I wrote more than expected this month, so instead of wasting your time with small talk, let's just leap on over to February's reviews.
"Over a few short weeks, the fear and hope pulsing through the nation would be embodied by a strange new symbol that would shape the decades that followed and forever embed itself in the cultural imagination... Because the summer of the flying saucer was only just beginning."
Last July, three former military officials testified before Congress confirming the existence of UAPs (Unidentified Anamolous Phenomenon, an updated acronym replacing the traditional 'UFO'). During this testimony, officials also asserted that the government possessed "non-human biologics," or bodies from undisclosed crash sites. What was once nothing more than the ramblings of conspiracy theorists has become a serious topic of concern, leading organizations like NASA to set up independent studies to investigate the matter. Because of this, Dark Horse's new series, Blue Book: 1947 is not your everyday science fiction comic. In fact, it's not fiction at all. Writer James Tynion IV tells us the real-life story of aviator Kenneth Arnold who is often cited as one of the first eyewitnesses of flying saucers, igniting the UFO craze in the United States in the summer of 1947. While responding to a crashed plane near Mt. Rainier, Arnold witnessed 9 silver objects flying at unexplainable speeds across the clear Washington sky. Others would later come forward, testifying to seeing similar objects that same day and the days that followed.
Tynion treats the issue of flying saucers delicately, concisely chronicling events and organizing lines of testimony from several historical witnesses, never veering into severe melodramatics. However, Tynion's writing is never cold or unfeeling. If anything, readers are left with an eery sense of awe at the question of what might be occupying our airspace just beyond our reach. Artist Michael Avon Oeming takes a minimalist approach by using simple block shading and coloring the book in different shades of blue. Oeming also incorporates snippets of real newspaper headlines and maps of the UFO flight path to further ground the story in reality.
Each issue of Blue Book: 1947 is accompanied by a "True weird" backup story, documenting strange local legends and ghost stories from around the world. This month readers were introduced to the Dungarvon Whooper by Zac Thompson and Gavin Fullerton, a ghost in Canada who haunts camps of axemen along the Dungarvon River. In the end, Blue Book: 1947 is a book for all readers curious or still apprehensive about the unknown. What is it about UFOs that are so fascinating and yet terrifying all at the same time? Maybe mysteries scare us because we're forced to accept our limits; we have to admit there are things beyond our control. But Blue Book isn't about losing control. It's about trusting the experiences that we don't yet understand, not always worried about figuring them out completely, but content to dwell in the many possibilities they might offer us.
"They were good dogs. They were all good dogs. But every good dog has a bad day."
On January 6th, 2021, comic book writer Tom King was on a walk with his dog in Washington DC when the Capitol building was overcome by angry protestors following a Trump rally. 5 people died, hundreds were injured, and over 1200 people have been arrested since, making Jan. 6 the largest criminal case in U.S. Justice Department history. Tom King's dog was unimpressed by the whole riotous affair, more interested in smelling the grass than joining in the chaos. But it was this event, experienced by both King and his dog, that inspired him to revisit George Orwell's 1945 dystopian classic Animal Farm for our modern context. While Animal Farm was an allegory about the danger of communism devolving into fascism, King writes that "today's threat of fascism doesn't come from the ideals of the left looking forward, but from the right looking back." (Found in Animal Pound, Ashcan)
Issue #2 begins with a tragic inciting incident; a dog overcome by a surge of instinct, a bloody impulse to chase down a rabbit too slow to avoid his vicious jaws. Rabbits now live in fear for their lives, and cats too question whether they can trust the rest of their canine companions. But the doors remain open and compromises must be made and systems put in place to equally distribute power and influence in the pound. If Animal Pound is an allegory for the United States government, then issue #2 represents the pound's constitutional convention where the animals construct their electoral college and map out their structure of government. But like all political systems, cracks begin to appear, and it's only a matter of time before the system turns on those it's meant to protect.
