Figured I'd better get the review in before the next one comes out, scheduled for next week but I probably won't see it until mid-November. Here goes...
Cover by Pascal Blanche - 7.5 - A more imaginative take on the chick-in-some-getup. The woman's form, and the coloring and lighting, do evoke a Corben feeling. It's quite lovely. The getup is so ridiculous it's amusing, the cross-head screws are just goofy, and the weapon is silly, the sight looks setup for a left hand shooter, but that's not how she's wearing it. There's a slight interference in the model, the sight on the belly, but mostly it's very well done. There's detail in the paper cover, the screws and the giant nips for instance, that I just didn't see on the screen in preview images.
An ad for TMNT Minimates? Ugh. I wonder how long they'll let him get away with pimping the kid stuff.
The new owners are each credited as "Co-CEO", and this issue's cover as well as last issue's are credited on the contents pages.
Animal'z by Bilal - 8 - And so the story concludes, as obtuse and ethereal as ever. A polar bear honor guard, the last nihilistic duel, riding or swimming or flying off into the sunset, if there was a sunset. I won't pretend this had deep emotional meaning to me, or that it was spectacular or action-packed, but I've enjoyed it tremendously. Seeing Bilal in the pages of Heavy Metal, 37 years after I first did, has been a delight. And what do you know, there are previews saying another Bilal, Julia and Roem, will start in #272. Looks like the same art style, I wonder if I'll like it as much. Something to look forward to.
Surefire Means by Brandon Barrow - 6 - Pretty nice looking art, and a somewhat interesting, though not necessarily original, premise of being lost on an alien planet, but the ending just struck me as dumb.
Artist's Studio by Chris Compston - 6 - I can't say that guitar art interests me much, but he does have some nice ability.
Brom Kah by McCleary, Garret, and Bolt - 6 - Another story with nice looking art, arcane but ponderous storytelling, and a less than inspiring ending.
Sexy World by Enrique Pilozo - 6 - I didn't like it much, but I can appreciate how the sentiment of loneliness in a superficially sex-crazed society, can appeal to the pimply-faced basement dweller, typing alone in a darkened room, in all of us.
Vampire Vixens of the Wehrmacht by Emperor and/or Lex and Campbell - 7 - Despite my relative disinterest in vampire stories, and some really dumb things, like 6 year old Hitler has a toothbrush mustache (I mean, I get ya have ta show it's him, but c'mon), I was able to find some things to like. Some of the photo-copy/realistic art was enjoyable enough, some of the compositions were really nice, and parts of the often over-the-top story were humorous enough. There's a promo at the end, promising another story called "Arses High". I'll try not to get my hopes up too much.
Biological Warfare by Jeff Dyer and Mauro Balloni - 3 - I actually disliked this one. Even the pedestrian art is better than the clumsy character stereotypes and stupid execution of a simplistic premise. Sorry guys, but the bad Middle Eastern Terrorist bit really struck a nerve with me, that kind of shit pisses me off. Better luck next time.
Two Peas in a Pod by Wren - 6 - Y'know, at least these clumsy character stereotypes (nice muttonchops) are in a bit more fanciful story, and are more funny and less offensive. The story is sparse, a spaceship captain looking to release her ship from an asteroid, discovers a hidden world and sparks upheaval. I enjoyed the art, though sometimes it's less than precise, it's nice to look at. And speaking of coincidences, of course the giant space suit can hold two women, who of course take a fancy to each other, supporting another slightly less offensive clumsy stereotype.
Just One Feeling by Christian Endres and Christian Krank - 7 - Just one page but it has a story. I like the art style, and there is a feeling. Would you feel sympathy for orphaned alien zombie kids?
A full page ad for Heavy Metal dot com, with art someone actually worked on, another HM logo treatment with slotted screws, and a dorky-on-purpose tagline. The cosmic confluence of meaning and superficiality, of brilliance and stupidity, of the incredibly crappy mess the HM website is now, and the paper in my hands, blows my mind.
Close Call by Sytse S. Algera and Apri Kusbiantoro - 5 - a somewhat interesting premise, of disease-fighting nanobots rescuing beach-goers, enhances the ok storytelling and art.
Oskar Ed by Branko Jelinek - 6 - I really liked the animal, it's drawn well. The story tries for mysterious and imaginative, almost gets there.
Saskatchewan by Lee Nielsen - 6 - I think I know the despairing self-awareness that I think this is trying to convey, but I think I'm missing some of what it's trying to say too. The art's pretty cool, I like the writing, but there seems to be more put into it than what I get from it.
Autopsy by Gonzalo Ruggieri - 7 - simple but funny, "no sign of intelligence" indeed.
Gallery by Pascal Blanche - 7 - A lot of this looks really nice, very well executed digitally composed portraits. Some of them look very much like digital models, rather than an actual character, but I suppose that's ok. There's not a lot of personality or emotion available, but they look nice.
M19: Secret Agent Daphne in "An Awesome Weekend" by JD and JMB - 6 - Nice looking one-page spy story. A "See you in sixty days, metalheads!" suggests this will be a recurring entry.
Back Cover by Pascal Blanche - 7 - nice looking and radiantly colored, it looks better on the cover than in the Gallery.
