Birds and animals in Comics Part 1.

From Batman Inc no.4. A mysterious and powerful ring around the world, 'the serpent eating it's own tail'. Grant Morrison is crafting a story that stretches right back to the Silver Age. Super spies, Nazi scientists, criminals, a mad old man feeling the web from a remote South Atlantic island and an ultimate weapon 'Oroboro', powerful enough to "blow a hole in the world". So, south Atlantic island and penguins, which means judging by the art that these little 'happy feet' must either be Adelie or Rockhopper penguins.

When the sun shines on Peter Parker

Picking up in Ultimate Spiderman 155 following the events where Spidey and JJ Jameson were held captive by Mysterio, JJ finds out about Peter Parker's big secret, gets himself shot in head and narrowly escapes death. In issue 155 JJ offers PP a college fund, his old job back at the Daily Bugle and not surprisingly a handshake on a deal that suits both of them, but mostly JJ (ha ha!).

I love the panel where they shake on it, JJ goes from well meaning ('we've shared a life experience together') to hard nosed JJ ( 'we all know too well') brokering a deal. His smile never slips as he tells his new employee to get out of his office, PP on the other hand...


So Peter gets his old job back, Kitty Pride returns to the fold, everyone celebrates his 16th birthday and to top it all off Peter declares his love for Mary Jane and wins her affections. This rosy glow however is about to lose it's shine with the upcoming arc of 'Ultimate Death of Spiderman'. Here's hoping that this great little comic isn't coming to a close with each issue being accessible, engaging and fun.

Chris Samnee was a great step in artist for this issue, he drew a fab retro JJ Jameson who looked 'so' much better with that hat on, Daily Bugle interiors were top notch and even the panels of Spiderman swinging through the city punched fresh air through the page. Next stop.. white doves and the light of heaven shine down on our web slinging hero.

Li'l Depressed Boy

Poor old L'il Depressed Depressed Boy watches the sun drop. I'm really enjoying this new series from Image which has been running as a web comic for a long time now. Lovely coloring, simple panels and music pointers similar to Phonogram. Nothing happens really, we just get to be the fly on LDB's wall as he struggles with his daily routines. Top marks Image!

Marvel..ous bedding!

I opened up the latest issue of The Invincible Iron and let out an audible gasp, surprisingly this is something that I don't normally do when I'm reading my comics, but this advert for the 'sweet dreams' bedding and accessories on the inside front cover was, I have to say, worthy of such a reaction. I wonder if they do this in an adult king size?

I can't really see my long suffering wife snuggling up to me under the creased muscles of the Hulk and the Mighty Thor, but you know we could take it in turns, one week it could be Cath Kidson polka dots and flowers and the next week heroes of the Marvel Universe. I've already spotted a natty pair of 'Man of Steel' underpants going for a fiver down at Primark, I can just see myself slipping under the covers wearing these with a wry smile on my face. Maybe that should read 'Balls of Steel'.

mmm... fresh Gopher!

Marshal James Book's battle with the ruthless outlaw and American Vampire, Skinner Sweet, may have ended but his struggles certainly haven't.


Now he has a new weakness, and that weakness is a hunger for blood. The first arc of Scott Snyder's American Vampire has been very well received, with a back up story from horror writer Stephen King. Vampires may be wearing thin, but this has been an engaging series so far and well worth picking up in trade.

From American Vampire, issue 5

The longest walk

Man of Steel hoofs it across the great American heartland, like a strange mix of David Carradine in Kung Fu and The Littlest Hobo, Superman is digging deep to reconnect with the common man, the restless lone Kryptonian canvasing for the popular vote, but has the readership got the energy to see through this period of soul searching and readjustment, in this 12 issue arc? Issue 701 was the first leg of the journey, the art was nice and I did like his final encounter where we get treated to Superman the philosopher.

I'll stick with this, I like a good walk and I can stick drawing pins into a wall map to track his progress. He should be raising money for charity though, surely this is a missed opportunity for DC?



There's a voice that keeps on calling me
Down the road, that's where I'll always be.
Every stop I make, I make a new friend,
Can't stay for long, just turn around and I'm gone again ....

Once Upon a Time in the DC Universe

Liberty's silhouetted arm reaches up into the sulfurous night sky above the city that never sleeps, its skyline brightly etched in the swirling waters of the Hudson. The red beacons atop the Brooklyn bridge blink as a tug boat trails a plume of smoke below.

So begins DC's 'Legacies', an old man looks back on his life long obsession with the mysterious masked men of Justice, his bookshelves crammed full with old newspaper articles, photographs, cuttings from magazines. He introduces himself as Paul Lincoln, a once upon a time street punk growing up on the hard streets of Suicide Slum. Together with his friend Jimmy they earn their keep making collections for Moran, a gangland boss running protection rackets on local business'.

Paul has a conscience and a heart and isn't so sure, but his friend Jimmy sees only the quick lucrative buck and a path leading out of the gutter where the have not's huddle round burning oil drums to keep warm. In this era of mobster rule we see the first costumed avengers swing into action, determined to clean up the city, to bring back law and order and give back hope to the honest man.


The two boys have their first run in with this new breed of hero when the masked Crimson Avenger bursts in on Moran's hideout with guns blazing, and again whilst helping to move illegal booze from a warehouse down on the docks when the Sandman and the Atom drop in, leaving the boys a calling card. It is at this point that the two boys choose their separate paths. Jimmy continues to follow a life of crime but Paul is enthralled by the mystery and daring do of these fearless vigilantes of justice, and it isn't long before a group of them team up to form the Justice Society of America.

So begins a new day, the dawn of the Golden Age. Written by Len Wein, and drawn and inked by the superstar father and son team of Andy and Joe Kubert, by the second issue we reach the end of the Golden era and the disbanding of the Justice League in the cold war era. Pulled before a special congressional hearing into un-American activities the members of the JSA are asked to remove their masks and reveal to the world their true identities, but they refuse and in a blinding flash they vanish from the building.

I've loved this series so far, the artwork has been great, very atmospheric, giving the reader a tangible whiff of prohibition America. It would have been nice if the friendship between Paul and Jimmy had been fleshed out a bit more and I was reminded of Sergio Leone's gangland movie epic 'Once Upon a Time in America', the four hour long tale of Jewish youths growing up on the streets of New York to become prominent crime figures.

Only in the evocative Kubert rendering of life on the streets, the colours and attention to detail opening a portal between now and 1984 when I sat uncomfortably watching as the haunting soundtrack of pan flutes hard wired itself indelibly into my brain.

Still from the film - Once Upon a Time in America