Annoying Orange 2

 

Annoying2_CoverCreated by Dane Boedigheimer
Written and illustrated by Mike Kazaleh and Scott Shaw!
Letters by Tom Orzechowski
Colours by Laurie E. Smith
Associate Editing by Michael Petranek
Editing in chieferizing by Jim Salicrup
Cover by uncredited, but likely Shaw!
Published by Papercutz

the three cents.
In this gripping volume of inorganic life on the move, readers are thrown into the maelstrom of a collection of shocking tales, tales so shocking that readers will be shocked. Ranging from one-pagers to more than one-pagers, this kaleidoscopic cacophony of madness leers back at the reader, just as the abyss gazing back at the philosophy student on a freshman beer bender when he should be returning long-distance calls to his poor mother who is eager to know how his classes are going and if he’s getting enough to eat.

Shaw! handles the writing and artwork for the majority of the stories, with Kazaleh swinging writing and art for the lengthy title feature, and the both of them operating on a slightly reined-in level of humor than the previous volume, as though the guilt of what they are constructing in these pages is weighing in on their consciences. They also work on the Annoying Orange animated series from Cartoon Network, which itself spun-off from the popular youtube web-serial, and so we must ask ourselves what manner of arcane malfeasance (as opposed to the non-arcane variety of malfeasance) possesses two grown men of reasonably high intelligence and exceptionally high artistic merit to obsess so much over these quipping imaginings of such unnatural things envisioned and given form like so? Self-moving fruit applying for work in the entertainment industry? In the breakfast foods industry? Going on diets, soulless beings though they are? These edible things bear no hands, no feet, and yet they persist on making their human keeper’s love-life imperceptible! In these pages are these little monstrosities even allowed to openly interfere with the time-space continuum! What sort of message is this to send out for younger readers? That imagination is something to treasure, to cultivate? Well actually…that’s really pretty cool.

By the books professionalism in Orzechowski’s lettering and a seamless flow of rainbow hues from Smith help add to the consistency of the book’s two authors. And the overall comedy really contains nuggets for just about any and every age-group obliged to pick up a copy. It’s a fun read, honestly.

As typical for the publisher, this issue clocks in at over 60 pages, and comes with a mass of extras, from a fun introduction presenting the illustrated versions of the cast alongside their digitally-manipulated photo counterparts and side by side with a narration that is laugh out loud for the older comic fans especially, to tongue in cheek bios for the creators of the characters and the comics. Also in the mix is the standard editorial from Salicrup where he banters with the star of the show. Salicrup has always held a strong editorial presence in everything with his name on it, and the pieces he writes for Papercutz books are without fail tailor-cut for the issues they appear in, playing into the personality of that particular title and making the reader feel like a part of it all. It’s really a nice touch carried over from days long gone by that very few other editors nowadays bother with. One of the reasons why I will gladly continue reviewing Papercutz. That and for throwing steady work to heavy-weight talents like Shaw! and Kazaleh.

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 19/05/13 - 0 comments

LEGO Ninjago 7

 

Ninjago7_cover.inddWritten by Greg Farshtey
Illustrated by Jolyon Yates
Letters by Bryan Senka
Colours by Laurie E. Smith
Associate Editing by Michael Petranek
Editing in chieferizing by Jim Salicrup
Cover by uncredited, but looks like Jolyon’s work
Published by Papercutz

the three cents.
As each of the four Ninjago ninjas face the aftermath of their individual defeats at the hands of the stone warriors, Sensei Wu elects to share a story with them, a story that goes deeper into the origins of these characters than has ever been acknowledged before, whether in the prose books from Scholastic or the popular animated series. Because comic books are special like that.

While we know the backstories for Cole, Kai, Jay and Zane, now it is Wu’s turn in the spotlight, as Farshtey gives a really fun plot that fills a previously unrecognized void decidedly well, adding a new level of dimension to this very core cast member. The sense of humor to this series is just wonderful, from stories consistently exhibiting a reliably energetic imagination comparable to that of a ten year old off his leash, to the general absurdity of the artistic forms in action. And while this chapter in the ongoing graphic novella series has all of that in spades as usual, it is actually also the darkest tale yet, as Wu’s private war against the onslaught of a supremely colorful rogues gallery all his own provides setup for future plots yet to be revealed. Farshter writes the mostly light-hearted fantasy well, action and adventure galore, but this issue serves as a fine, fine testament to just how crafty he really is in constructing his stories for this property. I have read more than several mini-series and story-arcs of other things that lacked the breadth of character development found in this single story, from the many really inventive villains and how each is dealt with, to the overarching thread of Wu’s secrets, and the reasoning for those secrets. It’s a great plot structure, strong execution and lots of food for thought.

