A comiXologist recommends…
Yukito Kishiro’s BATTLE ANGEL ALITA
There are a handful of comic series that had a huge impact on me in my adolescent years. (I’ve written about a few of them already.) The problem with coming back to books like this is that oftentimes you end up disappointed; either they haven’t aged well, or your tastes have matured and you all-of-a-sudden realize that maybe they weren’t as good as you thought they were back when you were fourteen years old.
And then sometimes you go back and realize that the book that you loved so much has not only aged perfectly well, but is still just as impressive and gripping and thought-provoking as the day you picked it up twenty years ago. These are books that have rightfully earned the moniker “classics,” and Battle Angel Alita is absolutely such a series.
More than any other comic, Battle Angel Alita is a series that I have always been a giant nerd over. (We’re talking teenage fan-fiction, a Geocities fan-page, embarrassing cosplay, the works.) And going back to read it as an adult, it still manages to blow me away.
The story begins in a dystopian future city known as The Scrapyard, located in the shadow of a mysterious floating utopia called Zalem. The Scrapyard is built from, well, scrap—which falls from the center of the floating city—and its factories have been put to work producing supplies that are sent up to Zalem via a tube system, but there is otherwise next to zero communication between the two cities. Nobody in The Scrapyard knows what happens in the floating city above.
The Scrapyard is a rough and violent place, and in order to survive there most of its inhabitants have had to replace their bodies with cyborg parts. One day, a cyber-doctor (part surgeon, part mechanic) named Daisuke Ido is searching the scrap pile for spare cyborg parts when he finds the cybernetic head and torso of a young girl. The girl’s brain is intact and alive, but has been in hibernation for centuries and has left her with no memory of her past. Ido gives the girl a new body, and a new name: Alita.
It’s a simple premise for what becomes an epic tale. Alita has no memories of her past, but when she is attacked she finds that she does have incredible martial arts abilities, apparently from a lost cyborg fighting style developed on Mars centuries earlier. With fighting as her only link to discovering who she was, Alita embarks on a journey of self-discovery that is violent and action-packed but often touching and always very, very human. The series features absolutely amazing action sequences, but what elevates it to the level of a true classic is the masterful storytelling and character development as we see Alita mature and learn about herself, her past, and her surroundings from volume to volume.
While I worry that this review may be starting to ramble a bit, it would be a crime not to comment on Yukito Kishiro’s absolutely mind-blowing artwork. The Scrapyard and its surroundings are rendered with beautiful and moody detail; the characters are as expressive as any I have ever seen in any comic, their faces portraying complex and nuanced mixtures of emotion that really make the drama hit home; the action sequences are not only balletically choreographed but also masterfully depicted on the page. Complex series of acrobatic martial arts moves are laid out with amazing clarity, so that every beat of each fight can be followed by even a reader with very little experience with action manga or even comics in general.
Battle Angel Alita is a series that I have been wholeheartedly recommending, for decades at this point, to anyone expressing even the remotest interest. Even friends who’ve told me that they don’t like manga in general have finished reading the first book and immediately asked me for the second. The printed volumes I picked up years ago have been through so many hands—as I have lent them out to innumerable friends and co-workers—that they are literally falling apart. That the series has been unavailable for so long is a tragedy, but one that finally reached a happy conclusion this week with the comiXology re-release of the first three volumes. Go read this! If you’re a comiXology Unlimited subscriber, you’ve got absolutely nothing to lose. If you aren’t, they’re still more than worth the asking price, or could be a great excuse to finally try out CU.
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Mike Isenberg is a Production Coordinator / Technical Account Manager at comiXology, and the co-writer of First Law Of Mad Science (which is also available on comiXology Unlimited). He lives in Harlem with his cats, Tesla and Edison.
