Reading the Hugos: Graphic Story

Welcome back for another edition of Reading the Hugos, our ongoing and long running feature looking at the Hugo Awards. Today we're going to look at the six finalists for Graphic Story.

This year, not a single comic I nominated made the final ballot. The one I most feel the loss of is Ed Piskor's X-Men: Grand Design, which I thought was a novel reimagining and retelling of of the earliest X-Men stories (see SFK's review). As a general rule, mainline Marvel comics don't make the Hugo Awards ballot (meaning, Avengers / X-Men stuff that doesn't have strong genre ties or are written by well known / regarded writers like Nnedi Okorafor or Saladin Ahmed) and it would have been nice to see Piskor breaking through here.

Regardless. On to the finalists.


Abbott, written by Saladin Ahmed, art by Sami Kivelä, colours by Jason Wordie, letters by Jim Campbell (BOOM! Studios)
Black Panther: Long Live the King, written by Nnedi Okorafor and Aaron Covington, art by André Lima Araújo, Mario Del Pennino and Tana Ford (Marvel)
Monstress, Volume 3: Haven, written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda (Image Comics)
On a Sunbeam, by Tillie Walden (First Second)
Paper Girls, Volume 4, written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Cliff Chiang, colours by Matt Wilson, letters by Jared K. Fletcher (Image Comics)
Saga, Volume 9, written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)

Monstress: I find myself increasingly in the minority regarding Monstress. There's no questioning the raw excellence of Sana Takeda's art, but I'm not sure I'm really following the story anymore and I'm not interested in going back and re-reading each preceding volume before jumping into the new one, just in the hopes that I'll be able to piece it all together. There's some cool (and badass) stuff in this book - perhaps more here than in "The Blood", but I'm reading Monstress more out of some sense of genre obligation and a vague hope that this will all come together for me in the next book. We'll see.

Paper Girls: Similar to Monstress, I'm not really sure what the overarching story is over Paper Girls or what Vaughan is building to. Unlike Monstress, I'm all in for this ride. I dig the time travel and being of a certain age, dropping the girls into the year 2000 and the fear of Y2K hits a particular emotional nostalgia that I remember so well - but what makes Paper Girls work so well for me is the interactions between the four girls, how they interact with the points in time they're dropped, and the gradual reveals of a war to change or preserve time itself. Maybe even moreso than Saga, I hope this is an ending that Vaughan is going to be able to stick and that he has a plan to bring it all together. But, for now, Vaughan is firing on all cylinders.

Black Panther: Okorafor brings Black Panther back from global threats and wide scale battle, and even from major events threatening Wakanda to tighter stories focused more on the "people on the ground", the citizens of Wakanda through the eyes of T'Challa. I appreciate that these aren't big stories, but rather are trying to reach the heart of what Wakanda is and can be and if it really is or can be as utopian as possible for all of its citizens.

On a Sunbeam: On a Sunbeam is a love story, a friendship story, a space adventure, a story of rebellion at a boarding school, and a bit of an action movie all rolled into one. It’s a beautiful piece of quiet storytelling. With absolutely wild visuals of architecture and space travel that probably would make no sense in a more conventional science fiction story, On a Sunbeam is grounded into the relationships between Mia and Grace and with Mia and the crewmembers of a spaceship shaped like a fish who become a family to her. The two narrative paths of the story are set five years apart, and one part of the “present” storyline is wondering how Mia got from the school to the ship and just what happened? I’ve never read anything quite like this, though it feels familiar at the same time.

The other finalists for Graphic Story are what I think of as more “traditional” comic books, collections of 4 to 5 issues published individually then gathered together for a trade paperback collection often around 120 pages. They are usually a story arc that may or may not hang together as a singular volume. On a Sunbeam was originally a webcomic and when published in book form clocks in over 500 pages. In some ways, On a Sunbeam feels like the sort of work the Graphic Story was created to honor, though looking at the history of the category shows a reasonable cross section between works that make the ballot for 3-5 years in a row and others that are much more of a one off tale or just represent good storytelling that year. However you consider On a Sunbeam, it is wonderful.

Saga: Saga has been a difficult book to talk about because the events of any given volume are just so batshit insane, even nine volumes into to the series - but the core of the story has been the star crossed love story between Marko and Alana and their perpetual attempts to keep their daughter safe even though it seems everything in the galaxy want them dead. The core is there, as are the hints of heartbreak permeating the series through their daughter Hazel's narration.

Volume 9 is the midpoint for the series and it marks the point Vaughan and Staples are taking a year long hiatus. They're leaving us with shock, awe, and pain. Every time it seems the series has hit a new high point, they reach back and let loose another fastball thrown harder than the last one. I'm not sure a baseball analogy works here, but there are some seriously shocking and series altering events in this book that I'm not sure how else to talk about them in vague terms. Listen, Volume 9 collects issues 49 through 54 and this isn't the place to begin if you're new to Saga - go back. It's one story and it's a great one.

