Last Week's Comics Today - 01/30/2017

The Justice League / Suicide Squad ramble below could have gone much longer.

Pick of the Week

Saga #42 - This issue ends with several all-black pages.  I don't know if those are really to hammer home what just happened or to allow your brain a slight mental break before returning to the real world after what just happened.  At one point I said, "They killed [redacted]!" and then tried to explain to her both that scene and the final scene.  She was more concerned with The Stalk.  Maybe someday she'll read it and understand.  Then we can share in the goodness and sadness.  Damn this book for being so good.

Honorable Mention

Aliens Defiance #9 - I'm not sure if it's surprising or expected, but things continue to get worse for the small crew of this beleaguered ship.  When faced with very likely dying very soon vs maybe dying sometime later, they choose the latter and let loose the alien queen they've had on ice.  So now they'll have to deal with that and it won't be nearly as "easy" as it was the first time.  Once again, an amazing read.

Briggs Land #6 - This tends to be near the bottom of my weekly read pile -- not as any sort of indication of quality, as it's outstanding work, just that I need to be prepared to read it.  I'm not sure if that's been the case the entire time, but definitely since the Nazi uniforms issue.  Anyway, multiple plans are hatched or set in motion here setting the stage both short- and long-term.  This is a book that's incredibly well executed.  I'm looking forward to the forthcoming TV series so the comic can hopefully reach a wider audience.

Ether #3 - There's a hand drawn map in here that reminded me of Weirdworld.  There's enough similarities between the titles that for anyone that enjoyed the Secret Wars title, I recommend picking this up.  While that heavier on action, this is a murder mystery with a gut-punch of humanity at the beginning or end of each issue.

Frostbite #5 - The cliffhangers in this series are great by themselves, but even better is how the characters get out of them in the next issue.  It's really well done.  If last issue weren't enough, Vic shows she's nowhere near helpless.  The cast should arrive at Alcatraz next issue and what happens there will be anyone's guess but it should definitely be interesting and make for a fun read.

Everything Else

Abe Sapien v8 - The end of the series snuck up on me.  I mean, I probably read about it months ago whenever the solicits came out, but must have promptly forgotten about it.  It's been clear for a while that BPRD is building toward a finale and as much as I'd like to see it, I'm a little in denial about the whole thing.  We learn a lot in this volume about Abe's early years, about how he became Abe (even if you think you already know), and where he fits in the broader picture.  It's fantastic and makes me want to re-read the entire Mignola-verse to refresh my memory.  For anyone that read Hellboy but not BPRD or Abe, you're missing a significant chunk of the story.

Detective #949 - This two issue arc went well enough that I'm signing up for Batwoman Rebirth #1.  Kate's father is in a completely different place than when I last read, but I'm not sure I want to go back to read how all that went down.  It's good and I'm looking forward to reading more Batwoman.

Justice League Suicide Squad #6 - It's a better ending than these things usually get, and it's satisfactory in places, but my brain wouldn't stop reminding me of certain aspects.  Eclipso "unlocks the darkness within" ...which only manifests as violence, for some reason.  With all the talk of "secret desires" I kept thinking sex was being felt out, and I understand why, but there are other base instincts that could have been represented and the variety would have been nice.  The eclipse itself reminded me heavily of Forever Evil, especially given the cast similarities.  Finally, there's the large-scale destruction.  The Earth has faced a fair bit of global damage due to metahuman fighting in recent months, which reminded me of Hitch's opening Justice League arc and how - unbelievably - only one person died.  Surely more people died here, but I don't know if it will ever be addressed or even commented on in either title, especially given Hitch's detachment from this event.  All I'm saying is, it'd be nice to see some consequences.  There's constant fighting, constant destruction, but hardly any rebuilding or downtime.  For me, that's where the real fatigue of events and "widescreen" stems from.

I've gone off topic long enough.  I'm interested in Batman forming his own league and have no comment regarding the last page.

Reborn #4 - Millar gets Bonnie and her father out of the scrape from the end of last issue, then gets them into and out of two more before this issue wraps.  It's a wild ride and I love seeing Capullo draw all of the craziness.

Teen Titans #4 - I can't quite put my finger on what but something about this feels off.  It's a fine read, kinda typical monthly superhero stuff, which isn't really my usual bag.  There's just something about Damian here that makes me wish only Gleason and Tomasi would write him.  They get him in a way that makes this feel hollow.  Ra's too, if I really think about it.  Hopefully I can enjoy the book more when the entire arc isn't focused on him.  Otherwise, I'll probably drop this in a few months.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #66 - Raph and Angel search for Alopex in Alaska.  It wasn't until that sentence I realized how many female character names start with "A."  It's a good read that moves Alopex forward in a significant way, even if it does seem implausible to borrow a helicopter in New York to fly to Alaska.  I'll just let that one slide.  Sophie Campbell is back and does an outstanding job illustrating everything.

Thief Of Thieves v06 - Honestly, this seemed a bit rushed.  The job within the comic, not the comic itself.  There was a lot of setup, virtually no planning, and then suddenly the plan was getting executed.  I feel like this title has historically taken more time to flesh those events out, with at least one storyline going on the side.  There was no story going on other than the job itself.  Still good, still highly enjoyable, but a minor mis-step I think.  Oh, and an ending that ensures I'll be back for more.

