pull list wor·thy
1. a comic book that is deserving of effort, attention, respect and purchase.
“Since the first issue, The Wicked and The Divine has been consistently pull list worthy.”
It’s Wednesday you beautiful nerd-faced nerds! I am trying to do this pull-list thing weekly to make sure you all stay on track (and in-line) with appropriate comic book choices. And by appropriate, I mean awesome. Check it. Continue reading
pull list wor·thy
1. a comic book that is deserving of effort, attention, respect and purchase.
“Bitch Planet is such a provocative read, it is totally pull list worthy.”
Happy Wednesday, nerds! I have cultivated a fine list of pull list worthy comics for you to check out when you hit your comic shop this week. In the mean time, tell me what’s on your pull list in the comments! Continue reading
Dee by Jamal Campbell
For the final issue of the first arc, the cover warns you to “steel yourselves for heartbreak,” but no amount of armor could come close to preparing you for impact.
Hey nerds!
It’s been awhile. We know. Let’s just say we’ve been busy doing life, and all three of us are guilty of falling behind on our monthly comic book reading duties.
In an effort to get back in the saddle, we each went through our mounting stash of unread comics. We chose the two titles that we absolutely can’t wait to read and stand out among the rest. So, when your real-life responsibilities get you behind on your comics, in the very little in between time, these are the comics you should be reading. Continue reading
Sex Criminals and Howard the Duck are obviously comics done by a creator with a sense of humor. I can actually vouch for that humor because I ran into him at HeroesCon last year, and he’s a delightful goofball. I am talking about Chip Zdarsky, and when he announced his book Kaptara at Image Expo – he declared it the “gay Saga.” Continue reading
Do you remember Nonplayer? How could you forget?
Well, it has been four years, so I will refresh your memory.
In 2011, Nate Simpson released the first issue of what is planned to be a six-issue series about a girl who spends most of her time in a “full-immersion” virtual reality game called “Warriors of Jarvath.” The comic is exquisitely drawn, and the story is totally engaging. It was a huge success, critics and fans were effusive.
If it was so awesome, why haven’t we seen a second issue? Continue reading
Luci by Jamal Campbell #WicDiv
As a brief introduction, Casanova #8 was one of the first comics I picked up when I started working at a comic shop in 2008. I had no idea what it was – it might have been a FCBD promo – and the title led me to believe that it would revolve around a dude boning a lot of ladies or something. Not really my wheelhouse, but the cover drew me in immediately. Continue reading
The Morrigan by Ryan Kelly
How do you take the exploitation inherent to the “Women in Prison” genre fiction and turn it on its head to be an allegory for patriarchal oppression giving way to an unapologetic feminist theme? Continue reading
Awkward.
If you had the resources, would you buy companionship? Not the temporary human kind but something programmed to serve and please you? And what if that companion were so lifelike that, at first glance, you wouldn’t know he or she wasn’t sentient?
It’s possible in Alex + Ada (Image), and the answers aren’t as simple as you’d think. The subject of people interacting with human-like beings has been explored before, but Alex + Ada goes beyond the obvious pros and cons to unfold in ways that are surprising, frequently suspenseful and emotionally resonant. After totally sleeping on this comic by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn for the past year, I’ve gone into full binge-reading mode. Continue reading
What is a girl to do when she gets home from work and her WiFi is down? She tries to do a real-life recreation of one of her favorite comic book covers, naturally.
Which comic book cover do I speak of? That would be Jamie McKelvie and Matt Wilson‘s utterly exquisite The Wicked + The Divine #1 variant cover featuring the enigmatic Lucifer.
So, how’d I do?
Where to begin?
This past weekend V. and I went to HeroesCon, and I had the pleasure to attend a panel dedicated to two of my favorite creators, focusing on one of my favorite books. If you aren’t in the know about Sex Criminals, one of the latest smash hits from Image, please do yourself a favor and check it out. It’s amazing. It’s astounding. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Writer Matt Fraction and artist Chip Zdarsky have crafted what I believe to be one of the best books on the shelves right now, and they do it with a perfect blend of emotional gravity, sincerity and humor. In a single issue this duo can give the reader both punches to the gut AND laughter-induced tears. That’s something special. That’s a mark so many comics miss. And it all started as a pet project between two dudes who figured they could work together on a few dick joke comics before they got cancelled. Continue reading
Joe Keatinge’s star might still be rising, but his place in the industry was secured after the launch of his acclaimed run on Glory in 2012. Since then, books like Hell Yeah, DC Comics Presents, Morbius: The Living Vampire, and Marvel Knights: Hulk have (relative merits aside) served as stepping stones to Keatinge and artist Leila del Duca’s newest creator-owned series, Shutter.
