Iniziano ufficialmente le pubblicazioni di Rusty Dogs (http://rusty-dogs.blogspot.com) con la prima storia, scritta da Emiliano Longobardi, disegnata da Andrea Del Campo e intitolata Next door to paradise.

Rusty Dogs è un blog che raccoglie storie brevi a fumetti scritte da Emiliano Longobardi e disegnate da (almeno) trentotto disegnatori italiani attualmente a lavoro con alcuni dei più importanti Editori nazionali e stranieri.

Il genere delle storie è il crime-noir e ognuna di loro sarà leggibile indipendentemente dalle altre, pur essendo tutte collegate da vincoli più o meno forti.

Il disegnatore della prima storia di Rusty Dogs è Andrea Del Campo, catanese, già membro degli staff di John Doe e Unità speciale (Eura Editoriale), di Evo – La ragazza del fiume (Double Shot) e attualmente a lavoro con la Star Comics sulla nuova mini-serie Valter Buio su testi di Alessandro Bilotta.

Lo sceneggiatore

Emiliano Longobardi, sassarese, esordisce nel 1999 con l’albo Xiola – Primo sangue (Liberty), scritto insieme ad Antonio Solinas e disegnato da Werther Dell’Edera.
Dopo sette anni dedicati alla critica e all’informazione fumettistica con Rorschach.it e Comicscode.net, riprende nel 2006 l’attività di sceneggiatore.
E’ presente sui primi tre numeri di Mono (Tunuè, disegni di Werther Dell’Edera, Elena Casagrande e Gianfranco Giardina), ha pubblicato una short su Donnell&Grace – Bluelights (IDEAcomics, disegni di Massimo Dall’Oglio) ed è fra gli autori di Killer Elite n.2 (Bottero Edizioni, disegni di Gianfranco Giardina e Andrea Del Campo).
Il suo blog è raggiungibile all’indirizzo: http://emilianolongobardi.blogspot.com

I disegnatori

Lo staff di disegnatori sarà inizialmente composto da Fabiano Ambu (Il massacro del Circeo, Dampyr), Antonello Becciu, Michele Benevento (Caravan), Giacomo Bevilacqua (John Doe, A Panda piace), Elia Bonetti (Trigger, Capitan America), Riccardo Burchielli (John Doe, DMZ), Matteo Bussola (Unità Speciale, Factor V), Giancarlo Caracuzzo (Storia di cani, Nemrod), Raul Cestaro (Tex), Massimo Dall’Oglio (Underskin, John Doe), Davide De Cubellis (Martin Mystère), Andrea Del Campo (John Doe, Valter Buio), Werther Dell’Edera (John Doe, Loveless, Dark Entries), Carmine Di Giandomenico (Battlin Jack Murdock, Magneto: testament), Antonio Fuso (John Doe, Fear agent), Andrea Gadaldi (John Doe), Pier Gallo (Legs, Gaijin), Davide Gianfelice (Northlanders, Greek street), Gianfranco Giardina (Killer Elite, Mono), Simone Guglielmini (Detective Dante, Agent Zero), Giuseppe Marinello, Alex Massacci (Jonathan Steele, Doctor Voodoo), Francesco Mortarino (Dead Nation), Guido Nieddu, Davide Pascutti (La Grande Guerra, Marcinelle), Rossano Piccioni (Inside, L’insonne), Giorgio Pontrelli (John Doe), Paolo Raffaelli (Umberto Mistri – aviatore), Maurizio Ribichini (I quattro colpi, Storie fragili), Andrea Rossetto (Tengu-Do), Armando Rossi (Ford Ravenstock), Lorenzo Ruggiero (Superman Red son, La neve se ne frega), Antonio Sarchione (C.O.P.S.), Marco Soldi (Dylan Dog, Julia), Cristiano Spadoni (Magico Vento, Julia), Claudio Stassi (Brancaccio, John Doe), Joachim Tilloca (Un anno dopo) e Riccardo Torti (John Doe).

Il logo della serie, il lettering e la grafica del blog sono realizzati da Mauro Mura.

Per info: Emiliano Longobardi – emiliano.longobardi@gmail.com

Comunicato: Milano, ottobre 2009 – Edizioni BD, con JPOP, arriva a Lucca Comics & Games 2009 (stand E42 in Piazza Napoleone) con tantissime novità e ospiti, italiani e internazionali, come: Eddie Campbell, Yuji Shiokazi, Goran Sudzuka, Paolo Armitano, Stefano Ascari, Adriano Barone, Giacomo Bevilacqua, Luigi Bernardi, Riccardo Burchielli, Vanessa Cardinali, Massimo Dall’Oglio, Davide Furnò, Grazia Lobaccaro, Andrea Mutti, Andrea Riccadonna, Francesco Ripoli e Maurizio Rosenzweig!

Tante le novità targate BD, tra cui Parker, il cacciatore di Richard Stark e Darwyn Cooke. Un grande personaggio della letteratura noir diventa protagonista di una delle graphic novel più importanti dell’anno. Tradito, abbandonato e dato per morto da moglie e soci in affari, Parker, la leggenda del noir creata da Richard Stark, è appena uscito di galera ed è a caccia di vendetta e dei suoi soldi.

Con Eddie Campbell, arriva anche Bacchus – Sipario. Ultimo della serie in otto volumi che mischia il mito a dirottamenti aerei, dei antichi, gangster story, leggende e procedure poliziesche, Bacchus è una crime-novel mescolata a racconti di dei ed eroi, flashback sul mondo olimpico donne invaghite di Zeus e rituali dionisiaci.

Goran Sudzuka presenterà Nazione fuorilegge realizzato con due grandi come Jamie Delano e Goran Parlov. Il racconto folgorante della famiglia Johnson, una saga che attraversa come una lama tutti gli Stati Uniti, narrato da Story, leggendario scrittore della letteratura pulp, discretamente fuori di testa, che ci svela i segreti del clan, una vera e propria nazione fuorilegge all’interno degli Stati Uniti.

