How much do I love thee, comics? Allow me to count the ways…Pick Of The Week goes to John Layman and Rob Guillory for CHEW #23 (Image). Fast Five picks include Batman #5 (DC), Daredevil #8 (Marvel), Wonder Woman #5 (DC), Moon Knight #9 (Marvel) and Catwoman #5 (DC). Spoilers!

The rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated. Lobster Johnson hijacks my show as I nurse the hangover from hell. His Pick Of The Week goes to Mark Waid & Marcos Martin for Daredevil #5 (Marvel). Fast Five picks include Incredible Hulk #1 (Marvel), Journey Into Mystery #630 (Marvel), Captain Swing & The Electrical Pirates of Cindery Island #4 (Avatar), Secret Avengers #18 (Marvel), and Wolverine & The X-Men #1 (Marvel). Spoilers!

No Pick Of The Week, but we have a wonderful art-driven Fast Five! Picks include X-Men: Schism #3 (Marvel), Avengers Academy #18 (Marvel), Fables #108 (Vertigo), Daredevil #2 (Marvel), and Hulk #39 (Marvel).

Egads! Only one weekly video review show remains!

No Pick Of The Week, but we have a wonderful Fast Five! Picks include Daredevil: Reborn #4 (Marvel), Batman Incorporated #6 (DC), CHEW #27 (Image), FF #3 (Marvel), and R.E.B.E.L.S. #28 (DC).

This episode has been brought to you by, VALKYRIE SQUADRON!

Mesmo Delivery

Written & Illustrated by Rafael Grampá

Dark Horse

When I first got into comics, it was superheroes or nothing else. There was only one kind of shape and design for characters, and it was the classic cookie-cutter look of big muscles, tight spandex, and skimpy outfits for the girls. That’s the comics everyone is reading, and because of it they’ve been dominating the market for the past several decades. Like sheep we follow blindly into the comic stores to verify that Spider-Man still loves Mary-Jane, Batman has a Robin, and the Hulk is still smashing things. This is the only type of comic style we know, and slowly we’re all dying a little inside because of it.

First, there was bland. Then, there was Grampá.

Rafael Grampá is one of those boys from Brazil that is reinventing what we perceive as the standard comic book mold. He not only breaks this mold, he completely obliterates it. I first heard of him a few years ago from the 5 anthology he participated in with a couple other unknown artists; Becky Cloonan, Vasilis Lolos, Gabriel Bá, and Fabio Moon. Yeah, never heard of any of those chuckle-heads. A majority of you first gazed in amazement at his work with the Daredevil #500 pin-up he provided featuring an old-school red and yellow Matthew Murdock. More recently, he did the fantastic Wolverine story in the first issue of the second volume of Strange Tales, which is an absolute crime that the story wasn’t considered Eisner worthy (politics, I say! Politics!).

Enough about how amazing Grampá is, let’s talk about his first graphic novel Mesmo Delivery. Originally published by Adhouse back in 2008, it just last year started coming-out under the Dark Horse banner. And when it comes to the kind of material Dark Horse publishes, this graphic novel is a absolute shoe-in. The story is a simple one of two men, one ex-boxer and one Elvis impersonator, driving a delivery truck across the country containing some sort of mysterious cargo. Only one of them knows, and it’s his job to keep it hush-hush. After stopping in a small Podunk town for some rest and milk, the ex-boxer Rufo starts getting the attention of a group of bored locals who mean business. A fight ensues, and it doesn’t go the way you’d think it would when an ex-boxer is involved. As a matter of fact, one simple fight turns into a balls-to-the-wall bloody massacre, and ends with no evidence left behind. Well, bruises and busted knuckles aside.

It’s not fair to artists to compare their perfected personal style to others, but in a case where it’s hard to describe with words a style so randy, it’s best to compare only to give you a clear vision. Think of Grampá’s style as if you blended together the styles of Geof Darrow, Frank Quitely, Gabriel Bá, Fabio Moon, Juan Jose Ryp, and Becky Cloonan. Add a dash of Asian influence, and you’ve got yourself one beautiful mindfuck on paper.

