You Are Not Alone is a comic anthology from GrayHaven Comics. GrayHaven Comics gives budding creators an avenue to publishing with its The Gathering anthologies and other comics. You Are Not Alone was created in a response to the recent mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut, as a way to address bullying and alienation experienced by kids. It was presented as a Kickstarter project in 2012 to generate funds to publish copies to distribute in schools. Advance copies were made available late last year, and it's planned to be published soon.
http://www.grayhavencomics.com/2014/01/02/happy-new-year/
It's a noble and worthwhile effort. With over 40 stories by dozens of creators, I won't try to review them all. As a contribution based anthology, there is a wide range of style, content, and quality. They are grouped in topics of Depression/Suicide, Homophobia, Racism, Abuse, Violence, and Bullying. Each section is followed by a list of support resources.
The stories and art vary widely, from simplistic or incomprehensible, to rich and evocative, but it covers so much ground in topics that growing kids can relate to, and use to integrate their experiences into their growing lives, that I must recommend it. I have high hopes that this will be a continuing effort to raise consciousness of people to the needs of young people, and indeed all people.
A couple stories I liked stand out. Elaine's Story by Elaine Will is a deeply personal account of the author's struggles with depression, and her success. Story from the Desert by Ronald Montgomery and illustrated by Lars Kramhoft was a frightening story of flight from abuse, with barely a happy ending. Here's Looking at You by Ebersole/Gable was nice to see and read, with a more nuanced look at its topic than many others. Forward was a well-crafted story spanning decades linking good deeds.
Many more stories are good, and all of them have valuable qualities. This deserves more attention than I give it. I hope my simple words can encourage others to seek this out and use it to help themselves and others to grow as individuals and societies. We have come so far and have so far to go.
YANA was brought to my attention by Intone Flux, like myself a former denizen of the departed HM website message boards. Thanks for the tip IF.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Heavy Metal #265
This one showed up at the bookstore a couple weeks after release, but I got it easy enough, and now I'm just getting to the review.
This is another Dave Elliot Monster Massacre Special, as announced on the table of contents rather than the cover. There are actually monsters inside. I haven't been too excited about the Dave E issues, though in this case I liked having a couple returning comics and artists; the familiarity with style and characters let me look past first impressions and find things to enjoy. I also like serials in this way, so I'd be happy to see a bit more of this.
Cover by Dave Wilkins - 5 - It looks ok, the babe-posing-in-some-getup is nice enough, but the dull tones and plain white logo keep it subdued. The swords from somewhere else and use of this imagery inside detracted from my impressions. The tagline is back to The World's Greatest Illustrated Magazine.
Gallery - The Other Dead by many including Mr Eastman - 5 - I'd read some bits about this but didn't look too far. I'm not so keen on zombies and I'm still kind of baffled about why they're so popular, and zombie animals are less intriguing. The images and the puffery displayed here don't change my mind much, but I suppose I can see how it could be fun to do. It is nice to see something from Mr Eastman even if it is still turtles (or are those tortoises?).
Carpe Diem by Rauf, Marcellius, and Yuwono - 6 - This is an example of being able to enjoy this more by being familiar with the, um, franchise. If I understand that the cartoony look and hokey storytelling are part of its charm I can be less annoyed. If anything, this story is the cheesiest of all these I've seen, but it's nice to look at, I like creative panel arrangements, and it's a fun read.
The Lottery Party by Richard Caldwell - 7 - An interesting essay on Gladiator, by Philip Wylie. Mr Caldwell states that the 1930 novel's protagonist Hugo Danner has superhuman strength and is the basis for superhero characters, but that Hugo also differs from them in all-too-human ways. An intriguing discussion here touching roots of science fiction and pop culture history and myth. I may need to read this.
Tales of the Buddha (before he got enlightened) by Alan Grant and Jon Haward - 4 - I can imagine this is an idea that could have some humor in it, but I didn't care for this one, to me it was not witty and barely funny. This is from a book offered at renegadeartsentertainment.com. In the sales pitch it mentions a Bisely pinup in it. I'll probably never see it.
Gallery by Mark A Nelson - 7 - a handful of richly detailed pinups, with pretty women and mystical themes, and a couple enormous headdresses.
the Garden by Marc A Nelson (syc) - 7 - (not sure what the syc in the credit means) a sample of very different work from the Gallery from Mr Nelson. In a strange desert wasteland, a small band tracks, wounds, tortures, and kills a woman. Then that night, she melds to the odd stone pillar she's tied to, and emerges as a warrior goddess, with a giant headdress, and slaughters the band. She then plucks mushrooms from her body, plants them on their corpses, and they grow into more odd stone pillars. She then disintegrates and disperses in the wind. I liked the colored line art, it very much reminded me of Caza's work in style and imagery, and while the story and its telling were less than intriguing to me, I enjoyed seeing it a great deal.
We Are LEGION by Elliot, Gastonny, and Yuwono - 6 - More returning creators. Every now and then the art has something I'll enjoy, but mostly I don't care for it. The line drawing is sometimes misproportioned, the coloring and shadowing seems to clash rather than complement the lines. The backgrounds are spare, and the bits of misaligned pasted-onto-it stuff, like store signs and t-shirt logos, are pretty annoying. However, I liked the story, so I dealt with it. Though a couple parts were kind of thin, I liked the storytelling and the way it finished with something of a twist.
Dravn 1805: From the Depths by Negron, Elliot, Prasetrya, Putch, Aji - 6 - I wanted to like this more, I had a feel for the franchise from previous Dravn installments. The story has some depth and the telling is dramatic and fast-paced, but there are also thin characterizations and erratic jumps in time. And I'm letting it bug me that he leaves his mother on the floor as he goes to seek his revenge, I think that could have been done better. I have similar feelings about the art. The composition and creative panel arrangement are appealing, but the detail is sometimes sparse and the technique can seem sketchy and unrefined at times. I did like the last page, after the end, with the montage of old maps and weapons, the change in style helped my overall impression.
Fenris by Elliot and Wilkins - 6 - I liked the story's attempt to mix myths, if I knew more about the myths I might enjoy it more. There's some good action and mayhem in the art. I had to read through it a few times to appreciate it as much as I did though. The art was uneven, it had some spots that lacked detail and perhaps effort, and a few images crafted so lovingly, they were used a couple times (including the cover) that diminished the overall impact for me. I get some encouragement from the implication of more installments, but I don't know that we'll see them.
depthRadius - Sunstone - 5 - a review/press release about a BDSM comic. The couple pinups showed some skill, but the text was just fluffing the comic, and this didn't increase my meager interest in the subject.
Maximum Force by Elliot, Firmansyah, Mashuri - 6 - A couple washed-up superheroes watch a superhero movie. A lighthearted and slight story, with pretty good art.
