REVIEW ROUNDUP
I thought that instead of whining about what I need to read, I would actually say a few things about what I have read the past few weeks...
I completed my "Hellboy Project" with Hellboy: Strange Places, the sixth collection of the ongoing series. This one has two separate stories - "The Third Wish" and "The Island." These are darker Hellboy stories, little humor and lots of death (including a big one). Mike Mignola has said this collection ends the first chapter of Hellboy's story and it really deals with a lot of the big questions of the series. I'm interested to see where he goes from here - the current mini-series, "Darkness Calls," just got started so it will be at least a year before we see a new trade.
I've been waiting to read The Yiddish Policeman's Union ever since it was first announced it would be Michael Chabon's next book a few years ago. Why? He's one of my favorite writers (and maybe tops that list). And his novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay was responsible for my starting my book reading goals a number of years ago. So, what do we get with this novel? An alternate reality where the Jews went to Alaska in the 1940s, government conspiracies, a police novel with a down-on-his-luck Meyer Landsman, a love story, tons of humor, and great writing. Really, can you ask anything else of a novel? I loved this book and would recommend it to everyone who likes to read. Seriously.
Last year I read River Of Gods by Ian McDonald and it turned out to be one of my favorite books of the year. Naturally, that put his new novel, Brasyl, on my must buy and read list. We get the stories of three different time periods in Brasil - the present, the future of the 2030s, and the past of the 1730s. McDonald delves into the culture and history of Brazil while telling a tale that links together...and deals with no less than the multiverse. His characters are sharp and the language is as well. It's a very entertaining novel that the buzz has winning many awards next year. I can definitely see that, though I probably liked River of Gods better. Still, this is a very good book.
One of my favorite comics the last few years has been Y: The Last Man, the story of what happens to the last man left on Earth after a plague wipes out the rest of males. The ninth trade was released a few weeks ago and Motherland is the penultimate collection (the story is slated to end very soon). Brian K. Vaughan gives us lots of answers about the hows and whys of the plague and it's a big surprise. There are big changes for many of the characters as well. That all happens in the first 4 issues collected here. The other two check in on characters we've met throughout the series and allow us to once again see the state of the world. They take a break from the main story, obviously, but they are very effective in moving the plot forward in small ways and really work as stories. Pia Guerra and Goran Sudzuka do a fantastic job on the art as usual.
Showing posts with label The Hellboy Project. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Hellboy Project. Show all posts
Friday, May 25, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
THE HELLBOY PROJECT: CONQUEROR WORM
In the end, I came close. I started this project with the plan to have read (or reread) the whole of Hellboy before the new mini-series, Hellboy: Darkness Calls, came out. Today the first issue arrived in comics shops. Today I also read the fifth (of six) trade, Hellboy: Conqueror Worm. It's okay since I'm going to be waiting for the trade on the new series...and that won't be out until next year I'm guessing. And it's even more okay because, as I've been saying, this is good comics.
The fifth volume contains the four issue mini-series of the same name, the first longform Hellboy story in some time. The Nazis launched a capsule into space years ago and now that capsule is returning to Earth. In the capsule is a dead man who will be the host for a being that intends to destroy the world. Hellboy has to stop it. Roger the Homonculus is along for the ride. They also meet the pulp hero, Lobster Johnson, who is...a bit odd (and violent). Oh, and Hellboy has to fight a giant monkey. That's the gist. The whole thing is the usual blend of action, horror, humor, and fantastic art.
I just have one more trade to go and then I'll be caught up. Looking forward to it!
In the end, I came close. I started this project with the plan to have read (or reread) the whole of Hellboy before the new mini-series, Hellboy: Darkness Calls, came out. Today the first issue arrived in comics shops. Today I also read the fifth (of six) trade, Hellboy: Conqueror Worm. It's okay since I'm going to be waiting for the trade on the new series...and that won't be out until next year I'm guessing. And it's even more okay because, as I've been saying, this is good comics.
The fifth volume contains the four issue mini-series of the same name, the first longform Hellboy story in some time. The Nazis launched a capsule into space years ago and now that capsule is returning to Earth. In the capsule is a dead man who will be the host for a being that intends to destroy the world. Hellboy has to stop it. Roger the Homonculus is along for the ride. They also meet the pulp hero, Lobster Johnson, who is...a bit odd (and violent). Oh, and Hellboy has to fight a giant monkey. That's the gist. The whole thing is the usual blend of action, horror, humor, and fantastic art.
I just have one more trade to go and then I'll be caught up. Looking forward to it!