I have seen the name of Jolyon Yates begin to creep up in the credits of comics from other publishers, which is frightening as in spite of the many wonderful guest cover artists these books have known, he is the true master of this “brick-punk” world, and as such I should hope Salicrup and company keep him chained down good and tight for the continued amusement of New York Times bestseller list-followers everywhere. He’s clearly influenced by both Jack Kirby in the power of his compositions and by Al Williamson in his royally diverse and stylized texturing, but his storytelling is profoundly, gracefully, to the point in its very own way. His work in these pages fully embraces the absolute ridiculousness of these characters like a badge of honor, with a friendly slyness that is blissfully immediate in pulling you directly into the story. Like bumping into some of your all-time favorite toys after too many years in the grownup world. Senka has the flow of this premise down like a science, offering a straight-forward approach that insinuates a medieval feel to the dialogue and captions. And Smith has coloured many of the covers before, so seeing her work on the interiors felt very natural, and she does much to add to the finer details of the crazy assortment of new villains introduced in this issue. She also seems like a natural for reading Yates’ mind in how to convey some of the action sequences, the sorts with flying waves of energy by having pure colour go and do what the lines cannot. It’s almost like a singular visual artist constructed the entire comic’s artwork digitally, without any distractions or unintended nuance.

Whether you follow the characters in other media or not (coughcoughcough) this is a thoroughly fun series for the tomboys of all ages, and this issue specifically may as well be a self-contained tale, as it exists as a sidestep from the stone warriors drama entirely. Every issue is a solid jumping on point really, as the overall continuity is very easy to pick up along the way. LEGO is a big business, but it is wonderful to see so many genuinely creative talents clearly having fun with such a silly thing where toy-shaped ninjas are cracking wise and learning valid life lessons all at once. I almost shame myself in enjoying the Ninjago comics this much. Solid clean fun without a hint of smarm in the mix.

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 18/05/13 - 0 comments

Benny Breakiron 1

 

Benny1-COVWritten and illustrated by Peyo (aka Pierre Culliford)
Backgrounds by Will (aka Willy Maltaite)
Translation by Joe Johnson
Design and production by Adam Grano
Lettering by Janice Chiang
Associate Editing by Michael Petranek
Editing in chieferizing by Jim Salicrup
Published by Papercutz

the three cents.
Originally published in the early 1960s, Benny Breakiron presents the story of a young French boy who is well-mannered and studious, yet has problems with making friends, especially those his own age, because he hides a stunning secret…he is incredibly strong! This is actually a very inventive premise, with the boy’s awkwardness placing him in situations where his great strength proves more of a hindrance than a blessing. Despite his abilities to outleap anybody and to outrun anybody and lungs that would make any and every chain-smoker envious, things tend to break when he gets close, from toys to cleaning implements to vehicles to entire street corners. He means well though, always, which is where the real charm of the story comes to light.

I freely and miserably confess to not really being familiar with Peyo’s work. I never read any of his comic strips before, to be frank, although as was befitting my age group if something was animated at any point in the 1980s I saw all of it. So I’m no stranger to the Smurfs. This is a very different premise however, quick and constant in pace with a plot that leads Benny through a grand series of connected adventures. In this graphic novella-sized volume, his old cabbie friend is being pushed out of business by a new agency of taxi-cabs, with big thuggish drivers and a boss who, despite establishing a friendship with the local police chief does not seem like much of a nice guy by any definition. Benny’s friend learns a little too much about his new competitors, thereby prompting pages and pages of almost Hergé-levels of excitement that even take Benny and his pal rather far outside of their French town. All the while, Benny, who in spite of his powers is not exactly the cape-wearing sort, maintains his child-like grasp of right and wrong, proving as endearing and timely as it does just a fun and fun storytelling device.

The artwork is very stylized, with brushy sharpness and jagged dimensions, and loaded with copious detail. It is very easy on the eyes, with imaginative forms and figures that retain consistency throughout.There is a pretty broad range of settings in the story, and all are presented with much colour and zest. I never encountered Peyo’s work before, but that wasn’t necessarily by choice. I see now just how robbed I was by fate. Chiang’s lettering is complete aces here, giving what looks to be a hand-lettered approach that may well be her staying stylistically comparable to the untranslated original fonts. It is gorgeous work, very nonabrasive and to the point as gently as possible.

The second volume is already on the way, and I look forward to it. This is a really great package, of a super-strong boy in a light-hearted adventure engaging a world that seems oblivious to all of the above. As with the finest cartoonists, there are a few subtle jabs by way of loosely buried social commentary, but this would really be a good read for just about any age-group. Considering the source material is roughly 50 years old now, that’s really saying something, saying something as loudly as the most accomplished drawings possibly can.