Gallery - Zombie War by Eastman, Talbot, Pattison - 5 - a promo for a Zombie War comic. A couple quotes from Mr Eastman, hinting at this being a re-released color version of something from a couple decades back, are the most interesting parts of this for me.
Back Cover by Mark A Nelson - 7 - another pinup with a large headdress and fine detail. Nicer than many.
So not much here that will stand out in my memories of Heavy Metal, but overall a pretty solid issue. Keep 'em coming. Looking forward to #266.
This is another Dave Elliot Monster Massacre Special, as announced on the table of contents rather than the cover. There are actually monsters inside. I haven't been too excited about the Dave E issues, though in this case I liked having a couple returning comics and artists; the familiarity with style and characters let me look past first impressions and find things to enjoy. I also like serials in this way, so I'd be happy to see a bit more of this.
Cover by Dave Wilkins - 5 - It looks ok, the babe-posing-in-some-getup is nice enough, but the dull tones and plain white logo keep it subdued. The swords from somewhere else and use of this imagery inside detracted from my impressions. The tagline is back to The World's Greatest Illustrated Magazine.
Gallery - The Other Dead by many including Mr Eastman - 5 - I'd read some bits about this but didn't look too far. I'm not so keen on zombies and I'm still kind of baffled about why they're so popular, and zombie animals are less intriguing. The images and the puffery displayed here don't change my mind much, but I suppose I can see how it could be fun to do. It is nice to see something from Mr Eastman even if it is still turtles (or are those tortoises?).
Carpe Diem by Rauf, Marcellius, and Yuwono - 6 - This is an example of being able to enjoy this more by being familiar with the, um, franchise. If I understand that the cartoony look and hokey storytelling are part of its charm I can be less annoyed. If anything, this story is the cheesiest of all these I've seen, but it's nice to look at, I like creative panel arrangements, and it's a fun read.
The Lottery Party by Richard Caldwell - 7 - An interesting essay on Gladiator, by Philip Wylie. Mr Caldwell states that the 1930 novel's protagonist Hugo Danner has superhuman strength and is the basis for superhero characters, but that Hugo also differs from them in all-too-human ways. An intriguing discussion here touching roots of science fiction and pop culture history and myth. I may need to read this.
Tales of the Buddha (before he got enlightened) by Alan Grant and Jon Haward - 4 - I can imagine this is an idea that could have some humor in it, but I didn't care for this one, to me it was not witty and barely funny. This is from a book offered at renegadeartsentertainment.com. In the sales pitch it mentions a Bisely pinup in it. I'll probably never see it.
Gallery by Mark A Nelson - 7 - a handful of richly detailed pinups, with pretty women and mystical themes, and a couple enormous headdresses.
the Garden by Marc A Nelson (syc) - 7 - (not sure what the syc in the credit means) a sample of very different work from the Gallery from Mr Nelson. In a strange desert wasteland, a small band tracks, wounds, tortures, and kills a woman. Then that night, she melds to the odd stone pillar she's tied to, and emerges as a warrior goddess, with a giant headdress, and slaughters the band. She then plucks mushrooms from her body, plants them on their corpses, and they grow into more odd stone pillars. She then disintegrates and disperses in the wind. I liked the colored line art, it very much reminded me of Caza's work in style and imagery, and while the story and its telling were less than intriguing to me, I enjoyed seeing it a great deal.
We Are LEGION by Elliot, Gastonny, and Yuwono - 6 - More returning creators. Every now and then the art has something I'll enjoy, but mostly I don't care for it. The line drawing is sometimes misproportioned, the coloring and shadowing seems to clash rather than complement the lines. The backgrounds are spare, and the bits of misaligned pasted-onto-it stuff, like store signs and t-shirt logos, are pretty annoying. However, I liked the story, so I dealt with it. Though a couple parts were kind of thin, I liked the storytelling and the way it finished with something of a twist.
Dravn 1805: From the Depths by Negron, Elliot, Prasetrya, Putch, Aji - 6 - I wanted to like this more, I had a feel for the franchise from previous Dravn installments. The story has some depth and the telling is dramatic and fast-paced, but there are also thin characterizations and erratic jumps in time. And I'm letting it bug me that he leaves his mother on the floor as he goes to seek his revenge, I think that could have been done better. I have similar feelings about the art. The composition and creative panel arrangement are appealing, but the detail is sometimes sparse and the technique can seem sketchy and unrefined at times. I did like the last page, after the end, with the montage of old maps and weapons, the change in style helped my overall impression.
Fenris by Elliot and Wilkins - 6 - I liked the story's attempt to mix myths, if I knew more about the myths I might enjoy it more. There's some good action and mayhem in the art. I had to read through it a few times to appreciate it as much as I did though. The art was uneven, it had some spots that lacked detail and perhaps effort, and a few images crafted so lovingly, they were used a couple times (including the cover) that diminished the overall impact for me. I get some encouragement from the implication of more installments, but I don't know that we'll see them.
depthRadius - Sunstone - 5 - a review/press release about a BDSM comic. The couple pinups showed some skill, but the text was just fluffing the comic, and this didn't increase my meager interest in the subject.
Maximum Force by Elliot, Firmansyah, Mashuri - 6 - A couple washed-up superheroes watch a superhero movie. A lighthearted and slight story, with pretty good art.
Gallery - Zombie War by Eastman, Talbot, Pattison - 5 - a promo for a Zombie War comic. A couple quotes from Mr Eastman, hinting at this being a re-released color version of something from a couple decades back, are the most interesting parts of this for me.
Back Cover by Mark A Nelson - 7 - another pinup with a large headdress and fine detail. Nicer than many.
So not much here that will stand out in my memories of Heavy Metal, but overall a pretty solid issue. Keep 'em coming. Looking forward to #266.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Heavy Metal dot com
I noticed a couple recent changes to the official HM website (maybe not so recent, but I just noticed).
The obvious development is the offer for all available back issues, 222 magazines, for $890. Since the current issue is #265, it's apparent this wouldn't get you a complete set. A quick look shows that there are 3 issues from the 1970s available, of the 33 issues that were produced then. This would seem to be the biggest gap in this offering. A few others I can think of are some of the specials like the Best Ofs and the first Erotic Special. I was glad to see they have all the numbered issues, including #263 which I thought had sold out.
Still, if someone wanted to start a collection, and had the means, this would be a good start. Some of those early issues are pretty expensive on the open market though. (while I was lucky to find an almost complete 1977-1985 set in a resale shop for $200 when I started, I still probably came close to the $890 to complete it. And of course I'm spending $8 each at the bookstore every couple months.)
There are also offers of recent issues as digital downloads. Perhaps this is "the wave of the future" but it's not something I will pursue. The paper magazine, the fact that it still exists, and that I can hold 30+ year old paper in my hands to read, is a big part of the appeal for me, as well as the high quality print and imagery it offers. If HM ever goes all-digital it'll lose me. I'm not old-school, I'm just old.