Monday, April 23, 2007
THE HELLBOY PROJECT: THE RIGHT HAND OF DOOM
Yesterday I dove back into the world of Hellboy by reading the fourth trade, Hellboy: The Right Hand of Doom. It collects mostly short stories, though it does include the two issues mini-series, Box Full of Evil. More importantly, it's full of goodies.
The trade starts off with the hilarious two page short, "Pancakes," which describes the young Hellboy's first taste of pancakes and the dire consequences of that first bite. In fact, that's one of the things that can be overlooked - the humor of the series. When Hellboy is in Japan and dealing with heads that detach from bodies and wish to eat him (in "Heads"), things come to a humorous end. Much of the humor comes from Hellboy himself in the form of his reactions to the various situations he finds himself in; then again, sometimes funny things happen to him.
It's not all lighthearted, of course. Hellboy has to deal with the fact that his right hand potentially spells doom ("The Right Hand of Doom") and that he wears the Crown of the Apocalypse on his head ("Box Full of Evil"). There's plenty of mythology throughout, from Norwegian ("King Vold") to English ("The Nature of the Beast"), and plenty of encounters with ectoplasmic entities ("Goodbye, Mister Tod") and vampires ("The Varcolac").
As always, Mike Mignola's art is gorgeous. I could spend a long time just staring at the panels - the detail and energy are amazing. Of course, it's enhanced by the superb coloring of Dave Stewart. This is comics at its highest form.
Yesterday I dove back into the world of Hellboy by reading the fourth trade, Hellboy: The Right Hand of Doom. It collects mostly short stories, though it does include the two issues mini-series, Box Full of Evil. More importantly, it's full of goodies.
The trade starts off with the hilarious two page short, "Pancakes," which describes the young Hellboy's first taste of pancakes and the dire consequences of that first bite. In fact, that's one of the things that can be overlooked - the humor of the series. When Hellboy is in Japan and dealing with heads that detach from bodies and wish to eat him (in "Heads"), things come to a humorous end. Much of the humor comes from Hellboy himself in the form of his reactions to the various situations he finds himself in; then again, sometimes funny things happen to him.
It's not all lighthearted, of course. Hellboy has to deal with the fact that his right hand potentially spells doom ("The Right Hand of Doom") and that he wears the Crown of the Apocalypse on his head ("Box Full of Evil"). There's plenty of mythology throughout, from Norwegian ("King Vold") to English ("The Nature of the Beast"), and plenty of encounters with ectoplasmic entities ("Goodbye, Mister Tod") and vampires ("The Varcolac").
As always, Mike Mignola's art is gorgeous. I could spend a long time just staring at the panels - the detail and energy are amazing. Of course, it's enhanced by the superb coloring of Dave Stewart. This is comics at its highest form.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
THE HELLBOY PROJECT
I've read two Hellboy collections since I last wrote about it. My urgency has lessened since I will no longer be picking up the new mini-series as it comes out but I still want to finish within the next couple weeks, as I'll probably retain the story better that way.
WAKE THE DEVIL
The return of Rasputin (he was the unnamed sorcerer from the first story), more Nazis, vampires, mythological creatures, an homunculus, and more. Turns out the devil of the title is Hellboy himself but he stays true to himself. Good stuff.
THE CHAINED COFFIN AND OTHERS
This is a volume of short stories and is full of great stuff as well.
Yeah, you can see how I needed to clear the decks. Ah, well.
I've read two Hellboy collections since I last wrote about it. My urgency has lessened since I will no longer be picking up the new mini-series as it comes out but I still want to finish within the next couple weeks, as I'll probably retain the story better that way.
WAKE THE DEVIL
The return of Rasputin (he was the unnamed sorcerer from the first story), more Nazis, vampires, mythological creatures, an homunculus, and more. Turns out the devil of the title is Hellboy himself but he stays true to himself. Good stuff.
THE CHAINED COFFIN AND OTHERS
This is a volume of short stories and is full of great stuff as well.
Yeah, you can see how I needed to clear the decks. Ah, well.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
THE HELLBOY PROJECT: SEED OF DESTRUCTION
I decided to read all of the Hellboy trades to date in preparation for the upcoming mini-series, Darkness Calls. Hellboy has been one of the casualties of period of lower comics interest and I didn't read a number of the series, so I thought it would be good to catch up. I had started a similar project a couple years ago when the movie was coming out but I only got as far as the second trade (I think). Anyway, it's been a while so I had no qualms about starting at the beginning again.
