Everlost_MI
10-31-2005, 12:55 PM
Welcome to week thirty-five of Evil Avatar’s Weekly Comic Book Reviews.
I’ve been out of town on a business trip so this week’s reviews are of some recent trade paperbacks (TPBs) that I’ve acquired. Some of the TPBs have been recently released while others have been out for sometime. Next week the column will return to it’s normal form with the Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway courtesy of BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/).
If you’re tired of missing out on your regular or new comics then you’re in need of a reliable comic book subscription provider. Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway provider, BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/) offers comic book subscriptions (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) with many fringe benefits including no hidden costs, 20% off of cover price, all issues are bagged and boarded PLUS free* shipping for orders over $14.99 and cheap* shipping for orders under $14.99 (*see BCBcomics’ website (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) for the details).
Remember, these are NOT spoiler-free reviews.
The TPBs that have been reviewed are Thor Visionaries: Walter Simonson Volume 1, B.P.R.D.: The Dead and Formally Known As The Justice League.
Week Thirty-five:
Thor Visionaries: Walter Simonson Volume 1
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Story/Pencils/Inks: Walter Simonson
Colors: George Roussos & Christie Scheele
Letters: John Workman, Jr.
Editors: Mark Gruenwald & Mike Carlin
Price: $24.95 US/$37.95 CAN
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/Thor_TPB.jpg
This TPB has been out for almost five years and I can recall reading the initial issues when they came out in 1983. Especially being ten years old when I first laid eyes on the cover with Beta Ray Bill as Thor I knew it was going to be fun. Nosteglia aside, this series that is twenty-two years old still stands up well against today’s comics, especially what had passed for recent stories in the now cancelled Thor. Walter Simonson breathed life into the Norse and Marvel mythology of Thor and created a new character, Beta Ray Bill, whose full story can be read in this and two other subsequent paperbacks or at this page ( http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/b/betaraythor.htm) at the Marvel Directory ( http://www.marveldirectory.com/) website. You can feel the love the Simonson had for Thor and his mythology in the amount of breakneck energy, drama and action he poured into every page. The artwork does look dated compared with today’s popular artists like Greg Land or Bryan Hitch but it doesn’t detract from the story once you’re a few pages into it.
Bottom Line:
If you enjoyed Thor or Norse mythology, this and the other two Thor Visionaries featuring Walter Simonson are some of the best that you can read. They are worth your time and money. I was able to find this TPB for half of cover price on Ebay with little trouble.
Rating: 4 out of 5 EvilEyes
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/icons/e4.jpg
B.P.R.D. The Dead
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Story: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Art: Guy Davis
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
Editor: Scott Allie
Price: $17.95 US
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/BPRD_TPB.jpg
This recently released B.R.P.D. TPB is the fourth that has been released to date and it delves deeper into Abe Sapien’s former life. Meanwhile, the B.P.R.D gain a new leader and headquarters as they discover a hidden secret involving the U.S. and Nazi scientists. The B.P.R.D. stands for The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, which is the organization that Hellboy was part of until he quit a few issues ago. The B.P.R.D. team consists of Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman, Roger, Johann Kraus and Dr. Kate Corrigan and their new team leader, Captain Ben Daimo or as Liz called him, Captain Zombie.
Mike Mignola and John Arcudi weave interesting supernatural stories laced with unforgettable characters and dialogue. The visuals provided by Guy Davis, who was the artist on DC’s Sandman Mystery Theater, adds the level of creepiness needed for these stories and is an acceptable counterpart to Mignola’s style that created Hellboy and B.P.R.D.
Bottom Line:
If you haven’t been reading the Hellboy or B.P.R.D. series then go back and get the first Hellboy TPB, Seed of Destuction otherwise you will be lost. If you have been following this series, it’s only getting better.
Rating: 4 out of 5 EvilEyes
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/icons/e4.jpg
Formerly Known As The Justice League
Publisher: DC Comics
Writers: Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis
Penciller: Kevin Maguire
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Colorist: Lee Lougridge
Letterer: Bob lappan
Editors: Dan Raspler & Mike Carlin
Price: $12.95 US/$19.95 CAN
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/JLA_TPB.jpg
This TPB was released last year and it provides a constant stream of superhero humor from the B-list of DC heroes; Blue Beetle, Mary Marvel and Booster Gold to name just a few. Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis who’ve written this super group before under the incarnation of Justice League International are clearly enjoying themselves as they put the superheroes through various humorous and satirical events. The snappy and hilarious dialogue and characterizations are top notch, a recent example can be seen in Giffen and DeMatteis’ work on the Defenders for Marvel. The stories would not work as well if it wasn’t for Kevin Magurie’s depiction of the characters, the creation of action sequenes and panel layouts. The physical comedy Maguire uses especially in the facial reactions are humorous but he keeps it in check, as they never go overboard into silliness.
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a light hearted fun superhero book to read then take a look at this TPB and the upcoming TPB, I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League created by the same team. To get the maximum effect out of this TPB it helps to at least have a cursory knowledge of the DC Universe.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 EvilEyes
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/icons/e4_5.jpg
If you’re tired of missing out on your regular or new comics then you’re in need of a reliable comic book subscription provider. Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway provider, BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/) offers comic book subscriptions (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) with many fringe benefits including no hidden costs, 20% off of cover price, all issues are bagged and boarded PLUS free* shipping for orders over $14.99 and cheap* shipping for orders under $14.99 (*see BCBcomics’ website (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) for the details).
