Thursday, 24 October 2013

Idiots & F*ckwits Episode 3



Idiots & F*ckwits

Episode 3 -  “Everybody Loves Boobs”

1 page based on the 9 panel grid format (ala Watchmen)

Panel 1
Top tier is one big panel.  Establishing shot of the outside of the comicbook shop.
CAPTION: “Episode 3 - Everybody Loves Boobs”

Panel 2
Two thirds of the second tier
establishing shot inside the shop. The shopkeeper is busy sorting through a pile of comics.

Panel 3
The remaining third of the second tier.
A young woman is perusing an art book with paintings of the sexy ladies in it. The young man says something inaudible to her.
MAN: “~~~~~~"

Panel 4

WOMAN: "Everybody loves boobs"

Panel 5

MAN: "What about gays?"
WOMAN: "Especially gays."

Panel 6
They leave and the Shopkeeper looks bemused.
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Saturday, 19 October 2013

Paul's picks - Wednesday 23rd of October.


Paul's picks from next week's new releases - Wednesday 23rd of October.


These are the things that I think look particularly interesting from next week's new releases.

BEWARE THE BATMAN #1 [(W) Ivan Cohen (A/CA) Luciano Vecchio]BEWARE THE BATMAN #1 

[(W) Ivan Cohen (A/CA) Luciano Vecchio]

Based on the new animated series.


Everything you ever wanted to know about the worlds of Fables.


An all-new adventure from Hellboy's younger days.

JUDGE DREDD: YEAR ONE [(W) Matt Smith (A) Simon Coleby (CA) Greg Staples]
Zarjaz!


Marvel funny!

Marvel Zombies in a big thick book.

Magical realism and western brutality.



Samurai Jack!  You know, off of the telly.

SEX CRIMINALS #2 (MR) [(W) Matt Fraction (A/CA) Chip Zdarsky]

SEX CRIMINALS #2 

[(W) Matt Fraction (A/CA) Chip Zdarsky]

Kelly Sue DeConnick's husband brings us the other side of the story from #1


STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION / DOCTOR WHO: ASSIMILATION² COMPLETE HC [(W) David Tipton & Various (A) J. K. Woodward & VariousSTAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION / DOCTOR WHO: ASSIMILATION² COMPLETE HC 

[(W) David Tipton & Various (A) J. K. Woodward & Various

Who is stronger: Star Trek or Doctor Who?  The full series in one volume.

VELVET #1 (MR) [(W) Ed Brubaker (A) Steve Epting, Bettie Breitweiser (CA) Steve Epting]
Brubaker! Epting! Spy stuff!  What are you waiting for?

Not sure if you'll like Sandman (you will)?  Want to try the first issue for cheap (who wouldn't)?  This if for you.

Zombies from the creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

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Thursday, 17 October 2013

Daniel Dearlove reviews Avengers Assemble #20

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #20 

[(Writer) Al Ewing (Art by) Pepe Larraz (Cover art by) Jorge Molina]


AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #20 INF [(W) Al Ewing (A) Pepe Larraz (CA) Jorge Molina]
 

 I'm a Wasp fan. I don't know if it's necessary for me to explain any further, but: She fights crime in miniskirts and cute little pixie cuts, and she's girly and vulnerable in a way that comic book heroines aren't supposed to be. She's a real person, going through things in her personal life that are a lot more relatable than clones or mind control. She gets so many costumes that if you don't love the current one, you can wait for the next (now that the merch-friendly embossed catsuit has finally been retired). And she's a classic Lee/Kirby creation that should be recognised as the heart of the Marvel Universe, instead just managing to survive horrific writer abuse and a seeming determination to sideline her in favour of nonentities without a speck of her charm.

We finally got through the wilderness years, waiting for Jan's return. Yet even with her new role in a supposed flagship book, she barely gets to be a presence. The Uncanny Avengers team make guest appearances in every book, with Janet always absent. On covers she's a tiny blot, a half-arsed squiggle that can't even be called woman-shaped.

So with cautious optimism we gazed on the Jorge Molina cover for Avengers Assemble #20, with Jan front and centre and actually allowed to take up a few inches. It was too much to hope she'd get a big role, and the preview pages made it seem more of a Wonder Man story. Never could I have dreamed that we'd get what's essentially a Wasp solo adventure. And it comes from Al Ewing, whose Mighty Avengers I slated in a previous review, which might have had as much to do with my dislike for the Infinity crossover as the comic itself.

I never thought we'd see Lord Gouzar again. It seemed more likely that Marvel would be allowed to use the actual Baron Karza before his non-union equivalent would make another appearance. Ewing's reuse of the villain from Janet's return arc is an inspired move. It gives her a recurring nemesis who isn't Whirlwind (or the Magician, no don't Google him). And it's a big step towards some closure on her long exile. She was apparently battling Gouzar for a period of time that spanned Dark Reign, Siege, Fear Itself, Avengers vs. X-Men and everything in between, and with only her limited appearances since we've barely scratched the surface of what went on during that time and how it affected her. (Back when Marvel was willing to publish limited series that weren't Deadpool or zombies, this would have been an ideal subject.)

