Umbrella Academy vol 02: Dallas TP

Prison Pit- Yaaaaaaaaaay!  New Johnny Ryan comics!  This time we’re served an original graphic novel from the Angry Youth Comix maestro, a hyper violent and darkly comical tale of intergalactic bloodbath as protagonist CF is thrust into the Prison Pit.  Powered by Johnny’s brilliant sense of humor (more heaping handfuls of gross blech than you can imagine, more offensive imagery than socially acceptable), this book is billed as a mishmash of influences- WWE, video games, Gary Panter’s Jimbo, and the Berserk manga.  I like to think of it as R. Crumb draws Tim Vigil’s Faust, minus the draftsmanship.  Recommended.

Buffy Season 8 Volume 5-  So I guess I’ll be seeing legions upon legions of Buffy fans this week in Forbidden Planet.  Okay then.  See ya then.

25,000 Years of Erotic Freedom- Alan Moore, he of  Lost Girls fame, contributes to this book examining centuries of smut, pornography, and filth.  Terrific.  While definitely not for all tastes, nor ages for that matter, the book posits that “the success and vibrancy of a society relates to its permissiveness in sexual matters,”and examines human history in that context.  Says Moore, “Sexually progressive cultures gave us literature, philosophy, civilization and the rest, while sexually restrictive cultures gave us the Dark Ages and the Holocaust.” It’s a pretty interesting tome, Especially if you like da nasty.

John McClane sketch from artist Stephen Thompson’s blog.

Die Hard #1- What? Come on, okay?  Die Hard’s my favorite Christmas movie and even I, on occasion, should be allowed to let go of snobbery and pretension long enough to enjoy big dumb fun.  Which brings us to this here comic book, chronicling  John McClane’s rookie tour with the NYPD in 1976.  Written by Howard Chaykin, a veteran of tough, grizzled action/crime stories, with art by Stephen Thopmson (Moonstone’s Buckaroo Banzai, Presidential Material: John McCain).

Sleeper Season Two TP-  Stop reading if you’ve heard my spiel about Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ masterpiece.  Okay, now that they’re gone, you simply MUST read Sleeper.  It contains zero moral value, and that’s fantastic. Secret agent Holden Carver is under deep, deep cover in THE underground criminal organization what’s got their hands in everything with seemingly no way out.  Why would he want to get out anyway, when evil’s so damn sexy?  It’s an amazingly well-executed story and if you have enjoyed these creators’ other series Criminal and Incognito you’ll more than dig this.

Absolute Promethea Vol. 01- One of our favorite Alan Moore books gets the gussied-up Absolute treatment from DC/Wildstorm.  There are precious few other things you can drop a hundred bucks on.  Anyone got a hundred bucks I can borrow?

Bad Dog #3- You may want to wait for the trade on this title due to its erratic schedule, but if you’re stalwart enough to jump on board or you’ve been following it all along you’ll know that Joe Kelly’s romp is one irreverent delight after another.  Best comic featuring a Werewolf bounty hunter ever.

And that’s just the tip of the bookshelf.  Have a good Wednesday, folks.

Well,  I guess last night.

• People are lining up for “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” by the thousands. Its already shattered the overnight Box Office Record previously held by “The Dark Knight”. And really? Really? There are more Harry Potter fans than there are of Batman? Pssshhhh.  (I’m seeing it tonight). [LA Times].
• Internet Jesus Warren Ellis will be appearing at the San Diego Comic Con to promote his latest animated work, Marvel Anime.  He wants to make sure that you realize that he will only be in town for 36 hours and then getting the eff out of there.  He usually likes to make some kind of line that if you want to find him at San Diego he’ll burn you with his Stabby Stabby Vision, or if you see a man running down the street in flames, that’s him. [Warren Ellis].
• There’s going to be a “Twilight” Manga! Strangely, I think this is the best venue for the series, screw the idea of it being a “novel.” I haven’t read them, don’t plan to, especially because Meyer’s literary explanation for the reason that the Vamps can go to school with normal humans is because the town is so foggy that it blocks out the sun. [The Flickcast].
• Natalie Portman in “Thor.” I realize we got to this quite late, but I think its mostly because of my depression in the hopes that she would play the female version of Loki. I don’t know, I just think that would rock. Regardless, I’m glad she’s going to be in the movie in what should be a extremely strange movie for Marvel, but nonetheless ridiculously fun. [MTV's Splash Page].
• I’m fired up as hell that Rick Remender‘s “Fear Agent” movie is a go.  To be honest with you, I will literally buy anything with that guy’s name on it. Easily one of the most original minds writing in comics today, Rick is a only just recently a father, so any support given him helps his kid go to school.  And trust me, you will not be ripped off. “Gigantic” “The End League” all of it is just brilliant stuff. This is just a big win in the department of quality that this is moving forward. [Hollywood Reporter].
• Wow, that’s a lot of movie talk. How about Joe Kelly, and Eric Canete (current artist on “The End League”) doing a Deadpool vs Spider-Man special? I know, I know, it seems like Deadpool is getting more guest appearances in comics than Wolverine. However, I quite honestly can’t think of a more perfect team-up creatively to deliver this book. Oh yeah, there is also that awesome Skottie Young cover. [CBR].