A comiXologist recommends…
VALIANT HIGH #1 by Daniel Kibblesmith and Derek Charm
If you have been feeling like reading YA Novels and binging on Riverdale then you most certainly want to grab a copy of Valiant High #1, out right now. It doesn’t have murder and small town intrigue in the least, but it does have super-powered teen drama involving exceptional adaptations of our very most favorite Valiant characters!
I can hear the collective scoffing eye-roll of the crowd charging up as we speak, but this is a fun new mini-series with a well-executed concept. The story and art fit in such a cozy and safe way, I’m going to be looking forward any project these creators work on together in the future. Writer Daniel Kibblesmith writes a detailed and fun love letter to teen drama and to Valiant. Derek Charm has created traditional storytelling and character designs that fit more in line with Archie, but with a superhero spin, and it is perfect in the universe of Valiant High.
In this story we join Amanda McKee, AKA Livewire, en route to another day at Valiant High. Valiant High is the high school super-powered teens attend to get an education and learn to control their powers. It’s like a public Xavier’s School for the Gifted and they wear power-inhibiting school badges. Amanda’s best friend is Faith Herbert, AKA Zephyr, who is known to be able to fly and geek out. Amanda starts off her morning as any usual day, wondering what her place in the world is, until she finds a love letter from the star running back, Aric Dacia (The King of Boys). This could be a bad idea, Amanda. Amanda, don’t meet him later it’s probably a trap!
On top of the main plotline, amongst maybe 3 or 4 jam-packed into this first issue of Valiant High, you’ll read about the gym teacher Coach Bloodshot (or “Coach ‘Shot”), an epic struggle for the Eternal Sophomore, and a beautiful reference to one of my all-time favorite Freddie Prinze Jr movies to close out the issue. If you want to know what film that is, you’ll just have to read the issue! Go get a copy of this fun and vibrant new mini-series today!
Matthew Burbridge is a Digital Editor at ComiXology and he’s trying to figure out what should come off his desk to make room for more toys on his desk without taking any of the toys he already has on the desk off.
A comiXologist recommends…
THE EXPANSE: ORIGINS #1
The Expanse: Origins #1 is a prequel. Yes, I am aware of the sentiment that comes with uttering that word. Prequel. Ugh. It does make one feel like they’re watching Anakin talk about sand, or pod-racing. Though there is a difference between a “bad” prequel and a “good” one; I would categorize The Expanse: Origins as one of the good.
Origins is a series of four issues focusing on the four major characters of The Expanse series of novels. This first issue focuses on the backstory of the captain of The Rocinante, James Holden, and his time as a lieutenant in the United Nations Navy.
Having only cursory knowledge of the characters, the books, and the show, I read The Expanse: Origins #1 as a primer, to see if the characters would be intriguing enough for me to revisit the books and to finish them with this new interest. Issue 1 portrays a man who is not right for the military, yet he is there by choice. There is an event that unfolds which shows Holden is in the right, but the restrictions and restraints of command are not for him.
Yes, Holden eventually becomes a Captain. Yes, he involves himself in a major conflict. Of this, I am aware, but how does this short backstory come into play with his future self? Do the events that occur in Origins predict the character and actions to come?
Beginning with The Expanse: Origins provides a unique opportunity for those of us who are not fully involved with The Expanse novels – we can read from the absolute beginning. For those who have finished the latest book, Origins is more – more content, more backstory, more connection to the characters.
Will I be returning to the novels? Yes. Will I be read the remaining Origins stories? Of course. Will I continue to wish that we were 200 years into the future commanding a spaceship? Damn right.
Dane Cypel really wishes he can command a spaceship. If it was named Enterprise, that would be even better.
A comiXologist recommends…
THE ELECTRIC SUBLIME #4
If you haven’t checked out The Electric Sublime from W. Maxwell Prince, Martín Morazzo, and Mat Lopes it’s a wonderful comic mini-series that is playfully post-modern and perfect for casual art fans or anyone who would enjoy a series that keeps jumping into iconic works of art. That’s right, they jump into and have fights in classical, modernist, and iconic works of art of other periods. Also, with a title like The Electric Sublime, how could you not pick it up and give it a flip-through?
