My Top 12 Comics for July 2016

My mind was engaged with more than comics this month, so no preamble, let’s just get to the list...

Collected Edition of the Month

Sheriff of Babylon Vol. 1: Bang. Bang. Bang by Tom King and Mitch Gerads

12. Green Arrow #2 & 3 (DC)
Written by Benjamin Percy
Art and Colors by Otto Schmidt and Juan E. Ferreyra
I can forgive the clunky dialogue, when I get characters and stories as interesting and intense as they have been in this series. Ollie losing everything isn’t new, but it’s well told. I like the heist film atmosphere of the 3rd issue, as well as the Bond like villains with their fortress on the sea. Canary has been a great addition.

11. House of Penance #4 (Dark Horse)
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Ian Burtram * Colors by Dave Stewart
This descent into madness is becoming even more nightmarish and gruesome. And the anti-gun message comes more into focus.

10. Harrow County #14 (Dark Horse)
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art and Colors by Tyler Crook
When Cullen Bunn closes a door (the 6th Gun), he opens a Harrowing window. I’m glad I still have one supernatural Bunn series to enjoy. In this ish Emmy meets the family, and they are a ghastly lot.

9. Velvet #15 (Image)
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Steve Epting * Colors by Elizabeth Breitwesier
This isn’t an explosive finish, more in line with Hercule Poirot explaining the details of a case. But the dialogue is strong, and the art beautiful. I agree with Ed: Steve and Elizabeth’s work on this series was career defining

8. Spider-Woman #9 (Marvel)
Written by Dennis Hopeless
Art and Colors by Javier Rodriguez 
Hopeless serves up a Civil War tie-in that doesn’t disrupt the series, and actually fits right in with the mission. I like the humor, the humanity, and the wild action of this title. All seen here as Jessica’s crew unravel a mystery, fight off an army of Wendigo’s and contended with Captain Marvel’s  annoying persistence. 

7. American Monster #4 (Aftershock)
Written by Brian Azzarello
Art and Colors by Juan Doe
What an exceptional but appalling portrait of America Azz has painted here: It’s like this small rural town is the dumping ground for all of life’s losers and haters and bullies. You’ve got aimless kids with no future, and broken, used up adults haunted by their pasts. Doe’s storytelling on the art is equally as impressive, with movement and details you need to soak in rather than gloss over.

6. Batgirl #1 (DC)
Written by Hope Larson
Art by Rafael Albuquerque * Colors by Dave McCaig
It's a rather quiet and reflective tale for the most part. It speaks to the past as Babs coincidentally bumps into a childhood pal (or was it planned?) which ties into the action sequence at the end… where Batgirl meets someone she admires (another Bat from the past) who offers her some words of wisdom. 

Positives? I like seeing Barbara abroad. Artist Rafael Albuquerque stages some nice action sequences to go with his usually stellar character work.  And I like that writer Hope Larson uses thought bubbles - seeing them took me back and put a smile on my face.

5. Tomboy #6 (Action Lab)
Written by Mia Goodwin
Art and Colors by Michelle Wong
I picked this series up after hearing good things about it. And it is a decent, if unwieldy mash-up of several genres: mystery, conspiracy, supernatural, psychological horror, teen assassin. It's truly all over the place. But this explosive issue is tight as a drum. Scary, intense, violent and at the end, a heart breaker

4. The Vision #9 (Marvel) 
Written by Tom King
Art by Gabriel Hernandez Walta * Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Addresses predestination vs. free will, and asks, “Can you break your programming, can you challenge fate? Or are your best efforts to stay destiny’s hand, the very thing that sets into motion what you tried to prevent?” What caused the Vision to go mad? You get your answer here, and it’s heartbreaking.

3. Lazarus #22 (Image)
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Michael Lark * Colors by Santi Arcas
The verbal exchanges between family members are just as scintillating as the exchange of blows in that thrilling fight between Lazarus’.  

2. The Unbelievable Gwenpool #4 (Marvel) 
Written by Christopher Hastings
Art and Colors by Gurihiru 
Gwenpool might have started off as a gimmick, born from a month of Spider-Gwen variants - but kudos to Christopher Hastings for transcending the gimmick and giving Gwen personality and vibrancy. This is my favorite superhero book of the right now, and this issue made me giddy - as Gwen finally has her revenge against MODOK… And oh what a glorious throw down it is. Not just physically (though that’s awesome sauce), but also in the way she mocks his intellect, and bruises his ego (you go girl!) And as a bonus there’s the return of someone I’ve missed as much as Gwen has.

