There's been a lot of talk lately about whether we're due for a female superhero to get the same high-profile treatment as Batman or Iron Man. (Hey, I even weighed in at Publishers Weekly.) Jesse Sanchez, a.k.a. Street Angel, probably isn't the superheroine in mind during these debates, but she kicks butt, and Comics Should Be Good reminded its readers of this in a review of the 2005 graphic novel Street Angel by Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca. "Rugg and Maruca have created a brilliant comedic world with Street Angel populated with bizarre and often hilarious characters."

It's the end of the year, and that means it's time for "Best of 2005" lists to start showing up. Comic Book Galaxy has theirs up, and they give Street Angel by Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca "Best Trade Paperback." (It's near the bottom of the page.)

Noted Street Angel enthusiast Alan David Doane, writes, "Street Angel had a grand moment in the sun as one of the most exciting and unusual comics on the stands, and if that moment is over -- as it appears to be, at least for the moment -- at least we have this volume as a thick, rewarding souvenir of one of the better comics of the past decade."

Right then. If you're so inclined, make your Best of 2005 lists and post 'em here. Best of what? Whatever the heck you want. Go crazy.

Reviews of Dead Eyes Open by Matthew Shepherd and Roy Boney, Jr., the new socio-political take on zombies, have come in, and they're unanimous: This is a unique take on zombies, with a well-executed story.

Anand Khatri at ComixFan sums up the mood of the first issue: "People are confused, scared, angry and expecting things to get worse. It’s this sense of negativity that Boney draws with sublime skill."

The X-Axis writes, "There surely can't be many more variations on the zombie genre to be done, but Dead Eyes Open has an original spin and carries it out well."

Randy Lander at The Fourth Rail (scroll down to see the review) has high hopes for the series: "Dead Eyes Open is a promising new series that turns the zombie genre on its head and shakes out not braaiiiins but a fresh and fascinating premise."

There are a couple more reviews of the Street Angel trade by Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca, as well. Christopher Allen, in his Breakdowns reviews at Comic Book Galaxy, has big praise for Jim Rugg: "Issue after issue, he displays an impressive command of the emotional core of the book that needs to be there to hold all the ninjas and pirates and astronauts and Satanists and blaxploitation heroes from sinking the book into anything-for-a-yuk madcapastrophe. The key is the titular hero herself, homeless skateboarding superhero Jesse Sanchez, and Rugg’s understanding of her. Picture a Daniel Clowes gamine from the wrong side of the tracks who has neither the time nor patience to follow around another white loser, and you’re on the right track."

Mike Storniolo at Silver Bullet Comic Books gives the Street Angel trade five out of five bullets, commenting, "Rugg & Maruca have produced one damn fine comic book. Just the entire concept behind Street Angel and its execution makes it a book that should top your "to read" list."

Still here. A wrench makes a passable hammer in a pinch, I've discoverd.

Hey, how about some reviews and stuff? I can sleep when I'm dead, right?

Click on all the links and win a chimp butler!

No, not really. It's just that the chimp butler statue outside Dan's office starts to look kind of creepy at half past midnight. I don't trust that chimp bartender, either. Or the chimp surfer.... OH MY GOD. THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!

Ahem.

David Bird reviews Nil: A Land Beyond Belief by James Turner at Paperback Reader. Another Terry Gilliam comparison! And a comment about how we could "make a killing" with Nil merchandise in a review of a book that critiques capitalism. "It's not the product that matters," as Miss Void says. "It's the prestige of having the product!" Neat, hunh? Not that we haven't thought about this killing, mind you.

Meanwhile, Greg Kent gives Nil a five out of five Thors(?) at Chud.com. "The graphic novel is visually a work of splendor," Kent writes. Indeed.

Adam White gives the Street Angel TPB by Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca five out of five stars at ComicCritique.com. (Or, as the cool kids call it, "comcritcom." You know, a lot of Victorian divorces were for "crim. con," which is short for "criminal conversation" -- a euphemism for adultery. That has nothing to do with Street Angel.) White gives high marks to Jesse Sanchez, a.k.a. Street Angel: "Whether handing out a beat down to ninja flunkies or dumpster diving for a meal, Jesse consistently holds your interest and is not only the high point of the book but also of new comic characters in general for quite some time."

Patty Cake and Friends by Scott Roberts gets the full-on book report treatment by Juachoerin (man, that's a cool name. no, I'm not being sarcastic, darnit. see my earnest face?) at Comic Book Readers.

Right then. Looks like I can go home soon.

JdG
e-i-c
Do you suffer for comics? I do.

So maybe, for me, new comic book day is Thursday, not Wednesday. Maybe I like to mosey into the store after the crowds are gone and browse at my leisure. I think that's very plausible. If I were to go into a comic book store today in search of new SLG comics, these are what I would find:

Little Scrowlie #10 by Jennifer Feinberg and Todd Meister
24-page comic book, $2.95

Scrowlie and Alabaster, having narrowly escaped the confines of Hell, journey to the center of the suburbs. Scrowlie learns that suburban life can be just as full of monsters as life in the city. This issue of Little Scrowlie examines the never-ending excitement that is the suburban school child's life, as well as the danger and wisdom inherent in oppossums.

Street Angel Volume One by Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca
208-page trade paperback, $14.95

Street Angel, the urban drama/teen comedy/tragedy/action-adventure/sci-fi/political satire/slice-of-life comic with its tongue firmly planted in its cheek, is bursting foth from its underground roots into the realm of "legitimate" comics as a full-sized, onoing series. Described by its cretaors as "Bruce Lee meets Dan Clowes crossed with Watchmen, if Tony Hawk and Clint Eastwood had as child, The Matrix crossed with Punky Brewster," Street Angel is a comic book series that defies being pinned down. Digest-sized. 1-59362-012-8