August update
Happy September! Fall is coming and I can’t wait. The end of August has been really difficult personally for reasons I can’t (or won’t) get into here. However, comics have remained a consistent source of joy and wonder throughout the ups and downs of life. I know something is seriously wrong when I stop reading comics and that happened over the past two weeks. Anyways, here are some things that brought me joy during August…
Where The Body Was, Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, Image (December 2023)
What a treat to get to read an advanced copy of the next Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips book! It’s not out until December, but you all are in for something special.
The action takes place within a suburban neighborhood in 1984. There are an ensemble of characters whose lives during an event all tie together. The title indicates some kind of event that happens, but that is only part of the story. It’s about memory, love, connection, loss, longing and living in the moment. It’s something very different from what they’ve done before, but fits well into their already impressive body of work.
Weird Work
This book has been a really pleasant surprise. It’s a straightforward pulp, crime story, but the characters are strange alien creatures. It reminds me a lot of what William Burroughs might have written if he made comics. It has that feel of some of his novels. The writing is fantastic and the artwork is unique in the best ways. Definitely check this out!
New York Comic Con
New York is my favorite city and I have continued to have a strong connection, even while living on the west coast of the United States. I jump at any opportunity to visit and the combination of some important family events, the chance to meet up with new friends in-person, and the chance to attend the New York Comic Con for the first time, all presented themselves.
The list of creators who will be in Artist Alley is mind-bending! I haven’t been to a Con since I was really young, in San Diego in 1991 or 92. I’m hoping that the NYCC is less of a Hollywood spectacle then what SDCC has become. It will also be nice to meet some of the creators I’ve connected with online, in-person. If you will be there, please let me know, as I would love to meet up with you.
Punisher: King of Killers
I was pretty late to reading this, but I was pretty blown away. I grew up reading The Punisher and Punisher: War Journal, when Jim Lee was on the book. He’s always been a fascinating character. However, because of how his symbol has been taken over by the right in this country, many people have rightly soured on the character.
Jason Aaron has given him a fresh start with this wild premise. He’s now working with The Hand and has been trained along with ninjas, wielding a sword instead of a gun. The artwork by Jesus Saiz is beyond amazing. It’s enough of a reason to read this. The reason that Frank is working for The Hand is also kind of crazy.
The Punisher MAX: The Complete Collection Vol. 1
This series came out in 2004 when I was not reading comics, so this slipped past my radar. This collection was excellent. This is the way I want to read The Punisher: gritty, violent, unhinged, all-out crazy and unfiltered. I'm sorry to say that I hadn't read Garth Ennis until now. From the opening arc in Vietnam to the two following, this is an amazing telling of Frank Castle's origin story and a flash forward to him taking down a few different crime organizations. It's got three different artists (one for each story arc) and they're all amazing. Can't recommend this highly enough to fans of The Punisher. The Marvel MAX line featured explicit language and content, so it's definitely not for the meek of heart.
August Spotify Playlist
Here is the playlist of music that I discovered, mostly newly released, in August. Hope you enjoy some or all of it.
Thanks so much for reading and I hope you are all well. As always, your feedback is most welcome. I want to keep writing about the stuff that matters to you. Take care.