So, there were a few good things to recommend this issue, and a couple not so much. My sentiment is on the positive side, I've seen a lot worse. Next up is an Asylum Press issue, so we'll see what that brings.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Job Dun
A while back, Mark Hobby contacted me, and asked if I would review Job Dun, Fat Assassin, which he did with Ben Michael Byrne, of Kranburn fame, as well as Noelle Criminova and Dave Evans. I was quite flattered to be asked to review an actual comic on my meager blog. Despite my warnings of infrequent posts and tiny audience, he sent it to me anyway. After having it a number of weeks, I'm finally putting up a review.
Now, I'm not the first nor only one to be asked, and of course others responded in a more timely manner:
http://www.comicsonline.com/2014/08/comic-book-review-job-dun-fat-assassin-1/
http://fanboycomics.net/index.php/blogs/simply-jack/item/3899
http://www.regeeken.com/artist-spotlight-job-dun-fat-assassin-spray-comics/
Clearly these are regular comics readers with broader interest and experience than mine. Their blogs are cooler too. My interest is mostly limited to Heavy Metal magazine and related items, but since I got hooked on BMB's Kranburn when he shared the beginnings on the departed HM website forums, I'm interested enough in Job Dun to actually write about it.
Basically, I liked Job Dun. It's got cool drawing, a fun and wacky storytelling style, and a crazy futuristic setting. It's thought-provoking but doesn't take itself too seriously. In fact it's so nutty, it has its incomprehensible moments. In some of the other reviews, it evokes references to Heavy Metal magazine, I suppose I can see it.
This one seems to be titled "Body Shitta." The fat assassin, in a grimy urban jungle, plugged in and hopped up on Khem-Kola and pineal implants, takes an assignment from a red-head black-clad bombshell. Perhaps letting his infatuation get the better of his judgement, such as it is. "Spray" addled hilarity and some fantastical violence ensues. Jokes are made, imaginations are tested, and social norms are disdained. An ending with more than a couple loose ends. A "Next, Whut is 2B Dun?" So perhaps there will be more.
I hope so. I like Mr Byrne's work, I liked Mr Hobby's story, and the bright colors and lettering added up to make a fun read. Job Dun appears to be available on the same bigcartel site that offers Kranburn from FEC Comics, so I'll suggest seeking it out and spending less than a buck (AUS) for a digital copy. They have print for $6 as well ( http://jobdun.bigcartel.com/ ), though getting Kranburn shipped to me was a challenge, I hope it would be easier for you for Job Dun.
thanks again to Mr Hobby for the kind offer of a free comic and letting me write about it.
Now, I'm not the first nor only one to be asked, and of course others responded in a more timely manner:
http://www.comicsonline.com/2014/08/comic-book-review-job-dun-fat-assassin-1/
http://fanboycomics.net/index.php/blogs/simply-jack/item/3899
http://www.regeeken.com/artist-spotlight-job-dun-fat-assassin-spray-comics/
Clearly these are regular comics readers with broader interest and experience than mine. Their blogs are cooler too. My interest is mostly limited to Heavy Metal magazine and related items, but since I got hooked on BMB's Kranburn when he shared the beginnings on the departed HM website forums, I'm interested enough in Job Dun to actually write about it.
Basically, I liked Job Dun. It's got cool drawing, a fun and wacky storytelling style, and a crazy futuristic setting. It's thought-provoking but doesn't take itself too seriously. In fact it's so nutty, it has its incomprehensible moments. In some of the other reviews, it evokes references to Heavy Metal magazine, I suppose I can see it.
This one seems to be titled "Body Shitta." The fat assassin, in a grimy urban jungle, plugged in and hopped up on Khem-Kola and pineal implants, takes an assignment from a red-head black-clad bombshell. Perhaps letting his infatuation get the better of his judgement, such as it is. "Spray" addled hilarity and some fantastical violence ensues. Jokes are made, imaginations are tested, and social norms are disdained. An ending with more than a couple loose ends. A "Next, Whut is 2B Dun?" So perhaps there will be more.
I hope so. I like Mr Byrne's work, I liked Mr Hobby's story, and the bright colors and lettering added up to make a fun read. Job Dun appears to be available on the same bigcartel site that offers Kranburn from FEC Comics, so I'll suggest seeking it out and spending less than a buck (AUS) for a digital copy. They have print for $6 as well ( http://jobdun.bigcartel.com/ ), though getting Kranburn shipped to me was a challenge, I hope it would be easier for you for Job Dun.
thanks again to Mr Hobby for the kind offer of a free comic and letting me write about it.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Native American Classics
A little while ago, I indulged myself and bought a copy of "Native American Classics" at a resale shop. It's an issue of Graphic Classics, Volume Twenty-Four. I haven't picked up any of these I've seen before, but I'd read some collections of Native American stories when I was younger, like "Indian Sleep-Man Tales", and this looked a bit interesting.
It's a handful of stories written in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, by or about Native Americans, and illustrated by contemporary artists. A wide range of styles and tones makes this very enjoyable for me.
I was quite pleased when I discovered later as I read through it, that it includes a story illustrated by John Findley, of Tex Arcana fame. It may not be the best-written story in the book, but Mr Findley's work is just terrific. It isn't hard to recognize as his, once I look at it. His fine line drawing is enhanced by some really nice coloring, a departure from the Tex Arcana black and white line drawing style I so admire.
