New Comic Day 10R: Painkiller Jane The Price of Freedom Part 1 Review

OK, so I’ll admit it.  If I didn’t have a crush on Kristanna Loken this book would have stayed on the shelf.  Divided into two stories, the art in the first by Juan Santacruz is passable and in the second by Sam Lotfi subpar.  The front cover by Amanda Conner is somewhere in between the two.  Sticking with the art, main character Jane is – in the first story – two parts butch cute (think Starbuck) and one part girl next door cute (think Amy Pond).  In the second story, she’s all hard lines and cartoonish – and not the good cartoonish like Batman: The Animated Series, the (almost) Popeye’s forearms kind of crappy cartoonish. 

Before I go on to the story itself, I want to point out something else that is kinda the art and kinda the story.  In the first one – the passable art one – Jane’s nipple is viable in at least six panels across 7 of 20 pages of story.  I point this out because this issue contains not one but two text pieces expounding how Jane is not just a “scantily clad female” like her “bad girl” contemporaries.  But rather a strong female character.  Yet there in all its off pink glory is Jane’s nipple for no other reason than for it to be there.  I’m not whole against nudity – not even in comics and not even gratuitously – Heavy Metal has always been a major supplier of gratuitous nudity and I thoroughly enjoy that title.  My problem is in an issue that features not only nudity for nudity’s sake but also a scene where another character’s face is accidentally forced between Jane’s breasts, we are told she isn’t just another comic book sex symbol.  Seems like bad timing to me.

As for the story itself, I was very happy with it.  Concerning a kidnapping attempt on a Saudi princess – who will likely be executed when she gets back home due to the American Heiress inspired wardrobe she sports – the first story, by Jimmy Palmiotti, is very engaging and Jane does come off as a strong female character – though in several places she could use some more pathos.  My biggest complaint is the dialogue – which at times can be a bit contrived – too much the writer’s creation rather than a naturally flowing thing – ironically a disease the TV series suffered often.  Story two – “From the Beginning” – is a standalone piece also by Palmiotti.  Not as compelling as the main story, this one – as with its art – is cartoonish in feel.  The opening scene makes little since unless Jane has some previously unmentioned speed powers as she is chasing down a speeding getaway car.  The sexuality in this story – while still taking a place at the forefront – is better played and feels more like a fluid part of the story than the gratuitous stuff from the first story. 

Overall this was a very enjoyable comic.  And my minor complaints – dialogue, out of place nudity, cartoonish art in the back up – do not greatly detract from the issue as a whole. 

4/5 stars                       Excellent Jumping On Point

Teen or Mature for Violence, Brief Nudity, and some Language

Batman Year Zero, Ultimate Cataclysm and Christmas Comics Already!? (New Comic Day)

Archie Comics released two titles today - Archie Double Digest 245 and Betty & Veronica Double Digest 217 – which are both already Christmas Issues. 

Dark Horse is still publishing the travesty that is Catalyst Comix (issue 5 hit stands today).  Also from DH is Grindhouse: Doors Open at Midnight 2 – normally I wouldn’t praise this poor quality of art, but it definitely adds a raw Grindhouse feel to the title so it’s working for me.  Finally from DH, we have The Star Wars 3 continuing the adaptation of George Lucas’s original rough-draft screenplay. 

At DC, Batman Year Zero month is in full swing with Batman 25, Detective Comics 25, Batwing 25, Green Arrow 25, and Action Comics 25 all crossing into the storyline which as a whole is putting me off – though some of the art is top notch.  Also at DC, the ongoing mini-series Forever Evil has its third issue today – but I have given up on that story myself. 

Dynamite graces us with the third issue of its six issue mini-series Army of Darkness Vs Hack/Slash – presenting me with an excuse to mention that #AllisonScags4Cassie Your Argument is Invalid! Also on shelves we have Lords of Mars 4 (of 6) – a stunning Alex Ross cover that makes me question the need for the variant covers also released – Vampirella 36, and Gail Simone’s Legends of Red Sonja 1 (of 5) – featuring both a beautiful regular cover and a classic Marvel throwback variant. 

The Starbase 21 Pick of the Week is Marvel’s Cataclysm The Ultimates’ Last Stand 1 part of the November Ultimate Universe crossover featuring Galactus. Also gracing shelves from The House of Ideas this month are Fantomex MAX 2 (of 4) – which I almost picked up but was able to resist – Painkiller Jane: The Price of Freedom 1 (of 4)

Finally, Zenescope – which is always at least good for a cover if not always the stories inside gives us Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Wonderland Through the Looking Glass 2 (of 5) – I recommend Cover B by Ivan Nunes featuring the Queen of Spades – and Tyler Kirkham’s Screwed 6 (of 6).   

