Top of the Pile - 7/16/2014

The Wicked + the Divine
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Jamie McKelvie
Cover Artist: Matthew Wilson
Image Comics

Image manages to produce the most interesting comics. I know, that’s not a controversial statement. With their books being the must have, sold out, crossover potential works, I usually try and pick up at least the first issue of whatever they put out. And with The Wicked + the Divine, I was impressed enough to get the second issue.

After reading the first issue, I noticed the writer is Kieron Gillen. I’ve been keeping my eye out for his name ever since I realized that he wrote the recent run of Journey into Mystery from Marvel. The basic story of The Wicked + the Divine is from the point of view of a young girl who gets mixed up with “the Pantheon”. A dozen divine characters, who are pop stars, and have godlike powers. In the second issue, we learn more about the members of the Pantheon and how they became what they are. And Kieron is slowly revealing the cast of characters, reminding me of how the Endless were revealed in the Sandman books. It builds of an element of interest as new, strange elements are added into this so far amorphous story.

The art by Jamie McKelvie is very clean and detailed. Traditionally drawn without excessive exaggeration or embellishments. There aren’t any whacky angles or bizarre framing. It’s just good narrative illustration. Where the art excels is in how he depicts faces. With strong emotions, the reader can see that the characters know more that what the plot is telling us.

As I mentioned, I’ll continue picking this book up. And I would consider buying it for our library collection when it comes out in trade. It could potentially go into an older teen collection, but instead I would err on the side of safety and ask to have it shelved in the non-fiction area.

Top of the Pile - 10/9/2013

Three
Writer Kieron Gillen
Artists Ryan Kelly and Jordie Bellaire
Published by Image

Every comic fan knows the battle of Thermopylae from the Frank Miller story 300. Spartans holding off Persian hoards, protecting the nascent Greek city-states from being conquered. But in the afterward of this comic, Kieron Gillen, who mentions Millers work, explains that he wanted to tell the story of the Spartans that were living behind its citizens. The Helots, who were the peasants or serfs of Greek society and were the lowest caste.

So in this first issue, we learn how barbaric the citizens were as they hunt and murder helots as they work in the fields. And we meet three individuals who seem to rise above their station in life. Klaros, a crippled, bitter man. Damar a woman who seems sympathetic to Klaros’ plight. And Terpander who is best described as a type of malcontent. I assume we’ll get to follow their paths as they try and survive and thrive is a society where they are basically outcasts.

The artwork for this book is very good. The orange and black cover is striking and caught my eye on the shelf at the comic shop today. Inside, the artwork is broad and strong. The colors and inking stylistically are thick and dark making for a powerful narrative. The character designs and good too. The helots are gaunt and emaciated while the Spartans are muscley and buff. We feel for them.

I will continue picking up this title. I like Gillen’s work and think he’s a fine storyteller. And the historic subject of Ancient Greece is very different and pretty cool. As of the first issue, I don’t see anything objectionable for a library collection. Certainly not for the juvenile section, but so far, it’s fine for the YA area.

Top of the Pile - 5/8/2013

Uber #1

Written by Kieron Gillen

Illustrated by Caanan White

Avatar Press

Super Nazis? What's not to like? I guess that’s what the main idea of this new book by Kieron Gillen is in a nutshell. I picked up issue #0 last month and liked the idea. So when #1 was on the shelf, I added it to my stack.

Uber is an alternate history where Nazi scientists were able to come up with a super soldier. In issue 0, it starts at the brink of the end of the war, with the Soviets entering Berlin, the great German war machine is on it’s last gasp. Until three super Nazi soldiers enter the battle and obliterate the invading forces. Issue 1 opens with a full page image of Hitler with a gun in his mouth. From there, history takes it’s left turn and he doesn’t commit suicide in his underground bunker. Instead, once he realizeses the power of his new solders, he orders his “Seigfried” to deal with the Soviet POWs by "giving them opera". What follows is a massacre. Meanwhile, we also find that there is a deep cover spy working her way out of Germany with all the plans. The Allies only hope seems to be her successful return to England.

The art by Caanan White is pretty cool. Not quite as gory as other Avatar Press books, but that doesn’t mean he won’t show limbs flying and melted flesh. Some of his caricature work is a little rough. His Hitler is really only identifiable by his moustache. And Churchill isn’t a great representation. But taken in context, it’s not too difficult to figure them out.

