Random Comics Review: Vertigo Pop! London #3, 2003

This is the third issue of a four issue mini series by Peter Milligan and Phillip Bond about an over the hill 60's rock god that switches bodies with an up and coming contemporary pop star (thru a magic bong). Rocky is the aged rock and Sean is the pop star Rocky plans to use.The intent is to take Sean's body in order to become a celebrity again. Of course nothing goes as planned.

In this issue Rocky and his current wife Trixie carry out the plan. Things seem to go smoothly at first. Sean/Rocky is placed in a mental hospital, because no one of course believes his absurd story that he's the real Sean Cody. Rocky/Sean begins recording a new album. He and his wife Trixie have a renewed sex life. However, things soon begin to misfire. Rocky/Sean is able to see from an outsiders view the people he's hurt over his life including his first wife and daughter. Rocky/Sean also has to deal with the seedier aspects of Sean's life that lie just beneath the surface of Sean's pretty boy image.

The story by Peter Milligan is told briskly with humor and punch. There's a knowing wink and nudge towards classic rock, the swinging 60's Mod scene, and 90's Brit Pop without throwing in over obvious parodies. The character are well rounded and the ones that aren't likable are at least funny. The art by Phillip Bond is well suited for this story. It strikes just the right balance between cartoony and ..I wouldn't say realistic, maybe naturalistic?

Vertigo Pop!London is fun romp. A fine comic to give to someone who might want to read comics,but not interested in superheroes or horror or science fiction.

Random Comics Review:The Complete Cheech Wizard #3,1987

The Complete Cheech Wizard was a comic published by Rip Off Press (the publishers of The Fabulous Furry Freak Bros.) that reprinted the 70's work of underground cartoonist Vaughn Bode. It's basically a baudy gag strip about a foul-mouthed wizard, his lizard assistant and the various inhabitants of their make believe forest. It's a little like a dirty version of Pogo by Walt Kelly. Vaughn's work heavy influenced some 80's graphitti artists as well as a film by Ralph Bashki named "Wizards".

This issue is interesting because it contains some revealing background information. Not only does it have pages from Vaughn's sketch book there's also samples of a cleaned up version of the strip that Vaughn tried to sell to the syndicate for family newspapers called The Yellow Hat! There's also a nice written tribute by Larry Todd. Not too many many depictions of "Bode Broads" in this issue but there's still a mature readers label probably because of the language and uh, tiny cartoon lizard penis.

So, not quite a definitive look at influential artist, but an very intriguing peak at what he was about. This might be fun too...

Yeah, NOT exactly intellectual, but well, uh...er...

Random Comics review:Scarlet #1,2010

Ok, I have mixed feelings about this comic. As a comic book it's decent. Actually, it's pretty good.The comic is written by Brian Michael Bendis and the art is by Alex Maleev. The dialogue is solid and the art is GREAT, but as a piece of art that is part of the zeitgeist, I have some questions about it.

The story is set in modern day Portland,OR. Scarlet is a young woman who's has just killed an corrupt policeman. She turns to the reader and tells us her story. She explains that the system is rigged to favor the corrupt and the rich. The system is broken she informs us and she means to fix it. Here Bendis does well in what is really his forte, introspective character driven pieces. We learn a little about Scarlet's background and we completely understand her perspective. We understand her doubts and questions, we understand her ambitions. All in all it's a decent set up for future issues.

The art by Maleev is FANTASTIC. It is really wonderful to look at. It is gritty and "realistic" yet at the same impressionistic. I don't know to what extent Maleev uses modern tools like photo refs,computers or photoshop, but it seems he uses them extremely well. As a reader I'm pulled into the visual world he's created. I don't think, "where'd he trace that from". I'm going to embarrass myself with this comparison, but it it's like old school hip-hop. The best DJs and producers were able to take samples you knew and make something fresh and unique out of them. That's how I feel looking at Maleev's pages. I know that's a model and there's a city scape he pulled from somewhere, but he makes it work and I buy it for the duration of the story.

Here's where I have issues. In the back matter, the interview with Brian Bendis where he talks about the inspiration for the story, he talks about what volatile times we live in. He mentions revolution. He mentions political protests that occur in Portland and says something like "yeah, what if some of these people instead of protesting peacefully took up arms?" My question is "what do you mean WHAT IF? People do that NOW! On the left and the right. What about the protests at the G-8 summits where police have to be called in because of anarchists vandalizing property? What about those "christians" who wanted to kill policemen and then kill more at the funeral because they wanted to strike at the government? Don't tell me you've forgotten about Tim McVeigh...But he story on the pages could be any vigilante action movie superhero origin story from the last 30 years. It seems that Bendis wants to have his revolution icing and eat his non-political cake at the same time. On the one hand I can understand not wanting to do a comic that's a preachy manifesto, but why talk up your story as if it's got something important to say about the times we live in if you don't have some point you're trying to make? Hell, 40 years ago Stan Lee had no problem addressing social concerns in Marvel comics. Whether it was fighting the communists, dealing with racism or drugs, or acknowledging Viet Nam in his stories. Some of those stories may have been naive, but at least Stan was willing to present a point of view.

So, yeah...as a comic book, Scarlet #1 is a good solid set up to an urban action thriller. I'll probably pick up the next few issues to see where it's going. As a work of art that reflect the times it was created in...meh.

Random Comics review: Cerebus #25,1981

Cerebus the Aardvark by writer/artist Dave Sim started as a parody of Conan the Barbarian which Sim eventually turned into a long complex meditation on religion,politics,and gender. The earlier issues are more light-hearted and mostly focused on pop-culture and comics spoofs.

This issue is actually light on plot but definitely worth a look. Cerebus is accompanying Professor Charles X Claremont across the countryside with the Prof's apocalypse beast (which looks suspiciously like Marvel's swamp monster). Before he wrecks havok on the world,the Prof intends to steal a castle from an unsuspecting home owner. Of course,the issue ends which the bad guy perishing by his own plan.

The story is very funny. What's notable is that most of the humor steams not from one-liners and random gags,but from the dialogue and interaction between Cerebus,the Prof,and the Castle owner. One nice bit is that the owner is a serious artist whose commentaries on society always involve drawings of big breasts. Another hilarious scene is how the Prof meets his demise when he gets caught between his beast fighting, then copulating with another apocalypse beast (who looks suspiciously like DC's swamp monster).

The artwork is wonderful throughout. Dave's layouts are dynamic and varied. They tell the story in a clear and breezy manner. The pacing, which is everything in humor, is perfect. Dave's figure drawing is kinetic and fun. Another thing,the art is black and white,but marvelous just the way it is. Stark blacks,clear whites,and just the right amount of zip-a-tone and cross-hatching for the grays and mid-tones. Color wouldn't add to the visuals at all. THIS is how you do black and white comic book art.

Cerebus #25 is a funny and well drawn comic that reads well on it's own. If you can find it at your local comics shop,it's definitely worth a look.