Since this was just published in 2013, it's my hope this shows some of the paying work Mr Findley referred to, when he was kind enough to respond to my inquiries about Tex Arcana, that he was too busy to spend time on it. (indeed, since then he's actually produced a few new Tex Arcana pages, that I referred to earlier this year.)
So I'm pretty happy I came across this. Mostly since it has Mr Findley's work, but also because I enjoyed most of the other stories. These Graphic Classics appear to be readily available online, and I may need to seek out "Western Classics" as Mr Findley is referenced to have adapted a story "El Dorado" in the credits (as well as a mention of "best known for his graphic series Tex Arcana, which ran in Heavy Metal magazine ..."). I certainly recommend it.
It's a handful of stories written in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, by or about Native Americans, and illustrated by contemporary artists. A wide range of styles and tones makes this very enjoyable for me.
I was quite pleased when I discovered later as I read through it, that it includes a story illustrated by John Findley, of Tex Arcana fame. It may not be the best-written story in the book, but Mr Findley's work is just terrific. It isn't hard to recognize as his, once I look at it. His fine line drawing is enhanced by some really nice coloring, a departure from the Tex Arcana black and white line drawing style I so admire.
Since this was just published in 2013, it's my hope this shows some of the paying work Mr Findley referred to, when he was kind enough to respond to my inquiries about Tex Arcana, that he was too busy to spend time on it. (indeed, since then he's actually produced a few new Tex Arcana pages, that I referred to earlier this year.)
So I'm pretty happy I came across this. Mostly since it has Mr Findley's work, but also because I enjoyed most of the other stories. These Graphic Classics appear to be readily available online, and I may need to seek out "Western Classics" as Mr Findley is referenced to have adapted a story "El Dorado" in the credits (as well as a mention of "best known for his graphic series Tex Arcana, which ran in Heavy Metal magazine ..."). I certainly recommend it.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Kranburn #10
I picked up the digital Kranburn #10 early, then went ahead and got #8, #9, and #10 in print. They are awesome.
Digital is great, easy and cheap. Everyone should do it. Getting them in print was again pricey and a bit challenging, but thanks to the efforts of fec comics and my actually having dollars I can squander on them, I can get slick bits of paper with these cool pictures on them. I like that.
(I lifted the picture from fec comics, they sell Kranburn, and other stuff. You should go there and buy stuff.)
The cover of issue #10 is again a scene from the inside, nicely colored. It might be the most fun picture in the whole of Kranburn, the enormity of the thighs, the horror of the shorts, the pot on his head, the lobster claw mitts, I wonder what the "KSB" on the belt buckle is for.
The story picks up immediately with Lawton and his captor. Then quickly shifts to Brand preparing for his last "big swing". In both cases, the tables are turned and horrifying violence ensues. Lawton brutalizes his tormentor. Brand is caught in Nong territory and is chased by a mob of crazed thugs.
As far as readers of the webcomic are concerned, I realized I can't help but drop spoilers in reviewing something that won't hit the webcomic for more than a year. Rather than wait a year, I'll again encourage more of you to go to fec comics and buy Kranburn when it comes out, at least the digital issues.
Brand is in deep trouble. Unprepared and outnumbered, he's running for his life. He realizes they want him alive, and decides to die while killing as many Nong as he can. Holing up in a building, the only escape is off the roof.
This issue is one of the most action packed and brutally violent of the whole story. If you're not interested in furious depictions of the brutality people are capable of inflicting on each other, then Kranburn is not for you, especially this issue. But if you're reading this, chances are that you might enjoy the artistic capability and the gonadular fortitude BMB displays with this work, like I do.
The cover picture, it turns out, is edited. I really almost bust out laughing when I saw it in the story. I wore shorts like that back in the day, but not quite like that.
A scene I didn't get, that I think might be important to the story, is when Brand looks out a window up in the building, at Brutus standing out in the rain, and flips him off, Brutus smirks, looks away like something hit his face (besides rain?), then looks back in shock. Maybe it's nothing or it's just a bit of creativity in the timeline, maybe it will be explained in the webcomic.
I wonder what happens to Lawton. Can he make it back to Kranburn? I wonder what happens to Brand. Does he survive, or is this the rare story that continues after the demise of its protagonist? I wonder about Syliva, I wonder about Egon, I wonder how or if that Berrik slave trade story is going to reappear. It's almost a cliffhanger. Hopefully in a few weeks another issue tells me more.
Digital is great, easy and cheap. Everyone should do it. Getting them in print was again pricey and a bit challenging, but thanks to the efforts of fec comics and my actually having dollars I can squander on them, I can get slick bits of paper with these cool pictures on them. I like that.
(I lifted the picture from fec comics, they sell Kranburn, and other stuff. You should go there and buy stuff.)
The cover of issue #10 is again a scene from the inside, nicely colored. It might be the most fun picture in the whole of Kranburn, the enormity of the thighs, the horror of the shorts, the pot on his head, the lobster claw mitts, I wonder what the "KSB" on the belt buckle is for.
The story picks up immediately with Lawton and his captor. Then quickly shifts to Brand preparing for his last "big swing". In both cases, the tables are turned and horrifying violence ensues. Lawton brutalizes his tormentor. Brand is caught in Nong territory and is chased by a mob of crazed thugs.
