Alright. I promise something other than Reviews next time but go ahead a read these Reviews. You know you love it. Mainly because I write it. And look good naked. Mostly because of the latter. Go on.

TOP TEN: SEASON TWO #1
America’s Best Comics (DC)
Script & Layouts by Zander Cannon (with Kevin Cannon)
Illustrated by Gene Ha

I promised myself I would stay away from the ABC line following the departure of it’s visionary founder and writer, Alan Moore. I picked this up on a whim, mainly because I saw Ha’s name still on it, and decided to give it a whirl.

The new "season" of Top Ten introduces a new Commissioner that turns the precinct upside with new rules and regulations, a new character assigned to "spy" on the precinct called Slipstream Pheonix, a rather inventive murder investigation from a surprise multiple murder event which takes place in front of the police building, some drug peddling of Billy Batson-like proportions, and even a crossover dressing husband. (Yes, you read that last part right.)

From the get-go and throughout it I will admit that yes, Moore’s voice is missed on the book. Though there are wonderful bits sprinkled throughout matching some of the wit Moore displayed on his initial run, it does lack some of the more complexity and constant juggling of those ideas. Now, even though it is something most regular readers will notice, it is far from a disaster. In fact I have to say Cannon (both of them) fill some very large shoes maybe not perfectly, but they get the job done. There are some genuinely good ideas in this first issue and they are brought out solidly and without being a generic version of a series I once liked very much. I was more than surprised to find it very enjoyable.

Ha continues to show his prowless as a gifted storyteller and illustrator. Though some of his stuff has been more precise, this new season has an almost painted look to it. It still looks like the Top Ten that Moore and Ha created but definitely has a fresh look to it as well. I am not sure if I prefer Ha’s previous style or not. I think my personal jury is still out, but I did like that Ha didn’t "phone it in" and instead decides to keep it true to form while mixing it up ever so slightly.

If you use the television ideal, the second season of a show should give a series the best of what the viewer (or reader in this case) expects of the proven work, while propelling the narrative forward, and still finding a way to keep it all fresh and exciting. I think for the most part the creative team succeeded. It felt very much like a Top Ten comic, seemed to move everything forward, and provided some new ideas which kept it fresh. If it becomes a regular thing this is one series I see with the ability of having a long life without Alan Moore.

FINAL WORD: Don’t skip it just because Moore isn’t on it. You’ll miss something that may very well be a worthy successor.

VIXEN: RETURN OF THE LION #1 (of 5)
DC Comics
Written by G. Willow Wilson
Art by Cafu

Wilson’s writing is some I have enjoyed lately. CAIRO was just a wonderful graphic novel from Vertigo and though AIR has not quite grabbed me as the GN did, I have found it interesting enough to give it some more room to grow on me. Vixen has never really done much for me as a character but I’d be lying if I said perhaps having a woman’s voice on the comic writing the narrative didn’t help me enjoy this one more. That is not to say of course only women can write female characters, that would indicate ignorance on my part to rival that of the lowest of IQ’d people. Instead I find that often women characters, such as Vixen, are given the most generic application of their character. I find writers taking the easy way out, with the Heroine possibly being ANY HEROINE instead of the particular one we’re reading.

Following a hit on Intergang’s Arms Operation the JLA learn some new information about the deaths’ of Vixen’s family and it is up to the Man of Steel to share the bad news with his teammate. Vixen decides to go back to the village of her youth to bring the man responsible for her parents’ demise to justice….or to punish him vengefully. After bringing down some of this man Kwesi’s soldiers, the villain calls Vixen out and as she faces him, learns he too possesses powers and we leave her bleeding on the ground, facing execution.

The plot of course doesn’t reinvent the wheel. If I have one main complaint it would be that this kind of story has been done before and the cliffhanger isn’t much of a cliffhanger as we know the main character is in no real danger. (Of course the same could be said of every mainstream superhero character when an issue ends with their life in danger.) Wilson’s strength is in the way the story is brought out, the authentic way she portrays Vixen (as a strong conflicted woman with a sense of duty, and not a stereotypical sexpot or boring doo-gooder), and in the way in a handful of pages she puts the character on equal footing with Superman and Batman without it feeling forced or just out of place. Wilson truly gives the sense of teammates who are concerned about one another. You’d be surprised how very hard that is to capture in a mainstream superhero comic.

Cafu’s art was very cool considering I’ve never heard of the artist before. It reminds me of a young John Cassaday and though occasionally the characters may look a bit off, I found the action scenes, specifically the motorcycle one towards the end, to be very affecting. Plus am I the only one getting a George Reeves vibe off of Cafu’s use of Superman? Because I did and it OWNED.

I think when it is all said and done this is a nice mini-series DC has added to it’s line-up. DC is hurting for good minis that don’t tie into anything and stand alone and they are hurting for strong female characters save for MANHUNTER and perhaps WW. This book answers both of those defecits and makes for an entertaining read as well.

FINAL WORD: A nice new addition to DC’s stable. Worth a look and full of promise.

OKKO: THE CYCLE OF EARTH #1 & #2 (of 4)
Archaia Studios Press
Written & Illustrated by Hub

Okko returns with a new mini-series and I couldn’t be happier. I really enjoyed The Cycle of Water very much and still think it was one of the more underrated comics of last year. Okko and his band of fighters are seeking refuge among the Mountains of the Seven Monasteries as Winter begins to set in only to witness a murder that leads them on the chase for a dark brotherhood sporting the sign of the Raven.

The first run in with this strange order ends up hurting Noburo, the giant on Okko’s team, through dark sorcery, and coupling that with the murder they witness, Okko decides getting to the bottom of the mystery is more important than taking refuge for the winter. The team scouts the mountains, going from Monastery to Monastery only to eventually find the dark forces closing in on them, revealing more power than even Okko’s team might be able to withstand.

Though the story of the first mini-series stood out more in my mind, this new one works very well. Tikku, the young fisherman from the first mini that joined Okko’s team is being trained by the drunken Monk in the mystic ways. The story begins with a much older Tikku recounting his adventures as a young lad with Okko and his band. This added more of a mythical quality to the tale and was much appreciated. If I had one minor complaint it would be that the first half of the second issue appears to be the same thing over and over with Okko and company going from one Monastery to another and getting nowhere. It seemed like beating a dead horse, but the rest of the issue makes up for it and gets us back on track.

Hub’s art is every bit as interesting and intricate as the first series. It’s detailed and unique with a slight animated quality to it. The book really is a work of beauty and Hub’s illustrations are some of my favorite. His is a singular voice and I wish more people were taking a look at it because in my book this cat’s a star. I will try anything he does from here on out based on this quality alone. Luckily he can write too.

Grab the first trade and hunt these issues down. They are some honest, fantastic work that will be a breath of fresh air for your comic devouring eyes. Promise.

FINAL WORD: Hub continues to impress with his tales of Okko and his band of warriors. Don’t miss out on some awesome comics children. You’ll go to comics’ Hell.

-SJD