Time for a few quick comic book recommendations, and this time it involves books that I missed when they first came out but have now caught up on and discovered that they, much like the late Wesley Willis, whup Batman's ass.
First up is 'Supergod', by Warren Ellis, from Avatar Press.
For many of you, just mentioning Mr. Ellis' name ensures that you will read and buy it if you haven't done so already. I understand. I too grovel at the feet of this bearded, cane-wielding freak of nature who now has Red Bull for blood and can produce about a dozen QUALITY comics AND still have time to fuck about on the internet in the time it takes me to write a first draft. He's a talented fellow. But sometimes he writes a story that unnerves me. It will crawl into your brain and dry-hump your expectations. This is one of those stories.
Without spoiling too much for you, it's about the human need for deities, our propensity to use science to create terrible things without considering the consequences, and what happens when those two things become entwined. The really beautiful hook in this tale is how each major country around the globe creates a god/superhero/monster that is unique to its own culture. AND HOLY SHIT EACH ONE IS TERRIFYING. I haven't seen someone pop superhero fanboy bubbles like this since Rick Veitch created 'The Maximortal' and 'Bratpack'.
Over in the Graphic Novel section we have Kevin Baker and Danijel Zezelj's 'Luna Park', from DC/Vertigo.
This book just leveled me. It was one of those great reading experiences, the ones that create wildfire word-of-mouth. The ones that cling to you in a not-entirely-unpleasant way, much like your clothes do after you go dancing in a thunderstorm. I will not be able to do it justice here, believe me. You just need to read it, and that's about the biggest compliment I think that you can give a book. Either that or my retention, comprehension, and translation skills are as weak as drinks at a theme restaurant.
The story involves(at first) a young Russian immigrant who is skulking around Coney Island like a ghost, acting as hired muscle for a small-time crime boss. From there it unfurls into a dark history lesson about a country and a bloodline doomed to the same cycle of schemes and violence, generation after generation. By the time you get to the surprise ending(that isn't played up as a surprise, and really gut-punches you), your head is spinning and your heart just aches. This is Baker's first graphic novel(he's a bestselling novelist, in case ya didn't know), and he knocks it right out of the park, with the help of Zezelj, who sports some of the moodiest artwork in the medium.
That's about all for now. You have your homework assignments-now show your local shop some love, damn you.
First up is 'Supergod', by Warren Ellis, from Avatar Press.
For many of you, just mentioning Mr. Ellis' name ensures that you will read and buy it if you haven't done so already. I understand. I too grovel at the feet of this bearded, cane-wielding freak of nature who now has Red Bull for blood and can produce about a dozen QUALITY comics AND still have time to fuck about on the internet in the time it takes me to write a first draft. He's a talented fellow. But sometimes he writes a story that unnerves me. It will crawl into your brain and dry-hump your expectations. This is one of those stories.
Without spoiling too much for you, it's about the human need for deities, our propensity to use science to create terrible things without considering the consequences, and what happens when those two things become entwined. The really beautiful hook in this tale is how each major country around the globe creates a god/superhero/monster that is unique to its own culture. AND HOLY SHIT EACH ONE IS TERRIFYING. I haven't seen someone pop superhero fanboy bubbles like this since Rick Veitch created 'The Maximortal' and 'Bratpack'.
Over in the Graphic Novel section we have Kevin Baker and Danijel Zezelj's 'Luna Park', from DC/Vertigo.
This book just leveled me. It was one of those great reading experiences, the ones that create wildfire word-of-mouth. The ones that cling to you in a not-entirely-unpleasant way, much like your clothes do after you go dancing in a thunderstorm. I will not be able to do it justice here, believe me. You just need to read it, and that's about the biggest compliment I think that you can give a book. Either that or my retention, comprehension, and translation skills are as weak as drinks at a theme restaurant.
The story involves(at first) a young Russian immigrant who is skulking around Coney Island like a ghost, acting as hired muscle for a small-time crime boss. From there it unfurls into a dark history lesson about a country and a bloodline doomed to the same cycle of schemes and violence, generation after generation. By the time you get to the surprise ending(that isn't played up as a surprise, and really gut-punches you), your head is spinning and your heart just aches. This is Baker's first graphic novel(he's a bestselling novelist, in case ya didn't know), and he knocks it right out of the park, with the help of Zezelj, who sports some of the moodiest artwork in the medium.
That's about all for now. You have your homework assignments-now show your local shop some love, damn you.
Warren Ellis terrifies me and I love it.