Astro City: The Dark Age
Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson look at the 1970s and 1980s through the prism of the superhero world of Astro City, in a 16-part storyline.   Four four-issue miniseries (“Astro City: The Dark Age” Books 1-4) follow Charles and Royal Williams as they seek the man who murdered their parents.   Their lives are intertwined with that of the Silver Agent, who is traveling through time in an attempt to avert a coming disaster.

Busiek and Anderson are taking apart the grittier comics of the 1970s and 1980s and exploring them from the point of view of characters who are living it.  It recreates the feel of reading comics as a younger person in the late 70s and early 1980s, but with a story that works on multiple levels.   Any superhero fan should take a look at The Dark Age, which probably suffered from its extended shipping schedule as far as sales.   But with two collections containing all 16 issues, there’s no reason not to read this modern classic.  Alex Ross remains active with the book as a character designer and cover artist.

Also read recently:

Grifter 2-3 (2011) Nathan Edmondson continues his slow burn in revealing who exactly Cole Cash, aka Grifter, is in this new unified DC Comics universe, but it’s an intriguing read with beautiful art by CAFU.

Planet Terry 1-4 (1985)Lennie Herman and Warren Kremer were the creative team for “Planet Terry” (a pun on “Planetary”), which featured young Terry, sort of a Richie Rich of space, on a quest to find his parents, with the help of his robot, Robota, and a gruff alien, Omnus.

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,821  Still to go: 190.

Here are brief reviews for the final week of #1 issues from DC’s “The New 52.”  The final week was strong, with several titles that are worth adding to your pull list.

ALL-STAR WESTERN #1
Continuing the high quality of “Jonah Hex,” writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray team up Hex with Amadeus Arkham in the tracking of a serial killer in Wild West Gotham.  Art by Moritat.  Podcast review.

AQUAMAN #1
The “Blackest Night” team of Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis launch the King of the Sea into an ongoing series, which attacks the perception of Aquaman head-on.  This team could deliver Aquaman to the top of the charts, and this well-written and well-drawn first issue is a good start.  Podcast review.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1
David Finch writes and draws his second “Dark Knight” #1 of the recent past.  Paul Jenkins comes on as co-writer, and while he provides some punch, this isn’t the strongest of the Batman books, though it’s perfectly acceptable.

BLACKHAWKS #1
Mike Costa writes and Graham Nolan and Ken Lashley draw the military-style adventure of DC’s Blackhawks.   The Blackhawks here are a UN-sponsored covert action team that’s sure to draw comparisons to “GI Joe.”   Unfortunately, it’s not extremely memorable from issue 1 alone.

THE FLASH #1
Though I’ll miss Wally West, Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato impressed me with a fresh, intriguing, fast-paced issue.   Barry Allen is a forensic detective who is secretly the fastest man alive.  He believes a former friend of his has been killed while committing a crime, but that leads Barry into a far stranger mystery.  Podcast review.

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #1
Jason Rusch is a brain; Ronnie Raymond is a jock.  They don’t like each other, but are put together as Firestorm.  Gail Simone and Ethan Van Sciver write the story, Yildiray Cinar provides the dynamic art.  The story starts brutally, which made the tonal shift to teen debate to superhero adventure all a bit much to take.

GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #1
Kyle Rayner’s origin gets recapped and slightly updated as the multi-color rings and Lanterns are explained more or less in one issue by Tony Bedard, Tyler Kirkham and Batt.  It’s a little clunky but one hopes it will develop.

I, VAMPIRE #1
A creepy vampire war threatens the DC Universe in a new comic series perhaps designed to appeal to Twi-hards.   With moody, macabre art by Andrea Sorrentin, and an epic story of lovers at war across the centuries, this is one of the stronger releases from The New 52.  Podcast review.

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
Peter Milligan and Mikel Janin cover the mystic arm of the Justice League in this introductory issue that’s readable and relatively well-done.  The odd mix of characters adds to the charm.

THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1
Tony Daniel writes and draws, and while it exceeded my expectations, this version of Carter Hall didn’t particularly grab me.

SUPERMAN #1
George Perez and Jesus Merino provide a look at the Man of Steel’s “present” as the Daily Planet is bought by a conglomerate and Lois Lane has a boyfriend that isn’t Clark.  Superman, meanwhile, fights a fire monster that threatens Metropolis.  A dense first issue that’s a perfectly good introduction to the hero, though it doesn’t match the quality of “Action.”  Podcast review.

