Descender: The Deluxe Edition Volume 1 (Science Fiction)

 

                        by Jeff Lemire (Author), Dustin Nguyen (Artist)

Publisher: Image Comics; Deluxe edition (December 19, 2017)

Hardcover, 400 pages

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The Deluxe volume one collects the first three softcover graphic novels, or issues 1 - 16 of the science fiction series. Which is half of the 32 issue series. Not a bad get if you’re willing to pay. It was a Christmas present for me, so I didn’t have to shell out. This has been followed up by the sequel series, Ascender, which has lasted for fifteen issues so far. I have no idea of it ends there because I have not read them. But I sure might, as the story presented in Descender is compelling and interesting. Recommended for lovers of the space opera

In a distant system, or series of interconnected systems - the plot is nebulous about that - the human race has abandoned Earth and created the United Galactic Council with various other sentient species. Into this comes nine giant robots, dubbed the Harvesters - think Voltron sized times a hundred- who appear out of apparently nowhere and attack the major hubs of civilization. After causing untold damage the robots vanish back to where they came from. This leads to a cull on Artificial Intelligences and robot across the civilized world were hunted down and destroyed. Some hid away, some banded together to make a resistance movement called the Hardwired. All this happens in the first ten pages.

Ten years later, a small boy companion robot, one designed for empathy and love (similar to the main character in the underrated A.I. film) comes back online. He was saved from the robot holocaust because the mining colony he was stationed in suffered a catastrophic gas leak where most of the crew was killed. It is determined by various hostile parties that, for whatever reason, this model of robot has the same baseline codex - that is initial code, similar to mechanical DNA I guess - as the Harvesters. Things go off the rails following that.

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Dept. H vol. 1 (Graphic Novel)

 

by Matt Kindt (Author, Illustrator), Sharlene Kindt (Illustrator)

Publisher : Dark Horse Books; Illustrated edition (June 4, 2019)

Hardcover, 320 pages

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Dept. H is presented as a locked room mystery six feet under the ocean, but they certainly don’t get to it in the first volume. It collects the first six issues of the series, there being twenty four in all, collected into four volumes. In this particular one, the mystery builds and builds, with no actual resolution and damned little investigation. The main character is swept up in event after event precluding her from looking into the actual death which brings her to a research station on the ocean floor.

Similar to Sealab 2021 without the humor, huge parts of this underground exploratory and research development center are blown up or flooded in the first six issues. We are introduced to a select number of interesting characters who, I’m sure, all have secrets of their own - which will be revealed in upcoming issues. But if you are interested in a mystery then you are in it for the long haul, because I’m sure this one won’t wrap up until the 23rd or 24th issue. The pacing is somewhat leisurely, and drifts along like the contents of the ocean.

Some people have ragged on the art, but it’s watercolors for an undersea story, which I think is fitting. We tend to see the science fiction art as more detailed and technical with lots of gauges and lights and mechanics in the background. This is not present, but the beginnings of an interesting story is in the works. If only we were given a little more. Maybe I should’ve just bought the omnibus edition.

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Murder Book (Crime)

 

by Ed Brisson

Publisher: Dark Horse Books (March 31, 2015)

Softcover, 184 pages

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“‘Murder Book’ is a term used by detectives to refer to a case file on a homicide investigation. Murder books typically include crime scene photographs and sketches, autopsy and forensic reports, transcripts of investigators’ notes, and witness interviews. The chronicle the life a case from the time a murder is reported until an arrest is made.”

-         From the introduction

This is a collection of sixteen crimes stories, most involving murder or a death of some sort. Each story is drawn by a different artist, but they adhere to a similar gritty, black and white style, which lends itself to a similarity of tone and pacing throughout these tales. But, of course, with a limited amount of space, each story is rather short. That isn’t a negative in my opinion, but when one very short story follows another, they need to be different enough to stand out. In this case the stories remind me of Andrew Vachss’s books of short fiction, Born Bad, or Ed Brubaker’s Criminal series.