As far as readers of the webcomic are concerned, I realized I can't help but drop spoilers in reviewing something that won't hit the webcomic for more than a year. Rather than wait a year, I'll again encourage more of you to go to fec comics and buy Kranburn when it comes out, at least the digital issues.
Brand is in deep trouble. Unprepared and outnumbered, he's running for his life. He realizes they want him alive, and decides to die while killing as many Nong as he can. Holing up in a building, the only escape is off the roof.
This issue is one of the most action packed and brutally violent of the whole story. If you're not interested in furious depictions of the brutality people are capable of inflicting on each other, then Kranburn is not for you, especially this issue. But if you're reading this, chances are that you might enjoy the artistic capability and the gonadular fortitude BMB displays with this work, like I do.
The cover picture, it turns out, is edited. I really almost bust out laughing when I saw it in the story. I wore shorts like that back in the day, but not quite like that.
A scene I didn't get, that I think might be important to the story, is when Brand looks out a window up in the building, at Brutus standing out in the rain, and flips him off, Brutus smirks, looks away like something hit his face (besides rain?), then looks back in shock. Maybe it's nothing or it's just a bit of creativity in the timeline, maybe it will be explained in the webcomic.
I wonder what happens to Lawton. Can he make it back to Kranburn? I wonder what happens to Brand. Does he survive, or is this the rare story that continues after the demise of its protagonist? I wonder about Syliva, I wonder about Egon, I wonder how or if that Berrik slave trade story is going to reappear. It's almost a cliffhanger. Hopefully in a few weeks another issue tells me more.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Heavy Metal #269
bein' my lazy self again, slow on the draw with the review, but here goes .....
Cover by Eben - 7 - I didn't see it credited in the mag anywhere, but it's noted on the HM website. An unenergetic pose and composition is improved by the nicely executed coloring, and she's got a rather imaginative getup.
an ad for TMNT vinyl banks? puh-leeeze
Animal'z by Bilal - 8 - more exposition, only a little action, the cast of characters makes a feeble trek across the wasteland. Now it might as well be an art film. It says "concluded next issue!" I can only imagine that it will remain mysterious.
Bul & Bal by Marko Djesta - 7 - a fairly imaginative story of two reptilian space pilots is greatly enhanced by a parallel story of two kids playing in wartime Croatia. Lively art and storytelling with a not-too-heavyhanded message, nice.
Gallery by Renee Robyn - 7 - a handful of enhanced photos with a fantasy bent. Often too dark to see their detail on the pages, but many are quite lovely.
The Age by Tayyar Ozkan - 5 - not very interesting but it appears he's getting better at his coloring technique.
Apocalypse Chef by Chris Beukes, Greig Cameron, and Clyde Beech - 6 - a reality cooking show in a post-apocalyptic war zone. Silly but fun.
E.V.A. by Marco Turini - 8 - still fantastic to look at, it attempts to wrap up the story with some success and some stones yet unturned, it still reminds me of HM days long past. what fun.
and ad for HM Warriors video slot game? I saw the announcement a while back, I still think this is really dumb, and now I see it's not available in the US. seems pointless, and not even fun.
TK-47 by Spyros Verykios - 8 - another apparently painted art story with wonderful telling and mystery. People are turning into giant bugs. I hope we keep seeing more from Mr Verykios.
Into the After by Nate Furman - 6 - a digitally manipulated photo story. Somewhat cool to look at, it's so mysterious that I can't even tell what the story is supposed to be.
Artist's Studio by Jeff Brennan - 6 - digital art including a bunch of blue robot girls, I bet he likes Tron.
Lena Gets a Hobby by Jurgen Speh - 6 - there's a bit of fun to be had, wacky sadistic chick takes up arts and crafts. The comic art is pretty good, the story wasn't all that interesting to me. This appears to be part of a series, from Germany, from '95(?).
I Was Looking at Things by Tea Strazicic - 7 - a stylized art story, about loneliness in the big city. It may not be for everyone, the art can be a bit messy in places, the story is rather simplistic, but I liked how it made an impression on me. It's kind of introspective.
MI9: Secret Agent Susan Coby by John Dakin and John M. Burns - 7 - a one page spy story, it's pretty simple, but I liked the old-school-looking art, reminded me of Gray Morrow or something from the old days, but it says 2014.
Back Cover by Renee Robyn - 7 - looks like it's from a video game.
A few nice things and a couple I really liked. I've liked how the mag has been going lately. I know it's going to change again before too long, but I hope it's for the better and keeps coming. Apologies to the authors that I can't get the proper accents on their names.
Cover by Eben - 7 - I didn't see it credited in the mag anywhere, but it's noted on the HM website. An unenergetic pose and composition is improved by the nicely executed coloring, and she's got a rather imaginative getup.
an ad for TMNT vinyl banks? puh-leeeze
Animal'z by Bilal - 8 - more exposition, only a little action, the cast of characters makes a feeble trek across the wasteland. Now it might as well be an art film. It says "concluded next issue!" I can only imagine that it will remain mysterious.
