Review: Jeffrey Kaufman's "WHORE" graphic novel

WHORE TRADE PAPERBACK
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT/Big City Comics Studio – @Zenescope

WRITER/CREATOR: Jeffrey Kaufman
ARTIST: Marco Turini
COLORS: James Brown
LETTERS: John Hunt
COVER: Felix Serrano and Jeffrey Kaufman; variant covers: Michael Golden and Felix Serrano; Alex Saviuk and James Brown; and Felix Serrano and Jeffrey Kaufman
ISBN: 978-1-937068-62-2; paperback
104pp, Color, $9.99 U.S.

Jeffrey Kaufman wrote the graphic novel, Terminal Alice, and he has written for such comic books as Ant (Image Comics), Dragon Cross, and Tempest, among others. He is the founder of Big City Comics and Resurrection Studios. Kaufman is also a defense attorney and legal expert and is a cable news legal analyst who has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, and FOX News, among others.

Whore is an original graphic novel from Kaufman and artist Marco Turini. Turini’s art has appeared in the Marvel Comics’ titles Squadron Supreme and Astonishing Tales. Published by Zenescope Entertainment, Whore centers on a downsized CIA agent who takes whatever sleazy jobs he can get in order to pay his bills.

Jacob Mars is a CIA black-ops specialist. He’s deadly. His dick is big (or so he says in his internal monologues). At 34-years-old, however, he is informed that the CIA no longer needs his services because of budget cuts. Still, the modern job market does have a place for him. Mars suddenly becomes an independent contractor for the agency that just fired him. He takes whatever jobs his “handler” offers. Sometimes, he uses his intelligence skills. Sometimes, he needs a firearm. One job will even require his penis.

Mars’ new career basically has him operating as if he were a whore. He is killing people on the government’s enemies list; that is when he isn’t taking high-paying jobs babysitting gay pop stars, spoiled mafia progeny, and show dogs. When an old friend is murdered, however, Mars takes on his biggest and deadliest mission.

The one thing that Whore definitely has going for it is that it is funny. I could see myself reading this every month. In fact, I wonder if what writer Jeffrey Kaufman really has in Whore is a series instead of a single graphic novel. Most of Mars’ assignments and jobs could stand on their own as single issue stories, if not as miniseries. Early on, the writing is a little clumsy, but once the narrative gets some momentum, the humor outshines any blemishes and even the cleverly staged violence.

Artist Marco Turini is no master draftsman and his compositions have an obvious awkwardness to them. What stands out about his art is Turini’s approach to drawing the human figure and face. There is a naturalism that not only makes each character unique, but also makes many of them look as if they were drawings of real people. There is a soldier that appears at the end of the last big battle scene; his face looks uncannily real. Then, there is the page featuring five sexy women. Although two of the women vaguely resemble one another, the individuality of each of the five women is stunningly evident.

When I received this review copy of Whore, I didn’t think it was something I really wanted to read. Now, I’d like more. This is the funniest fiction about CIA types since the Coen Bros.’ movie, Burn After Reading.

B+

www.facebook.com/jeffreykaufmanjr
www.facebook.com/BigCityComics
www.bigcitycomics.com
www.zenescope.com

"Whore" at a Special Birthday Bash

A COMIC SHOP TO HOLD A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY BASH AND MAN WHORE CONTEST

On September 12th, starting at 3:00 P.M., A Comic Shop will double the fun with a special birthday party for store owner, Aaron Haaland, and an autograph signing with Jeffrey Kaufman for the release of WHORE, produced by Big City Comics Studio and published by Zenescope Entertainment.

To celebrate Aaron’s birthday, as well as the release of WHORE, A Comic Shop is holding a special party and contest where guys can unleash their inner whore and do outrageous acts for prizes. There will be plenty of FREE posters, beanie bags and hand held fans to go around for both the men and women on this special occasion.

WHORE, is a graphic novel regarding ex-CIA agent Jacob Mars. Mars would probably put a bullet in your head if you called him a "whore", but in simple terms, that's what he is. After getting downsized from the CIA, he takes any job he can to pay his debts and alimony. He isn't a bad guy by nature, but out of necessity, he has to live a life where things don't matter, as long as he gets paid. His motto, simply stated: "Every man has his price."

The WHORE autograph event will take place in Orlando at A Comic Shop on September 12th, 2012 from 3-5 P.M. at 114 South Semoran Blvd. Winter Park, FL. For more information, please call (407) 332-9636.


About A Comic Shop
We first opened our doors in December 2005 and have been voted as the best comic shop in every single year for the last SIX years by the inhabitants of the city.

We don’t fill our shelves with toys, “collectibles”, or even back issues. What we do is focus on current comic releases, trade paperbacks and graphic novels, including books you won’t find anywhere else in . For us, it’s about the culture, the community and celebrating the hard work of both the writers and artists who deliver the amazing tales we read within the pages.

About Jeffrey Kaufman
Jeffrey Kaufman is a writer and founder of Big City Comics and Resurrection Studios. In addition, Kaufman is a nationally recognized legal expert and defense attorney, currently licensed in 18 states, and has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News and truTV's Disorder in the Court: The 20 Most Outrageous Courtroom Moments. As a writer, Kaufman's credits include Terminal Alice (published through Zenescope Entertainment) as well as Tainted (featuring Batwing artist Chris Cross).