La sfida costante dell’uomo alla natura, la ricerca della propria forza interiore nella fredda solitudine costituiscono l’essenza di Farsi un fuoco, una novella di Jack London a cui i disegni di Chabouté aggiungono una prospettiva contemporanea.

Amore, ironia e fantascienza sono gli ingredienti che animano L’amore colpevole di Maurizio Rosenzweig, il cui protagonista è catapultato in un tribunale sovrannaturale, tutto al femminile, accusato di aver condotto una vita di egoismo e tradimenti delle donne! In occasione della pubblicazione de L’amore colpevole e di Lucca Comics & Games 2009, Edizioni BD riserva una sorpresa speciale: coloro che acquisteranno questa novità riceveranno in regalo l’esclusivo volume Magnifica Ossessione, una storia inedita di 80 pagine realizzata per l’occasione da Maurizio Rosenzweig. Fino a esaurimento scorte!

Una graphic novel che racconta il sogno camorrista di una donna, Clelia C., che fin da ragazza si trova a vivere nella realtà della malavita napoletana. Carriera criminale di clelia c. di Luigi Bernardi e Grazia Lobaccaro, una storia di fantasia che s’intreccia a fatti realmente accaduti che hanno segnato la storia di Napoli e della criminalità organizzata.

Pan, la storia a fumetti di Elia Morettini e  Vanessa Cardinali, vincitrice del Lucca Project Contest 2008. Due sorelle vengono rapite da uno strano individuo che le trascina sull’Isola-che-non-c’è, un posto pieno di pericoli e minacce letali. Ma cosa è successo al vecchio Peter? Il volume contiene anche le storie che hanno ottenuto le due menzioni speciali: La Pulticola di Gabriele Peddes, una scatenata e irriverente fotografia di una realtà grottesca, e Storie di fantasmi cinesi di Valentino Sergi e Isabella Mazzanti, un’affascinante discesa nel torbido inganno della mente.

L’era dei titani di Adriano Barone e Massimo Dall’Oglio. In un futuro non troppo lontano, l’umanità rischia l’estinzione a causa di una malattia che pare incurabile. E un’altra minaccia incombe: i Titani contro cui l’unica difesa sono androidi pilotati da coraggiosi umani. Come Cassie, che si ritroverà presto al centro di questa appassionante avventura.

Per l’etichetta J-POP, Lucca Comics and Games è l’occasione giusta per presentare alcuni nuovi attesissimi manga!

Kobato è la nuova opera delle celebratissime Clamp, di cui tra l’altro si festeggia il ventesimo anniversario! Un seinen dalla trama originale e dal tratto estetico dolce e curato. Kobato Hanato è una ragazza che nasconde un segreto, un mistero che condurrà lei e il suo compagno di viaggio Ioryogi (il chiassoso e sboccato cucciolo blu) per le strade di Tokyo, con una missione da compiere: riempire una strana bottiglia con le sofferenze e i dolori delle persone. In esclusiva a Lucca Comics and Games sarà presentata una tiratura limitata con copertina speciale, inedita in tutto il mondo, con inoltre una serie di tavole a colori esclusive per questa edizione!

Ikki Tousen di Yuji Shiozaki. Le leggendarie gesta degli eroi dei Tre Regni rivivono nei corpi di provocanti fanciulle, dotate di poteri straordinari e di vertiginose scollature!

Keiji di Tetsuo Hara, Keichiro Ryu. Tetsuo Hara, il disegnatore di Ken il Guerriero, ritorna in Italia con uno dei suoi celeberrimi capolavori: Keiji. La serie racconta le avventure di un coraggioso e imponente samurai nel periodo susseguente alla caduta di Nobunaga Oda avventuta nel 1582. Disegni sensuali, combattimenti mozzafiato per un capolavoro di uno dei grandi maestri del manga.

Un fantasy moderno, dai toni oscuri e sanguinari, arricchito da un disegno maturo e affascinante. Blade of the phantom master – Shin Angyo Onshi di YOUN In-wan, YANG Kyung-il si ispira a un grande classico della letteratura coreana: “La leggenda di Chun Hyang”, rivisitandola nei suoi aspetti più cupi e tragici, adattando lo spirito dell’opera in una chiave più moderna.

Moonlight act di Kazuhiro Fujita. Dall’autore di Ushio e Tora, un racconto peculiare, con protagonista un libro scritto da alcuni volti noti del mondo delle favole, al fine di salvare il mondo reale dagli effetti di una strana luna blu. Tuttavia, ogni volta che il libro viene esposto a questi raggi lunari, un personaggio fantastico si tramuta in essere mostruoso, in grado di rompere il sigillo tra il mondo reale e quello incantato, minacciando l’intero pianeta.

Record of Lodoss War: the Lady of Pharis, una splendida storia fantasy in due sontuosi volumi da collezione per completare un’epica saga scritta da un grande maestro: Ryo Mizuno, il geniale ideatore della leggenda di Lodoss, che a più di vent’anni dall’invenzione della saga continua a raccontare le avventure delle sue creature. I disegni sono realizzati da Akihiro Yamada, elegante mangaka conosciuto per la raffinatezza del suo stile ricco e pittorico.
E inoltre, saranno disponibili alcune nuove uscite J-POP fresche fresche di stampa, come 666 Satan n.14, Brave Story n.5, Starcraft n.4, Battle Club n.2, Satanister n.5, Meteorite Breed n.4 e Midory Days n.6.

Inizio questa sezione di assaggi, recensioni senza senso, parlando del fumetto che ha collaborato ( insieme ad altre dmz) a dare il nome alla nostra trasmissione, ovvero DMZ di Brian Wood e Riccardo Burchielli, ed in particolare alla sua ultima uscita italiana, il quinto volume : La Guerra Nascosta edito da Planeta DeAgostini. Se non sapete assolutamente niente di Dmz a fumetti o ascoltate la nostra puntata numero otto, dedicata alle periferie, oppure vi leggete questo bigino. ( in inglese).

