How often is it that you actually get the opportunity to uncontrollably laugh out loud? I mean, with the stresses of our everyday lives it is often difficult to focus on a story and let go of reality for a moment to just escape and enjoy ourselves. Well, if you have a moderately twisted sense of humor, I have stumbled upon a solution to this quandary. Jason Howard and Ryan Ottley’s Sea Bear and Grizzly Shark is one of the most hilarious books I have ever read in my entire life. It captivates your attention and tickles your funny bone to the point of belly-aching laughter. In fact, the first time I read this I was hysterically laughing in public so uncontrollably that I began receiving off-glances from strangers.

I am not going to lie, this comic is not for the kids; it is rather violent and somewhat crude. But if you are an adult who can laugh at people being eaten by confused creatures and fairly rude jokes, this book is definitely up your alley. This work is the ultimate comedy for a strange sense of humor.

The book is split into two separate stories, the first being Howard’s Sea Bear. To me, this story seemed reminiscent of Jaws with a bizarre back-story revenge plot eventually incorporating the genealogical progression and cultish worship of the Sea Bear. I cannot fail to mention that it is horrendously humorous to see a bear jump out of the water and attack people. You cannot go wrong with this strange concept and the art provides fluid motion throughout the tale. Maybe I’m just a weirdo but it makes my day.

Although Sea Bear is mind-bogglingly world-rocking, the second story, Grizzly Shark, is my favorite of the two. I could not stop laughing while eating up this story like it was a freshly baked batch of cookies. Maybe I just favor wilderness and back-woods characters over the ocean but seeing a shark swoop down from a tree, picking people off one by one, makes me giggle like a crazed lunatic. Along with this out-of-the-norm concept the main character, Donnie and his father are a wonderful treat as they consistently crack jokes about the brutal consumption of Donnie’s legs. Anybody that can appreciate distorted humor will be tearing up with laughter. And again, the artwork complements the story very well adding to the story’s nonchalant humor with its cartoonish style and beautiful gray tones done by Cliff Rathburn.

I highly recommend picking up this issue. It is a gem that may have gone unnoticed if it weren’t for the amazingly bizarre lull of the title. I can’t say that I wasn’t a bit skeptical at first. This comic could’ve been really good or really bad; but I couldn’t help myself and I am very thankful I picked it up because I hadn’t laughed like that in years and I must say that it instantly became one of my all-time favorites.

Imagine an apocalyptic disaster holding similar qualities to a zombie outbreak. Got that? Well take out zombies and replace them with a complete blackout in which the only light that occurs has the capability to brutally destroy you. So basically, you have a bunch of people bonding with each other and scrambling around for safety, blindfolded. Sound interesting? Well call me a dork but when you toss in some good old intellectual stimulation and gore, it becomes even better.

Nathan Edmondson and Brett Weldele’s The Light, in my opinion, is an incredibly rich series that has the capability to entertain and shock as well as stimulate deep thought. It surrounds itself with homage to mass communications studies spliced with a horror story that leaves you waiting for more at the end of each issue but also questioning our reliance on technology in our everyday lives. Along with these themes woven throughout the plotline, Edmondson begins each issue with an excerpt from classical literature to set the foundation for what is to come. How can any nerd not be tickled by references to the greats? I know I love it.

In a nutshell, the story focuses around Coyle, a deadbeat father who is attempting his best to protect his teenage daughter, Avery, from the light’s ability to destroy her. Although their relationship is complicated and tense, the character development throughout the series shows us that Coyle loves his daughter and wants what’s best for her even if he doesn’t exactly know how to be a good person. As typical in fight-or-flight situations, the good or bad shines through in people and throughout this story we have the capability of seeing a bad man show his nurturing tendencies. So not only do we have a series of intellect and horror, we have an interesting sub-plot through the transformative nature of the characters and their relationships. How can you go wrong? Layers are nice.

