By Alex Ness

REVIEWS

From Marvel’s ICON Imprint

POWERS #1-4
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Mike Oeming
Comic, color $2.95

Detectives Walker and Pilgrim reintroduce themselves to comic readers, but do so now under the auspices of MARVEL Comics and its new ICON imprint. Due to the appearance of Super powered beings on the world presented in this series are part and parcel of the cause and effects of that reality. The two detectives featured hunt down those who kill powered “Powers” individuals, as well as those who kill the Powers. These issues do what most comics do not, they present a world that seems to by now both be used to the banality of super heroics, at the same time as affected in strange and horrible ways by the manner in which such beings would change their surroundings. So there is great amazement at the dead who resuscitate themselves, or the impact of a super being’s rage. But where as there is a reporter and news story within the story, you can well imagine that in our world the rock star celebrity factor would take over the news... our lives would be consumed and this is where the banality factor comes into play. In essence, Bendis has interpreted what a society would be like in the event of heroic and powered beings active in life. Also, in my opinion, there is a powerful allegorical nature of the Detectives, in name Walker (the eternal hero who here is forced to pursue justice on the side of the non-powered) and Pilgrim, (the flawed human who seeks to understand and to bring justice despite not having advantages over her opponents.) The two face issues that cannot be faced except together. They form a symbiot, utilizing each other’s strengths and supporting the other despite their own weaknesses.

Bendis reigns supreme here with Oeming. Both reach impossible heights in this work. This is a seriously wonderful book. I highly recommend it.

FROM Alternative Comics

THE WHITE ELEPHANT
Writer: Damon Hurd
Artist: Christopher Steininger
B/W (duo tone wash) 64 pages, $8.95

Gene faces enormous issues, his past, his memories, his nightmares and the numerous inadequacies of his existence. He tells his feelings and thoughts to a largely symbolic mental health professional. He tells this person of his worries fears and life events in the form of a play, told and performed within an empty forum. I would say that there is an experiment here, but the story itself is not the experiment. I think the play, as a totem for his life is very powerful. Hurd’s character Gene struggles amongst the various crap within his life. Amongst the crap that is at play here is intense, unrelenting loneliness.

The ultimate tragedy of the play is that, whatever the resolution or ending of this story, loneliness cannot be treated, nor can ghosts be removed or killed. All you can hope to do is fill your existence with something good to offset the bad. The White Elephant is Gene, (I think) a perfectly useless object, whatever the relative worth. The art and writing are relatively sparse. But I think that if you are someone tired of heroes, or genre work, this is a humane, intelligent work that explores the depths of our common being. Read it with an open mind and I bet you will learn something.

From ORIGIN COMICS

Temporary: Cubes and Ladders #1
Written by Damon Hurd
Art by Rick Smith
B/W, 56 pages, $3.95

Damon Hurd and Rick Smith have created a story that, whatever we might think of the setting, the workplace, is creative and unsettling. Envy Saint-Claire is a temporary employee working for All Trades Temporary Agency. The office politics, the unusual people she is surrounded by, the desire to avoid responsibility, the desire to be accepted, the false environment that is supercharged with fear and anxiety, this is a world that no one, knowingly, would enter with hopes of surviving or enjoying the work within. As with White Elephant, Hurd took a real world setting or event, and explored the hell out of it. And do not forget that title, Cubes and Ladders, reflects upon two levels of story, cubicles and the ladder of advancement exist, but beyond that is the children’s game Chutes and Ladders, where you bump opponents around as you attempt to advance. No one reading this story will be mild in response to it. The art is appropriate to the story, but I am not a fan. I have to say that reading it you appreciate the artists storytelling instincts. Temporary #1 is scheduled for a December 2004 release and is in the current Previews on page 323 in the Origin Comics listing, with Diamond Order Code OCT04 2887.

PREVIEW: PIGTALE

In Comics, we do not always have the foresight to see the upcoming wonderful books and sometimes we miss them. I had the privilege to see PIGTALE, a book solicited in the NOVEMBER PREVIEW. If you like well done books, you should order it. It has a light tone, yet it was fresh and thoughtful. I will happily be placing an order for mine. PIGTALE PREVIEW

NEWS RELEASE: TALKING PIGS AND PRIVATE EYES PROTECTING PORTLAND?