La Guerra Nascosta è una raccolta di 6 storie brevi, e testimonia come Brian Wood sia in grado di dare il meglio della sua creatività nella piccola misura; è abile nel costruire scenari limitati e trame brevi, quasi tutti gli episodi filano benissimo, con punte di elevato lirismo, come la stupenda ” Decade Later“, prima storia dell’albo.

Wood è un ottimo architetto degli interni, non sa costruire i palazzi a 50 piani, ma stanza dopo stanza sta rendendo la Dmz del suo fumetto uno spazio estremamente vivibile, e godibile, anche se frammentario e autoindulgente.

1-Decade Later ( decade passata),la prima storia vale di per sè l’acquisto dell’albo, intensa riflessione sull’arte e la sua fruizione; continuo dialogo tra fumetto e grafica, non solo nell’approccio al disegno di Riccardo Burchielli. Ritroviamo lo scenario violento e incomprensibile di Body of a Journalist, lo spirito interrogativo che animava i principi della serie, senza particolari velleità narrative. Perfetta.

2-Amina 4-Kelly 6-Soames, Burchielli e Wood riprendono personaggi abbandonati della serie e ne proseguono ( o ripercorrono nel caso di Soames) la storia: struttura efficace, forma meno. La storia di Soames non funziona nel rendere folle un personaggio precedentemente trattato con estremo raziocinio, il registro onirico è totalmente fuori luogo; rimane comunque abbastanza piacevole.

3-Wilson. Il disegno sporco di Zezelj era perfetto per la serie, il suo aspetto da fotografia fotocopiata, l’estetica da volantino da centro sociale, perchè colorarlo? perchè momento che si convoca l’autore di Rex ( uno dei miei fumetti preferiti ) non lo si lascia lavorare come sempre, in fondo il suo stile è quello da vent’anni, appartiene alla categoria dei disegnatori non evolutivi, aggiungergli qualcosa ( anche solo il colore) è un’idiozia.

5-Random Fire. Racconto per le matite di Nathan Fox….va bene lo ammetto l’ho saltato 4 volte prima di costringermi a leggerlo, la storia è forse tra le migliori dell’albo, i disegni sono inguardabili.

Bene ho fatto il mio dovere, non so chi leggerà questa recensione, non lavoro più per un blog straletto di fumetti, ma anche scrivere è un’esigenza.

Designer/illustrator: Riccardo Burchielli

Brian Wood’s SF journalism comic DMZ is my favourite ongoing comic series, and Blood in the Game tickled me in all the right ways. The trades for this book are almost self contained story arcs which is nice. This one is about the election in New York. And this one kind of steps over the line where Matty Roth (who started off as a journalism intern dumped into a war zone, and is now the only independent(ish) news voice in the war zone that is New York) goes into activism instead of just reporting. I expected a shift but I didn’t expect him to get co-opted so quickly.

The latest collection of Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli’s DMZ introduces a key element to the series that has been a bit absent up until now, a plot.  Now I don’t mean this to be harsh criticism, DMZ has been a story about its location, and has up until now been a series of vignettes about that place.  Those stories have been incredible, and the fourth volume earned a 5 star review from me over on LibraryThing.

But those bits and pieces haven’t always connected up into a larger story.  Now that’s changed as Wood touches on quite a few of those prior tales as part of the rise to power of the DMZ’s new governor.  The book also brings the series into some darker territory than its been in before by pretty much eliminating the last hope of their being a happily ever after moment for any of the characters, and yes that includes Manhattan.

by Brian Wood (writer), Riccardo Burchielli (art), Jeromy Cox (colors), and Jared K. Fletcher (letters)

The Story: Matty Roth takes on a more pro-active, and more violent, role in Parco Delgado’s government.

What’s Good: When we last saw him in issue 40, Matty Roth had really hit a crossroads in his life, and this issue succeeds in showing a new and very different Matty, one who’s full of confidence, power, and ruthlessness.  Wood achieves this evolution very organically; the Matty we see in this issue, while very different, is nonetheless clearly and distinctly the “Matty Roth” that we’ve grown to know over the course of the series.  Considering how much has changed since his bumbling intern status at the beginning of the series, that’s quite the achievement.

While still maintaining the voice and integrity of the “Matty Roth” character, Matty in this issue sounds a lot more like the major power players we’ve encountered over the series in his intelligence and political maneuvering.  Of course, that also foreshadows the serious shades of grey to come, as those very power players were generally the adversaries.

It’s also great to see Angel  (the sniper who hangs out in his perch all day) back in the mix and playing a more central role.  The guy’s a definite fan favourite and Wood seems well aware of this.

Burchielli puts out some of the best art I’ve seen him draw on DMZ.  While his urban designs and landscapes have always been impressive, and that’s once again the case here, I’ve often found his art to be a bit too “scratchy” or scraggly for my tastes, but everything feels surprisingly crisp and well-defined here.  It’s a very good-looking book with a lot of detail and the haunting, barren, yet super dense architectural work that we’ve come to expect.

What’s Not So Good: While I’m all in favour of this evolution of Matty and believe it’s well done overall, I’m not entirely sure that I buy his actions at the end of this month’s issue.  It’s not so much what he plays a part in or orders, nor is it necessarily in his behaviour.  What I don’t buy is Matty suddenly becoming the tactical field-leader of a unit of commandos.  Did I miss something?  When did Matty become well-trained enough to lead and command a team of soldiers, let alone in the field?  While there’s a definite cool factor in seeing “spec ops Matty,” it’s not believable.  While for most comics, I’d play it to the suspension of disbelief often necessary in the medium, Wood, research-intensive as he is, has never been one to need that card played on his behalf.  Seeing Matty lead a raid and blow people away with an assault rifle also still feels a little weird for the character and still too much of a stretch.  Matty has evolved, yes, but not to the point of being an ice-cold commando.

I also felt Parco to be a little more bland in his dialogue than he usually is.  The basketball court meeting was a nice touch, but the rest of his conversation with Matty just felt a little more lifeless than it could’ve been.  It was clearly more a matter of moving the pieces across the board than anything else.