I did notice that the archives have been removed, so all the old Biz and Buzz, I Shot my Wife, broken links to Eyebrow Tuna videos, the long interview with Mr Eastman from the 90s, are lost to us. I'm sure they got little traffic. Also, I'd seen the link to Gates had dropped off the front page, but it's now in the Just for Fun. Of course, nothing's happened there for almost a year.
So, things change, some will be missed, some new things will be enjoyed, some will be disdained. F-book? pffft. While the shutdown of the old HM website forums pissed me off enough to start this blog (and what a miserable little thing this is) I know that nothing lasts forever. Part of my interest in HM, besides the memories of my misspent youth it brings back, is how it still exists, thanks to Mr Eastman, and wondering if it will continue. Here's hoping, and looking forward to #266 and more Animal'z.
The obvious development is the offer for all available back issues, 222 magazines, for $890. Since the current issue is #265, it's apparent this wouldn't get you a complete set. A quick look shows that there are 3 issues from the 1970s available, of the 33 issues that were produced then. This would seem to be the biggest gap in this offering. A few others I can think of are some of the specials like the Best Ofs and the first Erotic Special. I was glad to see they have all the numbered issues, including #263 which I thought had sold out.
Still, if someone wanted to start a collection, and had the means, this would be a good start. Some of those early issues are pretty expensive on the open market though. (while I was lucky to find an almost complete 1977-1985 set in a resale shop for $200 when I started, I still probably came close to the $890 to complete it. And of course I'm spending $8 each at the bookstore every couple months.)
There are also offers of recent issues as digital downloads. Perhaps this is "the wave of the future" but it's not something I will pursue. The paper magazine, the fact that it still exists, and that I can hold 30+ year old paper in my hands to read, is a big part of the appeal for me, as well as the high quality print and imagery it offers. If HM ever goes all-digital it'll lose me. I'm not old-school, I'm just old.
I did notice that the archives have been removed, so all the old Biz and Buzz, I Shot my Wife, broken links to Eyebrow Tuna videos, the long interview with Mr Eastman from the 90s, are lost to us. I'm sure they got little traffic. Also, I'd seen the link to Gates had dropped off the front page, but it's now in the Just for Fun. Of course, nothing's happened there for almost a year.
So, things change, some will be missed, some new things will be enjoyed, some will be disdained. F-book? pffft. While the shutdown of the old HM website forums pissed me off enough to start this blog (and what a miserable little thing this is) I know that nothing lasts forever. Part of my interest in HM, besides the memories of my misspent youth it brings back, is how it still exists, thanks to Mr Eastman, and wondering if it will continue. Here's hoping, and looking forward to #266 and more Animal'z.
Friday, November 22, 2013
XTIN again
Jeremy Ray has started again on XTIN. This is apparently to be a sequel to XTIN: The Dragon's Dream World, which I thought was inscrutable and terrific:
jrxtin.deviantart.com
It's just a few pages in, but it looks neat and interesting. It's in color, mostly blues and blacks so far. One of the things I enjoyed the most about the previous TDDW was the black and white art, which was at once stark and dramatic. In this case the color makes it look quite different than the previous installment. I think it demonstrates that Mr Ray has some artistic range to work with, and I'm happy he's sharing it with us.
A disadvantage to being on deviantart is that sign-in is required to view get past the mature content filter. I'm not sure if I will sign up just to see a couple images. Besides this minor annoyance, I'm glad Mr Ray has started this again and I hope that deviantart is a good platform that helps provide the exposure his work deserves. Go take a look.
jrxtin.deviantart.com
It's just a few pages in, but it looks neat and interesting. It's in color, mostly blues and blacks so far. One of the things I enjoyed the most about the previous TDDW was the black and white art, which was at once stark and dramatic. In this case the color makes it look quite different than the previous installment. I think it demonstrates that Mr Ray has some artistic range to work with, and I'm happy he's sharing it with us.
A disadvantage to being on deviantart is that sign-in is required to view get past the mature content filter. I'm not sure if I will sign up just to see a couple images. Besides this minor annoyance, I'm glad Mr Ray has started this again and I hope that deviantart is a good platform that helps provide the exposure his work deserves. Go take a look.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Heavy Metal #264
So this time was easier, I found the new Heavy Metal a week before I even thought it was coming out. Hope it's so easy the next time.
Cover by Sperlonga - 4 - This may be my least favorite cover ever. The cheesiest pose, the lamest outfit, the poorest execution, it was embarrassing to bring it to the checkout counter. The crotch-wide pose and the goofy straps-and-bullets getup with a cattle skull belt buckle is bad enough, but she's wearing a wristwatch fer cryin' out loud. I can't imagine how that fits in a Western themed cover. Sperlonga is such a good artist it's depressing that I've disliked so many of his covers. The logo has an interesting treatment, with a larger faded shadow behind the fiery orange letters, and the tagline now reads The World's Foremost Adult Illustrated Magazine, a couple interesting differences this time.
Inside the front cover is a public service ad "Reckless Driving is a Road to Nowhere" which has art that's better than some I've seen in HM. Fortunately, this issue has much higher quality inside than the beginning might suggest.
Animal'z, by Bilal - 9 - It says this is Part 4, hinting that the last three we saw are actually in sequence. Again the blue-gray and black sketch art entices me. The storytelling is still opaque but links to previous installments. Characters interact in mysterious ways but start coming into clearer focus. It ends with "continued in Issue # 266". Having a continuing story from one of the titans of Heavy Metal's history is a delight.
Milk Run, by Burnham and Englert - 4 - The art isn't too bad, and there's lots of death and dismemberment (that's ok, they're just Steezers). The story is about space pirates who attack a drug-running freighter and kill all the Steezer crew, and find the source of the drug is - women! Naked women hanging from weird contraptions sucking their bodily fluids. Naturally they convince the women to reward their rescuers with sex, so they never get any clothes on. Cripes, what dreck. I thought this kind of juvenile and vacuous objectification went out of style in the 80s. It reminds me of the HM 2000 movie, and some of the reasons that it stunk as well.
Gallery, by Sperlonga - 6 - Here Sperlonga's ability shows through. The pinup poses with fantastical outfits are not so interesting to me, but his technique and skill are clear to see. The Odalisque is the most lovely to look at.
Trial and Punishment of Nathan Bort, by Xalabarder - 7 - Xalabarder uses his ability and imagination to tell a story of sexual abuse and retribution. I'm not sure how to view this, I need to rethink my perception of his work. The bad guys get their punishment, but using the images and themes of sexuality and domination in this story of abuse makes me wonder what I really like about Xalabarder. A full page with an insect-woman hybrid sucking the soul from an evildoer in engrossing but disturbing. Kind of like some H.R. Giger I've seen. The ending panel with notable World War I themes indicates, something? Plenty of evil and inhumanity then too, that's for sure. Some characters may recur from previous installments, but I still think we are seeing a fraction of this story.
