapo!

Writer: Peter Milligan
Artists: Mike Allred/Laura Allred
Publisher: Marvel
Published: August 2003

X-Statix is one of my favorite series Marvel put out in the last decade or so. These heroes more concerned about saving people for television ratings sake than goodness sake.

Issue # 11 introduces Robbie Rodriguez aka "El Guapo" aka "The Handsome One" to the team. He has been brought on to boost drama amongst the team. He rides a mystical skateboard.


During a recruitment party, Robbie is sent into action with the team. Being a bit drunk, he slams head first into a tree. Exit stage left.


After, Robbie has a heart to heart with his girlfriend on whether to join X-Statix. He decides it'll be great for him and her, and they'll see each other whenever they can.


All seems well until, fame, money, and attention get the better of El Guapo.


Too bad for him Doop records everything.


Too bad for El Guapo his skateboard doesn't approve of his cheating ways, and gives him a lesson in skate justice.


Welcome to X-Statix.

Fantastic Four # 543

Writers: Dwayne McDuffie, Stan Lee, Paul Pope
Artists: Mike McKone, Nick Dragotta, Mike Allred, Paul Pope, Andy Lanning & Cam Smith
Publisher: Marvel
Published: January 2007

Another Paul Pope entry today. I figure I got's to just get all my Pope comics on this beast so I can start focusing on other comics.

Fantastic Four 543 has 3 tales. The only one I was really concerned with was Pope's (of course). The story is a classic grudge match between ol' Spidey and Flame Brain. One of the greatest dynamics to come out of the Marvel Universe was the rival between the spoiled Human Torch and everyman Spider-Man. The two of them can really get at each others nerves, and Pope delivers on this front.

The other stories involve Stan Lee, Mole Man, and a retrospective of the FF via candid interviews with Marvel Heroes. What I don't quite get was when Stan Lee became less and less of a creator and more and more of a comic character? He's almost Robert Crumbish in his utmost desire to be depicted as a character in the world he helped create (less the fetishes, sex, and bizarre confessions). I suppose he has the absolute right to do this, and he is somewhat of a comic book character in his interviews, so I guess I should just shut my mouth before some Marvel Acolyte starts pasting my blog with hate...