Strange Science Fantasy

Written & Illustrated by Scott Morse

IDW Publishing

In my opening argument, I will prove to you that Scott Morse isn’t just a comic book creator, but a diabolical genius. The whole ‘I’m just a guy who draws pretty pictures’ excuse is nothing more than a cheap disguise, hiding the real brilliance of this man, this legend, this modern day Wizard of Oz. In this case you will want to pay attention to that man behind the curtain, because chances are that he’ll fill your mind with long lost stories of ancient times featuring gods, soldiers, and much more.

I remember reading the first issue of Strange Science Fantasy last year, and really liking the blend of both story and art. It was something unique, bold, and there was nothing else like it. Lo behold with the arrival of the second issue, and I had a gigantic hook simultaneously in my brain and heart, with Morse reeling me in one page at a time. To this day I still bear that hook, and it does make quite the interesting topic of discussion at cocktail parties. The whole concept of mash-ups is to take two or more already existing things, and combine them together to create something new. Music, comics, movies, you can see it thriving in this day and age, it still being a relatively new idea. I love music mash-ups, and have nothing but tremendous amounts of respect to the DJs who are able to create such wonderful new rhythms and beats. The same thing applies to comic book creators who are pushing the boundaries of different genres, creating something new and beautiful as the outcome.

With Strange Science Fantasy, you get exactly that; several different one-shots by Morse, each very unique with a blend of science and fantasy, action and science, etc. You can’t predict the outcome for any of the stories, you can only enjoy the ride from cover to cover. Remember those mash-up action scenes in the movie Sucker Punch? Think that, only good. Morse is throwing ideas at you that you wouldn’t have thought-up in a million years, and yet it feels like it could fit-in comfortably with any era in comic books. For all I know, Scott Morse is the incarnation of Jack Kirby, and he has unfinished story ideas. Now to compare someone to The King of Comics is quite bold, but Morse definitely shows respect to the stories and their creators of old, and you can see loud and clear in his work. His whole style of art is a fantastic pulp look, with beautiful coloring also done by him. Some of these characters he introduces us to are complex, simple, and original all rolled into one, that at times I find myself flabbergasted trying to figure out what his inspirations might have been. Drugs? Grant Morrison? Does he own a giant pop culture blender, and mixed-in a healthy dose of everything? The answer may hurt our mortal brains if we were ever to discover his methods of madness.

Each of these one-shots could easily be a mini-series of some sort, maybe spanning 5-6 issues per character. It’s the kind of collection you could pitch to a publisher, seeing what hits and what misses. I for one would love to see the continued adventures of the Shogunaut & Knucklehead, or see what’s next for the Projectionist. And what’s our old pal G.I. Gantic up to now that his mission is complete? I know I shouldn’t get my hopes up, but it does say ‘Volume 1’ on this trade, perhaps suggesting that more of these magnificent stories are on their way? One can only hope.

In closing, this is a ‘Must Own’ graphic novel for your bookshelf. It has something for everyone, and it’s not like any other comic that I can think of. This is the perfect trade for the one comic geek who has everything, or the one who’s just starting to get into comics. You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, you’ll study this Grade-A eye candy for years to come. And did I mention as an added bonus you’ll get six pin-ups by artist extraordinaire Paul Pope? Yeah, it’s kind of awesome like that.

Go pick-up Strange Science Fantasy today, and thank me tomorrow.

Click here for past Book Of The Month reviews!

Action-packed week for comics! Pick Of The Week goes to Mike Costa, Christos Gage, Chee, and Antonio Fuso for G.I. JOE: COBRA #13 (IDW). Fast Five picks include Brightest Day #20 (DC), Darkwing Duck #9 (BOOM! Studios), Thunderbolts #153 (Marvel), Green Lantern Corps #57 (DC), and 28 Days Later #20 (BOOM! Studios).

YO JOE!

Independent titles rule supreme! Pick Of The Week goes to Ben McCool & Nikki Cook for Memoir #1 (Image). Fast Five picks include G.I. JOE: Cobra #12 (IDW), Hellblazer #275 (Vertigo), Doctor Who #1 (IDW), The Boys #50 (Dynamite), and Locke & Key: Keys To The Kingdom #4 (IDW).

Also, none of the titles this week are under $3!

Alas, a Pick Of The Week AND a Fast Five all in one packed episode! Pick Of The Week goes to John Layman & Rob Guillory for Chew #13 (Image). Fast Five picks include Hulk #24 (Marvel), DC Universe: Legacies #4 (DC), G.I. Joe: Cobra #7 (IDW), Air #24 (Vertigo), and Secret Avengers #4 (Marvel).

I’d apologize for this episode being longer than normal, but I APOLOGIZE FOR NOTHING!

Again no Pick Of The Week, but we have a jolly-good Fast Five regardless! Picks include The Thanos Imperative #3 (Marvel), Daytripper #9 (Vertigo), Strange Science Fantasy #2 (IDW), Batgirl #13 (DC), and Morning Glories #1 (Image).

Remember to rush-out and see Scott Pilgrim this weekend!

The good titles return this week after a very disappointing last week! Pick Of The Week goes to John Layman & Rob Guillory for Chew #11 (Image). Fast Five picks include Booster Gold #33 (DC), House Of Mystery #26 (Vertigo), G.I. Joe: Cobra #5 (IDW), Daytripper #7 (Vertigo), and Batman #700 (DC).
Remember to go watch the World Cup games after you’re done reading your comics!

