Look at this Hardcover and Trade Paperback List. I know not every release week can be a winner (there are normally at least 50 each year, after all)… But man, this is one shit list. I look at the stuff I bought and I go, “meh”. I know when they arrive from my retailer, pulling them out of the box and cataloguing them will be more trouble than most of them are worth. Hell, I’m even wondering why I bought some of these books when they were originally released in the Hardcover format.
I am proud of some of the titles that have lines drawn through them. Just a couple of months ago, I would have purchased the Luke McBain or Total Recall collections… And minutes later I would not have been able to give you a reason why. For example, let’s examine the Total Recall trade: I didn’t really enjoy the original movie… And I’m not looking forward to (what looks like) the new scene-by-scene remake. To top it off, I have heard nothing about this comic that would lead me to believe I would enjoy reading it. So I didn’t buy it.
See? I am learning.
Because of this, there will be no Hot Picks– or even a POS Pick, for the week. (There are plenty of book reviews for 7.11.12– later in the column).
But this week, bitching is all I got.
American Elf Sketchbook Diaries James Kolchaka Vol 4
Archie Clash of the New Kids
Artifacts Vol 4
Avengers West Coast Avengers Family Ties
Batwing Vol 1 The Lost Kingdom
Captain America and Bucky Life Of Bucky Barnes
– Own the Hardcover
Comics Go To Hell HC
Counter X X-Force Rage War
Cut the Rope Special Delivery
Dragons vs Dinosaurs
Enders Game Formic Wars Silent Strike HC
FF By Jonathan Hickman Vol 2
– Own the Hardcover
Flannery O’Connor: The Cartoons HC
Ghost Rider Complete Series By Rob Williams
Grimm Fairy Tales Vol 2 (New Print)
Hammer and The Anvil
Hellraiser Vol 3
Herc Complete Series by Pak and Lente
Kung Fu Panda Slow Fast & Other Stories
Luke McBain
Men Of War Vol 1 Uneasy Company
MMW Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol 7 HC
Pinocchio Vampire Slayer Vol 3 Wood and Blood
Radioactive Man Vol 1 Radioactive Repository HC
Resistance Vol 3 Victory
Showcase Presents Rip Hunter Time Master Vol 1
Significant Objects
Smurfs Vol 12 Smurfs Versus Smurfs HC
Smurfs Vol 12 Smurfs Versus Smurfs SC
Spider-Man Complete Ben Reilly Epic Book 5
Spider-Man Ends of Earth HC
Spike Complete Series
Stuff of Legend Omnibus Vol 1 HC
– Own the Softcovers
Sunset HC
Tarot Witch of the Black Rose Vol 10
Total Recall Vol 1
Ultimate Comics Ultimates by Hickman Vol 2 HC
Warehouse 13 Vol 1
World War 3 Illustrated #43
13th Boy Vol 12
Afterschool Charisma Vol 6
Black Butler Vol 10
Book Girl And The Wayfarer’s Lamentation Novel
Case Closed Vol 43
Disappearance of Nagato Yuki Clan Vol 1
Durarara Vol 3
High School Of The Dead Vol 7
Is This A Zombie Vol 2
Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys Vol 21
Fairy Tail Vol 20
Negima Vol 35
Ooku The Inner Chambers Vol 7
Pandora Hearts Vol 11
Sailor Moon Vol 6 Kodansha Edition
Soul Eater NOT! Vol 1
Twilight The Graphic Novel Vol 2 SC
The Marvel Now! announcement has me a reeling a little… Especially from the standpoint of being a Trade Waiter.
When I got back from my lengthy “side trip” to the East Coast, I discovered something interesting: I hadn’t read a DC Comics Hardcover or Trade Paperback in months. Nothing. Lord knows, I have enough of them and they’re all just sitting there waiting to be read any time I feel like it. But the other day I realized I was reading my Independent books (of course) and even several Marvel Comics collections… But I wasn’t reading any DC Comics. Weird.