Conclusion: A good issue that’s solid throughout, before a rather questionable final scene.

Grade: B

-Alex Evans

It’s election time in war-torn Manhattan, and Matty Roth decides to leave objective journalism behind. Brian Wood’s DMZ is still very much an interesting read.

DMZ continues to be one of the most interesting of the ongoing Vertigo titles, with science fiction that hits close to home in the climate after 9/11. In the near future, USA is ravaged by its second civil war, and New York is caught in the middle. Journalist Matty Roth tries to make sense of both big politics and people trying to get by in their daily lives in the war-torn streets of Manhattan, but he finds it increasingly difficult to uphold the ideals of objective journalism in the midst of the conflict.

In Blood in the Game, the sixth collection of the ongoing series, it’s election time in Manhattan, and Roth decides to quit journalism to support charismatic political Parco Delgado instead, a former gang-banger.

Wood writes a good political adventure yarn, and has a keen eye for using science fiction to tell us something about the world today. So far, so good, but my major problem with DMZ is still that his characters spend too much time acting tough and street-wise, so that we really don’t get to know them that well. Will the real Matty Roth please stand up?

Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli
DMZ Vol.6: Blood in the Game
Vertigo/DC Comics
3.5 out of 5 stars

PS! Hvis du leser norsk, kan du lese en større anmeldelse av DMZ, Y: The Last Man og The Losers her.

It was inevitable that Brian Wood would turn his sociological masterpiece of a comic, DMZ, towards politics.  In this volume, elections come to what’s left of Manhattan and a local spoiler rises to power to oppose an otherwise rigged election, leaving Matty and his journalistic impartiality stuck in the middle.

This isn’t one of the stronger story arcs in the series, mostly because it feels like a middle chapter.  Despite being a full story arc nothing is really resolved here, but it does make me eager for the next collection.

Because there aren’t enough comic blogs out there right now telling you what’s coming out or reviewing new books, I figured I’d get a piece of that action and do it, too. What makes me so special? You tell me. You’re the one reading my blog.

Actually, I’m going to use this feature to see whether or not my comics buying has been cost effective. Every comic I pick up (unless I’m picking something up as an impulse buy) comes with an initial expectation. If a comic meets my expectations, it means I’ve broken even. If it exceeds them, it means I have added value. And if a comic let’s me down, it means I’ve thrown my money out the window.

My hope is by the end of the year, I’ll see how whether my comics reading has wasted me money or brought me more enjoyment than I expected.

THIS WEEK Reviews of Batman #686, DMZ #37, Incognito #2 and Scalped #25.

XPECTATI-O-METER KEY

HIGH Can’t wait to pick it up. Will stab a unicorn to read it.
MEDIUM HIGH Reading it will make me feel better about forgetting my dad’s birthday.  
MEDIUM It pleases me. 
MEDIUM LOW Beats a catheter.
LOW Someone should gouge my eyes out for even thinking of reading this.

• • •

Batman #686
Writer Neil Gaiman
Artist Andy Kubert

Apparently, the in thing to do if you’re the writer on Batman is to comment on the character instead of actually writing an engaging story about him. Just ask Grant Morrison and Neil Gaiman. 

Ah, I keed. Sorta (or on the square, as the kids say). Gaimain’s “Whatever Happend to the Caped Crusader?” wraps up the long-running Batman: R.I.P./Final Crisis/Batman: Last Rites/Bruce Wayne’s Really Fucking Dead story line with a metatextual funeral for the crimefighter, paying homage to the different eras of the Dark Knight with a series of “imaginary stories” (aren’t they all?) about how Batman actually died. The story — the first part of a two-parter — is an enjoyable enough pastiche that revisits some nostalgic staples of the Batman stories. (Why don’t more cars have big faces on their grills like the 1950s Batmobile, Catmobile, Jokermobile and the semi from Maximum Overdrive?) But the more time I spend away from the issue, the more it seems to bother me. I mean, it legitimately irritates me because it’s a story that in its effort to add a coda to the “death” of Batman and remind us why his stories are so enduring, it actually cheapens them by adding a pretention they never had. It trods well-worn ground in an unoriginal fashion (Ooo, get how the artwork resembles the artwork of the period this scene is supposed to represent? Clever. *yawn*) that’s really beneath Gaiman. Plus, if the shadowy woman who helps narrate the tale is really who she’s hinted to be … well, I’ll have to wait to read next issue to see how that’s handled.

And it’s that sentiment that forces me to cop out and not give a definitive opinion on this issue until I’ve read the second part. There are still directions for the story to go, thereby making a snap judgment is a disservice to the work. And although I poked fun at the staleness of shifting visual styles, Kubert does do a fabulous job on the art. When he’s required to evoke different artists, he doesn’t ape them but goes at the essence of what Dick Sprang or David Mazzucchelli brought to the character. 

The book is nothing if not well-executed. I just had higher hopes, which might still be reached.

INITIAL XPECTATI-O-METER READING Medium High
ACTUAL XPECTATI-O-METER READING Pending until second part in Detective Comics #853 (3.18) 
COST EFFECTIVE? Pending 

• • •

DMZ #37
Writer Brian Wood
Artist Riccardo Burchielli

Now that’s a way to end an issue: Pull away what could be the last piece of the main character’s faith in the ideals of the political leader he’s thrown in with and leave us waiting for the next installment.

Photojournalist Matty Roth has finally found someone to believe in with Parco Delgado, the newly installed leader of New York City. Delgado is a man Roth risked his life to get in power because Roth thought he could do some good for the people of the civil war-ravaged city. But now he’s seeing that the political process (and I use that term loosely in this case) is like making hot dogs: Even the best tasting weiners have enough rat shit in them to make you sick.

Wood continues to write one of the most politically relevant comics of the time. I’m eager to see how this story arc ends.

INITIAL XPECTATI-O-METER READING Medium High
ACTUAL XPECTATI-O-METER READING High. Expectations exceeded. 
COST EFFECTIVE? Yes. Added value of $1.49 (half of cover price) for half-unit gain. 

