News of the Right

I’ve been away from “That’s My Bag” for a few weeks for two reasons: I was trying to get my review of Justin Hall and Dave Davenport’s Hard to Swallow #3 for Prism Comics (which turned out to be much better as an interview (can I say how much these guys crack me up?)), and for two weeks when I went to ABC there wasn’t anything I couldn’t live without or I would buy one book and not want to talk about it on its own. Finally this week I have five books to review.

Grendel: Behold the Devil #8: Whu..? But she said… And then he… Why did…? Fail. F

1985 #2: The first of my ambivalent reviews. I like it, but the build-up is a bit slow, like the story is being parsed out so it can support six issues instead of four. Of course, it could be that the plot is so awesome that it requires this much groundwork to be laid before said awesomeness can be revealed. Here’s hoping. B

Final Crisis #2: I didn’t hate this issue, but at the same time I didn’t see any reason to love it. I still don’t know how Final Crisis can be going on at the same time as Trinity, but there’s no reference to one in the other. Also, didn’t Turpin meet Darkseid’s new body last issue? So, why is he now being referenced as “the father of Kalibak”? Have the gods of Apokalypse gone viral? I’m intrigued if only because the information presented so far is too sparse to see the Big Picture, but far-ranging enough to know there is a Big (if not Supremely Large) Picture to be seen. But, really, what does a barroom brawl between metas in Tokyo have to do with anything and will it be worth the 8 out of 30 pages spent on it (I’m actually hoping Sonny Sumo will turn out to be Barda and with Mister Miracle being a mysterious black man, well… go, gay gods, go!). B

Madame Xanadu #1: I’ve been hurt by you before, Matt Wagner, and you know what it is you’ve done to me. Yes, I’ve seen you become unnecessarily intent on your choice of cold cuts at the supermarket when you see me pass through produce. It’s your guilt, Matt. You can’t bring yourself to look at me and with good reason. You should feel bad about what you’ve done, and if you lead me astray again with Madame Xanadu, I’ll give up all pretense of us trying to “just be friends.” (a cautious) A

Wonder Woman #21: I know Gail has a plan for this story arc, but I wish she’d clue the rest of us in. Also, I’ve seen Diana’s red talon before; I just can’t remember where. B

Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A+

Final Crisis #1: There will be inevitable comparisons to the first DC crisis (Crisis on Infinite Earths), and Final Crisis may look a bit worse for it. In the first crisis, even though we knew universes were being destroyed and that the cloud would eventually come to the proper DCU, there was enough suspense about the who and the why (to say nothing of the excitement of seeing every DCU character interacting and the shocking deaths along the way) to buoy readers along and advance the plot. Final Crisis plods unnecessarily through the first issue and nothing really happens. I’m sure Grant Morrison has an amazing trick up his sleeve to get everything back to rights, but his leisurely legerdemain had me crying in frustration. And how did John Stewart not recognize Orion? Anyone remember a little thing called Cosmic Odyssey? C-

1985 #1: Millar is all about the intersection of reality and superheroes, as evidenced by Kick Ass, Ultimates and now 1985. Having been a young comics nerd in 1985 myself, there’s a lot of familiarity in these pages, especially in the comic shop with the wall-of-nostalgic-covers, but the story doesn’t compel me to read further. Really, do the centerpiece villains have the be the Vulture and the Mole Man? C

Thor #9: This will, no doubt, be my last issue of Thor. I liked the idea of him reconstituting the Asgardians and making neighbors with the Kansasians, but with this issue, we’re back to Loki (Lokie? Lokishe? Lokette?) trying to fuck around with everyone and divide loyalties and make herself look better than she really is. It’s the old Thor storylines again. This saddens me because the book started off hot, now it’s back to the tepidness that got it canceled in the first place. C

Hellblazer #144: Stories about libraries of “lost” books are like porn to me. Tales of bad popes and a Deity that really does watch what we do and secret theologies are dangerous porn, but more compelling than “cuz the Bible tells me so.” Hellblazer is my new dudetube. A+

House of Mystery #1: I know I enjoyed reading this book, but I’m not as interested in the “plot” as I am in the stories the people in the house tell (or will tell). Call me old-fashioned, but I’d like to see something like the original House of Mystery with several enjoyable, fun and vile stories per issue. B+

Wonder Woman #20: Wonder Woman meets Beowulf and The Stalker. Nice and kitschy with a strong retro spin. So very 2008. A

Grendel: Behold the Devil #7: Oh, Matt. MattMattMattMattMatt. You tricked me again. It’s my fault, really. I was bedazzled by your violent streak and charmed by your body count. The zombies distracted me from the flimsy story and now… the final betrayal: your penultimate issue is a summary of all the old Comico Grendel incarnations: Christine Spar and on. Oh, Matt. That’s why the Good Lord invented Wikipedia. D