I’m changing up the way I do New Comic Day from now on.  As you see I’ve given a very brief highlight of some of the top comics and a few underdogs that are our this week, but no Feature Issue review like I’ve done in the past.  But come back tomorrow for our indepth review of Painkiller Jane: The Price of Freedom 1. 

Until then, let me know what you’re picking up this week in the comments or on our facebook page or twitter @nerdisnewcool – and be sure to like and follow to let us know you like what you’re seeing here at Nerd Is The New Cool. 

Nerd Is The New Cool, signing off

Witchblade, Poe's Raven and Red Death, and the Return of Gaiman's Sandman (New Comic Day)

DC and Marvel both greatly disappointed me this week.  Last month, I praised the art in Captain America: Living Legend 1 and this week’s second issue with a new artist doesn’t live up to the first issue’s legend.  While at DC, most of the titles are “Summer Annuals” – a bit late as it is late October – of which Nightwing Annual 1 stands out.  DC’s most notable non-Annual is Damian Son of Batman 1 – but that notability is in its sub-par art – shockingly from the usually more reliable Andy Kubert.  Also, Damian seems to be printed on a lower than usual quality of paper. 

Better picks from the big two include DC’s Sandman Overture 1 by Neil Gaiman and J.H. Williams (Williams’s art can’t actually be called “good” but it has a gritty character that works well with Gaiman’s writing style) and Marvel’s Kick Ass 3 4 and Guardians of the Galaxy 8 (featuring an alternate Thor vs. Thanos cover).  Also from Marvel comes the release of the Thor vs. Thanos TPB.

I should probably also mention Marvel’s Cataclysm 0.1 – I really have nothing to say about it but if you’ve been looking forward to it, there you go…

Over in the rest of comicdom, this week is the week for covers.  IDW’s Danger Girl 2 is out sporting an awesome alternate cosplay photo cover (for subscribers only, but availability may very).  Also, out this week Zenescope – the company were the covers are always the best part of the book – has issues from two Grimm Fairy Tales Presents… mini-series: No Tomorrow and Realm Knights both on issue three, but better still is their non-Grimm title Hit List 2 featuring a femme fatale cover – if possible I recommend variant cover C by Oracle. 

But my favorite cover this week appearing on Witchblade 170 is a retro throwback to 80s Marvel covers.  Very rough and with hard lines even the logo and title information are in that classic Marvel style.  Inside the art is much sharper – a little cartoonish but still lovely to look at.  The story is typical second tier fair.  Looking at lead character Sara Pezzini’s outfit and appearance one could easily dismiss her as another uber-hot but shallow and artistically bankrupt Image heroine but writer Ron Marz and artist Laura Braga bring a much more developed character to the page than one comes to expect from an Image title.  I highly recommend this issue and despite the rather high issue number this is an excellent jumping on point. 

Finally, if a Halloween read is more what you’re looking for this week, Dark Horse provides with Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven and the Masque of the Red Death by Richard Corben who previously adapted works by Poe for Marvel’s Haunt of Horror line.  Corben’s art leaves something to be desired but can lend personality when applied to the right story as was the case with Haunt of Horror. 

But what are you reading this week?  Leave a comment or message me on twitter @nerdisnewcool to let me know. 

Army of Darkness/Reanimator, Daredevil, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and More (New Comic Day #7)

This Nerds Life: Sad Times

Those of you paying attention, all both of you, will know that there was no New Comic Day last week.  For that I am sorry, but last week was an emotional time for us here at Nerd Is The New Cool.  Our beloved comic shop Starbase 21 – which will celebrate its 29^th Birthday next month – announced last Wednesday that it will be shutting its doors as of December 31^st of this year. 

It has been a long time coming – the owner is sick and hasn’t been able to take an active hand in running the store for quite some time and with the state of comics in this day and age – most casual readers and many collectors using national chains – keeping the store going is unfortunately not feasible. 

This will mark the end of a beloved Tulsa landmark and the loss of a major part of my week. 

But worry not, Fan Boys and Geek Girls, your good buddy Nerd Is The New Cool will soldier on and continue to bring you the best of what’s gracing this week’s shelves. 

New Comic Day Presents: Countdown to Halloween (8 Days)

What with the Scary Season in full swing, I focused this week’s shelf searching on Halloween issues and didn’t come up too shabby.  Daredevil 32 features a crossover with a number of Marvel’s Mighty Monsters – including a stylish cover featuring Satana, The Marvel Zombie, Werewolf by Night, The Monster of Frankenstein, and the Living Mummy facing off with a mob of angry torch and pitchfork totting villagers.  Be warned, fair readers, the three dread works appear at the climax of this issue “to be continued.” 

Marvel’s other entries this week include the special Marvel Now What?! a humor title in the vein of What The..?!  Written by a host of TV comedy writers, the book doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that is somewhat refreshing against Marvel’s often blotted lineup of titles. 

