07-Ghost: Fellowship of the Curse Tickets

I read 07-Ghost 05

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

Review: THE STRAIN: The Fall #1

THE STRAIN: THE FALL #1
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
SCRIPT: David Lapham
ART: Mike Huddleston
COLORS: Dan Jackson
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: E.M. Gist
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2013)

Part 1

Guillermo del Toro has directed such movies as Blade 2, the Hellboy movies, the Oscar-nominated Pan’s Labyrinth, and the new release, Pacific Rim.  Chuck Hogan wrote a novel entitled Prince of Thieves, which Ben Affleck took and adapted into the Oscar-nominated film, The Town (2010).

In 2011, Dark Horse Comics began an 11-issue comic book adaptation of Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s 2009 vampire novel, The Strain, the first book in The Strain Trilogy.  Now, the second book in the trilogy, The Fall (2010), is also getting the comic book treatment.

The Strain: The Fall is produced by the same team behind The Strain comic book series.  David Lapham is writing the comic book adaptation.  Mike Huddleston is the artist with colors by Dan Jackson and letters by Clem Robins.

The Strain’s central character is Dr. Ephraim “Eph” Goodweather, head the CDC’s Canary Project.  Eph began tracking a mystery illness at J.F.K. International Airport in New York City, after a Boeing 777 landed with everyone aboard dead, except for three individuals.  That was the beginning of a plague of vampires.

In The Strain: The Fall #1, the war against The Master, the dark lord behind this vampire invasion continues.  Eph, Nora Martinez (his second-in-command), Professor Abraham Setrakian (an aging Holocaust survivor familiar with The Master), and Vasiliy Fet (the rat exterminator) prepare to make their next move.

The Professor tells Vasiliy the centuries-spanning tale of the Occido Lumen, the book that might have the answers to stopping the Master.  Meanwhile, Eph’s ex-wife, Kelly, now a vampire, stalks her “dear one,” their son, Zack.  Eldritch Palmer, the CEO who helped the Master, makes his strongest demand yet for his reward.

Not that it is a bad thing, but The Strain: The Fall simply continues the earlier series.  In fact, The Strain: The Fall #1 could well be The Strain #12.  But that is a good thing.  The Strain is one of the best comic books of the last two years and is also a superb horror comic book.

David Lapham and Mike Huddleston are maintaining the high-quality that has become a hallmark of this comic book adaptation of The Strain Trilogy.  I will say that this first chapter seems like too small a slice of a larger story, as if issue #1 was holding off before beginning the real drama of this new series.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Review: The Strain #1

STRAIN #1
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
SCRIPT: David Lapham
ART: Mike Huddleston
COLORS: Dan Jackson
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Mike Huddleston
VARIANT COVER: Steve Morris
32pp, Color, $1.00 U.S. (December 2011)

Guillermo del Toro is a filmmaker known for directing such movies as Blade 2, the Hellboy movies, and the Oscar-nominated Pan’s Labyrinth.  Chuck Hogan is an American novelist, and he wrote Prince of Thieves, the novel that Ben Affleck adapted into the Oscar-nominated film, The Town (2010).

Together, del Toro and Hogan produced The Strain, a 2009 vampire novel, the first installment of The Strain trilogy.  I’m assuming that Hogan did the actual prose writing for The Strain, but del Toro’s hand in this concept is clear.

Beginning in 2011, Dark Horse Comics began publishing an 11-issue comic book adaptation of the book, also entitled The Strain.  David Lapham wrote the script adapting the novel, and Mike Huddleston drew the series, with colors by Dan Jackson.

The Strain #1 begins in Romania, 1927.  A grandmother tells her young grandson a frightening fairy tale over dinner.  It is the story of Josef Sardu, a 19th century Polish nobleman, afflicted by gigantism, and a disastrous hunt of which he was part.

The story jumps to the present day and finds Dr. Ephraim “Eph” Goodweather of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) trying to spend some quality time with his son, Zach.  Work, however, intrudes.  Dr. Goodweather is the head of the Canary Project, a rapid-response team that investigates biological threats.

Apparently, there is a big threat brewing at J.F.K. (John F. Kennedy International Airport) in New York City.  That’s where a Boeing 777 went dead silent with window shades pulled down and all lights out.  With his second-in-command, Nora Martinez, at his side, Goodweather makes a bizarre discovery.  Meanwhile, a Nazi concentration camp survivor recognizes something bad.

I hope that Dark Horse Comics’ decision to offer this first issue at a $1 cover price paid off for the publisher in sales.  The Strain #1 is good.  It reminds me of a Mike Mignola comic book or at least one created under his supervision.  That would make sense with the del Toro-Mignola connection on the Hellboy movies.