• • • 

Incognito #2
Writer Ed Brubaker
Artist Sean Phillips

I’ve been a big fan of the Brubaker-Phillips team since when they worked together on Sleeper. I’ve followed them on their fantastic crime noir book Criminal, so it was a no-brainer that I would be picking up Incognito, the duo’s riff on a supervillain in the Witness Protection Program.

It’s a well-crafted book — Brubaker and Phillips are underrated in the industry because they make this kind of thing look so easy — and its high concept is a fresh one. But there’s something about the book that just nags at me. Brubaker re-creates the same gritty, atmospheric world he has with Criminal. However, he pairs it in equal measure with 1950s sci-fi tropes. Superheroes are called science agents, police officiers carry retro rayguns, and characters sport names like Ava Destruction and Von Chance. That juxtaposition just doesn’t ring true, and for the life of me, I couldn’t intelligently tell you why. Call it a gut thing. It’s not enough for me to stop reading the series right now (it only runs another three or four issues), but it is enough to lessen my satisfaction. 

INITIAL XPECTATI-O-METER READING High
ACTUAL XPECTATI-O-METER READING Medium High. Expectation slightly lower.
COST EFFECTIVE? No. $1.50 (half of cover price) for half-unit drop.

• • • 

Scalped #25
Writer Jason Aaron
Artist R.M. Guéra

I was wrong when I predicted that there would be numerous scenes of physicallycrippling drug use and emotionally crippling sex in this scene. There were only scenes of emotionally crippling sex (that actually turned physically crippling). What the hell?

This issue begins a five-part arc, “This Then is the Rez, High Lonesome,” and we’re introduced to a traveling gambler who wanders into the Crazy Horse Casino, largely because he’s been thrown out of every big casino from Atlantic City to Vegas. Imagine a grittier, low class Danny Ocean. None of the usual cast show up until the very end. What Aaron does in the meantime is delve into the mind of a professional grifter, describing the tricks of the trade — counting cards, fake names, falling for prostitutes — along the way. At the same time, he develops a rich, fascinating character whose sharp, criminal mind is equaled only by his broken, despicable pysche. All of this plays out through Guéra’s dark, polished line.

Aaron has set the stage for an intriguing heist and a game of blackmail. If the mysterious grifter (the only names he gives are aliases he picks up in Keyser Söuze fashion) survives this story line, I wouldn’t mind seeing more of him in the series. 

INITIAL XPECTATI-O-METER READING Medium High
ACTUAL XPECTATI-O-METER READING High. Exceeded expectations.
COST EFFECTIVE? Yes. Added value of $1.49 (half of cover price) for half-unit gain.

WAS THIS WEEK COST-EFFECTIVE? Pretty much. Of the four books, two exceeded expectations, one was below expectations, and one is pending its second chapter. That puts me $1.49 ahead of the game. I consider that some smart, cost-effective shopping.

• • •

IN STORES WEDNESDAY (2.18.09)

Here’s a look at what I’ll be picking up this week, along with their inital ratings. Oh, and there might be another book that I might be picking up. A book I’ve been talking about lately. Of course, I dare not speak its name for fear of jinxing myself. That also means no one leaves comments talking about the afore(un)mentioned, got it?

Dark Avengers #2: I had very low expectations for this first issue (I was not a big fan of Secret Invasion), but it really impressed, so I’m on board for the second issue. But this series is on an issue-by-issue leash.
INITIAL XPECTATI-O-METER READING Medium  

Eden: It’s an Endless World Vol. 11: I dabble in manga (mention that in mixed company when you have), but this is by far my favorite series.  
INITIAL XPECTATI-O-METER READING High 

Mysterius: The Unfathomable #2: This is a quirky little mini-series by Jeff Parker and Tom Fowler that has been entertaining so far.
INITIAL XPECTATI-O-METER READING Medium

Here are my thoughts on the comics I bought this week:

Batman #686

Writer: Neil Gaiman – Artist: Andy Kubert – Publisher: DC Comics

The first issue of Gaiman and Kubert’s “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” is definitely my pick of the week. It is exactly what Grant Morrison said it would be: Neil Gaiman’s take on the entire Batman mythos. Gaiman seems to be breaking down the mythos, using Batman’s funeral as a frame story, into its various eras and telling a “death of Batman” story fitting for each. The first, told by Catwoman, is a death fitting for the simple vigalante that Batman started off as. The second, told by Alfred, brings the theatrics of 1960’s Batman to a whole new level. The story is full of great moments and thematic symbols that Gaiman gently drops into place, such as Joe Chill’s presence as the bartender. He’s at Batman’s funeral, but not really a part of it as he was never really a part of Batman’s rogue’s gallery, but at the same time he is the most important villain of all because without him, how would the others know where to go? Its a great issue that everyone should read.

Captain Britain and MI:13 #10

Writer: Paul Cornell – Artist: Leonard Kirk – Publisher: Marvel Comics

Dracula and Dr. Doom on the moon. Do I really need to say anything else?

Okay fine. After the conclusion to the somewhat claustrophobic “Hell Comes to Birmingham” arc, we get a prelude to “Vampire State” that allows some room for character development. Pete Wisdom and Brian Braddock party with the ladies, Blade and Lady J discuss where their relationship is going, and the Black Knight and Faiza retrieve the true Ebony Blade and discuss what Faiza’s true role as Black Knight’s steward is. Its all done with the measure of quality fans have come to expect from the series.

I’m a little reluctant to put words – or themes – into an author’s mouth, but it seems that Paul Cornell may be drawing thematic comparisons to Israel’s presence in the Middle East with the new story.  Dracula seeks and procures aid from Dr. Doom – currently one of the most powerful men on the planet as part of Norman Osbourn’s Dark Reign – while an American flag hangs beside him. Dracula displays racist resentment for Islam, telling Doom that his vampire nation can become and ally and a buffer against the Muslim’s, stressing how close they are catching up to the West’s development. Finally, Dracula plans to gather the vampire “diaspora” – a loaded word – and form a new nation overtop of where one already exists. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, particularly Faiza’s role in it given the bit of foreshadowing that the Black Knight dropped in their conversation.