Ovi Nedeclu's PIGTALE debuts from Image Comics.

Start with a scooter-driving private investigator, add an intelligent talking pig, toss in an evil wolf intent on conquering Portland after destroying both pig and detective (plus anyone in between), and what have you got? You've got fresh talent Ovi Nedeclu's PIGTALE, a new bimonthly ongoing series, debuting this January from Image Comics.

PIGTALE tells the story of Boston Booth, an amateur private investigator in Portland, Oregon, as he tries to deal with a life turned upside down by financial and professional turmoil.  Things take a dramatic twist for Boston when he is introduced to Clyde, an intelligent talking pig desperate to escape from his evil step-brother, Taxx, a wolf hell-bent on destroying Clyde, and taking over the city while he's at it. Nedeclu's singular sense of style and cinematic approach to storytelling Has earned raves from anyone who's seen the book, including superstar comic artist Mike Wieringo, who says Ovi's "jaw-dropping" style "is like nothing I've ever seen," and PIXAR animation story supervisor/artist Ronnie Del Carmen, who compares Nedeclu's staging of scenes to "the spare style of Chuck Jones."

Count Image publisher Erik Larsen among Nedeclu's fans. "Pigtale is one of those books that fall out of the sky and you have to wonder, 'Where the hell did THIS guy come from?,'" says Larsen.  "And I mean that in the best possible where-have-you-been-all-my-life kind of way. This guy is, simply put, incredible--and I've got a strong feeling about this one. Generally, when that happens--it's a book that catches readers and retailers by surprise and they come back at me a few month later and say to me, 'why didn't you TELL ME this was going to be good?' well, we do--and we will. And like Flight, Ultra, The Walking Dead, Firebreather and Invincible before it--I think readers and retailers alike are simply going to fall in love with this book." And in case you think he's kidding, Larsen has a few last words for those on the fence about PIGTALE: "Seriously folks--this book is outstanding and you'll never stop kicking yourself if you miss it. This guy is GOOD."

PIGTALE, a bimonthly ongoing series, is available for preorder in the November issue of PREVIEWS.  First issue will be on sale January 12. Check out the site of Ovi Nedelcu

REELART STUDIOS PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Michael Hudson 727-343-2152

ELVGREN'S SUZANNE TAKES ON STATUESQUE PROPORTIONS

ReelArt Studios is proud to announce that it has been awarded an exclusive licensing agreement from Brown & Bigelow, Inc. to produce the Gil Elvgren Collection of Good Girl Art in 1/6th scale resin statues. Elvgren is considered by most fans and art aficionados alike to be the best Pin-Up artist of the Twentieth Century and his fame has not diminished into a new era. The art is being provided from the archives of renowned calendar publisher, Brown  & Bigelow. While many companies were destroying such works, they are to be commended for placing a redeeming value on Popular Culture and the work of this important artist. Without their foresight in archiving Elvgren's prolific output, much of it would be lost to us today.

ReelArt Studios has commissioned another master of the female form, sculptor Steve West, to helm the first piece in the collection titled Suzanne, painted by Elvgren in 1963. Reminiscent of a Hollywood starlet, Suzanne strikes a sultry yet playful pose atop a comfy white mattress. You can almost hear Sinatra on the radio and ice tinkling in a cocktail shaker. ReelArt Studios owner Michael Hudson says, "The opportunity to turn Gil Elvgren's exquisite brushwork into sculptural form is such an awesome challenge and we could not be more delighted than to have Steve West on our introductory piece." This beautiful sculpture rests on a handsome wooden base and is limited to a production edition of 1500 pieces.  Suzanne is the first of a series of Elvgren statues that will be released by ReelArt Studios and comes protectively packaged in a gorgeous four color box. You can take her home with you in early spring 2005. Please visit the ReelArt Studios for updates and information on Suzanne and other unique and collectible statues and busts.  



FINAL THOUGHTS:
Thanks to all publishers for sending product for review. All review materials sent to the address below will be considered for possible review.


Alexander@popthought.com

ONLINE ARCHIVES:
Pop Thought
Robin Goodfellow
Slush Factory
STL Comics

Alexander Ness
The Land Of Frost
Box 142
Rockford MN 55373-0142

"Meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same." Rudyard Kipling

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