Harry here... Once again, I'm working on "The Show" and haven't much time.... but here's Gray Haven...
This Week’s Comics
-by Andrew Goletz
Every month, Diamond Distributors publishes ‘Previews’, which is a magazine sized booklet in which retailers and customers can order their merchandise 3 months in advance. Previews covers comic books and trade paperbacks, as well as toys, games, books and t-shirts, along with descriptions and prices of each. This allows fans to rest easy knowing that they will receive copies of their favorite comics, toys or whatever.
The latest issue of Previews (with the ‘Alias’ solicitation) hits stores this Wednesday. Along with previews, other notable comics coming out on Wednesday include:
GrayHavenMagazine.COm had some sneak peaks at some of the titles coming out this week so let’s get to those first and then tackle the rest of the notable books coming to a store this week:
Daredevil: Ninja. Trade Paperback. $8.95. Written by Brian Michael Bendis and Illustrated by Rob Haynes. Published by Marvel Comics.
-reviewed by Andrew Goletz and Jack Blake
Andrew: The three-issue mini-series is collected in one, easy to read volume. When this mini-series was announced about a year ago, Bendis mentioned that he wanted the story to have the look and feel of an old Kung-Fu movie The story is pretty straight forward: Someone steals the staff of Daredevil’s late mentor, Stick. It worthless item to anyone else, but Daredevil isn’t going to take this sitting back.
Jack: Straight forward story is right. Staff gets stolen, 3 issues worth of fight scenes. The thing is, that this time it works. Fans of Bendis’ know he can write these dialogue heavy stories that give Kevin Smith a run for his money, but in Nina, he just cuts loose with action moving at a breakneck pace.
Andrew: That’s right, but I will add that there are moments of wonderful characterization here and nods to other popular Daredevil runs throughout the action packed story. And artist Rob Haynes has a style that you won’t find anywhere else. One of the real treats of the book is that it’s amazing just to look at.
Jack: I still think this is a throwaway plot for the sake of some cool fight scenes. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you want to see Bendis at his best on the character, go read the current storyline going on in the main books. I agree with you about Rob Haynes, though. His illustrations are gorgeous. There’s an almost animated quality to them that works very well with this type of story.
Andrew: I’m surprised that we haven’t seen more from Haynes. His style is very unique and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before imitators start popping up. The series works very well as a trade because of the art and pacing of the story. That Kung Fu cinematic quality of the story works a lot better when you don’t have to wait a month between chapters.
Jack: This is true. I read the original mini-series, as well as the trade paperback and I actually enjoyed the trade a lot more for those reasons. Ninja is exactly the type of comic that deserves the trade paperback format because this format enhances the quality of the story.
Andrew: And you don’t have to be a Daredevil fan or longtime reader to enjoy this story. Bendis does a good job of giving enough information to carry you through the story and follow along without going into long, drawn out exposition. You can enjoy the story for what it is, a pretty damn cool ninja action story.
Andrew’s Grade: B+ Jack’s Grade: B
Gunwitch: Outskirts of Doom #1 (of 3). Written by Dan Brereton and illustrated by Ted Naifeh. Published by Oni Press.
-reviewed by Andrew Goletz and Drew Haverstock
Andrew: Nocturnals creator Dan Brereton revisits his Gunwitch character in this new 3-issue mini-series. It’s easily accessible to readers who’ve never read Nocturnals or other Gunwich stories and a fine continuation for those who have.
Drew: Due to my limited budget, I haven’t been able to get on the Oni Press bandwagon, but I have heard lots of good things about them and their line. My first experience was a good one, though and Gunwitch lives up to what I’ve heard people expect, story-wise from Oni.
Andrew: Even though Oni has published other Gunwitch stories, this is still far from their usual fare and there’s nothing wrong with that. The issue opens strongly, cluing readers in on how the story is going to be set up.
Drew: Two factions of vampires, pitted against one another in a town that’s seen better days. And then, in comes the Eastwood-like Gunwitch, with hollow eyes and lips sewn shut, led about by a young and mysterious girl. A hired gun for one gang? A neutral party here to play one off the other? And who is the mystery woman to be resurrected?
