The Sheriff of Babylon Deluxe Edition

I waited a long time to read this book. Now that I have completed it, I really wish that I had kept on waiting. The Sheriff of Babylon is based on writer Tom King's experiences in Iraq as a member of the CIA. Because a lot of his work is still marked as Top Secret, this is less of a direct biography about King's post 9/11 stint in the middle east and more of a Impressionist painting of that period of his life. The scenery is right. Characters involved reflect the complicated mission of making a country free for democracy in whose citizens don't want American involvement. The beliefs and covert centrifuge is accurate. But the story is completely made up. Oh, God, please let this story have been made up.

Remember the first 15 minutes of Saving Private Ryan and how that realism of the invasion of Normandy was such a gut punch for the viewers? Well, that's what The Sheriff of Babylon is like. Only the abuse of the reader lasts for 12 whole issues. 

The story begins when American soldiers discover the mutilated corpse of an Iraqi citizen who's been training to become a part of Baghdad's police force. The victim's American supervisor, military consultant Christopher Henry, is tasked to return the body back to his family. Calling in a favor from an influential member of the interim government, Christopher is assisted in claiming the body by Nassir, a former member of Saddam Hussein's secret police who continues to work as an enforcer of the law in Baghdad despite a price that hangs eerily over his head. Once the body is claimed, Christopher and Nassir fall into the middle of a giant CIA quagmire that will result in the deaths of innocents, miscarriage, conspiracy and torture. 

Adding to the stark realism of this book is the art of Mitch Gerads. A frequent collaborator with Tom King, Gerads' artwork always looks photo-realistic. His scenes are worthy of a portfolio review in National Geographic. His characters evoke a myriad of emotions. To the point you get connected to many of the characters, which makes it even harder to absorb when they're mercilessly killed off.

There was an aspect of this book that felt anything but realistic that got on my nerves: the dialogue. I understand why superheroes and the villains always wax poetic. Super-hero comics are a form of melodrama. But why do non-cape comics and graphic novels have to fall into that same trap? There's a complex mystery being kept under wraps by spies, double agents and shadow governments. I don't need every character speaking in riddle like the Sphinx on crack. Just tell me what you want to say without making allusions to some ancient fable that maybe only 2% of the entire population of human history has ever heard of.

Sometimes a cigar is just a freakin' cigar!

A tough story. Harsh on the stomach. Cancerous to the human spirit. Full of dialogue that needs assistance from the Encyclopedia Britannica. At least I should be able to get some trade credit for something else that is more fanciful and family friendly.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

House of Whispers #1

A Voodoo Sorceress maintains the dream whelm of her followers aboard her houseboat, The House of Whispers. Through the secrets of her devotees, Erzulie Freda is able to view any malpractices of magic through her looking glass. One such misuse of the dark arts involves two pairs of girls who are reciting incantations from a powerful notebook. While playing the classic parlor game of telephone, the children get the words wrong. Each time they misspeak, the girls lure a powerful entity that much closer into the real world. 

Erzulie must stop these girls. But in her over-zealousness, she accidentally transports the House of Whispers to parts unimaginable- right into the back yard of brothers Cain and Abel!

This Cajun cousin of The House of Mystery and The House of Secrets was a mixed bag. I really enjoyed the concept of a new domicile of darkness being added into Vertigo's new Sandman Universe collection of titles. But there was such a jumble of scene cuts that it took a little while to understand what is going on. 

The House of Whispers is not really an anthology title like it's relatives. There's snippets of assorted stories, but the crux of the action is between Erzulie and the young ladies playing telephone.

I was just about ready to say that I will wait until this is collected to read the rest when at the end of this first issue, Cain and Abel show up. This really isn't a spoiler as myself and a lot of other readers had been hoping for this to happen. Well it did and it's made me want to read more! AND I'm not willing to wait until next year for it to be reprinted as a hardcover or trade paperback.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Astro City, Volume 16: Broken Melody

For a couple of volumes now, the mysterious Broken Man has been floating in and out of continuity; warning readers of some terrible doom. In Astro City, Volume 16: Broken Melody, many (but not all) of the questions of the Broken Man's origin are explored. Also, we get an in-depth look at the importance of Astro City's music scene and it's long history of music genre themed superheroes.

