Return of Long Box: March 18, 2009

I'm going to blame a bevy of end of the quarter papers and projects for my relative silence concerning the world of comics as of late. It was great to be able to sit down this past Wednesday and get caught up on a few weeks worth of comics. Still missing a few things, most notably issue four of No Heroes and issue three of Dark Avengers, but I'll try to pick those up this week and share some thoughts on them. Here's the week (and then some) in review:

BPRD: The Black Goddess #3
I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating; I'm really digging the epic tone that BPRD is taking with their latest story arch. This issue doesn't do much to progress the plot, but it does fill us in on some of Gilfryd's backstory (i.e. how he came to be in the form/position he's in currently). It doesn't answer many questions I've had, but I'm sure this information will play into the series' ultimate payoff further down the road. This issue also gives us a heavy dose of action as Johann Kraus leads a military outfit against a swarm of frogs and those giant walking beasties that leveled part of a city in The Warning. It's a brilliant twist that finds the BPRD defending the very people they've come to destroy from a common threat. At least, that's what we're being led to believe at the moment; the final few pages suggest that there may be certain ties between the frogs and Gilfryd's plan for world domination. With two issues to go, things are really getting heated. Mignola fans; this is the perfect thing to tide you over until the last four issues of the current Hellboy story begin hitting stores.

Young Liars #13
David Lapham, I don't know how you're going to explain all this, but my hat off to you for having the balls to put something as dense and confusing as this comic out into the world. This issue doesn't offer much in the way of answers (I actually can't remember an issue of Young Liars that has), but it does suggest that Danny is currently residing in some kind of twisted dreamworld in which all of his wildest dreams have come true. The best part of it all is that Danny knows it's all too good to be true, and is trying to come to terms with memories of his not-so-distant past. The last few pages of this issue suggest that the old Young Liars gang may be getting back together pretty soon, but only if Danny takes some rather drastic actions. I'm not sure if things are coming to a head, or just getting ready to blow up again, but who cares? This is one of the most consistently entertaining comics out there; it doesn't have to make sense.

Invincible Iron Man #11
Is that Tony Stark!? You'll inevitably find yourself asking that same question at several points in this issue. With Stark going into hiding to avoid the wrath of Norman Osborn, Larroca takes the opportunity to give the character a pretty drastic makeover. We get to see Tony friends wrestling with his criminal status; some even think he should just turn himself in. The centerpiece of this issue is a battle between Stark in an outdated piece of Iron Man armor and his old friend Rhodey a.k.a. War Machine. It's unclear as to who War Machine is currently working for (maybe readers of the War Machine comic might know this information), but it seems clear that he still feels some sort of tie to his old boss and friend. The book ends with a splash, as Tony is shot out of the sky and into the ocean, where a battle with a familiar nautical enemy is surely in the cards. Fraction's writing continues to deliver some of the best Iron Man stories in quite some time. Marvel, keep this guy on the series, and I'll keep reading it.

Ender's Game: Battle School #4
Yost is really finding a balance in this fourth issue of the Ender's Game: Battle School series. The story in this edition is fast paced and slightly hard to follow at times, but delivers all the needed plot points and information in a stylish manner. We're finally seeing Ender's genius in the Battle Room, and it's exactly how I imagined it would be. Still no sign of Bean, (maybe I'm remembering this wrong, but I could have sworn that the two crossed paths in Battle School at some point) however his story is being masterfully handled in the Ender's Shadow books. There something about seeing this story told in a visual medium that makes it all the more disturbing. These are seven-year-old kids who are being trained and treated as soldiers; pit against each other in combat. I think this could explain Ferry's choice to make the character designs play this aspect up; these are innocent-looking kids beating up on each other. It just makes the story hit home that much more; enough to make me want to take back my criticism of the art from previous reviews. Can't wait for the conclusion next month as well as the launch of the Command School series sometime after that.