Agent 88, by Millgate and Millgate - 6 - Perhaps a promo of Mr Mesch's creation, a film apparently. I've seen some f-book chatter about it. Adequate art with a mindless story. Hope the film is better.
Iron First, by Cardoselli - 7 - A bit better than last time. The furious mayhem is a little less pointless and is enhanced by the addition of a couple interesting portraits of the Queen and another pretty woman, and it ends with a fantastical destruction of the world. I like Cardoselli's art and I hope he continues exploring emotions in his stories.
The Age, by Ozkan - 6 - Another mail-order robot wife story, ending with a cave man looking at a cave woman's butt. If it was that easy everyone would be doing it.
Tales of Dead Earth: Helvete, by Christian Krank - 7 - Well whaddya know, another Cthulhu reference in HM. And zombies! It's kind of neat, and it's hard to beat a line like "oily black semen wandered through colon". Maybe it's a series we won't see again, again.
Titan Grave, by Sharam and Woodhead - 7 - I like the CG graphics, but it's hard to see the detail this medium provides when it's so dark. The story rescues a princess, and wonders who is using whom. It says Fragment A, makes me want to think there's more, that I don't think we'll see in HM. It'd be great to be wrong here.
Battlefield X, by Forte - 5 - Lots of guys getting blown up, and an attempt at a statement about the futility of war.
Fiendy, by Becks - 7 - It's such a thin and contrived story, but the telling is so much fun. Cam-roaches coming soon to a foodstand near you. It's nice to see this again, wouldn't mind seeing more again and again.
Artist's Studio, by White - 6 - It's just a pile of fantasy pinups, but they're done well enough to be nice to look at.
The Vapor Cloud, by Terry - 6 - Zombies, but this time, they're space zombies. Perhaps not an imaginative premise, but there's a lot of effort in the story. It's worth seeing.
Orcland, by Calle - 7 - A monster fantasy cooking show, but no zombies. Energetic storytelling and stylish art make this an enjoyable read.
An enjoyable issue with more inside than the cover indicates.
Cover by Sperlonga - 4 - This may be my least favorite cover ever. The cheesiest pose, the lamest outfit, the poorest execution, it was embarrassing to bring it to the checkout counter. The crotch-wide pose and the goofy straps-and-bullets getup with a cattle skull belt buckle is bad enough, but she's wearing a wristwatch fer cryin' out loud. I can't imagine how that fits in a Western themed cover. Sperlonga is such a good artist it's depressing that I've disliked so many of his covers. The logo has an interesting treatment, with a larger faded shadow behind the fiery orange letters, and the tagline now reads The World's Foremost Adult Illustrated Magazine, a couple interesting differences this time.
Inside the front cover is a public service ad "Reckless Driving is a Road to Nowhere" which has art that's better than some I've seen in HM. Fortunately, this issue has much higher quality inside than the beginning might suggest.
Animal'z, by Bilal - 9 - It says this is Part 4, hinting that the last three we saw are actually in sequence. Again the blue-gray and black sketch art entices me. The storytelling is still opaque but links to previous installments. Characters interact in mysterious ways but start coming into clearer focus. It ends with "continued in Issue # 266". Having a continuing story from one of the titans of Heavy Metal's history is a delight.
Milk Run, by Burnham and Englert - 4 - The art isn't too bad, and there's lots of death and dismemberment (that's ok, they're just Steezers). The story is about space pirates who attack a drug-running freighter and kill all the Steezer crew, and find the source of the drug is - women! Naked women hanging from weird contraptions sucking their bodily fluids. Naturally they convince the women to reward their rescuers with sex, so they never get any clothes on. Cripes, what dreck. I thought this kind of juvenile and vacuous objectification went out of style in the 80s. It reminds me of the HM 2000 movie, and some of the reasons that it stunk as well.
Gallery, by Sperlonga - 6 - Here Sperlonga's ability shows through. The pinup poses with fantastical outfits are not so interesting to me, but his technique and skill are clear to see. The Odalisque is the most lovely to look at.
Trial and Punishment of Nathan Bort, by Xalabarder - 7 - Xalabarder uses his ability and imagination to tell a story of sexual abuse and retribution. I'm not sure how to view this, I need to rethink my perception of his work. The bad guys get their punishment, but using the images and themes of sexuality and domination in this story of abuse makes me wonder what I really like about Xalabarder. A full page with an insect-woman hybrid sucking the soul from an evildoer in engrossing but disturbing. Kind of like some H.R. Giger I've seen. The ending panel with notable World War I themes indicates, something? Plenty of evil and inhumanity then too, that's for sure. Some characters may recur from previous installments, but I still think we are seeing a fraction of this story.
Agent 88, by Millgate and Millgate - 6 - Perhaps a promo of Mr Mesch's creation, a film apparently. I've seen some f-book chatter about it. Adequate art with a mindless story. Hope the film is better.
Iron First, by Cardoselli - 7 - A bit better than last time. The furious mayhem is a little less pointless and is enhanced by the addition of a couple interesting portraits of the Queen and another pretty woman, and it ends with a fantastical destruction of the world. I like Cardoselli's art and I hope he continues exploring emotions in his stories.
The Age, by Ozkan - 6 - Another mail-order robot wife story, ending with a cave man looking at a cave woman's butt. If it was that easy everyone would be doing it.
Tales of Dead Earth: Helvete, by Christian Krank - 7 - Well whaddya know, another Cthulhu reference in HM. And zombies! It's kind of neat, and it's hard to beat a line like "oily black semen wandered through colon". Maybe it's a series we won't see again, again.
Titan Grave, by Sharam and Woodhead - 7 - I like the CG graphics, but it's hard to see the detail this medium provides when it's so dark. The story rescues a princess, and wonders who is using whom. It says Fragment A, makes me want to think there's more, that I don't think we'll see in HM. It'd be great to be wrong here.
Battlefield X, by Forte - 5 - Lots of guys getting blown up, and an attempt at a statement about the futility of war.
Fiendy, by Becks - 7 - It's such a thin and contrived story, but the telling is so much fun. Cam-roaches coming soon to a foodstand near you. It's nice to see this again, wouldn't mind seeing more again and again.
Artist's Studio, by White - 6 - It's just a pile of fantasy pinups, but they're done well enough to be nice to look at.
The Vapor Cloud, by Terry - 6 - Zombies, but this time, they're space zombies. Perhaps not an imaginative premise, but there's a lot of effort in the story. It's worth seeing.
