THE REGIONAL OFFICE IS UNDER ATTACK! by Manuel Gonzales

Author Manuel Gonzales takes you way underground, to a top secret location, where a clandestine group of enhanced assassin-warrior women guard the world against evil. This book tells the tale of the day that this Regional Office, as its called, comes under attack.

Told in an mixture of flashback, snippets of the attack, and through sections of a report prepared analyzing the theories behind said attack, REGIONAL OFFICE keeps the pace moving as the back story is filled in and smashes toward the conclusion.

First we meet Rose, a member of the team attacking the Regional Office. We then meet the Regional Office's defending point-of-view character, Sarah, as the gapes are filled in on how they got to their respective places in the conflict as well as blow-by-blow accounts of their part in the assault on the office.

Gonzales' witty dialogue, keen use of flashback and grasp of female angst is both charming, well done and fun to read. I dare you to not like his playful writing style, weaving in pop culture references as he goes. There is also a wonderful section about midway through the book, an "interlude" which fills in even more gaps in the tale of the assault on the Regional Office, adding even more layers of complexity to the story.

I was hooked, taken with this tale of female assassins trained for top secret missions, oracles brought on board to help detect global threats, intriguing shifts of perspective, questionable kidnappings; all of which had me constantly wondering just who is good and who is evil. Who am I rooting for? The book is a worthy gamble, an exciting adventure to take to get to the very end and see how it all plays out.

Also it reminded me of a favorite novel from 2006, Austin Grossman's SOON I WILL BE INVINCIBLE, which was the tale of an evil genius bent on world domination and a superhero team and the internal dynamics of that group. (If you haven't read that, also seek it out, it's terrific). I mean this as a fine compliment, as both works are intricately woven, humorous and well done.

Also what both books have in common are spectacular titles. I plan to post a follow up to this review with my top five favorite titles (soon, I promise).

I think THE REGIONAL OFFICE IS UNDER ATTACK! is a worthy read, a fun adventure which would make a spectacular film. I sense this is a one-off type of novel but I would certainly read more in this world. 

And I totally want a badass, mechanical arm.

Disclosure: The above title is published by Riverhead, an imprint of Penguin Random House. I work at DK, also an imprint at Penguin Random House. There I said it. I was not asked to write this review. I had heard about this book and sought out a copy. This is my personal blog, sometimes I talk about books from work, sometimes I talk about books from across the publishing industry. I only write about books I think are worth talking about.

Amazing Finds [at Book Expo]: BATTLING BOY by Paul Pope and more

When I attended this year's Book Expo America about a month ago, one of my aims was to find graphic novels that I hadn't heard about. Although I'm always looking for books that I'd like, being a father has also changed the way I look for books, as I'm always building the bookshelf for my little guy.

I wasn't expecting to find a cool book like BATTLING BOY by Paul Pope, a book I really enjoyed, and something I know the little guy will dig when he gets a little older. That future book shelf just got a lot more awesome.

At "The New Graphic Novel" panel hosted by Calvin Reed--the comics man of Publisher's Weekly, sports aficionado and gentleman around town (seriously, this guy is everywhere) along with three comic book creators with new graphic novels coming out this Fall, discussed their projects. All had really cool books coming out, and I look forward to reading all of them. 

The three creators were Faith Erin Hicks (The Last of Us, Dark Horse), she came out of the webcomic world, and through sheer perseverance landed the gig at Dark Horse working on her first licensed tie-in project--which looks like great fun. Gene Yang (Boxers and Saints, First Second Books) is the man behind the award-winning, American Born Chinese, and his new book which retells the history of The Boxer Rebellion as told from both sides, and comes in a two-book slipcased edition, looks terrific. I will be pre-ordering soon.

Paul Pope's book, BATTLING BOY, grew from his feeling that his 12-year-old nephew may not have a great selection of comic book choices that don't include a long and complex back story (this from his comments in the panel). He wanted to create something fun and new, with a young boy as the star of the book, and weave in mythology, super powers and creepy nightmarish monsters and beasties. This book is fun and takes the reader beside BATTLING BOY's first adventure, thrown into the fire of his new role as hero. Like his dad.

I'm not going to spoil any more than that, but Pope's artwork is just amazing and quirky and I love it. When his Batman Year 100 came out a few years back, I was taken by his twisted spin on the dark knight and continue to reread that book time and time again.

This is only the first volume of a multi-book BATTLING BOY series and waiting for more will be torture (although I can't complain having already read an advance reader's copy). I'll be buying a hardcover when it comes out October 8th (it is being published in both hardcover and paperback) but I'm also quite proud of my advance copy which I had signed for the little  superhero in my life when I got the chance to meet Paul at the show. First Second also gave out very cool t-shirt with Pope's art of the little but fierce Battling Boy in front of a hoard of monsters. Very cool.

Iron Man Noir by Scott Snyder and Manuel Garcia: a review

Pulp adventurer Tony Stark and his team go on journeys looking for rare artifacts. In his newest trek into the unknown he is seeking an ancient jade mask. Unknown to the rest of the group is his bad heart and the reason why he searches for this mystical item.

