Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters (DC) [collects #1-8]
w. Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti; a. Daniel Acuna
| Writing |  | New reader? |  |
| Art | | Non-comics reader? |  |
The Freedom Fighters entered modern comics history when the Quality Comics characters were acquired by DC. They became alternate Earth fighters against triumphant Nazis, but were wiped out in the Crisis. Recently, they’ve reappeared, though most of the members got taken out in the latest Infinite Crisis period.
In this story, we have a covert government agency, SHADE, led by Father Time, that’s busy recruiting replacements for the FFs. Enter Uncle Sam, who claims to be the embodiment of the American spirit, and who turns the FFs into guerilla fighters against SHADE and Father Time’s plots.
It all gets very dark and political and conspiratorial, and makes me feel like I’m reading something by Howard Chaykin for some reason, but the painted art by Acuna is lovely, and I don’t regret picking the book up, though I doubt we’ll see much more of the team for a while, which is a bit of a shame.
Usagi Yojimbo: the Mother of Mountains, Vol. 21 (Dark Horse) [collects #83-89]
w/a. Stan Sakai
| Writing |  | New reader? | |
| Art | | Non-comics reader? | |
Usagi Yojimbo is one of the longest-running owner-created comics out there, and with good reason. It’s anthropomorphic without being cute, authentic without being impenetrable, violent without being gruesome. The characters fight, struggle, get bloodied, face difficult decisions, and act real, even if they are anthropmorphic animals in Shogunate Japan.
And Stan Sakai is one of the nicest guys in comics. That good spirit comes through in his story telling.
This arc deals with Usagi’s romantic interest, lady samurai Tomoe, being sent to investigate a plague in borderlands controlled by her lord Noriyuki. Things are not as they seem, of course, and before it’s over, both she and Usagi will face treachery at court and a covert invasion on the border, mixed in with hidden gold, slaves, and Tomoe’s bloodthirsty cousin Noriko.
I cannot recommend the entire series enough, and while there’s plenty of backstory and history over the past decades it’s run, each story can be taken on its own without getting lost.
Wapsi Square: 2001-2004
w/a. Paul Taylor
| Writing | | New reader? | |
| Art | | Non-comics reader? | |
Wapsi Square is an indie comic which as run online for years (as the title indicates), It defies easy description — there’s young folks establishing their lives in the city, but there’s also a semi-intelligent dog and Aztec gods and demons running around. It’s … odd sometimes, but I enjoy the art, and the story has repeated charming moments.
(listening to: Chapin, Harry, et al., “We Gotta Get Organized” from Cotton Patch Gospel)
(listening to: Apollo Four Forty, “Lost in Space (Theme)” from Lost In Space – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
(listening to: San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, “My Church” from Naked Man)
(listening to: Beck, Christopher & Tobias & Whedon, “Overture / Going Through the Motions” from Buffy: Once More, With Feeling)
(listening to: McCreary, Bear, “Prologue” from Battlestar Galactica: Season 1)
(listening to: Nylons, “Time of the Season” from Hits of the 60s)