A new Loose Cannon is up today: another missive into the ether about Planet of the Apes, NASA's moon-return plans, and comics criticism.

+++++

KHEPRI.COM | TOP 05 GN OF 2005 | WEEK 47 (NOV 20-26)

05. Invincible v2 TPB (Image Comics)
04. WE3 TPB (DC/Vertigo)
03. Invincible v1 TPB (Image Comics)
02. Invincible v5 TPB (Image Comics)
01. Sunset City GN (AiT/Planet Lar)

Tom McLean, of Variety: " Colonia is what I think of as a true indie comicbook: It's got an interesting and original idea that's like nothing being published by the largest publishers and is something that is impossible to imagine being done in any other medium... Colonia follows a time-tested pattern that when embroidered with quirkiness, charm and simple but attractive art makes for a relaxing and fun read."

Joe McCulloch has an in-depth analysis of Colonia: On Into The Great Lands. And when I say "in-depth," I'm not kidding. He puts the work into a context with Jeff's other work, and in with the previous editions. He mentions the origins of the narrative, and addresses plot, character, and motivations. He even gets a few in-jokes that I'd have thought would have gone past almost everyone.

I wish all online reviews were this comprehensive and as well thought-out.

"There’s also a fair amount of bonus material here, including a very simple, very helpful, yet rarely-seen feature tucked away in the back - a short guide to the author’s prior works, complete with handy synopses and cover images. A seven-page sketchbook section is also included, as well as six pages of (prose) book reviews - many of the titles covered seem to have been used as reference material in the creation of this series, so it’s a bit like a heavily-annotated bibliography at times. It all works nicely as a look behind the making of this series, regardless."

+++++

Dorian Wright, over at www.postmodernbarney.com, also whips aside the curtain for a look at Colonia: On Into The Great Lands: "Nicholson's art has an engaging, simple, cartoony line, and he paces the story out so that new clues as to how the protagonists wound up in this strange, altered world come in a leisurely manner, allowing the reader to enjoy the strange sights and twists for their own sake. Both Colonia trades are excellent, all-ages material which should appeal to fans of fantasy comics, with the setting giving an extra appeal to history and pirate fans."

Randy Lander turns his critical eye on True Story, Swear to God: "Tom Beland has managed to capture the magic of romance in a way that makes it funny, heart-wrenching and uplifting all at the same time. It's the kind of love story that reaffirms your existing love affair with a significant other or spouse, or makes you long (in a non-jealous way) for a relationship like it, but it's also a very funny observational comic about the trials and tribulations of real life."

+++++

I really enjoy Bill Sherman's blog, PopCulture Gadabout, but I somehow missed these: "Where too many artists either airbrush or comically caricaturize the trappings of aging, (Rob) Osborne looks for the humanity in his figures and frequently captures it. A three-quarter-page panel depicting Frank and Sophia as they leave an acquaintance's funeral service is as mindful of the characters as it is the way Sophia's stockings sag, while a shot of Frank as he experiences a "good night" of sleep is plenty telling in its own right."

and

"Collecting the contents from issues # 9 and 10 of the Electric Girl comic book – with an equal amount of previously unseen material taking up the second half of the 160-page book – Brennan's volume bypasses conventional marketing practices by make all the new stuff as good as the reprint material. No filler, just more stories: what the kind of cockamamie deal is this? A pretty good deal, it turns out, especially for lovers of knowing funnybook writing a lá John Stanley's Little Lulu or Sheldon Mayer's Sugar 'N' Spike."

+++++

Kevin Church looks at the latest Previews and says: "They just want to remind you that they gave you Bran [sic] Wood through a full-page ad and a remind [sic] that all of his (quite good) comics that they've published are available for your purchase." Actually, all "they" want to do is continue our aggressive backlist program. But snark plays better to the cheap seats, I know.

+++++

SFist looks at Hench and Smoke and Guns: "As a former cigarette girl herself, Kirsten Baldock had plenty of material to mine for Smoke and Guns, a Sin-Cityish shoot-em-up about warring gangs of sexy cigarette girls - one of whom is seemingly invincible and may be called upon to lead her clan to victory. Quoth SFist_Jeremy: "The best thing about Smoke and Guns is it's just plain fun. A little silly, yeah - but if you can suspend your disbelief and delve into a world where competing gangs of cigarette girls rule the streets, you'll have a really enjoyable read. The art is a little exaggerated and comical, which really lends itself to this aspect, yet still sets a sometimes-grim atmosphere - ideal for this sort of tale."

"In Hench, an injured football player makes ends meet by taking on freelance work as a sidekick to long-suffering supervillains. It's a cute idea, tempered by Mike's somber, memoirish reflection on the inevitable triumphs of good over his employers - defeats which keep him from being able to provide for his family. There's a lot of buzz over Hench these days, including some attention being paid by big-time Hollywood-types."