Naked Futurism

I had a new review for ComicMix today -- after a long dry spell when I wasn't writing for them because I was having a hard enough time filling this blog with reviews -- covering Dash Shaw's recent collection The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D..

I hope this means I'm back on the ComicMix horse, but, as always, we'll see.

It Must Be Time for a Swordfight

My Manga Friday column for ComicMix -- often delayed, but finally appearing in this New Year -- reviewed three books -- Jun Mochizuki's Crimson-Shell, Hero Tales, Vol. 1 by Hiromu Arakawa, and Atsushi Ohkubo's Soul Eater, Vol. 1.

At this point, it would be customary to declare that reviews will be on a much more regular schedule...but I'm too old and wily to fall for that trick. If it happens, it happens.

It Seemed the Logical Thing to Do at the Time

Hey, did I happen to mention that I reviewed a weighty tome called Logicomix -- by the keyboard-straining team of Apostolos Doxiadis, Christos H. Papadimitriou, Alecos Papadatos, and Annie Di Donna --on Monday for ComicMix?

Hm. I thought not. Well, consider it done now.

Racing Against the End of the Year

I managed to write a review for the Charles Burns-edited The Best American Comics 2009 before the end of the year in the title (always a plus), and the ComicMix squad has just posted that.

I hope to have two more reviews up in this shortened week, though I haven't yet decided if Manga Friday should go on time, early or late this week. (And, no matter what I decide, it will take someone at ComicMix actually pushing that button to make it happen...hmm, perhaps I should ask them?)
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Listening to: Josh Ritter - A Country Song (original recording)
via FoxyTunes

Turn Me On, Dead (Bat) Man

Today, over at the ComicMix, I have a review of two recent books from DC about this season's hot dead superhero, Batman -- Neil Gaiman's Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? and Grant Morrison's Batman: R.I.P..

I go on at great length and am more than ordinarily snarky and dismissive -- you have been warned.
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Listening to: Hallelujah The Hills - Sleeper Agent (Just Waking Up)
via FoxyTunes

Manga Friday Gives You That Look That Rattles the Shutters

No, not that look. The other one. The psychic one.

This week, I reviewed three books for ComicMix in which young protagonists turn out to have strange and unlikely abilities -- the first volumes in the series Pandora Hearts, Karakuri Odette, and Night Head: Genesis.
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Listening to: Mono In VCF - We Could've Owned The World
via FoxyTunes

Yes, I Said "Boss Karate Black Guy Jones," and I Meant It

Today, over at the ComicMix, I reviewed Greg Houston's demented -- and I mean that in a good way -- debut graphic novel Vatican Hustle.

We also are approaching what should be another Manga Friday, but I'm still not making any promises.
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Listening to: The Mendoza Line - The Lethal Temptress
via FoxyTunes

Ligament-Lashing Literature in the Curious Classics Custom!

Today for ComicMix, I swotted up on three recent collections of adaptations of classic works: The Raven & Other Poems, by Edgar Allan Poe and Gahan Wilson, from the new Classics Illustrated line; Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott, the latest in the series edited by Tom Pomplun; and R. Sikoryak's more satiric and allusive Masterpiece Comics.

There may be more later in the week; I've learned not to make promises.
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Listening to: The New Pornographers - The Bleeding Heart Show
via FoxyTunes

Manga Friday Saunters In, Trying to Pretend He Hasn't Been Away

My increasingly erratic "Manga Friday" column for ComicMix returns today with a look at the second volumes of the series Sumomomo, Momomo, Jack Frost, and Nightschool: The Weirn Books.

For next week...I'm not going to make any predictions.
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Listening to: Quitzow - What Time Is It?
via FoxyTunes

Books To Keep the Rugrats from Bugging You for Five Minutes or So

Today, over at the ComicMix, I reviewed three books of interest to younger readers: Tiny Tyrant: Vol. One: The Ethelbertosaurusby Lewis Trondheim and Fabrice Parme; Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost; and Cat Burglar Black by Richard Sala.

All of 'em are pretty good, actually, though they're suitable for different kids.

And, since the title of that Sala book inevitably reminds me of the Tilly and the Wall song "Pot Kettle Black," I see no reason not to forge that linkage in your minds as well -- download the song (for free, legally!) here if you like it.

Speaking Ill of the Dead

Today, after a long hiatus, ComicMix posted a new review from me, in which I look at three minor Will Eisner graphic novels: A Family Matter, Minor Miracles, and Life on Another Planet.

As you might guess from that word "minor," I do not precisely recommend these three books.

