August 4th Releases Part Deux

Aka – Dee’s comics of the week.  There are a couple I picked up that Chantaal’s already covered, because I’m sure you don’t actually need to hear me talk about Hawkeye&Mockingbird again (love the story, iffy on the art) or iZombie.

Onto what I loved this week. For once there was nothing I didn’t.  Likely due ito it being a very small pull week.

The Authority #25

Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Al Barrionuevo

Story: 5/5
Art: 5/5

I had a hard time believing that this cool, laid-back guy I got to hang out with at a few cons this year was writing Rainmaker.  Honestly, I only needed to hear that before I went back and hunted out every issue of the Authority so far.  It’s been a busy month.

The story in no way let me down.  They’ve been building something with these team, the exact nature of Jack’s secret weapon and everyone’s reactions.  It’s a good, solid, exciting book that hooked me early and has kept me going.

The art and colours on this issue were both outstanding.  Actually, the colours were AMAZING.  It made reading an already great story so much more of an enjoyable experience.

Jonah Hex #58

Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Artist: Giancarlo Caracuzzo

Story: 5/5
Art: 4/5

I’ve been loving the past few issues with their seemingly unrelated stroies and some of the flashes into the past.  But damn this was grim.  Alright, it’s Jonah Hex, you’re saying, it’s always pretty grim.  Very little around Jonah Hex is uncomplicated, or so it always seems to me.  This book with its story of Earl the Butcher – the man intended for Hex’s bullet – just seemed grimmer than most.

Still, it was a story I truly enjoyed.  It highlighted everything I love about this book; how very little is black and white, the complicated situations that he finds himself in, and whilst he is definitely a gun for hire there seems to be some crazy moral code he has, waaaaaay deep down.

This book is actually a great place to pick up the series, if you haven’t already.  I know that I tend to like most things Gray and Palmiotti to, but there’s a reason.  They do this so well, and Jonah Hex is consistently one of my favourite books.

Secret Six #24

Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: J. Calafiore

Story: 5/5
Art: 4/5

Simone is back on Six after a month away, but the Six aren’t back in their usual haunts.  It was Western week for me, between this and Jonah Hex, and that is something I’m entirely alright with.

In a very Elseworlds or What If type issue, the Six are plunked into the western setting, and damn does Simone make it work.  Rather than seeming a one off or a throw away issue, this alternate setting hold true to the characterisation of each of the Six. For all that she recast them into different roles and broke their ties to each other, the Six still stay true to themselves and against adversity pull together.  There are a few moments that ring so true to me (Blake’s last line, for instance) and of course, the now infamous bathtub scene.   It’s a good, solid issue that’s out of place, but doesn’t feel off or wrong.

My only comment about Calafiore’s art is that there are still places I find the faces a bit jarring.  Other than that it’s a well-drawn and laid out issue.

The other books I managed to pick up this week were Kill Shakespeare #4 (brilliant, awesome, please go buy, especially if you’re a fan of the concept behind Fables) and the Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love TPB which is written by Chris Roberson of recent iZombie acclaim.  Also a good read.