Orcland, by Calle - 7 - A monster fantasy cooking show, but no zombies. Energetic storytelling and stylish art make this an enjoyable read.
An enjoyable issue with more inside than the cover indicates.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Walking with Cthulhu
In HM #262, Richard Caldwell's The Lottery Party mentions this book, "Walking with Cthulhu - H.P. Lovecraft as Psychogeographer" by David Haden. I sought it out and found the author offered it for free in a secured .pdf on his website. I got it and read through it and thought I'd mention it here.
The book discusses H.P. Lovecraft's time in New York City. I only know Lovecraft from HM references, such as the H.P. Lovecraft themed issue October 1979, and a couple other stories like "Rats in the Walls" by Corben in March 1999, (and the deified monster Uhluhtc in Den). I was aware of his reputation as a writer, but I don't know his work well.
The book is written for those with a much deeper interest in Lovecraft and his history. It makes plain its focus on his time in New York and speculation on how the environment affected his work. It presumes a depth of interest and knowledge of Lovecraft in the reader that I don't have, and I was often lost in the references to other work and other studies of his life and letters, and the footnotes upon footnotes, sometimes taking more of the page than the text itself. I admit it's a bit amusing to me the level of devotion demonstrated by the author and other Lovecraftian scholars, but my interest in the even more obscure and trivial Heavy Metal is certainly no more noteworthy.
David Haden has produced several other works, including others about Lovecraft. I did admire his effort and diligence in seeking his resources and researching his subject. There are many interesting connections he attempts with the field of "psychogeography", apparently the study of effects of location on the psyche, as well as other work and movements. Frank Boas, surrealism, the Situationalists, the occult, and comic books, are all wound in.
What interested me most was descriptions of New York in Lovecraft's time. NYC only became more interesting to me when someone I know moved there. I've visited a few times since. Having grown up in a big city I'm less than excited about the crowded dirty smelly aspects, but I know that a big city has a lot to offer. It's so active and kinetic that it's easy to forget it hasn't always been so modern. Knowing that NYC has been big and getting bigger for a couple hundred years, and the frankly amazing way millions of people have existed in such a small area, learning a bit about its history was interesting to me. The transportation was transitioning away from horses, and the car had not taken over. The subways are often nasty but fantastically effective at moving many people at all hours. Learning they were only more crowded and dark and disturbing adds to my perceptions.
Also interesting were description of his night walks, the basis for the discussion of psychogeography. Apparently Lovecraft and some groupies would wander the city and gather impressions of mystery and fear. Some of these impressions are believed to have been digested into some of his work. The thought of wandering the streets of NYC at all hours may seen ridiculous, but even in Lovecraft's time, as now, there are parts of the city that are active and bustling at any hour.
So I enjoyed reading through this and learned a few interesting things. The piles of footnotes and references to other research were excess scholarship to me, but I'm sure there are many who would find this valuable and insightful. People with interest in Lovecraft and some of the back alleys of history of New York may find it enjoyable as well.
The book discusses H.P. Lovecraft's time in New York City. I only know Lovecraft from HM references, such as the H.P. Lovecraft themed issue October 1979, and a couple other stories like "Rats in the Walls" by Corben in March 1999, (and the deified monster Uhluhtc in Den). I was aware of his reputation as a writer, but I don't know his work well.
The book is written for those with a much deeper interest in Lovecraft and his history. It makes plain its focus on his time in New York and speculation on how the environment affected his work. It presumes a depth of interest and knowledge of Lovecraft in the reader that I don't have, and I was often lost in the references to other work and other studies of his life and letters, and the footnotes upon footnotes, sometimes taking more of the page than the text itself. I admit it's a bit amusing to me the level of devotion demonstrated by the author and other Lovecraftian scholars, but my interest in the even more obscure and trivial Heavy Metal is certainly no more noteworthy.
David Haden has produced several other works, including others about Lovecraft. I did admire his effort and diligence in seeking his resources and researching his subject. There are many interesting connections he attempts with the field of "psychogeography", apparently the study of effects of location on the psyche, as well as other work and movements. Frank Boas, surrealism, the Situationalists, the occult, and comic books, are all wound in.
What interested me most was descriptions of New York in Lovecraft's time. NYC only became more interesting to me when someone I know moved there. I've visited a few times since. Having grown up in a big city I'm less than excited about the crowded dirty smelly aspects, but I know that a big city has a lot to offer. It's so active and kinetic that it's easy to forget it hasn't always been so modern. Knowing that NYC has been big and getting bigger for a couple hundred years, and the frankly amazing way millions of people have existed in such a small area, learning a bit about its history was interesting to me. The transportation was transitioning away from horses, and the car had not taken over. The subways are often nasty but fantastically effective at moving many people at all hours. Learning they were only more crowded and dark and disturbing adds to my perceptions.
Also interesting were description of his night walks, the basis for the discussion of psychogeography. Apparently Lovecraft and some groupies would wander the city and gather impressions of mystery and fear. Some of these impressions are believed to have been digested into some of his work. The thought of wandering the streets of NYC at all hours may seen ridiculous, but even in Lovecraft's time, as now, there are parts of the city that are active and bustling at any hour.
So I enjoyed reading through this and learned a few interesting things. The piles of footnotes and references to other research were excess scholarship to me, but I'm sure there are many who would find this valuable and insightful. People with interest in Lovecraft and some of the back alleys of history of New York may find it enjoyable as well.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
#263
I finally got #263 about a week ago. I was looking for almost a month. First I misinterpreted the release schedule so I was looking before it was released July 10. Then it was in none of the four bookstores and five comic shops I got to in the next couple weeks. The best they had was still #262 on the shelf. Then it just disappeared from tfaw.com, though they still have #264 and now #265 advertised. I was getting worried I'd need to order it from somewhere, or worse it sold out before I could get one. At last, I stopped at one of the B&N again and there it was. Now in a couple weeks I get to start looking again for #264. I don't really want to subscribe or order online, but I hope it won't be this difficult next time.
Was it worth it? For me it was. I want to keep getting the printed magazine, for as long as it exists. If HM ever goes electronic-only it'll lose me. Flipping though pages and perusing the details on the printed pages is one of the things I really enjoy about reading HM. I need glasses to do it now, but it's what I like. The experience of reading on a screen does not compare. I'm behind the times, and I can't argue with the power of electronic media, and I do miss the free .pdf samples, but the paper mag is what I like.
I will say I like the ad for t-shirts on the website, "the most incredible T-shirts in this galaxy". It's reprised from the magazine ad in the 70s, which also used to say the HM logo was "flocked as thick as your little finger." On this version they replaced the logos on the photo with a newer chrome version and did it pretty nicely.
