Batman: Hush

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,
Tonight’s scheduled program is going to take us to the best of the best that the Dark Knight has to offer. I have to be honest folks. I was going to save the best for last, but I couldn’t help myself! Batman: Hush is the very best that Batman has ever had to, or may ever have to offer.
This story arc has it all!

First off this series takes a close look at the intimate and interesting relationship between Batman and Catwoman. This is really neat for anyone who has even a passing interest and understanding in the Caped Crusader. And honestly who is gonna mind watching the romance unfold between the stone faced good guy and the leather clad bad girl.
Secondly we get to take a very intimate look at Bruce Wayne’s childhood. And by this I don’t mean the snapshot of Bruce we are used to standing over his dying parents in the pouring rain. This picture we see is of the young genius and loving and living life with his family and friends.
Finally is Hush himself. Hush is a bandage faced villain from the Crusader’s past. Honestly Hush is my favorite villain in all of Batman’s history. Hush is a super badass from Batman’s past with a score to settle which will make your head spin.
Now, I want to make sure that I don’t give any more of this great story away so I’ll stop here. But if you think you may have even a passing interest in Batman, or he is your favorite Superhero of all time, this is the best of the best.

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The Dark Night of Comics Chaos

Welcome back to newcomers and frequenters alike. I hope you all have gotten the chance to check out the post I did on Invincible a while back, because that comic is everything that is right with Superheroes. But as I have thought about it I realize that some of you may be looking for something a little more...familiar. And so, without further adieu, I am christening a new series to save you from the comics chaos. I don't know about the rest of you but I love Batman.

I was first introduced to this Caped Crusader during my early years in the amazing Batman: The Animated Series. Now that I'm grown and Mark Hamill isn't the Joker anymore I really felt like I needed to read about Batman. But, there are more Batman comics out there than you can shake a stick at. But, there are a few comics in particular which have shaped the series and are worth the read more than any others. I would find it my distinct pleasure to take you on another journey through the volumes that are comics chaos and illuminate a few volumes of the Dark Knight that you would be a fool to miss. So be on the lookout here soon and keep your eyes on the skies.

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Essex County

Alright, welcome back my newly appointed comic book readers. I hope you all had a happy New Year and are ready to add comics into your life in 2011.

Last we meet I told you about the comic Blankets. It is a moving coming of age tale that deals with first loves and religion in some challenging and beautiful ways. Well, if you liked Blankets then this next one is for you.

Essex County by Jeff Lemire is an incredible comic. The first thing you should know is that it is very Canadian. Yes, that’s right! Essex County all takes place in America’s attic and includes, but is not limited to: snow, hockey, moose, white people, french people, and more snow.
More than its Canadian setting though Essex County has some beautiful black and white artwork not dissimilar to that of Blankets. When I think of comics I usually have images of striking color and overly muscled men in tights. However, I have found that in many (but not all) cases, a comic that is worth reading, and is in black and white, tends to be an incredibly intimate and beautiful story.Essex County has just that. What is most striking about the story is...nothing happens. Sure there is betrayal and sexuality and family strife and medical issues, but at the end of the day it is all so very real. This may be because Jeff is from the real Essex County and is pulling a lot from his own life.
So if you want a grand tale of superhuman proportions...you should wait till our next installment. However, if you want a gripping and moving tale that feels so real you can touch it, welcome home.
Now come on in and get out of the comic chaos.

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Third Option for First Steps

Welcome back to your personalized path the comics zen, comics chaos. Earlier this week we peered down doors number one and two towards comic fulfillment, and today, I’m going to give one last first step option to all of you out there in the blogosphere.

When I was thinking about this third beginning towards comic fulfillment I realized that comics get wrongly accused of being two things.

1. Unable to handle the big issues
2. Only about make believe

And it dawned on me that some of my poor readers may be under this same sad impression. And so the comic I choose today is for all of you that may need a little extra elbow grease to be convinced that comics have something inside worth reading.