1. Revival #41 (Image)
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Mike Norton * Colors by Mark Englert
All hell breaks loose this issue, and damn - just… damn! No other words suffice. 

Honorable Mentions: Future Quest #2, The Wicked + The Divine #21, Black Widow #5, Spider-Gwen #10, Miss Fury #4

Writer of the Month: 

Tim Seeley (Revival)

Artist of the Month: 

Otto Schmidt (Green Arrow #2)

and there was some exceptional art found throughout the top 10 and beyond.

To Aug 2016

Back to Jun 2016

My Top 11 Comics for June 2016

Despite not reading Civil War II and being less than thrilled with Rebirth, June was packed with great comics. Though sadly, it signaled the end of two of my favorite series - The Sixth Gun and Amelia Cole

Lemire’s miniseries Plutona also came to a close, as did the 2nd arc for Pretty Deadly (with the promise of a 3rd)

11. Amelia Cole #29-30 (Monkeybrain)
Written by D.J. Kirkbride & Adam P. Knave
Art and Colors by Nick Brokenshire
#29 sees the final battle end with victory and tears. The 30th and last issue is a quiet look at what has become of the cast months after. Amelia might not have been a sales giant, but her humor, perseverance, startling green eyes, and use of a wrench for a wand, made her magic - in more ways than one.

10. Black Widow #4 (Marvel)
Written by Mark Waid & Chris Samnee
Art by Chris Samnee * Colors by Matthew Wilson
The series gets back on track this month. While it still leans on Samnee’s impeccable skill as storyteller (see all those wordless panels), there’s more heft to the tale, and it sets up the potential for even meatier stories from here on out.

9. Injection #10 (Image)
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Delcan Shalvey * Colors by Jordie Bellaire
The case is tied up smartly, the injection is getting stronger and scarier… and do we really have to wait until the end of the year to see what comes next? I will be counting the hours.

8. House of Penance #3 (Dark Horse)
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Ian Burtram * Colors by Dave Stewart 
The art work was phenomenal, unusual, unique and unsettling, just like the story - which delves deeper into Sarah's motivations, and takes a gander at the demons that haunt Warren Peck. Along with the horror, a little tenderness is seeping into the tale.

7. The Wicked + The Divine #20 (Image)
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Jamie McKelvie * Colors by Matthew Wilson
Just when you think you know what’s what… you find out that you didn’t know jack. This issue has amped up my interest (and here I thought my interest was amped enough already

6. Revival #40 (Image)
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Mike Norton * Colors by Mark Englert
The interaction between the sisters was a joy; General Cale continues to be a back stabbing jerk, but Rhodey and the spirits of the dead look to settle that score. Oh man what a nail bitter, very dark, grisly (the bone shiv - ’shudder’)…. Next issue, now, please.

5. The Unbelievable Gwenpool #3 (Marvel)
Written by Christopher Hastings
Art and Colors by Gurihiru 
I ADORE this comic, what with its lesson on ‘French frogs’, and M.O.D.O.K. talking to his pen (which pleases him to no end), and the ‘pink harmonic’…. all of it is a treat. The bits with Batroc were funny and includes a cutting observation on superhero comics (heroes struggle for nothing, they change nothing, their conflicts go on and on and on). And an appearance by a surprise guest was even better, as it employs humor, but also reveals a thread of sadness in Gwen’s life. I appreciate how Hasting’s is fleshing out story and character to make this more than a one trick (one joke) pony. Oh, and that Mizoguchi inspired cover is a kick.

4. The Vision #8 (Marvel)
Written by Tom King
Art by Gabriel Hernandez Walta * Colors by Jordie Bellaire
A relative with a secret comes for a visit. What freaks me out about this series is how everyone pretends not to notice how sideways everything’s gone. Virginia, for example, is still repeating words and no one expresses concern, or suggests fixing what’s broken. It’s surreal, disturbing (as was the scene where Viv visits a gravesite). Tom King’s dialog is literature.