Abbott: Saladin Ahmed comes hard with Abbott and he doesn't relent for a moment. This is a bad ass comic book and it is everything I didn't know that I wanted until I read it. Elena Abbott is a reporter covering some nasty, nasty crimes ignored by the police. She's better than good at her job, but then she'd have to be as a black woman in 1972 Detroit. Racism. Sexism. Some evil magical shit. Ahmed has packed Abbott with top notch storytelling and a tight narrative that you don't want to look away from, but maybe not late at night.

Abbott is a revelation. There are secrets and lies and this is a stunning, great piece of writing matched to near perfect art. Don't miss this.


My Vote
1. Abbott
2. Saga
3. On a Sunbeam
4. Black Panther
5. Paper Girls
6. Monstress


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Joe Sherry - Co-editor of Nerds of a Feather, 3x Hugo Award Finalist for Best Fanzine. Minnesotan.

Thursday Morning Superhero

After a brief hiatus due to SDCC, our regularly scheduled Thursday Morning Superhero has returned. I am admittedly behind on my pull-list, but will work diligently to catch up. This week also marks the return of Gen Con so I am distracted by learning about what games I am currently missing out on. Keep your eyes peeled for a Gen Con post in the near future.

Pick of the Week:
Leviathan #1 - I am probably going to regret this, but John Layman's latest creation is well worth the price of admission. If you aren't on board for college aged students summoning a Kaiju that starts wrecking the place, the scene of Trump (my eyes are still hurting) being informed of the impending threat are worth the admission alone.  This book had me hooked with Layman penning a modern Kaiju tale, but knowing his take on the current administration and the additional humor that will come with that has me over the top on this book. This is not for the light of heart, but is going to be a book that is sure to entertain.

The Rest:
Paper Girls #23 - This remains one of my favorite series, but I think I have reached the point where I need to switch to reading the trades as to reading it issue by issue. Brian K. Vaughan has really woven an impressive tapestry, but due to the time I take off between issues I am not 100% on board with what is happening. I know the girls are trying to escape from the future in which they are currently in, but have lost a bit along the way. This week's issue was exciting and is setting up potential romantic futures and the return to the 80's, but I need to backtrack to remain properly current. I love the twists and turns that have been thrown to us readers along the way, but the time travel and competing factions has left me a bit confused.

Star Wars #52 - Marvel continues to do an amazing job with the Star Wars franchise and gifted us with an issue that pits Vader and Han Solo in a piloting duel! It features abandoned plans, C-3P0 being forced out in an escape pod, and a desperate message of hope. Scenes like this make me wonder what it might have been like had television and streaming had been as prominent in the early 80's. I feel all of these captivating side stories would have had a home on the small screen and would have been great filler between the films. Lacking that option, I am glad that these stories have found a home in comics and happy that both Dark Horse and Marvel have done a good job with this franchise.




POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

In incredibly exciting news, Robert Kirkman's Invincible is getting the movie treatment courtesy of Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg.  This phenomenal series about Mark Grayson, son of the most powerful superhero on the planet, is an amazing read that I cannot recommend enough.  Can't wait to see this on the big screen.  In equally exciting news, Marvel is not slowing down adapting titles for the small screen.  The Incredible Squirrel Girl is getting the television treatment courtesy of a show called New Warriors which will debut on Freeform in 2018.

Pick of the Week:
Paper Girls #13 - The four ladies are still trapped in the prehistoric past and Erin and Tiffany are still trying to reconnect with KJ and Mac.  With the help of Wari, a native of the era who is with a young child, Erin and Tiffany learn that there are multiple portals throughout the land that may lead back to their own time.  Besides dropping futuristic artifacts for the natives, the portals attracted the attention of a time traveler who may or may not help the girls.  It is remarkable to think how this series started, a nostalgic trip reminiscent many of the movies from my childhood.  Although instead of merely dealing with supernatural forces, these girls are traveling through time in an attempt to save the world from an alien race that has created problems throughout the time continuum.  The flash forward we are treated to towards the end of this book give a hint as to what to expect as this series moves forward, and it looks like there are more surprises in store.

The Rest:
The Walking Dead #166 - It is not a good time to be Rick Grimes right about now.  Not only was he forced to work with Negan, but the Saviors stage a revolt and want to break free from the group.  Just when he thinks he was successful fighting off the giant horde of zombies, he learns that once again internal struggle may bring about the end of his alliance.  Couple this with the fact that we learn something tragic has happened to Andrea and the shocking accident at the end of this book, Grimes is not in an enviable position.  Just when you think that things can't get worse for Rick, somehow Robert Kirkman manages to make things worse.  