Joe kindly took some time to chat with me about life, comics, and his new book. There was also some wine and a sandwich, which have been edited for your reading pleasure. Continue reading
Seems like Deadly Class is making quite the splash as is the way of things when Rick Remender is at the helm. Check Lindsey’s full review of Deadly Class #2 right HERE.
Yesterday at the comic shop, I grabbed a peek at Deadly Class #1 because I knew it was Remender’s new book. As you know, I am a follow-the-writer kind of fangirl. A quick perusal of the pages struck me with some fantastic art.
Sold.
For more on Deadly Class #1, check Lindsey’s full review right HERE.
I had the privilege of reading the new Image series by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Rios, Pretty Deadly. Teased last year at Comic-Con, the anticipation and fanbase that has grown for a book that doesn’t see its first issue released until tomorrow is remarkable. The Pretty Deadly Tumblr is alive with fanart and cosplayers making plans to be Death’s daughter, Ginny, at their next con.
Time flies when you’re reading comics and before we knew it, summer was over. As the leaves change, so do our pull lists. And so, Girls Gone Geek has the latest and greatest comics YOU should be reading. Continue reading
This week sees the release of Rat Queens by writers Kurtis Wiebe and Meg Dejmal and G3 favorite, artist Roc Upchurch. I had the distinct pleasure of reading the first issue, and I enjoyed it. Anything that can get a belly laugh out of me has my approval. Also, the art is pretty damn swank… a lovely segue into the first thing to love about Rat Queens. Continue reading
Hey guys! I’m reviewing stuff again. This week is two quick reviews on Gail Simone’s slow-burn in The Movement #4 and the explosive final issue of The Legend of Luther Strode.
When The Strange Talents of Luther Strode hit the shelves last year, that book was pure energy and wildly addicting. I actually didn’t catch on to that trend until about issue five, read all of them … and squirmed until issue six came out. Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore’s Luther Strode is super intense, super violent and yet quite novel.
The Legend of Luther Strode is the second mini-series featuring Luther, Petra and a bevy of other misfits and I enjoyed it. But … I think this pony needs some new tricks because the novelty is wearing thin, even though the quality is still there. Word on the wind is we will be getting The Legacy of Luther Strode next year. I am still so going to read it, but I do hope these talented creators will bring a surprise or two.
That aside, Petra totally kicks ass in this issue. She massacres a couple of female fiction tropes which is one of my favorite things to read in the whole wide world. Not hyperbole.
Now, about The Movement. We here at the Church of Gail Simone give all available benefits of doubts and trust in her ability to weave a fine web of comic bookiness. I’ll admit, The Movement has been an acquired taste, but one that I think is well worth your time … and mine. When a writer references the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, it implies a thoughtfulness and a care for the injustices suffered by marginalized people. It’s culture in our comics … the all-to-often-ignored culture is the kind of stuff I like to read and support in our sea of escapism. I’ve still got some reservations about the art. I’d like Nicola Scott or Amanda Conner drawing these characters. Rags Morales would be a good fit, too. A fangirl can dream, right?
You can read my reviews HERE.
Lindsey and I have full-length reviews up over at Newsarama’s Best Shots Advance column, today. She is loving the Red Riding Hood adaptation, Akaneiro. And I was super-stoked to review Greg Rucka’s Lazarus. Both comics feature female protagonists. Both comics are worth your time and money. CHECK IT.
Alana by Joshua Middleton
One of the many announcements rolling out of C2E2 this weekend is the new project we teased here a couple of weeks ago by Peter Panzerfaust writer Kurtis Wiebe and artist Roc Upchurch. The title of the series is Rat Queens and it will be published by Image Comics’ Shadowline imprint.
“Rat Queens will follow the exploits of four monster-hunting women whose love of partying is outweighed only by their love of exacting sweet, brutal revenge on their enemies.”
Sounds fun, right?
I have got a five-page preview below that says just that. But first, I had a chance to ask the writer, Kurtis Wiebe, a few questions. Continue reading
You guyyyyys I don’t want to have to talk about myself again NEXT week! Send those questions in! About whatever! lindsey@girls-gone-geek.com
“What is the worst/most offensive thing you have experienced working at the comic shop because of your gender? And on the flip side, have you ever had a wonderful experience at the comic shop … because of your gender?”
