Weekly Hit (and Miss) List: 8/29/2011

by Ben Peirce

In my continuing attempt to provide you the reader/listener with more value for my comic-buying dollar, I thought I’d start a new feature here at nearmintcomicshow.com. The Hit (and Miss) List will be a quick rundown of the best and worst things I read in the last week.  Eligibility has nothing to do with when a book came out, just that it’s something I read in the last week. So watch out – if your book’s out there, it’s fair game!

THE HITS

Rachel Rising #1 | Abstract Studios | Terry Moore (w/a)

Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise, Echo) returns with the first installment of his latest creator-owned series. In Rachel Rising #1 we see a girl (presumably Rachel) rise from a shallow grave in the middle of the woods and return home after being murdered by an unknown assailant.  That’s really all that happens in this first issue which read very quickly.  In fact, the first 9 pages of this 18-page b&w issue are completely silent. This, coupled with a unconventionally abrupt ending leave you scratching your head and flipping back through the pages to see what you missed.  But I think that might be exactly the point.  Moore’s masterful storytelling has us scanning the pages and scouring his detailed linework in search of answers to what looks to be a slowly-unraveling mystery.

Episode 042 “Life, The Universe & Everything”

Listen | Subscribe (iTunes)

Clocking in just shy of two-and-a-half hours, this episode has a little bit of everything.  If you’re joining us for the first time, you’ll have to forgive us as we ramble through the first half hour catching up on things like Ben & Josh’s trips to Philly and Sweden respectively and the sad departure of the Strange Ink family of podcasts.  Then it’s down to business with some comic talk including our picks to try out from the DCnU and an answer to the question. “Why the heck should I read Amazing Spider-Man?”

We briefly recap some of the more exciting announcements coming out of San Diego Comic-Con and check to see how Ben did with his Eisner predictions. We give our initial reactions to some of the recently-released comic movie trailers, including The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.  The movie talk continues with our take on Green Lantern and Captain America: the First Avenger.  Then we hop in the Delorian and travel back to the fall of 1995 where Wizard Magazine offers up a time capsule of what was happening in and around comics in the heart of the big bad 90’s.

All this, plus Fear Itself, Flashpoint, Next Wave: Agents of H.A.T.E. and X:Men Schism.  And, if or no other reason, you should listen just to hear the spicy interludes by comic-themed rapper, Adam WarRock.

Music in this Episode by: Adam WarRock, Tribe One and Puff Daddy (and no, I will not call you “Diddy”!)

Episode 041 • NEAR MINTerview w/ Nate Simpson

Listen | Subscribe (iTunes)

Ben Peirce returns with another NEAR MINTerview.  This time, our guest is Nate Simpson, the breakout writer/artist behind the hit new series Nonplayer from Image Comics.  Nonplayer #1 took the comics world by storm selling out across the country and grabbing tons of praise from critics and industry professionals alike.  Series creator, Nate Simpson, is a complete newcomer to comics after working primarily in game design. He’s crafted an exciting story that blends elements of sword & sorcery-style fantasy, distopian future sci-fi and multiplayer online gaming with breathtaking visuals.

Nate was recently honored at the Eisner Awards ceremony with the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award and with just one issue to his credit, he now faces down a world of great expectations.  He talks candidly about the challenges he faces as a new creator – honing his craft, meeting deadlines and responding to the pressure of new-found fame.  We discuss his inspirations as an artist and a writer, find out about the inner workings of Image Comics and talk in-depth about the world of Nonplayer. Listen in as we bear witness to a comics star being born.

Editors Note: Nonplayer made news once again this week, when Warner Borthers optioned a film treatment of the series with David Heyman (Harry Potter) attached as producer.  This announcement was made just hours after we spoke so it is not included in our conversation but we’ll be sure to follow up with Nate as the series and the possible film adaptation progress.  If you missed the initial release of Nonplayer, you can pick up a second print copy signed by Nate Simpson for cover price (plus shipping) at the Nonplayer Store.

Music in this episode by: Big Pun