Batman Rebirth #20 - I just can't quit Batman. While I haven't been fully on board with the rebirth, the brutal conclusion to the "I am Bane" arc was enjoyable and brought about the dark tones and feel of Frank Miller Batman.  While not in the same league as that run, this was encouraging and has me excited about what Tom King has in store next.  It has been an up and down ride since Scott Snyder switched to All-Star Batman, but King has had some exceptional issues and this one really has me optimistic about what 2017 will bring for the Dark Knight.




POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Holiday Gift Guide: Books and Comics

Welcome to our annual Holiday Gift Guide where the flock takes a break from talking about all the awesome and not so awesome things to, well, talk about some more of the awesome things that you might want to consider for your Holiday shopping this year. Today we'll talk about books and comics, but throughout the week you'll have any number of things to consider (games, apps, movies, and more). 

And, as you can see from the first item on this list, you still can't avoid hearing about Hamilton. I'm not sorry.


Joe: for the Hamilton obsessed in your life

Hamilton: The Revolution

by Jeremy McCarter and Lin Manuel-Miranda

I'm not sure there is anything so ingrained in nerd culture (for whatever that means today) as Hamilton. It's a musical, it's a soundtrack that has become the soundtrack of our lives, there's a star studded mixtape out now, and there's also this book. It is stunningly good. Hamilton: The Revolution is two things. First, it is a behind the scenes making of the show from inspiration all the way through making it big on Broadway and turning into the phenomenon it became. The second part of the book, and just as good is  Lin-Manuel Miranda annotated his lyrics. He writes about some of the things he was trying to accomplish, hip hop references, and more. My only wish is that Miranda would have gone full on genius annotating every line and small detail of the show - but that's a small and selfish quibble. This is a can't miss book for fans of the show and also for those still trying to figure out what's going on with this Hamilton thing.


The G: For the Vikings fan in your life

The Long Ships (New York Review Books Classics)

by Frans G. Bengtsson (trans. Michael Meyer)

I have a love/hate (mostly hate) relationship with History Channel's series Vikings, namely because it isn't nearly as historical as I want it to be. But I do appreciate that it is making more people interested in actual Viking history and culture. Now, granted--The Long Ships is neither history nor Saga, but it's a gateway to reading the Sagas, as it captures their feel, relativistic worldview and dark humor quite well. Only, The Long Ships also gives you modern prose with narrative structure. In other words, this is the closest you're going to get to the Sagas without actually reading the Sagas. And you should really read the Sagas, but The Long Ships is a good way to see if you're up for that. Plus it's just a very good story, told well.


Tia: For the Harry Potter Fan in your life

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Illustrated Edition (Harry Potter, Book 2)

by J.K. Rowling and Jim Kay (Illustrator)

The Harry Potter Illustrated series is a must have for any Harry Potter fan. The Chamber of Secrets doesn't feel quite as heavily illustrated as the first in the series, probably because the text is a bit longer, but that doesn't detract from the magnitude of the beauty of the book. You can catch a preview of some of the illustrations from Book 2 on Pottermore. The books themselves are almost coffee-table size, the construction is sturdy and the pages are heavy and glossed. The plan is to release one illustrated book per year, starting last year, so it is not too late to make this a holiday giving tradition.


Vance: for lover of the best science fiction has to offer

The Big Book of Science Fiction

by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer (editors)

I kid you not, the introduction alone is worth the price of this book. Written by the editors, the intro lays out the entire evolution of science fiction, from Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Jules Verne, and H.G. Wells through today. But it doesn't just tell the story of Western science fiction, which is almost exclusively what I'm familiar with, it also explores how sci-fi developed in other parts of the world, too, often cut off from the Western tradition, and how it matured in response to the social conditions present in those countries and cultures. The stories collected in the book, collected methodically and purposefully, then demonstrate that history and evolution. I love vintage sci-fi -- in my gift guide entry last year, I highlighted the Fantagraphics EC Comics collections, and I have been known to wander into my local used books shop and buy sci-fi anthologies from the 50s and 60s pretty much at random. In most of those cases and with the EC collections, there are standout gems, and a bunch of junk that gets skipped, or after I scratch the pulp sci-fi or horror itch, I put the books aside until next time. But this is not to be the fate of The Big Book of Science Fiction. It's long, and I have not made my way through it fully yet, but the variety and consistently stellar (see that?) quality of the stories really do set this apart as, in my mind, *the* premier anthology of short science fiction. A must-have.



Mike: For the nostalgic comic book lover in your life

Paper Girls Volume 1

by Brian K. Vaughan

As I contemplate what an amazing year of comics it has been, I struggled to find one book that was truly a must read.  In my opinion, a lot of the titles that have come out this year are not to be missed, but as I pondered my stack of comics I reached the conclusion that that one title in 2016 was Paper Girls.  Brian K. Vaughan is no stranger to writing amazing books (Saga, Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina) and Paper Girls is as good as any of them.  In a similar vein to Stranger Things, Paper Girls had an 80's nostalgia to it that was expertly crafted.  It didn't feel forced, and reminded me of The Goonies, Stand By Me, and others.  It brings me visions of riding my bike around the neighborhood ready for anything the world could throw at me.  In the case of the characters in this title, the paper girls are confronted with mysterious aliens and mayhem and never miss a beat.  Featuring a cast of strong female characters, Paper Girls is just the title for someone on your list looking for a bit of nostalgia and fun.


