#Just him combined with the immaculate art style is like my favorite thing

[coconut530]

ohhhhhh everyone stop what you’re doing and go read The Sandman: Waking Hours

[kquil]

I’ve never done a request before so tell me if i do something’s wrong! this is for the picnic event, 🧁 since i’m self centered 🤫.

I love love music my favorite bands are Queen, Kiss and Greta Van Fleet. I only know how to dress in winter and fall and i usually dress in a sort of dark academia style or like a rockstar🫢. My favorite food is Pasta Carbonara. I have a longer pixie cut. I’m short like i’m literally 5’1 (155cm). I’m usually really sarcastic but i have a hard time picking up sarcasm. I have a small collection of records and old tea cups. I like art and i play the bass guitar!

that’s all i can think of sorry if it’s too much or too ramble-y 😅 also take as long as you need you probably get lots of requests so don’t feel rushed or anything

haha! it's healthy to be a little self-centred, don't worry (≧▽≦)

from your description, i can see you as being sirius's equal and since im a wolfstar shipper, im shipping you with remus lupin!

i. he loves your dark academia and rockstar style too, often, in the winter, the two of you end up accidentally wearing matching outfits whenever you decide to wear something dark academia-esque, only remus was the light academia version of your outfit XD

ii. he appreciates your love for music, he commends your immaculate taste and works hard to save up on getting concert tickets for your favourite artists as a date

iii. he loves how short you are because he thinks its a great combination for you to have with your sarcasm - he loves your mind for the way it works, your sarcastic remarks make him laugh often

iv. there was one time where somebody made fun of his scars, something along the lines of 'i can't believe he has scars all over his face, must be hard to attract any of the birds lookin' that hideous' and you remarked 'oh, like your face is any better, Duncan - a mountain troll gets more girls than you' - from that day on, you're his hero

v. he finds your collection of records fun and interesting to look through, he likes listening to them with your permission and he finds your collection of old tea cups something so adorable about you - it's something he doesn't expect but really loves about you

vi. he likes listening to you play the bass guitar while he reads and since he also plays bass guitar in my headcannon of him, whenever he plays his bass guitar, you like to do your art - you two are just very cute like that

vii. sometimes remus would get jealous of how in sync you and sirius are but understands that it's only because you two are just similar in interests and style ⏤ he does get a little clingy to you though, in the most adorable way! he would just wrap around you from behind and bury his face into your hair for attention, sirius would see this, smirk and back off but not before teasing you two 'oh! sorry about that moony! she's all yours! and you be gentle with him okay? moony needs to be treated preciously!'

viii. something really cute is that remus learns how to cook carbonara for you just the way you like it and that ends up being the only thing he knows how to cook, he also memorised all the restaurants that you like the carbonara of so that when you go out, he knows where to go when you're craving it

ix. remus also likes to play with the ends of your hair, the ones that brush against the back of your neck when you're seated between his legs while he reads his book behind you. at least, he tries to read his book, he just finds the little hairs on the back of your neck really adorable and ends up playing with them ⏤ if your neck is sensitive this will trigger a little tickling session that ends with you both laughing

x. he also tries to learn french to that he can understand you and sirius when you're talking smack about slytherins in class, which often makes him chuckle as well, he also learns it so that he can express short romantic phrases to you in french because 'french is the language of love'

xi. honourable mention: i lowkey ship you with James ⏤ i imagine he can't notice sarcasm either so it's an adorable trait you both share so in first meeting, he isn't deterred by your sarcasm at all. he thinks you having short hair is cool but also likes to imagine you with long hair and gushes about how you look good with long and short hair! he doesn't know french but memorises je t'aime to say to you often and he just stares at you dreamily whenever you talk in french like a lovesick fool, even if you could be saying the meanest and nastiest things or screaming angrily at someone in french

[horrorslashergirl]

I need any headcanons for Asa and/or Jesse, you can also add others if you want. Like stuff like their scent they're usual mood, how you can tell if they like you, stuff that people usually don't care about ya know?

I have to admit I wrote more than I intended too, but I think it came out pretty good. Some headcanons I debated from watching their movies I think over 20 times? Feeling like a detective. 