3. Green Arrow Rebirth #1 (DC)
Written by Benjamin Percy
Art and Colors by Otto Schmidt
The only Rebirth issue I liked: The chemistry between Ollie and Dinah was immediate and palpable. I don’t know how this Rebirth thing is going to work out, but they do come off like people who had some connection in the past (even if they aren’t aware of it at the present). Otto Schmidt’s art and colors knocked me out: the composition, the line work, the way it moves, the body language. The way he uses the horizon line and vanishing points. There’s a little Sean Murphy in the sketchiness of the homeless encampment, and a lot of spooky atmosphere throughout.

2. Lazarus #22 (Image)
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Michael Lark * Colors by Santi Arcas
Lazarus returns after a 5 month break with the layered character work intact, and the political intrigue at a full boil. The issue also reinforces what was suspected from last issues reveal that all those flashbacks we saw in the past, weren’t flashbacks at all. Riveting!

1. The Sixth Gun #50 (Oni)
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Brian Hurtt * Colors by Bill Crabtree
Jumpin’ Jehosaphat! Brian Hurtt can draw a jaw dropping apocalypse – but for all its sweep and grandeur, as with any truly successful series, it rises or falls on its characters. And the Sixth Gun was rich with character. Hurtt, Crabtree and writer Cullen Bunn took a world built of ink and color and made it live and breathe. Drake and Becky and the others became real people for me. Their struggles and sacrifices in this supernatural western mattered to me. The weirdness and epic scale was neat, but the bittersweet finale left me with a lump in my throat due to the people who populated the series - especially those heroes who gave up everything to rid their world of evil.

Honorable Mentions: Miss Fury #3, Invisible Republic #10, East of West #27, James Bond #7, Spider-Gwen #9, Silk #9, Green Arrow #1, Adventures of Supergirl #3-4, 

Artists and Writer of the Month

Brian Hurtt, Bill Crabtree (not pictured) and Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun)

With a nod to the stellar work done by artists Nick Dragotta (East of West) and Otto Schmidt (Green Arrow)

To July

Back to May

My Top 11 Comics for May 2016

* DC made news by marrying the old with the new and introduced Rebirth -and their Hanna Barbera line- to a waiting world. I also heard good things about Johns final issue of Justice League, but I trade wait on that book, so it will be a while before I know this for myself. Oh, and they revealed a new logo.

*  Marvel launched their next event, Civil War II. And while some books are losing steam after strong first issues (Widow, Mockingbird, Power Man & Iron Fist), they still placed the most titles in the top 10, with 3.

* With Image it’s the much the same as it has been all year. A lot of my favorites simply weren’t published. What did make the list however, was stellar.

11. House of Penance #2 (Dark Horse)
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Ian Burtram * Colors by Dave Stewart
Enter the Winchester house, and you enter an expressionistic nightmare come to life. Open the pages of this comic (if you dare) and you’re hit by a blast furnace of insanity, wrought by grief and fear. 

10. The Wicked + The Divine #19 (Image)

Written by Kieron Gillen

Art by Jamie McKelvie * Colors by Matthew Wilson

The conflict escalates, the mystery deepens… but knowing Gillen, can we expect the old switcheroo? I trust nothing right now, not even the word of a mechanical owl.

9. The Unbelievable Gwenpool #2 (Marvel)

Written by Christopher Hastings

Art and Colors by Gurihiru * Prologue art by Beyruth & Bonvillain

Things just got real in this unreal world. Gwen’s trying to figure out the angles and is discovering that losing a friend hurts as much in the comic world as it does in the real one. In addition there are lots of laughs, Thor was used well and the art is a dream. I’m eating this series up.

8. Karnak #4 (Marvel)

Written by Warren Ellis

Art by Roland Boschi * Colors by Dan Brown

I have a feeling Karnak subscribes to the notion that ‘Hell is other people’… in a very literal sense. Issue is thin on plot, heavy on action as the Inhuman struggles to find the weakness in a difficult opponent. And he finally meets the kid he’s supposed to save, only to discover that the kid doesn’t want saving. He’s found his place in the world, with his Church and his art… in some ways he’s a more sociable, equally as dangerous Karnak.

7. American Monster #3 (Aftershock)

Written by Brian Azzarello

Art and Colors by Juan Doe

This dark pulpy tale is a couple months late, and I’ve lost track of a few details. But it hooked me: from the mystery surrounding the lead character, to the unvarnished look at small town America. Azz’s script is razor sharp; the art is draped in shadow, with colors that pop.

