Still on the Shelf #9 - Gold Digger
Still on the Shelf #9 - Gold Digger
Originally published May 20th, 2003 on www.ComiXtreme.com. This work is, of course, © Craig Reade.
Overview
In the modern world of the major publisher’s “Creative-Staff’s Rotating Door,” often times it is easy to overlook the longevity that can often be found in a small-press title. Fred Perry, writer and artist for Antarctic Press’s Gold Digger, is just such an example.
Antarctic Press first published Perry’s Gold Digger in 1991, in Mangazine (#11-14). From there, Gold Digger spawned 1 miniseries, 2 ongoing series, 5 swimsuit issues, and several annuals and crossovers totaling over 100 issues of creator written and drawn content. Quite impressive by today’s standards, to be sure!
Gold Digger is essentially a “female Indiana Jones” story with a fantasy twist, which was introduced a full 5 years before the first Tomb Raider video game. Aside from actually hunting artifacts, the main characters often find themselves encountering a much more rich supernatural world than you will ever find in Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider, full of were-people, dragons, and more.
While I am not personally a fan of Manga-style art, it definitely lends itself to this title, giving it a “fun” feel, which I am certain is what Fred Perry intended. The characters of course are exaggerated, which can only serve to enhance a good comedy.
The Story So Far
Gina Diggers is our “Archeologist Extraordinaire,” who is something of a bookworm with a newly discovered sex appeal. The premise of this title is a simple one- Gina Diggers is an archaeologist on the lookout for rare artifacts and adventure. Gina is usually accompanied by her adopted sister Britanny, a were-cheetah (often called simply Cheetah), or Brianna, who in an earlier issue was created by melding the genetic material from both Gina and Britanny. Each of the three girls have their own unique traits- Gina is certainly the most intellectual of the three, while Britanny tend to a more physical, brute strength oriented personality. Brianna, as a melding of the two, possesses great intelligence but little patience for intellect and study, and tends towards a love for high tech armor and weaponry. Essentially, blowing stuff up is her bag.
In a recent issue, #41, Gina and Brianna return to “Dreadwing’s Lair,” a Dragon Lair Gina had visited some five years ago, in search of the link between Dragons and the ancient “Evolved Dinosaurs,” the Saurians. Having cleaned out the site years ago, Gina is not expecting to find anything- let alone Fauntleroy: a dragon trapped in the form of a human (along with two of his wives) who are searching for the key to return Fauntleroy to his dragon form. Nor do they expect the giant octopus creature who she thought they had killed the last time they were at the site. Of course, throw the three together and “hilarity ensues.”
Thoughts
My personal distaste for all things Manga aside, this really was a fun comic. Issue #41 was clearly in the middle of a story arc, but with a little research at Cheetaholics.net, the official Gold Digger homepage, it was pretty easy to get a grip on who the characters are. Not that it was necessary. Though Gold Digger boasts a fairly complex history, with an intricate cast of characters, it was not at all difficult to follow what was going on.
Gold Digger is a well written, fun comic. There is just something about the “questing archeologist” theme that works so well, no matter if it is in Indiana Jones, the Tomb Raider comic, or Gold Digger. This story is considerably less serious than the former two, but it works nonetheless.
Bottom Line
Gold Digger has developed something of a cult following. Aside from the Cheetaholics website (and fan forum), there are several other fan-sites in the “Gold Digger Webring,” as well as an IRC channel devoted to this off-the-wall comic. Even if you have never heard of this title before today, it is clear that there are a great many people who avidly follow Gold Digger, and finding information to get you up to speed will be no trouble at all.
The first ongoing series (Black and White) can be found in its entirety in the form of trade paperbacks and hardcovers, if you are looking to get some background on this great title. Antarctic Press has also been releasing Gold Digger Trade Paperbacks in a “Pocket Manga” format; the most recent collecting issues #32-35. More recently, the Gold Digger Swimsuit Special #5, and Gold Digger #42 have hit the shelves in the last week.