Andrew: I particularly liked the interaction that we saw between Gunwitch and the girl. Brereton doesn’t give the reader what they might expect from these ‘horror’ characters and I liked the interesting characterization given to everyone portrayed in these pages.
Drew: As a fan of the classic western genre, this could this be the first real good nocturnal western. A couple of lines fall short, and some scenes come off a bit stilted, but it’s an otherwise interesting start to say the least. One of the things that hurts a comic, though, is when the characters look stiff: lacking rhythm in their movement. Here, Naifeh nails certain shots, with great use of perspective and effective layouts but some others look like mannequins were posed, photographed, and copied over for the panel in question.
Andrew: I enjoyed the art more than you did, for sure. Although I will always prefer Brereton illustrating his own work, I think that Naifeh does an admirable job of illustrating the story in a style befitting the characters. He does a particularly good job in his rendering of Gunwitch. So come on, Drew. Give the art a break.
Drew: Well I did enjoy the fact that he realized people have more than one hairstyle. Not all artists do that. And the outfits worn by all characters (including the non-integral bystanders) do a nice job of setting the tone for the series. This is the first time I’ve seen Naifeh’s work, but he seems to have created an interesting hybrid between Tim Truman and Charlie Adlard, which certainly isn’t bad.
Andrew: There you go.
Drew: My first Oni experience was a pleasant one. If you’re a fan of the Clint Eastwood man-with-no-name westerns, or like solid creepy vampire tales, this book could definitely be up your alley.
Andrew: I think the team is off to a great start with this one. With a Nocturals mini-series starting next month and this Gunwitch mini-now, fans will be in for a treat with 6 months worth of Brereton’s unique and entertaining stories.
Andrew’s Grade: B+
Drew’s Grade: B
And now for the rest of the best…
Batman #592: This is the second part of the storyline featuring the popular villain, Deadshot. Brubaker and McDaniel are doing great things with this book and Deadshot is one of the more interesting members of Batman’s rogues gallery. Issue 591 should still be available, as well.
Flash #175: The new creative team of Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins/Doug Hazlewood have made this one of the best superhero titles on the stands. This is the 2nd part of the newest storyline and issue 174 should still be available.
Green Arrow #5: Okay Kevin Smith fans. Smith and Phil Hester are putting things into high gear, with Green Arrow coming face to face with the JLA in the previous issue. Now Batman wants answers and whatever Batman wants….
JSA #25: The return of Hawkman. You’ll have a hard time finding the first 2 issues of this 3 part storyline, but don’t let that stand in your way of picking up one of the most eagerly anticipated events in comics. Hawkman is back and the team of Geoff Johns and Rags Morales/Michael Bair will tell show you how.
Area 52 #4: One of the most under-rated books in comics is Area 52. A mixture of Indiana Jones and The X-Files, this series continues to impress. Great art and great writing make this one of the best comic books on the market. Buy it before it disappears.
Tomb Raider #14. Like the movie or the game? Check out the comic version by Dan Jurgens, Francis Manapul and Jonathan Sibal.
Daredevil #19: This issue concludes Brian Michael Bendis’ 4-issue guest run on Daredevil, before he takes over as permanent writer in the Fall. With painted interiors by David Mack and focusing more on the lives of those around the ‘Man without Fear’, this book is red hot and for good reason. If you’re lucky, you may be able to pick up the first 3 chapters of this storyline while you’re at the store.
Ghost Rider #1: Johnny Blaze is back as Ghost Rider in the new mini-series from Devin Grayson, Trent Kaniuga and Danny Miki. Soon to be a major motion picture, this first issue is a great jumping on point for new readers and should appeal to fans of all the various Ghost Rider incarnations.
Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #5: Brian Michael Bendis (he’s everywhere!!!) and guest artist Mike Allred conclude the ‘Ultimate’ appearance of Iron Man. UTU is the perfect jumping on point for newer readers who are tired of wading through endless continuity of the regular comics.
Ultimate X-Men #7: A new storyline begins by the team of Mark Millar, Andy Kubert and Art Thibert. What is the Weapon X program and who is the mysterious Wolverine who recently joined the X-Men? The quest for answers begins here.