Bul & Bal by Marko Djesta - 7 - a fairly imaginative story of two reptilian space pilots is greatly enhanced by a parallel story of two kids playing in wartime Croatia. Lively art and storytelling with a not-too-heavyhanded message, nice.
Gallery by Renee Robyn - 7 - a handful of enhanced photos with a fantasy bent. Often too dark to see their detail on the pages, but many are quite lovely.
The Age by Tayyar Ozkan - 5 - not very interesting but it appears he's getting better at his coloring technique.
Apocalypse Chef by Chris Beukes, Greig Cameron, and Clyde Beech - 6 - a reality cooking show in a post-apocalyptic war zone. Silly but fun.
E.V.A. by Marco Turini - 8 - still fantastic to look at, it attempts to wrap up the story with some success and some stones yet unturned, it still reminds me of HM days long past. what fun.
and ad for HM Warriors video slot game? I saw the announcement a while back, I still think this is really dumb, and now I see it's not available in the US. seems pointless, and not even fun.
TK-47 by Spyros Verykios - 8 - another apparently painted art story with wonderful telling and mystery. People are turning into giant bugs. I hope we keep seeing more from Mr Verykios.
Into the After by Nate Furman - 6 - a digitally manipulated photo story. Somewhat cool to look at, it's so mysterious that I can't even tell what the story is supposed to be.
Artist's Studio by Jeff Brennan - 6 - digital art including a bunch of blue robot girls, I bet he likes Tron.
Lena Gets a Hobby by Jurgen Speh - 6 - there's a bit of fun to be had, wacky sadistic chick takes up arts and crafts. The comic art is pretty good, the story wasn't all that interesting to me. This appears to be part of a series, from Germany, from '95(?).
I Was Looking at Things by Tea Strazicic - 7 - a stylized art story, about loneliness in the big city. It may not be for everyone, the art can be a bit messy in places, the story is rather simplistic, but I liked how it made an impression on me. It's kind of introspective.
MI9: Secret Agent Susan Coby by John Dakin and John M. Burns - 7 - a one page spy story, it's pretty simple, but I liked the old-school-looking art, reminded me of Gray Morrow or something from the old days, but it says 2014.
Back Cover by Renee Robyn - 7 - looks like it's from a video game.
A few nice things and a couple I really liked. I've liked how the mag has been going lately. I know it's going to change again before too long, but I hope it's for the better and keeps coming. Apologies to the authors that I can't get the proper accents on their names.
Monday, July 28, 2014
wdv dot Heavy Metal dot com
I'm dawdling with reviews, Kranburn #10 and HM #269, and a couple other things, await time and motivation from me. Maybe I'll still get one out this week.
However, it's noteworthy that HM has significantly changed its website layout and format, so I thought I'd drop a couple thoughts.
The www. link on my links page is directed to a wdv. site. I haven't figured out the wdv thing, but the format appears adapted for mobile/tablet type viewing, and the layout looks more f-book-y.
It seems the change was timed for the SD ComicCon, and there's a couple features on the Con, including some from Steve Ringgenberg, who did a few years of the return of Dossier in the mag (it's been a couple years since it last appeared though). There's also some features with some video, TMNT trailers (yawn) and something about heavy metal music going soft (?).
It's interesting that the "Shop" button directs to the "old" website shop pages. Otherwise it appears all links to the past site are gone. It was intriguing to see the "Issues" button, it does appear to contain a page for each issue of the mag, with a list of contents and artists. (I didn't count them, but it looks like all the "regular" issues are there, but none of the Specials. It's almost hard to believe it's been three years since they stopped producing those Special issues.) There's also a "review" box that caught my attention, but it's a farcebook thing so I'm not likely to join.
There's so much crap going on with feeds and crawlers on the site that it really bogs down on my cheap notebook. It appears more deeply tied to f-book and other trending/tracking stuff, so maybe that has something to do with it. The changes are kind of interesting to me, if not very exciting. We'll see how it goes now that the Con is done.
However, it's noteworthy that HM has significantly changed its website layout and format, so I thought I'd drop a couple thoughts.
The www. link on my links page is directed to a wdv. site. I haven't figured out the wdv thing, but the format appears adapted for mobile/tablet type viewing, and the layout looks more f-book-y.
It seems the change was timed for the SD ComicCon, and there's a couple features on the Con, including some from Steve Ringgenberg, who did a few years of the return of Dossier in the mag (it's been a couple years since it last appeared though). There's also some features with some video, TMNT trailers (yawn) and something about heavy metal music going soft (?).
It's interesting that the "Shop" button directs to the "old" website shop pages. Otherwise it appears all links to the past site are gone. It was intriguing to see the "Issues" button, it does appear to contain a page for each issue of the mag, with a list of contents and artists. (I didn't count them, but it looks like all the "regular" issues are there, but none of the Specials. It's almost hard to believe it's been three years since they stopped producing those Special issues.) There's also a "review" box that caught my attention, but it's a farcebook thing so I'm not likely to join.
There's so much crap going on with feeds and crawlers on the site that it really bogs down on my cheap notebook. It appears more deeply tied to f-book and other trending/tracking stuff, so maybe that has something to do with it. The changes are kind of interesting to me, if not very exciting. We'll see how it goes now that the Con is done.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Goodbye Gates
I'm finally giving up on Gates. Billed as HM's first webcomic, and launched with a bit of hype by Hal Hefner in the beginning of 2011, I was very interested.in the premise of transhumanism described in some dystopian future.
