Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Friday, May 13, 2022
Recently Read: Naruto, Volume 19
Naruto Volume 19, "Successor", reveals Tsunade's choice: will she heal Orochimaru's hands in exchange for the rebirth of her loved Dan and Nawaki, or instead commit to be the new Hokage? Most of the book encompasses one intense battle involving not only Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Naruto, Shizune and Kabuto, but the toads Gamakichi and Gamatatsu. These latter two, joined with Tsunade's pig Tonton, offer some very funny commentary on the proceedings, giving levity to a deathly dangerous situation. For sustained and complex thrills and drama, Masashi Kishimoto's manga can't be beat.
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Recently Read: Archie: The Best of Samm Schwartz Volume 2
Even in 2012, when The Best of Samm Schwartz Vol. 2 was published, $24.99 for 135 pages of stories that can be purchased in reading copies for a buck or two was a bit pricey (now that it's out of print it's going for even more). Still, it's great to read a collection of work by a superior cartoonist at the top of his game. A master of body language and comic pacing, and helped here by very funny scripts by Frank Doyle, Schwartz brought the tricksterish character of Jughead to new heights of clever foolishness. My one small complaint is that the stories chosen for the collection end in 1971 and Schwartz did, in my estimation, his best work throughout the '70s. Perhaps that material was being saved for future volumes, never published. Read, nevertheless, "Rhyme Without Reason" for a perfect example of the succinct and unique looniness the series could achieve.