-J. Michael Bestul is a writer for the Addison Recorder. Stephanie Ruehl works in a comic book shop. They’re married and have a lot of discussions about comic books and graphic novels. Combine all that into a biweekly feature and you get “J. & Steph Talk About Comics.”
The #1 issue has a tough job: It needs to set the story, to connect you to the characters, and to do it in a scant few pages. We’ve read through a lot of the #1 issues that have hit the stands since our last recap, and weighed in on a few that caught our attention — whether or not they’ve hooked us for issue #2 and beyond.
Rasputin #1
Words by Alex Grecian, art by Riley Rossmo, colorist Ivan Plascencia, letterer Thomas Mauer. Published by Image Comics.
Synopsis: The untold tale of Grigori Rasputin, the infamous advisor to the Romanovs.
Steph: I tend to pick up most of the first issues of each book that comes through my comic shop, and I base which trades I’ll purchase later on those number 1s, so they have to be engaging. Rasputin was definitely that for me.
-J.: I had my misgivings about this one. I view Rasputin as one of those “third rail” kind of characters — a dynamic individual imbued with so much history and prose. He can drive a story with the sheer weight of his narrative power, but can cause a wreck if mis-handled. Thankfully, this comic handles Grigori very well.
Steph: It starts with a vague promise by Rasputin that he will be poisoned by one of the friends he is currently eating dinner with, and the rest of the pages are flashbacks to his childhood. The story, told with mostly wordless images, is about his father, who was a giant of a man who treated him and his mother horribly. When something unspeakable happens, Rasputin discovers his talent for raising the dead, and restoring life.
-J.: The opening scene is based on Rasputin’s historical murder, but it calls upon the echo of the Last Supper. It’s a {classic setup}: Rasputin knows he will be betrayed and murdered. We know this, as well. The question is how everything got to that point — and which versions of Grigori’s story the creators will choose to tell as the series progresses.
Steph: Issues 1 and 2 of this book are currently out, and I foresee volume 1 in my future.
Spider-Woman #1
Words by Dennis Hopeless, pencils by Greg Land, ink by Jay Leisten, color by Frank D’armata. Published by Marvel Comics
Synopsis: Jessica Drew is Spider-Woman, one of MANY arachnid-inclined superheroes. A villainous family called the Inheritors is traveling the multiverse, feeding on the life force of spider-based super-people, and one individual draws them like sharks to chum — Silk. Jessica is tasked with keeping Silk safe, but that’s easier said than done.
Steph: I must confess that I am not caught up on Spider-man. There are so many titles, including Spider-man, Superior Spider-man, Ultimate Spider-man, Superior Foes of Spider-man, Edge of the Spider-verse, Superior Spider-man Team Up, Spider-man 2099, Scarlett Spiders, and Amazing Spider-man.
-J.: And I’m going to straight-up admit that I’m not a big Spider-fan. Just not my style of superhero tale, and I’ve tried a few times.
Steph: But even with the massive history, I didn’t think this was difficult to follow. I feel like anyone can just pick up this book and go.
-J.: True, but it’s not for me. Spider-Woman, Silk, and 1930s Spider-Man are an eclectic group trying to overcome individual differences and the Inheritors. Fortunes change, feelings are hurt, and all I can do is shrug.
Tooth & Claw #1
Words by Kurt Busiek, art by Benjamin Dewey, color by Jordie Bellaire. Published by Image Comics (issue #2 out today!)
Synopsis: Magic is a dying resource, and the people animals in power are desperate to restore it. So Gharta of Daiir devises a spell to reach into the past and bring forth the one who brought magic to their world in the beginning, the fabled Great Champion.
Steph: I thought this book fell prey to a common problem of high fantasy stories, too much information all at once. It can be tricky when creating an entirely new world, you want the audience to understand where you’re coming from. But in a first issue thats so content-heavy it can become a chore to read. That being said the ending of this book made me curious for whats next.
-J.: I had the opposite reaction to this double-sized issue #1. I thought it had just the right amount of backstory and forward-story. Once you accept the fact that the world is inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, that magic exists, and that the elite live in floating steampunk-ish cities, it’s an engaging story. I bought into all of it. Magic is the sun which the characters’ world revolves around, and magic is fading. When the rogue wizards create their ritual to summon the Champion from pre-history, everything comes crashing down (literally). Well, one thing goes right. Busiek, for me, has set up a story that has real potential for epic narrative. I see the lines of tension ready to snap. I see the motivations, the hubris, and the loss that will drive the characters. And I’m pretty sure I know what the Champion is. I am hooked.
