Walt Disney’s Donald Duck: The Barks/Rosa Collection Volume 3 — Writers/Artists: Carl Barks and Don Rosa
One of those expensive ($8.99) squarebound Gemstone books, but you get the classic Barks Duck story “The Golden Helmet,” plus the Don Rosa followup “The Lost Charts of Columbus,” plus editorial material by Rosa, plus a look at the layouts for an earlier, “alternate” second half of the Rosa story. Great stuff: humor, adventure and wonderful art, all with quality reproduction and coloring, and a perfect entry-level comics gift for any kids (or discerning readers of any age).
The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror #14 — Creators: Steve Niles/Glen Fabrey; Ian Boothby/Nina Matsumoto/Andrew Pepoy; Gilbert Hernandez
The Niles/Fabrey offering, involving the Simpson family and half the town turning into zombie vampires, is a good intro; the second story’s a black-and-white manga that goes kind of creepily off-model, and the final one is 15 pages of Gilbert Hernandez, involving two giant mutant Homers. Absolutely, completely worth it.
Hellboy: The Crooked Man #3 (of 3) — Writer: Mike Mignola; Art: Richard Corben
In most weeks (that is, ones without a Barks/Rosa collection, or a Hernandez Brother drawing The Simpsons), this would be my number one pick — it delivers a spooky, satisfying conclusion to Mignola and Corben’s late-’50s tale of a younger Hellboy investigating Satanic doings in the backwoods Appalachians. It should make a killer graphic novel; it’s too bad they didn’t have this to sell to fans of the movie this summer, but Hallowe’en’s the perfect time of year to be reading it.
Fables #76 — Writer: Bill Willingham; Art: Michael Allred
Getting its own paragraph this week (instead of being on the “It’s still good and I’m still buying it” list) for two reasons: one is the Allred art, which is always a welcome backup when the Buckingham/Leialoha team isn’t available, and is particularly notable here for the way the real-little-boy Pinocchio is rendered, simultaneously eerie and cute. The other is the way Willingham has bucked tradition with his narrative — most creators would have strung the War with the Adversary out for dozens of issues, but he’s wise enough to know that the aftermath can be as interesting as the war itself, and so he’s already into the post-victory maneuverings. Fascinating storytelling, as always, particularly all the Gepetto in Fabletown bits.
Powers #30 — Writer: Brian Michael Bendis; Art: Mike Avon Oeming
This was Bendis before he was BENDIS, when he and Oeming were just zoned in on their police procedural/superhero horse and riding it as far as they could. Here, finally, the current years-long story finishes, and while it puts all the characters in the right places at the end, and feels like a conclusion, I’ll have to find the time to read it all together before I can say for sure that it was all worth it.
Runaways #2 — Writer: Terry Moore; Penciler: Humberto Ramos; Inker: Dave Meikis
Really nice art. The story, as you’d expect from the credits, is very well constructed, and makes use of all of the characters effectively. Combine that with the pencils, Ramos looking more playful and cartoonishly impressive than he has in years, and this book continues to find creative teams that make it irresistible.
Back to Brooklyn #1 (of 5) — Story: Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti; Script: Garth Ennis; Art: Mihailo Vukelic
It’s interesting that Palmiotti’s acting like a Silver Age editor here, coming up with the concept for a series, enlisting Garth Ennis as scripter and co-storyteller, getting an artist, and then writing the editorial hyping it, and taking credit for the package. It’s OK for all that — a straight-ahead real-world mob story, with everybody acting all Sopranos-like. There does seem to be a lot of Ennis influence — the unstoppable, unseen antagonist out of, say, Pride and Joy, especially — although I wonder who’s responsible for the Old Girlfriend Who Conveniently Turns Up Right Away. Worth a shot, although who knows how it’ll end up….
Stuff I read and liked enough to buy, but don’t have much to say about, so read previous reviews in the archives if you’re interested:
Ultimate Spider-Man #126 — Writer: Brian Michael Bendis; Penciler: Stuart Immonen; Inker: Wade von Grawbadger
Captain America #42 — Writer: Ed Brubaker; Pencilers: Steve Epting with Luke Ross; Inkers: Rick Magyar, Steve Epting and Fabio Laguna
Amazing Spider-Man #572 — Writer: Dan Slott; Pencils: John Romita Jr.; Inks: Klaus Janson
Legion of Super-Heroes #46 — Writer: Jim Shooter; Penciller: Francis Manapul; Inkers: Livesay with McKenna
Ambush Bug: Year None #3 (of 6) — Writers: Keith Giffen and Robert Loren Fleming; Penciller: Keith Giffen; Inker: Al Milgrom
Usagi Yojimbo #114 — Creator: Stan Sakai
All-Star Batman and Robin #10 — Writer: Frank Miller; Penciller: Jim Lee; Inker: Scott Williams
Echo #6 — Creator: Terry Moore
Daredevil #111 — Writer: Ed Brubaker; Penciler: Clay Mann; Inker: Stefano Gaudiano
Phil Mateer