Artist Peter Gross manages to capture expressions and emotions on animals' faces while maintaining some sense of realism. In some panels, Gross uses intricate line-work to highlight individual hairs on a cat or dog's face, making the pages feel like detailed field guides or illustrated botany books. Some of the art in this series, particularly the covers, have a "woodcut" print quality to them that reminds me of political cartoons in old newspapers, like the work of Thomas Nast in Harper's Weekly during the Civil War. All media is in some sense propaganda, particularly comic books which use images and stories to convey an artist's beliefs or agenda. Animal Pound issue #2 is a testament to the power of comic books which can still contribute meaningfully to political and social discourse. Literature still has something to say to us about the times in which we find ourselves, and Animal Pound #2 is no exception.
"All history becomes fiction the moment it's retold... When it comes to chronicling the powerless, the lucky ones are simply forgotten. The rest? Recast as monsters, to draw the eye away from humdrum horrors."
Come to the dark side and relish in this delightfully drab DC Black Label series where vampires and occultists help bring a monster back to life. This is my first venture into the comics of Hellblazer, and I'm thrilled to be on the ride for this rollercoaster of a story. John Constantine is a master magician, but not even magic users can prevent their ultimate demise. While he may technically be dead, Constantine's still kicking and looking for a cure. Along with two traveling companions, the sort-of-dead Constantine must revive his old friend Swamp Thing who may just hold the key to his own resurrection. But Constantine's magic alone can't bring Swamp Thing back, and he'll need to rely on older, more ancient forms of magic to assist him. There's a lot to love in this comic, even for new readers like myself who aren't as familiar with the lore of DC's Sandman Universe. I find, like most things in life, it's best to dive right in and let the story take you where it will.
I was thrilled to see colorist Jordie Bellaire's name on this book as I've been following her work in other DC titles like Birds of Prey and Peacemaker Tries Hard. One of the first books I bought physically was Suicide Squad: Blaze in 2022, and coincidently Jordie Bellaire and Aaron Campbell (the artist on Hellblazer: Dead in America) provided gorgeous art that radiated off the page. It's amazing to see these two work together again on another book that has a similar aesthetic with a darker, macabre mood. When brighter colors are used, they add a horrific, carcinogenic quality to the page. Readers will find little comfort or warmth in the psychedelic visions where Constantine looks on the once fruitful dimension "The Green," now charred to a crisp in raging fires.
Of course, this story wouldn't be possible without the impressive dialogue written by Simon Spurrier who gives a unique voice to each character. I'm no expert at accents myself, yet I can hear the distinct Scouse accent (from Liverpool) of Constantine just by the way Spurrier writes his dialogue. Constantine's companion Nat sports a thick Scottish brogue while a police officer chasing them has a very recognizable Southern draw. Spurrier writes all of these characters well enough that the reading experience is seamless despite the great diversity of voices. If you like monsters and magic, or just enjoy reading quality comics, don't skip out on this dastardly tale.
"It went against all sense and logic, self-preservation and propriety. It wasn't calculated, thought-through, or hedged in any way. We had at last found an artist."
Hungry for another story? Sink your teeth into this sinfully delicious miniseries from Boom! Studios that's guaranteed to leave you much more than satisfied. I started writing this monthly comic review back in September which covered Rare Flavours #1. Now four issues later, I can assure my readers (you faithful few!) that Ram V has been cooking up some of his best work in this culinary caper. Mo, a documentary filmmaker down on his luck, has just discovered that Rubin Baksh, the star of his film, has been a human-eating Rakshasa all along. But will Mo let another person's devilish deeds get in the way of creating something meaningful? Can Mo reconcile Rubin's dark past to finish the documentary he set out to create?
Each issue of this cultural contour of India includes a recipe with explanations about the local and historical expressions of each dish. And while the recipes certainly seem to rely on the more authentic ways of cooking the dish, they even include workarounds like using a rice cooker for the technologically dependent. Filipe Andrade's use of color reflects the characters' moods: lighter tones for moments of reflection and pause, and shades of dark red for moments of suspense and anger. Ram V gives Andrade the whole spectrum of emotions to work with in this issue. The writing is concise yet full of information. The panels never feel burdened by too much dialogue, but balance art and writing like ingredients in a flavorful stew.