TEEN TITANS #1
Tim Drake is putting together a team of youngster heroes, who are all being targeted by N.O.W.H.E.R.E.  Fast-paced and very kinetic, especially with the art of Brett Booth, who I like a lot.   I miss the old Tim Drake, and that may be tempering my enthusiasm for the new one.  I’m willing to see how it goes.

VOODOO #1
Well, that was… stripperific?  Voodoo is near-naked a lot in this issue.  Given Ron Marz’s success with “Witchblade,” maybe he can turn the preconceptions around after this issue.  Sami Basri is a competent artist, as well.   Something like this makes me wonder if the all-”teen” rated New 52 can work as well as they would like — given the sex and violence in this book, wouldn’t it creatively work better as a mature title?  I guess we’ll have to see, but it seems that commerce is driving the ratings rather than art, which is one of the arguments that was made against the arbitrary rating of comics back in the day.

- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,535.  Still to go: 476.

The graphic novel "Red"

WORD BALLOONS

Bruce Willis stars as Frank Moses in “Red,” opening this weekend in theaters. “Red” is based on the comic book miniseries by writer Warren Ellis and artist Cully Hamner.

Moses is a retired black ops officer who is targeted for assassination, causing him to reassemble his old unit. The film, directed by Robert Schwentke, also stars Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Mary Louise Parker and Helen Mirren.

The comic-book miniseries is available in a collection from DC Comics, which includes the three-issue miniseries and the script for issue No. 1, as well as developmental art by Hamner. Four prequel comic books featuring characters from the film are on sale now. A prequel to the comic-book series, “Red: Eyes Only,” is set to be released Wednesday. “Eyes Only” is written and drawn by Hamner.

Ellis is one of the more acclaimed comic-book writers of the past 20 years; he broke into comics in 1990, and was working for Marvel Comics by 1994. The following is a selection of a few of the writer’s graphic novel works outside of the superhero genre:

Transmetropolitan: One of the best comic-book series of the 1990s, “Transmetropolitan” featured gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem in a dystonic future. By Ellis and Darick Robertson.

Orbiter: The space shuttle Venture returns to earth, 10 years after it disappeared, covered in strange organic material and with all but one of its crew missing.

Global Frequency: Ellis and a rotating cast of artists create stories of a secret worldwide independent defense intelligence organization with 1,001 agents.

Fell: Ellis and Ben Templesmith collaborated on this dark mystery thriller with 16 page, self-contained stories. Ellis’ experimentation with format combined with Templesmith’s most successful storytelling make “Fell” a compelling package.

DC Comics Presents Jack Cross

Down: Ellis, Tony Harris and Hamner are the creators of this story of an undercover cop who becomes the head of the city’s top drug gang.

Ministry of Space: This book, by Ellis with artist Chris Weston, sets up an alternate reality in which the British recover the German V-2 scientists, and thus become the first country in outer space.

Jack Cross: Ellis wrote four issues about this anti-terrorist agent for DC Comics in 2005. Gary Erskine was the artist. A new collection of the four-issue series was released this month from DC.

- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Jim Lee

Jim Lee’s dynamic style helped define the 1990s in comics. Now the co-publisher of DC Comics, Lee still draws “All-Star Batman and Robin,” which is written by Frank Miller. To celebrate Lee’s 46th birthday, here are my favorite comic-book runs by the influential artist.

Batman 608

1. Batman #608-619
With writer Jeph Loeb, the “Batman: Hush” storyline was a sales juggernaut that attracted both new and old Bat-fans.  Reading as “Batman’s Greatest Hits,” Batman finds himself attempting to solve a mystery from his past while crossing paths with many of the best-known members of his rogues’ gallery.  Check out a preview of the series via DC Comics.

Uncanny X-Men #268

2. Uncanny X-Men #248, 256–258, 267–277
Lee was arguably comics’ biggest superstar of the early 1990s, drawing “Uncanny X-Men” as written by Chris Claremont.   Issue No. 268, featuring Wolverine’s first meeting with Captain America, is a particular highlight.

WildC.A.T.s #1

3. WildC.A.T.s #1-13
As one of the founders of Image Comics, Lee helped prove that creators of the early 1990s didn’t have to be working for Marvel or DC to sell a huge number of books.  With an alien war spilling over onto earth, it’s up to the WildC.A.T.s to defend humanity.  Lots of action and beautiful comic-book women make this a series very much of its time, but arguably the pinnacle of the 1990s style.

