Ex Machina # 37
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan; Pencils: Tony Harris; Inks: Jim Clark, Cliff Rathburn; Colors: JD Mettler, Avina & Rench; Lettering: Wes Abbott;
DC – Wildstorm
Finally! Ex Machina spends less time on the politicking and injects a little more action and excitement. Hope it stays and doesn’t turn into anything as dull as actual election politics.
Hellblazer # 245, 246
Writer: Jason Aaron; Pencils and Inks: Sean Murphy; Colors: Lee Loughridge; Lettering: Jared K. Fletcher; Covers: Lee Bermejo;
DC Comics – Vertigo
As a non-reader of Hellblazer, I’m not sure where this rates in the pantheon of Hellblazer stories. But, it features a stoned loser humping a dead dog, if that sweetens the deal for anyone.
Joker’s Asylum: The Joker # 1
Writer: Arvid Nelson; Pencils and Inks: Alex Sanchez; Colors: Jose Villarrubia; Lettering: Rob Leigh; Covers: Andy Kubert;
DC Comics
I only picked this up because Arvid Nelson’s name was on the cover. He does fantastic work on Rex Mundi and Zero Killer, so seeing some superhero work from him sounded good. And, it was …. OK. Nothing wrong with it, just that it was a fairly typical Joker story. With Heath Ledger’s Joker in everyone’s head right now, it’s going to be hard to compete with that vision.
If Nelson’s Joker story wasn’t your kind of writing, give Rex Mundi a try. It’s some fantastic storytelling with an alternate-history backdrop. Very, very good stuff.
Joker’s Asylum: The Penguin # 1
Writer: Jason Aaron; Pencils and Inks: Jason Pearson; Colors: Dave McCaig; Lettering: Rob Leigh; Covers: Jason Pearson;
DC Comics
Who knew that the Penguin could be so much more than that awful Danny DeVito version. Seeing some of the sillier Batman villains in some good stories like this gives me hope for the Batman movie franchise.
Northlanders # 7, 8
Writer: Brian Wood; Pencils and Inks: David Gianfelice; Colors: Dave McCaig; Lettering: Travis Lanham; Covers: Massimo Carnevale;
DC Comics – Vertigo
Sven didn’t turn out to be quite the bastard he seemed in the early issues. Given that these are still hero stories even though they’re at Vertigo, it shouldn’t have been that surprising to me. Northlanders , along with Scalped, tops for quality every comic published by DC right now, without anything else coming in close. Good stuff and highly recommended.
Scalped # 18, 19
Writer: Jason Aaron; Pencils and Inks: David Fumò; Colors: Guila Brusco; Lettering: Steve Wands; Cover: Tim Bradstreet
DC Comics – Vertigo
David Fumò takes over pencils & inks this issue, and he’s so good that the change is barely noticeable. R.M. Guera will be back by issue 21, but Fumò does a fantastic job of capturing the same shadows and dark atmosphere we’re used to. Tim Bradstreet takes over covers for Jock and also maintains the look we’re used to. And the story is as dark and excellent as the art. Good stuff, highly recommended.
Superman # 677, 678
Writer: James Robinson; Pencils: Renato Guedes; Inks: Wilson Magalháes; Colors: Hi-Fi; Lettering: Rob Leigh, John J. Hill; Covers: Alex Ross;
DC Comics
For the first time in years, I actually give a damn about a Superman comic. Not only that, but reading the first Starman omnibus gave me a hankering for a good James Robinson story, and Superman delivers.