Review- IMAGE FIRSTS COMPENDIUM VOL. 1

IMAGE FIRSTS COMPENDIUM VOL. 1 (Image, First Printing, January, 2015; Softcover)

Collects Wytches #1, Outcast #1, Nailbiter #1, Southern Bastards #1, The Fade Out #1, The Wicked + The Divine #1, Low #1, Shutter #1, and C.O.W.L. #1 (cover dates April-October, 2014)

Writers: Scott Snyder, Robert Kirkman, Joshua Williamson, Jason Aaron, Ed Brubaker, Kieron Gillen, Rick Remender, Joe Keatinge, Kyle Higgins, and Alec Siegel

Artists: Jock, Paul Azaceta, Mike Henderson, Jason Latour, Sean Phillips, James McKelvie, Greg Tocchini, Leila Del Luca, and Rod Reis

Colorists: Matt Hollingsworth, Bettie Breitweiser, Adam Guzowski, Jason Latour, rico., Matt Wilson, Greg Tocchini, Owen Gieni, and Rod Reis

Image Comics has done one of the best brand turnarounds in the history of comics. A dozen years ago this company was an also-ran, home to a few moribund properties and endless failed concepts. That changed around the turn of this decade. Comics were enjoying renewed attention due to the glut of movies and creators were looking to pimp their “IP” to get it optioned for movies or television. Creator owned comics are where the new ideas are these days.

This book collects the first issue of nine different titles. There was a second volume the following year, but I don't have that one. I'll review each first issue collected in this book in pellet review format.

Wytches makes a great first impression but falls short. I checked out the first trade from the library and couldn't even be bothered to finish it. The first issue is a strong hook but the subsequent ones couldn't sustain my interest, even for free. 3

Outcast is an interesting Exorcist riff recycled enough times where it might fool youngsters. It's interesting enough as its own thing and might be worth checking out. 4

Nailbiter is a solid concept that I would pick up if I were still buying boatloads of books all the time. 4

Southern Bastards is worthy, a real deal concept that seems like it would go over great as a Netflix series. 4.5

The Fade Out- Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips can do no wrong. This is another one of their five star concepts. I read the first trade some time ago but need to go back and finish reading the series. There is so much going on in comics that things get lost in the shuffle, even when they shouldn't. 5

The Wicked + The Divine is a spit shined Cadillac firing on all cylinders. It's available only as a digitial checkout from the library. While I am loath to reading comic books on a screen, I am even more loath to spending money on still more comic books these days. 5

Low is complete and utter garbage. 0

Shutter is a forgettable concept told in an unconvincing manner. 0.5

C.O.W.L. is regurgitated pretentious crap, a “smart” post-superhero dystopian sort of thing that should be avoided at all costs. Buying comics like this shows the terrorists that they can win or something like that. -1

So there you have it. While I buy very few new comics series these days I have to take a peek at newer stuff once in a while. I'll never be a “all new comics suck” kind of guy, but I am also not a seeker in the respect of being like the fans who jump from new thing to new thing. I can't do it all. Lord knows that I've tried.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 2.78 out of 5.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials of physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Paper stock: Semi-glossy coated stock. Closer to matte but it has a slight sheen.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Laminated cardstock cover.