Posts Tagged ‘ Vertigo ’

Sunday Review – Saga Of The Swamp Thing Book 4 HC

May 15, 2011
By

Thanks to DC’s Deluxe line of hardcovers, I have been able to finally read Alan Moore’s run on Saga Of The Swamp Thing. True, the trade paperbacks have been easily available for many years now and I have borrowed them on occasion from friends, but for some reason or another I just never got around to reading them until now. I guess it was because the only thing I knew about Swamp Thing were the bad movies and TV shows of the 1980′s an d that just didn’t interest me. Now so many years later I have come to understand the brilliance of this series and it must be placed high upon the pedestal with Watchmen, Dark Knight Returns and Sandman.

Moore started on issue #20 and continued on with #21-58, 60-61, 63-64, Annual #2. DC Comics are four volumes in and it looks like it’ll go six total. So far it’s a journey into mystery, ecology, religion, magic and even superheroes. Here in Book 4, Moore has hit his stride. By now he has established an updated origin for Alec Holland and introduced all the key players including Abby, John Constantine, Arcane, Matt Cable, Deadman and The Phantom Stranger. We now enter Holland’s search for his true meaning in life and his place in “the green”. In these pages is the multi-part story called American Gothic where Swamp Thing must fight the battle of good vs. bad with many of his superheroes friends including Zatanna, Dr. Occult, Etrigan, Sargon, Dr. Fate The Spectre and others. But in-between comes the seminal Parliament Of Trees story from #47 where we meet other earth elementals including the original Swamp Thing Alex Olsen from House of Secrets #92. Holland ultimately leaves with more questions then answers but he does get an understanding of what he must do – it basically boils down to fighting evil.

As far as the book, itself, goes, it’s quiet special. It has a very nice Introduction by pop culture writer Charles Sharr Murray and a Forward by Neil Gaiman, who knows something about mystery and macabre. It also collects #39, which is the tie-in issue to Crisis On Infinite Earths. Why special? Because DC has yet to collect the crossovers in any sort of manner. Perhaps DC will publish a nice set of trade paperbacks complete with all 106 Crisis issues someday. The book also collects #50, an Anniversary double sized issue and the last comic in Book 4.

With Swamp Thing coming back to DC Universe proper, there is no better time then now get caught up with a classic character and one of the greatest comic book runs of all time.

Saga Of The Swamp Thing Book Four
Written by Alan Moore
Art by Stephen Bissette, John Totlebon, Stan Woch, Rick Veitch, Alfredo Alcala, Ron Randall and Tom Mandrake
224 pages, $24.99, DC Comics
Collects Swamp Thing #43-50 (Volume 2)

Recommended reading:
Roots Of The Swamp Thing

4-volume Annotated Sandman by Leslie S. Klinger Announced

October 11, 2010
By

A ton of comic news came out of this past weekends New York Comic Con. Ranging from digital, price drops and movie and TV updates. But the most exciting thing for me is the announcement that Leslie S. Klinger will be undertaking the massive 4-volume Annotated Sandman. This will be a fantastic companion piece to the Absolute Sandman 4 Volume set and Absolute Death. Don’t forget that DC/Vertigo has been re-releasing Sandman in trade paperback form all this past year and that project is expected to continue.

I hope you’re familiar with Neil Gamain’s Sandman. If you’re not – get to it!. For the rest of you, you may not be familiar with Klinger and that’s OK, rest easy because he is an expert researcher and commentator. I’ve long been a Sherlock Holmes fan going all the way back to my high school days, I guess that why I’m such a big Batman fan-boy now. I first heard of Klinger a few years back when he undertook the monumental task of the The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes (WW Norton) – a 3 volume set. The first two consisting of the Arthur Conan Doyle’s 56 short stories and the last volume being the 4 Holmes novels. Klinger also published The New Annotated Dracula in 2008. Not coincidentally Gaimen did the introduction for the book. So it come to no surprise that they are collaborating on Sandman.

