HOWLING @ THE MOON: BRIAN WOOD LOVE

[MattBrady]

by Joe Gentile

Greetings, fellow howlers…

This week I was going to give some props to some non-superhero stuff, and I still will, but, well….just see for yourself…

DEMO
Brian Wood & Becky Cloonan
AIT*Planet Lar, b/w, TPB, 328pgs, 6” x 9”, $19.95

This collection really surprised me. I don’t know how I did this, but I can’t remember reading this volume before today…

The volume really takes the whole idea of “super powers/abilities” to another level of grounded reality.

There are 12 stories in here (well the stories are what used to be called in fiction writing class as “instances”), and each story is about a different set of characters. There are NO costumes here - which is why it still works to be reviewed by the non-superhero guy. But don’t let that stop you, press on! I just couldn’t put this thing down! Each of these “instances” have to do with a very dramatic moment/turning point in a character’s life. Great character stuff, as well as surprises as to where the individual stories take you. So, it’s like an anthology with a theme, with all of the stories written by a single author (and drawn with emotion by Becky Cloonan), which is a little unusual. I bet that if you give this book to 12 different people, and you should, you would end up with quite a few different “this was my favorite story”. Such a diverse cast of people! I didn’t want this book to end, which goes to show you that both creators did what good stories are supposed to do: resonate with the reader. Great job by all here! Get this book now!

Supermarket#1
Brian Wood & Kristian
IDW, color, 32pgs, $3.99

See, I had no idea this was going to be “Brian Wood Week”…!

I just happened to pick this up, not knowing who did what on it. I had absolutely no idea what this was about, which I admit, was a fun journey to figuring that out!
The title for this is misleading, I think, and that may be on purpose, but…

Our protagonist is a girl from a very rich family in some kind of pseudo-near future. She has a self righteous attitude, and works at a convenient store, even though she doesn’t have to work at all.

From there, we get a couple of left turns, which are all pretty interesting, but unexplained in issue#1. Without ruining anything, let’s say this book has the elements of Hitchcock, as well as a dose of other classic noir essential themes. The writer puts all of these story parts into an unusual setting, but somehow, it works. Plus, the color art on the book is quite unusual, but very well chosen and evocative. Dig it!

Open up the floodgates time…

Anyone interested in having their great-read non-superhero book (non Marvel, DC, Image, or Dark Horse) talked about in this column…

The book has to be in Previews or already been published.

Mail your book to:
Howling Joe
1211 E. 9th Street
Lockport, IL 60441

And sorry, no returns on these books, folks, nor do I promise to talk about every one sent to me. If I like it, I will talk about it. Cool?


MOONSTONE QUICKIE-NEWS:

1. Pat Novak for Hire, a 48pg GN by Steven Grant and Tom Mandrake!
Great cinematic art with crackling dialogue!
Get this Too! Available now!

2. ATTENTION: Buckaroo Banzai fans! We will shortly be seeing the first issue of this all new adventure, but pay attention now, for inside that comic will be details about a VERY cool contest! The contest will be judged by Banzai’s co-creator (and director of the film) WD Richter! The winner will get some ONE OF A KIND signed Banzai stuff (REALLY REALLY cool stuff), as well as a special “shout out” from a special guest! Stay Tuned!

3. We have announced that Moonstone will be doing a couple volumes of Phantom prose stories, and new Spider stories, but there are even more surprises just about ready to explode! How about a book of new Werewolf stories by comics and horror fiction writers?
(Elaine Bergstrom, Tom DeFalco, Chuck Dixon, Dave Dorman, Clay & Susan Griffith, Bill Halliar, CJ Henderson, Mike Reynolds, Beau Smith, Paul D. Storrie, Dave Ulanksi, Fred Van Lente) - cover by Dave Dorman!

There are other books of this type up our sleeve, including a couple of other known character surprises…both NY residents.

Lots of reknowned writers are coming into the Moonstone fold, just be ready…!

So go on, just howl at the moon.
You might surprise yourself.

[idkidd]

This column is kind of disappointing me. I mean the potential is there for something interesting: to present the comic market through the eyes of a small publisher that's survived in the business for a decade; however, we seem to get a couple of reviews that anyone could do really and a few plugs for new releases from Gentile's company.

I'd like this to continue but not if it continues to fail to live up to the standards that I've come to expect from Newsarama's columns.

[Blind Assassin]

I am with you on Supermarket. (and on anything Brian Wood does, really)

So far, Demo, Supermarket, Local, and DMZ are all hits at the shop.

The artwork in Supermarket by Kristian really brings the book to a whole new level, and issue 2 had me on the edge of my seat.

[sequart]

ATTENTION: Buckaroo Banzai fans!

Great news!!!!!

[johnchrist]

Brian Wood is currently the most imaginative voice in comics, if you haven't given him a chance yet I say pick something up; Supermarket, Local, DMZ, and Tourist are all current. But if you want to read a comic the way all comics should be written do yourelf a favor and grab Channel Zero, one of his first and definitely one of his best.

[Fletcher]

Sounds like good stuff. I am digging DMZ. And when I get to a comic shop next I will check these out too. I like the super hero stuff ( please DC and Marvel do not sue me for using your trade marked term) but I need a break it from it every once in a while. Actually more than once in awhile but why split hairs?

[Camelot3000]

Hi Joe,

Does Moonstone have plans to put out new titles based on White Wolf's World of Darkness?