The tone is amoral. No judgments are given. No morality is espoused. It is simply the facts about a protagonist, usually desperate or out of their depth - or both - caught up in circumstances where death, one way or the other, was a necessary outcome. All seem to be in the same city or state, as many reference “Sandra” a crimelord of some degree, who seems to be involved in drug smuggling at the least. These are bleak stories which offer up little in the way of hope or the human spirit, but there are plenty of gunshots.

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Elric: The Balance Lost Vol. 1 (Science Fiction) (Fantasy)

 

by Michael Moorcock (Author), Chris Roberson (Author), Francesco Biagini (Illustrator)

Publisher : BOOM! Studios; Original edition (February 7, 2012)

Softcover, 128 pages

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There are three volumes to this story, but I have only bought the first. I may or may not buy the rest. Let’s see what kind of deal I can get on them. Two things you need to know about this series right off the bat. Michael Moorcock’s name is on this, but he had nothing to do with its story, but all of the characters (except one) come from his various stories. Don’t worry though, this story is definitely in the style of Moorcock, and the writers are well versed in Moorcock’s worlds for they are well represented here. So while this isn’t written by the man himself, the plot certainly could have been.  

Second, this series is called Elric, but it's more to do with the Eternal Champion of Moorcock's multiverse. I suppose they just gave it that title due to the character being the most popular of the Eternal Champions. For those who are unaware, the Eternal Champion was Moorcock’s way of connecting all of his various stories and characters through a central archetype.  The Champion is a semi-conscious appointed warrior of Balance who exists in every world and age of the Multiverse. His mission is to keep the balance between order and chaos. If either side becomes too powerful in one dimension then it is doomed. Additionally they all seem to have an unbreakable bond with a sentient Chaos-aligned weapon, the Black Sword, which in turns takes on a different shape for each Champion. Champions are forbidden to coexist in the same dimension, unless some sort of massive catastrophe is underway - as is the case in this series, but what is exactly the source of this lost balance is not revealed in volume one.

Which leads us to another problem. If you aren’t sufficiently knowledgeable in the various works of Moorcock, beyond Elric, you might be lost or miss the significance of much of the material. If you know Moorcock, then you will certainly enjoy the ride. Four protagonists are presented here. The first is the titular Elric, traveling the moonbeam roads between universes with his signature sword Stormbringer. Next is Duke Dorian Hawkmoon von Köln who is uncovering a remnant of the Beast Lords who survived the last decisive war. Corum Jhaelen Irsei, Corum of the Silver Hand, who rescues an old friend then goes to thwart an attack of order creatures, only to come across a version of the Runestaff - which readers might recognize as part of the Hawkmoon series. And a new member of the Von Bek family, Eric Beck. The family is often picked to be a part of the Eternal Champion down through the multiverse. Also making appearances are Oswald Bastable, and the cast of the Second Ether series.

 Eric Beck being the new character and oblivious to his role, should have been the entrance cypher for the readers, but as of the fourth issue here he hasn’t been. All the protagonists are given the same amount of page space- for good or ill. However, it does make the assumption that people are well versed in the many short stories and books of Moorcock as the author. If everything in the previous passage comes across as gibberish, you may not enjoy this graphic novel as well as you might.