DC isn’t doing quite as well in the Halloween department.  But a $1 reprint of the first issue of  Neil Gaiman’s seminal title Sandman is a passable offering to the ghost and goblin crowd. 

Also at DC, is – and Starbase 21’s Pick of the Week – is Beware the Batman 1 a comic adaptation of Cartoon Network’s (already cancelled?) Batman series of the same name. 

Leaving the big two behind up, over at Dynamite a true Halloween offering appears in the form of the Army of Darkness/ReAnimator one-shot.  As is so often the case with comics nowadays, the cover art – by Randy Valiente – far surpasses its interior art – also by Valiente.  The story by Mark Rahner – featuring a time lost Ash (though he only uses that name in a single panel of this book) finds himself in H.P. Lovecraft’s New England of the 1920s, butting heads with a fairly true to Lovecraft Herbert West and battling both AoD’s Deadites and ReA’s Re-Animates – though far from great is fun and engaging and does lead me to forgive the art.  The issue also reprints 2005’s Reanimator 0, featuring a more detailed retelling of Herbert West’s origin.  The story is by Jim Kuhoric with art – that makes me remember the main story’s art fondly – by Nick Bradshaw. 

Also of note this month, Rocketeer/Spirit 2 finally graces us with its presence – the first issue of this mini-series, my long ‘memberin’ readers will recall, I reviewed back in July.

Tell us what you thought of these titles or if you read something else you think is worthy of getting picked up let us know in the comments below or on twitter @nerdisnewcool. 

Until next time,

Nerd Is The New Cool, signing off.

Superman/Wonder Woman Hulk and the Agents of SMASH and the 10th Anniversary of The Walking Dead (New Comic Day)

It’s another big week of comics, nerds and geekettes.  DC has began a new Forever Evil tie-in series in the form of Arkham War, I imagine you can guess where in the greater DCU that focuses. 

Also starting this week is DC’s new ongoing mash-up title Superman/Wonder Woman which features a wonderful trifold cover by Tony S. Daniels (pencils), Batt (inks) and Tomeu Morey (colors).  The cover’s central image of the titular heroes is a little weak but the surrounding imagery of their supporting characters and villains is awe-worthy.  However, the interior art by the same art team is weaker even than the worst elements of the cover.  Flipping through the book before reading it, I thought I liked the art, but as I read I realized I didn’t.  The story itself – by Charles Soule – I initially didn’t like but it grew on me as I went – I actually stopped reading about 6 pages in but picked it back up later in the day and gave it a second chance – which it proved it deserved.  I’m still not behind the Superman/Wonder Woman romantic relationship – I’m squarely behind the classic Lois and Clark relationship in the present and like the SM/WW relationships to be in set in the future stories – nor am I sure we needed a Superman/Wonder Woman team-up title.  But for what it is, it’s good. 

Finally, from DC this week, we have Astro City #5 and Batman # 24 (which is part of Batman Year Zero).  Batman is a little longer than usual but not really enough to justify the 7.99 price tag DC has on it – I might have been a little more forgiving on a giant-sized 25^th issue, but 24^th seems like they are just money grabbing. 

Fans of AMC’s The Walking Dead TV series or of the comic that spawned it, might want to pick up some of its 10^th Anniversary issues – including a special feature featuring The Walking Dead 10^th Anniversary Edition of issue 1 and Tyreese Special 1. 

Over at Marvel comics, a comic adaptation of the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. cartoon series started up this week featuring typical cartoon-turned-comic art (alas only a 4 issue mini-series).

Also hitting the stands this week is my all time favorite Dark Horse character X, with issue 6 of his new eponymous title, which is much more promising than last week’s Catalyst Comics. 

Finally, Zenescope’s Grimm Fairy Tales line has several issues out this week, notably Halloween Special 2013 and – just in time to coincide with ABC’s Once Upon a Time spinoff Once Upon a Time in Wonderland – a new 5-issue Alice-inspired mini-series Wonderland Through the Looking-Glass. 

Let us know what you’re reading in the comments or on twitter @nerdisnewcool. 

Until next time,

Nerd Is The New Cool, signing off.  

Fantomex, Joker’s Daughter, and More (New Comic Day #6)

It’s an interesting week for comics.  Last week, I discussed in detail DC’s Villains Month crossover.  This is the first post VM week and DC’s titles are mostly back to normal.  I mentioned, Joker’s Daughter as being in short supply and DC has been kind enough to send out more copies of the 2D cover version as a reshipment.  I picked it up and it definitely was not worth the wait.  The issues writing by Ann Nocenti – the current writer on Catwoman and co-creator of Marvel character’s Longshot, Mojo, and Typhoid Mary – and art by Georges Jeanty were both minimally acceptable but lacking and parts of the story are pretty far out there. 

