Rude Chapbooks

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 21 May 2012 00:00

Hardcore #1, that is, Mr. SEO-Pornoholic. In addition to that sterling science fiction adventure from writer Robert Kirkman and artist Brian Stelfreeze, this week’s column praises Conan the Barbarian #4, DC Universe Presents #9, and Fury MAX #2 and pans a fifth new floppy.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 14 May 2012 00:00

The science fiction–based anthology Mystery in Space #1, alas, wholly lacks what SF fans and critics alike call “sensawunna.” Also analyzed in this column from the latest new floppies: Avenging Spider-Man #7, Frankenstein Alive, Alive! #1, Garfield #1, and Trio #1.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 07 May 2012 00:00

In an exceptional week for such things, Fate deals a winning hand to comics fans with a quintet of noteworthy debuts: Fury MAX, Mind the Gap, Popeye, The Spider, and Worlds’ Finest.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 30 April 2012 00:00

Following last week’s extraordinary “silent” issue of The Sixth Gun, for which series he recently earned an Eisner nomination, writer Cullen Bunn this week assumes the writing duties on two other titles: Captain America and Hawkeye #629 and Wolverine #305.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 23 April 2012 00:00

This week, after a seemingly endless interregnum, Castle Waiting Vol. II #16 occasions joy unalloyed, as does the return to comics of perhaps the preeminent paladin of the pulps with The Shadow #1. Also lauded: Batman Beyond Unlimited #3, Reset #1, and Wonder Woman #8.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 16 April 2012 20:52

So-called reality TV infests funnybooks in America’s Got Powers #1, a comic to delight Howard Stern fans and other wankers everywhere. Also greeted this week with much less contempt: Avenging Spider-Man #6, Courtney Crumrin #1, Fantastic Four #605, and Northlanders #50.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 09 April 2012 00:00

This year, as its logo nowadays shows, Image turns 20, and to commemorate that anniversary, this special column mulls five new floppies released by the company during the past week: Fatale #4, Invincible #90, Mudman #3, Savage Dragon #179, and Supreme #63.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 02 April 2012 07:14

Hmmm. Maybe a coupla typos there? In any event, this week our columnist waxes rapturous over the sagebrush psycho saga of Hawken #3. Also reviewed: Angel & Faith #8, Atomic Robo Presents Real Science Adventures #1, The Mighty Thor #12, and The New Deadwardians #1.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 26 March 2012 00:00

To true devotees of four-color finery, Ramón Pérez’s luxuriant and rambunctious artwork should commend John Carter: The Gods of Mars #1. Moreover, rivaling it for pleasurability from among this week’s five new floppies is another (black-and-white) debut: Ragemoor #1.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 19 March 2012 00:00

In Saga #1 (recommended, BTW), one character frets about defecating on another—and if that doesn’t draw coprophiliac eyeballs to this column in droves, what good is SEO, for pity’s sake? Also reviewed: Fantastic Four #604 and three other floppies newly delivered this week.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 12 March 2012 00:00

For its voguishness and verve, this week’s column embraces the Fables spin-off Fairest #1. Among freshly shipped floppies, it also welcomes The Manhattan Projects #1 and Night Force #1, praises Rachel Rising #6, and pans (out-Land-ishly) Uncanny X-Men #8.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 05 March 2012 00:00

The Wizard of Oz–influenced No Place Like Home #1 marks a dark and intriguing debut from Angelo Tirotto and Richard Jordan, but Batman Beyond Unlimited #1—the other premiere from among this week’s five comics under review—sparks considerably less enthusiasm.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 27 February 2012 00:00

Beyond the series’ customary virtues of script and art, AvengersAcademy #26 earns accolades this week for an unlikely but no less fine lagniappe: its letters page. Also praised, panned, or simply pondered: Dark Horse Presents #9, The Flash #6, Mondo #1, and RASL #13.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Friday, 24 February 2012 00:00

Belatedly, PLAYBACK:stl’s king of comic book crankiness rules on a quintet of rude-chapbookish subjects from the fourth quarter of 2011, created by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield; Jim Henson, Jerry Juhl, and Ramón K. Pérez; Mike Mignola and Richard Corben; Trina Robbins, Anne Timmons, and mo oh; and Osamu Tezuka.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 20 February 2012 00:00

This week, writer/artist Roger Langridge’s Snarked #5 makes our otherwise congenitally cantankerous columnist…well…positively burble. Dreadfully uncharacteristic—and not a little icky. Also reviewed: Fables #114, Moriarty #9, Peter Panzerfaust #1, and Wonder Woman #6.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 13 February 2012 00:00

With Kevin Keller #1, arguably the industry’s most conservative publisher earns kudos for launching an ongoing with a homosexual protagonist. Also lauded in this gloriously diverse week: Berlin #18, Black Panther #529, Conan the Barbarian #1, and Thief of Thieves #1.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 06 February 2012 00:00

This week’s column celebrates a brace of titles starring femme fatalities as disparate as Max and Caroline from a certain ribald CBS sitcom: iZombie #22 and Rachel Rising #5. Also lauded, just a wee, teensy bit, from among the latest select quintet of new floppies: Winter Soldier #1.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Thursday, 02 February 2012 19:09

Five-by-five, fanboys and fangirls! After airing multifarious objections to such commonplace end-of-the-year fun, our crotchety columnist succumbs to the temptation of naming his choices for the finest comic books of 2011. As defined. With provisos. Lots and lots of provisos.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 30 January 2012 00:00

Writer Jonathan Hickman earns a tandem attaboy this week for the carefully crafted cosmic craziness of his work on Fantastic Four #602 and FF #14. Also analyzed herein: American Vampire #23, King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword #1, and Kirby: Genesis #5.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 23 January 2012 00:00

For a second consecutive column—and the fifth time since mid-December!—a certain writer nabs accolades for the (ahem) Mark-ed superiority of his work, this week on Daredevil #8. Also reviewed: Conan: Road of Kings #12, Fables #113, Lord of the Jungle #1, and Xenoholics #4.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 16 January 2012 00:00

Almost inconceivably, our cranky columnist here lauds the first half of a crossover: The Amazing Spider-Man #677. Also praised, in a suspiciously benevolent week: Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #1, Punisher MAX #21, Reed Gunther #7, and X-Men Legacy #260.1.

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Written by Bryan A. Hollerbach Monday, 09 January 2012 00:00

This week’s column targets a Jack “King” Kirby revival dismal enough that it verges on posthumous regicide: O.M.A.C. #5. From among four other floppies, our ever-gentle columnist likewise likens The Lone Ranger #1 to something its protagonist’s horse might drop on the trail.