Who's who in the Comics Bulletin Universe - Update 2009
Who is... Michael A. Diaz?
Michael Diaz lives in Michigan, but don't hold that against him.
There he works as a Sys. Admin. while fostering dreams of one day becoming a "real" writer.
Most importantly, Michael is seriously addicted to comics, something that his wonderful wife tolerates with the patience of a saint.
He also writes this weekly column that people occasionally read.
"[O]ne of the most positive
and entertaining columns going."
- Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Villains United)
What Looks Good: January '05
{Hey there and welcome to an all new edition of What Looks Good! I just want to start this column off by wishing the best of luck to Sylvain! Sadly, life can be pretty busy at times, but we all have priorities and I’ll always be here doing my thing whenever you can! And all of you fine readers don’t worry yourselves, the column is still going, and I’ll be here till the end tossing out my suggestions, critiques, and thoughts on some of the best books around!
As you start to read I’m sure you’ll notice the amount of small press books I have lined up this month! Not so much focused on the typical publishers, but I’ve really done some digging and found things you won’t see in Previews but still deserve the Looks Good title! I guess that’s all the rambling on I have to do for this month, so sit back, relaxing and come check out What Looks Good!…
YOUNGBLOOD: MAXIMUM COLLECTION TP
By Rob Liefeld, Matt Yackey, Dan Fraga and Danny Miki.
Collected for the first time ever the original Youngblood mini-series that launched a comic book revolution. Youngblood #0-5 are re-mastered, re-colored and re-scripted with an all-new ending sequence! A must have collection for all fans of Youngblood and Liefeld. Including special bonus features such as the never before seen Youngblood 1987 short story that resulted in Rob Linefeed’s first professional hiring by both Marvel and DC. Also includes never before seen deleted pages from Youngblood #1, re-colored covers, posters, and advertisements for the book. There’s a reason it’s called the Maximum Collection!
Mike: I think this gets my vote for best book coming out in January. The original Youngblood mini series was good, like any book it had its rough spots, but now they’re all getting ironed out to produce one slick collection! Re-colored, re-scripted and totally kick ass! If you’re a long time fan, or just jumping on now, this is probably the best place to start up for Liefeld fans! A nice new script, the same dynamic art, killer ending and a great final package!
MAJESTIC #1
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art by Neil Googe & Trevor Scott
Covers by Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines and Josh Middleton
Writing team Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Legion) link up with hot new artist Neil Googe (Bazooka Jules) for a series that shows what happens to Majestic when he returns home to the WildStorm Universe with guest stars Superman and the Eradicator in tow! Majestic is faced with the biggest - and most chilling - mystery of his life in "While You Were Out," a story full of cosmic wonder, wit and earth-shaking super-heroics! WildStorm castaway Mr. Majestic has spent the last few months in the DCU, where his warrior-code background has led him to butt heads with a few of that world's finest. But now that he's back home, has his style changed? Has he learned anything from the DC heroes? And…just what the heck has been going on here?
Mike: Abnett and Lanning have won me over with their Majestic series. Their first two-part in the Superman books was amazing. Their first mini-series blew me away and now I’m totally psyched for the second one. They really capture the character and all his emotions of being on Earth. You get a sense that you know the character like your brother and the art really brings it home. Googe’s pages in Previews looked terrific! He’s got an awesome style and I’m looking forward to what he has to bring to the Majestic mythos; and a Middleton cover! Gotta love it!
WESTERN TALES OF TERROR #2
Written and Illustrated by various creators
The critically acclaimed independent hit is back with even more top name talent ready to scare you right out of your cowboy boots. Phil Hester, Todd Livingston, Eric J, Raven Gregory, and more join up for what’s been called “A surefire indie hit” by Variety.com Plus, part two of Phineas Gold, described by ComiXtreme as “An intriguing tale…”that hits the nail right on the head. Do yourself a favor and check this out!
Mike: Read the first issue of the series yesterday when it came out and was blown away. I knew that it would be a good book, just by the talent listed alone, but the stories were amazing! Whether you’re a horror junkie, an action thriller, or like me, and just want to read a good story, there’s something here you can like! This is one book you wouldn’t want to miss with eye-popping art and heart-stopping stories all neatly packaged in a swell read!
CLASSIC 40 OUNCE: TALES FROM THE BROWN BAG TP
By Jim Mahfood.
Popular indie creator Jim Mahfood is taking you on a trip down memory lane! For the first time ever, Mahfood has collected his rarely seen self-published college comics: Girl Scouts#1 and #2 and Cosmic Toast #1. Limited to incredibly small print runs of 300 copies each when they first debuted in the mid-Œ90s, these books are essential reads for 40 oz. fans. Includes a new short story introducing the material and a super-cool bonus sketchbook from that old school era. Highlights include the first-ever drawings of Smoke Dog and the Grrl Scouts. Fun stuff.
