BT07 – Comics by the Numbers

And here we go (as I think I already said).  Numbered titles are getting to be big these days …

52, vol. 1  (DC Vertigo) [collects #1-13]
w. Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid; a. Keith Giffin (breakdowns), J.G. Jones (covers), et al.

Writing		New reader?
Art		Non-comics reader?

52 was a series put out weekly (!) by DC this past year in the aftermath of the Infinite Crisis (or some such event).  It was designed to tell the stories glossed over in the “One Year Later” of the rest of the titles — most importantly, to describe how the world worked in the absence of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman (all of whom were taking some time off, voluntarily or not).  Four of the top writers in comicdom managed to keep a relatively coherent, multi-headed snake of a tale held together and actually engaging.  It shows you could tell good tales of unknown characters on a weekly basis, with unevenly executed art, and make folks want more. 

Not for someone  who doesn’t care much about comic book worlds.

This is the first of four volumes being put out.  I don’t know if I’ll get all of them — it was a great read-once, not so sure about it being a read-many-times — but I’m glad I got this one.  Between each of the issues, one or more of the writers comments on the contents, their favorite parts, the collaborative process, etc.  Fun.

100 Bullets: First Shot, Last Call, vol. 1 (DC Vertigo) [collects #1-5]
w. Brian Azzarello; a. Eduardo Risso

Writing		New reader?
Art		Non-comics reader?

100 Bullets has been running for some time now.  I’d tried the first couple of issues and didn’t like it, but I’ve grown to appreciate Azzarello more (after his Hellblazer run), and wanted to give it another go, so I bought the first trade.

Ugh.  An intriguing premise — someone filled with righteous vengeance is handed a pistol and bullets and told that both, and any killing done with them, will be utterly untraceable.  What will people do under those circumstances.

Risso’s art is appropriately dark, hip, and moody, but Azzarello’s writing is muddled and disjointed.  It’s neither enjoyable nor engaging (though, for folks who want some “gangsta comics,” there’s no spandex in sight).  Not buying any others.

(listening to: Gold, Murray, “Doomsday” from Doctor Who – The New Series – Original Television Soundtrack)