I Reads You Review: NAMELESS #1

NAMELESS #1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

WRITER: Grant Morrison – @grantmorrison
ARTIST: Chris Burnham – @TheBurnham
COLORS: Nathan Fairbairn
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
LOGO/DESIGN: Rian Hughes
COVER: Chris Burnham with Nathan Fairbairn
VARIANT COVERS: Tony Moore; Nathan Fox with Jordie Bellaire; Jonathan Hickman; Chris Burnham with Nathan Fairbairn
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (February 2015)

Rated M / Mature

“Shit Rains Down”

Nameless is a new horror and science fiction comic book from writer Grant Morrison and artist Chris Burnham.  Published by Image Comics, Nameless is colored by Nathan Fairbairn and lettered by Simon Bowland.

Nameless #1 (“Shit Rains Down) opens with shocking violence.  An astronomer kills his wife and two children before he hangs himself with barbed wire.  A second family gets wiped out; maybe the husband did it – the husband who yells “Zirom Trian Ipam Ipamis,” as the police carry him away.

Meanwhile, an occult hustler who has named himself, “Nameless,” fights the Veiled Lady for the “Dream Key.”  But his biggest task may be the job that is forced upon him – to save the Earth from a malevolent asteroid named “Xibalba.”

The first half of Nameless #1 is a mixture of familiar Grant Morrison tropes – conspiracies and occultism – with some leftovers from The Invisibles and H.P. Lovecraft.  Morrison throws that into a word processing blender and presses the puree button when he really should have used the pulse setting.  The first time I read the first half of Nameless, I did not understand what was happening in the story.  I thought, “How will I review this mess.  I have no idea what's going on.”  I was still confused after reading the first half a second time.

After a third and fourth reading, however, I found the first half of Nameless to be strangely beautiful.  I thought (or imagined) that I was seeing new things in the story and art that I had not seen before.  The Frank Quitely-like art by Chris Burnham with Nathan Fairbairn's gorgeous coloring makes for some eye-catching graphics.  Together, story and art offer graphical storytelling that presents dreams and visions as if they were the gosh-darn-purtiest vacation spot in all of comic book land.

The rest of Nameless #1 is conventional, for the most part, but still intriguing.  I am quite determined to read the second issue of Nameless, sellouts be damned.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 18, 2015

DC COMICS

DEC140333     BATGIRL #39     $2.99
DEC140335     BATMAN AND ROBIN #39     $2.99
NOV140309     BATMAN BLINK TP     $14.99
DEC140323     BATMAN ETERNAL #46     $2.99
DEC140329     BATMAN SUPERMAN #19     $3.99
DEC140332     BATMAN SUPERMAN #19 COMBO PACK     $4.99
DEC140354     BATWOMAN #39     $2.99
NOV140296     CONSTANTINE TP VOL 03 THE VOICE IN THE FIRE (N52)     $14.99
NOV140298     DAMIAN SON OF BATMAN TP (N52)     $16.99
DEC140276     EARTH 2 WORLDS END #20     $2.99
DEC140411     FABLES #149 (MR)     $2.99
DEC140361     GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #39     $2.99
NOV140297     GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS TP VOL 05 GODKILLERS (N52)     $16.99
DEC140375     INFINITE CRISIS FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE #8     $3.99
DEC140372     INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR THREE #10     $2.99
DEC140263     JUSTICE LEAGUE #39     $3.99
DEC140266     JUSTICE LEAGUE #39 COMBO PACK     $4.99
DEC140418     KITCHEN #4 (MR)     $2.99
DEC148184     MORTAL KOMBAT X #1 2ND PTG (MR)     $3.99
DEC140257     MULTIVERSITY MASTERMEN #1     $4.99
DEC140296     NEW 52 FUTURES END #42 (WEEKLY)     $2.99
DEC140355     RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #39     $2.99
OCT140402     SCALPED HC BOOK 01 DELUXE EDITION (MR)     $29.99
DEC140374     SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #7     $3.99
DEC140318     SUPERGIRL #39     $2.99
DEC140315     SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #16     $3.99
DEC140317     SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #16 COMBO PACK     $4.99
DEC140300     TEEN TITANS #7     $2.99
DEC140399     TEEN TITANS GO #8     $2.99
DEC140302     TRINITY OF SIN #5     $2.99
DEC140303     WONDER WOMAN #39     $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
JUN140335     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY RISSO 2ND ED     $79.95
NOV140358     DC COMICS NEW 52 NIGHTWING AF     $24.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 18, 2015