Indie Corner - 12/31/2014

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

THIEF OF THIEVES v4

It's been a while since I read the previous volumes, but I don't recall those having this many bodies in them.  Volume 3 ended with Conrad in a tight spot, but he quickly gets out of that and almost as quickly, gets into a new one.  And like I said, this book litters the landscape with bodies.  I thought I'd read Diggle was leaving the book, but he's still listed for upcoming issues, and this pleases me greatly.  He's at the top of his game here, with Martinbrough and Lucas his perfect accomplices.  Recommended for anyone that enjoyed Diggle's The Losers.

Lobster Johnson: Get the Lobster

LOBSTER JOHNSON: GET THE LOBSTER

Sometimes I write these things and I don't say anything about what actually happened in the book itself.  This isn't one of those.  In this book, The Lobster fights a cyborg gorilla with a knife.  He has the knife, not the gorilla.  I mean, come on.  This has no bearing on the story whatsoever, but IS incredibly awesome.

Lacking the supernatural elements from previous volumes but ramping up the pulp, The Lobster battles for his very existence against criminals, the police, and one determined reporter.  Continuing story elements from previous volumes, Mignola and Arcudi are building a series that rivals Hellboy or B.P.R.D. for depth and breadth.  Tonci Zonjic draws this world so perfectly, I hope they're able to keep him drawing future volumes for years to come.

It's been a while since I read the previous volumes, but this may have been my favorite.  There are many reasons for this, but I'll single out the the reporter investigating The Lobster.  Her research leads to two possible ancestors, both of which are amusing while offering insight into what may have forged the mysterious title character.  All the while, Wald and Silog are waiting in the wings.  Barely in this book, but their presence and machinations hint toward they're return.  The clock is marching inexorably toward one fateful date in 1939, and I don't want to miss a second of it.

REX MUNDI v1

In my continuing efforts to make it through my to-read pile, we arrive at Rex Mundi.  Purchased years ago, when everyone was talking about it, I've finally read the first volume.  The back of the book is filled with quotes from people you're familiar with, all raving about it.  At this point, four sentences in, I feel like I'm stalling and should just come out and say: I didn't like it.  Set in an alternate 1930s France, Rex Mundi revolves around the investigation of a theft, which quickly adds two murders, and at least one shadowy organization.  None of which is resolved, or even shows the hope of resolution, by the end of the first volume.  The only way I can describe the art is with the word "inconsistent."  While architecture looks great, the main character is six-heads tall in one panel eight in another, and 10-heads tall in yet another.  The back of the book features a separate 38-page complete story with a murder that gets solved.  If only the main story could have moved that quickly.

POWERS: BUREAU v2

Another year, another trade.  Good news: Powers is still awesome.  Saying much of anything that happens would be a spoiler, and there are some huge reveals and consequences in this collection.  The news that Powers is getting relaunched (again) has already been revealed, and if you recall the reason for the last renumbering, you might be able to guess what happens here (though probably not).

Since I can't talk about the story at all, there are a few things I feel like need mentioning.  1) One of the last reveals is so huge, it makes me wonder if we're nearing the end of Powers.  Not that I'm saying Bendis can't, but it would be difficult to make a bigger story than what's coming.  2) I don't know if I'm slipping or Oeming, but he regularly switches from using a one-page layout to two-page layout.  It wasn't until now that I've had a problem following the panel progression.  Thankfully, it wasn't often, but it was enough that I thought it worth mentioning.

ZAYA

I bought Zaya (from http://stuartngbooks.com) based on the art in the preview pages and interesting-sounding premise.  The art is rather good, and the story is pretty interesting, but the two never quite work to create a great comic.  Things happen in the story that are easy enough to understand, but I didn't get the overall story until the very end.  Similarly, the art in individual panels is a visual feast, but doesn't always help tell the story.  Part of problem, I think, is the inconsistent use of sound effects.  Gunfire and explosions don't get sound effects, until late in the book when suddenly they do, but stairs retracting into a ship does.  I'm very curious to see what these creators - a writer from France and artist from China - come up with in the future, but can't recommend this book.

THE QUICK AND DIRTY LIFE OF FRITZ FARGO
I don't read webcomics.  Not even ones I like.  However, I will sometimes binge on a webcomic I enjoy if I happen to be bored.  Immediately after that binge, I forget to read the next installment.  It happens every time.  I just finished a binge of The Quick and Dirty Life of Fritz Fargo, written and drawn by Sarah Fowlie.  It's a bit like Scott Pilgrim in that the title character is kind of a jerk, there's a band that doesn't really play much, and the story is really about the interactions between all the characters.  Oh, and it's good.  Fowlie captured my interest early on with the antics of John and Eddie, slowly expanding the cast to include many other interesting and unique characters.  The art and writing have remained consistently good for the 4+ years she's been crafting this tale, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention her lettering.  There's an expressiveness to the lettering, a daring, that's absent from mainstream comics.  It injects life into 2D, black-and-white characters in a way I haven't seen in a long time.  If you're into webcomics, I recommend checking it out.