X-Men 1 (1991)

4. “X-Men” 1-11
“X-Men” No. 1, launched in 1991, is still the largest-selling comic book of all-time.  At the height of the speculator boom, and bearing 5 variant covers, Lee and Claremont moved 7 million copies of the first issue.   A year later, neither would be on the book.  Claremont left after the third issue, and Lee left after issue No. 11, headed for the upstart Image Comics.  Still, these issues introduced characters like Omega Red and Maverick, and are also very emblematic of 1990s style.

5. Punisher: War Journal #1–13, 17-19
Lee started as the inker of “War Journal” before becoming the penciller, where his art helped make Frank Castle a standout gritty anti-hero.  Punisher has been popular both before and after Lee’s take on the character, but his is one of the best-remembered.

Honorable mentions: Lee’s revamp of “Fantastic Four” for “Heroes Reborn” is a fun modernization of the classic; “Alpha Flight” is worth a look to see the artist’s developing style; and “Divine Right” showcases Lee’s WildStorm style in the late 1990s.   Another great way to see a lot of classic Jim Lee art is with the 1992 X-Men trading card set, with every card drawn by Jim Lee.   That set remains one of the highlights of my card-collecting days.

- Matt Price

Astro City: The Silver Agent #1

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Speaking at the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting, WildStorm’s Hank Kanalz drew attention to Kurt Busiek’s widely acclaimed series, “Astro City.”

Kanalz said WildStorm plans to bring back Astro City on a monthly schedule beginning in the fall. (The Silver Agent miniseries, pictured above, will precede the monthly return and will be a two-issue miniseries beginning in June.)

Kanalz said the sporadic release schedule of “Astro City” has lead to more readers waiting for the trade, and WildStorm wants to lure readers back to the periodical format.  To encourage this, prose fiction pieces about Astro City will appear in the monthly comic book.  These pieces aren’t intended for the trade, but are intended to run indefinitely in the monthly book.

- Matt Price

The final issue of Warren Ellis and John Cassaday’s “Planetary” ships to stores today.  The series debuted in April 1999 and has been a critically acclaimed and Eisner-nominated comic book throughout its run.  The much-delayed series features an organization tracking down the world’s secret history.   “Indiana Jones meets the X-Files” was what I used to pitch people on the series at my comic book store, where Planetary along with “The Authority,” also by Warren Ellis, were among my favorite books of 1999.

In fact, the WildStorm of 1999 was something of a reader’s paradise, especially for someone like me, with a fascination for pulps and superheroes.  In addition to Ellis, Alan Moore was creating the America’s Best Comics line for WildStorm, with Tom Strong, Promethea and others.  In retrospect, we should have known it was too good to last.   But in 1999, my first full year of owning a comic book store, it seemed the future was at our fingertips, and brilliant, wonderfully illustrated comic books would be ours forever.

This is not to knock what there is today; there are great comic books coming out all the time, anymore.  Just this year, we’ve had  Asterios Polyp, A.D.: After the Deluge, The Big Kahn, The Photographer, and I’m sure lots more I’m not thinking of at the moment.

But 10 years ago was a personally and professionally exciting time for me, and “Planetary” was part of that.  I had been aware of Ellis first from “Excalibur” and later for “Transmetropolitan,” but “Planetary” increased my respect for his work.

Cassaday, who was raised in Texas and Oklahoma, was already on my radar after having drawn “Desperadoes” for WildStorm.  Around the time “Planetary” came out, I named Cassaday the artist to watch for the future in an issue of Diamond Comics’ retailer newsletter.  I think that prediction turned out pretty well.  In addition to “Planetary,” Cassaday illustrated “Captain America” and “Astonishing X-Men,” and now is becoming a director, scheduled to helm an upcoming episode of Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse.”   Cassaday spent much of the last four years drawing the graphic novel “I Am Legion,” and is also attached to direct the film adaptation of that project.

Both Ellis, Cassaday, and many of the fans of “Planetary” are in different places, literally and figuratively, than when this series started 10 years ago.  But I for one am very much looking forward to seeing how the story ends.

- Matt Price

Several high-profile projects from WildStorm that have gone missing in action are still being worked on, said Hank Kanalz of WildStorm at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting.

The Grant Morrison-Jim Lee “Wildcats” series will be completed as a graphic novel, and will be solicited when it’s complete, Kanalz said.

The Morrison “Authority” also won’t be permanently abandoned.

“The Grant Morrison ‘Authority’ will be finished by Keith Giffen and a variety of artists,” Kanalz told retailers. “When you see the solicitation, you know it’s done.”

