| Comic book round-up
Solo #10
Written and illustrated by Damian Scott, with Brian Stelfreeze, Randee Carcano and Rob Markman. Published by DC comics
The DC comics series SOLO gives the best writers and artists in comic books the opportunity to showcase their talents. The latest issue is focussed on Damian Scott, who readers might know from his striking work on Batgirl and cover art on Robin. Scott works within the superhero genre with 3 stories including a moving Flash story where the hero finds himself trapped in nightmares about out running death, while an innocent man is executed for the murder of a police officer. The script in this issue of SOLO is not its selling point, however, Scott’s Hip-hop inspired art work is what makes the book worth reading. Far from the panel to panel approach we expect from comic book, Scott presents wild graffiti inspired pages crammed with colour and detail, with double page spreads that are alien to superhero comics, and would seem more suited to a New York wall. As well as 3 stories Scott includes a series of Superman pin ups, the most impressive of which combines a graffiti style wall mural with soviet style propaganda poster.
SOLO #10 is essential reading for not only comic book readers but also anyone with an interest in graffiti art.
Bite Club: Vampire Crime Unit #1
Written by Howard Chaykin, with David Tischman and David Hahn. Cover art by Frank Quitely, published by DC Comics (under the Vertigo imprint)
The title of Chaykin’s new series suggests a cross between CSI and Buffy thankfully thought the similarities end at the title. This is a detective story with a casual attitude to sex and violence, officers from the vampire crime unit investigate a murder at a Vampire nightclub owned by a well known family of Vampire mafia members. This is a trashy sometimes shocking comic book, which makes no apology for its ridiculous plot. The interior art work is functional but never stunning. Frank Quitley’s over is possibly the best thing about the book, setting the tone for a good fun bit of pulp fiction.
Ion: Guardian of the Universe #1
Written by Ron Marz with Greg Tocchini and Jay Leisten, published by DC Comics
In Ion: Guardian of the Universe Ron Marz returns to writing Kyle Raynor a character he created ten years ago, a member of an intergalactic police force, who during a massive superhero battle gains almost god super hero powers.
This issue shows Kyle Raynor (or Ion to use his superhero alter ego) at a hippy artists retreat agonising over his new found powers and generally being angst ridden over lost girlfriends and such like. Fans of Kyle Raynor and the other Green Lantern book will definitely enjoy this latest part of DC’s revival of its Green Lantern brand, but there isn’t much here to recommend to readers not familiar with the characters, especially since Marz assumes a lot of prior knowledge of the Green Lantern mythology. One for the dedicated fans.
Flaming Carrot Comics #37
Written by Bob Burden with Sam Gaffin, published by Image
Faming Carrot Comics #37 calls its self a “All-Photo Comic”, and it is. Every panel is a photograph edited to fit into a comic book story.
This odd style lends itself perfectly to the surreal humour in Flaming Carrot, the odd superheroes look even more bizarre in “real-life” the costumes used in the book have a low budget look, but it all adds to the comedy, how could a man with a foam carrot for a head battling a demonic shoe shine boy at a sci-fi convention not be funny?
Silly surreal humour which works really well with the “photo-comic” gimmick. | |