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The Wind in My Heart (Horror)

 

by Douglas Wynne

Publisher : Crystal Lake Publishing (January 15, 2021)

Softcover, 129 pages

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“Against a black background with liquid gold accents, a blue-black potbellied figure radiating a fan of arms and legs dances on a pile of human and animal corpses in a ring of fire. His head is that of an ox with long, sharp horns ascending from a crown of skulls. Three eyes blaze in a triangle formation above flared nostrils and bared fangs. The creature’s hair, beard, and eyebrows are all formed of golden flames. He’s naked, except for a necklace and girdle of human heads, his erect penis red-tipped and pointing skyward. His myriad hands and feet are tipped with white claws, each hand clutching a different object: a lion’s pelt, a noose, and every variety of weapon—knives, spears, arrows, and throwing stars—all radiating outward in a fan of blades, except for the two hands that meet at the center of the body. Of these, one holds a crescent-shaped knife with an ornamented handle, the other a skullcap splashing blood. The creature’s expression is fierce, but a set of additional heads rise in a column above the mane of flaming hair, like a totem pole. The topmost of these is the serene, smiling face of a Buddha.” 

                                                           Author Douglas Wynne

An excellent blend mixing the ever-spiraling mythology of Tibet with the modern horror story. The Tibetan culture is so rich and vibrant, I’ve often wondered why more people haven’t utilized them before. They have the complete and evocative dictionary for the most ridiculous of spiritual beings, yet it is a fascinating read. Douglas Wynne writes with a hard boiled elegance, effortlessly blending complex Tibetan philosophy with the tough guy banter of a Raymond Chandler novel. His descriptive prowess brings a level of reality above the normal literary dialogue.  

What police see as a series of normal gangland killings in the heart of Chinatown, private detective Miles Laundry soon finds out is something far beyond. The reincarnation of a man possessed by a demonic guardian and terrible powers is loose upon the world. His target, the former Tibet masters who suppressed his existence. This is a fast paced work of tension and mysticism. The research into Tibetan culture is obvious and shows in this semi-complex story, of mystery, murder, and magic.

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Koshchei the Deathless (Horror)

  

by Mike Mignola  (Author, Illustrator), Ben Stenbeck  & Dave Stewart (Illustrators)

Publisher : Dark Horse Books; Illustrated edition (October 2, 2018)

Softcover, 168 pages

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This is a spin-off from Hellboy dealing with the history of one of Hellboy’s past defeated foes, the titular Koeishi the Deathless who first appeared in Darkness Calls. But that was before the world ended and Hell had a purpose. Now that it's all over - in the Hellboy universe at least - Koeishi and Hellboy sit at a bar in the ruins of Hell where the Deathless tells his story.

It has been hinted that there was much more to Koeishi's take, but the depth of it was surprising. The tale is steeped in Russian and Slavic mythology, mixed with the weird sensibilities of the Hellboy universe. We see Koeishi's early life and dealings with the Baba Yaga. Her war with Hellboy eventually costs them both much, Koeishi being just one of the causalities.

As usual the story is wild and weird. The sort of story comics were built for. It couldn't have worked in any other medium. Hellboy was built for the comics, which is why it's thrived for so many decades. The artwork is impeccable as always with the colors casting the various moons perfectly. I'm not sure what's in the future for this universe, if anything, but I'm looking forward to it.

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Deadworld: Tatoo (Horror)

 

by Ralph Griffith (Author), Stuart Kerr (Author), Jake Jacobsen (Illustrator), Mike Larson (Illustrator)

Publisher : Caliber Comics (April 22, 2020)

Softcover, 119 Pages

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Deadworld, the original zombie comic from the 1980s. As it must point out in its blurb, “Before the Walking Dead there was Deadworld”. It started as an indie comic in the late 80s, Deadworld has survived over the last four decades in various forms. Multiple characters have been introduced and killed off over that time, very few could be considered protagonists. I found it shocking when I first read it, at how casually the main characters would be thrown away by the authors. Shocking and exciting. It was the first comic to have variant covers - a regular one and a “not for wussies” version which showed extreme violence or corpse dismemberment.

With the volatile rise and fall and rise and fall of the comics industry, Deadworld has disappeared for a time, only to rise again like the zombies it depicts. It is unique in the zombie apocalypse category as it is the only one, I believe, because it gives a reason for the dead rising. It is an invasion by demonic creatures from another dimension, who wish to fully open a gate between the two worlds and claim Earth for themselves. As such there are intelligent zombies, actually demonic spirits, directing the hordes of mindless dead. Humanity is on the verge of extinction, but the heroes – ever shifting as they are - constantly manage to keep the gates closed for one more day.

