January 2006 Comics

Every so often I go trolling around LiveJournal to see if I can find some new journals to read. Sturgeon's Law of course suggests that I'm going to spend more time sifting through crap (poorly-written journals, friends-only journals, journals by people who have nothing in common with me - "crap" of course being a relative term, journals which have been discontinued, etc.) than finding the good stuff.

Every so often, though, I do hit gold. This year's strike was Iamza's Kraal, written by someone about whom I know almost nothing, save that she's female and in the U.K. And that she write about comic books. Lots and lots about comic books. And even about a lot of stuff I read. So I've actually been commenting in her journal fairly regularly, and she's (fortunately) been open enough to not suddenly wonder who this wacko is from across the Atlantic who's suddenly reading her journal. I've always been of the opinion that when you have a presence on the Web, you shouldn't be surprised when someone - anyone - finds your pages and writes to you. (Unnerved, maybe, but not surprised!) My impression is that many people don't feel this way, so it's nice to see someone take my own appearance in their on-line world in stride.

(Ironically, her profile ever refers to Sturgeon's Law (and by its correct title, even), which - honestly! - I did not know until after I'd written the first paragraph above. Geez.)

I don't often write about comic books here these days, for all that it's still basically my main hobby, collecting and reading the things. So in the spirit of all the comic book talk that goes on in Iamza's journal, I thought I'd briefly run down my new comics purchases in January of this year, with brief comments where the mood strikes me.

• Desolation Jones #5 (DC). Lovely art by J.H. Williams III. Intriguing, brutal story by Warren Ellis. I'm hoping this arc is coming to its big payoff soon, or else it will probably be another Ellis misfire. Then again, he's so prolific that he has a lot of hits, too.
• Fables #45 (DC/Vertigo). One of the best series being published today.
• Green Lantern #7-8 (DC). I'm really only buying this for the Carlos Pacheco artwork. Geoff Johns' scripts are mundane.
• Infinite Crisis #4 (DC). Again, only buying this big "event" mini-series for the Phil Jimenez/George Perez art. The story - also by Johns - is at best warmed-over Crisis on Infinite Earths (which itself hasn't really stood the test of time story-wise).
• Seven Soldiers (DC). Being published as several loosely-connected mini-series. None of them are outstanding, although several have excellent artwork. Grant Morrison is a writer whose work often misses with me, since characterization and dialogue are his short suits. He sure is a great idea generator, but this isn't his best work.
• All-Star Superman #1-2 (DC). A more intriguing Morrison story, reminiscent of some of the better "imaginary story" Superman tales of years past.
• Testament #2 (DC/Vertigo).
• New Avengers #15 (Marvel). Something about this series keeps me buying it. It's not the unremarkable artwork, and it's not the dialogue, as Brian Michael Bendis' dialogue is some of the least-realistic-seeming in comics. But there always seems to be something interesting lurking just around the corner, and as long as Bendis can keep tap-dancing that dance, I'll probably keep buying.
• The Book of Lost Souls #4 (Marvel/Icon). Another Straczynski title, this time teamed with Colleen Doran. I've always liked Doran's artwork, but her choice of material to illustrate (including her own A Distant Soil) has never been to my taste. This series fits right into her oeuvre in that way.
• Fantastic Four #532 (Marvel). J. Michael Straczynski's run has so far been entirely pedestrian.
• Marvel Zombies #2 (Marvel). This is, hands-down, the most twisted series I've read in years. Who'd'a thunk Marvel would publish such a thing? In an alternate universe, the Marvel heroes are infected and turned into zombies, and go on to kill and eat the whole world's population. Then the Silver Surfer shows up. Not for the faint-of-stomach, and not to be read while eating. Do I like it? I wouldn't go that far. But for a 5-issue limited series, it's got a certain train-wreck sort of appeal.
• The Sentry #5 (Marvel).
• X-Men: Deadly Genesis #3 (Marvel). The story behind the mystery villain will make or break this intriguing story. If it's just an excuse to introduce a new character to the Marvel Universe, then it's going to get a big thumbs down from me.
• Captain Atom: Armageddon #4 (Wildstorm).
• Ex Machina #17 (Wildstorm). The world's one superhero becomes mayor of New York City in the wake of 9/11. If you enjoyed James Robinson's Starman (whose artist, Michael Harris, illustrates) or Y The Last Man (whose writer, Brian K. Vaughan, writes), then you might like this.
• Planetary #24 (Wildstorm). Issues 13-24 were not as lively as #1-12, but this is still my second-favorite series around today (right behind Astro City).
• Doc Frankenstein #4 (Burlyman).
• The Maze Agency #2 (IDW). If you enjoy straight-up detective stories, then you might enjoy this revival of Mike W. Barr's old Comico/Innovation series (raise your hand if you remember the first run!).
• B.P.R.D. #6 and Hellboy: Makoma #1 (Dark Horse).
• Keif Llama: Xenotech #3 (Aeon). Matt Howarth's terrific, imaginative science fiction series. Madcap and cynical. If you enjoy it, try to track down Keif's earlier appearances in Particle Dreams and the first run of KLXT.
• Powers #16 (Marvel/Icon).
• Hawkman: Wings of Fury TPB (DC). Mainly picked up for Rags Morales' art. Geoff Johns' writing was okay, but the overall story never seemed to go anywhere.
• The Goon: Virtue and the Grim Consequences Thereof TPB (Dark Horse).

I'm not one of those who'd predict the demise of the industry, but I think the next 20 years are likely to see either a lot of creative stagnation, a major consumer or retailer revolt against the publishing the distribution ends, or a cannibalism of the industry as manga makes inroads into the mainstream while American comics become marginalized. Maybe all three. The last is already happening, which makes me sad since I can't stand manga.

Still, I enjoy the books I enjoy, while I still can.