Wayfarer Special: Top 10 Indie Comics of 2011 (Part 2 of 2)

And so once more into the breach dear friends, as I bring us to the second half of this happy little countdown of the Indie comics that I loved the most this past year. Yes, I know, it's been a long gap since Part 1 of this little countdown and the New Year is well into it's first quarter, but it is what it is - I felt that coverage of our Comic Con in Delhi and all that came out of it took precedence and this could wait just a bit.

Before I get to the final leg of the countdown, a quick listing of the books that almost made it to this top ten but fell just shy. I wish I could have made this list longer and perhaps I will review them all in the near future, but in the meantime I think they all deserve an Honourable mention:

• The Goon (Writer/Artist: Eric Powell)
• G.I.Joe Cobra (Writer: Christos Gage and Mike Costa, Artist: Antonio Fuso)
• Scarlet (Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, Artist: Alex Maleev)
• Scalped (Writer: Jason Aaron, Artist: R. M. Guéra)
• Artifacts (Writers: Ron Marz, Marc Silvestri & Matt Hawkins, Artists: Michael Broussard, Stjepan Sejic)
• Super Dinosaur (Writer: Robert Kirkman, Artist: Jason Howard)
• Fallen Angel: Return of the Son (Writer: Peter David, Artist: J.K.Woodward)

So thank you for your patience and now without any further rambling along on my part, lets just get to it shall we?

05. HELLBOY

Click to enlarge

Writer: Mike Mignola w/ John Arcudi

Artist: Various

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

For those of you that have been following Mike Mignola's worlds as they've evolved in the Hellboy, B.P.R.D and related series, I think you know what I mean when I say that for so many years now they have been the most consistent, creative and amazingly put together comics – among the best comics as a medium have to offer in a sense. For those that have not, you are really missing out on something special.

The various story arcs and such together form such an amazing, long-running and vast story-line and world that it's amazing they've managed it for such a long period of time – and the hand of creator Mike Mignola is definitely visible in every single book, even the one's he has not directly scripted himself. Of course credit where it's due to the talents who've worked with him and been able to strike a nice balance between their own work and style but ever retaining the unique look and feel that Mignola brought to the comic-medium. The truly awesome part being that it remains this damn good even after 17 years!

Week-In-Review: Fantastic Four #603 / Witchblade and Red Sonja #1 / Prophet #22

Well folks, as promised, we have part 2 of this week's comic reviews for your pleasure and we hope you like the titles we've chosen. As always, if there are any series' at all that you would like to see reviewed as they release - all you have to do is ask!

Fantastic Four #603

Story: Jonathan Hickman

Art: Barry Kitson

(Review by Akshay Dhar)

I've never been the biggest fan of Fantastic Four comics beyond the early years under Kirby and Lee, a few good ones here and there but rarely have I consistently enjoyed what is otherwise one of the most landmark, unique and iconic team books in comics. Until Hickman. From now on when it comes to the FF there is the era B.H. (before Hickman) and A.H. as far as I'm concerned and if you've been following his work from his takeover through the launch of the ongoing FF (a.k.a Future Foundation) and the recent relaunch of Fantastic Four, then you know exactly what I mean.

Not a story-heavy issue, this is just part of the final moments of what Hickman has been building for quite a while now with the multi-Reed storyline, the time and space travelling Richards' children all growed-up and all the other little bits that have been weaving around – not to mention the death and VERY recent return (with style I might add!) of Johnny Storm, a.k.a, the Human Torch. We get some funky science, deadly cosmic weapons, Galactus kicking arse and laying the smack-down, Negative Zone armies now ruled by Johnny, lost kids and twists still forming as others unravel and this is a relatively simple issue for what has been a great time with a book (now two books if you include this and FF both). Barry Kitson does a fantastic job on the art and the massive scale action scenes play out really well while never getting in the way of the story, a nice balance.

Week-In-Review: All-Star Western #6 / No Place Like Home #1 / The Flash #6

Hey folks! Welcome to another week of new comics and this week we again split our review into two because we just had too many comics to review (it's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it!) and so we bring you three spectacular new comics today:
 

All-Star Western #6

Story: Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti

Art: Moritat (w/ Gabriel Bautista on colours)

(Review by Akshay Dhar)

There is little anyone can say about this series except that it is without a doubt one of the best things to come out of DC's “New 52” relaunch.

Jonah Hex has always been one of the most popular cult characters and under the pen of Gray and Palmiotti, one of the better non capes-n-tights comics on the market consistently. But this relaunch that brought Hex to ye-olde-Gotham back in the day, bringing the rugged outdoorsman and vagabond into the confines of a city really put things in a different direction and allowed a whole new kind of Jonah Hex story, mingling the standard western adventure he is known for with a hint of the just-south-of-normal that was a hallmark of his tales for a long time.

