Code Monkey Save World, Greg Pak and Jonathan Coulton

"A put-upon coding monkey teams up with a seething, lovelorn super-villain to fight robots, office worker zombies, and maybe even each other as they struggle to impress the amazing women for whom they fruitlessly long. Based on the songs of internet superstar musician Jonathan Coulton."

I picked this up from Kickstarter on the strength of being a fan of both Jonathan Coulton, on whose songs the book is based, and Greg Pak, the writer of the story. Growing out of a Twitter conversation between the two about how cool it would be to use the former's songs to create a interconnected Universe, the four issue comic series was hugely succesful and includes a number of extra's, including illustrated song lyrics, mini-comics and throwaway joke panels, as well as sample art from Takeshi Miyazawa.

The story is perfunctory, and serves more as a way of introducing the concepts and themes of Coulton's songs. This can take it in some weird directions, but it doesn't have the scope to do anything more than reference and move along, leaving it a little lost when it tries for epic scale (which, considering it features space war, robot invasions, zombie uprisings and multiple supervillains, is a frequent occurrence).

It's not bad, but it isn't the home run I had hoped for. The art though is lovely, and Code Monkey in particular is wonderfully drawn, with Miyazawa pencilling an expressiveness to every character that's a real treat.

Also Try:
Greg Pak, Incredible Hercules
Bryan Lee O'Malley, Scott Pilgrim

Welcome to Megalopolis, Gail Simone and Jim Caliafore

"When the caped heroes of the world's safest city inexplicably all turn into homicidal lunatics, no one is safe.

The only rational thing to do is get the hell out of town. If only it were that easy..."














I kickstarted this (and it seems like a long time since I did) on the strangth of the fact that I like Gail Simone a lot (even if I've not especially enjoyed her Birds of Prey or recent Batgirl titles for DC) and Secret Six, which she did with Jim Caliafore

This isn't up to that standard, but as an example of world building it's an enjoyable read in its own right. The problem for all creator owned content is that, sooner or later, they have to explain their USP in a market crowded with too many characters, where even big name heroes can struggle to maintain their own series (just take a look at the list of cancelled book from the DC New 52 so far).

Kickstarter provides a medium for creators to release material without the worry that it won't sell. In reality, that's probably not an issue for Simone. She's a big enough name in the industry that her own creator owned stuff is going to sell. If Millar, Vaughan, Deconnick and Wood can do it, then Simone shouldn't have a problem, but clearly the vehicle of Kickstarter is a nice way to release new material.

The problem is that, shorn of the regular release schedule of mainstream comics the book can come across as ephemeral. Simone does an excellent job of creating a city that feels lived in, and Caliafore's art certainly helps. It's Hitchian in its scope and depth, and if his figure work isn't always as strong they certainly seem solid and real. The scenes of wholesale destruction have an appropriate sense of devastation. But without time to spend getting to know characters the death and sadness that permeates the book have little time to take route. Unlike The Walking Dead or Crossed, where a regular release or set of miniseries could bed in the core concept, we are introduced to characters and not given any time to appreciate them before they die.

It's not a bad thing to say, that I would rather there was more of it, but it does feel like a missed opportunity to set up a brand new universe that stands on its own.

Also Try:
Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead
Brain Wood, DMZ
Simone and Caliafore, Secret Six

Blast Furance: Recreational Thief Vol 1, Ryan Browne

"Ryan Browne's painfully sweet improv comic created a page a day, an hour per page, with no preplanning for six whole months. Booyah!"








If God Hates Astronauts was nuts, this is totally insane. It's brilliant, on a whole different level, but at times it can veer too far into scatological tangents, especially once the flashback within flashbacks kick in.

The difference between the two books is clear; this isn't plot driven, it's a series of events trunk together in order for characters to reach a page later in the book. There's no clarity of drive or motive, for long periods the focus shifts to side characters as we hear their stories, which detracts from the overall story, such as it is.

It's a mistake to think of this in the same way as a weekly comic though. It's not a sitcom, it's a sketch show. For every bit that misses, there are three that work. The jokes are great, and the humour is all over the place, but the way it's written, as a page a day black and white comic, comes through to create a totally different reading experience.

It was a free thank you for kickstarting God Hates Astronauts, and it is an excellent read. Will it ever be finished? Who knows, and even if it is, it's unlikely to make sense. But still, it's worth taking a look at just to see what a great writer can do with some free time and some bonkers ideas.

Also Try:

Ryan Browne, God Hates Astronauts http://www.godhatesastronauts.com/

God Hates Astronauts, Ryan Browne

"6 years in the making, the web-comic GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS is finally published in one big awesome 180 page hardcover graphic novel!"









Despite the fact that it can be read online in full, I made the fort to help get this book Kickstarted because it's freaking amazing. The story of an invincible superhero whose head get destroyed in a fight, and is subsequently abandoned by his team due to his hideous disfigurement, and their continued adventures and battles amongst themselves, it's about as far from mainstream superhero comics as you can get.

It is frequently hilarious, mostly thanks to Browne's love of puns (fights against Owl Qaeda feature namechecks for bosses Adolf Hootler and Owlsama Bin Laden) or bizarre sound effects - a full page of a head being punched repeatedly has the air of Invincible's art, with the added bonus of Hercules style lettering.

An insane mash up of genres, styles and influences, it's perfect for anyone who loves Axe Cop, or Battle Pope, or anyone who just wants a fun read featuring Men with gorilla arms, boxing bears, jet pack cat lawyer or cowboys haunted by ghostly cow heads.

Frankly there isn't anything like this out there. It's an absolute riot, and it's totally worth reading.

Also Try:

Ryan Browne, God Hates Astronauts http://www.godhatesastronauts.com/

Alan Moore, Top Ten

Robert Kirkman, Invincible

Malachai and Ethan Nicolle, Axe Cop http://axecop.com/