#461 - (some of the) May 2022 Pull List

It's been a few weeks since my last post on here. In fact, It's been exactly three weeks since I not only wrote anything on this blog but also since I wrote any reviews for Pipedream Comics.

The reason for this lack of output has been, in a word, burnout.

I've been finding it tough going of late to get invested in reading (or nigh on doing) anything, with this picking up on a feeling I've had of lethargy or apathy as I push myself to read comics in order to fit some self appointed schedule.

The truth is that maybe I've just been pushing myself too hard, with my need to provide content to Pipedream as well as my wish to write a post a week here and then live a normal life of wife and kids etc. finally breaking me a little as I found there might not be enough time for all of these without a taking a strain on the old mental health.

Therefore, I needed a break.

However, with more and more time having past, I thought I'd try and dip my toes gently back into the water and read my pull list comics that were, so far, available during May.

The first read was Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi #1, where Christopher Cantwell, Ario Anindito and Carlos Lopez told a tale of a older, wiser (and very Alec Guinness looking) Obi-Wan Kenobi, reflecting on an adventure he had as a Jedi Youngling as he tried to prevent his only friend leaving the Jedi Order. With, the new TV series (now literally) around the corner, I was excited by this series, especially when I learned that Christopher Cantwell was writing it (after I loved his Fantastic Four One-Shot).

Unfortunately, I didn't think that this comic didn't meet the expectations I had set upon it, with it only being an ok read. The annoying thing about it is that there was nothing really that let this issue down in any major way as both Cantwell's script and the art from Anindito and Lopez was solid. I guess that, in a nutshell, I found issue 1 to be a bit bland in terms of the story that it was telling, feeling too quiet compared to the older Obi-Wan's adventures which had been revealed through the prequels and the Clone Wars. Hopefully, this series can pick up a little bit from the second instalment because, given all I know of him and his prior work, I have faith in Christopher Cantwell to offer me something great.

So, with the end of one Sci-Fi franchise, I decided to cross the aisle to another as I followed up Star Wars with Star Trek: The Mirror War #6. This mini (or maxi) series from the Tipton Brothers and Gavin Smith, picked up the pace a little bit as Captain Picard and the I.S.S. Enterprise finally unveiled its master plan, with it's newly built armada, to take the fight to it's Klingon and Cardassian enemies who had imprisoned their Empire for so long.

Now, it's felt like it has taken a while to get here, but I really enjoyed issue 6 as it came across as a good read. The pace of this issue certainly seemed to greatly increase, with the chess piece moving of the prior five issues finally having everything in place enough to get the action moving. Meanwhile, the art continues to improve in my eye as I continue to get more comfortable with its style. While it is unfair to compare against cover artist J.K. Woodward's prior work on Mirror Broken, I am starting to find Smith's style is beginning to warm to me, with the characters looking more and more like their real life counterparts. By this point, I'm still convinced that Mirror War will be a far better read as a whole than in piecemeal. However, this issue I think really made me happier that I stuck with it.

To round out this rather cosmic week of comics, I read Fantastic Four #43, which continued Dan Slott's Reckoning War event as he, Rachael Stott, Andrew Di Vito and Jesus Aburtov provided a penultimate installment which saw Marvel's greatest heroes struggling against the unstoppable invaders as Dr Doom faces an familiar enemy. Oh, and the FF appear somewhere.

As with most of this 'event' was far, issue #43 was yet another ok read. Unfortunately, I (for the most part) really struggled to get invested in this issue, with the story feeling like a bit of a slog, maybe due to the issue effectively getting everything in place for its finale. I think the biggest issue with the writing for me is the sacrifice of the comic's main characters in exchange for a load of guest stars getting predominant focus (like the Mandolorian in the Book of Boba Fett). As for the art, I enjoy the style that Rachael Stott uses here for it's vibrancy but, overall, Reckoning War isn't doing it for me in this issue. With one last part to go, I do hope that the whole thing reads a lot better as a whole. That said, I think my excitement in this series is now focused on David Pepose taking over for a couple of issues over the summer.