Somewhere in the middle of this volume is the 100th issue ever published about one of my favorite comic book cities. It explores the controversial origin and history of the Astro-Naut. This Clark Kent/Tony Stark/Howard Hughes hybrid is whom the city gets it's moniker. It was a wild 1940s era ride.

This entire volume was absolutely fantastic. Every story was top notch stuff from Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson and Alex Ross. I also pride myself at solving the mystery behind this entire story before the big reveal!

Astro City hasn't dropped in quality. But Broken Melody is one of the best volumes in this series. And it's the best story arc I have read since Volume 14: Reflections; the Tarnished Angel sequel. 

If you read one non-main stream superhero this year- this volume is in a very close tie for the one I recommend. Jeff Lemire's Black Hammer, Volume 1 is the other honoree. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Sgt. Rock:Between Hell and a Hard Place

After a nearly 10 year absence, Joe Kubert returned to his best known character, Sgt. Rock. With Brian Azzrello writing, Kubert plotted and illustrated this 2003 graphic novel under the Vertigo imprint. Meant to be more edgy and adult, other than maybe a bit more violence, I could not tell a difference from this and the stuff my father used to read in the 70s and 80s.

I'm going to make a stunning confession here. Most of you know me as a big DC fan. Yet, when it comes to the World War II characters, I prefer Sgt. Fury and His Howlin' Commandos over the guys of Easy Co. I always felt that the Commandos had more personality. In contrast, I felt like Easy Co. was just a rotating group of grunts that had very little personality and even less chance at staying alive than a red shirt on Star Trek.

I bought this book more for the something extra inside it than the art and story. Along with this book, there was a piece of DC Comics stationary that was meant to drum up business for a book seller into buying multiple copies of this book. This volume I purchased wasn't a proof, but it was sent out in advance. Seeing as DC stationary is considered a holy grail among DC fans, I had to have this book if only for that treasure piece of comic book history.

Between Hell and a Hard Place was an okay read. The story has Sgt. Rock and his men finding a group of Nazi officers. Rock decides to take the men back to base in hopes of gaining some valuable information that might put an end to the war. But on the journey back, 3 of the officers are murdered at point blank range, during an assault from another group of German soldiers. With a fourth officer on the run, Rock must play detective as one of his own soldiers may have been who shot the other Nazis in cold blood.

I felt that the main storyline gets gobbled up in other elements, like the origin of the Ice Cream Soldier and the introduction of new recruits to Easy Co. I was fine with the ending but I did feel that elements of the murder mystery tied themselves up in just too neat of a bow.

My favorite part of this book was the art. I love Joe Kubert. His work on Weird War Tales is just fantastic. His images of Rock adorned in red, white and blue tipped bandoliers was awe-inspiring. It also felt nostalgic as I feel like that is how I grew up seeing Sgt. Rock in the comics as a kid. But I cannot find any evidence on this on Google.

A good read but if not for the stationery treasure contained within, I wouldn't keep this book as a part of my collection.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Astro City, Volume 15: Ordinary Heroes

I really don't think it is possible for the creative team behind Astro City to come up with a bad story. Astro City, Volume 15: Ordinary Heroes is another fantastic collection of Vertigo Comics by Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Alex Ross. 

This collection answers some of Astro City's must pressing questions such as just really how did the original Jack-In-The-Box die? But the question that I have been waiting a near eternity for is who is the Hanged Man? 

I was ultra excited for that issue and the City Councilmen of Astro City did not disappoint!

As Astro City neared in's 25th anniversary, several guests artists were brought in to help with the festivities. But honestly, I couldn't tell you who they were or really how they contributed because I couldn't discern any slip in the level of quality here.

There were a couple of other stories added here such as one starring a cat named Kittyhawk. The new pet of one of Astro City's countless superheroes, there's more than meets the eye with this precocious feline. Another great story. 

