The Podge Cast

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.

Scalped: Indian Country written by Jason Aaron, Art by R.M. Guera, Colors by Lee Loughridge, Letters by Phil Balsman

Jason Aaron is one of comics’ rising stars. He’s infusing new life into old properties at Marvel and, along with co-creator Guera, is doing one of Vertigo’s latest flagship titles with Scalped. The book looks at various characters living on or involved with the Prairie Rose Indian Reservation, focusing heavily on recently returned prodigal son Dashiell “Dash” Bad Horse. After fifteen years away he returns and gets hired on by local crime boss, tribal chief and chief of police Lincoln Red Crow. Red Crow used to be a major part of the activist movement, alongside Dash’s mother Gina Bad Horse. But now he’s a corrupt and violent bastard determined to get his new casino up and running at any cost.

Adding to the mix are other activists former and current (like crazy white boy Diesel), FBI agent Nitz looking to pin a 20 year old murder of two FBI agents on Red Crow, Red Crow’s self-destructive daughter and other crooks, cops and citizens on the Rez. Not that its always possible to tell those last three apart…

Aaron and Guera are telling a hyper-violent cops/noir/gangster/tribal life/spiritual journey mash-up of a story. And with its diverse cast and interlocking story arcs its no wonder its often looked at as the succesor to the recently ended 100 Bullets.

Dr. Strange: The Oath written by Brian K. Vaughn, art by Marcos Martin, inks & colors by Alvaro Lopez & Javier Rodriguez, letters by Willie Schubert

And welcome to the last good Dr. Strange story. One that opens with Strange being dragged into the clinic of Dr. Linda “Night Nurse” Carter. Strange has been shot and so Wong takes him to the only doctor in the city who specializes in vigilante trauma. From there we learn that Wong has a malignant brain tumor, Dr. Strange located a magical potion that can cure it and the person who shot him was a costumed burglur named Brigand who stole the potion on behalf of a mysterious enemy of the Sorcerer Supreme. And then we get demons, robots and Hitler’s Gun…

Vaughn tells what is probably one of the best Dr. Strange stories in years, an impressive talent given the difficulties most writer’s have in presenting the character (*glares at Bendis*). And Martin has a classical comic book style of art that meshes well. Though honestly, the book is almost worth picking up just for the first two pages and the conversation between rookie hero Arana and Iron Fist in Night Nurse’s waiting room…

Boneyard: Vol. 1 by Richard Moore

A collection of the first four-issues. Michael Paris inherits a plot of land in the town of Raven Hollow. When he gets to town he finds out he got a cemetery. One home to various strange and frightening creatures. And the locals would like his help in getting rid of the monsters. Though Paris finds himself unsure about siding with the townsfolk over the cemetery residents. Especially the vampire Abbigail…

Boneyard is a mostly light-hearted horror comic. I mean except when it isn’t. But Moore is enjoyable if for no other reason, then that he can remember that people come in more than one body type…

The Damned Script and Story by Cullen Bunn, Art and Story by Brian Hurt

The Damned is high concept at its most perfect. Think Miller’s Crossing with demons. And the story is one of those sadly rare times where the creators far and away deliver on the concept. The lead character is Eddie, your regular broken down cynical anti-hero. Except he can’t stay dead. When someone touches his corpse, skin to skin, they take his death and drag him out of hell.

Eddie’s boss needs him again so his corpse is revived from the half-empty field where its lying. The demon crime boss has a problem. Hell’s sent up someone to broker the war between the cities two biggest demon crime families. And that negotiator has gone missing. So Eddie’s been tapped to find him…

The Damned is perfect for fans of noir, crime movies or plain old good story-telling.