Shana: for the lover of the best short fiction being written today

The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories

by Ken Liu

In Ken Liu's first short story collection, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, the reader is met with some of Ken's most awarded and award-nominated short stories with one never before published, 15 in all. This speculative fiction collection is one of the most moving and awe-inspiring I've ever read with many of the stories centering around themes such as family, identity, and politics. Liu's ability to strike the reader to the core with his poetic prose is unparalleled and any recipient of this collection will be rewarded with a gut-punch of a read.


POSTED BY: Joe Sherry - Writer / Editor at Adventures in Reading since 2004. Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2015, editor since 2016. Minnesotan.  

Thursday Morning Superhero

When I learned that the going rate for Star Wars was $4 billion and Disney had forked it over to George Lucas, I wasn't sure that the investment would pay off so quickly.  In addition to the cash that The Force Awakens has brought in, I imagine that comic book sales of Marvel's Star Wars line has been quite successful as well.  For evidence I will now devote over 2/3 of my weekly post covering the beloved franchise.  It would be easy to call this a shameless money grab if the comics weren't so darn good!

Pick of the Week:
Paper Girls #4 - Brian K. Vaughan is a genius.  He not only delivered the best ever having your life flash before your eyes (sooo much time wasted playing Breakout), but he also threw in a Bozo the Clown Grand Prize Game reference to boot.  If only I made it on the show I would have landed myself a brand new, crisp, $100 bill.  Vaughan is truly the master of delivering a moment that truly connects with his reader and following up with something so far out there that you question what you are reading.  This is a good thing and I wish more writers would push the envelope in the same manner that he does.  Not only that, but he is one of the best authors in terms of writing strong female characters.  I look forward to the day when my kids are old enough to read his work.

The Rest:

Obi-Wan & Anakin #1 - It's a new year and a new Star Wars title.  It surprisingly opens with a steam punk arc that is sure to please fans.  This story examines what takes place between Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith.  The two Jedi journey to a planet to respond to a distress call.  What is surprising is that the planet is thought to be void of life following a brutal war.  Enter the zeppelins and steam punk tribes and you start to lose me a bit, but learning more about Anakin's downfall might be worth the ride.  We learn that he has had discussions with Obi-Wan about leaving the Jedi Order due to disagreements in philosophy.  That will bring me back for the second issue.  Hopefully the steam punk planet arc isn't too long.

Star Wars #14 - Part 4 of Vader Down is here and things are looking pretty bleak.  The arrival of Commander Karbin, the half-Admiral Akbar half-Darth Maul creature, throws a wrench into the plans of Leia and Vader.  It turns out that Karbin wants to kill Vader and claim Luke to gain points with the Emperor.  To summarize the chaos, Vader is after Luke, Dr. Aphra's droids are after Luke (BT-1 is amazing!), and Karbin is after Luke. Han Solo and Chewbacca are attempting a rescue, but are thwarted by a Wookiee bounty hunter names Black Krrsantan.  Princess Leia, in her attempt to kill Vader in the process, orders a strike on her location to kill Vader and sacrifice herself.  Clearly this doesn't happen, but this story continues to entertain.  I would love to see Jason Aaron write some of the movie spin-offs.

Darth Vader #15 - In what was the shortest cliffhanger in the history of comics, the finale of Vader Down also dropped this week.  I will say that I enjoyed the first event of the Star Wars line and thought it had a fitting conclusion.  I won't spoil anything, but the more I read about Dr. Aphra the more impressed I am with her as a character.   It is also always nice to be reminded about how powerful Vader truly is.  I don't think this was conveyed as effective as it could have been in the films, but watching him take down a spaceship with the force is always satisfying. 




Nailbiter #19 - Very interesting issue this week.  While it seems we are getting closer to identifying the Devil Killer in Atlanta (turns out he is killing people who have fled Buckaroo in an attempt to live a normal life), the real action lies in the fact that Crane has now gained access to Buckaroo's records.  It turns out that Fairgold is willing to help the FBI, but only if it means that the Nailbiter goes down.  Still distraught by the death of his son, I think he will be a character to keep an eye on as we uncover a bit more with each issue.





POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.  

Thursday Morning Superhero

Huge week of comics and sadly I wasn't able to read as many titles as I would have liked.  I will likely check out Squirrel Girl, the return of Hawkeye and The Nameless this weekend.  Despite that, I picked up a great stack of comics at my LCS and am riding the wave of excitement of these books and the new Daredevil teaser right into the weekend!  If you don't have Netflix, make sure you sign up as Daredevil drops in April and Wet Hot American Summer isn't far behind.

