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RICO’S PICK :: PACHYDERME GN: Swiss cartoonist Frederik Peeters’ award winning graphic novel is making it’s way to the US thanks to excellent publisher Self Made Hero. From what little I’ve seen, this story takes place in beautiful yet sinister world similar to the ones the characters of Alfred Hitchcock and David Lynch inhabit. It also features a foreword by late master cartoonist Moebius.
RICO’S PICK :: INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK SPECIAL #1: Mike Costa, Jake Wyatt, and Jordie Bellaire bring you this special issue which is part 2 in “The Arms of The Octopus” trilogy. Part 1, the All New X-Men Special illustrated by Kris Anka, was great and sucked me in like the superhero comics of my youth. I love Jake Wyatt’s art and can’t wait to read this issue! If you haven’t seen Jake’s new web comic Necropolis please check it out because it’s even better than this even though it’s only about 3 pages in.
Andy’s Pick :: The Sandman: Endless Nights: With the new series due to drop any week now, the comic world will be abuzz with The Sandman. And rightfully so, it is one of the most influential and arguably one of the best comic book series of all time. In my opinion this anthology, Sandman: Endless Nights is the perfect place for the uninitiated to sample Neil Gaiman‘s comic work. Sandman is Dream. He and his siblings known as the endless (Destiny, Death, Desire, Despair, Destruction and Delight/Delirium) are each featured in stand alone stories all written by Gaiman and drawn by P. Craig Russell (Death), Milo Manara (Desire–natch!), Miguelanxo Prado (dream– this is a story set long before Earth came into being) Barron Story and Michael McKean (Despair) Bill Sienkiewicz (Delirium) Glen Fabry (Destruction) and Frank Quitely (Destiny) Each time I read it, a different story rises to the top of my favorites. Now The Sandman: Endless Nights is available in an affordable softcover, you can’t put off the inevitable any longer. The Dream Story will knock the socks off of any DC comics fan. Oh, BTW– this was the very first comic periodical to debut on the NY Times Bestseller list. Give it a try!
JUSTIN’S PICK :: BUZZKILL #2 : This is a concept that, in incapable hands, could be dreadfully rote: a guy derives superpowers from drug and alcohol abuse. Not necessarily a wholly original premise, but the creative team’s approach elevates the proceedings beyond the mundane. Donny Cates’ characterization of the main character is sympathetic and believable, without making a sappy sob story out of it (truth be told, he’s kind of a jerk, but a likable jerk). Geoff Shaw’s art inhabits a comfortable space somewhere between the likes of Tradd Moore and Matteo Scalera, with Lauren Affe punching things up quite beautifully in the color department. Issue one ended on an ingenious cliffhanger; I’m clamoring for issue two. If you missed this Dark Horse offering in the shuffle, pick #1 up along with #2, and save yourself the agony of turnaround.
HEATHER’S PICK :: COFFIN HILL #1: The weather’s getting cooler and a chill is setting in that will soon be welcoming Halloween and all manner of spirits into the season. Jump into the mood with a wonderfully creepy tale from Caitlin Kittredge and Inaki Miranda. Coffin Hill is the story of Eve and her transplanted from Salem family of witches. Eve has tried to escape her wicked past, but a workplace injury sends her back home. With dark magic and haunted woods, this new series from Vertigo is sure to be a scary good time.
JUSTIN’S PICK :: GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS : This is comics. Unbridled imagination and compulsion. [adult swim] without the brackets. I can’t really tell you exactly what Ryan Browne‘s God Hates Astronauts is “about”; I can tell you it is one of the most wildly entertaining (and therefore endearing) books I’ve read in some time. This is the comic that that Axe Cop kid would make if he had access to an unsecured Internet connection and a time machine. GHA falls vaguely under the “superhero” umbrella, and while it may have a parodic tone, it’s not taking the piss. Rather, it’s a love letter to a vilified sub-sub-genre, much like Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca‘s exemplary Afrodisiac. This will not please readers of extreme indie or mainstream bias, as it’s a Frankenstein’s Monster of the two, but fans of humor and creativity will be delighted. I mean, the cast includes a character called King Tiger Eating a Cheeseburger. If that doesn’t entice you, I’d suggest you stop reading comics altogether and take up a more meditative hobby, such as soap making, or maybe carp farming.
