Another Internet Comic Column
By Mike Solko

Yes it's time again for another Internet comic column. If any of you out there have suggestions for a new column title drop me a line and give me some tips. This is month two of the big experiment, choosing five upcoming titles to order and review upon release. In case you missed last month's column, the idea is to order five comics, trade paperbacks, or otherwise related comic products in order to get a better idea of what's out there. The monthly supehero grind has really worn me down and some of the best stuff I've seen in comics lately has come from the most unlikely places. This month's picks (in no particular order) 1) Spider-Man: Tangled Web #13: Double Shots, published by Marvel Comics- There has been a lot of buzz surrounding this series of one-off Spider-Man tales for the past few months and this issue in particular caught my eye. The idea of a hidden bar for super-villains has been explored before in other titles but the opportunity to see how Spidey's opponent's view him could make for an interesting tale. The big draw here is artwork by Sean Phillips who just finished a tremendous run on Wildcats. 2) Deadline #1, published by Marvel Comics- Another intriguing book coming from the House of Ideas, this time featuring a young reporter who is stuck with the assignment of writing about superheroes. Kat Farrell sounds like an interesting protagonist from the press releases. A series presented from a normal person's perspective has potential to add a lot to the Marvel Universe in the way that titles like Alias and Marvels have in the past. Bill Rosemann is an untested factor as writer but Guy Davis is one of the most versatile and competent artists in the industry, with a great talent for drawing "real" people. This is one title I'm eagerly anticipating. 3) Jack Staff #10, published by Dancing Elephant Press- Paul Grist's long-runniner series Kane has been one of the most consistently interesting books on the market, relating closely to television shows like N.Y.P.D. Blue or Homicide: Life on the Street. With Jack Staff, Grist has constructed an homage to British superheroes such as Union Jack and Captain Britain. I'm not sure what to expect as far as tone goes, but Grist's work is consistently excellent so this book seems like a safe bet to entertain. 4) Dumped GN, published by Oni Press- As with the above listed books, Dumped also has a consistently talented creator attached, Skeleton Key's Andi Watson. Any time I've attempted to convert people to reading comicbooks Andi has been a secret weapon. Hand someone a copy of Geisha or Breakfast After Noon and they are likely to respond, if not relate. The subject matter of this graphic novel, love and rejection, is one that nearly anyone can relate to and I can't wait to see Andi's take on it. 5) Tank Girl Volume 1, published by Titant Books- Don't let the terrible mid-90's film fool you, Tank Girl is wicked wicked stuff. This series was a pretty big cult hit in the early 90's but never seemed to catch on while DC/Vertigo published it. Early Tank Girl appearances or copies of Deadline Magazine regularly go for a good deal on Ebay so this collection is a blessing. Jamie Hewlett, artist of the series, has recently come back to the forefront of attention with the animated Gorillaz music project that has ruled MTV and the Brit Awards. This collection makes for a great opportunity to see manic ideas similar to those in the brilliant Gorillaz videos.

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