There’s no underlying theme this week, unless “really enjoyable comics” counts. Heck, it works for me! (Comments may contain spoilers.)
I’m over my little fit of pique with DC’s “nothing stands alone” marketing ploys and am back to being utterly taken with Adam Strange (DC), which hit its sixth issue this week. Writer Andy Diggle writes some of the best cliffhangers in the business, and the whole exercise has the compulsive excitement of a movie serial. Better still, each individual chapter is satisfying on its own terms, packed with action and story, but specific to the who’s-who cast of DC’s outer space characters. Diggle is taking tremendous advantage of the possibilities of a monthly publication schedule, and the wait to find out what happens next is a big part of the fun. Artist Pascal Ferry’s visuals are kinetic, varied, and gorgeous, as usual.
I wasn’t crazy about the first chapter of the current “Jack Be Nimble” arc in Fables (Vertigo), continued in this week’s #35. In the conclusion, writer Bill Willingham gives the events more weight and interest by focusing more closely on Jack’s motivations. He also gives the caper some unexpectedly ominous consequences, which is nice. “Jack Be Nimble” will probably never rank very highly on my list of favorite Fables stories, but I enjoyed it more than I initially thought I would. And, heck, it only took two issues, which is a nice change from the current mania for done-in-six.
The little details of police culture and character work help Gotham Central 29 (DC) overcome the kind of story I might not otherwise enjoy in this title. (It’s got a heavy focus on super-shenanigans, and I prefer more of a street-level approach.) Writer Greg Rucka follows up on the fallout from his “Half a Life” arc, and he draws some nice divisions between beat cops and detectives while reinforcing what ultimately links them. He also does a solid job of introducing some of the supporting cast of The Flash without taking readers too far out of Gotham Central’s noir-steeped world. The ending all but genuflects in the direction of Silence of the Lambs, but we’ll see how it turns out. It’s probably not the kind of compliment artists dream of receiving, but Stefano Gaudiano does a tremendous job of capturing the visual style that Michael Lark gave this book.
Seven Soldiers: Shining Knight 1 (Vertigo) takes a familiar premise (hero from the past is flung into a baffling future) but does it with such style and energy that it doesn’t really matter. Writer Grant Morrison packs the comic with action and character, and he does it in a way that’s imaginatively specific to protagonist Sir Justin and his crumbling Camelot world. Beyond being enjoyable in its own right, it bodes well for the other six diverse heroes who will get the Seven Soldiers treatment. Artist Simone Bianchi’s art is beautiful, creating a wonderfully unique take on sword and sorcery adventure. Extra points to the fine work from colorist Nathan Eyring, who employs a rich, vivid palette.
I actually liked the huge tonal shift in Street Angel 4 (Slave Labor Graphics), and I think the willingness to mix things up is one of the book’s greatest strengths. The fifth issue is back in familiar territory while taking a more focused approach to narrative than I’m used to. The sequences detailing Afrodisiac’s heroic history are creative, but the cleverness of visual choices and sly in-jokes don’t detract from their usefulness (and ultimate sincerity) as an introduction. This is apparently going to be the last issue of Street Angel for a while, and I’ll certainly miss it. Creators Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca have done splendid work with this title.
I’m still not quite prepared to talk about Vimanarama (Vertigo) at any length, preferring to wait until the whole series is out. I will say that I’m enjoying it a lot. Writer Grant Morrison has put a sweet, quirky romance in the middle of his usual mind-bending insanity, and I’m hooked. Also, if anyone can recommend other work by artist Philip Bond, please do so immediately. I. Want. More.