Created, written and illustrated by Michael Allred
Colors by Laura Allred
Created, written and illustrated by Michael Allred
Colors by Laura Allred
Edited by Jamie S. Rich
Lettering created by Blambot's Nate Piekos
Dedicated to the memory of Dave Stevens
Drew Weing
Brian K. Vaughan, writer
Pia Guerra, penciller
José Marzán, Jr., inker
Pamela Rambo, colorist
Clem Robins, letterer
J.G. Jones, original series covers
Y: The Last Man created by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra
Brian K. Vaughan, writer
Pia Guerra, penciller
José Marzán, Jr., inker
Pamela Rambo, colorist
Clem Robins, letterer
J.G. Jones, original series covers
Y: The Last Man created by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra
I ain't crazy about flying, but I do appreciate how much reading I can get done on a plane--and while waiting in airports. This past holiday season, with its trip back to my hometown just outside of Cleveland, afforded me an opportunity to get through, first, the first two volumes of Y: The Last Man, a series I've been meaning to dig into for years. I don't have much to say on the subject just yet, other than I enjoyed the first book and thought the second volume was far better yet. Yorick, the eponymous "last man" on earth, is almost off-puttingly immature at times, but I suspect watching him grow will make the series as a whole feel that much more satisfying.
The flight back to Los Angeles from Cleveland gave me a chance to read the first two of three trades collecting Mike Allred's most recent Madman work, this time published through Image Comics. I've long been a fan of both Madman and Allred, but I've gotta say, this just might be my favorite Madman work yet--and I was shocked to discover I felt that way. Allred does a crazy lot of experimenting in these books, and while not every result thrills me, I do love it that he's consistently swinging for the fences--and knocking it out of the park more often than not. In terms of both style and story, these are the craziest Madman books yet, and the first trade is a perfect jumping-on point even for someone with no prior experience with the character. Both books also offer a wealth of back matter that gives added insight into Allred's mad-science techniques. Highly recommended and, above all, ginchy!
Last but not least--and actually read before the holiday travel--is Drew Weing's Set to Sea, an absolutely beautiful book filled with incredibly rich illustrations. The crosshatching is nothing short of awe-inspiring, and the attention to detail tremendous, with a highly developed and yet subtle awareness of light and shadow. The hardcover from Fantagraphics is wonderfully put together, but if you want a sample before taking the monetary plunge, you can take a look at a number of the pages at Weing's website.
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