Overdue Reviews

Tony Loco #2: Enter the stuffed elephant! This issue of Tony Loco, which hit the shops yesterday, continues directly from the last issue. It also can stand alone if it must, as Tony is introduced along with all the main players. It's still impossible to tell if Tony is truly insane or if there is magic around him, and that's a lot of the power of this book. Will it matter what drives him if in the end he is a force for good? There's more about Tony's youth in this one... two flashbacks that give us some grounding for why he's in an institution now. The first darker one brought on by the rattlesnake tail is done in reds with the jagged art of a terrible dream. Bright colors and clean art drive the cheerful memories pulled in by the singing stuff elephant (speaking of, does someone have a translation of the words of his song? I can get the gist of it, but I'm sure I'm not completely correct). Some of the artwork, particularly the faces of other characters, still bothers me a bit. But the story is compelling, and I want to read more. Buy this book, folks. Make sure issue three gets to stores soon.

Dorothy #7: "Red In Tooth and Claw": It's no secret that I've been enjoying this darker take on Oz since the first issue. But I confess that this issue is possibly my favorite because of several interesting factors. We'd already been introduced to the Scarecrow and the Tin Man, and you all know who comes next! As with the alternate versions of the others, the alternate version of the Lion is both considerably different, and wonderfully the same as in the original tale. Pulling in more Oz mythos, he's found in China Country, the land of the living porcelain. And oh, how that little fact is revealed! Add in very impressive visuals of a very impressive storm, and this one is definitely right up there at the top. I can understand why some people wouldn't want to read another version of the ol' Wizard of Oz story (trust me, I of ALL people understand that!)... but this is the most original take on the tale that I've seen in all of my husband's collection. It owes much to the source material, but goes its own way. I recommend it to anyone willing to try something a bit different. Go on, give it a shot!

Linkdump

Illusive Arts has updated their website. Oh, and BUY TONY LOCO.

Heidi is angry at the news organizations that spoiled a comic book before she could even get to the store. If I was a Marvel reader, I'd be upset too.

Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #93. What will they do when they hit the big 100, I wonder?

Grumpy Old Fan speculates on a Justice League movie.

Young Adults and Comic Books. Things are looking up?

Ooooh, I like this. I have lots of junk that could be displayed with them.

What has the most perks, Google or the local prison?

Pi Day Is Coming. I need to go get some ingredients, I think.

I think I would actively avoid any gas station that installed video ads in the pumps that turn on as soon as you start pumping your gas.

For hubby-Eric: You Don't Know Jack Online.

This is almost enough to make me remove my link to the Red Cross.

Pug for the in-laws. I have to wonder if the in-laws ever read or notice all the pug links I put up for them. It's just that, every single time I see a pug on-line I think of them. And this one is pretty cute, too. Un-pug that drain!

Weather Linkdump

Ah, Wednesday! I've got a number of places to go... errands to run, comics to pick up, I might drop by work to discuss things with L, and swimming tonight! All in my van that has bald tires... so as I'm working through my 'netting, I look up and out the window and am stunned to see it's snowing. Ok, no big deal, I thought, it's light, it'll rain, I'll still get my errands in today. An hour later it's still snowing. But hey, it isn't sticking to the roofs or road, so I'm fine. Right. An hour later, it's sticking. There's a nice sheen of snow on the road outside. I turned on the news, to see how widespread the snow is. Nothing at all about it still snowing anywhere. Oh boy. The shops I'm going to don't open for another hour. I don't know if I'm getting out today. I doubt swimming is going to happen, as I dare not drive that van in these kind of conditions in the dark.

Oh weather, why must you mock me so?!

The Comic Treadmill reviews Tony Loco #2, which I will be doing soon as well.

Speaking of Illusive Arts, they want to know if fans of Dorothy would like to buy yellow foam bricks as a promotion. Go fill out the survey. I want a few yellow bricks to throw at hubby-Eric.

Congrats to Heidi on her weight loss! I know just how hard it can be.

MetaFilter gives us lots of handy links to the death of honeybees story that really should be front page news, considering just how it's going to hit crops in North America.

How not to impress people: write a screed against copyright violation when you illegally use copyrighted images on your own site. Methinks it's more of that "do as I say, not as I do" attitude.

ART THEFT ALERT: At least two Picasso paintings worth millions of dollars were stolen from the home of Picasso's granddaughter.

Milk: It Does A Body Good. If you have the right genes for it, at least.

Jon Swift covers Conservapedia, and a comment on that post tells the evolution, oops, DESIGN, of the tree octopi! And if that wasn't enough, Wired is also covering the story. I have to disagree with that second-to-last paragraph, though.

Tony Loco Needs YOU

Check out this release from Illusive Arts:

Critics loved it. Consumers fell into it. Just not enough of them got a chance to read it. So Illusive Arts Entertainment, with the encouragement of Diamond Comic Distributors, has decided to relaunch the unique series Tony Loco.

This February, several hundred comic book stores will receive free copies of Tony Loco #1 so they can experience this fresh story and recommend it to their customers. Tony Loco #2 was originally intended for release on February 14, but to allow comic book stores and comic book fans that haven’t yet seen Tony Loco the time to take it in, Tony Loco #2, will be re-solicited in Diamond’s March Previews and will be released May 2, 2007. The bi-monthly release schedule will continue with Issue #3 coming out in July.

