‘The Wild Storm’ Leads The List Of This Week’s Best Comics


Was there ever an era of comics more painful and cheesy than the 1990s? Art that scoffed at proportion, stories that scoffed at structure, and an embrace of violence and whining as the two modes of masculinity are all sins that haunt the people to blame for them even now. Warren Ellis, faced with trying to revamp all this with DC’s The Wild Storm, its third issue out today, somehow manages to pull it off. All those old cheesy comics are back, but with much more grounding, maturity, and not a little wit.

The basic plot of Wildstorm comics remains the same: International Operations, a secret international conspiracy, is fighting aliens, who are also part of a secret international conspiracy, in the middle are a doughty band of heroes, and everybody finds the whole thing just as annoying and frustrating as any day job. What makes it stand out is Ellis’ plotting and tone paired with Jon Davis-Hunt’s grounded, unexaggerated artwork. They have coffee, argue over presentations, and bust each other’s chops in the way coworkers do. Ellis takes care to make everyone distinct, to write them with a shared lingo, to give them unique ways of speaking that have to fit around that lingo.

Davis-Hunt, meanwhile, shows off by not showing off. This book contains a precisely laid-out, carefully thought through action scene that sprawls across a bunch of pages but is still easy to follow. Davis-Hunt can do a better action scene than most Hollywood directors, these days. The result is something faithful to those old, cheesy books while only bringing forward what truly worked about them, and a welcome fresh take on superheroics.

Nick Fury #1, Marvel

James Robinson and Aco decide to take the son of Nick Fury back to his roots as a Pop Art Bond-esque super-spy, with the gadgets, the glam, and everything else. In truth, if you’re looking for the modern equivalent of Jim Steranko, Aco, with his swirling, packed layouts, is a good choice. But considering the tone this modern Fury has set over the years, swinging to full martini-swigging superspy antics from the past grittiness is a bit of a switch. But if nothing else, it’s a fun aperitif in the midst of the heavier stuff on the stands these days.

Royal City #2, Image Comics

Speaking of the heavy stuff, Jeff Lemire’s latest series, set in a dying mill town struggling to find a future and a family reunited in it doing the same, follows up a great first issue with an even stronger second one. Lemire can find lyricism in odd moments; a grown man having his head shoved down a toilet becomes, for a second, an odd dream sequence. Lemire also wittily nods to his spectacular Trillium in one sequence, just as a gag for fans. Overall, though, this family drama stands on its own, and offers a change of pace from Image’s usual offerings.

Batman #21, DC Comics

This crossover, which DC has been hinting at explaining just what the bloody smiley face button from Watchmen is doing in the wall of the Batcave, has Tom King and Jason Fabok playing it close to the vest. The opening, featuring a hockey game being watched in a prison, in particular underscores that there’s a lot more going on here than a simple crossover, and most of the book is about posing questions that you really, really want the answers to.

Sex Criminals #18, Image Comics

Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky’s sex fantasy takes an interesting turn this issue and lingers on the fragility of connection and the difficulty of being honest about what we want, emotionally and sexually. Really the book revolves around three couples at three different stages; apart, together, and potential. While the book remains incredibly funny and boundary-pushing in all sorts of ways, it’s also, increasingly, been thoughtful and touching. That said there is still a porn convention, so don’t worry, the book will be back to mutant Smurfs double-teaming a burrito soon enough.

Death Be Damned #3, BOOM! Studios: This supernatural Western is an interesting mix of romance and violence as Miranda, a woman who forgets more of her past every time she dies, struggles to keep it together and take vengeance on those who killed her family.

Astro City #43, DC Comics: The Gentleman has been a side character for years in Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson’s stories of a city of superheroes, but he’s the focus this month, and his origin is as unexpected as it is heartbreaking.

Ninjak #26, Valiant: Ninjak fighting magic is always fun, but this finale up the emotional stakes and makes what could be another superhero fight mean something.

Curse Words #4, Image Comics: Wizord gets his power back only to discover he actually feels responsible to the human race in this clever fantasy series from Charles Soule and Ryan Browne.

Shaolin Cowboy: Who’ll Stop The Reign #1, Dark Horse: Geoff Darrow’s imagination runs riot as he revives (literally) his strangest character to fight giant crabs.

This Week’s Best Collections

Resident Alien: The Man With No Name, Dark Horse ($15, Softcover): Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse’s brilliant mix of cozy mystery, small town drama, and science fiction delivers its most personal, touching story yet in a tale of bad fathers and bitter choices.

The Filth, DC Comics ($20, Softcover): “The Filth” is Scottish slang for the police, in case you forgot from Trainspotting, but Grant Morrison’s story of a slacker who’s secretly a key agent in a social control conspiracy is every bit as hilarious and weird as it was back in the day.

Big Trouble In Little China Vol. 6, BOOM! Studios ($20, Softcover): Ol’ Jack Burton is always a welcome houseguest, and this series captures the spirit of the cult classic movie beautifully.

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