Lapham has fashioned a chilling tale in which the sense of dread grows with each new scene.  He drags you along into a riveting story that will take you to a bad place, but the kind that’s fun if you’re reading about it.  This is well-written enough that any veteran comic book artist with experience in horror comic books could be the series artist.  That is no swipe at artist Mike Huddleston, however.  He’s good here, and creates atmosphere without artistic bells and whistles.  If the series maintains a high level of quality, Huddleston might end up being called a master of horror for it.

Fans of horror comic books, particularly titles like Hellboy and BPRD, will like The Strain.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Case Closed: Mr. Masakage's Disciples

I read Case Closed, Vol. 47

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

I Reads You Review: UNCANNY X-MEN #5

UNCANNY X-MEN #5
MARVEL COMICS

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ARTIST/COVER: Frazer Irving
LETTERS: VC’s Joe Caramagna
VARIANT COVER: Ed McGuiness and Morry Hollowell
32pp, Colors, $3.99 U.S. (June 2013)

Rated T+

As part of the Marvel NOW initiative, Marvel Comics re-launched their longest running X-Men comic book series, Uncanny X-Men.  The new series is written by Brian Michael Bendis (who is also writing All-New X-Men).  The series artist is Chris Bachalo and various inkers, especially longtime Bachalo collaborator, Tim Townsend.  The roster of this incarnation of the Uncanny X-Men includes Cyclops, Magneto, Emma Frost the White Queen, and Magik, along with some recently recruited new mutants.

Uncanny X-Men #5 is the start of a new storyline and the arrival a new artist, Frazer Irving.  This fifth issue opens on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, in a meeting in which Cyclops’ “mutant revolution” activities are the hot topic.  Meanwhile, at the New Xavier School for the Gifted, Magik is the hot topic.  She’s called back to her abandoned kingdom, Limbo, by an unexpected guest/interloper.

I had not planned on writing about this fifth issue of Uncanny X-Men.  In fact, after reviewing the first issue, I didn’t plan on again reviewing the series for a long time (if ever).  Frazer Irving, however, proved to be a delightful surprise for me.  His art for this issue reminds me of David Lloyd’s art for V for Vendetta (written by Alan Moore).  His pop art graphic style, with its velvet texture and photographic effects-like color, is perfect for this story of Magik’s misadventure in Limbo.

This is the kind of art that draws your attention.  In my review of Uncanny X-Men #1, I ended the review with, “Thank God for Bendis.”  Now, I am also thankful for Frazer Irving.  He made reading this particular comic book a joy for me.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

2013 Harvey Awards Nominations Announced

2013 Harvey Awards Nominees Announced!

Visit www.harveyawards.org for Ballots & Submission Details!

BALTIMORE, MD (July 15, 2013) -- The 2013 Harvey Awards Nominees have been announced with the release of the final ballot, presented by the Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con. Named in honor of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one of the industry's most innovative talents, the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art. They will be presented September 7, 2013 in Baltimore, MD, in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con.

Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators - those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit, or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field. They are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. Thank you to all that have already participated by submitting a nomination ballot.

Final ballots are due to the Harvey Awards by Monday, August 19, 2013. Full submission instructions can be found on the final ballot.  Voting is open to anyone professionally involved in a creative capacity within the comics field.  Final ballots are available at www.harveyawards.org. Those who prefer paper ballots may e-mail harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com.

This will be the eighth year for the Harvey Awards in Baltimore, MD.  Look for more details soon as to how you can attend the Harvey Awards dinner.

This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 7-8, 2013.  The ceremony and banquet for the 2013 Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, September 7th.

The 2013 Harvey Award Nominees:

BEST LETTERER
____   Joe Caramagna, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics
____   Chris Eliopoulos, COW BOY: A BOY AND HIS HORSE, Archaia
____   Todd Klein, FABLES, DC Comics
____   Jack Morelli, ARCHIE, Archie Comics
____   Chris Ware, BUILDING STORIES, Pantheon

BEST COLORIST
____   Laura Allred, FF , Marvel Comics
____   Matt Hollingsworth, HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   Tito Pena, ARCHIE, Archie Comics
____   Ed Ryzowski, GUTTERS, the-gutters.com
____   Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP or PANEL
____   CUL DE SAC, Richard Thompson, Universal Press Syndicate
____   DICK TRACY, Joe Staton and Mike Curtis, Tribune Media Services
____   GET FUZZY, Darby Conley, United Feature Syndicate
____   MUTTS, Patrick McDonnell, King Features
____   PEARLS BEFORE SWINE, Stephen Pastis, United Feature Syndicate

BEST ONLINE COMICS WORK
____   BANDETTE, Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover, http://www.monkeybraincomics.com/titles/bandette/
____   BATTLEPUG, Mike Norton, http://www.battlepug.com
____   THE DREAMER, Lora Innes, http://www.thedreamercomic.com
____   NIMONA, Noelle Stevenson, http://gingerhaze.com/nimona
____   SHELDON, Dave Kellett, http://sheldoncomics.com

