Young Liars #1 — Creator: David Lapham
The first Lapham solo effort since Stray Bullets, I think, and it’s got one of his patented rowdy young female characters, plus an actual logical explanation for her behavior (with a built-in tragedy, although given the circumstances she doesn’t mind). The cast is built of stock character types (the big-hearted transvestite, the anorexic waitress, the fairly-normal, good-guy narrator as an anchor for the readers, etc.), and it’s all going to be familiar for Lapham fans, but that’s not a bad thing; it’s nice to have him back doing his own stuff instead of corporate long-underwear characters, and I’m already looking forward to the next issue.
Echo #1 — Creator: Terry Moore
Another creator that it’s good to have back. Much more sf-y than Strangers, and it’s just the beginning, but as with Young Liars it’s just a pleasure to have such a great creator back in harness again, and to get in on the ground floor of something new.
Justice League: The New Frontier Special #1 — Writer: Darwyn Cooke; Art: Darwyn Cooke (1st story); David Bullock (2nd story); J. Bone (3rd story)
All-new stories, with the main one being a sort-of sequel to New Frontier, starring the Big Three, and is dependably great. The second story features Robin and Kid Flash at a dragstrip (hey, it’s the late ’50s), and the final one features Black Canary and Wonder Woman at a Playboy Club (with a very sly last panel). Worth every penny of the $5 cover price.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #12 — Script: Drew Goddard; Pencils: Georges Jeanty; Inks: Andy Owens
Getting a lot of publicity for the Buffy-in-bed-with-a-girl opening; what’s really good, though, is the very human dialogue, followed by the Marx Brothers/Night At The Opera scene that follows from it. Goddard was one of the regular show writers, so everyone sounds on-character, and it’s all suitably suspenseful and fun.
Powers #28 — Writer: Brian Michael bendis; Art: Mike Avon Oeming
It’s almost impossible to remember the previous issues in this storyline (this is the second issue in… what, six months?), but it’s just barely self-contained enough to make sense, and the trade will probably read great, and the letters page is still the funniest in the business, and I’m still emotionally invested in these characters, but please, God, let this arc end before the decade does….
The Boys #16 — Writer: Garth Ennis; Art: Darick Robertson
You don’t think of The Boys as being sentimental — it’s hard to remember that Ennis, who can be so cynical, was also responsible for scenes like the riding-off-into-the-sunset ending of Preacher, and that underneath all the grossout humor and anger at abuse of power there’s a romantic lurking. The Hughie-Annie thing doesn’t bode well to have a happy ending, unfortunately, but his last-page lament has been echoed by “good guys” everywhere, and the Frenchman/Female scenes are surprisingly affecting.
Logan #1 (of 3) — Writer: Brian K. Vaughan; Art: Edward Risso
Some of Risso’s visual tics can be annoying — the way he exaggerates the faces of his tough-guy characters, and the eyes-in-the-silhouetted-face bit — but his Japanese landscapes can be stunning, and so can his women — and Vaughan gives him ample opportunity to draw both here. Three issues sounds just about right, too (it’s a relief not to have to invest in six, or even eight issues), and the last-page reveal provides a suitable come-back-for-more jolt to readers.
Comic Book Comics #1 — Writer: Fred Van Lente; Art: Ryan Dunleavy
Beginning a comic-book history of comics, starting with William Randolth Hearst in 1896 and ending with Jacob Kurtzberg’s decision to change his last name, in 1940. Baasic-but-amusing art, and great research and writing; if you don’t know much about the history of this medium, here’s a good Cartoon Historyish place to start.
Phil Mateer
