Book Of Month | Cammy's Comic Corner

Cammy’s Comic Corner – Book Of The Month – The Umbrella Academy: Dallas

Posted by Cammy in Book Of The Month on January 8, 2011

The Umbrella Academy: Dallas

Dark Horse

Another January, and another Umbrella Academy book is the pick of the month. If you can’t tell by now, I’m a little obsessed with this series. I like starting off the new year with a selection that makes me smile from ear to ear, and no other series tickles me pinker than The Umbrella Academy.

In this second volume, Dallas, we see the aftermath of the White Violin’s rampage from Apocalypse Suite, and once again the team is disbanded. Space Boy is more like the Pillsbury Doughboy, The Rumor is left speechless by her deranged and amnesiac sister, the Séance is now a celebrity, Kraken is the only member trying to fight crime, and Number Five is down on his luck at the race track. Not exactly the team we fell in love with. After being visited by a small army of Temps Aeternalis agents, things get set in motion for Number Five, then eventually the whole team as well.

This volume is packed with back story of Number Five, and how he became the ultimate killing machine we see today. He was labeled an anomaly, and used by the Temps Aeternalis to travel throughout time and correcting mistakes in the time stream. When it eventually comes to assassinating JFK in 1963, his older self rebels. Because of this, JFK goes on being president for eight years, Hargreeves acquires nuclear missiles from him, and eventually the world is destroyed because of it. It is extremely important for Number Five to go back in time to finish the job, and the rest of the team is forced to get involved.

Whether it is the past, present, or future, Gabriel Ba is able to execute the pages flawlessly. This time around, he even took over for illustrating the covers as well. From the breathtaking landscapes of Vietnam, to the office at the end of time, he continues to bring us amazing visuals that only his art style is capable of delivering for a series like this. Add a dash of Dave Stewart once again on colors, and it’s eye candy of the highest caliber.

While I patiently wait for the third volume, Hotel Oblivion, it gives me endless time and pleasure to relive such wonderful storytelling by Gerard Way. I think with the completion of this volume, he finally earned the much-deserved respect from the pickiest of comic book fans. He is one of us, and he’s not one of these blow-hard musicians trying to make a quick buck that we’ve seen examples of time and time again. Yes, Hotel Oblivion is currently on hiatus due to My Chemical Romance touring, but after delivering to us two absolutely spectacular volumes so far, I will gladly wait patiently for the next one. It’s not like he’s going to pull a Warren Ellis and take an eternity to deliver on something he started years ago, right? Right?

The best thing going for this series is that it’s a lot like Hellboy; anyone can pick up any volume, and still have a great reading experience. You don’t need years of continuity to enjoy it, for it is easily accessible to comic readers of young and old. While waiting for the third volume in 2011, why not treat yourself with the first two this month? Where else can you get red licorice vines and instant Armageddon?

Nowhere else in comics, I can assure you.

More Book Of The Month selections!

1963, book of month, dallas, dark horse, dave stewart, gabriel ba, gerard way, jfk, the umbrella academy, tony ong

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Cammy’s Comic Corner – Book Of The Month – Irredeemable Vol. 1

Posted by Cammy in Book Of The Month on July 1, 2010

Book Of The Month – July

Irredeemable – Volume 1

Written by Mark Waid

Art by Peter Krause

BOOM! Studios

Mark Waid is evil (or so I’ve been told). The writer that we all cherish and adore has absorbed all the love we’ve ever poured into him over the past decades, and has thrown it up back into our faces. He used to be such a kind and jolly man, but one day he just snapped, and the comic book community was rocked because of it. A tremor like this hasn’t hit us since the late 1980’s, when works by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and Frank Miller were felt by all. What could have possibly made Mark Waid do unspeakable acts against those who thought they knew him so well?

Simple. He was tired of not being appreciated.

Crap, I did it again; I sometimes accidentally get the writer mixed-up with the main character of the collection I’m reviewing!

I for one didn’t know Mark Waid had it in him to write such a shocking and creepy comic revolving around the most powerful and beloved superhero on the planet. Sure, we have seen glimpses of Waid’s dark side in other works by him (Kingdome Come, 52), but never full-on gaze into the soulless abyss such as with Irredeemable. To have The Plutonian, the Superman of his universe, suddenly stop being good and become the deadliest supervillain in all existence? You suddenly have my undivided attention.

If you’re like me, you’ve had the Superman versus Batman discussion with a friend once or twice (the obvious answer is ‘Batman’, by the way). The Superman side of the argument is “he’s so fast, he’d decapitate you before you could throw a punch” or “he would shoot eye-lasers from up in space, totally disintegrating you!” Only problem is, Superman doesn’t kill, nor will ever cross that line. The Plutonian used to be the exact same way, but now is feared by all. We get to see what Superman would totally be capable of if he didn’t have any moral codes stopping him. That’s what Irredeemable is all about; seeing the man of steel cross that line.

Would DC comics ever feature a comic about Superman killing both good guys and bad guy at the drop of a hat? Hell no. The main three (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman) are holy icons, and to shed them in a bad or gruesome light would be considered blasphemy by Pope DiDio! Mark Waid on the other hand, is not only Editor-And-Chief at BOOM! Studios, but a damn good writer when he’s not being held-back by editorial. It’s obvious when reading through the first four issues of the series that he has been plotting a story like this for many years, and all he needed was a perfect opportunity to share his twisted vision with the rest of us. He pours his heart and soul into this creation, and goddammit it shows!

What would a great comic be without the great artist to illustrate the said twisted vision? What Peter Krause does on art is equivalent to what Stephen King did to clowns; he made something that makes you feel safe and happy, turn into something terrifying and unnerving. To see The Plutonian make such a 180-degree turn from good to bad isn’t something that’s easily accomplished, but with Krause on the job, you can sit back and take-in all the creepy unfolding throughout the pages.

When this series first started, two other series from DC and Avatar in the same vein as Irredeemable were also coming out; The Mighty and Absolution. As good as they were, they didn’t hold a candle to Irredeemable in my humble opinion, because the cream always rises to the top.

Do yourself a favor and go get the first volume of Irredeemable as soon as possible. For ten dollars, you don’t have any excuse.