MARVEL COMICS

DEC140876     ALL NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA #4     $3.99
DEC140874     ALL NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA FEAR HIM #3     $3.99
NOV140868     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN HC WHO AM I     $24.99
DEC140858     AVENGERS WORLD #17 TRO     $3.99
NOV140871     AXIS CARNAGE AND HOBGOBLIN TP     $19.99
DEC140918     BLACK WIDOW #15     $3.99
DEC140868     CAPTAIN AMERICA AND MIGHTY AVENGERS #5     $3.99
NOV140889     CIVIL WAR PRELUDE TP NEW WARRIORS     $19.99
NOV140880     DAREDEVIL TP VOL 02 WEST CASE SCENARIO     $19.99
DEC140916     DEATHLOK #5     $3.99
DEC140911     IRON FIST LIVING WEAPON #9     $3.99
DEC140826     LEGENDARY STAR LORD #9 BV     $3.99
DEC140908     LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #11     $3.99
DEC140937     MAGNETO #15     $3.99
DEC140814     MARVEL UNIVERSE GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #1     $2.99
DEC140923     MILES MORALES ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #10     $3.99
DEC140905     MOON KNIGHT #12     $3.99
DEC140913     MS MARVEL #12     $2.99
DEC140904     NOVA #27     $3.99
DEC140899     ROCKET RACCOON #8     $3.99
NOV140884     SAVAGE WOLVERINE TP VOL 03 WRATH     $19.99
NOV140813     SHE-HULK #12     $2.99
DEC140837     SILK #1     $3.99
NOV140822     SILVER SURFER #9     $3.99
DEC140934     STORM #8     $3.99
NOV140876     STORM TP VOL 01 MAKE IT RAIN     $15.99
NOV140891     ULTIMATE X-MEN ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP VOL 05     $34.99
NOV140840     UNCANNY X-MEN #31     $3.99
DEC140842     WOLVERINES #7     $3.99
NOV140881     X-MEN TP VOL 04 EXOGENOUS     $17.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 18, 2015

DARK HORSE COMICS

DEC140056     BPRD HELL ON EARTH #128     $3.50
DEC140079     BTVS SEASON 10 #12 MAIN CVR     $3.50
DEC140094     CREEPY COMICS #19     $3.99
DEC140123     DARK HORSE PRESENTS 2014 #7 MAIN BA CVR     $4.99
DEC140095     EI8HT #1 OUTCAST     $3.50
DEC140136     GROO FRIENDS AND FOES #2     $3.99
DEC148311     LADY KILLER #1 (2ND PTG)     $3.50
DEC140083     STRAIN NIGHT ETERNAL #6 (MR)     $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 18, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

DEC140770     AUTUMNLANDS TOOTH & CLAW #4 (MR)     $2.99
DEC148186     AUTUMNLANDS TOOTH & CLAW #4 CVR B (MR)     $2.99
DEC140721     BITCH PLANET #3 (MR)     $3.50
DEC140655     CRIMINAL TP VOL 02 LAWLESS (MR)     $14.99
NOV140647     DEADLY CLASS #11 (MR)     $3.50
DEC140727     DRIFTER #4 CVR A KLEIN (MR)     $3.50
DEC140728     DRIFTER #4 CVR B ALBUQUERQUE (MR)     $3.50
DEC140733     FUSE #10 (MR)     $3.50
DEC140735     GONERS #5     $2.99
SEP140728     INVINCIBLE #117     $2.99
DEC140717     IXTH GENERATION #2     $3.99
DEC140740     LAZARUS #15 (MR)     $3.50
NOV140663     MANIFEST DESTINY #13 (MR)     $2.99
JUL140562     MPH #5 CVR A FEGREDO     $4.99
JUL140563     MPH #5 CVR B SHALVEY     $4.99
AUG140668     PETER PANZERFAUST #23     $3.50
DEC140755     REYN #2     $2.99
DEC140756     RUMBLE #3 (MR)     $3.50
NOV140679     SAVAGE DRAGON #202     $3.99
DEC140617     SECRET IDENTITIES #1     $3.50
DEC140625     SPARKS NEVADA MARSHAL ON MARS #1     $3.99
DEC140700     UMBRAL TP VOL 02 THE DARK PATH (MR)     $14.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for February 18, 2015