Early details of this project is limited at best. It’s unknown if it this series will be released by DC/Vertigo, WW Norton or a combination of both. No release date is set nor is there a price. I’m sure everything will come out in due time. For now you may want to go out and pick up those Absolutes (or at least the trade paperbacks) so you can read along.

 

 

 

CCL Podcast #260 – Jack Kirby’s The Losers HC (DC Comics)

March 3, 2010
By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Collected Comics Library Podcast #260
23,774Kb; 25m 15s

There’s a buzz in the comic book community about the upcoming movie The Losers (April 23rd). This team of oddballs is a live action version of the Vertigo comic book series created by Andy Diggle. But did you know that it is loosely based on another group of military misfits called The Losers?

Although this particular group, consisting of Captain Storm, Gunner and Sarge and Johnny Cloud, did not form until G.I. Combat #128 (October/November 1969) they all have been characters in the DC Universe as early as 1959. Enter Jack Kirby at DC in the early 1970′s and besides creating and working on such great titles as The New Gods, The Demon, and OMAC, Kirby did a stint on The Losers in Our Fighting Forces #151-162 (1974-75). These stories have been collected in a very nice hardcover and I go over it and the complete history of The Losers on the show.

All this and the New Releases of the Week.

Chris

Links of Note:
CCL Podcast #55: DC Comics Fireside America At War TPB
Collected Editions Blog Fifth Anniversary
Forbidden Planet International Blog Fifth Anniversary

Collected Comics Library iTunes App/
http://www.collectedcomicslibrary.com/

Please visit my site sponsors: In-Stock Trades, Forbidden Planet International (UK), and Library Binding Company.

In the USA…
Great books from In Stock Trades
 In the UK and Europe…
Pre-order books from Forbidden Planet International
The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Jack Kirby’s The Losers HC
Losers Volume 1 and 2 (Vertigo)
Spider-Man Kraven’s Last Hunt TP
Spider-Man Kraven’s First Hunt Premiere HC
Essential Wolverine Vol 2 TPB
Essential Wolverine Vol 3 TPB
Essential X-Men Vol 1 TPB
Essential X-Men Vol 3 TPB
Essential X-Men Vol 4 TPB
Essential X-Men Vol 5 TPB
Essential X-Men Vol 6 TPB
Marvel Visionaries John Romita Jr HC
Marvel Visionaries John Romita Sr HC
Marvel Visionaries Stan Lee HC
Marvel Visionaries Steve Ditko HC
The Comic Book Podcast Companion
Jack Kirby’s The Losers HC
Losers Volume 1 and 2 (Vertigo)
Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Sub-Mariner Vol 2 HC
Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 1 HC (2nd edition)
Doctor Solar Man of the Atom Vol 4 HC
Original Encyclopedia of Comic-Book Heroes Vol 3 Superman
Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Volume 2 HC
Captain America by Ed Brubaker Omnibus Vol 1 HC
Avengers/Defenders War Premiere HC
EC Archives: Two-Fisted Tales Volume 2 HC
Marvel Masterworks Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD Vol 1 HC
Marvel Zombies/Army of Darkness HC
Shazam Monster Society of Evil Deluxe Edition HC
Essential Punisher Volume 2
JSA All Stars Archives Volume 1 HC

Best Collected Editions of 2009

January 2, 2010
By

1. The Rocketeer: The Complete Deluxe Edition Slipcase HC (IDW)
IDW hits the bullseye late in 2009 with a collection that Dave Stevens would have been very proud of. Not only is it complete, but the Deluxe Edition is packed full of DVD like extras. A fitting tribute to master creator and his creation. Hats off to Chris Ryall and everyone at IDW.

2. Bloom County Complete Library by Berkeley Breathed Volume 1 HC (IDW)
IDW comes through this time with a newspaper collection not too big and not too small (or thick, or heavy). I’m sure Chris Ryall and his staff looked at what is right and what is wrong when reprinting newspaper comics. The result is the first collection (of five) that is easy to read and belongs on every shelf. Let’s hope that Outland and Opus are in the works.