I consciously chose to read THIS shit…
All this is unlike me. I normally like to mix up the different companies and genres as I slog through the bookcases… But, for some reason, I had decided to read several Deadpool volumes over Green Lantern or Batman. Strange… So I decided to try and figure out why. A few minutes later (I’m really not that complicated), I knew what it was: My problem was DC’s New 52.
I had stopped reading my older 2010/2011 DC collections because I had already sampled the New 52… And I must’ve subconsciously thought, “Why bother reading these?” I knew there were still plenty of good/great stories to experience (and several stinkers, I’m sure) but I guess I was wondering why I should bother to read them if what happened inside no longer “mattered”.
Then I started laughing… Because, seriously, none of this stuff really matters… Except to the men and women who professionally work in the medium to put food on the table and take care of their families. Otherwise, it’s just entertainment to us.
… Over this? Seriously?!?
My continuing to read comics is more a testament to the resonance and durability of these characters than anything else. The price of these things are outrageously expensive– especially when compared to just ten or fifteen years ago. Add to that one major company deciding to reboot their entire line– making the previous 70+ years of continuity inconsequential… And it’s a wonder why any of us decades-old fans still bother to read them at all.
No doubt, the characters are the special attraction. They attract mega-talent like director Christopher Nolan– who’s spent a large chunk of his estimable career chronicling his version of the Dark Knight. And when you think about it, each of us has his or her touchstone in the hobby…. The reason we continue to patronize these publishers… Even if it is a medium where the players– at least at the top– seem like they could care less whether we’re spending our hard-earned money with them or not.
Or maybe we’re just all crazy. Here’s to the fans!
Like almost anyone else who’s ever had the happy opportunity to experience the original Blacksad, I am a huge fan of writer Juan Diaz Canales and artist Juanjo Guarnido. After reading the first book, I could not wait for this second hardcover to be released. And I’m happy to report, unlike many long-awaited comic book sequels (like, oh, Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again)– Canales and Guarnido’s Blacksad: A Silent Hell delivers.
Guarnido’s artwork is life-like, so true– you almost forget that it is anthropomorphic. Blacksad isn’t a dashing cat detective. He’s just a detective. The care Guarnido takes to accurately portray the time period and old New Orleans is astonishing. (And that’s a word you will hardly ever read me write.)
The art in A Silent Hell also has a different, richer feel than in the first volume… Mainly due to Guarnido’s discovery that he could use an uneven– yet more watercolor friendly– paper stock to successfully work on. This challenging paper does nothing to detract from his exquisitely steady lines and everything to make his watercolors look ever more layered, vibrant and brilliant.
I also immensely enjoyed Juan Diaz Canales’ story. It hits on all the genre’s most loved high points– yet never wanders into the over-used Raymond Chandler/Mickey Spillane type of gumshoe detective narrative. Think Robert Towne’s noir film monument Chinatown– just with Cats, Dogs, Goats and a Hippopotamus. And let’s be blunt, when you have a comic so wonderfully illustrated, it’s often hard for the story to keep up. No problems here.
All that aside, there is something I must warn you about… Something you may like immensely or may actually make you feel a little ripped off: A Silent Hell is only filled with about half a book of art and story. The other half is a step-by-step account from Guarnido on how he artistically handled some of the story’s more complex scenes working with the watercolor paper. If this had been only a few pages, I would have welcomed this section. These are the types of deluxe collection extras I’ve come to expect from Hardcovers and Trades published by the cooler companies.
But because it takes up such a large portion of the book, I’ll admit to feeling a little gypped. As much as I loved the actual story and the behind the scenes look– I wanted more story… Period. I had no idea when I picked up this collection almost half would be composed of interesting art lessons– and the effect was rather jarring… But again, only because I expected (and wanted) more actual comics from this comic book.
Still, I felt this curious editorial decision significant enough to let you about it know going in, to save you from the surprise– whether it be welcomed by you or not. And the hardcover only costs $19.99 USD. Given that, I guarantee you will enjoy Blacksad: A Silent Hell as much– if not more– than 98% of the other similarly priced (or more expensive) hardcovers released this week.
Like all great things, it left me wanting more. Much more.
