Wednesday Number Ones 6/3/09

Wednesday Number Ones is a weekly feature here at Comic Pants. We take the books that are premiering a first issue from that week and give a quick opinion on them. From time to time we may also include more than issue number ones in this feature. If a noteworthy one-shot or the first issue of a new story arc is released, we may talk about it in this feature.

This week, we will cover Batman and Robin #1, BTVS Tales Of The Vampires One Shot, Chew #1, and Dead Run #1.

Nick Budd Read and Thought:

Batman and Robin #1
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Frank Quitely
Company: DC Comics

Not quite the slam bang, heavy hitting first issue that All Star Superman was, but this one was extremely satisfying. Morrison lays down everything that a new or a returning reader needs: He reintroduces the new Batman and Robin to Gotham, puts forth a new villain and a mystery to have them involved with, and gives things an air of sci-fi adventure that, while a bit odd, distinguishes the title from the others in a unique way. Really though, seeing a flying Batmobile and some good old fashioned fisticuffs rendered by Frank Quitely's expert talent is almost worth the price of admission alone. His storytelling ability is amazing and he makes everything on the page, be it the Gotham skyline to the way Batman and Robin's shoes look, pop. This is a quirky book, for sure, one that skews on occasion into the seedier streets of Gotham, but the tag team of Morrison and Quitely rarely disappoint. I suggest a look, especially if your in the Batman Zone.

BTVS Tales of the Vampires One Shot
Writer: Becky Cloonan
Artist: Vasilis Lolos
Company: Dark Horse Comics

This one started a little on the slow side but picked up towards the end. Vasilis Lolos, artist of the fantastic book Last Call evokes a nice creepy feel with his stylistic pencils. It's a style that works well as it conveys that kind of skewed reality that the Buffy stuff always has. The story, written by Becky Cloonan (Demo), is where the one shot falters slightly. Basically, we are given a glimpse of the life of a bored teenager living in a world where vampires are real and roam the arcades and streets of the town. It's okay, but the beats that it gets across are things that we've seen before and there's almost a monotonous feel to everything going on that doesn't instill a great connection with the characters. I'd recommend this one for the art alone, but the complete package isn't perfect. Nor is it required reading for the Buffy series.

Chew #1
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Rob Guillory
Company: Image Comics

The most unsettling, most awesome piece of comic book material that's been published in quite some time. Layman's creation of a world so overrun with Avian Flu that people, in order to get their chicken dinners, have turned to poultry speakeasies is both so off the way and darkly humorous that I don't think I can compare it to anything that we've seen before. What's better though is his creation of police officer Tony Chu, a man who can know all of your secrets, the only cost being a little nibble of your flesh. He's a character that is layered and flawed and so interesting that you just can't wait to read more about him. Guillory's art on the other hand, which is reminiscent of Scott Wegener's style on Atomic Robo, is pitch perfect for the gruesomeness that is seen but he also adds a bit of cartooniness to it to balance things out. Glorious stuff all around. Check it out!

Dead Run #1
Writers: Andrew Cosby & Michael Alan Nelson
Artist: Francesco Biagini
Company: BOOM! Studios

Mad Max meets the Transporter. That's the basic pitch of Dead Run. And really, it's a decent enough read to begin with, hindered only by a few minor flaws scattered about. Andrew Cosby and Company, the guys behind the television show Eureka, have a good track record. They also have a good handle on action, which they put to good use with this story about a rebel courier who gets blackmailed into doing a death defying drive to San Francisco in a world gone wrong. Biagini's art is pretty good. There are some similarities with Christopher Mitten, but he really has done a nice job of visualizing a world in such decline. His anatomy however is a little shaky at times, leading to some strangeness here and there. Still, overall this one is a fun start.