MIKE HAMMER #1 TITAN COMICS
Could a book be more perfect?! I think not as legendary (big fan by the way) Max Allen Collins brings us a stunning tale created by the detective best friend Mickey Spillane! From page one, we start off fast and gritty. And the whole book continues without a break. Reading (quite literally) like a battered noir paperback, Collins shows us yet again why he is a master in his field. And even better is Marcelo Salaza and Marcio Freire’s artwork which not only highlights the story but is almost film school perfect with close ups, establishing shots, etc., etc. Hammer takes no sh*t from anybody and proves it page after page. My only complaint is that I have to wait another month to find out who is trying to kill the blonde. Brotherhood of the Black Mask Magazine rejoice! I give it a 10 out of 10 Grahams!
CHARLIE’S ANGELS #1 DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
This title makes up for the fact that I was not allowed to have a Kelly Garrett/Jaclyn Smith poster in my younger days. And full props to writer John Layman for turning in a script that would have made a perfect episode. And full props to Dynamite for using the original cast of the show. (No Shelly Hack here.) Joe Eisma’s art is playful and is recognizable enough to represent the actors and actresses without having full on Alex Ross portraits. From page one without reading a word, I was immediately able to recognize Jill, Kelly, and Sabrina. Even David Doyle’s Bosley is on point. This is a true romp down memory lane to those of us who stayed up Wednesday night and made sure that no one changed to channel knob off ABC. To those who didn’t have the joy of this moment in time, it’s still a great quirky detective/police drama on the printed page. I give it a 10 out of 10 Grahams.
LA CHAMBA #1 SKETCH HOUSE PRESS
I’m not all that familiar with publisher Sketch House Press but I am impressed with the uniqueness of this title. Working in the city of Chicago designing restaurants, I am quite familiar with the sight of street vendors and the joys they can bring as they walk down the street. So to give a book to print based on the recollections of this iconic workforce is amazing and a gutsy move. It is apparent that writer/artist/ all around one man show Ricardo “Naco” Gonzalez remembers these people with love in his heart. Short on pages, this book nevertheless delivers an informative and heart-felt look into the lives of these people. I give it a 10 out of 10 Grahams.
MATA HARI #4 BERGER BOOKS
We finally start hitting upon the true Mata Hari! Not the woman she was prior but the famed spy but as the story goes, how much of it is really true. With only one issue left in the series, the story has take a new turn and has doubled the interest. A fascinating tale that Emma Beeby, Ariela Kristantina, and Pat Masioni have taken to wonderfully. This title is proof that when a creative team has an interest in the subject matter, great things happen. I give it a 9 out of 10 Grahams.
FLASH #49 DC COMICS
I fully admit that I scooped this one up to see more Wally West flashbacks. Instead, I got none of that. What I did get was a totally irrational Wally, a rather wishy-washy Barry Allen, tons of cameos from the current DC universe, and guess what new Zoom was totally faking you out and you fell for it! Like who didn’t see that coming? While I admit that new Zoom using Wally’s kids as modivation is a true kick in the nads, Wally would have been smarter than that. And then the last minute revelation (SPOILER ALERT!) that there are different Forces aside from the Speed Force (Hey, at least they are not color coded!) that read like the abilities that the gods give Shazam (killed me there not to type Captain Marvel!). This issue was only saved from a 4 rating by Superman’s admission and Green lantern’s reaction. Lets hope we can get back on track after special issue #50. I give it a 6 out of 10 Grahams.