Random Headcanons

The Collector/Asa Emory

If I have to picture his scent I think he would have a combination of citrus, disinfectant, and dust; do you know how an old book smells, that rich smell of knowledge that is rather calming? That's how I picture him like. Why citrus/lemon/disinfectant? I headcanon Asa as a neat-freak so I think that would be a common scent for him, plus I don't think the flowery scents are his favorite when it comes to room air freshener.

Surprisingly, Asa knows how to dress, but doesn't care. He dresses according to where he goes; working at the university, working on his human collection. He is a more practical type. He never finds the need to dress to impress.

Asa is an introvert. His usual mood when he is his civilian self is one of pure calmness, maintaining a stoic facade, mostly so that people won't bother him. Now, he isn't a shy guy, more like socially awkward, and doesn't have the abilities of a social butterfly. He can learn to be but chooses not to. If someone tries to get under his skin, he will use his intellect to make said people feel like they're the dumbest and make them walk away in shame. As his Collector persona, he lets his inner demons free; the rage, the blood-thirst, he doesn't feel like he needs to maintain a facade anymore, because as the Collector, he is the master, the one who calls the shots.

If Asa likes someone he will never flat-out tell them or try to impress the said person. If you're a very observant person, you can catch him observing you from the distance, but as soon as you look at him, his gaze will move away from you. Asa likes to observe from the distance and there are many ways his liking to you can go; taking an interest in someone means the person will most likely end up being part of his collection like he sees a beautiful specimen and he knows they need to own them.

I picture Asa as having some sort of PTSD; nightmares, flashbacks can come when you trigger his past. That's probably one of the reasons he isn't so opened up to having someone care for him and trust them. The person who was supposed to love him unconditionally and be the guide in his life took everything away from him; his father we are talking about here. How can he trust someone who they admit that they love him when his father created him the monster that he is today?

He has some sleep problems, mostly because of how big of a workaholic he is. Working from morning to afternoon at the university then working all night on his collection can suck the life out of him. God bless the dark liquid called coffee.

The biggest characteristic of Asa is probably his intelligence and by all means, this man is a walking encyclopedia, not only on Entomology but also on other topics like history, art, and geography. Despite him being strong and intimidating with his stature, his intellect is the biggest weapon; a very good strategist and a master trap. You have to get the brains to make such things.

When it comes to relationships and you managed to somehow get into one with Asa, you need to understand that you have to take this man how he is, he will never change for the sake of someone. Don't question him, especially about his gruesome hobby. I picture a traditional housewife type would be the perfect shot for him, considering he isn't that much at home, someone has to clean the house and cook. I think everything in Asa's life is cold, metaphorically speaking, so coming home to finding his house immaculate and a warm home-cooked meal is a big treat, makes him feel loved and without you being a too push-over and annoy him. Give him his space and be there when he needs it.

Chromeskull/Jesse Cromeans

When it comes to Jesse's scent, I think it would go two ways or a combo of the two. The scent of metal, medical solutions plus adding some expensive male cologne, tobacco, and rich alcohol fragrance is what this man smells like. It's quite intoxicating and makes you feel a little dizzy, but that's Jesse's intentions, like a drug you're getting addicted to.

Looks are everything for this man, despite his face being turned into the horrors today, he makes a very good impression with designer clothing, perfectly polished Oxford shoes, and perhaps a Rolex? Cars are like accessories, the flashier the better. Why not a Chrysler, maybe a Jaguar? Perhaps a Rolls Royce? Cars exhume power and by Gods, Jesse loves the power. If you have the money why not buy the finest things life has to offer?

Jesse is an extrovert and when he enters a room is like a panther is stalking the room, looking for the next victim. He is no shy guy and likes to make his thoughts known by all means; signing, electronic reader? He has many ways. His moods wary, depending on the situation at hand and they come in all kinds of forms. Jesse can go from playful and sassy to downright vicious and brutish. He is a big tease and loves to make people flustered; men or women, doesn't matter.

He has a dark sense of humor and that can be shown by just body language; the way that he teased Princess Gemstone with poking her head with his knife 'This piggy went to the market. This one stayed home.' Or when Princess Gemstone tried to save a bounded girl, but she runs away and Jesse waved his hand in a mocking 'bye-bye'.