I love Astro City. It's one of my all-time favorite titles. When I find a new volume, I know that I am in for a treat as this city has been carefully placed in the hands of three masters.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Astro City, Volume 13: Honor Guard

This is the collection Astro City fans have been asking for. The origin of Wolf Spider- revealed! The secrets of the American Chibi uncovered! Plus an epic battle between Samaritan and Nightmare and much more. 

This was one of the best collections of Astro City. This announcment is pretty difficult to surmise considering that's rarely ever been a bad story ever in lengthy history of Astro City. 

Featuring artwork by guest artist Jesus Merino, Merino has proven that he's got what it takes to be a member of the Astro City Architects. He could sub in for Brent Anderson and Alex Ross anytime in my opinion!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Weird War Tales Special

Vertigo's 2000 special devoted to Weird War Tales was just plain weird...

In a tale from Garth Ennis, a quartet of buddies swap war stories while waiting out a rain storm. Then learn the secrets behind Helen of Troy. The brief history of warfare reveals a never ending pattern of bloodshed while a custodian attempts to make a nuclear holocaust a little bit prettier place to live. Plus a POW in Vietnam is saved thanks to his dynamic drawing skills. 

I should have known from the book's cover that this isn't my Weird War Tales. I have such fond memories of that title. This thing gave me heartburn.

The book doesn't have a rating but this definitely isn't for kids. There's some very, VERY graphic material here- mostly it's all in conversation (and mostly I'm pointing my finger at the Garth Ennis tale!) That one really shook me to my core and not in a good way at all.

I only paid a quarter for this from a bargain bin. Yet, I feel like I want my money back on this. 

And just what the heck is that thing on the cover supposed to be?

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Astro City, Volume 14: Reflections

 Excerpt from Amazon.com:

"Then, a spotlight on three generations of Jack-in-the-Box, as the second Jack-in-the-Box's son must decide whether to follow in the family footsteps or take another path. Also featuring the Trouble Boys, Mister Drama, the Weirdies and more."

Nope- that does not happen in this book! I'm not sure which volume Amazon is detailing, but they got this wrong!

What is in Volume 14 of Astro City is as follows:

• When a member of the First Family is kidnapped by inter-dimensional beings, the team declare all-out war! But this story isn't told from the heroes perspective but from that of the enemies. It's a very intriguing tale about propaganda and just who are the real enemies in war.
• In an anniversary story, the Samaritan is troubled by terrible nightmares. In order to determine the source of the problem, the hero will need to be quarantined for 24-hours. Marvel at how the entire Astro City superhero community comes together to pick up the slack for the fallen leader of the Honor Guard.
• Busiek, Anderson, and Ross revisit a classic forgotten character: Steeljack. Has the aged villain finally gone straight? Will he be able to stay righteous when he's approached by a former for help?

       This was a great volume. Steeljack's story, Tarnished Angel, is my favorite Astro City tale. So it was great getting to see what he was up to again. The First Family epic was very thought provoking and the Samaritan story was extremely touching.  The trio of Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross, and Brent Anderson did it again with this volume! 

        Amazing stuff!

      Worth Consuming!

      Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Astro City, Volume 12: Lover's Quarrel

    Enjoy another trip to Astro City with your guides Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Alex Ross. On this trek, discover the love/ hate on again/ off again relationship of Quarrel and Crackerjack through the numerous back alleys and secret headquarters of the community. Then enjoy the music scene of Astro City as the silver-back (and super-smart) gorilla Stick ventures from his Arctic paradise homeland to the City of Heroes in hopes of becoming a drummer.

     It's another fun journey to one of my favorite fictional cities. The Quarrel story started off a little rough, but once I realized who the narrator really was, the story got quite intriguing and quite good. The Stick story was brilliant. It was a tribute to comicdom's long-running obsession with apes. I'll admit, I had to flip ahead because I was going to be quite mad if this volume ended with dead monkey.

(SPOILER: It didn't.)

    Another great volume. I was a bit disappointed that this volume didn't include the ubiquitous sketch book section. There was a script section instead but it wasn't quite the same...

