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April 4, 2013
Atomic Books Comics Preview - April 4, 2013
In the weekly Atomic Books Comics Preview, Benn Ray highlights notable new comics and graphic novels.
Benn Ray is the owner of Atomic Books, an independent bookstore in Baltimore. The Mobtown Shank is his blog, and his comic Said What? is syndicated weekly in the Baltimore Sun's B-Paper.
Atomic Books has been named one of Bizarre Magazine's 51 geekiest places on the planet, as well as one of Flavorwire's 10 greatest comic and graphic novel stores in America.
DC Universe By Alan Moore (trade paperback)
by Alan Moore / Various
In the 1980s, Alan Moore did a lot of interesting work (some argue his best) for DC Comics - on characters like Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Vigilante, etc. Those tales are collected here (including his landmark "Killing Joke") in a thick, affordable paperback.
How to Fake a Moon Landing: Exposing the Myths of Science Denial
by Darryl Cunningham
Cunningham takes a logical, reality-based look at a number of science denial myths (or conspiracy theories) like climate change denial, the moon landing, evolution, fracking, etc. In a clear comics form, he creates accessible but interesting reporting on these "issues" and more.
Julio's Day
by Gilbert Hernandez
Through a series of well-crafted vignettes, we follow the life of Julio as it plays out over the course of a century. In 100 pages, Gilbert compresses the history of the 20th century as well as the life of a man into a riveting, masterful story.
Letting It Go
by Miriam Katin
Katin is a Holocaust survivor. So her feelings are a little intense when her son decides to move to Berlin decades later. When she visits the city to see her son and to attend an museum gala of her own work, she discovers a city wrestling to come to terms with its past - much like she is.
Noirness
by Boulet
Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of 24-hour comics (comics that are created within a 24 hour period of time). While as an exercise it seems fun for the artist, it also strikes me as something that is more process-driven than results-based. Boulet's Noirness (originally titled "Darkness") is the rare 24 hour comic that is transcends the exercise (or perhaps it succeeds because Boulet works well under such arbitrary, self-imposed limitations). The art is like classic Jeffery Brown. And the story about Jonas - the embodiment of "darkness" and the trouble this creates for his roommate is actually a remarkably well-crafted love story. This isn't just one of the best 24-hour comics I've ever read, it's also a one of the best comics I've read this year.
The Adventures of Jodelle
by Guy Peellaert / Pierre Bartier
This is an adult comics pop-art masterpiece, originally published in the 1960s in France. The over-sized production and remastered colors make for a dazzling book. Think of Barbarella animated in that Yellow Submarine style and you get the idea of what Jodelle's adventures look like. This is comics as art.
Questions, concerns, comments or gripes – e-mail benn@atomicbooks.com. If there’s a comic I should know about, send it my way at Atomic, c/o Atomic Books 3620 Falls Rd., Baltimore, MD 21211.
Atomic Books & Benn Ray links:
Atomic Books website
Atomic Books on Twitter
Atomic Books on Facebook
Benn Ray's blog (The Mobtown Shank)
Benn Ray's comic, Said What?
also at Largehearted Boy:
other Atomic Books Comics Preview lists (weekly new comics & graphic novel highlights)
52 Books, 52 Weeks
Antiheroines (interviews with up and coming female comics artists)
Book Notes (authors create music playlists for their book)
guest book reviews
Largehearted Word (weekly new book highlights)
musician/author interviews
Note Books (musicians discuss literature)