At $3.50 per issue, the price may seem steep, but I feel that 25+, uninterrupted, full color, high quality pages are well worth the price. And, since Antarctic is marketing the “Pocket-Mangas” at very reasonable prices, it should not be too difficult at all to get caught up on back issues. If anything, the Pocket-Mangas are the way to go.
Post your comments in the Forum!
May 13, 2003
Still on the Shelf #8 - Savage Dragon
Still on the Shelf #8 - Savage Dragon
Originally published May 13th, 2003 on www.ComiXtreme.com. This work is, of course, © Craig Reade.
Overview-
Have you ever picked up a new comic book, and felt completely fulfilled after reading a single issue?
This is my eighth installment of Still on the Shelf, and it occurred to me that I have never examined a title that, when it was all said and done, I could not recommend. This disturbed me greatly- after all, not every comic can be good. Somewhere, out there, is a title that is begging me to rip it to pieces, to recommend that you go to your local comic shop, find it gathering dust on the shelf, and mock it mercilessly. A title that I would only recommend if you were interested in shredding some high-quality paper to line your bird-cage with. This week, I made it my mission to go out there, pick up a title I knew nothing about, and destroy it for your amusement.
And this week, I have failed miserably.
Savage Dragon serves to remind me, yet again, that comic fans of today tend to take comics in general far too seriously. I have heard people refer to Savage Dragon as terrible. “The art sucks!” they say, or “the story is stupid!” I think that fans of this opinion are afraid to really enjoy a book that does not focus on characters that exist in an all-to realistic world (If you can consider comics to be realistic). They want heroes who loose their wife/father/sister/uncle/pet, worry about their lover cheating on them, or have to confront the stinging social issues and moral complexities of the real world, not one who has to fill in for Santa Claus in order to save the day, or something equally as ridiculous.
The fact is that Savage Dragon is a fun read, and an easy one at that. Often times, you get the feeling that you are reading a collection of newspaper comic strips, in the sense that every few panels has its own focus, and could easily be broken up and read separately. This is not to say that the entire book is written in this fashion- major plot points are put together in a more traditional comic-book style.
It is true that Savage Dragon has had its ups and downs, but that is to be expected from any title- especially one which is 10 years old. Savage Dragon has been around since the beginning of Image, and each and every issue has been written and drawn by its creator, Erik Larsen. Savage Dragon also boasts an extraordinarily complex cast of characters, and setting for that matter. Larsen has proved more than willing, on several occasions, to completely retool the entire title, changing Dragon’s profession, love life, or even his entire universe on a whim, if the story needs it.
The Story So Far
Way back in 1992, Dragon was found naked in a burning lot in Chicago. He had no memory of his life prior to this point. A nurse dubbed him “Dragon,” because of his green skin, fangs, and the large fin protruding form his head. He soon decides to join the ranks of the police force, in an effort to combat the threat of super-powered villains. Dragon has undergone many paradigm shifts- he has been a police officer, a government agent, and an inter-dimensional traveler. Currently he has left the “Image” universe, and his consciousness was transported to the body of his counterpart in the alternate “Savage Universe,” where he has been since issue #76.
This image of Dragon’s origin has repeated itself several times- it seems that whenever Dragon is down and out, almost killed, or about to undergo a major life change, he is found naked in a burning lot. This humorous gag seems to serve as warning that new stuff is about to happen, so pay attention.
Thoughts-
Savage Dragon brings back the “old-school” feel to comics. When reading this comic, I grew to enjoy what I was reading at that moment, not what may happen in the next issue. When reading this title, you are not analyzing the art, or nitpicking the story for its literary integrity, you are simply having a good time with it. Fights are not always epic battles- in fact; the heroes win handily more often than not. This serves to provide a real sense of danger when the hero actually IS in peril. And yes, heroes die all the time in this book, but in an almost comical fashion, they always end up coming back, in one way or another. And most importantly, each issue is a story unto itself- unlike many titles today which seem to have no difficulty putting out a filler issue, one which pretty much nothing happens. Basically, what amounts to a $3 ad for a future issue. I did not get that feeling from Savage Dragon at all.