And that's been my week ... well, almost. While I haven't quite finished reading it yet, I have gotten started on John Ridley's The Other History of the DC Universe, which tells a retrospective about the history of the DCU but from the perspective of heroes from disenfranchised groups. Now, as I write this, I'm three fifths of the way through but I have to confess that it's good. A rather dense and eye-opening read but good nonetheless. Hopefully, I'll have more to say on it once I have finished the last two issues. 

But that's for next week. First though, I have two big occasions to enjoy:

MCM London on Saturday ...

... and the premiere of Obi-Wan on Friday!

#460 - The Eddie Valentine of Comics (We Only Kill Each Other)

So, this past week has been a little reading heavy (maybe not my recent holiday reading levels, but still) thanks to the bank holiday weekend.

After burning through this year's May the 4th entry, I found myself wondering what to read next.

I say wondering although, in reality, I knew exactly what I was going to read.

We only Kill Each Other is a political crime series from Comixlogy Originals created by Stephanie Phillips, Peter Krause, Ellie Wright and Troy Peteri. It tells the story of Jonas Kaminisky and Levi Solomon, two opposing Jewish gangsters who are offered a deal to lose their criminal records after they are caught by the police. However, in order to walk away with a clean slate, the pair must agree to take the fight they usually reserve for each other and point it in the direction of the American arm of the Nazi Party, which continues to gain traction and support within New York City and pose a threat to its Jewish community.

My acquirement of this series was more down to bad luck than choice as, while looking at the new-look Comixology, a mistake in the buttons I pressed resulted in my purchasing it before I was ready (given that I was going to wait until I'd read more of my backlog). However, unlike many comics on my wish list, We Only Kill Each Other's purchase was less of nuisance than I might have implied because, quite simply, I've been looking forward to this title since the creative team of Phillips, Krause and Wright was announced and teased oh so long ago (I'm inclined to say nine months ago).

Fortunately, We Only Kill Each Other did not let me down. Despite a slow start where I got confused  regarding about who and when the initial pages were taking place, I found Stephanie Phillip's story to be a tremendously engaging read. This series reminded me of the Mafia video games (which makes sense as I'm currently playing the first one), with the second of those games coming out of the pages to me, thanks mostly to the  confrontational banter between Jonas and Sol. I think the thing about this series which I found so intriguing was how built off of real life it felt. Around the time this was based, there was a real plan to have gangster fight Nazi sympathisers and saboteurs at home but, as I came to the end, I found myself wondering if this was real, precursor story to those events or a work of fiction based on the notion (not that it being one or the other would've changed my opinion on it.

As for the art, I really loved what Peter Krause did back on Irredeemable with Mark Waid way back when and it was his place in this creative team which I think fully sold me on reading it. And just like with We Only Kill Each Other as a whole, I don't think that Mr Krause let me down here and he once again provided some gorgeous, clean and vibrant pencils in panels which gave off a very visceral vibe to it. In truth though, I think this visceral look was helped made so thanks to Ellie Wright's colours. These also, when combined with the pencils, gave the story a very dirty, smoky look, almost like the early scenes in the movie, Once Upon a Time in America (the most brutal gangster movie I've ever seen).

In short, I really enjoyed reading We only Kill Each Other. I thought that it was a good read with some great, fitting art and it all left me kind of hoping that these Eddie Valentine's of comics (check out the Rocketeer if you don't get the reference) come back for a second series.

It might have been a mistake or an accident to have bought this series when I did, but I think it's certainly turned out to be one of those lucky ones.

Oh, and before I forget ...

While I spent the week reading We Only Kill Each Other and Darth Maul before it, I also saw a recent review go up over at Pipedream Comics.

Quests Aside #1 is a medieval comedy/action comics created by Brian Schirmer, Elena Gogou, Rebecca Nalty and Andworld Designs, coming out of Vault Comics. It tells the story of a Cheers like tavern in a time of Dungeons, Dragons and adventuring knights, as its rather eclectic staff learn of a revelation which threatens to destroy their workplace and work family which they created within.

