By Isaac Mills, Miles Baker and Owen K. Craig
You know the drill: we use a random number generator that selects random comics for us to review. We then blindly read whatever it chooses, regardless of issue, publisher, or knowledge of prior events. Enjoy.
Isaac’s Book
The Trials of Shazam #11
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Mauro Cascioli
DC Comics, 2008
Unlike most random comics, this is a book that I’ve actually been reading throughout its run, so it wasn’t hard for me to get into the story. For the average reader, it would also be easy. Huh?!? That’s not what I’m supposed to write, but it’s true. The concept behind the series is pretty straightforward. The protagonist must pass through trials to gain powers. Shazam powers. The title really spells it out for you. While there is no recap page at the front, they take a “page” from old school comics and explain everything going on through the dialogue pretty quickly. A complaint I’ve had about this series in the past is that it feels really disconnected from the DC universe in general, and I’d bet a lack of guest stars really set the book back in sales; well, they’ve fixed that here with guest stars galore. Appearances by both Shadowpact, and the Justice League (both are superhero teams, in case you weren’t aware) add a cast of characters that brighten up the book — not much of a trick for the long underwear men to accomplish, but I appreciate it.
The art by Cascioli is gorgeous. I guess you’d call it painted? I’m not sure on that one, as I’m not a big art guy who knows all the proper terms and whatnot, but it’s not your usual comic art inside and out. They had used this kind of style on all the previous issues, but then-series artist Howard Porter felt kind of bland in the role — which is weird since he did such an amazing job partnered up with Grant Morrison on his JLA run about a decade ago.
While the previous issues have had a tendency to drag, the series has been finally picking up steam, so if you are at all interested, I recommend picking up this #11 issue and the upcoming #12 to get some fun stuff out of your comic reading.
Miles’ Book
Crickets #2
By Sammy Harkham
Drawn & Quarterly, 2008
Crickets and I were off to a good start went I read the following text on the cover: “Generals Pregnant Teenagers Cartoonists Golems Prophets Boners.” And this 20-page collection of shorts did live up to that.
The first story, “Napoleon,” is my favourite of the bunch. In this, Harkham’s art is at its most controlled and clean, the writing is succinct, and it’s very funny. The best is a short panel between Napoleon and his wife:
Napoleon: I have to go, darling
Wife: Go?
Napoleon: To Sicily, darling.
Wife: … but we only got married two days ago
Napoleon: I’ll write.
The second story, “Black Death,” seems to be a continuation of a comic I would like to read from the beginning, because what is here is unsatisfactory. Well, that’s a little harsh. There are some enjoyable jokes, but the odyssey aspect has the potential to make this story great and there isn’t enough material in these pages to get there..
The rest of the book consists of one or two-page stories that vary in enjoyability. There are two “poor me, I’m a cartoonist” stories that I really could have done with out. Seriously, guys and girls, you’re published authors — I don’t feel sorry for you, no matter how little your father cares about what you do. My dad isn’t going to read this review; he doesn’t care, and you don’t see me including that in any other review but this one.
The “slice of life” stories are kinda so-so, but I think they might have been more interesting if you were there. I’d say Harkham’s strengths are when he plays with more fantastical, ridiculous elements — which also play to his strengths as an artist. Overall, it’s worth a look if you’re into D&Q’s stranger comics.
Owen’s Book
Futurama Comics #35
Written by Ian Boothby
Pencilled by James Lloyd
Bongo Comics, 2008
Loving Futurama as much as I do, it was impossible not to have a smile on my face as I read this issue of Futurama Comics, which is based on the episode “Less Than Hero” — in which Fry, Leela and Bender become superheroes. As far as I’m aware, it’s a less than popular episode. While I kinda like it, I recognize that it’s fairly scattered and random. This comic is quite similar: random and funny, but certainly not one of the best.
The art looks just like the TV show, with the characters as expressive and funny as they ever were. Personally, I like Fry squinting to read something just like he would on the show. The comic has a great sense of humour about the characters, embarrassing them such as killing Fry right before he reappears completely naked, which is drawn in a pose to make it every bit as hilarious as it should be.
When it comes down to it, I had a lot of fun reading this comic. Sure, the show is back (sorta). So this comic doesn’t have the monumental task of filling the Futurama-sized void in my life that used exist, but the fun of seeing these characters this little bit extra (and written in character to boot) is always welcome. And that double-end gag was very funny.
Hmm, I guess this was my first review here? Long time ago.
And when Freddy Freeman isn’t around, everyone should be asking “Where’s Freddy?”
Remember when the Captain Marvel family was cool and then they fucked it in the ear with a rusty switchblade for no goddamn reason? Now Capt. Marvel is a stupid wizard that we never see, Mary Marvel was last seen as a dominatrix with a bad haircut, and Freddy Freeman is the new Captain Marvel, possibly, but it’s hard to tell because he hasn’t done anything except get kidnapped and slapped around by a non-powered human being.
And who the hell knows what Black Adam is doing these days…busy being a statue? Way to mess up a bunch of cool characters, DC.
As far as I know Black Adam and uhh his wife are both still statues.
We haven’t seen Freddy since he was captured by a normal human who then sewed his lips shut.
BUT Captain Marvel isn’t still stuck as a wizard at the Rock of Eternity! The original wizard Shazam came back, was unimpressed with how Captain Marvel and Mary Marvel had conducted themselves, and so stripped them of their powers while vowing to go after Freddy next (I think).
And I think Billy and Mary are homeless again. :(
I vaguely remember some of that when skimming through the same comics that revealed that Black Adam was a statue. Seems lame. A lame sweeping-under-the rug of some pretty important characters. Now if we can all just go back to forgetting that ever happened it will almost seem like good writers were at work here.