Mark Waid Speaks Truth!

Mark Waid has just been announced as the Editor-In-Chief of Boom! Studios. This is cool. I really like Waid's writing and I like most of what Boom! is putting out. The exchange from this interview from CBR makes me very happy:

What will EiC of Boom! mean exactly? While I'm sure there are certain things you can't talk about right now, but tell us what you can - what role will you play?

First and foremost, it's my job to set a creative tone for the company--to help make good books better and to steer creators towards the best ways of telling their stories. I'll be working with established writers and artists in the medium, and I'll also be working with creators from other media who have approached us about working in comics and have some sensational ideas, BUT. My philosophy about the latter--my speech to tv and movie writers who have come to Boom! with their pitches--is this: if you're here to dabble in funnybooks just to say you've done it or because your kids think it would be neat, that's great, go work somewhere else. Our readers aren't responsible for financially subsidizing your learning curve. If, on the other hand, you have a great story to tell and you're willing to let me help guide you through the learning process of a medium that's new to you and show you what comics storytelling can do that's unique, then let's do business.

Left On Mission #1 & #2 - Boom! Studios (2007)

I am a big fan of Boom! Studios' Fall of Cthulhu. I, therefore, had high hopes for their subsequent offerings. Unfortunately, the next couple of titles they released just weren't my cup of tea. Left On Mission on the other hand is exactly what I was hoping it would be and more.

At first I was dubious. The progatonist, Agent Eric Westfall, is called out of retirement to stop a former colleague who has gone rogue. I know, I know, but Chip Mosher makes it work! The story is tight and the characterizations are handled so well that we know a lot about the main character as well as this woman he's been reactivated in order to hunt down.

I waited until the second issue was out before writing this review because I wanted to see how some of the initial story elements played out. If you enjoy issue #1 you'll like the follow-up even more. Mosher's writing and Francesco Francavilla's art are top-notch and they play off of each other perfectly. The action scenes have a cinematic feel to them which is vital in a story like this. I can't go into detail about the story without blowing a couple of surprises. I will say that if you like stories set in exotic locales which have healthy doses of violence and intrigue, Left On Mission should be in your hold box. It's a five-issue limited series and I will look for future work by both Mosher and Francavilla once it's over.

Speaking of the art, check out this page from the second issue. It takes place in a club in Ibiza and our hero is not having a good night:

Fall of Cthulhu #3 - Boom Studios (2007)

This book strikes the perfect balance between creepy and cool. The cover above by Vatche Mavlian gives you a good idea of what you're in for. There's another cover by Tyler Walpole which can be seen here. The story started out dark with the protagonist's beloved uncle committing suicide right in front of him and it's only gone further down the spiral from there.

Michael Alan Nelson is building the story at an appropriately slow pace but the action picked up seriously in the last few panels of this issue. Jean Dzialowski's art drives home each one of Nelson's words like a spike to the brain. His Dreamlands scenes are spectacular and his "real-world" scenes are oppressive and claustrophobic just like the protagonist's life.

The protagonist, Cy Morgan, is sliding further into despair and corruption as he tries to figure out why his uncle killed himself. Everything around him is falling apart and a lot of that is his fault for pursuing this mystery. It's kinda like Veronica Mars without so many cameos from the Home Improvement kids.

If you're into any combination of Lovecraft, creepy stories, great art or tight writing, check this out.

Fall of Cthulhu #0 - Boom Studios (2007)

I'm a big Lovecraft fan. I also like a lot of the Cthulhu Mythos writings by other authors over the years. This comic goes in my "like" list. It also goes in my hold box. Here's why:

First off, the art. A good Mythos tale is about atmosphere. Cthulhu stories aren't always scary, as such, but they should always be eldritch and creepy. Jean Dzialowski's art conveys the proper atmosphere. There were a couple of frames where it was difficult to figure out what was going on but nothing that ruined the story.

Dzialowski switches styles a couple of times to show that the action has literally moved into a different realm. The majority of the book has a painterly, stylized look to it which is enhanced by the dark, narrow palette. The art in the Dreamlands sequence is more traditionally comicky and reminds me of Watchmen-era Dave Gibbons.

One of the advantages of writing a Cthulhu story is that there are libraries full evocative, creepy lines from earlier stories in the Mythos. Michael Alan Nelson uses these previous writings to great effect. The story features Abdul Alhazred, the Mad Arab who wrote the Necronomicon. When your main character is the batshit-craziest dude who ever lived you've gotta try hard not to get a good story out of him.

Some knowledge of the Cthulhu Mythos is useful for full enjoyment of this sequential-art product but not essential. Nelson does a good job of filling in the blank spots and Dzialowski draws the hell out of it.

In a time where Cthulhu is the punchline of jokes made by people who have never actually read Lovecraft, it's nice to see someone bringing the creepy back to it.

Hero Squared - Boom Studios (2005)

Keith Giffen and J.M DeMatteis team up with artist Joe Abraham to produce a funny, sometimes-touching story about a guy named Milo who meets an alternate-universe version of himself who has superpowers. Also, Milo's girlfriend's otherworld self is the vilest of villains.

This is a great intro issue and it should still be on the shelves. This is one of those "supporting indy comics" things that Jason Rodriguez was talking about. Not that I'm saying Giffen and DeMatteis are struggling kids just trying to get their books published but Boom Studios deserves our support for putting this out. Also, if this sells well, we could see lots of new cool stuff from Boom.

I like Abraham's art. He plays well with the Bwa-ha-ha boys and he handles the action scenes as well as the conversation scenes with style. There are a couple of points where things could be clearer but it holds together well.

I'm looking forward to issue #2.