RIP George Tuska

Was going to do my Favorites of September 2009 but instead, RIP comic artist George Tuska.

First saw him in the pages of my Essential Luke Cage and also some of his work in Iron Man. One hell of a dynamic artist.

[edit: having trouble posting images so i suggest looking]

My Top 10 Favorite Comic Artists

1. Jack Kirby





I discovered Kirby late. Real late. I don't think I cared so much as a child but in my adult age I was blown away by his dynamic artwork. It's just jumps of the page with a kinetic energy unlike anything I've seen. I first learned of his work through those grey scale Fourth World reprints and loved it. The only thing I appreciate of those old Fantastic Four stories is amazing artwork. My Kirby collection is small, sadly, but I have bought all those gorgeous Fourth World Omnibus' and will be picking up his OMAC and Demon Omnibus' coming later this year.

2. JH Williams III





The first time I saw him in a Julius Schwartz tribute, it didn't leave much of an imprison. I thought it was good but it didn't leave a mark. Then in the pages of Seven Soldiers of Victory #0 I was astounded. The panel layout, design, character movements and expressions. This surely was "an artists artist." Promethea is quite possibly the most beautiful comic book ever done. And if you've ever seen it and studied it you would probably agree.

3. Frank Quitely





I see lots of fans diss on him for "ugly characters" but I see beauty. Really, I do. I love his Lois Lane. I enjoyed his Jean Grey. I see him fill simple panel layouts with beautiful artwork. The characters on page come to life under his pencil. Frank does so much with so little that its criminal. All Star Superman is my definitive Superman and I loved We 3. Like Kirby I don't own much of Quitely's work but what I do have I cherish. He is a genius.

4. Ai Yazawa





I've become obsessed with Ai Yazawa. Lots of non manga fans would have you believe that American artists can do anything and everything better and Ai Yazawa proves that wrong. No one, and I mean no one, knows fashion like her. Helps she was a fashion major. Her punk rockers look like they came out of 70s UK and her trendy dressed hipsters are all stylish. When I started reading Nana I was taken in my her character design, their expressions, and her storytelling technique. It was also the first time I really was taken by the fashion of the characters. Their looks were as much a part of them as their actions. Nana is the best fucking comic book being published today. I'm just saying...

5. Kenichi Sonoda





There's an 80s cool to Kenichi Sonoda's work. And also an unabashed style of cute girls and big violence. It helps that he is really good at the action scenes. How good? The man's a gun freak so reading Gunsmith Cats its a tutorial on gun brands, lingo, gunsmithing, and proper usage. Plus fast cars and racing. He can also do some seriously cool sci-fi as he was one of the main designers on Bubblegum Crisis. Kenichi isn't the fanciest mangaka out there and his work is straight to the point. But I get a charge out of it.

6. Frank Miller





Miller's the first comic creator I knew by name. First as writer and than as one hell of a crazy artists. His men were big and bulky, his woman sexy in a pulp fashion. Millers work is cinematic in nature. That's why it lends so easily to live action. Ronin, 300, and Sin City all have a style of recognizable and unique. He is a master at what he does.

7. Ross Campbell





All chance here. The than manager of my comic shop tossed Wet Moon volume 1 on me because I bought several SLG titles at the time. Loved the art style. Ross's characters are beautiful and real. If Ai Yazawa draws the best fashions in comics than Campbell's my second pick because his goths and punks do look like they've been making their on clothes or shopping for rivethead fashions. You can tell, character design, mannerisms, and facial expressions are a must with me.

8. Akira Toriyama





Say what you want about Dragonball but do note the following: Over 85 million Dragonball graphic novels sold( thats dated information, with the constant reprints its probably over 100 million), the DVDs of the cartoons based on his work are still top sellers, and Dragonball is the most popular weekly series of all time. Being serialized in Shonen Jump Weekly for over a decade and having its highest numbers at this time. Coincidence? Yeah... going from around six million to having the need of Naruto, Bleach and One Piece to sell half that number is a coincidence. Toriyama is like the manga version of Kirby. Big and larger than life. At least, with Dragonball-I admit to not having read any of his other works. But with 42 volumes of Dragonball I put him in my top ten because his work is filled with a dynamic energy that just captures my imagination.

9. Sam Keith





Ask me what my fav Sandman arc is and I'll tlel you, whatever Sam Keith drew. Yeah, nto Gaimans best stories but Keith's artwork trumsp everythign else. And I admit, I'm nto a big fan of his writing, his artwork just captivates me. It's like a childrens nightmare on acid. I remember first getting to know him through Mtv's Maxx adaption. Then buying those books and more. Good times.