Adventures Into The Unknown Vol 2 HC
Ant Man Season One HC
Batgirl Vol 1 The Darkest Reflection HC
Big John Buscema Comics & Drawings HC
Blacksad A Silent Hell HC - Hot Pick of the Week!
Casanova Vol 3 Avaritia
Creepy Presents Richard Corben HC - Recommended
Darkness Origins Vol 4
Demon Knights Vol 1 Seven Against The Dark
Essential Web of Spider-Man Vol 2
Essential X-Men Vol 4 (New Print)
Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Vol 5 HC
Free Mars Riot Girls
Ghostbusters Vol 2
Greyman
Guerillas Vol 2
Heart
Hellboy Library Vol 5 Darkness Call Wild Hunt HC – Recommended
Hunchback of Notre Dame HC
JLA Vol 2
– Own various other versions
Journey Into Mystery Terrorism Myth HC
Locke & Key Vol 5 Clockworks HC
Marathon
MMW Amazing Spider-Man Vol 14 HC
Neil Gaiman’s Midnight Days Deluxe Edition HC
Occultist Vol 1
Orchid Vol 1
Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Vol 42 Avengers HC
Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Vol 42 Avengers SC
Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Vol 42 Catwoman HC
Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Vol 42 Catwoman SC
Phantom Complete Sundays Vol 1 1939-1942 HC
Red Sonja Omnibus Vol 3
Richard Stark’s Parker The Score - Runner Up Pick of the Week!
Shadow Double Novel Vol 55
Space Warped
Star Trek Vol 2
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol 2
TMNT Vol 1 Deluxe Edition HC
- This Week’s POS*
Transformers Classics Vol 2
Uncharted
United Free Worlds HC
Valen Outcast Vol 1 Abomination
Vampirella Archives Vol 5 HC - Recommended
Wolverine and The X-Men Alpha and Omega HC
X-23 Vol 2 Chaos Theory
– Own the Hardcover
When you read a Darwyn Cooke comic, it’s easy to see why many people think he’s a near genius. When you combine Cooke with Richard Stark’s Parker, you can pile on the praise doubly so.
The cool thing: Cooke’s art doesn’t stand out because there’s a lot of shitty artists currently working in comics… There’s plenty of great artists slinging lead. Cooke’s talent shines because it’s good– and perfectly suited for this type of comic. Stark’s characters will remind genre readers of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ Criminal series– or vice/versa. Like Blacksad, this comic is firmly entrenched in a noir atmosphere.
The Score is actually the third in a series of Cooke’s IDW Stark adaptations. (The first two being the Eisner Award winning The Hunter and The Outfit.) Like those first two books, Cooke’s art is primarily black and white– with only one other color. (This time, the color is orange.) I don’t mention this to throw anyone off. Black and white is the perfect medium for these tales. Hell, they could leave off the third color for all I care.
If you can only afford one instant noir classic this week, chose Blacksad… And buy The Score next time you hit the comic shop.
Animal Land Vol 5
Mameshiba We Could Be Heroes
Secretary’s Job
For the same reasons I just wrote above I love Hardcovers and Trades– I dislike this book. Why? Well, as often happens– I’m not upset with the content but something entirely different. This week it’s the timing of the hardcover release.
I also dislike reading stuff like this:
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ IDW relaunch in an over-sized, hardcover edition that includes extras that were not included in the comics or the previously released paperback… Like a full set of fully-rendered layouts by Kevin Eastman! Also includes additional sketches and preliminaries from the art team.
We’ll, I already bought the Trade Paperback, Jack. I’m not even that big a TMNT fan (sacrilege, I know!) but I thought I would give this new series a try. I like the choice of buying either Hardcover or Softcover… But I like it when publishers release the Hardcover first. I don’t appreciate when they attempt to double-dip– especially when the ink’s barely dry on the trade version.
Then again, this edition is severely over-priced at a crazy $49.99 USD. That’s an extra $32.00 for a hardcover shell and only 88 extra pages (the trade is $17.99)… So maybe they did me a favor by releasing this edition last.