A Drunken Dream and Other Stories
Moto Hagio, Fantagraphics, $24.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-60699-3774
Along with manga giants Keiko Takemiya and Riyoko Ikeda, and other notable female creators known as the Fabulous '49ers who pioneered the shojo revolution, Hagio forever changed the landscape of comics for girls and started a creative industry for women outside of the domicile. A decade after Sailor Moon, American audiences finally have the chance to read Hagio's work and see the genesis of a genre in this anthology. Unlike current shojo manga, Hagio's sentiment is more restrained, recounting a calmer account of destructive sibling rivalry, a quieter portrayal of a romance destined for failure, a subtle unraveling of a young woman in mourning. Her craftsmanship reflects wisdom and exercises the creative strength necessary to unravel and tie together the range of narrative threads that make up the tragedies and slow recoveries of life. In "Angel Mimic," Hagio turns the deflated student-teacher romance on its head, bringing it new life. In "Willow Tree" the story is so subtle, it takes place on the periphery of the page. A Drunken Dream collects stories by Hagio from her beginning, middle, and current career. The consistency of her work is evidence of why she's finally being translated into English and why that was long overdue. (Sept.)
The Terrible Axe-Man of New Orleans
Rick Geary, NBM/ComicsLit, $15.99 (80p) ISBN 978-1-56163-581-8
Having provided many fascinating accounts of gruesome true crime in his excellent A Treasury of Victorian Murder series, Rick Geary skips ahead in time to the days of WWI and chronicles the unsolved rash of axe murders committed by the titular killer. As the Jazz Age dawned in rollicking New Orleans, an unknown assailant targeted immigrants, mostly of Italian origin, broke into their homes and brutally assaulted them, resulting in grievous injury and several corpses. Clues are sparse; the police are baffled; and the general populace is thrown into a vortex of paranoia. But what was the Axe-Man's motive? The answer to that question will likely never be revealed, but Geary presents all of this with his signature appealing art style and expected well-researched text, including a fun and evocative history of New Orleans from its founding through 1918. The result will appeal to true crime buffs and armchair detectives as well as Geary's already loyal audience. (Aug.)
Dark Rain: A New Orleans Story
Mat Johnson and Simon Gane, DC/Vertigo, $24.99 (160p) ISBN 978-1-4012-2160-7
Set in New Orleans in the first days after Hurricane Katrina, Dark Rain--much like Johnson's lauded 2008 graphic novel Incognegro--uses the trappings of gritty crime fiction to explore deeper issues of race in America. Dabny, a decorated soldier and former customs officer, languishes in a Houston halfway house after being convicted of taking a bribe. Desperate to raise child-support money, he agrees to ferry his bunkmate Emmit into New Orleans's submerged Lower 9th Ward, where Emmit plans to rob his former employer, the Banque de Congo Square. The pair soon runs afoul of (metaphor alert) Dark Rain, a corrupt private security firm led by Dabny's former commanding officer, and some pretty standard caper-movie action ensues. Johnson's dialogue is frequently witty and incisive, and the book's view of the utter failure of public services in the city's poor neighborhoods and at the New Orleans Convention Center cuts to the marrow. Unfortunately, the whole affair is dragged down by the familiarity of its somewhat tacked-on central plot. And while Gane's slightly cartoonish style enlivens the book's moments of wry humor, a neo-noir caper story with a healthy dose of social commentary demands a certain gravity that's missing. (Aug.)
Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites
Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson, Dark Horse, $19.99 (184p) ISBN 978-1-59582-513-1
Burden Hill looks at first glance to be the epitome of the idyllic suburb, but unbeknownst to its human populace the place is rife with all manner of supernatural menaces, both great and small. Werewolves, hauntings, black magic covens, and less easily defined things that go bump in the night wreak havoc just under the radar of man's perception, but do not go unnoticed by the unlikeliest occult protectors of all: a group of household pets comprising several dogs and a stray cat. These four-footed paranormal investigators, occasionally aided by "wise dogs" trained in the arcane arts, take on all comers with devotion and diligence. Dorkin's clever writing and Thompson's charming painted art effortlessly draw in readers--Thompson's realistic take creates a full world to get immersed in. Loaded with fun in every panel, this series has massive crossover appeal for those who enjoy horror, humor, and stories about endearing animal characters. This gorgeous hardcover edition contains the short stories that introduced the characters, along with the 2009 miniseries and supplemental behind-the-scenes material with notes by Dorkin. A stunner. (July)
Web Exclusive Triumff: Her Majesty’s Hero
Dan Abnett, Angry Robot, $7.99 paper (384p) ISBN 9780857660220
British author Abnett, best known for his graphic novel collections and Warhammer 40,000 novel series, offers a ribald, rollicking adventure in the tradition of Flashman. Queen Elizabeth XXX is the monarch in an alternative history of Great Britain where Queen Elizabeth I married her brother-in-law, Philip II of Spain, resulting in a union that created world domination; since then all female monarchs have been named after her. Sir Rupert Triumff, the swashbuckling hero--or crude anti-hero--and one-time explorer, must ingratiate himself with the Queen in order to get permission for future voyages, and is commandeered to protect Her Majesty. The concept is clever and creative, and magic, treason, and Spanish grandees make for an entertaining read, yet the pacing--either bewilderingly fast or inert thanks to arch description--may throw readers off. But fans of more intellectual fantasy will enjoy Abnett’s misadventures and hope for future installments. (Aug.)