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

OCT141656     13 COINS #5 (MR)     $3.99
DEC141380     ALICE COOPER #6     $3.99
DEC141608     ARIOL SC VOL 06 NASTY CAT     $12.99
NOV141607     ATOMIC ROBO TP VOL 09 KNIGHTS OF GOLDEN CIRCLE     $17.95
NOV141525     BARBARELLA WRATH OF THE MINUTE EATER HC (MR)     $34.95
NOV141189     BEARDO TP VOL 03 TIL DEBT DO US PART     $19.95
SEP141305     BLACK BAT OMNIBUS TP VOL 01     $29.99
DEC141176     BURNING FIELDS #2     $3.99
DEC141563     CAGE OF EDEN GN VOL 17     $10.99
NOV141636     CAPTAIN STONE #3 (MR)     $3.99
DEC141737     CARDFIGHT VANGUARD GN VOL 05     $10.95
DEC141842     CHARMED SEASON 10 #5 A CVR SEIDMAN (MR)     $3.99
NOV141182     CISCO KID JOSE LUIS SALINAS & REED TP VOL 02 FEB 53 - MAR 55     $24.95
DEC141195     CLIVE BARKERS NEXT TESTAMENT TP VOL 02 (MR)     $14.99
DEC141126     CROSSED BADLANDS #72 (MR)     $3.99
DEC141129     CROSSED BADLANDS #72 FATAL FANTASY CVR (MR)     $3.99
DEC141128     CROSSED BADLANDS #72 TORTURE CVR (MR)     $3.99
DEC141127     CROSSED BADLANDS #72 WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
SEP141315     DAWN VAMPIRELLA #3     $3.99
AUG141664     DOCTOR WHO 10TH #7 REG GLASS     $3.99
AUG141665     DOCTOR WHO 10TH #7 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO     $3.99
DEC141661     DOKTORMENTOR JAIL BABE SURGEON GIFT BOX (MR)     $59.95
DEC141571     EPOCHALYPSE #4     $3.99
NOV141081     ETERNAL #2     $3.99
NOV141246     EVIL ERNIE #4 CVR A SEELEY MAIN     $3.99
NOV140901     FIGHT LIKE A GIRL #3     $3.99
NOV141793     GFT REALM WAR TP VOL 01     $15.99
DEC141834     GFT ROBYN HOOD ONGOING #7 A CVR PREITANO     $3.99
DEC141835     GFT ROBYN HOOD ONGOING #7 B CVR BRESCINI     $3.99
DEC141836     GFT ROBYN HOOD ONGOING #7 C CVR METCALF     $3.99
DEC141837     GFT ROBYN HOOD ONGOING #7 D CVR KOTKIN HOLLYWOOD     $3.99
DEC141831     GFT TALES OF TERROR #8 A CVR ORTIZ (MR)     $3.99
DEC141832     GFT TALES OF TERROR #8 B CVR MYCHAELS (MR)     $3.99
DEC141833     GFT TALES OF TERROR #8 C CVR ERIC J (MR)     $3.99
DEC141137     GOD IS DEAD #29 (MR)     $3.99
DEC141139     GOD IS DEAD #29 CARNAGE WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
DEC141138     GOD IS DEAD #29 ENCHANTING CVR (MR)     $3.99
DEC141140     GOD IS DEAD #29 END OF DAYS CVR (MR)     $3.99
DEC141141     GOD IS DEAD #29 ICONIC CVR (MR)     $3.99
NOV140904     HERALD LOVECRAFT AND TESLA #2     $3.99
NOV141112     JIM HENSONS DARK CRYSTAL TP VOL 01 CREATION MYTHS     $14.99
NOV141197     KING MANDRAKE MAGICIAN #1     $3.99
DEC141157     LADY MECHANIKA #4 MAIN CVRS (MR)     $3.99
DEC141317     LEGENDERRY GREEN HORNET #1     $3.99
DEC141609     LEGO LEGENDS OF CHIMA GN VOL 04 FIRE CHI     $7.99
DEC141596     LETTER 44 #14     $3.99
DEC141412     LONE RANGER VINDICATED #4     $3.99
NOV141622     LUCIFER AND THE BISCUIT HAMMER TP VOL 02 (MR)     $18.99
DEC141214     LUMBERJANES #11     $3.99
DEC141565     MANGA DOGS GN VOL 03     $10.99
DEC141072     MEGA MAN #46 REG CVR     $3.99
DEC141414     MERCY THOMPSON #5     $3.99
NOV141650     MONO #3     $3.99
DEC141617     NANCY DREW DIARIES GN VOL 04     $9.99
DEC141332     PATHFINDER ORIGINS #1 CVR A SEJIC MAIN     $4.99
DEC141218     PEANUTS VOL 2 #25     $3.99
NOV140907     PIRATE EYE EXILED FROM EXILE #1     $3.99
DEC141206     PLUNDER #1     $3.99
DEC141322     RED SONJA #100 CVR A BENES MAIN     $7.99
DEC141231     REGULAR SHOW #20     $3.99
NOV141661     ROBERT JORDAN EYE OF THE WORLD HC VOL 06     $25.99
DEC141205     ROCKET SALVAGE #3     $3.99
DEC141422     SHADOW YEAR ONE OMNIBUS HC DM EXC SGN REMARK WAGNER     $300.00
DEC141421     SHADOW YEAR ONE OMNIBUS HC DM EXC SGN WAGNER     $39.99
DEC141297     SIMPSONS COMICS #218     $2.99
OCT141313     SOLAR MAN OF ATOM #9 CVR A LAMING MAIN     $3.99
DEC141198     SONS OF ANARCHY #18 (MR)     $3.99
NOV140915     STRAY #1     $3.99
DEC141194     SUICIDE RISK #22     $3.99
NOV141264     TERMINAL HERO #6 (MR)     $2.99
DEC141590     TERRIBLE LIZARD #4     $3.99
NOV141608     THE MIGHTY TITAN #4     $3.99
DEC141712     THE VALIANT #3 CVR A RIVERA (NEXT)     $3.99
DEC141574     TOWER CHRONICLES DREADSTALKER TP VOL 01     $14.99
OCT141389     TWILIGHT ZONE #12     $3.99
DEC141107     UBER TP VOL 03 (MR)     $19.99
DEC141726     UNITY #15 CVR A ALLEN (NEW ARC)     $3.99
DEC141727     UNITY #15 CVR B FRISON (NEW ARC)     $3.99
DEC141441     VAMPIRELLA FEARY TALES #5 CVR A ANACLETO MAIN     $3.99
OCT141477     WALKING MAN HC 10TH ANNIVERSARY ED     $25.00
DEC141740     WITCHCRAFT WORKS GN VOL 03     $12.95
DEC141071     WORLD OF ARCHIE COMICS DIGEST #47     $4.99
NOV141548     YO MISS GN A GRAPHIC TALE OF HIGH SCHOOL     $12.95

