Read Volume 3 of Criminal (The Dead and the Dying) today. Brubaker Phillips 'nuff said.

Also finally gotten around to reading the first volume of Wasteland from Oni Press by Antony Johnson and Christopher Mitten, a post-apocalyptic sci-book.



Mitten's art is well suited for black and white work...





and Johnson here weaves an interesting story with some well thought out world-building. Like any good sci-fi, it makes a statement about attitudes and problems of our own world as well.

I was less enthused by the pair's work together (in color) on Umbral for Image. It was a book I wanted to like but didn't, but this I do like and will likely track down more of the series.

-M

The Sandman overture hardcover.

Seriously beautiful art, with a segment that's a homage to Giraud's Lt. Blueberry series.

The story, though? It has a few of the cool ideas that Gaiman is famous for: for example, the parents of the Endless turn out to be Night and Time (how neat! How mythological!) and there is something called "the first circle" that seems to stand even above the Endless (a  fellow named Glory is part of it, and although we don't get to know who he is he's pretty darn intriguing). But apart from these interesting aspects, the rest of the book is a bit... tedious. The several links made with previous Sandman stories feel tacked on and, (*gasp!*) almost fan-fictionish. I needed to know that the line "I am hope" from Sandman #3 was inspired by a character in this story like I needed to know the origin of Logan's jacket in X-Men origins: Wolverine.

Once again, we face a crisis that threatens everyone and everything everywhere at the same time. Whatever shall we do? I know! Let's slowly travel, on foot, to... somewhere. Let's act as if being trapped in a black hole is a big deal when getting out of it turns out to be trivial. Oh, and finally, after gazillions of galaxies have been blown up, let's use the same trick as in "Dream of a thousand cats" (it doesn't only work for cats, folks!) to reboot the universe. Well, I'm sorry to say, what was charming and clever in that cat story turns out to be far less interesting when retrofitted into this prequel. Like, "Darth Vader built C-3PO" level of less interesting.

Neil says this is a story he had wanted to tell for decades, but I can't really see how that can be. I'm glad to see Morpheus again, sure, but this is a story that didn't need to be told. 

That art, though... It's gorgeous. The book deserves to be bought if only for that. And, well... even a so-so Gaiman story remains a pleasure to read, because it's always well-written.

My favourite lines of the book were indeed spoken by the cat:

"I think we should not kill the star immediately. We should play with it, making it think we are letting it go. We will exhaust it. Finally, we will pounce, and shake it until it dies".

Neil really captures the essence of a cat!

I read Uncanny X-Men #1 today. So far, it's the weakest of the relaunched X-Books. Land's art is a disaster. Someone needs to buy him some new "references." The story was pretty thin and mostly served to introduce the cast. The subplots set up for Magneto and Archangel were interesting, at least.

I went to pick up my pulls from my LCS yesterday, and the owner was there, and he came over to talk to us because I was planning on buying Watchmen in HC from there, and I had a couple of questions about the HC.
While talking with us, he told me he only reads, like, four current books, but there was a mini he was reading, and he REALLY wanted me to check it out.
It's "Klaus".
He gave me the first two issues for free, and he said if I didn't like them, I can just return them.
I got home and noticed that Morrison wrote it, so I was kind of "Meh" going into it, but man! that is some damn gorgeous art. Wowee.
And, you know what? It's only been 2 issues so far, but I like it. A lot.

Picked up the latest issue last week and read them all in one sitting. Absolutely love this series.

I agree... though I do wish it came out a big more regularly.   I think that's the major downside.