Indie Corner - 08/28/2013

Each week I'll spotlight a couple independent books I've read and may have flown under people's radar.

TMNT: KARAI

TMNT Micro Series: Karai

This is what I've been wanting!  We've been watching Karai a long time, and in this issue hints finally turn into confirmations.  Karai making plans, Karai versus Leo, ugh, it's so good.  Every new issue I state the Turtles series is great.  This is another fine example.  And issue 25 of the main series out Wednesday!

100 BULLETS: BROTHER LONO

As a writer, I both love and hate Azzarello.  He's so damn good.  Not a whole lots happens this issue, but pieces are coming together, everything gets fleshed out a bit, and the signature styles of Azzarello and Risso are all over this.  If I had to, I'd recommend skipping the series and waiting for the trade.  This will read much better that way.

CONAN

I'd never read a Conan comic before Wood started this series.  When I was announced I walked into my local shop and said, "I heard Wood and Cloonan are doing a Conan book.  I need that."  Becky didn't stick around, and Wood's time ends at issue 25.  I find myself dreading the end in ways I never expected.  Conan and Belit are amazing together, and this issue is a great example of that.  A new adventure begins here, but there's only a few more issues until it's all over.

CHEW vol. 7.

I love this series.  The ridiculousness, the characters, the tiny things hidden in the backgrounds of panels.  Volume 7 moves some things forward in a big way.  Olive, Savoy, the Vampire, and even Tony himself.  Lots going on, and ramping up to even bigger things down the line.  I basically recommend this series to everyone I encounter.

CHIN MUSIC

This book could really benefit from a "Previously..." info box.  There's some things that happen in this issue, but I'd have to go back and re-read the first issue to understand any of it.  I thought I'd be able to do just that before posting this, but then came down with some sort of fever/exhaustion that's wiped me out.

Indie Corner - 08/21/2013

Each week I'll spotlight a couple independent books I've read and may have flown under people's radar.

SIX GUN GORILLA

A tiny bit more subdued than last issue, letting the plot develop and building the world(s) with political statements on the front line and corporate statements coming from the TV control room.  Then the action kicks off again the final pages.  Really looking forward to next issue.  This is probably one of the rare series I buy in singles and again in the eventual collected trade.  It's good.

KILLJOYS

I actually misplaced issue two until a short while ago, so I read two and three back-to-back.  I dig the series, but am hard pressed to tell you why.  Art by Becky Cloonan is certainly part of it, but the book feels like an independent movie.  By that I mean, the story certainly isn't being spoon-fed to us.  We have to work for it and try to piece things together ourselves.  I enjoy that, perhaps, in this case, more than I normally would.

GHOSTED

Things get interesting.  Still, not much has actually happened, but things are certainly building, and I continue to be intrigued.  This would be an excellent candidate for trade-waiting since you'd be able to get more story in a single sitting.  I'll keep checking out individual issues until either something happens or I get bored and drop it.  Bonus: there's a preview at the back for Velvet, from Brubaker and Epting.  I was looking forward to it before, and am even more so now.

IT CAME!

I picked this up last week because I'd read something good about it just before leaving for the comic shop.  Turns out, it's not that good.  Mildly amusing, sure, but not as funny as it thinks it is.  Also, too heavily laced with English linguistic ticks.  Skip.

TEN GRAND

Lots of interesting things going on here.  And more than that, this issue made me feel things - sadness, tension, intrigue.  Enough to make me realize that doesn't happen often.  I honestly wasn't sure I'd still be into this series, but the last few pages alone are enough to make me buy more.  Really curious where this is going next.  Recommended.

Indie Corner - 08/14/2013

Sheltered 02

Each week I'll spotlight a couple independent books I've read and may have flown under people's radar.

CYBER FORCE
I've been a fan of Cyber Force since the beginning, and will be the first to admit its been a rough couple of decades. I still think the premise and team are a story worth telling, though I'm not sure this series is it. I Kickstarted this, way back when, but this isn't the series I was hoping for. I'll pick up one more issue to see where this is going but I think the damage might already be done. Check out the Cyber Force / Hunter-Killer series from a few years ago instead. That book was awesome.

SHELTERED
Hysteria all around as things begin to fall apart. This is a taught, high-tension, relatively quick read. It's grabbed me and hasn't let go. Recommended.

ROBOCOP: LAST STAND
Less happens than I would have liked, but the stage is set by the end of the issue. That may just be the nature of a six-issue mini series. Fortunately, we see Robocop... and he seems to delight in punching his way through things to grab people. I'll at least check out the next issue to see where this is going.

THE LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE
I don't know which of the creators came up with the human water fountain, but it's both disgusting and beautiful. This issue wraps the current storyline while setting up the next on its final pages. It's good, as all Luther Strode issues are, but those images are going to haunt me for awhile. I recommend the eventual trade.

TRILLIUM
I finally read this last night and can say... it's alright. I'm surprised by all the praise this book has recieved since largely nothing happens. It's vaguely reminiscent of Aronofsky's The Fountain , and that's about all I have to say. I'll stick around for a few issues to see where this is going but was expecting more after everything I'd heard.

SATELLITE SAM
I'm still enjoying this Sorkin-esque read, though from the comments I've seen, many people dropped off after the first issue. For me, I think the series would read better in trade form so I can keep better track of the many characters and their personal agendas, though there's a character page at the front that does an excellent job of this.

The only book I didn't get to read this week was Ten Grand, so I'll get that next week.  I may post and back-date some more of these later since I've been doing it for a few weeks on Google+.

Indie Corner - 08/06/2013

Indie Corner
Each week I'll spotlight a couple independent books I've read and may have flown under people's radar.

Collider #1

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
I'm in love with this book.  So many awesome and terrible things are happening, I'm in simultaneous joy and dread.  At one point I didn't want to turn the page, because I feared who was holding that sword.  I did, reluctantly, then had to shout and briefly shake my fist at the sky before diving back into the action.  Raph!  Shredder!  Splinter!  Hob!  Mikey and Slash!  It's so good!  Every Turtles fan should be reading this.

FIVE GHOSTS
This series ends decently enough, dropping enough threads for future stories.  I thought the first issue was great, with the rest okay, but not mind-blowing.  The trouble for something like this, is with so many independent #1s out now or in the near future, if this returns, the creators are going to have to up their game if it wants to stick around.

COLLIDER
Great first issue.  Good story, great visuals, believable characters, mystery.  Really, what more could you ask for?  I'll be signing up for issues 2 - 4 and see how I feel after that, but it's off to a fantastic start.  Recommended.

THE KILLER vol. 4
It's been awhile since I read the first volumes in this series.  I don't recall why, but had assumed after reading vol. 3 that that was the end of the series.  Something about the cultural pervasiveness of trilogies?  I don't know, but I was super excited earlier this year when vol. 4 was solicited.  This volume is a bit more political than I remember the earlier books being, but still excellent.  And we finally find out the titular killer's name!  This gives me hope there will be a steady stream of books to come.