That is the core of this reinterpretation of Iron Man in the 30s. What I really liked were the interspersed old magazine covers for: MARVELS: A Magazine of Men's Adventure. The cover gallery alone, a clever way to intertwine pieces of actual Marvel history in this pulp setting. Reminded me of what I liked best about the X-Men: Noir collection, the segments of pulp science fiction novels about a hero known as the Sentinel.

Also, the issue covers (and cover for the trade paperback) illustrated by Mike Fyles drew me in when I initially saw solicitation for the collection, I feel like the below image with blimp would make for an awesome limited edition print.

Of course what tale taking place right before World War II would be complete without nazi involvement, and they weave the Marvel villianry right in with the world's most evil from our own history. Baron Zemo and Baron Strucker, who have been working with a figure from Tony's past, reveal themselves at the real threat and are after the technological advances that Tony seems to be endlessly making.

The combination of story by Scott Snyder and moving illustration work throughout by Garcia made for a good read.

Sadly, I felt the most underwhelming part of the book was the design of the armor itself. I felt that this what if type scenario book, would give the creative team some freedom to come up with an interesting interpretation. Look at how Spider-Man was re-imagined for his noir book, all black with goggles and pistol, that version even wound up in a recent video game as a different costume option. There are actually 3 suits in this book and they all felt like rough interpretations of the Mach I suit made by Tony in the cave in the Iron Man I movie with a helmet inspired by the Ultimates version of Iron Man -- the manga-esque helmet.

The mini-trade paperback was terrific. Extras included the full script of issue #1 by Scott Snyder and concept art and sketches by Manuel Garcia. I was really pleased with that, a small trade, only 5 x 7 inches, and Marvel still remembered to add in some extras.

I still don't get why the Wolverine: Noir book was released as a more expensive full-size hardcover, I guess because Wolverine can still drag in the bucks, although I would have prefered the mini-trade like the X-Men, Spider-Man, Daredevil, and now this Iron Man Noir for a nice little collected spot on my book case. (I'm still holding off on my purchase of the Old Man Logan book because the collection was so expensive, and I read all but the last two issues I believe, talk about torture). I digress.


Overall an enjoyable Marvel noir tale. I wouldn't rate it as high as the Spider-Man, Daredevil or even Wolverine story, but they were real good. If you're a fan of these noir Marvel re-imaginings, it's worth checking out.

From the Rooftops. My review of DAREDEVIL: Noir TP written by Alexander Irvine and illustrated by Tomm Coker

Depression Era, New York City. Neighborhood, Hell's Kitchen. Two mob bosses fight for their stretch of the street and all bootlegging and hard living they can handle.

But some forces have lived in Hell's Kitchen a long time too, and have seen a whole lot of nastiness. Or have they?

Carlton Fisk and Jimmy O'Halloran meet over dinner to discuss their rivalry and just what they're going to do about it. Just two men discussing work over a meal. 

Writer Alex Irvine did a great job of bringing these characters to life, even Foggy Nelson seemed more street wise then he is often portrayed.

In the story, a beautiful femme fetale wanders into the law office of one Foggy Nelson, and bemuses his sidekick, blind assistant Matt Murdock. Eliza. Temptress.

In an attempt to protect his new love interest and find out more information, our blind friend becomes his other self, a vengeful street force, as mysterious and fearful as they come. And so it begins.

If ever there was a Marvel character who was a perfect fit for a noir-themed tale it was the blind justice of New York, Daredevil.

I can not speak highly enough about the artistic approach to this book. Not only are the dark sketchy panels drawn to noir perfection, but additional elements like the old school type face of Daredevil's thoughts worked beautifully.

Even the design of the smaller than average size trade paperback is superb. Grainyness is a word that's thrown a lot in the comics medium, but here it achieved the desired effect. The people responsible for the creation of this collected trade paperback did a wonderful job with design elements and extras. Not only is there a cover gallery in the back but there are also Tomm Coker's character sketches from early on. I'm all about the supplemental material.

A solid addition to the Marvel Noir line of books. Next I'm off to purchase the Wolverine Noir trade. Maybe next week.

Disclaimser: This is a comic that I purchased myself at the comic shop just like any normal Wednesday regular might. It was not a free sample and I no gun was held to my head to write this review. The book simply rocked.

My review of Spider-Man Noir by Hine, Sapolsky and Di Giandomenico

I'll be honest, like with many comics over the years for me, it was the cover that drew me in [it is currently my screensaver on my home pc, great job Patrick Zircher]. That, and maybe also because I've been in a noir-ish mood. But this black-trench coat wearing, weapon-wielding Spidy throwback looked interesting enough to pursue.

The creative team was: writers David Hine and Fabrice Sapolsky, art by Carmine Di Giandomenico, covers by Patrick Zircher, and edited by Alejandro Arbona. Fantastic job all around creating mood, tension, and dramatic desperation.

I did wait for the trade paperback on this one, and was pleasantly surprised when Marvel released the book in a 5 x 7ish trade, not quite manga sized, and yet not full-sized either. It was perfect for a mass transit ride, and it felt special in it's own mid-sized treatment.