This a spin-off from the normal Deadworld cycle. The descriptors claim its self-contained, but it has a lot of characters from previous issues (Deadkiller, Donna, Dan, Rasta Man, the Vamp) and to fully understand the context of what’s happening, I would recommend  beginning elsewhere. But for those who know Deadworld definitely give this a look. It revolves around the often mis-treated Donna who somehow merges with the demonic characters called The Vamp. This unexpected event may tip the tide in expelling the demons from Earth and ending the apocalypse.

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The Final Night (Superhero)

 

by Karl Kesel, Ron Marz, Stuart Immonen (Illustrator), Mike McKone (Illustrator)

Publisher : DC Comics (March 1, 1998)

Softcover, 144 pages

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This was one of those major events which ran rampant throughout DC and Marvel. Every year it seemed some new event swept across all the various series, meaning that at least one - if not two - issues of your favorite comic was interrupted by some overarching plot which you may or (more likely) may not care about. The collection of The Final Night series contains only the original series without the cross-over issues. As such the focus from issue to issue is a little haphazard, shifting this way than that

Unlike other crossover events published by DC, the conflict of The Final Night did not revolve around a conventional villain. It was primarily a story of survival that focused on the main characters performing disaster response, while attempting to prevent impending mass extinction of all life on Earth. At the end of each issue was an in-story website feature written by S.T.A.R. Labs, giving information updates and emergency support to residents of the DC Universe as the crisis progressed.

There is quite a lot of background needed to understand this book. Superman's enemies destroyed his home city, driving Hal insane and causing him to destroy the Green Lantern Corps, giving up his role as Green Lantern and becoming the nigh-omnipotent Parallax in the process. In a few years, Hal went from being an iconic hero to a murderous villain.  Hal Jordan, the Silver Age Green Lantern, suddenly went nuts and destroyed the Green Lantern Corps and seemingly half the universe in Emerald Twilight. Jordan turned up as the master villain behind Extant in Zero Hour. With Final Night, this cycle comes to a merciful close.

Basically this book was the attempt to redeem Hal Jordan while giving him a swan song. The plot is weird but basically revolves around an old Legion of Super-Heroes villain called the Sun Eater coming to devour Earth’s sun. The world is saved in the end, of course, and by an unlikely hero.

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The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch (Fantasy)

 

by Neil Gaiman  (Author), Michael Zuli (Illustrator)

Publisher : Dark Horse Books; 2nd ed. edition (May 10, 2016)

Hardcover, 56 pages

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This is a graphic novel adapted from a short story which originally appeared in Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions. It claims to be a "mostly true story" that combines the author's trademark magic realism with Zulli's sumptuous paintings, and has been newly rewritten for this hardcover. By mostly true, I assume the author adapted some street theater he had witnessed then added his own magical touch.

In fact, we can assume the main character is Neil Gaimen himself who, with his wife and friend and a strange introverted woman - the titular Miss Finch, attend an underground horror themed street circus. She comes across as having a personality disorder - an unlikable character - and only lights up when talking about her academic subject, bio-geology - The study of the interactions between the Earth's biosphere and the lithosphere. The circus starts off pretty tame, most of the characters seem pretty unimpressed. Until something happens in the middle and Miss Finch is carried off and transformed.

This is not the greatest story ever written, either in prose or graphic novel form. In fact for Neil Gaiman, it’s pretty mediocre- hell, for most writers it would be mediocre. I’m not sure why they decided to adapt this one to a different format. While the art is amazing, the story is iffy. A magical event, one with no reason or context. Interesting for a moment, then disposable. I’m not saying don’t buy this book. I’m saying get it for a reasonable price.

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