The Podge Cast

The Savage Dragon by Erik Larsen, letters by Chris Eliopoulos, Colors by Gregory Wright & Steve Oliff

A collection of the original mini-series that introduced Larsen’s signature series. Waaaay back in ’92 when Image started I was a High School junior and a Marvel fan-boy. Especially of the X-books. So when several of the creative teams behind those left Marvel I followed along to see what else they’d do. And I checked out a couple other people. McFarlane on Spawn and Larsen on Savage Dragon. I had a few random issues of various Spider-Man books by both and thought they were nice enough. Seventeen years later and I’m still a fan of Larsen and his fin-headed hero.

I’ve followed through the silly cartoon, the numerous spin-offs, tragedies and triumphs in Larsen’s life, delays and more feuds than you could shake an internet browser at. And the book has remained one of my favorites. From when he starts out as a Chicago cop to the creation of Freak Force to encounters with Gods, with other dimensions, being fired, with being the leader of a government super-team, the destruction of the “original” Image Earth, overthrowing the tyrant leader of “new” Earth, getting married and to becoming a cop again, I’ve kept up…

It’s been seventeen years since that first mini-series and I’ve long since lost interest in the other Image founders and their creations. But I’ll probably be a Fin-Addict for another seventeen.

The Savage Sword of Conan: Vol. 1 written by Roy Thomas, art by various

By Crom! Fifteen tales of the Cimmerian adventurer! Fifteen tales of blood and glory and women and danger! Valeria of the flashing blade! Red Sonja of the fearsome temper! The art of Barry Windsor-Smith, John Buscema, Jim Starlin, Walter Simonson and more! Fifteen thrilling tales of Conan, filled with strange beasts, dark magics and conquest!

Who would dare pass up this opportunity? Only a fool!

CROOOOOOOOM!

Jack Staff: Yesterday’s Heroes written and drawn by Paul Grist

The world of Jack Staff is one of super-heroes, vampires, reports, and maverick cops. Named Maveryk. This collection of the first four indy press issues takes Britain’s greatest hero, Jack Staff, from a fight in the 1940s alongside the Freedom Fighters to a series of vampire attacks in the modern day.

This collection presents the first issues of one of the best—and sometimes oddest—super-hero books on the stands. While this edition is now out of print, it is collected as part of Image’s Jack Staff: Everything Used to be Black and White. Still theres something enjoyable about lucking into earlier editions. But whatever collected version or single issues, Jack Staff is one of best and most enjoyable comics out there.

Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka

Astro Boy originally named Tetsuwan Atom or “Mighty Atom” is one of the cornerstones of Japanese manga and anime. Created and written by comics legend Osamu Tezuka, the series ran for EIGHTEEN years. Tezuka’s stories, based around the adventures of the good-hearted robot boy became one of the cultural touchstones of Japan. Here you have the first two volumes collected and translated into English. You get stories of alien invaders, robot/human politics, stage magic and cyborg dogs. Trips to the moon, powerful battles and a robot hero with machine guns in his butt…

These early stories are fun to read and enhanced by the cartoonish but clean drawing style. The characters have exageratted physical characteristics, emotionally overreact and use classic sight-gags. While Tezuka himself was not always happy with his early work it still has a simple elegance to it and the stories are, above all, fun.

The Middleman: The Collected Series Indispensability written by Javier Grillo-Marxuach, art by Les McClaine

The Middleman is the agent of an organization so top secret even he doesn’t know who they are. He’s tasked with protecting the world from those who would conquer it and also dealing with things too strange for normal authorities. Like crime-boss monkeys, rogue groups of los luchadors or giant city-buster robots…

His new partner is artist and temp worker Wendy Watson. Since he burned down her last job stopping a tentacle monster and had her framed for it, she’s been in need of work. So Mad Science Action Hero Sidekick will have to do for now…

Grillo-Marxuach’s series was adapted into a television show for ABC Family which was pretty good the one time I caught it. The book collects all three volumes of the comic as well as bonus comics featuring the Middleman in other eras. One of which features time traveling Soviet bears on motorcycles. And thats just awesome.