Batman: Curse of the White Knight, Skyward, Runaways, GI Joe, The Hire, Islands in the Sky

New comics, some left over from last week:

Batman: Curse of the White Knight 1

I remember liking White Knight, but I can only remember snippets from in.  I really should have waited for the trade on this, but the cover was just too enticing.  

I have a weakness for a good Azrael cover.  I love his costume design.

Skyward 15

So ends a phenomenal comic.  Joe Henderson wraps up all the loose threads, and I’m completely satisfied.  Truth be told, though, it’s the art that pumped this up multiple levels. I’m so happy to have discovered Lee Garbett’s work.  I’ll be on the lookout for his art in the future.  

Runaways 23

Victor brings Doombot back from the brink, Chase and Gert have a serious conversation about their past relationship.  Molly shows she cares with stuffed animals. Good stuff.

GI Joe 67

I thought I was done with these, but I found this in a pile of unsorted comics.  More of the same.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? No

Rating: Didn’t suck

The Hire 4

I also found this amongst the unsorteds, a day after getting rid of issues 1 and 3.  This one is also written by a top notch writer (Kurt Busiek), this one I’m also cutting.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? No

Rating: Fine (Cutting)

Islands in the Sky 1

I bought this at a con because my friend did the art.  Genevieve Tsai is stupid talented.  She does facial expressions better than anyone I’ve read, and she brings an unparalleled sense of humor to everything that she does.  Check her out!

As for the comic, I wish that the content was worthy of her art.  Typical fanboy fantasy drivel with boobs and butts. Keeping it for her art, but Genevieve deserves much, much better material.  

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? No

Rating: Fine

Hepcats, Hip Flask, The Hire, Incredibles

Hepcats 3-10

This comic was a big name in the black and white indie comic scene back when I first started collecting, and its reputation is completely justified.  Martin Wagner’s art is superb, an amazing extension of the admitted Gerhard influences. The story is engrossing too, focusing on a woman who’s forced to confront her repressed past after years of suppression.  I wonder how well the psychology of her depression/suicide attempt passes muster, but it certainly rang true during the reading. 

It’s a shame that Wagner wasn’t able to complete this story, due to a combination of economic and personal issues.  I would have kept reading it if given the opportunity.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Hip Flask: Unnatural Selection

Hip Flask: Elephantmen

This is all about the Ladronn art.  There’s a Katsuhiro Otomo Akira vibe mixed with Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, wrapped up in a European comic art style.

I love the Big Brother nature of the nonstop exhortations and commandments.  Richard Starkings’ writing is note-perfect there.  

I might have a stack of unread Elephantmen stashed away somewhere, now would be the time to dig it up.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Pretty good (Entirely for the art.)

The Hire 1, 3

There was a time when BMW commissioned a bunch of shorts made by famous directors and a miniseries of comics with top notch creators.  The two I have are written by Matt Wagner and Mark Waid. They’re basically The Transporter in comic form.  Not the worst, but not memorable in any way.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? No

Rating: Fine (Cutting)

The Incredibles 1

I bought this because I love the movie so very much.  But even written by Mark Waid, this couldn’t live up to the awesomeness of the source material.  It feels phoned in.

Regret buying? Yes

Would buy again? No

Would read again? No

Rating: Didn’t suck (Cutting)