Also from DC, Forever Evil 2 hit shelves this week.  Same quality of art and general writing, but remember all that stuff I said about Lex Luthor’s pathos.  Yeah, scratch that, this issue shot it right out the window.  However, a nod to the old Christopher Reeves Superman series in the form of LexCorp Employee Otis was a nice touch, though in the end a bit of a letdown.  One more DC title of note is Scooby Doo 38 for its Elvira homage cover and story.   

Over at Marvel this week are the high recommended Captain America: Living Legend 1 (check me out posing with it on Starbase 21 Tulsa’s facebook page as customer of the week – because awesome) and Fantomex Max 1.  Fantomex is a minor X-Men character (first appearing in New X-Men 128 in 2002), a background of little or no importance to this issue.  Probably the worst four bucks I’ve spent in a comic book shop in awhile. Fantomex Max features atrocious art by Shawn Crystal (best known for his work on Deadpool, Crystal has done better work before and occasionally reaches an expectable passable level here, but rarely) and nearly unreadable dialog and narration by Andrew Hope (who drew two comics and wrote one for a small UK publisher in 1990 before disappearing from the comic world until last year when he popped up at Marvel).  The highlights of this issue include gratuitous shots of heroine Special Agent Rhona Flemyng’s panties on page 9, Fantomex’s sadomasochist/fetish holographic assistant, and an unrealistic and hackneyed story with copious amounts of hyper-unrealistic violence. 

Captain America: Living Legend, however, (which I haven’t read yet, sorry) seems to feature a much more cohesive storyline and the best interior artwork – by Adi Granov  – I saw this week.  Granov is best known for his work on Iron Man, both the series, where he was the artist on the Extremis storyline and the movies, he provided conceptual designs for all three Iron Man films as well as Marvel’s The Avengers.  Originally intended for a 2010 release, the title was delayed due to Granov’s involvement with the Marvel movies and he will not be returning for issues 2-4 of the mini-series. 

I should also mention that Dark Horse Comics recently resurrected their Comics Greatest World title Catalyst: Agents of Change as Catalyst Comix of which issue four is on stands this week.  I’m a huge fan of the CGW line from way back and Catalyst lead character Grace is among my favorite characters (right after X, Ghost, Barb Wire, and Vortex).  I somehow missed this return to the stands until last week, when I noticed the solicitation in Previews for the December issue.  Flipping through the week’s installment, makes me wish I could go back to having overlooked this unfortunate relaunch. 

One last title worth discussing this week, Archie 648 featuring a super-hero parody by legendary comic writer Tom DeFalco with a variant cover by longtime Thor artist Walt Simonson. 

Also, recommended this week are Dynamite’s Lady Rawhide 2 and Dark Horse’s The Star Wars 2 and whatever it was the Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Wonderland: Down the Rabbit Hole 5 (which – admittedly – I primarily like for the covers).

So, that’s what we’re reading here at Nerd Is The New Cool.  What’s on your pull list this week?  Let us know in the comments or hit us up on twitter @nerdisnewcool. 

Until next time,

Nerd Is The New Cool, signing off.

New Comic Day Special DC’s Villain Month Edition

To be honest, I’m not sure exactly what to put here, or at least how to start.  The problem is, this last month DC has been doing what DC and Marvel do best:  a companywide money-grabbing no real point crossover event.  Every title in DC’s New 52 line has been preempted by Villain Month, in which instead of, for example, Batman 23 we get The Joker #1, The Riddler #1, Penguin #1, and Bane #1.  Actually, that’s not exactly correct either.  They are actually The Joker #1 23.1 and The Riddler #1 23.2 … you get the idea. 

This is all kicked off by Forever Evil 1, the first in a 7 issue limited series.  The issue establishes the Crime Syndicate (Earth-3’s villainous alternate versions of the Justice League of America) as the crossover’s main antagonists and sets up Lex Luthor (yes, that Lex Luthor) as a protagonist. 

For a companywide crossover mini-series, the story here is top notch and very acceptable (an acceptable version of an unacceptable thing?).  Luthor remains true to his villainous self while displaying pathos and working as the issues protagonist.  The issues other protagonist, however, an actual hero this time in the form of Nightwing (Richard Grayson, the former Robin, for the uninitiated among us) takes a firm second fiddle to Luthor and in many ways seems a pale imitation to the characters usual portrayal. 

The art in Forever Evil, provided by penciller David Finch and inker Richard Friend, is among the best I’ve seen in the crossover, but the centerpiece a four page wide single panel depicting dozens of DC’s top villains is uninspired and such a letdown as to have been a waste of space in the book.  What should have been a poster worthy entry would have been served just as well by taking up at most (and I’m being generous here) a two page spread.  It is so far beneath the quality level of the rest of the issue as to be jarring, taking me out of the wonder it should have impressed upon me. 

