by Ryk McIntyre
“It’s not the heat…”
Too hot to move… must read books. Drowning in free-stuff sent to Lollipop office… thank you, free-stuff-givers… glub. Out of Antarctic Press’ lurid little stock-shelves comes A-Bomb #16, yet another sticky handful of tales by boys about women. There is also Cybersexation #1 (by Paul Way), if you like that sort of thing, I guess…
Much more fun, and rightly an excitement in the creator-owned circuit, is Artbabe #1 (Fantagraphics/ by Jessica Abel). It’s easy to see why this woman won the Xeric award with her true people stories, subtle facial expressions, and a dating story so authentically excruciating in its almost-not-quite see-sawing that resolves nothing, but leaves you hopeful at the story’s end. Primo good stuff.
As an idea, anthologies are great, though in application they’re sometimes wanting, but you wouldn’t know that from Cat Head Comics (P.O. Box 576, Hudson, MA 01749). I was recently sent issues 14,15,16 and 17 and was glad to see the “Underground Comics” traditions of satire, disrespect for authority, and occasional affrontive collage. I particularly recommend Lloyd Dangle‘s “TroubleTown,” and “40 Hour Man,” a slacker-before-the-word-was-born symphony of under-achievement by Stephen Beaupre (words) and Steve Lafler (pictures). But of course, any mag that includes James Kochalka‘s “Magic Boy” comes up a winner already.
When The Dreaming (Vertigo/ various creators) first came out I was skeptical. Here’s a book created as a compromise between the Publisher and mega-writer Neal Gaiman, so that Sandman (the comic) could end but books involving those characters could still be forged. To be honest, the first year or so never grabbed me. But issue #15, with its tale featuring Pumpkinhead Merve (written/drawn by Jeff Nickleson), is different. First off, Jeff has earned his stones via unrecognized years of self-publishing and dogged storytelling. Secondly, it picks up from the central characterization of Merve, the hard-working, no-nonsense entity that repairs/maintains the Dreaming, and keeps a blue-collar sensibility, even surrounded by gods, personages, etc. Call it a little song for two guys, united by the de-sire to do real work with their hands.
I thought I would truly be dead and off to my judgement before I’d ever see Mage (Image/words and art by Matt Wagner) become a comic book reality again, but by God, Kevin Matchstick is back. Picking up from where “The Hero Discovered” left off, “The Hero Defined” has Kevin and his new travelling companion, Joe Phat (apparently a psychic), traveling the country in search of supernatural fiends and dangers. Only this time, Kevin’s not the only hunter out there…if you buy only one comic series ever….
I picked up Transmetropolitan (Helix-DC/Warren Ellis – words, Darick Robertson – art) strictly for the writer, being a longtime fan of stuff like HellStorm. Together with Darick’s art they create a Blade Runner-esque future with ultra-tech, ultraviolence, and TVs planted in the sidewalk, so you get it from all sides. Into this strides Spider Jerusalem, a survivalist/ex-journalist dragged back to the big ugly by a contract for two books pending, so he needs some cash. Got it? So, get it.
Operators are, no doubt, standing by somewhere.
Setting aside a large chunk of this month, I gotta tell you about this whompin’ hog-lode of stuff sent to us by Harris Comics, current license-holder on all Vampirella property. And let me assure you, that’s just how there treating her. Back a few years ago when Harris was making their first Vampy stuff, a writer named Tom Sniegoski had been given the writing reins for this resurrection of an old character they’d managed to secure the rights to. One of the things he fought for was a new costume, something a little less than that impossible bathing suit. He compromised with her wearing a black leather jacket. A very cool look, if a little underdressed from the waist down.
Well gone are those days. Amongst the glut of product I received, and it was Vampirella Lives (3 issue mini-series),Vampirella vs. Hemorage (another 3 issue mini-series, featuring the second title character which, incidentally Tom S. created, though the comics lack any acknowledgement… alas),Vampirella-Blood Lust,Vampirella vs. Pantha,Vampirella 25th Anniversary Special, and lastly,Vampirella – Sad Wings of Destiny (limited Gold Edition of 5000, no less). If you ever need a collection of pictures in order to suggest that sex and carnage don’t really make a healthy image for impressionable brains, have I got the books for you! Despite some of the stuff being credible horror-action stories at the writers’ hands of Grant Morrison, Warren Ellis, James Robinson, and Mark Millar, there’s only so much you can do with a girl that has to basically pose semi-nude drenched in blood and offal. I tell you some of the poses are just like, “c’mon! If you WANT to do a porno-book, then for god sakes, do it!” For a special added treat, check out the cover of Vampy Lives #1, that’s the girl that travels around the country to comic conventions, so geek boys and trekkies can hike up their blood-pressure by having a photo taken with her. A Polaroid, small enough to to be held by only one hand.