CROSSED VOL. 7 (Avatar Press, 2013; Hardcover)
Collects
Crossed:
Badlands
Nos. 29-36 (cover dates May- August, 2013)
Writers:
Christos Gage and David Lapham
Artists:
Christian Zanier and Miguel Ruiz
Colorist:
Digikore Studios
This
has been a brutal winter here in Metro Detroit, and for much of the rest
of the country for that matter. It's bitterly cold all the time,
with sub-zero windchills a common occurrence. It also seems to
snow a few times a week. In short, it sucks. The best thing to do
when it is like this is to blow off some steam, and what better way
is there to do that than there is with escapist violent fun like the
Crossed? No matter how shitty life seems in the dead of winter
I felt much better after reading this book. After all, winter will
end eventually, while the Crossed will never end. It helps put things
in perspective.
This
book contains two arcs: Quisling, a tale of a spineless
jellyfish of a man who sells out anyone and everyone around him in
order to survive. While I cannot say what depths I might sink to if
the world went to Hell like this, I would like to think that I would
meet my end with more dignity than this loser. It is fun to go
through these types of mental exercises while the gore and mayhem
ensue. The new development of the Crossed in this arc is most
interesting indeed. The second arc is Breakdown, a sort of
sequel to the Crossed: Psychopath mini-series collected in
Volume 3 of the collected editions.
As always, there are no taboos or societal mores that are spared. Everything decent is raped or fucked during the course of these arcs and the body count is nearly incalculable. And as always, I am disappointed with myself as a father and a human being for enjoying this series so much. I have considered going to a counselor to talk about where I have failed as a human being, seeing as how no decent, moral, upstanding member of society could enjoy Crossed. Either that or it is just fun to read because it so over the top. Christ, people, it's only a comic book. That's what I keep telling myself, anyhow...
Junk
Food For Thought rating: 4 out of 5.
The
OCD zone- As usual, the cover image for the trade paperback is
superior to the one used on the hardcover. The signed hardcover
editions have a better image still. The hardcovers are now Direct
Market exclusives, but truth be told, I have never seen Crossed
on the bookshelf outside of a comic book shop anyhow.
DVD-style
Extras included in this book: All are one
page each.
#29
Reflection cover.
#29
torture cover.
#31
torture cover.
#30
torture cover.
#32
torture cover.
#33
torture cover.
#34
torture cover.
As
you can see, there are many variant covers which have been omitted
from this collection, at least 20 by my estimate.
Paper
rating: 4.5 out of 5. Good weight glossy coated stock.
Binding
rating: 4.25 out of 5. Sewn binding with the book block glued
square into the casing. It is tight but loosens up as you read it.
Hardback
cover coating rating: 5 out of 5. Avatar's super thick coating on
their hardbacks remains the best in the industry. I have grown quite
fond of dustjacket free books (I know, I know, blasphemy!) with the
images printed directly on the cover.
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