Comic Review: ’76 #2

I have no idea if I like this comic or not yet.  Consisting of two stories taking place in 1976:  Jackie Karma, an ebony and ivory kung fu cop story; and Cool, the tale of two cops taking care of simple matters involving blow, prostitutes, porn stars, and much more to come.

Jackie Karma sits on the page.  The comic lays flat, never picking up, never going anywhere.  The inks are too fat and instead of giving the book a unique feel everything looks a little too similar.  I wasn’t sure who I was supposed to be paying attention to or look at.

Which is as far opposite as one can get from Cool.  Every character is unique, not once will the reader become confused.  Exaggerated facial features and shades of gray so rich, you forget the book is black and white.  The scenes flow like water, picking you up then dropping you into the current, switching stories for what may seem like a bit of rest only to slam you into something heavier.  Then the realization comes that this is only issue 2 and its going to get even worse.  Cool is a film comic.  It becomes obvious where the reel changes or commercials would come in, but you’ll need that break.

Review:  Buy the second half of the comic.

Comic Reviews: Kick Ass #1

Kick Ass #1
Where are we?:  Kick Ass is the story of young Dave Lizewski, your average high school teenager in this world.  He decides to be a superhero.  Did you catch the part where I said, “this world”.  Dave could live on your street, you could be his friend.  He has no powers, no radioactive spider, no last son of a lost world.  People don’t fly or shoot beams of energy.  Everyone in the book is as normal as you or I.  Dave decides to become a superhero.  His reasons are best summed up by saying, “why does everyone want to be Paris Hilton and no one wants to be Spider-Man?”  Well, that’s because Paris Hilton has a better publicity agent than Peter Parker.  Seriously, one is a low budget porn star that has never done anything else of note, and the other saves the world on a daily basis.
Dave begins to train, he does research (reads more comics), then he promptly gets his ass handed to him.  It is a brutal beating.  John Romita Jr.’s art not only graphically shows the beating, but the pacing of the fight causes your heart to jump with each panel.  The only thing saving the reader from going off the deep end is the knowledge that this is a flashback scene.  Hints are dropped to make us wonder just how successful Kick Ass become, and who are the “others” that he speaks of?

Rating:  Buy twice, once for the single issues, and again when the GN is released.

New Comics shipping April 30, 2008.

As always check with your local comic book store for availability.  Prices are based on Midtown Comics.  Hellions picks are in bold.

DC
Action Comics #864 $2.54
Adam Strange Archives Vol 3 HC $42.49
Blue Beetle Vol 7 #26 $2.98
DC Universe Zero (Final Crisis Tie-In) $0.50
Ex Machina #36 $2.54
Friday The 13th Abuser And The Abused #1 $2.98
Green Arrow Year One HC $21.24
Green Lantern Vol 4 #30 $2.54
Jack Of Fables #22 $2.54
JSA Classified #37 $2.54
Legion Of Super-Heroes Vol 5 #41 $2.54
Mystery In Space Vol 2 TP $15.29
Showcase Presents Challengers Of The Unknown Vol 2 TP $14.44
Superman Batman Vol 6 Torment HC $16.99
Teen Titans Go #54 $1.91
Teen Titans Vol 3 #58 $2.54
Teen Titans Year One #4 $2.54
Uncle Sam And The Freedom Fighters Vol 2 #8 $2.54

Marvel
Avengers The Initiative #12 $2.54
Black Panther Little Green Men TP $9.34
Daredevil Blood Of The Tarantula $3.39
Fantastic Four Beginning Of The End TP $11.04
Giant-Size Avengers Invaders #1 $3.39
Immortal Iron Fist #14 $3.39
Kabuki Reflections #10 $5.09
Marvel Adventures Iron Man #12 $2.54
Marvel Comics Presents Vol 2 #8 $3.39
Marvel Illustrated Moby Dick #3 $2.54
New Avengers #40 (Secret Invasion Tie-In) $2.54
New Warriors Vol 4 #11 $2.54
Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe A To Z Vol 2 HC $21.24
Order Vol 2 #10 $2.54
Punisher Circle Of Blood HC $16.99
Thor Ages Of Thunder $3.39
Thor By J Michael Straczynski Vol 1 HC $16.99
Ultimate Human #4 $2.54
Ultimate X-Men #93 $2.54
X-Men Legacy #210 (X-Men Divided We Stand Tie-In) $2.54