MAGAZINES
NOV141894     CINEMA RETRO #31 (MR)     $11.99
DEC141919     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1444     PI
NOV141859     DC BATMAN AUTO FIG MAG #51 DETECTIVE #233     $20.00
NOV141860     DC BATMAN AUTO FIG MAG #52 FOREVER MOVIE BOAT     $20.00
OCT141862     DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #75 GL JOHN STEWART WHITE BI     $16.00
NOV141861     DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #76 ATOMICA BLACK PAWN     $16.00
NOV141862     DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #77 KID FLASH WHITE KNIGHT     $16.00
MAY141870     FANGORIA #339     $10.99
DEC141934     LOCUS #649     $7.50
NOV141865     MARVEL CHESS FIG COLL MAG #26 QUICKSILVER WHITE PAWN     $16.00
NOV141866     MARVEL CHESS FIG COLL MAG #27 GREEN GOBLIN BLACK KING     $16.00
NOV141867     MARVEL FACT FILES SPECIAL #6 INCREDIBLE HULK     $32.95
DEC141933     SLEEPY HOLLOW OFFICIAL MAGAZINE #2     $9.99
SEP141922     STAR TREK STARSHIPS FIG MAG #34 VULCAN SURAK CLASS     $20.00
OCT141863     STAR TREK STARSHIPS FIG MAG #35 EARLY KLINGON BIRD OF PREY     $20.00

BOOKS
NOV141856     ART OF EVOLVE HC     $39.99
NOV141848     ART OF HOME HC     $45.00
OCT141549     DOC SAVAGE FRIGHTENED FISH HC NOVEL     $19.99
DEC141888     GRIS GRIMLY FRANKENSTEIN SC     $16.99
DEC141874     GRIS GRIMLY STUDY IN SCARLET HC     $17.99
NOV141818     MARVEL AVENGERS VAULT HC     $34.95
DEC141894     NEIL GAIMAN DAVE MCKEAN CRAZY HAIR YR SC     $6.99
DEC141695     STREET FIGHTER WORLD WARRIOR ENCYCLOPEDIA HC     $34.99

One Piece: Operation Dressrosa S.O.P.

I read One Piece, Vol. 73

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations (cause 12+ years of free is bad).  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.