You know, I have this habit of suppressing bad memories, so the first part of your question is stumping me a bit. Also, I just don’t think that anything too terrible has happened. Pretty mild offenses to me, but I’m just an understanding person.
The stores I’ve worked at have had great clientele for the most part, it’s the casual customer that I usually have trouble with. Continue reading
Here’s the lowdown on the three best comics I read last week:
Punk Rock Jesus #4
I half expected Jesus to drop the mic and walk off the stage after that scalding final panel in Sean Murphy’s Punk Rock Jesus #4, which took the pull list prize last week. Batman #13 may have been the big draw, but PRJ is the one that really leaves a mark. Now a teen, Chris — the so-called clone of Jesus Christ — can only stand by and watch as the horrible J2 reality show franchise delivers his poor mother a final, crushing blow. Afterward, you can see in him the same dead-eyed grief that haunted his security guard, Thomas, an ex-IRA terrorist who witnessed horrible violence as a boy. Chris takes refuge in punk rock albums and extreme cardio, and he then fully rejects the dogma that has defined his existence. It’s goodbye, Bible; hello, Sex Pistols and Richard Dawkins. Let’s just say that Chris goes way off script and makes his feelings about religion and his followers scathingly clear in the most memorable scene of the week. Jesus has left the building. Grade: A+
Batman #13
The Joker has one of the scariest faces in comics, but he’s even more terrifying when you can’t really see him. In the first chapter of “Death of the Family,” we catch only glimpses of Batman’s nemesis as he makes a methodical, chilling comeback. A shoe here. A blood-splattered glove there. A cackle in the dark as victim after victim suffers off-camera. I doubt poor Jim Gordon will ever have a sound night’s sleep again after hearing the Joker’s startling commentary about where the commissioner stashes his cigarettes. This is a horror show in the making, and Snyder-Capullo deliver a perfectly paced, chilling first act. The “Tease” backup story, in which Mr. J. tests the depths of Harley Quinn’s loyalty, made my skin crawl right up until the last second. Grade: A
Halloween Eve (one-shot)
Image one-shot Halloween Eve is like candy. Its pleasures are brief, colorful and ultimately quite sweet. Brandon Montclare’s story focuses on the cranky Eve, a costume shop employee who loathes Halloween. When Eve falls asleep in the shop the night before Halloween, she plunges into a topsy-turvy fantasy world where every day is the one she hates most. Montclare’s story is charming, but it’s Amy Reeder’s art that dazzles. Reeder illustrated and colored the comic, and each panel is luminous and lovingly detailed. Her rendering of each character, especially the expressive Eve, is perfect. Plus, the magical aspects of the story give her a lot of room to play. Halloween Eve is a treat, one that’s appropriate and appealing for tween readers and up. Grade: B+
In the spring of 2011, “Nonplayer #1” (Image Comics) generated the kind of excitement that independent comics creators dream of. Written and illustrated by videogame concept artist Nate Simpson, the series introduced readers to Dana Stevens, a tamale delivery girl who escapes her mundane reality through the full-immersion online game “Warriors of Jarvath.” The praise for Simpson’s story and drop-dead gorgeous illustrations was immediate and plentiful, making it one of the most critically lauded comics of the year. By the summer, Warner Bros. had acquired the film rights. Simpson, a newcomer to comics, had a huge hit on his hands and a highly anticipated second issue to finish.
Then, that fall, Simpson crashed his bicycle — an incident that could have been fatal if he hadn’t been wearing a helmet. As the right-handed artist wrote on his Project Waldo blog, “Every bone connecting my right arm to my torso was broken.” His arm in a sling, he was physically sidelined. But Simpson began to write candidly about the other obstacles he had to confront, namely, the enormous pressure he felt after “Nonplayer #1” hit the shelves, and the moments of frustration and outright panic while writing the second issue. Continue reading
This dynamic duo hits some big books for the week over at Newsarama. Click here to check out our Rapid Reviews of Uncanny X-Force, Fatale, and Batman & Robin.
