Lady Killer, Lost Books of Eve, Magic Pickle, Solar: Man of the Atom, Rex Mantooth

Lady Killer 1-5

Between this story about a 60s housewife moonlighting as a contract killer and her work on Catwoman, Jones is demonstrating that she’s a far stronger artist than she is a writer.  Part of it has to do with the fact that she’s a spectacular penciller. Her work has never been less than stunning.  Her visual storytelling adds dimensions to the words - look at what she does over the course of this conversation as Josie replaces a broken heel.

It’s unfortunate that the story is somewhat boilerplate.  Past the fun concept is the standard story of an assassin who struggles to balance her personal life with her secret one, undone by a crisis of conscience that prevents her from completing a contract.  Conflict with her employer ensues.  

I’m happy to own this as another example of Jones’ art, but I’m not tempted to try out the sequel.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Lost Books of Eve 1-4

The art by Josh Howard is undeniably pretty, very reminiscent of Genndy Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars style.

Just as badass, but with a lot more layers.

However, it crosses the line from good girl art to flat out gratuitous scantily-clad women.  It feels excessive to me, for as good as it looks. That, coupled with the unmemorable story, puts it in the serviceable but doesn’t stand out pile.    

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Magic Pickle 1-4

I loved this when it first came out.  The whimsy of a sentient, crime-fighting pickle delighted me, as did Scott Morse’s equally carefree art.

This time through, the story was just a little too child-oriented (I didn’t know that Morse continued to put these out for Scholastic Books!  Woots!) and the art a little too sloppy.  That said, I’m totally keeping these issues.  I imagine I’m going to love reading these with my kid someday.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Didn’t suck

Solar: Man of the Atom 1

This reads like lazy Ellis writing for a paycheck.  Easy cut.

Regret buying: Yes

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Didn’t suck (Cutting)

Rex Mantooth 1-3

I had so much fun with this when it came out in 2002.  Matt Fraction’s story about a James Bondian gorilla secret agent, paired with Andy Kuhn’s Tim Sale-esque art, was a joyous romp.  Seventeen years later, it’s a juvenile, misogynistic series of adventures that has not aged well at all. Some of the jokes still land with Fraction’s characteristic humor, but too much of it doesn’t sit comfortably with me.  

This one sits firmly in both categories :)

I don’t need to keep this around - I’ve got much better Fraction work than this.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Disliked (Cutting)