And this balance is precisely what makes each issue of Rare Flavours such a delight to read. Everything belongs, and everything included has its place within the story. Like the burnt layer of 'fry daal' at the bottom of an earthen pot that has been left simmering all day, everything adds to the flavor of a dish. Even bitterness has its place. These imperfections in life can be seen as mistakes, or they can be seen as necessary ingredients. And so too in art. Perfection can kill inspiration; can trap an artist in fear. But true art is unleashed when we embrace life's bitterness, and only then can such bitterness be transformed into sweetness. Two more issues remain in this tasty tale, and I'm savoring every bite.
"As for what next occurred. How she pushed back. How she then threw the obelisk and felled our giant. All we can say all these years later is that she... she was Wonder Woman, and that was quite enough."
Last but certainly not least, let's take a moment to appreciate DC Comics' heart and soul, the Bane of Ares and Queen of Truth, Wonder Woman. I approach this review with humility as Tom King's current run on the character is the first I've read. I cannot speak to how well this book portrays Diana or how true it is to the lore of the books that preceded it. That said, I think there's something beneficial to reading a series without any prior knowledge or expectations. When I go to my local comic shop, I'm looking for a good story, and there's no denying that King and the team are more than up to the task. This issue in particular acted as a great introduction for new readers to some of Wonder Woman's greatest foes like Doctor Psycho, Giganta, and Grail. As the US government, secretly led by a shadowy chauvinist known as "The Sovereign," closes in on the Amazing Amazon, will Diana fall, or has the US government overplayed its hand?
Every time I read a Tom King book, I feel like I get my money's worth. King casts Wonder Woman as the lead in a political drama that speaks to our times as much as it entertains. King brings his past as an ex-CIA officer to bear in this book that deals so much with backroom government deals and secret military operations. Through all the deception and lies, Diana stands alone as a pillar of truth, and she will not yield. Even The Sovereign must submit to using the abilities of women more powerful than himself to attempt to defeat her. And while she fights back at every advance, Wonder Woman never loses an ounce of her mercy.
Artist Daniel Sampere and Colorist Tomeu Morey have delivered consistently clean and epic artwork for this series. I'm never lost in the action on the page despite the immense amount of detail drawn into each panel. Wonder Woman looks stoic even after the worst beating, and yet we see her vulnerability on full display as she bruises and bleeds and shows the world that she's not invincible. Like some other books on this list, Wonder Woman #6 comes with a backup story about Wonder Woman's daughter, Trinity. This backup has a lighter tone which is a welcome addition to the seriousness of the main story. A few months ago, I would've never considered pulling a Wonder Woman comic. I thought Wonder Woman was just a female Superman; overpowered without a speck of relatablity. And yet in the first few pages of issue #1, I was surprised at the woman I encountered who was every bit as human as she was a god. And of all her many powers, none is as fierce as her heart.
That wraps up February's greatest hits. If you've made it this far, why not read a little further to find out what stories are coming out next month. See you then!
Most Anticipated New Releases in March
"Visionary creator Peach Momoko creates a new generation of X-men for an all-new Universe! Hisako Ichiki is a teenage girl who just wants to live a normal life - go to school, hang out with her friends, ignore the political strife broiling over after the events of Ultimate Invasion - but life has other plans for her. In Japan, urban legends have sprung to life and brought some unusual new powers with them... Meet Armor, Maystorm and a group of new Ultimate X-men the likes of which you've never seen before!"
"Following the tragic death of her late father C. K. Cole, the esteemed pulp writer and creator of the popular warrior character Othan; Helen Cole is called back to her Grandfather's enormous and elustrious estate Wyndhorn House. Scarred by Cole's untimely passing and lost in a new, strange world, Helen wreaks drunken havoc upon her arrival; however, her chatoic ways begin to soften as she discovers a lifetime of secrets hiding within the myriad rooms and hallways of the expansive manor. For outside its walls, within the woods, dwell legendary adventures that once were locked away within her father's stories."
"A century ago, a portal opened over Central America, and giant monsters known as the Tetza came through, changing our world. Now, the world puts all its effort into making the Iron Kings - giant mechs that are forever battling the Tetza for humanity's continued Survival in gladiatorial combat. Anita Marr is the greatest of the Iron King pilots, chosen to work with a new secret prototype named Dawnrunner. An Iron King that could change the tide in humanity's favor."
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