Brief Mentions: Kirkman… You Scare Me…

Destroyer #1

Written By: Robert Kirkman

Art By: Corey Walker

This book almost passed me by. I did not even know of this book until 3 hours after I had already purchased my books for the week. A few days later, I returned to my local comic shop and purchased Destroyer #1. After some intense research, (going to wikipedia) I found some interesting information on this long forgotten hero of yesteryear. Destroyer’s origin is very similar to that of Captain America and was created in 1941 under Marvels old moniker, Timely Comics. Behind the mask is American Journalist, Keen Marlow, who is captured by Nazis during WWII. An anti-Nazi German scientist gives Marlow the super soldier serum and Marlow joins the ranks of superhumans. Since his debut in the 40’s, Destroyer slowly fell from the comic pages and forever trapped in the pages of the golden age, until now. Creative team Robert Kirkman and Corey Walker (Invincible anyone?), decide to revive this long dead superhero under the MAX comics banner. Here is some advice… KEEP THIS COMIC FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR out of reach of children. The MAX title is not a joke. I haven’t seen this much blood since…o wait… I guess the last issue of Invincible… but it’s still really bloody. Kirkman really jumps into the story and develops and excellent first issue and raises many plot devices and questions. Corey Walker’s art is simply astounding and is able to make gore even gorier. This five issue miniseries is going to be a great read and a very intense rollercoaster ride. Witness the resurrection of Destroyer!


The Invincible Iron Man #12

Written By: Matt Fraction

Art By: Salvador Larroca

The reign of darkness continues and things are becoming bleaker for our ironclad hero. Norman Osborn is now the center of American defenses. And Pepper Potts: Superhero? Eleven issues ago I did not read Iron Man and had no prior reading experience with the character. I never personally cared for the character of Tony Stark because he caused the demise of one of the most beloved comic characters of all time. He just seemed like a drunk that I could not relate to…. O how wrong I was. With just twelve issues, Fraction and Larroca has truly made me come to love this character. Every hero is a definition of the hardships they face (I promise I’m not quoting zoom) and Stark’s heroism is being put to the test. Also seeing Pepper Potts in an iron man suit is one of the coolest ideas seen in comics in a long time. I loved Pepper Potts in The Order and am glad to see that the character didn’t disappear into nothingness. If there is anyone out there who loves this book and hasn’t read The Order…. GO READ IT NOW!!!! The Order was the first exposure I ever had to Matt Fraction’s work and I have been a fan ever since. I don’t think I need to say that Larroca’s art continues to be stunning as always and really helps the book come to life. As we know (from the KC PlanetComicon special) things are going to get worse for Tony but hey… he’s made of iron for a reason right?

What I’m Reading Now: Simply Astounding

Astounding Wolf-Man
Written By: Robert Kirkman
Art By: Jason Howard

He shocked us in the pages of the survival story The Walking Dead. He won our hearts over to his superhero family in Invincible. And he had us laughing in the books Ant-Man and Battle Pope. So the next logical step in Kirkman’s career is werewolves, right? In 2007, Kirkman agreed. On May 5th 2007, Robert Kirkman along with talented artist Jason Howard set out to tell the story of Gary Hampton, The Astounding Wolf-Man. The story starts at an alarmingly fast pace. The first page opens up to Gary already attacked by a werewolf of unknown origins. One of the many critiques I hear about this book is how fast-paced the story is. Within the first issue, the origin story is almost completely solidified. There are multiple gaps of time missing in which Gary is busy training with his new teacher Zechariah, who is able to understand Gary’s “curse”. I sympathize with these critiques because I would love to see further description of the relationships between Zechariah, Gary, and the rest of his family as well as to really understand the characters as was so well portrayed in books such as The Walking Dead and Invincible. But in Kirkman’s defense, Astounding Wolf-Man is a different story and a different experience from Kirkman’s previous titles. While Kirkman, in previous works, deals heavily with the human experience and story telling through emotion, this title tells the story through the actions of the characters that makes this story heavily action based. This type of story telling leads for a book to be faster paced than other comics. Another great strength of Kirkman’s that has developed through the years is the Image universe. It helps Kirkman to “sell” his other books and also rewards faithful readers by featuring cameos of characters from other titles such as the costume maker and references to Invincible (see issue 9*). Astounding Wolf-man #11 was also a cross over issue with his highly acclaimed series, Invincible. This interconnected story telling provides the reader a real, tangible universe to travel to and also gives the book a great base. Writing aside, Jason Howard does an excellent job with pencils on this book and offers a unique look to this comic much as do Charlie Adlard and Ryan Ottley to there respective titles. Kirkman and Image Comics is slowly creating a universe that is both dense and astounding.

Brief Mention: The Astounding Wolf-Man # 8

Astounding Wolfman #8

Writer-Robert Kirkman

Penciler, Inker- Jason Howard


(This is a review. I tried not to spoil too much, but again, this is a review.)

Have you ever woken up in the woods (or any where else) wondering where you clothes where? Maybe you had drank a little too much? Maybe you were sleepwalking and decided it would feel better to be in the raw? Maybe, just maybe you are a werewolf? If your morning breath includes the taste of blood and/or there are dead bodies around, you have to wonder. Gary Hampton is a werewolf. A werewolf superhero, nonetheless… well, sort of. Now, let’s get on with issue # 8.