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 11/05/13 - 0 comments

Ernest & Rebecca 4

 

Ernest4-COVWritten by Guillaume Bianco
Illustrated by Antonello Dalena
Colours by Cecilia Giumento with Florent Bonnin
Original design by Jean-Luc Deglin
Translation by Joe Johnson
Letters by Janice Chiang
Associate Editing by Michael Petranek
Editing in chieferizing by Jim Salicrup
Published by Papercutz

the three cents.
In this adorable and mildly heart-wrenching graphic novella, six and a half year young Rebecca continues her summer vacation with an eventful visit to her dad’s new home by the sea. The change of environment proves a fun escape for the girl, as the shock of her parents undergoing divorce still settles in, but while her best microbe pal Ernest is growing upset by her independence and her big sister Coralie is suffering preteen melodrama of her own, the rambunctious and colorful heroine is still able to stumble into wacky adventures and profound life lessons regardless. This comic book is genuinely enchanting AND it teaches some great fishing tips, among many other things.

Bianco’s writing is so gloriously casual and heart-felt, capturing the imaginative narrative of a child in ways that older readers can identify with and enjoy, and all while not writing down to anybody. His humor is very sweet, and the drama of the plot is surprisingly realistic, as Rebecca and her family playfully survive a rather large turning point in their lives. The unexpected return of an old friend was an extra treat in particular, but the meat and potatoes of this girl relating to her family and friends while learning about the world, and yet still being as impatient and gross and silly and hyperactive as any kid is, like I said, profound storytelling.

Dalena’s artwork is very precise and evocative as well, giving a fun and animated air while never going over the top stylistically. The consistent but angled exaggerations of the linework contribute additional youthful energy to the story, and the brilliant colouring from Giumento and Bonnin is jaw-dropping gorgeous- so lush and full of life. I understand several of these creators have before worked on Disney properties in the past, but I cannot think of any Disney product that comes remotely close to capturing such inoffensively candid earnestness in gentle ways that convey these at times mature themes so effectively well. This really is a comic for everyone, and the virtuosity of the artisans involved is mesmerizing and strangely comforting, presenting a bright tale free of pop culture references but filled heartily with honest, age-old morals.

Ernest & Rebecca: The Land of Walking Stones is a wonderful chapter in a wonderful series, and I unashamedly await the next. If you don’t get it then you’re not reading it, and if such is indeed the case then your life is really missing out on some truly special comic bookery. (And the photo in Salicrup’s editorial involving tentacles is icing on the cake for those missing the good times of an egoless but strong editorial presence- Papercutz rocks!)

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 26/03/13 - 0 comments

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew 2

 

ClueCrew2-COVWritten by Sarah Kinney
Illustrated by Stan Goldberg
Letters by Tom Orzechowski
Colours by Laurie E. Smith
Associate Editing by Michael Petranek
Editing in chieferizing by Jim Salicrup
Published by Papercutz

the three cents.
The second graphic novella-sized issue (a staple for Papercutz) of the new Nancy Drew series continues its offbeat sleuthing as the young girl and her classmates attend an art museum for the day as a class field-trip. But the Clue Crew trio of Nancy and her friends George and Bess take little time in stumbling into a new mystery concerning the sand art exhibit soon to finish up. The employment of a well-meaning custodian is on the line, as some unseen hand has scattered a sizable portion of the mandala.

With this issue Kinney takes over the full writing chores, and she does a very commendable effort in portraying this younger Nancy and the colorful cast of many characters that surround her. This is more the case of piecing together strange circumstances rather than an actual mystery, but it is just the right dilemma for a pack of highly literate grade school girls to resolve. The story actually works well on several levels, as the Buddhist monk befriends the girls and introduces them (and the readers) to aspects of his faith running alongside the core thread of ascertaining the damage to the art while working around the bothersome curator. The verbal interplay between Nancy and the old man is especially fun and ironic, with the girl oblivious to how obnoxious her good intentions can present themselves as being. There are a great many humorous moments in the story, and engaging dialogue is certainly a skill for Kinney.

Goldberg, busy though he is, seems to really be applying a lot of effort to set this book apart visually from his massive catalog of previous work, as well as anything else currently on the newsstands. I see this most in how he is drawing the faces now, but also in how the scenes are given an increasingly three-dimensional feel in structuring. And as this chapter’s narrative is set in a museum, he fills the backgrounds with layers of candy for the eyes, casually using his expert line work to give energetic forms and figures to this world while maintaining a thorough consistency rarely if ever matched in too many other comics today. This man innovates more than kids a third his age, and makes it look so easy! Smith as well fully exploits the setting of the story, working in a variety of effects to make the pages even prettier than Goldberg’s layouts and execution pull off. This is a great team, and with the always solid Tom Orz completing the picture this series just looks and reads marvelously.

The premise for this series is a younger Nancy Drew, modernized. But as ever these stories have a timeless quality, and keep a fun pace and very appealing artwork that altogether tell the tales well. These characters have their rambunctious side, but it never comes across in the “parents are so uncool” way. Even more, these characters do rely on their smarts to resolve conflicts, which is always a wonderful message to pass on.

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 02/03/13 - 0 comments

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