However, it is not only the intensely indulgent and stimulating writing that makes this current series enjoyable. Weldele’s art is wonderful and provides an organic unity to this work that drives the overall tone of the story. Every panel provides concrete imagery that pairs perfectly with Edmondson’s writing and complements the overall ideas of the work. Not to mention, it is down right beautifully done with contrasts of warm and cold colors and shadowing that creates rich texture and aestheticism. These two creators go together like peanut butter and jelly.

At four out of five issues in, I sincerely recommend picking up this series before we reach our conclusion. Experiencing the anticipation of the story to come just adds to its majestic tendencies. Come and get it before it sells out because lately, it’s flying off the shelves.

CBGB #1
Published by BOOM! Studios

Ask any ten people what “punk rock” is and you’re liable to get ten different answers. Any music nerd worth their salt are bound to mention the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Black Flag, the Dead Kennedys, or even bands like Minor Threat, all groups affiliated with a specific time, a specific region and a specific scene. What’s hard to debate, however, are actual dates. And by that token, New York has England, California and Washington, DC all beat to the punk rock punchbowl.

To prove it, BOOM! Studios has released issue one (of four) of CBGB (the comic!). This anthology comprises stories set around NY punk’s ground zero, the legendary (and now defunct) CBGB. Back in the 70s, when the Bowery was a legitimately dangerous place to be, proprietor Hilly Kristal opened his little bar, anticipating country music and bluegrass to be the next hot urban trend. He was way off, and in a last ditch effort to populate his establishment, he handed the stage over to pretty much anybody that walked through the door.

This is all explained nicely in the first story of CBGB #1, A NYC Punk Carol. Although mining the Charles Dickens standard is about the most trite maneuver a storyteller can make, writer Kieron Gillen and artist Marc Ellerby handle the adaptation with sufficient charm. Drawn in something of an Adult Swim style, the short centers on Stooge, the front man of a band he’s deemed too technically proficient to satisfy his purist agenda. After downing a bottle of brown liquor, Stooge is given a crash course in CBGB and punk rock’s shared history by the spirits of Past, Present and Future, all at once. The spirits’ bickering is a highlight, and the story culminates in the most succinct and accurate summation of punk rock I’ve ever seen. You’ll know it when you see it.

Next up, eight pages of The Helsinki Syndrome. When a young punk rocker dresses inappropriately for his uncle’s funeral, his punishment is to clean out the deceased’s apartment for his parents. There he finds a strange connection between his uncle and the titular dive, which he investigates with a girlfriend. The only problem with this story is that it’s self-contained. Sam Humphries and Rob G have crafted an intriguing tale (not to mention a stunning stage presence with the uncle), one that seems to hint at more to come. It wastes a huge amount of potential, and would be better suited as the first chapter of a serial, not a one-off curiosity.

CBGB’s forays into marketing and merchandising seem at odds with the musical genre it helped to nurture, but it was always the most recognizable brand name in the scene. The first nest of punk rock in the Big Apple was clearly the Mercer Arts Center, where the likes of the New York Dolls and Suicide first stated biting the ankles of the rock establishment. But no New York punk rock institution – not even the venerable Max’s Kansas City – can ever hope to compete with those four iconic letters. CBGB might not have been there first, but it did stick around the longest. And to prove it, here’s a comic book.

After a few weeks of hoopla surrounding the comic and film announcements at San Diego Comic Con, it’s nice to know that another new comic day is upon us.  As usual, I can’t cover all of the new titles here so check our ‘new releases’ page for a complete listing.  Here are just a few of the new books I’d like you to be aware of this week:

1) American Vampire #5

Chances are good that if you’ve been in the store over the past several months you’ve heard me or one of my Heroes cohorts praising this title.  For those who think this might just be another of the many vampire books that have jumped on the undead bandwagon, you’d be wrong.  Author Scott Snyder offers a new take on the vampire mythology that returns the creatures to their dark and vicious origins.  Throw in the stylized art of Raphael Albuquerque who continues to illustrate the two sections of the book in two distinct art styles, and you have a really talented creative team working on a book that deserves every bit of the praise it’s receiving.  Another reason to give this book a try?  Stephen King has written the backup story in each of the issues thus far, marking perhaps the first time he’s written a serialized story based on characters he didn’t create!  Issue five wraps up the first story arc of the series and should tie up some loose ends and shine a light on the next storyline.

