Sunday Reading 10-2-2011

I hope Sunday is not to sexy for some comic book action because this week we’re taking a look at: I, Vampire #1, Brilliant #1, Aquaman #1, Green Lantern: The New Guardians, and Justice League Dark #1.

I may not be too sexy for Sunday but I am a little too sexy to be working right now. Out in the real world I’ve been spending this weekend moving my business and trying to get everything in order so I can be open again bright and early Monday morning. So in keeping with the sexy theme here’s a little look behind the curtain where you can see my editor working hard to get this out on time since I’m so late in getting it in.  I’m mostly letting my fellow participants handle the ins and outs of this week’s comics and going to sit back and see how well they perform, with a little direction here and there.

I, Vampire #1

First up this week we see Adam Schiewe being seduced by an offering from DC that many would not even give a second glance:

If this was not the most underrated book of the new 52 I do not know what is. I’m sure some have seen the polls of reader interest and this book was always near the bottom, and I have to admit I had little interest in it before I picked it up. I have to say that the cover does not do this book any favors, it conjures up images of some Twilight style vampire book, but if you take the time to open the book you will be shocked. The art is straight up Jae Lee in all the best ways and is much darker than I was expecting this book to be. The colors shade the world in brown, blacks and reds and sets up a tone of horror that penetrates the book throughout. The story is not lacking either, we are introduced to the cast and get the backstory we need to understand the book and then its straight up survival horror for the other pages. This book as well as the other Dark books DC is putting out are some of the best comics on the market and I hope more people give them, and I, Vampire in particular, a chance. This book was more than I expected it to be and shows you truly cannot judge a book by its cover. If you like American Vampire, Animal Man, Horror movies or better yet good comics in general you owe it to yourselves to try this one out.

Aquaman #1

Aquaman has really been hitting his popularity stride lately and it seems Robert McSantos has really been turned on by this offering:

This is unmistakably a Geoff Johns comic book. All the earmarks are there. You’ve got borderline meta-referencial commentary on comic book culture (fans of Hector Hammond and Superboy-Prime know what I’m talking about). You’ve got a villain who is not so different from the protagonist in may ways, but the polar opposite of him in others. And you’ve got a hero who embodies one particular moral struggle that we all experience in our ordinary lives. It all comes together to recreate a classic character for a new age, in a way that anybody can understand. Oh, and another good sign that this is a Geoff Johns comic book? It’s drawn by Ivan Reis, who is just as amazing on this as he has been on everything else he’s ever done.

The team behind over 100 issues of Ultimate Spider-Man and the death of its star take on a creator owned book. The entire concept is about creating superpowers, a play on the legendary super solider serum from the Marvel comics and ultimate universe in particular. The plot may sound simple but when you have Bendis cutting loose on the dialogue you get a look into the minds of these characters. We know from the beginning that they succeed in their goals, but I am sure we are in for a heck of a ride along the way. The story and pacing are great for a 1st issue and the art matches it perfectly. Bendis and Bagley have always been a great pair but you can tell they are having fun with this project. Bagley’s real world style fits the tone as the group has a party and pits Master Chief versus Optimus Prime in a battle. Yeah, that happens in the book. I have to admit I have no idea where this book is going to go, and I love it for that reason.

Green Lantern: The New Guardians #1

Robert McSantos may be a little spurned by this book this week, but even with that he found enough good stuff to make it worth his time:

Glomulus Lantern: The New Glomuluses #1; Okay, so let’s just get to the elephant in the room immediately. The cover lies. Glomulus is not a member of this team. He’s not even in the issue at all! If you read the issue, there’s a pretty good reason why neither he nor any other Orange Lanterns are involved in the story at this time. There, that’s out of the way. As for the issue itself, it’s a very well made introduction, especially the vignettes focused on the individual parts of the emotional spectrum.

Top Recommendation: Justice League Dark #1

I think it’s great that DC is finally bringing the magic back to its universe. It’s a part of the DCU that has simply been missing for far too long. This book does a great job of introducing the characters and quickly making a point of why they are needed in a situation where the regular Justice League wouldn’t do. The artwork is gorgeous and fits the mood of the book perfectly.  I think this might be my favorite JL title so far and I hope my love of it lasts, just don’t tell my wife.

Bob Frances was also enamored with this book and with both of us falling for it that’s why it takes the top spot this week:
I was looking forward JL Dark, and there’s a lot to chew on here. On the downside, it IS exactly what it claims to be, Part 1 of a multipart epic. Understanding that, the issue is all set up. We see all the players, though Constantine’s page time is reduced to a one page cameo, and Shade’s and Kathy’s (nice nod to Milligan’s VERTIGO SHADE series) scene is purposefully disturbing.

Milligan handles all the moving pieces of the story deftly, but the real stars are Janin and Arreola. Janin’s Madame Xanadu has the tired look of a woman who’s seen too many dark, painful things contrasted to his determined Zatanna. His June Moone is frightened and detached, lending needed gravitas. Arreola’s color palette is moody and atmospheric, beautifully melding with Janin’s line work. So, at the end, did JL Dark #1 succeed? Yes, I will be buying JL Dark #2.

That’s it from me this week folks. I hope your sexy Sunday run down is just as good and you have gotten the quality and quantity of good comic reading you need to sustain your passions. Feel free to share your personal (comic) passions with us.

Till next Sunday I’m your host Skip Scherer (lionknight) and I’ll be seeing you on the Bloc.