Brief Comic Reviews...Spike and Illyria

I'm basically behind on all the reviews I sort of promised to write. Did read both the Illyria and Spike comics. So will provide a quick non-spoilery take for all that are interested below:

Spike issue 2 by Brian Lynch - is bloody hilarious. Laughed my ass off - which to be frank, and no not that Frank (lower case), I needed. Badly. Okay, it's only hilarious if you have an extreemly dry sense of humor, enjoy satire, self-deprecating wit, snark, and well-placed puns. (If you don't like these things, I've no idea why you bothered to friend me...because outside of the puns (I suck at puns and find them annoying in most cases), that's pretty much my sense of humor and writing style - generally speaking. ) Plus it may help if you love and/or appreciate the noir genre - particularly as it pertains to comic books and film, and know quite a bit about both the pulp comic book industry and Hollywood. If none of that appeals to you in any way? ie. You could not care less (have to admit that phrase sounds odd to me, much prefer the other phrase). Skip this book. It's not your cup of cocoa or tea or whatever. In addition - it probably helps if you are in a dour, snarky mood, and your mind can't process much more than breath in/breath out and fire pretty, tree bad or is that the opposite..wait it is. In short there's nothing deep here folks. It's not trying to be deep.

Illyria issue 1 - Brilliant comic. Didn't think so at first. But then I found myself flipping it around in my head (all the scenes, not just one) and I can't get it out of my head. If you buy one comic this year? Get this one. It haunts me. It shows not tells, just enough to pull you in and want more - it also provides insights into three characters. What Elena Casagrande does with the art alone...I've rarely seen. She actually uses art to explain character. Also in two short scenes shows the differences in philosophy between Spike and Angel, and well the metaphysical dilemma that lies at the heart of Angel the Series as well as Buffy. But doesn't provide an answer, just both points of view. Neither is right and neither is wrong. They are evenly presented. Add to this - that Illyria goes a long way towards explaining Angel and Spike in the Buffy comics in what amounts to just a few lines...like I said, brilliant comic. It will get a long review. Oh - and it's the only comic in the Angel/Buffy series that has not one but two female artists (cover artist is Jenny Frisson, interior artist Elena Casagrande), editor and writer (Mariah Huehner - who has teamed up with Scott Tipton for writing, but is doing editing as well) who are different people. Colorist? Illaria Traversi. This baby I recommend for everyone who found Illyria remotely interesting and enjoyed the Angel series at all - and well loves comics as an art form. Seriously folks, most interesting comic I've read in years. Then again, why should you take my word for anything - just told you that I can't get past fire bad, tree pretty at the moment.

Off to bed. Hoping tomorrow is...well better than today.