In a more general note, I'm back on the horse and expect ComicMix reviews to flow out at the old speed, for at least a few weeks. I do not promise that I'll be any more positive and happy than in this review -- but, then, you've probably come to expect nothing but bile and vituperation from me anyway.

At Least It's Not Yellow...

My "Manga Friday" column for this week featured a review of a collection of gekiga stories -- in this case, historicals set about a hundred years ago in small Japanese villages -- Susumu Katsumata's Red Snow.

Next week I'm on vacation and pretty much incommunicado, but if I manage to write something later today and get it into the ComicMix system, there may be a post or two from me there. But I wouldn't bet on it.

Stitching It Up

I reviewed David Small's NBA-nominated comics memoir Stitches on Thursday for ComicMix -- yes, I'm late in linking to it, but what can I do? I was not quite as positive as some other people have been, but that's typical for me. There is quite a lot that's impressive about Stitches, but I wouldn't consider it a masterpiece, and I'm not sure it would be on my ten best of the year.

Your mileage may vary, of course -- and it's a major graphic novel that should be read widely.
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Listening to: Bess Rogers - Sunday
via FoxyTunes

Giraffes and Prisoners

Today, for ComicMix, I reviewed two graphic novels with autobiographical elements: Lewis Trondheim's Little Nothings, Vol. 2: The Prisoner Syndrome and Giraffes in My Hair: A Rock 'N' Roll Life by Bruce Paley and Carol Swain.

Read it or don't!

It's Not Every Week That Has a Manga Friday in It!

Yesterday, I had one of my not-as-regular-as-they-used-to-be Manga Friday posts over at ComicMix, reviewing the first volumes of three series: Wicked Lovely: Desert Tales: Sanctuary, Yokai Doctor, and Amefurashi: The Rain Goddess.
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Listening to: Joshua James - Dangerous
via FoxyTunes

In Which I Continue To Be Grumpy About Perfectly Nice Graphic Novels

After my epic dual-review mountain of invective and bile on Monday, I stepped up to the plate at ComicMix again yesterday to cast scorn at a couple of books that are demonstrably better than at least 80% of the comics being published.

(Those books are Refresh, Refresh by Danica Novgorodoff and The Big Kahn by Neil Kleid and Nicolas Cinquegrani.)

Even better, I spent so much time obsessing about spelling "Novgorodoff" and "Cinquegrani" correctly that I punted on "Kleid" in the headline. (I fixed it, but only after the author noticed it -- errors are ten times worse if the subject of the error has to tell you about it.)

There's just something about writing a "review" that brings out the impulse to dissect in me, I'm afraid; I'm much more likely to focus on the negative than the positive if not kept firmly in hand. If I reviewed books that actually were bad, I'd probably choke on my own bile. My apologies to any creators whom I may have already traumatized, or may do so to in the future.

Anyway, there may be a "Manga Friday" column tomorrow, if I manage to get one written tonight. Watch out for it or don't!

We Finally Really Did It! You Maniacs!

Today, for ComicMix, I reviewed two cheery and upbeat graphic novels about apocalypse and destruction: Toxic Planet by David Ratte and Ball Peen Hammer by Adam Rapp and George O'Connor.

I wasn't overly impressed, but, then again, I'm like that.
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Listening to: Okkervil River - The War Criminal Rises and Speaks
via FoxyTunes

Comics About Architecture

On Wednesday, I reviewed David Mazzucchelli's first graphic novel Asterios Polyp for ComicMix. It's a major work...and I'm pretty pleased with my review, too.

I keep hoping to get my ComicMix reviews back on a consistent Mon-Wed-Fri schedule, but life keeps getting in the way -- this week, it was the second Back-to-School Night of the month (for my older son, who's now in middle school). I'll keep plugging away, and see how much I can get done. I do have a frighteningly large pile of books that I've already read and need to review, which I hope will motivate me.

Death and Other Defining Moments

Yesterday, ComicMix posted my review of Seth's excellent graphic novel George Sprott: 1894-1975, for your reading enjoyment.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I should be writing something else for them right this moment.

Manga Friday Moseys Onto the Scene Yet Again

My oft-neglected Manga Friday column for ComicMix returned yesterday -- after a long break for summer, and to clear out the cobwebs, since I thought I was saying too much of the same thing about the same kind of books -- with reviews of three books about special teenagers: X-Men: Misfits, Cat Paradise, and Ninja Girls.

I hope to return next week -- which is another way of saying "I have a stack of three books with a theme that I plan to read next week" -- and we'll see how it goes from there.