STAFF PICKS :: JETPACK AND ROCKET EDITIONS :: MAY 8, 2013

May 07, 2013 By: Seth Peagler Category: DISCUSS, Staff Picks

SETH’S PICK(s) :: JETPACK AND ROCKET EDITIONS: In perusing the list of the week’s new releases, I couldn’t help but see a theme.  Thus there are three books I’m recommending, all bound by their common thread of including jetpacks and rockets among their subject matter.  First up is Tom Gauld’s latest, You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack.  This is a collection of Gauld’s single page strips from the Guardian, and a fine place to start reading his work.  Whereas in books like Goliath you see Gauld’s fine line work on display, from what I’ve seen of this book, you get an even greater sense of his skill at humor writing.

Secondly, it wouldn’t be a Jetpack and Rocket edition of staff picks if I didn’t mention my favorite, The Rocketeer.  This week wraps up IDW’s latest mini series, Hollywood Horror.  Like the two volumes of Rocketeer Adventures and last year’s Waid/Samnee Cargo of Doom miniseries, this one has plenty to be happy about.  With Roger Langridge and J. Bone at the helm, if this series doesn’t make you want to go re-read Dave Stevens’ classic Rocketeer stories, you may not have a heart.

Finally, though you won’t find it on the New Releases section of our website, I am excited to remind you about a new book by a talented local creator.  Stan Ford’s Jet-pack Jenny and the Factor of 01 just arrived in the store last week, and it’s a new book you should pick up.  Stan’s a longtime member of Sketch Charlotte, and has always impressed me with his skills as an inker and storyteller.  There are also lots of extras in this one, like pinups and process pages.  It’s well worth your time.

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STAFF PICKS :: ROCKETEER: HOLLYWOOD HORROR #1 :: FEBRUARY 27, 2013

February 22, 2013 By: Seth Peagler Category: DISCUSS, Staff Picks

SETH’S PICK :: ROCKETEER: HOLLYWOOD HORROR #1: Whenever I talk or write about IDW’s new Rocketeer stories, I like to mention my opinion that any artists who work on the character pale in comparison with its creator, Dave Stevens.  No one will ever make Rocketeer stories better than Stevens.  However, I usually follow up that statement with this one:  I love the way IDW has created new stories that both revere and uphold Stevens’ legacy.  Their two volumes of Rocketeer Adventures read like a love letter to Stevens’ creation, and the Mark Waid/Chris Samnee miniseries Cargo of Doom fell right in line with the tradition.  This week IDW offers up an all new miniseries by Roger Langridge and J. Bone, along with Walt Simonson on covers.  Langridge, while known for humor and all ages work, has always had a strong connection with comics’ adventure roots.  Look no further than his excellent John Carter of Mars adaptation for evidence.  J. Bone has done lots of work with Darwyn Cooke, and also provided the covers for DC’s Super Friends title.  If you take his previous comics into consideration, it’s easy to see how well he could bring the Rocketeer’s era to life.  Even though I’ll always love Dave Stevens’ work best, it would be a shame if we were denied new stories of his famous creation.  Thankfully, IDW knows how much people care about Rocketeer, and hires creators who equally value the man and his work.  Let’s hope they will continue to produce quality comics that not only pay homage to Stevens, but allow future generations to be exposed to his genius. 

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