Review by the Dork: Fear Agent Volume 1: Re-Ignition TPB

Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Tony Moore
Publisher: Image Comics (June 21, 2006)
Price: $13.95 (Softcover-Out of Print)
Format: TPB
Includes: Fear Agent #1-4

This is a great series both in issue form and trade paperback. It is a modern day take on the old style EC Comics Weird Science books. Rick Remender took his love for these fantastic stories and paid true homage to them.

I enjoyed that Rick Remender just jumps into this space adventure with little back story or explanation. Right out of the gate we get space truckers, tentacled beasts, alien cavemen, a drunk texas spaceman exterminator with a ray and a jetpack, a giant squid brain and a full page explosion, and that's just the first issue.

Tony Moore's artwork and storytelling is clear, action packed and very well paced. His artwork reflects and supports the charm of the story.

Neither the artwork nor the story overwhelm the reader, but instead compliment each other; which is a credit to both Rick and Tony.

The third leg in this creative tripod is Lee Louridge's colors, which are AMAZING! Vibrant, cool, and perfect.

In the end, Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers got nothing on Heath Huston, Fear Agent.

Review by the Dork: Alex Toth by Design

Writer: Alex Toth and Darrel McNeil
Artist: Alex Toth
Publisher: Saga Pix/Gold Medal Productions
Price: $24.95 (Out of Print)
Format: TPB Softcover
Includes: Animation conceptual drawings, turnarounds, storyboards, essays, and commentary about the animation field.

Alex Toth and Darrell McNeil in 1996 published Alex Toth by Design. The book collected 350 model sheets that Alex Toth had done over the course of his career in animation.

Unfortunately, because they never obtained the rights to use copyrighted material, like Superman, Batman, Herculoids, etc., the book was discontinued with only a limited print run.

Currently, you can find copies of the book on Ebay, but be prepared to pay a very high price ranging from $125 to $250.

This book is a wealth of knowledge, personality and insight to Alex Toth and the world of Hanna- Barbera cartoons.

I have only seen this book because a co-worker owns a copy. I have, on several occasions, tried to buy a copy on Ebay but to no avail.

I hope one day that a publisher will see the value in doing the legal leg work necessary to get this book reprinted and in the hands of Toth fans.

This book is a MUST HAVE for Alex Toth and 1970's Hanna- Barbera Superhero fans.

Here is an index of the book...

pin-up: BATMAN (1)
TV Cartoons (10)
Toth biography
prod. art: The Angry Red Planet storyboards (6)
prod. art: Jonny Quest modelsheets (5)
prod. art: Space Ghost modelsheets (10)
prod. art: Three Musketteers storyboards (9)
prod. art: Three Musketteers modelsheets (1)
prod. art: Space Ghost modelsheets (1)
prod. art: Dino Boy modelsheets (1)
prod. art: Herculoids modelsheets (1)
prod. art: for Ruby-Spears (90)
presentation art: for H-B (28)
text by AT: Alex in Wander-Land (9)
(illustrated with designs for Hot Wheels, Sky Hawks and others)
prod. art: Sea Lab storyboards (4)
prod. art: Sea Lab modelsheets (20)
prod. art: Oliver Twist modelsheets (6)
prod. art: Josie and the Pussycats modelsheets (10)
prod. art: Lost in Space modelsheets (2)
prod. art: Super Friends modelsheets (16)
presentation art: for Super Friends (1)
prod. art: Super Friends storyboards (16)
prod. art: Super Friends modelsheets (21)
prod. art: Super Friends storyboards (18)
(storyboards for a complete episode)
prod. art: Thundarr designs (5)
prod. art: Bionic 6 modelsheets (50)
assorted art for the studios (11)
text by AT: About the authors (text w/illos and doodles) ibc (1)
(illo rep. SAN DIEGO CON PROGRAM 1972)

Review by the Dork: Superman, What Happened to the Man of Tomorrow TPB

Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Curt Swan
Publisher: DC Comics (January 1, 1997)
Price: Softcover-Out of Print
Format: TPB
Includes: Superman #423 and Action Comics #583

I didn't read these two issue when they first came out, but later discovered that they existed through an article I read. It then took me several years to track these issues down and I was very happy for it.

