I'm so far behind. So many reviews to do, and so little time. This group of reviews should have been here sooner, but the wife, baby and I recently took a week long trip to Florida. I'll admit I needed the break from the many things I do every week, but it is a bit of hell to come back and be even further behind than usual.
I have however managed to cobble togther some reviews of a few books that have been patiently awaiting my attention. I'd like to thank Archaia Studios Press for their generous donations, and hope that I'll have many more chances to review anything they publish.
ARCHAIA STUDIO PRESS
This was my first chance to review some of the works published by ASP. Having seen reviews elsewhere in the past, I knew that I’d likely enjoy all of it very much, and I’m extremely pleased to say that I wasn’t let down a bit. The three books I’m going to review for you here are all imports that were first printed in other countries. I want to commend ASP for not only finding these works, but for also bringing them to the USA for the rest of us to enjoy. Here’s a look at what I read:
THE KILLER #3
Written by Matz
Art by Luc Jacamon
This series was originally published in France and Belgium by Casterman. I didn’t have a chance to read the first two issues, but I didn’t have a hard time finding my way into the storyline at all. The layout of the artwork is perfectly paced for the story. The nature/wilderness scenes vividly show what likely might be the artist’s greatest strengths. The story also fires away without missing a beat. It has all of the best parts of many of the crime stories I’ve read without the silliness that is part and parcel of so many of them.
Here is ASP’s teaser:
A professional.
A man of few scruples, nerves of steel, and a steady trigger finger.
A man whose crimes might be catching up with him.
A man on the verge of cracking.
ASP presents THE KILLER, a hardboiled 10-issue noir series chronicling one man’s journey through some seriously bad mojo.
Upon finishing this issue, I realized I was instantly hooked, and will actively be seeking out the issues I’ve already missed and those yet to come. – 5 of 5
This series was originally published in France by Delcourt. I didn’t have a chance to read the first issue, but again I also didn’t have any difficulty settling into the issue. The artwork is absolutely beautiful. Almost every panel all the way through contains lushly drawn and colored backgrounds. I sincerely appreciate that level of detail. It shows the artist’s dedication to the story. I’m sure that in this case the artist, HUB, was extremely dedicated as the he also happens to be the writer. The story is set in what appears to be feudal Japan, but certain things have been altered to allow for a bit of creative storytelling that isn’t necessarily tied to history.
Here is ASP’s teaser:
Year 1108 in the official calendar of the Pajan Empire. This turbulent age, often called the Asagiri Era, or the Time of Mists, saw the great clans wage decades-long wars in attempts to seize power. Far from the fields of battle, Okko the ronin heads a small group of demon hunters, wandering the realms of Empire. He is accompanied by Noburo, a mysterious giant who hides his face behind a red mask, and the whimsical monk Noshin, the saké lover with the power to summon and commune with the spirits of nature. When Tikku’s sister Little Carp is kidnapped by pirates, the young fisherman enlists the group’s help in finding her. But the quest will have a price, and will lead our four heroes much farther afield than they’d ever imagined...
I again enjoyed every bit of this issue, and will be seeking out the other issues in order to read the story in its entirety. – 5 of 5
THE SECRET HISTORY #1
Written by Jean-Pierre Pécau
Illustrated by Igor Kordey
Let’s kick this one off with ASP’s teaser right away:
Four immortal brothers and sisters entrusted with ivory cards in the dawn of prehistory by a dying shaman, and told never to use the cards together. Four immortal brothers and sisters, four archons, leaping through time, consumed in an epic struggle to influance and shape the history of Western civilization. From Moses’ challenge to the Pharaoh to the origin of the Grail myth; from the Pope’s extermination of the Cathars to Nostradamus’ travels in Italy; from the Spanish Armada and the Great Fire of London to Napoleon’s conquest of Egypt; and finally to the Angel of Mons appearing over the trenches of World War I: a secret occult history of the world told in seven chapters.
Brilliant. This story is a retelling of the history of the world as we know it through the eyes of four siblings. It’s not an effort though to rewrite history with fanciful dreams of what might have happened. We are instead treated to a look at why many of the important events in history did happen, and how these four siblings were behind it all. That idea alone is worth the praise I want to lavish upon this comic. I simply cannot wait to read the rest of the series which will last for a total of seven issues. Rather than tell you any more about it, I shall let you know I give this series my highest recommendation. Buy them and read them. - 5 of 5
I went into my local comic shop recently on an early Wednesday afternoon to pick up that week’s batch of new books. As I was getting ready to checkout, I noticed a book on the shelf behind the desk that looked interesting. It was Dez Skinn’s Comix: The Underground Revolution. I knew that I had a section on my website’s forum that is dedicated solely to underground comics and that my knowledge of them was limited at best. It seemed like a great idea to buy this text on the history of them and see if I could catch up just a pinch.
I read it cover to cover, and was prepared to come here to PT and tell you how much I enjoyed reading about the undergrounds. I decided though that I would first get on the internet and do a search on the author. I wasn’t familiar with any previous work he might have done. I must say that while I’m very happy I did the research, I was not at all thrilled with what I found.
It seems that this book has used information and pictures from another person’s work. That other person is none other than Patrick Rosenkranz, a very well known expert in the underground comic collecting community. His book, Rebel Visions: The Underground Comix Revolution 1963-1974 came out a full year earlier. Skinn had apparently used a great many different things from Rosenkranz’s book without permission. Luckily enough, I also happened to have a copy of the October, 2004 issue of The Comics Journal sitting on my shelf at home that contained a small article from Rosenkranz that detailed exactly what Skin stole. The article ended with the following phrase: “The book is flippant, facile, and fatally flawed.”
I’m afraid I must agree with that interpretation. I came very close to coming here to recommending something to the lot of you without doing that extra bit of homework on the subject. It’s safe to say that I’ve learned my lesson.
I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of Rosenkranz’s book. I’ll let you know what I think of it when and if I can find one.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I'm going to use this space this time around to show you yet another picture of my baby girl. She recently started eating solid foods, and this pic is one I snapped a few days ago while feeding her strained peaches.
I'm accepting any and all comic related submissions for review! Please e-mail me HERE for my policies and snail mail address. THANKS!