Pick of the Week:
Birthright #5 - If you are not reading Birthright then I would highly encourage you to stop what you are doing and either go to your LCS or purchase it on ComiXology because you won't be disappointed.  The story centers around Mikey, a young boy who disappeared in the woods as a child.  Everyone suspects that his father murdered him, but are shocked to see him return as a grown man.  We learn that he was kidnapped to another dimension to stop the evil Lore.  Joshua Williamson does a wonderful job switching between Mikey's journey as a child to his current quest as an adult.  The juxtaposition of the young and innocent Mikey with his grizzled adult counterpart really help paint a complex picture of what he is dealing with.  There were two key moments in this issue that make it difficult to wait for the next issue.  I am officially hooked.

The Rest:
Star Wars #2 - As of this moment I am thrilled that Star Wars is in the hands of Marvel.  This series is off to an exciting story that takes place between Episode IV and Episode V.  I do fear that this will raise the bar for what is expected of J.J. Abrams this summer, but I am going to enjoy reading every page.  This issue featured Han Solo driving and AT-AT and Vader attempting to take it down with only the Force.  Vader has been a total bad ass thus far and it has been nice to see a rebel operation not go according to plan.  Still not sure how they are going to get out of things, but completely loving this series.  Add in that Mark Waid is going to be penning a solo Princess Leia title and I am all in on Marvel owning the license.



Nailbiter #10 - Joshua Williamson has an impressive track record of horror titles and Nailbiter is no exception.  This issue almost felt like a one-shot, but Williamson had two tricks up his sleeve that really made this issue sing.  The one-shot was entertaining and had a mini-twist of its own, but what it contributed to the overarching story has me salivating.   This issue would work as a great jumping on point if you don't want to pick up the back issues (you should though).

Saga #25 - Just when I think that Brian K. Vaughan can't possibly push the envelope more than he has with this series, a dragon marks a group for slaughter with her urine.  I feel not a lot happened in this particular issue, but much has to be resolved in the current state of affairs.  A rare week in which the new Saga is not the pick of the week, but one of my favorite series nonetheless.

Feathers #2 - This is what an all-ages comic should be.  It is approachable to young readers, and complex and entertaining for older readers.  In the second issue of a six-part mini-series (I would love to see it picked up as ongoing), Poe and Bianca's friendship grow as he explains how things work in the maze.  Bianca is much smarter then she appears, and quickly figures out Poe's current role.  This series has been packed with humor, action, and is just plain fun.  I would recommend this title for readers of all-ages, but especially those hoping to introduce young readers into the wonders of comic books.






POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

San Diego Comic Con is still quite a ways off, but the nerds are already raging.  Ace Parking released its parking passes for the Con and true to SDCC fashion the fans crashed the site and were quite upset.  As a father I try to teach my kids not to get upset over things that are out of your control and to find the positive in the situation.  So you couldn't get parking despite trying your best.  San Diego is a big city with ample parking.  Sure it might not be the most convenient, but try to remember that you are lucky enough to be attending SDCC in the first place.  Sorry you had a rough go Ace Parking.  I thought you did alright.

Pick of the Week:
Saga #19 - This comic isn't fair to the other books on the market and Fiona Staples is a saint for the work she does on this series.  The opening panel is both shocking and beautiful and I love how this series is pushing the envelope.  Getting a peek into The Robot Kingdom at the start of the book was a treat and made me sympathize with a group of aliens that were initially portrayed as villains.  A spin-off that focused on the life of Princess Robot and her child would make a compelling series of its own. The subtle humor mixed in with a compelling drama and a cast of characters that have such depth and complexity.  A lot happened in an issue that felt both light and brief.  Not sure how Brian K. Vaughan does it, but I have a hankering to go read Y: The Last Man again.

The Rest:
Axe Cop: The American Choppers #1 - It brings me great pleasure to see Axe Cop return to print form.  What could possibly make Axe Cop even better?  A team up featuring some of the best axe (not chainsaw) wielding superheroes that have ever graced the pages of a comic book.  This new miniseries from Dark Horse stays true to Axe Cop form and is an absolute delight to read.  As the parent of a soon to be 7-year old I can truly relate with the wonderful imagination of Malachai Nicolle.  I should also admit that I would love to see a Captain Planet (the planet from which all captains are from) spin-off.




Daredevil #3 - Daredevil is still adjusting to his new San Francisco digs and is up against a formidable foe in the Owl.  Mark Waid steps up the funny for this issue as his run with Daredevil continues to be plain fun.  Waid also is great with mixing in real drama and fear with his humor.  The book remains light, but it seems like Waid has big plans for Daredevil in San Francisco.  Nothing beats Daredevil acting tough and dropping a Lying Cat reference.  "BZZT. Lying Cat says 'Lying.'".  It's funny because it's true.  That is something that Lying Cat would totally say upon hearing the lies of Shadow Man.