Mike: You can shoot me now, because I can finally die happy! All those insanely hard to find, but well worth it Mahfood mini comics from his starting days finally reprinted! The original Girl Scouts and tons of other cool creations from the geniuses mind! Stuff like this just really brings back my love of comics! Mahfood has such a great style that just delivers an incredible amount of action, drama, emotion and most importantly, humor. His writing is witty, cunning and off the freaking wall! Woo-hoo!
FOUR-LETTER WORLDS GN
Written by Amber Benson, Joe Casey, Chynna Clugston-Major, Jay Faerber, Matt Fraction, Antony Johnston, Robert Kirkman, Steve Lieber, Jim Mahfood, B. Clay Moore, Scott Morse, Jeff Parker, Jamie S. Rich, Mark Ricketts, Eric Stephenson and J. Torres; art by John Bernales, Chynna Clugston-Major, Steven Griffin, Mike Hawthorne, Mike Huddleston, Phil Hester, Steve Lieber, Jim Mahfood, Jamie Mckelvie, B. Clay Moore, Scott Morse, Mike Norton, Jeff Parker, Matt Roberts, Steve Rolston, J. Torres and Andi Watson, cover by Steven Griffin.
Love. Hate. Fear. Fate. Four words that define our lives in different ways. Four words that lie at the heart of all our experiences. Four words that have long inspired artists to craft their most resonant work. Four-Letter Worlds examines how these four little words define our individual worlds in very big ways. This brand new anthology features sixteen original short stories by twenty-six renowned creators, including Joe Casey, Chynna Clugston-Major, Antony Johnston, Phil Hester, Jim Mahfood, Scott Morse and Andi Watson
Mike: Do I really have to sell you on this book? I mean come on, just look at all that talent listed in the credits! With names like that you know this is going to knock'em dead! If not, read the description, see what it’s all about, that’s sure to win you over! Simply put its twenty-six amazingly talented creators coming together to show us how much of an impact four little words can, have and will make an impact on us and how we live.
JOHNNY RAYGUN #4
By Rich Woodall and Matt Talbot. Cover by Craig Rosseau.
Special agent extraordinaire Johnny Raygun just can’t catch a break – the boss is mad, his arch-enemy is still on the loose, and super-suave rival agent Mike Rage is making series time with Johnny’s girlfriend. And as if a grueling fight with the Mighty Micro Marching Society isn’t enough, Johnny gets sent to the moon to investigate a lab that’s mysteriously stopped communicating with Earth. But the last thing he expects to find in outer space is an evil…well, heck that would be telling!
Mike: If you aren’t reading Johnny Raygun by now than you are REALLY missing out. This book goes down as one of the most innovative, original and creatively amazing books to come out in the past year! The art is a perfect compliment to the action packed story. Well, I’m sure me just saying how good it is, isn’t really incentive to go buy it, right? Well here’s the deal, check out the solicitation, order and buy a copy when it comes out. Read through it. If you feel that you were unsatisfied with it, send me an e-mail, or post on the WLG boards, and I’ll refund you money in exchange for a copy of the issue.
Give it a shot, now you really have nothing to loose!
STORMBREAKER: THE SAGA OF BETA RAY BILL #1
Written by MICHAEL AVON OEMING & DANIEL BERMAN
Pencils & Cover by ANDREA DI VITO
Beta Ray Bill jumps out of the pages of the now classic THOR series and finds himself the sole survivor of all that was Asgard. Will Beta Ray Bill escape the end of one world only to face his own end?
Mike: Before the Oeming/Berman run on Thor I really had no interest in the character. I tried Jurgens’ issues and couldn’t really get into them. I gave their run a try because I knew if anyone could get me interested, it was Omeing/Berman. Well, no surprise I LOVED it! Every little bit of it I ate up and was begging for more. Now it’s here; The Saga of Beta Ray Bill. I’d talk to Oeming at a few local cons before Thor hit and he kept telling me, “Look out for Beta Ray Bill in the book” I was psyched. About time ole’ Bill gets an appearance! I think they handled the character very well and I honestly can’t wait to see what they do in this series, and if it possibly leads to a new Thor ongoing.
FANTASTIC FOUR: FOES #1
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Penciled by CLIFF RATHBURN
Cover by JIM CHEUNG
The villains take center stage as the FOES of the Fantastic Four step into the forefront. After YEARS of continued defeat at the hands of the FF, why would a person CONTINUE to attempt something he has learned to be impossible? Get inside the heads of all your favorite FF FOES as we watch their capers from start to finish from THEIR perspective, THEIR point of view, and at last learn...
Mike: I’m a sucker for these types of things; books that get into the characters on BOTH sides of the line and give you a look at what’s really going on. Most of the time you get a satisfactory answer and reason as to what’s going on in their head, but books like this that really dig deep and tell all, that’s where it’s at; And if anything can be said that is a strength of Kirkman’s writing, it’s characterization: The ability to get into a person’s head and enthralled the reader with what’s happening. And who better to do it on, than the FF rogue’s gallery! And Cliff Rathburn on art! Very nice choice! Reaper was amazing, his FF should be great!
