Catching Up On Some Current Favorites

Before we try to jump right into the swing of things here, I thought it might be a good idea to take a moment and set the stage a little. Here is a rundown of some of my favorite titles I've been reading recently, what I think of their current status and what I'm expecting from the future.

Scalped
Vertigo
Writer: Jason Aasron
Artist: R.M. Guera

Scalped follows the exploits of organized crime on an Indian reservation in the modern day Midwest. The series focuses on Bad Horse, an unquestionably tough piece of work who returns to the reservation after years away only to immediately find himself in the middle of violent political intrigue, brutal sexual encounters, and an altogether disregard for any type of civilized existence.

Admittedly, I had a little trouble getting into this one at first. Violence and sex for the sake of violence and sex is typically not my cup of tea and initially Scalped can seem like just that. I'm confident there are many out there who would feel offended by this depiction of Native American life on the 'rez.' That said, after five issues I'm finding myself increasingly captivated by this title and interested in the characters. The hardcore sex and violence remain, but it is becoming evident that there is something more being offered here. The multi-tiered plot, where everything is colored in shades of gray, is revealing itself to far more complicated and fascinating than simply creating excuses for people to hump and slaughter each other.

I recommend Scalped, but with hesitation. It reminds me of 100 Bullets in that it starts out slowly and doesn't seem like it's going to show it's whole hand until it's good and f**king ready. It does have the potential, however, to start finding itself mentioned alongside similar Vertigo classics such as Preacher if it decides that it actually has something to say.


Ex Machina
Wildstorm
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artists: Tony Harris, Tom Feister, JD Mettler

Now this is how its done. There are very few titles I'm ever more excited to read each month than the newest installment of Brian K. Vaughan's brilliantly executed political thriller Ex Machina. As someone who is interested in politics but usually turned off to any pop-culture attempts to discuss them, I was a little uncertain whether this title was going to capture me. Clearly, Mr. Vaughan sympathizes with individuals like myself as I am rarely frustrated by political discussion in this series.

For the uninitiated, Ex Machina follows the life of Mitchell Hundred who had a brief career as the worlds first/only superhero before running and being elected mayor of New York City. While this premise may sound ludicrous initially, it doesn't take long before the intersection of Hundred's political and private life start to become incredibly fun to follow. Vaughan does an excellent job of keeping the political dialogue topical but not annoyingly partisan. Mayor Hundred has a fly by the seat of his pants approach to the office and considers himself a moderate, siding with different parties on different issues. I'm incredibly grateful, especially in today's political atmosphere, that this is a series more about people and society than it is about making some grand political statement to impress the writer's eclectic liberal buddies from back at college.

Recently, Ex Machina has begun to explore some long unanswered questions about the origins of Hundreds powers and I can't wait to see where it's all going. Highly recommended.


Fables
Vertigo
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artists: Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, others.

If you're reading this site or have been even remotely interested in comics over the last several years you have undoubtedly already heard of Fables. I can say without reservation that this is my favorite series, and one that I feel is going to eventually be regarded as one of the greatest ever, if it isn't already. In case you somehow don't know, Fables follows the lives of well known fairytale characters who are living in NYC after exile from their homelands at the hands of a devastating army, and its unseen leader known initially only as the 'Adversary.'

I'm not even going to get into all the elements of what makes this series so special. Even the covers, by the incredible James Jean, are consistently the best work in comics. If you aren't reading this, you need to be, regardless of whether you think you'd find fairy tale characters interesting. It takes several issues before the storyline really starts to ramp up, but once it does you'll be sickeningly addicted. Recent issues are taking the series to some great new places and aren't losing a step even after all this time. Highest possible recommendation.


The Killer
Archaia Press
Writer: Matz
Artist: Luc Jacamon

Watch out for Archaia Press, as they're developing into one of the best publishers in comics. Between this, Mouse Guard, some other acclaimed series I don't read, and several new titles I'm expecting good things from - Archaia is really bringing it to the table.

The Killer places readers in the mind of an unnamed assassin (henceforth referred to as 'Mr. M') who is without sympathy and meticulous in his work. The series starts out with a well-known story archetype - criminal wants to do one last big job and then get out of the game, but the job is botched and getting out suddenly becomes intensely complicated. While this dynamic would be boring and and tired in the hands of a lesser work, The Killer manages to truly flourish. What makes The Killer succeed where other's like it have failed is its tone. Presented as a noir, the title perfectly captures the dark detachment of an assassin, albeit one who is aware and interested in his position and function in society. Nearly all the narrative is unspoken so we have an intimate perspective inside the mind of Mr. M, following his thoughts and concerns as he goes about his shady business. M has much more on his mind than simply his mark though, and growing to understand his views of the world are what truly makes The Killer something that can be identified with, or at least intrigued by. Its too bad the title is reaching the half-way point of its limited run, though from a storytelling standpoint that may be one of its strongest traits by the end. If you love crime stories, or can get into a fascinating yet cold character, you must read The Killer.


The Walking Dead
Image
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artists: Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn

The zombie story for everyone who doesn't have any interest in reading a zombie story. Kirkman makes this title a must read by focusing on the human element of the disaster, with the characters and their relationships being far more important to the story than anything zombies are doing.

The Walking Dead is one of the hottest comics of the day, and for good reason. Unless you are turned off by some gore, this series is a truly great read and deserves all the attention it gets. Recent events have the characters in the story about to experience their greatest conflict yet, and it couldn't be a more exciting time to get involved.


Criminal
Marvel
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Philips

Another noir/crime series though more traditional in style and approach. Don't make the mistake of assuming this is a run-of-the-mill title though, as Brubaker and Phillips have absolutely nailed this one. I will easily consider this one of my favorite ongoing series if it maintains the incredible quality found in the first six issues. Rarely are crime series driven by character rather than plot development, and rarely is anything done this masterfully. The afterwords from the author and artist go even further to set this title apart and add another 20 minutes of solid enjoyment for your $3.00.

If you are only reading one crime series and The Killer sounds a little to dry for you, check out Criminal. It is a truly fascinating character drama with more than enough noirful suspense to get the job done. I consider this a must-read.


The Astonishing X-Men
Marvel
Writer: Joss Whedon
Artist: John Cassaday

The only full-on superhero title on this list has more than earned its spot amongst these elite. Astonishing is light years beyond any of the other titles in either the Marvel or DC universes. Whedon has taken the X-Men, who have for years been bogged down by far too much bloated continuity, stripped away all the superfluous characters and backstory, and focuses on telling succinct, exciting stories. Whedon seems to completely understand what makes the X-Men so intriguing in the first place - the characters relationships with themselves, each other, and the world at large. This is the X-Men title for those of us who aren't interested in reading the ridiculously pointless arcs in most the other current X series, but that are nostalgic for some good ol' mutant madness. This is the X-Men as I have always wanted them to be.


Fell
Image
Warren Ellis
Ben Templesmith

Fell is the flagship of a trend to reach out to comic readers who don't have the money or time to keep themselves immersed in today's grossly expensive and convoluted comic market. At only $1.99 (dollar(s) cheaper yet still ridiculous), with standalone plots, and interesting interviews/letters following the story - Fell is one of the best deals out there right now. Throw in the unworldly skills of both Ellis and Templesmith and suddenly this becomes a must-read series. Fell is perfect for newcomers at any point, but with enough easter eggs and tributes to make returning readers feel rewarded.

Casanova, by Matt Fraction, is another Image title that is also being released at $1.99 a pop. This is a great trend for the industry, and for the price, how can you not support it? Particularly when the stories are this damned good.