X-Force #117: By Peter Milligan and Mike Allred. Marvel is publishing one of the best alternative comics in the industry. The first issue with this new creative team disappeared from the racks so don’t let miss out on your second chance to read one of the most interestingly unique titles in comics.
Futurama #4: Sometimes this comic is even funnier than the television show of the same name. This title can always be counted on to deliver at least a few laughs per issue.
Simpsons Comics #59: Like Futurama, this is surprisingly funny compliment to the television series of the same name. Fans of the show won’t want to be without this great title.
For other opinions on up and coming comics, be sure to check out writer Warren Ellis’ www.orderingcomics.com and Preview Prognostications at www.comicbookgalaxy.com.
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Call the Comic Shop Locator Service: 888-266-4226
ALIAS: THE EXCLUSIVE REVIEWS and PREVIEW
-by the staff of GrayHavenMagazine.Com
On September 5th, Marvel Comics will debut the first issue of the first comic from their new ‘Mature Readers’ line. The title is ‘Alias’. The creative team is made up of the hottest writer in comics, Brian Michael Bendis and the industry’s next big star, artist Michael Gaydos. Together, they’ve put together one of the finest comic efforts of the year. I’m warning you. If you miss this one and you’ll be kicking yourselves.
Two of our GHM reviewers have joined me in reviewing the first issue of this incredible series. Three different perspectives all with the same conclusion: this book is a can’t miss. So check out the reviews and be sure to pre-order your comics (all of them, not just this one) now. I’m telling you. If you miss this one and you’ll be kicking yourselves
Alias #1 Review
-by Andrew Goletz
The series stars Jessica Jones, a former super-hero who now runs her own PI firm, Alias Investigations, which deals in the pretty ordinary world of missing people and cheating spouses. The backdrop, though, is against a world where there are superheroes and the ramifications of living in that world can be a fascinating aspect of this series. As you can tell from the preview here, the guy who hired Jessica seems more disturbed that his wife could be a mutant than the fact she could have been cheating on him. Little details like this provide limitless opportunities for future stories.
Jessica’s life as a superhero before she became an investigator is a life that we only get small, tantalizing glimpses of: a photo here or a comment there. We don’t know how she got from hanging out with the ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ to working in a little PI shop, but the bits and pieces that the reader does discover make for wonderful clues. Jessica is a very complex character. She smokes too much. She drinks too much. She talks too much. Her life is one of excess, good or bad. She maintains a tough exterior, but she has her flaws and she’s well aware of them, which make for a more interesting character.
The dialogue in this book is as sharp as you’d expect from Bendis and he’s at the top of his game here. Fans who’ve recently come to know his work from Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Team Up and Daredevil may be surprised to find out how hard edged he can be. To the people who followed him during his acclaimed runs on Torso, Jinx, Sam and Twitch, and now Powers, ‘Alias’ is going to be a welcomed homecoming for them. Bendis is on his home turf with this one. Three time losers, smart-ass cops, and protagonists that are even bigger smart asses are his domain. He also has an uncanny ability to write a strong, intelligent female lead (Jinx, Deena Pilgrim in Powers and now Jessica Jones) without having it come off as clichéd or unrealistic. New comic readers will be in for a treat, and perhaps get spoiled when they read the way Bendis outlines his book. People interrupt each other, have their sentences ignored and do all the things that you’d expect from an actual conversation, not from reading a comic book. As always, he does it masterfully.
Gaydos’ art is amazing to look at. You’d think that since the copy we read was in black and white, some magic might have been lost in the transition, but it simply isn’t the case. The raw emotion he puts into the characters’ faces is incredible and the use of shadow and light as focal points in which to direct reader attention works very, very well. His art actually reminds me of Bendis’ earlier artistic efforts on Jinx and Torso what with his attention to detail and the contrasts in light/dark. I am not sure what Gaydos has worked on before, but when all is said and done I think that everyone is going to know who he is.