Seed of Destruction is an anomaly in the Hellboy series in that it was scripted by John Byrne. Mike Mignola wrote the story, of course, but was a little unsure of taking on the full duties of writing. At the time of its original release, Hellboy was part of the Legend line from Dark Horse, which also included books from Byrne (Next Men, notably; Frank Miller (Sin City); Mike Allred (Madman); and others like Art Adams, whose Monkeyman & O'Brien backed up Hellboy early on. So, Byrne's presence was a natural one. As such, the tone may be slightly different here than in subsequent series but it all still works very well. Why? Mike Mignola.
Mignola had done a variety of comics before Hellboy; I most remember his work on Cosmic Odyssey for DC, a grand cosmic adventure with many of DC's super-heroes, and Gotham by Gaslight, an Elseworlds book with Batman matching wits against Jack the Ripper. His work was always distinctive and very cool. With Hellboy, though, he took things to the next level. Just the look of Hellboy, with his giant stone hand and demonic look, was something new. That blocky yet fluid style. It's the look of a Lovecraft story come to life. It heads straight for the pleasure center of your brain and takes up space. And you just want more.
The story itself opens in 1944 and the closing days of World War II. Hitler has dispatched some Nazi minions to change the tide of the war in his favor, something called "Project Ragna Rok." The end result is the appearance in England of a young Hellboy. The scene shifts to about 50 years later, where Hellboy is the world's greatest paranormal investigator working for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.). He comes to his "father's" aid, only to uncover a mystery that takes him to Cavendish Hall and an evil plot by the man who brought him to the world years earlier. Along the way we are also introduced to his colleagues Abe Sapien (who was sealed in a hospital vault the same day Lincoln was shot) and Liz Sherman. Together, they battle the forces of the sorceror.
The book is a great mix of the occult and tough-talking detective dialogue in the form of Hellboy. It's a world you want to visit again and again. We also get a couple short stories in the back, the earliest attempts at Hellboy stories, as well as a gallery with some of the Legends artists mentioned above and some others. I also have to mention the outstanding coloring of Mark Chiarello and Dave Stewart and Matt Hollingsworth on various aspects of the whole book. They know how to make Mignola's art sing. I'm looking forward to delving deeper into the series...
I decided to read all of the Hellboy trades to date in preparation for the upcoming mini-series, Darkness Calls. Hellboy has been one of the casualties of period of lower comics interest and I didn't read a number of the series, so I thought it would be good to catch up. I had started a similar project a couple years ago when the movie was coming out but I only got as far as the second trade (I think). Anyway, it's been a while so I had no qualms about starting at the beginning again.
Seed of Destruction is an anomaly in the Hellboy series in that it was scripted by John Byrne. Mike Mignola wrote the story, of course, but was a little unsure of taking on the full duties of writing. At the time of its original release, Hellboy was part of the Legend line from Dark Horse, which also included books from Byrne (Next Men, notably; Frank Miller (Sin City); Mike Allred (Madman); and others like Art Adams, whose Monkeyman & O'Brien backed up Hellboy early on. So, Byrne's presence was a natural one. As such, the tone may be slightly different here than in subsequent series but it all still works very well. Why? Mike Mignola.
Mignola had done a variety of comics before Hellboy; I most remember his work on Cosmic Odyssey for DC, a grand cosmic adventure with many of DC's super-heroes, and Gotham by Gaslight, an Elseworlds book with Batman matching wits against Jack the Ripper. His work was always distinctive and very cool. With Hellboy, though, he took things to the next level. Just the look of Hellboy, with his giant stone hand and demonic look, was something new. That blocky yet fluid style. It's the look of a Lovecraft story come to life. It heads straight for the pleasure center of your brain and takes up space. And you just want more.
The story itself opens in 1944 and the closing days of World War II. Hitler has dispatched some Nazi minions to change the tide of the war in his favor, something called "Project Ragna Rok." The end result is the appearance in England of a young Hellboy. The scene shifts to about 50 years later, where Hellboy is the world's greatest paranormal investigator working for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.). He comes to his "father's" aid, only to uncover a mystery that takes him to Cavendish Hall and an evil plot by the man who brought him to the world years earlier. Along the way we are also introduced to his colleagues Abe Sapien (who was sealed in a hospital vault the same day Lincoln was shot) and Liz Sherman. Together, they battle the forces of the sorceror.
The book is a great mix of the occult and tough-talking detective dialogue in the form of Hellboy. It's a world you want to visit again and again. We also get a couple short stories in the back, the earliest attempts at Hellboy stories, as well as a gallery with some of the Legends artists mentioned above and some others. I also have to mention the outstanding coloring of Mark Chiarello and Dave Stewart and Matt Hollingsworth on various aspects of the whole book. They know how to make Mignola's art sing. I'm looking forward to delving deeper into the series...
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