Ides of Blood

Title: Ides of Blood

Genre: Horror

Story: Stuart C. Paul

Art: Christian Duce

Publisher: DC Comics

Year: 2010-2011

Issues: 01-06 of 06

Rate: 84/100

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PROMO: Don't miss this crimson-red, 6-issue thriller that mixes the undead intrigue of True Blood with the brutal Roman action and political drama of Spartacus from newcomers Stuart C. Paul and Christian Duce!"">"The year is 44 B.C. Julius Caesar has conquered Transylvania, and vampyres are Rome's new slave class. But when rich mortals start turning up dead with fang marks on their necks, Valens, a vampyre slave-turned-Roman soldier, plunges into the blood-soaked underworld of Rome to capture the Pluto's Kiss Killer. If he can prove himself, he'll earn rank and riches beyond what anyone this side of the Tiber has ever seen! But if he fails, he just might find himself on top of the pile of bodies!

Batman - The Man Who Laughs

Title: Tatman - The Man Who Laughs

Genre: Superhero

Story: Ed Brubaker

Art: Doug Mahnke

Publisher: DC Comics

Year: 2005

Pages: 67

Rate: 79/100

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PROMO:  Witness Batman's historic first encounters with his deadliest foe, The Joker, in this hardcover volume featuring two tales written by Ed Brubaker (GOTHAM CENTRAL, Captain America), winner of 2007 Eisner Award for Best Writer.

A mysterious homicidal maniac is murdering prominent citizens of Gotham City, each time leaving a ghastly grin on the victims' lifeless faces. Batman soon tracks down the killer: The Joker!

This volume gives readers new insight into the early encounters between Batman and The Joker that led the Clown Prince of Crime down the path to insanity. Guest-starring original Green Lantern Alan Scott.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen vol.1

Title: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Genre: Superhero

Story: Alan Moore

Art: Kevin O'Neill

Publisher: Wildstorm/DC Comics

Year: 1999-2000

Issues: 01-06 of 06

Rate: 89/100

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PROMO: "A sharp-witted gloss on the scientific and sexual obsessions of Victorian society."—TIME"Moore has combined his love of 19th-century adventure literature with an imaginative mastery of its 20th-century corollary, the superhero comic book."—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY"Swashbuckling, wry humor."—SPINLondon, 1898. The Victorian Era draws to a close and the twentieth century approaches. It is a time of great change and an age of stagnation, a period of chaste order and ignoble chaos. It is an era in need of champions.In this amazingly imaginative tale, literary figures from throughout time and various bodies of work are brought together to face any and all threats to Britain. Allan Quatermain, Mina Murray, Captain Nemo, Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde and Hawley Griffin, the Invisible Man, form a remarkable legion of intellectual aptitude and physical prowess: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.


REVIEW: Liga Izuzetnih Džentlmena je trebao predstavljati ponovni murov povratak u vode nezavisnog američkog stripa, no igrom (ironijom) sudbine kompanija pod čijim okriljem je pokrenuo sopstveni imprint je završila u kandžama drugog najveće prekookeanskog strip izdavača - DC Comicsa, izdavača s kojim Mur kao i dan danas vodi svoj rat protiv vetrenjača. 
Sve to, ipak, nije omelo realizaciju ovog stripa i hvala Velikom univerzijskom slučaju na tome. Liga jeste još jedan inovativan i pre svega vraški zabavn atak na superhero žanr - smešten na kraj devetnaestog veka, sa svim silnim herojima i antiherojima avanturističke viktorijanske književnosti potrpanim u jedan lonac, jednostavno pleni samim svojim koncpetom i tom osnovnom idejom. Samo čitati dijaloge kapetana Nima i Mine Harker ili uživati u zajedničkim poduhvatima Nevidljivog Čoveka i doktora Džekila/mister Hajda je uživanje samo po sebi i samo sebi dovoljno. I  opet hvala Velikom univerzijskom slučaju na tome, jer strip na ostalim poljima ne briljira. Sama priča kao da je trebala biti epskija, značajanija, bombastičnija, kao da je ovakva menažerija likova zaslužila nešto više od "prostog" spašavanja Londona. Vizuelno takođe ne oduševljava baš, kevinov stil me previše podseća na diznijeve crtane filmove iz 90tih godina koji nikad nisam mirisao. Takođe, Mur ne bi bio Mur da se ne mane političkih i pro-liberalnih komentara, jak je akcenat stavljen na jednakost žena, na predrasude koje vladaju/su vladale prema njima i slično, a tu su i kratke fus note na kraju svakog broja koje pucaju od murove borbe protiv cenzure... jednostavno, sve je to ok, ali konkretno ovom stripu baš i ne leži najbolje.
Svakako, u pitanju sasvim sitne zamerke, one koje bi bilo kome drugom autoru oprostili ili čak i prevideli, ali Muru ne možemo jer u prošlosti jeste pisao savršena dela. 

