WLG #208: Northern Indepence!

By Michael A. Diaz

It's kind of a light week this week for me and as I'm looking over the books I see that the book that is catching my eye the most this week is something that is very different from the norm.

That got me thinking. My comic book tastes are pretty well rounded. Yes, I still love a lot of the typical superhero books featured people in capes punching each other. Beyond that there are books that are taking that genre and stretching it, giving it new shapes. Other books are giving the genre a fresh spin (Brit, Dynamo 5), while others are still writing fantastical stories, just without the typical men in capes Walking Dead). And, of course, there are the indie books that aren't about superheroes or fantasy at all, just good story telling (Blankets, Tricked, Carnet de Voyage). I love comics in most all of their versions and formats.

Lately, though, I've been craving some more of that indie spice. Like any other obsession my tastes go through cycles. Sometimes all I want to read about is a group like the Authority forcibly trying to make the world a better place; sometimes I just want to read WildStorm comics.

Right now, though, I'm really feeling a craving for some GOOD indie books. The trouble is, I don't know of any out right now.

Can someone help me out?

Think about that while I insert this:

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. 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.I finished Alex Robinson's Tricked well over a year ago now, and I don't know when Craig Thompson's Habibi is coming out.

I need something new, so hit the boards and pass along your favorite independent books.

Thanks.

And for this week let's see What Looks Good...

DC

MIDNIGHTER #14 $2.99 (Keith Giffen / Jon Landry)

The Midnighter taking on super-powered neo-fascists in his home town.

Honestly, what more could I want from this comic?

Michael is smiling.











NORTHLANDERS #1 (MR) $2.99 (Brian Wood / Davide Gianfelice)

I knew absolutely NOTHING about this book prior to checking out the releases for this coming week. There on the screen I saw this book called Northlanders coming out from DC. I hadn't heard a thing about it, so I thought I'd check out the blurb on DC's site. I'll let it speak for itself:

Christian/Islamic conflict. Technological revolution. Fear of the end of the world. Sound familiar? It should. But it's not the world of 2007…it's the world of Europe, circa 1000 AD. The world of Brian Wood's brand-new monthly series, NORTHLANDERS.

Following the red-hot success of one of last year's most critically-acclaimed books, DMZ, NORTHLANDERS is a fresh take on Vikings. NORTHLANDERS tells the epic tale of Sven, an exiled Viking prince who's been living the decadent, high life in Constantinople — the 11th century's answer to Las Vegas — but now must return to the desolate lands of his birth in the frigid islands of the North Sea to reclaim his vast inheritance. Intending only to take his money and run, he finds more than he bargained for as his former family and friends are enslaved at the hands of Gorm, his ruthless uncle. What follows is not only a bloody quest to free his people, but also a young man's struggle to discover where he belongs in a rapidly changing world…and what awful sacrifices it will take to make a Prince into a King.

NORTHLANDERS has all the cool, modern sensibilities audiences have come to expect from Wood (DMZ, Demo, Supermarket) mixed with the bloody action of 300 and Gladiator. Joining Wood on this epic journey is outstanding newcomer artist Davide Gianfelice and acclaimed cover artist Massimo Carnevale (Y: THE LAST MAN).

I normally don't quote a blurb verbatim like that from one of the comic book companies, mainly because this is a column I write, not one that I copy and paste. This time I didn't think that I could do the book justice without simply saying everything that was already said about it.

So what you see above, that's all I know. Vikings? Conflict? Turmoil?

I'm already salivating and I haven't even touched the first issue. For all I know this book could turn out to be one big stinker, but for now all that I know is that I REALLY want that book in my hands now.

Pick of the week, no question.

MARVEL

ULTIMATES 3 #1 (OF 5) $2.99 (Jeph Loeb / Joe Madureira)

As evidenced by my list of everything Christmas that I wanted last week one can guess that I LOVE the Ultimates, which is true. Millar and Hitch brought something to this book that hasn't been seen since, well, the Millar/Hitch run on The Authority. Wide-screen comics? Yeah, that's what we got.

Now the title is going through a change of the guard and I am eager to see where this creative team takes the book. I've got much respect for Jeph Loeb and still treasure the Batman books that he did with Tim Sale. Also, it's nice to see Madureira in the spotlight again. He was doing the X-Men back in the day right before I disappeared from comic collecting, so I'm happy to see his work again. It's almost nostalgic in a way.

However, ONE thing gives me pause: the Diamond listing for this title lists the series as one of five. Anyone know what's up with that?

I'm looking for some more over the top action on this title but with the flavor of the creators involved.

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Got some indie love for me? Then hit me up. Got some books you're drooling over? That works too! Just stop by the What Looks Good message boards (see link below) and post YOUR thoughts.

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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