This week

over at GeeksUnleashed.Me content included, but was not limited to, 

• Alan Moore's reasoning for attending NICE 2012, "an accident" apparently
• A obituary for the latest death of Professor Charles Francis Xavier
• News of the British Comics Awards, The Young People's Comic Award 2012
• Image Comics' Exclusives at NYCC 2012
• A review of The Walking Dead #102 - SPOILER ALERT
• News that Amazing Spider-Man is to end at #700
• An advanced review of Near Death volume 2
• Our 'Comic of the Week' - The New Deadwardians #7
• Aspen's Exclusives at Las Vegas Comic Expo 2012
• Grant Morrison's Multiversity
• A review of Pulp Detective
• And a look at the iPhone 5, plus UK deals

So far this week over, at geeksunleashed.me...

...you can find

• Advanced reviews of Rebel Blood, Revival #3 and The Manhattan Projects volume 1 
• My contribution to the Wednesday Watchlist column
• My début selecting the Comic of the Week, which was the brilliant Mind MGMT #5
• News coverage of Marvel NOW!'s newest announcement and President America

As well as an interview with Patrick Zircher on Shadowman and a preview of Bloodshot #4.

Enjoy! 

So...

...my output is about to dramatically dip. However, this is due to relocation. I’ve been invited to contribute as a staff writer to geeksunleashed.me. So far I’ve written three advanced reviews, namely for The Creep #1, Conan The Barbarian #8 and Tomorrow Jones #1, as well as a review of Tempest by Bob Dylan and a possible S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series - all in my first week. It’s incredible exciting; I’m hoping for a long and fruitful relationship. This week I shall pick the Comic of the Week, which I can reveal as Mind MGMT #5. See you there. 

Fashion Beast #1

- Alan Moore, Malcolm McLaren, Antony Johnston (@antonyjohnston) & Facundo Percio.

Fashion Beast, I’m assured, is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast in a dystopian future under the threat of nuclear winter. It’s the comic book adaptation, by long time collaborator Johnston, of an unpublished, unfilmed screenplay by Moore and McLaren, architect of the Sex Pistols, beautifully illustrated by Percio. James Baldwin once wrote ‘love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within’ and this will no doubt be realised over the course of the next 9 issues. This first issue, however, is too brief a glimpse of things to come.

Rating ** (bust)   

Think Tank #2

- Matt Hawkins (@topcowmatt) & Rahsan Ekedal (@RahsanEkedal)

This issue of the excellent Think Tank is more character driven and benefits from it. Loren is now (thankfully) more sympathetic, whilst remaining devious, and is fulfilling his potential as one of Top Cow/Image’s best new characters. I’m hopeful that the series is a soapbox for Hawkins – a commentary on the ills of science and the military-industrial-government complex. On a lighter note, Hawkins delivers another powerful cliff-hanger, whilst Ekedal’s art amazes again (I tactfully withdraw my comment regards colour, which I made in my review of #1). Excitingly, the series has been expanded to run for at least 10 issues!

Rating **** (stick)

Hawkeye #2

- Matt Fraction (@mattfraction) & David Aja (@davaja)

Whilst maintaining the frantic pace of the first, this issue exceeds the high expectations set last month. Fraction cracks wise, frequently and often, whilst Aja’s artwork shines – reminiscent of both Mazzucchelli and Maleev. The synchronicity between the creators is epitomised by the incredible 24 panel page. Furthermore, there’s a sign of things to come with Barton’s mentor alluded to and villains introduced from The Owl to Kingpin, Hammerhead to Tombstone (as well as Madam Masque). It is in stark contrast to every other event driven book hitting the shelves and I’ve no hesitation in recommending this title. BUY BUY BUY!

Rating **** (stick)



Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #3

- Darwyn Cooke & Amanda Conner

Silk Spectre is perhaps the most surprising of the Before Watchmen series, sole responsibility for which is the creative team of Cooke and Conner (plus Mounts’ excellent colours). Not only is it fun and sexy, it’s a fully realised vision of why Laurie follows in her Mother’s footsteps and becomes the Silk Spectre, mark II. Perhaps the least of the original characters has benefited the most from revisiting Watchmen. With Minutemen, this is atop my pile every month. The skill of the team is exemplified by a cameo, more effective in the few panels here than in their own series.      

Rating ***

WE3

- Grant Morrison (@grantmorrison) & Frank Quitely

Morrison and Quitely, who together created All-Star Superman, New X-Men and Batman & Robin and in doing so rewrote superhero comics for the 21^st century, tell the tale of man’s inhumanity in the pursuit of power in WE3. Deemed obsolete, and therefore due for decommissioning, by the US government which created them, three stray pets, a loveable dog, a sadistic cat and a rabbit, adapted cybernetically for warfare, escape and look to return home, wherever that may be for such tormented and violent creatures. The work is emotionally manipulative, incredibly visceral and has incredible page design. Without question, highly recommended.

Rating ****

Black Kiss 2 BANNED

- Howard Chaykin

Black Kiss 2 will no longer be shipped to the UK, at least via Diamond Comic Distributors, due to concerns over its sexually explicit content. In a statement, released to Bleeding Cool, Diamond, having had the opportunity to review the second issue, felt many scenes depicted ‘fall foul of UK Customs’ regulations on the importing of indecent and obscene material’. Whilst pornographic, it’s difficult to see why this is considered beyond the pale; Bleeding Cool suggests it is the sexual violence which occurs in #2, something that A Siberian Film and The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) fell foul of.  