Black Orchid

Title: Black Orchid

Genre: Superhero

Story: Neil Gaiman

Art: Dave McKean

Publisher: DC Comics

Year: 1991 as TPB (as tree-part mini-series - 1988)

Pages: 160

Rate: 92/100

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PROMO: From one of the most highly recognised and award winning comic writers on the scene today, Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Death, Violent Cases), and his sometime collaborator, innovative artist Dave McKean (Arkham Asylum, Cages, Violent Cases) comes a haunting and stylish exploration of birth, death and renewal. Both human and flower the heroine, Black Orchid, undertakes a hazardous journey to uncover her true origins, providing a moving ecological parable for our times. This work by Gaiman and Mckean is an early showcase for the talent we know today.

REVIEW: Proćiće još koja godina, još koja desetina strana stripa, dok Neil Gaiman ne počne da donosi magiju i nepatvorenu umetnost u svet američkog stripa glavne struje - tamo negde od osmog broja Sandmana. Ali već ovde povlači jasnu, kilometrima dugu i desetinama metara široku crtu između sebe i ostatka tadašnje (danšanje, prošle, buduće...) scene, bivajući verovatno najkrhikji, najdelikatniji umetnik koji je ikad svojim radom bio deo strip industrije. Njega ovde, za razliku od Milera ili Mura ne zanima politika, moderno društvo, već smao i isključivo ono umetničk, ono lepo zbog lepog, zaneseno, onostrano, ako ne bitnije, onda makar ono što je iznad svakodnevnog života, ono što levičari, desničari, fašisti i liberali ne mogu svojim kandžama nikad ni da dotaknu, a kamoli da unište. Može se ova savremena vizija superheroine koja je pola žena-pola biljka posmatrati i kroz prizmu zelenog, ekološkog pokreta, ali ne mora. Ne, ztaista ne mora, jer, suštinski ovo je pogled na superheroje zarobljene u modernom svetu, baš kao i u delima gore pomenutih autora, samo ovde tanannije, ne toliko okrenuto moralnim dilemama entiteta koji bi trebali biti vrhunski pravedni stavljenih u svet političke korektnosti, ljudski prava i kriminala i ljudksog zla koje je mutiralo u bezbroj vrhunski izdržljivih oblika, već na emocije tih stvorenja... i upravo tu stoji ta manjkavost, to što ga deli od ultimativnog remek-dela, nekada ta emocija nije dorečena, nekada je usiljena.

Ono što je, pak, bezgrešno jeste vizuelni stil darovitog Dejva MekKejna i ovde, kao i u nizu plodova saradnje sa Gejmenom - iscrtava prelepe prizore, donosi možda i veću dozu umetničkog i lepog nego li pišćev narativ.

 

Hellblazer: Original Sins

Title: Hellblazer

Genre: Horror

Story: Jamie Delano

Art: John Ridgway, Alfredo Alcala

Publisher: DC Comics

Issues/Pages: Hellblazer issues 1-9

Year: 1988

Rate: 91/100

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PROMO: John Constantine is an unconcerned, somewhat amoral occultist with a British working-class background. He's a hero, of sorts, who manages to come out on top through a combination of luck, trickery, and genuine magical skill. The ORIGINAL SINS collection is a loosely connected series of tales of John's early years where Constantine was at his best and at his worst, all at the same time.