BEST AMERICAN EDITION of FOREIGN MATERIAL
____   ABELARD, NBM
____   BLACKSAD: A SILENT HELL, Dark Horse
____   NEW YORK MON AMOUR, Fantagraphics Books
____   SHARAZ-DE: TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, Archaia
____   NAOKI URASAWA'S 20TH CENTURY BOYS, VOL. 22, VIZ Media

BEST INKER
____   Steve Ellis, ONLY LIVING BOY, Bottled Lightning
____   Jonathan Glapion, BATMAN, DC Comics
____   Klaus Janson, CAPTAIN AMERICA, Marvel Comics
____   Mark Morales, AVENGERS VS. X-MEN, Marvel Comics
____   Bob Smith, LIFE WITH ARCHIE, Archie Comics

BEST NEW SERIES
____   ADVENTURE TIME, KaBOOM! Studios
____   HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   NEW CRUSADERS: RISE OF THE HEROES, Red Circle Comics
____   REVIVAL, Image Comics
____   SAGA, Image Comics

MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT
____   Jerry Gaylord, FANBOYS VS. ZOMBIES, BOOM! Studios
____   Dennis Hopeless, AVENGERS ARENA, Marvel Comics
____   Ryan Jampole, MEGA MAN, Archie Comics
____   Mark Mariano, Happyloo, MyPalMark.com
____   David Nytra, THE SECRET OF THE STONE FROG, Toon Books

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS
____   Chad Lambert, THE POSSUM AT LARGE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CRAPTACULAR, Old School Comics
____   Ryan North, ADVENTURE TIME, KaBOOM! Studios
____   Dan Parent, KEVIN KELLER, Archie Comics
____   Chris Sparks, TEAM CUL DE SAC: CARTOONISTS DRAW THE LINE AT PARKINSON'S, Andrews McMeel
____   Jim Zub, IMAGE COMICS, Skullkickers

BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC PUBLICATION  FOR YOUNGER READERS
____   ADVENTURE TIME, KaBOOM! Studios
____   AMELIA RULES: HER PERMANENT RECORD, Simon and Schuster
____   COW BOY: A BOY AND HIS HORSE, Archaia
____   DRAMA, Schoolastic
____   SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES, DC Comics
____   THE SHARK KING, Toon Books

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED
____   ALIEN: THE ILLUSTRATED STORY, Titan Books
____   ARCHIE: THE MARRIED LIFE, BOOK 2, Archie Comics
____   CURSED PIRATE GIRL COLLECTED EDITION: VOLUME ONE, Archaia
____   HEADS OR TAILS, Fantagraphics
____   KING CITY, Image

BEST ANTHOLOGY
____   DARK HORSE PRESENTS, various, Dark Horse
____   DISTRICT COMICS, Matt Dembicki, Fulcrum Publishing
____   ONCE UPON A TIME MACHINE, Andrew Carl, Dark Horse
____   TEAM CUL DE DE SAC: CARTOONISTS DRAW THE LINE AT PARKINSON'S, Chris Sparks, Andrews McMeel
____   WOMANTHOLOGY: SPACE, Mariah Huehner, IDW

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT
____   BEST OF ARCHIE COMICS, VOL. 2, Archie Comics
____   CAME THE DAWN AND OTHER STORIES, THE EC COMICS LIBRARY, Fantagraphics
____   CRIME DOES NOT PAY ARCHIVES, Dark Horse Comics
____   DAVID MAZZUCHELLI'S DAREDEVIL BORN AGAIN: ARTIST'S EDITION, IDW
____   POGO: BONA FIDE BALDERDASH VOL. 2, WALT KELLY'S POGO, Fantagraphics

BEST COVER ARTIST
____   David Aja, HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   Steve Ellis, ONLY LIVING BOY, Bottled Lightning
____   Jenny Frison, REVIVAL, Image Comics
____   Adam Hughes, FAIREST, Vertigo Comics
____   Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL, or JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION
____   ALTER EGO MAGAZINE, TwoMorrows Publishing
____   JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR, TwoMorrows Publishing
____   TEAM CUL DE DE SAC: CARTOONISTS DRAW THE LINE AT PARKINSON'S, Andrews McMeel
____   MARVEL COMICS: THE UNTOLD STORY, HarperCollins
____   ROBOT 6 WEBSITE, Comic Book Resources