The Dresden Files #1 - 2: SciFi couldn’t get it right, and gods love the Dabel Brothers for trying to get it right, but Harry Dresden still doesn’t have a decent half-life outside of his novel element. The story - Welcome to the Jungle - is intriguing, but the characters seem uncharacteristic, and the art is of the Witchblade boobs-and-abs-a-poppin’ style, which the cover art completely belies. B-

Thor #8: Will Thor and/or Don Blake ever know the touch of a woman again? I mean, one that isn’t a slap across the face. Don proves that he’s Thor’s wingman through-and-through by going off in search of Lady Sif, leaving Jane Foster’s feelings as collateral damage. And with Loki sporting boobs now, you know there won’t be any love lost on that front either (as proven in this issue). A-

Grendel: Behold the Devil #6: I’ve always enjoyed Matt Wagner’s forays into the supernatural - Mage (the first series only) and The Demon especially. I keep forgetting that Grendel is also a supernatural story, probably because of the gang wars and intense violence. I think that Matt forgets that sometimes too. Thankfully, he’s back on track with this issue. A

Young Avengers presents Hulkling: Yay, Hulkling! Boo, Captain Marvel being alive by way of some ridiculous time-travel conceit! Given that I have my own father issues and that The Lion King makes me boo hoo every time I watch it, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t even get a little eye moisture reading this story. At least they admitted that Mar-vell was going to go back to his regular time and die like he should. B

Helen Killer #1: I have been waiting (rather impatiently) for this comic book for three months and the pay-off has been worth every minute of the wait. Kreisberg and Rice show us a Helen Keller who is at once a sheltered young woman (literally and metaphorically speaking) on the verge of figuring out who she can be and ready to break a guy’s hand just because she can. I felt actual glee when Helen beat the tar out of some street thugs. It was like seeing Mother Theresa take a smoke break. I cannot emphasize strongly enough how much you need to get this book! Oh, the darkness! A++

And how about this, The Dresden Files #1 sold out! Holy poop! After the disappointing Sci Fi TV series, it’s good to see enthusiasm for James Butcher’s stories hasn’t waned. Sadly, I didn’t get a copy before they were all gone *single tear*

Thor #6: Marco Djurdjevic takes over penciling duties this issue as Thor learns the nature of being the son of a god who was the son of a god: “it’s all the same shit.” Plus, in a fit of quantum jiggling, Don Blake goes in search of Jane Foster. Thor & Sif & Don & Jane. Sounds like a crazy fourway. Threeway. A

Grendel: Behold the Devil #5: I love Matt Wagner’s artwork: clear lines, expressive faces, obvious attitudes, athletic violence. Yum! And while this chapter could have had more story to it, seeing Grendel fight zombies is worth he cover price. B

Grendel: Behold the Devil #4: Oh, Matt! After such a strong start, we’re half-way through the series and there’s no sign of Grendel’s mysterious stalker, just his grousing about it. I find the rest of the story as interesting as I have since issue #1, but the earlier tension is getting tedious. B-

Thor #6: In one fell swoop (heh heh; pun), Thor restores all the Asgardians who have been hiding in mortal bodies since Ragnarok a few years ago. As in all things Marvel, The End of the World isn’t really the end. Ever. The highlight of the issue is the locals’ meeting with the Asgardians, especially the “indoor plumbing” discussion. This is supposed to be the end of the first story arc, but it doesn’t feel like the end. A

Justice League New Frontier Special: Good timing on DC’s part to have a New Frontier Special coincide with the release of the New Frontier DVD. So good one may cynically call it “milking the cash cow”. Nevertheless, the stories therein are enjoyable and give some interesting insights into the political side of the early JLA. A

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Eight #12: Has anyone NOT heard about lesbian Buffy, yet? Too late. Now you have. Ironic hillarity follows after Buffy says she wants to keep things on the DL for now. Butt monkey!! A

Wonder Woman #16: I need to go back and re-read the issue that explained where this story takes place and how Diana can access Paradise Island again (if indeed the story takes place on Paradise Island at all), but just knowing how well Gail Simone has been handling the Amazon Princess so far, I’m sure this misunderstanding is completely my fault. Simone even managed to touch me in a deep deep place this issue - one of Captain Nazi’s soldier’s told an underling to burn the library on Themiscyra!!! The evil!!! A+

