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[Outlier]

Outlier, which I enjoyed on re-reading in the floppies. The Order is beautiful but incomprehensible (to me at least).

Is this event good? I remember speaking to some of the BHP people at an Edinburgh Comic Art fest a few years ago and they seemed like a decent bunch. I'm tempted to head down if I'm around in June.

You know what you are not far wrong there. I'm a big fan of it all - and disappointed with myself that I didn't use that as part of my intro - but there's not denying the post Swordfishtrombones works are his best and Raindogs is arguably the best of those, Alice, Mule Variations and Blood Money are all up there though.

How could I have forgotten Swordfishtrombones!

Much as I love Mule Variations, Frank's Wild Years, Heartattack & Vine and even early stuff like Closing Time, Rain Dogs will always be his defining album, for me.

Thanks! I missed that (unless its just been added).

[Apache Delivery Service]

Apache Delivery Service #2 (Kindt, Jenkins, Jenkins). After the atmospheric opening issue, this issue does the grunt work of explaining the premise and introducing the antagonist, which is where it takes a turn towards the supernatural. The artwork is the highlight here. You can practically smell the jungle.

Batman/Catwoman Special (King, Leon, Chang, Crystal, Gerads, Stewart, Cowles). The lengthy credits list is because this unfinished Tom King and John Paul Leon story has become a tribute to Leon, who died last year. Leon was a fantastic artist, who made me think of Mazzuchelli's draftsmanship (and I can't think of a higher complement). The other artists finished the story and there are a couple of essays by Michael Davis and Kurt Busiek. The story itself is slight, running parallel to the current Batman/Catwoman series.

For anyone who hasn't read it, this review of Shako by American comics critic Tegan O'Neil is an interesting perspective:
https://shelfdust.com/2021/06/08/shako-in-america/

Thanks. I can't remember that one at all, so I'll refrain from voting (much as I love the original series).

Which Bogie Man was in the Meg? Did they reprint the original 1991 version?

Brilliant! Those books will be going on the wishlist!

[Sword Of Hyperborea]

Two stories indirectly or directly inspired by Robert E. Howard this week:
Sword Of Hyperborea #3 (Mignola, Williams, Campbell, Robins, Winter, Stewart). The sword, lost in the English Channel last issue, is recovered by a diver hired by a cult. This doesn't quite have the atmosphere of #2 and the need to tell the diver's tale in a single issue means that it feels very rushed. Still enjoying this, though.

The Cimmerian: Hour of the Dragon #1 (Blondel, Sécher, Sienty). The titular Cimmerian is, of course, Conan in this adaptation of Howard's novel. I imagine Disney/Marvel's legal team put the kibosh on referring to him as such on the cover, even though the book must be out of copyright? Anyway, what we have here is a lavishly illustrated and well written adaptation of a tale of King Conan, up against a a dark wizard (of course) raised from the dead by his enemies. This is great. It really feels the the real thing, compared to some of the flimsier Dark Horse and Marvel tales (though some of those are also wonderful). I'm eagerly looking forward to #2 and I might have a hunt to see if they've done any other adaptations.

Moving away from Howard's influence:
The Silver Coin #10 (Walsh). Michael Walsh wrote and illustrated this issue of his horror anthology, drawing on the rich well of teen slasher films for his influence. I hope this series gets a nice collection, because I can see myself going back to it again and again.

[The Thing 5]

The Thing 5 this series started so well and now it feels like its just trying to throw more and more at things and hope some of it works. Like if they pile so much in it will feel intriguing and complex, instead of confused and cluttered. On this read it the latter BUT the opening and the art... and hits of what might be underneath mean I'm actually looking forward to re-reading this and seeing what actually is there when its done.

That series was so confusing. You might be right that it'll work on a re-read (in a single sitting maybe).

[The Human Target 5]

The Human Target 5 - seems odd to say this was a little oblique, Tom King does that really well, indulging in his nods that you'll eventually see as knowing. I was a little tired when I read this and it came across as a bit obtuse. A re-read I suspect will sort that out. Beautiful comic still!

This has to be the most beautiful comic being published at the moment. Every issue is a delight.

I agree that The Punisher sort of works alongside Daredevil or Spider-Man, as their strong moral core makes the point of how twisted Castle is. Where he goes off on solo stories, he basically becomes a right-wing military/power fantasy with a little hand-wavy "gosh he's bad" from the writer. Ennis fell into this trap, I think.

[Punisher]

Punisher # 1 (Aaron, Azaceta, Saiz, Stewart, Petit). A very brief recap of Frank Castle's origin story, with a double page of his greatest hits (including the prog's own Steve Dillon), and then we're into the explanation behind his snazzy new logo and baffling appearance in the Devil's Reign storyline. Now, I have to say that I find The Punisher a difficult character to enjoy. I liked the Ennis stuff best, but I find it derivative and it still retains many of the problems with tone that plague the character. This, on the other hand, is all over the place. Maybe Jason Aaron is trying to avoid the problems of previous series? But, in the process, he has added supernatural elements and basically eliminated Castle's character (such as it is). I have a morbid fascination to see where this goes from here, which might be the only thing that makes me pick up #2.