He has a God-like complex, always the need to be in charge and that is shown when he killed Preston for trying to take the title as Chromeskull. Now, that's his style and Jesse doesn't like cheap copycats. Greedy, Jesse won't accept other people trying to steal his kills and get credit for his work. Just no.

A theory of mine is that Jesse is running a multi-million chroming company. The reasons? Chroming is very expensive and you can get a load of money from it. How do I know? One friend chromed the wheels of his car and the cheapest he found was 400 EURO. The process of chroming is not only expensive but also very dangerous and complicated. So, therefore, CASH! But also when you came tons of money from snuff films you got to have a business facade so people won't brown-nose into your shit. That's what people with illegal businesses do, a facade business to clean your dirty work.

A prime characteristic of Jesse is his ego, his PRIDE. His ego and misunderstanding other made him lose his face and also WIFE. He saw himself as invincible and he didn't even think about his wife when he started all this mafia-like organization. Just shows how selfish he can be in my opinion and like his wife said at the ending of Laid to rest 2 that she hadn't seen him for months and she was pregnant; Jesse thinks only for himself.

Talking about being in a relationship with Jesse? Here goes a nasty truthful headcanon; you will be his trophy wife, just an accessory for him, and having loyal pussy at his beck and call seems like a sweet treat. You will be spoiled rotten, but that will come with the price of being owned and feel like that. Say goodbye to freedom and the option of speaking your opinions. Now, Jesse wouldn't mind you play a feisty spitfire, all the more fun to see you crumble down in obedience into his arms. The only option you have is to be diplomatic and try to best yourself at playing mind games because if you don't at some point you will end up like his ex-wife.

How you can tell if Jesse likes you? Pretty hard considering he has a habit of being a huge flirt and womanizer, buuuuut...You might have a chance to be something more than a piggy or quick-fuck, if you show that you're more than the common-looking piggies. Be smart, be independent, show him that you won't drop on your knees and choke on his cock; don't be an easy catch, if you want to have him want you as his prime trophy.

[ingravinoveritas]

Looking at the recent Staged S2 promo pics - Can we just talk about how insanely amazing David's street style is? Like major fashion houses should work with him. And modeling is a perfect activity to do while still under COVID restrictions. He's got down the art of looking cool and fab without ever looking like you're trying. I just feel like we don't talk enough about this.

Hi, Fashion Anon! (Hah, I just made a pun and I didn’t even mean to. Good times...) I am totally with you on David’s amazing style in the Staged 2 promo pics. I think he looks incredibly gorgeous, especially with that longer hair, and all the colors and combinations are things that would totally not look good on anyone else, but he somehow just makes them work. Here are four that are my personal favorites, with a little bit of analysis:

So first we have denim! Denim is classic, but can very easily stray into Canadian Tuxedo and/or “middle-aged mom in an appliqué phase” territory. Yet David is working the heck out of this denim jacket. I love that the shirt underneath is also blue, but a darker shade, so as to complement the jacket rather than match it. His hair and beard are also immaculate and top off the look beautifully.

My second selection is this button-down shirt. I know we can’t see much of it here, but this gives us a gorgeous close-up of David‘s face and his big brown eyes. This is very Daniel Day-Lewis in The Crucible meets hipster chic, and I am living for it. The lovely curve of his nose and his pink lips also suggests the potential for makeup modeling (like modeling iconic makeup looks such as David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust with the lightning bolt, or Adam Ant). Stunning.

Next is this lovely emerald sweater. When I first saw a picture of David in this, I was struck by how flattering the green was to his skin tone. I’ve always thought that Michael looks the best in blue, and I think green has to be David’s color. (So yes, @faggghaggg, I am agreeing with you that he looks hot in green!) But what I am absolutely gagged over now is the YELLOW ELBOW PATCHES on this sweater. I cannot think of a single human being those elbow patches would be flattering on except for David Tennant. Elbow patches are traditionally a very stuffy, professorial type of accoutrement, yet with David it’s completely “Yes, I stuck my elbows in a puddle of mustard, so fucking what. It’s fashion, darling.” He’s totally unselfconscious about it and it makes him even sexier.