Astonishing X-Men #24: I will miss this storyline and this team (the X-men and the mundane creative one), but it seems that with the “death” of the X-Men at the end of The Messiah Complex that everyone is going to be re-arranged. Again. At least we get one more issue out of the whole thing - “Giant Sized Astonishing X-Men #1″ - but not until April. The art is stunning, as usual. My favorite panel is the X-Men fighting on the surface of the retaliator, space Breakworld and beyond laid out before them in stunning perspective. A+

Grendel: Behold the Devil #3: Thank God(s/dess) that Argent wasn’t the presence haunting Grendel (in both identities, we find out this issue), because Argent is so… unsubtle (as we also find out this issue, if we didn’t know before). Still, Wagner isn’t dropping any hints (I think) and that’s getting a bit annoying; however, the action sequences and the last line of the issue more than make up for that. A

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 #10: Was Andy Owens just going out of his way to be bewildering in this issue for kicks or is this part of a plan? The story overall was great (and sad a bit - not only about the lies revealed but also learning the purpose of The Twilight), but some of the dialogue defied comprehension. Things didn’t seem so bad before, nothing the gang couldn’t handle, right? But now, everyone looks pretty tainted. A-

The Twelve #0 - 1: JMS digs deep into Marvel’s vaults to find his team in this 12 issue mystery mini-series. Issue 0 is a hoot and a half, seeing all the old-time drawings and plot devices. And, man, are they violent! I was stunned by the amount of death (then again the number of times “kill” and “death” are said in The Superfriends stuns me, too) in them. An interesting read. B+

Rex Mundi: The Guardian of the Temple: Why has no one ever told me about this incredible book before?? A

My last reviews of the 2007! I actually got my stash this week from Comic Town in Columbus, OH. My brother and I took a day trip down so I could scope out the city in anticipation of moving there. And what’s visiting a new town without stopping in at the local geek hutch? A trip I don’t want to take, and I’ll tell you that for free. This week was a mixed bag of the great, the good and the “I paid how much for this?”.

Wonder Woman #15: Gail Simone continues her making the Amazon Princess great by deepening the Amazonian culture, history (herstory?) and philosophy (”Punishment for the adult; empathy for the child.”). Simone writes WW like she’s been doing it for ages. Just one question: if WW can’t penetrate the barrier around Paradise Island, how did Captain Nazi?  A

Wrath of the Titans #1: Interesting follow up to Clash of the Titans, but I was uncertain as to why all the gods had to look different from the movie. And why no one really addresses Danae’s blindness. B

Blue Beetle #21: Brian Andersen sent me an email about this issue saying “This will be us one day!!” Written by an unknown, Justin Peniston, this is a good stand-alone story that gives hope to us indy comic nerds that we can break into the Big Time one day. A

Thor #5: A break in the search-and-transform pattern of the past few issues that sets up future plot lines (maybe a few too many). The cover is… misleading, but I like how it ends up. A

Angel: After the Fall #1: I loved Season Five of Angel - the writing was smart, the drama high and the character development was unreal in its placing. With Season Eight of Buffy kicking ass all over the world, I figured that the comic book “next season” of Angel would fare as well. Yeah, not so much. C+

Angel: After the Fall #2: I got issues 1 and 2 at the same time, not knowing what they would be like, but anticipating the best. Maybe because Angel was such a strong ensemble show and the native situational humor and drama between the characters worked so well, that splitting them apart here … splits them apart. and why, oh why, is Illyria with Spike? C

Grendel: Behold the Devil #2: I’m hoping that the last page does not reveal who has been stalking the Devil. I never would have attributed that kind of… grace and agility to him. Still, the blood flows, and the story moves on. B+


HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL!!!!!

Grendel: Behold the Devil #0: I love Matt Wagner’s work; I have ever since his early work on Grendel and Mage. I truly believe he’s one of the most under-appreciated and underused creators in the comics world (next to Art Adams). So, when I heard that he was returning to his original devil, Hunter Rose, I couldn’t wait to see if the same old (black) magic would be there. It was. Matt Wagner tell an elegant and violent story in 6 pages without leaving the reader in a lurch. A+

Grendel: Behold the Devil #1: Why do I cheer for the devil? Grendel is an evil figure, a monster who enjoys the bloodshed, yet here I am excited to be reading about him again. I doubt I would buy sad clown painting by Gacy or the serial killer collectable cards that were so popular in the early 90’s, so what is it about Hunter Rose I like so much? This is a must have series! A+

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #9: Faith is one of the most complex characters in the Buffyverse. She has fought for evil, dodged her burdens by attempting suicide, been redeemed… or so we think. How close is Faith to becoming the next Dark Slayer? Does she love and/or hate Buffy that much? A+

Sadly, though, there was no Gutsville #3 this week. Me are sadness.