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For Your Consideration (fka On the Shelves): 5/31/07
May 30th, 2007
by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez
Free time is a precious thing. Don’t waste it reading bad comics out of habit! ***** This featurette has evolved over the course of the 2+ years I’ve been doing it, starting as a well-intentioned, straightforward listing of “Independent comics (and manga)” — aka, everything except Marvel & DC — shipping in a given week called “Try Something Different”, to the snarky, more open-minded commentary of its most recent incarnation as “On the Shelves”. In light of some recent changes in my buying habits and reading interests, and in the spirit of “be the change you want to see”, I’m changing things up once again, focusing on the increasingly varied offerings from publishers of all shapes and sizes, genres and formats — except for Marvel, DC and its imprints. The “Big [Fish in Small Pond] Two” have been giving me heartburn more often than not the past year, so I’m quitting them cold turkey, effective immediately, except for Fables, which I’ll continue to follow in trade, and any Essential or Showcase TPBs of interest that come down the pike, like the recently announced Suicide Squad. There’s plenty of other places to find tips on what they’re publishing in any given week, and I’m a firm believer in focusing one’s limited energies where one thinks they can make the biggest difference, and even moreso in spending their limited money on the things that give them the most pleasure. With that in mind, each week I’ll offer up recommendations, speculations, and ruminations on comics that might not currently be on your (or my) pull list, or even your radar, but are worthy of consideration. And, of course, there will still be snarky commentary and straightforward marketing observations peppered throughout. Feel free to do the same in the comments, and point out anything I might have overlooked. So, without further ado… ***** My weekly look at select comic books being released [NOTE: Not all of these titles will actually arrive in all stores. If your LCBS offers a pre-ordering service, be sure to take advantage of it. If not, find another one; or try Khepri.com or MidtownComics.com]  Fun Home (TPB) (Houghton Mifflin) AKA COMICS You have to wonder what Diamond saw in this title that they thought there was a significant audience for it and saw fit to distribute it, but creator Jonnie Allan apparently busted his ass to get it done, so kudos to him. The first issue wasn’t bad, per se — I’d have no problem picking it up out of curiousity from Allan at a convention — but it’s not nearly ready for prime time and calls into question Diamond’s criteria for determining what will and won’t sell in the direct market. It’s almost like rejection sometimes means no, and sometimes means try harder. Nevertheless, I’d be surprised to see it still listed in Previews by its 4th or 5th issue. APE ENTERTAINMENT The first Black Coat mini-series was a solid read featuring some outstanding artwork from Francesco Francavilla, and he appears to have noticeably improved in this second go-round of the Revolutionary Era Batman. DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT I wasn’t reading The Boys when it was published by DC/Wildstorm, and I won’t be picking it up now that it’s with Dynamite, but the way the situation played out — along with that of Fallen Angel a couple of years ago — leaves me hopeful that other notable creators will take their pet projects elsewhere, risking the lower profile of a smaller publisher for the higher reward of expanding the market outward. FANTAGRAPHICS I was a HUGE Little Rascals fan when I was a kid, oblivious to the racist overtones of characters like Stymie, Farina and Buckwheat, so I’m curious how these comics hold up. HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY My curiousity was piqued when Time named this its Book of the Year last year, but not quite enough to pick up the hardcover. Now, in softcover, I can see what the fuss was about for myself. IDW PUBLISHING See, giving up Marvel and DC doesn’t necessarily mean I have to completely give up the work of creators I’ve enjoyed. While I’ll certainly miss X-Factor, Peter David’s doing equally interesting work here in Fallen Angel. IMAGE COMICS While they don’t have anything on my radar this week, I want to note that, after writing them off almost completely a little over a year ago, Image has come roaring back onto my pull list with the stellar likes of Casanova, Fell and Strange Girl now joined by Dynamo 5 and Gutsville. (Side Note: That’s 17% of my personal market share vs. Marvel and DC’s newly combined 0%.) NBM Very nice timing by NBM to leverage the release of the new Nancy Drew movie that looks like it should nail its target demographic. It’ll be interesting to see how many comic book-buying fathers take notice and pick up a copy or two for their kids who express interest in the movie. PRISM COMICS I bought last year’s edition out of curiousity and immediately wished someone would do something similar for Black and Latino comics. Then I started thinking about “Make the f**king comics!” again and got some ideas… That’s my two cents for this week. What looks good (or bad) to YOU? | |
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2 Comments Add your own
1. Stuart | June 1st, 2007 at 8:42 am
Quiting Marvel and DC cold turkey? You’re a stronger man than me my friend.
However, I must say I welcome your decision, firstly, because its something you want to do and obviously feel strongly about, and secondly (and perhaps more selfishly) because I have always felt this is a great place to find solid recommendations for independent comics as well as the odd OGN here and there, that I for one just don’t have the time to research for myself.
So thank you for recommending great comics like Artesia, Stagger Lee and Elk’s Run to someone who otherwise would be completely clueless
(also: You’re absolutely right about Image at the moment, I finally read Fell through the trade and loved it and just how freakin’ great is Gutsville? Pretty damn great should have been your answer or else, dammit! Although I can’t say I understand the attraction of Dynamo 5 I thought none of the characters were very well fleshed out or appealing in any way really, although I only read the first issue so I may give it another go in trade)
2. Guy LeCharles Gonzalez | June 1st, 2007 at 9:10 am
@Stuart: Always glad to hear I’ve tipped someone off to new comics they’ve ended up liking!
Week One of Operation Cold Turkey was surprisingly easy, as Blue Beetle made it into my pull folder and I had no problems putting it back on the shelf, and that’s probably my favorite of all the titles I’m giving up. The best thing was the hit on my wallet being much lighter, despite my spontaneously picking up two books, Black Diamond Detective Agency and Amelia Rules Vol. 3 (HC).
Gutsville was very good, yes, and the appeal of Dynamo 5 is largely that it’s a solid bit of team spandex comics with no strings attached, and no chance of editorially mandated tomfoolery. I’m not anti-superhero at all, so it’s a great alternative to Marvel and DC’s overlapping continuity that can quickly drain your wallet.
Now, I’m off to BEA! Have a great weekend.
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