August 2011
7 posts
3 tags
Asterix and the Black Gold
Writer/Artist – Albert Uderzo
1981.
This is my first exposure to the venerable series about the shrewd little Gaulish warrior and his dimwitted oaf buddy, Obelix. I understand it’s the second album (#26 in the series) to be both written and drawn by Uderzo after the death of co-creator/writer Rene Goscinny. I also understand that many prefer the ones where Goscinny was writing.
In this one, the...
2 tags
ADD's Best Comics of All Time
I recently took part in The Hooded Utilitarian’s International Best Comics Poll (my list is here). “Best of” lists are something some critics enjoy, while others (notably Roger Ebert) more or less despise them. I’m kind of in the middle — it’s seemingly difficult to come up with a definitive list of anything relating to something as subjective as art, but the...
4 tags
The Comics Journal #301 (Part 1)
Another issue (volume?) of TCJ apparently means another opportunity to screw with Tom Crippen’s head, as three editors and eight interns couldn’t spell his name correctly in the Table of Contents. Ah, well. Those who pick up the book will see that it’s gone through another format change, this time close to the dimensions and paper used in Dash Shaw’s Bottomless Belly Button, a brick of newsprint...
3 tags
TWC's Trouble With Marvel Comics
I recently reviewed Marvel’s Thor Omnibus here on Trouble With Comics. That’s likely the last time you’ll find on this blog a review of a Marvel Comics product that stems from the original work created by Jack Kirby, unless Marvel Comics changes its corporate policies enough to do the right thing for the heirs of Kirby’s legacy. I’ve discussed this with my colleague...
4 tags
The Mighty Thor Omnibus
Writers - Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Robert Bernstein
Pencilers - Jack Kirby, Al Hartley, Joe Sinnott, Don Heck
Inkers - Joe Sinnott, Dick Ayers, Al Hartley, George Roussos, Paul Reinman, Chic STone, Vince Colletta, Frank Giacoia
Publisher - Marvel Comics. $99.99 USD
It’s appropriate that Thor finally gets the Omnibus treatment, as this book weighs as much as a sledgehammer. The...
July 2011
5 posts
2 tags
Captain America (2011)
Marvel continues to grow their film version of the Marvel Universe with this period adventure, which of course tells the tale of scrawny young patriot Steve Rogers, who becomes the burly, superpowered Captain America, WWII hero who is eventually thawed out by the end with the promise of modern era adventures as one of the mighty Avengers.
Director Joe (The Rocketeer) Johnston knows from period...
1 tag
New Round of ADD eBay Auctions - Cheap Reads for...
Just added more deeply discounted graphic novels to my eBay auctions, including the Krazy Kat Celebration HC, Joker HC, Ed Brubaker Secret Avengers HC set, Fighting American TPB, Joe Simon’s autobiography in hardcover, and more! You can view all my auctions on one page by clicking here. Check out my feedback rating, and bid with confidence! Mention Trouble With Comics at checkout and...
4 tags
Michael Moorcock's Elric: The Balance Lost #1 (of...
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Francesco Biagini.
Published by BOOM! Studios. $3.99 USD
I have no doubt that the talents involved here have the best intentions. I’m sure writer Roberson is a longtime devotee of Moorcock’s work, bursting with enthusiasm to get others as excited about the Multiverse as he is. It’s not a cynical enterprise by any means.
And yet, the result is...
5 tags
Fear Itself Tie-Ins
With the fourth of seven issues of the main Fear Itself miniseries published, we’re at the halfway point of Marvel’s latest event. I’ve actually been pretty impressed with how most of the ongoing series have been able to incorporate the storyline into their own series without completely losing their own plot threads or identity, while for the most part the tie-in miniseries, while not “necessary”,...
June 2011
7 posts
2 tags
Zack Soto Starts Richard Corben Appreciation Blog
Terrific cartoonist in his own right, Zack Soto has started a Tumblr blog devoted to one of his own favorites, the sensual, elusive and still damn prolific Richard Corben. Check it out.
—Christopher Allen
2 tags
ADD Reviews Approximate Continuum Comics
Lewis Trondheim is one of the few comics creators whose work appeals to me despite carrying large doses of whimsy. Can I be honest with you? I hate whimsy. I hate anything whimsical. But the autobiographical comics of Lewis Trondheim, these I love. Trondheim’s autobio comics both feel very close to reality to me — I love other autobio creators like James Kochalka, Harvey Pekar and...
1 tag
A Retailer's Response to DC's Relaunch
John Belskis is the owner of Excellent Adventures in Ballston Spa, New York and the organizer of the twice-annual Albany Comic Con (an advertiser on Trouble With Comics). The following is his response to DC’s recently announced plans to relaunch their universe of superhero comic books and provide same-day digital download capability for their titles. If the words, “desperate times need...
2 tags
5 tags
Genius, Isolated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth
Writers - Dean Mullaney & Bruce Canwell Publisher - IDW Publishing $49.99 USD
I get a little uneasy calling anyone a genius, but since many folks I respect got there to slap that sobriquet on Alexander Toth way before me, I can live with it. There are really only a handful of true eccentrics and iconoclasts in the history of the comics medium. In recent years, publishers have gotten around to...
1 tag
CA and ADD on DC, FYI
Christopher Allen: So, as everyone knows by now, DC Comics is relaunching every single one of their ongoing series on August 31st, as well as a bunch of new ones. Kevin Melrose at CBR and Kiel Phegley at Newsarama have done good work tracking the news we have so far. Basically, on that date, there will be 52 #1 issues, meaning relaunches of most current series as well as several more. Note, some...
4 tags
May 2011
6 posts
3 tags
Smallville Finale
I only started watching the show this season, so I realize I’m not going to get the full impact here. Still, aside from not really having a feel for Lex Luthor, I don’t think I missed too much or was in any way lost. I’ve enjoyed the series, though I think the season didn’t completely fire on all cylinders because they only advanced the Darkseid storyline every now and...
6 tags
Flashpoint #1 (and Flash #11 & 12)
Writer - Geoff Johns
Artist - Andy Kubert (Scott Kolins and Francis Manapul on Flash #11 & 12)
Publisher - DC Comics. $3.99 USD.
I try to be fair. I cop to not being a Geoff Johns fan, but I like the Flash and I like alternate reality stories, so I thought I’d give Flashpoint a try. And to be fair, I figured I’d read a couple issues of The Flash, since it leads into the story. So here we...
5 tags
Action Comics #900
Writers - Paul Cornell, Various
Artists - Pete Woods, Gary Frank, Various
Publisher - DC Comics $4.99 USD
Is “pretty good” really good enough for the longest-running superhero title’s 900th issue? I guess we’ll have to take what we’re served. Cornell and Woods wrap up the Lex Luthor “Black Ring” storyline with Lex gaining ultimate power but losing it...