DMZ #39

Writer: Brian Wood – Artist: Riccardo Burchielli – Publisher: Vertigo

Its hard to think of what to say when a new issue of DMZ hits the stands. I’ve been praising the book since its inception. Brian Wood continues to write one of most intense and mature stories being published in comics, and Riccardo Burchielli continues to be the perfect artist to illustrate it. This particular issue sees Matty Roth continuing to find out what the price of involvement in Parco Delgado’s “revolution” really is, and the price becomes truly apparent on the last page, which will surely leaves fans uttering a collective “oh crap!” The “War Powers” arc concludes in the next issue, and it looks like its going to be quite an event.

So, rather than save my Christmas money*, I did what any sensible person would do – I bought comics!  Sure, I can’t pay rent for February, but I got some quality reading done in the meantime, so all is good, at least in my head.  Without further embarrassing personal detail, onwards!

Northlanders: Sven the Returned

While the adherence to modern slang and language might be off-putting, it soon becomes subsumed in the tale of a stubborn Viking who just wants people to quit fucking with him.  Entertaining and violent, with just a touch of the dramatic, the first trade nevertheless fails to surpass the standard Viking revenge tale.  Still, the hint of promise shown within make me hopeful for future offerings.

Grade: B-

Scalped: Indian Country

The hype from Jason Aaron’s reservation-life Native American noir is heavy, and this opening trade fails to deliver.  Standard art combines with a story that barely serves as more than an introduction to make a disappointing first volume.  There’s promise to be found in the filth the book revels in, but it takes some digging to find.

Grade: C-

Scapled: Casino Boogie 

Scalped: Casino Boogie

The second trade, however, delivers in all the ways the first one didn’t.  Introducing new twists to the story, the book does it in a creative and entertaining way, each issue taking place over the span of the same day, but from a different point of view.  Here we finally get in deep with the various players on the reservation, and here we finally have a reason to care.  Count me among the converted.

Grade: B+

Phonogram: Rue Britannia

I have trouble explaining how much I enjoyed this from relative newcomer Kieron Gillen.  Ultra-masculine Brit hipster David Kohl is forced to search for a dead goddess of Brit Pop music and find out just what it going on in the ether that’s causing him to change in drastic (to him and no one else) ways.  Even given my relative unfamiliarity with the bands and trends being mentioned, I nonetheless could relate to the sheer power music has in the lives of these people.  An intriguing story and a fascinating setting just a little to the left of our own work together with simple (but clean and gifted) art to provide a book well-worth your money.  A story about reinforcing why you love what you love, about coming to terms with it and its influence on your past.

Grade: A-

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wolves at the Gate

The Whedonisms of the book are beginning to grate, and while it is still an undeniably enjoyable book, some of the particular thematic and writing tics of the book are wearing.  Nonetheless, the book continues to excel at humorous, heartwarming, heartbreaking relationships, and fans of the TV show will continue to enjoy the rapid-fire wit and excellent dialogue.

Grade: B-

Hellblazer: Joyride

Andy Diggle, writer of The Losers and Green Arrow: Year One, seemed like an odd choice of writer to take over the Hellblazer writing chores after award-winning horror novelist Denise Mina, and Joyride is his first collection, a series of stories meant to bring John back from the brink where he’s been hovering through the last couple writers. The story is entertaining and suitably dark, a good set of arcs to set up what Diggle seems to hope to accomplish.  Expressive, dark art from Manco and strong ties to the recent Hellblazer run of Mike Carey combine to make a standard, but competent story.

Grade: B

Gotham Central: The Quick and the Dead

The fourth trade in the Rucka/Brubaker masterpiece bringing a refreshing bit of realism to the gritty uber-epic Batman mythos, The Quick and the Dead might be the weakest trade in the series thus far… but given the strength of the characterization and dialogue, it still serves the series well, and shows time and again how Crispus Allen and Renee Montoya got where they are today.

Grade: B

Casanova: Luxuria

Matt Fraction’s tiny little piece of insane pop action is well-introduced in this first volume.  While stylistic art takes a little adaptation to those of a more traditional bent, it nonetheless complements Fraction’s hyperkinetic action hero well. Fun fluff, well worth the shot for fans looking for a little something more from their action espionage comic books.

Grade: B

The Filth

Yet another obscure entry from Grant Morrison, the Filth almost delights in being obtuse.  Filled with crazy, creative ideas, it boils down to a cranky old man who just wants to be alone with his cat in its dying days.  Weston had his work cut out for him, but he steps up to the task admirably and delivers on many of the absolutely horrifying concepts Morrison bandies about with creepy ease.  Absolutely not for everyone – not even for most people – the Filth nonetheless may offer some readers a glimpse into the darker side of Morrison’s work, that they might better understand where he’s coming from in the lighter works.

Grade: B

Young Liars: Daydream Believers

The first disgusting trade of Young Liars is finally available, and well worth a gander.  Like Mike Carey’s so-so Faker, Liars focuses on disgust, betrayal and selfishness, but the refreshing blitz of Sadie, teamed with the self-loathing love of young Danny, make for far more compelling interactions.  The attitudes of the book may be a turn-off for many, and some bizarre stylistic choices in terms of background and dialogue can be confusing, but it is nonetheless worth a gander.

Grade: B+

Fables: War & Pieces

Willingham’s epic seems to move in waves.  Alternating between stories with a great deal of creativity, heart and action all laced together with a healthy dollop of bastardized mythology and a series of stagnant set-up arcs with a lot of introduction and even more nothing-really.  So, it should be no surprise that after that strength of The Good Prince and Sons of Empire, War and Pieces reads as a perfunctory conclusion to the first major conflict in the Fables-verse.  An important book plot-wise with (as always) impressive art, War and Pieces is nonetheless another dry spot in the ongoing story.  Not bad, just not up to the standard the book set for itself.