For all that, it's a little problematic and strange that Janet never gets to directly defeat Gouzar. His appearance in Avengers climaxed in a battle scene where everyone except Jan was allowed to assault him, and here she's put in the role of pep-talking someone else into dealing with him. I'm not sure if it's intentional that Jan is repeatedly shoehorned into the cheerleader role rather than acting on her own agency; in a way it doesn't go against her established character, yet it's frustrating that even in the spotlight she's not allowed to kick ass.

The art by Pepe Larraz is fluid and easy on the eyes if unremarkable. His Janet isn't as attractive as I'd like, and he gives the new costume too much of a New 52-style armoured look. To be fair, it seems to be a tricky one to get right, looking very ugly in the hands of the wrong artist. (Cassaday's depiction is utterly, utterly horrible.)

Rabid fan bias aside, this is a fun, amusing issue if not a perfect one. It's built on the old "structure the story around a loose metaphor, providing a tidy little point to end on without really going anywhere". It's by far the best thing to come out of Infinity, as much as that isn't a major accomplishment. (There's still no reason the non-Hickman Avengers teams have been completely ignored in the core issues, and Wanda - the woman who could end the invasion with three words? Her entire role in this crossover is to land a Quinjet, no really.) Ewing's characterisation of Janet seems to contain a little of her chirpier Earth's Mightiest Heroes animated iteration; it's not necessarily a bad thing in moderation, but clashes with the more mature and experienced canon depiction.

Avengers Assemble #20 is an antidote both to the joyless death march of Infinity and the seemingly endless mega-plot in which the Uncanny Avengers cast are embroiled. If there's an upside to Marvel's eternal cycle of crossover events, it's that the occasional character-focused issue like this is allowed to slip out.    
Daniel Dearlove
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Idiots & F*ckwits Episode 2



Idiots & F*ckwits

Episode 2 -  “Oh My God”

1 page based on the 9 panel grid format (ala Watchmen)


Panel 1

Top tier is one big panel.  Establishing shot of the outside of the comicbook shop.
CAPTION: “Episode 2 -
Oh My God”

Panel 2
Two thirds of the second tier
establishing shot inside the shop. The shopkeeper is busy sorting through a pile of comics.

Panel 3
The remaining third of the second tier.
A young man and young woman enter the shop.
MAN: “Wow, this is a proper comic shop”

Panel 4
the young woman discovers the manga section
WOMAN: "Oh my god"

Panel 5

WOMAN: "Oh my god. Oh my god"

Panel 6
Shopkeeper (breaking the fourth wall: "Sometimes they are neither idiots nor fuckwits"
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Friday, 11 October 2013

Paul's picks - Wednesday 16th of October.

Paul's picks from next week's new releases - Wednesday 16th of October.


These are the things that I think look particularly interesting from next week's new releases.

A book of art by the artist of The Walking Dead.


New 52 Wonder Woman #1 for 80p


Hawkeye returns after what seems like an eternity (since JULY!)



Rick Jones. 'Nuff said.


The recent Joker epic in one volume.



all-new big-action, big-ideas sci-fi adventure




KHAAAAAAAAAAN!



The Man of Steel and The Dark Knight Detective Team up from the olden days (the late 1980s)


Yet another cover for the 10th anniversary issue.  Exclusive to the New York Comic Convention but I've managed to get some.






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Idiots & F*ckwits Episode 1


Idiots & F*ckwits
Episode 1 -  “A sticky situation”
1 page based on the 9 panel grid format (ala Watchmen)

Panel 1
Top tier is one big panel.  Establishing shot of the outside of the comicbook shop.
CAPTION: “Episode 1 - A sticky situation”

Panel 2
Two thirds of the second tier
establishing shot inside the shop. The shopkeeper is busy sorting through a pile of comics.

Panel 3
The remaining third of the second tier.
A man enters the shop.
MAN: “Alright mate. Do you sell glue?”

Panel 4
Shopkeeper: “No, sorry.  This is a comicbook shop”

Panel 5
MAN: “I know that.  I just thought you might sell glue as well.”

Panel 6
Man leaves, shopkeeper looks puzzled.
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Friday, 4 October 2013

Paul's picks - Wednesday 9th of October.

Paul's picks from next week's new releases - Wednesday 9th of October.


These are the things that I think look particularly interesting from next week's new releases.


AMERICAS GOT POWERS #7 (OF 7) [(W) Jonathan Ross (A/CA) Bryan Hitch]AMERICAS GOT POWERS #7 (OF 7) [(W) Jonathan Ross (A/CA) Bryan Hitch]

It's been a long time coming but the end is finally here.


We now return to our regular programming after villains' month with a double sized chapter of Zero Year.


Jonathan Hickman's cosmic Marvel epic continues.


back in print at last


Rucka and Lark's fantastic sci fi series gets it's first collection


Menton3's artwork is gorgeous


Amy Reeder at Image. One to watch.


Geof Darrow is back.  'Nuff said.


The first Collection of Brian Wood's Star Wars series.  Back in the days following the destruction of the first Death Star.  Proper Star Wars!

It's Superman AND Wonder Woman sharing the same comic.

Spartans!


last but the exact opposite of least...
10th anniversary, baby. I feel old. ALL-OUT-WAR begins here.
WALKING DEAD #115 - 10th Anniversary - set of Covers A-L plus Midnight Release variant - 13 comics [(W) Robert Kirkman (A) Charl
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