REVIEW: Parče strip istorije, ništa manje. Možda i prvi, a svakako jedan od najslađih plodova drveta što ga 1986. posadiše Miler i Mur svojim magnum opusima, Džon Konstantin Helblejzer, što ga stvori upravo potonji, jeste slika i prilika stripa i strip heroja stvorenog za starije, ozbiljnije, odabrane - one koje su uz strip ostali i one koji su strip našli i pored činjenioce da odavno nije u u trendu i kul. 
Ovde su prve epizode, njih devet. Nije u pitanju konferentan story arc, već više nekoliko zasebnih priča koje na efektan način postavljaju postulate, pokazaće se, veoma uspešnog i dugovečnog serijala.
Džon je mag, natprirodan i običan, skot i kukavica, heroj i pravednik, sebičan i surov, ranjiv i sjeban, Džon je - čovek. Čovek koji puši, žrtvuje svoje prijatelje, čovek kojeg volite i mrzite, ali bez kojeg već posle ovih priča - nećete moći. 
Isčitah sve što su za ovaj serijal napisali Dilejno i  Enis, kao i još ponešto, vremenom ću polako aplovdovati džonove avanture, makar do poslednjeg enisovog slova...

V for Vendetta

Title: V for Vendetta

Genre: Superhero/Post-apocalyptic

Story: Alan Moore

Art: David Lloyd

Publisher: Vertigo

Issues: 1-10 of 10

Year: 1982-1989

Rate: 96/100

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PROMO: "Perhaps Moore's most powerful work." —PORTLAND MERCURY" Dark, gripping storytelling." —ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY" Densely-packed, thematically vibrant and philosophically challenging." —SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE A seminal graphic novel that defined sophisticated storytelling,Alan Moore's best-selling V FOR VENDETTA is a terrifying portrait of totalitarianism and resistance, superbly illustrated by artist David Lloyd. The graphic novel that inspired the hit movie V FOR VENDETTA is a powerful story about loss of freedom and individuality.Set in a futuristic totalitarian England, a country without political freedom, personal freedom and precious little faith in anything,a mysterious man in a white porcelain mask fights political oppressors through terrorism and seemingly absurd acts. It's a gripping tale of the blurred lines between ideological good and evil.

Batman: The Killing Joke

Title: Batman - The Killing Joke The Deluxe Edition

Genre: Superhero

Story: Alan Moore

Art: Brian Bolland

Publisher: DC Comics

Issues/Pages: 65 pages

Year: 1988 (20th anniversary edition)

Rate: 92/100

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PROMO: One of the most famous Batman stories of all time is offered for the first time in hardcover in this special twentieth-anniversary edition.

This is the unforgettable that forever changed Batman's world, adding a new element of darkness with its unflinching portrayal of The Joker's twisted psyche.

Writer Alan Moore, acclaimed author of WATCHMEN and V FOR VENDETTA, offers his take on the disturbing relationship between The Dark Knight and his greatest foe. The Clown Prince of Crime has never been more ruthless than in this brutal tale.

This special new edition also includes a story written and exquisitely illustrated by Brian Bolland.

Planetary

Title: Planetary

Genre: Superhero

Story: Warren Ellis

Art: John Cassaday

Publisher: Wildstorm (imprint of DC Comics)

Issues/Pages: 1-27 of 27

Year: 1998-2009

Rate: 94/100

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PROMO: "Provocative , eminently addictive, and top of its class."— ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLYThe creator of the acclaimed series TRANSMETROPOLITAN, Warren Ellis delivers PLANETARY, hailed as a timeless story that turned modern superhero conventions on their heads.This graphic novel features the adventures of Elijah Snow, a hundred-year-old man, Jakita Wagner, an extremely powerful woman, and The Drummer, a man with the ability to communicate with machines. Tasked with tracking down evidence of super-human activity, these mystery archaeologists uncover unknown paranormal secrets and histories, such as a World War II supercomputer that can access other universes, a ghostly spirit of vengeance, and a lost island of dying monsters.