With that, to the review:
Cover - 7 - This looks better on paper in my hands than it did on the screen. A somewhat classical composition, angelically gazing skyward, flowing robes, drawing a sword. And a toned and ample abdomen. Michael C. Hayes also has a gallery in this issue and he seems to like this part of a woman, and I don't mind it a bit.
Inside the front cover is an ad for a Star Trek action figure that "Features Interchangeable Parts!" (it's Spock). Funny that there's no indication of price or even how to get one but for a small website address at the bottom. I guess if you have to ask you can't afford it. Contrasting is the opposite ad on the next page for HM subscriptions with numbers and dollar signs all over, and even a cut-out order slip. Does anyone actually still do that? How many of these could HM receive in a year? (Though people did. It happens that the bulk of the mags in my collection are from a nearly complete set I came upon soon after I started collecting them. Every so often one of them is missing an order slip. Usually the other side of the cutout missing isn't a big deal, unless it's Rock Opera or something. Argh.)
Animal'z - 8 - After over a year, another installment of this Bilal creation. It may even be continuous with the first two we saw in HM. This story seems to have been released in a book in French. I like the sketchpad art even more than before. The storytelling is even more obtuse. People on boats, half zebra horses, a flipper for a foot. It says continued next issue again. Be still my heart, I can hardly wait.
Project Sefiroth - 5 - A couple geared-up people in a post-civilization wasteland fighting inhuman creatures, with the text as some poetic lament. It's incomprehensible enough for me to like it, but I don't care for the art.
Gallery - 7 - Michael C. Hayes shares some more of his work and a nice autobio. Excellent technique, a bit static sometimes, but I do like the warrior angel women. But the arrow is usually on the other side of the bow.
Beginning and Ending - 7 - Parts One and Two. Pretty nicely shaded black and white line art, and a story of power and supernatural intrigue. A setting resembling feudal Japan, a monk and lost child and warrior, a confrontation with dark forces. It says to be continued. These guys don't know about having the arrow on the other side of the bow either, but they seem to be pretty good shots anyway.
The Nature of Things - 6 - In a future civilization, a candidate Drwn from the citizenry meets the ruling elders, for a chance to join them. In a surprising way, Drwn "evolves" into a ruler. The art is just ok. The story is just better.
The Eternity is Only an Instant - 7 - In this story a guy is killed in an accident, then searches eternity for God to find out why. He does but he doesn't. But he gets to wait for his beloved for eternity, but it's only an instant. This manages to cover a lot of ground in just a few pages. The art is ok, some of it is nice.
Megarobot - 5 - Giant Killer Robot and not much else.
The Axe - 6 - Told pretty well, the art is mostly ok. But it's such an absurd perspective for a protagonist (and not in a good way). Like she's really gonna wanna just do ya right after you revive her from death? Again?
Artist's Studio - 6 - Rafael Rivera displays his abilities with some of his work. I like some of the absurd and surreal stuff. The caricatures look well done but are less interesting to me.
The Asencion - 7 - The art looks good. The story tells of humanity's majority selling their lives, to alien enslavement, by degrees. Might be some social commentary in there too. I thought Asencion in the Contents was a typo again until I saw it was spelled that way in the story.
The Nephthys Chronicles - Star Light, Star Bright - 6 - Interesting but thin, but pretty. Might be more of them, don't know that we'll see any though.
Not too bad, hope it's easier getting the next one.
Was it worth it? For me it was. I want to keep getting the printed magazine, for as long as it exists. If HM ever goes electronic-only it'll lose me. Flipping though pages and perusing the details on the printed pages is one of the things I really enjoy about reading HM. I need glasses to do it now, but it's what I like. The experience of reading on a screen does not compare. I'm behind the times, and I can't argue with the power of electronic media, and I do miss the free .pdf samples, but the paper mag is what I like.
I will say I like the ad for t-shirts on the website, "the most incredible T-shirts in this galaxy". It's reprised from the magazine ad in the 70s, which also used to say the HM logo was "flocked as thick as your little finger." On this version they replaced the logos on the photo with a newer chrome version and did it pretty nicely.
With that, to the review:
Cover - 7 - This looks better on paper in my hands than it did on the screen. A somewhat classical composition, angelically gazing skyward, flowing robes, drawing a sword. And a toned and ample abdomen. Michael C. Hayes also has a gallery in this issue and he seems to like this part of a woman, and I don't mind it a bit.
Inside the front cover is an ad for a Star Trek action figure that "Features Interchangeable Parts!" (it's Spock). Funny that there's no indication of price or even how to get one but for a small website address at the bottom. I guess if you have to ask you can't afford it. Contrasting is the opposite ad on the next page for HM subscriptions with numbers and dollar signs all over, and even a cut-out order slip. Does anyone actually still do that? How many of these could HM receive in a year? (Though people did. It happens that the bulk of the mags in my collection are from a nearly complete set I came upon soon after I started collecting them. Every so often one of them is missing an order slip. Usually the other side of the cutout missing isn't a big deal, unless it's Rock Opera or something. Argh.)
Animal'z - 8 - After over a year, another installment of this Bilal creation. It may even be continuous with the first two we saw in HM. This story seems to have been released in a book in French. I like the sketchpad art even more than before. The storytelling is even more obtuse. People on boats, half zebra horses, a flipper for a foot. It says continued next issue again. Be still my heart, I can hardly wait.
Project Sefiroth - 5 - A couple geared-up people in a post-civilization wasteland fighting inhuman creatures, with the text as some poetic lament. It's incomprehensible enough for me to like it, but I don't care for the art.
Gallery - 7 - Michael C. Hayes shares some more of his work and a nice autobio. Excellent technique, a bit static sometimes, but I do like the warrior angel women. But the arrow is usually on the other side of the bow.
Beginning and Ending - 7 - Parts One and Two. Pretty nicely shaded black and white line art, and a story of power and supernatural intrigue. A setting resembling feudal Japan, a monk and lost child and warrior, a confrontation with dark forces. It says to be continued. These guys don't know about having the arrow on the other side of the bow either, but they seem to be pretty good shots anyway.
The Nature of Things - 6 - In a future civilization, a candidate Drwn from the citizenry meets the ruling elders, for a chance to join them. In a surprising way, Drwn "evolves" into a ruler. The art is just ok. The story is just better.
The Eternity is Only an Instant - 7 - In this story a guy is killed in an accident, then searches eternity for God to find out why. He does but he doesn't. But he gets to wait for his beloved for eternity, but it's only an instant. This manages to cover a lot of ground in just a few pages. The art is ok, some of it is nice.
Megarobot - 5 - Giant Killer Robot and not much else.
The Axe - 6 - Told pretty well, the art is mostly ok. But it's such an absurd perspective for a protagonist (and not in a good way). Like she's really gonna wanna just do ya right after you revive her from death? Again?