Of course, I had to save the very best for last. This picture...I cannot tell you what went through my head when I saw this the other day. (Well, I could tell you, but it’s all terribly filthy.) This is the most model-y I have ever seen David look. The leather jacket, the hair, even the fucking sneakers...incredible. He looks like he just got done rehearsing with his indie rock band and is ready to sell you some kombucha, but in the least douchey way possible. It’s hard to see much of the trousers, but they look to be hugging every curve and line of his body perfectly. And he does indeed make it look effortless, as if he just rolled out of bed looking this good. 10/10, super sexy, would love to see a full photo shoot of him straddling that bench in various states of undress. LOVE.

---

So those are my thoughts on some of David’s fashion in Staged 2. I hope you enjoyed them, Anon! And I hope David does go ahead and pursue some modeling in lockdown*, because as we’ve seen here, he would be perfect at it and fashion houses should jump at the chance to put him in their clothing. Thanks for writing in! x (*Not counting whatever naughty pictures David has texted to Michael of course...)

[paulsebert]

The Rainmaker vs the Wrestler

Pro Wrestling can be a little hard to explain. At it's best it's an amazing combination of athletics, violence, comedy, and theater. It can be a little hard to get into, particularly given how spectacularly uneven the WWE has been of late. My personal favorite promotion right now is New Japan Pro Wrestling, but it can be daunting for new fans to approach, even though it now has an English language program on AXS and most of their major shows now have English commentary online.  I'd like to talk about the main of event of last Sunday's “Sakura Genesis” show to explain just how good pro wrestling can be.  

The Champion

Everything about “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada oozes style. He has immaculately perfect bleached blond hair.  He wears impossibly cool clothes.  His entrances on big shows a giant spectacles where glitter and money fall from the ceiling as lasers shine down. He doesn't so much walk to the ring as walk through a party being held in his honor.  A few years ago he did an entrance with a dinosaur?  Why?  Because even dinosaurs know that the Okada is cool.  

Okada travels with an entourage the size of which would make most rap stars envious. He's the leader of a group of wrestlers called “Chaos” that can't really be defined in the traditional good guy/bad guy dichotomy.  He will fight pretty much anyone at any time.  Okada doesn't have to tell you how great he is because he has a guy to do that for him.  Okada's mentor is an aging grappler named Gedo who comes out after all of Okada's wins to loudly boast of how great Okada is.

Now the key to Okada's act is that he is EVERY bit as good as he presents himself as. Simple moves like dropkicks or his finisher (a wristlock clothesline called “The Rainmaker”) are works of art.  He glides effortlessly across the ring and whenever he takes a beating he always comes back for more. Okada is having one of the most remarkable years any wrestler has ever had. He kicked it off by having match with Kenny Omega that wrestling historian Dave Meltzer gave a remarkable six star rating. I say “remarkable” because Dave Meltzer has been writing about matches for over 30 years now and has always rated things on scale of one to five.  They actually broke the rating scale!  For his next title defense Okada fought and defeated Minoru Suzuki.  Suzuki is a grizzled old martial artist who takes sadistic pleasure in contorting other people's limbs in new and horrifying fashions with a personal army. 

 Okada then fought and beat Tiger Mask W a literal cartoon superhero come to life...

I love wrestling.

The Challenger

Okada is a perefect combination of style and substance then Katsuyori Shibata is ALL substance and no style. He looks like the default template for a “Create a Wrestler” in a New Japan video game. His nickname is “The Wrestler.”  Shibata wears plain black trunks and boots. Almost all the wrestlers in New Japan who wear plain black trunks are rookies who haven't “graduated” into being stars.  The only other star that wears plain black trunks is Tomohiro Ishii and he can get away with it because he's a man who doesn't so much resemble a human being as an angry barrel made of meat.

Which isn't to say that Katsuyori Shibata is boring.  It's just that if Okada is Apollo Creed then Shibata is Rocky.  Shibata is a hard working every-man whose career was once derailed and has had to fight and scrape over the past few years to become a contender again.  Over the course of the past year he's won the NEVER Openweight title (a tertiary belt) and  mostly feuded with older wrestlers like Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan slowly working his way through older former world champions. The year after dropping the NEVER title, he won the prestigious New Japan Cup tournament defeating Bad Luck Fale, an enormous belligerent Tongan strongman.

