A Matt Groening Production
Script/Layouts: Steve Vance
Finished Art: Bill Morrison
Co-Plot/Colors: Cindy Vance

If you’re anything like me, then you’re probably a fan of the Simpsons. After almost 20 years of cartooning, how could you not be? It’s smart, funny, and easily one of the all-time best cartoons ever to grace the small screen. As such, I was stoked when my friend, Reed loaned me the first edition of Radioactive Man.

The comic is about the origins of Radioactive Man; you know, like how he got his lightning bolt to stick out of his head, his secret love for Gloria Grand, and how Claude Kane III (Radioactive Man’s secret identity) got too close to a “mega-bomb”. The side story is about how comics that depict death, sex, crime, etc. are causing kids to become juvenile delinquents. (more…)

Enjoy supporting the little guy? Enjoy helping to launch a great idea? Well, we’ve found a site that you can not only do that, but you can also save money while supporting an inviting new concept about ordering comics.

We recently had the pleasure of meeting the owner of 1buckcomics.com, and we love the concept behind his site. Basically, you get bargain bin prices without the scouring through the bargain bins and also with the ability to actually get a complete set instead of trying to piece together a set one by one. It’s kind of like buying comics off of eBay without the hassle of bidding. So if you’re into collecting / reading up on back issues, we totally recommend checking this site out.

Therefore Repent!
Written by: Jim Munroe
Drawn by: Salgood Sam

I have a sick fascination with the idea of Armageddon, rapture, end of days, whatever the hell you want to call it. And regardless of your own personal views on religion and the nature of “things” you have to admit it’s an exciting if not scary idea.

Therefore Repent! is a book about what happens when the Rapture occurs. One day, people just start floating up into the sky. Not everybody floats away though; only people who wholly believe not only in the idea of god but who believe that god is their reason for being. Only they are the saved ones. Everyone else is left on earth to toil in new-found magic like dogs who can talk and being able to conjure up magical skills from your own free will. (more…)

Peter Parker: Spider-Man - Issue 30 (in One Small Break TPB)
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Penciler: Mark Buckingham
Inkers: Green / Ramos / Buckingham 

I wish I knew what happened to issue 29. For some reason it’s not in this trade, so I guess it’s fitting that I did NotLD instead on Wed. There’re a lot of meaning in me choosing to do that, and the greatest part is that I don’t even know what it is.

Anyway, I’m back to this Spider-Man trade, which I am actually finding enjoyable, especially as far as 2001 comics go. But for now, let’s focus on the kickassness of the villain in this issue.

So this villain named Fusion has an ability to do something sweet: fuse. Unfortunately, this comic wasn’t too detailing about why or how he could do this, but I’m sure I’ll find out more as I read on. Regardless, it was made clear that his ability consisted of him being able to shift into / use the power of pretty much any character in the Marvel Universe (think Kirby from Super Smash minus the literal sucking). Pictures come after the jump.

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The Griffin: Chapter 8
Writer: Dan Vado
Penciller: Norman Felchle
Inker: Mark McKenna
Letterer: Ken Holewczynski

I finally got to find out how he gets into bed with that lovely lady at the beginning of chapter 9. It wasn’t quite the build up I had hoped for, but hey, a supernatural person making a booty call is pretty solid way to get things done. In his defense, he had had one heck of a day fighting people in space and dodging cobalt torpedoes after all. Plus his com padre in space fighting died and issued her last remark. A quote to the effect of , well I may have died honorably, but I’m still dying nonetheless. Pretty profound, and that’s what made me think a bit more about the nature of other people’s final words. (more…)

George A Romero’s Night of the Living Dead: Annual #1
Writer: John Russo
Art: Edison George and Luis Czerniawski

Tons of the people enjoy The Walking Dead, the series by Robert Kirkman. I found it enjoyable, but I also felt it struggled with wordiness. I guess I just didn’t really like the dialogue, or who knows — it’s been awhile, and that has nothing to do with this post. But what I did love about The Walking Dead was the art. In fact, I find most zombie comics have pretty awesome art. On top of the art, most zombie horror (in both film, comics, and novels) is simply entertaining and usually has good social commentary. For these reasons, whenever I see a zombie comic, I usually feel inclined to pick it up, and this was the case for this annual of NotLD.

The read was good. It was casually entertaining, and reminded me a lot of watching a horror film. Like a good, cheesy horror film, not like a Saw / Hostel on-a-mission-to-make-you-vomit horror film. In fact, it reminded me of a horror film so much that my reading experience was very similar to what goes on in my head when watching a movie . . . almost too similar . . .

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Griffin: Chapter 7 Beating The Drums Of War
Writer: Dan Vado
Penciller: Norman Felchle
Inker: Mark McKenna
Letterer: Ken Holewczynski

Another Griffin series that I’m going to do as a two-part series because my comic allotment is dwindling and I need to stretch things out. Also I would have to say that each chapter is sufficiently the same size as a normal comic load.  As predicted, the more I read into this, the more it makes sense. Getting background tends to do that, and sticking your hand into a box and pulling out somethign at random almost sets things up to make zero sense at first. (more…)

Thanks to Graham Crackers Comics (can be found at www.grahamcrackers.com or a number of locations in Chicagoland), we are now going to be getting a new release list for each week delivered to our inbox door. And even better, we’re going to share it with you! And even better better, we’ll be posting it on top of our regular mission post. Hooray for all new Two-Post Tuesdays! 

Anyway, this week’s highlight (as chosen by me) is Daredevil #110 with a variant monkey cover! Monkeys!

The full list is after handy dandy “more” link, and there are PLENTY of new comics for you to check out.

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Peter Parker: Spider-Man - Issue 28 (in One Small Break TPB)
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Penciler: Mark Buckingham
Inkers: Green / Ramos / Buckingham 

I’m kind of disappointed in myself. I didn’t want to do this trade for two posts in a row, but I had very little time to read, the other book I wanted to do was an Annual, and since it was twice as long of a read, I selected this book instead. But don’t worry. I’ll have more time tomorrow and will get you a fresh and new series for Wednesday. Every weekend now and then includes absolutely no time to sit down and read or do anything enjoyably relaxing; that was this weekend for me. 

In other news, I am really happy that I did read this issue because it basically tossed up a philosophical issue that is exactly along the lines of why we are doing this mission. We wanted to prove that there is more to comics than meets the eye, and PP: Spider-Man proves that point through its use of Utilitarianism.

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Hard Boiled
Written by: Frank Miller
Artist: Geof Darrow
Colorist: Claude Legris

So, I’m not really even sure where to start with this comic. It wasn’t that it was bad, in fact it was AMAZING. The artistry is incredible; it’s a Where’s Waldo made up of gore, sex, and metal. The more you look at some of the pictures, the more random, strange things you’ll notice (like a tiny Pop-Eye tattoo on a naked chick’s butt). It’s certainly not the kind of comic you can just stroll through and only really pay attention to the word bubbles. And it’s definitely not a comic for the faint-of-heart.

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