Grade: B-

DMZ: On the Ground

I’m on a roll, originally uploaded by erin m.

Another Book Project entry. Photo-wise, I think this might be my favorite so far.

L’Associazione Fumetterie Italiane (www.AFUI.it) ha presentato oggi pomeriggio,  nella prestigiosa sala incontri situata nel palazzo della Camera di Commercio, la seconda edizione del premio PFUI. Il premio assegnato per la prima volta a Narnia Fumetto l’anno passato, quest’anno si trasferisce a Lucca Comics & Games. Presentano i premi il presidente dell’Associazione Francesco Settembre (della fumetteria Antani Comics di Terni) e il segretario Daniele Pignatelli (della fumetteria Comic House di Sarzana). In un’atmosfera scherzosa, sicuramente molto adatta ad un premio che ha scelto un’onomatopea come proprio nome e simbolo, Francesco Settembre ha consegnato “l’unico premio dato da chi i fumetti li vende“. Il meccanismo delle nomination è molto semplice: le fumetterie iscritte all’AFUI presentano ciascuna cinque nomination per ogni categoria, da questo pool di nomi si selezionano i più votati, che a loro volta vengono premiati con una ulteriore votazione a maggioranza semplice, a cui partecipano di nuovo tutti gli iscritti all’associazione. “Speriamo che questo premio possa diventare una cartina di tornasole per il mercato” ha dichiarato Daniele Pignatelli. Ecco i premi assegnati per questa edizione 2008 del Premio Fumetterie Italiane:

• Premio alla carriera: David Lloyd (consegnato a Narnia Fumetto);
• Premio per la miglior iniziativa editoriale:  Edizioni Bd, per la promozione di 666 Satan n.1 a 1 euro, ritira il premio Marco Schiavone;
• Premio per il fumetto dell’anno: DMZ di Brian Wood e Riccardo Burchielli, ritira il premio Riccardo Burchielli;
• Premio per il miglior editore: Planeta-DeAgostini, ritira il premio Antonio Pèrez;
• Premio best-seller: Death-Note di Tsugumi Ohba e Takeshi Obata, ritira il premio Andrea Rivi.

by Prospettiva Globale Edizioni

The second TPB of DMZ includes the issues #6-12 and with the five part story arc “Body of a Journalist”, a background story of Zee and a New York tourist guide (issue #12). The first story arc is still written by Brian Wood and features art by Riccardo Burchielli and so there is not much difference from a mere artistic point of view.

The story still revolves around the photojournalist Matty Roth, who is kidnapped by the Free States of America in the first issue, only to reveal to him that Viktor Ferguson, the reporter from Liberty News and Matty’s co-worker, is still alive. Matty is released to negotiate ransom claims with the other side. When he is returned to Manhattan, after the negotiations, he however finds out that his equipment is bugged and so he decides to stop working for Liberty News. Still, he decides to help out with the negotiations and the liberation of Ferguson, but something goes terribly wrong.

The one-issue story “ZEE, NYC” is told through the eyes of Matty’s friend Zee and revisits the first days of the conflict and the following chaos in Manhattan. The art by Kristian Donaldson is however not to my liking. It is sufficient to show us how Manhattan became an exile, but I just can’t appreciate it completely.

The last issue in the paperback (art and story both by Wood) is a kind of travel guide, in which Matty collects articles and interviews in order to give outsiders a more thorough understanding of the current situation in Manhattan. The included restaurant tips, hangout spots and the collage style art give the journal a very authentic feel.

Brian Wood manages to continue his gripping story of the war mainly fought on American soil in this second paperback issue. He once again focuses on the role of the media in war times by actively making a reporter part of the conflict. The protagonist is no longer merely a spectator in his role as a journalist. Just as the first TPB, this one is once again very readable and manages to introduce sensible political issues into an interesting and tense fictional story. Once again it should be mentioned that DMZ can only be recommended to mature audiences, due to its profane language and explicit graphic themes.

Story 8, Art 7.5, Reread 7, Overall Rating 7.5/10

A few days after writing this post, I finally got my hands on volume 1 of “DMZ.” Despite my affection for the local boys, Fantom Comics was sold out of the first book, and I finally had to haul my ass into Georgetown. Barnes & Noble’s online inventory promised they had it in stock, so when I found myself over that way for an eye appointment* last week I finally, finally had an excuse to go the extra few blocks and buy what turned out to be the Second Best Comic Book I’ve Read This Year.**

It was so good freaking awesome that I read it despite my eyes having just been dilated. I could barely see the sidewalk in front of me on the way to the store (including the cross-don’t cross signs at the intersections, sorry Power Suit Guy in the Lexus at Penn and 23rd), but once I finally had “DMZ” in my hands I couldn’t NOT read it, right? So I sat there for an afternoon partially blinded, feeling like Mr. Burns in the “X-Files” episode of “the Simpsons,” squinting and crinkling my nose (that helps!) but plowing through because it was every bit as good as I’d hoped.

Before this year, I’d always been a fan of the heavy hitters but never actually spent much time reading graphic novels. This year, with “Watchmen” and “Fables” and now “DMZ,” I’m kicking myself for not going there sooner.

On the way home from Georgetown, I stopped at Fantom Comics in Union Station because previous experience had already proven them to be well-stocked with Volume 2. A few nights ago I was up until 1:30 finishing it, despite the 7:30 a.m. start time the next day at work. I’m up to Volume 3 now, which I picked up from Politics and Prose this afternoon, still trying to atone for the karmic sin of not trusting the indie stores first. It’s the hump volume, because once I finish that one there will be more unread volumes than read ones.*** Suggestions for what to tackle next are welcome and encouraged. Seriously, please? I can see the withdrawal hitting in about two weeks right after I turn the last page of Volume 5.

*Blocked tear duct. I’m physically incapable of crying right now. Irony noted.

