Not Quite Super-Powered Comics: Iron West

Doug TenNapel is one of the most fascinating creative minds of the last few years. He is almost certainly most famous as the creator of the oddball character Earthworm Jim, star of three video games of variable quality. But for the last few years, he has regularly been producing graphic novels at Image. Of these Iron West is by far the best.

Iron West doesn’t do costumed superheroes, but it does do pretty much everything else! A small town grifter named Preston Struck stumbles upon an invasion force made up of ancient alien robots that take on the likenesses of the population around them. Struck becomes a reluctant hero as he does the boy who cried wolf routine back in his hometown. Things heat up as he finds himself forced to look out for someone other than himself as the life of his beloved Miss Sharon falls in to danger.

I don’t want to ruin too much of the story for you, but I will say things get crazier after that. Expect to see robot Indians, Sasquatch, the Loch Ness monster... suffice it to say, the story is heavy on the weird.

So if you want to see something super-powered but still crazy and far different than the usual fare, be sure to go searching for Mr. TenNapel and give Iron West a try. Recommended.

Not Quite Super-Powered Fiction: Blood Groove

Alex Bledsoe does exactly what any new author wishes to do in a debut novel: he engrosses the reader in his world. Blood Groove takes an almost stale concept (vampires) and reinvigorates it by changing the setting to somewhere you would never suspect (1975 Memphis). In the process we are introduced to supernatural creatures not unlike a superhero.

The story’s lead is Baron Rodolfo Zginski, a nineteenth century vampire poorly staked and awoken again in 1975. As he explores his strange new surroundings, he quickly begins interacting with both the young vampires and the humans of modern day Memphis.

These vampires take a little bit after their Twilight brethren, but without the love and angst or the sparkles. But they do walk during the day (although severely weakened) and one even holds down a job. This creates a freeing range of motion for the characters as they interact in an ever tightening web.

Blood Groove takes its setting of Seventies-era Memphis and runs with it. Bledsoe does a perfect job of keeping the tone pitch perfect for the time period, but never lets it stomp over telling a good story.

A solid story, a great setting, and fascinating characters... Blood Groove is a great story for vampire and super-powered fiction fans alike. Check it out. Recommended.

R.I.P. Billy Mays

One last R.I.P. for a sad week around the world. Super-pitchman Billy Mays died yesterday of what doctors suspect was a brain injury. He by no means portrayed someone superheroic, but all the gadgets he peddled could give Batman a run for his money.

Here are his ten finest, as presented by his employers at As Seen on TV.

Almost Super Powered: R.I.P. Michael Jackson

A somber weekend in the household as I have been listening to and enjoying the works of the late Michael Jackson. Jackson is famed for being a life-long comic fan and was known to frequent shops until the day he died. It was just a few days ago I posted one of these for Mitsuharu Misawa. I shouldn’t have to post another one so soon.

Despite all the questions about his actions outside of entertainment (and I personally of the opinion that someone found not guilty of a crime should be given the benefit of the doubt), MJ was an amazing entertainer and he reshaped the world of entertainment across the board. No one innovated music and video the way he did, and no one ever will again.

Fifty is way too young for anyone to die. God rest his soul.

Not Quite Super-Powered Fiction: State of Fear

I would never claim that Michael Crichton’s final novel State of Fear in anyway featured something super-heroic in its themes. Its characters are very human, although a few are overly cipherish, and its threats at least have a basis in world world science. But it is in the choice of the book’s villains that I feel it ranks a nod from this blog.

NERF is an environmental non-profit funded by the multi-millions giving to them by dozens of well-meaning if less than knowledgeable financiers, celebrities, and politicians. The people behind the group are actual extremists, obsessed with their own need to make sure their prophecies are self-fulfilling. So they set about to make the environmental disasters they warned about for years and years come true.

Is that not a great super-villain style organization? I mean seriously, if AIM or Hydra or the HIVE thought up this, they could have done some major damage. I mean really, why didn’t Ra’s Al Ghul think of that?

A great concept with a great story designed to actually make you think. Everyone should give it a read.