#259

After months of delay, another issue at last.

Issues will now simply be numbered, distribution was changed, it'll be great, we are told.  We get a note from Mr. Eastman, describing the changes, thanking Dave Elliot for guest-editing, and directing our attention to the official web site for future updates.  Meanwhile, my favorite local bookstore never got this issue, so I got it, bagged, at a mainstream store.  The web site only shows this issue on the sales page, the 4 Horsemen still dominate the main page.

I think this is the most direct communication to the magazine's readers from Mr. Eastman in a couple years.  It's interesting that he is pictured with an apparent turtles sketch in front of him.  My impression is that his attentions have been, um, divided, and as such he hasn't given my favorite adult illustrated fantasy magazine the attention I think it deserves.

However, Mr. Eastman can do what he wants, and if the changes allow the print magazine's continued existence then I'm all for it.  We'll see what the future will bring.

For this issue, difficulties are apparent, and I think I'm lucky this one even made it.  Ad for SDCC events in July, page announcing back cover contest winners for the "three different front covers for this issue" (as far as I can tell there's only one), more 4 Horsemen stuff.  At least it says "Monster Massacre Special" and there are actually monsters in it.  The promotion of DeviantArt and inclusion of some prose work may be signs of good things coming.  I do miss a couple things, like Animal'z by Bilal and Metal Media, that I had hoped would continue.

Cover - 6 - It's ok, hope it sells.

The Weirding Willows:   Where Dwell Monsters - 6 - The Horley page was good, the rest of it was ok.  Too bad it was just a small part of the story.

The Empty Sisters - 6 - It tells such a horrible story in such a sparse way.  I like the idea of the occasional written piece with a picture or two, this one was a bit flat.

Ira Gershwin Monster Puncher - 7 - The monster fight is fun, the story is pretty funny, it's not exactly thought-provoking, but that's ok.

Odyssey - 6 - Tries to tell me something but I'm not quite getting it all.  This is an origin of a Captain America redux?  The art doesn't draw me into it.

The Weirding Willows: Russell's Son - 6 - Badgers and weasels and, what - irresponsibility?  oh my.  Too bad it's not a continuation of the first part of the story we saw.

The Meeting - 7 - I like black and white, I like the execution, it's a nice little story told with just one word.  It says Chapter One, it'd be nice if we actually saw the next ones, but I enjoyed this one just fine if we don't.

Cthulhu is still calling - 7 - Short but intriguing essay about this guy's view of fear of the "other" and how he thinks Lovecraft's character represents an example of a universal mythos.  Picture's pretty cool too.

El Zombo Fantasma - 5 - A couple moments of fun don't really make up for how little this appeals to me.

Pair of Rogues - 7 - Pretty good, looks ok with a bit of imagination and fun.  "I'll have my way with both your corpses!"  now there's a threat for ya.

Odyssey - 7- This one's a bit better, the art is more sketchy than I like but it does well to bring me to the story by the way it's shown to us.  Not needing to look realistic it can convey more immediate emotion.

Weirding Willows:  The Uninvited! - 6 - More uninteresting critters, the story told in the story was pretty good though.

Bandits - 7 - Nice to look at, pretty silly story. 

Back Cover - 5 - Not bad, not great.  I think I would have preferred one of the others.

other reviews

So while looking around the internet for something, I found this guy who wrote a bunch of HM magazine reviews, he called them "recaps", starting with the first issue.  He made it through about a dozen of them.  It's amusing to me that his first impression of HM appears to be the 1981 movie and how it colors his viewpoint, especially how he seems to read them from a present day perspective (he wrote them a couple years ago), without considering the context of the time they were produced.  

He hates Barbarella and doesn't get 1996 (I enjoyed Barbarella, though it was often dumb, and I thought 1996 was hilarious, and it seemed so far in the future then).  

However, they are thorough and well written, and even have scans of pages and covers.  It's an admirable effort, and I think it's worth looking at.  (link starts at the first review and you can go backwards from there):

http://www.comicvine.com/profile/count_zeroor/blog/where-i-read-heavy-metal-vol-2-issue-3/52533/

XTIN

Jeremy Ray has been producing XTIN - The Dragon's Dream World, for a while now.  Link is on the "Links" page of this blog.  I signed up for the Donations so I am getting the pages as they are produced.  It appears to be nearing its end.  There have been challenges but it has persisted.

He posted some images and links on the old HM website forums, which got my attention, and I continued to follow it.  Over these many months it's had success and attention on his site rise and fall.   It's my impression that he's been frustrated by its inability to grow its success, which seems understandable given my impression of his considerable ambition for this project.  If one goes to the beginning of the webcomic and reads through it, and also follows the comments, one could see the sometimes wandering nature of how this has been presented.

The work itself appeals to me with its spectacular draftsmanship and mysterious storytelling.  To be honest, some of it I just don't get, but in this case that adds to my interest.  The art is fantastic, I happen to like black and white, and he has some great technique.  Often there are depictions of horrible cruelty and violence, that I'm sure many would find offensive.  Though the fact that much, certainly not all, of the violence is shown with female victims is scary, it seems the intent is to show the horror that people (so to speak) are capable of, rather than to arouse perversions.  Again, the presentations are often obtuse, and the deeper meaning I think it contains can be obscured by the images that are first seen.  This reminds me in several ways of the early days of HM magazine, where powerful stories were told in ways beautiful and often incomprehensible, and sometimes vicious and unsettling.