Dark Horse
Abe Sapien The Drowning #1 Incentive Lithograph $25.50
BPRD Vol 8 Killing Ground TP $15.26
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol 4 TP $21.21
Complete Green Lama Featuring The Art Of Mac Raboy HC $42.46
Facts In The Case Of The Departure Of Miss Finch HC $11.86
Star Wars Rebellion #13 $2.54
Tales Of The Fear Agent TP $12.71
Usagi Yojimbo Vol 3 #111 $2.54

Image
Crawl Space XXXombies #4 $2.54
Elephantmen War Toys #3 $2.54
Frank Frazettas Death Dealer Vol 1 Deluxe HC $42.49
Noble Causes Vol 2 #33 $2.98
Proof #7 $2.54
Urban Monsters #3 $2.98
Wanted HC Assassins Edition 2008 Convention Exclusive Foil Cover $42.49
Wildguard Insider #1 $2.98
Witchblade Devi #1 $3.39
Youngblood Vol 4 #3 $2.54

IDW Publishing
Locke & Key #2 2nd Ptg $3.39
Locke & Key #3 2nd Ptg $3.39
Speed Racer Racer X Origins Collection TP $16.99

Independents
2000 AD #1581 $3.83
2000 AD #1582 $3.83
85 TP Signed By Danny Simmons And Floyd Hughes $12.71
Abyss #4 $2.51
Adventures Of Tymm Alien Circus #1 $5.06
Age Of Insects Vol 2 Not Human $5.09
Alex Ross 2007 Sketchbook Signed By Alex Ross $42.49
Amor Y Cohetes TP $14.44
Angry Little Girls HC $12.71
Atlantis Rising #5 $3.39
Awkward And Definition TP Signed By Ariel Schrag $12.75
Banimon #1 $2.13
Banimon #2 $2.13
Battlestar Galactica Season Zero #7 $2.54
Big Amoeba One Shot $4.21
Black Summer #6 $2.54
Blackbeard Legacy Vol 2 #3 $3.39
Blazin Brandy #4 $2.54
Bottomless Belly Button TP $25.49
Buddha Story Of Enlightenment #2 $2.54
Caliber #1 $1.00
Delayed Replays GN $5.95
Devi #19 $2.54
Devils Rose HC $19.51
Dreadnought Invasion Six #2 $3.36
Dungeon Monstres Vol 1 The Crying Giant TP $11.01
Gargoyles Bad Guys #2 $2.98
Glamourpuss #1 $2.55
Gold Digger Tangent #4 $2.54
Green Lama Man Of Strength #1 $5.91
Grimm Fairy Tales Piper #2 $2.54
Grunts TP $12.71
Gunplay GN $12.74
Hercules (Radical Comics) #1 $1.00
Horsemen #1 $3.40
Hot Shot & Mighty Girl GN $12.74
Hunter #2 $5.06
I Was Kidnapped By Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space #1 $0.99
Injury Comics #2 $4.21
Jason & The Argonauts Kingdom Of Hades #3 $3.39
JFH Justice For Hire #3 Cvr B $3.39
Little Nothings Vol 1 The Curse Of The Umbrella TP $12.71
Local #11 $2.54
M HC $21.21
Metronome HC $11.86
MOME Vol 11 Spring 2008 TP $12.74
Morbid Myths TP $10.16
Nat Turner HC $21.21
Nat Turner TP Signed by Kyle Baker $11.01
Oz Wonderland Chronicles Jack & Cat Special $2.98
Ramayan 3392 AD Reloaded Guidebook $2.54
Snake Woman Vol 3 Curse Of The 68 #3 $2.54
Starslip Crisis Vol 1 TP $12.74
Super Larry GN $12.71
Tall Tales Of Vishnu Sharma #4 Panchatantra $2.54
Thoreau At Walden HC $14.44
White Shaka Boy GN With CD Signed By Alan Brody $16.96
Willow Creek #1 NYCC Exclusive Tyler Kirkham Variant Cover $8.50
Wonderland #6 $3.36
Wordless Books HC $29.75
X-O Manowar Birth HC Signed By Sean Chen With FREE Print $21.21