Blankets by Craig Thompson is unlike any other graphic novel out there, and it is as close as you can get to perfection in a coming of age tale. Why is this comic awesome you ask? Here are your five friendly bullet points:

• Awesome black and white penning
• A brutally beautiful first love story
• A challenging and heartwarming story of brotherhood
• A true(ish) story (ie. no superheroes)
• A very relatable story of religion

Blankets has a tenacity about it. It catches your heart strings on page one and plays all sorts of different songs on them before handing them back. It plays happy songs and sad songs and mournful songs and contemplative songs. This comic is an absolute journey and is a perfect first step on your journey out of the comics chaos.

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Door Number Two: Bone

Yesterday marked the beginning of our adventure together. But, as awesome as Invincible is I realize that it might not be for everyone. So for those of you who gave Invincible a chance and are still unsure about this whole comics thing, follow me.
Behind door number two we have an all time favorite of mine, and a simply genius comic, Bone by Jeff Smith. Bone is so hard to describe accurately because of what a sweeping accomplishment it is, it will hit you wherever you are at, but here we go. Why is Bone awesome you ask? A bunch of reasons I reply!
Reason one, the rad art style. I know that this isn’t a rare gift in the world of comics, but when an artist draws and writes their own stuff rather than doing it cooperatively I am always impressed. And Bone is no exception. Jeff Smith has such a distinctive black and white drawing style that you get drug in right away. However, a new edition was released a few years ago which added color to the whole series and it looks amazing!
Reason two, the writing. This story is like non other you will ever read. It takes three brothers from the cartoon city Boneville and puts them into an epic fantasy novel that rivals Tolkien any day of the week. But what does it take to smash cartoon characters into a fantasy novel? Bunches of fun, humor, and charm as lube is what.



This series is, on the surface, a happy go lucky cartoon fantasy. But a few layers down are sweeping and subtle traces of love and romance and friendship and brotherhood and...gosh all the aspects to life really. I don’t know what else to say about Bone other than read it.

Want to start out reading comics? Read it.
Want to get your kids to enjoy reading? Read it.
Want a funny novel? Read it.
Want a heart racing tale? Read it.
Want an award winner? Read it.
Want to read it? Read it. ;)

Bone is, and always will be, a stable place amidst the comics chaos.

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Baby Steps

So here we are at the precipice of a grand new adventure down the sometimes frightening sometimes moving and always enjoyable world of comics and lets….not get ahead of ourselves and just talk about some awesome comics!
Thinking about where a good liftoff spot for everyone who may end up at this humble blog left me with one clear answer. To begin our journey out of the comic chaos we will begin by reading Invincible. And here’s why.
First off I think that everyone who end’s up reading comics, if not everyone in the world, has a secret spot in their heart for superheroes. It’s something inside of all of us that thirsts for justice but knows that it isn’t our place to take it. But, to start reading a particular superhero who has made it in Hollywood and already has all the notoriety means hundreds if not thousands of comics and twisty turvy plot lines which can make anyone feel out of place on the quick. So our only other choice is to try and trust an unestablished hero and hope for the best. Well Invincible deserves all the trust you have for an unestablished hero and all the hoped you have for a superhero inspiration as well!
What is there to like about this story? Plenty! Firstly the story is absolutely catching. Our story is set in suburban America with a plain ol’ family, all except that the head of the household is also the Superman of this universe. And, as in many super powered realms, powers are passed genetically and the oldest son of the world’s defender is just about hitting the age where his powers should blossom. The first arc of this story is a coming of age meets love meets family meets super villain sort of thing that simply works.
Also the art style is really classy. It is one part style one part cute and one part badass, making a perfect blend for the most refined or unformed palette.
But, I think the most important thing about this story is the entire project as a craft. This comic has a way about it that feels light and innocent and real so you can pick it up and read for hours and feel totally revitalized and not winded at all. And yet, when you put the book down, you realize that the story was far weightier and closer to home than it had let onto at first, and you just let it set up shop in your heart for the last few hours!
Invincible is not necessarily my favorite comic of all time (top 5 though), but it is the one that I keep coming back to time after time and the only comic I have ever really been willing to wait for instead of just moving on when I reached the end of what had been released already. It was also the first comic I felt so moved by that I had to show it to my girlfriend (now fiancee), and she really liked it!
So to the Invincible team, thank you and keep up the good work! And to the blogosphere; welcome, let me know how I can serve you, and try to avoid the comic chaos.

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