New Comic Day July 26 + Fireworks!

Thus ends the explosive posting in the effort to get caught up with "New Comic Days". Speaking of explosions, this week was the beginning of Vancouver's Celebration of light, where over the course of 4 nights, 4 countries compete in 30 minute fireworks shows. As a special treat, some photos I took of the event are included with your irregular dose of comic reviews. As another extra-special treat, this week's post will feature "Best line in the comic".

Let's start it up shall we?





Jack of Fables #1

This is a spin-off series of Fables, as you might have guessed from the title, staring Jack. Once again I remind the un-edjumicated that Fables concerns itself with storybook characters that exist in the real world. Jack (of "and the beanstalk" and "jumped over the candlestick" fame) was expelled from Fabletown and left to make his way in the world. He was great in the main series so I was looking forward to this new off-shoot.

That being said, the Jack from the main series was more of a prankster who always seemed to come up short with his schemes, whereas this Jack is a bit of a prick. He's still interesting, but his attitude is distinctly different from when he was in the main series (likely has something to do with his being expelled - natch).

The short of this isssue is that Jack gets kidnapped and relocated to basically Fables jail, though they call it a retirement home. The story is well done and told in first person through Jack. The art seems a bit sloppy at times, but hopefully will improve as the series progresses. It was also nice of Willingham, the writer, to give background information so a reader unfamiliar with the regular Fables series wouldn't feel lost.

Best line in the comic: "Well, guess what, boys and girls? We really exist, we're immortal and we've been secretly living among you for centuries. And yes, we're all better than you." See, what did I tell you? Prick.






Casanova #2

Like many people, Casanova #1 confused the hell out of me. I read it again before reading this issue and it made a wack more sense, so that's good. Another good thing is #2. We get to see Cass in a futuristic/old-fashioned spy story where he's playing the double agent. The story moves along at a brisk pace though there is alot of material here (does that make sense) and it feels longer than it's 16 pages. I don't think Fraction's statement about the issue being all about Fathers and Sons comes through but maybe a re-read will prove otherwise. I continue to believe this book has great potential. We'll see if it gets there though.

Best line in the comic: "All this potential and you flipped your shit."






Batman #655

I was really, really, really looking forward for this to come out but I was mildly disappointed even though it was still a good issue. I think it was because of the action packed Detective #821 a few weeks ago that spoiled me. This comic should have come out first. Whereas Detective had tons-o-ass-kicking, this is a more character driven story featuring Batman trying to regain the Bruce Wayne persona after being "grim-and-gritty" for the last (real-time) ten years or so. Morrison does a good job of showing the familiarity of the Bruce-Alfred friendship as well as the relationship Tim (Robin) has with his mentor. The acting Bruce does in his playboy-mode is pretty cheesey but that is how it should be. Bruce should act somewhat aloof without a care in the world. I know I would if had more money than God. Anyways, a good if not great first issue from Morrison and Kubert. Maybe I'll wait for the trade for this one...

Best line in the comic: "Look, how about I make this easy and take all of your numbers? Then everybody gets to be happy. Especially me." That Bruce. Such a player. No wonder he has a bastard kid running around.






The Next #1

This was a funky comic and bought it somewhat on a whim. It's very science-fictiony with phrases like "singularity harpoon", "hold onto a key concept", and "past the nexus point with this cluster." Not to mention that the main characters are nth dimensional beings that can manipulate matter in three dimentions at will.

Said characters (the Next) are pretty interesting though they are made up of tweaked cliches: there's the level headed leader taking the name Cindy Cindy Cindy, the smart guy Ben (short for Benjamin Jefferson State-Sponsored Thomas Alva Global Franklin Warming Baseball Cake), the destructive one Poetry Slam, the artsy guy Tweet, and a dumb guy who is essentially a dog (though he's actually "a rehearsed concept--an algorithm with some free will" - see? science fictiony!). Anyways, of course they meet up with a regular earthling and befriend her. That's really the only point of the book that takes away from the story. The girl (Monikka Wong) doesn't freak out nearly enough and takes the crazy antics the Next perform a bit too easily. However, she is portrayed to be "punk" so maybe that stereotype is more willing to accept strange transpirin' do-ins. Oh yeah Superman is in it too to investigate the rift the Next made in TTTTIIIMMMEEEE and SSSSSPPPPAAAACCCCEEEE!

Best line in the comic: "At least the africanized killer bees never showed up, and aren't they glad."



So what have we learned today? That new comics are good. But reading new comics by the light of fireworks? Difficult! Both in one day however: AWESOME.