I’ve been out of town on a business trip so this week’s reviews are of some recent trade paperbacks (TPBs) that I’ve acquired. Some of the TPBs have been recently released while others have been out for sometime. Next week the column will return to it’s normal form with the Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway courtesy of BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/).
If you’re tired of missing out on your regular or new comics then you’re in need of a reliable comic book subscription provider. Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway provider, BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/) offers comic book subscriptions (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) with many fringe benefits including no hidden costs, 20% off of cover price, all issues are bagged and boarded PLUS free* shipping for orders over $14.99 and cheap* shipping for orders under $14.99 (*see BCBcomics’ website (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) for the details).
Remember, these are NOT spoiler-free reviews.
The TPBs that have been reviewed are Thor Visionaries: Walter Simonson Volume 1, B.P.R.D.: The Dead and Formally Known As The Justice League.
Week Thirty-five:
Thor Visionaries: Walter Simonson Volume 1
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Story/Pencils/Inks: Walter Simonson
Colors: George Roussos & Christie Scheele
Letters: John Workman, Jr.
Editors: Mark Gruenwald & Mike Carlin
Price: $24.95 US/$37.95 CAN
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/Thor_TPB.jpg
This TPB has been out for almost five years and I can recall reading the initial issues when they came out in 1983. Especially being ten years old when I first laid eyes on the cover with Beta Ray Bill as Thor I knew it was going to be fun. Nosteglia aside, this series that is twenty-two years old still stands up well against today’s comics, especially what had passed for recent stories in the now cancelled Thor. Walter Simonson breathed life into the Norse and Marvel mythology of Thor and created a new character, Beta Ray Bill, whose full story can be read in this and two other subsequent paperbacks or at this page ( http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/b/betaraythor.htm) at the Marvel Directory ( http://www.marveldirectory.com/) website. You can feel the love the Simonson had for Thor and his mythology in the amount of breakneck energy, drama and action he poured into every page. The artwork does look dated compared with today’s popular artists like Greg Land or Bryan Hitch but it doesn’t detract from the story once you’re a few pages into it.
Bottom Line:
If you enjoyed Thor or Norse mythology, this and the other two Thor Visionaries featuring Walter Simonson are some of the best that you can read. They are worth your time and money. I was able to find this TPB for half of cover price on Ebay with little trouble.
Rating: 4 out of 5 EvilEyes
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/icons/e4.jpg
B.P.R.D. The Dead
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Story: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Art: Guy Davis
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
Editor: Scott Allie
Price: $17.95 US
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/BPRD_TPB.jpg
This recently released B.R.P.D. TPB is the fourth that has been released to date and it delves deeper into Abe Sapien’s former life. Meanwhile, the B.P.R.D gain a new leader and headquarters as they discover a hidden secret involving the U.S. and Nazi scientists. The B.P.R.D. stands for The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, which is the organization that Hellboy was part of until he quit a few issues ago. The B.P.R.D. team consists of Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman, Roger, Johann Kraus and Dr. Kate Corrigan and their new team leader, Captain Ben Daimo or as Liz called him, Captain Zombie.
Mike Mignola and John Arcudi weave interesting supernatural stories laced with unforgettable characters and dialogue. The visuals provided by Guy Davis, who was the artist on DC’s Sandman Mystery Theater, adds the level of creepiness needed for these stories and is an acceptable counterpart to Mignola’s style that created Hellboy and B.P.R.D.
Bottom Line:
If you haven’t been reading the Hellboy or B.P.R.D. series then go back and get the first Hellboy TPB, Seed of Destuction otherwise you will be lost. If you have been following this series, it’s only getting better.
Rating: 4 out of 5 EvilEyes
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/icons/e4.jpg
Formerly Known As The Justice League
Publisher: DC Comics
Writers: Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis
Penciller: Kevin Maguire
Inker: Joe Rubinstein
Colorist: Lee Lougridge
Letterer: Bob lappan
Editors: Dan Raspler & Mike Carlin
Price: $12.95 US/$19.95 CAN
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/JLA_TPB.jpg
This TPB was released last year and it provides a constant stream of superhero humor from the B-list of DC heroes; Blue Beetle, Mary Marvel and Booster Gold to name just a few. Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis who’ve written this super group before under the incarnation of Justice League International are clearly enjoying themselves as they put the superheroes through various humorous and satirical events. The snappy and hilarious dialogue and characterizations are top notch, a recent example can be seen in Giffen and DeMatteis’ work on the Defenders for Marvel. The stories would not work as well if it wasn’t for Kevin Magurie’s depiction of the characters, the creation of action sequenes and panel layouts. The physical comedy Maguire uses especially in the facial reactions are humorous but he keeps it in check, as they never go overboard into silliness.
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a light hearted fun superhero book to read then take a look at this TPB and the upcoming TPB, I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League created by the same team. To get the maximum effect out of this TPB it helps to at least have a cursory knowledge of the DC Universe.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 EvilEyes
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/icons/e4_5.jpg
If you’re tired of missing out on your regular or new comics then you’re in need of a reliable comic book subscription provider. Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway provider, BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/) offers comic book subscriptions (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) with many fringe benefits including no hidden costs, 20% off of cover price, all issues are bagged and boarded PLUS free* shipping for orders over $14.99 and cheap* shipping for orders under $14.99 (*see BCBcomics’ website (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) for the details).