If Okada's style of wrestling offense looks graceful and effortless, Shibata's is just brutal.  EVERYTHING he does looks like it hurts like hell. He has two signature moves a sleeper (a no frills hold befitting a guy calling himself “The Wrestler”), and the “Penalty Kick” (PK for short) in which he treats people's torsos like a soccer ball.

But presentations and wrestling styles aren't the only way these two guys mirror each other. They are both careers that are in some ways defined by exoduses from the company.

Two warriors who came from exile...

In 2010 Okada was a promising young wrestler that was still coming out of his shell and decided to send him to the wrestling equivalent of Siberia. I'm talking about TNA.  At the time Total Nonstop Action wrestling had legit claim of being the number two wrestling company in America. It had primetime television show on Spike, a loyal fanbase, and a roster full of up and coming talent.  It also had a working talent trade agreement with New Japan Pro Wrestling.  TNA was so poorly managed that it slowly and methodically destroyed EVERY asset that it had. So it should come at no surprise that when New Japan handed them a young, charismatic, athletic wrestler the company proceeded to do NOTHING with him save for an embarrassing period where they dressed him up as Kato from the Green Hornet.

Needless to say Okada's mistreatment was the beginning of the end of TNA's working agreement with New Japan. However his time in the United States wasn't a total waste of time.  Okada was told repeatedly to work on his character and saw a bunch of larger than life personalities on the top of the shows.  So Okada decided to reinvent as the flashiest, coolest personality in wrestling.  “The Rainmaker” was originally introduced as a villain in 2011 but became one of the promotion's top stars thanks to an epic feud with Hiroshi Tanahashi that went on and off for years.

Katsuyori Shibata entered New Japan pro wrestling several years before Okada and was one of “Three Musketeers” a trio of wrestlers groomed to be the next top stars.  Two of those men Hiroshi Tanahashi and current WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura became world champions.  NJPW management was a bit of a mess in the early 00s and Shibata ended up leaving in 2005.  After a couple of years working as a freelance wrestler Shibata decided to try his hand at Mixed Martial Arts. This was a BAD idea... Shibata amassed an abysmal 4-11-1 record with only significant win being over badly past his prime Ikuhisa Minowa.

Shibata returned to New Japan a year after Okada did in 2012.  While Okada was embraced by fans. Shibata was initially rejected.  He was treated as a guy who cut and run from the company at it's lowest point only to return when the company was in the black.   Worse still others viewed him as a failed MMA guy who had to turn to wrestling. It took Shibata years to prove himself to the fans and to the company.  Now nearly a decade after walking away from New Japan “The Wrestler” is now a title contender.

The Match

One the key differences between American crowds and Japanese crowds is how they view title fights.  American crowds want to see the good guy win.  Unless the good guy is Roman Reigns... Japanese crowds witnessing title fights want to see history.  Even if they like the champion.  This match was all about teasing the possibility of a title change.  Shibata being absolutely viscous on offense for most of the time punishing the champ with punches, chops, kicks, and slams. However over over again Okada kept coming back, gradually landing and more offense of his own.  Late in the match Shibata makes a catastrophic mistake both in character and in real life.  He decides to throw  headbutt.  Now in the world of pro wrestling there's a number of “safe” ways to throw a headbutt and well... it looks Shibata just drilled him only to discover that Okada has a much harder head. 

 (There have been conflicting reports of Shibata having a legit injury after the match.) I love wrestling when it’s good but man I HATE seeing this kind of thing.

[spynotebook]

We’ve run our 11 Best Single Issues Of The Year. Well now, Rich Johnston and the Bleeding Cool writers (not Jude) give you 11 collections and graphic novels to reflect on as we say good riddance to 2016 and welcome 2017 with nervous worry.

Eliot Cole

Doctor Who: A Matter Of Life And Death by George Mann, Emma Vieceli and Hi-Fi.

