WLG #54: Last Train To X-ville

By Michael A. Diaz

Wow, what is it with all of these horror comics coming out as of late?

Also, is it me, or is Steve Niles writing all of them?

Well, maybe not all of them as The Goon is written and drawn by Eric Powell, and of course you have Hellboy and its derivatives written by Mike Mignola, but still, is sure does seem like that Niles dude is writing a whole bunch of horror comics.

The thing is, I’m reading them. No, not all of them, but considering Dark Horse’s success with its horror line as of late as well as my own enjoyment of them, I’d almost have to think that there is a resurgence in the horror-comic genre right now. No, we’re not to the where horror comics were back in the '50s, back when the whole Seduction of the Innocent debacle was going on, not that I think we’ll ever be back at that level, but still, horror comics are more prevalent than they used to be.

Heck, last week I bought Freaks of the Heartland, and this week I am buying Last Train to Deadsville... as well as 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow. And to think, a couple of years ago I didn’t even think that I liked horror comics.

That just goes to show that when something is done well, regardless of the genre, people are going to read it.

What can I say, I love comics!

Standard Disclaimer: For those of you new to the WLG experience, here's how it works: Every week I check out the release schedule from the Diamond Comics Shipping List and decide which comics that I am going to spend my hard-earned money on. Yep, my money. I don't get any handouts. That's good, because it helps to maintain my objectivity. If I spend money on a comic book and it turns out to be crap I'm going to be upset.Obviously superhero-themed comics are going to be the king of the hill, that’s just how it is in the U.S., but I’m curious as to why this resurgence of comic books into the market place. Is it in any way connected to current social and political events? I ask, because the horror comics of the '50s were largely fueled by the fear and ignorance spread by McCarthyism. With the word “terror” being bandied around so much today could it be that now is prime time for the rebirth of the horror comic?

I’m not sure, just thinking out loud mostly, something that crossed my mind as I was looking at what books were coming out this week.

Speaking of which, let’s see What Looks Good…

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DARK HORSE

LAST TRAIN TO DEADSVILLE: A CAL MCDONALD MYSTERY #1 $2.99 (Steve Niles / Kelly Jones)

I know almost nothing about Cal McDonald, other than the fact that he is a creation of Steve Niles and that there are also novels about his adventures as well. However, after picking up the first three issues of Freaks of the Heartland I was pleasantly surprised with the twist the story took. I admit that I picked up the first two issue as more of a curiosity to see what Niles could do outside of the “Barrow-verse” that he has created at IDW and was actually considering dropping the book if the third issue didn’t grab me a little harder. Well, it grabbed me and I am glad that I stuck around.

Also, after reading and falling in love with the ill-fated The Crusades title for DC/Vertigo I’ve been craving new art by Jones. This should fit the bill nicely.

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DC

BIRDS OF PREY #67 $2.25 (Gail Simone / Ed Benes)

Last issue’s “flashback” was pretty good, even for someone like me that knows nothing about the history of the Black Canary. Seeing how her mother’s exploits may be tying into Dinah’s was interesting, especially concerning the reveal of this arc’s nemesis.

For a book that I knew nothing about just over a year ago I have quickly become engrossed in this title. Anyone that says that there needs to be more woman-oriented comics where the heroines are just as effective and capable as their male counterparts needs to look no further than this book. Sure, there’s a little cheesecake in this book, but the T&A factor isn’t nearly what it is in many other comics (cough cough Top Cow cough cough). Plus, the cast is almost entirely female yet the characters are strong and well crafted, not caricatures.

This is female-centric comics done right, encouraging female readership while not alienating the male fanbase.

A couple of weeks ago I noted that Y: The Last Man was a “perfect” comic book. You can add Birds of Prey to that short list.

SEAGUY #1 (Of 3) (MR) $2.95 (Grant Morrison / Cameron Stewart)

Grant Morrison doing a satire of comics and the industry while infusing his trademarked weirdness.

Do you need another reason to pick up this book?

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IDW

30 DAYS OF NIGHT: RETURN TO BARROW #3 $3.99 (Steve Niles / Ben Templesmith)

After Dark Days I was thinking that any continuation of the premise would be trite and derivative, so kudos to Niles and Templesmith for being able to take their wholly original concept and be able to build upon it nicely.

The sun just went down in the last issue, so let the carnage begin!

