BAM POW Comic Hour

Where to start reading comics is a question that is always being asked by new readers and throughout the comic book community. It is a difficult question to ask, but one of our highest recommendations we can rely on is the works of the writer Jeff Lemire. Especially if you are looking to explore multiple different genres other than popular superheroes comic books.

Gideon Falls by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino with colors by the infamous Dave Stewart really does an excellent job at developing a new horror based world that is grounded in reality, but knows how to make it less predictable. There is always a new layer of mystery to get to the heart or center of the plot. However, once we learn the rules of Gideon Falls, the purpose behind the Black Barn that is seen is Norton Sinclair's visions, and the motivations about the Smiling Man behind the curtain, this supernatural story has you invested as you keep turning the page.

If you are looking for a refreshing take on the horror genre, with a combination of supernatural along with mystery plot elements this book is for you. It also rewards readers for noticing small details or phrases, so do not be afraid to go back to reread previous issues as well. As fans of Jeff Lemire we strongly encourage readers to check out this story, his bibliography, as well as our previous reviews of Black Hammer and Sweet Tooth.

In celebration of Guardians of the Galaxy 3, we wanted to share our review one of the comic book runs featuring the comic adventuring team that the movie trilogy is based on. Writers Andy Lanning and Dan Abnett were instrumental in reigniting Marvel's Cosmic Universe with Annihilation and Annihilation: Conquest. After this in-universe cross over event they took some of the surviving characters and reintroduced them as a team in their own title Guardians of the Galaxy in 2008. This group features Star-Lord, Gamora, Phyla-Vell, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Mantis, Drax the Destroyer and Adam Warlock along with other heroes from Marvel's cosmic backlog. We follow this cast of cosmic adventurers as they attempt to save time and space from the cataclysmic Faults that have the potential to destroy the universe as they know it and then some. They also persevere through another 2 Marvel events along with other villains that continue to test the unity of this interesting cast of cosmic heroes. The primary artist on the series, Paul Pelletier helps establish this new modern vision of the team that has ties to its 1969 version of the lineup, while creating a welcoming introduction to new comic book readers.

If you like James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy movie trilogy and looking for a jumping on point we recommend checking out the Guardians of the Galaxy by Abnett & Lanning Omnibus to follow along in their adventures while discovering what inspired the live action adaption.

Saga is the story of parenthood as told in the most dramatic, space soap opera, action packed blockbuster, science fiction tale ever told. Written from acclaimed writer Brian K. Vaughan and co-created with illustrations by Fiona Staples, this creative team crafts a world around a young family of two different races who are trying to rasie their child in a war torn universe. There is everything from bounty hunters to politicians who are chasing after them to bring them to justice. This is for mature readers. However, we do recommend the 3 hardcover Image Deluxe editions books as well as supporting resurgence of the ongoing series.

Grant Morrison takes on one of the most forgotten heroes of the 1960s and reinvents him in only in the way Morrison can. Buddy Baker, has the power to imitate any animal's ability that he can sense around him. This leads to him joining the fight for animal rights, while still taking up the duties of being a superhero in the DC Universe and being a father/husband to his family . However, when the secrets of Buddy's past begin to arise the question remains who is behind all the evil going on around him. We recommend this story as one of the key Grant Morrison comic book runs that explains his unique writing style that not many other writers in the industry come close to.

Stanley wants nothing more than to become a comic book artist and create heroes and villains for the comic books he loves so much. After a crazy turn of events, Stanley’s heroes come alive! And so does the dreaded super-villain Doctor Shock Clock. It is up to Stanley to save the day with his own superheroes — charismatic but egotistical Star Guy, speedy Triple Time, environmentally correct Blossom, and cranky little Wombat Woman!

Buy Tickets at https://janesvillepac.org/box-office/?eid=87954&edid=0

March 17-19, 2023 at the Janesville Performing Arts Center

When the Avengers are gone, the mutant population gets depowered, and marvel universe is in disarray, who will take up the mantle to defend the earth? Writer Allen Heinberg along with artist Jim Cheung established the Young Avengers who are not sidekicks, but instead their own independent Avengers spinoff team. They are comprised of Patriot, Wiccan, Hulkling, Speed, Iron Lad, Stature, Vision and Hawkeye who all have connections to the legacy of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. These young heroes focus on proving to the world and their mentors why they have what it takes to save the day. With these characters coming to the MCU in live action we go into detail about the next generation of heroes as well as how relevant this team is written for today. 

Before Dune, Dungeons, and Dragons along with many other fantasy series, Michael Michael created his own groundbreaking story Elric of Melniboné novel saga. Moorcock created Elric as an evil conquering, sword wielding, necromancer that looks to become an antihero, to redeem himself and learning about the world outside of the old ancient traditions of his kingdom. Does his past, or culture define who he is, or does he have the ability to change his fate? We review the latest printing of the Michael Moorcock Graphic Novel Box Set published by Titan Comics that was adapted by Julien Blondel with the art  & colors by Dider Poli, Robin Recht, as well as Jean Bastide. This collection is new reader friendly which does an excellent job of  sharing the dark mysterious adventurers of Michael Moorcock's  Elric for today's audience. 

John Blacksad is a cat on the prowl in many ways you suspect, and some you may not be aware of. Blacksad is written by Juan Díaz Canales and illustrated by Juanjo Guarnido. The first three stories of this amazing French comics series were translated and published by Dark Horse Comics in 2010. The world of Blacksad takes place in a anthropomorphic setting where the animals take on human characteristics. However, these characters take on social issues of the 1950s and 60s such as city politics, racial trauma, the energy crisis and aspects of classic murder mystery underlying it all. It is all up to John Blacksad, P.I, to solve the case. This team does a flawless job developing each individual character to where no two figures look a like, they have a unique voice, while still retaining the animal attributes they are based on. The interior art done by Juanjo Guarnido is does with spectacular use of the watercolor format. The panels are given a unique interesting environments based on real life places and cities you might recognize. We recommend this series for fans of crime noir, or looking for a fresh understanding of murder mystery stories with social commentary.  

Parker by Richard Stark is an adaptation graphic novel series written and illustrated by the legendary Darwyn Cooke. There is an honor among thieves and the winners are the best players of the game or getting away with the crime. Based on the novels written by Richard Stark, aka Donald Westlake, Parker is a crime thriller series containing notably four stories: The Hunter, The Outfit, The Score, and Slayground along with a few other short tales told through the character of Parker. He is known for being a gritty antihero protagonist that will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal, and in some cases, exacting his revenge. Published by IDW, these stories are some of the last works of Darwyn Cooke who was the the driving force behind this passion project. If you are a fan of crime noir comics, or enjoy his popular DC Comics story: New Frontier, or looking for a refreshing take on heist type of Ocean's 13 the movie series, we highly recommend checking it out.  

Blankets by written and illustrated by Craig Thompson is an autobiographical story that recounts Craig's memories of growing up in Wisconsin from his childhood beginnings to adulthood. As he is explaining his journey, he goes into detail about his experiences living with his younger brother Phil along with his parents in a religious household, going to school, dealing with different social dynamics, searching out a career, navigating his first serious relationship, and finding his own path as a young adult. Blankets would go on to be recognized for winning several Eisner and Harvey awards in addition to being regarded as number one on Time Magazine's best comics of 2003 list, and in the top eight of their best comics of the decade. We highly recommend checking out this original graphic novel and seeking out why Craig Thompson's story is still worth discovering today.