ODY-C #1
Words by Matt Fraction, art by Christian Ward. Published by Image Comics.
Synopsis: Captain Odyssia and her fellow Achaean conqueror-queens are victorious. They have destroyed the men of Troiia-VII after a century of war, and take to their spaceships to make the long journey back home.
-J.: This is the book I would point out for trying to cram in too much story at once. The thing is, we know exactly what ODY-C is: it’s an adaptation of The Odyssey, re-envisioned as a gender-bending, psychedelic sci-fi tale (à la Barbarella).
Steph: I applaud them for switching things around, making it a matriarchy, setting it in space, and finding new ways to play with the story. I just couldn’t keep myself tuned into this issue, though. There is a lot of… stuff.
-J.: I love mythology, and Greek narrative, I like sci-fi, I like Matt Fraction… But reading this felt like homework (especially the timeline foldout in the front cover). I dunno. Psychedelic sci-fi is a tough sell with me, and I didn’t buy into it with ODY-C.
Angela: Asgard’s Assassin #1
Words by Kieron Gillen (and Marguerite Bennett), art by Phil Jimenez (and Stephanie Hans). Published by Marvel Comics (out today!)
Synopsis: Angela is the secret lost daughter of Odin, thought dead. Instead, she was raised by Asgard’s immortal enemy (the Angels of Heven), and now her secret origin is out. Banished from Heven, wanting nothing to do with Asgard, Angela seeks her only friend, fellow Angel Sera. And she steals something precious from Asgard…
Steph: Angela brings Red Sonja to mind. Tall, red hair, barely-there “armor,” headstrong, extremely deadly, I was figuring her for a knock off, but I was pleasantly surprised. This issue is well-written, just enough humor to go with the violence and drama of being rejected by the society that raised her.
-J.: It is engaging and well-written, it’s a solid #1 that draws you into the story, and I’ll probably give the first volume a read. I don’t think it’s a fair comparison, but I found myself comparing it to Gail Simone’s brilliant work on Red Sonja, and finding it slightly wanting. Angela opens with a good tale, and the art is amazing (Phil Jimenez, y’all). In fact, the substory art by Stephanie Hans made me stop and flip back through it, it was so good. That said, this would be a series I’d probably borrow rather than add to my pull list.
Secret Six #1
Words by Gail Simone, pencils by Ken Lashley, inks by Lashley and Drew Geraci, colors by Jason Wright. Published by DC Comics (out today!)
Synopsis: Six super-powered beings are captured and wake up in a windowless room. A question is displayed on the wall: ‘“What is the secret?’” A disembodied voice demands the captives answer the question in fifteen minutes or “severe penalties will be assessed.” Naturally, everyone would rather waste time trying to figure out how to escape.
-J.: Speaking of Gail Simone…
Steph: Intense. This issue is intense. Obviously I need to keep reading so I know what the secret is.
-J.: Welp, they hooked you then. Not going to lie — I’m really curious, too.
Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1952 #1
Story by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, art by Alex Maleev, colors by Dave Stewart. Published by Dark Horse Comics (out today!)
Synopsis: Eight years after Hellboy appeared, he still hasn’t been able to leave the B.P.R.D. headquarters. He’s becoming restless, and Professor Broom has decided to give Hellboy his first assignment, accompanying a team to Brazil to investigate a string of murders by a superhuman beast.
-J.: Going to put this out there — I’m a huge fan of Mignola, so the mere existence of this issue excites me. I turn to Steph for a calmer take.
Steph: I like the idea of seeing how Hellboy became an agent for the B.P.R.D. He had to start somewhere, and this series seems to be the telling of how he becomes the man Hellboy fans know him as.
-J.: Indeed. With all the heavy, gritty stories of B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth and Hellboy in Hell recently (and their rare use of catharsis), an old school Hellboy tale is very welcome. It’s an early tale perfect for new readers, but it’s fun to watch Mignola and John Arcudi weave in some references for long-time readers. I love Alex Maleev as the choice for artist — his work is perfect for a Mignola tale. GAH! Reading this opening issue made me so happy.
To Sum It All Up…
We’re spoiled for choice with the #1 issues this past month. -J. enjoyed things both familiar (Hellboy) and new (Tooth & Claw), and Steph REALLY wants to know what the Secret (Six) is!
-J.
The entity known as -J. would be at home in a place like Carcosa or Night Vale, but instead lives near a far more dreary place -- Wrigley Field. He is the patron Addisonian of whisk(e)y and tabletop games, and is often adorned with a waistcoat & his ridiculous mustache.
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