Burma Banshees: Angel Wings #1
Writer: Yann
Art: Romain Hugault
Silvester Strips
Burma Banshees: Angel Wings #1 is one of those comics which I loved in spite of a storyline from Yann that could be used in a writing class as an example of a multi-page cliche.
Angela McCloud is the main cliche, err character, here. She is sexy, and full of brass. She ends up in Burma during the war in a world of sexist men who see only her curves and none of her abilities as a pilot.
The oft written story could have doomed this book to the reject pile very easily.
But Angela is likeable for her brassiness, so you can forgive the no-surprises story.
Then there is the art of Romain Hugault. It is simply amazing. The detail of the old war planes, the uniforms, the landscapes, it’s all simply wonderful.
The art is reminiscent of comics from my youth, and in some way the storyline too. There is a great deal of realism in this one, and those who are fans of warplanes are going to love that aspect.
Since this one reminds of the comics of my bygone youth, has ‘spot on’ perfect art work, and such a likeable main character, this title soars above the story to be one I can hardly wait to see more of.
Will Eisner’s The Spirit #1
Written by Matt Wagner
Art by Dan Schkade
Dynamite Entertainment
There are always famed comic properties getting relaunches, retooled, regurgitated.
So it was one of those exciting, and scary moments when I opened The Spirit #1.
The Spirit is a rather iconic character from Will Eisner who himself is one of the bigger names in the comic realm.
The excitement of the issue came because it was a chance to read new Spirit material.
However, trepidation was high because I feared one of those lame retooling for a modern era which does a disservice to class characters.
Thankfully writer Matt Wagner, who is an Eisener Award winner, sticks to the spirit of The Spirit in this book. Granted as issue #1 begins the man in blue is missing, and the story focuses on the vacuum which results, but the flavour is bang-on.
Set in the classic period of The Spirit’s golden age, the 1940s, the first 12-issue story arc follows the strip’s most beloved characters, Commissioner Dolan, his daughter Ellen, Ebony White and Sammy as they attempt to uncover why The Spirit has been missing, and presumed dead, for the past two years, relates a company release that sums up things in this issue.
Dan Schkade’s art is a nice homage to earlier works as well. It has that Saturday morning cartoons of old look, and to be any other style would not have been The Spirit.
Kudos to Wagner and Schkade for being so true to Eisner.
Of course the new series is in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Eisner’s iconic and ground-breaking character.
The best news is that this is to be a monthly title, meaning we can expect lots of great material to come allowing the current generation of comic fans to fall in love with The Spirit.
I’ll grant The Spirit is something of an acquired taste, being a bit classic pulp, a bit cartoon, but it is certainly worth trying. You may just fall in love with The Spirit, perhaps for the first time, or as a fan you will renew the love affair of the past.