Larsen also pretty openly spoofs other comic heroes and concepts from all labels- be it directly by name, or by an oddly similar hero or villain with a strangely familiar name and look (Liberty League? Octopus?), it is apparent who Larsen is spoofing. Even though the characters are meant to be taken seriously, you can’t help but glean some humor from the joke. You also get some seriously ridiculous villains, such as The Candy-Man in issue 105, who can turn anything he touches into delicious milk chocolate. As utterly ridiculous as that may seem, such villains in Savage Dragon are treated with the same sense of caution and care that a menace like Magneto or Two-face might be. To quote Dragon- “Candy-man is a deadly menace, no matter how ludicrous his crimes may seem!”
Bottom Line
While I feel you could pretty much jump into this title at any point, I recommend going back to issue #104, and beginning there. In this issue, Dragon returns to the Savage Universe for good, and gets married. If you start there, you are given a decent introduction to the current major characters, and won’t feel lost at all in the story. If you are really interested in boning up on Savage Dragon’s long and complex history, you can pick up a copy of The Savage Dragon Companion, which usually prices out at around $3.00.
Long story short- Savage Dragon is a seriously fun read. In fact, I would go so far as to say that most serious comic readers really should take the opportunity to give this book a try. Relax a bit, let go of the notion that a comic needs to have breathtaking art and a Shakespearean storyline, and have fun with this one. You won’t regret it.
Savage Dragon #107, though considerably delayed, is slated to be released tomorrow, May 14th. Issues 104-106 are also readily available: As I said before, Issue 104 is a great place to start. And, in addition to The Savage Dragon Companion, The Brotherhood of the Fin is a fan site with extensive issue recap and character overview sections, and worth checking out.
Post your comments in the Forum!
May 6, 2003
Still on the Shelf #7 - Promethea
Still on the Shelf #7 - Promethea
Originally published May 6th, 2003 on www.ComiXtreme.com. This work is, of course, © Craig Reade.
Overview-
Promethea likely one of the strangest “super-hero” comics I have ever encountered. I started picking this title up from the very beginning, and right off the bat I was sucked into the strange world of Promethea. The stunning art perfectly complimented the story, which made each issue that much more appealing. Dropping sales have lead to the announcement of the cancellation of this title at issue #32, but with 7 issues to go, anything can happen in the comic world, as we all know.
Alan Moore and J.H. Williams III created this title, and they have worked on it through its entire 25-issue run to date. Moore has used this title as an outlet for the great wealth of knowledge he possesses in the area of magic and the occult, and Williams’s art is nothing less than stunning, and integral to the tale.
The Story So Far-
The legend of Promethea begins as she, a young girl in 411AD, Alexandria, Egypt, is faced with a crisis. Her father, a Hermetic Scholar, is murdered by a mob of Christian priests. He, before his death, bade his daughter to escape to the desert, where the gods would protect her. Thoth-Hermes (a blending of the similar Greek and Egyptian Gods) appears to Promethea, and whisks her to the realm of Immateria, where she will exist for all eternity as a story.
Sophie Bangs, a college student in “modern day” New York City, attempts to interview Barbara Shelley for a term paper she is doing on a legendary character, “Promethea,” who has appeared in various forms of literature, dating back to the 18th century. Barbara is less than receptive, and warns her that it would be best for her to drop the subject of Promethea before it is too late, and refuses to answer any more of her questions. They are thrown back together again later when a creature called a Smee, who believes Sophie to be the “next Promethea,” attacks Sophie. Barbara, who is revealed to be the current incarnation of Promethea, rescues her.
Barbara is wounded, and unable to defend Sophie from the recovering Smee, so she explains that a select few people have the ability to channel Promethea by writing about her. She tells Sophie to write, something, anything, about Promethea, in hopes that she can become the new Promethea, and defeat the Smee when it returns. It works, and the rest is history.
Thoughts-
One of the most interesting things about this title is the fact that very little seems to actually go on in New York, and most of the main plot is focused on Sophie’s inner journey as Promethea. While the actual events in New York take the form of a narrative by a futuristic television program called “TEXTure,” the real meat of the story usually takes place outside of New York.
