I dedicate this column to those sailors on the USS Kitty-Hawk, and especially to my cousin Navy Airman Greg Taylor working below decks in a shop. They are making my country better for their service. Thanks to them and all those serving in our military and who are away from home in these holidays.
Hello. This week we are in Hanukah, about to experience Christmas, the Solstice and begin Kwanzaa. The world celebrates the death of the old and birth of the new, and I think reflection is due at a time like this. So here it is: Winter sucks. I used to like it, but as I age I like it less. This column will be an active one this week as I have tons to review and might have the chance to write on a daily basis. Therefore, while I am not promising, I want to write five review columns this week, and hopefully catch up with my schedule of reviews. These won't be long reviews but I have read the books and hope to herein give a guide to those readers who have a shared interest in these books.
From ANTARCTIC PRESS
JTF COUNTER OPS #1-3 (color @ $3.95)
By J. Ang and Jin Son Kim
A UN Joint Task Force 3 is specialized in taking down terrorist threats. They operate out of Ottawa Canada and are guided by men in dark rooms. They cannot be stopped. So when a hostage situation goes bad this group is called in. Guns, and strategy make up the large part of this work. It is down mostly well. But as with other AP books, the bang for your buck is relatively low. Manga is well suited to this style of story and the writing and art here are professional. It is not my favorite work, but nonetheless, if you are a fan of action films with spies and intrigue you are certain to like this. There are some problems in lettering as the boxes are too small for my 40 year old eyes to read, and some of the characters look too much alike for me but, I do think this is a fairly good buy and a series to consider.
B-
From ARCHAIA STUDIO PRESS
ARTESIA AFIELD The Second Book of Dooms TPB, (Color $24.95) Mature readers.
By Mark Smylie
Book one of this series saw the lead character, a captain of a large host in battle for the king. The battles were large and the politics were great. Her soldiers loved her, and she also was shown to weave magic craft and speak to spirits. It was an excellent book, and one where I felt like it was the first sword fantasy book fully realized in the comic book medium. While it is in vogue to have women characters where there might have been men in the past, you'd never mistake this for a political correct work. In book two the opening scene begins with the plans of war and watches an engagement. Then on a dime juxtaposes the love and comradeship built by the captain with actual love. Mark Smylie has created within this series a set of characters who are real, with human emotion and intelligence and grace. Within the first review I gave of this series I remarked that the illustrations and writing were brilliant. I am not an iota less of this opinion. There is nothing less in this volume than the previous. However there are differences. While the first book hinted at a sexuality amongst the lead character, Book two shows us that sex is a portion of her existence that is as vital to understand her being as the politics and military actions within. Though graphic this is not vulgar, while unashamed it also not in the least prurient. Should a book showing violence be considered mature? sure. And nudity? sure. But this is a book that I promise you is mature in point of view as well as in the realistic creation of characters. I ask this... is not life in itself mature? If yes, then this work is the most successful mature work I have read.
Grade: A+
From COMICRAFT
HIP FLASK: ELEPHANTMEN (Color $3.50)
By Richard Starkings, J.O. Ladronn and Joe Casey
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