Mind the Gap #1
Written by Jim McCann
Art by Rodin Esquejo and Sonia Oback
Letters by Dave Lanphear
Image Comics is on fire. Week after week, it’s churning out some of the most interesting and innovative comic books around, and Mind the Gap #1 is no exception. On one level, it’s a tantalizing mystery about how a young woman named Elle Peterssen wound up gravely injured and comatose in a hospital bed. But there is an otherwordly aspect to the proceedings that makes Mind the Gap more than a well-written whodunit. Continue reading
Danger Club #1 (Image Comics)
Written by Landry Q. Walker
Art by Eric Jones and Michael “Rusty” Drake
Letters by Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt
In comics, every teen hero reaches a point where he or she wants to prove capable of saving the world, or at least the day, without adult supervision. It’s a timeless theme that has fueled many excellent stories.
But what if the elders are completely out of the picture, maybe for good? What becomes of the sidekicks, to say nothing of the world, that they left behind? Continue reading
Alpha Girl #2
Written by Jeff Roenning and Jean-Paul Bonjour
Art by Robert Love, Dana Shukartsi and Diego Simone
Letters by Drew Gill
Imagine if Archie were a grindhouse film, The Walking Dead met Strange Girl, or Pee Wee from Porky’s rolled up an issue of Chew … and smoked it. These are the things I think of as I read Alpha Girl, but Alpha Girl #2 isn’t quite any of those things. With a zombie apocalypse on the horizon, this intentionally gratuitous tale of a 17-year-old girl tries really hard to be fun. Maybe too hard. Continue reading
Greetings, lovelies. I had the distinct pleasure of being on vacation this week, so of course there were comics!
Snyder’s Detective
You can catch me almost anywhere complaining about how Batman is overrated and over exposed, so I tend to steer clear of most Batman books. Comixology had a stellar sale on Snyder’s Detective Comics, issues #871 thru #880. I bought them. I know, I am super late to the party, but wow. Snyder’s Detective is suspenseful and interesting. I love how Snyder shows that while Dick is a good Batman, he is no Bruce … and people notice the difference. Also, Snyder gave me a new appreciation for Commissioner Gordon. I think Jock’s art is great, but Francesco Francavilla is AMAZING. I know I am late to that party, too. It’s not that I am not familiar with Francavilla. I am. He has been killing it on cover art. But within the pages of Detective Comics, telling the story of Gordon’s son; he really strikes a superb aesthetic. This is good stuff people. You probably already knew that. Now I do, too.
My Stash This Week …
Wonder Woman #7, Birds of Prey #7, Fables #115, The Infinite Vacation #4, Strange Talent of Luther Strode #6 Continue reading
Saga #1
Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Art by Fiona Staples
Lettering/Design by Fonografiks
Published by Image Comics
An exceptional comic book leaves readers thinking not only about the story’s potential, but also the brilliance of what it has already delivered. Saga #1 is that kind of comic. From the beginning, it is obvious that writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Fiona Staples have created something special, and what a rare joy to read a highly anticipated book that delivers on every level. Continue reading
Not So Wonderful
Holy crow. Who has been singing the praises of Wonder Woman louder than me? Since issue #1, I have been going on about Cliff Chiang’s beautiful art, and how Brian Azzarello “gets” Diana. Maybe I was just blinded by the light (art). I stand by what I said about Chiang being damn near perfect on this book, but this month’s issue was not drawn by Chiang. So, Azzarello had to do the heavy lifting with the story, and that just did not happen. There is plenty of Greek Mythology. There is another half-breed offspring of Zeus unexpectedly popping in on Diana, Poseidon shows up and Hera is still pissed off. Quelle suprise! Azzarello is a good writer, but this issue falls flat without Chiang’s magic. Tony Akins is the fill in artist, and either DC chose him because he kind of sort of draws like Chiang, or he tried to draw like Chiang. Either way, it was not working for me. It wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t impressed. Akins draws a pretty mean sea monster splash page, but his Diana is all wonky in the face. The proportions seemed off with the other characters as well. Cliff Chiang is a tough act to follow. Continue reading
This Week’s Pull List
Chew #22, Action Comics #4, X-23 #18, and Chew Omnivore Edition Volume 2.
I didn’t get around to reading X-23, I was too busy reading my Chew Omnivore edition.
CHEW!
Ya’ll know I love this book. I am so glad it is going to 60 issues so I don’t have to worry about this gem being cancelled (because you know the good ones often get canned). I get to sit back, and revel in the disgusting, hilarious, weird, awesome that is Chew. Layman and Guillory consistently deliver the goods, and this month is no exception. Layman, I love you for the Curious Case of the Black-Hearted Baristas and the Lethal Lattes, and Rob … you make necro-nomming funny every single time. Continue reading