We get a conclusion to the big mystery this time around as Hex and his unintentional partner Dr. Arkham race to learn the fate of the kidnapped children of Gotham and fight a giant demonic bat along the way – just another day in the life of Hex. With a satisfying ending that isn't quite an ending but a nice and neat lead-in to the next issue that gives us a sweet little teaser of what to expect and a whole new guest star/partner for Hex, I would say I'm loving the way this book is being handled and hope it stays around at least for a while.

The back-up story (another comic practice I miss!) stars the mysterious lady known as the Barbary Ghost as she continues on her hunt for vengeance and so far has been well told and the character fairly nicely put forward so this promises to be another welcome addition to monthly reading for those who like these hardy frontier characters in this wild world.

The art is without reproach in both stories and the combination of art and colouring carries a wonderfully faded grittiness to it that really brings out every mood and facet of the excellent layouts and detailing and I look forward to much more of the same in issues ahead!

SCORE : 8.5 / 10

Rajat's Random Rambling 2-In-1 Review : Chairman Meow + Widhwa Ma Andhi Behen

Last year at the first Indian Comic Con India (2011) in New Delhi, for me, the find of the 2-day event was without doubt UBiMa. I have written about it in detail in one of my first few reviews for Comic Addicts.

After a few months, I heard that a sequel was in motion and that excited me to no end, I hounded both Adhiraj Singh and Abhijeet Kini to send me pics, and Abhijeet even promised to send a few sample art pieces but I guess they got busy or something, the sequel hasn’t happened yet. Disappointing, but what the hell. Life goes on, right?

Since there was no UBiMan #2 or for some unexplained reason Retrograde #2 either (fellow addict Akshay can perhaps shed some light on this!), and Sumit Kumar wasn’t launching anything, I had no major expectations from this Comic Con, as far as the artist and writers I knew were concerned.

There were going to be some new launches and Rovolt looked totally kickass, but didn’t expect much from the humor section. Anyway, 3 days went in a breeze. Due to Cosplay, I missed out checking out and buying anything from the stalls this time as well!!! Note to self: Next CC BUY stuff on day 1 and then follow it up with the fooling around in costumes!

Comic Con Special Review : Daksh 1-4

Courtesy the fine people at Level 10 comics, the Indian comic book geek finally has something to hand the irritating buggers who follow the retarded notion of comic books being for kids. After the success of the first issue in the independent creator-owned edition of the Comic Jump anthology, and the subsequent excellent fan reception of the second issue, we now have our hands on the first four issues, thanks to the launch of the Daksh Graphic Novel at this year’s Comic Con India.

Cyborg 009! No school like the old school!

Cyborg 009 is a name that should ring familiar to many manga/anime fans across the country. A long time ago, when I was considerably younger, I was enthralled by the anime for Cyborg 009 when it was aired on television. I was of course new to anime in general so many of the things that caught my eye were the standard anime styling and fluid action. But there was something to the story and the characters in this cartoon were surprisingly tragic for, you know, a cartoon.

Week-In-Review: Batman #6 + Peter Panzerfaust #1 + The Activity #3 + Wasteland #34

Well folks, as promised, here is another round of comic reviews from this past weeks releases for your pleasure. Today we cut across 3 companies, 4 titles and just as many genres as we bring you part 2 of this weeks selection.

BATMAN #6

Story: Scott Snyder

Art: Greg Capullo

(Review By: Anupam Sarkar)

After the dreadful encounter with “The Darkness” #99, Batman #6 was the only medicine that could get me outta my depression.

The previous issue had ended with The Talon, who stabbed (the drugged) Batman with a blade through the midsection of his body. Issue 6 picks it up from right there.

In the first few pages, Talon beats the shit out of Bats (who proceeds to bleed like gallons of tomato ketchup leaking from a barrel) while The Court of Owls surround them.

The Court then decide that they are not done with The Dark Knight yet and want him to be hurt much more still.

The weakened Bats (who had been trapped in the labyrinth beneath Gotham City for 8 days) is pushed inside a room where he sees his great-grandpop Alan Wayne's photo, which motivates him to kick Talon's arse just by using words as weapon against Talon(a bit unusual, but effectively done). Then he performs a magnificent escape from the labyrinth.

Week-In-Review: Army Of Darkness #1 + B.P.R.D Hell on Earth: The Long Death #1 + The Darkness #99 + Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi #1

ARMY OF DARKNESS #1

Story: Elliott R. Serrano

Art: Marat Mychaels & Chris Ivy

(Review By: Akshay Dhar)

This review must be prefaced by me informing you that if you have a love for either the Army Of Darkness and Evil Dead movies, Ash Williams and/or the inimitably awesome Bruce Campbell – then you will already relish and enjoy the comic. Also, you should bear in mind this is in essence a horror-action-comedy before you read it and start taking it seriously as you do so. Just enjoy it for what it is, thats what it does.