The story features Margot Breslin, director of the Bureau of Artistic Integrity, who is tasked with solving the mystery of why the Mona Lisa is suddenly winking at its viewers. She enlists the help of the “mentally ill or is he” former detective Arthur Brut (yes they shorten his first name to Art as in “Art Brut,” very playful) and a seven-foot talking mannequin named Manny. If you’re not at least semi-intrigued what else do I have to say to intrigue you?
The art is fantastic and really shows Morazzo’s ability to switch back and forth between styles as Breslin and Art pass from reality through famous paintings and out again. The layouts are playful and Morazzo makes interesting choices in regards to perspective. The coloring reminded me of late 80s early 90s edgy comics, maybe a brighter/sleeker version of early Hellblazer, though that reference might surface in my mind due to Art Brut’s character. He is very much embedded in the tradition of troubled lead detectives (i.e Constantine, Rorschach, Jessica Jones).
What really fascinates me about The Electric Sublime is the primary metaphor this creative team is playing with: “the idea in this first issue is that the integrity of our artistic works is intrinsically tied to the stability of the universe: if something’s wrong with an important painting, the foundations of what we know begin to slip, and people start to go insane.” The story brings up many questions about validity in artistic expression and whether or not remix is a valid form of art. Is The Electric Sublime intentionally being self-deprecating? There’s definitely more going on than just the plot.
A heads up to readers, this comic does have some violence but balances the tone of the comic with wonderful references to paintings that had me grinning throughout each issue. The (possible) end of this series in issue #4 genuinely shocked me. I’m hoping that this will sell enough to get picked up as an ongoing because I want to read more.
Josh Doyle-Elmer is email czar of comiXology and probably thinking up a pun right now.
A comiXologist recommends…
THE WALKING DEAD #163
Gadzooks! This was one of the best issues of The Walking Dead that I’ve read in recent memory. If you are not caught up on or have never read The Walking Dead, you’re in luck. It’s the beginning of a new story arc and this issue is only 25¢.
SPOILER ALERT: If you’re not caught up on The Walking Dead comic or are concerned about potential TV show spoilers you should turn back now.
A comiXologist recommends…
SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE: SUPER CRUSH
Ever wonder what would happen if you took one part Spider-Man and mixed it with one part Gossip Girl and added a dash of Slice of Life Manga? The answer is: AMAZING COMICS. So gather round, buckle your seat belts, and hold on to your heartstrings because it’s time to talk about Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Vol.1: Super Crush.
Word of warning: Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane picks up where Sean McKeever’s two previous Mary Jane mini-series (Mary Jane and Mary Jane: Homecoming) left off. While the series does a good job of handling the backstory, it’s definitely worthwhile to read those first. If only because they’re really good.
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane follows Mary Jane Watson as she deals with high school, friends, drama (the kind you do in a theater and the kind you don’t), and, yes, boys. Needing a little distance from her best friends, Liz Allen, Flash Thompson, and ex-boyfriend Harry Osborne, MJ throws herself into other passions like the school play, her growing friendship with math tutor Peter Parker, and her desire to ask Spider-Man out on a date. This is the heart of the series for a lot of people: we know Peter is Spider-Man and Mary Jane doesn’t. Watching the relationships between the main cast (in and out of costume in Spidey’s case) grow, both in friendship and romance, is truly a magical experience.
Art-wise, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane is a blend of Manga and American styles that works so well with the content. Everyone’s unique and expressive, which is huge when the main action of the series is the hurt that flashes across Liz Allen’s face when Mary Jane decides to sit with the theater kids instead of her. Personally, I’m torn for a favorite piece of the art, but it’s down to the incredible colors by Christina Strain and the clothes. The cast wears different clothes from day to day, what they wear reflects their mood, and, being about the same age as Mary Jane in this book, the clothes are more or less accurate to what teenagers were wearing at the time. It builds and sells the reality of the world for me.