REVIEW: Može se reći da je Miler u svom Povratku Mračnog Viteza ubio superheroje, može se reći da je to svojom pohlepom, nedostatkom vizije i postojanjem potpuno van savremenog sveta učinio Marvel (kao i većiti mu rival-gubitnik DC Comics) početkom/sredinom devedesetih... istina će verovatno biti da ih je ubilo vreme. Decenije se broje, zapravo pola veka najmanje, od vremena u kojem su uski kostimi,maskirani pravednici/osvetnici, nadljudska snaga i suva dobrota zaista zanimala ovaj svet i mogla da mu pomogne. 
Kako je od kraha mainstream prošlo petnaestak godina, a ni decenijama pre toga mu nije sijalo sunce, jasno je da je današnji proseračan ljubitelj stripa pregurao minimum tridesetu, a verovatnije i koju više i da, iako je generalno strip publika i više nego blago infantilna, ta činjenica ipak diktira veću dozu ozbiljnosti čak i kod mainstream izdanja i izdavača. Kao jedan od finalnih proizvoda čitavog tog procesa jeste Planetary - jedna od najboljih superhero strip serija još od legendranih Nadzirača - i to oped pod, doduše neposrednom, etiketom DC Comics, kućom koja je nekako češće imala sluha za zreliji komercijalni strip od Marvela, ali takođe i značajno češće u svojoj istoriji katastrofalno fail-lovala. Autor je, što se mene tiče, preterano plodonosan Warren Ellis i dok u svoj toj šumi izdanja, poneki završi kao jalov, koji više kao prosečan, Planetary jeste jedno od njegovih vrhunskih dela, možda čak njegov magnum opus. U srži superherojski strip, ali čudan, nekonvencijalan, gde superheroji nisu glavne zvedze, već... pa, čitav taj koncept ljudi sa super moćima, nadljudi, post-ljudi - njihove svrhe, smisla postojanja, njihovih života u smrtničkom svetu. Ellis se ne bavi pojedinačnim superherojem, koliko samim žanrom. 

Sve to odrađeno i više nego vrhunski. Bačeno u gotovo konfuznu mističnost, nedorečenost, smešteno u alternativni svet prepun misterija, vladinih zavera, planetu zemlju na kojoj su vanzemaljci sasvim uobičajna, iako jednako tajna stvar, zemlju na kojoj su svmerska putovanja bila moguća još u devetnaestom veku, ... Svaki od pojedinačnih brojeva donosi poneko otkrovenje ili makar neki sitni deo sveobuhvatnog, multiverzumskog pazla, ali pritom otkriva tri puta veće rupe, postavlja nova pitanja, donosi nove misterije i ne, ne završava se i pažnju ne drži jeftini klifhengerma, ne, kraj svakog komada nije podgled smrti u oči, spektakularna borba presečena na pola, bomba koja je stigla do 00:02 sekunde, ne, samo pogled na horizont i pitanje šta iza njegove linije čeka naše junake? 

Trick r' Treat

Title: Trick 'r Treat

Genre: Horror

Story: Marc Andreyko

Art: Fiona Staples, Mike Huddleston and others

Publisher: Wildstorm Comics

Year: 2009

Issues/Pages: 94 pages

Rate: 60/100

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PROMO: The adaptation of the upcoming Halloween scarefest is here! Written by critically acclaimed scribe Marc Andreyko (MANHUNTER, Torso) and illustrated by a cavalcade of terrifying talents including Mike Huddleston (MAN-BAT, GEN 13), Grant Bond, Christopher Gugliotti (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE) and Fiona Staples (NORTH 40), this graphic novel will keep you quivering with fear! Halloween has always been a night of tricks and treats, but this year, it's nothing but a cornucopia of tricks as werewolves, demons, killers and zombies celebrate the festival of Samhain! Featuring a cover from the film's concept designer Breehn Burns and based on the Warner Bros. film from writer/director Michael Dougherty (X2, Superman Returns) starring Anna Paquin, Dylan Baker, and Brian Cox!