Also, answering what he said was the most popular question he’s been asked, “Planetary” #27 by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday should ship in 2009.   That book also won’t be solicited until it’s done, Kanalz said.

– Matt Price

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  — WildStorm announced the development of an aggressive creator-driven line at the 2009 ComicsPRO Annual Meeting.

Several new comic-book series will be joining the WildStorm line, announced Hank Kanalz of WildStorm.  The titles include:

- “North 40,” by Aaron Williams (“PS238″) and Fiona Staples (“Secret History of the Authority”).

This is a miniseries about a Midwestern American town that holds a secret in its library — a book that brings dreams and nightmares to life.  It launches in June.

- “Red Herring,” by Dave Tischman and Philip Bond.
This six-issue miniseries launching in June was described by Kanalz as “The Daily Show meets the X-Files.”  It’s designed to be a series of miniseries, Kanalz said.

- “Sparta,” written by David Lapham

A sleepy American town built around its football team has a magical undertone.

- “Garrison,” written by Jeff Mariotte

“Garrison” is an FBI procedural miniseries in which agents are tracking down a serial killer.

Kanalz said WildStorm is committed to shipping these series on time.

“We’re sticking to our promise that when we solicit, that means we’re ready to go,” Kanalz said.

– Matt Price

Superhero Tom Strong, created by Alan Moore, will return to the WildStorm imprint in 2009 in a miniseries by Peter Hogan and Chris Sprouse.

Hank Kanalz, general manager of WildStorm Productions, said the new series will be called “Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom.”

“With Chris on ‘Tom Strong,’ this will make a terrific miniseries, and it will come out on time,” Kanalz said.

Tom Strong was created by Moore and Sprouse and first appeared in “Tom Strong” #1 from America’s Best Comics, an imprint of WildStorm, in 1999.

-  Matt Price

Greg Elwell, Kyle Roberts and Matt Price talk about “Wolverine: First Class,” #1 ”Secret History of the Authority – Hawksmoor” #1, “Army of Darkness/Xena: Why Not” #1 and “Transhuman” #1 on this week’s comics podcast at newsok.com.

About “Secret History of the Authority: Hawksmoor” #1:  

Matt Price: I thought this had a decent feel with what you had of the early “Authority.”

Greg Elwell: Well, maybe … There are some good ideas in there. I certainly enjoyed Hawksmoor using the city to fight the robot, but, I dunno. The love story aspect – I wish there was one or the other.  But the nice thing is, a lot of characterization.

—

About “Wolverine: First Class”:

Kyle Roberts:  I liked it. It’s kind of the early 80s X-Men.  I really like all the facial expressions from Shadowcat and Wolverine, and the personality that shows through for both of them. … It’s written very well.

—

About “Army of Darkness/Xena”:

Greg Elwell:  I was not ever a huge Xena the Warrior Princess fan … when I did tune in, I’ll tell you the reason I did tune in: Bruce Campbell. … John Layman has done a really great job here by taking a couple of pretty wacky ideas and going full-tilt with them.

Matt Price: They’re taking it kind of tongue in cheek, and I think that’s the way to do it.

Greg Elwell: It’s an “A” in my book.

—

About “Transhuman” #1:

Matt Price: This is my favorite thing (Hickman) has done so far.  It’s about two companies that are both trying to build the next generation of humans. … I really wanted to read more.

 It’s not like the two universes haven’t met before — hell, didn’t Superman and Mr. Majestic switch places for a couple months? — but the bleed will be breached again soon in the DC/Wildstorm crossover “Dreamwar.”

Keith Giffen is writing and promises readers a few things:

1. Even though it’s called “Dreamwar,” the characters won’t wake up at the end, “Dallas”-style, with Grifter in the shower. In other words, lasting consequences will be felt in the Wildstorm Universe, which is much less important than DC proper, apparently.

2. This isn’t a one- or two-character crossover — almost everybody from both universes will make an appearance. It will be similar to the “JLA/Avengers” mini-series done so well a few years ago.

3. The Legion of Super Heroes will show up, though it won’t be the version Giffen wrote. In fact, he’s not telling which Legion (classic, diet or New Legion) will appear.

Anybody interested in this? My devotion to the Wildstorm books has waned mightily in recent years. Though I’m enjoying the current Simone run on “Gen 13″ and loved the recently cancelled “StormWatch PHD,” the start-stop-start-stop on “WildCATS” and the general all-heroes-are-villains attitude in most of the books has turned me off.

What do you guys think?

– Greg Elwell