Original Sin #2 - The hunt for the murderer of the Watcher continues as the holder of the eye is finally revealed.  While I enjoyed the action on the surface, the detective work that was taking place underground was the highlight of this issue.  So far one of the more compelling Marvel events by a long shot.  When the bomb drops I truly hope this series lives up to the hype.

POSTED BY MIKE N. -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

Happy Halloween!  I hope you all were able to pick up some free comics this past weekend during Halloween ComicFest.  My family had a nice time and we were able to pick up some additional bundles of the comics to hand out tonight.  I doubt it was a coincidence that we were graced with Neil Gaiman's return to the Sandman this week.  How refreshing it is to return to that world.  I attempted a reread this summer that fell short, but was very enjoyable.

Pick of the Week:

Saga #15 - I am not sure how Brian K. Vaughan does it.  This issue of Saga demonstrated the brute force of the Robot family, how in the midst of chaos pleasure can be found in simple things, and how some people never seem to catch a break.  I most enjoyed the simple moments of pleasure that Marko, his mother and company got from playing Nun Tuj Nun!, a Wreath board game that resembles Cranium.  Just when this book gets you to lower your defenses during the Psyche-Out round, tragedy strikes the Will.  I would never have guessed I would care so much about this bounty hunter when I was introduced to him.  Vaughan does a masterful job of creating complex characters that live in the grey.  I don't think it is fair what he is doing.

The Rest:

The Sandman Overture #1 - Neil Gaiman has not missed a beat from the conclusion of his opus until now. I was filled with equal parts trepidation and excitement to dive into this title and I am pleased to say that it is classic Sandman.  Gaiman weaves a beautiful tale and leaves us with Morpheus in imminent danger. Destiny and the Corinthian pay a visit and Dream's sister may be planning to end him.  Perfect read on a Halloween night, I may just have to reread this after dealing with my trick-or-treaters.  

Captain America: Living Legend #2 - Still enjoying Andy Diggle behind the wheel of Cap and this week was no different.  The book maintains its Cold War feel as Cap is taking on Volkov and the living technology of the D.E.U.S. Project.  Well written, classic Captain America feel, and very realistic art remind me why Captain America is my favorite superhero.

Power Puff Girls #2 - The power of this title in comic book form is that it maintains the campy feel of the television show, but is able to provide more depth.  Mojo Jojo is subjected to chemical X and finds himself as the professor's lab monkey for the second time.  Hijinks ensue as Mojo is almost more formidable as an out of control monkey and upon witnessing the power of second chances, the devil utilizes mind control and sends more foes after the girls.  Simply a fun title.  

Thursday Morning Superhero

I must admit that I am ready for villains month from DC to come to an end so I can resume reading Batman and others.  I enjoyed the Court of Owls, but have not been moved to pick up any of the other titles.  I may be missing out on some gems, but I feel there are too many cooks in the kitchen.  Fortunately, this week gives us a new Saga that has cemented Lying Cat as my favorite character ever.

Pick of the Week:

Saga #14 - This series has so much good going for it that it is impossible to cover in my simple blurb.  Fiona Staples delivers some of the most beautiful pages ever fit to print.  From the fishing shark out of the sky scene, to the seal and walrus buddy on Quietus, I have never seen such a diverse range of characters, colors, and landscapes in a single book.  This has been a series that I would enjoy even if I didn't read the text.  Fortunately, the story that Brian K. Vaughan is utterly compelling.  While a lot has happened in this series from the strange, to the violent, and to the profane.  The compassion that I feel for these characters is real.  The Will is struggling with how to deal with the slave girl, Sophia, he rescued.  He wants a simple life, but so much of her innocence has been robbed from her.  She has some social issues to say the least.  She is sent to Lying Cat and one of the most moving pages I have ever read occurred.  Enjoy.  Now go buy this series.

The Rest:

Mind MGMT #15 - Matt Kindt's brilliant work on this series continues.  This issue was very revealing to the past of Henry Lyme and Meru.  It was poetic, simple, and wonderful.  We learn that Lyme is the master of all of the Mind MGMT techniques and could easily kill the immortals.  Haunted by his past, he doesn't see the point.  Can't say enough about this series and the love that Kindt pours into it.

The Powerpuff Girls #1 - This fun title from IDW was a pure joy to read.  It harkens back to the hey day of the Powerpuff Girls with witty one-liners and over-the-top action.  This issue pokes fun at the recycled schemes that Mojo Jojo attempts without success and the psychological toll it must take on the monkey.  Good fun and a nice twist to distinguish it from reading like an episode of the show.  I will be on board for issue 2.

Sex Criminals #1 - Matt Fraction is one of the most unique authors in the business who can't be criticized for his creativity.  Suzie is a girl with no one to turn to when it comes to questions about sex.  Her orgasms appear to freeze time in a glorious display of lights and glowing colors.  Unable to figure out if this is normal or not, she seeks answers in the wrong places.  She ultimately meets her match in Jon.  Jon also has this ability and it appears that the two of them are going to use their time stopping "powers" to aid in burglaries, etc.  Nice mix of humor, sex, and intrigue.  