While many may have found it interesting, Promethea may have suffered most from a rather long story arc (lasted 12 issues!), where Promethea was traveling through the realm of Immateria on what amounted to a quest of self-discovery. Even though there was a bit of action back on Earth (by way of Stacia Vanderveer, Sophie’s friend who had taken up the mantle of Promethea in her absence), it seemed that the very rich, imaginary world of this New York city had been abandoned by Moore in favor of a detailed lesson in the occult. Moore had it all- eccentric characters (including a mayor with dozens of personalities), wacky resident “science heroes” in the form of the Five Swell Guys, ready made opponents for Promethea to encounter, and an overall rich setting for any number of stories to play out. And while I personally thought that the entire arc was a masterful lesson in the world of Magic, it went on far too long for a great number of readers, and even I myself grew impatient with it. With so much potential for a great story with this new heroine, it seemed to be a waste to ignore all of that so soon after going through the pains of establishing the intricate world Sophie lives in.
Bottom Line-
Alan Moore has either gotten the hint from fans, or he is about to embark on what he had planned all along. That long, strange, story was tied up over the last two issues, Sophie has regained the mantle of Promethea on Earth (see the latest issue), and she is finally back in New York, where she belongs, for the time being.
I won’t spoil the story for those of you who are interested in checking this title out, but I must say that though this is an ideal place to give the title a try. I would recommend picking up issues #24 and #25, the two latest issues, to get you up to speed before launching into issue #26, due out in stores May 14th. Though very little real action has taken place in the “Earthly” realm throughout the entire run of the comic, minor noteworthy events have peppered each issue, making the world that Sophie has been thrust back into very intricate and unusual. This is, by no means, Spider-man’s New York, and it will take some effort to really understand what is going on, but it is worth the effort.
This book is brilliant, and even if an increase in sales would not save it, I would like to see Promethea go out with a bang, rather than fade away. If you like what you see after sampling an issue, all of the past issues are available in trade-paperback and hardback, with a new compilation taking you through issue #25 set to be released. I know that many collectors are on a tight budget, but I firmly believe this title is worth the effort.
I highly recommend Promethea to any reader looking for something different, but magnificent in both art and storytelling.
Post your comments in the Forum!
April 29, 2003
Still on the Shelf #6 - Usagi Yojimbo
Still on the Shelf #6 - Usagi Yojimbo
Originally published April 29nd, 2003 on www.ComiXtreme.com. This work is, of course, © Craig Reade.
Overview-
If you like samurai rodentia, Usagi Yojimbo is the book for you.
My first exposure to this character, as I am sure it was for many of you, was in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon during the late 80’s. However, the character of Miyamoto Usagi (initially based on the 17th century samurai Miyamoto Musashi) has been around since the early Eighties. Granted, this version of Usagi is very much out of time, but it does give you a good idea of who this character is.
Usagi is a rabbit ronin (a samurai without a master) who roams the land of Feudal Japan at the time of the Shogunate. With the land under a single ruler, the importance of the samurai has been diminished. With no wars to fight or masters to serve, Usagi wanders Japan on a quest of enlightenment. Often, he is seen with his nephew Jotaro, who he serves as mentor and teacher. The comic is currently drawn in black and white, and put out by Dark Horse Comics. Stan Sakai, who created the character, has written and illustrated the title since the beginning.
Thoughts-
One of the most impressive things about this title is the coherent story. Sakai is obviously well versed in Japanese culture and history, and his wealth of knowledge and research is plain by reading the story. In addition, he shows great skill in sacrificing authenticity in favor of artistic license, when it serves the purpose of the tale. Anyone who has read and enjoyed James Clavell’s Shogun will love what this comic has to offer.
The art is not spectacular, nor is it meant to be. And while there are some light elements of humor, it is certainly not the focus of the title. Fans of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles might expect similar comedic content (after all, what is funnier than animals that can use martial arts?), but Usagi Yojimbo does not, in any way, rely on laughs.
I picked up a copy of #64 and #65, and enjoyed both of them. Each of these issues stood alone, and both would be excellent points for a new reader to jump into the story.
