Six Comics - Limbo, Sex Criminals, From Above

February 28th, 2016


Limbo, #1 | Watters, Wijngaard
Image
The art in this book is gorgeous. It propels every aspect of the story. Think Phonogram: Rue Britannia cross Back to the Future II via voodoo noir. Definitely gonna track down the collected edition in a few months. Recommendation from Secret ID Comics in Brisbane.

The Mighty Thor, #4 | Aaron, Dauterman, Wilson
Marvel
Contrast Thor with Sex Criminals - this issue is also a small piece of a much larger work, yet it makes its characters and their conflicts apparent. We'll talk more about Thor and its characters in "Is Odin actually Donald Trump?".

Angela Queen of Hel, #4 | Bennett, Jacinto, Hans
Marvel
In the two years since Marvel acquired the Angela character from Image, she's been a mercenary angel from a forbidden Heven, brought into Thor's family tree, joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, and now she's campaigning to rule the underworld to save her beloved Sara. Double-take at the convoluted backstory built in just two years
Includes the best MRA take-down caption of the month.

Sex Criminals, #14 | Fraction, Zdarsky
Image
Sure, I grabbed the floppy monthly release in its protective polybag sheath because of Katie Cook's NSFW cover. Bonertastic instructions for making an origami penis - sold! The series has been playful, inventive, and caring.

The previous issue dealt thoughtfully with asexuality in a series known for its hypersexual antics. Yet, in this issue? The writer, Matt Fraction, forgot some courtesies to the book's readers. The C-story is impenetrable, because the reader doesn't get introduced to characters' names, motivations, or conflicts. It's a common criticism of books written with more focus on the forthcoming collected edition.

Definitely worth reading for the epic four-page meta-masturbatory Chuck Jones riff, and for the names of the local shops, including "Fuck You Sports Jerseys".

The Battle of the Blood Moon, #1 | Hunt, Ramkallawan
The Modern Meltdown
A random pick-up from Pulp Fiction Comics in Adelaide. The Battle of the Blood Moon is an adaptation of a paranormal thriller novel by Holly Hunt. The art has a nice Don Bluth feel, but story moves oddly because of an overly-faithful interpretation of the source material.

From Above, #2 | Bruyn
Self-published
Another random pick-up, this time on the recommendation of the Adelaide Comics Centre. I really liked the sense of consequence and pathos Bruyn built into the end of this chapter.

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'Six Comics' is a collection of thoughts about six comic books I've read in the past month (not necessarily released in the past month). The rules: at least one issue of an ongoing title I've never read before; at least one Australian book; and a preference for books whose creators and/or characters are more diverse than straight white and male.

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