Dredd Top of the World, Ma-Ma

- Matt Smith & Henry Flint (@henryflintzombo)

Written by current 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine editor Matt Smith, with art by Henry Flint, Dredd Top of the World, Ma-Ma tells the origins of the ganglord Madeline Madrigal - a prologue if you will to the forthcoming film. It appears free online HERE. And rather surprisingly, it’s an enjoyable yarn, misgivings about the depiction of women aside. Dredd (trailer HERE) is due for general release tomorrow (Friday 7^th September), rated 18, and most excitingly, without cuts. With a screen play by Alex Garland (I know!) and a plot stolen from Gareth Evans’ masterpiece The Raid, anticipation is skyhigh. 

Rating ***

Black Kiss 2 #1

- Howard Chaykin

Black Kiss 2, despite being pornographic, fails on numerous levels from titillation to education. Admitting, in an interview with USA Today, that ‘it is about the three things that matter most: sex, death and the movies’, Black Kiss 2 claims to be a look at eroticism in each decade from the beginning of the 20^th century to today. This, however, is not apparent in either chapter of #1. Chaykin’s central premise regards entertainment, its influence and effect, is unconvincing and left me cold. Don’t expect for it to line supermarket checkouts any time soon a la 50 Shades of Grey.

Rating * (bust)

Golden Orbit

I’m oft disappointed; none more so when I visited Golden Orbit at the Nautical Club, Birmingham. It was squalid and unlike the Leeds equivalent I’d visited a decade ago or the sprawling, often bargainous London Comic Mart (now with added guests). However, given the train journey, lengthy walk and admission fee, I thought I’d make the most of the sorry affair. And amongst the scant sellers, I happened across a man with more drek than was feasible, all of which at half price. I delved and turned up, to my surprise, WE3 (issues #1-3) and departed £3 lighter, somewhat happier.

Deadpool KIlls The Marvel Universe #2

Snagged a NM- (near mint) copy from a chain store I infrequently visit (strictly emergency purchases only) on the 27^th August for cover price (£2.25). Tucked neatly behind multiple copies of #3, all of which in VF+ (very fine) condition, I was pleased with myself as I’d seen copies sell on eBay for circa £15 in recent days – less so when I got home and saw the latest copy sell for £5.50 (since then copies have sold for £11.50 and £5.00). Looks like I’ll be off to a poor start - will I turn a profit? Here is the link.

Comic Grifting

I’d imagine most local comic shops don’t want you profiteering, as most will scrape by, providing a welcome service. And over the years I’ve been a regular customer at Chester Comics Co, Travelling Man, Leeds (when housed in the Corn Exchange), Gosh Comics, London, with infrequent trips to Page 45, Nottingham and Asylum Books and Games, Aberdeen – all of which are particularly delightful. And all of which have particularly savvy customers, and 'hot books' are hard to find. However, there are a number of other stores which I frequent, chains and independents, which don’t. Where hot books can be found at cover price, or less, and the owners couldn’t give a shit about you or their 'product'. And so, when I see a book that’s worth more than cover, I'll buy it, read it and sell it. This will be a record of my comic grifting.

First up, Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe.  

National Comics: Looker #1

- Ian Edington & Michael S Miller

DC describes this as ‘a fresh, sexy take on a classic DC character’ and whereas I agree, this is incredibly sexy (for which read objectifying), particularly the cover, I disagree regards classic character, as Emily Briggs is little more than an Outsiders footnote. In this incarnation, Emily Briggs aka The Looker is a model, now a vampire, and uses her supernatural powers in the world of high fashion and modelling. The idea of DC’s National Comics is a good one. This however, contained none of the necessary satire I expected, just looked pretty. It is unlikely I’d return for more.

Rating ** (bust)

2000AD Signing with Edington, Harrison & D'Israeli

Yesterday I ventured to the @2000AD signing, in celebration of their 35^th year, at Birmingham’s Forbidden Planet, where Ian Edington, Mark Harrison and D’Israeli were in attendance.  It was surprisingly quiet early doors and therefore chatted to Edington regards Looker #1, who did wonders (story-wise) in one issue, got a Judge Dredd sketch from D’Israeli, which I then posed with for his blog, and a Judge Death sketch from Harrison (after a marathon search with Edington for a reference – he found one before I). A great hour, topped off with lunch at the excellent Handmade Burger Co (great vegetarian choices).

Hawkeye #2 Advanced Preview

“What you need to know: Fraction. Aja. Hawkeye. Kate Bishop. Cars. Guns. Stealing from the rich never looked so good. Get. Now.” – as advertised by Marvel.

Due for release next week (5^th Sept 2012), after the universally well received first issue, Comic Book Resources have a 5 page preview to wet one’s appetite. Aja’s artwork continues to shine, whilst the preview contains none of Fraction’s ‘tics’ – hopefully he or an editor will have dispensed of them. I enjoyed the humdrum nature of the first issue and pray it will continue. Otherwise this will be yet another Marvel title I shan’t read.