As a package, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane has everything: friendship, adventure, romance, and learning about who you are.
Erin is a Customer Advocate at comiXology and she probably still has a few of the outfits Mary Jane wears hanging at the back of her closet.
A comiXologist recommends…
SNOWBLIND by Ollie Masters and Tyler Jenkins
I cannot tell a lie, I picked up Snow Blind because there was a wolf on the cover (I think it’s actually a fox), but what I found was a delightful, noir mini-series set in the bleak, snow-covered landscape of Alaska. It’s a compact and straightforward mystery that was an absolute page-tuner due to it’s good pacing, intriguing characters, and wonderful art.
Snow Blind is the story of a teenager named Teddy who is a detective fiction aficionado. In the first chapter/issue he is caught by the police trespassing in the library, trying to read. His family, originally from Louisiana, has moved to Alaska for reasons unknown to Teddy. At a family party where Teddy’s father has a little too much to drink, Teddy takes a photo, posts it to social media and it goes viral. To Teddy’s surprise, his family (his dad in particular) are more similar to the characters in the crime fiction he’s reading than he knew. The disaffected teenager is thrust into the middle of his own detective fiction yarn and Teddy takes it upon himself to play Philip Marlowe.
Ollie Masters has crafted a wonderful story that offers a lovable lead character in the detective fiction and noir obsessed amateur sleuth Teddy (note The Third Man poster in his bedroom) and pairs it with an intriguing modern take on the classic detective story. The hero slowly uncovers the truth; his idyllic and rather boring nuclear family is actually concealing their ties to criminality. Tyler Jenkins’s art is masterful. The watercolors perfectly capture the mood of this story and emphasize the Alaskan setting. Snow Blind is a beautiful comic that is an interesting, introspective look at noir stories. My only regret was that it was only a few issues long. I’d like to spend more time in this universe.
Josh is the email marketing manager at comiXology who wants to spend more time in Alaska.
A comiXologist recommends…
Curse Words #1 by Charles Soule and Ryan Browne
Magic is quite something. I’m not talking about the Houdini kind of stuff. Real magic. The kind of stuff only witches and wizards can create. The stuff of Dungeons and Dragons. It’s a heck of a lot of fun because it is, for the most part, endless – especially in story telling. For Curse Words #1, Charles Soule (of She Hulk, Letter 44, and many others) and Ryan Browne (God Hates Astronauts), magic is potent, powerful, explosive, and so much more.
In this brand new series, we meet a man named Wizord, a wizard from another world. He’s landed on Earth and had decided to have some fun (I think) with his seemingly endless magic. But that’s not the end of it.
This issue is a testament to Ryan Browne’s ability to draw almost anything with precision–whether it’s New York City, an entire baseball stadium, a koala, or a man with a very impressive beard. In his previous Image book, God Hates Astronauts, it was always the amount of insane detail Browne put into the book that kept me reading (his Crab-headed humanoid aliens were always pristine) and with Curse Words, this has not changed. With colorists Jordan Boyd and Michael Parkinson at his side, the art of this book is almost enough of a sell to keep me reading.
Lucky for us, Charles Soule not only knows how to write a compelling story, but in one issue, he manages to establish a rich world full of a thousand and one questions. Who Wizord really is, why he came to Earth, and his scary, mysterious Hole World origins kept me turning pages as quickly as possible. The pacing in this book is fast, but every page is littered with pieces of information that pass by almost too quickly to ponder as the story progresses.
If you’re looking to dive into what will assuredly be a fun, magic-riddled, masterfully drawn and colored comic, look no further than Curse Words #1.
Mike Rapin is a Queens-dwelling web developer with far too many X-Men comics in his apartment. He hosts the I Read Comic Books podcast where he rattles on about how you should be reading Jeff Lemire and Greg Smallwood’s Moon Knight.