Quick Rating: Fantastic
Title: Plague of Frogs, Part 1

Frogs, for Heaven’s Sake!

Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Guy Davis
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Clem Robins
Editor: Scott Allie

If everyone who bought any X-Men comics last year used that money instead to make a movie, then they would just about cover the cost to produce X-Men 2. My math could be wrong, but I doubt I’m too far off- accurate accounting being what it is in publishing and film-making. I have little doubt that last year’s purchasers of Hellboy would not even come close to paying for the upcoming film. So, who goes to see these movies? Who is going to have a clue who Hellboy is? Batman and Superman and Spiderman and the X-Men and the Hulk all had previous incarnations on television and radio. They were well-discussed. Yet, Men in Black certainly succeeded financially without any real recognition that it came from a comic book. Ghost World and American Splendor pleased critics who have never set foot in a comic book shop (though I suspect that more of them do as a percentage than the general population). I don’t begrudge the general population their enjoyment of X-Men or Spiderman, but I do wish they’d seek the original source every now and then.

B.P.R.D. begins a new mini-series in the Hellboy universe just in time for the teeming masses to be exposed to Mike Mignola’s magnificent creation. The movie draws from early storylines, steeped in atmosphere, wonderful storytelling, and great artwork. Traditional Hellboy stories follow the X-Files formula of something weird happens and Hellboy investigates. The investiture of the stories with myth, fable, and character makes the series wonderful. Atmosphere and character can take a little time. Relationships need establishment. I hope the folks who see the movie have a couple issues of B.P.R.D. ready to acquire because one may leave them a little uncertain. On the other hand, every cinema should be passing out coupons for discounts on Hellboy graphic novels (they are brilliant).

I have long liked Guy Davis’ work. It tells the tale. Here, the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense sends in a team to investigate unusual events, but the team does not include Hellboy. If you’re uncertain what the unusual event is, read the issue title again. For regular readers, this will be a nice chance to get to know the other characters better. Get a Hellboy graphic novel and this issue for afterwards.

March, 2004

Quick Rating: Fantastic
Title: Super Mega Ultrakiko Action Figure
Writer/Artist: Mark Crilley

Akiko Rules

Because of its sporadic release schedule, Mark Crilley continues to fill Akiko’s pages with short tales and humorous sketches. The original Akiko storylines (prior to Crilley’s explosion of wild experimenting) followed the intergalactic adventures of an American girl of Japanese heritage. Crilley points out that the current tales do not automatically fall within Akiko’s continuity- they may only serve to illustrate unexplored aspects of the main characters. Anyone unfamiliar with Akiko may find the issue a difficult entry point. The bits and pieces provide innumerable delights, but that often comes from a baseline knowledge of the characters. New readers should definitely pick up the trade paperback reprints of the initial run. On the other hand, everyone should buy this issue to support one of the more original voices in the comics field- just read the trades first to get the all the jokes.

This issue contains:
Super Mega Ultrakiko vs. Beebzilla – the first part of a giant monster battle.
The Portrait – an optical illusion short.
Private Beeba and the Secret Message
Jimmy Hampton
What’s Going on in Akiko’s Head?
Good Days, Bad Days
Cap’n Spuck and his trusty first mate, beebs
24 Ways to Draw Akiko – exactly what it says.

All of these are accessible on a purely humorous level. In many ways, reading Akiko lately inspires that same sensation that I used to get when reading Mad magazine as a youth. It’s the thrill of recognition- the pleasure of not being insulted (perhaps being subtly complimented). Ultimately, I think Akiko is about not being alone in the universe and that’s a pretty good theme.

March, 2004

Quick Rating: Fantastic
Title: The Akiko Quality Assortment

Akiko Rules

Writer/Artist: Mark Crilley
Editor: Keith Davidsen

In a popular (and very chic) Michigan coffee shop, nine women have taken over a well-lit corner. Calliope is scribbling onto her palm pilot. Daydreaming, Erato is sipping a decaffeinated venti mocha. Terpsichore is out front listening to the street musicians. Euterpe is going through a pile of compact discs which she just purchased at the shop next door. Clio is sulking because no one listens to her anymore. Melpomene is reading the newspaper. Polyhymnia is reading over her shoulder while also trying to get Terpsichore to come inside. Urania is chatting up the barista. Thalia is good-naturedly fending off advances from the college boys at the next table.

Every now and then, the Muses strike, even nowadays. Depending on your opinion of modern American popular culture, you may think that they are very busy flitting about Hollywood or you may believe that the Muses simply refuse to set foot outside of the lonely cabins of a few select writers. In the comic book industry, Muse visits are few and far between. Clio and Polyhymnia show up when you’re creating a pop culture icon, like Superman or Scooby Doo. Euterpe and Terpsichore show up when you’re drawing a page or a panel that will change how people look at comic books. More accurately, they appear months or years beforehand and initiate the process that will lead to great art. The artist gets to sweat it out for awhile on his or her own.

Mark Crilley wandered into that Michigan coffee shop (perhaps it was in Japan instead when he was teaching there- of course that would look more like a scene out of Tampopo) and sat by himself. Maybe he didn’t even notice the table filled with beautiful women. Slowly, they sauntered up to him and whispered in his ear. He didn’t even raise his eyes from his drawing pad.

A few years pass and Akiko has reached its 50th issue milestone. Who would think that a comic book about a girl and some silly looking aliens could be so fantastic? This issue of Akiko continues Mark Crilley’s experimenting with a variety of ways to fill the pages. Sometimes there is a story- sometimes there is commentary- sometimes satire. The artwork is always gorgeous. Akiko 51 contains a variety of short pieces, sending up popular culture and twisting its own characters. Just in Time for Dinner is a punch-line quickie. The Beebles recasts the main characters as another famous quartet. For that matter, My Neighbor Akiko’s Spirited Delivery Service also recasts the main characters in a variety of Hayao Miyazaki films. (Mark Crilley is something of an American expert on the brilliant Japanese animator.) Two Doors is a puzzle picture bearing a story. Akiko at the Age of Eighty is a reminisce with a twist. The style in each tale is unique within the pamphlet, providing wonderful delineation.

I do not think that the Muses can be found attending meetings in corporate offices. They are found in small towns in Michigan in the middle of the night while listening to distant radio stations and considering the floaty bits in their tea. Akiko is written for people who love comic books and can’t remember why.

If you want to know what the future of comics should look like, read Akiko. It is the best comic book out there, bar none.

March, 2004