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Dark Knight: A True Batman Story

   In the early 90s, Paul Dini was on top of the world. His work on the Batman: The Animated Series won him an Emmy. The show was a massive hit. He had a hot (but not really serious) girlfriend. Dozens of projects were falling in line for the writer.   
    But it all came crashing down one warm night when two men mugged and savagely beat him. Dini needed months of surgery, recovery, and healing. Sadly, the celebrated screenwriter spiraled into a dark depression and alcohol problem. Thankfully, he had the characters of his beloved Batman series to help him find his way out into the light.
     Most Batman stories hint at real life but still fall quite short. This biographical look at a segment at Dini's life was the real deal. It was such an insightful look at the creation of one of my all-time favorite TV shows- not just cartoons- TV shows period!
     If you love Batman: The Animated Series. If you want the inside scoop at the creation of Harley Quinn, the Joker's girlfriend. If you love metaphysical and psychological true crime thrillers- this is the non-fiction Batman graphic novel you've been waiting for.
    A Must Read! But with very graphic violence and some very raw emotions and language, this DC/ Vertigo graphic novel is for mature readers only!

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Twilight Children

   A small sea-side community has a bizarre history. From time to time, very bright orbs of light make appearances on the shore. Though they can be netted in, the orbs very seldom stick around for very long. But when the latest orb results in the blindness and new-found psychic abilities of 3 children, the town becomes host of oddballs such as a weary scientist, some really odd G-men disguised as vacationers, and a mysterious young woman with the literal ability to take men's breath away.
     I became interested in this book mainly for the art. The Twilight Children was one of the last projects of Darwyn Cooke (The Spirit) before he passed away from cancer last year. I'm familiar with the work of series writer and Love and Rockets co-creator Gilbert Hernandez. But the reason I wanted to read this book was more for the visual appeal.
      The Twilight Children has great characters, and I was engrossed by their affairs, foibles, and interactions as they try to uncover the mystery behind the orbs. But I feel like this story isn't over. At only 4 issues long, the story is pretty short comparatively and the even more mysterious ending just leads me to believe that this isn't the end of the Twilight Children. But a sequel just wouldn't be the same without Darwyn Cooke's amazing artistic style. 
     With strong sexual content, nudity, and language, this is recommended for mature audiences. Parents and guardians often think that if a book has kids in it as the main characters then it must be a kids book. That is really not the case, so parental discretion is advised for children under the age of 18- though really, this book wouldn't be rated any higher than PG-13 if this was a live action film.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Frostbite #1

   57 years after the next ice age, it's a balmy -24 degrees F in Mexico City. Young Keaton, who grew up an orphan on the desolate ice plains, is the leader of a group that specializes in transporting goods across the frozen tundra to the few hospitable cities that remain. But the cold isn't the only thing that threatens mankind's survival. A new virus called 'Frostbite' is turning it's victims into living ice sculptures, freezing them from the inside out.

    Keaton's crew now holds the key to curing the Frostbite when they agree to transport a pair of doctor's to  a research facility on Alcatraz. It seems that one of them has a formula that could end the frigid plague. But on their tail is a powerful gang of marauders from Los Angeles led by a despot named Fuego. For whomever is in control of the cure pretty much will become the new leader of those few who manage survive...

   Frostbite is a brand new miniseries from Vertigo by Joshua Williamson (Captain Midnight) and Jason Shawn Alexander (Empty Zone.)  In this new world, heat is the new currency. Survival is a warm blanket and death hides within the corners of every snowflake. A cross between Mad Max, Ice Station Zero, and Dawn of the Dead, this apocalyptic tale is just a delight for someone like me who prefers to huddle in the snow to fun in the
sun. 

    Deep down this book is a thinly veiled allegory about climate change. But unlike other post-apocalyptic fodder out on the market today, this book isn't preachy. It also doesn't pull any punches. The gore factor hits 11 from the very first page. 

    I definitely have this book on my wish list. Whether I wait for the trade edition or will continue with first run issues might depend on my budget as I'm not sure how many issues is this mini slated for. But mark my word, this series is going to be huge. It's either going to become a major motion picture or the next Walking Dead. 