Long Box: Feb. 11, 2009

These are late because I had the chance to go to a Kevin Smith Q&A this weekend in Columbus. It was a good time, and I actually made it to the mic and had a little one on one with the man himself. Sounds like he's doing some more stuff for DC in the very near future; hopefully it's a little better than "Cacophony" which even he admitted was a little lacking. Here's the week in review:

Young Liars #12
Don't even ask me to explain what's going on in this book right now, because my guess is as good as yours. It's getting to the point where I look forward to this book every month just to see how wrong the assumptions I made based on events in the previous issue were. And that's fine by me; Lapham may have some grand plan, or he may just be throwing shit at a wall to see what sticks. Either way, this series contains some of the most entertaining, totally out of left field plot twists that have ever graced the written page. This month's issue informs us that the story told in the previous 11 issues was a total lie, a fabrication, a hoax. Danny Noonan has miraculously survived the events of the past issue unscathed (and with his 'manhood' resurrected) only to be informed that the supposed love of his life died at the age of 6, he's a rapist, and he's also a huge rock star who has sold a ton of records. Danny doesn't buy it though; and why should he? It all seems too convenient and contrived, and it's clear that someone is still pulling the strings. Could it be the spiders from Mars? The Brownbag Empire? There is no clear answer, and Lapham is more than content to leave the reader guessing for the time being. There's just not much of a difference between truth and lies in this series; which is exactly what makes it fun as hell. Jump on these issues now, because people are going to be talking about "Young Liars" for years to come...

BPRD: The Black Goddess #2
This issue more than makes up for the snooze-fest that was last month's BPRD, and manages to bring my excitement back up to the level it was at during "The Warning". We actually see quite a bit of action and plot development in this issue, with the BPRD and a sizable military force going to Russia to find the location of Gilfryd's lair. We also get a reunion with Liz and some hints to her involvement with current events in the BPRD universe. And finally, we get the beginning of another gigantic frog attack, and the beginning of what looks to be one of the biggest BPRD battles yet. The first thing I want to comment on is Kevin Nowland's cover art, which is just beautiful; I certainly wouldn't mind seeing more of his work on the covers of future issues. Guy Davis' art inside the issue is also very nice this month; especially the dark and moody scenes inside Gilfryd's hideout. Mignola and Arcudi seem much more on the ball than they did in the last issue; the pacing is great and the contrast between the two simultaneouly transpiring events isn't overstated. I'm interested to see where things go from here, but it looks like we'll be getting to see quite a bit more of Liz from here on out.

Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #3
I'm a little shaky on the intricacies of the Hellboy timeline at this point, but it's very clear that "Wild Hunt" is trying to tie up some loose ends and reunite us with some older characters. Come page four, there are even flashbacks to the previous issue where Hellboy got to fight some giants (which I didn't mind, that's a classic scene and one worthy of more of Duncan Fegredo's ink). This issue also contains a very heavy scene in which Hellboy's destiny is discussed at great length. The result of this is the revealation that Hellboy has one last chance to rid himself of the monkier of 'destroyer of mankind'. Next month's issue should answer some of the questions posed this month, then we'll be waiting for a few months until we see any new issues so Mignola and Fegredo can get caught up. So far I'm pretty pleased with the way things have been progressing. There's a war being set up, on the scale of the one being waged in BPRD at the moment. Could they be connected somehow? We'll just have to wait and see...

Long Box: Jan. 14, 2009

This is it folks; the last blog post I'll ever write during the Bush administration. It's been especially entertaining to see just how excited the comic industry is getting about the prospect of a new president. Marvel in particular is really cashing in on the whole occasion. Who would have thought a comic with the soon-to-be-president on the cover would illicit such a reaction? This week is mostly going to be catch-up for me; thanks mainly to the fact that I FINALLY got my hands on a copy of Young Liars #10, just as #11 hit the comic shops. Many thanks to the great guys at Universe of Superheroes in Athens (no website to speak of, otherwise I'd link) for holding some stuff for me while I was gone over break. So, without any further ado, here's the week in review:

Invincible Iron Man #9
I know I've gushed about this series in the past, but I'm going to go ahead and reiterate one last time. If you're not already reading Invincible Iron man, and you consider yourself a fan of the Marvel U, you owe it to yourself to start picking this one up on a monthly basis. Matt Fraction's writing for the series hasn't diminished in quality since issue #1. This month's edition continues the Dark Reign-centric arch that started last month. If the escalation in tensions between the general public and Tony Stark seemed dramatic last month, it doesn't even begin to describe how bad it gets in this issue. Stark takes some actions that firmly place him at the top of Osborn's to-kill list. What I especially like is how Fraction is bring together the characters of Stark and former S.H.I.E.L.D. commander Maria Hill. Like it or not, their destinies are intertwined at this point, and each is realizing how much they need the other's help if they plan to survive. I can't end this review without once again mentioning the art of Salvador Larroca. Not only does this guy continue to turn in some top notch art for this series, but dude also manages to provide a pretty cool cover to boot. Perhaps the best thing I can say about this series as a whole is that each month's story only makes me anticipate the next month's that much more. Go ahead, pick up a copy.

BPRD: The Black Goddess #1
I found this first issue of the new BPRD arch to be a little bit of a letdown after the explosive bombast of The Warning. This newest storyline picks up essentially right where the previeous series left off, with the BPRD still actively searching for the whereabouts of Liz Sherman. Not a whole lot of progress is made on that front in this issue, but good old Lobster Johnson is brought back into the fold thanks to a bevy of flashbacks. It's hard to tell how all of the information presented in this issue will payoff, but that uncertainty makes the cliff-hanger ending one that is very unsatisfying. That being said, Mike Mignola and John Arcudi are not a writing team that dissapoints on a regular basis. The guys might be trying to take things a little slower for an issue or two, change up the mood a little. Guy Davis' art really gets a chance to shine among all the narration and exposition. I feel like I'm unfairly bashing a comic that tells a better story than most, but I really expect more from these guys. Fans, pick this one up and hope things get a little bit more up to speed next month.

Young Liars #10
As frustrating as it was to have to wait to read this issue for so long, the experience of reading #10 and #11 back to back really heightened my enjoyment of this series. It's a great demonstration of just how versatile David Lapham can be with his writing. I'm pretty sure this issue is a precursor to the first issue, a flashback to happier times for the Liars. The focus of this issue is on the character of Big C, and explains the motives behind alot of her actions in previous issues. Here we learn about Big C's first botched pregnancy, and the amount of emtional trauma it caused her. Lapham really plays to the reader's emotions in this issue; it's not nearly a trippy or disjointed as recent issues have been. It fleshes out the character of Big C, while at the same time explaining the relationships she has with the rest of the Liars. After reading this issue, it's perfectly clear why Big C considers Sadie one her best freinds and Danny as one of her worst enemies. The last few pages are some gut-wrenching stuff, but Lapham handles it all very beautifully. An issue like this shows the emotional range that the Young Liars series really possesses.

Young Liars #11
I hope I'm not ruining too much by calling this issue aptly-titled, but the cover really says it all. This month's edition jumps straight back into the main storyline and brings the rest of the Liars gang back into the fold. Sadie finally gets her climactic showdown with her father, the reclusive owner of the Brown Bag Superstores. The way it all happens is just as crazy as anyone who has read previous issues would expect. I think my favorite scene was watching Donnie and Annie X toting M-16s, and running, guns-blazing, behind a determined Sadie. I won't ruin too much about this climactic event, suffice to say, Danny's feigned-obliviousness to the Sadie's past is fully exposed here, and in a rather shocking way. I can't wait to see where Lapham takes the story from here. Those of you looking to catch up with this amazing series should definitely get your hands on the recently released Young Liars Vol. 1: Daydream Believer TPB which collects issues #1-6 for the low price of 10 bucks.