A lot of talk has been made, by people who haven’t even read the book, regarding the strong language and sexual content in the book. They feel that Marvel is being gratuitous for the sake of sales. This is a perfect example of how people who judge something before reading/watching/listening to it miss the mark. The language is harsh, yes. But in the context of the story, I hardly even notice the ‘fuck’s and the ‘shit’s. It just reads like these types of people would talk in those situations. And the sex scene. This is going to take two reads to grasp. At first glance, you may think that Jessica is being used, or that she is a weak person for doing what she does. What it’s really about is her character being so in control of herself at this one moment that she makes these things happen. That her sexual partner, Luke Cage, happens to go by the code name, Power Man, makes the moment even more ironic. Cage may have gotten what he wanted out of Jessica during their encounter, but Jessica got what she ‘needed’ and controlled the entire thing. There is no exploitation in the sex scene and the scene itself is done more tastefully (in terms of the art) than you might imagine.
I won’t talk about the ending. Even with a ton of spoiler warnings it would be a disservice to ruin the surprise, and yes, it is a surprise ending. Forget the death of a major Marvel character slated for September, or even the shocking events due to hit the Spider-Man titles. ‘Alias’ is the September book that will leave you speechless when you finish it and have you discussing it long after you’re done. It’s an ending that will leave fans scurrying off to message boards to gab what they’ve just read moments after finishing the book. It’s an ending that will leave people talking for weeks; at least until the next issue comes out and gives them something else to talk about.
I’m not one to speculate about the worth of a book. I think that the speculator market of the 1990s was possibly the worst thing that ever happened to the industry. But with Marvel’s no reprint policy and the sellouts reported from retail stores with Amazing Spider-Man, and the Ultimate and X-Men titles, this is a comic you need to pre-order. Just use the comic locator phone number below to find the comic store nearest you.
This will be the first book not to feature a Marvel logo anywhere on its cover and due to the content it will carry a ‘Parental Warning’ as well. It won’t look like or be marketed like an all-ages Marvel comic because it isn’t. The issue will begin to be solicited as of Wednesday and you’ll have a couple of weeks to get your order in. Don’t wait for it to be selling on Ebay for 20 or 30 bucks a month after it comes out (and sells out). Reserve your copy now and change the way you think about Marvel Comics.
Highly Recommended
Grade: A+
Alias #1 Review
-by Barry Wolborsky
From the first word in the first panel of the first page of Alias, it’s made very clear that this is most definitely a comic book for mature readers. Which is exactly the point, as Alias is Marvel’s first venture in their new "Mature Readers" imprint. So I’ll tell you right off the bat that if you’re offended by cursing, especially the repeated use of the "F" word, this comic is most definitely not for you and you can stop reading this review right here. However, if you don’t mind the repeated use of curse words and are a fan of adult-oriented superhero comics and crime-fiction, then read on.
Written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Michael Gaydos, Alias features Jessica Jones, a Private Investigator who runs Alias Investigations. She specializes in the standard P.I. work, such as cheating spouses and missing persons, among other sordid affairs. But here’s the rub: Jessica was also once a superhero who was close with other well-known heroes like the Avengers. The key word here is "was". Now Jessica is on her own as a self-destructive, super powered P.I. who drinks and smokes far more than she probably should.
For those of you who, like myself, are big fans of Bendis’ crime-fiction work, especially Jinx, Goldfish, Torso and Sam & Twitch, Alias will feel very familiar. Not just because Alias has it’s roots in crime fiction, but because it features a very strong depiction of a lead character who, though flawed, is an individual with the best of intentions. Despite those flaws, you will instantly like Jessica, who deals with her pain in various ways. One of those ways is the much talked-about sex scene between Jessica and Luke Cage, otherwise known as Power Man, Hero for Hire. While it’s very clear what is going on between Jessica and Cage, the scene itself is handled very tastefully and is not exploitative or gratuitous in any way. Just the opposite in fact, as it most definitely serves a purpose, giving the reader insight into Jessica’s motivations and inner turmoil.
Alias also gives the readers a glimpse into the occasionally seedy world of Private Investigation via the types of situations Jessica has to deal with. Whether Jessica is (literally) handling irate clients, dealing with obnoxious cops, doing research on a missing persons case or surveillance work, it’s clear Bendis has done his homework and is working in familiar territory.