Other week one titles, where to me, largely a waste of paper.  I leafed through several, including The Joker, a title that left me with a bad taste in my mouth and my money still firmly in my wallet.  The art in Joker, was by and large subpar – even in comparison to the above mentioned four page spread – and far undeserving of so pivotal a DC character.  The story itself was of such an awkward nature, that I couldn’t even bring myself to read more than the occasional snippet.   

I have not picked up Darkseid or Ventriloquist preventing me from giving an honest review of either, but I have heard the former was of an enjoyable read and the Gail Simone byline on the latter gives me hope for it. 

Week two presented few titles that caught my eye, of them I picked up Harley Quinn for no other reason than brand loyalty to a classic character of my youth – I did grow up on Batman: The Animated Series after all firmly planting both Quinn and Montoya in my list of favorite Batman characters.  Oh, but had I pasted this train wreck by.  The story – largely a sketchy and convoluted origin – was unimaginative at best.  Harley’s origin was confusing, primarily due to her somewhat unreliable narrator status, with the narrative of it sometimes at odds with the images but more often just not synced up with them, like a badly dubbed Godzilla movie.  Worst was the complete lack of any of the character’s customary psychotic pathos.  Like Hannibal Lector, one usually finds it hard to dislike Harley.  Even when killing people, Quinn is usually a fun yet tragic anti-heroine, never more than one more beating and betrayal by the Joker away from rehabilitation and a life of quiet solace for her past evils.  But always pulled back by a well timed kindness by her puddin’.  This Harley, however, while looking the part of the lost little girl, is presented as unredeemingly evil. The art on this issue’s cover, by Chris Burnham & Nathan Fairbairn, far outshines its interiors by the abysmal Neil Googe. 

Week three brought us several notable titles including Lex Luthor, which in retrospect I really should have picked up instead of the horrendous Eclipso, and The Cheetah, another book I didn’t pick up myself but have heard good things about. 

I have to admit, as much as I hate CWCOs (companywide crossovers), I kinda love CWCOs.  And Eclipso: The Darkness Within will always have a special place in my heart (right next to Marvel’s Infinity Gauntlet and Dark Horse’s not quite companywide Comic’s Greatest World).  Eclipso is among my favorite DC villains.  Over the years, I have forgave DC a lot when it comes to Eclipso: the ongoing series, cancelling the ongoing series, completely forgetting Bruce Gordon in later appearances, Jean Loring.  But this travesty, somehow written by the usually inspired Dan Didio and scribbled by Philip Tan and Jason Paz, is too much.  Bruce Gordon is back-ish.  He is apparently in the witness protection program though cause they’ve mostly changed his name to Gordon Jacobs, otherwise he’s still Bruce…love interest named Mona, solar energy expert, supporting character named Dr. Bennett.  DC appears to have just wanted to bring Gordon back but thought it would be too confusing what with Commish Gordon over in the Batman books.  That irks me.  Either create a new character or use the old one…don’t both while neither.  Add to that terrible art and a lame character redesign and we have the low point of my Villains Month experience. 

 Which brings us to week four, this week.  I had originally planned on grabbing Joker’s Daughter, but it vanished from shelves far too quickly (we’ll talk a bit about that down below in a moment), so instead I was left with Ocean Master.  Oddly, in a week that also included Doomsday, Bane, Killer Croc, and Sinistro, I pick up a book focusing on a character I care little about.  Perhaps this should have been my strategy the whole time. 

This issue, with so-so art by Geraldo Borges and Ruy Jose, was by far the best book I picked up all month.  The character was dark and cold, unmistakably a villain, yet he had the pathos Harley was lacking in her book.  The story was inspired.  It was maybe a little familiar (I’m thinking of the Silver Age Sub-Mariner over at Marvel as a classic example), but still remaining a worthy read in a sea of issues that seemed to be more interested in murdering trees and making money than they were ever interested in entertaining loyal readers and fans. 

Now back to that vanishing from the shelves thing.  As far as I can tell, as a whole, DC drastically under printed these issues.  While I was at my regular comic shop today, at least four sold out, not counting several that were already MIA when I arrived.  I visited another shop to try to pick up the afore mentioned Joker’s Daughter and not a single Villains Month issue was still to be had. I’ve been told the shops are also under stocked as well.  Perhaps this was simple under ordering on the shops’ part, but every shop in the city?  Or perhaps it is merely an accident on the publisher’s part.  But is that an excuse?  To under publish a minor villain would be one thing, but Bane? Joker’s Daughter? Darkseid?  Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I know of several people with pull lists who didn’t get issues they should have.  Anyway, moving on…

Perhaps this crossover’s biggest sin is the covers: 3D lenticular motion covers.  My main question is why?  The speculator boom of the 90s was full of foil covers, dicut covers, hologram covers, popup centerfolds, and a million other gimmicky wastes of time.  Why restart a trend that only caused its own bust, when collectors – in it for the gimmicks and the hope of turning a profit investing in comics the way you would invest in stocks – realized the new comics were never going to be worth the money old comics are. 

