My Comics Reading List #12

Last time I covered most of my UK reading, this time out it's the rest of the world...

113. LASTMAN VOLUME ONE (Public Library) 

Bastien Vives is a French cartoonist subject to much controversy, although a lot of his work has been translated into English. This is the unfinished First Second version of a series currently being re-released by Image. Here is a good interview with the three creators explaining who does what on the manga-influenced series. Despite Vives' more transgressive work, this is a good deal of fun and I'll probably read more of the series.

114. THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND (Public Library)

This adapts the William Hope Hodgson novel from 1908, it's Gothic atmosphere and otherwordly horror are right up Richard Corben's alley (as are the frequently naked Brother and Sister). Highly recommended for Corben fans.

115. 116. 117. THE HERO COMICS #37; THE RETURN OF GORGO #31; KONGA #25 (Kickstarter)

The best way to keep up with Robin Snyder's Steve Ditko publications is through subscribing to THE COMICS. The second best place is kickstarter, several new books come out on there every year. The newest being HERO COMICS #37, which includes classic Ditko Captain Atom and Blue Beetle, Robert Kanigher The Bouncer, and more recent Ditko creations. I got the bundle with the reprints of the Joe Gill/Steve Ditko Charlton monster comics. The Gill writing is poignant in places, the mother/child Gorgo are particularly heart-breaking.

118. TOKAIMURA - 99

This is the only comic J Webster Sharp had in her shop, so I ordered direct from the UK. It's a harrowing graphic medicine story, the art is very realistic unlike her more famous fantastic art. It's still available from the link, if you are curious. 

119. VOICES THAT COUNT (Hoopla app)

image from IDW shop

An anthology pairing women Spanish authors and artists, in a collection of uniquely female perspectives. Loading the Canon used to call these NPR graphic novels, but this is saved by some good choices of artists.

120. THE JUNCTION (Hoopla app)

image from Previews World

What the hell? I feel like a complete idiot waiting so long to read this one. UK artist Norm Konyu put this out himself when I first started on twitter in 2020, I believe. I was vaguely put off by the geometrical animation-type style he employed, and it seemed to be a story about kids or childhood. Titan, having a good run of graphic novels with MOTHER NATURE also covered around here, re-released this fairly recently. And, upon a recommendation from LahRasa on her and ComicKkrakK's Sunday Chat livestream, I finally checked it out. This is such a well-written (and structured) horror story, and the art style ends up supporting the story perfectly.  

121. VAMPIRELLA ARCHIVES #15 (Hoopla app)

This is, I think, the archive collecting the final Warren issues. Jose Gonzalez is the main draw here, as the Vampirella stories were not as strong as the art. Just look at this wide range of techniques in just three panels...

122. VALERIAN AND LAURELINE: BIRDS OF THE MASTER VOLUME FIVE (Libby app)

The art by Jean-Claude Mezieres gets better with each volume, the temple below was a real standout. The story was pretty complex as well...

123. COMICS FOR CHOICE (Hoopla app)

There are points made in here that pissed me off, but overall I think this is a successful argument for women's reproductive rights. Here is the list of contributors from the Silver Sprocket site:

124. BLACK IS THE COLOR (Hoopla app)

125. LAID TO WASTE (Hoopla app)

Julia Gfrorer is a master of horror with real depth and originality. The tired cliches of mermaids and plague are ripped apart and rearranged to suit Gfrorer's ends.

126. MOUNTEBANK: A PSYCHEDOOLIC  SKETCHBOOK (Hoopla app)

This was an intense visual experience, printed according to D.W.'s intentions it forms a unique kind of narrative. One of the only digital books I've read that have retained the tactile sense and rhythm of a physical book. (Shout out to D.W. for being the only artist to remind me of the ID-spillage of Steve Willis)

127. MAN AND SUPERMAN AND OTHER STORIES (Hoopla app)

A companion book to the earlier Fantagraphics collection, CORPSE ON THE IMJIN AND OTHER STORIES. This volume collects most of the non-war stories drawn (and sometimes written) by Harvey Kurtzman. Includes his first effort at non-humor work "Lucky Fights it Through".

129. LAND OF THE SONS (Comixology Unlimited)

This is the first book by Italian cartoonist Gipi I've managed to read. Gipi is one of those European greats equally adept at writing as he is at drawing. And the drawing is freaking insane. He is able to slow the narrative or speed it up just by how he puts pen lines on the page. Just a masterclass in comics storytelling.

130. SUBLIFE VOLUME #1 (Comixology Unlimited)

John Pham (J&K) solo comic anthology from the 00s. Not much to say, as it's from an era I don't know a lot about. Of it's time, but that's definitely not a negative.

131. YO, MISS: A GRAPHIC LOOK AT HIGH SCHOOL (Public Library)

I'm a sucker for a pro-teacher story, and this a fairly well-done account of a year in a NY high school program for students at high risk of not graduating. Lisa Wilde's art gets the job done, although I do love these occasional unconventional pages...

132. ISLANDIA VOLUME #2 (Libby app)

A historical supernatural story with many twists and turns. French artist Marc Vedrines isn't someone I'm familiar with, but will keep an eye out for more than these two volumes of ISLANDIA.

The art is so great, wide open or claustrophobic when needed.

133. ESTEBAN VOLUME TWO (Libby app)

French artist Matthieu Bonhomme (Lucky Luke) spins a wild adventure story with a very depressing ending. Some of these Europe Comics digital releases have stunning art, but I think their failing is simply the genre stories that don't have a built in audience in the US. Though, I certainly enjoy them.

