Criminal Macabre: Feat Of Clay
The prolific Steve Niles brings us a one-shot warm up for the Criminal Macabre: Two Red Eyes mini series. Perennially down on his luck occult detective Cal McDonald tangles with a Golem and finds it’s hard to kill a mindless creature made of clay. Gory fun, this has its moments and it’s helped by Kyle Hotz art that recalls the legendary EC Comics horror titles. Grade: B
Criminal Macabre: Two Red Eyes 1
In the first five pages Cal McDonald is beaten so badly he’s hospitalised and things go downhill from there. It’s not all bad news though as his ex-girlfriend Sabrina returns although I wouldn’t place a bet on her living to see the end of this mini series. If blood and guts (and a sense of humour) are your thing then this is the comic for you. Tim Bradstreet’s cover (featuring a rendition of Steve Niles actor pal Tom Jane as Cal) is guaranteed to catch the eye. Grade: B
Deathblow 1 & 2
This used to be my favourite Wildstorm title. Jim Lee did some of his best work on it, taking inspiration from Frank Miller’s Sin City but not aping it. Now it looks like any other comic albeit a well drawn one thanks to Carlos D’Anda. Brian Azzarello brings echoes of The Manchurian Candidate to the life of Michael Cray aka Deathblow. Sadly no Angela Lansbury, but we do get a talking dog instead. Grade: B
Desolation Jones 7 & 8
Michael Jones returns and this time it’s much more personal than Hitler porn. The first story in this series was a delightfully warped take on The Big Sleep that could only have come from the fevered mind of Warren Ellis. The first two issues of this second storyline however are even better as Mr Jones past comes back to haunt him when an old acquaintance is murdered. L.A. never looked seedier thanks to the renderings of Daniel Zezelj who breaths life into such oddball characters as movie producer Evers Chance. Just how does legendary SF author Philip K. Dick fit into this? I can’t wait to find out! Grade: A-
Doomed 1-3
I only discovered IDW’s black and white horror anthology with issue 3 and I enjoyed it so much I quickly tracked down the first two books as well. Clearly inspired by the old Warren Eerie magazine from the 60’s and 70’s this presents several classic horror short stories adapted for the comic medium by such top creators as Ashley Wood. High points of the first three volumes are "Cuts" by F. Paul Wilson (from his own short story) with art by Ted McKeever, David J. Schow’s "Bagged" adapted by Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood and "Children of Noah" by Scott Tipton and Nat Jones based on the Richard Matheson tale. Sadly the recently published issue 4 may be the last unless sales take an upturn. The save Doomed campaign starts here, so if you’re a horror fan rush out and buy this now! Grade: B+
Article comments
1 - Bill Sherman
Gotta admit I'm looking forward to Whedon's comic book continuation of the Buffy saga . . .
2 - Joy
Awesome!! I love comic books! And it's really great to read something from someone who knows so much about them!!! =)
3 - Rohan Venkat
Was surprised to see that your forthcoming list doesn't include Civil War #6, just recently out on the east coast, an issue I'm really looking forward to.
I remember discussing about the fact that Civil War was leaning very much to the anti-registration side, and probably wouldn't change anyone's mind past the first few issues. I now feel that I was wrong, because from this last month's glut of (often filler issues to replace the late Civil War ones) Civil War tie-in issues, I'm quite surprised to say that I'm on the pro-registration side now.
That is to say, I'm on the leave America, but if you stay in the country then register side, because, for one, I don't see Congress ever repealing the law, and also, I have complete confidence in Tony Stark's belief that if the superheroes don't do this now, then the American Government would have done something much worse (a sky full of sentinels watching our every move) to them.
So while I don't agree with the pro's ideology, if the heroes choose to continue staying in the States, then I'd suggest they register. And this change in my ideas comes right after my favorite character switches from pro to anti.
Of course, if I were American I might not have the same belief, since I'd want to stay in my home country, and then I'd be anti.
Sorry for the excessively long comment.
4 - Ian Woolstencroft
Bill,
I’m trying not to get my hopes up too high for the Buffy mini series but it will definitely be interesting to see where Joss takes the story now that there is more than just one slayer (well there was already more than one but now there’s a LOT more than one).
Joy,
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it and I hope you’ll come back next month. :)
Rohan,
Glad you’re still enjoying Civil War, I am too. It wasn’t included in the forthcoming titles section only because I use that section to spotlight new series and major events in regular titles (like Spider-Man this month). If it was a list of the regular titles coming out each month that I'm most looking forward to Civil War would be right at the top (with Desolation Jones).
I agree that in recent months we’ve seen the viewpoint of the opposing sides from a more even perspective. Cap’s side could almost be viewed as terrorists, although the only time they’ve attacked anyone has been either defending themselves or trying to free captured comrades.
From your comment I’d say you'd be off to France with Mr Grimm. ;)
5 - manfred
I have read that JMS will quit Spiderman after this summer leaving only a final story of Mary Jane and Peter Parker , penciled by the big man himself; Joe Quesada. Too bad he has had a magnificent run.
Great review by the way overall , as usual.
By the way will you review: Spiderman: Reign 1 and X-23: Target X ?
6 - Ian Woolstencroft
Thanks Manfred,
I hadn't heard that JMS was to quit Spidey. I seem to remember a few years ago there was a rumour he was to leave, with Kevin Smith set to take over, but that never happened (Smith did a Spidey/Black Cat Limited Series instead) and I hope this turns out to be false as well. I know he is going to be doing the Thor relaunch and he's gone on record as saying that was his reason for leaving the FF.
As for Spider-Man: Reign and X-23: Target X both will be reviewed at some point, although it may be the first few issues or even the complete series. I'm tending to read new titles a few issues at a time in order to get a truer "taste" of what they have to offer.
Next month currently looks likely to include: Justice League of America 0-5, Gen 13 1-3, Immortal Iron Fist 1-2, Impaler 1-2 and Justice Society of America 1-2 plus a few others.
It's nice to know I've got a couple of regular readers in you and Rohan.
7 - manfred
I could accept Kevin Smith as a worthy successor for JMS. I read the Evil men do limited series.
If the rumours are true then Marvel will have a hard time finding a decent replacement for him I think.I just hope it wont be Brian Micheal Bendis, no offense but we get so much of that guy already.
And thank you for writing the reviews :)
-manfred