Artist's Studio - 6 - Rafael Rivera displays his abilities with some of his work. I like some of the absurd and surreal stuff. The caricatures look well done but are less interesting to me.
The Asencion - 7 - The art looks good. The story tells of humanity's majority selling their lives, to alien enslavement, by degrees. Might be some social commentary in there too. I thought Asencion in the Contents was a typo again until I saw it was spelled that way in the story.
The Nephthys Chronicles - Star Light, Star Bright - 6 - Interesting but thin, but pretty. Might be more of them, don't know that we'll see any though.
Not too bad, hope it's easier getting the next one.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Kranburn #7
I got the digital copy of Kranburn #7 a couple weeks ago, and I just ordered paper copies of #5, #6, and #7 too, so I'm looking forward to seeing them.
Since the comic releases are now almost a full issue ahead of the webcomic, I was concerned about writing a review that would spoil too much for webcomic readers, so I'll be even more vague than usual. I will say that the story embarks in such a new direction that it makes me think Kranburn will be going on for a long time, instead of wrapping the story up in a couple more issues. Now I sure could be wrong about that, but so much is added to the story that could be built on, it could go on for many more months. I hope that's a good thing, we'll see.
The cover is another scene of a heavily geared-up post-apoc warrior, more straps and studs and buckles, and giant knives. I'm odd in that it makes me think it must take forever to get dressed to go out in the wasteland, and it's funny to me that there's an "Alright, let's gear up and be on our way." in the story.
The story starts with a neat overhead view of a barricaded compound, noted as "Berrik, nine days ago." Interesting way to start, and it was my first clue that this was not the last issue. It's a nicely detailed scene that's actually rotated for the landscape page view.
From webcomic comments this is apparently based on an actual place in an actual town (Berwick?). There are some things in the depiction of the town that get me thinking about how they could do that in the barbarous time of civilization's end in this story, like put up reinforced concrete wall panels for the barricades. I shouldn't worry so much about this, or where they get fuel or ammunition, and giant knives, and just enjoy the story.
Brand is just leaving Berrick after some trading, apparently part of his travels prior to the eventful return to Kranburn that started Kranburn #1. On the way out of the compound he meets John, who's a scout for Berrik just returning on his motorcycle, with giant face scars. As they part company, and the story moves beyond the webcomic postings, I'll just say that there's quite little of Brand in this story, and much of characters we just meet, or hardly know. The story proceeds with some of these people showing us yet another sleazy underworld market in this miserable future, and explores yet another way to show humans' capacity for cruelty to other humans.
The time shift to before the series' beginning was surprising but it makes me think there's potential to enrich the story overall (also potential to muck it up). There are interesting ties to previous issues, that present some answers and even more questions about the story and where it may go. I liked this issue a great deal for its usually nice aspects of stark art and brutal storytelling, and for the expanded scope of what it's trying to tell.
The unfolding of this expansion of the story could be excellent, or it could confuse and complicate things such that it may be impossible to write an ending. Maybe even both. I'm leaning towards excellent, hope I'm right.
Since the comic releases are now almost a full issue ahead of the webcomic, I was concerned about writing a review that would spoil too much for webcomic readers, so I'll be even more vague than usual. I will say that the story embarks in such a new direction that it makes me think Kranburn will be going on for a long time, instead of wrapping the story up in a couple more issues. Now I sure could be wrong about that, but so much is added to the story that could be built on, it could go on for many more months. I hope that's a good thing, we'll see.
The cover is another scene of a heavily geared-up post-apoc warrior, more straps and studs and buckles, and giant knives. I'm odd in that it makes me think it must take forever to get dressed to go out in the wasteland, and it's funny to me that there's an "Alright, let's gear up and be on our way." in the story.
The story starts with a neat overhead view of a barricaded compound, noted as "Berrik, nine days ago." Interesting way to start, and it was my first clue that this was not the last issue. It's a nicely detailed scene that's actually rotated for the landscape page view.
From webcomic comments this is apparently based on an actual place in an actual town (Berwick?). There are some things in the depiction of the town that get me thinking about how they could do that in the barbarous time of civilization's end in this story, like put up reinforced concrete wall panels for the barricades. I shouldn't worry so much about this, or where they get fuel or ammunition, and giant knives, and just enjoy the story.
Brand is just leaving Berrick after some trading, apparently part of his travels prior to the eventful return to Kranburn that started Kranburn #1. On the way out of the compound he meets John, who's a scout for Berrik just returning on his motorcycle, with giant face scars. As they part company, and the story moves beyond the webcomic postings, I'll just say that there's quite little of Brand in this story, and much of characters we just meet, or hardly know. The story proceeds with some of these people showing us yet another sleazy underworld market in this miserable future, and explores yet another way to show humans' capacity for cruelty to other humans.
The time shift to before the series' beginning was surprising but it makes me think there's potential to enrich the story overall (also potential to muck it up). There are interesting ties to previous issues, that present some answers and even more questions about the story and where it may go. I liked this issue a great deal for its usually nice aspects of stark art and brutal storytelling, and for the expanded scope of what it's trying to tell.
The unfolding of this expansion of the story could be excellent, or it could confuse and complicate things such that it may be impossible to write an ending. Maybe even both. I'm leaning towards excellent, hope I'm right.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Changes
Some significant changes in my HM multiverse.
Happily, Tex Arcana was recently updated, the 4th book is now up to 346 pages. In that Mr Findley indicated he may not ever work on it again (too busy with actual paying work) I am thrilled to see even this addition of a couple pages. Mysterious and foreboding pages they are, too. It's wonderful to see. I hope there will be more to come, but even if not Mr Findley has my gratitude for sharing this work. You should go to texarcana.com and seek out Book 4, and read it, all of it, really you should.
Unhappily, Jeremy Ray seems to have pulled the plug on XTIN. The web page and the SmackJeeves and Comic Fury pages it linked to, and his Deviant Art pages, have all disappeared. While he completed the posting of XTIN The Dragon's Dream World, his attempts at XTIN2, first as comic, then as prose work, displeased him and he quit them, and now seems to have quit altogether. He made statements about wanting fame, and it seems the small audience he was able to reach was inadequate. I have more regrets about this loss. I thought XTIN's art was excellent and the storytelling fascinating, but Mr Ray's complaints stirred feelings in me more of pity than empathy. I hope he finds what he wants and gets what he needs from his work and his life.
Waiting for the next Kranburn, should be any day now, and the next HM in a couple weeks.
(edit) Mr Ray has indicated that he will try again to publish XTIN. I'd really like that, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Happily, Tex Arcana was recently updated, the 4th book is now up to 346 pages. In that Mr Findley indicated he may not ever work on it again (too busy with actual paying work) I am thrilled to see even this addition of a couple pages. Mysterious and foreboding pages they are, too. It's wonderful to see. I hope there will be more to come, but even if not Mr Findley has my gratitude for sharing this work. You should go to texarcana.com and seek out Book 4, and read it, all of it, really you should.
