Sergio Aragones Funnies #1 – Review

By: Sergio Aragones (writer & artist), Tom Luth (colors), Karen Bates (letters) & Bill Morrison (editor)

The Story: A new series from the mind and pen of Sergio Aragones.

Review: This was really cute and adds some wonderful diversity to the comics industry.  Sergio Aragones needs little introduction to older comic fans who know him from his work in Mad Magazine and his creator-owned series Groo the Wanderer.  But, for those who haven’t been exposed to his work, you’re in for a treat because this issue will expose you to the work of a legendary cartoonist.

The format for this book is part of what makes it work so well.  It has two “main stories”.  One is a cartoony retelling of the story of the Trojan Horse.  It is complete with all sorts of tongue-in-cheek, PG-rated humor and has an ending that is funny as hell and not what I expected.  The other “main” story is a story of Sergio himself during his college days when he attempted to recruit fellow students to be extras in a film about the Alamo with disastrous results as his buddies are running around in sneakers, looking at the camera and otherwise ruining the filming.  Then, woven between these stories are a bunch of one-pagers where Aragones tells us a bunch quick and humorous stories.

Aragones is a cartoonist in the truest sense and he’s been doing this for a LONG time.  There isn’t a single panel in this issue where it is unclear what the characters are doing.  This is best exemplified by his one-pages that have no word balloons, but it holds true even in the main stories that feature plenty of dialog.  And, goodness the detail in these panels!  But, even with this detail, it looks effortless… Like he just cranks these pages out.  This is just the work of a super-experienced hand.

Conclusion: I really don’t need to go on and on about this issue.  It’s really good and this will be on my pull list for as long as Aragones wants to publish it.  Adults will chuckle at it, but then you should hand it to a kid, because they’ll love it just as much.

Grade: B

– Dean Stell

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First Impressions 7/14/10

FIRST IMPRESSIONS 7/14/10

Gorilla Man #1

By Jeff Parker & Giancarlo Caracuzzo
Price: $3.99

Brief Thoughts: Sometimes we spend so much time reading “serious” and “groundbreaking” comics that we forget how much fun comic books can be.  Well, all it takes is something like Gorilla Man #1 to remind us.  Parker’s script is not only solid, but milks all the enjoyment you can get out of an adventurer in the vein of Indiana Jones in the body of a gorilla.  From art heists to Italian cyborgs to jungle adventures, you’ll find it all here.  There’s even a wacky reprint of an old Marvel tale concerning another “gorilla-man”, a few sketches by wonderful artist Caracuzzo, and a 2-page questionnaire where the Gorilla-Man himself answers queries like, “Are you hairier than Wolverine?”  It’s nutty fun stuff like this that makes Wednesdays such a blast and makes up for Parker’s lackluster Atlas relaunch.

Verdict:  Give it a shot.

X-Files/30 Days of Night #1

By Steve Niles & Tom Mandrake
Price: $3.99

Brief Thoughts: Niles succeeds at telling a decent story that evokes fond memories of watching the beginning of a new X-Files episode.  However, this issue doesn’t promise to deliver much more than that.  While I’m a fan of both franchises, this first installment left me underwhelmed at their pairing.  There’s nothing bad really, it’s just that the whole affair comes off as somewhat mediocre.  I might take a look at the second issue to see if things pick up and take a turn for the better, but I’m not holding my breath.

Verdcit: Save your dough.

X-Men Origins: Deadpool #1

By Duane Swiercynski & Leandro Fernandez
Price: $3.99

Brief Thoughts: This one-shot is a misfire.  Not only does it have the unfortunate fate of being the umpteenth Deadpool comic this month, but there’s nothing very new or exciting offered within.  Deadpool narrates his life story to a screenwriter, covering lots of ground shown or hinted at just a week or two ago in the Wade Wilson’s War mini written by the same scribe and the Merc with a Mouth predictably hates it when the film is made and it’s the usual Hollywood-ized drivel.  It’s a weaker, (unsuccessfully) played for laughs version of the Invincible Iron Man Annual released earlier this month.  The few moments that were genuinely interesting and sympathetic were relegated to the last two pages, cementing the issue’s lost potential.

Verdict: Save your dough.

Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #1

By Jim Shooter & Dennis Calero/Paul S. Newman & Bob Fujitani
Price: $3.50

Brief Thoughts: It’s very telling that I enjoyed the reprint of the first Solar story from 1962 that was reprinted in the back of this issue more than I did the new iteration introduced in this issue’s lead tale.  There’s potential to be found in Shooter’s and Calero’s story, but it’s leadened by a lack of momentum and poor pacing.  I have to admit that I’ve never been able to get over Doctor Solar’s costume.  It either reminds me too much of the X-Men’s Cyclops or just bores me with its blandness.  Silly, yes, but I’m just being honest. (And yes, I’m aware Solar was around before the X-Men.)

Verdict:  Save your dough.