By Martijn Form  Hiya Vertigolovers, Got a nice preview of Scalped #19 for you in this week's column, but first I had to share this news with you: WASHINGTON (AP) – “U.S. exports to Iran grew more than tenfold during President Bush's years in office even as he accused it of nuclear ambitions and sponsoring terrorists. America sent more cigarettes to Iran -- at least $158 million worth under Bush -- than any other product."This could be a great storyline in the satirical and absurd comic Army@Love: Season Two. A new way of handling terrorist countries: killing them slowly. Instead of shock and awe, it could be called choke and cough. I think Bush is right in the end: "We will smoke 'em out of their holes."  All joking aside, the major important news for us Vertigo and The Exterminators fans is that Showtime and Dexter producer Sara Colleton has bought the rights to make this Vertigo book into a TV show. How cool is that?I always said that The Exterminators deserves a bigger audience. Damn it, this book isn't hype, it's damn good. Simon Oliver envisioned his series as a 50 issue story, but it will end with issue #30, but not without a bang. I will do my part to commemorate the series by having a special Exterminator wrap up party lined up just for you. The Exterminators is coming full circle, because Simon Oliver first conceived his story as a television show before Vertigo picked it up. Can you imagine how Oliver initially pitched this story to Vertigo? Oliver: It's a book about exterminators.Simon Oliver and the great artists working on that book like Tony Moore and Darick Robertson have me totally obsessed with The Exterminators. The feeling that these characters all have a hidden agenda makes this book cooler than it already is. Vertigo is suggesting this for mature readers, but I think a younger audience would get a kick out of this too. It's got a lot of different elements: horror, gore, but basically it's just damn funny. I hope the television producers have the smarts to involve Simon Oliver in the process of transforming this book into a TV show, because Oliver is a fantastic writer who knows his characters well. He developed them into real people with depth and dark twists and turns. The whole series is an excellent drama and a unique world in the Vertigo line. Let's hope this TV show will actually be made because I'm still waiting for HBO's The Preacher. By the way, I got me a nice email from Vertigo artist Peter Gross who you all know has provided some amazing art in The Books of Magic and Lucifer. He's doing some new Vertigo stuff but it's still hush-hush. Yes, I twisted his arm quite forcefully, but we have to practice some patience here. Peter Gross: "I think they're announcing a new project at San Diego, so I can talk about that one after that. More new stuff will get announced later in the year."I for one can't wait for Vertigo to announce this project. Will keep you posted.  Did you pick up American Virgin Vol. 4: Around the World yet? Yes, yes, I know I keep promoting this series like I'm its creator (or the Vertigo publicist). I wish I were, but I'm not. I can't help myself because I want to stand on the corner of a busy street and shout at everyone to read this book. But since doing so would mean the police coming and putting me in restraints, I will do MY SHOUTING IN THIS COLUMN.READ American Virgin Vol. 4: Around the World! (*huff* regaining my breath here *huff*) Moving on to recent Vertigo releases…  100 Bullets #93: There is so much action, drama and mayhem in this issue that blood dripped from its pages, right into my lap. Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso have created yet another mind blowing issue. When you sink your teeth into the story, the plot twists your stomach, and leaves you gasping for air. Remi doesn't hunt his victims anymore, he stacks them up, but Coop has a nasty surprise up his sleeve.Young Liars #5: This is the freakiest comic I have read in a while. Man, there is no political correctness in David Lapham's writing or art, ever! Sexual assault and a midget? Never thought I'd see that in a comic. Lapham is pushing boundaries here! Issue #5 leaves you flabbergasted, with scenes that will make Quentin Tarantino shiver in fear. His Kill Bill is child's play to Lapham's Young Liars. You have to read it to believe it, trust me. This week’s goodies: I announce that this coming week belongs to Jason Aaron. Vertigo is releasing two books, both written by…Jason Aaron. Who would have guessed why I declare this an Aaron week. Hellblazer #246: Written by Jason Aaron; Art by Sean Murphy; Cover by Lee Bermejo Scalped #19: Written by Jason Aaron; Art by Davide Furnò; Cover by Tim Bradstreet      Aaron showed us some wonderfully disgusting stuff in Hellblazer #245, and Scalped is still the bomb. The level of crime writing is extravagantly good, and you are depriving yourself from some good comics if you're not on the Scalped bandwagon. Well that's it for me. I have given you all my Vertigo love for this week and need to give my wife some love too, because she feels I spend way too much time with my nose in their books. As if that ever is possible. So next week I will take her on a holiday to make her happy again, but I will sneak in some Vertigo books between my packed shirts. |
