Staff Pick: Joe The Barbarian

Grant Morrison is no stranger to metaphor. Nearly every book that features his name is packed to the brim with literary allusion and deep, philosophical layering. What's so surprising about Joe The Barbarian, then, is how utterly moving and heartfelt it is. While the set-up is pure metaphor--Joe, a teenage boy who is diabetic, comes home from school and falls into diabetic shock--the book grounds itself with some heavy pathos. After all, it is this lapse into diabetic shock that sets into motion the book's main conceit: Joe, aided by his pet rat, must fight his way through a metaphorical, fantastical landscape as is paralleled by the landscape of his house.


Each issue finds Joe traveling from his room in the attic (where his journey and diabetic shock begin) to the kitchen where he can find a life-saving elixir (in the form of soda). As Joe's journey progresses, the reader is introduced to a cast of wild, whimsical characters (as represented by his models and toys), but none are more touching than Joe's pet rat, Jack. It's no surprise, then, that this is also where Sean Murphy's art takes off. Parallel panels contrast Joe's hallucination with the real world and, in one particularly endearing sequence, the large Yojimbo rat, Jack, places an outstretched arm on Joe's back, comforting him, while the "real-world" panel shows Jack urgently looking at Joe (while Joe runs water over his head to rouse himself from his diabetic shock). It's subtle and touching and it adds a fair amount of pathos to a book that could've easily been lost in mere metaphor.

So far, the book is flawless; it's paced deliberately and--as Morrison's at the helm--rewards repeat readings. Little details seem all the more beautiful when revealed simultaneously in the real-world and in Joe's hallucination. As such, the book is the graphic equivalent of a Pixar film; it provides rich, mortal characters and it pushes them through near-insurmountable scenarios.

Though it's a Vertigo series, Joe The Barbarian is teen-friendly and perfect for anyone looking to get lost in a sublimely-realized fantasy world (while reading in the real world).

Issue #6 (pictured below) comes out on Wednesday, June 23rd and we'll have it here at Time Warp.


-Garry

New Avengers #1; What's New?

In case anyone did NOT have enough of Bendis' Marvel books, out comes a new Avengers book in New Avengers #1. Why Marvel thought this title needed a relaunch besides being part of the "Heroic Age" is beyond me. The 'New' New Avengers starts off right after the last pages of Siege and Steve 'Not Captain America' Rogers ask Luke Cage to lead a team of 'new' New Avengers. Cage doesn't want to, but Tony Stark sells him the 'old' Avengers mansion for a dollar, which is enough to convince him to agree. Some mystical mischief involving Dr. Strange and Brother Voodoo--who we were introduced to in the 'old' New Avengers book--kick starts the first story arc. Also, Victoria Hand moves in from Dark Avengers and there are no signs of the Hood and (hopefully) we'll have a break from him for at least a couple of arcs. Overall the same quirky dialogue is still there and the art provided by Stuart Immonen from the 'old' New Avengers gives it a smooth, quick pace.

By now most readers have made up there minds on Bendis' style and take on super hero books. Either you feel he can do no wrong and Marvel should just give him the keys to their proverbial castle or you feel that Bendis needs to stop writing and cannot justify spending $3.99 on any of his Marvel books. As for me, the 'old' New Avengers books always found a way to be at the top of my reading pile and I don't see that changing for this 'new' title of an 'old' favorite.

-CDiamond

Judging A Book By Its Cover.

Welcome to our first post of "Judging A Book By Its Cover", where we take a look at a funny comic book covers found randomly throughout Time Warp Comics. These covers have caught the attention of our employees, and have been found deserving of recognition, and jest. We hope you enjoy it as much as we've found it hilarious.



Today's comic, that we will be judging solely on it's cover, is one "Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man" #112. On this cover we have a picture of Santa Clause, beloved bringer of toys to children world wide, showing off his "piece", smoking a cigarette lazily, and sporting a dope ass pair of Locs that would have made Eazy E green with envy. All in all, this cover shows a more believable Santa Clause than any I've seen Norman Rockwell paint. My only concern, is the way Santa smokes his cigarettes. If he's not paying attention, he's liable to light that rather large beard on fire. I'd know, happened to me once.

-Clayton Loper

Happy New Comics Day!

Salutations, Time Warp Posse,

As you're most likely aware, today is new comics day. And really, what better way to spend this gorgeous Wednesday than reading some new comics?

So, to celebrate another fine Wednesday at Time Warp, we'll be throwing up some of our employee picks for this week. Expect to hear from me, Garry, shortly, and to have Wayne, Gino, and Clayton follow up later this week!

In the meantime, check this out:

Time Warp Comics' Blog #2: Electric Boogaloo

Greetings, Time Warp Posse!

Welcome to v. 2.0 of the Time Warp Comics blog! We'll be keeping this blog loaded with employee picks, friendly comic-related reminders/recommendations, and lots of sweet, auxiliary stuff... like this:



So, we hope you'll visit the blog regularly and contribute some comments and/or give us some feedback. Thanks everyone!

-The Time Warp Crew