I don’t have quite as much to say here as I did in my “lack of words” on A-Force #4, but I find this Eighth Doctor collection just the lovely example of (a) comics and (b) what could’ve been with the best of all the doctors. George Mann’s stories are each self contained, following the fantastic journey of Josie, and how she becomes part of Eight’s life. Each story was a book, and was self contained, but lends well to the whole. I wrote 3 sentences on George Mann’s awesome plotting (and such), and having a good take on 8 but they amounted to that word, “awesome.” Emma Vieceli’s trademarked panelling design compel you through this beautifully, I could genuinely read pencils of this quality on anything. Ms. Vieceli is surely meant for the greatest of things. Do yourself a favour and check out Titan’s Eighth Doctor Collection.

Jeremy Konrad

The Fix Vol.1-Where Beagles Dare by Nick Spencer, Lieber, Ryan Hill, and Nic J Shaw

I actually was starting to feel a little burnt out by Image this year. Quite a few of their series were blending together and felt to be covering quite a bit of the same ground. That all changed when I picked up The Fix. This series, with its dry, sarcastic humor and panels that you have to study to catch every little  gag in the details very quickly became one of my favorites. And I mean, Pretzels. How can you not love a dog like Pretzels??? Every issue gets better and better, and hopefully it runs for a very long time.

Hannah Means-Shannon

Aleister & Adolf by Douglas Rushkoff, Michael Avon Oeming, and Nate Piekos

This book has been an outlier on many press radars, but it’s one of those densely crafted, significant works that hopefully will be the gift that keeps on giving, showing comic creators and fans what new directions in the medium can be taken. Written by powerhouse social critic Douglas Rushkoff and drawn by the endlessly original Michael Avon Oeming the book tracks a fictional account of Aleister Crowley’s media wars with Adolf Hitler based on a few key historical facts. It follows the life of a young military reporter assigned to Crowley through the course of “sigil” developments, like the swastika by the Nazis and V for Victory by Churchill in the war over human minds during WWII. Rushkoff’s characterization, research, and narrative framing devices, combined with Oeming’s emotive and often highly symbolic artwork make sure this book has something significant to say about the ongoing role of symbolism and propaganda in the way we see the world around us. It might just remind you of the dangers and the positive powers of belief and focus to influence any struggle, even on an international level. Aleister & Adolf may be about the second World War, but it’s highly relevant to our times and makes for a thought-provoking, and at times disturbing, read.

Joe Glass

The Wicked + The Divine Deluxe Hardcover by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Matthew Wilson and Clayton Cowles.

I mean, just look at it.

Let’s not even go into the story or anything yet, just take in this huge, black, hot foiled beauty! You can read comics on your train to work looking like you’re reading out of some mystic grimoire of mystery!

Plus, it contains Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, Matthew Wilson and Clayton Cowles’ incredible series of pop stars as gods and the hard price of fame (it kinda kills you in the end, which 2016 proved in force really, didn’t it?). Collecting the first two story arcs, plus loads of behind the scenes materials and a good chunk of Gillen’s breakdowns of the book, it makes for the absolute best purchase for fans of the series.

And it just looks sexy as hell on a book shelf!

Abdulkareem Baba Aminu

Huck by Mark Millar and Rafael Albuquerque.

Surprising myself, and after a great deal of thought, I have picked Huck Vol. 1 by Mark Millar and Rafael Albuquerque as the best graphic novel/collection for 2016. I started reading the monthly issues, up to the second, and I somehow fell off. But I did know I’d catch up on the trade when it gets released. And boy was I glad I waited. The story, collected, had a pace that was missing during its monthly run, and the character development proved to be near-perfect. Early comparisons to Superman did no justice to the story of a small town resident who’s revealed to have some truly awesome powers, of course with disastrous results. The art – oh, boy the art – is beautiful, aided by perfect colours and it sets the tone the right way. There’s almost a Spielberg-ian sense of wonder and adventure to the tale, enough to make me ignore the irritation that is an editing error which portrayed a factual kidnapping of schoolgirls by insurgents as having happened in East Africa, when the stated Sambisa Forest is in Nigeria, in West Africa. You could say it was personal for me. That aside – and I truly enjoy most of the Millarworld books – Huck is my absolute favorite.

