This Week in Comics: Interviews, Reviews, and Fun-Stuff
You want to read about comics? Good. You want to read what I write about comics? No? Then why are you here? Whatever. Here’s a round-up of all my recent contributions to the field of comic book journalism. From Captain America to Sex Criminals, witches to World War II.
Why You Should Be Reading Sex Criminals
Sometimes you just read a book that’s too good to put down. Sex Criminals from writer Matt Fraction and artist Chip Zdarsky is one of those books. Don’t let the cheeky title fool you, the warning on the back of the book that offers a new disclaimer every issue. At first glance its slick and humorous packaging may seem flippant, the flat figures on its covers teasing sex cloaked pop sensibility, but Sex Criminals is a thoughtful gem from cover to cover. It follows Suzie, a librarian who discovered during puberty that having sex stops time, and Jon, a man she meets at a party who shares her love of literature as well as her particular time-freezing sexual quirk. Then they start robbing banks. Yes, that’s the book. No, I’m not kidding.
A Return to the Jungle with Mike Heimos: Fever Ridge #4
IDW takes us back to the jungle in the latest issue of Fever Ridge: A Tale of MacArthur’s Jungle War. Penned by Mike Heimos with artwork by Nick Runge, this unique historical comic focuses on the U.S. military campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines during World War II, topics not often broached in mainstream WWII fiction. This series successfully takes on the familiar conventions of the genre and infuses them with literary sensibilities and elements of magical realism, creating a layered, evolving narrative that demands revisiting with each new issue. Heimos plays the long-game in crafting a rich and well-researched story, while Runge sees it through with dynamism and an incredible strength of page design.
Halloween Reading: The Witching Hour #1
Continuing its recent efforts to revive classic anthologies, Vertigo’s The Witching Hour is a brand new collection of horror from some of the most talented names in today’s comic book industry. Originally published from 1969 to 1978, this iteration of the anthology features nine original supernatural tales of witchcraft and magic across a wide swathe of genres. From sci-fi to speculative fiction, haunting stories of child abuse to campy horror fun, this anthology covers a lot of ground with inventive storytelling and compelling artwork. These witches come from all walks of life, and have something to offer just about any reader interested in some timely Halloween reading.
Captain America, The Odd War of Dimension Z: A Review
Rebooting after Ed Brubaker’s acclaimed run on the title, the newly rebranded Marvel NOW Captain America from writer Rick Remender and artist John Romita, Jr. recently wrapped up its first arc, The Odd War of Dimension Z. In a story that spanned ten issues and twelve years, this bold new chapter in Captain America’s enduring saga saw the rise of a surprising new status quo. Steve Rogers finds himself abducted by Armin Zola and whisked away to the bizarre wasteland of Dimension Z, with only the principles he learned from his mother Sarah to keep him going. A stark departure from that Sentinel of Liberty we know, he’s stripped of his usual power and authority, haggard and battle-scarred after over a decade on the run, without the luxury of superhero friends and A-List guest stars to bail him out. Now a single father, he’s charged with caring for his son Ian, the heir he rescued from Zola’s clutches, raising him to the best of his limited ability in the face of constant danger. Suffice to say, this is definitely not your parents’ Captain America.
