Weekly Comic Reviews - 13 Jan 2016

It’s been a crazy week. Ratings out of 5 stars. Comics available at Absolute Comics (Plaza Singapura).

Insexts #2

Story: Marguerite Bennett

Art: Ariela Kristantina

AfterShock Comics

Reading is contextual. Reading Insexts #2 a few hours after the terrorist attack in Jakarta is especially poignant because you know the ideas and freedom that allowed such a daring comic like Insexts is under threat by fundamentalism. The right to buy and read a comic like Insexts should not be taken for granted. It should be protected.

Putting the politics aside, this second issue continues the winning streak of AfterShock Comics. One awaits the next issue with abated breath…Btw, the artist of Insexts, Ariela Kristantina, who is based in Jakarta, is safe and sound.

(4 stars)

The Walking Dead #150

Story: Robert Kirkman

Art: Charlie Adlard

Image Comics

The Walking Dead reaches the landmark 150^th issue. Who would have taught in 2003 that this series would run for so long and be such a cultural phenomenon? It’s a hit TV show and has influenced other zombie books, movies, games and comics. Kirkman has gone on to bigger things but he still writes The Walking Dead with passion.

Rick Grimes is still badass and in this issue, he had to defend himself against his enemies (not quite what you think) in a very disturbing way. New developments are coming up.

(3.5 stars)

Batman ’66 Meets The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Story: Jeff Parker

Art: David Hahn and Karl Kesel

DC Comics

You have seen those old Batman and Green Hornet episodes where they meet. Now what if Batman had meet The Man From U.N.C.L.E.? The good folks at DC know a good penny when they see one. So the Dynamic Duo (and Batgirl) are up against T.H.R.U.S.H. as well as their usual TV rogues like Scarecrow, Sandman, Poison Ivy, Egghead, Mr Freeze and the Siren. Napoleon Solo, Illya Kuryakin and Alexandra Waverly (their boss) stand well against the Caped Crusaders. Nostalgic fun.

(3 stars)

New Romancer #2

Story: Peter Milligan

Art: Brett Parson

Vertigo Comics

Veteran Peter Milligan is still coming up with the strangest stories. He started out with 2000AD in the 1980s (which he is still writing for now) before moving over to Vertigo and DC proper by helming a memorable run of Detective Comics. He has been quiet for a while and now he is back with Vertigo for New Romancer – a rom-com that brings Lord Bryon (1788 – 1824) back to life via computer coding inspired by the writings of Ada Lovelace (1815 – 1852), the world’s first computer programmer and also Bryon’s daughter. The love interest is Lexy, the Internet-dating app programmer who brought Bryon back to life. But the course of true love never runs smooth and characters like Casanova are around to complicate things.

An inspired storyline, although it can be a bit too verbose in some parts. The art of Brett Parson (Tank Girl) fits the book. This bodes well for the new line of Vertigo books edited by Shelly Bond.

(3.5 stars)