10. Nick Cardy





I've only ever seen Nick Cardy's work in color on covers and online. Everything I own are in Showcase volumes. And I love 'em. First in the few House of Mystery work he did which was a couple stories and many covers and than on Teen Titans. I don't care about Marv Wolfman and Perez's run(though I do like me Perez), give me Bob Haney and Nick Cardy. Cardy's work just exuberant. It has those touches of what made Neal Adams huge but maintains that light heartedness of old school. If DC published a Showcase of his Romance books, I'd buy it. Hell, I might buy an Aquaman one with his work.


Other favorite artists include: Kevin Maguire(Justice League), Paul Smith(Uncanny X-Men), George Perez(Wonder Woman), Dave Cockrum(Uncanny X-Men), Neal Adams(Green lantern/Green Arrow), Koshi Rikdo(Excel Saga), Tohru Fujisawa(GTO), Adam Warren(Empowered), Edurado Risso(100 Bullets), Adrian Alphona(Runaways), Jim Lee(Batman), John Byrne(Uncanny X-Men), Georga Tsuka(Luke Cage-Hero for Hire), Curt Swan(Superman), JG Jones(Wonder Woman), Dave Lapham(Young Liars), Rags Morales(Identity Crisis), John Cassaday(Astonishing X-Men), Marshall Rogers(Detective Comics)and more.

Understanding Your Future Masters: Excel Saga Overview Part 3

Table of Contents
Introduction & Part 1
Part 2
Excel Saga Wikipedia

Volume 5
Mission 1: Hyatt and Excel work at a cabin lodge during the winter for the recurring character of Mr. Owner. An ex-military man. Not much known about him but there's a flashback about how his friend Antonio died, which was because Mr. Manager chose to end his suffering. Sumiyoshi, Watanabe and Iwata are trying to make their way up but get lost. Mince tries playing with an active grenade and ends up destroying the cabin. Nice kick off, huh?

Mission 2: Valentines day and Matsuya views at as another day, though Iwata tries hard to get some attention from her. Eventually she buys him some pocky(chocalate covered stick cookie) snacks.

Mission 3: Excel is thinking a career change from her current position working part time at a grocery. This is after the manager notices some items missing. As Excel is taking out trash into the alley she notices suspicious men and then stumbles upon a brown bag which has a pistol in it. "I don't get it. Did daddy pick this up for the kids and just forget it after his pre-commute bender..." Excel says while toying around what she believes to be a fake. She rushes home with it after realizing it's real.

Hyatt's home, sick, and Excel works out what to do with the piece. At firsts he fantasizes about life with the gun but then decides to ditch it. She returns to the alley the next day to leave it only to see cops. The next morning the alley's covered with cops. As Excel works out how to get rid of the gun her very presence in the home is effecting Hyatts state so much Excel has to retrieve more medicine. At the pharmacy, she mistakenly pulls her gun instead of her wallet and scares the clerk, leading her to run from the scene.

"Oh God! Oh Buddha! Please know if you really do exist... YOU'RE BOTH MY ENEMIES!!!"-Excel

Then fires into the sky to bring out the suspicious gangster types. Excel flees and tosses the gun. Kabapu finds it, thinking its a fake, and fires it taking out a piece of his hair-and effecting his personal balance.

Mission 4: Secretary Momochi informs Kabapu that the gun he found tied to an illegal arms smuggling ring. She's already started the process to track them down, and dispose of the minor criminal ring. Kapabu's hair is now featuring an attachment which allows him to keep his balance, and for some of the others to continue their mockery of him behind his back.

Mission 4 introduces the supporting character of Professor Shiouji. In his introduction he's seen outside his car watching little girls and speaking to Dr. Kabapu. On his way to meet the doctor, he runs into excel(or Excel jumped out in front of the car leading it to swerve). She checks inside and is abducted by what turns out to be an automated car with strong feelings for it's creator. jealous it attempts to drive them both off an unfinished freeway into the water. Shiouji uses his emergency ejector seat toe scape leaving Excel to die. Though he does order a salvage crew.

