GeekMom: Comic Book Corner — July 18th, 2012

Happy Comic Release Day! Welcome to another installment of GeekMom Comic Book Corner, where we recap our adventures in comics for the week.

Dakster Sullivan – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol. 2: Enemies Old, Enemies New
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 2: Enemies Old, Enemies New is the second volume of the newest TMNT series. Since the only thing I know about their history is what I’ve seen in the cartoon series, I’ve been a little shocked at the story so far.

I’m a child of 1985. With that being said, I’ve grown up thinking that the turtles became the TMNT from the ooze and being at the right place at the right time. This series is telling a very different tale. I don’t want to spoil to much, but let’s just say even they are having a hard time believing Master Splinter on this one.

The only villain from the cartoon series I have met so far and recognize is Krang. It appears there is something going on with him and Baxter, but at the risk of spoiling anything for you, I’ll skip what it is.

Casey and April are starting to get a friendship going at school. Casey is teaching April self-defense in exchange for her tutoring him in a few of his classes. I think they are going to make a great team in the upcoming issues. It will be interesting to see if she uses any of her new fighting skills to help out the TMNT.

Due to a little violence in the beginning that might be to graphic for younger readers, I would recommend this title for anyone aged ten and up.

This series is released monthly and you can find it on Comixology, IDW Publishing App, or your local comic book store.

Rebecca Angel – Batman: Earth One
Batman: Earth One is a reboot of the Batman comic (yes, we’re never tired of origin stories!). Apparently, making something more “modern” and “real” means taking all the fun out of it. The characters are all there, but all the color has been sucked out of them. Gotham was always dark, but could anyone make a more horrible city than this?

Oh wait, the big-breasted women in the party ogling Bruce Wayne had colorful dresses, excuse me.

A couple of things were cool. I’m curious how Dent’s twin plays out. And the artwork is really stellar. Gary Frank, you are amazing. The full page of Dent’s reaction to the horror of what the bad guy has done…wow. If you’re a fan of Batman, it’s worth it to see what’s they’ve done to Alfred.

If you are a fan of Geoff Johns, make sure you pick this one up. This is the first time he has had his hands on the cowl.

Sara Pinault – The Simpsons Issue #100
I’m getting back to my geek roots this week. When I first started attending conventions with my dad as a pre-teen, I collected movie/television trading cards, and The Simpsons comics by Bongo. With the announcement this week that Bongo comics were going to make The Simpsons pantheon available online I decided to delve back into my past.

I’m about halfway through the 100th issue, available for free on Comixology, and loving every minute. I feel like a kid again. The artwork is just as clear on the iPad as I remember from my paper copies and, while the storyline of 100 is more flashback and repeat, I am remembering why I was such an avid reader in the nineties.

*SPOILER ALERT*

I love the concept of Bart and Lisa discovering that the town sold off their identities to a fledgling comic book company, it is such fun watching them travel across Springfield discovering different issues. I have just reached the point where they discover that the mothers of Springfield have been hoarding comic book collections because of the unflattering depictions and I am excited to keep reading.

Of course now that I have discovered Comixology, I have several more waiting to be read after this! My fourteen-year-old self lives again!

Nicole Boose – My Week in Comics
I’m a freelance editor in the comics industry and mom to a little girl who turned four last week. To celebrate her birthday, we went on a road trip for a Grand Tour of Grandparents, visiting various family members throughout the week.

One day as I was working remotely with slower-than-usual internet, I found myself with some downtime while I waited for my enormous files to download. I picked up Gerry Alanguilan’s Elmer to read during the wait, and I didn’t put it down until the last page. (Full disclosure, I work with Gerry on a different project.)

Elmer takes place in a world where chickens have developed human intelligence and emotions virtually overnight. The story centers on one chicken family, their human friend, and how they navigate this weird new society. From this bonkers-sounding premise, there emerges a funny and touching reflection on relationships and prejudice. The story also has gorgeous art, doesn’t let its hero off the hook for being a little bit of a jerk, and never takes itself too seriously despite the weighty themes. It’s a good read, all the more impressive because it was originally self-published.

I encourage mature teens and adults to go check it out.

Kay Moore – Catwoman #3 (2002 – 2008) and Robotika #1
In issue 3 of Catwoman (2002-2008), Catwoman makes a middle-of-the-night visit to her therapist, a friend of Batman’s, and gets her help to contact one of his associates for research help. When that pays off, Selina arranges for her friend Holly to go undercover to help her get a lead, and then Selina herself makes like a detective lady and goes undercover in a club that is a likely location for the next attack. Selina is unrecognizable in bright clothes and a blonde wig — she could moonlight in other comics!

My new read this week is issue 1 of Robotika, an intriguing mix of futuristic Asian, techno, a bit of steampunk, an echo of Blade Runner and the old Kung Fu TV show. Whenever I saw the image for the comic, it caught my eye, so I test-drove this issue, available as a free preview from Comixology. I liked some aspects and am withholding judgment on others, so will probably read at least one more issue.

As usual, the art is a deciding factor (art and story by Alex Sheikman). In the future, genetic manipulation is striving to create the best human, and the best cyborg. Discarded cyborgs band together in disenfranchised discontent. Niko, a silent, zen-like mysterious warrior is summoned by the queen to seek the return of a stolen genetic construct. Its existence may upset the balance between humans and cyborgs (hello, Battlestar Galactica!) and its loss to unprincipled elements could tip that balance.

Some of the panels are great to look at, and there are creative ideas — just reading the phrase “ecorganic towers” was so evocative, but the illustration does not do it justice. A few pages later is a much more atmospheric and eye-catching rendition of the “ecorganic towers.” When Niko goes out on his mission, Niko’s first battle is with a band of warrior nanny cyborgs, nude and buff (mostly in silhouette). He defeats and kills all of them: This comic looks like it will have more “violence” than I care for, even if it is against cyborgs, but that is hair-splitting.

I leave it to you whether to wonder if fighting naked women has any profit motive in the comic book market. The other development to keep an eye on is that Niko meets and helps Cherokee Geisha, another warrior (woman), who speaks with her text in vertical columns, like Katakana or other Japanese text. It is an interesting bit of characterization, but so far, it is challenging to read. I do have to slow down and truly r-e-a-d Cherokee Geisha’s speech, and the struggle resembles trying to understand someone speaking with a thick accent, so the technique is effective.

I would not recommend this material for children or young teens, due to violence and nudity.

Looking for something else, readers? Check out this week’s listed books:

Batman Beyond Unlimited #6 Batman Earth One Special Preview Edition Batwing Vol. 1 The Lost Kingdom TP Batwoman #11 Before Watchmen Silk Spectre #2 (CP) Birds Of Prey #11 Blue Beetle #11 Captain Atom #11 Catwoman #11 DC Universe Presents #11 Dominique Laveau Voodoo Child #5 Fables #119 Green Lantern Corps #11 Hellblazer #293 Justice League #11 (CP) Legion Of Super-Heroes #11 Men Of War Vol. 1 Uneasy Company TP Nightwing #11 Red Hood And The Outlaws #11 Showcase Presents Rip Hunter Time Master Vol. 1 TP Supergirl #11 Unwritten #39 Wonder Woman #11 Young Justice #18

Avengers Academy #33 Avengers Vs X-Men #8 (Of 12) Avengers West Coast Avengers Family Ties TP Captain America And Bucky The Life Story Of Bucky Barnes TP Captain Marvel #1 Counter X X-Force Rage War TP Daredevil #15 Dark Tower The Gunslinger The Man In Black #2 (Of 5) Fantastic Four #608 FF By Jonathan Hickman Vol. 2 TP Ghost Rider The Complete Series By Rob Williams TP Herc The Complete Series By Greg Pak And Fred Van Lente TP Infernal Man-Thing #2 (Of 3) Invincible Iron Man #521 Journey Into Mystery #641 Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Marvel Comics Vol. 7 HC Marvel Zombies Destroy #5 (Of 5) New Mutants #46 Secret Service #3 (Of 6) Spider-Man Ends Of The Earth HC Spider-Man The Complete Ben Reilly Epic Vol. 5 TP Ultimate Comics The Ultimates By Jonathan Hickman Vol. 2 HC (PE) Uncanny X-Men #16 Untold Tales Of The Punisher MAX #2 (Of 5) Wolverine #309 X-Factor #240 X-Men #32

Acronym Key:  VC = Variant Cover  / HC = Hard Cover / TP = Trade Paperback  / CP = Combo Pack  / PE = Premier Edition

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