Indie Corner - 09/04/2013

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

LAZARUS 3

So much done with so little.  There's a number of silent or nearly silent panels here, but each conveys volumes.  Family machinations going on at every level and all of it is perfect.  Seriously, I can't praise this book enough.  Easily my favorite new series.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 25

With the number of things that happen in this book, I will surprise myself by saying this is a bit of a breather before the storm.  The last few issues have been nuts and I've loved every second.  This issue moves a huge number of pieces on the board - Hob and Splinter, Casey's dad, Casey and April, Raph goes nuts for a bit, there's a call-back to the annual, the Savant return, there's something up with Leo, the list goes on and on.  And that doesn't even include the last page insanity.  Things are about to explode in a major way.  I recommend you get on board.

UNCANNY 3

I came into this expecting Hellblazer-Diggle or Losers-Diggle, but issue three has turned the series into... Heroes?  I don't know.  Higher level players than our protagonist are introduced, but I'm finding it very hard to care.  This will be the last issue I pick up.

COLLIDER FBP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS 2

This book is nuts, and I completely love it.  Before issue one, the solicit text had me slightly concerned because it sounded like _Fringe_ which didn't exactly go well, but it's totally not that.  There's insane sci-fi stuff going on with beautiful art, but really there's believable characters, a deepening mystery and killer cliffhangers.  Highly recommended.

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.

Indie Corner - 07/31/2013

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

LAZARUS

Six-Gun Gorilla #2 (of 6)

Wow, I think I'm in this for a long haul.  No decision yet on whether to switch to trades, like +Charles Dowd or not, but it's good.  Much like Uncanny, further down, this issue is more mystery than answer, but the difference is - I don't care.  Here, I'm willing to wait for the answers because the family drama is so well written I'm already hooked.  You definitely check it out.

SIX GUN GORILLA
Issue two is even better than issue one.  Ridiculous things are afoot.  Beautiful, well-written, ridiculous things.  Recommended for anyone interested in comics on the fun side.

GHOSTBUSTERS
I don't have a whole lot to say about this issue, except that I wish there were more issues to read.  This spends most of its time wrapping up the current story thread, but does manage to show snippets of what's to come.  Afterward, I found myself hoping for a TMNT- or MLP-style micro series, just to get more content in my hands.

ROCKETEER & SPIRIT: PULP FRICTION
If you think about it at all, you can probably guess exactly what happens in this first issue.  Criminals in Central City and LA are working together, necessitating the need for the Spirit and Rocketeer to meet-up.  Misunderstanding leads to fisticuffs, leads to begrudging team-up.  But we're talking about Mark Waid, so it's a wonderful pulp-y read.  And the art perfectly matches these two heroes.

UNCANNY
I read one review that said issue two isn't as good as issue one, and I find myself in agreement.  It's okay, but we get more mysteries and no answers.  Unsure where this book is headed, but I'll stick around for another issue or two to find out.

Indie Corner - 07/23/2013

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

GHOSTED
Interesting, though too early to tell if it's my thing or not.  Most of the first issue was spent establishing the main character, being given a job, and assembling his team.  Character introductions all-around.  Will definitely be checking out the next issue, and will decide from there.

INVINCIBLE
Dan and I always speculate on what will happen next in Invincible.  We're always wrong, because Kirkman is full of surprises, and this issue proves that in spectacular fashion.  Eve and Angstrom, Invincible vs Invincibles... fantastic.

TMNT: ALOPEX
I take every opportunity to talk about the IDW Turtles series, because I love it.  The main series is great, and the micro series expands the world while simultaneously further developing characters.  They're perfect companions.  Here, we finally learn about Alopex, the white fox that's been showing up since practically the beginning.  And, oh man, those that three panels.

DAY MEN
Kind of a dense issue, and I mean that in the best possible way.  Some books you can read in a matter of minutes and quickly forget.  For a first issue, there's plenty here to latch onto.  Mystery, action, non-sparkly vampires, and both the main character and the series' world in general are well fleshed out here.  I'll definitely be picking up the next few issues.

HALF PAST DANGER
World War II, Nazis, a secluded Pacific island, and dinosaurs.  Issue three was out last week, but I actually read all three issues over the weekend.  I'd been buying it, with the expectation it would be good, but hadn't actually read any yet.  It's good, though the art could be a little better, particularly the faces.  Pulpy goodness.