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Saturday, November 9th, 2024  

Second Thoughts

Top Shelf

Written and drawn by Niklas Asker

Aug 14, 2009 Comic Books Web Exclusive

In his first graphic novel—the result of his university thesis—Niklas Asker has created a colorless but emotionally vivid world existing somewhere between the real world and the authorial machinations of one Jess (no last name).

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Aug 13, 2009 Comic Books Web Exclusive

In part one of Search For a Hero, scribe Fabian Nicieza described the pre-Batman R.I.P. Tim Drake best when he fed him an off-handed Brady Brunch joke while fighting Jason Todd. The fallen hero may be the insecure Jan Brady to Drake’s precocious Cindy but the shattering events of Batman’s “death” have left the best detective Batman’s raised in a perpetual state of bewilderment.

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The Saga of Solomon Kane

Dark Horse

Written by Robert E. Howard, Roy Thomas and Don Glut; Art by David Wenzel, Howard Chaykin, Steve Carr and others

Aug 10, 2009 Comic Books Web Exclusive

The Saga of Solomon Kane follows in the footsteps of the omnibus series, The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane. Within the black-and-white volume are over twenty fantastical, surprisingly violent adaptations of Robert E. Howard’s original pulp stories from various Savage Sword of Conan and Conan Saga issues, Kull and the Barbarians #2 and #3, Marvel Preview #19, Monsters Unleashed and Dracula Lives.

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Aug 07, 2009 Comic Books DC Comics

Peter Milligan pulls no punches in his latest series from Vertigo, Greek Street. The concept: classic stories based on Greek myths, reinterpreted and intertwining in modern-day London. DC/Vertigo’s decision to charge a mere dollar for the first issue essentially means “no harm, no foul” for anybody looking to take a chance on it. But Milligan’s proven throughout his career that his stories aren’t for everyone, and they must each be taken individually. Human Target, X-Statix, The Extremist, and Shade, for instance, all push completely different buttons and enjoy varying levels of success.

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Superman & Batman vs. Vampires & Werewolves

DC

Written by Kevin Van Hook, Art by Tom Mandrake

Aug 03, 2009 Comic Books Web Exclusive

Really? It seems impossible that in more than seven decades of fighting crime, Superman and Batman haven’t fought vampires and werewolves. Nobody’s written this story yet? Surely this has already been done by now, right?

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Madame Xanadu Vol. 1: Disenchanted

DC/Veritgo

Written by Matt Wagner; Art by Amy Reeder Hadley and Richard Friend; Cover by Amy Reeder Hadley

Jul 27, 2009 Comic Books Web Exclusive

Madame Xanadu Vol. 1: Disenchanted collects the inaugural ten-issue run of Vertigo’s latest monthly series. Writer Matt Wagner (TRINITY, Grendel, Mage), artist Richard Friend (#3-10) and the meteoric Fool’s Gold creator/illustrator Amy Reeder Hadley (#1-2) helm the mesmeric and captivating trade.

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House of Mystery Vol. 2: Love Stories for Dead People

DC/Vertigo

Written by Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham. Art by Luca Rossi and José Marzan Jr., and David Peterson. Cover by Esao Andrews.

Jul 10, 2009 Comic Books Web Exclusive

Vertigo/DC‘s House of Mystery is the new ongoing series that reinvents the classic “Suggested For Matured Readers” franchise. This second volume, subtitled Love Stories For Dead People, collects issues #6-10. The romance-themed sequel to Room & Boredom has the same premise: a group of five strangers are trapped within a supernatural tavern where strange patrons pass the time regaling each other in outlandish yarns. The stories told across the bar stools this time pale in comparison to the five previous installments. The overarching plot, revolving around the secrets buried underneath a clandestine basement, fares much better.

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Far Arden

Top Shelf

Written and drawn by Kevin Cannon

Jul 07, 2009 Comic Books Web Exclusive

Kevin Cannon’s Far Arden is an unassuming series of masterstrokesan adventurous yarn that came into fruition from a bet between friends. Steven Stwalley, founder of the International Cartoonist Conspiracy and fellow local cartoonist, challenged Cannon to create one 24-hour comic every month for an entire year. You heard right. That’s a 24-page comic, created during the span of 24 hours.

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Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories

DC

Written by Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and Glen Murakami, Art and cover by Bruce Timm, Various

Jun 18, 2009 Comic Books Web Exclusive

Devotees of Batman: The Animated Series will no doubt recognize writer Paul Dini and artist Bruce Timm’s seminal Batman one-shot, Batman: Mad Love. Mad Love and Other Stories’ centerpiece recounts Harley Quinn’s dark origin. This tale of obsessed love was later adapted into an episode of the series and finds Quinn at her emotional nadir; trying to impress her “Puddin’” (The Joker) by offing ol’ Bats. Once a psychologist for Mr. J, her insanity reveals some surprisingly adult-oriented sexuality.

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