135. 136. 137. ALCYON I II and III (Libby app)

This is a decent action story,  by prolific French author Richard Marazono, of three groups of people chasing each other through ancient Greece, with scheming Greek gods and other mythical creatures along for the ride. Some comic relief, some horror elements, mixed with Manga-influenced art are a few positive elements in this series.

My Comics Reading List: MOTHER NATURE

128. MOTHER NATURE (Hoopla app)

Tillie Walden's CLEMENTINE raised my patience levels considerably for alternative cartoonists adapting other people's intellectual properties. Tillie wrote CLEMENTINE, and Karl Stevens is adapting a screenplay by some other folks. The differences make each project appealing and worthwhile. There's some visceral horror moments in here, like CLEMENTINE, that I wish seemed less jarring to the overall plot when they appear (though one in particular was essential). However, other than that the other 99% holds together quite well through Karl Stevens' unique style. I always want to call Stevens art REALISTIC, but that word falls short of conveying what he brings to this project. The combination of intricate line work, varied character design (there's a big cast and they all stand out), subtle facial expressions, and that hand painted color which is perfect for the otherwordly feel this story begs for. What this book comes down to is the gift of over 170 pages of Karl Stevens art we might never have seen otherwise. Thanks to Jamie Lee Curtis and Russell Goldman for that. (Fun fact: All the major characters in the story are woman, and the interactions and motivations weaving through the narrative are a major part of the appeal of the story.)

My Comics Reading List #11 UK Playlist

 

I'm So Bored With the U.S.A. by The Clash

Here's all my UK reading from the past couple months, including some kickstarters going back to early last year! 

96. 2000 A.D. PROG #2316

The conclusion to the Judge Dredd serial by Ken Niemand/Nicolo Assirelli is very unusual, with Dredd getting the perp but not necessarily winning in the end. Comic relief from artist Clint Langley who ends up finishing the Joe Pineapples serial:

97. 2000 A.D. PROG #2317

I'm a fan of Paul Marshall art and he gets to go all out on a good old-fashioned Judge Dredd story by Rob Williams & Arthur Wyatt.

98. 2000 A.D. PROG #2318

Proteus Vex continues to be an excellent source of space opera. Love a page of spaceships!

99. 2000 A.D. PROG #2319

The John Burns art is a little different on the new "The Order" serial, but he comes up with some amazing images. A real underrated talent, I think.

100. 2000 A.D. PROG #2320

Dan Abnett tells an intense story in "The Out" with incredible art by Mark Harrison.

101. 2000 A.D. PROG #2321

Nice cover by Jock to start things off. Another well done page by John Burns, in service of a batshit crazy alternative history written by Kek-W.

102. 2000 A.D. PROG #2322

More Jake Lynch spaceships! I love all of Dan Abnett's various series, it seems he's got at least two going constantly, but Proteus Vex is the most fun imho.

103. 2000 A.D. PROG #2323

Speaking of Dan Abnett here's his quieter side with artist Mark Harrison depicting the other-dimensional dialogue between mother and daughter.

104. 2000 A.D. PROG #2324

Mark Harrison is so fucking good here's another spectacular page from The Out.

105. 2000 A.D. PROG #2325

Gary Welsh is not a familiar name to me but I love his art and hope to find more in the future, here's some more information on this relatively new artist.

106. and 107. GATEWAY CITY VOLUME I and GATEWAY CITY VOLUME II by Russell Mark Olson

This is probably the most difficult series for me to describe because there's so much to love about the art and story and characters. The art, imho, is the biggest draw here, being equal parts cartoony and noir. The shorthand comparison in the U.S. would be Darwyn Cooke, but Olson's beautiful shadow and color-drenched art has more in common with bande desinee artists. These two pages give a good idea of what you are getting yourself into...

108. and 109. THE BERG and MONSTER MATES (Cabal Comics)

I was so excited for the newest Fraser Campbell comic, THE BERG. It's co-written with Sarah Peploe, and great gruesome art by Gavin Mitchell. The story is hallucinatory, gross, and unusually told through the characters personal lives. MONSTER MATES is a catch up, since I missed the original kickstarter campaign. The characters are all based on classic monsters, but are put through an ARCHIE-type story with more emotional content and the three main characters being slackers. Fraser Campbell delivers another thought-provoking story, with perfectly matched Steve Gregson cartooning. 

110. !GAG! #1 

I've backed every Phil Elliott kickstarter since 2020, but this is the only one I bought a physical copy of along with a sketch (which turned out to be a full-color multi-figure Gimbley affair. Incredible.) by Elliott. The book itself contains unpublished Eddie Campbell, and rare strips by Elliott and Glenn Dakin! Anything by those three UK legends is worth checking out, a second volume is imminent!

111. SKRAWL #1 edited by Russell Mark Olson

This UK anthology is ostensibly science fiction themed with an anything goes attitude towards story content. Two of my favorites, Lucy Sullivan and Phil Elliott, make guest appearances...

However, it's the Skrawllordz that make this a classic: editor Olson, Gustaffo Vargas, Nick Prolix, Martin Simpson, Pete Taylor, and Mark Hughes!

112. SKRAWL #2 edited by Russell Mark Olson

More of the same only better and wilder in conception, particularly the comic strip by Nick Prolix and Martin Simpson's batshit crazy art.