Thursday Morning Superhero

One of my friends has been giving me a hard time because I rarely pick a superhero comic as my pick of the week despite the title of this feature.  It looks like he is going to win again because another issue of Saga dropped.  In addition to that, Brian K. Vaughan, author of Saga, partnered with Marcus Martin to release The Private Eye, an online only, pay what you want, title.  You can pick up the first issue for whatever you are willing to pay here.  Set in the U.S. in a future that has no internet, Martin thought an online only distribution made the most sense.  I like his style.

As for superhero titles, I currently don't like the direction that Marvel is taking with the Avengers or Captain America, but love Daredevil, Hawkeye, Deadpool, and have been really enjoying Age of Ultron.  From the other big publisher, the Batman titles are quite strong, but I honestly didn't have the budget to try as many of the New 52 titles as I would have preferred.  I enjoyed where Swamp Thing was headed and Animal Man, but had to make tough cuts to keep the weekly costs down.  I also feel that the lack of superheroes taking the top spot speaks to how the industry has grown creatively in recent years.  On to the pick of the week!

Pick of the Week:
Saga #11 -  While I absolutely love the pacing, the plot, and the characters, I am starting to think that the art of Fiona Staples makes this title.  The language is vulgar, some of the scenes are disgusting, large alien creatures are often fully nude, yet Staples has produced the best looking book on the market.  This issue featured more pages void of dialogue than previous entries, but maintained the same level of humor, emotion, drama, and further connected the reader to the characters.

Another element that makes this title so successful, is that clearly the reader cares about the star crossed lovers and their child, but even the individuals that are seeking the bounty on their heads are complex and quite likable.  I feel like this title exists almost exclusively in the grey and that is what makes it so intriguing.  The comic medium also feels like the perfect fit for the world and characters that Vaughan and Staples have created.

The Rest:
The Private Eye #1 - Fast paced first issue for a series that feels reminiscent to Frank Miller's Hard Boiled and was a pure joy to read.

Deadpool #6 - The Deadpool vs. Zombie Presidents mini-series comes to a humorous and gory finale that was quite satisfying.

Daredevil #24 -  Daredevil is dealing with heavy issues in addition to trying to solve the mystery of who is trying to replicate his powers in what is my favorite superhero title on the market today.

Thursday Morning Superhero

Another Thursday is upon us and I am going to try something new this week.  The pick of the week will be graced with an in-depth review and the rest get one sentence.  I thought it was time to mix things up a bit so here we go with a new format.  Let me know what you think. 

Pick of the Week:
Daredevil #23 - Mark Waid's run on Daredevil is nothing short of phenomenal.  Between issues I forget how much I have enjoyed him at the helm and how much raw emotion is at the heart of the Daredevil story.

The issue opens lightly with Daredevil treating Foggy to a night of whatever he wishes.  In a scene that makes you feel fuzzy, because it is what any of us would do, Foggy asks Daredevil to swing him around town.  We are treated to some humorous shots of Foggy clinging on to Daredevil and they swing around.

At the core of this issue is Foggy's current medical problems.  He is having a lot of symptoms that sound like cancer and he is looking to his old friend Matt Murdock for support.  The problem is that Murdock has been less than reliable causing Foggy to brave all of this on his own.

The side plot to this story is one that fascinates me because it reminds me of my son.  Whenever he hears of a hero's origin (Flash getting struck by lightning, Spider-man and the infamous spider bite, etc.) he always secretly hopes that will happen to him.  "Daddy, if I get struck by lightning will I be fast like the Flash?"  I think we are all a little guilty of this at one point or another, and a sinister force in New York has the same thought.  As circumstances always have to be perfect, this individual is conducting trials of prisoners going through Daredevil's origin to see if they can gain his radar ability.  The image of the hooded prisoners waiting their turn to save someone from being hit by a truck only to be covered in chemicals and have their eyes burned depicts this as a gruesome reality and not a childhood fantasy. 

This distracts the reader and you are left thinking that Murdock let down his friend once again as he is dealing with an army of Daredevil-esque thugs.  To remain spoiler free I am going to wrap things up here.  Go read Daredevil.  If you missed Waid's current run pick up the trades or get the back issues on ComiXology.  You won't be disappointed. 

The Rest:
Saga #10 - Brian K. Vaughan remains the master of creating bizarre and fascinating creatures and Fiona Staples remains the only artist who can do them justice.

Deadpool #5 - Deadpool stabs zombie Regan in the belly in outer space to which Regan says, "Mommy, my tummy is a boo-boo!"

Mind MGMT #8 - Henry Lyme is rounding up ex-Management agents (including a twin who shares power with her sister and a musician who can back up his files on demo tapes) as he tries to prevent the reformation of Management before the Eraser strikes.

