Alternation Ink
"GODS AND MONSTERS"
Copyright © 2006, Glenn Walker
It's Halloween, and gods and monsters walk the earth. Here are a few of the best (and no so best) out there...
EAT MYTHOLOGY, KIDS!
Records, retail stores, airlines, and now Virgin has its hands in the comic book business. Formed by Deepak Chopra and two business partners, Sharad Devarajan and Gotham Virgin Comics is shooting for old territory with a virgin twist.
Comic book superheroes have long been based on and evolved from ancient mythology. From Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel to Thor and Hercules, those myths have always been a big part of our pop culture mythology. Of course we're talking white European mythology, Virgin has brought on their East Indian cousins for harvest.
Deepak Chopra has said in interviews that he wants to breathe new life into these legends, and when he does he conjures memories of Joseph Campbell. Now I'm not much of a Chopra fan but when he sounds like Campbell, he's got my attention.
East Indian mythology forms the thrust of the 'Shakti' (which incidentally means 'the feminine side of God') trilogy of titles. Ramayan 3392 A.D. is a retelling of the classic Odyssey of the East which is the quintessential Indian myth but here set in the far future. Again conjuring Campbell, Chopra calls it "the original Lord of the Rings - the seminal hero's journey through a wild world of warlords, deities, demons, sorcerers and whatever else you can imagine."
The first issue sports an Alex Ross cover so fans will be sure to grab it for their collections. Should they glance inside they'll find a complex and sophisticated world full of detail and wonder. This is not a Peter David Spider-Man you can read in ten minutes and toss aside. I was swept away by its intricacy and absorbed by its story, one I'm ashamed to say I haven't thought about for some time.
The second Shakti title is The Sädhu, a sweeping historical drama set in the time of the British Raj. Rounding out the trilogy, and the most critically acclaimed title from Virgin Comics yet, is Devi, which has been called 'the Hindu Wonder Woman.' Like the others this one is lavishly illustrated. Just as the seventies brought many artists into the industry of Hispanic origin, and the eighties brought over the Brit writers, I believe the twenty-first century will begin with the creators of East Indian descent. The folks on these books are that good.
Devi is similar in context to Marvel's Mighty Thor, sprinkle liberally with Wonder Woman and just a touch of Witchblade, and you've got it. Of course that description is unfair as Devi is wholly original, outside of myth, that is. She is a mortal imbued with godlike powers and fighting for what's right. It's a time-honored theme from mythology to comic books and back, and it works. Devi is easily my favorite of the three.
It should be pointed out no matter how much Deepak Chopra and his associates want these books to appeal to who they believe the comic book audience to be -kids- that these are not geared for kids. This is heavy stuff, it's good, but it's heavy.
THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING(S)
Marvel Comics recently released a title called Jack Kirby's Galactic Bounty Hunters based on characters the King created decades ago for his Captain Victory series. His daughter Lisa Kirby is trying very hard to bring the King's magic back to the comics world of today. It does work to an extent. The concept and the design are almost there, but to my mind it's just not making it.
My first awareness of Jack Kirby was the ads in DC Comics when he moved over from marvel the first time. I knew he was supposed to be something important and something amazing, but I knew not what - being just a tot and only looking at the pretty pictures and not knowing my comics history like I do now.
My first knowing exposure of Kirby was the world of Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth. I was enthralled with the adventures of Kamandi, and Dr. Canus, and Pyra, and especially Ben Boxer. Ben Boxer was the superhero who wasn't a superhero. Each issue we explored the Earth A(fter) D(isaster) and it was magic, Kirby magic. Even with reprints and back issues, it's been hard to recapture that magic.
About a year and a half ago, some hardcore Kirby fans and brilliant talents succeeded in reproducing that grand magic, and continue to do so on a monthly basis. I'm talking about Joe Casey and Tom Scioli and Gødland, from Image Comics.
We've all seen artists who can mimic Kirby, starting with folks like Joe Simon (a former partner) to present day creators like Ron Frenz. Heck, anyone with a little bit of talent who's inked by regular Kirby inkers like Mike Royer and Dick Ayers can look like the King. The difference in Gødland is that artist Tom Scioli really is the second coming of Jack Kirby.
Scioli lives and breathes Kirby, he draws like Kirby, he channels Kirby. Listen to this quote of Tom's from Newsarama: "I love all of Kirby's cosmic stuff. He created a whole new genre, the sci-fi myth. It's my favorite genre. If you add them all up, it's not a whole lot of comics. There's 11 issues of New Gods, there's 15 good issues of Eternals, there are only about 20 or so cosmic Thor stories. Only so many Forever Peoples, Mister Miracles, Captain Victorys. I wanted more, so I had to make my own." The quote is in regards to his self-published 8-Opus. You also might know Tom from Freedom Force. Either way, Gødland is the book he was born to draw.
Also on his side in returning Jack Kirby to life is writer Joe Casey. Casey is a writer with a reputation for putting a new spin on the past, having done numerous retcon projects for Marvel. Through his eyes new readers have gotten a taste of the early X-Men, Fantastic Four and the Avengers. Doing the same job with a Kirby-inspired project seems like a no-brainer. And just for the record, the past is not the only thing Casey does well. I thought his The Intimates was one of the best series of 2004.