As for the art, this was my first exposure to the work of Michael Gaydos and I have to say that his style complements Bendis’ writing style perfectly. Gaydos’ line work, which is in black and white in the preview copy that I read, has a very film-noir type feel to it. I think it’ll be interesting to see if the overall tone of the book changes when it’s finally published in color and if so, to what degree.
Gaydos makes excellent use of shadows and repeating panels, the latter of which is a hallmark of Bendis’ work that is used to great effect in one particular scene involving an interview with a potential client. The image of Jessica smoking a cigarette and listening intently never changes, while at the same time the "camera" moves in ever closer on the woman who is speaking. This "cinematic" approach gives the scene a sense of movement when there is in fact little to none involved; it’s just one person talking and the other listening. In a medium that relies too often on constant action, this technique moves the scene along at a much quicker pace than one would expect with what are essentially two talking heads.
If you are new to Brian Michael Bendis’ style of comic book writing, you may find yourself a little confused by the many dialogue balloons used in the back and forth banter between the characters. However, the layout is clean enough that it shouldn’t be a problem, even for the novice comic book reader.
As a long time comic book fan, I’ve found that many of the current mainstream superhero comics no longer interest me, with a few exceptions. Which is fine, as I don’t consider myself to be the intended audience for books like Ultimate X-Men or Green Lantern. However, I am most definitely the intended audience for Alias and I can say that without a doubt that this comic held my interest from the first page to the last and will hopefully do so for many issues to come. Whether you’re a comic book fan looking for a mature take on superheroes, or a reader of crime-fiction who has never read a comic book before, Alias should please on both counts.
Highly recommended.
Grade: A+
Alias #1 Review
-by Drew Haverstock
Film noir. Hard-boiled crime stories. Private Investigators. I’ve read the good stuff from Miller, Grist, Azzarello, etc. etc. etc. How many times can we see a "hard nosed cop/do-gooder/whatever" quit working for the law so they can work outside the system? How many times can we have a PI get double-crossed by the person that hires them? I could keep going, but everyone knows the formula. What makes Alias great, is BMB’s ability to take that formula, twist it to the left, and stick it smack dab in the middle of the Marvel Universe.
Characters you would least expect are woven into this first storyline, dragging the brightly-lit world of the MU into the dank hole of Alias Investigations and I’ll say it first:
Sweet Christmas! I’ll never look at Luke Cage the same again.
If Bendis takes the promise that this issue holds and makes good on it, we’re looking at the breakout book of the year. Don’t try and make comparisons to Powers, AKA Goldfish, or anything else Bendis has done. You’ll do yourself a great disservice. Just grab your favorite cup of whatever, lie down on the bed, crack open the book and prepare to be pissed off that issue #2 doesn’t see the light of day for another MONTH.
John Byrne has said that the artwork end of comics is more difficult than the writing. And here, to top what Bendis produced, Michael Gaydos would have to re-invent the Sistine Chapel. (OK, maybe I'm going a bit overboard, but the story was damn good.) He does a great job setting the mood, and works hard at capturing the dirt under character’s fingernails. His page layouts are set around key items, and usually serves the story well by not getting caught up in ‘money shots’ and simply telling the story for what it is.
Mood only goes so far though, and I have to say that his use of statting drove me nuts on occasion. I don’t think he’s attempting to be lazy, getting away with less work for the same pay, but he should do more minor tweaking to the facial expressions, arm positions, etc. to keep the reader’s eyes on more than just BMB’s exposition. Joe Quesada did this regularly during his run with a writer who was big on exposition in Daredevil, and it worked out quite well. Just one raised eyebrow and a curled lip conveys an entirely different feeling, and could do wonders for the overall end product. Overall, Gaydos does a solid job, but not stellar.
In short, I can’t get over how well this story worked. On every level, without giving spoilers, people will find something to like. Even with the issues I had with the artwork, I don’t think I recommend a book much higher. And that says something. Something great. Go buy this book as soon as it hits the shelves. You'll be kicking yourself if you don't.
Highly Recommended
Final Grade: A+
So there you have it. 3 very impressed reviewers. Take a look at the opening 4 pages, think about what we had to say and pre-order this book now. If ever there was an easy pick for a smash hit, ‘Alias’ would be it.
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Call the Comic Shop Locator Service: 888-266-4226
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