Posted in: Comics | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,


Ten Thoughts About Ten Comics Today – Aquaman, BPRD, Morning Glories, Justice League Dark, New Avengers, Angel And Faith, New Deadwardians, Cover Girl, FF, The Twelve

It's a lovely summer's day in London already. I've spent today in Soho Square, reading comic books and watching people come by. Some had comics, books, newspapers, magazines… no one had digital devices out. Why? You just can't read them in the sun.

Anyway, I got chatting with a few about the comics I was reading and the comics they were. Recommendations were exchanged, opinions were shared and the Square was then scanned for people who look like they are in a Frank Cho comic. We were rather successful. Hi to Pete, Linda, and Iman, if you're reading…

Ten Thoughts About Ten Comics Today – Aquaman, BPRD, Morning Glories, Justice League Dark, New Avengers, Angel And Faith, New Deadwardians, Cover Girl, FF, The Twelve

I can be quite dismissive of the fine-line action comic, work influenced by the likes of Jim Lee, as style over substance and lacking in emotion. This week's Aquaman shows me why I'm wrong, with his beautiful portrayal of a seer seeing her own impending death floating in front of her. Stunning.

Ten Thoughts About Ten Comics Today – Aquaman, BPRD, Morning Glories, Justice League Dark, New Avengers, Angel And Faith, New Deadwardians, Cover Girl, FF, The Twelve

Equally, the opening double page spread of New Avengers #23, in which Mike Deodato has created a mangaesque explosive attack, with the kind of caption narrative that feels unfamiliar, but very kinetic. More of this kind of thing, please.

 

Ten Thoughts About Ten Comics Today – Aquaman, BPRD, Morning Glories, Justice League Dark, New Avengers, Angel And Faith, New Deadwardians, Cover Girl, FF, The Twelve

There's been a considerable amount of arm dismemberment in comics of late, with Buffy, Prophet and X-Men being prime offenders. Well, this week Angel And Faith joins the cool kid crowd with another mid-arm separation scene. Emphasis on the ouch.

Ten Thoughts About Ten Comics Today – Aquaman, BPRD, Morning Glories, Justice League Dark, New Avengers, Angel And Faith, New Deadwardians, Cover Girl, FF, The Twelve

Mind you, in Cover Girls by Guillem March from Image, one panel has a woman seemingly with three arms – before reverting to the normal number the next time we see her. And boy, do we see her. Perhaps Faith and her sword popped in between panels and did the necessary arm-echtomy?

It's a weirdly inconsistent book collecting pinups and cover strips, split between Real Life Girls and Cover Girls, probably differing for different audiences and demands, switching for realistic looking women to plastic inflatables, changing art style, line weight and representative approach. Sometimes his idea of a "real girl" is a fake girl, but with glasses and a brunette bob. But what it does show is that whatever Guillem draws, he is a master of his art and it will be very intentional indeed.

Ten Thoughts About Ten Comics Today – Aquaman, BPRD, Morning Glories, Justice League Dark, New Avengers, Angel And Faith, New Deadwardians, Cover Girl, FF, The Twelve

The New Deadwardians gives us what all British period dramas needs. An old woman who says what she likes, and looks down on everyone around her. She judges the world and finds it wanting. This is a comic about a world managing with a zombie outbreak in the manner of an Empire – cool, calm, collected and doing the necessary thing. With zombies taking the place of the rising proletariat and vampires as the existing corruption within high society. Could well be a classic.

 

Ten Thoughts About Ten Comics Today – Aquaman, BPRD, Morning Glories, Justice League Dark, New Avengers, Angel And Faith, New Deadwardians, Cover Girl, FF, The Twelve

BPRD: Hell On Earth goes for a similar supernatural look at history, with the Boston Tea Party rewritten as an attempt for the British to attack the rebellious Americans with vampires. International politics, the right to self determinism and the end of the world as we know it.

 

Ten Thoughts About Ten Comics Today – Aquaman, BPRD, Morning Glories, Justice League Dark, New Avengers, Angel And Faith, New Deadwardians, Cover Girl, FF, The Twelve

And as Fantastic Four has had its big denouement, FF gives us a look at exactly what Valeria's involvement with Doom has been. And a cliffhanger to challenge the cosmic events of late. Looks like Doom will be the big big BIG BIG bad again.

Ten Thoughts About Ten Comics Today – Aquaman, BPRD, Morning Glories, Justice League Dark, New Avengers, Angel And Faith, New Deadwardians, Cover Girl, FF, The Twelve

In Justice League Dark, we are reminded that John Constantine, while written with a London accent, comes from Liverpool. Just up the road from Manchester…

Ten Thoughts About Ten Comics Today – Aquaman, BPRD, Morning Glories, Justice League Dark, New Avengers, Angel And Faith, New Deadwardians, Cover Girl, FF, The Twelve

Morning Glories tells a discussion. A long one. Including panels like this. But if you think it will all be over in a flash, just to remind you that it is 34 pages long for $2.99. One of my favourite ongoing comics right now.

Last month's The Twelve showed us that Dynamic Man is free of genitalia, an android who is completely smooth down below. his week, as you'll see in the reaction panel below, he has clearly manages to get a penile replacement. Rather a large one by the sound of it, the kind of penis that draws attention. A "distraction dick" no less. No wonbder he's grateful.

Ten Thoughts About Ten Comics Today – Aquaman, BPRD, Morning Glories, Justice League Dark, New Avengers, Angel And Faith, New Deadwardians, Cover Girl, FF, The Twelve

There are quite a few distraction dicks in New Edwardians as well…. though Linda from the park was rather disappointed with their portrayal.


Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!

Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
twitterfacebookinstagramwebsite
Comments will load 20 seconds after page. Click here to load them now.