    If you want to get in on the bottom floor of the next big thing in comics, you better get started fast. I expect this first issue (which hit stores yesterday) will sell out quick.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

iZombie #1 Special Edition

   Let's look at the facts: 
   
    I love Michael Allred. His art is so clean, so retro, so kitsch. 
    I love Laura Allred who colors and sometimes inks husband Michael's art.
    I've only read a couple of iZombie issues or stories and I love them!
    Yet for some reason, I've not been able to get into the iZombie TV show on the CW!

   I think the problem is that the show is live-action and with the exception of the opening credits, the series doesn't feature the artwork of the Allreds and I think that's the big selling point for me.

   This Special Edition reprint of the first issue of iZombie was released to co-incide with the premiere of the CW series in March of last year. But I wasn't able to get my hands on a copy until a couple of weeks ago when I finally found a copy in a dollar bin. It's not that I didn't look for this when it came out last year, I did. But at the two or three comic shops, I went on the hunt for this, they had sold out pretty quick.

     iZombie is the story of Gwen. By day, she's the leader of a grave digger crew at a cemetery. By night, Liv's digging up the bodies she buried earlier in the day in order to feed on their juicy delicious brains and to prevent from going full on zombie on somebody living. But when she feasts, she inherits some of her meal's memories temporarily. When she learns that one of the corpses she consumed was murdered, she decides to take it upon herself to solve his murder! 

     I think this is another reason I'm not into the TV series. Other than having the main character eat brains and use that information to solve crimes, the series and the comic are two different things. Why they don't even feature the same characters. The main character of this comic is named Gwen. The heroine of the TV show is named Liv and she works as a criminologist for a living! 

   I know some folks will say that I'm being too sensitive and that there's no reason why I can't like both. Well, that's just dumb, folks. That's like saying if I like steak, then I'll love liver. They might both come from the same animal but while steak is delicious, that irony piece of rubber called liver is just nasty. 

   That's kinda how I feel iZombie. iZombie: the comic book is now going on my wish list for my comic book collection: it's wicked fun. iZombie: the Series is on my to-do list if the show ever goes into rerun syndication but what little I've seen so far is a little too hokey and a tad too much like a Dawson's Creek for the undead. I'll probably get to it but it's on the backburner for now.

   As for why this is a Special Edition comic, this issue has a couple of articles about the making of the TV show and I think there were one or two pages of unused art from iZombie #1. But in terms of any director's cut added scenes, you will not find them in this book. But with the success of the show, the price of issue #1 has jumped to about $20-35 bucks, so this is a good starting point with this more affordable reprint.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Sandman: Overture Deluxe Edition

   It's 1917 and Morpheus, the Sandman, is on a most desperate mission. A sentient star has gone insane and is threatening the very existence of the universe. Normally, to a member of the eternal Endless, a problem such as the end of a plane of existence is no big loss. But the cause of this crisis is purely Dream's fault and he must act quickly to correct the situation. Morpheus' mission will be perilous and take him to the very edge of Night and the through countless annuals of Time. But the Sandman will not be going at it alone, as he is joined by the feline concept of Dreams and a young girl named Hope.

    The Sandman: Overture is both a sequel to the multi-award winning Vertigo series The Sandman by Neil Gaiman. But it's also a prequel to the direct events that occur just prior to the very first page of Sandman #1, January 1989. It's for this very reason that I think Neil Gaiman is the Lewis Carrol of the Modern Age.

   Gaiman's works put your average concept of reality and spin it on its ear. Up is down, yet in reverse down might not always be up. Though it's all based to quote Obi-Wan Kenobi 'on a certain point of view,' every twist and turn in a Gaiman story have a rhyme behind its reasonings. Thankfully, Gaiman doesn't seem to be as obsessed mathematics like Carrol is. But then again, maybe he is and I just don't know it!

   I love Gaiman! I may not understand every little concept he's trying to put into place with his works, but I never find myself at the end going 'what in the hell did I just read?' He's also one of the very few writers that I don't mind taking a break from to research the themes and symbolism of his works nor does it frustrate or bore me to read his stuff over and over. It's like re-watching an episode of the Simpsons, as you always find something new, even if you've seen it a hundred times prior. Thus, I'm going to violate my own personal reading rule and I'm going to give Gaiman's original The Sandman another read. 