3. Will Eisner’s The Spirit Archives Volume 26 HC and Volume 27 HC (DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics)
A very nice collaboration of DC and Dark Horse, with lots of help from Denis Kitchen to complete the entire series. They all line up so nice on the bookshelf that friends of mine, who have never read comics, are drawn to it’s size and magnificence. Let’s hope DC makes a Volume 28 starting with the newer Darwyn Cooke run.

4. Blazing Combat HC and The ‘Nam Volume 1 TPB (Fantagraphics and Marvel)
There was a time when War Comics told War Fact. They showed us the blood, death, comradery and horror. These two series did just that and didn’t hold back. Much like our Veterans, they are too often overlooked. It’s so good to see these “real war comics” back in print. I hope DC will get the hint and finally reprint USS Stevens, Fight The Enemy by Mike Sekowsky (Tower Comics, 1966) would also be nice to see.

5. George Sprott (1894-1975) HC by Seth (Drawn And Quarterly)
Originally released in the New York Times Magazine over a two year period, Seth has taken is work and expanded the story. It’s now a complete contemporary classic, oversized, and easy on the wallet. A fine addition to any strong coffee table.

6. Captain Britain by Alan Moore and Alan Davis Omnibus HC (Marvel)
Captain Britain had everything going for himself in 2009: A fan favorite series and a giant Omnibus showcasing his early adventures. Unfortunately, the Omnibus was released 3 months late and his series only lasted a total of 16 issues included an Annual. Never-the-less, the two Alan’s go together like, like fine wine and brie, aged better over time.

7. The Complete Essex County HC (Top Shelf)
Way back in 2008 we all knew that Jeff Lemire would have a great 2009. Not only did his magnum opus (for now) get published in a complete edition, but he also released The Nobody and launched his new series Sweet Tooth. Now is your chance to get caught up and to tell all of your friends that you’ve been reading Lemire for years. Shhh. It’ll be our little secret.

8. Strangers In Paradise Omnibus Limited Edition HC (Abstract Studios)
Terry Moore’s soap opera has been packaged in a way that should be the mold matched by other publishers of Oversized Collections. Sure it’s a bit expensive but it’s well worth it. Unlike other giant one-volumes, the comics are split it up into two volumes and a third volume that had the cover gallery and extras. It’s also nice to have Moore oversee his own project instead of handing it off to unnamed editors and interns.

9. Absolute Death HC and Criminal Deluxe Edition HC (DC Comics and Marvel)
Death was suppose to have been published as a Deluxe Hardcover and Criminal was suppose to have been published and an Omnibus. Both turned out perfect, I wouldn’t have them any other way. Neil Gaiman’s Death makes a very good “fifth” Absolute Sandman and Ed Brubaker’s Criminal is a great first foray into a new format for Marvel.

10. Chew Volume 1: Taster’s Choice TPB (Image)
The sold out hit of the summer was collected as a very affordable $10 trade paperback. Among the sea of glorious Oversized slipcase books that Image (and everyone else) offers, this small trade paperback is has it all art, story and affordability. No reason not to pick this book up.

Collected Edition Blog browsing on Tuesday morning

December 22, 2009
By

As expected not much is going on in the wonderful world of collected edition news this week, but here are a few links:

  • Randy Dahlk, has posted his design work for The Complete Rocketeer Deluxe Edition HC, a book that sold out in a matter of two days. Chris Ryall, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of IDW, said that, “Unfortunately, all the deluxe editions are allocated to Diamond. We overprinted it but knew that retailers under-ordered it so a sellout was likely”.
  • Win A Signed Bill Willingham Copy Of Fables Deluxe Vol. 1 from Vertigo. You have until January 3, 2010.
  • Check out some preview pages of Naomi Nowak’s Graylight (NBM).

Collected Comics Library is on:
Facebook
Twitter