Scouring out the weekly singles scene … in comics!
We have too much to get to before my turkey gets cold, so let’s not waste time talkin’…
ACTION COMICS #844 (DC) Now this is how you do a Superman comic. Over the past year, I have been trying out issue after issue of any of the multiple Supes titles and found them all disappointing, the worst of the lot being Grant Morrison’s highly overrated ALL-STAR SUPERMAN and the markedly declined-in-quality SUPERMAN/BATMAN. It was actually quite disheartening to see an iconic hero like the Man of Steel given a “blah” treatment. But, with this issue of ACTION COMICS, that legendary status is back. And why? Because it’s the start of a story arc written by SUPERMAN film director Richard Donner, bringing the same sense of wonder and unflawed heroism to the character that he did for the movie. This Superman is the “big blue Boy Scout” that, while in this day and age of “extreme” heroes is looked upon with scorn, I find totally refreshing and welcome.
ARMY OF DARKNESS #11 (Dynamite) Last time, I wrote about how each AOD issue is getting more and more fanfic-ish. Nothing proves this more than the latest arc, in which Ash teams up with Frankenstein’s Monster to take on Dracula, mummies, a werewolf (I think) and the return of Deadite Ash, who’s apparently been Deadite-ing it up in ancient Egypt. This issue’s ending seems final, but it says “To be continued…,” so I can only wonder how much further they can go. I’m going on record saying how much I love this approach; currently, Ash is fighting DARKMAN (albeit in a separate series) and previously fought RE-ANIMATOR’s Dr. Herbert West. Only a true fan of AOD – and also the black-humored horror subgenre – could pull that off. Keep this up, guys! Maybe soon we’ll see him teaming up with the cadre of freaks from BASKET CASE 2! That would be awesome.
HEAD #14 (Eros) Subtitled “the Comic Book for Lovers of Cunnilingus,” HEAD is all about … um … licking vagina. Written by Polly Frost (whose book PRIVATE ACCESS I also reviewed for BOOKGASM), these tales are sexy enough – a police woman shoves a bunch of faces in her crotch, a witch shoves a bunch of faces in her crotch – but the artwork is not very good. But even then, who gets off on comic books? At least jerk it to a fumetti – then you get some real pics. It’s like those losers who find anime erotic: just sad.
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET #2 (DC/WildStorm) I’m pleased to say that someone is finally producing a comic version that does Freddy Krueger justice. Gone are the one-note plots, lame excuses for getting chicks naked and horrible art. This version is top-notch and the storyline is shaping up to be an actual storyline. Sure, Freddy’s still attacking teens, but also the inclusion of a father who not only believes what his kid is telling him, but has been trained by the Army in sleep deprivation and Zen techniques, showing up in his daughter’s dream trained and ready to beat the shit outta Freddy. It’s nice to see people who care about the character working on the book.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK #100 (Marvel) This ultra-gigantic issue of HULK continues the Planet Hulk storyline, with the beginning of a new arc titled “Allegiance.” It’s all well and good, but kicker of this issue is a bonus story called “Planet Cho” and it’s all about how Hulk faces the newly single Reed Richards. In case you don’t know, at the beginning of the current Marvel Universe-wide Civil War, the Illuminati – comprised of Richards, Iron Man, Professor X, etc. – tired of the Hulk’s destructive antics, decided to put his big green ass in a rocket and send him to an uninhabited planet to live out the rest of his days. But, due to a mathematical error, Hulk is sent to a planet that does nothing but gladiator battles. And that takes us up to Planet Hulk. In this “Planet Cho” story, a teenager named, interestingly enough, Cho, is quite possibly one of the smartest humans ever and, because the Jade Giant once saved him, he has an undying allegiance to the Hulk. Doing a couple of computations, Cho figures out that the Green Goliath is on the wrong planet and calls up Richards just to tell him what a fuck-up he is. Damn, Cho – you hardcore! And now Richards is freaking out. To be continued!
And please, don’t forget to pick up these perennial SERIOUS ISSUE faves:
• AMERICAN SPLENDOR #3 (Vertigo/DC) Harvey takes medication!
• JONAH HEX #13 (DC) The scar-tastic origin of Jonah Hex!
• SHE-HULK #13 (Marvel) Thanos is an asshole!
Next Week: CRIMINAL! 1980s Marvel! And a new Leatherface book! –Louis Fowler
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