The story started slowly and never recovered. The art was ambitious but underachieving, colorful and with broad vision, but annoyingly misproportioned and static. I wanted to like this more than I did. Mr Hefner was often more dynamic and entertaining in the blog posts and comments on the pages, than the comic page presented. I was impressed with his determination but disappointed with the comic itself.
The link still exists on the HM website, in "Just For Fun" but I'm dropping it here. Hints were dropped of some sort of animation, and extending into "Transmedia", and the last entry on the Gates site is a promotion for the published book, but very little has happened in the past year.
I did grab the pdf of the compiled comic that Mr Hefner is kind enough to offer. It can be found at The Serpent Seed site, where it seems Mr Hefner is/was trying to expand Gates:
http://theserpentseed.com/service/gates-the-comic-book/
So best wishes to Mr Hefner, and thanks for your efforts.
The story started slowly and never recovered. The art was ambitious but underachieving, colorful and with broad vision, but annoyingly misproportioned and static. I wanted to like this more than I did. Mr Hefner was often more dynamic and entertaining in the blog posts and comments on the pages, than the comic page presented. I was impressed with his determination but disappointed with the comic itself.
The link still exists on the HM website, in "Just For Fun" but I'm dropping it here. Hints were dropped of some sort of animation, and extending into "Transmedia", and the last entry on the Gates site is a promotion for the published book, but very little has happened in the past year.
I did grab the pdf of the compiled comic that Mr Hefner is kind enough to offer. It can be found at The Serpent Seed site, where it seems Mr Hefner is/was trying to expand Gates:
http://theserpentseed.com/service/gates-the-comic-book/
So best wishes to Mr Hefner, and thanks for your efforts.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Heavy Metal #268
Certainly took my time getting and reading and reviewing this one. There's some pretty good stuff in it, though, and I enjoyed it and I hope you do too.
Cover by Isidore Koliavras - 7 - Nice looking example of the babe-in-some-wacky-outfit, this time some warrior. I liked the detail the most, the software-assisted rendering allows a lot to look into. Funny how the breastplate seemed to get a lot of attention, with the shaping and layers and textures, but the axe has blunt edges.
Animal'z by Bilal - 9 - So now it's a soap opera, with polite fisticuffs, nihilistic duelists, and awkward dinner conversation. People coming together and pasts are reunited. Dreams and departures. All the dialogue with much exposition, tells more about how things got where they are. It may be less mysterious now, but it seems even more strange. I'm really looking forward to more.
Gallery by Dominic Harman - 6 - Some of it's pretty good, some of it's fairly good. Looks like he got a bit in The Other Dead.
A Pressing Position by Andrew Wislocki - 7 - A light but fun one-pager, a Giantess named Vavoomica, loses her ring in the forest. Those mushrooms look funny, but I think I can see why.
In the End, There Will Be Hope by Martinez, Llarena, Bilbao, Cobos, and Jame - 7 - A nice collaboration here. An interesting consideration of artificial intelligence, the writing increases focus as the story goes on, the art is done well, and the style fits the story. I've liked much of Llarena's work before, and I liked how he's part of this group, though it's odd he's not credited in the Contents page. Hopefully just an oversight.
E.V.A. by Marco Turini - 8 - This looks so much like it's from earlier HM, I'm entranced. The nicely drawn ridiculous outfits, the cool techno-future environment, the neat watercolor-ish coloring, it's all so reminiscent. This entry is huge, 21 pages, with so much fun stuff. The devil-headed Nachzehrer with a full page of expository dialog, so much that it got me thinking he couldn't talk like a human with those teeth and no lips, but I don't care. The completely stupid but so cool looking but it can't be comfortable motorcycle. Platform-high-heeled armor, future torture, the failure of over-reliance on technology. And with all this, it's to be "concluded next issue". Oh Boy!
Among by Stefano Cardoselli - 7 - I can simultaneously like and dislike Cardoselli's style. The action, the colors, the enthusiasm, it's so very exciting, but sometimes it's so flat and mindless. It's part of his charm I guess. Looks like he learned (in 2007) to directional splatter paint so we're treated to even more death and dismemberment than usual. He does fit in some social commentary.
Blood Feud by Martinez, Cobos, Sobreiro, and Jame - 5 - I wish this was better, there are a few good bits of art and storytelling peeking through an otherwise flat and disconnected exercise. It has some ambition but doesn't succeed like some of Martinez's other work.
Artist's Studio by Richard Pace - 6 - Some nice looking stuff, much of it swords and dragon type. An interview by Richard Caldwell reveals that Mr Pace was influenced by HM, of course. The little story is kind of funny.
Tales of Dead Earth: Descent by Christian Krank - 7 - A kind of cool art style, a tale of scavenging turns to zombies then quickly to sex and Martian black markets. Mr Krank appears with his comic on Fbook and appears to have more of this. Couldn't help but notice the HM Contents adds a "the" to the title.
The Dirigible Affair by William Bourassa Jr - 5 - A slightly funny one-pager. The art doesn't have to do much more than sit there and look pretty, while the dialogue takes up the page with some banter, that has some funny parts, but some has a creepy distaste to it.
