Kiwi as a writer and me as an artist often see the same comics in different ways. It's fun to go to the comic store and get excited over a great art style and then have Kiwi glance at the cover and tell me if it's written by a good or bad author. Because Kiwi has been reading comics for a long time, his experience with writers is well developed. He knows which writers I would like or dislike, despite the art style inside. I am easily distracted by fabulous illustrations even if the writing is sub-par. Luckily, Kiwi stops me from buying up comics based on pretty covers with a quick background story on the terrible/jerk writer within.
Lately the comics I have been reading are as follows:
izombie (Trade)
Written by: Chris Roberson
Art by: Michael Allred
Now I will admit this comic I actually did buy (Kiwi bought) based purely off the art, but it is FANTASTIC. It's not 100% correct with the proportions or whathaveyou - but it's the style that has captivated me. If I were a comic artist this would be the style I would draw in for sure. The line work is fresh and the colours are not your usual black/gloomy Marvel palette.
It's got a cute, twisted story that I think appeals mostly to girls. It's about a young gravedigger who is secretly a zombie. She acts normally, but if she doesn't eat a brain every month she will turn into the typical shambling, undead predator. Her friends consist of a ditzy blonde ghost and a ware-terrier. Overall I was pleased how the story was going, but as Kiwi pointed out (being a writer) it didn't exactly have a conflict. Because this is an ongoing series I figure the plot will thicken when more books release, but for now I will have to wait.
Transmetropolitan: Lonely City (Trade)
Written by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Darick Robertson
When Kiwi and I were still friends, Kiwi learned of my graduation from college and shipped me the first Transmetropolitan trade paperback as a gift. He even wrote me an inscription inside the front cover. Since Kiwi has come to Canada I have acquired a great deal more Transmet books. I am now up to the 5th trade paperback and am completely enthralled. I would not normally pick up a book like this because of the tight detailed, disgusting, older slightly 80's flair artwork. But since Kiwi is interested in writing and stories he knew instantly that I would love Spider Jerusalem and his crazy, hateful antics. And I do. Spider is a journalist in a futuristic, out of this world city, and he shares his cynical outlook on life and humanity as a whole. The outrageous portrayal of the future alone is enough to be hooked on this series. I would throw in a "don't judge a book by it's cover" cliche here but I fear a giant hook might creep out from behind a curtain to tug me off before someone throws tomatoes.
So for now, I'll leave it at that!
-Strawberry
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