Batman - The Dark Knight Returns

Title: Batman - The Dark Knight Returns

Genre: Superhero

Story: Frank Miller

Art: Klaus Janson

Color: Lynn Varley

Publisher: DC Comics

Issues/Pages: 200 pages

Year: 1986 (1996 tenth anniversary edition)

Rate; 99/100

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PROMO: "Groundbreaking."—USA TODAY"It's film noir in cartoon pane ls."—VANITY FAIR"There's never been storytelling quite like this."— THE WASHINGTON POST"Changed the course of comics."—ROLLING STONE"Revisionist pop epic."—SPIN Hailed as a comics masterpiece, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS is Frank Miller's (300 and Sin City) reinvention of the legend of Batman. It remains an undisputed classic, one of the most influential stories ever told in comics, and is a book cited by the filmmakers as an inspiration for the most recent Batman movies.It is ten years after an aging Batman has retired, and Gotham City has sunk deeper into decadence and lawlessness. Now, when his city needs him most, the Dark Knight returns in a blaze of glory. Joined by Carrie Kelly, a teenage female Robin, Batman takes to the streets to end the threat of the mutant gangs that have overrun the city. And after facing off against his two greatest enemies, the Joker and Two-Face, for the final time, Batman finds himself in mortal combat with his former ally, Superman, in a battle that only one of them will survive.

WE3

Title: WE3

Story: Grant Morrison

Art: Frank Quitely

Publisher: Vertigo (DC Comics)

Issues: 1-3, complete

Year: 2004.
Rate: 10

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PROMO: Writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely tell the unforgettable story of three innocent pets-a dog, a cat and a rabbit-who have been converted into deadly cyborgs by a sinister military weapons program.


REVIEW: Pas, mačka i zec, nekada voljeni, onda oteti, modifikovani, iskvareni - kućni ljubimci pretvoreni u nemilosrdne, bazičnim instinktima vođene ubice. Bivaju prevaziđeni, suvišni, pogrešni, osuđeni na smrt. Naučnica koja ih je stvorila, koja ih je volela tako nakazne, koja im je zbog toga podarila i moć govora, nije mogla... oslobodila ih je. 

Broj 1 - vođa, rastrzan između želje, potrebe da bude dobar pas i svog zla koje su mu ljudi počinili, mačka - neporobljiva, neustrašiva i duboko zgađena ljudima i zec - nažalost, ne posebno bitan lik. Bežeći, tražeći kuću, ubijaju talas za talasom specijalaca koji su poslati na njih, svađaju se i mire, vlast i vojska u strahu od masakra oslobađaju najnoviju zver - WE4, ali ni ona nije dovoljna da pobedi želju za životom, slobodom i ljubav, prijateljstvo... psa i mačke.
dirljiva, oh, do suza dirljiva, priča o svom zverstvu modernog doba, o ratu, o biološkom naoružanju, o upotrebi znanja i nauke u potpuno pogrešne svrhe, o iskorišćavanju onih koji nas jako i bezuslovno vole...
Izuzetno!

Watchmen

Title: Watchmen

Genre: Superhero, Sci-Fi

Story: Alan Moore

Artwork: Dave Gibbons

Publisher: DC Comics

Issues/Pages: 12 issues, complete

Year: 1986-1987

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ENGLISH(promo): It all begins with the paranoid delusions of a half-insane hero called Rorschach. But is Rorschach really insane or has he in fact uncovered a plot to murder super-heroes and, even worse, millions of innocent civilians? On the run from the law, Rorschach reunites with his former teammates in a desperate attempt to save the world and their lives, but what they uncover will shock them to their very core and change the face of the planet! Following two generations of masked superheroes from the close of World War II to the icy shadow of the Cold War comes this groundbreaking comic story — the story of The Watchmen.