Death From Above by Darren Koziol and Federico de Luca - 7 - I liked the art and composition, very striking, and I seem to enjoy stories of people enduring hells they have created.
Little Red Riding Hood Grows Up by Horacio Domingues - 5 - The art is sketchy but I liked much of it, the action or the boobs perhaps, but the story of a goggles-wearing Grandmother putting her granddaughter at risk to earn a living, and enticing a switch to bait for vampires with a new wardrobe, was just too dumb for me to enjoy.
Marked by Gonzalo Ruggieri - 7 - Nice looking and somewhat funny, I'll inflate my rating since Mr Ruggieri was kind enough to comment last time.
Back Cover by Richard Pace - 7 - Black and white line art of Legionnaires fighting for their lives atop a mountain of corpses. It's downright old school.
So overall I enjoyed this issue, with some good and very good stories, not too many flat spots, and more sex than has been in the mag for years. It seems to have found a groove again, and may even be improving. Here's hoping it keeps up. And I hope I spell everyone's name right, since I'm trying to note the creators' names now. I like to point out typos in HM but I'm not perfect myself.
Cover by Isidore Koliavras - 7 - Nice looking example of the babe-in-some-wacky-outfit, this time some warrior. I liked the detail the most, the software-assisted rendering allows a lot to look into. Funny how the breastplate seemed to get a lot of attention, with the shaping and layers and textures, but the axe has blunt edges.
Animal'z by Bilal - 9 - So now it's a soap opera, with polite fisticuffs, nihilistic duelists, and awkward dinner conversation. People coming together and pasts are reunited. Dreams and departures. All the dialogue with much exposition, tells more about how things got where they are. It may be less mysterious now, but it seems even more strange. I'm really looking forward to more.
Gallery by Dominic Harman - 6 - Some of it's pretty good, some of it's fairly good. Looks like he got a bit in The Other Dead.
A Pressing Position by Andrew Wislocki - 7 - A light but fun one-pager, a Giantess named Vavoomica, loses her ring in the forest. Those mushrooms look funny, but I think I can see why.
In the End, There Will Be Hope by Martinez, Llarena, Bilbao, Cobos, and Jame - 7 - A nice collaboration here. An interesting consideration of artificial intelligence, the writing increases focus as the story goes on, the art is done well, and the style fits the story. I've liked much of Llarena's work before, and I liked how he's part of this group, though it's odd he's not credited in the Contents page. Hopefully just an oversight.
E.V.A. by Marco Turini - 8 - This looks so much like it's from earlier HM, I'm entranced. The nicely drawn ridiculous outfits, the cool techno-future environment, the neat watercolor-ish coloring, it's all so reminiscent. This entry is huge, 21 pages, with so much fun stuff. The devil-headed Nachzehrer with a full page of expository dialog, so much that it got me thinking he couldn't talk like a human with those teeth and no lips, but I don't care. The completely stupid but so cool looking but it can't be comfortable motorcycle. Platform-high-heeled armor, future torture, the failure of over-reliance on technology. And with all this, it's to be "concluded next issue". Oh Boy!
Among by Stefano Cardoselli - 7 - I can simultaneously like and dislike Cardoselli's style. The action, the colors, the enthusiasm, it's so very exciting, but sometimes it's so flat and mindless. It's part of his charm I guess. Looks like he learned (in 2007) to directional splatter paint so we're treated to even more death and dismemberment than usual. He does fit in some social commentary.
Blood Feud by Martinez, Cobos, Sobreiro, and Jame - 5 - I wish this was better, there are a few good bits of art and storytelling peeking through an otherwise flat and disconnected exercise. It has some ambition but doesn't succeed like some of Martinez's other work.
Artist's Studio by Richard Pace - 6 - Some nice looking stuff, much of it swords and dragon type. An interview by Richard Caldwell reveals that Mr Pace was influenced by HM, of course. The little story is kind of funny.
Tales of Dead Earth: Descent by Christian Krank - 7 - A kind of cool art style, a tale of scavenging turns to zombies then quickly to sex and Martian black markets. Mr Krank appears with his comic on Fbook and appears to have more of this. Couldn't help but notice the HM Contents adds a "the" to the title.
The Dirigible Affair by William Bourassa Jr - 5 - A slightly funny one-pager. The art doesn't have to do much more than sit there and look pretty, while the dialogue takes up the page with some banter, that has some funny parts, but some has a creepy distaste to it.
Death From Above by Darren Koziol and Federico de Luca - 7 - I liked the art and composition, very striking, and I seem to enjoy stories of people enduring hells they have created.
Little Red Riding Hood Grows Up by Horacio Domingues - 5 - The art is sketchy but I liked much of it, the action or the boobs perhaps, but the story of a goggles-wearing Grandmother putting her granddaughter at risk to earn a living, and enticing a switch to bait for vampires with a new wardrobe, was just too dumb for me to enjoy.
Marked by Gonzalo Ruggieri - 7 - Nice looking and somewhat funny, I'll inflate my rating since Mr Ruggieri was kind enough to comment last time.
Back Cover by Richard Pace - 7 - Black and white line art of Legionnaires fighting for their lives atop a mountain of corpses. It's downright old school.