Unhappily, Jeremy Ray seems to have pulled the plug on XTIN. The web page and the SmackJeeves and Comic Fury pages it linked to, and his Deviant Art pages, have all disappeared. While he completed the posting of XTIN The Dragon's Dream World, his attempts at XTIN2, first as comic, then as prose work, displeased him and he quit them, and now seems to have quit altogether. He made statements about wanting fame, and it seems the small audience he was able to reach was inadequate. I have more regrets about this loss. I thought XTIN's art was excellent and the storytelling fascinating, but Mr Ray's complaints stirred feelings in me more of pity than empathy. I hope he finds what he wants and gets what he needs from his work and his life.
Waiting for the next Kranburn, should be any day now, and the next HM in a couple weeks.
(edit) Mr Ray has indicated that he will try again to publish XTIN. I'd really like that, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
#262
"Full Issue Super Special Featuring Dravn", more like full issue Dave Elliot special, again. It seems Mr Elliot is building another layered and well crafted story line, but will we see more of it in HM? I'm not optimistic. I may be in the minority, but Heavy Metal is pretty much the only comic I buy, besides Kranburn since I like it so much, and the occasional resale shop find, so I'm not likely to get other mags to follow this story. (though I admit that BiLL's link to Metal Hurlant issues has intrigued me, I'm thinking about seeking these out. they're similar and somewhat related to HM.) Anyway,
Cover - 7.5 - I like the flip cover, the front graphic has a lot to offer, it's more than a pinup, it does a lot with a watercolor-ish look, and they drive giant robots. The back looks nice and promotes one of the inside stories. Both have logos, the front shiny metal with flat head screws, and the back has a heat convection effect that fits with the scene. I'm letting "The World's Greatest Illustrated Magazine" tagline bug me though.
Dravn Creedo - 4 - Pompous, and it's spelled "credo"
Dravn History - 7 - kind of cool dossier type presentation
Dravn Gallery - 5 - I'd rather be shown than told. And there's a Dravn 1942 but the story is Dravn 1918, more on my confusion later.
Dravn 2001: Girl of Sorrows - 6 - In two parts, art's ok, like all these the writing is pretty good, this story doesn't offer me much though.
Dravn 1918: Two Masters - 7 - I like the art since it reminds me of Rod Kierkegaard, even though some of the perspectives are a bit off it's still rich and intriguing. I'm confused though, the story looks like it's WWI , but it ends with a pretty neat looking 1943 newspaper headline about D-Day Lost! It's such an unexpected time span, and D-Day was in 1944? Apparently his history is not ours.
Dravn 1541: Brotherly Love - 5 - a few nice bits but the "I Love You Mother" and the 60 ft in the air battle scenes seemed hackneyed.
Dravn 520: Kingdom on Earth - 3 - the art is nice looking, but the writing has too many cute humor attempts for its remaining quality to overcome. And the Citizen Behavioral Mandate was terrible, it looked nothing like a written pronouncement and everything like a kid playing with text fonts. Center justified? sheesh.
I was very amused by the announcement of 4 Horsemen winning Best Orginal Graphic Novel. Spelling errors in HM are nothing new but I found this one funny.
Dravn 1604: Above All Names - 4 - I'm not fond of the art.
the lottery party - 7 - two entries. I like how this offers a break from the Dravn, and the one about the book on H.P. Lovecraft in New York was interesting to me. NYC only got more interesting to me when someone I know went there and I've visited. I don't like it, but like all big cities it has a lot to offer and a deep history if you care to look for it. I'm not a huge Lovecraft fan but I'm amused by fans' depth of interest. Turns out the book author's blog has the book for free.
Dravn 2169: I Am - 7 - I think I like this story the most, maybe it's the sentient robot gaining awareness.
So I thought this was an ok issue, a few nice parts and a few poor parts. I'll be disappointed if we get many more of these Dave Elliot specials that do little more than promote other work, but I might change my tune if we get some repeat installments of some stories, even a serial or two. The internet thinks we may see some Bilal again soon , I hope so.
Cover - 7.5 - I like the flip cover, the front graphic has a lot to offer, it's more than a pinup, it does a lot with a watercolor-ish look, and they drive giant robots. The back looks nice and promotes one of the inside stories. Both have logos, the front shiny metal with flat head screws, and the back has a heat convection effect that fits with the scene. I'm letting "The World's Greatest Illustrated Magazine" tagline bug me though.
Dravn Creedo - 4 - Pompous, and it's spelled "credo"
Dravn History - 7 - kind of cool dossier type presentation
Dravn Gallery - 5 - I'd rather be shown than told. And there's a Dravn 1942 but the story is Dravn 1918, more on my confusion later.
Dravn 2001: Girl of Sorrows - 6 - In two parts, art's ok, like all these the writing is pretty good, this story doesn't offer me much though.
Dravn 1918: Two Masters - 7 - I like the art since it reminds me of Rod Kierkegaard, even though some of the perspectives are a bit off it's still rich and intriguing. I'm confused though, the story looks like it's WWI , but it ends with a pretty neat looking 1943 newspaper headline about D-Day Lost! It's such an unexpected time span, and D-Day was in 1944? Apparently his history is not ours.
Dravn 1541: Brotherly Love - 5 - a few nice bits but the "I Love You Mother" and the 60 ft in the air battle scenes seemed hackneyed.
Dravn 520: Kingdom on Earth - 3 - the art is nice looking, but the writing has too many cute humor attempts for its remaining quality to overcome. And the Citizen Behavioral Mandate was terrible, it looked nothing like a written pronouncement and everything like a kid playing with text fonts. Center justified? sheesh.
I was very amused by the announcement of 4 Horsemen winning Best Orginal Graphic Novel. Spelling errors in HM are nothing new but I found this one funny.
Dravn 1604: Above All Names - 4 - I'm not fond of the art.
the lottery party - 7 - two entries. I like how this offers a break from the Dravn, and the one about the book on H.P. Lovecraft in New York was interesting to me. NYC only got more interesting to me when someone I know went there and I've visited. I don't like it, but like all big cities it has a lot to offer and a deep history if you care to look for it. I'm not a huge Lovecraft fan but I'm amused by fans' depth of interest. Turns out the book author's blog has the book for free.
Dravn 2169: I Am - 7 - I think I like this story the most, maybe it's the sentient robot gaining awareness.
So I thought this was an ok issue, a few nice parts and a few poor parts. I'll be disappointed if we get many more of these Dave Elliot specials that do little more than promote other work, but I might change my tune if we get some repeat installments of some stories, even a serial or two. The internet thinks we may see some Bilal again soon , I hope so.
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