SPECIAL AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION
____   BUILDING STORIES, Chris Ware, Pantheon Books
____   CURSED PIRATE GIRL COLLECTED EDITION: VOLUME ONE, Jeremy Bastian, Archaia
____   DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI'S DAREDEVIL BORN AGAIN: ARTIST'S EDITION, Scott Dunbier, IDW
____   TEAM CUL DE DE SAC: CARTOONISTS DRAW THE LINE AT PARKINSON'S, Chris Sparks, Andrews McMeel
____   THE ART OF BETTY AND VERONICA, Victor Gorelick and Craig Yoe, Archie Comics

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM ORIGINAL
____   BUILDING STORIES, Pantheon
____   THE CARTER FAMILY: DON'T FORGET THIS SONG, Abrams ComicArts
____   MY FRIEND DAHMER, Abrams ComicArts
____   RICHARD STARK'S PARKER: THE SCORE, IDW
____   THE UNDERWATER WELDER, Top Shelf

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES
____   BATMAN, DC Comics
____   DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics
____   HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   LOCKE AND KEY, IDW
____   RACHEL RISING, Abstract Studios
____   SAGA, Image Comics

BEST WRITER
____   Matt Fraction, HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   Joe Hill, LOCKE AND KEY, IDW
____   Tim Seeley, REVIVAL, Image Comics
____   Scott Snyder, BATMAN, DC Comics
____   Brian K. Vaughan, SAGA, Image Comics
____   Mark Waid, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics

BEST ARTIST
____   David Aja, HAWKEYE, Marvel Comics
____   Greg Capullo, BATMAN, DC Comics
____   Mike Norton, REVIVAL, Image Comics
____   Chris Samnee, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics
____   Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

BEST CARTOONIST
____   Jaime Hernandez, LOVE AND ROCKETS: NEW STORIES, Fantagraphics
____   Jeff Lemire, THE UNDERWATER WELDER, Top Shelf
____   Terry Moore, RACHEL RISING, Abstract Studios
____   Chris Ware, BUILDING STORIES, Pantheon
____   Adam Withers and Comfort Love, RAINBOW IN THE DARK, uniquescomic.com

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY
____   BATMAN # 12, DC Comics
____   BUILDING STORIES, Pantheon
____   HAWKEYE # 1, Marvel Comics
____   LOCKE AND KEY: GRINDHOUSE, IDW
____   THE MIRE, BeckyCloonan.net
____   SAGA # 1, Image Comics
____   TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE #8, Fantagraphics


Congratulations to all of the nominees!  If you know a nominee, please pass on the good news using email, Facebook, and Twitter.

Please submit any corrections to harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com.  We try our best to list nominees correctly, and want to know if there is an error.

The Harvey Committee and the Baltimore Comic-Con will make every effort to contact all nominees.  If you are a nominee and you do not hear from us by July 25, please contact us at harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com.  We would love to discuss your involvement in the ceremony and the Baltimore Comic-Con.

For additional information about Harvey Kurtzman and the Harvey Awards, visit www.harveyawards.org or harveyawards.blogspot.com.

The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 14th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 7-8, 2013. For more information, please visit the website, Twitter, or Facebook pages.

Review: NUMBERCRUNCHER #1

NUMBERCRUNCHER #1 (OF 4)
TITAN COMICS – @ComicsTitan

WRITER: Si Spurrier
ART: P.J. Holden
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S., £3.99 U.K. (August 2013)

Numbercruncher is a new four-issue comic book miniseries from writer Si Spurrier (X-Men: Legacy) and artist P.J. Holden (The 86ers).  Venerable United Kingdom publishing concern, Titan Publishing Group, Ltd., now has a comic book division, called Titan Comics.  Numbercruncher is one of several titles Titan Comics is launching this summer.

Numbercruncher #1 introduces Bastard Zane, Operative #494.  In what amounts to a strange afterlife of numbers, data, and accounting, Zane is a bailiff for the Karmic Accountancy, where he pushes paper and occasionally deals with souls that break the rules of the afterlife.  The big boss of the afterlife is the Divine Calculator, an elderly white man who maintains the “soulpool,” in which “souls are counted, processed, and – sometimes – questioned.”

Richard Thyne is a brilliant young mathematician who dies young and enters the afterlife.  However, Richard wants more time with Jessica Reed, the woman he loves.  He makes a deal with the Divine Calculator and Bastard Zane to be reincarnated in his lover’s lifetime, but there is a twist/complication.

Honestly, regarding it concepts, I am not especially interested in Numbercruncher.  What does make the book worth reading is Spurrier and Holden’s execution of the progression of the narrative.  Numbercruncher has a wicked sense of humor, and the creators are mean-spirited and/or cruel towards their characters.  However, they do it with humor and with the best of intentions – for their readers, if not necessarily for their characters.  That is what interests me – the humor and the interaction between the characters – and not necessarily this series’ concept of an afterlife.

This early in the series, I’ll say that Numbercruncher looks to show its funny streak.  Just how imaginative it is will be seen over the course of the series.

B+

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