New Comic Book Day Megathread

[Colin YNWA]

There's also something called Gehenna on Image1 30th Anthology... whatever that is... did we know this? No sure, but I've enjoyed Frontiersman enough to try the new series at least.

I believe Gehenna ties into/is part of the Frontiersman universe, but I’m not sure exactly how yet (and I lettered Part 3 yesterday).

Not sure that's a good sign - not that Jim is lettering - that he doesn't know how it ties in after 3 parts!

[Jim_Campbell]

Not sure that's a good sign - not that Jim is lettering - that he doesn't know how it ties in after 3 parts!

Don't get me wrong — it's a fast-paced action strip that seems quite capable of standing on its own. I just don't know how it ties into the Frontiersman stuff (the Kindlonverse, if you will)… yet.

[CalHab]

Dogs of London (Milligan, Artecida, Bianconi, Steen). On the surface this is a gangster tale set in 60s London and Soho (which reminds me I still need to see that Edgar Wright film) with hints of the Krays. This is Peter Milligan, though, so there are suggestions of experiments, revived corpses and other  strange goings on. I haven't come across Artecida before, but their work is impressive. If I have a criticism, its that it is very static. I think they come from outside comics, so maybe that betrays a slight lack of familiarity with the medium.

[CalHab]

Hulk vs Thor: Banner of War Part 1 (Cates, Cóccolo, Mayer, Anderson, Sabino) and Thor #25 (Cates, DeFalco, Shammas, Cóccolo, Frenz, D'Armini, Rich).

I've enjoyed Donny Cates' Thor run to date, so I was optimistic when he took over from Al Ewing on Hulk. Ewing's run started with a bang, but had long run out of momentum by the time it finished. The time was right for a fresh start. Unfortunately, I lasted 3 issues with Cates' Hulk-as-a-spaceship-piloted-by-b=Banner concept. It was a bad idea, and it didn't get any better. Disappointing stuff. Unfortunately, this has now bled over into the Thor run I'd been enjoying with a very, very dull Hulk v Thor fight.

Fortunately, Thor 25 is an anniversary issue which also includes a fun retro DeFalco/Frenz story and a well executed Shammas/D'armini spin on a myth, reminiscent of the current Dark Horse "Norse Mythology" series. Both of which have the unfortunate effect make the main feature look pretty flat in comparison.

I'm now wondering whether to persist with this run.

[The Adventurer]

I’ve been away from the forums for a little while, but I thought I’d pop back in today to mention that I actually have a comic coming out from Image Comics this week. It’s called Super Freaks, and it is a one-shot anthology Fanzine for Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon.

During spring of last year I and the co-hosts of my Savage Dragon podcast, the Savage FINcast, together started organizing a fan anthology to celebrate our 10th anniversary as well as the 30TH anniversary of Savage Dragon. Originally we intended to self publish it and give it out as prizes for podcast listeners, but Erik Larsen liked the look of it so much he offered to publish it officially through Image.

I bring this up, because I was reminded of the passing of Dave Evans recently and it reminded me that Super Freaks has its direct inspiration tracing back to Zarjaz and Dogsbreath. I actually came up with the Savage Dragon Fanzine idea way back in the late 2008, and I used the 2000 AD Fanzines as the concept template. I couldn’t generate enough interest at the time among the Savage Dragon community, so I created a podcast instead. But now 10 years latter its a reality and I regret now not finding a place in the credits to memorialize Bolt 01 in the text somewhere.

I thought about posting this in the announcement thread about his passing, or the other thread about the Bolt anthology. But I figured here in this thread was more appropriate.

[maryanddavid]

Well done Adventurer!

[Colin YNWA]

Great stuff Adventurer and nice to have you back.

[Colin YNWA]

I've finally found time to reflect on my latest haul having finished reading them a few days ago on a trip away. And its a pretty decent haul. A couple to shuffle away quickly. Hawk the Slayer 2 is exactly what we read in the floppies and then Han Solo and Chewbacca 2 washed over me in a way a comic about Han and Chewie and Greedo and Han's dad(?) on a heist caper really shouldn't. Punisher 3 really isn't doing the interesting things I thought it would yet either, but does just enough to keep me going.

