Comic Reviews: November 2019

As we inch ever closer to Christmas, I'm finding my life just gets busier and busier. More and more, things which need doing seem to get bigger in volume (i.e. how much of it you have to do), importance and number (of things which need doing).

I'm starting to wonder if this is what a video game developer feels like during that infamous 'crunch' time.

Comic book reviewing is not separate from this as, with seemingly each passing day, more and more comic in need of a review enter my dropbox to the extent that the online drive is full (and I'm not willing to pay for the additional space).

Of course, it's a good problem to have, although it does mean having to decide what of all these quality books is read first.

With that in mind though, I think I made some good decisions in November.


Hero 9 to 5 Vol. 1

So, first was my review for Hero 9 to 5. Now, I feel guilty about this comic in that, I've seen it at con's in the past and by passed it for other things. However, now that I've read it, I wish I'd taken the chance all those times. Hero 9-5 is a really funny series which, while hitting us with action, humour and a fair bit of NSFW content, does actually work to ask questions and try to deconstruct certain Superhero tropes. Now, it's not perfect as the refreshing slice of life-esque story telling at the start seems to fall away nearer the end and I also felt that the character of Frostica got the short end of the wedge at times when she could have been utilised better and more in keeping with the series deconstruction. Regardless, Hero 9-5 is a refreshingly funny series which I do wish I'd taken the chance. So I am thankful to Alex for letting me have the chance to review it.

 

Money Shot #1

After that, the next couple of titles on my reading list for the month weren't titles which I reviewed (although, Pipedream Comics have) but I was given the chance to check them out and figured, why stand on ceremony? First up was Money Shot #1, which I would have said is essentially 'Scientists go into space to make porn.' Now, the Pipedream review for this was pretty positive and the opinions of people I trust have also raved about it. Therefore, I was expecting big things with this read. However, after finishing that last page, I found myself to be in two minds about this title. I thought that Money Shot came across as very quirky with this almost off-kilter humour. It wasn't Sex Criminals (which I thought was more of an earnest story), but very much an all out comedy with Sci-fi aspects. Meanwhile, the art was very Stephen Byrne-esque and I liked its .... well, I don't quite know what but only that it stood out to me as different and that I liked it. However, while I found Money Shot to be a pleasant enough read, I struggled to fully enjoy the story, which bummed me out given Vault's recent reputation. By the end though, I was unsure about this comic, although I think it just had enough to tempt me to check out another issue at some point.

 

The Plot #1

Finally, of the Vault titles which I didn't review, was Plot #1 and 2 which told a story of a family (well, two orphaned children and their bum of an uncle) returning to their mysterious, abandoned family home which just happens to be haunted. Normally I'm not very good with horror, as I can never get on board with the mysticism of it all (give me a good, old fashioned crime story any day), but with this I did find it immensely interesting. The plot had this Locke and Key vibe going for it, only much darker in an almost Amityville Horror way. Meanwhile, I loved the art, which gave the issues the right kind of eerie to really match the story and cement that very threatening feel (that I felt was being pushed towards). Of the three Vault titles, this was (to me) the clear favourite and the one that I'd be most likely to return to.

Sentient #1

Next up, I return to titles which 'I' reviewed (you'll probably notice the difference based on writing quality) and, this time, focused on the recently released collection of TKO titles. First up I checked out Sentient #1 by Jeff Lemire and Gabriel Walta and this was a fantastic read. It was addictive from the very beginning and the pace of it continued to heighten as the issue progressed, feeling more tense and exciting as it went. I thought there was very little about it that put me off the comic, the characters (what we saw of them) were incredibly interesting, Kruger in particular, and all of the world building necessary to explain what was informing the immediate situation didn't feel forced. Meanwhile, the art was sublime, with Walta really pulling across the same emotional range I thought he'd used in the Vision to give the characters more depth than the dialogue alone gave us, as well as tug at my heart strings. All in all, this was a fantastic first issue and I've got serious plans to get the remainder of the series (which I might treat myself and get as a physical copy).

The Banks #1

I followed Sentient with a review of the Banks #1. This was another entertaining comic which I'm highly intrigued about by the end. I will admit that after the first time jump I wasn't sure if this was my thing. Thankfully, however, the story drew me in as the I stuck with it, particularly as we focused on Clara's integration into the life and the begin of the dynasty. By the end, I have a number of questions, such as what was Cora's entry, what happened to Clara's husband and why did Celia change her mind about being a part of her family's world. As I've stated In the review proper, I really love the art (which makes me think the Kitchen is a book I need to bump up my get list) and had no problems with it, save for the issue of the first time jump. However, this is a minor quibble and in no way damages my thoughts on an otherwise great comic.

Pound for Pound #1

Third up for TKO was my review of Pound for Pound #1. Now this was a good read in itself, enjoyable and well paced, however, the only issue with it was that it felt a little forgettable. What I noticed most was that the story felt very 80's and, while that's not a bad thing, what let me down was how the characters came off as tropes from those sort of films. Also, for a title called 'Pound for Pound' I expected it to be a little more boxing centric in a slots sort of way. Overall, I feel the art was this title's biggest strength as it made every panel look quintessentially 80's (similar in a way to Our Final Halloween's look, which I mentioned). In the end, it was a good read but, compared to its sister books from TKO (so far), it just didn't match up to me. I'd recommend that anyone try it (which I did) but, for me, I'm not sure I'd come back or if I did it wouldn't be a urgent purchase.

Eve of Extinction #1

Finally for November was my review for Eve of Extinction #1 which, despite not entirely being sure what I was about to read, turned out be a rather enjoyable read. It felt like mostly a set up issue as it got the pieces in position before starting the story proper, but it's well pace and very engrossing. The key to this seemed to be the character dynamics as the (understandable) conflict between the leading ladies immediately has to be pushed aside in order to survive, something I don't think I've seen in many similar stories. Meanwhile, the art is really nice. There's nothing to write home about it other than it's solid, although I really liked the opening pages and their horror-esque vibe. By the end, I have a load of questions in my head; What's with the boat? Why is it only the men? Does it relate to the 'microbes' found in the Antarctic? Suffice to say, I'd be more than happy to come back to get those questions answered.

Phew!! Seven titles in a month (not to mention the Green Arrow Omnibus and a host of single issues. Just in case you thought that was all I read) in the bag and, all in all, a good bunch of reads, with only a couple really letting me down and even those I still wouldn't give a wide berth (even if I might leave them until more preferred titles are picked up).

But now, as we move into December it's time for the reviews to wind down as the Pipedream Comics Top 50 list dominates the site. For me this is a blessing in disguise as I can now focus my time on some urgent real life situations, namely, Christmas, a (late) family holiday, my wife's birthday and even my own round of cake and pressies.

That reminds me .... OH GOD, I'm about to enter the late thirties!!!!