One of my goals for 2020 that I achieved was to increase the type of content on Pop Culture Podium - - not just comics, but books, film, music - and in 2021 I hope to add craft beer reviews.
In 2021 I’d like to cross over the 1,000 comics review barrier. That’s what this odyssey is about, beginning now. Wish me luck . . . . .
#1 MANIAC OF NEW YORK #1 (Aftershock, release date February 3— pre-order your copy by Monday, January 11)
This is a slasher film on colorful comics paper - with a big difference.
This should appeal to fans of Jason as well as anyone who likes crime drama and well-developed characters.
“He’s not a criminal. He’s a punishment being visited on the city. Here to make our lives Hell, ’til we clean up our acts. . . . How you gonna solve a case of divine wrath?” . . . . . detective Zelda Pettibone.
A more detailed review appears on this blog for January. FOUR STARS.
#2 I WALK WITH MONSTERS #1 (Vault/Nightfall, November 2020)
The info on the back cover summarizes this new horror comic so well I’m going to repeat it here . . . .
A haunting story about the monsters that walk beside us all, and sometimes lurk within . . . . .
In Jacey’s past is the Important Man who took away her brother. Now Jacey has David, who sometimes transforms into a terrifying beast. Together, they’ve found a way to live and to hunt, sniffing out men who prey on the vulnerable. But Jacey and David are about to run into the Important Man again.
You can always trust writer Paul Cornell to tell a compelling, and in this case - chilling, story. The opening pages depict a horrific scene that sets the stage for what is to come. Background information is spooned out in little details, whetting the appetite for more information. FOUR STARS.
#3-#8 JOKER hardcover (DC, 2008) JOKER offers a version of the famous comic book villain that is more edgy, gritty and realistic. As depicted by artist Lee Bermejo, Joker is less campy villain and more noir criminal. A full review appeared on this blog January 12. FOUR STARS
#9 BATMAN ANNUAL #5 (DC, February 2021) “There Is Hope In Crime Alley” by James Tynion IV and James Stokoe. There’s not much Batman in this annual.
The origin of Clownhunter from The Joker Wars saga is revealed. It’s a great story, embellished by great art and coloring. I like nothing more than a good one-shot story, a tale that is told, complete, in one single issue.
This one is the first read of 2021 that meets that criteria of greatness. This is powerful story-telling, and I may have more to say later. FIVE STARS.
#10 BLOODSHOT #10 (Valiant, January 2021) Tim Seeley has been doing a bang-up job with Bloodshot, a book that should be read by all who crave action/adventure in their comics.
The art team of Brett Booth and Pedro Andreo with colorist Andrew Dalhouse match the intensity and building suspense of Seeley’s storyline panel by panel.
This issue begins a new story arc, so it’s a good place to jump in. Bloodshot gets a download of the sinister plans of the newly-revived Project Rising Spirit, courtesy of new and interesting character Wilfred Wigans. But PRS has brought an old foe back into play, sure to give Bloodshot fits in the coming issues. FOUR STARS.
#11 I WALK WITH MONSTERS #2 (Vault/Nightfall, December 2020) Writer Paul Cornell manages to drape a feeling of dread and building tension over the story. More of heroic Jacey’s past is revealed, as well as her initial meeting with the man/wolf/monster David. Together they hunt the human monsters that prey on young children.
In the small town their quest has drawn them, they see signs of the current whereabouts and activities of the Important Man, who has haunted the dreams of Jacey since her father gifted her brother to him. He just happens to be running for office. FOUR STARS.
#12-14 RESIDENT ALIEN: YOUR RIDE’S HERE #1, 2, 3 (Dark Horse, November 2020 - January 2021) I haven’t been following the tales of Doctor Henry Vanderspeigle since the first volume of RESIDENT ALIEN (five in total). Ahead of the announcement of a television series on the SyFy Channel I decided to revisit the peaceful (usually) small town of Patience, Washington.
The story often reads like a portrait of small town America with small town concerns, conflicts and gossip -except for one important factor. The good doctor is an alien visitor who shipwrecked here. He longs for rescue while disguising himself as a doctor and playing amateur detective.
The story here is heart-warming and full of conflicts (small and large) with an office romance brewing, a missing child, and a stranger to town who knows too much about the alien. Peter Hogan knows how to spin a compelling yarn.
What makes this even better is how the alien is portrayed, as the story breaks the fourth wall by letting us readers see Henry for what he really is - a purple-skinned, pointy-eared, bald alien - while all the townsfolk see him as human. Steve Parkhouse (art, colors, and letters) is an artist deserving of more credit. He has a very welcoming style, easy to view, and very colorful. He’s a master at depicting facial expressions.
It will be interesting to see how the television series plays out, especially with versatile actor Alan Tudyk in the lead role. Will it stick to the small-town atmosphere and activities, or play it for laughs. I’ll be watching. FOUR STARS.
#15-#19 BLOODSHOT #5-9 (Valiant, November 2012-March 2013) After reading the current issue of Tim Seeley’s version of Bloodshot, I had a craving for more. So I pulled these issues out of my comics vaults, which comprised the trade paperback BLOODSHOT, VOLUME 2: THE RISE AND FALL.
I loved writer Duane Swierczynski’s (formerly of Philadelphia, now Los Angeles) re-boot of Bloodshot. Three different artists were utilized across these five issues (Manuel garcia, Arturo Lozi, and Matthew Clark) but all do an admirable job of action illustration, which there is plenty of.
There’s a new character that’s a bit of fun in Gamma, a huge matronly elder woman who keeps the psiot children in Project Rising Sun’s guarded facility under control (think “Grandma”). The manifestation of the programming control/nanite apparition implanted within Bloodshot’s mind as a precocious five-year-old boy (“The Kid”) is clever and engaging.
Bloodshot thinks he’s infiltrating the PRS complex in order to learn his real name (supposedly stored there) and take revenge on PRS. But, he’s been duped and after fighting Chainsaw, the elite team of human enhancement prototypes, uncovers the underground nursery where psiot children with superpowers are jailed and experimented on.
Bloodshot frees them from their cells, but they are suspicious of his intentions and fight back. The arc ends with both sides bonding together, as Bloodshot decides to break out of the PRS compound with the children depending on him for their salvation. This is a lead-in to the Harbinger Wars crossover saga. Definitely worth multiple readings. FOUR STARS.
Just wanted to say I admire the first paragraph here. I really value what you do here. Look forward to the diversity. -Matt
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