This is the last time I swear it (fingers crossed). But what is it going to take to get you folks to try ASTRO CITY– the amazing series by writer Kurt Busiek, artist Brent Anderson and cover artist/designer Alex Ross. So far the most recent series–this time from Vertigo comics– has been a delight. in four issues Astro city has addressed the pressure and responsibility that falls on the heads of call center reps who take, log and dispatch emergency calls to the Honor Guard (this world’s Avengers or JLA) We have met a group of super-powered folks who won’t do the hero thing and we met this world’s Celestials–sort of. This month– there are some secrets in the city’s past before it became Astro City(!) and the Broken Man (sort of a cross between The Phantom Stranger and The Creeper (at least I think that’s what he is)) is trying to sort theses secrets out. Please try this book and then I promise I will leave you alone (maybe).
SETH’S PICK :: SHAOLIN COWBOY #1: On the surface, Shaolin Cowboy might seem an uncommon staff pick from the likes of me. There’s not much depth by way of story, its violence is downright gratuitous, and character development is eschewed for visual antics. Yet, I find myself frequently including this book among my favorites. Geof Darrow is undoubtedly a master of the form, capable of drawing expansive single paneled pages and highly detailed action scenes with multiple characters. That’s undeniable, but is really just a part of why I love this book. Darrow imbues each page with joyous energy. Even if it’s a bloody scene, Darrow seems to relish the opportunity to put his silent protagonist through the ringer, confident that somehow they’ll both live to see the tale’s end. As a result, the book feels like Darrow is drawing exactly what he wants, giddily following his muse wherever it may lead. In this way, Shaolin Cowboy feels like the work of a seasoned jazz improviser soloing at the front of the stage. But like any experienced jazz musician, you know Darrow laid the groundwork for his solo with years of practice and discipline. This is the kind of book that makes me happy to have the opportunity to write about comics for this blog. 
For my money, the best children’s animated feature of all time is Hayao Miyazaki’s classic My Neighbor Totoro. When we were growing up, it was always believed that the best movie for children to ‘experience’ death was Bambi. We’d all ask our parents– where is Bambi’s mom? It gives the parents a chance (or a push) to explain some things to the kids Well, Totoro works a bit differently and a bit more subtly. There is no fiery death, but this is the story of a Japanese family dealing with a major crisis. The father is taking care of the his two he young daughters and moves them to an old house so they can be close to the hospital where the mother is convalesces from a serious illness. As the girls explore their old new home and surrounding countryside, they meet Totoro a magic forest sprite and they go on a series of adventures. Miyazaki never hits the audience over the head with what he is doing, but eventually everyone will get it. Our family has been watching this treasure for the past ten years and i am hoping we continue to do so forever. This picture book perfectly captures all the excitement and wonder (and great art!) of the movie and can be shared over and over. I wish it was available when my daughter was younger. Buy the book–see the movie!
Fan-favorite character Fantomex is getting his own is getting his very own limited series featuring covers by fan-favorite artist Francesco Francavilla. I used up all the F’s!
This 4 issue series is written by newbie Andrew Hope and illustrated by longtime Deadpool artist Shawn Crystal. It’s a Max title so that means it’s rough and tough and all that stuff, not for kids!
By the way, check out Crystal’s interview podcast Inkpulp Audio. He takes a personal approach to the interviews and focuses less on craft and comic book characters. He’s had some great guests so far including Skottie Young, Rick Remender and today a new interview with Kelly Sue DeConnick just posted!
