Quick Reviews

The Losers: Ante Up (Diggle and Jock) - This Vertigo trade paperback is the real deal. There aren't any super heroes or angst-ridden supernatural types in this book; just a group of ex-special operation soldiers trying to exact their revenge upon a corrupt system. The pacing is excellent. The characters are well defined through dialogue and action and each gets his (or her) chance to shine. This book reminds me of the old tv show "The A-Team" but without the silliness. My beef with this book is that there are times when the art falls flat. A few characters look too similar and tend to become indistinguishable from one another in several panels. And although the action scenes are top notch, some of the individual panels in those scenes are confusing too. The reader isn't sure who is doing what to whom. However, this is rare. On the whole, this book stands above many others on the comic shelf. Highly recommended!

Also recommended is this CD of music composed by John Adams. I especially like "Short Ride in a Fast Machine". It is perfect for those Sunday afternoons riding your rocket-powered bicycle over rough terrain. The kids will love it!