2/25/12

Army of Darkness #1:

Since I DO have pictures of the covers of the comics I, uh, COVER, let’s talk about Tim Seeley’s artwork here for a moment. Our heroine is very sexy and reasonably human shaped, not MANY humans look like that but she’s well within the realm of physical possibility. And what’s more, they beef-cake Ash out too. Eye-candy for everyone? It pales in comparison to a realistic depiction of the human anatomy for everyone but I’ll take what I can get.

Eliott R. Serrano’s script follows Ash from the Army Of Darkness film, but instead we have a woman named Ashley in Ash’s shoes. Changing the hero to a heroine isn’t a trick used often outside of fan-art and fan-fic and it usually turns out horribly and as sexist as physically possible. Not here though.

Ashley and her boyfriend Brad go out parking one night when a meteor strikes near them. The shining sphere in the crater turns Brad into a deadite (read zombie for those of you uninitiated in the Evil Dead series.) while it grants Ashley some groovy powers.

Ash does show up, in word only, but we are assured he will be a major part of the story. Ashley is a no-nonsense girl and without her male counterpart to throw in some guffaws, we are temporarily given an insect-man who seems to be channeling Ted Raimi at his worst. I don’t want to give too much of the plot away but Ashley insinuates herself as a court magician for Cleopatra when all hell breaks loose. A mysterious robed figure wants Ashley and Ash to form an alliance as this will help bring about some nefarious plan. (and hints that there have been or are more “chosen ones” like our hero and heroine.)

I praised the cover but Marat Mychaels’ interior art is less stellar. Ashley is a bit more “dreamy” than in Seely’s work but still anatomically possible. I am pleased that we only have one gratuitous butt shot. It’s really not that bad and my main beef with it is that you never see, say Superman, get the same treatment. If we must provide fodder for comic fans’ hormones let’s at least be equal opportunity about it.

This book is good, not damn good, but good. I’ve subscribed at my local comic shop and if you’re looking for my recommendation let me just say: “Hail to the (Queen) baby!”

Gobs #4

I shed a tear because it’s over. This is the final issue of the Gobs mini-series, drawn, inked and written by Richard Moore. (There is far and away a disproportionate number of comic creators with this sir-name. Are they all descended from the same ancient Irish master bard?)

The story centers around Gretch’, a bespectacled half-“Gob” or Goblin and her best friend/crush Milo, who is a mere quarter Gob. The pair, along with their friends, are banned for life from an elf bar due to the Gob race’s reputation as reprobates. (Of course, Wiggy and Truffle, having torn up the place and having “made sweet love” to a moose-head, didn’t exactly help matters.)

With the aide of shapely elf maiden Heather, they decide to build their own pub. Despite Gretch’s misgivings the new establishment is constructed inside a petrified giant’s carcass. When the house security system is accidentally activated, the giant goes on a rampage.

This is all aside from the tale of Gretch’s lovelorn angst. Milo has his eye on Heather and the more Gretch’ tries to lure his mind away, the more his mind stays on the elf. (Whose measurements appear to be in the 36-11-36 range.)

This book is 50% sketches and advertising and the end is not as satisfying as I’d hoped, but you’d be remiss not to hunt down this charming, whimsical, saucy, and hysterical small-press gem. This great mini is proof that if you’ve just been reading the “big two” publishers you’re missing out on a whole multiverse of comics to your own detriment.