Now while I keep calling Joe the writer and Tom the artist, it should be noted this is a collaboration and that Gødland is written the old Marvel style, so it's plot, pencils, then words - a true collaboration.
When I opened up Gødland #1 and saw Adam Archer the first thing that occurred to me was "Oh my, it's Ben Boxer!" And yes, at first glance the lines and the outlandishness are indeed Kirby's, but a mere four or five pages in, Kirby is forgotten. Gødland stands alone in creativity and concept. This is all Joe and Tom's show.
Now none of this is to say that these two guys are making a buck off Kirby's memory. And it's not tribute or homage any more than it's a rip-off. Gødland is done in the spirit of Kirby, the style of Kirby, but it's all new and original, and wholly its own beast. Casey and Scioli have created something that started at point A and soared at an incredible speed to point B, a galaxy away, to be its own masterpiece.
Forget Jack Kirby, writer Joe Casey understands cosmic in a way that only folks like Steve Englehart, Jim Starlin and Steve Gerber used to. This is truly a cosmic superhero book for the twenty-first century. I can't say enough good things about this book. Thanks, Mr. Casey, Mr. Scioli and Iboga!
64-PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR
The graphic novel The Black Forest 2: Castle of Shadows is written by Todd Livingston & Robert Tinnell and illustrated by Neil Vokes, from Image Comics. Yep, that's right, they're at it again.
The first thing that struck me about The Black Forest 2: Castle of Shadows when I obtained my copy was how similar it was to those old 100-Page Super Spectaculars DC Comics used to do waaay back in the 1970s. Cover to cover with stories and special features - how could you go wrong?
The lurid cover was only a teaser for what waited within. A mad scientist, a sexy vampire and ape soldiers - again, what more can you ask for? Vokes' Ilsa once again dominated as a highlight. The lead story left me wanting more, for more than one reason I might add. "Castle of Shadows" flowed smoothly from the first Black Forest, almost as if there was no break or wait, great transition.
And there had better be a sequel, guys, right? There better be. Beyond that, great credit page at the end of the story, "A Good Cast is Worth Repeating." That small bit has always been one of my favorite things about the old Frankenstein flicks.
I loved Win Scott Eckert's text article about the Wold Newton universe as this has always been a favorite concept of mine since I read "Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life." Glad to see The Black Forest is part of the family. Maybe now that we know from The Wicked West II that Cotton Coleridge is a family name every few generations he'll also join in the fun as well.
Speaking of Cotton, the Wicked West short, "Return to Javers" was fun, a nice sampler and tease for folks who have not yet picked up either of the Wicked West books. And shame on you if you haven't.
Black Forest 2 was a great 64-Page Super-Spectacular, all it needed would be a crossword puzzle and a guide to who's who on the cover and it would be perfect.
A REAL TABLOID
The first thing that hits you about Chris Wisnia's Doris Danger Seeks... Where Giant Monsters Creep and Stomp #1 is its size. It's literally tabloid-sized. And as such it earns a treasured place in my collection next to the Alex Ross JLA books and those Christmas with the Super-Heroes tabloids from the 1970s.
The packaging itself make this primarily reprint comic worth the price the second time around. But then again, how could one-shot monsters like Pwapwapwah the fiend who reaches into the sky, Muh!Muh!Muh! the creature who got sucked into the black hole and of course, Sphinx-Tor who rode the Sphinx like a giant cowboy - not be worth it? Especially at twice standard comic-sized? And don't forget, this is a black and white comic, so buy an extra copy for the kids (or you) to color.
Doris Danger is a loving parody of the classic Lee/Kirby monster stories from the late fifties and early sixties. And if you think the monster names that Chris has come up with are out there, you seriously need to brush up on your old Tales to Astonish and Tales of Suspense comics. What makes these stories all the more wonderful is that most are inked by the legendary Dick Ayers who himself inked many of the originals.
As with all Salt Peter Press products the letters page is always a highlight. My favorite is the one that requests Wisnia learn to draw, and to buy a ruler. I also enjoyed the word search puzzle with the secret message. Great fun.
Bring on Doris Danger Greatest All-Out Army Battles and Doris Danger in Outer Space, even if they will be puny comic-sized magazines. Now I'm going back to chortle at Pwapwapwah some more...
COLORLESS COSMIC
There's been lots of talk about how to do cosmic and about how to do black and white, unfortunately this is a book that doesn't quite get it right. I'm talking about God the Dyslexic doG #1 from Bliss on Tap Publishing. The mini-series, written by Brian and Philip Philipson and featuring the art of Alex Niño, first appeared back in 2004 and is now apparently available as a graphic novel.
The story is quite amazing and very cosmic. Niño's art borders on the psychedelic but unfortunately it falls flat in the black and white format offered in this issue. I understand that it's meant as a preview and a promotion but I wouldn't buy this book just based on this. There is no indication of what this is anywhere in the comic. I had to go to the website listed to find out what was what, and that was where I was blown away by the colors. The color makes the art.
The black and white preview is good, but not good enough. Check the website, and get the full color graphic novel.