Nightmares Illustrated 039 Marching Toward Oblivion

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Top Five Picks…Buy These Right Now.

1. Fables #126 (Vertigo).

2. Haunted Horror #3 (IDW).

3. Justice League Of America, Volume 3, #1 (DC).

4. Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Volume II Creation Myths (Archaia).

5. Mars Attacks #7 (IDW).

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I recommended the final issue of Hellblazer in the last installment of NI. Now I thought I would say a few words about it. I already complained bitterly about the end of the book so, while I will still complain again this time, I will make every effort to reduce the bitterness. Although, bitter is not so bad sometimes. IPA anybody? Fluoride treatment? Pahirakai? The IPA is the best example. I should have stopped there.

Highlights. Piffy and Finn get down. Piffy punches Chas in the nose. Constantine comes back to life – had to see that one coming, right? John leaves Piffy then walks off into another book. Hmm. OK. Well then, was the final issue a “good” sending-off? I come down on “no”. But then, would there have been an satisfying segue? I come down on “no”. I can say what I would have liked better – I wish they’d killed him for good. But that never happens in comics, right? Is any character every down for good? It is hard to think of one because, even if they have not been seen in decades, chances are they will get a resurrection one of these days. New characters, I guess, are just too big a chance to take in the profit maximizing world of corporate comics.

I do understand the business decision, but rebranding John Constantine for a junior audience still really pisses me off because of the history of the character and all the fun I have had reading about his adventures. Therefore, I reiterate my call to boycott all comics the character appears in as a regular, most particularly the new Constantine book. This I vow. But do buy Hellblazer #300. Then buy no more.

And if my beloved Swamp Thing doesn’t turn around soon, it is next on the chopping block.

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Justice League #1-12 (DC) as seen in the recently released paperback collection of #1-6 and hardcover collection of #7-12. In general, the reboot NFT was completely unnecessary and unwelcome. Have I mentioned that before? Maybe. Even so, I did enjoy the first year of Justice League, especially the first six issues. The main drawback to the collections is they do not include the back-up features the original comics contained. You get a little bit ripped off. Once you accept this fate, the artwork is better than a lot of the individual characters’ books (especially Wonder Woman which continues to feature the worst art in comics, month after month), the writing is serviceable (from such a veteran as Geoff Johns I had hoped for more, but this will do), and there is the Destroy All Monsters big cast appeal. It is OK. I only read this new JL book anyway because of the Aquaman cross-over “Throne of Atlantis” semi-event. Now I find myself reading these two collections, grabbing issues #13 and #14, and looking ahead to what comes next. #7-12 might have been a lull, but somehow I am entrapped, mildly addicted, interest-piqued enough to continue. Maybe there is something in the soy ink…

It is hard to give this book a strong recommendation, but it is worth suggesting looking at the inexpensive paperback sextet to gauge whether more might appeal to you.

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Grimm Fairy Tales 2013 Valentine’s Day Special (Zenescope). You have to accept that fan service is going to be ratcheted up on a Valentine’s Day special. “Fan service,” by the way, for the innocent among you out there, is the over-emphasis on exaggerated female breasts and backsides that you see in most comics. Zenescope hits it pretty hard under normal circumstances and extra hard here. This is especially true of the lovingly rendered covers. But so what? The action is standard and features Sela Mathers and a few heavy hitter walk-ons. The art is a little softer and the story a little more magical than the monthlies, but otherwise this is what you expect from Zenescope and Grimm Fairy Tales. If it is not a stunning stand-out, it is reliably familiar. Recommended.

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Eleven.

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Buy These Too…

Elephantmen #46 (Image). Long my favorite comic before I downgraded it in 2011, Elephantmen has been confusing me the last few issues. I cannot decide whether I like the confusion and feel it like a pleasant euphoria or if I experience it as a slowly rising dread. My position is to read on until I get more clarity. All the usual characters are here so it is certainly fun on an month-by-month basis.

Spawn #228 (Image). Don’t forget Spawn is still running, folks. #228 has a great Action Comics homage cover and the story within continues to darken and throb. This book has had its ups and downs in the past, but the past couple years have been consistently good.

Vampirella Nublood Oneshot (Dynamite). OK, what we have here is another spoof one-shot, this time of HBO’s True Blood (yep, HBO’s, because that show has veered sharply from the novels, ladies and gentlemen). I like this, probably because I used to watch the program on television. I recommend the single with cautious optimism.

Heavy Metal #261 (Metal Mammoth). The recent big changes at Heavy Metal have not blunted the edges of the content. The new issue is great, featuring the usual variety of exceptional writing and artwork. I love this magazine. Highly recommended.

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Bargain Bin…

There is not much love in the bins this time, folks. Bummer, huh? Let me point you to Midtown Comics (http://www.midtowncomics.com/) grab Bag section of their Clearance pages. There is a choice there for eighty (80!) independent comics in a grab bag for $20. A quick calculation shows this is definitely a Bargain Bin purchase. Sure, you are taking a chance, especially if you have been buying independents in the past five years or so – you’ll probably get some stuff you have already read. But seriously, unless you are a maniac and already have everything, there has to be some stuff in here that appeals, and for the price of four or five new releases you get eighty old ones. It is not much of a risk.

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