This Needs a Title #1

Alright, I’m going to really try to start blogging. I promise.

You guys know I love new comics, so this will be one more chance to look at new Comics. I’ll write about a new book or two I’ve picked up just to check them out, and give you the list of what I’m waiting for until the end of the month mail order shipment.

First up:
El Diablo #1
Written by Jai Nitz
Pencils by Phil Hester
DC Comics

This book had 2 things that made me want to pick it up.

1. Phil Hester. I love Phil Hester’s artwork. I’m in fact a bit gay for Phil Hester’s artwork. If he’s doing art, the book at least makes it to the first consideration pile. This book is no exception. Of course, a large part of the beauty of Hester’s work is the inking by Ande Parks. You’ve probably seen them work together on Green Arrow, The Irredeemable Antman, or recently Nightwing. Hester and Parks’ work especially well when the book has a slightly darker look, which this book does. So it’s hitting on all cylinders with some especially great iconography when the main character Chato becomes El Diablo.

2. Luchador Masks Okay, the first issue only has one Luchador style mask, but that’s enough for me. I really hope we see more though. i just love the Luchador aesthetic. Of course, this book actually has nothing to do with Luchadores, aside from a tangential link that Chato is an American of Mexican descent, Luchador is associated with Mexico. Thus Chato’s costume resembles that of a luchador. Weak, I agree.

At least, Jai Nitz tries to quickly move past the necessary and usually overwrought origin story. By the end of this issue, we have our hero in costume, we know what his schtick is. We know why he does it. We get the “why we should care despite the lead being a gang banger at the beginning” story. And a intro to what I can only presume will be his first villain and the mystery of who’s behind it. So when issue 2 arrives we should be able to hit the ground running.

unfortunately all the problems that come from compressing a story in that way appear hear as the main character tells us “why we should care despite the lead being a gang banger at the beginning” instead of showing us why we should care about him. But at least the origin’s not decompressed to a six issue series.

Overall I’d give it a 6/10 on the being too harsh but at least I didn’t leave it on the shelf scale.

What else will I be waiting on from this week?

AAM MARKOSIA
N-Guard #2, $3.50

DARK HORSE
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #18, $2.99

DC COMICS
Green Lantern #34, $2.99
Vinyl Underground #12, $2.99

IDW PUBLISHING
Angel After The Fall #12, $3.99
Galaxy Quest Global Warning #2, $3.99

IMAGE COMICS
Noble Causes #36, $3.50
Savage Dragon #137, $2.99 (which yes, I’m getting just for the cover.)

MARVEL COMICS
Dead Of Night Devil Slayer #1 (of 4), $3.99

I also picked up Fringe #1, which I may review tomorrow, if I think of it.

Anyways, what should I name this column? Weekly Ones? Weekly Progress Report? The Try Pile?
Name the new column, get a free prize. It’ll be cool I promise.