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.

Review- THE FADE OUT: ACT ONE

THE FADE OUT: ACT ONE (Image, 2015; Softcover)

Collects The Fade Out #1-4 (cover dates August, 2014- January, 2015)

Writer: Ed Brubaker

Artist: Sean Phillips

Colorist: Elizabeth Breitweiser

Ed Brubaker remains the brightest spot in modern comics. He has decided to take Noir to it's logical extreme, experimenting with every conceivable facet of it. This time it comes in the form of The Fade Out, with the reader being transported back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, back when the rules and laws of normal society didn't apply because of money. The more things change, right? A studio tries to cover up the murder of an actress, moving the body to make it look like a suicide while leaving screenwriter Charlie Parish in a predicament since he was sleeping one off in the other room.

This is where the real problem for this title starts. Brubaker is a brilliant writer. Everything that he has ever done has pushed beyond what he has done before. The Fade Out seems to take various elements of what has worked splendidly for him in the past and are presented here without anything different or new. This isn't a knock as much as it is an observation. Think of it in terms of albums by The Rolling Stones. Whereas Fatale was his Sticky Fingers, The Fade Out is more of his It's Only Rock 'N' Roll. Highly polished bits and pieces of what worked before, presented in a cohesive and enjoyable package. The trick now is whether this is Brubaker catching his breath, reiterating what he does best before making another leap or whether he is entering a holding pattern. Will the next arc be his Black And Blue? Let's hope not.

Sean Phillips and Elizabeth Breitweiser are a great pair, with Phillips' art and Breitweiser's color becoming more polished and refined. Phillips especially has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years.

I may sound a bit harsh, but part of this is Brubaker's own fault for being so inventive with every outing. If this were Joe Blow, who turned in competent yet average work time and again, I would be satisfied and give full approval. Brubaker is a victim of his own success, though, as I expect to be blown away. The twists and turns are all present here, but I haven't felt the gut punch yet. I am not giving up hope, though. This is only Act One. And this is still better than 99% of what is currently on the stands.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- Image makes the nicest trade paperbacks these days. Solid.

Paper stock: Thick matte coated stock.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Dull matte finish. It doesn't feel as chalky as many books with this type of coating do.