Mission 5: Excel finds a new underground route to HQ which puts Hyatts worries to rest. Il Palazzo seems, well, his usual nonchalant self. Back at the department Kabapu introduces the staff to their new co-worker: Ropponmatsu. Ropponmatsut is instantly a hit with Iwata who become infatuated after first glance. They attempt to go out to lunch but Matsuya notices something wrong first when she notes her doll like presence in their first meeting and then when they all try to share the same elevator. All the while Hyatt and Excel are looking to deliver a package for Il Palazzo and then retreat. The civil servants, on the way to lunch they spot the box where Excel and Hyatt dropped it after Hyatt collapsed and spit out blood all over it. Ropponmatsu detects a time bomb inside where Excel and Hyatt dropped the package after Hyatt collapsed and spit out blood. Ropponmatsu contacts HQ as her co-workers are confused. Dr. Kabapu arrives to instruct Ropponmatsu and the others. Roppon attempts to defuse the bomb but it explodes killing her.

Mission 6: Kabapu sends in the SWAT team(or Defense Army, whatever) in to seal off the scene and detain spectators including his own staff. Begins the disinformation campaign.

"Yes! Blow up a building or two that aren't important as camouflage if you must."

Soon Kabapu is meeting with Prof. Shiouji who built Ropponmatsu. Seems that salvage crew was to locate her body from the river where Excel was left to die(apparently she broke through the armor windows). He had told Kabapu to wait 36 hours before using her but he didn't listen. Seems Kabapu provided the professor with the technical data and Shiuji built it with that information. Shiouji says that he will create a replacement model that's lighter and of different material.

The detained staff was blindfolded and hauled off city limits to a secret detainment center. Kabapu retrieves them and explains that Ropponmatsu was a robot. Next day Shiouji meets the staff and introduces a petite, teenage girl version Ropponmatsu II. Iwata hates her while Roppon II takes to Matsuya as her big sister. Somewhere Il Palazzo senses some disappointment in his enemy.

Mission 7: Back track a day when Excel was fleeing with Hyatt on her back, from the package they were suppose to deliver. Excel takes Hyatt to the hospital hoping to get a blood transfusion for her. Meanwhile Dr. Iwata goes to check out the explosion and gets detained. Excel, after stealing a nurses outfit and giving stolen blood to Hyatt, leaves her to find the package. The place she returns has no sign of Il Palazzos case, nor of any sign of an explosion. Dr. Iwata returns a changed man. Hoping to amend the problems he's caused the hospital in the past. Which includes helping Hyatt who he finds. Excel hurries to the rescue with a swift kick and retreats to HQ. Where Il Palazzo seems to know there was success in his soldiers mission.

-Skip Bonus Fantasy Mission-



Volume 6
Mission 1: Excel and Hyatt look to return to HQ which has magically disappeared. excel leaves Hyatt to go look for another entrance. Ropponmatsu II moves into the apartment complex where here co-workers live. Iwata is very angry at this turn of events. Excel returns to get Hyatt only to find the HQ has reappeared, with a new look, and Il Palazzo wearing a new outfit.

Mission 2: Ropponmatsu II invites her co-workers to lunch, though she herself can't actually eat. They(Iwata, Sumiyoshi, Watanabe, and Matsuya) go to a steak house where Excel and Hyatt are working undercover to learn about the food services and earn money to pay rent. The steakhouse is pushing chicken because an over abundance but since Iwata is demanding steak excel is sent to retrieve it. Though she learns they slaughter cows on the spot(!?). Excel fights the steer through the restaurant, into the streets causing a rig to swerve and destroy the restaurant. Eventually her and steer are out to sea.

Luckily our main players got out alive and Kabapu, on his way, figures it'll be fine to skip the festivities.

Mission 3: Ordinary day for everyone? Roppon II adjusts to life at her new home as Shiouji monitors her from his lab. Watanabe comes home to find Iwata and Sumiyoshi made copies of his keys. This is after Iwata rushes into his room thinking his bed was levitated by a spirit(actually Roppon II burrowing up into his room from under). Matsuya tries keeping in shape, while dodging her boss who goes to her gym. Excel and Hyatt dine on a mix of mayonnaise, water, and bread crusts. Plus Hyatt tries fixing Excels uniform but doesn't quite get it right.

Mission4: Hiyako is a lost little girl who runs into Excel and Hyatt. Excel and Hyatt try helping her but she seems extremly confused by everything. Excel and Hyatt grab her to dodge suspicious men in black suits and cars. After getting away Excel considers "destruction of ecidence" but Hyatt thinks that getting to ahead of themselves. Hiyako now believes their evil doers because they've kidnapped her. Hyatt tries explaining their not evil though they are trying to take over the city. Kabapu gets a call from "the chairman" asking for assitance in this matter but he turns them down. Excel, carrying Hyatt and Hiyako run away, up a building. then the wheels in Excel's head start turning.

Problem 1: Kid knows too much->Problem 2: Pursued by bad guys->Option: Abandon kid to them and run.