6. Catwoman #52 (DC)

Written by Frank Tieri

Art by Miranda, Mhan & Cafaro * Colors by De La Cruz, Sotelo & Starr

Tieri taps into Agatha Christie style storytelling (with folks standing in a room explaining who did what.) all while highlighting Selina’s uncompromising and free spirited personality. I like seeing Catwoman the thief, racing off into the Gotham night. I also like how it signs off with the promise that Kitty and Mask’s feud is far from over. I’ll miss you kit cat, don’t stay away too long.

5. East of West #25 (Image)

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Art by Nick Dragotta * Colors by Frank Martin

The gathering of chosen is marked by verbal daggers and a surprising arrival. Plus Death is joined by a rhyming eye. Oh, and I smiled when I saw that one of the bounty hunters was named "Psalm 137". The psalm speaks of Babylon as oppressor and ends with "Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks." And you know Death wasn't going to go for that. Clever, clever Mr. Hickman.

4. Bandette #13 (Monkeybrain)

Written by Paul Tobin

Art and Colors by Colleen Coover

A sweet, funny, exciting close to the arc: And not only do we get a hint at Bandette’s back-story (it’s not much, but it’s intriguing and whets my appetite for more), but there’s a villain who is still at large - so she finally has found her Moriarty it seems.

3. Monstress #6 (Image)
Written by Marjorie Liu
Art and Colors by Sana Takeda
Closes the first arc in explosive fashion, while revealing more about the charcaters: who –or what- they are and what drives them. Breathtaking and violent in both art and story. .

2. The Vision #7 (Marvel)

Written by Tom King

Art by Michael Walsh * Colors by Jordie Bellaire

What a moving, bittersweet, creepy, sad story. The issue is a walk down memory lane and covers Vision and Wanda’s relationship. I found it rather Vertigo-like (the movie, not the publishing line), with the Vision trying to reclaim something he’s lost.

1. Rachel Rising #42 (Abstract Studios)

Story and Art by Terry Moore

I normally trade wait on this horror series, but with this being the final issue, I went for the singles. And it was worth every extra penny, as this finale was everything that made the comic wonderful. It had nuanced stories and characters, it could be dark and violent, but also had a sense of humor and a lot of compassion. I’m going to miss spending time with Rachel, Jet, Zoe, Aunt Johnny, Earl, Lilith and the other witches and residents of Manson, Wisconsin.

Honorable Mentions: Future Quest #1, Harrow County #12, Spider-Gwen #7

Writer/Artist of the Month

Terry Moore (Rachel Rising) - for his line work and expressive features, for the satisfying and unexpected way he tied things up (and left things open)

Cover of the Month

Jenny Frison, Revival #39

To June

Back to April

My Top 12 Comics For April 2016

April marked the return of several Image heavy hitters, yay! The publisher also added a few new titles to their line, but none looked very interesting and I passed on them. 

I did however try 3 from Aftershock: Jackpot, Rough Riders and Black Eyed Kids... all were promising. But what has become of American Monster?

In addition I sampled 2 first issues from Dynamite: I liked Bechko’s Miss Fury, but found Valentine’s Xena rather bland

A new publisher entered my world, Darby Pop, with their book, Bruce Lee: the Dragon Rises. A fun, light mystery, co-written by Lee’s daughter.

On the other hand, I was not impressed with IDW’s Micronauts #1 or the 1st issue of Black Masks 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank.

At Marvel there was the start of the Spider-Women crossover - and while the 2nd issue of Mockingbird left me cold (too silly, none of the puzzling weirdness of the 1st issue), the insubordinate mayhem in Gwenpool #1 more than made up for it.

As for DC?

Graphic Novel of the Month

Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 1 by Grant Morrison, Yanick Paquette & Nathan Fairbairn

12. The Wicked + The Divine #18 (Image)
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Jamie McKelvie * Colors by Matthew Wilson
The band (meaning: creative team) is back together and the book is so much better for it. Laura (?) returns as well, and with her comes a whole hell of a lot of fireworks and shit hitting fans.

11. Black Widow #2 (Marvel) 
Written by Mark Waid & Chris Samnee
Art by Chris Samnee * Colors by Matthew Wilson
It’s not deep, or saying and doing anything new with the character, it’s just a visceral spy thriller that pushes the pedal to the floor and never lets up

10. Karnak #3 (Marvel)
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Roland Boschi * Colors by Dan Brown
Black humor and twisted violence coupled to philosophical musings. Karnak’s one interesting, scary dude… who can even find weakness in a sound. 

