In Praise of Done-In-Ones
In Praise of Done-In-Ones
Jul 12When I was thirteen years old, the idea of diving into a multi-issue comics storyline that would leave me in suspense for months was thrilling.
These days, not so much. I still buy monthly comics and do like me a big sprawling tale just fine, but I also keep one eye constantly open (yes, I do spend a fortune on eyedrops! why do you ask?) for the ever-elusive single issue that can deliver thrills all by its lonesome.
In other words, the done-in-one.
We’re in a done-in-one renaissance right now, with a metric shit-ton of titles and specials on the stands that satisfy the urge to just read ONE comic and get a FULL experience. Fell, Jonah Hex, even the venerable Detective Comics–all great writers telling great stories that just happen to fit into a single monthly comic.
Right now, my pile of just-read comics is chock-a-block full of great done-in-ones, and so I thought I’d peck out a few recommendations, in case you’re in the market this Wednesday for something relatively cheap to read and enjoy without acres and acres of backstory. (All of this stuff SHOULD still be on the stands in plentiful quantities.) Or, be a lazy cheapskate ass and watch for this stuff in half-price or dollar bins over the next three to five years. Your call.
Detective Comics #821
It’s kinda shocking, even now, imagining this to be true–one of the central Bat-titles will present single-issue stories for the forseeable future. Ponder the amazing awesomeness of that, even as you shed a wistful tear for the days of War Games, Knightfall, and so on, when you couldn’t enjoy a single Bat-familiy comic without consuming ten other comics before and after.
Paul Dini seems an ideal candidate to write these done-in-ones, since he’s spent years writing the DCU for the half-hour animated format. He knows from done-in-one, and his story here has as much focus, detail, and tone as anything he wrote for Batman: The Animated Series, even if he has refined his approach to fit a more mature audience.
The story actually gets Bruce Wayne up and about for a change, and while the mystery isn’t telegraphed quite as well as I would have liked, the resolution is sharp and tight, and the new villain that’s introduced has just enough of a hook to be interesting without bogging us down in confusing backstory. Also, of course, J.H. Williams III makes everything purty. Pay special attention to his page layouts–masterful.
Giant-Size Hulk #1
At $4.99, perhaps a bit rich for your blood. Consider, though, what you’re paying for–THREE whole stories. Sure, one’s a reprint, but it’s a damn GOOD reprint.
The action kicks off with an effortless Champions flashback tale from Peter David. It’s really easy to take David for granted; he’s always kicking somewhere around the comics world, and churning out Star Trek novels. This story is a terrific reminder that the guy knows how to write fun and FUNNY superhero comics like nobody’s business. Solid action, clever one-liners, and a nice twist ending. A GREAT done-in-one…
…and there’s still two stories to go! Greg Pak contributes a short Planet Hulk interlude focused on Bruce Banner, and there’s a reprint of the David/Keown tale “The End,” which I’d never read, so it blew my fragile little mind. For $4.99, you couldn’t even afford two regular-priced comics, but here you get THREE stories. Plus a page with a short Q&A from Pak on his plans for the Hulk. Nice stuff.
Brave New World
At $1, you’re an idiot if you don’t buy this. I mean, Jesus–use it as toilet paper, and it’s still a good deal.
Everything in this 80-page giant is decent or really good. It’s all promo crap for upcoming DC titles, but it’s absolutely passable promo crap that sorta stands alone, kinda, maybe. The Atom story from Gail Simone and John Byrne stands alone for sure. The rest, not so much, but it’s a fucking DOLLAR. You get 80 pages of reading for a fucking DOLLAR.
A fucking DOLLAR.
There’s even a SHOCKING LAST-PAGE REVEAL that has set the intarwebs ablaze! That alone is worth a quarter, so the rest is only really 75 cents, if you think about it.
Local #1
Okay, so this is an older book, but it was still on the stands. I bought it cause I felt like I needed to pick up SOMETHING relatively “indie” to justify blowing scads of cash keeping Dan Didio and Joe Quesada knee-deep in coke and whores. I’d rather keep Brian Wood ankle-deep in weed and lapdances.
Every issue of this maxiseries (which is about halfway done, methinks) is a done-in-one, following one character through twelve years, sorta kinda; she plays some role in every story, even if she isn’t the lead. This debut issue offers Megan as she plays through the possible outcomes of her trying to fill a fake prescription for her druggie companion (boyfriend?).
Warren Ellis, as always, is right–this is the perfect three-minute single. A poster book for the brilliance of the modern done-in-one. Ryan Kelly’s art has a real weight to it; it’s substantial, if that makes any sense. Writing about art is like dancing about architecture. Or something. In other words, me not very good with it. Just look and understand.
Marvel Westerns: Kid Colt and the Arizona Girl
After reading the lead story here, maybe the Arizona Girl deserves top billing. She gets ALL the best lines in a crackling yarn from Jonah Hex scribes Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmioitti. Plus a sharp backup tale featuring the Philadelphia Filly, and THREE (count them! THREE!) classic Marvel westerns from the likes of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Dick Ayers. Fucking VALUE, my sisters and brothers. VALUE. And there’s a whole series of these, all summer. Apparently Marvel did the same thing last summer with monster stories? I wasn’t reading then but I’ll be tracking those bad boys down for sure.
Man, I love the dones-in-one. Or the done-in-ones. Either way. LOVE.