Analysis: 93% chance kid meeting horrible fate. ->Outcome 1: Kid never heard from again. Outcome 2: Hyatt and I escape.->A two-birds-with-one-stone denouement.

Excel launches Hyatt over the building and follows her ditching the girl(and some how surviving the fall). The suspicious men turned out to be working for her grandfather, Mr. Kinshu Iwata! The chairman of Iwata Medical Association. Il Palazzo uses a measure of punishment for his soldiers late arrival and their state. That means Excel down a pit and Hyatt dropped a few inches. How equal his to lackey's are.

Mission 5: Excel tries some of Hyatt's omelet, unaware it's laced with various medication. Causing her to collapse and have various dreams.

Mission 6: Iwata awakens to a naked Roppon II in his bed. Ashamed, at first thinking it was a random little girl, awakens Watanabe. The two go to talk to Matsuya hoping she can help when Shiouji interrupts. He's there to retrieves her. the next day Ropponmatsu I moves into that apartment and Iwata is elated with joy. The two, along with Watanabe, go to lunch when Roppon catches excel and Hyatt from falling off a scaffold(they're new job involves cleaning windows of skyscrapers) and incidentally taking out both Iwata and Watanabe. Excel takes Hyatt to retreat but Ropponmatsu goes after them hoping to help Hyatt who she notices to be dead. After tracking them down in an ally she collapses and the monitor feed Shiouji has on her cuts out after standing face to face with Excel. Follows are scenes with Kabapu and Il Palazzo in deep thought, planning.

Mission 7: Excel, now with a cured Hyatt, try waking Ropponmatsu to no luck. Excel notices her weight as she's been lugging her around. They try taking her to the hospital in a cart but the cart slips away and crashes into a building causing a fire. Excel and Hyatt retreat but Ropponmatsu awakens, this time fit to survive an explosion. At the office Ropponmatsu explains to co-workers she carries the same memories despite frame/personality changes.

Continued
Part 4

Yeah, I Went There(unpopular comic opinions)

I respect Stan Lee's contributions and influence on comic books but to be honest with you, I don't like most of what I read of his work. That is right, I'd much rather read Bob Haney, John Broome, Gardner Fox, and other silver age writers.

I prefer DCs silver age comics to what I've read from Marvel. Yes, Marvel added more characterization and culture to the titles, but at the same time it makes the titles feel a little more dated to me. Where as going into silver age Superman, you know it's written for kids and to be simple and fun.

Most superhero comics being produced today are ghost written by Alan Moore and Frank Miller. By that I mean, it feels like many writers want that level of acclaim ofr their books. Doesn't mean they're bad, it just gets tiring after a while.

I don't like Daredevil and I'm "meh" on Wolverine and Spider-Man.

I think the characters in the Fantastic 4 are either annoying or boring.

Luke Cage was cooler in the 70s.

Grant Morrison wrote the best X-Men stories since right after Paul Smith left Uncanny X-Men.

I think Crisis on Infinite Earths is rather boring. Same with Teen Titans: the Judas Contract. Maybe I just don't care for Marv Wolfman.

Emma Frost+Cyclops > Jean Grey+Cyclops

Brian Bendis doesn't do a thing for me. I'm basing this on the first ultimate Spider-Man trade, a year of New Avengers, House of M, Ultimate X-Men run, and a few random issues of Daredevil.

I think Ed Brubakers a fine writer, but because my tastes for superhero comics usually warrants more "fun" and "escapist" style stories I don't follow his work. It's just too serious, grim and gritty for me. I have almost the same opinion on Warren Ellis. But Nextwaves cool.

Grant Morrison is the best writer working in comics right now as far as I'm concerned.

JH Williams III and Frank Quitely are my favorite artists. Possibly ever.

Jack Kirbys still better than 99.5% of artists working in comics today. Doesn't matter which era of Kirby. Hell, his Green Arrow work surpass' anything done since the books relaunch.

Brad Meltzer writes good comics. And Identity Crisis was fine. Yes, I know, I prefer "sunny" superhero comics but I really liked that mini-series. And for the record, I loved the Giffen/DeMatties Justice League stuff.

Justice Society of America(JSA) is Geoff Johns best work.

Comics would downright suck without Vertigo.


Crazy Frank Millers worst works are still better then most level headed writers best work. Or at least more entertaining.

DC: the New Frontier is better than Watchman and Dark Knight Returns.

I do not care for Greg Land or the Luna Bros. I think David Finch and Steve McNiven are quality artists but i wouldn't buy a book on their name alone.

Marvels best artist right now is Ruanways co-creator Adrian Alphona.