I can understand the business behind a CWCO, trying to get fans to pick up extra issues that month, but this kind of gimmick is insulting to fans – at least this fan – and is self-detrimental to future sales, in my humble opinion. 

But I’m just me.  I don’t speak for the whole world.  So I ask you, Fanboys, what do you think of the motion covers, of CWCOs in general and in Forever Evil/Villains Month in particular? 

Feel free to give me your humble opinion, or even hit your caps lock and yell at me, in the comments below or on my twitter @nerdisnewcool

Until next time,

Nerd Is The New Cool, signing off.  

Lady Rawhide #1 (New Comic Day #4)

Admittedly, I was never a fan of Topps’s Zorro or its spinoff Lady Rawhide.  Though the latter did have a couple of visuals that improved it over the former, so I was reluctant to pick this first issue/reboot up.  And I should have gone with my gut. 

I did manage to read it all, which is saying something, as the writer Eric Trautmann was a bit long winded and boring in his narrative and his dialog was a cross between hackneyed and cliché. 

But let’s start with the art.  The internals by Milton Estevam were so-so.  Foreground characters, especially Lady Rawhide, are very crisp and clean – except in a flashback sequence, which still looks good and stands as a valid choice thematically – but background characters and scenery are almost added in as an afterthought.  In most cases, they do more to detract from the issue than add to it – many images would look better had Estevam not even bothered. 

Added to this is an almost complete lack of visual differentiation between minor characters, and all the points Estevam earns with his depictions of Lady Rawhide.  Ditko detractors will offer comparison to his inability to draw more than four or five standard character appearances, while his fans will counter with Estevam’s lack of the charm and nostalgia in Ditko’s work.

Worse still, an early establishing image of a train which is treated almost as a character – and a main character at that – is so poorly executed as to be insulting to the art of comic book art. 

Better is the wonderful cover by Joseph Michael Linsner – the color version is good, but the Black and White version is much more stunning.  Linsner’s Lady Rawhide is much different than Estevam’s – most noticeably in her lack of certain super exaggerated, gravity defying assets, in a time long before the necessary advancements had been made in silicone technology to support them. 

My favorite image of the book however is on the inside front cover – a partial picture of Rawhide in gray, white, and red, which is very invocative of what can only be (to my eye at least) a heavy influence from Marvel’s Electra to Lady Rawhide’s character/costume design. 

You may have noticed I’ve spend an inordinate amount of time on the art of this book, this is not by accident, but by design.  As mentioned above, Trautmann’s writing leaves much to be desired.  The pacing is off, things happen more to be and look cool than for a coherent reason, certain actions by our heroine make her seem foolish if not downright stupid, and many other characters behave in incomprehensible ways.  Add to this a page six shocking revel that is so easily seen coming as to be an affront to the reader’s intelligence, especially when it was a neat enough thing stand on its own without the wanted “OMG!” factor. 

Some of Lady Rawhide’s internal dialogue and banter shows the promise of possibly developing into something interesting or at least entertaining, but Trautmann does not quiet hit that mark here. 

2/5 Stars (3/5 if just considering the art)         Excellent Jumping on Point

Rated T for Teen (Western and Adventure Violence, some Language but in Spanish)

New Comic Day (Late): Captain Midnight 1

Captain Midnight 1 was recommended to me by the clerk at a local comic shop.  It’s a beautiful piece and it did manage to get me involved with the story.  But that was as far as it went.  I remember there being parts of it that I liked and parts that I didn’t but they are gone now.  In a moment I’ll start flipping through it to find some points to reference, but for now, I can’t remember much that redeems or condemns it, and that alone is after something to condemn it.

The title suffers from all the things that make a modern comic good and all the things that make one bad.  I’m sure that if I’d read the other issues (don’t let the big #1 on the cover fool you, this is far from the beginning of the story.  A recently released issue 0 reprints Captain Midnight’s previous appearances, but I haven’t read it), the complex and largely unexplained back story would make more sense, but as I haven’t there are several gaps in my understanding of things.  Now don’t over read that last bit, I was able to follow the story for what it was, but this isn’t what I’d call a great jumping on point.  Not a big seller for a first issue (again, had a known about issue 0 before things might have been different, so we’ll give that one a slide). 

The hero suffers from Post-Watchmen syndrome.  He is human.  Something I expect my superheroes to be more than.  For example, in the opening WWII-era sequence, Captain Midnight’s actions put a villain in danger.  And Midnight, stands back and lets him die, saying “this isn’t what I wanted…but I wasn’t going to risk my life for a criminal like him.” Can you imagine Spider-Man or Superman saying that? 