Long Box: Nov. 12, 2008

This week's comics reviewed:
Young Liars #9
Young Liars is without a doubt my current favorite original, on-going comic series of the moment. Ever since picking it up on a whim, I've been hooked on David Lapham's twisted world of sex, drugs and rock & roll. The series hasn't slowed down at all, and even after this most recent issue I'm still not quite sure about what's going on. At a point where most other authors might be trying to tie up some loose ends, Lapham is just creating more. He does provide a little explanation about issues 6 and 7, confirming that they were in fact hallucinations of Sadie's that Danny was apparently participating in and influencing subconsciously. This issue finds Sadie back on her feet, and Danny still intent on getting her back to normal, which means confronting her demons head on in the hope of somehow jogging her memory of her old self. This goal just serves to introduce more people who are after Sadie for one reason or another, suggesting that she is more important than Danny might have previously thought. Not mush in the way of action in this issue, but plenty of new revelations. As usual, Lapham's art is great, providing a good amount of detail and fleshing out his very seedy and dirty world. I look forward to this title every month, it's a confusing but gripping tale, and one the most original on-going comics available.

B.P.R.D.: The Warning #5
This series of B.P.R.D. has answered some big questions, but posed just as many new ones, while providing some of the most epic events in the title's history. This issue finds the B.P.R.D. victorious over the giant bio-mechanical walkers they somehow unleashed way back in issue #2. However, in the process, they've destroyed an entire German city, and if Abe Sapien's premonitions are to believed, this won't be the end of these catastrophic events. Liz Sherman is still missing, and the B.P.R.D. is sorely missing their most valuable member: Hellboy, who is M.IA. as usual. I think it's only a matter of time until Red comes back to the B.P.R.D. for a few issues, as this crisis is definitely taking on epic proportions that certainly seem as if they may require the presence of the Right Hand of Doom. As usual, Guy Davis's art is the perfect blend of functionality and detail, almost a fleshing out of some the best aspects of Mignola's art. I'm really liking the decidedly epic turn this story arch is taking, and I'm definitely looking forward to its continuation in The Black Goddess.

Batman: Cacophony #1
Kevin Smith has made quite a few enemies with his sporadic turns as a comic writer. Some fans have had a problem with him bringing his sex-driven comedy into the stories of their favorite characters. Others just don't think he cuts it as a comic writer, arguing that his abilities as a screenwriter just don't translate into the realm of comics. I, for one, really enjoyed his work on the relaunch of Green Arrow that he did for DC back in 2000, and this is what led me to give Batman: Cacophony a chance. Ultimately, Smith's writing doesn't lend itself as readily to the world of Batman as it did to the Green Arrow. The exposition is pretty weak, and his reintroduction of his Onomatopoeia character seems extremely forced. Onomatopoeia was kind of a one-note gag to begin with, kind of cool, but probably should have just stayed in the pages of Green Arrow. That being said, I do really like Smith's writing for the Joker; he definitely goes by the Nolan rule of giving the character jokes only he could find funny. Batman doesn't make too many appearances, which is odd, but Smith is obviously comfortable within the universe of Bat-villians. Walt Flanagan's art does a good job of setting a gritty cartoon-ish mood, specifically with his portrayal of the Joker. He's a really talented artist, especially for a guy who hasn't published too many books. Hopefully this project will get him a few more jobs, I certainly wouldn't mind seeing more of his work. Overall, this first issue isn't as strong as it could have been in the writing department. Hopefully things improve over the next two issues, or all those Kevin Smith-haters may have a little more ammo.

Favorite Albums of 2007

Let me get you up to speed; yesterday we took a look at some albums that should have been on today's list, if not for a few missteps or the simple fact that they didn't make it out this year. It's always interesting to look back through the year's music and rediscover a few neglected tunes, or realize just how much you're (still) listening to releases from the past year. I'm always a little bit worried that I'm neglecting new music; I've done a much better job of keeping up with new releases this year, but I'm the still kind of guy who also likes to complete the back catalogs and find interesting old stuff to listen to. Anyways, here it is; my favorite albums of the year arranged alphabetically by title:

Armchair Apocrypha - Andrew Bird
This one has been criminally overlooked on all of the year-end lists I've looked through so far. Bird's latest not only tops his previous record, the critically lauded Mysterious Production of Eggs, but also substantially improves upon the unique style which powers his work. The addition of Dosh into Bird's inner circle of collaborators is one of the most perfect matches ever made, and the results are some of the best tracks on the record.