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MARVEL

EXCALIBUR #1 $2.99 (Chris Claremont / Aaron Lopresti)

I don’t really get the reason that Marvel decided to name this book after one of their defunct titles, but then again, I didn’t get it when they did the same thing with the X-Factor mini-series, another title that had absolutely nothing to do with the previous incarnation.

Perhaps they should have called the title X-Nation, as such would have made more sense as well as the fact that this new book could have been a prequel of sorts to the long-gone X-Men 2099 book, which in turn was later re-christened X-Nation.

Either way, I’m picking this title up as I think that the premise is interesting. Charles Xavier has been preaching his word of mutant co-existence at his school for some time. Now he has the opportunity to impart his knowledge and his message to an entire country. True, it is a small country in ruins, but he still has an opportunity unlike any that he has had before.

I confess to being a little dubious about Claremont on this title, but when he’s on he’s really on, so I’ll give him another chance. That, and Lopresti’s pencils look excellent.

EXILES #47 $2.99 (Tony Bedard / Mizuki Sakakibara)

The team is in the Marvel Universe proper once again, though this time there are guest appearances by Namor, the Fantastic Four, and from Morrison’s New X-Men, Beak and Angel.

This being my most beloved X-title I am watching Bedard’s run a little closer than most, but he did a good job with the first issue, so I am eager to see where this arc goes.







NEW X-MEN ACADEMY X #1 $2.99 (Nunzio DeFilippis & Christina Weir / Randy Green)

You know, my friend Ringo is always teasing me for liking so many mainstream comic books, especially the X-titles. To a certain degree he has a point, as I do buy the vast majority of the X-titles (Weapon X and Cable/Deadpool being the exceptions), but when I got to thinking about it, the X-titles that I really tend to like are those that are a little different from the norm. Case in point, the title that I was most interested in reading during this “ReLoad” event was District X a couple of weeks ago. True, Astonishing X-Men doesn’t come out for another week yet, but though I am interested in seeing what Whedon and Cassaday do with that book, I know that after District X this book is the one that I am most looking forward to reading.

DeFilippis and Weir really did a nice job of grabbing my attention and pulling me into New Mutants with their characterization. The slowly built the characters and made them integral to one’s enjoyment of the book, not an easy task when the title starred several “no-name” mutants as well as some of the original “New Mutants.” Though I am a 30-year-old man, I really thought that the writers created a book that would be appealing to a teen audience.

Likewise, I thought the same thing about Emma Frost, especially with its first arc. Randy Green did an excellent job with that arc, perfectly creating a youth-oriented feel for the book. Coupling Green with the DeFilippis/Weir writing team sounds like a perfect match.


RUNAWAYS #15 $2.99 (Brian K. Vaughan / Adrian Alphona)

The Runaways face off against their parents, all this while a select few members of “The Pride” appear to be plotting against the rest of the group.

I can’t even begin to properly tell you how much I adore this book. Though, as much as I love it why is it beginning to feel like this title is winding down to a conclusion?

I hope not. Runaways is a consistently good read month after month.





ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #59 $2.25 (Brian Michael Bendis / Mark Bagley)

Entertaining as always, the last issue was especially so as we watched Peter attempt to get back to New York City from Brazil of all places. Not only did he have to get home, but he had to get there before his Aunt May returned from her trip. The only problem is that someone is waiting for him at home to confront Spider-Man.

Always a good read.






WOLVERINE #15 $2.25 (Greg Rucka / Darick Robertson)

Wolverine chases the “Native” through the snowy wilderness as Sabretooth tracks them both. I know how this will end, and you know how this will end. At some point you just know that Wolverine and Sabretooth are going to face off because, well, that’s what they do. Still, Rucka has been able to add some depth to the story so that it is much more than just an excuse to show these two going at it.

This title is the best that it has been in a long time.

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So, what do you think, is there a resurgence in horror comics right now, or am I just off my rocker and just recognizing a genre that has always been there? I’d like to hear what you have to say, so please stop by the Looking Good message boards (see link below) and let me know what you think. Heck, while you’re there let me know what some of your favorite horror titles are. I have to admit that I have liked what I’ve seen so far, but I am sure there is much more out there for me to sink my teeth into.

Until then,

Peace!

-Diaz

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Were Diaz's picks on the mark?
Have your say on What Looks Good at the Looking Good message board.

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