X-MEN #166
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Pencils & Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
A great big Marvel welcome to new writer Peter Milligan! The X-Men travel to Antarctica to respond to an S.O.S. from a colony of mutants…and what they find is far more shocking than they expected! Will the X-Men share the colony's gruesome fate?
Mike: Probably the best decision Marvel has made in a long while was to put Milligan on X-Men. I personally, wasn’t all that fond of Austen’s run on the book and when I got wind of Milligan on the book I was stoked! His X-Statix was flat out amazing and if anybody can take the reigns and pull a total 180 to make the team we all know and love come back, it’s him!
TYR #1
Written by Craig Maloof. Art by Alex Lancaster.
A young teenager, Typhi, begins his adult years with several things rocking his world. A budding romance, going to college, and the death of his parents. But, when you add saving the world to that list, and you get a story unlike any other. Watch as Typhi handles the stress of the real world while trying to save the world even though he doesn't want to.
Mike: Yet another great find this month that isn’t in Previews! Why, you may ask, am I straying a bit? Well it is what looks good after all and Tyr definitely looks good! From some of the previews of the book I’ve read the story delivers an instant hook from the beginning and the art really brings it all home! After just reading the little blurb you may think “what makes this different than anyone else who may have tried it?” Well, I’ll tell you; how’s a fresh take on the idea sound? Amazing story matched with killer art that has you going from start to finish craving more? The series debuts on November 17th fromRonin Studios and can be purchased through comixpress.com. Make sure you get a copy of this one while you still can!
A VERY TEST-TUBE CHRISTMAS
Written by Scott Ziolko, MIKE STORNIOLO, Joshua Fialkov, Kevin Lynch
Art by Scott Ziolko, Kevin Lynch, Jason Klase, Jason Dinger, James Clarke.
Test-Tube is the story of two pals, 3-D and Lewis who begin with a guy's night out on the town and end up embarking on a journey filled with action and adventure to win the heart of a beautiful woman and save the world from emanate threat at the hands of an unknown threat. But now the holidays are rolling around and these two pals take a load off and embrace the holiday spirit! Hilarity ensues in this one of a kind special!
Mike: Come on, do you really expect me to not pimp my first published work? J Anyway, all kidding aside(and biased opinions) this really is a terrific book! Ziolko has an awesome talent for a great story with a nice match of art! The first Test-Tube mini was great! Action, lots of humor and just good ole’ story telling at its best! Now there’s the Christmas special; (Two pager by yours truly!) If you want to know how to order a copy head over to testubecomics.com and click the “ordering” link. Follow the instructions and bam! Good comics-o-plenty! Come on, support! It’s only a buck! $1.00! Copies available NOW!
THE RON-THOLOGY #1
Written by Ian Harker, Jeff Schomber, Rob Messick, Walt Hackett, John Carr,
Art by Ian Harker, Brian Milligan, Walt Hackett, John Carr, Matt Butler
"The Ronthology" is an anthology book about a real person, the now infamous "Ron". Ron is a middle-aged, lower middle-income, single, misanthropic comic book geek. His views on the world and pop-culture set him apart from the average geek, he is clearly a cut above the rest of the basement-dwellers. There is a total of 14 installments in the book ranging from 1 - 8 pages in length with topics ranging from the brutally real to the absurd. There are 7 contributors to the book in total, although myself, Ian Harker is responsible for the majority of the work, I am also the editor and publisher of the book. Anyone who wished to purchase a copy of "The Ronthology" will also receive my 16-page mini-comic "Ultimate Peanuts".
Mike: Chances are you know nothing about the now infamous “Ron.” Maybe after reading a bit of the description you can begin to grasp the great mystery that is ‘“Ron.” But to truly understand, you need to read the book. I have never had the honor to meet Ron, but reading the book sure as hell makes me want to! Non-stop hilarity from page one, to page 22! Read as Ron struggles to complete his ultimate Rom: Space Knight Collection, try and rub one off in peace, and finally…the death of Ron (sort of)! If you want to get a copy e-mail Ian at givemefreedom2001@yahoo.com and he’ll give you an address to mail to, and you just need to send $2 and a stamp (plus a shipping address). This book comes off HIGLY recommended from me. Copies are available for order NOW! I’ve read it and it’s a hell of a book! Don’t miss out!
Well that’s all I got for you guys this month! I hope that you enjoyed the column and, especially this month, found some awesome new books to try out! Lots of cool stuff this month, so be adventurous! Swing by the WLG Boards (see link below) and let me know what you thought! Feedback’s always appreciated!
Until next month…
-Mike Storniolo
Were Diaz's picks on the mark?
Have your say on What Looks Good at the Looking Good message board.