Kaijumax 1 by Zander Cannon Columns 

This Month in Comics: April 2015

By | May 4th, 2015
Posted in Columns | % Comments

April may be the cruelest month (it certainly was for us sun-starved Montrealers), but the comics news it brought was largely LOL-worthy. The high point, of course, was the release of the first image of Jared Leto as the Joker. Watching the comic world react to this made Twitter-scrolling especially enjoyable.

(Let’s not forget the Dark Knight III announcement that had us roffling a bit more.)

In news that lies closer to this reviewer’s heart – and close to the heart of anybody who imprinted on “Ghost World” – Fantagraphics announced its 2016 line-up, and teased A NEW DANIEL CLOWES BOOK.

Finally, for the sake of posterity, let’s just take note of the very informative articles that ushered in the first of the month.

And now, on to the comics themselves.

Best Issue: “Kaijumax” #1

Scoring points for sheer originality, “Kaijumax” by Zander Cannon was my favourite read of the month, and an excellent single-creator work. Between the crisp, lighthearted art style, the darkness of the subject matter, and the emotional impact of Electrogor’s predicament, it was hard not to be knocked over by this monsters-in-prisons dramedy.

Best Artist: Kagan McLeod, “Kaptara” #1

“All-New Hawkeye” fans with probably hate me for this, but it was the art on this Image comic that Kaptara’d my heart. Expanding on and enriching Chip Zdarsky’s too-clever dialogue, McLeod’s work is all about subtle characterizations meeting pulpy grandeur. It’s like Interstellar ate a pack of Skittles.

Best Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov, “The Bunker”

“The Bunker” #10 kicked off the third arc of the series, and it was a one-shot, so you really had no excuse not to try it out. This issue introduces new characters and expands on the comic’s vision of the future, all while remaining true to the series’ dark tone. After all the character development of the main cast, it’s a taste of something new that still adds appreciable depth to what’s been constructed so far, and shows that Fialkov’s got serious long game.

(Yes, “The Bunker” #10 came out at the end of March. You know what? I’m evangelical about this comic. Don’t let the months of the year push you around.)

Best Cover: “Adventure Time” #39

For those of us who thought we were incapable of childlike awe.

Runner-Up: This nonsense.

Most Overlooked Issue: “UFOlogy” #1

The first issue of this six-part miniseries from BOOM! was a stunner, but you didn’t hear much about it after the fact. It’s definitely worth a look if you haven’t checked it out; the art is frittery in style but surgical in impact, and the writing coaxes wistfulness and wonder out of the conspiracy theory premise. Also, if you don’t get squicked out by the double page spread near the end, I have nothing but admiration for you.

Best Reaction Face: Johnnie Christmas, “Pisces” #1

You know, I usually go for silly stuff when it comes to these, but the blotted-out faces that punctuate “Pisces” are too creepy to ignore. Get on this promising – and terrifying – new title while it’s early days.


//TAGS | This Month In Comics

Michelle White

Michelle White is a writer, zinester, and aspiring Montrealer.

EMAIL | ARTICLES


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