2) Artifacts #1

This series is being billed as an event 5 years in the making and one which is said to be remaking the characters in the Top Cow universe.  At the same time, early publicity is saying that this issue is a good jumping on point for new readers.  So if you’re a fan of older stories of Witchblade and the Darkness, or just curious about the characters in general you might have some interest in checking this one out.  Veteran writer Ron Marz is at the reins of this one, with artist Michael Broussard handling the art.  These characters remain popular properties, and it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if this one sells quickly.

3) Four Eyes TP vol. 1

This first collection from Joe Kelly and Max Fiumara collects the first four issues of their acclaimed and hard to find original series.  If you haven’t heard of this book, it has the unique premise of combining depression-era America with dragons!  That might sound a little strange to some, but this book came in under the radar and was a quick seller the first go round.  Aside from the acclaim the creators garnered on this title, they might be more recently recognized for their excellent work in introducing a new Rhino in Amazing Spider-man.  Kelly’s been around for a little while – remember he wrote a nice chunk of the first Deadpool ongoing series – and he’s gotten back to form recently.  Fiumara is definitely an up-and-comer whose art deserves appreciation.  You might have trouble finding all the Four Eyes individual issues, so this is the best place to jump on board this good book.

4) Thor: The Mighty Avenger #2

Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee return with the second issue of their excellent take on Thor.  The first issue was one of my favorite comics of recent weeks.  And while this is an all-ages title, don’t assume that means this reading of the character will be cute or silly. While it does appeal to younger readers, Langridge and Samnee bring some of the old Lee and Kirby fun back to the character, which adult readers should also appreciate.

5)  The Marvels Project: Birth of the Super Heroes HC

For those of you who didn’t pick up this series the first time around, here’s your chance to see one of Marvel’s best in a glorious hardcover format.  This book is worth adding to your library for a number of reasons.  Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting followed up their momentum on Captain America by taking on the early years of Marvel heroes and exploring new aspects that we hadn’t seen before.  Though the book has a large scope it’s successful because the creators don’t get lost in the scale, but focus on the individual characters as they deal with worldwide upheaval and their increasing self-awareness of their abilities.  We’ve seen several books in the past that deal with Marvels early days.  Some readers might have ignored this book for that very reason.  But Brubaker and Epting dug a little deeper into the characters themselves, while still linking Marvel’s history into a nice linear structure.  There’s no multiverses or alternate realities here, just two creators with respect for the past who tell a well-rounded tale that’s as reliant on history as it is nostalgia.

That’s the spotlight for this week!   As I said, this is only a few of the many new books released today.  Let us know what you read this week that you really enjoyed or were surprised by.  We on the Heroes Staff are a group that appreciates a wide variety of comics, but we like to hear what you’re reading too!

Adapted/Illustrated by Darwyn Cooke

IDW Publishing, 2010

Initially sold at WonderCon some few months back and finally released this past Wednesday this book acts as a prelude to Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit due out in the fall.  This story will be included in that book.

So why buy this?

For one thing, the format.  Coming in at a gigantunormous 8×12, Cooke’s artwork looks crisper and cleaner somehow.  This was true of his artwork in DC: The New Frontier when it was presented in the Absolute format.  You feel enveloped by it, like you’re sitting in the diner booth and plotting the heist alongside the characters.  I’ve fallen in love with the oversized format recently with King City and last year’s Kick Drum Comix (found in our Indie Section!)  I think this is the best use of it yet.

