Womanthology 5

 

WomanSapce05-cvr
Womanthology initiated by Renae De Liz
Written by Barbara Randall Kesel, Allison Pang, Laura Morley, Cecil Castellucci, and Kiala Kazebee
Illustrated by Diana Nock, Chrissie Zullo, Sara Richard, Kel McDonald, and Isabelle Melancon
Letters by Amauri Osorio and Isabelle Melancon
Covers by Hanie Mohd and Chrissie Zullo
Published by IDW

the three cents.
The Space-themed Womanthology issues have been fun, and though this might be the last issue, it certainly ends on a wonderful note. The offerings this time are five complete short tales, each one brilliant and imaginative and colorfully perfect.

Eccentric Orbit from Randall-Kesel and Nock is a very innocent take on puberty, and about staying true to oneself. The writing and art are almost giddy with optimism.

The Wind In Her Hair may be my overall favorite of this bunch, as Pang and Zullo present a fantasy romance and the mixing of two very different worlds.

In The Drink is a more comical look at a legendary point in history, with a pair of ne’er do wells dreaming big and falling even bigger. Very stylish and pretty artwork, although the storytelling was a little rough.

I Will Return is a deeper fantasy, with lyrical words beautifully rendered by Castellucci and iconic pictures from McDonald. Love between celestial bodies, after a fashion.

Broken Glass is my favorite story, although some of the lettering and art were so digital as to lose character. Great story though, of a fundamentalist future doing little to overpower the laws of nature.

Ceili Conway, Lea Hernandez, and Maja Sukelle all contribute quantifiably strong pinups, each showing a very unique style and inventive subject matters all in one gloriously grand gesture. A dynamite issue, and I hate to see it go so soon.

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 25/02/13 - 0 comments

Womanthology: Space 4

 

WomanSapce04-cvrAWomanthology initiated by Renae De Liz
Written by Jody Houser, Devin Grayson, Christine Ellis, and Lois Van Baarle
Illustrated by Sally Thompson and Kathryn Layno, Lindsay Walker (with Ronda Pattison), Elva Wang, and Lois Van Baarle
Letters by Robbie Robbins and Elva Wang
Covers by Lois Van Baarle and Sho Murase
Published by IDW

the three cents.
As profoundly wonderful and imaginative as this anthology has been, this issue may be the best yet. As usual, this series offers short science fictional tales from a steady mix of writers and artists who all just happen to be of the fairer of the sexes. The diversity, in terms of both the backgrounds of the creators and the work they produce, is simply phenomenal. Editor Mariah Huehner is casually making the big boys look the part of ninnies.

Trinkets is immediately one of my favorite stories from the Womanthology label, and one of the better short stories I have read in ages. Writer Houser is joined by artists Thompson and Layno, who split artistic chores in telling this metafictional fable of alternate views and of higher aims. Houser astounds in particular.

The Smell Of Sunshine is a darker offering from writer Grayson and artist Walker, showing how terrifying the chain of command in a military industrial complex can be, especially in that place where nobody can hear you scream. Moreso, the talents express this idea in a manner absolutely on par with the best of the sci-fi and horror comics of the 1940s and 50s. Pattison gives harder values than her normal style, suiting the mood insightfully well. And token boy letterer Robbins keeps his own style on these two first stories starkly different and sublimely effective all the same.

Drift is a bit more on the thoughtfully poetic side, as writer Ellis and artist Wang show what greed is good for in the end, even among the most fantastical that deep space has to grant. This story alone could well insinuate an entirely new mythos, and Wang’s visuals are especially iconic in the doing.

How To: Make An Atmospheric Digital Painting is a fun “how to” from artist Baarle, showing a glimpse behind the curtain at her process by showcasing the full evolution of a dynamically dreamy image. This segment is new for the series, but a terrific idea supremely handled by the versatile artist. (More from her, please!)

Also including rather striking pinups from C.M. Miller (whose piece would make a great poster, actually) and Christianne Benedict (offering really a one page tale full of the good kind of ambition), as well as a bio page for many of the creators, this is totally a strong issue full of self-contained stories that might easily appeal to a range of readers. This means you.WomanSapce04-cvrRI

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 10/02/13 - 0 comments

Womanthology: Space 3

 

Womanthology initiated by Renae De Liz
Written by Robin Furth, Rachel Edidin, Jennifer DeGuzman, and Trina Robbins
Illustrated by Carli Idhe (with Ronda Pattison), Sophia Foster-Dimino, and Leigh Dragoon
Letters by Robbie Robbins and Sophia Foster-Dimino
Covers by Meng Tian Zhang and Hanie Mohd
Published by IDW

the three cents.

The newest issue of the ongoing Womanthology series of science fantasy tales is as good as previous issues, and maybe even better, as the bright imaginations and vividly evocative artistic stylings present three solid stories of drama below and beyond the stars.

Centipede is a dramatic short where a captain faces down the consequences of her ship and crew being used for military insanity. Furth brings sharp characters in a tale I sure hope finds continuation soon. Idhe’s gnarly artwork is intense, with a fastly building action that flows really strongly. Robbins on letters and Pattison on colours rounds out a complete team in a story of science fiction with bad, bad consequences.

Countdown is just wonderful. Any anthology compels readers to pick out their own favorite, and the real strength of anthologies is that they can better appeal to more readers in general. But this one may be my favorite of the issue, and maybe even of the series thus far. BOLD WORDS! But Edidin captures a level of innocent imagination in such a fun and engaging way, and Foster-Dimino gives an alternative flavor in bringing this story of two girls with their heads in the clouds to four color life. Super fun and sweet without being sweet-sweet, you know?

