In the Garden of Earthly Delights

I am a member of Rich Tommaso's Patreon page, where he publishes an anthology of comics called Black Phoenix. These comics feature all kinds of wonderful things, like a MAD Magazine riff, a book of what Dracula would have looked like if adapted by Walt Disney, and many different sorts of crime/noir tales. This book, a digest-sized graphic novella In the Garden of Earthly Delights is one of the latter. It is the first in a proposed series of books featuring The Tea Leaves, a duo of thieves named Trina and Dina.

Before this book begins they have pulled off a major jewelry heist, but there is a catch: the guy who was fencing them got robbed, and they will get nothing from their job. So, they then hatch a plan to rob a museum of some priceless works of art. 

When they get their shady father in on the deal, things go a bit south, and then things are further complicated when the person who plans to buy the stolen artwork is also the one who robbed their fence. 

I love a good caper tale, and that is exactly what this book is. Two things really make it fun: the suspenseful plot twists and the sumptuous artwork. Tommaso is one of the best artists going right now, and I love how he designs characters, orchestrates action sequences, and plots this story in a very compelling manner. If you like crime comics, this short book is a real treat. 

I could not find any other reviews of this book online, but the Copacetic Comic Book Company called it "a fun, throwback, semi-comic, art-heist story that is a drawn by Tommaso in a slightly tweaked variation of his trademark clean line cartoon style that brings in hints of Dan DeCarlo mixing it up with Darwyn Cooke – and that also provides an opportunity for him to provide crisp comics renderings of some classic/famous works of art."

In the Garden of Earthly Delights was published by BP Communications, and you can find a copy to purchase here. You could also subscribe to Tommaso's Patreon page and get a bunch of great comics, too.

Spy Seal, Volume 1: The Corten-Steel Phoenix

Collecting the first four issues of the series, Spy Seal: The Corten-Steel Phoenix is a an intriguing, fun spy series drawn and presented in a style reminiscent of Tintin. At first I was a bit leery of a spy story starring anthropomorphic animals, but it's by one of my favorite creators, Rich Tommaso, and the preview art was simply gorgeous, so I gave it a shot. And I was so glad I did!

The main narrative here follows a seal named Malcolm as he is transformed from unemployed dreamer to secret agent. It all starts when he attends an art gallery opening, meets a sexy female stranger, and ends up fighting off an assassin. Seeing that he can handle himself rather well, one of Britain's MI-6 divisions recruits him. After some training, he finds himself up to all kinds of dangerous spy business, including international jet-setting, elaborate disguises, hand-to-hand combat, and getting thrown out of multiple moving vehicles.

I loved the level of action and intrigue, and what is particularly impressive is that Tommaso has crafted a book that can appeal to young adult and older readers. Sure, there are some innuendo and definitely some violence, but none of it is gratuitous and I feel this book would be a hit across age demographics. It is smartly crafted, beautifully drawn, and flat-out fun to read. Plus, I loved the slightly larger page size that suits the artwork well. I am very much looking forward to any future adventures of Spy Seal.

This series creator Rich Tommaso has created all kinds of comics over the past two decades. He has drawn horror comics like She-Wolf and The Horror of Collier County. He's drawn noir books like Dark Corridor and the forthcoming Dry County. He's even drawn some comics for film buff like Pete and Miriam and also won an Eisner Award for his work on the historical graphic novel Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow. He speaks more about his work on Spy Seal in this interview as well as this one (if you'd rather listen to a podcast).

The reviews I have read about this book have been largely positive. Tegan O'Neil called it "fun in the best way." Insha Fitzpatrick wrote, "It’s gripping and utterly stunning in its art and brilliant in its narrative." Publishers Weekly was less taken with the plot and characters but still stated that the "visuals are as strong and crisp as ever."

Spy Seal: The Corten-Steel Phoenix was published by Image Comics, and they offer a preview and more info about the series here.

Dark Corridor

I am a big fan of Rich Tommaso's comics, from his noir, historical, and horror comics under his Recoil imprint to his more mundane, character-driven works like Pete and Miriam. I have always liked his art style, character designs, and the architecture he draws in his stories, not to mention his gripping storytelling, inventive layouts, and interesting plots. Dark Corridor is his latest collection and it follows the exploits of a motley array of characters. The short, episodic chapters ping-pong back and forth, focusing alternatively on some crooked grifters:

and a league of female assassins out for revenge against organized crime families:

I hope I am not spoiling too much by revealing that eventually all their paths converge, resulting in violence, death, mayhem, car chases, and lots of drama. The characters are all boldly depicted, and although they might be considered stock types, I felt they were all very well employed in telling a strong and satisfying story. I really enjoyed how those different narrative strands were woven together, and I feel that fans of crime comics, detective stories, or just plain good old fashioned adventure yards will really enjoy this book.

