Review « The Comics Journal

Of the darker, more adult-oriented manga of Osamu Tezuka that Vertical Inc. have recently translated and lavishly reprinted for the English-speaking armchair reader, Ayako stands out as the most consistently enigmatic and sophisticated. Originally published in three volumes from 1972-1973, Ayako is Tezuka’s attempt at creating a realist epic by way of a spy drama.

SHAZAM: The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal

Posted by R.C. Harvey on February 23rd, 2011 at 2:00 PM

Like most of Kidd’s work, the design draws attention to itself rather than providing an unobtrusive platform for displaying the content, a spectacular miscarriage of a book designer’s function.

Ignatz Update 3: Grotesque #4

Posted by Rob Clough on February 23rd, 2011 at 5:17 AM

Rob reviews the fourth and final issue of Sergio Ponchionne’s Grotesque, a joint Fantagraphics-Coconino Press production.

Sergio Ponchionne’s conclusion to Grotesque returned to the mind-bending storytelling of the first issue, tying together loose story threads in a manner that

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Madwoman of the Sacred Heart by Jodorowsky and Mœbius

Posted by Gavin Lees on February 22nd, 2011 at 4:00 PM

While radically different from his work in cinema, Jodorowsky’s comics are still a weird amalgam of genres and influences. His first collaboration with Mœbius, The Incal, was essentially the fool’s journey of the Tarot, written as a pseudo-religious space opera. There is an even stranger turnaround here, as Madwoman of the Sacred Heart takes the gospels and turns them into an erotic noir thriller.

The Homeland Directive

Posted by Nathan Wilson on February 22nd, 2011 at 2:00 PM

Ignatz Update 2: Niger #3

Posted by Rob Clough on February 21st, 2011 at 9:35 AM

In the second part of a series, Rob takes a look at the most recent issues published from the joint Fantagraphics-Coconino Press Ignatz Series. Here, he examines Niger #3, by Leila Marzocchi.

It’s hard to decide which Ignatz book is

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Graphic Youth: Louis: Night Salad by Metaphrog

Posted by Gavin Lees on February 21st, 2011 at 9:00 AM

By sublimating paranoia and hallucinatory symbolism into the bright, primary-colored world of Louis, Franco-Scottish duo Metaphrog have crafted an all-ages graphic novel that is all at once touching, intelligent and beautiful to behold.

Ignatz Update 1: Sammy The Mouse #3

Posted by Rob Clough on February 19th, 2011 at 5:15 AM

In the first of a four-part series about recent comics from the joint Fantagraphics-Coconino Ignatz line, Rob reviews Sammy The Mouse #3, by Zak Sally.

Though it’s flying a bit under the radar now, the joint Fantagraphics-Coconino Ignatz line publishing

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Liar’s Kiss by Eric Skillman and Jhomar Soriano

Posted by Nathan Wilson on February 18th, 2011 at 9:00 AM

While Vertigo has made a strong push as of late with its own Vertigo Crime imprint (see Rat Catcher) and Dark Horse recently published an anthology aptly titled Noir in 2009, the results across the board and publishing spectrum are hit-and-miss.

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Casanova Vol. 1: Luxuria, Casanova Gula #1-2

Ayako by Osamu Tezuka