Really you guys, here’s the thing, The Man with the Getaway Face; I think it’s better than The Hunter and I looooooved The Hunter.  This though, this was just so…economical.  It’s amazing in its conciseness.  Every choice in story presentation is the 100 percent right choice.

That opening title sequence, for example, of Parker getting the bandages taken off his face after his (off-screen) plastic surgery.  It’s presented from his/our point of view. It starts at complete black and then panel by panel ribbons of blackness are snipped off like the ribbons of a bandage with the appropriate scissor snip sound effect.   As these ribbons are cut off we get the creative credits but new  words are coming into view and eventually reveal the story’s title.  Then the next page we and Parker are gazing at his new face in the mirror in a one page minimalist splash.  The story has got you now because you’re in it with Parker.

The Hunter was a buildup; a gradual unfurling of plot and information because it had 140 pages and could afford it’s leisurely pace.  This is only 24 pages long, man.  And it’s not an adaptation of a short story, this was a novel too.  Cooke condensed a NOVEL into a single issue.  It’s all essential, so it all hums.  Passage of time is symbolized by a Timex watch every few pages.  I think the sepia wash is sharper looking than the blue wash from The Hunter. That cover with the stray pencil lines and the one eye glaring at you, holy god. There is so much in this thing that can be dissected, discussed. Everything about this comic is R-I-G-H-T, as its own thing, as an opener to The Outfit, as a promotional item.

A comic that you can set your Timex watch to.

I have been obsessed with Erika Moen‘s work ever since I was exposed to her at this past HeroesCon. I picked up the second volume of DAR! and literally could not put it down. It is engaging and funny and strongly illustrated. This volume collects her web strips from 2009. She also reprints some older work and some bonus stories. After reading volume two I went to her website and read pretty much every one of her strips. In about a day. She is a highly entertaining cartoonist and I can’t recommend her work enough.

The official title of her web strip (DAR! A Super Girly Top Secret Comic Diary) is amusing and intentionally misleading. She isn’t what I would call a “girly” girl. And the strip isn’t appropriate for young girls. Moen’s work is intended for a mature audience. There are lots of references, jokes and images that are not appropriate for children or work. But the strip is a window into her life and it looks in on her most secret moments. It is the truth for her as a girl. This strip is all about her life experiences. It is very personal and very open. Some of the strips I feel like she is laying her life bare before the audience and yet she does it with humor and wit. Her work is all about balance. Her strips can be crass and baudy and yet at the same time they are sweet and endearing. I find her work to be completely relatable. I see myself in her. We don’t have a similar life story but I think that when you imbue your work with honesty then it is easy for people to relate to it, even if their life is vastly different from yours. Her artwork greatly enhances her stories. Her artwork is engaging and her characters are easily recognizable. She uses a lot of gray-tones which help give it depth and life. Her website contains six years worth of her strips and you can really see her develop as an artist and a storyteller in her ability to flesh out stories.

Almost a year ago she stopped doing DAR! and she explains why in the strip on the website’s homepage. I am disappointed that she is no longer doing a diary comic but I am excited to see what she is working on next. I have already begun the hunt for more of Moen’s work. I went to Portland, OR a couple weeks ago and while I was there I stopped by a couple comic book shops. At Cosmic Monkey Comics I found a mini that she did with Lucy Knisley called Drawn to You. I really liked the way that the two of them worked off of each other. It was a really fun read. She is a talented storyteller and I want to read more of her work!

This week’s spotlight focuses on new releases that are a bit more eclectic than ones previewed in previous weeks.  That said, there are some interesting mainstream titles on sale as well so be sure to check our full listing of this week’s new releases to see what might interest you.  Here are some of my picks for titles to look out for:

1) Fractured Fables HC

This new all-ages anthology comes to us courtesy of Image Comics and features a diverse set of contributors including Jill Thompson, Ben Templesmith, Ted McKeever, and Scott Morse.  With each creator offering their interpretation of classic fairy tales, this one should appeal to kids and adult fans who are familiar with some of the artists more mature efforts.  If you saw the Free Comic Book Day preview title, you know this is going to be a fun book.

