Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne, Vol. 3 (Marvel) [4/5/3/1]
(collects FF #251-257, Annual #17, Avengers #233, Thing #2)
w/a. John Byrne
Continues one of the title's best runs (and one of Byrne's), these 1983 issues focus mostly on the Negative Zone, Galactus stuff, and black uniforms. Byrne captured much of the old Lee/Kirby magic, albeit better drawn and less fresh. Classics.
Mage, Vol. 1: The Hero Discovered (Image) [5/4/5/4]
(collects the maxi-series #1-15)
w/a. Matt Wagner
Finally, a decent collection of a seminal moment in the mid-80s indie explosion, and in incorporating myth into modern forms. Wagner's tale starts a bit crudely, but rapidly grows polished, and the series remains one of my favorites.
The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye and The Walking Dead, Vol. 2: Miles Behind Us (Image) [5/4/5/4]
(collects #1-6 and #7-12)
w. Robert Kirkman, a. Tom Moore, Charlie Adlard
Kick-ass tale of a zombie post-apocalypse US. A strong tale, the undead as catalysts for inter- (and intra-) personal drama, the survivors confronting (sometimes badly) the changes they must face. Great horror, not from outward gore but inward anguish. Kirkman rocks.
(This review originally posted on my blog.)
Article comments
1 - L. Cue
I gotta say, I was never big on the FF. I always thought The Thing was a loudmouth who would get his butt kicked by The Hulk. The last FF movie didn't help either, but this is a great post!
Can't wait to trash the movie when it comes out!
2 - Eric Berlin
Really nice concise (and colorful!) rundown of what's new on the graphics novel scene, Dave.