From the last Wednesday’s new comics arrivals, we have fresh stories of interest. This time pushed almost to its limit, as my time spent at the San Diego Comic Con was heavy and full of everything a con should be. Still recovering, I took time to read the latest interests post-trip. Here we go, with the new (and minor spoilers)..

NEW COMICS THIS WEEK:

Captain Kid #1 (Aftershock) by Mark Waid, Tom Peyer, Wilfredo Torres

A man dealing with a mid-life crisis, dead-end life suddenly can turn into the youthful superhero, Captain Kid. We have a first issue with barely anything on origins. Much of a focuses on the troubled soul of the protagonist, with the superhero as a form of an escapism. But there is something more than the situation he put in, as writer Mark Waid tells well-paced stories with thought-out conclusions. The art however, feels off. Not sure if it’s the melancholy feel of the character, mixing real life personal crisis with superhero melodrama; or perhaps it’s all supposed to feel a bit disjointed as a dramatic tale than superhero fanfare.

Chew #56 (Image) by John Layman, Rob Guillory

Only four issues left until the final issue #60, and the story leveling gets a bit exhilarating.  l love how Layman finds very interesting and new uses for the food related powers, leading Savoy to continue on through interesting means, and out hero to resort to a lite form of cannibalism. With little time left, I feel myself a bit impatient as to where all the events big and small lead. Will there even be an end, or perhaps a spinoff or new volume? I don’t feel the end coming, and continue to love the strange cast of characters (its strongest feature, with the art coming in a close second). Meanwhile, the end of this chapter is perhaps the most morbid yet.

I Hate Fairyland #7 (Image), by Skottie Young

It’s a series I didn’t think could continue to have any kind of deep story, but here we are in search of dragon pee. This issue is a funny almost standalone story with a little extra smiles. It’s not as gross or violently disturbing as the earlier issues, but the feeling is still there. We also have a bit more focus on the twisted world of out anti-heroine, with more logical sense on how things work. Scottie Young’s art continues to make this a very unique read with a distinct feel. The vibrant colors still pop, making the setting different and involving to the reader’s imagination. Pervis the Packrat is a fun encounter with a very disturbing request, something I hope Scottie Young brings back in a future issue.

Scooby Apocalypse #3 (DC), by  J.M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen, Howard Porter, Dale Eaglesham

Perhaps the strangest reboot of them all currently on the racks.  I can not yet conclude my feelings on this, as Scooby is best done in original form, I feel. Here, I am uncomfortable with Scooby Doo being some cyborg thing in serious form. Meanwhile, the Mystery Inc. gang as we know continued wits their highly developed complexities. Though, I also like the idea of Shaggy mentioned as a Buddhist. The danger also increases, with more on the action. Much I would compare to the highly successful Afterlife with Archie. But, I must refrain, as I still can’t decide if the series is horror, action, or drama in the overall tone, and there remains too much detachment from the source material. Yet, some things remain the same in some weird ways, with a need to understand the world around them. I would enjoy the story so much more, if the characters were not based on the Hanna Barbara classic.

Snotgirl #1 (Image) by Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung

There is much for me to hate and dislike on the characters and situations of this first issue, though I think it’s meant for that. Bryan O Malley (Scott Pilgrim) has a knack for making characters that relatable from their inner turmoil, but very select in everything else. We have this main character stuck n this bizarre self-obsession with blogging and popularity. There are some qualities in their presentations, but I feel as detached from them as I do the protagonist. But the last page suddenly kicks things into high gear, and turns this from anxiety driven to highly dramatic and mysterious. The art is engaging and popish, and misleading toward what lies beneath the makeup and angst. Overall, the execution is grand for its eventual twist is curious; leading the book to its rightful and interesting direction.

Black Hammer #1 (Dark Horse), by Jeff Lemire, Dean Ormston, Dave Stewart

A strange title this one is, that has a bit of that signature feel I get from the Dark Horse darkly titles like Hellboy, Buffy, Harrow County, adding a classic superhero angel to a bygone era . Jeff Lemire does what he does best in writing, character development and established setting in a rural environment. While the book looks back to an era of superheros, there is not the feel of the genre, except for some color to the flashbacks. The bulk of the first issue focuses on drama and interaction, with hints to what may fall forward. That’s a good thing, and I will look forward to the next issue and where it all goes.

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That’s all until next time. Did we miss anything on the shelves, that is a worthy read?  Do you have further thoughts on the books covered here? Leave a comment below!

Orion T – SW chief writer and seeker of great comic books and all related wonderful things.