Yesterday within my column I gave some positive reviews to many works. I do not always like what I read, but you are not likely to find out what those books are. You see I believe in positive votes rather than negative and so I am left with an effort to uplift those books that deserve attention and ignore those that I either do not like or altogether understand. That however leaves some who believe I only go positive in these columns. Assume then that for every review you read there are 10 more books that for either reasons of dislike or an incomplete story arc did not receive a review. But occasionally I will review a book I disliked reading. Why? A valuable piece of advice came from an UK writer to me when he said one, do your own column and to hell with anyhing else’s opinion of it, and if it bothers you when people say you only give positives throw in the odd turd of a book to maintain a balance. So if you smell something in a review it is that odd turd.
From Alternative Comics
HICKEE (BW $12.95)
By Graham Annable and assembled cast
I love Grickle, Annable’s previous work, and this is a collection of works by various cartoonists including Annable. It is funny, endearing and made me smile.
It is a great relief to read works such as this that are light in tone, when the world about you is falling. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to people who enjoy humor comics.
Grade B+
ROSETTA: a comics anthology (BW $19.95)
By assembled cast
Shoot. This work comes highly lauded with enormous praise and listed upon numerous best of lists. There is really nothing to add that those reviewers and writers haven’t already disected and discussed.
ROSETTA is a work that collects international talents in the world of small press comics and each of the many contributors discuss true to life if fictional and amazing if true non fiction. There is no real theme that I can detect, except the greater theme of introducing fans to the ideas of the small press talents, and demonstrating that comics can be so much more than fantasy genres.
Grade B (but I acknowlege that many will enjoy this far more than me)
WHEN I AM OLD and other stories (BW $12.95)
By Gabrielle Bell
This collection of short stories is a view into the mind of an independent, small press artist and her views and imaginings (including being a 500 foot tall woman).
I find the reviewing process in such intensely personal works to be so very difficult. I mean, did I like this? I don’t even know. I read it. I read it again. I admire the work, think it is well done and worth reading, so I think it is something people should pick up. But would I buy it? I guess not because it wouldn’t have landed upon my radar screen. I am grateful that I got this opportunity to expand my reading horizons.
Grade B
From Comicraft/Active Images
THE SPIRAL CAGE (BW $12.95)
By Al Davison with foreword Alan Moore
Born with Spina Bifida the writer artist spins a tale of his life, pain and triumph. Before we go further this is not a polemic of political correctness lionizing disability as martyrdom or a tale of how he is great and everybody who hurt him is bad. It is a life story of self discovery and victory over what seemed to be a fate. I think it is important to distinguish what it is because we all have issues, and many people have physical, mental or emotional problems. Al Davison deserves credit for writing the most moving tale of triumph without falsely enhancing his heroic struggle, or demonizing his life’s troubles.
I cannot recommend this enough. It is flat out awesome.
Grade A
From CrossGen Comics
ROB ZOMBIE”S SPOOKSHOW INTERNATIONAL #1 & 2 (color, $2
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