December 2006 Comics
Comics from December 2006. I didn’t really get excited about any of these except the first one:
Curses by Kevin Huizenga (Drawn and Quarterly): A collection of short pieces from Kramer’s Ergot, Drawn and Quarterly Showcase, The Orchid Anthology, Or Else 1, and Time Canada (?). I’ve read all but one of these, but rereading them in a collection was worthwhile. The way Huizenga puts a lot of non-fictional references into his comics is much in evidence, and provides for the strength of some of these pieces (particular The Curse which goes into the history of starlings in the US). This is a strong collection by an comic artist who is clearly still moving towards his best work.
Phoenix 9 by Osamu Tezuka (Viz): This collects the tenth and eleventh story in the twelve story cycle that makes up Phoenix, one from the past (Strange Beings), one from the future (Life). Both once again delve into the meaning of life and compassion, the meaning of humanity (and inhumanity). Strange Beings suffered from a lack of any resolution (even though one section of the story seems to promise such). Life was a bit cliched, in its use of cloned humans as a storytelling device. There is one more story to go, though it will be spread out over two volumes. Here’s hoping Viz finds something equally interesting to replace it.
Acme Novelty Library 17 by Chris Ware (Drawn and Quarterly): This volume continues the Rusty Brown story from last issue, though the Building Stories serial has disappeared, in its place a bunch of pages about a bee. At the glacial pace Ware works (and the similar pacing of the stories), one wishes he would just stick to one story and finish it. As with other Ware comics, I found myself bothered and emotionally unaffected by his perpetually mopey characters, and this one lacks the interesting formal organization of the previous issue.
Flash Gordon Vol. 6 and 7 by Alex Raymond (Checker): These two volumes finish up Raymond’s run on this comic strip from the 40’s. He was drafted into the army, which ended his run. When he returned he started up the detective strip Rip Kirby (which I’d love to see a nice collection of). Raymond seemed to be coasting along with these last two volumes. The stories are even more repetitive than the previous volumes. Not recommended, stop at volume 5.
Interiorae 2 by Gabriella Giandelli (Fantagraphics): Ehh. Another Ignatz series loses my interest. For those of you counting… I think Huizenga’s is the only one I plan on continuing to read.
The Comics Journal 279 (Fantagraphics): I was excited to learn more about Joost Swarte’s work in the interview this issue, but there wasn’t a whole lot of actual talk of his comics. A bunch of reviews, some I agree with, some I don’t (I think Veitch’s Can’t Get No, gets too much credit). Not a great issue.
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