The entire graphic novel is under 100 pages (including extras and back matter), and because of it I pine for more. It does leave it open for future stories, so if they’re currently in development I cannot wait! I want more pretty pictures ASAP!

So if you’re interested in something new that ain’t your daddy’s comic book for under $10, do yourself a favor and pick-up Mesmo Delivery today. It will certainly tickle your art taste buds.

Click here for previous Book Of The Month selections!

Daredevil: Reborn #2 by Jock

This cover makes me happy. Don’t get me wrong, Jock’s covers always make me happy, but because of the yellow background, I find myself warm and full of smiles. If that sounds slightly odd, then I’ll go with explanation number two; Daredevil is depicted beautifully in the image, and the yellow background really makes him pop. He’s currently a torn soul still trying to redeem himself, and Jock’s raspy interpretation of him really sells it to me. Are you currently holding out for a hero? Then this cover is for you.

Jennifer Blood #1 by Tim Bradstreet

When you have Tim Bradstreet involved in a Garth Ennis project, you know that you’ll be getting some kick-ass covers for sure. With the first issue of Jennifer Blood, we’re treated with nine (you read that correctly) variant covers, and this one is my absolute favorite of the bunch. It’s this cover that gives us the introduction to this new character, and with Bradstreet’s dark and gritty style we get the idea that she’s the kind of broad who isn’t afraid to get a little dirty (or bloody). Jennifer Blood is if the Punisher was a housewife living in the suburbs, and the cover clearly illustrates just that.

Venom Deadpool #1 by Skottie Young

I’ve always been a huge of Skottie’s style. While I do enjoy his interior art in comics, what blows me away every single time are his gorgeous covers. His covers are so good, I’ll buy the crappiest comic just for his cover alone. With this cover, you have the perfectly executed hybrid of Venom and Deadpool. Their costumes really were made for each other. With the addition of the grotesque green tongue, this cover screams “I’d look badass hanging on your bedroom wall”, or at your local punk rock venue.

S.H.I.E.L.D. #6 by Gerald Parel and Dustin Weaver

I nominate this cover to be the image for the first trade. It informs the reader of which main characters are featured, and it’s done in a beautifully almost painted style. The details of each character is enticing and fascinating at the same time, as it keeps you guessing who’s a good witch, and who’s a bad witch. Weaver’s been delivering some great art in general for this series, and this cover proves it a hundred times over.

Thunderbolts #153 by Greg Land and Dan Brown

Believe me, I did a double-take as well when I saw this awesome cover was done in part by Greg Land. Excuse me? Baking powder? Yes, that Greg Land. Sure it’s easy to make a crack that we just haven’t found the porn site where he traced the heroes from yet, but I think it was nothing but honest-to-goodness hard work this time. Is this a new renaissance for Land? As long as he keeps creating covers like this one, I’ll have no more qualms with the man’s work.

Episode 150! Can you believe it? I’m pretty sure I can. Pick Of The Week goes to Bryan Q. Miller & Pere Perez for Batgirl #17 (DC). Fast Five picks include Heroes For Hire #2 (Marvel), Birds Of Prey #8 (DC), The Infinite Vacation #1 (Image), Black Panther #514 (Marvel), and R.E.B.E.L.S. #24 (DC).

See you all in another 150 episodes!

In this special episode, Cammy the elf helps you with some gift suggestions for that special geek in your life.

In this episode, Cammy discovers the effects of cocaine, and discusses the Fast Five. Picks include Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #1 (Marvel), Batman & Robin #13 (DC), Irredeemable #15 (BOOM! Studios), Shadowland #1 (Marvel), and Secret Six #23 (DC).

Tune in at the end for a very special Comic-Con announcement!

Holy hell did a lot of comics come out this week! Pick of the Week goes to Geoff Johns & Doug Mahnke for Green Lantern #50 (DC). Fast Five picks include New Avengers #61 (Marvel), Gotham City Sirens #8 (DC), Daredevil #504 (Marvel), Detective Comics #861 (DC), and Avengers: The Initiative #32 (Marvel).

I’m battling a cold, so please forward all your support and well wishes to Haiti.