Clandestine Critic Tumblog

This is the Alan Davis sketch variant cover for Siege: The...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:03:26 +0000

This is the Alan Davis sketch variant cover for Siege: The Cabal. I don’t have any interest in the current machinations of the Marvel universe, but this is a nice cover.

Comimc Book Collection: Preacher was like nothing else coming...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:35:59 +0000

Comimc Book Collection: Preacher was like nothing else coming out. Garth Ennis created the perfect vehicle for his unique storytelling sensibility, allowing him to cover religion, America, cowboys, over-the-top violence, outrageous perversity, humour, love, loyalty (with even a cameo for Bill Hicks). He was joined in this journey by the excellent Steve Dillon on art, perfectly capturing every moment. I’d been reading Ennis’ work from his Hellblazer run, but it was this brilliant run that made me an Ennis fan for life.

Comic Book Collection: I can’t recall exactly when I first...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:23:40 +0000

Comic Book Collection: I can’t recall exactly when I first discovered the work of Brian Michael Bendis, but I think it was Jinx or Goldfish. Whichever it was, I became hooked on his crime/noir work, and the decision to buy Powers was obvious. Even though he was worried at the time that Alan Moore was doing something similar (Top 10 had been announced without too much detail), it was apparent that Powers was its own creation, and it is very good indeed. Initially starting out looking at the world of ‘powers’ (i.e. superheroes and villains) from the perspective of the ordinary cops who investigate the crimes in which they are involved, it became much more than that. Along with the distinctive artwork of Michael Avon Oeming, a sort of cartoon-blocky-noirish style, it was like nothing on the racks. Instead of a cover to illustrate the entry of Powers, the image is a wallpaper that highlights the noirish style and the element that the city has to play in the story.

Comic Book Collection: after discovering Howard Chaykin’s...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:30:18 +0000

Comic Book Collection: after discovering Howard Chaykin’s work, I went through a period where I would buy anything of his (a pattern I repeat for any new creator I find and enjoy). This is Power and Glory, a 4-issue mini-series, a satire on PR set in the world of superheroes, which came out in 1994 from the short-lived Bravura imprint of Malibu comics. It is also being published as a new trade by Dynamite.

DC comics for January 2010: I don’t want to read Jack of...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:53:53 +0000

DC comics for January 2010: I don’t want to read Jack of Fables (I’ve tried) but it is a series with great covers by Brian Bolland. This is for Jack of Fables #42.

DC comics for January 2010: I’m not sure what it is about...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:30:02 +0000

DC comics for January 2010: I’m not sure what it is about this cover for Doom Patrol #6, by Matthew Clark, that I like; but it has a certain je ne sais quoi.

DC comics for January 2010: Batman and Robin #7. The lesson...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:10:52 +0000

DC comics for January 2010: Batman and Robin #7. The lesson here: if you can’t get Frank Quitely, get Cameron Stewart.

The Source posted this variant cover to Detective Comics #859 by...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:22:24 +0000

The Source posted this variant cover to Detective Comics #859 by Jock. Detective Comics now has two of the best cover artists in town, with both Jock and JH Williams III.

Before getting into DC comics for January 2010, The Source...

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:46:00 +0000

Before getting into DC comics for January 2010, The Source provides the cover for Batman and Robin #6 by Frank Quitely. If only he could draw more quickly to provide the art for the whole series …

The final January 2010 Marvel comic cover: Marvel Adventures:...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:52:31 +0000

The final January 2010 Marvel comic cover: Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man #59 by Skottie Young makes me smile.

From The Source, the cover for Ambush Bug: Year None #7, by...

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:49:16 +0000

From The Source, the cover for Ambush Bug: Year None #7, by Keith Giffen. Let the laughter commence.

Marvel comics for January 2010: my cuteness-o-meter went off the...

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:18:39 +0000

Marvel comics for January 2010: my cuteness-o-meter went off the charts with this cover, but I don’t care. Skottie Young produces an adorable cover for X-Babies #4 and I don’t care who knows it.

Marvel comics for January 2010: I don’t like Arthur Suydam...

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:23:26 +0100

Marvel comics for January 2010: I don’t like Arthur Suydam covers; the whole zombie thing is very dull. However, this image, for Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #7, pays homage to Trainspotting, so all is forgiven.

Marvel comics for January 2010: the solicitations say that the...

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:28:09 +0100

Marvel comics for January 2010: the solicitations say that the cover is by Greg Land, but they’re wrong. This is a fantastic Terry Dodson cover to Uncanny X-Men #520, with Fantomex, Wolverine and Psylocke getting ready to throw down. It’s a shame Dodson isn’t providing interior art as well.

Marvel comics for January 2010: Mike Avon Oeming provides an...

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:43:30 +0100

Marvel comics for January 2010: Mike Avon Oeming provides an atmospheric and moody cover for Powers #3. The hero in the rain might be a cliche but he brings it off well.

Marvel comics for January 2010: I really like the Tomm Coker...

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:28:59 +0100

Marvel comics for January 2010: I really like the Tomm Coker covers for Strange, but this one makes me think of a Vertigo cover masquerading as a Marvel cover. In a good way.

Marvel comics for January 2010: this is a very sharp cover by...

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:14:09 +0100

Marvel comics for January 2010: this is a very sharp cover by Humberto Ramos for a new mini-series, Avengers vs Agents of Atlas #1. It looks like Marvel are doing more to help Jeff Parker spread the word on the Agents of Atlas.

Time for advance Marvel solicitations (as they split them up...

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:27:18 +0100

Time for advance Marvel solicitations (as they split them up between Newsarama and CBR; why?) again, and time for me to enjoy Adi Granov’s covers again. Today is the cover for Black Widow: Deadly Origin #3. Even Daredevil looks shiny.

Comic Book Collection: I wish I could find a hi-res jpeg of this...

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:14:50 +0100

Comic Book Collection: I wish I could find a hi-res jpeg of this cover (Marvel only have one of those angled hardcover shots for the reprint), because Power Pack by Louise Simonson and June Brigman was a genuine and charming delight in the Marvel universe. It helped that I am the eldest of four brothers, so I could relate to the Powers family, and it also spoke to my teenage desire to be a superhero. The story of four siblings becoming superheroes due to aliens, but also based firmly in the Marvel universe (there were guest stars galore) and treated like a normal comic book (rather than having to aim squarely for the kids in the current incarnation), was great, until Simonson stopped writing and then it went very bad; they had to bring back Simonson and Brigman again to do a one-off special to rectify all the nonsense. This isn’t a guilty secret; there’s nothing wrong with enjoying this wonderful series. This is a scan of issue #1, drawn by Brigman (from Comics Should Be Good).

Comic Book Collection: appropriate now that the final issue has...

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:33:13 +0100

Comic Book Collection: appropriate now that the final issue has just arrived in stores, Planetary is one of my (many) favourite Warren Ellis comic book series. A great idea, great writing, great art and even great colouring made this an almost perfect comic book; the only problem was the timeliness. The 27-issue story (plus several specials) first started in 1999. That’s a long time. The image is the Planetary poster, drawn as ever by the marvellous John Cassaday.