Hey guys. This week has been a fucking mess, so I’m 1) not drunk and 2) not in the mood to be funny. Between work being hell and Chester Bennington’s passing, I’m tapped on what you’d call joy. My only solace is that Wintersun just dropped their third album–which I’ve been waiting like four fucking years for–and it’s magical. Pure, uncut, unfiltered, magic. Music has the power to heal. The remasters of Time I and Wintersun are also fantastic, but that’s neither here nor there.
This is supposed to be about comics and what I think of them. This is supposed to be fun. But I can’t do that right now. Depression is too much of a motherfucker. If you’re in those throes, please, PLEASE reach out. I know that’s asking the world. I really do. When you feel like shit, when you feel like you’re the worst thing alive and anxiety is eating you from the inside out and there’s no hope, reaching out isn’t feasible. It’s just making more people miserable. I get it. But please do it anyways. People care, and you not being here really will be worse than the alternative. It doesn’t seem that way, but it’s the truth.
Scream and hate. Call it selfish. How dare someone demand you stick around for themselves. It’s bullshit, right? But try it anyways. Please. Give it one more fucking day. The sun will rise, and the day might be shit, but it’s a day you have. It’s a day your friends and family have with you.
That might not mean the world to you, but it means the world to them.
Now onto comics, and the passing shit I give about them.
Batman #27
Well I’ll be damned, a Batman comic without Batman! I’m half overjoyed and half annoyed. The former is obvious–no Batman to shit up the writing which is quite solid here–but man, the panel layout is so bombastic and confusing that it turns the whole affair into half a mess. It doesn’t help that I don’t know who KITEMAN or whatever he’s calling himself is supposed to be. The new character feels like a non sequitor. I liked the contained Joker v Riddler story that was going on, and this expands it in a way I wish it didn’t. On the plus side, there’s some actual humor here and solid writing, so I’m certainly going to stick this arc out. Call me naive, but I’m thinking there could be a good payoff to it.
Kill the Minotaur #2
You know, there’s maybe more mediocrity here than I’d like, but Kill the Minotaur is turning into something I’m at least enjoying. The characters aren’t great, and the narrative isn’t all that new or exciting, but the artwork is stellar. Fuck me the monster and maze design are top notch! When that Minotaur showed up at the end, I took a metaphorical step back–couldn’t take a real one since I’m sitting in a chair like a lazy fatass. It’s good! Great even. The maze also gives off House of Leaves vibes, which is an absolute compliment. I hope the writers continue down this path. And while I do wish I liked the characters more, we’re only two of five in, meaning there’s room to grow. I’m actually confident that’ll happen.
Moonstruck #1
I don’t … I don’t know what to make of this one. On the one hand, I appreciate it as an LGBT+ inclusive paranormal romance; on the other, it’s a paranormal romance. I am not the audience for that. The artwork looks like something out of a Cartoon Network cartoon in a “eh it’s fine” way, and the writing matches. Nothing here is bad, but I’m so not the target audience that I can’t see myself coming back for round two. If the idea of an LGBT+ paranormal romance with centaurs, werewolves, psychics, and basically everything True Blood did interests you, then yeah, give this a go. It’s cute.
I Hate Fairyland #14
This week was a fucking shit sandwich, but goddamn does I Hate Fairyland always get me to laugh out loud over and over anyways. Yes, this book is more of the same, and yes it’s still crass, gross, and dumb as ever but holy hell is the comedy, artwork, and writing on point. Every time I think the joke will grow old, it doubles up on itself and has me rolling by the second or third page. Scottie Young is a demented genius.