Dogs of London 1 on the other hand sets up a lot and keeps it in your head in in a typically haunting Milligan style. Nice ... well effective... start.

Alice ever After 2 similarly continues to tantalise as it plays with the world of Alice, but explore more. Slumber 3 does similar things as the chase through dreams continues.

X-Cellent 3 Michael Allred really is a wonder and Milligan (again I'm reading a lot of Milligan at the moment) plays with X-Statix ideas wondefully again.

Then we get to the top of haul, good as some of that is they're not as good as Usagi Yojimbo - Lone Goat and Kid 5 which only really leaves me with the question as to why it took me so long to get into the rabbit! Time Before Time 12 shows why I need to read this title and this pause for breathe as our own PJ Holden does a wonderful standin job reminds me that at the core of this twisty turny title is a great tale of great characters. But book of the haul is doubt Black Hammer Reborn 12 which quite brilliantly set up the final story in the Black Hammer epic with 'The End' coming soon I believe. That this sorts so much and opens the ending in tantalising fashion is just a wonder to behold.

Nice haul.

[Colin YNWA]

Usagi Yojimbo 28... and 1-27. I managed to pick up a complete set of the IDW Usagi Yojimbo series 1-27 and so added from issue 28 to my pull list and have just blasted through the lot. Its just a joyous read. Its light and easy on the surface, but with deep rich textures running through. Comics that are a simple joy to read and I'm chuffed to have picked the series up and be up to date and now as well as the colour reprints I have the new ongoing to look forward to every month.

WHY OH CHUFFIN' WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO CATCH ON TO THIS COMIC!!!

I've known about Yojimbo since the early 90s (I think) don't be a fool like me and get onboard as soon as possible if you aren't already.

[Colin YNWA]

Latest haul is an interesting bunch. Some not as good as I might want them to be.

Step by Bloody Step 4 I've wanted to love this comic. Si Spurrier is great, the idea is good, the art is lovely but to be brutaly honest the storytelling has been lacking to carry the wordless concept. I've give it another go down the line but this one is a noble failure.

Venom 8 surprise though it is to say, well even more surprising than the fact I'm reading a Venom comic 8 issues in is that I don't look forward to the Al Ewing issues and the Ram V ones are much stronger. Here Eddie Brook, displaced in time fights Kang for... well reasons. Ram V will be back soon.

The Rocketeer - Great Race 3 I mean this meant to be edge of the seat, hi-octance fun and frolics but it stretches credulity to breaking point.

Albatross Exploding Funnybooks 1 Eric Powell's new anathology I was expecting to be book of the haul, but, well in grand anthology style its a mixed bag, which given its all Eric Powell is actually pretty surprising. La Diabla is pretty fine, Hillybilly is excellent, Lester of the Lesser Gods just plays to the losest of Powell's tropes and is pretty poor. The Goon has moments when it does the same and moments when its it normal excellent stuff. So yeah a mixed bag. Which if I'm honest is a bit of a let down.

Dogs of London 2 wins title of the most chilling cover of the year. Inside its almost as chilling, but there a book further down the haul that tops it on that front. Alice Ever After 3 continues to do a fine job playing with the Alice concept. Slumber 4 chases through its nightmare landscapes well.

Any of the rest could have been book of the haul.

Time before Time 13 sets up the new arc very, very nicely at the same time providing a decent recap of where we are up to. Very good and very effective.

What's the furtherest place from here? 6 wonderfully throws all its pieces in the air and sets up potential for so much more to come. Never forget, frequent chapter headings aside this remains a double-sized comic for $3.99 still. I have no idea how!

That Texas Blood 14 moves the comics firmly into horror tropes - almost cliche, but does so so effectively as to out chill even Dogs of London. Truly horrible stuff in the best possible sense.

Comic of the haul though. Well its The Lion and the Eagle 4. How does Ennis do it, this time again accompanied by our own PJ Holden. I mean how. He plays with the same heart strings, using very similar instructments, the tools of WW2 combat and yet somehow he gets new tune out each time BUT still has the same emotional hammer blow even though it should all be so familar. Astonishing.