Marilyn Weiss 

Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks

I was so excited for this graphic novel to be released, it was easily one of the highlights of my reading this year. We meet Kaidu, a recent arrival to the Nameless City, and son of the latest ruling clan, Dao. As he trains to become a warrior, his adventurous nature drives him into the city, where he meets up with the lovable, street wise Rat. Hicks did an amazing job creating a detailed world that I would love to explore and get lost in. I can tell that there are so many stories hiding within the city, just waiting to be told. I would gladly hand this book to any fan of comics, be they young or old. The sequel, The Stone Heart will be out in April 2017.

  Rich Johnston

Patience by Dan Clowes

I’m a sucker for a post-modern time travel story. See my love for least year’s There’s No Time Like The Present by Paul Rainey. And Dan Clowes gives us actual plottage with Patience. A story of rags to – well not exactly riches, but a different state of being, as the newly pregnant young Patience is murdered, a series of events that destroys her partner, Jack. It’s his attempts to “put right what once went wrong” and the calamitous consequences of his actions, digging his own grave – or Patience’s  – deeper and deeper that drive this book forward. Or backwards. Which means you’ll have to reread it the moment you finish for that Sixth Sense experience. But for all that it’s the attitude of Jack, the anti-Hollywood hero that sets this apart, refusing to follow the obvious tropes or experiencing triumphs – or disasters as he may be expected to.

And the devil is always in the details. Clowes has always had a style that grabs the eye, gives it direction and pulls it forward, the narrator grip in full effect. Here every object in every panel could have serious significance that you will need that second – or third reading to pick up on it.

Toward a Hot Jew by Miriam Libicki

You know those overnight sensations who have been working hard at the craft for decades? That’s Miriam Libicki. In something that resembles the missing link between Marjane Satrapi and Joe Sacco, her autobiographical work exploring her Jewish identity, attractiveness and the reaction of those around her, whether as a Israeli soldier or a professor of art, this collection of a decade’s work jumps from illustrated essay to comic book panels, exploring the medium, the tools to create the work and express inner neurosis as beautifully – and as ugly – as possible.

Black Dog: The Dreams of Paul Nash by Dave McKean

Art about art – Dave McKean creating a comic about war artist Paul Nash, and how that artist turned the worst extremes of humanity into art that illuminated the mind. And then how it affected the young Dave McKean, and how his work has existed in relation to that of Paul’s. This is a giant standing on the shoulder of another giant and between them they can see so much about us. An incredibly moving masterpiece, and stands alongside McKean’s Cages, as an exploration of the effect of art on both the viewer and the artist themselves. Psychologically complex and using the very strictures of comic book panels, speech, character positions to demonstrate so much of what we are.

Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden

Another example of comic book journalism, Sarah Glidden takes a trip to the Middle East with an eye on America’s influence on the region, travelling through Syria, Iraq and Turkey. But its also an examination of journalism itself, as Sarah is accompanying two “proper journalists” as they look at the effect of the Iraq War and of its refugees, so it also becomes a procedural for the profession as well – especially when they are joined by a friend and a US soldier who served in Iraq. And it suddenly gets a whole lot more awkward. Something that is made more palatable by Sarah’s soft watercolors, a different look than we might have otherwise expected.

Everyone has a story to tell. It turns out that’s as much true of the journalists as it is those they report on.

Clean Room Vol 1: Immaculate Conception by Gail Simone, Jon Davis-Hunt and Quinton Winter.

For some reason I never find The Walking Dead comic as gross as I do the TV show. I occasionally wondered if that was a creative choice of the limitations of the medium? Well, Clean Room answered that. It really is something very nasty indeed. Writer Gail Simone has rarely been given the chance to operate at this level. And she choosing the tack of making the people far scarier than the Entities that are meant to be threatening them, in terms of the moral choices they hold. Jon Davis-Hunt’s choices of style are also a surprise, eschewing the darkness for something brighter, more visible and cleaner. This is horror with the strip lighting turned up and refusing to blink.

It also takes suicide head on, as something fuelling the survivors, and as psychological as that is, the comic is never afraid to shlock-horror out, embracing that aspect rather than being embarrassed about it. It’s the combination of both approaches that elevates this title above the norm and makes it something special. And the way it buolds from issue only helps the trade paperback – even if you are denied the pain of waiting from month to month for cliffhangers to resolve.

Buy this for the Scientologist in your life. And then get Gail Simone to write Crossed.

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