I'm looking forward to seeing it completed, then looking at it over and over to try to find more of what's inside it.  I was encouraged to hear that he has a line on publishing it, I'm really interested in owning this on the printed page.  I'll believe it when I see it, but there's something for me to look forward to.

If you're able to read through some renderings of horror and incomprehensible meanings, I'd recommend this, and if you're interested in supporting a struggling artist you should consider donating to his cause.

Kranburn #4

I got the digital copy of Kranburn #4 a little while ago, and I also managed to order the paper copies of #3 and #4.  Looking forward to getting them after their journey halfway around the world.

The cover is something of a change of pace.  Rather than a fairly detailed piece with a pose, the art is a stark portrait of a shadowed Brand, and it's also a page in the comic.  It does grab your attention.

Kranburn #4 is noted as the start of chapter 2.  At three books a chapter, and I'll guess a few more chapters, we may be at this for a while.  That's good, the webcomic is maybe a full book or so ahead, and it looks like there's still a lot of story to tell.

Brand starts his assault on the Nong in revenge for the kidnapping of Lawton and his wife.  (It seems to me it's more personal than that.)  Immediately the nasty violence begins.  An ambush, a trap, then Brand absorbs a vicious beating and barely escapes.  Meanwhile, the kidnappers terrorize the Lawtons, and deliver the digit to Kranburn, to terrorize its inhabitants.  Finally, we see Lord, and the guy who beat up Brand, Brutus, who took a few lumps as well, presents Lord with Brand's machete.  Lord is quite pleased with this.

This is a bunch of fun to read.  There's loads of action, some drama, not a lot of exposition but a few foreshadows.  The art has more breathless renditions of nasty violence, and some nice composition.  I'm anticipating what I've seen coming in the webcomic as I read the story, and it actually adds to my enjoyment of it.  Though it almost looks like it's building to a climactic battle, it seems to me there are other parts to the story that will grow more significant.

You should really check out Kranburn.  You can see it for free, and own it for cheap.  Check the Links page on this blog and see for yourself.

tick ... tick ... tick ...

it's quiet, too quiet

the new issue #259 was said to ship in late September, now there's eff-book jabber about it just coming off the press and getting checked.  incomprehensible.  I wonder if my favorite local bookstore will ever get it.

I did find that many new books that are offered on the HM website as digital downloads also have free .pdf samples.  better than nothing.  the Llarena Divergent Dimensions appear to be mostly reprints.

I did get Kranburn #4 digital, I'll put up a review soon.  I'm trying to buy the paper books but now they are sold via their effin-book and it's not cooperating yet.  oh cruel fate.

Gates

I waited long for something to come of Gates, it seems that I will remain unrewarded.  While it continues to be linked on the HM main page, and the Links page of this blog, pretty much nothing is happening.

An interesting premise of transhumanism and hints of a great deal of background work, led me to anticipate a rich and interesting story and imaginative artwork.  After more than a year of plodding storytelling and underachieving art, it stopped.  Now it appears Mr. Hefner is working on a prequel to Gates involving visits to his roots and more background development, said to be presented as "transmedia".

I admire the effort and passion he brings to his work, but the results continue to leave me wanting more.  Often the blog posts beneath the webcomic page were more interesting than the story.  His defiant attitude to naysayers and his commitment to his craft earn my respect, but the results in this story have not satisfied me.

I'll go take a look occasionally so you don't have to.  I'll let you know if something comes up.  Until then go look at Kranburn, or read some Rod Kierkegaard Jr.

free pdfs

There are a few free pdf downloads on the "official" HM web site.  A Bisely Bible excerpt, some 4 Horsemen, an Azurek that's mostly a reprint, a TMNT thing, a Descur reprint, and a small Claudia story.  The Claudia is the most interesting of the bunch.  They're all pretty nice in their own way, for free even, but they hardly fill the widening gap between magazine issues.

Nothing on the next magazine issue, but for a note on the f-book about July being out in late August, and how it will be number 259, and issues will be numbered from now on, and something about a change in distribution as the cause of the delay...

Odd that War of the Worlds - Goliath has been off of the HM web site for a while now, but that Gates remains though the story stopped months ago.

The madness behind the methods of the HM multiverse remain a mystery to me.

Thanks Again

Lostboy linked this blog on his excellent fan page www.heavymetalmagazinefanpage.com and the visits to this blog increased dramatically.  Thanks again Lostboy.

Though he stopped updating the magazine list last November (regrettably, though I accept it), his fan page remains the best resource for the HM magazine fan.  I frequently visit for info and research on past issues, and there are many other links and pages of information.  There are more than enough reasons to make frequent visits worthwhile.

