10 Mar 2020

Comics I’m Picking Up the Week of March 11, 2020

Posted in Arts By Karl Winthrop-Davies On March 10, 2020

Here are the books I’m looking forward to seeing at my local comic store the week of March 11, 2020.

Decorum #1

Publisher: Image
Words/Story: Jonathan Hickman
Art/Colors: Mike Huddleston

“There are many assassins in the known universe. This is the story of the most well-mannered one. ‘Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what knife you use.'”

Category: Tried and True Creator

Why I’m Excited: Why do I love Jonathan Hickman? Is it because I work on a daily basis producing graphs and charts from business data that I present to people that don’t really care how well I distill ideas into pictures? And I admire what he is able to do with infographic? Is the aspiring graphic designer looking for inspiration in the lines, symbols and colors (e.g. the Stone Chair keeping balance between Caina and Kankerin)? Am I in awe of the way that he sees through history to the difficult truths of human experience? Or is it that he evolved as a writer to understand that reader experience has become a bigger part of the magic than authorial intent? One might consider comics a straightforward medium for storytelling, but but I’ve never picked up a book Hickman has written or designed and thought that it was simple or trite. From the opening pages here, it looks like there will be critiques of colonialism, and the opening description of the protagonist provides a nuance that is compelling and contradictory.

Image Comics

North Bend #1

Publisher: Scout Comics
Words/Story: Ryan Ellsworth
Art/Colors: Rob Carey

“In the not too distant future, the US is at war—against Russia, and its own people. The country is on the verge of economic collapse and political revolution. Desperate to regain control, the CIA recruits Seattle DEA Agent Brendan Kruge to test an experimental mind control drug on unwitting Americans. Compelled by his sense of duty to his country, Brendan struggles to keep his life from falling apart as he tries to reconcile his personal beliefs with the security of the nation.”

Category: Support Emerging Creators

Why I’m Excited: So what is the connection between the title of this book and the town that recent presidential candidate used to be mayor of? How far into the future can Ellsworth peer? Is the America of his creation really at war with Russia? Does the main character believe in “Strict Father” parenting or was he brought up in the tension between whether to be respectful or independent, obedient or self-reliant,well behaved or considerate, well mannered or curious? On the eve of an authoritarian regime in America, I want to see how an author translates the fear (and grief) of our current political moment into the world a few minutes from now.

Scout Comics

Cable #1

Publisher: Marvel
Words/Story: Gerry Duggan
Art/Colors: Phil Noto

“Cable was a grizzled old veteran of the wars to save the future . . . and he will be again. But for now, he’s a young mutant living in paradise leading a life of adventure! Nathan Summers, son of two of the most powerful mutants on Krakoa, has a destiny leading the youth of mutantkind in rebellion . . . so why not start now?”

Category: Like They Need My Help

Why I’m Excited: If the world were to suddenly look how Phil Noto draws, I could be content never to see a crisp line again. I’d be okay with the saturation being pulled from sunny days and never experiencing a pitch-black night again. Writer Gerry Duggan, I’m sure, will make me chuckle with the quips and in-jokes that made his Deadpool such a hit, and the Krakoa setting for Kid-Cable teen rebellion (just for the sake of being a kid who has boundaries to push) will be another great facet of the current jewel in Marvel’s crown that is the Hickman-orchestrated X-titles.

Marvel Comics

For those of you who prefer their doses of comic goodness in 100-plus-page chunks, this week is also full of trade paperback and collected goodness: Visaggio, Farrow, and Witerscheim give you Sex Death Revolution; Ward and Kivela have Machine Gun Wizards (né Tommy Gun Wizards); Rob Davis concludes his trilogy of kitchen-related titles with The Book of Forks; and the Big Two continue the hype of their female-led movies this spring and summer with more Black Widow and Wonder Woman compilations.