Currently, Kaufman is actively filming and producing the documentary How to Fail in Comic Books (www.facebook.com/howtofailincomicbooks), set for release in 2013. His upcoming projects include the graphic novels Angel Falling and Whore, on sale September 2012, from Zenescope Entertainment. For more information, please visit www.bigcitycomics.com and www.facebook.com/bigcitycomics.

Zenescope Entertainment Presents "Whore"

WHORE (One-Shot Graphic Novel)
On Sale: September 12th, 2012

Writer: Jeffrey Kaufman
Artist: Marco Turini
Colorist: James Brown
Letterer: John Hunt
Cover: Felix Serrano and Jeff Kaufman
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
ISBN: 978-1-937068-62-2
Diamond Order Code: JUL121329
Pages: 112
Price: $9.99

Description:
Jacob Mars would probably put a bullet in your head if you called him a "whore", but in simple terms, that's what he is. After getting downsized from the CIA, he takes any job he can to pay his debts and alimony. He isn't a bad guy by nature, but out of necessity, he has to live a life where things don't matter, as long as he gets paid. His motto, simply stated: "Every man has his price."


About Jeffrey Kaufman
Jeffrey Kaufman is a writer and founder of Big City Comics and Resurrection Studios. In addition, Kaufman is a nationally recognized legal expert and defense attorney, currently licensed in 18 states, and has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News and truTV's Disorder in the Court: The 20 Most Outrageous Courtroom Moments. As a writer, Kaufman's credits include Terminal Alice (published through Zenescope Entertainment) as well as Tainted (featuring Batwing artist Chris Cross).

Currently, Kaufman is actively filming and producing the documentary How to Fail in Comic Books (www.facebook.com/howtofailincomicbooks), set for release in 2013. His upcoming projects include the graphic novels Angel Falling and Whore, on sale September 2012, from Zenescope Entertainment. For more information, please visit www.bigcitycomics.com and www.facebook.com/bigcitycomics.

Bleach: Back from Blind

I read Bleach, Vol. 46

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

Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll: Cafe School

I read Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll, Vol. 5

I posted a review at ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

Review DOROHEDORO Volume 7

DOROHEDORO, VOL. 7
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Q Hayashida
TRANSLATION: AltJapan Co., Ltd. (Hiroko Yoda + Matt Alt)
LETTERER: Maui Girl
ISBN: 978-1-4215-3381-0; paperback; Rated “M” for “Mature”
184pp, B&W, $12.99 U.S., $14.99 CAN

Q Hayashida (Kyū Hayashida) is a Japanese female manga artist. Her best known work is the fantasy manga, Dorohedoro. A seinen comic (adult male demographic), Dorohedoro began publication in 1999 in the manga magazine, Ikki, where it is still being published today.

Dorohedoro is set in two worlds: the Hole and the world of the magic users. People who do not have the ability to wield magic live in The Hole, a dismal city neighborhood. The Hole is also the place where Sorcerers (or “Magic Users”) abduct people to use in their awful black arts experiments.

A young woman named Nikaido hunts and kills sorcerers. Her partner is Caiman, a male mutant with a reptile head and a bad case of amnesia. Caiman chomps down on the head of each sorcerer the duo finds, hoping to discover the one that transformed him. However, this couple has drawn the attention of En, the head Sorcerer and crime boss, who wants them dead.

As Dorohedoro, Vol. 7 begins, Caiman is trying to rescue Nikaido from En’s clutches. In order to break into En’s sprawling estate, he will have to don a disguise and sell President Tanba’s meat pies! And Caiman will need the help of the devil, Asu. Meanwhile, Professor Kasukabe and his companions escape En’s clutches, but drive right into the backwoods trouble of “Hydra Forest.” Now, Shin and Noi have to rescue them.

I have read countless manga that are strikingly similar to other manga, but each usually has its own idiosyncrasies and other elements that make it different from others. The Dorohedoro manga is so strikingly different from every other manga that I have read that I sometimes have trouble believing that it is a manga title, but is rather some strange Eurocomic.

I have noted Dorohedoro’s similarities to such international comics as the works of Moebius and the Jamie Hewlett-drawn Tank Girl comics. However, that does not come close to describing this crazy manga from creator Q Hayashida. I’ll say what I said before, that this is a gumbo of uncanny landscapes, kooky mushrooms, bizarre tattoos, a peculiar rookery of flying devils, and funky meat pies. As the series progresses, however, the characters become more developed, so I want another serving.

A-

Happy I Reads You Birthday

Three years ago, I realized that there was a need for something else, so I (re)planted the seeds of a media organization and hopefully it will grow into something substantial.  I realized what I had forgotten and should not have forgotten.  If you don't own it, no matter how hard you work for it, it still isn't yours.  You can be kicked out or fired at the whim of some paper pusher.  You can be betrayed based on lies.

So have your OWN thing.  I Reads You is my own thing, but I want to share it with readers, writers, and artists.  Hopefully, I will not fire and betray.  Happy Birthday.