**I did read “Watchmen” for the first time earlier this year.

*** Volume 6 in January! Woo!

Il disegnatore toscano Riccardo Burchielli illustrerà una storia breve per DC Universe Halloween Special, in uscita la settimana di Ognissanti negli Stati Uniti. Protagonisti dell’episodio i nemici di Batman, tra cui Joker, Due-Facce, Mr. Zsaz e lo Spaventapasseri. Non apparirà Batman bensì un lupo mannaro! Sul blog di Burchielli sono presenti alcuni studi dei personaggi. Ci tengo a farvi notare le tracce dell’influenza di Christopher Nolan sui disegni, in particolare riguardo Due-Facce e lo Spaventapasseri.

Noi tutti CITTADINI PER BATMAN gli facciamo gli auguri!

With 100 Bullets coming to an end DMZ is positioned to become the best book Vertigo is publishing.  The story is about the lives of people living in a war zone, with the added twist that it takes place in New York City.  Wood has taken the high road in his writing by showing a society that has endured under the worst conditions imaginable.

However, this particular volume is not quite up there with Wood’s best work on the series.  It’s made up of a series of 6 vigniettes focusing on members of the supporting cast.  Some of them are quite good and I’m always happy to have another comic with art from Danijel Zezelj, but for the most part they simply exist to fill in some background details.  So a good comic, but there are better collections of this series.

On top of the hundred or so comics I read every month, I also go through quite a few trade paperbacks. Recently, I started picking up Ex Machina in trade. I’ve finished the first five trades so I guess it’s about time I talked about them.

Ex Machina is the story of Mitchell Hundred, the first superhero of his world. One day, a group of terrorists decide to ram a couple of planes into the World Trade Center towers. In our world, we know exactly what happened next. In Mitchell’s world, events play out quite a bit differently. You see, Mitchell was able to save one of the Twin Towers. Soon after, Mitchell gives up playing hero and runs for mayor. Not surprisingly, he wins.

The book primarily concerns itself with Mitchell’s term in office, with the occasional flashback to pre-911 times to give up back story and villainous origins. One can assume that means this book is extremely politically motivated. It’s actually much like reading an episode of the West Wing, I would guess (since I never watched that show).

Framed in such a way that isn’t immediately as accessible to mainstream readers like Y: The Last Man was, Ex Machina is an educational if not always entertaining read. Sometimes, it feels too much like homework or watching some dude’s hastily produced Youtube diaries. No jokes, Vaughan comes off like a politically snarky know-it-all and it can get on your nerves. Maybe this plays better if you collect this book as a monthly, but reading 5-6 issues in a row can be tedious. If you can stand being preached to regarding the hot button issues of the day, then this may be the book for you. As for me, I like the main character to stick with it for now. It passes the ultimate test: I would vote for Mayor Hundred.

Oh, and the art by Tony Harris is pretty sweet too.

Switching gears slightly but still staying within the realm of social commentary, I’ve also been catching up on Brian Wood’s DMZ. This seems like the prototypical book that no one is reading, and for the life of me I can’t figure out why. It’s so fucking good. It’s got the mainstream appeal of a Y mixed with the politics of an Ex Machina. It’s controversial, honest (maybe I’m biased) and on top of all that… it’s a fun read! Brian Wood, is really, really good. And so is his partner, Riccardo Burchielli. His figures look great and the grim and gritty backgrounds truly propel you into this world. Oh crap, I haven’t even said what the book is about yet…

With overseas wars bogging down the Army and Nation Guard, the U.S. government mistakenly neglects the very real threat of the anti-establishment militias scattered across the United States. Like a sleeping giant, Middle America rises up and violently pushes its way to the shining seas, sparking a second American civil war, coming to a standstill at the line in the sand – Manhattan. Or, as the world now knows it, the DMZ.

Matty Roth, a naïve aspiring photojournalist, lands a dream gig following a veteran war correspondent into the heart of the DMZ. Things soon go terribly wrong, and Matty finds himself lost and alone in a world he’s only seen on television. There, he is faced with a choice: try to find a way off the island, or make his career with an assignment most journalists would kill for. But can he survive in this savage war zone long enough to report the truth?

The first trade is all about getting you, the reader, and Matty, our protagonist, acclimated to this brave new world. He builds friendships as he gets to know the players on each side of this civil war. In the second trade, shit gets flipped on its head as we learn not everything or everyone is what it seems. Expectations are reversed and Matty sees that it’s not about which side is right; it’s about the people stuck in the middle. His people. One of the great things about DMZ is Wood’s ability to stay impartial. One side is never portrayed as more evil than the other, or vice versa, and I think that’s where the power of this story truly lies. Shit, the entire story is summed up in the title. A demilitarized zone… that’s all it’s really about.

By Brian Wood (writer), Riccardo Burchielli, Nathan Fox, Viktor Kalvachev, Kristian Donaldson (art), Jeremy Cox (colors)

To sum things up, Friendly Fire is Brian Wood’s version of Rashomon. We have a horrific event taking place where hundreds of silent protestors in the DMZ are killed in a bloody massacre by US forces. And while it’s hard to tell who instigated the hostilities, there’s no way to deny the loss of life. It’s a PR nightmare for the United States, who intends to hold a tribunal against the soldiers caught in this mess. Because of his experience within the DMZ, Matty is tapped to investigate and report his own separate findings.

Most of this book follows Matty as he interviews a handful of soldiers, survivors, and even top brass regarding the events of the now infamous “Day 204″. With so many contradictory reports, it’s hard for him to draw his own conclusions. Eventually, he realizes that there’s no real winner to this outcome. The people within the DMZ want their own version of justice. If the soldiers involved are put to death, does it really quench the thirst for justice? Will it really change the outcome?

The questions (and answers) posed by Brian Wood are ones to be pondered. Reflecting many current events happening in the middle east, it’s hard not to distinguish the parallels this story draws. As much as I hate using the “social commentary” term, that’s exactly what this book is about, and it does it so well. The scary thing is, if continued down our current economic path, it’s very easy to see this country falling into the same trappings of the country portrayed in this book. Do yourself a favor and pick this trade up. It’s not the best DMZ story, but it’s one of the most profound. (Grade: A-)

- J. Montes