Pull-O-Rama: February '10

[Stephanie]

It’s time for another comic book Pull-O-Rama, where we present an assortment of recent comics and let you know how much they rock, whether they’re not quite up to par ... or if you should skip them altogether. This time we'll flip through the pages of Grimm Fairy Tales #44, hear fallen presidents speak in Resurrection #8, spectate a witch hunt in Salem's Daughter #3, and revisit one of Joss Whedon's most memorable stories in Angel: A Hole in the World #3.

Grimm Fairy Tales #44

Zenescope Entertainment offered us an early look at this Wednesday's Grimm Fairy Tales #44. Joe Brusha revisions the classic Devil's Brother fairy tale. As we glance back on Fenton Bruce's life, we learn how he came under the devil's service. After saving the soldier's life, the devil promised him a perfect life filled with luxury in exchange for Fenton's unquestioned loyalty.

From start to finish, the writer takes us on a wild tour of the devil's private club. In fact, the enthralling story actually encourages us to walk beside him as Fenton fulfills his contract. Paul Roper does more than create excellently rendered panels. He plays with shadows and wields deathly images guaranteed to make you shiver. Roper grants the comic a surprisingly authentic feel, and Brusha keeps our eyes glued to the pages.

The creators do include a comic babe ready to carry out the devil's bidding, but Fenton and his fellow devotee, Volac, are also physically interesting. They resemble average men—far from shady, devil-worshiping thugs—which gives the story a credible touch that suggests that any desperate man can get caught in the devil's snare. Roper's illustrations are by no means outstanding, but his tricks—as playful as the devil's schemes—amend for any shortcomings.

Resurrection #8

Marc Guggenheim's alien invasion rages on. As usual, the writer splits the comic into different character spotlights and offers a second feature type story at the end. Resurrection #8 recounts the President's strife as he explains to Sara his concern about the country's future. Although he experiences doubts about his own capabilities, having been tested in unprecedented ways these past years, Sara encourages him to reclaim what men like Kirk Morrell and Paul Dolan have taken. Tensions run high as Kirk bullies Bill and tries to coax him into spilling information about Lazarus. Meanwhile, the extraterrestrial Spock tells Suzanne why he chose to contact her, and he shows her an important piece of alien technology. Flashing back a year from 2008, Kirk and Aaron discuss the "purge." Resurrection Tales features "Wolf," a frivolous but enjoyable mini about repopulating human civilization.

As usual, Guggenheim builds conspiracies and knocks down nations in stride. However, the constant flashbacks do muddle how easily one can jump into the overarching story. Justin Greenwood's art could benefit from more variety, but he well illustrates a wrecked society reshaped by tired and corrupt individuals. Readers who prefer comics that emphasize humanity should look into Resurrection, which can be compared to such books as The Walking Dead ... only with aliens, of course. But issue #8 does end rather nicely, making mention to the comic's very title.

Salem's Daughter #3

Witchcraft remains a fascinating and well-covered topic in pop culture, and indie comics continue to popularize the hysteria. Salem's Daughter, a recent series from Zenescope, explores the theme along with associated supernatural phenomena such as the Jersey Devil legend (upcoming Salem's Daughter #4).

Salem's Daughter #3 ties the innocent Anna Williams to the stake, and an outside influence keeps her would-be murderers from thinking twice. Writers Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco craft a villain named Darius who manipulates Essex County's inhabitants with uncanny powers and fruitlessly tries to win Anna over to his side. Luckily, the hanging doesn't go quite as Darius planned when Braden Cole disrupts the event with flying bullets. Although not everyone slips through the noose unharmed, Anna and Cole safely escape the town and venture onwards. Remembering her mother's words, Anna decides to use her gift of foresight to help those in need.

Some might consider the witchcraft angle a tired subject, but fortunately the creators stuff more than crooked finger-pointing into this comic. However, Caio Menescal blocks the book's full potential, using static artwork that quickly falls flat. It's difficult to invest in the action forefront when the visuals fail to match the pace.

Angel: A Hole in the World #3

Elena Casagrande illustrates Scott Tripton's script, a direct translation of Joss Whedon's and Steven S. DeKnights respective "A Hole in the World" and "Shells" Angel episodes. Long-time fans will find little reason to flip through these pages. Although Casagrande's work impresses artistically, direct translations from television to comics aren't flawless. Indeed, the episode that A Hole in the World #3 recaptures was founded on heavy emotion. Plus, Amy Acker gives an amazing performance transforming the sweet, lovable Fred into the god creature known as Illyria. Artwork can only revive a smidgen of the character's subtle and inhuman movements, which powerfully contribute to Illyria's on-screen strength.

But for those who lack interest in buying the full television series, A Hole in the World makes an excellent story on the page. Casagrade does a commendable job portraying the actors' likenesses, and she wisely includes even the most seemingly insignificant emotional displays. Ilaria Traversi's colors add a moody touch that's perfectly reminiscent of the television show's visual style. Those who are still exploring Whedon's Buffy/Angel world will enjoy this comic depiction of a fantastic episode streak, but those who recognize Acker's stellar performance will probably find that it falls short. Readers should keep in mind, though, that since the comic follows a season five episode, character spoilers riddle the book.

Good or bad, you can check out all of these comics in the Impulse Creations shop. Want to pick next month’s Pull-O-Rama comics? Email your suggestions and why to wita.onemetal@gmail.com.