Bottom Line-
This title is a reader’s comic. Stan Sakai storytelling style sucks you right in, and his art does nothing more than enhance the tale.
I have nothing but praise for Usagi Yojimbo. The only drawback to this title may be the $2.99 cover price, since the art is in black and white. However, with 24 pages, and absolutely zero ads, you will get your money’s worth.
Usagi Yojimbo #66 is due out May 28th, and #67 will be out June 25th. This title comes out 9 times a year, so if you get hooked, keep that in mind. There are also several Trade Paperbacks of past issues available. If you are looking to add a new issue to your subscriptions, this is a good place to start. Usagiyojimbo.com, the official Usagi Yojimbo website, is a great place to start if you want more information about this great comic.
Post your comments in the Forum!
April 22, 2003
Still on the Shelf #5 - Betty and Veronica
When this column was originally posted, it included a reader poll asking the simple question - Betty or Veronica? What should not be a surprise to anyone, the result of the poll was an exact tie. No wonder Archie has such a hard time…
Still on the Shelf #5 - Betty and Veronica
Originally published April 22nd, 2003 on www.ComiXtreme.com. This work is, of course, © Craig Reade.
Betty and Veronica, mainstay characters of the Archie Comics line, first appeared in the 1940s, where their eternal battle over Archie began. They got their own title, Archie’s Girls: Betty and Veronica, which was re-launched in 1987 as simply Betty and Veronica. Largely ignored by comic collectors and fanboys everywhere, Betty and Veronica, either tucked away in the corner of your favorite comic book retailer with the rest of the kiddy titles, or in the aisles of the local grocery store.
Like your favorite Sunday comic strips, Betty and Veronica has changed very little over the decades. The art is simplistic and reminiscent of Blondie, and the stories are typically short and sweet. If you are looking for a story heavy on situational humor and ultra-light on character development, this title is for you.
The Story so Far?
Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge are your arch-typical high school girls at Riverdale High. Veronica is rich and vain, and very much on the egotistical side. Betty, on the other hand, is less sophisticated, but more good-natured. While both are boy-crazy to an extent, they very often end up fighting over Archie. The stories tend to revolve around superficial matters, as most strip-style comics tend to. Appearances by Riverdale’s other notable students, Jughead, Reggie, and the renowned Archie, commonly factor into the humor. Be it petty bickering over boys, clothes, shopping, or one-upsmanship, Betty and Veronica’s escapades always unfold in a formulaic, often humorous manner.
Issue #187 features six short strips, all of which are light in humor and substance. The stories range from Betty’s troubles in her responsibility of selecting a prom king, to a bird-watching trip, to outfit coordination. All of the stories are well suited to your average newspaper strip, short, sweet, and to the point.
Thoughts Betty and Veronica is like a crocodile- a living relic of an ancient time in comics. The art is not meant to stun the eye, and the story does not aspire to literary proportions. Regardless, it is fun, in a simple way, and suitable for all ages. And even though the very first issue of Archie’s Girls: Betty and Veronica boasts a value of nearly $2000, never will you see a current issue create a buzz amongst collectors for a potential increase in value. The title remains true to what comics were always supposed to be about- good natured and fun reading, without having to worry about fingerprints or bent corners.
Bottom Line-
Betty and Veronica is certainly not a title many of you will have pulled for you each Wednesday, but it is one of the last books on the market that are suitable for all ages. This, and the other Archie titles, are just the kind of book you would buy your child, to pique their interest in the hobby you so much enjoy. That aside, Betty and Veronica represents something that many collectors agree is missing from comics today- humor. And I can not stress enough one aspect of this book that I find most appealing- its utter lack of collectibility.
Pick up a copy of Betty and Veronica or Archie, roll it up and stick it in your back pocket. Enjoy a comic without detesting what the latest artist has done to your favorite character, or enduring the annoyance of a gaping hole in continuity when the writer forgets a fact from a character’s history.
In short- go out and enjoy a comic for what it is. A story, not a museum piece
Post your comments in the Forum!
StillontheShelf.com - no frills, just content. Powered by WordPress
©2003-2008 Craig Reade and Mad Cow Disease