2) The Sixth Gun #1 and #2

From Oni Press and creators Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt comes the first two issues of a title they debuted at this year’s Free Comic Book Day.  One of the event’s highest regarded offerings, this title has been steadily adding to its buzz in recent months.  With a story set during the Civil War and incorporating supernatural elements, there is something here for fans of both history and horror.  And if you missed the Free Comic Book Day issue, it is reprinted in issue #1, while issue #2 continues the ongoing series.

3) Astonishing Spider-man/Wolverine #2

Another title featuring Spider-man and Wolverine?  Don’t let the fact that these characters appear in numerous books deter you from giving this series a shot.  Jason Aaron has proven in recent years that he writes costumed characters as well as he does the inhabitants of his gritty and consistently brilliant series Scalped.  Adam Kubert is no stranger to illustrating Marvel characters, and has done some good work since returning from his tenure at DC.  What’s most significant about this title to me is that Aaron and Kubert don’t just throw the two characters together without reason.   After years of running into each other in comics, the relationship between these two very different kinds of heroes is explored to good measure and perhaps in greater detail than we’ve previously seen.

4) Strange Science Fantasy #1

When he’s not busy working for Pixar writer/artist Scott Morse crafts beautiful comics.  If you stopped by the Adhouse booth at Heroes Con this year you may have seen Morse cranking out amazing paintings for lucky fans.  His new series is an anthology of sorts, created with a tip of the hat to popular superhero, sci-fi, and fantasy anthologies of the ’60′s.  Online previews of the title make it evident that Morse had a lot of fun creating this book.  And when this new world is inhabited with characters named ‘Shogunaut’ and ‘The Headlight,’  you can see that Morse’s enjoyment in making this book is contagious.

5) Mystery Society #2

This creation of Steve Niles and Ashley Wood is living up to its deserved hype.  Issue one featured one of the protagonists breaking into Area 51, and the re-introduction of Niles’ character the Secret Skull.  With elements of sci-fi, espionage, horror and of course the titular mystery, this book should not only appeal to fans of earlier works from Niles and Wood but  fans of superheros as well.  Artist Fiona Staples proved with issue one that her style works well with Niles’ writing.  She also provided the art for the recent Northlanders #29, which gives you some indication of her range.  I should also mention that we still have copies of Mystery Society #1 available, including the retailer exclusives from around the country that we debuted at Heroes Con.

In Shawn’s absence, I’ll be contributing my thoughts on new releases you should know about, all via the magic of Heroes Online!

1) Batman Beyond #1

DC brings the popular animated version of a future Batman to comics in his own six issue mini series.  Writer Adam Beechen and artist Ryan Benjamin reintroduce young Batman Terry McGinnis and his aged mentor Bruce Wayne, along with a future version of a recent bat villain whose name rhymes with ‘Mush.’  All this and a nice cover by the great Dustin Nguyen, who can make any version of Batman look amazing.

2) Secret Avengers #2

Issue one seemed to surprise a lot of readers with how concisely it unfolded.  Writer Ed Brubaker delivered a promising start to this series by immediately placing the new team on their first mission.  In the process, he managed to address some questions readers had regarding the presence of characters like Nova, Valkyrie, and Moon Knight on a Steve Rogers directed team.  If you were ever curious about how the Avengers might act as an espionage unit, this is worth checking out.  This book is turning out to be an unlikely but appropriate effort between Brubaker, artist Mike Deodato, and a seemingly unrelated cast of heroes.

3) Green Arrow #1

Writer J.T. Krul and artist Diogenes Neves pick up where Justice League: Cry for Justice left off, with Oliver Queen in exile mode as he lives out his Robin Hood fantasy in a real live forest!  In spite of his isolation, I’m betting he still gets the chance to shoot arrows at bad guys, though.  Fans of earlier darker themed Green Arrow stories from the Mike Grell period will probably want to check this series out.