Now, just like I've said in the review, this comic was an interesting read. In the vein of Cheers and It's always Sunny in Philadelphia, I really felt that Quest's Aside had this very similar tone to Richard Carrington's Mahoney's (only less Supervillains and more giants and mages). However, I really thought it struggled to truly define itself in the issue, being nothing much more than a setup for the overall series.

As for the art, there is little I can elaborate beyond what I've already said. I thought it was solid work, if a little standard. That said, I did enjoy the Scott Pilgrim-esque music battle which occurs, along with a storage cupboard shot which feels like it was ripped from Doctor Strange or Zatanna.

By the end, I liked this comic and am intrigued as to where it will lead. However, I'd probably be inclined to wait until the trade rather than commit to all of the issues right now.

And so, that's been my week in a nutshell. (well apart from burning through the Moon Knight finale. That series has been so great). Next week I'm hoping to read an actual comic off of my shelf, although what is still up for debate.

However, I'm now pondering on a classic in honour of a legend.

#459 - more from a Galaxy Far, Far Away (re-reading Star Wars: Darth Maul)

May the Fourth be with you!!!

So, it's May the Fourth again and it feels like only yesterday that I last celebrated it by waffling on about the Princess Leia mini-series (ok, that's a lie. It really does feel just a little longer than yesterday).

Anyway, I thought that, after making the time to celebrate Star Wars day last year by reading a Star Wars related comic, I would do the same again this year.

Therefore, in the lead up to today, I re-read Star Wars: Darth Maul, where Cullen Bunn, Luke Ross and Nolan Woodward tell a story about the original Sith Apprentice, preluding his original appearance in the Phantom Menace. Constrained by his Master's subtly planning, a frustrated Maul learns of a captured Jedi padawan and proceeds with a plan of his own to unleash his anger on this apprentice. However, as he tries to finally get his wish to kill a Jedi, he finds himself constantly having to check himself in fear of his Master learning what he is attempting to do.

Now I've tried to limit my description in order to avoid spoiling things (for folk who may actually read this) but, essentially, this is pretty much the summation of the whole plot. In fact, given this series' placement within the larger Star Wars narrative, I am pretty confident that it is easy to determine the Story's outcome before reading it.

However, this doesn't change the fact that I find Darth Maul's story to be a seriously engaging and enjoyable one. While (like I said) the plot seems pretty standard/straightforward, I really really love the characterisation of Maul that Cullen Bunn gives us throughout these pages. As of Phantom Menace (and prior to the character's incredible arc in Clone Wars and Rebels), Maul is quite a one note villain. Here though, it feels like Bunn really fleshed him out to provide not only motivation behind his actions but also a sense that Maul is controlled as much by his fear as he is his anger. This is because, while his desire to destroy the Jedi is overtly apparent, his unparalleled fear of his Master is also obvious, as his every action is designed to avoid his wrath. This makes me wonder, while he talks about his freedom thanks to the dark side, is he as much a prisoner as the Jedi he eventually encounters.

Speaking of, I enjoyed the Jedi Padawan that Bunn created for this series, feeling every bit the equal but opposite to Maul. In fact, Maul had a great supporting cast of the great Cad Bane (RIP) and his gang, with the voices I heard when reading felt literally ripped from the various animated series (as was Maul himself, who was every bit Sam Witwer but less maddening. Sorry Peter Stefanowicz).

As for the art, Luke Ross and Nolan Woodward's visual are perfect for this story. Their work has this kind of rough, dark tone to it that really makes you feel like you are entering of the dark, seedy underbelly of the Star Wars universe. That said (and maybe contradictory), Woodward's maintain enough loud colours to ensure it still feels like Star Wars.

Much like Princess Leia last year, Darth Maul is a really excellent read and further proof to me (after Leia and Darth Vader) that Marvel getting the licence was no bad thing. While the plot itself was an ok/good part of the overall series, for me it was without doubt the creative teams depiction of both Maul and the wider Star Wars universe.

I do think it actually helps make the Sith's first apprentice all the more excellent.