The
Fanboy Planet Preview Spotlight 10/12/05
brought to you by Brian's Books of Santa
Clara
Each
week we look through the upcoming releases to offer our two
cents as to what's hot and what's not. You can agree with
us or not, but spend your money wisely.
Where
Monsters Dwell #1
writers: various
artists: various
Sometimes you
just have to go with the best value, and this week's offering
from the "new" Marvel Monsters Group is absolutely it.
Where Monsters
Dwell revives an old Marvel title, but with tongue firmly
planted in cheek. Two stories apparently sequelize old Lee
and Kirby classics, with a third that feels very retro but
still well done. Included also is a look back at one of
those original monster tales, just as Marvel did last week
with The Hulk vs. Devil Dinosaur (which rocked).
Temporarily
freed from his duties mocking icons in The Defenders,
Keith Giffen brings his biting sarcasm to the early days
of Marvel. In his offering, "Bring on the Bombu," he ridicules
what had to have been a silly story in the first place.
A scaly, pot-bellied alien race with faces like tiki masks
tried to conquer Earth (as they always did in the late fifties
and early sixties), but their lone envoy was repelled by
lightning and ...the pelting of garbage.
It's a pathetic
image, and Bombu must seek some sort of redemption. Of course,
it doesn't go well. Giffen has a nice knack, though, for
making it seem strangely plausible, even giving a reasonable
explanation for an alien race's overconfidence when approaching
Earth. Then comes the Walla Walla Bing Bang.
Mike Allred
takes a break from his magnum opus, The Golden Plates
, to ink Giffen, and the combination isn't quite as thrilling
as I'd hoped it would be. It does shift Giffen's pencils
into looking almost Kirbyesque at times, which makes a notable
achievement. Welcome back, Mike. We'll see you next in Solo.
Peter David
and Arnold Pander team for "The Return of Monstrollo," a
slightly weaker effort that paints Hollywood with a broad
brush but has a nice punchline. Though a quirky artist,
Pander has a deft touch and his approach to the material
works well. On a weird aside, David actually predicts one
of the successes on ABC's fall schedule - why isn't this
man writing a TV show of his own?
The reprint,
"I Was Trapped By Titano!", only serves to prove that before
Fantastic Four #1, Atlas/Marvel churned out a lot
of crap. Sorry, but it's crap. However, Jeff Parker, Russell
Braun and Jimmy Palmiotti turn a knowing look back with
"The Shadow of Manoo," capturing just the right note of
Red Scare paranoia sublimated into alien menace.
Atmospheric,
moody and with the occasional nod to modern sensibility,
it makes me want to look for more of Parker's work. The
story turns satirical at the end, and it doesn't quite pay
off the way it seems intended. But it has ambition, and
when I read comics, I can't get enough of that.
Runners-up:
100 Bullets
#65: I hadn't picked up this book in a while, freely
admitting that for Azzarello and Risso's beautiful work,
I need to read arcs in one sitting. But this story, not
for the squeamish, served to remind me how good this thing
is. Even if you don't know the overall plotline, this story
will grip you.
Action Comics
#832: Oh, yeah, Lord Satanus was still running around
Metropolis running Newstime magazine. Maybe there is something
to that idea of the Liberal Media being a tool of the devil.
Of course, we've also got this whole Day of Vengeance
thing going on, with the Spectre systematically wiping out
all traces of magic in the DC Universe. That leaves Satanus
sweating and Superman wondering if he should bother at all.
Fables #42:
Would you like to get your significant other to read comics?
This would be the book. Bringing in the Arabian Nights (literally),
Willingham keeps goosing this title with energy, fun and
the occasional thought.
Friendly
Neighborhood Spider-Man #1: As it was nice to see Peter
David back on the Hulk, it's good to see him back on Spider-Man.
Even better to see him launching the strange new plotline,
"The Other," because at least it starts off without ticking
off anybody. Instead, David focuses on Spider-Man's relationship
with Captain America and points out that really, Peter Parker
has no actual fighting technique beyond coming out swinging.
Being in the Avengers should take care of that.
Gravity #5:
A decent story about a decent guy trying to be a superhero.
This calls back to the early days of Marvel's motivations,
and it's nice to see it done without some strange darkness
clouding the whole issue, as years ago was done with Darkhawk.
Sean McKeever writes teens better than just about anyone,
and Mike Norton has a good style that should bring in those
pesky manga fans without losing the Western look.
Mutopia #4:
It's a crossover that actually will deal with the fallout
of the crossover being over. Yes, that's too many overs.
But Mutopia has consistently been an interesting
average joe look at the consequences of the Scarlet Witch's
reality manipulation, and David Hine brings it to a surprising
head before finishing the series. Get the back issues!
Metafiction
Makes Me Cry:
Marvel Knights
4 #23: In order for this story of the Impossible Man
to work, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa makes the Fantastic Four
act impossibly retarded. This has been the first mis-step
in a run I didn't want to like in the first place. If only
the writer hadn't inserted himself in the story. It's a
tricky line to walk, and few do it well.
Sight Unseen:
Essential
Werewolf By Night: Despite the strange pun of a werewolf
named Jack Russell, these stories were good. Strangely good.
Laboring under the restrictions of the Comics Code Authority,
Marvel still did good horror in the seventies, creating
continuing monster protagonists in days before Vertigo.
The Goon
Fancy Pants Edition: Look, this stuff rocks. If you
don't know it, get this.
Infinite
Crisis #1: Finally, we get to know what the heck this
is all about!
JLA #120:
How can this book exist in the face of Infinite Crisis?
Who was in the transporter? AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Villains
United #6: Who is Mockingbird? And do you get the feeling
that it really won't be answered this issue while DC continues
roasting me on a metaphorical spit begging for answers to
all their mysteries?
Hey, write to us and
let us know what you think. Talk about it on the
forums!
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