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll give Watchmen its due.  It’s a great comic.  So are The Dark Knight Returns and a dozen others of their ilk.  And the modern Hero can be dark and violent.  Wolverine is a wonderful example.  Dark Horse, in fact, has done it very well with several of their characters.  X and Ghost stand out as fine examples to me.  But looking at this comic, I wasn’t expecting gruff and violent.  And maybe that is Joshua Williamson and Fernando Dagnino’s point: a juxtaposed look at the “bright shinny hero” behaving like the dark and mysterious.  A real world guy.  But I ask you do we need another real world guy in comics?  Watchmen, Frank Miller’s Batverse and Sin City, Comics Greatest World, Ultimate Marvel, Astro City (which I openly admit to loving)… What does Captain Midnight add to the genre that these books don’t already fulfill? 

Too many comics nowadays are either staring “heroes” no better than the villains (many worse than the villains of the sixties and seventies.  A good example of this, as pointed out recently to me by my good friend RA Jones, is Henry Pym, a hero, who – among other things – stuck his wife while suffering a mental breakdown; something the character has yet to live down over thirty years later).  I ask again, do we need another violent hero? 

But enough of the bad, what about the good? 

As I said before, the book is beautiful.  The cover art is just that, Art.  The interiors are standard quality, on par with most everything coming out of Marvel and DC, maybe even better than most, though far from the best I’ve seen in the last few years. 

The supporting characters (and villains) stand out more to me than the titular hero (perhaps because he was only on 8 of the 22 pages and on two of those only barely).  The first up is 1940s villain Ivan Shark, he is a very standard Nazi villain, reminiscent of the Red Skull, Vandal Savage, and their kind, but while he is something of a standard baddie, he is well executed and his disappearance from the story is felt.  But the emergence of true big bad Fury Shark shows much promise; she had less screen time than Midnight (four pages) but is far more interesting and memorable.  Finally, Montoya…I mean, Maj. Charlotte Ryan is the standard tough as nails cop soldier.  Charlotte was by far the star of the issue (with 14 pages) and is shaping up to be the reader’s loyal (the character their allegiance is firmly placed with). 

Rounding out the cast are Joyce Ryan (Charlotte’s grandmother) who was one of Midnight’s sidekicks in the 40s, Agent Jones and Officer Rick Marshall (Marshall is Charlotte’s ex-husband) the two main government agents on Midnights trail, and several of Fury Shark’s lackies who could rise to more prominence or simply disappear. 

Overall, the art – especially at its grandest moments such as Charlotte’s rock climbing scene and the establishing shots of Secret Squadron HQ and the Nazi base at the North Pole – coupled with a somewhat gripping story and a few standout characters, isn’t enough to save the book for me.  Much like a lot of creator owned comics from the 90s, this book is a mediocre story in beautiful packaging. 

2.5/5 stars.                   Average Jumping on Point                  Unrated but Violent

Until next time, Nerd is the New Cool, signing off

New Comic Day (Late): Rocketeer/Spirit

Howdy folks and welcome to the second edition of New Comic Day! That’s right, number 2.  And we are already a day late on the delivery schedule!  Go, Team NitNC!  Actually, if you swung by last week, then you know we are actually 8 days late, since we didn’t even have an edition last week.  That’s right, your old buddy Nerd Is the New Cool is on top of his game this month (year? Decade? Century? Oh, bother!).

Anyway, here in Nerdland, we had a killer storm – well a storm anyway – Tuesday night that kept me up, as well as the wife and our pride and joy the Nerd-Hound.  Mostly it was Nerd-Hound being up that cause the issues, we was scared and clingy and insisted on attention.  Regardless, I overslept on Wednesday and was playing catchup all day.  So, no trip to my Friendly Neighborhood Comic Shop for me.  But I made it today and here we go!!!

This Week’s Star Comic:

The Rocketeer & The Spirit: Pulp Friction 1

That’s right.  You read it correctly.  The Rocketeer!  The Spirit! Together in one blockbuster issue.  This is so awesome...

Such a letdown. 

Don’t get me wrong, it’s good.  Bordering on decent even.  But it has all the elements of better than good – not the least of which is two of the greatest comic book characters of all time.  Beyond that, it’s written by Mark Waid, one of my favorite writers. 

So what went wrong?  Everything.  Paul Smith’s art is passable but it lacks both the crisp style of Dave Stevens and the pulp grit of Will Eisner.  It is very good art, very standard, very average.  I’ve seen worse.  But is “I’ve seen worse” enough? 

Even Waid’s writing is lackluster.  Again, I’ve read worse – in fact, I’ve read worse by Waid (I’m looking at you, Superman: Birthright) – but as a whole, Waid should be a shoe in for better than this, expecially considering this isn’t his first foray into the world of Rocketeer. 

Again I ask, is “I’ve seen worse” enough? Eisner is the legend.  Both in writing and in art.  They named an award after the man.  And Stevens is right behind him as an artist.  Literally.  When I comes to comic art it goes down like this:  Kirby, Ross, Ditko (shut up, Dad!), Steranko, Wrightson, Eisner, Stevens, Sale, Kane (shut up, Dad! – look at that same joke twice in the same sentence, I’m losing my edge already). 