The stories are a farewell to the Pre-Crisis Superman as John Byrne was about to reboot Superman for the post-Crisis Universe. It was a nice tribute and goodbye to the Superman who could move planets and to an artist, Curt Swan, who had given life to the character for three decades.

Though Curt Swan did do a few projects here and there, this two issue book was his retirement from the Superman books. There's an awesome page that Curt Swan did of Superman flying away from the Daily Planet; which I saw on Ebay years later that had been signed by all the artist and writers at DC as a going away gift to Swan. It's a piece of nostalgia that would be on the top of my list to track down and buy, should I ever win the lottery.

In 1997 DC put the two issues out as a Trade Paperback, a very sweet move on their part and a must have for any true collector.

If DC should ever re-release this Trade I would hope they include a tribute and history of Curt Swan and his journey with the Man of Steel.

Article by the Dork: Rarest Comics in Existence

The Three Rarest Comics in Existence

The rarest comic books in existence include copies of the unreleased Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 from 1939. Eight copies, plus one without a cover, were discovered in the estate of the deceased publisher in 1974.

Before Fawcett Comics introduced Captain Marvel in Whiz Comics #2, there was an earlier ashcan edition featuring virtually the same story, with the notable exception that "Captain Marvel" was named "Captain Thunder". This issue was never distributed.

In June 1978, DC Comics cancelled several of its titles. For copyright purposes, the unpublished original art for these titles was photocopied, bound and published as Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #1-2. Only 35 copies were made.

Misprints, promotional comic-dealer incentive printings and similar issues with extremely low distribution are usually the most scarce.

The rarest modern comic books include the original press run of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen #5, ordered by DC executive Paul Levitz to be recalled and pulped over the appearance of a vintage Victorian era advertisement for "Marvel Douche", which the publisher considered offensive.

(Note: I can not remember where I grabbed this bit of info, so if this is your write up-please let me know and I'll credit you, thanks)

Review by the Dork: Annihilation Book One TPB

Writer: Keith Giffen, Dan Abnett, and Andy Lanning
Artist: Mitch Breitweiser, Scott Kolins, Ariel Olivetti and Kev Walker
Publisher: Marvel Comics (October 17, 2007)
Price: $24.99 Softcover Hardcover (Out of Print-March 7, 2007)
Format: TPB
Includes: Drax the Destroyer #1-4, Annihilation Prologue and Annihilation: Nova #1-4.

I just finished reading the first volume in this epic storyline. For most crossovers I don't read them as single issues as they usually are too hard to follow and the trade will show whether or not the storyline holds up across the arc of titles. Most do not and become almost unreadable.

However, this first volume does hold up, so I tip my hat to both editor Andy Schmidt and collection editor Mark D. Beazley.

What I looked forward to reading in this Annihilation story is the corner of the Marvel Universe rarely explored, the worlds beyond Earth.

So far, so good.

The one thing I would have liked to see in this first volume and in the first couple of pages is an in depth What's What of the Universe. I do appreciate the Bio/History pages provided, but the surface material was not enough to answer questions that I had going into the series.

Like...I thought the Skulls lost their ability to shape shift? I thought the Kree civilizations had been destroyed? etc. etc.

Review by the Dork: Jeremiah Harm TPB

Writer: Keith Giffen and Alan Grant
Artist: Rael Lyra and Joe Prado
Publisher: Boom Studios (September 11, 2007)
Price: $14.99 Softcover 6x9
Format: TPB
Includes: Issues #1-5

I bought the single issues of this book and continued till the end of the series; which a lot of times I don't. I usually buy a few issues then do the whole "wait till it's in a trade" thing.

I enjoyed the story, it was very DC Lobo-esque which isn't surprising considering it was written by Alan Grant and Keith Giffen-who co-created/wrote Lobo. I wouldn't mind seeing where this character goes...

The art of Rael Lyra (http://raellyra.blogspot.com/) is what first drew me to this series and kept me there. The style reminded me of Peter Chung's Aeon Flux but more solid in it's foundation. I will most certainly pick up anything in the future from this artist.

OK, to the trade. WHY!? Do publishers insist on changing the size of their trades. That is my biggest criticism of this trade, the unique size. Here is a note to all publishers...for god sake's pick a format and keep to it.