Weekly Review

This is where I shall be reviewing the books I have read during the week. This will mostly be graphic novels, some new some not so new and in no particular order. I'll give you a detailed review on the top three books I've read this week as well as letting you know whether I think they should be:

Must Own: Get this book in your collection now, it is essential.
Worth a read: A solid addition to any collection, enjoyable and worth following.
Pick it up: Have a flick through, not for everyone, but there's worse out there.
For the fans: Only for the true fans of the writer/artist/character.
Don't waste the cash: Put it down and we'll never speak of this again.

3) The Authority: Prime
Written by Christos Gage with art by Darick Robertson.

This starts off with a typical Authority moment, dealing with some monster and reminding you just who the Authority are. After that we get the plot device of former Stormwatch Weatherman and psychotic nemesis to both Stormwatch and The Authority, having a secret underground bunker which both teams want to get to first and neutralise any threats which may or may not be inside. The two teams arrive at the location about the same time...fight and posturing ensue.

I usually like Darick Robertsons art, I enjoyed his attention to detail in creating the Transmetropolitan world for Spider Jerusalem and I enjoy his gratuitous violence and Simon Pegg-a-like in The Boys, but for some reason, his Authority just doesn't work. Hawksmoor is for all intents and purposes Butcher, Apollo is a blue eyed former boy band member turned boxer and Midnighter...grrr, GRRR, I've grimaced a million times, I can out grimace anyone. There's also a humour in his work that detracts from the initial fighting, though, speaking of which, once the fighting and posturing starts it's all good enjoyable fun.

Inevitably, like all superhero meet ups ever, the two teams get together to take on the evil of Bendix in fairly predictable fayre. This is largely a by the numbers story, which just happens to be quite fun, but and this is a big but, is not for new fans. The history between these two teams goes back a long way and although there is just enough to keep the story together there are many in jokes and references that would just totally bypass a new comer to the Wildstorm. Wich rapidly needs to get on with its latest reboot and reintroduce the sorely missed Authority.

For The Fans: If it wasn't for such the convulated history between the two teams I'd say go pick it up and if you can get by that it's still not bad, but I'd come to expect a lot better from both Gage and Robertson.


2) The Pro
Written by Garth Ennis with art by Amanda Conner.

Thanks to an intergalactic wager by a character called, the Voyeur...sorry, Viewer, some chick who turns tricks is endowed with super powers and thrown ass first into the world of superheroes.

The familiar looking analogy of a super hero team welcome The Pro to their ranks with pompous aplomb gee-whillakers sensibilities, to which The Pro adds much needed relief, which is not restricted to purely comical!

This is by no means Garth Ennis best work, but it a great entertaining read with good laughs, especially if you're tired and jaded of the whole super hero scene for a while. This is more pointed in someways than The Boys, but definately not as extreme or shocking. The art is as beautiful as it can be in drawing a supersonic whore, with great colouring and attention to the visual jokes in the background which doesn't shy away from being crude, yet remains comicy enough to keep the laughs coming.

Worth a read: Garth Ennis fans will know what to expect, anyone else will get a good laugh at some of their favourite heroes expense all in glorious Amanda Conner art.

1) Scalped: Indian Country
Written by Jason Aaron with art by R.M. Guéra.


Not just the best thing I've read all week, but the best new thing I've read since I started on the Lucifer trades a while back.

Right from the start the dirty, dusty artwork invites you to peer closer at life on a modern Indian reservation, the browns and reds and oranges all suffering from too long in the sun, whether they be burnt, faded or just covered in dust, it all requires your attention. In the opening scenes we're thrown in and out of a nunchucked bar room brawl as we're introduced to what appears to be a simple hate filled protagonist and setting up the hero/villain scenario. Things in the 'rez' aren't quite that simple as there is so much more going on for Dashiel Bad Horse and throughout this graphic novel we see subtle glimpses of the other characters and their motivations and what could all be factors in his return home and his returns subsequent effect.

There are numerous twists, turns and impressive cliffhangers that serve to pull you in deeper while perfectly paced to keep you guessing just what is on whos agenda?

Must Own: Pick up Scalped and watch Jason Aaron soar, he's already been thrown in at Marvel with Wolverine, Black Panther and his ongoing Ghost Rider and I think there's a load more to come. If my review doesn't convince you, go pick up Vertigo: First Cut, which collects the first issues of some of Vertigos biggest ongoing titles right now. Such as: DMZ, Army@Love, Jack of Fables, The Exterminators, Scalped, Crossing Midnight and Loveless. All of which are now on order for me and I can't wait.