Womanthology_Space_03-CvrRIThe Vesta is more high drama an offering, as DeGuzman and Dragoon give a mind-bending story that tries to be on par with what’s to be found in Heavy Metal Magazine. A scientist and her spaceship and their relationship is explored in a way I don’t believe I’ve seen all that often before. Very clean art, but stirring nonetheless.

Lily Renee: She Fought Nazis With Pen And Ink is a text piece from Trina Robbins that follows up on her biographical work on the legendary Golden Age artist. Reading more of Renee’s pre-comics back story, along with samples of her visual acuity, is as intriguing as it is inspiring. Loud applause to Robbins for uncovering such gold nuggets of long ago for today’s audience.

Also including a pinup from Maysa O’Connor, Womanthology: Space 3 is a fine, fine issue for those hungry for the shameless wonder of imaginations unbounded. Excellent covers also, of course. This series maintains a legitimately groovy stride. Certainly one of the better ongoings from IDW right now, and one of the finer anthologies being printed in the western world.

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 12/12/12 - 0 comments

Womanthology: Space 2

 

Womanthology initiated by Renae De Liz
Written by Blair Butler, Joelle Sellner, Ellise Heiskell, and Devin Grayson
Illustrated by Alicia Fernandez, Jean Kang, and Maarta Laiho
Letters by Rachel Deering
Covers by Hanie Mohd
Published by IDW

the three cents.

The next issue of the (hopefully) ongoing anthology of all-women creators carving tales of science fantasy is as good as the first, with a trio of stories of divers subjects from a strong roster of talents.

Ча́йка is written by Butler and tells the true story of the first woman in space, a Russian. It’s a dramatic and moving piece, and the artwork from Fernandez, with thin lines and bright colours, is easily my favorite of the three stories.

The Agency is written by Sellner, and presents an equal mix of science fiction and light-hearted horror, with a run of the mill office environment proving to be something entirely different. It’s silly fun, really. Kang’s art is certainly manga-influenced, though rendered a bit roughly.

All Cats Are Quantum is my favorite story, being unadulterated sci-fi as felines express their rightful place in the cosmos. Heiskell writes with great charisma. Laiho’s storytelling is keen keeping the subject matter from going too far in the direction of the cartoony. I’d really like to see this one continued somehow.

The final piece is a prose short from Grayson, calling to mind Gaiman’s story on the effects of alcohol upon creativity. It’s zany and a good turn for her. All lettering exquisitely done by Deering (who is also a heckuva writer as well), and this issue also contains extras, such as an almost complete bio section and a number of pinups from Alice Fox, Sherri Rose, Brianne Drouhard, and the young Chloe Young. It all makes for a great package with tons of imagination and personality.

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 17/10/12 - 0 comments

Womanthology: Space 1

 

Womanthology initiated by Renae De Liz
Written by Bonnie Burton, Sandy King Carpenter, Alison Ross, Ming Doyle, and Stacie Ponder
Illustrated by Jessica Hickman, Tanja Wooten, Stephanie Hans, Ming Doyle (with Jordie Bellaire), and Stacie Ponder
Letters by Rachel Deering
Cover by UNCREDITED (though drawn by Renae De Liz, with inks by Sarah Elkins)
Published by IDW

the three cents.

This debut issue of the science fictional-themed anthology offers a compelling mix of stories, from the humorous to the wistful to the nightmarish, with a variety of styles all sharing the singular vision of fun entertainment. Space-faring is an especially appropriate modus operandi, as it exists without borders.

Waiting For Mr. Roboto, written by Burton and illustrated by Hickman, is a cute story set in a diner floating in space, and of the alien waitress who disavows her own standards for a pretty face. The art makes me wish this were a continuing webstrip.

Dead Again, written by King and lushly illustrated by Wooten, is a very dark and moody story, where a decrepit space station is being haunted by its last vestige of mortality. This may be my favorite of the bunch, for both story and art are wonderfully dramatic and polished.

Scaling Heaven, written by Ross (with plot assists from the artist) and illustrated by Hans, is a futuristic tale of the multinational race to claim mineral rights on the moon. The ecological theme is particularly topical, and though the artwork is gorgeous the narrative was a little murky. Egos lead to destruction, I guess.

The Adventures Of Princess Plutonia, written and illustrated by Doyle (with coloring by the always rockstar Bellaire), is a campy take executing role reversals in Golden Age sci-fi tropes. I really hope Doyle has more of these stories up her sleeves, as I’d much rather see her continue to illustrate her own smartness than the work of other writers.

Space Girls, written and illustrated (and lettered) by Ponder, is the black and white start to a continuing strip, with a ship full of female explorers cheekily stumbling across something no litterbox in the galaxy is ready for. Almost excessively fun energy.

With additional pinups by Mary Bellamy and Anna Bowie (with Sarah Elkins), as well as a nearly complete bio section and a taste of what’s to come, this is a fantastic book. I love anthologies anyway, but this is absolute platinum in a sea of pyrite. Friends of Lulu may no longer exist, but the gathering of talent that comprises the ongoing Womanthology project is certainly filling a void in dire need of being fulfilled. I gather proceeds from their original Heroic book went to charity, but if they were to find a way to continue that effort along with maintaining this level of quality I would insist upon washing the dishes of all parties concerned.

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Midwifed by nilskidoo - 19/09/12 - 2 comments