Boxer - The National
The subdued arrangements and flat vocals are an acquired taste, but once this one grows on you it's hard to stop listening. The National deliver a hauntingly beautiful record that strays from the all out rock of their previous release, instead concentrating on building an atmosphere and accentuating the subtleties.



Challengers - The New Pornographers
I initially panned this one for not living up to it predecessor, the high energy whirlwind of Twin Cinema. Since then, I've come to appreciate this as the Porno's maturing, so much so that the few bombast moments left in the wake sound forced in comparison. A.C. Newman and company have become an entirely different animal; this is the album where the New Pornographers stop sounding like a supergroup and start sounding like a band.

Drums and Guns - Low
Low's latest takes the band back to their slowcore roots, shying away from the more rock-oriented direction of their 2005 release The Great Destroyer. The songs are just as beautiful and sparse as ever, vocals in the foreground with instruments providing texture and context. Drums and Guns brings the slowcore genre comfortably into present day, with pertinent lyrics and the same old haunting sound.

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Spoon
By now, Spoon is a well oiled machine and any album they decide to put out is met with impossibly high expectations. The band's latest manages to deliver, providing a marked improvement over it predecessor. Britt Daniel upholds his title as reigning master of the pop-rock song, and even manages to inject a little bit of studio weirdness without seeming pretentious. Jim Eno also gets a shout out for immaculate production, and some of the most precise drumming around.

I'll Follow You - Oakley Hall
I discovered this group just in time for their inaugural Merge release, which was good timing on my part. I'll Follow You tones down some of the noisier elements of the group, likely to appeal to a wider audience, but keeps all the alt-country vibe intact. From the vocal harmonies to the Skynard-esque guitar solos, it all makes for one heck of a solid record.



In Rainbows - Radiohead
With only ten day's notice, the world's premiere reclusive rock band released their best album since OK Computer. In Rainbows doesn't fizzle out (Hail to the Thief) or get too weird for it's own good (Kid A), it just delivers in spades. The band has never sounded better, so much so that it might even be worth picking up the forthcoming physical release, if only for the miniscule jump in sound quality.

Liars - Liars
The art-rockers tone it down a notch and release their best record to date. There's still plenty of deft studio manipulation and a healthy dose of electronics, but it's all packaged into some of the most rocking songs the band has ever wrote. It's a dark, at times abrasive, record but it's one of the most continuously enjoyable listens of the year.



Mirrored - Battles
Before this year the term 'math-rock' would have been met by most (myself included) with blank stares and disinterest. Battles' first full-length puts the genre firmly on the map with an album that sounds as fun as it is nonsensical. Somewhere between kraut-rock and aimless noodeling, Mirrored is one of the more unique records to hit my speakers this year.

Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
While not quite on par with their impeccable debut, the Canadian rockers' second release is far from a sophomore slump. Neon Bible is a bigger, bolder statement from a group that has the talent to make such melodrama work in their favor. The instrumentation, from booming pipe organs to swelling strings, is just as lush as it needs to be. I'm still listening to it well after its early 2007 release, so just like its predecessor; it has some staying power.

Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
Not the weird record that everyone expected for Nels Cline's first trip into the studio with the band, but certainly not a disappointment by any means. The album oozes with the ambience of laid back classic rock, while the spiraling solos on tracks like "Impossible Germany" and "Side With the Seeds" plant it firmly in the present. It's the next unexpected evolution from a band that seems comfortable in any number of genres.

The Good, The Bad & The Queen - The Good, The Bad & The Queen
I think many people wrote this album off as just another one of Damon Albarn's side projects, which doesn't make much sense because Albarn has an amazing track-record within the side-project arena. Couple that with the fact that this is more of a British supergroup than anything, and you're in for a very interesting record. Albarn and company churn out what can only be described as apocalyptic brit-pop. It's dark and seething at times, but all catchy as hell.