So overall I enjoyed this issue, with some good and very good stories, not too many flat spots, and more sex than has been in the mag for years. It seems to have found a groove again, and may even be improving. Here's hoping it keeps up. And I hope I spell everyone's name right, since I'm trying to note the creators' names now. I like to point out typos in HM but I'm not perfect myself.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
RIP
H.R. Giger is reported to have passed away, at 74, surely too soon.
Mr Giger is best known for the Alien movie and his work on the Alien and set design.
He was featured in HM in the 80s in some movie promo and galleries, as well as a couple covers, including the December 81 with Debbie Harry in a Giger outfit. Giger's work was at once sophisticated and twisted, and made quite an impact at the time.
(it's quite unfortunate that Lostboy's fan page has lost its search capacity, apparently the service has shut down. makes research more difficult, waaah, poor me ... )
I came across a "Baphomet - The Tarot of the Underworld, by Akron and H.R. Giger" set at a street sale a while back. It's a Giger Tarot card set, which is pretty cool, and a CD with some sort of dirge metal, that's pretty bad. I'll have to look it over again.
Mr Giger is best known for the Alien movie and his work on the Alien and set design.
He was featured in HM in the 80s in some movie promo and galleries, as well as a couple covers, including the December 81 with Debbie Harry in a Giger outfit. Giger's work was at once sophisticated and twisted, and made quite an impact at the time.
(it's quite unfortunate that Lostboy's fan page has lost its search capacity, apparently the service has shut down. makes research more difficult, waaah, poor me ... )
I came across a "Baphomet - The Tarot of the Underworld, by Akron and H.R. Giger" set at a street sale a while back. It's a Giger Tarot card set, which is pretty cool, and a CD with some sort of dirge metal, that's pretty bad. I'll have to look it over again.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Kranburn #9
I got Kranburn #9 in digital in February (which means #10 might be appearing in a few weeks), and again I took my time putting up a review. #8 is just in the first few pages on the webcomic. I read the webcomic for the occasional slang translation or comment from BMB, and it's sometimes amusing to see reader's comments, guessing wrong about what's happening, or remarking on actual places depicted.
BTW, Mr Byrne commented on the current webcomic pg 4 that he has a new facebook, though the webpage still has the old dead one. Updating his web page is not his strong suit, though drawing and building model tanks sure are.
Also interesting is that #9 was offered in a .cbz format, which was apparently requested by some, but doesn't appeal to me. fec comics was nice enough to provide a .pdf when I asked. I'm interested to see what #10 comes in with.
The cover is again colored, an attacking Nong mob. This time, it's even a scene from the comic. That's a hint, not a spoiler.
Kranburn #9 starts with a scene of gloom and despair. Pouring rain, a search party walking through it (was that Egon?), Brand is wallowing in his despair. Unsure if he's been doing the right thing, he decides on "one last swing" at the Nong.
The scene shifts to Lawton, still held captive by Nong, just one of them this time. The Nong is getting ripping drunk, taunting and threatening Lawton. In this, Lawton sees an opportunity. I kinda wonder why he hasn't tried before, but hey, it's not me getting carved up and seeing my wife butchered by murderous thugs.
Scenes go back and forth between Lawton and Brand. Does Lawton make his move? Does Brand make his big swing at the Nong? A bit of suspense. This issue is a lot of setup for what follows, with a couple nice developments. While perhaps light on the brutality, the art has plenty of horrifying graphic detail, and the rain scenes are deeply moody.
Another fine issue. It seems like it might want to reach a climax soon, but there's still the Berrik slave trade side of the story to develop, and more, so I think there's a way to go.
If you're reading this, read Kranburn. It's better than this, and better than lots of other stuff too.
BTW, Mr Byrne commented on the current webcomic pg 4 that he has a new facebook, though the webpage still has the old dead one. Updating his web page is not his strong suit, though drawing and building model tanks sure are.
Also interesting is that #9 was offered in a .cbz format, which was apparently requested by some, but doesn't appeal to me. fec comics was nice enough to provide a .pdf when I asked. I'm interested to see what #10 comes in with.
The cover is again colored, an attacking Nong mob. This time, it's even a scene from the comic. That's a hint, not a spoiler.
Kranburn #9 starts with a scene of gloom and despair. Pouring rain, a search party walking through it (was that Egon?), Brand is wallowing in his despair. Unsure if he's been doing the right thing, he decides on "one last swing" at the Nong.
The scene shifts to Lawton, still held captive by Nong, just one of them this time. The Nong is getting ripping drunk, taunting and threatening Lawton. In this, Lawton sees an opportunity. I kinda wonder why he hasn't tried before, but hey, it's not me getting carved up and seeing my wife butchered by murderous thugs.
Scenes go back and forth between Lawton and Brand. Does Lawton make his move? Does Brand make his big swing at the Nong? A bit of suspense. This issue is a lot of setup for what follows, with a couple nice developments. While perhaps light on the brutality, the art has plenty of horrifying graphic detail, and the rain scenes are deeply moody.
Another fine issue. It seems like it might want to reach a climax soon, but there's still the Berrik slave trade side of the story to develop, and more, so I think there's a way to go.
If you're reading this, read Kranburn. It's better than this, and better than lots of other stuff too.
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