Review- PLANET OF THE APES VOL. 2: THE DEVIL'S PAWN

PLANET OF THE APES VOL. 2: THE DEVIL'S PAWN (Boom, 2012; Softcover)

Collects Planet of the Apes Nos. 5-8 (cover dates August- November, 2011)

Writer: Daryl Gregory

Artist: Carlos Magno

This is a great time to be a Planet of the Apes fan. Between the most recent movie and these comic books from Boom, quality for the franchise is at a high not seen in 40 years. Daryl Gregory is a great writer, and he gets what the Apes universe is all about. I am really enjoying seeing the relations between apes and humans strained to the breaking point, and the fallout which becomes “the way things are” in the first film. I try not to use the word great often or lightly, but this is a great title.

The OCD zone- Boom Studios' collected editions are high quality stuff. Wax coated cardstock covers and nice coated stock paper...everything that an OCD suffering boy (or girl) could possibly want.

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Review- COLD WAR VOL. 1: THE DAMOCLES CONTRACT

COLD WAR VOL. 1: THE DAMOCLES CONTRACT (IDW, 2012; Softcover)

Collects Cold War Nos. 1-4 (cover dates October, 2011- January, 2012)

Writer and Artist: John Byrne

Michael Swann is a British spy...and not a British spy. This takes place during the 1960s, and is a fun variation of the James Bond riff. If you enjoy fast paced, action packed spy stories, then this should be right up your alley. I am definitely on board for any and all future Cold War books.

Byrne has been undergoing a creative renaissance over at IDW with his creator owned stuff. He seems to be having the time of his life marching to his own drummer. It's a pity that fandom can't forgive and forget, and enjoy these books. Byrne is like Kirby in the later period of his career; much derided, and once he passes away, everyone and their brother will celebrate the man's entire catalogue. Why not enjoy his new projects now, while he's still alive? 

The OCD zone- Super heavy duty, coated paper stock. These Korean printed books smell wonderful, likely the result of a mixture of asbestos tiles, lead paint chips, mercury from recalled thermometers, along with the secret ingredient: the tears of the Korean children working the printing presses. Couple that with paper (likely) made from virigin Amazon rain forest trees, and you have a scent that can't be beat!

I dislike how collections of Byrne's books all have the covers in the back of the book rather than in the chapter marker spots. The only reason that I can think of for this is that with all of the variant covers that they've had, a cover gallery in the back is the only feasible option.

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DC has made strides in fixing the problem of their books not laying flat. Join the cause page if you want make sure that DC keeps up the recent good work on their hardcovers. Don't do it for me, do it for the children. Won't somebody please think of the children??

Review- '68 VOL. 1: BETTER RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE

'68 VOL. 1: BETTER RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE (Image, 2012; Softcover)

Collects '68 Nos. 1-4 and '68 Encore Edition (cover dates April- October, 2011)

Writer: Mark Kidwell

Artists: Nat Jones and Tim Vigil (back-up stories Mouths of Babes and Sissy only)

I first encountered '68 a few years ago in the Horror Book trade paperback. This mini-series ties in nicely with the one-shot, and it done by the same creative team. The basic premise of this series is this: What if the events that occurred in the 1968 film Night of the Living Dead occurred around the world? What if the dead rising was not an isolated incident but a global one? This takes place in Viet Nam, with the exception of one scene, and is a great read. I am currently in the midst of my comic book purchasing reorganization act of 2012, but I will try my damnedest to stick with this series. 

The OCD zone- Image makes top quality trade paperbacks. Nice paper, the whole bit.

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DC has made strides in fixing the problem of their books not laying flat. Join the cause page if you want make sure that DC keeps up the recent good work on their hardcovers. Don't do it for me, do it for the children. Won't somebody please think of the children??