If you have been reading this book then you know what has lead up to the events we find in these pages. I picked up an Image Monster Pile up #1 a couple weeks ago and it was pretty cool. Within the pages of this Monster Pile up was a four-page Astounding Wolf- Man story that bridges issue # 7 and issue # 8. Amongst, The Astounding Wolf-Man story there was a FireBreather, Perhapnauts, and Proof. You should know that the regular creative teams did all the stories. I recommend trying to pick up the Monster pile up but you can be all right without it. The complete-ist in me says go out and get it.

Issue # 8 begins with the events leading right out of the Monster Pile up. (Yep, the dudes with guns in the office.) If you would like me to spoil the Pile up for you, drop an e-mail. Now, Gary Hampton has found himself in a very peculiar position, which leads him to hit the road. All this time he is also dealing with the tragedy that has just been dealt him (You know, false accusations and death and stuff.) and trying get back home to his daughter, Chloe. Chloe is back home at the Hampton’s Estate where her hatred can grow and grow and grow. But, we find out that this is not where Gary’s destination is to be… for now. He has some business to take care of before he can return home. Enter a new wolf-man. A larger, Rastafarian looking wolf-man, (but not jah love, one love, feeling ire, bop… bop… bop, kind of Rastafarian) who may be more important than Gary realizes.

The Astounding Wolf-Man is a Kirkman Image book. What else should I have to say? Now, I’m not saying it is to level of his other two (just yet) but it is still early. Jason Howard’s art on this book is pretty fantastic, as well. Image seems to be a company that understands how trades should be put out. (for the most part) They released the first trade paperback (including issue 1-7 and some pretty cool sketches, as well as, an intro by your boy Kirkman) that came out just before issue # 8. That means it is really easy for you to hop on RIGHT NOW and be caught up. So hit up your comic shop and add this title to the list of Kirkman Image books that you love reading. Just do it! Come on-Rob

*Note from the editor- Looking in the mirror only to see small blotches of skin, doesn’t mean you are a werewolf. Trust me! That is no excuse for being a hairy dude. You must embrace that we had no choice but to be warm and fuzzy. Join me, all you hairy dudes, let’s take it back! -Rob

Living Up to Expectations: …WTF?!?!?!

Invincible #52
Written By: Robert Kirkman
Art By: Ryan Ottley

Robert Kirkman, why? WHY?!?!?!?! Issue 52 of Invincible hit the shelves this week and any week an Invincible issue is released it is the first comic I read. This issue had comedy, action, and drama. We see the reappearance of the Crusher Twins (two of my favorite characters from the series) as they try to control the world’s communication through some evil and maniacal plan. It is up to invinciboy (Invincible) and Kid Omni-Man to deliver justice…severe justice. Kirkman delivers an excellent fight scene with some very, very, very shocking panels. The relationship between Invincible and Kid Omni-man also continues to grow in this issue. Kirkman leaves us with a cliffhanger that forces us to redefine what a true hero is. Though the story, as usual, is amazing and continues to hold the greatest superhero title the art in this issue was stunning. As soon as I think Ryan Ottley’s art cannot possibly get any better it always seems to with every issue. This is another great story from the image team of Kirkman and Ottley and once again I count down the days until the next issue.

Young Liars #7
Written By: David Lapham
Art By: David Lapham

There comes a time in every comic lovers life when he or she must step back after reading and issue and just simply state…WTF. In this case…David Lapham…WTF?!?! Just when you thought if midgets cutting genitals off was as crazy as this book could get, then go buy Young Liars #7 and be proven wrong. Young Liars, a story that I have loved and cherished since issue 1, has truly taken a turn for the… I don’t know. Issue #7 is the first part in the Spiders from Mars story arc. Though David Bowie is not in this issue, as messed up as this issue was…I think…I think I liked it. It could be that David Lapham’s previous projects, such as Stray Bullets, has done irreversible damage to by brain but all in all, I really liked this issue. I would tell you what its about but I (a) don’t want to ruin for you because believe me you need to read this issue and (b) I don’t even know what I would say and if I did say anything you wouldn’t get it. Sorry. But story aside, I have always been a big fan of Lapham’s art and this issue easily proves why. It’s an art style that is so familiar that when I read anything by him I always think of his previous works. I highly recommend this issue and just be prepared for what you may see. Good Luck and Godspeed.

What Do You Mean They're Not Superheroes?: Robert Kirkman Just Changed My Life

To understand what I am talking about click HERE



Alright ...

I admit that, since I was 8, I have wanted to be a comic book writer. Whether it was something that I wanted to do that I felt was a "front-burner" desire or a "back-burner" desire it has always been in there somewhere. But, curiously enough I have never really had much desire to write the big characters at the big companies. I never had a desire to do that one great Spider-Man story or that one great Green Lantern story ... I mean sure I have wanted to do that one great Harvey Bullock story wandering around in my head and a great Foggy Nelson story that bumps into the walls sometimes. So, when I listened to this editorial it made me realize that I should be writing the ideas for comics that are in my head, that I should be doing every last thing that I can to get published ...

So, if you are a comic artist of any style I am now interested in looking at your portfolio of work and an interested in starting to share some of the ideas that I have banging around in my skull somewhere with people who might be interested in contributing creatively to some ideas that I want to start working on.

click on name on the sidebar for contact info

P.S. Here's an interview that John Siuntres did with Robert Kirkman
P.P.S. Here's Brian Michael Bendis' response
P.P.P.S. Here's what the guys at Around Comics thought
P.P.P.P.S. Here's what Ron Richards over at iFanboy thought