Thursday Morning Superhero

 Feel free to call me out for not picking a book that was not as good, but this week in comics was simply too good to be true.  This week included The Walking Dead, Saga, Punk Rock Jesus, Mind MGMT, and the return of Locke and Key.  Throw that in with another installment of Batman from Scott Snyder and a new X-Men book headed by Brian Michael Bendis and you can't go wrong.  I really struggled narrowing it down to the top two books this week.  I feel good in my selection, but you could make an argument for any of this week's releases.  Hit me up at @newhousebailey on Twitter if you want to chime in with your take.

Pick of the Week:

Locke and Key: Omega #1 - This week is bittersweet for many Locke and Key fans, including myself.  If you have read any of the interviews with Joe Hill about this chapter in the story, then you know that even he doesn't know how things will end.  This unknown is both terrifying and exciting at the same time.  The book starts out with Bode, under control of Dodge, securing the shadow key before heading down into the cave.  Meanwhile, Scot Kavanaugh embarks on a senior project making a film about reflection.  Kinsey, even though she isn't a senior, and Tyler participate and shed even more light on their past and the events that have transpired to this point.  The juxtaposition of the sheer terror of a Dodge possessed Bode threatening to open the black door and the seniors preparing for an end of the year party really put the reader in an awkward position.  On one side it is refreshing to see the Locke children begin to come to grips with their haunting past and seem to reach a point of peace and happiness that hasn't been seen in the book.  On the other side, the ultimate destruction of everything is imminent and it doesn't appear that much will stand in Dodge's way.  The final panel is a chilling image of just how dire the situation is.  I sure hope that issue #2 comes out quick!  Time for another re-read of the entire series!  This issue also featured some fun cameos from both Joe Hill and Gabe Rodriguez.

Saga #7 - I struggle when I try to convey how brilliant this book is.  The humor and heart that Brian K. Vaughan is able to impart in his books is astounding.  This issue opens with an awkward confrontation between Alana and Marko's parents that ends with Alana left humiliated in a towel alone with her father-in-law. Marko and his mother leave the spaceship to save Izabel (who was banished by Marko's mother) and we learn a jaw-dropping secret about Marko's father.  I don't think I will ever have the ability to state how beautiful, funny, and suspense filled this book is.  Coupled with Fiona Staple's art, this is one of the must have titles of the year.


The Rest:

All-New X-men #1 - Brian Michael Bendis has been tasked with tackling the X-Men arc following the aftermath of the Phoenix incident.  With the rebirth of mutant-kind from Phoenix, Scott Summers, Magneto and Emma Frost are rounding up new mutants before the human authorities can get their hands on them.  The one downside, his exploits are being televised and there is concern this will impact human-mutant relations.  Hank McCoy is afraid that his next mutation is going to kill him and he wants to complete one more good deed before he dies.  This deed, travel back in time and bring the Scott Summers of the original X-Men to the present day for a pep talk with his new self.  Intriguing story line and solid first issue.  I'm in.

Batman #14 - As long as Scott Snyder is writing Batman I will be reading it.  The Court of Owls was amazing and Death in the Family is off to a fast and furious start.  Batman finally learns that Alfred is kidnapped, Commissioner Gordon is poisoned, and the Joker has vowed to kill the rest of the family using Batman himself.  This is going to be one hell of a ride.

Hoax Hunters #5 - As someone new to this title I found this book very enjoyable.  A simple, but fun story that introduces the reader to the Hoax Hunters world and what it entails.  We are provided the story of the Jersey Devil and how the Hoax Hunters team not only successfully swept that under the rug, but provided some back story on how Jack Lawson was really part of this team before he knew it.  Seems like a great starting point for new readers like myself.

Punk Rock Jesus #5 - With only one more issue left to go in Sean Murphy's epic tale of the second coming of Jesus, J2 is reunited with Thomas and the two begin to plot how to take down Slate and his cronies.   J2 and his punk band, the Flak Jackets won a Nobel Peace prize for their efforts furthering science and helping the poor.  Through a chilling flashback we learn why Thomas left the IRA and has such a soft spot for children.  This issue ends with the Flak Jackets embarking on a final show at Jerusalem.  Can't wait to see how this one ends!

Walking Dead #104 - Wow does Kirkman know how to keep the reader hooked.  Negan and his men drive triumphantly home and Rick is left with his group disappointed in his apparent surrender.  I don't know if anyone is as disappointed as Carl who attempts to take things into his own hands.  One thing is clear, this current arc is not going to end pretty. 

Mind MGMT #0 -In this one-shot, we are treated to Meru's investigation of Mind Management and we learn about past agents spanning all the way back to World War I.  There are whispers of Henry and the usual Mind Management psychic techniques.  Not my favorite issue of the bunch, but a fun issue nonetheless.  Matt Kindt continues to deliver a physical comic that is worth your money.  The watercolor format is simply stunning.  I can't wait for arc #2.