As for the story itself, it is standard summer crossover fair.  Two heroes meet for the first time, naturally have a misunderstanding and fight.  The fight itself is awesome, but I won’t spoil it for you by describing it.  Needless to say, had Eisner or Stevens been sitting at the easel for this one, the fight alone would have been enough to win the book over for me, but Smith’s work left something to be desired and the fight had a less profound impact on me that someone else’s might have.   But please Hollywood, make an adaptation of this comic so I can see that scene in live action 3D! 

Aside from the issues discussed above, the comic was fun and enjoyable.  The classic characters are all here, Bettie Page…er, I mean the Rocketeer’s girlfriend Betty, The Octopus (or rather his hand), Commissioner Dolan and Ellen, Peevy…even Ebony draws and behind the scenes mention.  As I said, the fight between the heroes is classic (a bit cliché but this is a “summer blockbuster crossover” after all).  Ellen and Betty are both at their stereotypically ‘40s dame best. 

Had I had no prior knowledge of the characters, the book would have rated higher, had I bought it which would have been less likely.  As it stands:

3.5/5 stars.  Excellent jumping on point. 

Unrated but nothing too inappropriate so probably around T for Teen. 

            Other Noteworthy Titles This Week

Hunger 1 (Marvel)

Superman Unchained: The Director’s Cut 1 (DC)

Popeye Classics 12 (IDW)

Army of Darkness Hack/Slash 1 (Dynamite/Image)

Warlord of Mars 27 (Dynamite)

Until next time, Nerd Is the New Cool, signing off…

New Comic Day: Astro City Vol. 3

Welcome to the first exciting installment of New Comic Day a new series here on the Nerd Is the New Cool blog.  For now, we are only going to be publishing this series irregularly – but always on Wednesday – until we can get it fully up and running. 

To start, I’d like to send out special thank my good friend comic book writer and novelist R.A. Jones – as well as everyone at my local comic shop Starbase 21 in Tulsa, OK – and my father.  Without their assistance this blog series may not have come about. 

This Weeks Star Comic: Astro City

I struggled with whether or not to do this in New Comic Day or in Reader’s Copy – mostly because I’m going to focus on last month’s issue rather than today’s issue. 

Issue one: 4/5 stars      Excellent jumping on point.                Rated T for Teen

While last month’s issue has a big number 1 on the cover and this month’s a number 2, Astro City is actually a fairly old title now (we’re not talking Batman or Captain America old – or even Spider-Man old – but it’s been around a little while).  The first issue of Volume 1 came out in 1995 and then to now there have been 60ish more issue over two ongoing titles, one mini- and one maxi-series, and sundry one-shots and stories in other publications.  It has had its high points (Volume 2 ½, and 4-9 collected together as Confession in TPB form) and its low points (I’m looking at you The Dark Age), but overall it has been a very good and loving look at the world of comics – some people refer to it as what it’s like to be a normal person in a super-world, other say it’s what about being a super-hero in the normal world – I try to stay away from that argument. 

All 60ish issues of the series have been written by the same writer (series creator Kurt Busiek), drawn by the same artist (Brent Anderson), and featured covers by the same painter (Alex Ross) and the lot remain in top form here.  Ross’s covers to both issue 1 and 2 are beautiful, though I preferred the variant cover featuring new character Telseth to the standard Honor Guard cover for issue 1 (Honor Guard btw is the Astro Cityverse’s premiere super-hero team – Busiek hates it when you compare Astro City characters to other company’s properties but – think of them as the Justice League/Avengers types.  Telseth, meanwhile, seems to have a bit of a Celestrial thing going on and long time comic readers will definitely notice he has some major Kirbyesque design elements). 

Other new characters to be introduced include The Broken Man and the very annoying American Chibi, but most of the regular Astro City cast at least cameos.  That another warning for new readers Astro City has a large cast of rotating characters and as the series takes place in real time it has nearly 20 years of in-title continuity piled on top of them.  It can be a lot to take in, but Busiek is very good at keeping new readers from being bogged down by too much continuity baggage.  Long time fans will enjoy the references – say to one unnamed character’s (he’s the Confessor) lack of “the protections his predecessor” had – but while new readers may not get them, they tend to take the form of local color and don’t distract from the story. 

I haven’t read today’s issue yet, but look forward to it and greatly enjoyed issue 1.  The back issues or TPBs are not required prerequisites, but would greatly add to new reader’s enjoyment of the rich mythology Busiek has created. 

            Other Noteworthy Titles This Week

DC Comics: Justice League 22 (Start of the Trinity War crossover)

IDW: Judge Dredd Classics 1 (Reprints)

Dynamite Entertainment: Dark Nights 1 (Green Hornet/Shadow crossover)