Taking a new direction on the mythology of the Army Of Darkness with chosen ones and adding in a whole new “Ash” Williams character, a bit of a surprise this time, what with it being a girl and all that. Torn from her time by magic and possibly fate and thrown into ancient Egypt with new and ungodly powers, Ashley is now on her own (more or less) as she fights an survives what is clearly just the beginning of deadly adventures to come as the malevolent big-bad watches from afar. With the original Ash in just a cameo moment, it was a bit of a let-down given the cover which makes you dive in hoping to geekily enjoy seeing the Boom-stick in action. But in the end Serrano has done a good job and the end result is an amusing and well portrayed story in the horror-comedy genre that sets an interesting opening stage, now I just hope he can build on it nicely hereafter.

As for the artwork – I make no bones about the fact that I'm not the biggest Mychaels fan, given his artistic lineage under the tutelage of the man who makes anyone with any aesthetic sensibility face-palm at will, Mr. Rob Leifeld. However he seems to have made some progress and while not spectacular, he does a basicaly decent job and seems to have surpassed that particular teacher for sure – plus I think some nice inking by Ivy also helps in that department quite a bit.

SCORE : 6.4 / 10

Wayfarer Special: Top 10 Indie Comics of 2011 (Part 1 of 2)

Welcome back to another wayfaring edition of my rambling and meanderings through the world of comics folks!

Today I have something special for you however. You see I decided that with 2011 now over for a time, there was a massive surge of independent titles and creativity that really brought something new to the industry. Image Comics in particular had a banner year and produced fantastic series after series that left readers breathless.
With this in mind I decided to create a short-list of some of the best and brightest of what I had read this past year. Now bear in mind this is a subjective list and merely my listing things out off the top of my head, first instinct and all that!

There were some magnificent titles that are worthy of praise and celebration but unfortunately my decision to keep this a “Top Ten” list limits the titles I can talk about here. So I will address the ones that got missed here in a later post, for now lets just start our countdown shall we? Good!

(...and as always, all images can be clicked for larger versions! Enjoy.)

10. AXE COP: BAD GUY EARTH

Writer: Malachai Nicolle and Ethan Nicolle

Artist: Ethan Nicolle

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

What can one say about this series? It is hands down the single most fun and creatively outrageous series possibly ever written. For those that don't know – this mini-series was originally a web-comic written and drawn by 29 year-old Ethan based on stuff that he and Malachai (now about 7?) came up with while playing together. Seriously. Think on that a moment.

Centred on our hero – Axe Cop – who is basically a cop who sleeps only a couple of minutes a day because he works the “always shift” and is the ultimate bad-ass, we see dinosaurs, aliens, Ninja Moon Warriors, a pet T-Rex with gatling gun arms and anything and everything you can imagine. Filled to the brim with entertainment and (I repeat) sheer wall-to-wall fun, you don't need backstory or continuity or anything – this is just simple enjoyable comic reading and in an industry trying very hard to be taken seriously, this book just throws it all out the window with style.

COMIC ADDICTS VS BOOK WORMS!!

 EPISODE 3: The Return of the Addicts

ObiwayneK’s journal,

February 8^th, 2012:

Worm carcass in the alley this morning, tire tread on its burnt stomach. These book worms are afraid of me. I have seen their true colors. Their streets are extended gutters and the gutters are full of blood. When the drains finally scab over, all the vermin will drown. The accumulated filth of all their failed pseudo intellectualism and baseless arrogance will foam up about their waists and all the book authors, worms and book w****s will look up and shout, “Save us!” and I'll look down and whisper, “No!” (although watching that recently posted watchmen parody makes me want to say “I just farted” ).

They had a choice, all of them. They could have followed in the footsteps of good men like Alan Moore or Grant Morrison. Decent men who believed in creating the best possible reading material for the public. Instead they followed the trifling word slingers, who had nothing better than staid old plots documented in dull fonts and they didn’t realize that the trail led over the precipice until it was too late. Don’t tell me that they didn’t have a choice. Now these book worms stand at the brink of destruction by the comic-addicts, staring down at that bloody hell. And in the face of complete decimation all these intellectuals and wannabe smooth talkers can’t think of anything to say.

11. Age no bar: Well this is what we addicts have achieved and it is something the book worms would always dream of having, an ensemble of people with absolutely no age bar. We addicts consist of people of all ages, ranging from 5 to 92. I would be a complete a** if I denied the fact that people in the age group 10-60 read books as well as comics, because they do, but it’s the extremity age groups that add to the gadget list on our bat-belt. It is a scientifically proven fact that children understand and learn better by looking at more pictures and little text.