9. House of Penance #1 (Dark Horse)
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Ian Burtram * Colors by Dave Stewart
Horror set at the famous Winchester House. The art and script delivers a palpable feeling of madness that crawls under your skin and burns like fever.  It reminds me of Poe, in its atmosphere, and disturbing imagery and characters.

8. The Spider-Women Crossover (Marvel) 
Written by Thompson, Latour and Hopeless
Art by Del Rey, Bengal, Ford and Jones
The first month in the Spider-Gwen, Silk, Spider-Woman crossover was a great success. It’s funny, shows some heart (as when Cindy meets her alt-universe family) and the interactions between these ladies rang true. It acknowledges what’s going on in each title, so it’s a story that fits snugly in the Spider-verse, and doesn’t read like some random, crossover money grab.

7. Catwoman #51 (DC) 
Written by Frank Tieri
Art by Inaki Miranda & Elia Bonetti * Colors by Eva De La Cruz
I’m not overly familiar with the False Face Society (I see they appeared in flashback in Catwoman Vol 3 #62), and don’t know who Selina’s old boyfriend is (has he appeared previously?) So this was kind of like an Elseworlds story for me. But I enjoyed it immensely: The plot-line held my interest, and has me curious to learn more. Oh, and judging by those final pages, I’m guessing Black Mask really dug Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight?

6. Injection #9 (Image)
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Delcan Shalvey * Colors by Jordie Bellaire
I’m astounded by critics who act as if this book has 2 disparate sides to it. I don’t get that, because this issue further illustrates -concretely- that everything is tied together. The injection has an agenda, it’s learning by testing its creators in the areas of their expertise. And in doing so, it’s discovering our weaknesses, exploiting our fears. The final page also continues to show how disconnected Robin is from the group, and how dangerous that could be. There is no tonal discordance here, it all lines up smartly, logically and it is still –as it always has been- a technological horror story, tinged with black humor.

5. East of West #25 (Image)
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Nick Dragotta * Colors by Frank Martin
The leader of the Endless has a waking dream, Death walks into a bar (and that’s no joke). And President Archibald Chamberlain serves up a pointed discourse on religion and the unwashed masses. Good stuff as the book and characters are as impertinent and blood soaked as ever.

4. The Vision #6 (Marvel)
Written by Tom King
Art by Gabriel Hernandez Walta * Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Opening this comic is like stepping through a doorway to hell. The Vision has attempted to create the perfect nuclear family, only to discover that suburbia’s a nightmare - ever more so for the outsider.

3. The Unbelievable Gwenpool #1 (Marvel) 
Written by Christopher Hastings
Art and Colors by Gurihiru * Prologue art by Beyruth & Bonvillain
Very meta, as the character (from our reality) is aware that she’s now living in a comic book. Art and colors on the main story were strong. Humor is funny and in poor taste – writing bounces around, reflective of its ditzy protagonist, and was overall entertaining and fun. Rather Harley Quinn-like. I’ve read this comic 4 times now, so yeah, it struck a chord.

2. Velvet #14 (Image) 
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Steve Epting * Colors by Elizabeth Breitwesier
Velvet executes her most audacious plan yet, in the most audacious, impossible issue to date! We also see her weary, guilt ridden - the grind of this game is getting to her. The tale really opens things up, plot wise - the conspiracy is bigger and twistier than I expected.

1. Criminal: 10th Anniversary Special (Image)
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Sean Phillips * Colors by Elizabeth Breitwesier
What a beautiful, terrible, joyful, somber story about a boy and his low life father on a twisted road trip… brightened by one brief moment of friendship. Those final pages left a lump in my throat. Poor kid, no wonder he grew up the way he did. The quality of the art and script is beyond genius, structurally this is one of the finest things I've ever read in comics.

Hon Mentions: James Bond #6, All-New Wolverine #7, Harrow County #11, Amelia Cole #28, The Double Life of Miranda Turner #9, Letter 44 #24

Writer of the Month

Ed Brubaker (Criminal, Velvet)

Artists of the Month

Sean Phillips (Criminal) & Elizabeth Breitweiser (Criminal, Velvet)

Art Panel of the Month: From Karnak #3

To May

Back to March