Olympians

Olympians 4

Hades is on the cover of the book, and the story primarily covers the Abduction of Persephone.  Which, after my trip to Italy last year, will forevermore remind me of this glorious work by Gian Lorenzo Bernini:

I still can't believe that's carved out of marble.

This shot vividly reminded me of the classic Steele Savage illustration from Edith Hamilton’s Mythology:

One of my favorite books as a kid.

I’m a huge fan of George O’Connor’s decision to make Persephone a more active participant in the decision that keeps her in the underworld for six months out of the year - In his story, Persephone never ate the pomegranate:

(It brings up other troubling questions about Stockholm syndrome, but it’s still better than the version I’m familiar with…)

At this point, I’m strongly tempted to buy the trades that I don’t have…

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Olympians, Lois Lane, Batman: Curse of the White Knight

Last of the new comics of the week.  It should be a warning sign that I’ve been less eager to read these comics, letting them sit for so long.  Fortunately, both acquit themselves nicely, showing my reluctance to be unfounded.

Lois Lane 3

It’s still too early for Rucka to reveal what’s going on, but in the meantime, he fills the time with sweet character moments between Lois and Clark and a completely unexpected reunion on the last page.  

Mike Perkins with a lovely take on a classic scene.

Batman: Curse of the White Knight 2

I think I made a huge mistake on this by not waiting for the trade.  The flow is definitely ruined in the monthly format. Still, it’s a stunningly drawn book with some excellent action scenes by Sean Murphy.  The guy’s a legit storyteller.

Olympians 3

This is Hera’s book, but the bulk of it covers the story of Heracles.  Creator George O’Connor goes out of his way to portray Hera at a sympathetic character, particularly with the last story beat.

Yeah, it's gotta suck to be married to Zeus.

Time to do some half-assed internet research (™ Bill Simmons) and see what else O’Connor’s done in his career...Hmm.  Mostly Olympians, a few other graphic novels.  I’m curious to see what he does next, he’s quite good.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Olympians, Superman: Up in the Sky, Doomsday Clock

Superman: Up in the Sky 3

Amazing job by Tom King.  I’m in awe of how many elements he’s able to combine: 

Superman, when his mind is given the opportunity to wander, can’t help but visualize all the ways that Lois can die without him around to swoop in and save the day.  (Which raises all these other concerns about damsels in distress and agency, but Clark’s concern is still sweet.)  

Clark's imagination is...vivid.

Even Superman is subject to the whims of the DMV.  (Or the intergalactic phone calling service he’s stuck at while he waits to talk for just a few seconds with a wife whom he terribly misses.)  His inability to do anything to speed things up is something that every mere mortal can relate to.  

No jury would convict him.

Lois’ obliviousness to Clark’s despair is both understandable and heartbreaking, after everything he went through to make the connection.

And through it all, Andy Kubert does great work illustrating every one of those bits.  A superb short story.

Doomsday Clock 11

It’s been forever since the last issue came out.  The bit with Dr Manhattan’s photo is pretty neat, but the rest of it’s a bit of a mishmash.  Reading it all together will help a lot.

Olympians 1, 2

I’ve loved Greek myths since elementary school.  I would have loved this series. Heck, I love it now.  George O’Connor does an amazing job of telling stories I’ve known forever in new ways.  Obviously, there’s no canonical version of these, so that’s to be expected. But it’s really cool, like reading the Ultimate universe version of Spider-Man after years of the 616 incarnation.  

I’m impressed by O’Connor’s ability to make each issue completely standalone, while still maintaining both a measure of continuity and staying mainly on the titular characters.  (Issue one focuses on Zeus, two on Athena.) It shows a larger vision for his planned twelve issue epic.

The Athena book really blew me away.  O’Connor flexes his superhero drawing muscles, putting out some super sweet pieces of art.

The first Avengers.

More on this series as I read the later trades.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice, Pretty Good for issue two

Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys

Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys 1-6

I never read the Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books, but the classic spines of those hardcover books evoke a pleasant sense of nostalgia nonetheless. 

My piano teacher had a ton of these in her house.

Anthony Del Col teams up the famous detectives and thrusts them into a noir crime story with enough unique elements that I didn’t feel like I was reading just another mystery.  He’s joined by Werther Dell’Edera, who mixes Tim Sale and Declan Shalvey into a moody, timeless art style.  

Shalvey...

...plus Sale...

...equals Dell'Edera

A fun, standalone story that stands on its own, even without the IP.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

My Monkey's Name is Jennifer

My Monkey’s Name is Jennifer 1-6

Not quite as entertaining as I remembered.  Jennifer is a little too one-note in his anger to sustain a whole series, Kaitlin is a little too annoying, and the story/art by Ken Knudtsen is a little too unpolished.  But for all that, the energy and insanity of this comic is really impressive. And I’m completely on board with the rhyming pirates. I'll take them over stupid Etrigan any day.  

Reminds me of some other poetic pirates...

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Moth and Whisper, Marvels Epilogue

New comic from last week:

Marvels Epilogue

Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross return to their industry-changing work twenty-five years later.  Reading it is like going to your high school reunion, revisiting friends you haven’t contacted in years, but are still overjoyed to see again. 

Moth and Whisper 1-5

Everything I said about this title while it was coming out still holds true.  Ted Anderson and Jen Hickman’s origin story about a thief trying to find out who killed their parents hits all the familiar story beats, but they mix in a ton of sci-fi elements that keep it super fresh and entertaining.  A nice comic that I’m glad I picked up.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Matrix

Matrix Comics 1-2

The Wachowskis were super ambitious with The Matrix - They told their epic vision through film, anime, video games, and comics.  This is one of the rare anthology series where the overall quality is quite strong.  

Standouts include: The Wachowskis’ collaboration with Geoff Darrow, a history lesson on a flashpoint in human/machine relations.  Neil Gaiman’s phenomenal short story about the human savior who saved the machines from an alien invasion. Both of Bill Sienkiewicz’s pieces - The first with the most stunning rendition of Matrix-vision, the second a heartbreaking story of child innocence leading to monstrous consequences.

So cool.

Rereading these reminded me of why The Matrix was such a phenomenon when it came it.  Talk about a flashpoint in so many cultural ways.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice