JACK KIRBYÕS GALACTIC BOUNTY HUNTERS#1
Writer Lisa Kirby
Artist Michael Thibodeaux
MARVEL/ICON
Four odd talented figures, galactic bounty hunters, chase criminals in a wild world that mixes popular earth culture with weird figures of fantasy. But a father and a son collide, and a writer has a role in the adventures himself, somehow. What is the mystery? The art is reminiscent of Jack Kirby and that is a good thing. And the writing shows a good sense of humor, dramatic and fine foreshadowing and excellent dialogue. Consider it a love letter to a long missed parent. Consider it the fulfillment of a promise forgotten. JACK KIRBYÕS GALACTIC BOUNTY HUNTERS written by Lisa Kirby and drawn by Michael Thibodeaux from MARVEL/ICON is a glorious thing. The original sketches for the characters were found in the papers of Jack Kirby and Roz Kirby, and when both had passed the sorting of the papers was left to daughter Lisa. When finding the sketch of the characters she realized it was wild and wonderfully funky, and with help from a group of many, she began to create a story around the characters. Thibodeaux who had worked with Jack Kirby in the past had to train his left hand to draw the work, as his drawing arm and hand were damaged. The pencils took over a year to prepare. Using margin notes and sketches from the Kirby papers, Lisa Kirby and Michael Thibodeaux have created a work that is very complimentary and honorable to the memory of Jack Kirby, but also, is a rather fun tale. My son adored the story, and at age 7 he has no clue how important Jack Kirby is. He just liked it. I liked it upon many levels and want to thank MARVEL for putting this comic upon the stands. How anyone could read this and think a bad thought at all that day I could not understand.
Ebony (an elephant man) is waiting outside a club and a little girl unattended by parent Savannah and the two talk about life, but for one life is happy and uncluttered by memories, for the other, life is a dark thing, with memories that haunt. The two talk until the mother returns. Elephantmen are the creation of mad geneticists who spliced human and wild animal DNA and artificially impregnated unfortunate women who would die upon birth. The offspring were then trained for combat as nearly indestructible agents of war. However, their human DNA and animal DNA have created more than killing machines, but emotive, intelligent creatures. The memories of the horrors of wars colors the book as a sad commentary upon our need to make conflict, but the opposite reactions to Ebony from Savannah and her mother makes a lasting commentary regarding racism and the ostracism of those who are different. I think that some people might be frustrated at the pace or the seeming low key approach here, but with any action oriented book or film, every ounce invested by the creative staff upon the development of the characters means a greater emotional impact when the action arrives for the readers. I offer up this book as a great example of a work with heart and soul, and beauty.
RUSH CITY #1
Writer Chuck Dixon
Artist Timothy Green II
DC Comics
RUSH is the name or code name of a fellow with a shiny car and lasting memories of an event in the past. He advertises his services and is called upon to rescue a child thought lost and sick from needing insulin, but in actuality seems becomes entangled in a child theft ring. He is trailed by two agents, rather incompetently and there is someone unusual looking for RUSH. The writing here is odd but quite good. The normal hitching posts of a Dixon written book are there, action and great dialogue, but more so, a real mystery. I have no idea where this book is going, and after a season of books that no matter how good seem to follow a pattern or clichŽ I very much welcome a mystery. The best aspect of the art is the detail and deliverance of action, the feel is definitely of a motion picture. First issues need to promise more than a chapter of a story, they need to reach out and kick the reader in the shins and say are you listening? Come on in! This book did that, and more.
WHAT IÕVE BEEN READING AND LISTENING TOO:
Billy Corgan Blinking With Fists and Smashing Pumpkins Best of
I get asked a lot what I am reading and listening to and it does change often, but for reasons I do not have room enough here to describe. My wife listens to music and reads to alleviate stress, despite the fact that she loves Carl Sagan and Opera, she will read and listen to far less intellectual fare for hours. I am not that way. I tend to be someone who actively listens or reads, so I cannot escape similarly via the medium. That is, for me if I listen to pop music or something that does not interest me it annoys me rather than being able to ignore it. Lately IÕve been reading poetry, and listening to rap and hip hop. But mostly the loud gothic music of the Smashing Pumpkins. My brain has been actively pursuing rhythms and patterns, and it has widely expanded my outlook. CorganÕs work in print and in music both inspire me and challenge me, and so I have been greatly moved lately by my time in them.
REVIEW PRODUCT, Books, Comics and Games can be sent to:
Alex Ness // The Land of Frost
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Rockford MN 55373-0142
ÓEach second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.Ó Artist Pablo Picasso
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