Though this is a pretty cool book, and I’ll continue picking it up, I would be wary to add it to a library collection. Though violence is more accepted than sex, with pretty much any Avatar Press book, I would be sure it would be something I could justify to over-anxious parents who might be offended. And unfortunately, other than my personal opinion, there really isn’t too much out there in the non-comic press to help argue a challenge.

Top of the Pile 10/24/12

Journey into Mystery #645
Story by Kieron Gillen
Art by Stephanie Hans
Marvel Comics

This is the end of a long story by Kieron Gillen. Starting with a young, resurrected Loki, we follow as he tries to change the whole god of evil – must kill my half-brother Thor trope. Through a couple story arcs that had the potential of ending the universe, young Loki uses his cunning for good throughout. With varying results, he usually comes out on top and saves the nine realms from some nasty fate.

With issue 645, we are presented with the aftermath of the “Everything Burns” crossover event. Through the various plots and schemes from the previous issues, Loki has unleashed Surtur (a huge fire demon) who likes to burn things. And as everything comes apart and the outcome looks catastrophic, young Loki rewrites reality and saves the day. In this aftermath, we learn that the loose ends will require young Loki to sacrifice his essence to save (yet again) everything.

I have enjoyed this book. I have mentioned that the Norse Marvel stories have always been a fun read. And with this reinterpretation of Loki, different types of stories were told. Not good versus evil in a huge fight, but a good tricking evil at its own game. There is an interesting panel where it shows some demon getting a book from a magpie with the title “Journey into Mystery: A Comedy in Thirty Parts (Or a Tragedy in Thirty-One)”. This made me chuckle and kind of broke the fourth wall a little.

The art by Stephanie Hans is very good. Unlike the Alan Davis Norse stories, there are no huge muscle battles. Instead, we see young Loki setting up with his past and decisions. It has a melancholy feel and a palette of greens and reds. I’ll have to keep my eyes out for other works by her.

As for adding this book to a library, I would definitely do so without hesitation. Teen hero? Tough life choices? Fate of the universe? Potential love story? All make for a compelling young adult novel. And with the benefit of great art and Marvel marketing, any library would do well with this book.

Top of the Pile 8/8/12

The Mighty Thor #18

Story - Matt Fraction & Kieron Gillen
Script - Matt Fraction
Penciler - Alan Davis
Inker - Mark Farmer
Colorist - Javier Rodriguez
Letterer - VC's Joe Sabino

This weeks top of the pile is a book I isn’t part of my pull list from the comic shop. The Mighty Thor #18 has the honor of being read first due to the fact that it is the beginning of a story arc that will contain the book Journey Into Mystery, which I do subscribe to and enjoy. They Asgard books are doing a crossover event called “Everything Burns” which will be a huge battle with the fire giant Surtur.

Written by Matt Fraction and Kieron Gillen with pencils by the phenomenal artist Alan Davis, this was a book I wanted to read to see if it was worth adding the extra title to collect the whole “Everything Burns” event, or to drop Journey Into Mystery since I find these cross book storylines a pain.

As far as the story goes, I think it will be pretty good. It seems for the last couple years Asgard is in one existential crisis after another and only Thor can save the day. But I mentioned that I am only picking up Journey Into Mystery, which tell the story of a young, reincarnated Loki. Without the pure malevolence, I find this Loki a wonderful character. He tries to fight against his nature to do bad. He tries to do what’s right. But no one thinks he has changed that much from his old evil self. However, there was precious little of young Loki this book. I’m sure he’ll have more of a presence as the story continues.

Well, I liked this book. But what made it better than average was Alan Davis’ artwork. His style hasn’t changed over the years, and that’s a good thing since his style is wonderful for comic books. His draughtsmanship is top notch and clearly advances the narrative. Unlike some comic art where there are expressionless and featureless figures. His expressions and figures are unique. And I had to take about 5 minutes to look at the group battle double page spread.

So when the next issues of this story come out, I'll liked this issue enough to continue getting the story. But I'll wait till the end of the crossover event to read the complete tale in one sitting. I find this much more rewarding.