   Obviously, this graphic novel is the perfect starting point. Featuring covers by Dave McKean, coloring by Dave Stewart, and lettering by Todd Klein, along with series creator and writer Gaiman, Overture isn't a reboot but a revival. The only difference is the inclusion of new (to the Sandman) artist JH Williams III (Batwoman) but to be honest, I couldn't tell. I felt like Williams had been the only Sandman artist with how seamless and timeless he made the art in the miniseries. OH, and be sure to read all of the 'direct's cut' material in the back of this edition.  Every article is worth the read!

   A true masterpiece that can only be improved through multiple readings.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

   

Fairest, Volume 5: The Clamour For Glamour

 

Reynaud the Fox recently obtained a glamour to become human from Rose Red after he became a member of her New Camelot army. Now bragging about his new exploits as a human, the morale of the other animals on the Farm is lower than ever. Why can't they become human too? It's all that sly Fox's fault...

   With Reynaud run out of town, the rest of the animals stage a protest. As a result, the witches of the thirteenth floor create 5 glamours, to be disbursed during a lottery. But when one of the glamours turns up missing, the list of suspects is as vast as the population of all  the enchanted realms.

The idea behind the Fairest, the sister title to Fables, is to explore the rich back stories of the ladies of Fable Town. But this volume focuses about 50% on the male Fox, Reynaud and 50% the animals of the Farm. The last time Fairest shifted focus from its intended subjects to that of Prince Charming, the results were uneven at best. Thankfully that is not the case here.

  The last volume of Fables(which wrapped up the series) felt a little rushed and I remember wondering why the final storyline of that fantastic series didn't focus more on the Farm. The Clamour for Glamour is the answer to that mystery. With this volume my reading of the complete run of Willingham’s Fables and Fairest is complete and I was very happy with the results. (Though I still have Jack of Fables and Wolf Among Us to look forward to but I don't think either is written by Willingham.)

I must admit cheating a little to see what happens at the end because Willingham introduced a new character that I just feel in love with and the author has a reputation of unmercifully killing them off. ( FYI- they survive, but you'll have to read it for yourself to figure out who that character is.)

   'The Clamour for Glamour' was a fun read that I wished wouldn't end. Lots of fun with great art by regular series art Mark Buckingham, covers by Adam Hughes, and many more. Plus a special story that follows up with a character that I thought was long dead and gone! Wicked cool!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

American Vampire, Volume 1

   From the brilliant mind of Scott Snyder (New 52 Batman), trek through the mesas of the Old West all the way to Hollywoodland of the Roaring 20s as outlaw Skinner Sweet is on a mission to destroy the old school European vampires responsible for his transformation into a neck nibbler. 

   Assisting Mr. Snyder is the Master of Horror himself, Stephen King. This is the horror writer's first ever comic book effort and his skill level doesn't waver one bit. 

  It's actually fitting that Snyder chose the novelist to help with the writing duties since Stephen King's 1975 'Salem's Lot' is considered the work that modernized the vampire for the late 20th Century. With that novel, bloodsuckers were no longer viewed as just the Bram Stoker Dracula that spent it's days in the dungeon of Castle Dracul. Vampires were mean, cruel, and eerily able to blend into any situation or setting.

   American Vampire builds on that lore and the modern archetype established by King's masterpiece. Snyder makes this new world bloodsucker literally unstoppable unless it's a moonless night. It actually makes sense to retool the vampire for the superhero age. The Bela Lugosi-type vampires established in the Victorian Era were pretty vulnerable for being the king of the monsters. Mild sunburns are deadly. A misplaced pencil could be lethal. And if you worked at an Italian restaurant, you were probably going to live to see another day from a vampire attack because you reeked of garlic. 

    Series creator Scott Snyder crafted the American Vampire as the perfect vampire to the point it's enough for wrestling fans to chant 'USA! USA!' Stephen King takes Snyder's blueprint and weaves a sweeping origin tale that spans over 50 years of American history. Added to the mix is the deft artistic style of Rafael Albuquerque (Blue Beetle) which blends European gothic with American realism

    Needless to say, by the very last page, I was lamenting that I didn't have volume 2! I'll be rectifying that problem real soon, believe me. But this wasn't a bad investment of only $3 from the year-round book sale shelf at my local library and I wouldn't have been upset if I paid more for this either.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Dead Boy Detectives, Volume 2: Ghost Snow

  

 Edwin and Charles, the greatest pair of sleuths under the age of 13 in the afterlife have become a trio with the addition of the living and breathing wild child, Crystal Palace! Together, the group meets Clementine, the half-sister of Charles, in hopes of solving the mystery behind his mother's murder. As they search for clues, they trio stumble upon a conspiracy so sinister that it affects the stability of the Neitherlands, a mystical annex between this world and the next. With love blooming between Crystal and one of the Dead Boy Detectives, will they be able to focus long enough to solve all of these mysteries and possibly save the life of someone close to Crystal who was presumed dead and buried?

   Volume 2 was riveting. However, this is one of those series that if you take too long in between reading volume 1 and 2, you may find yourself needing a refresher because there is just so much going on. The combined work of Toby Litt and Mark Buckingham is so perfectly crafted, that my memory gaps were not a bother. Litt does a good job keeping the reader abreast as to what's going on without being obsessively repetitive as Marvel was notorious for doing in the 80s.

   Plus, the Masterful pencil work of Fables artist Buckingham was so hauntingly beautiful that it almost made me want to see just what a 'Ghost Snow' looks like- almost but not quite. The covers are awesome too and you finally get to see the mosaic the Buckingham has been crafting as little puzzle pieces at the end of each issue. Wicked Awesome Stuff!

   Volume 2 marks the end of this series of Dead Boy Detectives. This is the third volume so hopefully this isn't the end of their story. With Vertigo rolling out almost 2 dozen new series over the next couple of months, the odds are good (but not great) that this trio of supernatural detectives will return someday soon.

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Astro City: Private Lives

• A day in the life of the personal assistant of the world's greatest sorceress.
• An ex-con with exquisite taste in clothes struggles to go straight on a minimum wage salary.
• A museum devoted to evil robots, curated by an elderly woman with a shadowy past.
• A city, bit by the love bug, when the personification of desire visits planet earth.
• A teenaged criminal mastermind's birthday wish.

    Privates Lives is another volume into the world of Astro City. This volume focuses some of the lesser known heroes, villains, and citizens that have appeared in the background of one of those most all-encompassing comic universes of all-time. It's also one of my personal favorites. 

    Writer Kurt Busiek could write the Astro City phone book and I'd love it. Artist Brent Anderson would design all of the logos of businesses advertised therein and Alex Ross would paint the front and back cover and I'd adore it! That level of masterful detail into each and every corner of Astro City is what makes the 'Busiekverse' one of my all-time favorite worlds in all of comicdom.

    If you don't believe me, take a look at the nearly 40 pages of sketches, notes, and drafts at the end of this volume. Busiek might be the brains behind Astro City, but the community would be nothing without the extensive input the writer has with his artists cohorts. One of the great things about this series is that it doesn't just use comic books for inspiration but all of history and pop culture.

    A good example of this is the cover to issue 15. It shows the mysterious curator of the robot museum repairing an exhibit piece. That image alone by Ross is stunning. But look in the background of this work. There's a Cyberman's head from Doctor Who, a dormant Sentinel from the X-Men, the arm of C-3PO, and at least one of DC's Metal Men hiding in the curator's workshop. Not to mention countless more goodies lying about. This is a classic example of all the exciting eye candy that the trio of Busiek, Anderson, and Ross sprinkle throughout every page of this amazing series. 

    Yes, I'm giving great lip service to this series and its creators. But that doesn't mean that I thought everything was great. Storywise, I thought the tale about the wandering personification of desire was terrible. The prose was inconsistent and rambled just about as much as the story itself. One scene might take place at 4 pm and the next at 4 am. But, Busiek neglects to tell the reader if the story jumps to 4 am tomorrow or 4 am earlier that morning.  The art at least was of the same superior quality of the other issues in this volume, but it couldn't save this story.

    Despite my misgivings of that story, this volume was spectacular. With a cliffhanger that promises to tie in all of the stories in Privates Lives into a single sweeping mosaic, I can't wait for that follow-up volume to drop. At least I don't have to wait very long for it. (It's due in stores on Nov. 24th.) 

    So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags for an all-expenses-paid tour of Astro City. Just be sure to pack a basket for all the Easter eggs you're sure to find when your there.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Astro City: Family Album

    This Astro City anthology collects issues from the second volume of the award-winning series after it switched publishers from Image to Vertigo (known as Homage/ Wildstorm at the time.) Thankfully, the collective creative team of Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Alex Ross is still the same, as is the city itself. Now, I know why Homage/ Wildstorm eventually became Vertigo as it was bought out by DC- so the only change was ownership rights. But I cannot find a definitive answer as to why the switch from Image. But really, it's all pretty seamless between quality and publishers, if you ask me.

   In this volume, tourists of Astro City will see the superhero metropolis through the eyes of a brand new resident during a major crisis that draws in just about every superhero imaginable against a weather god. Then, explore the wonders of Challenger Mountain as young Astra Furst ponders what it's like to be a normal kid. When she runs off to investigate for herself, her family will literally move heaven and earth to find her in a dazzling voyage to the underworlds of the Busiek-verse.

   The next stop on our tour of the City will have us being bad as a washed up criminal pulls off the crime of the century. But, his new found fortune and cross-country tastes are not enough for the villain who desires a little recognition for his brilliant scheme. Guests will then have a chance to meet Jack-In-The-Box, a clown themed superhero who is given three possible glimpses into his future when his wife announces that she it with child.

    Finally, relive the glory days of 1940s Hollywood with a tale from Loony Leo, a cartoon lion who came about during a mad scientist's testing of a camera that brings motion pictures literally to life. It's a tale of ups and downs, but it's also the best story in the collection and is the purrfect ending of your trip through Astro City.

    This was a very good collection. As I mentioned earlier, the Loony Leo story was the best. But I also really enjoyed the Jack-In-The-Box story too. In previous readings of Astro City, Jack pops up often but his backstory is never explored. I was glad to finally get my hands on the volume that answered all of my questions about the mysterious vigilante.

    Once again Anderson's interior art brings this city to life in vivid color and candor. Busiek's imagination pulls no punches and neither does Anderson's art. You see the city as it really is, warts and all. This is all capped off by cover art and designs from my all-time favorite artist, Alex Ross. You'll really want to look at the back-up feature about the designs and art of the comic as you get glimpses of rare live-action photographs of the muses of Ross' cover work. (You won't believe who or what he used as inspiration for Rex on the First Family covers but it makes complete sense.)

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Fables Volume 22: Farewell (AKA Fables #150)

 

  Not only does this volume round out the trade paperback collections of Bill Willingham's Fables, this book as doubles as the final issue of the award-winning Vertigo series, #150. 

   At 160 pages, this very well may be the longest single issue in comic book history. For this last go round, Vertigo pulled out all the stops, including a tri-fold cover that features almost every character to have ever appeared in this series, a lengthy afterword by Willingham, and a slew of guest artists, including Neal Adams, Joelle Jones, and Gene Ha. Regular series artists Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha, who join Willingham to help this series go out on a very positive note. 

   Does that mean everyone has a happy ending? Not at all- this is Fables we are talking about. But the series did end in such a way that I don't need it to continue. 

   Right now, there is a miniseries called 'Fables: The Wolf Among Us' which is based on a video game of the same name. It takes place before Bigby married Snow White, so the events in that series shouldn't affect this series ending. But once that's over, I hope Vertigo breaks all of the rules of comic book publishing and let this series end with style and grace. (That doesn't mean I would be opposed to a live-action series on AMC someday...)

    A fantastic ending to a fantastic series that I began reading almost from the very beginning some 13-years ago. My best friend Todd got me hooked on this series right as the first trade came out collecting issues 1-6. With the ending of Fables, I'm a little saddened, as my friend Todd is no long with us. But I'm glad I got to finish this journey through the world of Fables that he didn't.

  Very Much Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.