DMZ v7: #40

War Powers: Chapter Four
by Brian Wood (writer) and Ricardo Burchielli (artist)

This and the last Riccardo Burchielli-drawn arc dragged along at a slow pace. If the scenery was more appealing, which isn't so much a dig at the visuals as it is at the way the story unfolds, then it would probably make the book a more compelling read. This makes two consecutive Burchielli-drawn arcs that begin with a bang, end with a punch but fizzle in the middle.

The most frustrating part of the story is how it hints at more but does not deliver. It all feels very surface level but the implication is that there is more, subrosa. In a shorter story, a limited series of 6 or 12 issues this would be more understandable and acceptable. In a story that is this long, 60+ issues, there needs to be more skin on the bones than what has been provided as of this issue.

DMZ is published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics.

Heroes Con 2011 - Part 9

Three of the many (12) pieces of art that I purchased at Heroes Con...

Justice Society of America by Irwin Hasen - I'm glad I ran across this man, one of the artists of the JSA from their original run in All-Star Comics. The coloring job on the page isn't perfect but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to own a picture drawn by a golden-age artist.

Sandman and Harley the She-Devil by Joe Quinones - When I stumbled across Joe's table I was looking for something inexpensive; the price, $5 per print, was just too right and the images too nice for me to say no

DMZ v7: #39

War Powers: Chapter Three
by Brian Wood (writer) and Ricardo Burchielli (artist)

It feels like there is a disconnect between the story and the artwork. It isn't a gaping chasm but it is there. Early in this chapter there are a number of scenes where it is hard to tell who is whom.

What happened? One possibility is that the story was changed after Burchielli drew the pages. Another possibility is that there was a miscommunication and Burchielli drew the story differently than Wood intended it to be. Either way, it looks sloppy and some pages look like they were significantly altered after Burchielli touched them.

On the plus side more puzzle pieces are starting to get uncovered. Matty learns what Parco is up to, but not his exact plan. What he pieces together doesn't seem too far fetched but the storytelling feels sloppy. There are far too few moving parts to make the story as epic as it is starting to feel.

DMZ is published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics.

Heroes Con 2011 - Part 8

Three of the many (12) pieces of art that I purchased at Heroes Con...

Jack Tenrec & Hannah Dundee by Robbi Rodriguez - this was another pre-order; I sent the man my money and the names of the characters I wanted a month before the show but I didn't hear back from him; I was nervous about whether he had finished it because he hadn't posted it on his blog even though he had posted there a number of other commissions he had done; bottom line is he did a great job with it

Pirate Dreams by Robin Holstein - very impressive work by an artist with whom I was previously unfamiliar; I asked for something involving a female pirate and a djinn and left the rest up to him

Exterminators #6 p8 by Tony Moore (pencils) and Ande Parks (inks) - I ran across Tony Moore's table early in the show. He had a box full of pages for sale. I rumaged through them twice before settling on this one. I'm sure the guy standing behind me, waiting his turn, for approximately 10 minutes, didn't appreciate that. *shrug* I've wanted to own a Tony Moore piece probably since I first saw his work on Walking Dead. This is my kind of page: no action, it is more like a page of meaningful interaction.

Heroes Con 2011 - Part 7

Three of the many (12) pieces of art that I purchased at Heroes Con...

Skeleton Wizard by Christian N. St. Pierre - a pencil sketch that I requested after looking through his books; very pleased with how it turned out; I wasn't too specific with what I wanted I just asked for a skeleton wizard wearing a head piece and sporting some jewlery and left the rest up to him

Machine Man by Terrence Hoskins - a pre-order that I requested a few weeks before the show; after seeing a recent sketch he did of Doctor Doom I got it my head that I would like him to draw Machine Man; I pointed him to a couple of Jack Kirby covers for inspiration and he delivered exactly what I wanted

Buttercup, Samurai Jack, Dexter by Stephanie Gladden - I named the characters I wanted and left the rest up to her; she did an awesome job

DMZ v7: #38

War Powers: Chapter Two
by Brian Wood (writer) and Ricardo Burchielli (artist)

This chapter feels like set up for something or things yet come or yet to be revealed. Things happen but the text and pictures only explain things in rudimentary terms. It all feels very surface level. It isn't terribly impressive but that's because there's a piece of the puzzle that's missing. Hopefully the next couple chapters in this arc will help to round out the story.

DMZ is published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics.

Heroes Con 2011 - Part 6

Three of the many (12) pieces of art that I purchased at Heroes Con...

Reading Goat by Meredith Randazzo - I asked for an anthropomorphic goat reading a book; she drew it in under 10 minutes; we chatted while she drew

Sponge Bob as Modok by Jacob Chabot - I've had this idea in mind for several weeks; when I saw his art I thought that he seemed like a good fit for this mash-up; we didn't chat while he drew

Sgt Rock by Andy Price - his sketch cards aren't cheap ($25) so I felt like I was taking a bit of a risk buying one; I didn't hang around while he drew it; I was stunned by the finished product; it is flipping gorgeous; I may have to get another one the next time I see him