It's funny; I've been writing about comic books for a couple years or so, first at Comic Book Galaxy and then, since the beginning of 2002, at GrayHaven Magazine and Ain't It Cool News, and it occurs to me I've never done one of these intros, letting the ever-changing readership know who I am and what I'm about to do. Well, we've got most of my resume out of the way already (and I promise I'm not usually that link-happy), other than a few pieces for PopImage, so let's get into just what the column is about.
Mostly, it's a review column, plain and simple. I often look at a few of the week's new comics (the prior week, or sometimes I get advance looks at a few things), but I spend as much time on trade paperbacks and graphic novels, too, even if they've been out for a while. If it's good, it's good, right? I enjoy reviewing complete works a bit more, as well.
You know, there's nothing I hate more than a column where a nobody like me rambles on about his life and his minor accomplishments and pet theories until you don't even have time to read the actual reviews. So let's get into one, and I'll string the other explanatory material in-between, in italics so you can skip it if you're bored.
Since this is a brand-spankin'-new site, with doubtless quite a bit of the audience not necessarily comic book readers, I thought I'd start with reviews of three very accessible, thoroughly entertaining, and relatively inexpensive books you can find online, at comic shops, and in some cases, in your local bookstore. No superheroes this time, no reviews of the middle of a multipart story, and nothing that will take you more than a solitary hour to read. Let's, um, break it down.
WHITEOUT by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber. Oni Press. $11.95
When I chose this one, I didn't even know Steve Lieber had joined the site, so it's honestly just some pleasant synergy. The fact is, in coming up with books I felt would appeal to a wide range of readers, Whiteout jumped to the top of the list.
WHITEOUT is the story of Carrie Stetko, Marshal for a drilling operation/community in Antarctica. Some of the inhabitants are turning up dead, and an especially large recent drilling is suspicious in itself. And just who is this British woman and what's she doing here? Secret Service?
Rucka, a crime novelist and current writer of Oni's spy series QUEEN AND COUNTRY and DC's venerable DETECTIVE COMICS, makes his first major comics splash here with a brilliantly conceived, tautly constructed mystery. That Carrie is one of the few realistic, multifaceted female characters in comics today should take nothing away from Rucka's achievement.
But as good as the story is, two things really elevate it into memorable, near-perfect status: the setting and Lieber's abundant skill at bringing it to life. Setting a murder mystery in a frozen wasteland brings Lieber's mastery of contrast and space and subtle shadings to the fore, while the drilling outpost is such a sanctuary for rough-mannered, hairy masculinity that a reader can't help but be on the side of an outsider like Carrie, who has been here for years and will never really fit in. See also WHITEOUT: MELT, which I'll review in a future column.
Back to what the column's about. Sometimes the reviews may be linked thematically, but I usually just go for variety: some superheroes, some crime, some manga, some humor, whatever I'm into at the moment. And when I can, I'll throw in some brief interviews, essays, oddness-to-keep-me-interested, or even some rants.
Actually, you'll find precious few rants in this column. There are always things to complain about, and that is in fact part of a critic's job, but I TRY to keep a few things in mind before going off on this creator, that publisher, etc. First, whatever offense one perceives was probably not intentional. A mediocre writer or artist often tries just as hard or harder than a genius, and they probably love comics as much as you. And a negative review can and should be done without attacking the creator on a personal level. A really awful book is just a minor waste of time and money, not an excuse to call for the creator's head on a platter. As a writer once told me, "some great critics are total assholes," and while he's right, I really only want to be the former and not the latter. I've failed miserably on occasion and am very grateful that my mistakes have been allowed to be learning experiences and not burnt bridges. And after writing a couple short comic stories myself, I realized that even stupid stuff is more work than one might expect.
 |
GOODBYE, CHUNKY RICE by Craig Thompson. Top Shelf Comix. $14.95
Chunky the Turtle heeds the call of the sea, leaving behind his dearest friend Dandel, a cute little deer, but the bond they share is strong enough to withstand the distance. This is a tender and poignant modern fable with rich, expressive artwork by Thompson, as deep and painstakingly produced as a woodcut and yet so much freer and full of lyrical beauty. Every lapping wave that puts more distance between the two also tugs at the heartstrings, and a simple ellipse of downturned mouth and circular eyes of innocence convey emotions with a primal impact many cartoonists cannot achieve. The best love stories are simple ones, and that's evident here, though Thompson also provides an almost equally touching parallel story with the supporting characters.
Now, you might ask what "breakdowns" refers to? It's a comic-book term for when an artist draws a page in pencil in a rough fashion-minimally indicating faces and figures and backgrounds-to be "finished" by another artist in ink. Breakdowns are not as detailed or "tight" as "pencils" are. The double-entendre for the column would be my own possible breakdowns as I lost it over some overhyped, underachieved book, but again, that's mostly in the past, I hope!
OK, this last one isn't quite as accessible as the others, but I threw it in because it should appeal to fans of fun, gross-out horror/sci-fi. And let's face it, we're not always in the mood for a rich, emotional fable like GOODBYE, CHUNKY RICE. Sometimes, we want to see things-and people-blow up. Or maybe that's just me...
STRANGE KISS by Warren Ellis and Mike Wolfer. Avatar Press. $8.95
SAS operative William Gravel is lingering in the States, picking up some unspecified job after his government mission is completed. Gravel is in "K" Division, performing "deniable operations," meaning that if he's caught, the British government will disavow any knowledge of him or his mission.
Gravel visits his old commanding officer and only friend, "Bull," who is dying in the hospital from a foul side effect of a tawdry liaison: his penis has rotted right off and his torso is bulging and swollen from who knows what. Well, we soon find out what: lizards. Dozens of vicious little lizards. Before dying, Bull asks that Gravel find out who's responsible, and "fuck them up."
The laconic Gravel is an inveterate "fucker upper" of the first order, a "soldier magician" who nonetheless lets his twin pistols handle most of his pressing business. He tracks down the mystery of the "Whores of the Lizard," which I won't spoil for you here. STRANGE KISS is a gleefully foul thriller, which makes great use of Wolfer's talents for grotesque imagery. Imagine Dirty Harry directed by David Cronenberg and you'll have some idea of the feel here in this fast-paced B-movie-on-paper. Not for the weak of stomach, but a ride worth taking, and in Gravel Ellis has created an able character to take his id-based visions and cathartically destroy them. See also: STRANGER KISSES and the new ongoing series STRANGE KILLINGS by the same creators.
And that does it for my first column here in "The Shoot." It's great to be here, and I hope you take a minute to let me know what you think. See you next week.
Christopher Allen
SHOOT-BACK HERE! |
ARCHIVES
