I’m not sure if it needs repeating, but the entire point of this column is to try and point out the importance of comic books and why they should be read in all of their forms.

Why do they matter?

What’s the significance of what they say?

Just yesterday, a certain comic magazine reached a milestone that I believe deserves some recognition. CLiNT reached its second volume.

CLiNT is the magazine created by Scottish author, Mark Millar, most known for his work on the comic

book/movie “Kick-Ass” and, most recently, on the comic book-meets-criminal-heist story, Supercrooks, which I’ve already talked about pretty extensively. Oh, and we wouldn’t have had “The Avengers” movie without some comics he wrote.

CLiNT is his comic book magazine, It’s strange to say that and hope that most people would understand, but it is exactly that. It’s a magazine filled with some of the most interesting comic book offerings out there. Included are some interviews and separate articles, sure, but for the most part it’s used as a showcase for Mark Millar and friends to create some intriguing and pretty out there tales.

Millar is currently one of the biggest names, if not the biggest, in comic books today, and not just for the books he’s putting out. Much of the work he creates is so ready-to-be-read that much of it is considered for Hollywood properties as its being made. Working with directors like Matthew Vaughan (Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class) and Nacho Vigalondo (Spanish film director), he’s hoping to bring some of his exciting comics to the masses.

Included in the magazine for its pricing is the entire first issue of Supercrooks, which I already found to be amazingly awesome.

Let’s take a look at some of the other comic stories inside:

Secret Service, written by Mark Millar and drawn by Dave Gibbons

Now, according to author Millar, this was a story that he created years ago with the thought of artist Dave Gibbons in mind.

He created it while in high school.

Funny story.

Now, though, that dream is being created. What the two have set-up in this published first issue is an intriguing tale of the upper echelons of society going with the lower class of the world. He’s trying to create a union between the two to potentially save it.

Gary is part of the lowlife of London, living with his deadbeat mom and abusive stepfather. While he resents both of them and the terrible life their creating for his younger half-brother, that doesn’t prevent him from going out into the world and being a drag on society himself.

When an accident finds him in jail again, his mom feels she has nowhere to turn to, except Gary’s older cousin Jack. Jack has some major sway and pull with the government, and instead of just sitting by and letting him rot in prison, Jack decides to draft Gary. Into what, though?

Well, it might have something to do with the organization that tried to save Mark Hammil from international terrorists.

That’s right. Mark Hammil.

This story, meticulously drawn by Dave Gibbons in a realistic style, sets the stage for something grander on par with any great spy/espionage story. However, the strong family dynamic and the opening action sequence make this one to follow as it goes along.

Up next, Lenore.

Lenore, written and drawn by Roman Dirge

Included with a small preview of Lenore’s 20^thanniversary, is an interview with the creator Roman Dirge as he discusses his thoughts on drawing a deranged

comic about a little zombie girl.

Now, Lenore was always one of the books I saw on the shelves and never got around to reading. It always looked interesting enough, sure, but I never bothered to.

I wonder why, now.

After reading this preview, the closest thing I can surmise is that Lenore is some sort of bizarre mix of Tim Burton and Jim Henson. With a little bit of classic Ren & Stimpy in there.

Lenore tells the seemingly random, bizarre day to day life of Lenore and all of the craziness she encounters in her life.

For example, she eats a porkchop that was meant to give her a dire prophecy.

While he’s still alive.

I’ll let that one sit there for a bit.

Carzy fun and hilarious artwork make this a series that I will have to check out anytime I’m feeling like I’m having a bad day. Lenore breaks a lot of so-called “rules” in its efforts to tell just flat out potty-humor filled, dark comedy. I loved every minute of it.

Here’s to 20 more years.

Batting cleanup in my 2^nd volume review are two series that I had never heard of at all:

Rex Royd, written by Frankie Boyle and drawn by Mike Dowling and Death Sentence, Written by Monteynero and drawn (also) by Mike Dowling

Both comic strips: Severly out there.

Both of these comics seem to be meant to try and break down typical super power tales.

Rex Royd uses the comic book pages and panels to jump around from scene to scene in time and attempts to tell a disjointed superhero story that shows just how dark a person can become with a powerset of their own.

Death Sentence is a strange mix of rock and roll with super powers and just a little bit of “The Doors”, with Val Kilmer.

Timely reference, I know, but it seemed to be all I had in my mind.

Deranged character, weird powers, and a “fight-the-man” mentality. It’s brutal and edgy.

Both of these stories made me really think.

Comics like these are being published and no one seems to know about it.

Yes, The Avengers came out and dominated the theaters (still is, actually) and made people more aware of comic books in a way I have never seen. Working in the comic book shop I’ve noticed many more people coming in and trying to pick up new comics (tied into The Avengers property or not).

Comic books are a real thing, meant to entertain and enlighten you in a way that not many other forms of entertainment can.

Start here, CLiNT magazine, if you need a boost.

Go on.

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Special Offer: Subscribe to CLiNT and Save 20%, plus get a FREE signed
Dave Gibbons ‘The Secret Service’ Art Card! Act now, only 200
available! To find out more visit -
http://titanmagazines.com/t/clint/local-subscribe/

In addition to writing for the column “Comic Matters” for the Tucson Citizen website, Bobby Acosta is also a 5th Grade Elementary school teacher, frequenter of local comic book shop Heroes & Villains, and explorer of the importance of comics. He recommends each and every comic he writes about. Contact him at comicmatters@gmail.com

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