THE GOON #35

THE GOON #35
Script by: Eric Powell
Illustrated by: Evan Dorkin
Dark Horse Comics

First thing: whiskey pinatas should be real.
I had to put that out there. But the Goon
And Franky don't get whacks 'til late. I'll deal.
Instead they find a carny, Brigadoon
It's called (it's crying for a sonnet, no?).
They're hunting a small freak who made them crash.
Meanwhile, this show is for the freaks, who go
All out to gawk at "normals" and a stash
Of "normal" pieces. What sells this for me
Is Franky's dialogue, and easter eggs
From Dorkin's pencils. You have got to see
Those for yourself, for this comic, it begs
Close scrutiny. The mayhem's off the scale!
And, of course, super-wrong, yes, without fail.

ABE SAPIEN: THE DEVIL DOES NOT JEST #1

ABE SAPIEN: THE DEVIL DOES NOT JEST #1
Script by: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Illustrated by: James Harren
Dark Horse Comics

By far my favorite B.R.P.D.
Is Abe. An action hero of the deep,
On land he's not too shabby either. We
Could do worse than have this James Harren keep
On drawing him, all ropy muscle and
Cheekbones. This book is humorless, but that
Does not mean that it isn't fun. I've scanned
Less gorgeous gore and ichor. For all that
He's come to a deserted house to meet
An old occultist's son, it's no surprise
The story goes all Lovecrafty. 'Tis sweet,
But nothing new. No, Harren takes the prize
For making this an issue that I'd share.
So tell me, how'd those maggots get in there?

BEASTS OF BURDEN: NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH (ONE-SHOT)

BEASTS OF BURDEN: NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH (ONE-SHOT)
Script by Evan Dorkin
Illustrated by Jill Thompson
Dark Horse Comics

Who doesn't crave some cuteness now and then?
Throw in some funny, and what could it be
But Beasts of Burden! This is one which, when
I read it, leaves me wanting more. Here three
Short stories of brave dogs and kittehs who
Fight evil are presented. They take on
A chicken-stealing goblin, then into
The past they go: a mastiff fights the spawn
Of rooster and reptile, a basilisk,
Blindfolded, yea, and following his nose!
Last undead sheep bring on a sense of risk
In one of our pup friends, force him to close
His eyes and take a rest. O Evan, Jill,
This book of yours is such a pretty thrill!

MIND MGMT #1

MIND MGMT #1
Written & Illustrated by Matt Kindt
Dark Horse Originals

An idea just as creepy as it sounds
But kept here to the edges, shadows, bent
Around our vision's corners, out of bounds
A sometime bureau called Mind Management
Is probably behind Miss Meru's tale
Of chasing down survivors of a flight
Struck by amnesia, one missing male
By name of Henry Lyme, he who just might
Be a rogue agent of that agency
Manipulating thoughts, perceptions, and
Reality. I'm so on board to see
Where all this goes, my brains have turned to sand.
Just tell me when the next one's out. I'll buy.
Matt Kindt has dazzled me. Yes, he's my guy.

Gilbert Hernandez' FATIMA #1

FATIMA: THE BLOOD SPINNERS #1
Written & Illustrated by Gilbert Hernandez
Dark Horse Comics

What shambling metaphors these zombies are,
Such mindless need. But hey, that could be us.
So says that brightly shining comics star
Of all that wondrous Love & Rockets fuss.
This time a drug's responsible, addicts
Then kills and zombifies the taker, woes!
It's up to one tall supermodel chick
With perfect aim in that spine-spapping pose
To hunt them down, I guess? Though, to be fair
Small bands of Just Say No types roam the streets
A-trashing those for whom they just don't care --
Who cares? They're prob'ly zombies. Watch the feats
Of narcs in string bikinis and of our
Fatima show the meaning of girl pow'r.