Join Cammy in this special episode as he interviews a plethora of creators from WonderCon in San Francisco! Anthony Del Col, Conor McCreery, Andy B. (The creative team of Kill Shakespeare), Tom Pinchuk (Hybrid Bastards!), Chris Giarrusso (Mini Marvels), Joe Kelly (I Kill Giants), Kat Rocha & Josh Finney (Titanium Rain), Chandra Free (The God Machine), and Patrick McEvoy (Starkweather: Immortal).

Hoots & hollers, winks & nudges, and so much more fun runs abundant in this episode!

Quite the diverse week for comics! Pick Of The Week goes to Joe Kelly & Max Fiumara for The Amazing Spider-Man #625 (Marvel). Fast Five picks include Batman #697 (DC), Doctor Who #9 (IDW), Siege #3 (Marvel), 28 Days Later #8 (BOOM! Studios), and Green Lantern Corps #46 (DC).

Rhinos, the Infected, and the Black Mask revealed are a few of what make this week awesome!

Another week, another episode! Pick Of The Week goes to Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez for Locke & Key: Crown Of Shadows #3 (IDW). Fast Five picks include Green Lantern #51 (DC), Hellblazer #264 (Vertigo), Blackest Night: The Flash #3 (DC), Incorruptible #3 (BOOM! Studios), and Green Lantern Corps #45 (DC).

Reminder: WonderCon this April!

The Book of the Month for February 2010 is none other than Locke & Key: Welcome To Lovecraft (IDW Publishing) written by Joe Hill with art by Gabriel Rodriguez.

I remember reading the first issue of this volume when it debuted, and completely loathing it. Looking back, I might have been overwhelmed by all that was going on; gruesome violence, rape, and spirits. My mind must have been having a difficult time computing it all, not being able to make sense of what was happening in front of my very eyes. Who were these psychos? What’s that key do? Was there a zero issue I missed? So after reading that first issue I decided to say “fuck it” and just move on to the next comic book in the stack. A year passes and a second volume comes out, Head Games, and it’s getting nothing but great reviews. Still, I cast the series aside and swear it off as too extreme for my tastes. Then finally the third volume starts, Crown Of Shadows, and I decide to give the series a second chance. After all, I was bored at work and running out of new comics to read.

At this point in the review I would like to take a moment and apologize to two individuals. Mr. Hill, Mr. Rodriguez, I’m so incredibly sorry I dismissed this series and paid no attention to it. Please forgive my ignorance, for I am not worthy to grovel at your very feet. If you’d like, I’ll even commit Seppuku to lift the shame I’ve brought to my family and friends.

Locke & Key is by far one of the best series I’ve read in the past decade. What Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez manage to do to with horror comics is the equivalent of what Andy Warhol did for art. Each issue in this first volume is jam-packed with action, humor, and horror, leaving you the reader hungry for more. I have to warn you though; as much as you want to devour the series whole and read it all in one sitting, do try to pace yourself and savor every bite. I found myself instantly hooked after re-reading the first issue, and forty-five minutes later and I was done, and craving more immediately.

Enough about how brilliant it is, let me explain what the story is about.

The Lockes were a normal family at one point until the father, Rendell Locke, was murdered by a troubled former student and his psycho friend. Because of this tragic event, the surviving family moves to the family mansion in Lovecraft, Massachusetts. The story focuses on the three kids; Tyler, the oldest, Kinsey, the rebellious middle child, and Bode, the youngest and my personal favorite. The death of their father traumatizes them, and they each deal with the loss in their own way. Bode spends his time exploring the dusty old mansion, and discovers a strange key that when inserted into a specific door, will allow the key-bearer to walk through. Only two things will happen when you walk through; the first being you die. The second being, your spirit allows you to travel wherever you want. Enter back into your body, and you’re alive again. As if having the same psycho who killed your father escape prison not bad enough, it gets worse; there’s an evil being trapped in the well, and all she needs is a certain key to get free so she can collect them all.

That’s one of my favorite things about the series, is all the magical keys. We’re only introduced to a few in this volume, but the fact that there are several more that have not yet been discovered thrills me to no end! Just imagine all the possibilities!

Gabriel Rodriguez’s art in this fits the tone of the story wonderfully, and you get a good sense of what each character is feeling. I especially love the spirits, because they’re not there altogether. You might see a little bit of face and maybe an arm, but the spiritual body is constantly changing. And if you’re a fan of blood and gore, you’ll especially be enjoying some of the spreads throughout this volume.

Overall this is the perfect choice for fans of the horror and fantasy genres. It’s also a nice little reminder what comics can be without having to involve capes and cowls. So before you run out to your local comic store and pick-up this wonderful collection, remember what I said before; try to slow down and savor it, because you’ll definitely be wanting seconds after you’re finished.

Discuss this pick on the forum!

Book Of The Month – June – LOCAL

Book Of The Month - July – Sub-Mariner: The Depths

Book Of The Month – August – Superman: Secret Identity

Book Of The Month – October – Welcome To Hoxford

Book Of The Month – November – The Nightly News

Book Of The Month – December – CLA$$WAR

Book Of The Month – January – The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite