While "Vuzz" is far from Druillet's best work, it's still immensely enjoyable. Taking up a significant fraction of this issue, Druillet black & white While "Vuzz" is far from Druillet's best work, it's still immensely enjoyable. Taking up a significant fraction of this issue, Druillet black & white strip featuring the highly unlikable warrior Vuzz is a crude yet entertaining series. I've always been astounded by Druillet's choice in colors, but I have to say there is something very distinguished about his work in black & white.
This issue also contains "Den" by Corben, "Telefield" by Macedo (my favorite story in this issue), "Fortune's Fool" by Chaykin & Wein, "The Mauve Sideshow" by Claveloux & Zha and "Black Thursday" by Moebius.
While Jean Solé's cover is iconic, I also think Howard Chaykin's work on the back cover is worth mentioning. Overall this was a strong collection of comics....more
Kramers Ergot Four is volume where fans of the series consider was the turning point in terms of quality and prestige when it comes to comics anthologKramers Ergot Four is volume where fans of the series consider was the turning point in terms of quality and prestige when it comes to comics anthologies. This volume is definitely packed with talent with the likes of Anders Nilsen, David Lasky, Renée French, Lauren Weinstein, Marc Bell, John Hankiewicz, Mat Brinkman, Ron Rege Jr., Sammy Harkham, Jim Drain, Ben Jones, Dave Kiersh, C.F., Stepan Gruber, Joe Grillo, Josh Simmons, David Heatley, Souther Salazar, Geneviève Castrée, Allison Cole, Leif Goldberg, Tobias Schalken, Jeff Brown, Billy & Laura Grant, and Frank M. Young. This is indeed a packed book.
While not every story is as strong as the best in here (the nature of any anthology), there are definite standouts. Josh Simmons' crude yet hilarious story "Wholesome", Anders Nilsen's epic mythological take on "Sisyphus", Frank Young's crisply drawn "The Carter Family", Renée French's nightmarish story "Worm", and Jeffrey Brown's nostalgic "Don't Look Them in the Eye" were all great.
But it's editor and anthology curator Sammy Harkham who delivers the best story in the bunch with "Poor Sailor". It's a morose and sparing take on the life of a man whose own ambition gets in his way, and it has one of the bleakest endings ever. This was later published as a standalone book where each panel comprises a page, making for a novel way of reading this story. Highly recommend Kramers Ergot Four for this story alone....more
A bit of a mixed bag with this issue, but the highlights were Caza's "The Bird of Dust", Claveloux's "The Blue Terror" and the return of Davis' "WorldA bit of a mixed bag with this issue, but the highlights were Caza's "The Bird of Dust", Claveloux's "The Blue Terror" and the return of Davis' "World Apart" story. Tardi's "Polonius" was solid too.
The rest of the stories - "Airtight Garage" and "Ballade" by Moebius, "Master" by Nicollet, "1996" by Montellier, "The Feet Upon the Stomach" by F'Murr, "Den" by Corben and "A Visit to Jivaskilla Technexpo" by Lesueur were entertaining enough but also rather forgettable installments....more
Not the strongest issue of Taboo, but a solid end to a great horror anthology. I liked the little history recap at the start of the issue celebrating Not the strongest issue of Taboo, but a solid end to a great horror anthology. I liked the little history recap at the start of the issue celebrating the seven year run which includes some neat tidbits on how the series came together.
This issue contains stories from Jan Neruda, Alec Stevens, Michael H. Price, Lamberto Alvarez, Jeff Dickinson, Stephen Blue, Chet Wiliamson, Tim Truman, Rick Grimes, James Robert Smith, Mike Hoffman, Tony Salmons, David Thorpe, Aidan Potts, Mark David Dietz, Phil Hester and Angela Bocage. The lineup seems a bit tame to star studded lineup from previous issues, but the quality of most of the stories were pretty solid overall. The most memorable one for me was the Dave Thorpe & Aidan Potts story "After Life" which features some gorgeous bits of pointillism in a pretty out there story.
Steve Bissette wraps up this volume with a thoughtful afterword that highlights how much work was put into just getting these ten issues of Taboo together. Overall, I had a great time going through this series issue by issue, and this series is something I imagine I'll enjoy returning to many more times in the future....more
A Moebius heavy issue, though I wasn't all that blown away by his stories here. This issue has several entries of Moebius' "Airtight Garage" and a shoA Moebius heavy issue, though I wasn't all that blown away by his stories here. This issue has several entries of Moebius' "Airtight Garage" and a shorter piece entitled "How Good Is Man?". Corben continues "Den" and Tardi continues "Polonius", both of which were solid.
The best story was Claveloux's surreal piece "The White Night". Dionnet's and Sole's "In You I Am Reborn" was interesting as well.
The cover by Jean-Michel Nicollet is really nice, but that Bernie Wrightson cover is simply stunning. It deserves to have been a front cover of a subsequent issue....more
A bit of a weaker issue in my opinion, though still with some nice stories in here. "Polonius" by Picaret & Tardi, "Night Grass" by Claveloux & Zha, "A bit of a weaker issue in my opinion, though still with some nice stories in here. "Polonius" by Picaret & Tardi, "Night Grass" by Claveloux & Zha, "Teonanacatl Genese" by Cortman and "It's a Small Universe" by Moebius were the main highlights for me.
This issue also includes the continuation of "Den" by Corben, "World Apart" by Davis and "1996" by Montellier, along with the beginning of the serialization of "Airtight Garage" ("Major Fatal") by Moebius. Also included are "The Last Vodka on Smirnov" by Lesueur & Alain, "AAARRRZZZ" by Druillet and "Is There a Demon Lover in the House?".
Most stories in here were fun, though not memorable enough compared to the entries in previous issues. I do think this is my favorite of the early covers, with Druillet achieving the otherworldly sci-fi aesthetic so easily. The back cover features "Major Gruber" from Moebius' "Airtight Garage" series....more
This issue of Heavy Metal continues the story of "Den" by Corben, the fumetti "Roger" by Locquet & Souchu, "The Long Tomorrow" by O'Bannon & Moebius, This issue of Heavy Metal continues the story of "Den" by Corben, the fumetti "Roger" by Locquet & Souchu, "The Long Tomorrow" by O'Bannon & Moebius, "Age of Ages" by Rubington, "1996" by Montellier and "World Apart" by E.E. Davis. I felt this slice of "Den" was the strongest yet, and "World Apart" continues to be a gorgeous strip.
But the highlights of this issue were "Polonius" by Picaret & Tardi, a captivating story about a man who seeks to escape the barren desert homeland for a more prosperous city, only to find that the city is rife with corruption and other vices. "The Green Hand" by Nicole Claveloux is a fantastic bit of surrealism with a gorgeous acid trip color palette to really make this stand out. It was probably the best looking pages in this entire issue, and that's saying a lot since there is Druillet, Corben and Moebius in this issue. "Fever" by Halmos is a great wordless comic with fantastic artwork, and "The Coincidence" by Alain Voss was a fun little time travel story. Druillet contributes to cool little stories - "The Black Queen", another sword & sandals strip, and "Hamilton Potemkine", which is a great series of visual gags.
Another great issue overall, packed with great stories and a nice Berni Wrightson cover. ...more
Gone is the gorgeous back cover artwork by Druillet, but instead we're treated to a full wrap around cover of "Arzach" by Moebius. Since this is a MoeGone is the gorgeous back cover artwork by Druillet, but instead we're treated to a full wrap around cover of "Arzach" by Moebius. Since this is a Moebius heavy issue, it's fitting. Moebius' stories in this issue of Heavy Metal includes the conclusion to "Arzach", the start to "The Long Tomorrow" (written by Dan O'Bannon) and "Approaching Centauri" (written by Philippe Druillet). This issue also wraps up the color reprints of Vaughan Bode's "Sunpot", a funny satirical sci-fi serial from start to finish. Corben's "Den" continues along with Gal's "Conquering Armies", Davis' "World Apart" and Montellier's "1996".
New stories include Alain Voss' "Nep Simo", Druillet's "The Golden Queen" and Enki Bilal's "Crossroads of the Universe" all of which are stunning bits of sci-fi eye candy. This is peak Heavy Metal to be sure. ...more
More great Druillet here with "Gail" kicking off this issue. Corben, Bode, Gal, Montellier and Moebius all continue with their respective stories of "More great Druillet here with "Gail" kicking off this issue. Corben, Bode, Gal, Montellier and Moebius all continue with their respective stories of "Den", "Sunpot", "Conquering Armies", "1996" and "Arzach". E.E. Davis has a brilliantly drawn story in here - "World's Apart", and Francois Shuiten's "Shells" is fantastic as well (later included in "Carapaces" as part of the "Hollow Grounds" trilogy)....more
Continuing on from the previous issue are Corben's "Den", Druillet's "Adventures of Yriss", Bodé's "Sunpot", Montellier's "1996", Dionnet's & Gal's "CContinuing on from the previous issue are Corben's "Den", Druillet's "Adventures of Yriss", Bodé's "Sunpot", Montellier's "1996", Dionnet's & Gal's "Conquering Armies" and Moebius' "Arzach". All were fantastic, but the easy highlight of this issue is Caza's "Virgo" a slick six page sci-fi strip about female fertility....more
One of the strongest entries in Bissette's Taboo series, issue 8 includes fantastic stories from Jack Butterworth & Greg Capullo ("All She Does Is EatOne of the strongest entries in Bissette's Taboo series, issue 8 includes fantastic stories from Jack Butterworth & Greg Capullo ("All She Does Is Eat"), David Sexton & P. Craig Russell ("Satan and the Saviour"), and Matt Howarth ("Revenge"). This issue also includes the grotesque Al Columbia piece "johnny 23" which was later reprinted in The Biologic Show #0. Jeff Nicholson continues also serializing "Though the Habittrails" in this issue.
The highlight of this issue for me was Matt Howarth's "Revenge" story which was the longest story in here and the most engrossing. The crude cartooning style allowed for some pretty heavy and mature subject matter to be covered without making things too uncomfortable, but Howarth still evokes a sense of unease with his writing. A great little horror tale for sure....more
Six fantastic stories by seminal gekiga artist Baron Yoshimoto ranging from different points in his career. Most of the stories are dripping in dramatSix fantastic stories by seminal gekiga artist Baron Yoshimoto ranging from different points in his career. Most of the stories are dripping in dramatic irony, which is evident even in his earliest comics. The stories collected in The Troublemakers are meant to feel realistic situations, mostly on working class individuals. Some of them, like "High School Brawler Ditty" involve organized crime, while other stories like "Eriko's Happiness" and "One Stripper's Gambling Life" are a little racier. The earliest story in the collection, "The Girl and the Black Soldier", is the only deviation from telling stories about (mostly at the time) contemporary Japan, and instead follows a Black American soldier during the Nazi occupation of France. The social commentary is always evident in each of Yoshimoto's stories, and while they may lack the subtlety of more current comics, they were pretty well realized for their time. As always, any gekiga collection containing a Ryan Holmberg essay contextualizing the work is a must read as well. A splendid collection overall, and I can see myself revisiting this from time to time....more
Still one of the most influential comic anthologies of all time, it's a wonder to appreciate just how amazing this first issue of Heavy Metal was. StaStill one of the most influential comic anthologies of all time, it's a wonder to appreciate just how amazing this first issue of Heavy Metal was. Starting off as a way to introduce a North American readership to the talents of European cartoonists published in Métal hurlant, this first issue also was many readers' first exposure to a talent like Richard Corben who kicks off his "Den" series here. Also featured in this issue are iconic stories like Moebius' "Arzach", Dionnet's & Gal's "Conquering Armies", and Montellier's "1996". Any one of those stories would have made this an iconic comic anthology, but to feature numerous classics makes this truly special. There's also some fantastic early Druillet work, including the phenomenal back cover to this issue. Of all the stories collected in Heavy Metal #1, the work of Jean-Claude Gal's "Conquering Armies"has to be my favorite.
This issue also includes great work from Vaughn Bodē ("Sunpot"), Norma Rubington ("Age of Ages"), Jean-Claude Mézières ("Space Punks"), Philippe Mouchel ("Traumwach"), and Marre ("Selenia"). You simply can't ask for a better comic than Heavy Metal #1....more
The second issue of Mazzucchelli's magnum opus anthology includes fantastic stories like "Blind Date", "Pyrum Spoth's Theory of Truth", "Smiling Jack"The second issue of Mazzucchelli's magnum opus anthology includes fantastic stories like "Blind Date", "Pyrum Spoth's Theory of Truth", "Smiling Jack", "Beach Boy", "Air", "Hey. I'm Serious" and another strip of "Mope & Grope". The longer running story in this issue is "Discovering America" a great story that fully utilizes Mazzucchelli's expressionistic artwork to great effect. The offset printing never looks better than it does for "Discovering America", and is easily one of Mazzucchelli's strongest works. ...more
David Mazzucchelli leans into his love for the Raw comics anthology magazine and creates his own masterpiece. Rubber Blanket contains some of MazzucchDavid Mazzucchelli leans into his love for the Raw comics anthology magazine and creates his own masterpiece. Rubber Blanket contains some of Mazzucchelli's best works, and it demonstrates why he truly is one of the true masters of the craft. This issue contains three main stories: "Near Miss", "Beyond the Last Pier", and "Dead Dog", alongside a few page long strips. "Near Miss" is a funny yet bizarre story of a neurotic man who dwells on a near death experience, though the reader quickly learns the death he was worried about was the potential of an asteroid hitting the Earth. "Beyond the Last Pier" is a melancholic poem with gorgeous painted artwork by Mazzucchelli's wife, Richmond Lewis. And "Dead Dog" is a short story about a woman and waning memories, with her particularly lingering on a picture of a dog that passed away years ago. Each story shows tremendous range on Mazzucchelli's part, both in terms of writing and artwork. The page long strips include "If It Weren't For Men", a mocking indictment on the patriarchy, "Power", a great little exerpt from the '70s underground comic series, and "Mope & Grope", a recurring gag strip that appears in every issue of Rubber Blanket.
I'd recommend this for everyone if it weren't so hard to find, because it truly is a powerful exhibition of the comics medium....more
Every great series has a weak volume, and for the fantastic horror anthology Taboo, it's this one. Serialized stories like Moore's & Campbell's "From Every great series has a weak volume, and for the fantastic horror anthology Taboo, it's this one. Serialized stories like Moore's & Campbell's "From Hell", Nicholson's "Through the Habittrails", and Moore's & Gebbie's "Lost Girls" take up the bulk of this volume, with limited original pieces. The best one was probably "A Good Christian" by Joe Coleman, which is oddly enough another Jack the Ripper story (if "From Hell" wasn't enough for you!). The Gaiman & Zulli "Sweeney Todd" story was pretty decent as well, though I think I was mostly just taken by Zulli's artwork. Phil Elliot, Paul Grist, Rick Grimes, P. Foerster, Jack Butterworth, and Eric Vincent all contribute stories as well, though most of them were not very memorable....more
Aside from continuing Jeff Nicholson's "Through the Habitrails", Alan Moore's & Eddie Campbell's "From Hell" and Alan Moore's & Melinda Gebbe's "Lost Aside from continuing Jeff Nicholson's "Through the Habitrails", Alan Moore's & Eddie Campbell's "From Hell" and Alan Moore's & Melinda Gebbe's "Lost Girls", Taboo #6 has stories from talent like Neil (and his daughter, Holly) Gaiman, Mike Zulli, Nancy J. O'Connor, Charles Burns and Rick Grimes.