4) Abe Sapien: The Abyssal Plain #1

Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, and artist Peter Snejbjerg kick off a new Abe two part series set in the early ’80′s.  With mermaids, underwater ghouls, and a mystical helmet, this series should be as entertaining as we’ve come to expect from this corner of Dark Horse.  You can’t really go wrong reading anything in the Mignola-verse, in my humble opinion.  And if you needed another reason to take a look at this one, there’s a great cover by the talented Dave Johnson.

5) Wonder Woman #600

Sure to be a controversial issue, the internet’s already buzzing with opinions on Wonder Woman’s first new costume change in a long while (courtesy of new DC co-publisher Jim Lee).  Regardless of your opinion on that, there are a lot of good contributors to this issue.  Alongside notable Wonder Woman artists George Perez, Phil Jimenez, and Adam Hughes, this issue boasts contributions from the likes of Amanda Conner, Geoff Johns, Scott Kolins, Louise Simonson, and new writer J. Micheal Straczynski, who kicks off his run on the title right here.

In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) Uncle Scrooge #392

This is the first part in the new DuckTales storyline. I am so excited about this! I love Gizmoduck and Launchpad and the Beagle Boys. I loved getting to meet the Boom! Studios crew at the convention. I’m glad that they were right across the aisle from us. Ross Richie, Amy Mebberson and Kate Hayden are so sweet. And I got an awesome Toy Story sketch from Travis Hill. I wish I could have spent a little more time hanging out with them. I hear they are hilarious. And I really wanted to get a Muppet sketch from Amy. Sigh, there is always next time. I just love the Boom! guys (and gals). Everyone I have dealt with has been nothing but awesome. And that goes for Travis Beaty their “Traffic Controller.”

2) Neil Young’s Greendale HC

This is a graphic novel adaptation of Neil Young‘s concept album Greendale. It is written by Joshua Dysart and drawn by Cliff Chiang. It looks amazing!

3) Batman #700

I would be remiss to not mention the 700th issue of Batman which is a huge milestone to hit. This book is full of big names. Grant Morrison wrote each story with a rotating cast of artists, which include: Tony Daniel, Frank Quitely, Scott Kolins, Andy Kubert and David Finch. The pin-ups in the back are awesome! Superman #700 and Wonder Woman #600 will follow shortly. It is a big year for DC Comics!

4) Meta 4 #1

Ted McKeever does triple duty on this book as writer, artist and letter. This is the first issue in a 5-part mini-series. The art is black and white and it has a painterly quality to it. It is rough and free. If you like his other works you should definitely give this a shot!

5) The Light #3

I mainly wanted to talk about this to bring up the fact that Nathan Edmondson is a super awesome guy. He is a talented painter too. I bought his ballerina painting at the silent art auction at HeroesCon this past weekend. There were some incredible pieces at the silent art auction this year. I have been digging this story and I like Brett Weldele‘s ability to capture light. I highly recommend this book!

6) Shield #2 (Marvel)

This is a fun, well written and well illustrated book. Jonathan Hickman and Dustin Weaver are totally awesome!

In which Shawn looks at the New Releases and lets you know which books she is most excited about!

1) Serenity Float Out One-Shot

Patton Oswalt and Patric Reynolds bring us  this one-shot that focuses on Wash. It has an “oh snap” ending.

2) Red Hood The Lost Days #1

This is the first issue of a six part mini-series explaining the origin of the Red Hood. It has an awesome cover by Billy Tucci.

3) Heralds #1

Chicks fightin’. ‘Nuff said.

4) Jokers Asylum II The Riddler #1

This is the first of five one-shots spotlighting Gotham villians. I dig the art and the story looks like fun!

5) Avengers Prime #1

Alan Davis and Mark Farmer! Well you can sign me up! Thor, Iron Man and Steve Rogers attempt to mend fences after the events in Siege in this eight part mini-series.