When it comes to art my opinion goes like this Pop/experimental(Williams, Quietly, etc.) > Animated(Marcos Martin, Darwyn Cooke, etc.) > Superhero(Jim Lee, Jack Kirby, etc.) > Indy(Becky Cloonan, Jim Rugg, etc.) > Photo-Realistic(insert name here).

Wonder Woman is the coolest female superhero. Ever.

My favorite era of Marvel comics was the 70s to the mid-80s.

That's it... so tell me how wrong I am.

edit: spellcheck ain't working right. sorry.

Doing My Part for the Manhunt(er)

I love me some comic books and one book I'm happy is back is Manhunter. Now, this nice title came these close to cancellation and has just been given a five issue extended run. Depending on the sales, it may live longer than that and I am surely hoping it will.

For those who do not know Manhunter is a DC legacy book, meaning it's an identity that moves on from its originator much like Flash and Green Lantern. The current Manhunter is one Kate Spencer, an attorney who gets tired of seeing villains cheat the justice system. Lifting several confiscated items form police lock up(Darkstars outfit, "new" Batman gauntlets, Mark Shaw's staff) goes out and decides to take the matter into her own hands.

In the course of her 25 issue run she killed Copperhead in her affairs without the mask. Kate's a strong female , battled and tried prosecuting the Shadow Thief, dealt with the Secret Society featuring the likes of Merlyn, Phobia, and Monocle, defended Dr. Psycho in court(before fighting him) and tussled with others. That's not counting her life without the mask. She is a strong female protagonist. A divorcee in her thirties with a young child whose being raised by her ex-husband and his new wife. Her supporting cast features former super villain tech specialist Dylan Battles and DEO officer and DC cult character Cameron Chase. Plus her association with JSA as her associate dates the son of the original Green Lantern, Obsidian, not to mention her own familial ties to that superhero team.

The current arc has Wonder Woman seeking help from Kate as she looks to be formally charged by the USA in the death of Max Lords. Though exonerated in World Court she is still in the same boat. In payment Wonder Woman is helping to train Manhunter and that's only the tip of the iceberg as we continue the plotline of Mark Shaw and a new subplot with Chase which is suppose to handle loose ends from her canceled title from years back.

The title is written b one Marc Andreyko and is currently being drawn by Javir Pina who is putting together his best work thus far with new inker Robin Riggs. Pina's been on the title as a penciller and "finisher" since original artist Jesus Saiz left. Currently DC has been putting several big name/acclaimed artists like Howard Chaykin, Phil Jimenez and others on cover duty for these five issues hoping to push up sales to a respectable point. I Hope it works because I'd hate to see this title go again.



Manhunters a cult fav so much that it was a letter campaign that gave it a five issue extension. It's got support from several creators including Greg Rucka, Joe Casey, Brian Bendis, and Gail Simone(boo!) to name a few. I am asking all you comic fans to grab issue #26 in stores now and take a look at one of the buzz books that is worth your hard earned cash. Manhunter is an amazing title.

RIP Dave Cockrum

On my birthday, yesterday, I swept online briefly and I read the sad news that one of the X-Men's biggest contributors, Dave Cockrum, passed away. Now, I love the X-Men but because of my relative youth I've only been able to really start with reading through older issues thanks in part to Marvels wonderful Essentials Collections. These black and white, phone book, cheap reprints allow simple Joe's like me to get a glimpse of how some of the masters worked.

Cockrum, in my eyes, is second only to Chris Claremont in terms of impact on X-Men. Cockrum created Nightcrawler, initially for Legion of Super-Heroes, as well as Mystique and the Starjammers. Not to mention having a hand in the creation of Storm and Colossus as I'm sure he's created many other characters in his career. Cockrum penciled the issue that would revitalize the X-Men, Giant Sized X-Men #1, which relaunched the book to success. He would work on the title for a few years around their period that John Byrne penciled.



I won't lie and say Cockrum was my favorite X-Men artist, but his work definitely grabbed me and dazzled me inside the pages of X-Men. I think his second stint on the title was his strongest. The first meeting between the "new" X-Men and Doctor Doom was a great story. The battle between Magneto on his island and the return of the Starjammers were to other stories I really enjoyed. I wish I could have seen more of his work and I hope that Marvel and DC do some reprints of this mans incredible work for the younger generation of comic readers can discover. I'd appreciate one of those Showcase volumes with his legion of Super-Heroes work. Make it happen DC!!!

I just want to give my condolences to all his family and friends. Cockrum was a great artist and its sad he had to go. But his work will live on to inspire future creators and fans like me.