The Charles Burns story, "The Cat Woman Returns", was easily my favorite piece here. Instead of relying on his distinctive heavy linework with sharp contrats, Burns opts to make his own fumetti of a vengeful ex-lover threatening to kill his current girlfriend. The photographs are delightfully awkward and even creepy, making for a really intruiging horror comic. I'm not usually one for photo comics, but Burns somehow pulls this off.
There is an insert for a Gaiman/Zulli adaptation of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber on Fleet Street" that was pretty cool. But the story by Gaiman's five-year-old daughter Holly was surprisingly strong. Supposedly, Gaiman had mailed his daughter's story to Mike Zulli who decided he wanted to draw it. Zulli takes the child-like innocence of Holly's story and twists it into something eerie and rather disturbing. Just shows how scary kids can actually be. ...more
Before Blab! took on the identity of the premiere alt comix anthology, it was sort of an outlet for Monte Beauchamp's interests as a comic fan. This vBefore Blab! took on the identity of the premiere alt comix anthology, it was sort of an outlet for Monte Beauchamp's interests as a comic fan. This volume is pretty much all articles, and mostly focus on EC comics. It's fairly interesting stuff, but also felt like it could have used a wider range of diverse opinions since it eventually starts to feel repetitive with how overexuberant each article gets with celebrating EC comics. Feels weird saying that given the massive level of talent contributing articles, like Richard Corben, S. Clay Wilson, Howard Cruse, Kim Deitch, etc., but perhaps I would have preferred seeing drawn work from such legends rather than solely reading articles....more
The real reason to pick up Blab! #10 is for "The Trumpets They Played!", which is one of the best short comics I've ever read. Al Columbia's take on tThe real reason to pick up Blab! #10 is for "The Trumpets They Played!", which is one of the best short comics I've ever read. Al Columbia's take on the Book of Revelation is mind numbingly awesome with his incorporation of terrifying imagery of an apocalpyse conjured up from the worst possible type of hell. Stylistically taking on the appearance of a Fleischer Brothers animation, Al Columbia takes the aesthetic to new heights (or depths) with the sheer depravity that unfolds. This 8-page comic is easily worth the price of admission alone.
There are other strong stories in the collection too, like Spain Rodriguez' "Carney" and Blanquet's "The Bitter Happiness". Even the prose segments were pretty entertaining reads. Monte Beauchamp really knows how to put a collection together and Blab! easily takes a top spot in the hierarchy of comic anthologies of the time....more
Not my favorite entry in the Taboo library, but still solid overall. There are some nice contributions by legendary cartoonists like Eddie Gampbell, MNot my favorite entry in the Taboo library, but still solid overall. There are some nice contributions by legendary cartoonists like Eddie Gampbell, Mark Bode, and Scott McCloud, along with a continuation of Jeff Nicholson's Through the Habitrails.
My favorite story in this collection would be Rick McCollum's "Fin De Salome", a brief adaptation of the Oscar Wilde play. McCollum's cartooning is sharp and conveys the gruesome aspects of the story well. I also quite liked Glenn L. Barr's "Cliff's Wild Life", a wordless story about one man going from one funny mishap to the next. I. Allen Gladfelter does a beatiful little vampire story called "Brother" that I also quite liked.
The rest of the stories were just okay, and somewhat forgettable to me even if they all looked quite good. There are less of the transgressive stories that were found in earlier volumes of Taboo, which perhaps lent towards my decreased interest in the stories found here. ...more
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