Chances are, if you're reading this you already know about his fan page, but I recommend exploring it to find his views and opinions, as well as all that stuff in the collectors' lists.

thanks

Kranburn #3

I got this one in the electronic copy (via feccomics.com, and I got #1 and #2 as well) and I plan to buy the print copies of #3 and #4 at the same time to save on shipping.  Digital is a lot cheaper and easier, and I really recommend getting Kranburn, so this is a good way to do it, but getting print copies of this is worth it to me.

The cover is again enjoyably detailed, and silly.  She must not be able to sit down with all the knives strapped to her butt.  Must take forever to put all that stuff on…  The covers are one of the benefits of buying the copies rather than just looking at the webcomic.  Supporting an artist whose work I like is another.

The story picks up with Brand and Egon cleaning up after the forage mission gone wrong.  We learn a bit about how Egon got here, Brand brings him to Kranburn and shows him (and us) around and hopes he joins them.  Kranburn’s lower level self perpetuating security system is not for the squeamish.  Brand wonders (as I do) what Egon’s reaction is, but we’re not shown.

A dramatic turn of events is told in a convoluted way.  Duncan’s widow is distraught, and decides to go to another settlement.  While Brand takes her, a kidnapping breaks Kranburn’s security and blame is pointed to Brand.  Fearing a traitor, Brand leaves on a suicide mission telling only Gerald the doctor why.

While this chapter is a bit light on the action, at least in comparison, some good exposition helps deepen the story, and again the art is raw but still compelling.  Knowing what’s coming, from following the webcomic, I’m really looking forward to getting #4.

May 2012

Man, it took forever to get this issue.  The local bookstore never got it.  I never found it in a mainstream bookstore.  I went to a comic store I’d never been to for it.  They only had one of the covers.  Fortunately, it was the Tariq Raheem, which is the one I’d decided to get, if I didn’t get the original Nicollet.  Then, it took me forever to write this.

The four covers idea might have been a good one, but I didn’t like the result.  The new ones didn’t approach the energy of the original, and reprinting the original seemed to lessen the impact that is its legacy. 

The original cover set the tone for what HM meant to me.  “wow, it’s two robots, fighting … man, that’s one’s beatin’ the crap out of the other one … and it’s a girl!  whoa.”  (C’mon, I was a teenager.)  It promised wild action-packed fantasy and in the early days the mag kept that promise.  Using this cover reprint for a 35^th anniversary cover version, while using it as a template (sort of) for the other versions, hinted at not having many new ideas to choose from.

I suppose printing the original cover gives more people the opportunity to have this one in print.

The other three new covers disappointed me.  The Sperlonga, the outfits, the posing, the composition, none of it worked for me.  He’s a really good artist, but I don’t care for this.  The Stanley at least was slick, and the obvious stiff posing and gazing at the viewer gave me some intrigue as well as boredom.  The Raheem shows the most imagination and mystery of the bunch, she might be getting put back together instead of taken apart, and is the robot head going on or off?  The giant monkeywrench and falling sparks were just goofy.

Moving on, the content has much to recommend it.  Excellent use of the early editorial.

Burton and Cyb, and Sataka, were unique as these were not reprints, though some of the Sataka looked familiar (interesting that Sataka appeared first in the mag in the late 00s though these are from the mid 80s ( some of these pages are even on http://www.royo-royo.com/luis-royo/bio/ ).  I like them, though they are dated.  7s for them both.

H – 8, just cause it’s nuts.  I like a good descent to madness.

Daymares/Nightdreams – 8 - because it’s old and tells a story I like.

Fragments – 7 – A strong story about fear of the unknown, from the early days, and it looks nice.  Things may not be what they seem.

Little Ego – 7 – yeah, well, good thing for that Green Sheik anyway…. These were always nice to see if not at all deep.

Willy’s Garage – 7 – nice looking and some drama.  And that was that…

The Last Century – 7 – nothing surprising but still compelling.  A very different future view than the later Children of the Future.

Sax Blues – 8 – A classic, not because of the fantasy (tho this would be a fantasy for my life) but for the telling.  Of course now he’d be checking his farcebook page instead of looking at a paper letter…

Pilatoriam – 7 – Ooops, that rebellion against society didn’t work out too well for you.  Better luck next life.

Children of the Future – 8 – Love this story, with some nice characterizations, and a real range of emotion, and a quick telling of a good story.  I’m sure I reviewed it once (but didn’t find it) and said something about a mixture of tenderness and disgust that you don’t see often, unless it’s Serpieri.

Dear Enemy – 7 – There’s a lot to like about this, all the futuristic gizmos and wearable technology, pretty cool for ’88.  There’s a nice story too, if you look for it, it took me a few times through.  I didn’t recognize this as a Frezzato right away either.

The Warrior’s Repose – 7 – An interesting story, all the trouble he goes through to cheat on his wife, cunning and cruel, even evil.  There are some inconsistencies but the storytelling and the art are busy enough to keep my interest.

A smattering of ads and a few old cover reprints fill in some space.  The Snail Factory ad was intriguing enough for me to look it up, but a quick view didn’t show me much.  While I’ve liked how the mag has looked for the past months, clean and concise, there’s some uncertainty of what the future holds for the print magazine.  I remain hopeful for its continued existence.