I would have loved to see an introduction of some sort, telling me in detail how this project came together, and just who had the idea to set this exactly at the time period when it takes place [1933 by the way]. It is such a stylized book, a look into the specific creation would have been a nice addition.

Note: There is a cover gallery and development sketchbook in the back. Bonus!

Illustrations such as this splash page opener -- invigorating with movement and tension made for a perfect noir comic book experience.

And is that Spidy with a pistol? Why yes it is. This isn't your grandfather's Spider-Man. Actually it might be your great-grandfather's Spidy - as it takes place in the 1930s after World War I.

Spidy's Uncle Ben was a WW I veteran that tried to teach him about what it meant to be a hero before he passed. But this is a dark era, the Great Depression is here --Peter isn't the innocent kid that we know and love.

He blames the gangster - The Goblin - for the problems that the city and those close to him face. Peter confides in beat reporter, Ben Ulrick, a sorry cause yet an earnest character in this story.

It is the sad story of Ben, coupled with the reckless abandon of Peter, that bring the story to the amazing conclusion. I don't want to give too much away, but yes...Aunt May is a Socialist. Then...

...a jump from the window. The feel of this page fell somewhere between the old crime fighter we've come to know and a page from Sin City.

A daring escape from the cops who were probably on the take anyway. Evidence pointing in his direction, and a crime-fighting outfit comprised of a black trench coat, mask sown together by hand, and a pair of aviator goggles from the great war.

And a revolver of course -

I'm a fan of re-imaginings. Looking at iconic stories and characters, told in a different light, or in a different time. Such as an all-time favorite, Superman Red Son, the DC Elseworlds project supposing Big Blue crash landed in Communist Russia.

Or the 1980s film, Time After Time, in which Jack the Ripper, steals away to the future in a time machine.

Take an institution and re-imagine it in a new creative context. Sometimes it isn't done right, but when it is, it makes for some great reading or viewing.

I recommend Spider-Man Noir, if you're looking for a little something different, something darker from the red and blue crusader that you have always known. Maybe not for the youngster, but definitely for the definitive fan whose grown up with Spidy and wants to be challenged with a new concept.

Writers Chris Claremont and Matthew K. Manning talk Wolverine

Tonight was a nice little event at the MoCCA museum – that’s the museum of comics and cartoon art in Soho – where comics legend Chris[t] Claremont and author of the new book, WOLVERINE: Inside the World of the Living Weapon, Matthew K. Manning, had a great discussion about everything Logan, James Howlett (well, not really), Patch, Wolvie, the ol’ kanuck, and whatever else you want to call him. Moderating this discussion was Marvel and DC Comics historian and author, Peter Sanderson. [1st photo is of Chris Claremont]

They had a pleasant discussion about how Wolverine has become an icon, the stand out character from the X-Men that wasn’t the intention at the onset. But there was something about the scrappy little guy as he kept getting back up when he was knocked down – and people liked it. [Note for the uninitiated: Claremont wrote the Uncanny: X-Men for something like 16 years, from 1975 - 1991, longer than any other writer. His "Dark Phoenix Saga" is the thing of legends.]

Author of DK Publishing's, WOLVERINE: Inside the World of the Living Weapon, Matthew K. Manning, chimmed in with some great points and was well versed on all thing Wolverine. When I went to get my copy signed after the panel, and mentioned how much I liked his book and how much I was surprised I didn't know about the events in the last several years of Wolverine's life in the comics, he nodded, saying he read about 400 comics to get caught up across the board. Impressive. [2nd photo is of Matthew K. Manning.]

Claremont brought up, more than once, the new book he’s writing for Marvel, X-MEN: Forever. It sounds very exciting, he explained it that he has pushed to the side many of the things about the last few years that didn’t fit into his version of the hero, and will introduce elements in Wolverine’s life the way he sees them, including a new father [and mother] that obviously differs from the Wolverine: Origin story of a few years ago, which seems mixed in to the new X-Men Origins film which releases tomorrow. This book sounds exciting, with Jim Lee on artist duties for the arc anyway, and promises to leave fans wanting more – looks to be out in about 5 weeks too.

It was interesting to hear Claremont talk about the savage/samurai connection, something that I loved about his limited series book with Frank Miller from the 1980s and the Uncanny X-Men I read growing up. Logan was a little, hairy, indestructible tough guy – and I loved him.

Peter Sanderson did a decent job steering the conversation, asking questions of the panel, making historic points, and referencing the cultural impact Wolverine has had on us all. [3rd picture is of Peter Sanderson.]

The crowd even chimed in with a few questions at the very end, but the panel ran over, there still needed to be a bit of time for a signing [which both writers happily signed my copy of the new book, sweet!] Although I'm sure he felt he went on and on, I could listen to Claremont talk about Wolverine all night, as he is clearly one of the talented few writers who understands all that is Wolverine. I think I'll be picking up that new X-Men: Forever book. And if you haven't grabbed a copy of the new DK book - I highly recommend it, and it makes a great gift for any fan.