The reviews I have read for this book have been mixed, some lukewarm and others more positive. Matthew Garcia called it "a thrilling and intense book delivered through some excellent cartooning." Ross Johnson included this "unique crime drama" in Barnes & Noble's Best Comics & Graphic Novels for June, 2016. Rob McMonigal praised the "top-notch noir storytelling from a fan of the genre who understands that there's more to that part of the crime world than just making it dark" and called it a "must-read for anyone who enjoys reading about terrible people."

This collection contains all 7 issues of the series and was published by Image Comics. They have previews and more information here. The book does contain some nudity, profanity, and violence, so it is suggested for readers mature enough to handle those things.

I just saw Rich Tommaso at HeroesCon in June and learned that we have growing up in a family that owns a pizzeria in common. He also drew a commission sketch for me of a character from his newest work, She-Wolf, a horror series about werewolves and the people they attack and change. I think he is a great guy and a great artist, and I hope y'all go out and get some of his works.

Pete and Miriam

Pete and Miriam are twenty-somethings who are lifelong friends, and this book shows many episodes from throughout their lives. Flashing back and forth through time, we see them go to film school, date different people, go trick-or-treating, meet, pull pranks, drink, dabble in punk rock, and deal with high school. There is no single narrative thread, but we get several impressions about them and their lives that add up to give a fuller picture of these characters. I think that Pete comes off worse than Miriam, but what is palpable is the strong relationship between the two. Also, they really like movies.

Writer/artist Rich Tommaso has been creating comics for the better part of two decades. He won an Eisner Award for his work on the graphic novel Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow, and he has a great variety of works available for preview at his official website. Currently he is also working on re-coloring reprints of classic Carl Barks stories for Fantagraphics. Tommaso speaks about his career at length in this interview at The Comics Reporter.

Reading this book, I enjoyed the idiosyncrasies of Pete and Miriam's relationship as well as Tommaso's expressive art. He has a great feel for the characters, and I appreciate how he shows them at different times in their young lives. I have found few reviews online about this book, and they have been mixed thus far. Matt Demers wrote about how the book was structured, "I was a bit perplexed after I read through it because... the stories jump around through different times." He added, "I really felt as if I had read a collection of stories with no connecting tissue between them." I would counter that there are connections between the stories, especially once you realize they are all about the same two people. The reviewer at the Stumptown Trade Review enjoyed the realism of the book and concluded, "Do yourself a favor and pick up Pete and Miriam today."

Pete and Miriam was originally published in France, and it was published in the US by Boom! Studios. Here is a sizable preview posted at the Graphic Novel Reporter.

On a side note, I met Tommaso at HeroesCon this summer and he signed my copy of this book and also provided a fun illustration. He is a great guy!

Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow

This piece of historical fiction begins in 1929 when Emmet Wilson decides to leave his young family at 18 years of age to make money as a professional baseball player. His career choice takes him away from home for a long period of time but he makes a larger amount of money in the Negro Leagues than he would otherwise make working at his farm. In his first game as a pro, he faces Satchel Paige, one of the legendary pitchers of the league. And perhaps the greatest pitcher of all time. Emmet's debut is very memorable, but injury cuts his career short.

The rest of the story involves Emmet living a different life with his family in the fictional town Tuckwilla, Alabama over a period of years. He farms, picks cotton, and follows the exploits of Satchel Paige in news stories. Paige, while not allowed to play in the Major Leagues, makes a lot of money barnstorming. Finally, Emmet and his son attend a baseball game where Paige's All Star team faces off with the local ball club, which is all white. The Tuckwilla All Stars have some ex-baseball players on their team as well but most of them do not respect the African-American players as equals. The climax of the book involves Paige's unique manner of confronting this racial discrimination.

James Sturm and Rich Tommaso created this book, a publication of The Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont. Sturm has created many works of historical fiction, mostly published through Drawn & Quarterly, and he is the founder and director of the Center. Tommaso is a prolific cartoonist in his own right, and he has a great variety of works available for preview at his official website.

This book was very well researched for historical accuracy. Although it is a fictionalized account, it draws upon many facts to create the story. These facts are highlighted at the end of the book, through a series of panel examinations. Additionally there are a few other sources listed, for those interested in further reading. The story, for all this research is simultaneously spare and affecting. Sturm and Tommaso get a lot of mileage from simple images and their pacing creates great drama during the game sequences. This would be a great resource for those interested in Jim Crow laws, civil rights in the US, the Negro Leagues, the Great Depression era, or just baseball in general.

Reviews of this book are pretty positive, such as this one from Alison Morris. Some, such as Elizabeth Bird, point out that this book should not replace a true biography of Satchel Paige. Andrew Wheeler also enjoyed the book, but worries it will be relegated to the oft-neglected biography shelf in school libraries. He would also like to have seen a true biography of Paige, a man who lived an extraordinary life.

The book's official webpage has a wealth of resources, including an interview with the authors, preview pages, teacher resources, and thumbnail sketches used to plan the book.