"We have decided to go ahead and print Issue #2 at this time, so we can have it at our Spring conventions- WonderCon, Emerald City, and APE- to allow the public a chance to become familiar with Tony Loco and grow the audience," said Illusive's Chief Make-It-A-Success Officer, Anna Warren Boersig. "We apologize to the wonderfully supportive retailers and fans that placed orders for Issue #2, but we need to relaunch this series and re-solicit the second issue to raise the order numbers and meet Diamond's bar, so that Tony Loco can be a successful comic book. Our first series Dorothy has an amazing following and we think that this sophomore effort should get a chance to build the same audience and thrive."

Series creator, writer and artist Mark Teague said, "Tony Loco is a complex story of personal quest. As such, it will take time to find its audience, but we are committed to do so."

If you haven’t heard the buzz, take a look:

"Tony Loco ROCKS!"
- Keith Champagne, writer (DC's JSA, Green Lantern Corps and World War III)

"I enjoyed 'em."
- Patton Oswalt, comedian/actor/writer (JLA: Welcome to the Work Week, Negative Burn)

"I can't wait to see what happens next."
- Tim Bradstreet, artist (The Punisher, Criminal Macabre)

"With its haunted atmosphere and weirdly compelling storyline, Tony Loco is spellbinding from page one."
- Mark Hamill, actor/writer/director

"If you want something different then check this out. You will not be disappointed."
- Richard Vasseur, Jazmaonline.com

"Yet, the story of TONY LOCO never falters or stumbles. It pulls you right in and moves you along. It combines elements of drama, humor, pathos — and just about anything else you'd want in a story."
- T. E. Pouncey, Geekzine.com

"The writing and dialogue of this issue is engaging and tight. I was actually made uncomfortable and ill at ease by the setting and the treatment of the residents by the staff. It's difficult to really describe the overall sensation of reading the set-up issue of the series, but I will state that I'm hungry for more."
- Koben Kelly, Newsarama.com

Tony Loco can be described as "Batman in the barrio" while being a "dark re-imagining of Don Quixote." Tony Loco is a bi-monthly 32 page color comic and carries a retail price of $3.50. Art samples and further details can be found at www.illusivearts.com.

My own review of Tony Loco #1 has a choice quote for you all:

"This isn't an easy book to categorize. It promises to be adventure, but has horrific overtones. It also has mythic roots that show up in the artwork brilliantly. It's a very strange mix. To be completely honest, I really don't know what I think of it. I know I want to read the next issue, even if I'm not certain what I'm getting.
What I suspect, though? I suspect I'll be getting a fascinating and well crafted tale with a unique art style. After all, that's what Illusive is good at."
-Laura Gjovaag, Bloggity-Blog-Blog-Blog

Go talk with your retailer, order a copy of this book, and give it a chance. So many great books never get off the ground because they lack enough readers. Give this one a boost. I can't promise you'll love it, but I'm certain it'll be different than what you are currently reading.

MAAAARRRGGGGG!!

Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #86.

Tony Loco Review. Check out this book!

The Boneville Blog has a bunch of images from the new Shazam! mini.

For da Girls: Marvel Swimsuit Beefcake part 1, part 2, and part 3.

And as long as we're looking at scans: Doctor Who meets Death's Head.

Webcomic: A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge.

Pennsylvania 6-5000 Hotel to be demolished. What, it's not a landmark?

More than you want to know about hair.

Really Rapid Reviews

These are mini-capsules: about one sentence per book with whether or not I recommend the book.

6 December 2006

Tony Loco #1: Hey, I've already reviewed this one! It's good, so try it. Recommended.

52 Week Thirty-One: "Human Resources": Ok, now we know what Lobo is up against. Nifty. Mildly Recommended.

Detective Comics #826: "Slayride": Oh dear. "Sanity Claus" makes this one for me. Probably the best Joker story I've read. Recommended.

Justice Society of America #1: "The Next Age Chapter 1": Maxine Hunkel... referring to Wicked repeatedly. I like her already. But she'll never live up to Ma's legacy. Never. Mildly Recommended.

Justice League Unlimited #28: "Season's Beatings Justice League": This book is so consistently good, I kind of wish everyone was reading it. Recommended.

Ha, caught up again!

Review Copy Review

Tony Loco by Mark Teague and Derek McCaw. Published by Illusive Arts.

I know what to expect from Illusive now, I thought before reading this book. Dorothy is a fascinating and well crafted tale with a unique art style. When I heard about Tony Loco, my first thought was simply, huh? It sounded so utterly unlike what I expected that I pretty much dismissed it as the infamous sophmore effort. I ordered a copy, more out of loyalty to the gang at Illusive than with any expectation of actually enjoying the book.

Despite having ordered the book, I gratefully accepted a review copy when offered, so I could give an opinion before the book actually hit the shelves. And ... let's just say it's taken me a long time to digest the book enough to feel up to writing about it.

This isn't an easy book to categorize. It promises to be adventure, but has horrific overtones. It also has mythic roots that show up in the artwork brilliantly. It's a very strange mix. To be completely honest, I really don't know what I think of it. I know I want to read the next issue, even if I'm not certain what I'm getting.

What I suspect, though? I suspect I'll be getting a fascinating and well crafted tale with a unique art style. After all, that's what Illusive is good at.

Bonus Rapid Review: Says the hubby-Eric, "Interesting premise, it's definitely set-up. I want to see what happens when Tony really gets going!"

UPDATE: There's a Preview of Tony Loco up on YouTube. Check it out for some samples of the artwork and the style.